AIT and Asian University launch first of its kind 5-Year Unified

Leading the way in innovation for education, The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) has launched a Five-Year Unified International Bachelor’s-Master’s Degree Program with the Asian University (AU).
The new joint program is the first of its kind in Thailand and provides a fast-track opportunity to complete a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree recognized by both schools in less time and at lower cost than traditional programs.

According to the memorandum of agreement (MoA) signed on 27 September by the President of AIT, Prof. Said Irandoust, and the President of AU, Dr. Viphandh Roengpithya, at the celebration of AU’s 10th Anniversary, the strategic tie-up will cover the academic fields of information systems engineering and electrical and electronic engineering. The AIT-AU partnership agreement is expected to produce world-class research scientists and engineers in computer science and telecommunications.

“We are delighted that AIT and the Asian University have agreed to collaborate to offer this first of its kind Five-Year Unified International Bachelor’s-Master’s Degree Program in Thailand. This unique and innovative academic program in computer science and telecommunications brings together the synergies of our two fine
institutions and will benefit all our students immensely,” AIT President Irandoust said at the signing ceremony.

Spread over five years, the program will operate in two phases. Phase one will see participating students spend their first three-and-a-half years of bachelor’s level study at Asian University, located in Chonburi. The accelerated nature of the new curriculum will allow undergraduate students to earn up to 12 master’s level credits by taking advanced level courses, thus eliminating half a year of total course work. Students possessing an accumulative GPA of 3.00 will then enroll at AIT’s campus located in Pathumthani for their last one-and-a-half years of graduate level study leading to a master’s degree.

Officials of both academic institutions stressed the international character of this program. While at AIT, students will study with world-class faculty and scientists using only English, and join students from as many as fifty countries at one of Asia’s most multicultural graduate institutes. The curriculum will be developed and
finalized by both institutions.

Former Prime Minister of Thailand, H.E. Mr. Anand Panyarachun, KBE, who is the founding chair of Asian University, and the former Chairman of the AIT Board of Trustees from 2000-2006, also attended the MoA singing ceremony.

Fitch Affirms Citibank N.A. Colombo's 'AAA(lka)' National Long-Term Rating

Fitch Ratings has today affirmed the 'AAA(lka)' National Long-term rating assigned to Citibank N.A.- Colombo Branch (CitiSL). The Outlook remains Stable.
CitiSL is a branch and part of the same legal entity as Citibank N.A. ('AA-' (AA minus)/Rating Watch Negative), which is a fully-owned subsidiary of Citigroup Inc. As such, CitiSL's rating factors in the financial strength of Citibank N.A. which is currently rated higher than the sovereign long-term foreign currency issuer default rating of 'B+'/Stable.
The bank's performance has improved considerably over the last two years. Profits increased by 86.8% yoy in FY07 (6.2% in FY06) and ROA improved to 2.5% in FY07 (FY06: 1.6%), on the back of steady growth in net interest margins (NIM) and rapid increases in non-interest income. Non-interest income has been an important contributor to CitiSL's profits in recent periods with the bank's growing trade finance and investment banking business generating increased revenues in terms of fee and commission income. High fee and commission income earned on the structuring and sale of hedging derivatives also played a particularly important role in H108, causing annualised ROA to rise further to 5.8%.
NIMs have historically been lower than the sector due to CitiSL's large corporate and government loan exposure where margins are generally thinner. However, margins have moved inline with the private licensed commercial bank (LCB) sector since FYE07, and rose to 6.3% in H108 from 4.9% in FY07 (FY06: 4.3%). This is mainly on account of re-pricing within the bank's loan portfolio and increased investments in higher yielding assets.
Due to its stringent credit evaluation criteria and strategic focus, CitiSL's loan exposure has continuously remained at the top end of the credit spectrum. At H108, 85% of loans were to large corporates and 14.5% to the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and GoSL-owned entities. The bank's gross NPL ratio was 0.5% at H108 (0.5% at FY07) and NPLs are fully covered by specific provisions resulting in a zero net NPL/equity ratio.
While CitiSL's selective lending policies have enabled the bank to maintain a healthy loan portfolio - with a gross NPL ratio that is amongst the lowest in the local LCB sector, it has nevertheless resulted in some credit concentration within the lending portfolio. The bank's 20 largest group borrowers accounted for 82% of total loans at H108 (85% at FYE07). As a result, the loan book is susceptible to some fluctuations upon loan settlement. Loan growth was 69.8% yoy at FYE07 and followed a contraction of 21.2% yoy at FYE06.
The bank's asset book is funded primarily from deposits (43.3% at H108), with borrowings at 26.4% at H108 and equity at 20.7% at H108. Furthermore, deposit concentration is high, with the top 20 depositors accounting for 75% of deposits at H108 as deposits are predominantly from corporate and institutional sources.
CitiSL was established in 1979 and functions through a single branch in Colombo. The bank operates within a niche market comprised of multinationals, leading Sri Lankan corporates and the GoSL. It is the third largest foreign bank and accounted for 1.6% of Sri Lankan LCB assets at FYE07.

Navy Elites destroy two LTTE boats- Pooneryn

The elite Special Boat Squadron (SBS) sailors of Sri Lanka Navy attacked and destroyed two LTTE assault boats, appeared off Pooneryn Sea last night (Sept 29), Navy sources said.

According to the sources, SBS boats patrolling in area detected the two LTTE boats moving close to the coast from Pooneryn to Kalmunai point (K-point) around 11 PM. The SBS sailors launched a surprise attack at the terror boats and confirmed both boats were destroyed, the sources said.

The sources citing the SBS reports added that there were 8 LTTE cadres onboard and confirmed all were killed in the attack. A search operation has been launched in the area.

At least 50 terrorists killed, over 20 injured in yesterday's confrontations at Wanni

Terrorist casualties were observed on the rise according to Wanni battlefield reports as security forces were making their presence felt at the corridor of Kilinochchi, in the verge of mounting a full fledged assault at the Tiger heartland.

Pitched fighting is expected in the forthcoming weeks as troops have taken on positions to flush out the last LTTE presence in the bastion Kilinochchi township, after a decade, defence observers state. Tension prevails according to reliable information within LTTE ranks, after Army Chief Lt. General Sarath Fonseka declared to launch the first rounds at Kilinochchi, this week, addressing a gathering on Thursday (25).

According to finalized military reports received, at least 50 terrorists were killed and 22 others wounded in yesterday's (Sep 29) fighting, at the Kilinochchi and Mullaittivu battle fronts. The surge of LTTE battlefield losses recently, pronounce, of what is expected to come, the observers added.

"Overall, this is totally quite different from what the LTTE and its pay masters had anticipated, taking consideration into its campaign to portrait a 'humanitarian catastrophe' in Wanni. Both the Tamil and International community has shown great resilience keeping faith in the government's stance to liberate thousands stranded with LTTE", he further said.

10 soldiers have laid their lives and 32 others wounded during confrontations with LTTE on Monday.

At the combined Vavuniya - Mullaittivu battlefront, troops clashed with LTTE in several locations reportedly killing 22 terrorists and injuring 2 others. According to reports troops clashed with LTTE at Veddamakilam, Akkarayankulama North, Kokavil North and Palamoddai general areas.

11 terrorists were killed ambushed in general area North of Kokavil, at around 1.25p.m., according to reports. Meanwhile, troops have recovered a decomposed LTTE body along-with 2 T-56 assault riffles, a map and an I-com set during a search operation conducted in general area West of Akkarayankulama. Meanwhile, troops while consolidating defences North West of Mankulama, have come across a barren land stretch, bearing construction signs of a heli-landing pad. This site was earlier targeted by the Air force jets on several occasions, which was used as a training ground for LTTE suicide bombers, military said.

At Kilinochchi battlefront, at Manniyakulama troops repulsed an LTTE counter attack while consolidating defences in the area, at around 10.30a.m. 5 soldiers also laid their lives and 12 others were reported wounded in the fighting, military said.

Separately, troops have recovered an LTTE terrorist body subsequent to a confrontation in general area Kariyalaimodai, at 7a.m. Troops also uncovered a T-56 assault riffle and 3 hand grenades in the search operation.

Meanwhile, troops of the 59 Division operating in general area North of Andankulama confronted have confronted with LTTE in several occasion, reportedly killing 11, while injuring 20 others. According to reports, 5 soldiers have laid their lives and 18 wounded in the confrontations.

In general area Andankulama, troops forced into 8 LTTE bunkers and a 75m length trench line seizing total control, also capturing a haul of weapons from LTTE.At least 50 terrorists killed, over 20 injured in yesterday's confrontations at Wanni

Terrorist casualties were observed on the rise according to Wanni battlefield reports as security forces were making their presence felt at the corridor of Kilinochchi, in the verge of mounting a full fledged assault at the Tiger heartland.

Pitched fighting is expected in the forthcoming weeks as troops have taken on positions to flush out the last LTTE presence in the bastion Kilinochchi township, after a decade, defence observers state. Tension prevails according to reliable information within LTTE ranks, after Army Chief Lt. General Sarath Fonseka declared to launch the first rounds at Kilinochchi, this week, addressing a gathering on Thursday (25).

According to finalized military reports received, at least 50 terrorists were killed and 22 others wounded in yesterday's (Sep 29) fighting, at the Kilinochchi and Mullaittivu battle fronts. The surge of LTTE battlefield losses recently, pronounce, of what is expected to come, the observers added.

"Overall, this is totally quite different from what the LTTE and its pay masters had anticipated, taking consideration into its campaign to portrait a 'humanitarian catastrophe' in Wanni. Both the Tamil and International community has shown great resilience keeping faith in the government's stance to liberate thousands stranded with LTTE", he further said.

10 soldiers have laid their lives and 32 others wounded during confrontations with LTTE on Monday.

At the combined Vavuniya - Mullaittivu battlefront, troops clashed with LTTE in several locations reportedly killing 22 terrorists and injuring 2 others. According to reports troops clashed with LTTE at Veddamakilam, Akkarayankulama North, Kokavil North and Palamoddai general areas.

11 terrorists were killed ambushed in general area North of Kokavil, at around 1.25p.m., according to reports. Meanwhile, troops have recovered a decomposed LTTE body along-with 2 T-56 assault riffles, a map and an I-com set during a search operation conducted in general area West of Akkarayankulama. Meanwhile, troops while consolidating defences North West of Mankulama, have come across a barren land stretch, bearing construction signs of a heli-landing pad. This site was earlier targeted by the Air force jets on several occasions, which was used as a training ground for LTTE suicide bombers, military said.

At Kilinochchi battlefront, at Manniyakulama troops repulsed an LTTE counter attack while consolidating defences in the area, at around 10.30a.m. 5 soldiers also laid their lives and 12 others were reported wounded in the fighting, military said.

Separately, troops have recovered an LTTE terrorist body subsequent to a confrontation in general area Kariyalaimodai, at 7a.m. Troops also uncovered a T-56 assault riffle and 3 hand grenades in the search operation.

Meanwhile, troops of the 59 Division operating in general area North of Andankulama confronted have confronted with LTTE in several occasion, reportedly killing 11, while injuring 20 others. According to reports, 5 soldiers have laid their lives and 18 wounded in the confrontations.

In general area Andankulama, troops forced into 8 LTTE bunkers and a 75m length trench line seizing total control, also capturing a haul of weapons from LTTE.At least 50 terrorists killed, over 20 injured in yesterday's confrontations at Wanni

Terrorist casualties were observed on the rise according to Wanni battlefield reports as security forces were making their presence felt at the corridor of Kilinochchi, in the verge of mounting a full fledged assault at the Tiger heartland.

Pitched fighting is expected in the forthcoming weeks as troops have taken on positions to flush out the last LTTE presence in the bastion Kilinochchi township, after a decade, defence observers state. Tension prevails according to reliable information within LTTE ranks, after Army Chief Lt. General Sarath Fonseka declared to launch the first rounds at Kilinochchi, this week, addressing a gathering on Thursday (25).

According to finalized military reports received, at least 50 terrorists were killed and 22 others wounded in yesterday's (Sep 29) fighting, at the Kilinochchi and Mullaittivu battle fronts. The surge of LTTE battlefield losses recently, pronounce, of what is expected to come, the observers added.

"Overall, this is totally quite different from what the LTTE and its pay masters had anticipated, taking consideration into its campaign to portrait a 'humanitarian catastrophe' in Wanni. Both the Tamil and International community has shown great resilience keeping faith in the government's stance to liberate thousands stranded with LTTE", he further said.

10 soldiers have laid their lives and 32 others wounded during confrontations with LTTE on Monday.

At the combined Vavuniya - Mullaittivu battlefront, troops clashed with LTTE in several locations reportedly killing 22 terrorists and injuring 2 others. According to reports troops clashed with LTTE at Veddamakilam, Akkarayankulama North, Kokavil North and Palamoddai general areas.

11 terrorists were killed ambushed in general area North of Kokavil, at around 1.25p.m., according to reports. Meanwhile, troops have recovered a decomposed LTTE body along-with 2 T-56 assault riffles, a map and an I-com set during a search operation conducted in general area West of Akkarayankulama. Meanwhile, troops while consolidating defences North West of Mankulama, have come across a barren land stretch, bearing construction signs of a heli-landing pad. This site was earlier targeted by the Air force jets on several occasions, which was used as a training ground for LTTE suicide bombers, military said.

At Kilinochchi battlefront, at Manniyakulama troops repulsed an LTTE counter attack while consolidating defences in the area, at around 10.30a.m. 5 soldiers also laid their lives and 12 others were reported wounded in the fighting, military said.

Separately, troops have recovered an LTTE terrorist body subsequent to a confrontation in general area Kariyalaimodai, at 7a.m. Troops also uncovered a T-56 assault riffle and 3 hand grenades in the search operation.

Meanwhile, troops of the 59 Division operating in general area North of Andankulama confronted have confronted with LTTE in several occasion, reportedly killing 11, while injuring 20 others. According to reports, 5 soldiers have laid their lives and 18 wounded in the confrontations.

In general area Andankulama, troops forced into 8 LTTE bunkers and a 75m length trench line seizing total control, also capturing a haul of weapons from LTTE.

Troops March Forward Sacrificing Their Lives

WANNI: AS the fourth “Eelam” war was entering a decisive phase with KILINOCHCHI almost in sight, pitched confrontations in the WELIOYA sector under 59 Division, Task Force I and Task Force II troops in KILINOCHCHI and north of VAVUNIYA continued for another day on Monday (29) bringing further losses to the enemy.

During these clashes, troops smashed six bunkers and a few bunker lines in PALAMODDAI, AKKARAYANKULAM, ANDANKULAM and KARIYALAMODDAI areas. Troops also after those clashes found one dead Tiger terrorist, two T-56 weapon, ten hand grenades, 1700 T-56 ammunition rounds, 100 Multi Purpose Machine Gun (MPMG) rounds, two claymore mines, two MPMG links, twelve field dressings, two terrorist uniforms and several food items.

At least thirty-nine Tiger terrorists lost their lives, unable to face the fire-power of the troops during those clashes. Fifty-two more Tigers suffered injuries in the fighting that occurred in above areas.

Five soldiers including one officer made the supreme sacrifice during clashes at VANNARIKULAM and ANDANKULAM on Monday (29). Nineteen brave soldiers injured in the fighting were evacuated to hospitals.

Meanwhile, troops serving PALAUTTU in the eastern port city of TRINCOMALEE found one T-56 weapon from the St. Lurdu church graveyard on Monday (29).

Troops Locate Terrorists’ Clandestine Airstrip; A Major Breakthrough

MULLAITTIVU: 57 DIVISION troops, now dominating north of VANNIVILANKULAM located an LTTE airstrip this afternoon (30) from the general area of PANIKKANKULAM, about 7 km north-west of MANKULAM and about 500 m to the west of A-9 road when the troops brought the area under their control.

The location of this 500 m long airstrip, believed to have been perhaps used by terrorists for landing of their light aircraft in any emergency, struck a major blow to their escalation of terrorist acts. It is also believed the airstrip could have also been used as an open parking space or a hangar, in a way.

Murikandy Terrorists Felled

WANNI: TROOPS operating in the general area west of KOKAVIL observed a terrorist movement, closer to captured MURIKANDY Railway Station this morning (30) and fired at them using small arms. The troops confirmed that three terrorists were killed.

Murikandy Terrorists Felled

WANNI: TROOPS operating in the general area west of KOKAVIL observed a terrorist movement, closer to captured MURIKANDY Railway Station this morning (30) and fired at them using small arms. The troops confirmed that three terrorists were killed.

Lorry in Food Convoy Offers C-4 Explosives

OMANTHAI: A METICULOUSLY planned clandestine operation of losing Tiger terrorists was once again exposed this evening (30) at about 3.30 p.m. at the OMANTHAI cross-loading point when one of the lorries, hired by VAVUNIYA District Secretary for transport of essentials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), had 2.5 kg of C-4 explosives in its driver’s possession.

Initial investigations revealed that the lorry driver, an apparent suspected proxy to the terrorists had kept those explosives, meticulously concealed amidst food stocks that were to make for un-cleared areas as part of a convoy of thirty lorries, hired by the VAVUNIYA District Secretariat.

A total convoy of sixty lorries with essentials are expected to cross the OMANTHAI gateway by Thursday (2) evening, following an understanding that has been made between the Government and World Food Programme (WFP). Thirty lorries of the total fleet have been hired by the WFP.

The lorry driver in question during interrogations after detection has admitted to concealing the explosives, but the Security Forces subjected the lorry for a thorough inspection and finally found a makeshift false compartment that has been fixed after welding it thoroughly.

At the time this story was pasted, the lorry has been taken away for further investigations along with the driver.

Sri Lanka Central Bank to Give Guidance to Market, Cabraal Says

By Anusha Ondaatjie

Sri Lanka's central bank plans today to give ``some guidance'' to the market amid a global stocks rout prompted by the rejection of a $700 billion bank rescue plan by U.S. lawmakers, Governor Nivard Cabraal said.

``We are monitoring the global situation and after looking at our inflation numbers today, there are some responses we will be making,'' Cabraal said in a telephone interview from Colombo.

The U.S. House of Representatives rejected the legislation yesterday in a 228 to 205 vote, sending the Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbling 778 points for its biggest point drop ever and extending the worst global sell-off in 21 years. Senators say they have no choice but to revive the measure, which is designed to restore confidence in the U.S. banking system.

``The bailout package will have to come as the risk is far too great for the U.S. to go without it,'' Cabraal said. ``The markets shouldn't act in such a panic.''

The Sri Lankan central bank plans to make an announcement later today after the statistics department reports September's inflation rate, Cabraal said.

``Overall we have seen the market reaction to our monetary policy with inflation easing,'' the governor said. ``We will also want to let them know the expectations going forward.''

Consumer prices in the capital Colombo rose 24 percent in September from a year earlier, after increasing 24.9 percent in August, according to the median estimate of nine analysts in a Bloomberg News survey. The statistics department will announce the figure at 3:00 p.m. local time today.

Sri Lanka policy makers have kept monetary policy tight by reducing the amount of funds in the banking system.

The central bank this month said rising food production and easing global commodity markets, along with ``demand-management measures,'' will help further ease price pressures after inflation slowed for a second month in August.

Lawyers take to the streets

Lawyers in the Supreme Court showed solidarity with colleague J.C. Weliamuna and staged a protest this afternoon (Sept. 30th) to condemn the hand grenade attack on his home two days ago.

They marched from Hulftsdorp Courts Complex to Keselwatte Junction.

Speaking here, Bar Association President Upul Jayasuriya said the anti-corruption and human rights crusade by Mr. Weliamuna would not be halted by harming his life.

Not just 100 or 500, more than 5,000 individuals of the calibre of Mr. Weliamuna will take that campaign forward, he said.

The BASL chief said the IGP should not take this attack lightly and must bring the culprits to book and ensure there would be no repetition of such incidents.

Mr. Weliamuna, who is also executive director of Transparency International Sri Lanka, spoke here and thanked his colleagues for their support.

He said he has continued threats to his life, the latest being an unknown visitor to his office just this afternoon inquiring after him, regarding which a complaint has been lodged with Keselwatte Police.

UNP Pradeshiya Sabha member assaulted

UNP Pradeshiya Sabha member Sumangala Samaraweera was allegedly assaulted by the Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Prasanna Ranaweera today. Lankadeepa correspondent who was also at the scene had received injuries.

Two Pakistanis arrested for heroin possession

Two Pakistani nationals were arrested by the Colombo Narcotics Bureau near the Wattala Supermarket for the possession of 425g of Heroin.

Sri Lankan born Singapore opposition leader dies

Veteran Singapore politician JB Jeyaretnam has died of heart failure in a Singapore hospital, aged 82.

He was the first to break a government monopoly on power in Singapore when he won a seat in parliament in 1981.

He had been forced into bankruptcy over defamation cases won by the government but was planning a new run for office.

Dubbed the Grand Old Man of opposition politics, analysts said Mr Jeyaretnam was a thorn in the side of Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan-yew.
Born in 1926 in Jaffna, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Mr Jeyaretnam trained as a lawyer in Britain before making his home in Singapore.

Lankan found guilty of smuggling people

A Sri Lankan man living in upstate New York has been sentenced to time served, about seven months, for smuggling people from Canada into the United States by boat.
Mohanraj Selvarajah will likely face deportation following Monday's sentencing in federal court in Buffalo.

According to court papers, the 48-year-old Lockport resident told investigators he was given $5,000 to buy a boat in September 2007 and was told he would be paid more to smuggle three people into the United States.

He was arrested after a witness spotted him dropping people off at a Buffalo boat launch and called authorities.

Selvarajah's lawyer says he will likely be returned to Sri Lanka alone, while his wife and three children remain in Canada, where they moved after his arrest.

Warrants on Emerald Finance directors

In a case filed by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka in the Kandy Primary Court against Emerald Private Finance Company of Gampola, Kandy Primary Judge Nandana Weerasinghe ordered the new directorate of the finance company to submit to the Central Bank withi a month, the details of the accounts of all depositors of the finance company.

Following a motion by the state counsel, the judge issued warrants on the Directors of the finance company who were not present in court.

The Central Bank was represented by the State Counsel, Attorney-at-law Ananda Kumara Herath appeared for the defendants who were required to be present in court on December 11.

Fonterra re-assures its milk is safe

Fonterra Brands Lanka yesterday re-assured consumers in Sri Lanka that its ANCHOR, ANLENE, RATTHI, SHAPE UP and ANMUM Milk powder products are made from milk sourced solely from New Zealand and are 100% safe to consume.
The company further stated that all liquid milk and yoghurts marketed under the NEWDALE, RATTHI, ANLENE and ANCHOR brands are made with local milk sourced from farmers in Sri Lanka and tested to meet the highest International and local standards including ISO 22000 and HACCP.Fonterra Brands Lanka Managing Director Achyut Reddy said all their products are subjected to rigorous quality controls in every aspect of production from sourcing of raw milk through the manufacturing and distribution process.

“Further reassurance comes from the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) which has categorically stated that they have confidence in the integrated food safety regulatory and industry controls that are in place in New Zealand from where Fonterra Brands Lanka sources its milk powder,” Fonterra Brands said in a statement.

Mr. Reddy emphasized that the milk contamination issue in China involving 22 dairy companies was confined to products manufactured with China-sourced raw milk and had absolutely no bearing on products marketed by Fonterra in Sri Lanka.

“We view consumer safety and health issues with great seriousness at Fonterra” said Mr. Reddy “and will continue to ensure that our products meet the highest safety and quality standards.”

He thanked the consumers for the great trust and loyalty they have placed in the Fonterra brands over the years and said that Fonterra will continue to always live up to the consumer’s trust and expectations.

Sakvithi scam: Police after lady lawyer and IP

The police investigating into the major financial scam involving English tutor Sakvithi Ranasinghe are now after a lady lawyer and a Police Inspector who have reportedly fled their homes, whilst the staggering amount topped Rs. 700 million by yesterday.

Police Spokesman Ranjith Gunasekara said the Mirihana police completed a recording of 1327 complaints yesterday of individuals who were deceived by the great impostor.

The legal officer of the bogus financial institute, a lady lawyer who was in charge of all monetary agreements between the company and the depositors is currently absconding, the police said.

An inspector attached to the Police Communication Division in Mirihana was found linked to the scam after he had personally removed several computers that were at the office of the financial institute in Nawala soon after the exposure.

He had not reported to work since then and did not obey orders of SSP Nugegoda Division Deshabandu Tennakoon to appear before Mirihana police yesterday.

Colombo stocks sink, more negative contributors

The Colombo bourse sank on Tuesday with many blue chips recording sharp falls and in addition the bulk of the transactions were on the negative (minus) list, brokers said.

The All Share Index slumped by 43.27 points or 1.98 % to 2,142.26 while the Milanka dropped sharply by 55.43 points or 2.26 % to 2,397.19. Turnover was Rs 121 million.

Brokers said of the 173 companies traded, 117 companies saw prices fall while only 14 saw gains. The balance was unchanged.

GMOA to protest about doctors killing

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) is to launch an islandwide protest over the shooting of a female doctor in Bandagiriya, Hambantota, GMOA spokesman Dr Upul Gunasekara said.

He said that the GMOA will be meeting today to decide on the protest campaign.

Dr. W.D.Lakshmi, 38 of the Central Dispensary at Bandagiriya was shot dead on Monday night as she was examining a patient.

A soldier attached to the Udawalawe camp is reported to have shot her. The soldier is reported to have an affair with the doctor earlier, hospital sources said.

Ganeshan regrets Canada's opinion on Bahu

MP Mano Ganeshan says all peace loving people are shocked to learn Canadian High Commission's refusal of visa to New Left Front Leader Dr. Vickramabahu Karunaratne, saying his actions constitute LTTE membership.

"Fanatic forces in this country use Tiger label arbitrarily. This label is put on many human rights defenders, NGOs, antiwar activists, media personnel. Even members of the international community have not been spared of Tiger label. Canadian action goes well in line with the fundamentalist forces here," said the Civil Monitoring Committee Convener and Western People's Front Leader in a statement.

The statement also said, "Vickramabahu is a committed human rights activist. He fought against the human rights abuses then in 1989 when thousands of Sinhala young men and women belonging to JVP faced state and paramilitary death squads. He is fighting now against abductions and extra legal killings when Tamils face death squads."

"Many of his comrades of 1989 have changed sides now and some have even become the very perpetrators. Bahu has not changed. He is one of the very few Sinhala politicians who adamantly propose justice and peace for the oppressed Tamil and Muslim communities. His party’s stand on the national question is ahead of many ethnic parties. He stands for the right of self-determination. It cannot be Bahu’s fault if LTTE or any Lankan Diaspora campaigners around the world demand the same set of rights. Nobody labeled him with JVP when Bahu fought on behalf the human rights of JVP youth in 1989. But when he supports human rights and political aspirations of Tamils, he is branded a Tiger."

"Bahu was to attend a conference in Toronto titled ‘Ending the war and bringing justice and peace to Sri Lanka 25 years after July 1983’ organized by Toronto based Canadian Forum for Justice and Peace in Sri Lanka. It is sad that Canada is sending wrong signals to all Sri Lankans at a time when Tamils feel that our international friends have failed to stop the human rights violations and influence the government towards a reasonable political solution."

PB issued notice

Dr. P.B. Jayasundara should personally clarify to the Supreme Court whether he is still holding an executive or supervisory position in a state institution, Chief Justice, Sarath N. Silva said today (Sept. 29th).

The CJ was taking up a petition filed by Presidential Advisor, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, which cited that his fundamental rights have been violated by the transfer of an eight-acre land belonging to Sri Lanka Ports Authority to John Keels Holdings during the tenure of Dr. Jayasundara as Chairman of Public Enterprise Reform Commission.

Issuing notice, the bench headed by the CJ directed Dr. Jayasundara to appear before courts on October 08th.

Earlier, the SC found the former PERC Chairman guilty of having misused public property.

Citing that the CID has failed to take action despite the court ruling, a motion has been filed in court.

In accordance with a court directive issued when the case was took up last, IGP Jayantha Wickremaratne and DIG of the CID, Sisira Mendis appeared before court today.

Appearing on behalf of the petitioners, Vasudeva Nanayakkara and Nihal Sri Amerasekere, counsel Sumanthiran said that his clients had refused to give a statement to the CID.

At this point, the CJ questioned whether the CID has obtained a statement from a single person over the matter even after Dr. Jayasundara was found guilty by the highest court of the country.

Questioning the need to obtain statements from the petitioners, the CJ said that the petition has been filed on behalf of the public and the police should have studied the documents pertaining to the court ruling.

Noting that misusing public property is an offence under criminal law, the CJ added that legal measures can be sought against any offender.

Reprimanding the police for failing to take any action, he further said that the DIG of the CID, who is being paid by the public’s money, should resign.

He further questioned what steps the Bribery Commission has taken against this person who was proven guilty of having misused public property.

Additional Solicitor General, U.A. Wijetillake said that the Bribery Commission is to submit a report to Parliament after conducting an investigation.

“The SC is the highest legal institution in the land. Retired judges in the Bribery Commission think that this is the English Privy Council. It seems to us that they have done nothing on the matter. It is regretful. Are you appearing for Dr. Jayasundara?,” he asked.

The CJ also noted that the police having failed to act in accordance with a court ruling would have to be taken as a mark of contempt of court.

Upon being questioning whether Dr. P.B. Jayasundara is currently holding any position in the state, counsel Sumanthiran said that he is Chairman of SriLankan Airlines, Director General of Securities and Exchange Commission and has recently been appointed a presidential advisor.

The CJ observed that Dr. Jayasundara, who had violated the oath of office that they would uphold the Constitution, should not hold public office.

Dr. Jayasundara should not only have been suspended but also charged under criminal law, he added.

Chief Justice blames Atorney General, IGP and CID chief

The Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva reprimanded the Attorney General, the Inspector General of Police, the Director of Criminal Investigation Department and the Bribery or Corruption Investigation Commission for not ignoring the Supreme Court directive on former Treasury Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundara.
The Supreme Court made this reprimand when a fundamental rights petition filed by Presidential Adviser Vasudewa Nanayakkara and Licensed Accountant Nihal Sri Amarasekara was considered. The petition was on not implementing law against Dr. Jayasundara who was ordered to pay Rs. 500,000 for causing a financial damage to the state.

The Chief Justice stated that the CID Director has to resign from the post since he failed to act in accordance with the Supreme Court directive. He further said that Attorney General, the Inspector General of Police, the Director of Criminal Investigation Department and the Bribery or Corruption Investigation Commission have committed a serious crime by not implementing Supreme Court order.

The petition was considered by a panel of judges comprised of Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva, justices Ms. Shirani Thilakawardhana and Nimal Gamini Amarathunga. The Solicitor General appearing for the Attorney General stated that he would not appear for Dr. Jayasundara in this case.

38 vehicles rented by Sakvithi disappeared

(Lanka-e-News, ) An officer of special crime division of Mirihana police station says that complaints have been received regarding the loss of 38 vehicles rented by Sakvithi Ranasinghe on monthly basis.

They include six vans, 26 motorcycles, one lorry, four cars and one Land Cruiser.

Sakvithi is believed left the country after swindling around Rs. nine billion from depositors.

Vans were rented on a Rs. 25,000 per month basis.

43 Tamils arrested in Wellawatte, Wattala, Katunayake

Forty three Tamils including were arrested in Wellawatte, Wattala, and Katunayake in several cordon and search operations conducted by the Sri Lanka Police, assisted by Sri Lanka Army (SLA), and home guards, from Sunday evening till Monday morning, sources in Colombo said.
Most of those arrested were residents of north and east. Some of the arrested had been staying in lodges and with relatives to go abroad for employment and others had been working in business establishments.

A Tamil woman was arrested in Wellawatte along with four Tamil men, sources said.

All are being detained in police stations in the Colombo city and being interrogated.

LTTE: SL military post raided in Trincomalee, 4 killed

Four Sri Lankan military personnel, including Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and homeguards, who were manning a military post in Kantha'laay (Kantale) in Trincomalee district were killed Monday morning when Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) carried out a raid on the military post in the high security area, LTTE's Trincomalee command has claimed in a note issued to media on Tuesday. Two firearms were seized in the raid, the Tigers said.
One T-56 assault rifle, 30 rounds and a shotgun were seized and the cadres safely returned to their base, according to the LTTE.

The raid took place at Seranawa around 9:00 a.m. on Monday.

Exports likely to reach US $10 billion by 2010 – Experts

Recently 16th annual NCE awards were held at Hilton Colombo where Sri Lankan exporters were awarded for their excellent business skills.

Speaking at the occasion Mr Ajith Cabraal, Governor Central Bank said that looking at the present scenario it can be assumed that by 2010 the exports of the country will reach US $10 billion mark.

According to the experts, the desired target is not difficult to achieve as Sri Lankan exports have come a long way. The total value of exports reached an all time high of $863 million in December 2007. The country is also maintaining an economic growth of around 7 percent in the last three years.

Industry insiders opine that proper infrastructure needs to be developed and correct planning can boost the ailing sectors that were previously booking loses.

The NCE awards have become one of the most prominent ceremonies that appreciate the exporters’ contribution to the overseas earnings of the nation. This year more than 143 entries had come, which shows the popularity it has gained from the time NCE was initiated.

15,000 newly displaced from Ki'linochchi swell Vanni IDPs to 230,000

Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), a humanitarian organization helping the displaced population in Northeast, in a report released Tuesday said, with the food stock in private stores and co-operative stores reaching dangerously low levels, the humanitarian conditions of the more than 230,000 Internally displaced are rapidly deteriorating. Since the departure of foreign NGOs on 16th September under Colombo's directives, 15,217 new IDPs from Ki'linochchi and Poonakari has joined the refugee population, the report added.
"In Ki'linochchi Town and its suburbs there are 3-4 attacks by Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) K-fir bombers and artillery shelling by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA). As a result, the schools, government departments and the local administrative services are not functioning at full capacity," the report said.

Pointing out that that Sri Lanka's "Ministry of Defence (MoD) has not allowed any food convoys to cross the Omanthai checkpoint into the Vanni since 5 September denying humanitarian assistance to the displaced and non-displaced population," the TRO report further said that, "The departure, on 16 September, of the United Nations (UN) & international NGOs (29 UN expatriate staff and 13 international NGO staff) from the Vanni effectively suspended all international assistance to the IDPs and the protection that such international witnesses provide."

The report added that the restriction on the number of lorries crossing the Omanthai checkpoint created severe shortages of essential food items (rice, flour, lentils, sugar, and milk powder). The meagre stocks that the GA and private traders had have now been depleted and the population are facing a severe crisis.

TRO appealed to the Government of Sri Lanka, the International Community, the UN and international NGOs to ensure that adequate amounts of food, medicine and other essential humanitarian relief are allowed to pass through the Omanthai Checkpoint. TRO report added that, "at least one month's stock of food must be kept in the Kilinochchi & Mullaitivu Districts to ensure the needs of the civilian population can be fulfilled should the A9 route become unsafe or not secure or the IDPs are forced to move once again."

AHRC calls for probe on Weliamuna attack

The Asian Human Rights Commission has called on the Sri Lankan government to thoroughly investigate the grenade attach on the home of human rights lawyer J.C. Weliamuna.

AHRC said in a statement that last night (Sept. 28th) at 11:40 pm in Colombo, Sri Lanka a grenade was thrown inside the house of the leading lawyer J.C. Weliamuna, who is the Executive Director of Transparency International in Sri Lanka, and a well- known human rights lawyer.

Severe damage was caused to a part of the upper floor of the house, and the sound of the explosion was heard several miles away.

After calling the police and examining the premises another unexploded grenade was found.

Mr. Weliamuna said that he has all his life had no personal enemies and therefore this attack has to be connected to his work.

Mr. Weliamuna has appeared in many sensitive cases relating to corruption and abuses of human rights.

Several cases are pending in which some powerful politicians are the defendants.

Last week, Transparency International published a report, in which Sri Lanka was listed as 92 on the corruption list.

Mr. Weliamuna has constantly appeared in many well known human rights cases on behalf of victims of torture, extra-judicial killings and disappearances.

Last Friday the Supreme Court issued special orders for investigation of a case that Mr. Weliamuna appeared in which a young man from Kandana complained of attempted assassination by some police officers.

Yesterday morning Mr. Weliamuna moved a motion at the Bar Association of Sri Lanka regarding a lawyer who has received death threats due to appearance in an extra-judicial killing case where the victim had been the complainant in two cases regarding police officers, for bribery and torture.

The Bar Association unanimously resolved to pursue the complaint of the lawyer and condemned the interference into the work of lawyers and resolved to pursue the matter with the Inspector General of Police and other authorities.

"This attack is chilling but not surprising. Threats and attacks are targeted at everyone who tries to highlight the abuses of politicians and state officers," said Basil Fernando, the director of the Asian Human Rights Commission.

"Now senior lawyers themselves are being targeted for nothing other than being engaged in their professional duties to their clients."

Fernando further said, "even at the worst times in the late 1980s no senior lawyer was targeted. What is taking place is a most comprehensive form of repression with the view to silence everyone who is making any attempt to seek protection of law. This is one of the most terrible times in the country."

The Asian Human Rights Commission calls on the Sri Lankan government to thoroughly investigate this matter with a Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of the Criminal Investigation Division (CID).

There is all the likelihood of the investigation being mishandled unless special attempt is made for inquiries to be conducted by a competent and independent SIU.

It is also the duty of all the lawyers and the Bar Association of Sri Lanka to come strongly in support of one of its members who has taken a very keen interest in the rights of others.

The Supreme Court and the judiciary also need to take up the issue of the protection of the lawyers.

AHRC also calls upon the lawyers outside Sri Lanka to intervene with the Sri Lankan government to condemn this attack and also to ensure an independent inquiry by a competent body.

The UN agencies and the international anti-corruption and human rights organisations should intervene for the defence of one of the best known human rights defenders in Sri Lanka.

Worthless leaders will not be allowed to hijack UNP, says Wajira

Galle district United national Party (UNP) MP Wajira Abewardhana says that he will not allow ineffective leaders who cannot be an alternative to the present leader to capture the party leadership.

Mr. Abewardhana emphasized that he would not allow anyone to destroy the party leadership and to let the government to manipulate the UNP.

He made these observations at a function held in Sarana Reception Hall to hand over life insurance policies to the UNP local government representatives of Gampaha district.

Mr. Abewardhana charged that the persons who try to change the party leadership are becoming the pets of the government. He said that he would not allow them to destroy the party with the proposals brought from Temple Trees. Party enemies and the government have launched a massive campaign against the UNP manipulating all media and a group from UNP who are ignorant of this are shouting for a leadership change, added Mr. Abewardhana.

Air defence exercises over Sigiriya, low flying aircraft likely to be reported - SLAF

The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) will hold air defence exercises between 7 and 8.30 this evening, in the Kantale and Sigiriya regions, SLAF Spokesman Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said.

Low flying aircraft maybe reported during the exercises, he added.

SC orders to remove barricades on the Galle road

The Supreme Courts today ordered the Police Chief to remove all barricades on the Galle road from Kollupitiya to Galle Face before January next year.

United States condemns attack on residence of Sri Lankan human rights activist

The Embassy of the United States in Sri Lanka today condemned the recent attack on the residence of the Executive Director of Transparency International Sri Lanka and well-known human rights attorney, J.C. Weliamuna.

The US Embassy in Colombo, issuing a media communiqué, commended Weliamuna’s work as a defender of those who seek to fight corruption, protect the victims of abuse, and advance the cause of human rights in Sri Lanka.

“We look to the authorities to launch an immediate investigation into this act of violence and bring the perpetrators of this crime swiftly to justice,” stated the US Embassy.

UNP condemns ARMY chief's remarks

The UNP has condemned the statement made to a Canadian newspaper by Army Commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka regarding minority communities.

The UNP organized a media briefing at the Opposition Leader's Office in Colombo this morning (Sept. 29th), where MPs from Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities spoke.

One of them, Kabir Hashim, said his Muslim community was having very close ties, even blood relationships, with the majority Sinhalese.

At a time when war in the north is entering a decisive stage, statements like the one made by the army chief were totally uncalled for, he said.

Muslims' acceptance of Lt. Gen. Fonseka for having liberated the east would be affected by his statement, said Mr. Hashim.

Also condemning the statement, MP Vajira Abeywardena said he did not propagate war as a Buddhist.

There are only peaceful achievements, he said, pointing to Karuna and Pillayan having entered the democratic mainstream as examples.

MP Ravindran, a Tamil, said he was grieved to hear such a statement coming from a responsible public official.

He called for an end to war and for a negotiated political solution, and said statement that divided the communities should be condemned.

In an interview with 'National Post' of Canada, Lt. Gen. Fonseka has said, "…..they (minorities) must not try to, under the pretext of being a minority, demand undue things."

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader Rauff Hakeem has also condemned the army commander's remarks.

SLAF attacks terror bunker lines

Sri Lanka Air Force MI 24 attack helicopters lunched strikes at a terror bunker line located 3 Km North of Vannerikulama around 12.15 this afternoon (Sept 29), the Air Force sources said.

Air Force spokesperson Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara speaking defence.lk said that the air strikes were launched in support of Task Force 1 troops operating in the western half of the Kilinochchi front.

Wanni liberation continues

Finalized reports on yesterday's (Sept 28) incidents settled terrorist deaths at 23 and casualties at 9. Also, 15 LTTE cadres were marked as either killed or wounded. Four soldiers laid down their lives at the battlefield while 26 others suffered injuries.

On the Kilinochchi battlefront, troops of 57 division continued their offensives in the Akkarayankulam and Kokavil areas during the day. During the clashes reported from Akkarayankulam area, one soldier was killed and 6 others suffered injuries. Meanwhile, during operations conducted in the north of Kokavil area troops found two T-56 weapons, 3 LTTE dresses and 3 cyanide capsules.

In a separate confrontation occurred in the Mankulama area on Saturday (Sept 27) evening troops found one terror dead body and 2 T-56 riffles.

On the western half of the Kilinochchi front, troops of Task force 1, confronted with a group of terrorist in the Manniyankulam area around 9.30, last morning. Intercepted terror radio transmissions confirmed 12 terrorists were killed and 7 others were injured in this incident. Also, 2 soldiers laid down their lives and 11 others sustained injuries.

In separate incidents reported from Vannerikulam and Panaikandamadu areas during the day one soldier was killed and 4 others suffered injuries.

Meanwhile , Task Force 2 troops operating in the Vavuniya front had two separate confrontations with the terrorists in the Palamodai area last afternoon and claimed 3 terrorists were killed. Troops also found one T-56 weapon and 2 hand grenades. In a separate incident reported from the Kummakulam area, a soldier suffered injuries due to an AP (anti personnel) mine explosion during morning hours.

Troops of 56 division maintaining the active defence on either sides of the A-9 road on the Vavuniya forward defence, attacked a terror bunker located in the Koliyakulam area around 6.35 AM. Ground sources confirmed one terrorist was killed in this incident.

Also in the Navatkulama area, troops opened fire at a group of terrorists around 10 AM and claimed one terrorist was killed.

Meanwhile on the Mullaittivu front, troops of 59 division had day long clashes in the Andankulam area and claimed 5 terrorists were killed , 4 others wounded and 15 more were either killed or wounded. Also, a soldier suffered injuries due to terror mortar fire during one of the incidents. Troops also removed 226 AP mines and 12 IEDs during days mine sweeping operations in the area.

In the Jaffna theatre of operations , a sniper deployed in the Muhamalai area confirmed shooting down of one LTTE cadre last evening.

Counter terror operations are being continued.

Air Force fighter jets pound LTTE gathering - Kilinochchi

Sri Lanka Ari Force fighter jets pounded an LTTE gathering point detected 2.5 Km North of Vannerikulama , on the Kilinochchi battlefront at 4.10 PM , Air Force spokesperson Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said.

He added that the air strike was successful.

Hand Grenade explosion injures 8 civilians - Kaattankudi

A hand grenade explosion has been reported from the Kaattankudi town in Batticaloa around 7 PM this evening (Sept 29).

According to the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS), an unknown person has exploded the hand grenade at the public bus stand. Eight civilians have suffered injuries and one motorbike received injuries in the explosion, the sources added.

Police conducts further investigations.

Civic Activists face dangerous trend

On Saturday night an unidentified gang lobbed two hand grenades at the residence of Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) Director and Attorney at-Law J.C Weliamuna. Mr. Weliamuna’s residence is located in close proximity to a police station (Kohuwela), and an army camp (Kohuwela-Pepiliyana road. The attack demonstrates the blatant disregard criminals now have for regular structures of law and order.

The National Peace Council of Sri Lanka condemns the grenade attack on the residence of J C Weliamuna. The NPC views this attack as part of a broader assault on human rights, good governance, accountability and integrity in public life and thus demands stern action be taken against those responsible. We are particularly saddened by this attack as it had taken place at night, when his family and two young children were present. Mr Weliamuna has been a colleague and partner in work we are doing. We appreciate his courage and commitment to the rule of law and to integrity in public life.

Mr. J.C. Weliamuna is presently involved in a number of cases which deal with infringements upon fundamental rights and public interest litigation. Of particular interest are pending cases which involve government officials and member of the police force. Furthermore, last week Mr. Weliamuna made submissions to the Supreme Court, stating that a fellow lawyer had been subjected to death threats for fulfilling his professional duties.

The attack on Mr. Weliamuna is thus suggestive of a dangerous trend of intimidation and interference in the country’s legal processes. The NPC views this attack as an attempt to harm and intimidate a lawyer and civil society activist and to possibly send a warning to all advocates of human rights, good governance, accountability and integrity in public life. This act of violent intimidation can be interpreted as a thinly veiled attempt to silence critical and dissenting voices in the country.

We join the Free Media Movement (FMM), civil society activists and the Bar Association of Sri Lanka’s (BASL) in condemning this attack as an act which threatens not only us all but the very democratic values upon which our respective professions and institutions are founded.

Commonwealth on global food and energy crisis

The Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit (CPSU) is hosting a workshop on 1st October to discuss issues facing Commonwealth Finance Ministers. Guests including experts in the field and Commonwealth High Commissioners will examine potential policy solutions to rising fuel and energy prices ahead of the Commonwealth Finance Ministers’ Meeting in Saint Lucia next month.

Taking place at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies in London , the meeting will hear from a range of speakers including policy experts and representatives from international development charities, Inter-Governmental Organisations and Commonwealth governments.

The workshop comes at a time when across the Commonwealth, but particularly in many poorer countries, individuals and communities are suffering due to increasing costs of food and fuel - fundamental to people’s well being and livelihoods.

The CPSU’s Director, Dr. Victoria teVelde said,

“Rising costs of fuel and food are causing immediate suffering and economic concern across the Commonwealth. CPSU welcomes the chance to organise this important discussion before Commonwealth Finance Ministers’ meet in St Lucia next month. This workshop and CPSU’s briefing document will inform the debate to help ministers find sustainable, practical solutions to the global fuel and food crisis.”

CPSU members will attend the Commonwealth Finance Minister’s Meeting from 6 – 8th October in St Lucia . Copies of CPSU’s policy briefings will be circulated to all Finance Ministers in advance of the meeting.

EU condemns the grenade attack on JC's residence

The European Union condemns the grenade attack of 27th September that targeted the residence of the Executive Director of Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL), Mr. J.C. Weliamuna who is a prominent and respected lawyer.
Although there is no indication on the reasons or on the perpetrators of this attack, it is assumed that the attack may have been against the important Human Rights and Anti corruption work Mr.Weliamuna was involved in.
The EU notes with concern the trend in attacks and threats on journalists, civil society organizations and now a lawyer. We believe it is important that the essential work of civil society organisations such as that of Transparency International Sri Lanka should be supported and that its Representative and staff are safeguarded.
The European Union urges the Government of Sri Lanka to do everything possible to investigate fully this incident and to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.

John Keells Holdings’ Consumer Foods Sector again bagged two Silver

John Keells Holdings’ Consumer Foods Sector yet again bagged two Silver
Awards at last week’s 16th annual “NCE Export Awards 2007” for the second consecutive year.
The two Silver Awards in the ‘Extra Large Business Group Category’ went to Keells Food Products PLC and Ceylon Cold Stores PLC for reaching significant milestones in their respective business activities in the international arena Organized by the National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka for the 16th consecutive year, the NCE
Awards are Sri Lanka’s most prestigious awards which recognise and reward the outstanding export performance of companies which provide goods and services from Sri Lanka.

The JKH Consumer Foods Sector is home to some of Sri Lanka’s strongest and most popular food and beverage brands, all of them being market leaders in their respective categories. The Keells Foods brand of processed meats is considered a
“Preferred Brand” by thousands of discerning consumers, and, by almost all star class hotels and catering institutions in Sri Lanka.

Manager Exports for JKH Consumer Goods Christy Fernando said, “Keells Foods further consolidated its strong market presence in India, Dubai and Maldives and went on to record a 26% growth in export sales during the Financial Year 2007/2008”.

Elephant Soft Drinks with its value added portfolio of sub brands, together with Elephant House Ice Creams, have reached many international markets through the taste preferences of numerous Sri Lankans domiciled in various parts of the globe.

“Elephant Soft Drinks now commands a significant presence in the international arena. Elephant Ginger Beer made from locally grown natural ayurvedic ginger continues to make inroads to many international markets. The distinct flavour and medicinal properties of this product have captured the attention of the rapidly growing
natural and organic foods market. Notwithstanding tough competition in the beverage sphere, Elephant Ginger Beer (EGB) successfully entered five new markets in 2007/2008 across over 25 countries while Elephant House Ice Cream’s market leader position in the Maldives makes it grow from strength to strength amid tough competition
from various international flavours and brands”, Fernando added.

Xerox introduces Digital Press to Sri Lanka

Lumen Technologies announced the launch of the long awaited Digital Press Solutions from Xerox to the Sri Lankan market in order to meet the short run requirements of the local graphics industry (commercial printers, publishers, pre-presses, etc.)

The Digital Press is ideal for producing high-end collateral, direct marketing and photo specialty products, jobs that typically generate the most profits for print providers. It is an addition to Xerox's industry-leading production digital portfolio, following the revolutionary Xerox IGen 3, which led the industry into a new into a new age of digital color printing.

Chief Operating Officer of Lumen Technologies, authorised distributor for Xerox in Sri Lanka, Rukshan Sheriff, said, "Our aim is to offer our customers the best solutions to their business needs. Every high-quality color print that comes off the Digital Press will help set our customers apart from their competition with full color and monochrome high speed digital presses offering benchmark productivity, print quality and economy".

Since color consistency and predictability are critical to customers, repeat jobs will always look the same with the Xerox Digital Press. It also creates offset and photo-quality images with consistent color from the first print to the last. Breakthrough technology with more than 400 new parts and subsystems, as well as new patented technologies, combine to enable the press to generate its high-definition image quality.

Sheriff said that the increase of productivity from 25% to 35% on a Digital Press will be through the automation of operator tasks, such as not needing to stop the machine to replace the developer with the new carrier dispensing system. “By automating operator tasks on a press, the need to stop the press for adjustments is greatly reduced. As a result, overall operating costs decrease and the break-even point improves between digital and traditional offset printing. In fact, it is faster and more economical to print short run jobs on a Digital Press”, he added.

Two trains collided -one killed

Two trains were collided in Ganemulla a short while ago.One person was killed and at least 15 persons have been injured due to the train accident in Ganemulla, railway officials said.

Two trains had collided. One of them was the Inter city train heading to Kandy and the other was the slow train travelling from Fort to Polgahawela.

Two trains collided -one killed

Two trains were collided in Ganemulla a short while ago.One person was killed and a number of persons were injured.

LMSL case: Supreme Court says CID director should be removed

The three-member Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva on Monday chastised the Criminal Investigation Division (CID), the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption and the Attorney General for failing to take any action pursuant to the Lanka Marine Services Ltd (LMSL) 21 July 2008 judgment.

When the case came up for hearing on a motion by the petititioner Vasudeva Nanayakkara asking why no action has been taken following the judgment, the Chief Justice made mention of the fact that no action had been taken despite months since the judgment was handed down and said the Director of the CID should be removed.

The Court also issued notice on former Treasury Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundera to appear on October8 and explain to the Court his new duties as Advisor (to the President) to ascertain if he is indeed holding public office after the Court clearly stated previously that he was not fit to do so. The Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) were present in court while Dr Jayasundera and Directors of John Keells Holdings were not present, as they hadn’t been noticed to appear.

LTTE terrorists in Army uniforms commit violence in Jaffna

Troops patrolling in the Makiyapiddi area in the Jaffna peninsula observed three LTTE cadres clad in Army uniforms around 11 this morning (Jaffna).

When troops asked the suspects who were loitering near a Hindu temple to identify themselves, the suspects lobbed two hand grenades at troops and escaped. During the search operations troops found 2 hand grenades, 3 sets of Army combat uniforms, and a grenade launcher with one round.

A senior defence official in the area speaking to defence.lk said that the motive of the terrorists is to tarnish the good image of the security forces by committing violence against civilians in guise of security forces' personnel.

Annual General Meeting of the Chamber of Construction Industry

5th Annual General Meeting of the incorporated Chamber of Construction Industry Sri Lanka will be held on 30th Sept. 2008 at the Ballroom of Hotel Galadari, Colombo.

The AGM will commence at 5.45 p.m. and will be followed by a Forum, Fellowship and cocktail reception. Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, Minister of Construction and Engineering Services will be the Chief Guest. Hon. Prof. G.L. Peiris, M.P. Minister of Export Development and International Trade will deliver the keynote address at 7.15 p.m.


Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, a corporate member of the Chamber will make a presentation on “Investment Opportunities in Sri Lanka”.


Representatives of Founder member associations such as Sri Lanka Institute of Architects, Institute of Town Planners of Sri Lanka, The Surveyors Institute of Sri Lanka, Institute of Valuers of Sri Lanka, Institute of Quantity Surveyors Sri Lanka, Insurance Association of Sri Lanka, The Association of Consulting Engineers, Sri Lanka and National Construction Association of Sri Lanka, with statutory agency members, corporate members and individual members are expected to attend the AGM at which the office bearers and members to the council will be elected.

Archt./Plnr. Deshabandu Surath Wickramasinghe and Vice Presidents Eng. D.D. Wijemanna, Valuer S.N. Wijepala and Archt. Rukshan Widyalankara who have been holding office from the very inception of the Chamber which was established in the year 2001 are expected to be re-elected without a contest.

Depositors demand money back from ‘Danduwam Mudalali’

Over 3000 people had surrounded the house of Piyadasa Ratnayake (Danduwam Mudalali) in Gurupokuna, Hungama on Friday after the Central Bank announced that he was among those operating an unregistered finance institution.
Those who surrounded his house had demanded that their deposits be returned with the promised interest. Since there had been a large crowd, Ratnayake had used loudspeakers to calm the crowd and had told them that he had assets to pay back the deposits with interest.

The Central Bank had given one month’s notice to Piyadasa Ratnayake to apply to be registered as a finance company and the necessary prerequisite was to deposit Rs. 200 million with the Central Bank.

Addressing the agitated depositors Ratnayake said he would carry forward his business activities and would not leave the country. He promised he would make his institution a legitimate finance company and had showed a document to this effect to the crowd.

He also played an audio recording asking him to come to Colombo to register his company. Once he assured that he would register his company the depositors had calmed down.

However security had been provided to Ratnayake’s house by the Hungama police following the incident.

Medirigiriya tensed following police shooting

A tensed situation developed in Medirigiriya, Polonaruwa after police shot dead a man who failed to stop at a check point. Two policemen and two civilians were injured in an ensuing clash.

Police Commandos thwart terror infiltration bid - Ampara

Police Special Task Force (STF) commandos thwarted an LTTE infiltration bid at Kalawanchikudi in Ampara district this morning (Sept 29).

According to the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) an STF patrol has detected a suspicious boat moving in the Kodamadhu lagoon around 5 AM. When the STF personnel challenged the persons on the boat, they have opened fire at troops. STF troops effectively overpowered the terrorists and destroyed the boat.

During the subsequent search, STF troops found two bodies of slain LTTE cadres, along with one T-56 riffle, two hand grenades, one claymore mine, one radio antenna, ammo, LTTE uniforms, explosives and other military gear.

Police conduct further investigations.

Adequate food supplies for Wanni

Dismissing certain reports about a shortage of food and other essential items in the Wanni, Essential Services Commissioner S.B.Divarathna said yesterday that there was enough stocks for six months stored in Vavuniya, and these would be delivered continuously to Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi.

According to Divarathna 75 to 80 lorries are already being loaded with stocks amounting to 1,000 tons expected to reach uncleared areas before next Saturday.

This is to be followed by another consignment of 4,000 tons of essential items in the coming weeks. According to Divarathna, UN representatives have been allowed to accompany the convoys to witness the distribution.

Divarathna added that this was the first time that such a large convoy would reach these areas as the normal practice was to send around 20 lorries at a time.

He added that 250 field trucks had been reserved to transport essential items without delay although Government Agents in the areas possessed enough stocks for the time being.

Authorities said moves are underway to make Vavuniya a humanitarian assistance hub to help an exodus of IDPs due to the military operations in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu.

Strict orders have been relayed to both Security Forces and authorities to make a safe passage for civilians fleeing from uncleared areas and make all arrangements for their safety and wellbeing, authorities said.

Tiger Points in Ponnar Challenged

JAFFNA: ARMY troops continued attacks on Tiger points in the general area of PONNAR on Sunday (28) evening around 5.00 p.m.. As a result, one terrorist was confirmed killed by the troops.

JAFFNA troops launched an attack on a few terrorist bunkers Saturday (17) early morning destroying four of them.

Navattikulam Terrorist Hideouts Attacked

VAVUNIYA: A FEW more Tiger hideouts in the general areas of NAVATTIKULAM and north of PALAMODDAI came under Army small arms and RPG (Rocket Propeller Gun) fire Sunday (28). Four terrorists were confirmed killed during confrontations. Troops recovered one T-56 weapon and two hand grenades belonging to terrorists in the area.

Two soldiers were also injured in the encounter and admitted to hospital.

Another soldier who was injured in the explosion of an anti personnel mine was also referred for medical treatment.

Soldier Injured in Suicide Blast Succumbs to Injuries

ANURADHAPURA: ONE out of three soldiers who were admitted to ANURADHAPURA General Hospital following the LTTE suicide explosion in VAVUNIYA town Sunday (28) succumbed to his injuries whilst being treated in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit).

Lance Corporal R.M.J. HERATH (28) of Sri Lanka Army Service Corps was on duty at the roadblock near the place of the incident and was initially admitted to VAVUNIYA hospital with severe injuries sustained due to the explosion. He was a resident of POLPITHIGAMA, KURUNEGALA.

Later, he was transferred to ANURADHAPURA along with eight other injured persons for further treatment.

LTTE Loses 4 km of AKKARAYANKULAM – MURIKKANDY Road

KILINOCHCHI: TROOPS of the 57 Division, crushing Tigers’ military power further towards the A-9 road, captured a 4 km area along the AKKARAYANKULAM – MURIKKANDY road by Sunday (28) afternoon around 3.00 p.m. after intensive fighting.

Clashes commenced around 8.00 a.m. in the morning and continued until the terrorists holding positions along the captured block of the AKKARAYANKULAM – MURIKKANDY road were defeated killing seven LTTE fighting cadres.

One soldier laid his life and three others sustained injuries.

Clearing operations are continuing.

Tigers Bringing Suicide Jacket, Arms & Ammunition Bumped Off

AMPARA: SPECIAL TASK FORCE (STF) troops on ambush near the KODAMADU lagoon in KALAVANCHIKUDY, AMPARA observed an LTTE boat in the lagoon around 5.00 a.m. Monday (29) morning.

STF ordered the suspects who got out of the boat to stop, but those men they suddenly opened fire at the troops, prompting the troops to respond with small arms.

STF counter fire caused damages to one LTTE boat simultaneously and it exploded emitting a huge pall of smoke.

Troops immediately cordoned the area and conducted a search to find two LTTE dead bodies, one T-56 weapon, four magazines, 110 ammunition rounds, one suicide jacket, ninety-five M-16 ammunition rounds, seven micro pistol rounds, one claymore mine fixed to a coconut shell, 300g of explosives, one Icom antenna, two hand grenades, two detonator codes, one LTTE uniform and uniform accessories, one cyanide capsule and one mobile phone.

It is suspected those Tigers arriving from MULLAITTIVU sea areas have abortively tried to infiltrate the east with a view to committing violence in the area.

Police and Army investigations are on.

Blast damages motor cars -No casualties

A blast has occured inside a vehicle at Malwatta road in Colombo Fort a short while ago.Police say there is no casualties.However a nuber of vehicles have been damaged due to the blast.

Illicit liquor death toll rises to 19

The death toll of people who had consumed illicit liquor in Weliveriya rose to 19 today. Over 40 people are still receiving treatment in hospitals. Police have arrested six persons including a woman in connection with the illegal brewery.

Bomb blast at Fort

A blast was reported near the Khan Clock Tower, Fort area- Colombo a short while ago.Wait for details.

Chathurika sues film director

The Colombo District Court has issued an enjoining order preventing a film director from selling and releasing a collection of film songs following a civil suit filed by a budding actress Chathurika Peiris.

The Colombo District judge Sisira Ratnayake issued this order following a plaint filed by the young actress Peiris against N. S. Niranjan, a film director from India.

In her plaint, Chathurika Peiris stated that she signed an agreement with the defendant film director in June 2005 and having completed a major part of the film, production was stopped and the director left for India. Nearly two years later in April 2008, he had returned and wanted her to complete the production. She claimed that she was promised the lead female role but was not awarded it as pledged. The young actress said that having restarted the film after two years her appearance and the suitability to the role had changed and she wanted to know how she was going to be paid to complete the production.

In the meantime, the director has released a CD with the visual of the cast including hers and she complained that she is a popular actress and due to the alleged incident,a damage of ,Rs. 10 million had been caused to her popularity.

The court issued an enjoining order preventing the sale of the CD till October 9 and issued notice on the defendant.

ZOA says its programme manager did not join LTTE

Referring to an article in the newspapers which states that ZOA’s Kilinochchi Programme Manager has joined the LTTE as a fighter, ZOA yesterday said that the news was incorrect and groundless.
A ZOA statement said: “The government has given instructions to all UN Agencies and NGOs working in the wanni to relocate their humanitarian and development operations to Vavuniya before Monday, September 29.”

“In compliance with the government’s instructions, ZOA has relocated the concerned programme Manager, its only international staff member in the region, to Vavuniya and report to work at ZOA’s Vavuniya on Friday 26 September.

‘The Programme Manager and other ZOA employees in the wanni were solely involved in humanitarian aid like distribution of food and shelter materials to many displaced civilians.”

Shipping company starts a joint venture in Sri lanka

September 24, 2008 was a red letter day for the shipping industry when Wallem Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd - joint venture between Wallem and Co., Hong Kong and Dev Engineering (Pvt) Ltd., Sri Lanka, was launched at the Mt. Lavinia Hotel.

The new ‘ship’ of Wallem Lanka (Pvt) Ltd is set to sail on a voyage of setting professional standards in its quest for assisting Wallem’s pursuit to have the most professional seafarers in the industry serving in Wallem ships.

This is an ideal opportunity for Sri Lankans aspiring for a professional training qualification and career at sea with the provision of invaluable international exposure, dealing with international commerce and transport and technical expertise. Wallem Lanka expects this joint venture to be mutually beneficial for Wallems and Dev Engineering by training and harnessing the best of seafarers in Sri Lanka, whilst the joint venture company affords a great opportunity for Sri Lankans to be gainfully trained and employed thereby bringing in the much needed foreign exchange to the country.

Wallem & Co., the oldest ship management company in the world and one of the largest, started a joint venture in Sri Lanka in association with Dev Engineering (Pvt) Ltd to train and harness the manpower potential in Sri Lanka for seafaring. The new joint venture company called ‘Wallem Lanka (Pvt) Ltd’ was launched at a glittering ceremony an event of the type that had never been seen before by the maritime fraternity in Sri Lanka.

Wallem & Co is the world’s oldest Ship Management Company, having been started in 1903 by Haakon ‘Typhoon’ Wallem in Shanghai. In 1947, Wallem moved to its headquarters in Hong Kong and has been in Hong Kong since then.

Wallem at times has been ship owners, but have always been shipping agents, ship brokers and, since 1971, third party ship managers. Wallem & Co is also one of the largest ship management companies in the world today, managing in excess of 350 ships. Wallem has spread all over the world and has over 6,000 people working in Wallem managed ships and another 600 people work in about 50 Wallem offices in 18 countries.

Customers under Wallem management have full on-line access to the procurement, accounting and personnel records for their ships.

Wallem is still shipping agents all over Asia, air cargo agents in Malaysia, Thailand and Manila, shipbrokers in Qingdao, Hong Kong, Taipei and Hamburg.

Wallem develops maritime software in-house in the Philippines.

The largest three tankers ever built were in full technical management with Wallem Ship Management until they were taken out of operation due to impending MARPOL (Marine Pollution Prevention) regulations.

Wallem leads in successful shipping joint ventures in China: the Pen-Wallem Agency network in all major Chinese ports, Cosco Wallem Ship Management and Wallem Maritime Training Center in Qingdao.

A Green award winning company, paying highest market rates in way of salaries to staff emphasizes the importance of looking after the welfare of officers and their families. As a result most of the afloat and ashore staff, have long service records with the company and are very proud of their association with the company.

Five Media condemns attack on Weliamuna

Five Media, the five organizations for media freedom, has vehemently condemned the grenade attack on the home J.C. Weliamuna, prominent attorney-at-law, and Executive Director of Transparency International Sri Lanka.

According to reports, the attack took place around 11:45 pm on September 27th, in which two grenades were thrown at the premises, one of which did not explode.

Five Media said in a press release, "We understand that while there is damage to the house, there were no physical injuries sustained by Mr. Weliamuna or his wife and two infant children who were in the house at the time."

In what has become a familiar, horrifying pattern in respect of similar attacks, Mr. Weliamuna’s home is located close to a police station (Kohuwela), an army camp (Pepiliyana), a regular army mobile checkpoint at night and a major checkpoint and roadblock (at Saranankara Road bridge).

Mr. Weliamuna, who is a well-known human rights lawyer, appears in a number of important fundamental rights cases, some of which involve high officials of the present regime.

In particular, we note that Mr. Weliamuna was counsel in a fundamental rights application involving serious police malpractice that came up for hearing last week, in which the Supreme Court ordered a special investigation regarding the police on questions relating to criminal intimidation and filing of false charges against the petitioner by the police.

In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Weliamuna is engaged in the public campaign against bribery and corruption in his work with TISL, as well as civil society advocacy in regard to the non-implementation of the 17th Amendment to the Constitution.

In the recent past, we note that TISL has published a Corruption Perception Index and that Mr. Weliamuna has been an active voice against insidious attempts to whittle down the scope of the 17th Amendment.

Five Media says it considers this attack as a matter of grave significance.

It is an attempt to harm and intimidate a lawyer and civil society activist, and through such attacks to send a broader message to those who represent the cause of human rights, good governance, accountability and integrity in public life.

This reprehensible act of violent intimidation therefore is an attempt to silence critical and dissenting voices, including civil society and the media.

It also represents a clear challenge to the independence and integrity of the legal profession, and contempt for the rule of law and legal processes.

Five Media urges media and legal professions, civil society, and the judiciary to regard this attack as an act of aggression against all of us and the democratic values upon which our respective professions and institutions are founded.

It calls upon authorities to immediately conduct a full, independent, and impartial investigation into this attack with a view to apprehending and prosecuting the perpetrators, and to make such findings public as a matter of urgency.

We hope that such an investigation will not go the way of such investigations in a countless number of cases before, whereby nothing tangible has ever resulted by way of bringing the culprits to justice.

The five media organisations would like to express their concern for and solidarity with Mr. Weliamuna and his young family at this time of acute distress.

Gati opens office in Dubai Airport Free Zone

Gati, a leader in the express distribution and supply chain solutions in India, has made its foray into the Middle East market setting up operations in Dubai Airport Free Zone.
Gati has offices in China, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. In India, Gati has over 4000 vehicles on road covering 594 out of 608 districts, with mechantronic warehousing facilities of 1.5 million sq. ft. across all major cities in the country.

Malaysians passports abused by Lankans - envoy

Malaysian passports were often abused by nationals from China, Sri Lanka and India to gain illegal entry into Britain, Malaysian High Commissioner to Britain Abdul Aziz Mohamad said.

“And Malaysians are frequently reported as acting as facilitators to arrange for other nationals to enter Britain,” he said when briefing the Malaysian community in London on the proposed visa ruling for Malaysians travelling to Britain.

Malaysia is in the top five countries whose citizens are consistently being denied entry into Britain. Malaysians are also among the top 10 nationalities who overstay and in the top 20 for overall immigration abuses. He said Malaysians had been in Britain’s bad books over visa abuses, with about 1,500 of them refused entry last year.

Aziz said the Home Office’s third and last stage of its visa-waiver test for Malaysia and 10 other countries was expected to run until January or February next year.

CPA STATEMENT ON THE RECENT COMMENTS BY GENERAL SARATH FONSEKA IN CANADA'S NATIONAL POST

The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) is deeply concerned by and strongly disapproves of statements made by the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, General Sarath Fonseka, in an interview with Stewart Bell of the National Post newspaper of Canada, published on 23rd September 2008.

In this interview, General Fonseka has made some disquieting observations of a highly political nature. Among other things, General Fonseka has stated that,

"I strongly believe that this country belongs to the Sinhalese but there are minority communities and we treat them like our people...We being the majority of the country, 75%, we will never give in and we have the right to protect this country...We are also a strong nation ... They can live in this country with us. But they must not try to, under the pretext of being a minority, demand undue things."

These sentiments, which General Fonseka has made public on several other occasions in interactions with local and international media, are cause for alarm in at least two respects. Firstly, the fact that the Commander of the Army feels free to represent his personal opinions and enter into public discussion about policy matters that are constitutionally the proper domain of the political executive, and indeed is allowed to do so repeatedly without any restraint by the political executive. Secondly, the highly contentious and insensitive nature of what is apparently an ideological perspective that is held by General Fonseka about the nature of the Sri Lankan polity, the political anatomy of the conflict in Sri Lanka, and the means of its resolution.

In regard to the first concern, it should be noted that while constitutional practice in Sri Lanka leaves much to be desired from the perspective of both democratic values and postulates of constitutional government, one cardinal principle of democratic government that has at least hitherto been adhered to is that of civilian control over the military. Thus policy-making and the political direction of any governmental programme involving the military are matters for elected officials of the executive, who are, moreover, responsible and accountable to Parliament and the people for both such policy and the conduct of the military within the framework of government policy, the law, and the Constitution. A necessary implication of this principle is that members of the armed forces desist from engaging in political debate through public expression of private opinions. The military is enjoined by legal duty and constitutional obligation to the direction and control of the civilian political executive; it is not their task either to make policy or to express preferences.

We recall that on the one occasion in this country in which the military attempted to overstep its role in 1962, that attempt was brought swiftly, firmly, and decisively under control by a democratically elected and legally constituted government led by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, which is also the principal party of the current governing coalition. For General Fonseka to be given the unbridled leeway to volunteer political opinions about the ethnic conflict is therefore not merely a clear violation of a fundamental principle of democratic government; it also suggests that the present government does not apprehend the chilling dangers of allowing military men to venture into the arena of political debate. It is because of the fact that Sri Lanka has succeeded in upholding the principle of civilian control over the military that we have escaped the unfortunate experiences of neighbouring countries such as Pakistan.

Quite apart from this departure from established principles about the proper boundaries of civil-military relations in a democracy are the contumelious political opinions of an ethnic-ideological nature that are evidently held, and abrasively articulated, by General Fonseka. By making politically uninformed statements about which community 'owns' Sri Lanka, General Fonseka demonstrates the discredited majoritarian mindset that views the Tamil and other minority communities with a lack of respect and dignity. It also displays his ignorance and utter insensitivity to the political aspirations of a people the government is claiming to liberate, aspirations based on equality and dignity. They also lend credence to the fundamental argument that military men necessarily do not have the competence to engage in public policy debates, especially about a matter as complex and fundamental in Sri Lankan politics as the resolution of the internal ethnic conflict in the context of ethnic and religious diversity.

General Fonseka's opinions seem also to be inconsistent even with the avowed policy of the present government, expressed most recently this week by the President at the U.N. General Assembly, that the war is against terrorism and the LTTE, and not the Tamil people; that the restoration of democracy and development in the North and East is a priority; and that a political solution must be evolved through the APRC which involves devolution, power-sharing, and a recognition that Sri Lanka belongs to all communities.

For these reasons, we deplore and condemn in the strongest possible terms the abhorrent and unacceptable statements made by General Fonseka; call upon the President to take immediate action to prevent statements of this nature being made in the future; and to ensure that public confidence in the government's commitment to and respect for the proper constitutional boundaries between the civil and military realms is restored.

REMOVAL OF INTERNATIONAL NGOS WORSENS CIVILIAN PLIGHT

--Jehan Perera

Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, Prof. Walter Kalin, who visited Sri Lanka recently laid down the appropriate guidelines to be followed in dealing with the victims of Sri Lanka’s earlier phase of war, tsunami and displacement. He said that displaced persons have the right to go back to their homes in the conflict zones or relocate to any other part of the country. He said that the UN and humanitarian organisations have a vital role to play in securing the lives of the people. He also said that lasting peace was only achievable if they were assured safety and security from war and bombs, compensated for lost property, provided with reconstructed houses and safeguarded against discrimination.

But with government troops nearing the LTTE’s administrative capital of Kilinochchi statements by government spokespersons exude confidence that Sri Lanka has had enough with foreign advice, and will do things its own way. Those in charge of the war effort in particular have reason to be upbeat in their mood. The government’s progress on the battlefield has gone better than anticipated. The town of Kilinochchi is within range of the government’s firepower. There is a human trait when things go well to believe in the correctness of one’s own assessment of the current position. But when this is coupled with the narrowing of vision that accompanies ethnic nationalism, the possibility of mistakes becomes higher.

One of the areas in which the government has taken strong but questionable action has been with respect to international humanitarian organizations. Earlier this month the government requested the international humanitarian organizations working in the north to vacate the battle ground areas. The government’s justification for this order was that it could not guarantee the safety of international humanitarian workers and did not wish to see a repeat of the tragedy that occurred in the east. Two years ago 17 national aid workers belonging to an international humanitarian organization were summarily executed in a battle zone.

But there has also been a perception within the government, and one that is shared by the wider population, that many international organizations have been sympathetic if not downright supportive of the LTTE. There have been many public speeches by government members that NGOs are pro-LTTE and cannot be trusted, and this charge has received wide publicity in the government-controlled media and also in sections of the nationalist media. After the government forces started to recapture territory held for a long period by the LTTE they began to find equipment and other donations of international NGOs within captured LTTE bases. This gave rise to the suspicion that the NGOs had been deliberately supplying the LTTE.

Sections of the media, especially those of the government-controlled media, gave wide publicity to these findings that were adverse to the NGOs claim to be impartial and neutral humanitarian actors. However, speaking to the UN General Assembly last week, President Mahinda Rajapaksa himself admitted that the LTTE had been taking a portion of the relief supplies that the government itself was sending to the people in the LTTE-controlled areas. The President did so to highlight the more important point that Sri Lanka was unique amongst war-affected countries, in that it did not discriminate against people living in rebel-held areas, but supplied them irrespective of where they lived.


NATIONAL INTEREST

Despite President Rajapaksa’s statesmanlike speech in New York, the government’s insistence that international NGOs should leave the northern battle zones continues to prevail. Government spokespersons have said they have evidence that some international NGOs have tried to cover up the extent of LTTE take-over of their supplies, while some of them may have permitted their supplies to fall into LTTE hands. Powerful sections of the government believe that the international NGOs are on the side of the LTTE. Accordingly, the government’s decision to completely handle the distribution of food and other relief items is seen as being in the national interest.

As its alternative to the presence of international humanitarian organizations within the LTTE-controlled areas, the government has requested them to deliver their assistance through the government’s administrative system that continues to operate within the LTTE-controlled areas. The government has reason to be satisfied that its administrative system continues to function in LTTE-held areas. The government has also offered the international NGOs an opportunity to travel with the food and relief convoys into the LTTE-controlled areas and to ensure that the relief supplies are handed over to the care of the Government Agent of the area.

However, the problem is that the government officials working in the LTTE-controlled areas have to be very mindful of what the LTTE also wants. Their salaries are being paid by the government and they are responsible to the government. But it is also likely that the government officials in the north are more fearful and possibly supportive of the LTTE, and are less independent of them, than the international NGOs. In the past the LTTE has assassinated several government officials, including Government Agents who headed the district administration, presumably for non-compliance with their directives. On the other hand, the LTTE has not dared to punish any international member of an NGO in a similar manner.

What this means is that the government’s decision to evacuate the international NGOs from the north is likely to lead to greater LTTE dominance over the issuance of food and other relief items. It is not reasonable to expect the government officials working in the LTTE-controlled areas to be independent of the LTTE and to check them in case of any abuse of those relief supplies. Ironically, with the departure of the international NGOs at the government’s behest, there will be no one who can independently monitor the distribution of relief supplies and report back without fear of being punished by the LTTE.


HUMAN SHIELDS

Fortunately, there is still time for the government leadership to reconsider their stances in favour of the civilian population. At the present time, it is reported that Kilinochchi has become a ghost town with most of its inhabitants having fled to the eastern part of the Wanni. Therefore the problem of civilian casualties and human shields is reduced. The problem will arise after the battle for Kilinochchi, if the government forces decide to carry on the battle to the last LTTE-hold town of Mullaitivu in the Wanni. At that point there will be nowhere left for the civilian population to flee.

The government needs to consider if it is doing what is right by the civilian population by ordering the evacuation of the international humanitarian organizations. The government’s most recent decision to permit the international NGOs to accompany the humanitarian convoys into the LTTE-controlled areas is a positive development, but it is unlikely to prove sufficient. If limited to having the international community verify safe receipt of the supplies, it will not help in the distribution process after the convoys leave. After the international NGOs leave the area having ensured that the supplies are delivered to the Government Agent, there will be no one who can independently monitor what happens to those supplies.

One of the fears expressed about the plight of the civilians is that they will be utilized as human shields. If the international humanitarian organizations do accompany the relief convoys sent in by the government, without safeguards for longer term monitoring, there is the distinct possibility that they will be giving legitimacy to a process that is open to abuse. There is a possibility of the LTTE ordering the government officials to send the supplies to areas they consider strategic in order to compel the people to also move there. The government officials working in the LTTE-controlled areas may not be in a position to give advance notice of such decisions, let alone challenge the LTTE on them.

The UN spokesperson is reported to have said that relief workers would be part of the convoys going into the LTTE controlled areas in keeping with international obligations during conflict situations. The hope has also been expressed that this measure would be reassuring to the people of those areas that they have not been abandoned to the mercies of the two armed combatant parties, and that the international community continues to watch over their welfare. However, it is important that the international humanitarian organizations led by the UN should also insist that they be permitted to stay on to monitor the distribution of the relief supplies, as that too is part of their international obligation.

Tuk-tuk drivers turn life-savers

Knotting bandages, carefully lifting an injured person and applying pressure to a bleeding wound are not usually all in a day’s work for tuk-tuk drivers.

But a pre-hospital care training programme will make thousands of scooter taxi drivers throughout Sri Lanka proficient in first-aid procedures that could help save lives and prevent disabilities, according to health professionals.

Usually blamed for causing road accidents, the three-wheeler drivers are being taught the basics of first aid, including managing bleeding, burns and fractures, checking airways for obstructions and deciding when to use the wheelbarrow lift or the fireman’s lift.

“Three-wheeler drivers are usually the first to arrive at the scene of a road accident,” said Adrian Mutupulle of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS), pointing out that tuk-tuks are a popular and quick way to get about. “We are training them to be first responders when they get there.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) and an NGO, Medical Teams International, are funding the project, which is seen as a significant step towards improving the first response system on the island where only the capital, Colombo, can boast a fully-fledged ambulance service. The training, targeting some 4,500 three-wheeler drivers, 1,300 traffic police officers and about 1,000 civilians, was planned around World First Aid Day on 13 September and is the first step in a continuing programme.



“Road accidents are one of the leading causes of death here,” said Lanka Dissanayake, WHO’s national consultant in charge of non-communicable diseases. “We want to assist the Ministry of Health to train the first responders to meet an emergency situation without causing any more trauma for the victims.”

Many accident victims are transported to hospital in scooter taxis, often increasing the risk of aggravating injuries. “Cervical and spinal injuries are the main cause of permanent disability and can be made worse during transportation,” said Dissanayake. “With proper lifting techniques, this can easily be avoided. Lives can also be saved by keeping the airways of the injured person open. Even removing helmets has to be done carefully.”

At a training session organised by the SLRCS, first-aid instructor Thilak Kumara asked drivers from Negombo in the western Gampaha District how a broken leg could be stabilised before the patient was carried.

Participants eagerly offered suggestions such as using a plank or a broomstick. But Kumara showed them instead how to use the patient’s uninjured leg as a splint and demonstrated the correct way of binding the two limbs together with bandages.

“I have taken patients in my vehicle before, but this is the first time I saw how it should be done correctly,” said Gerard Priyantha, one of the participants.

Nishantha Silva, another driver, recounted how he had recently helped a person who was knocked down by a motorcycle and taken him to hospital. “His leg was bleeding profusely and I held it tightly hoping it would stop.” At the training session he learnt that he could have more effectively staunched the bleeding by applying pressure farther up the thigh.

Dissanayake said tuk-tuk drivers could not be discouraged from ferrying injured people to hospitals “because very often there is no other alternative”.

“This training should be given to more people, not only to three-wheeler drivers,” said W. Jayatilleke, who pointed out that when he rushed an accident victim to hospital, he lost out on other hires and it meant the loss of a day’s work if he had to give evidence about the accident later on.

He has felt the brunt of relatives’ ire who sometimes blamed the taxi drivers for making the patient’s condition worse after a ride in the cramped three-wheeler. “At least now we can confidently tell them that we know something of how to care for accident victims.”

The trainees were given certificates, a first aid kit, first-aid brochures to distribute and a sticker saying, “I have been trained in First Aid” to display on their vehicles.

The SLRCS hopes to have a refresher course to evaluate the trainees’ performance after six months, while the WHO is considering linking up with other UN agencies to extend the programme to cover a larger target group.

SLAF raids LTTE positions

Sri Lanka Air Force carried out two separate air strikes targeting LTTE positions in Mullaittivu and Welioya fronts this afternoon, 28 September.

The first attack was launched around 3.00 p.m targeting the observed LTTE reinforcement teams in general area 5Km northeast of Akkarayankulam to assist the ground troops of 57 Division, Air Force spokesperson Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said.

Meanwhile, MI-24 helicopters raided LTTE bunker positions in general area Thandimurippukulam, east of Oddusudan, in Welioya front around 3.45 p.m, spokesperson added.

Wanni liberation operation in progress; 21 terrorists killed, over 20 injured

According to the finalized military report received from the battlefront said that 21 LTTE terrorists were killed and 11 others suffered injuries in confrontations took place in Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya, Welioya and Jaffna fronts yesterday, 28 September. 11 more terrorists were reportedly either killed or wounded.

Troops of 57 Division operating in Mullaittivu district had confronted with LTTE terrorists in Akkarayankulam and Kokkavil areas killing 2 terrorists and injuries another. 3 soldiers laid their lives for defending the motherland while another 3 sustained injuries during these clashes.

In Kilinochchi front, six LTTE terrorists were killed in confrontations ensued between LTTE terrorists and troops of Task Force 1 in Vannerikulam area. Two soldiers made their utmost sacrifice for defending the motherland while another 12 received injuries. By intercepting LTTE communication it is learnt that 6 more LTTE terrorists had been killed and 2 suffered injuries in a clash occurred in general area Manniyakulam on 26 September.

In Vavuniya front, troops of Task Force 2 confronted with LTTE terrorists in general area Palamoddai. 4 LTTE terrorists were killed and 8 others suffered injuries in these clashes. In the same front, troops of 56 Division, gunned down 2 more LTTE terrorists in general area Vedamakilam.

In Welioya front, 2 LTTE terrorists were killed while another 11 suffered injuries due to the clashes reported in Andankulam area. 11 more terrorists reportedly either killed or wounded.

In Jaffna front, army snipers deployed in general area Muahmalai gunned down an LTTE terrorists during the daytime yesterday. Meanwhile, 2 LTTE terrorists suffered injuries while another 3 reportedly either killed or wounded in clashes reported in Ponnar and Muhamalai respectively. 8 soldiers sustained injuries in LTTE attacks in general area Ponnar, Nagarkovil and Muhamalai areas.

LTTE Fires Artillery & Mortars towards Advancing Troops

KILINOCHCHI: TROOPS on advance in the KILINOCHCHI front met Tiger resistance in AKKARAYANKULAM area Saturday (27). Terrorist fire power was overpowered by the troops killing two terrorists and injuring one. Two soldiers caught up in explosions of terrorist IED (Improvised Explosive Device) and anti personnel mines sustained injuries and were admitted to hospital for treatment. At the same time, a few rounds of artillery fired by terrorists fell near the troops killing three soldiers operating in AKKARAYANKULAM area.

Meanwhile, seven terrorists lost their lives in confrontation with the troops inching forward in VANNERIKKULAM and north of KARAMADDAKULAM areas Saturday (27). Shower of LTTE mortar fire directed from their gun positions in VANNERIKKULAM between 6.00 p.m. and 9.00 p.m. injured nine soldiers while seven more soldiers sustained injuries in separate confrontations and anti personnel mine explosions in the same area.

Two more soldiers who bravely fought the Tiger terrorists sacrificed their lives in the general area of VANNERIKKULAM, the same day.

Suicide attack in Vavuniya

One civilian was killed and nine others were injured in a LTTE suicide bombing in Vavuniya a short while ago, Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said.

A suicide bomber on a bicycle had rammed into a threewheeler carrying three police constables and one woman police constable. The four constables and the driver of the threewheeler were injured in the attack, but the threewheeler driver succumbed to his injuries later.

Two army soldiers and one female soldier at an army checkpoint in the vicinity and two more civilians were also injured in the blast, Brig. Nanayakkara said.

The attack took place at 3.30 this evening at Second Lane in the Vavuniya Town near the main bus stand.

Weliweriya moonshine death toll rises to 12

The death toll of the Weliweriya alcohol poisoning case has gone up to 12, Gampaha Hospital sources said.

All victims showed clear symptoms of methyl alcohol poisoning, an ingredient used in the manufacture of kasippu, Gampaha Hospital Director Dr. Dhammika Mayadunne said.

It is suspected that this particular brew had a high concentration of methyl alcohol.

Several Indian fisherman attacked in Lankan waters

One Indian fisherman was killed and 100 injured in a firing incident when they were fishing near Katchatheevu in Sri Lankan territorial waters late last night, the Times of India reported.

Sri Lanka's war entering tragic phase- Canadian MP

Canadian MP and Liberal Foreign Affairs Critic Bob Rae says Sri Lanka's war is entering a tragic new phase as violence between the government and the LTTE spirals out of control.

France says govt has obligation to protect civilians

The Presidency of the Council of the European Union, France, has said in a statement the Sri Lankan government is obliged to ensure the protection of civilians in the north and to meet their needs.

Protests in Tamil Nadu gain momentum, Jayalalithaa extends support

In a significant move amid the building momentum in Tamil Nadu where Tamil leaders are voicing their support to the Eezham Tamils as the Sri Lankan forces intensified their attacks on Vanni, the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and the Leader of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, J. Jayalalithaa, Saturday extended her support to a fasting campaign being organised by the Communist Party of India (CPI). In a letter to D. Pandyan, the general secretary of the CPI in Tamil Nadu, Ms. Jayalalithaa said her party extended wholehearted support to the success of the campaign, which highlights the problems and urges to safeguard the lives, properties and the rights of the Tamils in Sri Lanka.

The CPI organised fasting campaign is to take place in all the district capitals of Tamil Nadu state on 02 October that falls on the date of Mahatma Gandhi's birthday.

The CPI has urged the Centre in India to pressurise the Sri Lankan government to immediately halt the killings and to return to the path of negotiations, stating that the war being waged by the Sri Lankan government is against Tamil speaking population in general and that it was not viewed as a war against a militant movement.

The leftist parties in Tamil Nadu, which aim to form a third front in the coming elections, have extended their support to Eelam Tamilas Tamil Writers Association also voiced for the rights of Eezham Tamils.

In the meantime, Dr. S. Ramadoss, the founder-leader of Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) in Tamil Nadu has also announced a protest on 30 September.

The president of the movement Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) K. Veeramani and Thol. Thirumavalavan, the leader of the political party Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Kadchchi (VCK), courted arrest last Tuesday along with five hundred of their cadres while attempting a rail blockade in Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu, to protest against Indian aid to the Sri Lankan state.

The reports of the engagement of Indian military radar operators in the wake of an attack by the Tigers on Sri Lankan Forces Vanni Headquarters (SF-HQ) in Vavuniyaa, in which at least two Indian personnel were wounded, have fuelled the protests in Tamil Nadu against Indian military aid to Colombo against Tamils.

LTTE Administration collapses

Kilinochchi is now a 'ghost town' with the LTTE withdrawing all its offices, business establishments, hotels and media centres following the rapid advancement of the security forces towards the region from various directions in the Wanni, informed sources said. The LTTE had even abandoned its 'Peace Secretariat' and the adjoining buildings where most of the meetings with key figures of the international community had taken place with the LTTE's late political wing leader S. P. Thamilselvan and its late theoretician Anton Balasingham, sources said.

The 'Peace Secretariat' of the outfit built with several millions of rupees was equipped with the latest communication facilities. The Secretariat was also furnished to international standards and Pulithevan, one of the lieutenants of Thamilselvan was the head of the Secretariat. The buildings put up by the LTTE in Kilinochchi for its political activities were built soon after the Norway mediated Ceasefire Agreement was signed in February 2002, the sources said.

According to sources the Norwegians had also helped the outfit financially to construct its new buildings in Kilinochchi for political activities. As the civilians began to move out from Kilinochchi, police stations, court houses and other administrative centres that had been set up by the LTTE collapsed with the outfit's henchmen running helter skelter in the region, the sources said.

Meanwhile, innocent civilians in the region are between the 'devil and the deep blue sea' struggling to escape from the clutches of the LTTE who have made them scapegoats for their final show down with the security forces.

Civilians have now moved towards the eastern direction from Kilinochchi to areas such as Akkarayan, Viswamadu and Puthukudiyiruppu which are located east of the A-9 highway. With the LTTE forcibly preventing civilians moving into Government controlled cleared areas, they would face severe hardships in getting essential supplies when the battle enters its final phase, the sources said.

Sri Lanka high commission in London strongly condemns acts of vandalism against Buddhist temple

London's Sri Lanka High Commission in a statement issued to the press, "strongly" condemned the "cowardly acts" of vandalism targeted against the Saddhatissa International Buddhist Center, in Kingsbury in London.

The statement said, "The High Commission firmly believes those who took part in this act of destruction do not believe in religious pluralism and tolerance which are basic tenants of liberal democracy today."

The Buddhist monks in the temple said they suspect the crime had been committed by elements connected to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) sympathizers in the area.

The following is the full statement issued by the High Commission: " The Sri Lanka High Commission in London strongly condemns the cowardly acts of vandals who damaged the Sri Saddhatissa International Buddhist Centre in Kingsbury, London, which had taken place during the early hours of September 26, 2008.

"The Sri Saddhatissa International Buddhist Centre which was established in 1990 has been one of the Buddhist Centres of excellence in the United Kingdom not only propagating Buddhism but also actively engaged in various social, economic and spiritual services to the neighbourhood.

"The High Commission firmly believes those who took part in this act of destruction do not believe in religious pluralism and tolerance which are basic tenants of liberal democracy today."

The Brent Press office of the metropolitan Police issuing another press release said that they were appealing to the public to help the police identify the criminals

The following is the full text of the release: "Police are appealing for witnesses after receiving reports of criminal damage to the Sri Sadahatissa International Buddhist temple, Kingsbury, NW9.

"On 26.9.08 approx 1.30 am. two males were seen near the temple, they smashed the front windows of the property and then two vehicles, which were parked on the driveway. Both offenders then made off in an unknown direction.

"Both suspects were wearing dark clothing.

"Any witnesses are asked to call Brent CID on 020 8733 3159 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."

LTTE Fires Artillery & Mortars towards Advancing Troops

KILINOCHCHI: TROOPS on advance in the KILINOCHCHI front met Tiger resistance in AKKARAYANKULAM area Saturday (27). Terrorist fire power was overpowered by the troops killing two terrorists and injuring one. Two soldiers caught up in explosions of terrorist IED (Improvised Explosive Device) and anti personnel mines sustained injuries and were admitted to hospital for treatment. At the same time, a few rounds of artillery fired by terrorists fell near the troops killing three soldiers operating in AKKARAYANKULAM area.

Meanwhile, seven terrorists lost their lives in confrontation with the troops inching forward in VANNERIKKULAM and north of KARAMADDAKULAM areas Saturday (27). Shower of LTTE mortar fire directed from their gun positions in VANNERIKKULAM between 6.00 p.m. and 9.00 p.m. injured nine soldiers while seven more soldiers sustained injuries in separate confrontations and anti personnel mine explosions in the same area.

Two more soldiers who bravely fought the Tiger terrorists sacrificed their lives in the general area of VANNERIKKULAM, the same day.

Troops Recover Abandoned LTTE Items

BATTICOLOA: TROOPS during search and clear operations in ILUKKAVEDDI area, BATTICALOA recovered one T-56 weapon, three hundred and twenty-nine (329) rounds of ammunition and twenty-five T-56 magazines Saturday (27) around 5.25 p.m.

LTTE Excavator Found; Trench & Bunker Captured

WELIOYA: FIGHTING in ANDANKKULAM area that continued Saturday (27) caused death to two terrorists and injured twenty three. Troops on search operations found one excavator used by the LTTE to dig trenches and construct sand bunds. One such ditch excavated to a length of 50 m with an earth bund on one side of it was captured by the troops in the same area around mid noon. One Tiger bunker built in ANDANKULAM area also fell into the hands of soldiers while another bunker was completely destroyed in RPG (Rocket Propeller Gun) fire by the soldiers. Troops later recovered two Multi Purpose Machine Gun (MPMG) links, 5 m of detonator code, seven hundred and fifty (750) rounds of ammunition, two knives, one groundsheet, thirty-five anti personnel mines and fourteen Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) from the area.

Similar clashes in RANABAPURA area injured one more terrorist. A soldier with injury sustained in the clashes at RANABAPURA was referred for medical treatment.

Another soldier on clearing operations in the general area of KOKKUTHUDUVAI was injured in a booby trap explosion on Saturday (27) morning around 10.45 a.m..

LTTE-Occupied Building Captured

VAVUNIYA: A BUILDING earlier occupied by the terrorists was found in the PALAMODDAI area Saturday (17) around 10.40 a.m.. The house had been abandoned by the terrorists who fled in fear of advance of the troops. The same area saw three more confrontations between the troops and terrorists who lost eight fighting cadres. Same fighting injured four soldiers. Troops on subsequent search recovered two hand grenades from the area.

An evening attack by the troops on LTTE bunkers in VEDAMAKULKAM area destroyed one LTTE bunker and killed two terrorists.

Eleven Tiger Bunkers Destroyed

JAFFNA: ARMY TROOPS in PONNAR launched an attack on a few terrorist bunkers Saturday (17) early morning destroying four of them. Confrontations Troops confirmed that two terrorists suffered injury in the clashes ensued between the troops and terrorists. Terrorist fire during the incident injured two soldiers.

Fresh confrontation in the general area of NAGARKOVIL caused injury to one more soldier.

In two separate clashes at MUHAMALE around 2.20 p.m. and 3.15 p.m., troops destroyed seven Tiger bunkers killing one terrorist and injuring three.

Terrorist at Bunker Shot Dead

VAVUNIYA: ARMY TROOPS in the general area of KOLIYAKULAM observed a movement of a Tiger terrorist closer to his bunker Sunday (28) morning around 6.35 a.m.. Troops fired small arms and RPGs (Rocket Propeller Guns) on the terrorist point and confirmed the death of one terrorist.

TMVP camp in Batti attacked

A TMVP camp in Batticloa has come under attack last night, TMVP sources said.

It is reported that the LTTE was behind the attack.

One TMVP cadre was killed and eight were injured in the attack.

Senior lawyer J. C. Weliamuna's house come under attack

Senior lawyer and Executive Director of Transparency International Sri Lanka J. C. Weliamuna's residence came under a hand grenade attack last night.

A family member told TimesOnline that a grenade was thrown at one of the balconies of their house located in a private lane off Dutugamunu Street in Kohuwala.

The attack was carried out at approximately 11.40 pm and police arrived on the scene to investigate. A door and some windows have been damaged in the attack.

According to Mr. Weliamuna's family, he had no personal disputes with anybody. They attributed the attack to one of the many sensitive court ca

Report soon on milk powder testing

A report on samples of milk powder sold in Sri Lanka, which was sent to be tested in Singapore in the wake of the crisis that erupted in China due to consumption of melamine-contaminated infant milk, is expected within two weeks, Consumer Affairs Authority Chairman Rumy Marzook said.

As the Government awaited the report, Customs authorities stepped up their surveillance on milk powder being imported to Sri Lanka, especially taking steps to monitor the original country of importation.


Milk powder packets on the shelves in a supermarket
According to Sri Lanka Customs, Sri Lanka has imported 248,000 kg of milk powder and dairy products from China till August this year, with 17,000 kg being imported last month. However, Customs Director General S. A. C. S. W. Jayatilake said that infant milk powder was not imported from China.

Officials ruled out contamination of milk powder imported to Sri Lanka as imported items including milk powder are tested well as prescribed under local food laws before they are brought into the country.

“Food items being brought into Sri Lanka are subjected to several tests. We would continue to monitor these food items, including milk powder. We need to pay attention to the third country. For instance items come in from countries such as Singapore, Hong Kong and Dubai. These countries import from China, so in such cases we would monitor these items, to know where exactly they are imported and would perform thorough tests”, Mr. Jayatilake said.

Milk powder samples imported to Sri Lanka are tested by the Food Control Administration Unit of the Health Ministry and the Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI). Tests are also carried out by the Atomic Energy Authority for radiation in milk powder. Only then will it be released by the Customs.

Following the death of three babies after consuming milk tainted with the toxic chemical melamine in China, the Government ordered that samples of milk powder be sent to an internationally accredited laboratory in Singapore to ensure that milk products available in local markets were safe. Over 54,000 children have sought medical treatment in China while almost 12,900 are currently hospitalized.
“These tests are being carried out through an abundance of caution,” Mr. Marzook said.

Samples from several companies producing milk related products, including Fonterra Lanka, Nestle, Maliban and Kotmale were sent to Singapore last week, he said, adding that ad hoc samples will also be collected from other companies and individuals importing milk powder to Sri Lanka to be sent for testing.

Several samples were also sent to the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) for testing. Trade Ministry Secretary Dr. R. M. K. Ratnayake assured the public that there was no reason to worry.

“The tests are being carried out as a precautionary measure to dispel fears. There is no cause for alarm”, he said. However, he said children below six months should not be given powdered milk.

Wildlife society wins top UNDP award

The Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society is among 25 recipients of this year’s Equator Prize, awarded by the UNDP Equator Initiative. The Equator Prize is an international award that gives recognition to outstanding efforts to reduce poverty and help communities through conservation and the sustainable use of biodiversity. Under the UNDP Equator Initiative, governments, businesses and communities work together to raise income levels and protect the environment in tropical countries, which contain the world’s greatest concentrations of biological wealth.

In its citation, the Technical Advisory Committee of the UNDP Equator Initiative said:

“The level of competition for the prize was extremely high and the depth of nominations received was truly impressive. Among this year's remarkable entries, you provided us with a strong demonstration of the inventiveness of community-based work currently being undertaken in the tropics.”

Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society founder president Ravi Corea will receive the award on behalf of the society at a ceremony to be held in Barcelona, Spain.

Bandula - the Budget shop bungler?

Minister of consumer affairs, Bandula who is always in the news allegedly for taking wrong decisions and introducing insidious price hikes against consumers has once again hit headline news for suddenly closing the Rajagiriya budget shop complex in view of the SAARC conference held in July. It is alleged that this was done in total disregard of the interests of the shop owners and the public.


The shop owners in the complex who were seriously affected by this decision are to sue the Minster on the ground that they have incurred immense losses as a large quantity of their food items were destroyed during the closure because expiry dates have passed on many of them. This was the consequence of the haphazard actions of this Minister who did not care even to give prior notice, they allege.

Earlier, the District Court had give an order against the CWE (of the Ministry) not to remove any item in the complex, not even padlocks.

British PM meets Rajapaksa, conveys acute concern

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Secretary of State for Department for International Development Douglas Alexander met with President Mahinda Rajapakse of Sri Lanka in New York Friday to discuss the situation in Sri Lanka. "The recent increased hostilities in the north of Sri Lanka are of acute concern to the UK Government," said a joint statement from the British International Development Minister Shahid Malik and Lord Malloch Brown, calling on both the parties, the GoSL and the LTTE, to respect their obligations under International Humanitarian Law to enable free access for humanitarian agencies. The statement also urged LTTE to take urgent action to allow free movement of civilians.
Full text of the statement follows:


The following is a joint statement from DFID Minister Shahid Malik and Lord Malloch Brown in response to the emerging situation in Sri Lanka:

"The recent increased hostilities in the north of Sri Lanka are of acute concern to the UK Government. We welcome the Government of Sri Lanka recognising its responsibility to provide humanitarian assistance to civilians affected by the conflict and its continued co-ordination with humanitarian agencies.

"Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Secretary of State for Department for International Development Douglas Alexander met with President Mahinda Rajapakse of Sri Lanka in New York today to discuss this situation.

"We urge the Liberation Tiger of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to take urgent action to allow free movement of civilians. We call on both parties to respect their obligations under International Humanitarian Law to enable free access for humanitarian agencies and the protection of civilians affected by the conflict."

Wild in Sri Lanka

By Christine Pemberton

We arrived at the gates of the delightfully named Wasgomuwa Strict Natural Reserve, in central Sri Lanka, in a flurry of dust and cars. Three vehicles, three drivers, our family of four, my dear Sri Lankan friend whom I’ve known for practically forever and his five bodyguards, his 86-year-old great aunt Ena, and her 75-year-old butler who studiously carried her handbag.

The park reception was a little overwhelmed by us all. The bodyguards were there because my friend has a job that puts him at risk. They were armed, as any self-respecting bodyguard should be. But the park doesn’t allow firearms. The four of us were not Sri Lankans so had to pay a different rate. Did a SAARC national and three SAARC residents get a cheaper rate? All these negotiations took time, but in the end were amicably resolved. The guns were allowed, we had to pay foreign rates, and were then told with big smiles that we were probably the first foreigners to camp in the park.

I soon understood why auntie Ena had travelled with so much luggage. The circuit bungalow doesn’t provide food or towels, just bedding and two cooks, so auntie Ena and the long-suffering butler had packed food and drink for the 15 of us for two days, a massive undertaking. Auntie Ena had also brought table-cloths, towels, sheets, extra pillows and spare mosquito nets, as well as other travelling essentials such as lemon-flavoured gin and cashewnuts for snacks. Oh, and a coffee percolator. And binoculars. And bird books, amid much cursing that she had forgotten the tree identification book. Auntie Ena’s endless bags and cooler boxes were a nostalgic statement on the way people used to travel in the good old days.

Once we had offloaded all the supplies, and decided that we would all sleep out on the verandah rather than in the rooms, which meant moving a lot of furniture, we were ready for our first game dive.

The system in Sri Lankan parks is that you can drive your own vehicle, but must take along a park official. The parks open at dawn and you can drive until sunset — driving with headlights is not allowed. Wasgomuwa is famous for its elephants, which we would see in abundance over the next two days. We saw breeding herds of elephants with tiny one-month-old babies, and we were recipients of a couple of serious charges by the anxious matriarchs.

One afternoon, we watched a large herd eating by the shores of a hyacinth covered lake. I tried not to feel jealous of the far superior camera lens poking out from the other vehicle there. Possibly they made too much noise, but suddenly one of the matriarchs charged and as the other vehicle fled off down the deeply rutted track, two more elephants joined in, and they all trumpeted at the departing Landrover.

Our turn came a little later, and we were forced to reverse quickly back down the track and then shoot off, as one of the larger elephants came after us. They are fiercely protective of their babies.

Sunset came quickly and we headed back to the bungalow, for drinks on the verandah and delicious food courtesy of auntie Ena. We were introduced to "lampreis", rice and a mixture of curries, which had been cooked at home, wrapped in banana leaves, and tied up with string to form a neat parcel. The circuit bungalow staff steamed them, cut open the string with a flourish, and dinner was served.

We all got up before dawn, had tea and coffee in the cool pre-dawn darkness, and set off on our morning game drive just as the sky was getting light. Sightings were good: wild buffalo, spotted deer, a huge water monitor, jackals, and more birds than you could shake a stick at, including the marvelously extravagant Malabar Pied Hornbill, which sports a striking horned bill complete with a casque on top.

Back to the circuit bungalow for breakfast of freshly made rotis and curry and sambols galore. By 9.30 am we dozed the morning away until lunch, which was then followed by another siesta, to give us energy after all that food. Then it was time for afternoon tea and yet more food and we just about rolled into the vehicle for the evening game drive. Off we went, to see elephant and buffalo and cheetal, which were all marvellous, but then, just as the light was fading into sunset, we saw leopard. A magnificent, dark coloured young leopard strolled out of the jungle, glanced at us, and continued haughtily on his way. The ranger told us he hadn’t seen a leopard in over seven months, and the driver confessed it was only his fourth leopard in over 40 game drives. Much pleased with ourselves we headed back in fading light to the bungalow, for yet more food and drink and talk about the day’s sightings.

Pickpocket – Sakvithi’s” Partners Safe

Police has arrested 06 people who worked for the racketeer Chandana Weerakumara alias Sakvithi Ranasinghe. They have now deployed a special police team to arrest 15 more employees of “Pickpocket – Sakvithi” including K. B. Kesara a Director of Sakvithi’s bogus financial institution and the lady lawyer who was involved in the company’s legal activities.

Meanwhile the victims of the financial fraud raise their concerns over the manner the police try to relieve “Kala Keerthi” Edwin Ariyadasa instead of making him equally responsible for this crime. “Kala Keerthi” Edwin Ariyadasa’s photograph was appeared on almost all the news paper advertisements which requested people to invest money in their so called “Investment Plan”.

Sri Lanka is a country where even an obituary notice can not be published without producing the death certificate of the deceased. We believe that the government should take immediate action to stop newspaper companies from publishing any advertisement which request public to “invest” money, without obtaining copies of proper legal documents issued by the Central Bank.

Pickpocket – Sakvithi’s” Partners Safe

Police has arrested 06 people who worked for the racketeer Chandana Weerakumara alias Sakvithi Ranasinghe. They have now deployed a special police team to arrest 15 more employees of “Pickpocket – Sakvithi” including K. B. Kesara a Director of Sakvithi’s bogus financial institution and the lady lawyer who was involved in the company’s legal activities.

Meanwhile the victims of the financial fraud raise their concerns over the manner the police try to relieve “Kala Keerthi” Edwin Ariyadasa instead of making him equally responsible for this crime. “Kala Keerthi” Edwin Ariyadasa’s photograph was appeared on almost all the news paper advertisements which requested people to invest money in their so called “Investment Plan”.

Sri Lanka is a country where even an obituary notice can not be published without producing the death certificate of the deceased. We believe that the government should take immediate action to stop newspaper companies from publishing any advertisement which request public to “invest” money, without obtaining copies of proper legal documents issued by the Central Bank.

"Believe me, I’m not a thief,’’ says Edwin Ariyadasa

The police investigating a massive financial fraud committed by a person who called himself Deshamanya Sakvithi Ranasinghe Sir are in a dilemma over the action to be taken against Edwin Ariyadasa, a prominent media personality who had functioned as the joint director of S. R. Property Sharing Investment (Private) Limited, set up by the suspected conman.

There has been no final computation yet on the total extent of desposits taken by the company although over 4,000 depositors had put their money into the venture and complaints continue to flow.

Police have arrested several persons, including a retired army officer employed by the suspect who is not in the country. The statement of Ariyadasa, who had been the highest paid employee at the unauthorized company, has been recorded.

The Sunday Island learns that many persons who had lodged complaints with Mirihana Police regarding their losses had claimed that they received assurances from Ariyadasa with regard to stability of the operation in which he participated.

Police said that although the suspect was known as Sakvithi Ranasinghe, the company had been registered by a person identified as Abaya Ranasinghe Mudiyanselage Chandana Weerakumara and Jamburuthugoda Gamage Kumari Anuradhini of 175/4, Madiwela Road, Embuldeniya, Nugegoda.

With the help of Ariyadasa, one of Sakvithi’s employees had visited `Temple Trees’ where he had the opportunity being photographed with the President, the sources said.

Responding to our queries, the sources said that Sakvithi had taken advantage of this meeting, the sources said, emphasizing that a visit to `Temple Trees’ wouldn’t have been a reality without Ariyadasa’s help.

Ariyadasa has received a monthly payment of Rs. 100,000 for promoting the business interests of the suspect. The sources said that under an agreement the suspect had with Rupavahini, he conducted English classes on the national channel (Sunday afternoon at 3.30 p.m.). The agreement with Rupavahini followed his agreement with TNL to air English classes, the sources said

Responding to our queries, the sources said that the day before a large group of people surrounded Ranasinghe’s office in the Mirihana police area last Monday (22), he had advertised his business. According to an advertisement, with photographs of the suspect and Ariyadasa who was identified as the project director, depositors were offered a monthly interest of Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 6,000 for each Rs. 100,000 deposited with him.

He also offered a monthly interest of Rs. 6,000 for deposits of Rs. 200,000 or more. The advertisement published by Sakvithi House Constructions (Pvt) Limited gave mobile telephone numbers of four of Sakvithi’s employees responsible for bringing in new deposits. Among them was the employee who had visited Temple Trees with Ariyadasa.

The sources pointed out that the advertisement referred to the programme conducted by Sakvithi on Rupavahini Sunday afternoon. It was evidence that this particular programme too, had been used to entice more investors, the sources said. Ariyadasa also appeared on this programme along with Sakvithi.

Police said that over 4,000 people had been deceived by the racketeer. Some of them, in their statements to Mirihana Police, had said that they felt comfortable with Ariyadasa’s guarantee.

The sources said that the suspect had given two luxury cars to two young girls employed at his office. They played a critical role in deceiving the victims, the sources said, adding that some of the employees may have taken money secretly despite the majority of them being the recipients of handsome commissions for bringing in fresh investments.

Ariyadasa said that he too was deceived by Sakvithi Sir. Responding to our queries, he said that he received a monthly payment of Rs. 100,000 inclusive of a range of allowances.

"But I was never part his financial dealings," he said, acknowledging that his name had been exploited to entice depositors.

Ariyadasa had joined Sakvithi in April last year on the invitation of Lanka Jayawardene who had been with the Agriculture Department for a long period. "We met on April 18, 2007," Ariyadasa said, adding that he had received appointment as the Programme Director of IT Management Solution which was primarily responsible for promoting Sakvithi’s English training package.

"Believe me, I am not thief," the respected media personality said when The Sunday Island asked him whether he was fully aware of the exploitation of his name to dupe thousands of people.

According to him, Sakvithi through his contacts in the Army and the Health Ministry had the opportunity to market his English training course at training facilities for nurses and army bases at Weli Oya, Maduru Oya, Galkulama, Galkiriyagama, Nelunkulama, Minneriya and Polonnaruwa and many other areas.

"Both officers and men brought course material priced at Rs. 3,000," Ariyadasa said, adding that Sakvithi had at least 100 employees based at his head office. "It was a big operation and people I am sure were tempted by unprecedented interests offered," he said.

Asked about his visit to Temple Trees with K. B. Kesara, an executive with Sakvithi’s group, Ariyadasa said that the President had invited him on December 3 last year to felicitate him on his birthday.

"Kesara offered to take me to Temple Trees and he accompanied me to the meeting with the President." Ariyadasa failed to explain how the Sakvithi executive who offered to drop him at Temple Trees had managed to gain entry without being invited.

Ariyadasa said that Sakvithi was a monster who deceived him and destroyed his image.

Police headquarters yesterday said that over 800 complaints had been received by Saturday. Police said they weren’t in a position to estimate the total amount of money collected by the fraudster as complaints were being received even now.

The total number of depositors could be over 4,100, police said on the basis of the documents recovered from Sakvithi’s office.

Drunk men confront Navy patrol

One man was killed and four, including two sailors, injured following a confrontation when a group of drunk men attempted to grab the gun of a Navy of patrol in Palliawatte, Watta

Millions worth of iron removed from Colombo Harbour

A consignment of iron worth millions of rupees had been removed from a dismantled two-storey storage complex at Colombo Harbour and taken for use at construction activities at Hambantota Harbour, 'Ravaya' reports.
A first attempt to remove the consignment was prevented by Customs officials, who found that the required documents were no submitted.

Later, the Customs had been told that the cast iron was being taken to Hambantota Harbour.

When the newspaper contacted Sri Lanka Port's Authority's chief engineer Janaka Kurukulasuriya, he has said the iron would be used for certain changes to be effected to iron gates at Hambantota Harbour.

He also said the entire consignment has now reached the destination.

However, sources at Hambantota Harbour say they are yet to receive any iron consignment.

According to the sources, the work presently underway involves only the filling of marshy land and the building of roads.

Govt. wants independent commissions curtailed

Transparency International alleges 29 ruling party MPs have moved to curtail powers of the independent public, police and judicial services commissions enacted through the 17th Amendment to the constitution.
Executive Director of TI J.C. Weliamuna says that these MPs have sent a written request to Constitutional Affairs Minister Dew Gunasekara regarding their objective.

Mr. Weliamuna said this would take the country's constitution back to the 1972 period.

According to a government minister who wished to remain anonymous, these MPs have said unlimited powers being enjoyed by independent commissions comes in their way in taking decisions on public petitions.

The MPs have asked that constitutional amendments be brought in to allow parliamentary committees to mediate in orders of independent commissions.

Several opposition MPs who have come to an understanding with the government are supporting this proposal.

Mr. Weliamuna said that such amendments would once against deny these commissions their independence and allow politicians to rule the country according to their wishes.

Since 4 to 5 middlemen are involved in the trade:

Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Felix Perera, presenting Regulations under the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act, said there was a demand from countries like Japan but they insisted on international standards free from an accepted content of mercury and cadmium. Increasingly such standards are being insisted by the countries that import fish and we had to adhere to such standards.

He said the prawn farms that had once recorded a considerable growth but after 2005 prawn culture was affected due reasons like white spot disease and the export quantum fell to 1,500 tons but it rose 3,500 metric tons in 2007. With the new regulations to be introduced prawn culture could be expanded to 4500 hectares.

There were 40,000 direct employment opportunities and 20,000 indirect employment opportunities from prawn culture industry and the national economy too benefited by this industry.

Joseph Michael Perera (UNP) Though the government says it spends a large sum of money to protect mangroves in Negombo area a 2-acre mangrove had been destroyed by a some politicians and were the conservation officials not aware anything about it but the District secretary had all the details. The fishery industry depended on the mangroves and it should be protected.

Minister of Plantation Industry Milroy Perera said the consumer had to pay high prices for fish since there were 4 to 5 middlemen who were involved in the trade before fish came to the market. In the 1960s a pound of Seer fish was only three rupees but now a kilogram of Seer fish was 700 rupees.

Chandrasena Wijesingha( JVP) said fishermen had to keep their boats without putting them to sea because of the high prices of fuel. The government should give some relief to the fishermen when the fuel prices go down in the world market.

Samansiri Herath (FNN) Puttalam District government should try to avoid the monopoly of the prawn industry by a section of people and should put up prawn purchasing centres so that the monopoly could be challenged. There was insufficient freezing facilities at the Negombo and Kalpitiya fishery harbours.

Deputy Minister of Fisheries Neomal Perera said he was happy to have joined the government of President Mahinda Rajapakse who had helped to develop the fishery industry. The imports of canned fish will be reduced in 2009 by 50 percent and instead start exporting fresh water fish.

UNP asks its MPs to pick their shadow cabinet portfolios

The UNP has asked its parliamentarians to name the three shadow cabinet portfolios, each of them would like to handle.

Media spokesman of the party Gayantha Karunatillake told The Island, that according to a decision arrived at this week’s parliamentary group meeting, each MP was expected to project himself a shadow cabinet minister, in charge of three portfolios.

"The MP’s were asked to state their preferences to Chief Opposition Whip Joseph Michael Perera, who in consultation with the party leadership would determine the allocation of subjects, based on their abilities."

Asked if a shadow cabinet minister would be entitled to at least one of the subjects under his or her purview, in a future UNP government,

UNP Karunatillake said that no such guarantee had been given. "But their performance would certainly stand them in good stead, in the future."

He, said that due to the large number of ministries that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has created, with scant regard to the drain on the treasury, they have no option but to ask each of their MP’s, to monitor at least three ministries.

Once the shadow cabinet ministers are appointed, we will be able to further highlight the rampant corruption and inefficiency in government, he added.

We are born to be cheated; the story of the victims of Sakvithi racket

Mirihana police is overwhelmed with the flow of complaints regarding the massive racket conducted by Sakvithi Ranasinghe who fled the country after swindling around 9 billion rupees from unsuspecting investors.

An English education programme of this person is broadcast every Sunday 3.30 PM by Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation.

He ran a house and land sales business and an international school in the address No: 08, Nawala Road, Nugegoda.

He lured clients who expected high interests to invest in his business through a broad advertising campaign in which veteran media person Edwin Ariyadasa also appeared. Ariyadasa who has Rohana Pradeepa and Kalakeerthi titles in his name appeared in the advertisements as a Project Director of this business.

A large photograph of President Mahinda Rajapakse posing with the Sakvithi Group director board was displayed in the office of this business to assure the trust of the clients. The President has won the title of Sri Rohana Janaranjana.

Today these Rohana Pradeepas and Sri Rohana Janaranjanas are silent as around 6000 persons who were lured to this business due to the power of their images and due to their own folly remain desperate.

Many victims said in angry tone that Edwin Ariyadasa prompted the clients arriving in to Sakvithi Constructions Company to invest there saying that he himself would do so if he had money.

Many invested their EPF, entire savings of the life and money obtained through selling property in this racket seeking high yields despite repeated media advertisements of the Central Bank advising people not to deposit money in the unauthorized institutes.

Many have invested money without the knowledge of their spouses and therefore ask not to post their photos in media. Some wanted to cover the ways they earned money. Sakvithi has manipulated their fears very cunningly for his business.

Many raise doubts why the suspects have not been arrested whilst 4000 complaints have been recorded by Mirihana police.

A person with underworld links called K.B. Kesara who was the Managing Director of the company intimidated and even molested women who came to the office to withdraw their money. The victimized women asked with tearful eyes if Mirihana police was unaware of this kind of persons.

Managing Director K.B Kesara published newspaper advertisements and collected around five million rupees until September 21 although he knew that Sakvithi Ranasinghe fled the country on September 09.

K.A.C. Rajapakse of Minuwangoda said, “I saw an advertisement stating that Rs. 6000 would be paid for the first three months and then Rs. 4000 monthly interest would be paid for each Rs. 100,000. I invested a million rupees. Now almost 17 months have passed. Interest was paid in the first few months. Later I asked to withdraw Rs. 300,000. They asked me to make a written request and I obliged to it. They asked me to come on November 26. We invested there since we saw photos of the President with the Directors of this company and due to the images of the likes of Edwin Ariyadasa.”

Adikaram Mudalige Dorothy Samarathunga says, “I deposited Rs. 1.7 million since I wanted a house. Mr. Sakvithi hand shook with me and promised I would definitely be rewarded. I did not withdraw monthly interest since I needed a house. With interest the total is now around Rs. 2.1 million. I have lost both money and house. Later I purchased a house. I asked for Rs. 300,000 to build a house there. Nalaka Thushara Karunarathna who worked in Sakvithi’s staff intimidated me before my husband in a room in a lower floor of the office.”

Chaminda Gunarathna of Gampola says, “I invested Rs. 500,000 of my savings earned through 14 years service in operation areas as a soldier. I withdrew 10 months interest. They don’t allow us to talk to other people when we come to the office to withdraw interest. I felt suspicious and asked the money to be returned. They asked for six months. When I came to collect money I came to know that the office was closed. Out of Rs. 500,000 I invested here, Rs. 150,000 was acquired by mortgaging a land. I am penniless now and I cannot face my family. I am still in the service.”

H. A. Dayananda of Gampola says, “I deposited Rs. 3.5 million in February 2008. Withdrew Rs. 300,000 interest. With interest, they should pay me Rs. 4.5 million. When we began to suspect and asked for the money to be returned, they asked for a letter and told us to come on September 23. We trusted this company since Mr. Edwin Ariyadasa was a reputed person. We deposited money acquired by selling a house belonged to us. On the day we sold the house Mr. Sakvithi Ranasinghe came to our house with Mr. Ariyadasa. Both of them went with me when I deposited money in Sakvithi’s account. I admitted both of my children to international schools and now I have no money to pay their school fees. We have lost property and livelihood.”

This is not the first time this kind of racketeers swindled Sri Lankans. Sri Lanka’s rule of law suits to this kind of persons very well. It is no secret that the Sri Lanka’s biggest fraud, Rs. 350 billion VAT scam had unofficial state assistance. Such a country is a paradise to the cheaters as well as to the cheated.

No food, no water, no medicine and no treatment to pregnant mothers; Vanni people roam here and there in fear of death

The parliamentary group leader of the Tamil National Alliance R. Sampanthan says that Vanni civilians live in fear risking their lives amidst discriminate air and land attacks.

He made these observations in a discussion with a weekend Sinhala newspaper.

MP Sampanthan said that people have lost free life due to attacks of the state security forces and move from place to place away from homes for safety amidst shortages of basic needs such as food, water and medicine and losing their children's education.

He further says that the government has neither plan nor need to address the woes of Tamils and only thing they do is damaging Tamil people in a move suspected to amount to genocide.
"There are elements that go against solutions in the government. They need no solutions even after the conflict. The government is unaware that sovereignty of the country should be safeguarded on the basis of the fundamental rights of people. The two phenomenons are interconnected. But the government does not respect the fundamental rights of the Tamils.

"The allegation that the LTTE is manipulating people as a human shield cannot be assumed. They sacrifice lives to safeguard the homeland of the Tamils. The government fabricates charges like the LTTE has made Tamils scapegoat to cover up the allegation that the government is disregarding one minority community of the country.

"Vanni civilians suffer amidst maximum difficulties. They have nothing to eat and drink. There is no treatment to the pregnant mothers. No medication in hospitals. They live in fear of their lives. We always appear for them. We make aware the international community on the injustices caused by the government. We complain to human rights organizations."

Number of sports stars and police officials among those hoodwinked by Sakvithi Ranasinghe

Mirihana police Fraud Investigation Bureau says that there are around 50 police officers among the thousands of people hoodwinked by fraudulent financial company owned by Sakvithi Ranasinghe. The Inspector General of Police has sought a list of the names of those police officers and the amount they have deposited.

An official of the Mirihana police Fraud Investigation Bureau said that there are Senior Superintendents of Police, Assistant Superintendents of Police and Chief Inspectors among the police officers.

Mirihana police further says that there a senior officer of the Army, intelligence wing officer, several cricketers and a woman sports star among the victims.

Among the victims we met, there was an intelligence officer of the Sri Lanka Air Force too.

Double murder in Batti and Ampara

A villager from Settipalayam in Kalavanchikudi, Batticaloa was shot dead last night, police said.

Police Spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekara said the victim has been identified as 53-year-old D. Gopalan Pillai.

Kalavanchikudi police is investigating the incident.

Meanwhile the bound and gagged body of an unidentified male has washed ashore at Nindavul 4, a coastal vilage in Samanthurai, Amparai.

SSP Gunasekara said the body was discovered yesterday evening and Samanthurai police is carrying out investigations.

Suspended sentence for Lankan woman

A Sri Lankan mother-of-three who ran a brothel from a terraced house in Britain was given a nine-month suspended sentence and ordered to pay £15,000 as fine.
Court was told that 34-year-old Yasmin De Silva who ran a house of ill repute in Norwich Avenue, Bournemouth had made at least £500 a day from immoral earnings.

Judge John Harrow warned De Silva that if she did not pay up within four months she would face being jailed for 12 months.

Earlier Bournemouth Crown Court heard how De Silva had been arrested after police stumbled across the brothel while executing a drugs warrant.

Officers discovered huge quantities of condoms, business cards offering escort and massage services, sex toys and accounts books.

As well as De Silva, there was "a maid" responsible for meeting and greeting clients, answering the phone and cleaning, two English women and a Lithuanian girl. No drugs were found during the raid.

The court was told that Sri-Lanka-born Desilva was paying £250 rent and spending around £400 on advertising each week. She was estimated to have made a profit of around £500 a day.

De Silva, of Windham Road, Springbourne, pleaded guilty to managing a brothel between July 4, 2004 and June 9, 2007.

In her defence the court heard that her takings were nearer £1,000 a week and that if she was jailed her family would be split up.

Judge Harrow told her: "You ran an illegal business as you must have known from the outset. It was clearly profitable but it has to be said there is no suggestion that you coerced or compelled any of these women to participate.

"These working girls were there of their own free will, sharing the profits with you."

De Silva was also ordered to complete 100 hours unpaid community work.

Some TNA MPs welcome referendum to extend govt’s term: Neomal Perera

The Deputy Minister of Fisheries Neomal Perera told Parliament yesterday that some of the TNA MPs had told him that they would welcome a referendum to extend the government’s term until 2017.

“Some TNA MPs have told me personally that they wouldn’t mind if the President extends the government’s term until 2017 by holding a referendum,” he said speaking during the debate on the National Aquaculture Development Authority Act in the House yesterday..

He said these TNA Mps had said so because they know they would not be elected to Parliament again.

Mr. Perera invited the TNA to join the government stating that they would also be able to go abroad and participate in the government’s development, if they did it. “You will be able to go abroad like the Eastern Province Chief Minister Chandrakanthan and participate in the country’s development work,” he pointed out.

He slammed the opposition stating that they talk to the gallery and go home without looking at the reality when the government is trying to bring peace to the country and engaged in vast amount of development work.

Lankan born terror suspect found guilty in Canada

A Sri Lankan born Toronto man became the first Canadian found guilty, on Thursday, of participating in the activities of a terrorist group, one with bold but not well-formed plans to attack targets in Toronto and Ottawa, the Canadian media reported.
The man, who was the test case for anti-terrorism laws Canada introduced in 2001, cannot be named because he was a juvenile when he was charged. He was among 18 people arrested following a series of police raids in June 2006.

Police and prosecutors said the people arrested planned to bomb government buildings including the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation., and raid Parliament to decapitate Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

"I am satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that a terrorist group existed," Justice John R. Sproat of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice said during the reading of his judgment, which lasted about one hour. "Planning and working towards ultimate goals that appear unattainable or even unrealistic does not militate against a finding that this was a terrorist group."

Despite the guilty verdict, the man, now 20 years old, has not yet been formally convicted. That process is frozen until the court reviews an application from his lawyer arguing that many of the group's activities were made possible by a paid police informant who committed illegal acts himself.

While the testimony from that informant, Mubain Shaikh, clearly influenced the judge's decision, the informant said outside the courthouse here that he disagreed with yesterday's ruling.

"I don't believe he was a terrorist," Shaikh said of the defendant.

"I don't believe he should have been put through what he was put through. But that's our system."

Wiretaps, videotapes made by Shaikh, his testimony and other evidence painted a picture of a group whose specific objectives were unclear, whose activities were often apparently benign and whose abilities to carry out a plot were, at best, limited.

In this trial, most of the evidence focused on the suspect's participation at two camps staged by the group, which has come to be known as the Toronto 18.

But in his ruling, the judge said that even commonplace activities can take on a different meaning within the context of a camp where leaders made inflammatory remarks about destroying "Rome" and marching in Washington. "As a matter of common sense, engaging in activities such as physical exercise and rafting is by no means inconsistent with the existence of a terrorist group," Sproat ruled.

The judge allowed that the suspect, who was born in Sri Lanka and who was a recent convert to Islam at the time of his arrest, may not have realized what he was getting into up until the time of the first camp, where a somewhat disorganized attempt at target practice was made by participants.

But a long and often rambling speech by the group's leader, who cannot be identified because he still faces trial, made the group's aims clear at the end of that first camp, the judge ruled.

Sakvithi probe: police Record 177 fresh complaints

Amazement continues in the major financial scam linked to the infamous English tutor Sakvithi Ranasinghe, where the police had recorded 177 fresh complaints throughout yesterday revealing a loss of a sum of Rs. 108 million.

Mirihana police conducting the probe recorded 177 fresh complaints yesterday and found the largest single deposit made was Rs. 3.5 million by a visually handicapped person among yesterday’s lot.

Police spokesman Ranjith Gunasekara told the Daily Mirror the person had received a land in Wadduwa from a foreigner sometime ago. He had then sold the land and bought a land from Ratmalana where he again sold it for Rs. 4.2 million. Out of that he had deposited Rs. 3.5 million with the Sakvithi Finance.

The total number of complaints had reached up to 742 so far and money lost in the scam was roughly estimated at Rs. 478 million.

Meanwhile, a special police team was probing the prime suspect Abeyratne Mudiyanselage Chandana Weerakumara Ranasinghe alias Sakvithi Ranasinghe (38) who was reported to have fled the country to India.

Local police seek Interpol assistance to trace the absconding suspect whilst six suspects who worked under him were now being questioned in police custody.

Sakvithi Finance co., employee surrenders

An employee of the Sakvithi Finance Co., surrendered before the Gangodawila Magistrate and made a confidential statement about the dealings of Sakvithi Sir’s financial scam.

The employee Dharshani Maduwanthi surrendered before the Gangodawila Magistrate Wasantha Jinadasa through the Attorney-at-Law Vidura P. Manchanayake and made the statement.

Mr. Manchanayake informed the Magistrate that his client was only an employee under Sakvithi Ranasinghe. She wanted to make a confidential statement voluntarily in respect of the dealings and the financial scam committed by her employer.

The Magistrate remanded the suspect Dharshani Maduwanthi till October 6, after recording the two and a half hours confidential statement by the suspect in the magistrate’s chamber.

Attorney-at-Law Vidura P. Manchanayake with Ruwan Alwis, Janaka Weliwatta, Bharatha Amaratunga P. Patabendige and Ms. Shama Chandrasena appeared for the suspect.

According to the District Fraud Bureau Mirihana, this once popular English teacher had defrauded over Rs. One hundred and six million in this financial scam.

No plans to distribute Dahaiyagala sanctuary land to people - Champika

Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Champika Ranawaka yesterday scoffed at rumours that there is a move to distribute part of Dahaiyagala sanctuary - that connects Udawalawe National Park and Bogahapattiya Forest reserve - among people.
Addressing the National Seminar of the Biodiversity Baseline Survey held at Sausiripaya yesterday the minister said under the Flora Fauna Act it would be illegal to distribute sanctuary land and the rumours of the land distribution are spread by groups with vested interests.

The Minister also declared that plans are underway to upgrade Bogahapattiya forest reserve to the status of conservation forest in the best interest of elephants in the area. He dismissed rumours that there is a plan to close the Bogahapattiya elephant corridor as malicious allegations.

Commenting on the biodiversity baseline surveys, Minister Ranawaka said the origins of them in Sri Lanka can be traced to 1980s, during the early days of the implementation of Accelerated Conservation Review.

“This survey was limited to 30 lowland rain forests and was later followed by the National Conservation Review (NCR) from 1991 – 1996. All natural forests of 200 hectares or more were included in the NCR. Among these surveys the current one undertaken by the Department of Wildlife Conservation is the most comprehensive project which provides valuable information required for management” said the minister.

The baseline surveys, according to him, are useful to figure out what we have conserved so far where they have been conserved and it also provides a baseline against which we can monitor changes in distribution and abundance of biodiversity over time.“Armed with such information, we can manage our protected areas in ways that maintain and even enhance their wealth of plants and animals. Such information also enables us to strengthen our national system of protected areas by filling in gaps in representation of biodiversity and develop sound polities that safeguard this natural heritage and the ecosystems that sustain our society over the long-term” he added.

The current Biodiversity Baseline Survey carried out in seven pilot sites - Horton Plains, Peak Wilderness, Ritigala, Wasgomuwa, Bundala, Udawalawe and Minneriya - provides information on six major living organism groups namely mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes and vascular plants.

CITY HOTELS’ SECURITY UNDER ASSESSMENT: GOVT.

The Government is currently assessing the security situation in all metropolitan hotels as this matter had come under discussion between Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Tourism Minister Milinda Moragoda on the establishment of the City Hotels Security Advisory Committee headed by Bernard Goonetilleke that took place on Wednesday at the Defence Secretary’s office in Colombo.

Goonetilleke told the Daily Financial Times yesterday that the establishment of the committee was carried out in a bid to assess the current status of the security in the city hotels. Rajapaksa had focused on the fact that major hotels and business establishments are close to each other and therefore there is an additional reason for both sides to take additional precautions and noted that among many things the desirability of carrying out baggage and parcel checks when they are delivered to hotels so that attempts are not made to compromise security.

“In the coming weeks we will meet with the senior managers and owners of the city hotels individually, and discuss the arrangements in place at present and if necessary the requirement for additional arrangements,” he explained. This will be carried out in a bid to “not allow for any threats to the city hotels to take place,” Goonetilleke said.

The City Hotels Association has been having a continued interaction with the defence authorities in the past six months, according to Goonetilleke on the security situation in city hotels and he noted that this would provide additional confidence among travellers at the hotels that they will be staying in.

In response to the query as to whether there was a likelihood of any concerns by travelers in this respect, he pointed out that, “I don’t see why they should be concerned when their security is taken care of.”

The chairman explained that while the hotels have their own security arrangements these will be assessed and depending on the facilities available will be analysed as to whether any additional measures are required.

He further stated that the meeting was based on issues concerning the “current context in the world where developments are taking place on security.”

UK tells LTTE to let civilians leave

The British Foreign Office has urged the LTTE to act urgently to allow free movement of civilians from the Wanni. "The recent increased hostilities in the north of Sri Lanka are of acute concern to the UK government," said junior Foreign Office minister Mark Malloch-Brown and aid minister Shahid Malik in a joint statement.

"We welcome the government of Sri Lanka recognising its responsibility to provide humanitarian assistance to civilians affected by the conflict and its continued co-ordination with humanitarian agencies," they added.

But they said: "We urge the LTTE to take urgent action to allow free movement of civilians.

"We call on both parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law to enable free access for humanitarian agencies and the protection of civilians affected by the conflict," they added

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown discussed the situation with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse in New York on Friday, in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly, the Foreign Office added.

UN to resume food distribution to Wanni

The first convoy of food supplies since 16 September will travel under the UN flag to areas held by the LTTE in the north in the next few days, Neil Buhne, the UN Resident Representative in Sri Lanka has said.

Jaffna Prison overcrowded with humanitarian protection seekers

Prison in Jaffna, temporarily housed in a private building that can accommodate only one hundred, has become crammed with more than three hundred inmates, who have sought humanitarian protection from the Sri Lankan Human Rights Commission in Jaffna. Many of them have been languishing in the prison for more than two years. Meanwhile, two youths sought protection custody on Thursday as persons appearing for interrogation at SLA camps in Thenmaraadchi and other areas in Jaffna peninsula had been killed by unidentified gunmen while returning home after interrogation in the recent past.

A 25-year-old driver from Chanthirapuram, Madduvil North in Thenmaraadchi and a 24-year-old youth from Kadduvan, Chu'n'naakam South in Valikaamam sought protection Thursday with Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna office due to death threats by Sri Lanka Army (SLA), sources in Jaffna said. SLA soldiers had been continually forcing both the youths to appear at their local SLA camp for interrogation, the youths said in their statements to the HRC.

The youth from Kadduvan is a father of one child.

HRC officials took steps to place the two youths in the protective custody of Jaffna Prison.

Kaarainakar, Trincomalee Tamils abducted in Colombo

Two Tamils, one a native of Kaarainakar in Jaffna district, and the other from Lingkanakar in Trincomalee district, had been abducted in two separate incidents in Colombo, according to complaints lodged with the Dehiwala Police and Fort Police by their relative
The first abduction took place at Sea Street on September 17. The victim had been identified as Thiyagarajah Jegan, 29, of Lingkanakar in Trincomalee and had been working in a jewelry shop located along Sea Street for the last two years. On the day of incident he left home around 8:00 p.m. but failed to return home, according to a complaint by his mother to the Fort Police. The victim was arrested in 2007 and was later released. His mother had told the police she suspected her son had been abducted.

In the second incident Subramanian Sritharan ,39, of Kaarainakar who had been working in a hotel for the last three years had been abducted by a gang of six armed men on September 19 in a white van. He had been married, and his wife and child have been living in Canada. The victim had already made travel arrangement to join his family in Canada, according to complaints with the Dehiwala Police by his relatives.

Upcountry Tamil reported missing in Colombo

A thirty-eight-year old Up Country Tamil was reported missing in Colombo since September 21 Sunday evening, according to complaints lodged with the Grandpass Police and with Civil Monitoring Committee by his relatives.
Sinnasamy Thiruchelvam, residing Navagampura in Grandpass in Colombo-14, left home around 4:00 p.m. to his work place located along Messenger Street in Colombo-12, and has failed to return home.

The victim is a native of Mecca Estate in Maskeliya division in Nuwara Eliya district in central province.

Mr. Sinnasamy had been living in Colombo for several years.

Burmese student monks' demonstration in Sri Lanka

Burmese student monks and Sri Lanka monks demonstrated outside the Burmese Embassy on September 26th. September 26th is the first anniversary of the bloody Saffron Revolution led by the Buddhist monks in 2007 that was crushed by the country's military government. They peacefully demonstrated by chanting the "Metta Sutta" (the Buddha's words on loving-kindness) in front of the Burmese Embassy in Sri Lanka.

Two new SDC regions in China and Bangladesh

Two new regions of the Society of Dyers and Colourists have joined its global community for colour, the SDC Jiangnan Region in China and the SDC Bangladesh Region. They are the latest recruits to an increasingly global professional body and educational charity that now boasts regions in seven countries including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong.

Comments Clare Moore, SDC membership and qualifications officer, ‘We are delighted to welcome these fledgling regions to the SDC at a time when the contribution of the Society to colour education, skills enhancement and best practice is attracting attention and gaining support worldwide.’

The SDC Jiangnan Region, which means south of the Yangtze River and includes Shanghai, Zhejiang Province and Jiangsu Province, held its inaugural lecture during a recent visit by SDC president, Susan Williams, and chief executive, Kenneth McGhee. Honorary officers include Prof. Fang (chairman), Ms Xia Zhang (secretary) and Ms Anli Tian (treasurer) – all from Jiangnan University.

Championed by Mr Hitendra Barmma of Brinntex Inc – now honorary chairman – the new SDC Bangladesh Region adds to the Society’s fast growing presence in Asia. Mr Hafizur Rahman has been appointed secretary and Mr Muhammad Shah Jalal, treasurer.

All the Society’s regions around the world will soon be invited to select finalists for the 2009 SDC Global Design Competition, the final of which will be held in Goa, India in conjunction with the Society’s international colour conference ‘Sustainability in Coloration: Vision 2020’ which takes place on 25–26 June 2009 and is hosted by SDC India EC.

The Society has individual, professional members in 49 countries, with patron supporters in 12 of these, and is the world’s only qualifying body for practitioners in colour.

18 Sri Lankan refugees reach Dhanuskodi

Eighteen refugees from Sri Lanka landed on Arichalmunai, Dhanuskodi, bringing the total number of refugees who have reached Rameswaram this month to 133, according to aid agencies.


The refugees, who had travelled in a small fishing boat from Mannar, reached Arichalmunai on Wednesday night in a group that included at least seven children. One of them was a oneyear old, brought to India by his widowed mother wrapped in a large polythene bag. “The sea was terribly rough and being a small boat, we were completely drenched throughout the journey,” the woman’s 18-year-old brother said.

The child however, was coping with his ordeal better than the other children, most of whom were still upset over the dangers of the journey and were pining to return home.

Some of the children had not had food in at least 24 hours and the night was spent on the open beach of Dhanuskodi. Each adult had paid Rs 13,000 to the illegal Sri Lankan ferry to make the journey, while the children were charged at half rate. However, the baby’s passage was free of cost.

IDP Voices - Balu Selvanayagam

We were living in Andankulam in Mannar. We displaced to Madhu but later we were told to go back to Andankulam by the LTTE. Sometime later, from Ankankulam we displaced to Periyamadu and from there we displaced to Iluppakkadavai. From there because of shelling we displaced Paliyaru. From there we again displaced to Kanesapuram. From Kanesapuram we displaced to Anaivilunthan. From there we displaced yet again to Murippu in Kilinochchi. From Murippu we have come here to Vaddakachchi.
In Ankankulam I worked in a bakery. I have three children; my youngest is nine months old. Since we started this repeated displacement a year ago, we have no income. I cannot find work. We keep selling our small possessions to buy food. The last thing we sold was the tiny gold earring of this child. She is now wearing an imitation earring.

We have not received much assistance in the form of relief. This hut is no protection from rain. If it rains we have to seek protection in a temple; that is all we can do.

IDP Voices - Kumar Vijayaranee

Sri Lanka squad for Canada T20 title

Sri Lanka Saturday named a 15-member squad Saturday for the inaugural four-nation Twenty20 tournament to be played in Toronto next month.
The squad does not include a specialist wicket-keeper, with Tillakaratne Dilshan standing in for regular keeper Kumar Sangakkara, who recently underwent finger surgery in Australia and will miss the Canadian outing.

The tournament, scheduled to run from October 10-13, pits Sri Lanka against Pakistan, Zimbabwe and hosts Canada.

Sri Lanka squad:

Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Udawatte, Chamara Kapugedera, Jehan Mubarak, Thilina Kandamby, Farveez Maharoof, Thilina Thushara Mirando, Nuwan Kulasekera, Ajantha Mendis, Dilhara Fernando, Jeevantha Kulatunga, Dilhara Lokuhettige, Kaushalya Weeraratne.

81 LTTE rebels killed: Lankan Army

At least 81 LTTE cadres were killed as Sri Lankan armed forces using fighters and artilleries pounded Tigers' stronghold, with troops reported to be on the outskirts of the key Kilinochchi town.

The fighter jets targeted female 'Black Tigers' training facility at Rathnapuram, Kilinochchi, as well as LTTE logistic centres and vehicles storage areas in a major escalation of the country's ongoing civil strife.

The Defence Ministry said that at least 81 Tamil Tigers were killed as jets pounded Black Tiger' training facility in the embattled northern Lanka.

The rise in the heat of the battle comes amidst reports that Sri Lankan forces are within sights of the town, considered to be administrative and military headquarters of the LTTE.

"Sri Lankan Air Force fighter jets have launched a precision air strike at the LTTE's main female 'Black Tiger' training facility located at Rathnapuram, Kilinochchi this afternoon," an official said.

"The target was located 1.5 km East of the A-9 trunk road and North of the Iranamadu Tank," Air Force spokesperson Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said, adding the target was acquired on real-time ground information.

According to available information, serious damages were caused to the facility as intense activity was reportedly taking place during the time of the attack.

"The site is known to be the main female 'Black Tiger' training and coordinating facility and a most frequented location by LTTE's intelligence wing chief, Pottu Amman, the Defence Ministry quoted military sources as saying.

Air Strikes at female 'black tiger' training facility- Kilinochchi

Sri Lankan Air Force fighter jets have launched a precision air strike at the LTTE's main, female 'black tiger' training facility located at Rathnapuram, in Kilinochchi, Saturday (Sep 27), at around 12.15p.m.

"The target was located 1.5km East of the A-9 trunk road and North of the Iranamadu Tank", Air Force Spokesperson Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said speaking to defence.lk.

According to the Air Force Spokesperson, the target was acquired on real-time ground information received.

The site is known to be the main female black tiger training and coordinating facility and a most frequented location by LTTE's intelligence wing chief, Pottu Amman, military sources said.

Over the years, the facility has been used to engineer LTTE's most barbaric suicide attacks in the South, particularly in Colombo, military sources said. According to available information, serious damages were caused to the facility, as INTEL reports confirmed intense terrorist activity during the time of attack.

Armoured LTTE vehicles fitted with anti-air guns were observed rushing to the target location immediately after the attack, while reliable sources in Wanni said that people were ordered to stay away from the main roads in Kilinochchi by the outfit.

"Some serious damages have been caused and it is likely they (LTTE) will take time to reveal or remain tight lipped as usual over the incident", defence observes said citing intercepted LTTE communication.

Troops foray terror defences; 4 terrorists killed - Kilinochchi

Troops of Army Task Force 1 operating on the western half of the Kilinochchi battlefront, attacked terror defences in the Manniyakulam area, 12 km northeast of Nachchikudha at 12.30, last afternoon (Sept 26) , battlefield reports said.

According to the reports, troops had observed 4 bodies of slain LTTE cadres lying in the forward area following the clash. One of the bodies had been collected and taken to the rear areas , the reports added.

Later, intercepted terror radio transmissions revealed that 14 terrorists had been killed and 15 others wounded during the incident. Troops suffered no casualties.

INGO kingpin with Italian passport joins LTTE as fighter

The Kilinochchi Project Manager of an INGO known as Zoa has joined the LTTE to fight the Sri Lanka Army. He, an Italian passport holder, has informed the Colombo-based head of Zoa, in writing, of his decision to fight for the cornered Tigers.

The Ministry of Defence told The Island yesterday that Zoa had informed it of the situation and forwarded a copy of the letter from its Project Manager, the latest LTTE recruit. Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, asked for comment, said he was aware that a Zoa official had joined the LTTE.

According to sources, Zoa had tried repeatedly to persuade its Project Manager to leave Kilinochchi but in vain.

Zoa is a key member of the UN-led Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies (CHA), which has been active in the Eastern Province and in the Jaffna Peninsula.

Government sources said it was evident that the Zoa manager had been working for the LTTE throughout his deployment in Kilinochchi during the past several years.

Sources said that the government would have to review the process of allowing international humanitarian workers to enter the country as there was believed that at least some of them were working for the LTTE.

The UN Colombo is expected to explain its position on the Zoa Project Manager shortly, as Zoa is a prominent CHA member.

Zoa is the second INGO found to be directly involved with the LTTE. The first one was the Norwegian People's Aid, which has recently moved out of Kilinochchi leaving behind about 40 vehicles, including earth moving machines.

Tiger Movement Fired Upon

HAMBANTOTA: EXCHANGE of gunfire occurred between the troops and Tiger infiltrators in BLOCK 3, YALA Saturday (27) around 3.45 p.m., after soldiers on duty in the area opened fire at a suspicious terrorist movement in the jungle area.

Terrorists, while firing at the troops, withdrew and disappeared in the jungle.

One soldier who was injured due to Tiger fire later succumbed to injuries.

Army commenced a search operation in the area.

LTTE Loses More Bunkers & Trenches in Welioya

WELIOYA: TROOPS in WELIOYA, after they attacked a Tiger bunker line in ANDANKULAM captured one bunker and one trench line Friday (26). Six more bunkers in the same area were destroyed by the troops. Five of them were targeted by armoured tanks.

Similarly, a line of five bunkers in KUMULAMUNAI came under forceful attack of the troops Friday (26).

Friday’s clashes in ANDANKULAM, KUMULAMUNAI and RANABAPURA areas killed at least eight terrorists and injured over thirty.

One soldier serving in the WELIOYA front laid his life during fighting.

At the same time, during clearing operations, troops recovered three anti personnel mines and eighteen IEDs.

Intensified Fighting Kill More Terrorists; Troops Recover Four Terrorist Dead Bodies

VAVUNIYA & KILINOCHCHI: CONTINUING confrontations at NAVATHKULAM and north of PALAMODDAI in VAVUNIYA killed six LTTE terrorists Friday (26). One LTTE bunker and three trench lines north of PALAMODDAI also fell into hands of troops at the end of fighting. Troops recovered four hand grenades, two pouches, one hundred rounds (100) of ammunition and one terrorist cap from the area.

In the meantime, troops launched an attack on an LTTE bunker line at AKKARAYANKULAM in KILINOCHCHI Friday (26) afternoon and destroyed one bunker. The incident killed seven terrorists and injured three more. One soldier sustained injury in explosion of a terrorist IED.

Similarly, troops in KALAYAPARU area in KILINOCHCHI killed four more terrorists during fighting. Subsequently, troops recovered one LTTE dead body, one T-56 weapon, ninety rounds of ammunition, three magazines and one belt order from the area. Two soldiers were injured in terrorist fire and explosion of anti personnel mine.

The same day, heavy clashes erupted in the general area of VANNERIKKULAM killing seventeen terrorists and causing severe injuries to one more.

Meanwhile, an LTTE attack on the Security Forces FDL (Forward Defence Line) in MANNIYANKULAM was repulsed by the troops who killed eighteen terrorists in the area. Two LTTE dead bodies were recovered by the troops during subsequent search. One LTTE dead body was recovered by the troops. Eight soldiers were injured in fighting.

Fisherman Injured in LTTE Fire

JAFFNA: LTTE terrorists opened fire at a flotilla of fishing boats that went to sea from the GURUNAGAR jetty Friday (26) around 10.00 a.m.. Fishermen were engaged in their daily catching some kilometers away from the jetty when terrorists fired at them from POONARYN area, according to one fisherman who escaped unharmed.

One fisherman in one of the boats sustained severe injuries in his neck due to LTTE fire. However, others managed to return to the jetty with the injured person.

The injured fisherman, A. SATHYAPILLE of No 43, 3rd CROSS STREET, GURUNAGAR was admitted to JAFFNA hospital for treatment.

The same day, terrorists fired mortars towards the troops at ARIYALAI and MUHAMALE. Two soldiers serving in those areas laid their lives. Three others were admitted to PALALY Army hospital for treatment.

One more soldier was injured due to explosion of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at MUHAMALE Friday (26).

Loads of bombs and weapons found - Negombo

Police have found over 100 kg of C-4 high explosives, one T-56 riffle, one suicide jacket, claymore mines, night visions, remote control devices and limpet bombs from an unoccupied land in Kudapaduwa, Negombo this evening (Sept 26).

Police suspects that LTTE terrorists had kept these weapons to be used in intended attacks against civilian and security forces targets in the South.

More information will follow.

Protests in Sri Lanka Ponzi capital

Protests erupted against authorities in a sleepy Sri Lankan fishing village which can almost lay claim to be the Ponzi capital of the world, after a financier in the area was blacklisted as running an illegal business, police and residents said.

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka named Piyadasa Ratnayake, a financier in Hungama in Southern Sri Lanka popularly known by the alias Danduwam Mudalali or the 'punishment businessman.'
Residents say he had acquired the name in his school-going days when the naughty young Ratnayake was repeatedly punished by his teachers.

'Danduwam Mudalali' had originally started lending money to small fish retailers at high interest rates, charging daily interest rates to become prosperous.

Later on, he had started getting money from others and re-lending, paying 7 percent a month 'interest' for his 'depositors'. By this time nobody knew where his money was being 'invested' to pay such a high return.

But people were coming from all parts of the island and giving him money to get 7 percent interest which is annualized at around 90 percent.

Along with Ratnayake, the Central Bank also named five other businesses as carrying on illegal finance businesses. One of them - ' Sakwithi House Constructions' - had already collapsed, leaving thousands penniless.

Such operations are known as Ponzi scams, named after Charles Ponzi, an Italian who lived in the US city of Boston in the early part of the century.

Ponzi claimed to run a business arbitraging on the price differential of international postal reply coupons between the US and Italy.
But a typical Ponzi scam operates by paying off earlier depositors with the money coming from later ones, until the business collapses.
In Hinguma, on Friday, about 300 people had come to Danduwam Mudalali's house demanding their money back. Police said a mobile patrol was sent to the place and officers had observed the financier starting to re-pay depositors.

Residents say announcements were made by loudspeaker as each depositor was re-paid, in a bid to instill confidence.

When he ran out of cash, post-dated cheques were given, police said.

Residents say a group of people had then protested against the central bank saying they wanted to protect Danduwam Mudalali.

Danduwam Mudalali had, by this time, spawned several copycat 'financiers' who were attracted to the business by the apparently easy manner in which the 'financier' was getting 'deposits'.

A former associate of Danduwam Mudalali had set himself up as Dhadi Danduwam meaning 'greater punishment.' He gave an interest rate of 100 basis points above the benchmark 'Danduwam' rate.

Dedi Danduwam alias 'Saman' was now locked up on a drugs charge, police said.

Residents say some law enforcement officers who deposited money with Danduwam Mudalali was also given the Dedi Danduwam rate of return.

In Sri Lanka authorities kept interest rates far below inflation for almost four years, printing money to finance budget deficits.

State banks in particular kept savings rates around 5.0 percent while inflation raged above 20 percent.

Negative real rates, or even low nominal rates amid low inflation, can make ordinary people easy prey to scammers.

Meanwhile, just off Hungama yet another person had set himself up as 'Maraneeya Danduwam or deadly punishment. The 'deadly' rate of return was 200 basis points above the Danduwam benchmark.

Yet another group had started collecting money paying a lower rate of return. They were known as Lihil Danduwam or light punishment firms. They offered rates about 300 or 400 basis points below the benchmark Danduwam rate.

The 'lihil' rate artists were reputed to be 'depositing' their money with the Danduwam and Dedi Danduwam operators after keeping a large profit.

They were acting in much the same way as the likes of Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch, Bear Stearns and Goldman Sachs happily parked high yield 'sub-prime' securities in each other to boost returns, as the Fed cut rates as low as one percent, while fiscal deficits widened.

'Agents' who brought money to the larger Danduwam operators were also paid a 100 basis point commission - much like an arrangers fee in Wall Street.

The musical chairs in financial capitals, powered by unceasing money printing by the Fed in particular and reserve currency central banks in general, collapsed in August 2007.

In Hungama it is just starting. But there is no Ben Bernanke to create paper money out of thin air and bail them out.

And there is also no ex-Danduwam chief executive officer as finance minister to engineer a bailout package, or give a banking license to Danduwam Mudalali overnight to make him eligible for central bank liquidity.

Groundviews shortlisted for 2008 Manthan Award

Groundviews was selected for the 2008 Manthan Award.

The Manthan Award is a first of its kind initiative in India to recognize the best practices in e-Content and Creativity. The Digital Empowerment Foundation in partnership with World Summit Award and American India Foundation launched the award in 2004.

This year, the Grand Jury for the Manthan Awards reviewed a total of 284 applications received from 8 countries in South Asia and 28 States and Union Territories in India, across 13 categories. At the end of the Jury process, only one-fourth of the total nominations were shortlisted for an award.

Sri Lanka has come out on top with 18 nominations. Groundviews is shortlisted under the e-news category.

The final awards will be presented in Delhi on 18th October.

Groundviews takes this opportunity to congratulate all the other nominees from Sri Lanka.

Groundviews is Sri Lanka's first and award winning citizens journalism website features an unparalleled range of ideas, opinions and analyses on humanitarian issues, media freedom, human rights, peace, democratic governance and constitutional reform.

The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative - Statement of Concern on Sri Lanka’s Non-Inclusion on CMAG’s September 2008 Agenda

The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) expresses its concern that Sri Lanka has yet to feature upon the agenda of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG).

Sri Lanka lost its seat in the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) during the earlier part of this year (May 2008), on the basis of scrutiny of its human rights record. Its current military offensive in the north of the country raises further concerns around the Government’s adherence to its “Voluntary Commitments” (human rights commitments) made at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) during from the Universal
Periodic Review. When also examined alongside the Sri Lankan National Human Rights Commission’s history of variance and non-compliance with the Paris Principles, it would appear critical that Sri Lanka be included on CMAG’s agenda this year.

CMAG, the guardian of the Commonwealth’s fundamental values, which is intended to address and take action in response to breaches by Commonwealth countries, has seen Sri Lanka seated in its group across two consecutive terms. CMAG is due to meet in New York on 27 September 2008, in the capacity of its role to deal with serious or persistent violations of the Commonwealth's fundamental political values. However, the only country currently on its agenda is the Fiji Islands.

There is potential for an escalating situation of impunity in the northern region of Sri Lanka – where, last week, the Sri Lankan Government, ahead of its major military offensive on Northern part of the country, ordered aid workers to depart the area, saying it could not guarantee their safety. This is particularly the case where, in a repeat unlawful action that occurred during June 2007, Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary advised thousands of Tamils living in Colombo, on Saturday, 20 September 2008, to return to their villages in the north of the country ahead of the offensive, referring to their presence in the capital as a national security threat; those Tamils remaining resident in Colombo having been required to register with the Police. Given the intensity of the attacks on the region, which already had a large internally displaced population, along with the fact that independent media have been banned from entering the region and recent unconfirmed reports that have suggested unprecedented and at times indiscriminate attacks on civilian populated areas, there are fears of a developing humanitarian crisis. The resumption of armed conflict between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has been reportedly accompanied by widespread human rights abuses by both sides.

While the LTTE has continued its deliberately provocative attacks on the military and Sinhalese civilians as well as its violent repression of Tamil dissenters and forced recruitment of both adults and children, the government is using extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances as part of a brutal counter-insurgency campaign. The likely result will be the further cycle of war, terrorism and repression of human rights. Without ignoring or minimising the serious violations of the LTTE, the international community should bring more pressure to bear on the government, whether it be via United Nations mechanisms, a reappraisal of aid policies and/or intensified political engagement.

Given that CMAG’s fundamental task is that of a “watchdog within the Commonwealth”, in order to assess the nature of any infringement and recommend measures for collective action from member countries, CHRI urges it to include Sri Lanka upon its agenda for its meeting this month. In doing so, CMAG will continue to help protect and promote the Commonwealth’s key values across its member states in the twenty-first century.

Japan Funds Agro Well Project in Anuradhapura District

The Government of Japan through its “Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human
Security Projects (GGP)” has provided US$ 48,511 (approximately Rs.
5,166,384) to construct 15 Agro Wells in the Maddyama Nuwaragampalatha DS
division in Anuradhapura, which will be implemented by the “Women’s
Development Society.”

The farmers in the Maddyama Nuwaragampalatha currently depend on rain water
and can only cultivate for three months in a year due to scarcity of water.
These agro wells will enable the farmers to cultivate throughout the year
and will improve their livelihood. In addition, these Agro wells will
improve the health and hygiene conditions of the area by providing clean
water, which is expected to benefit 75 families directly and 200 families
indirectly.
The GGP is a scheme that funds NGOs and local authorities to implement
projects which directly benefit grassroots communities. During the current
year, current year, the GGP has funded projects for the livelihood
development of the East, infrastructure development in rural Badulla
District, and de-mining projects in the North and East.

The signing of the Grant Contract took place on 26th September, 2008
between Mr. Kaoru Shimazaki, Chargé ď Affaires of The Embassy of Japan, and
Ms.Wijitha Basnayake, Chairperson of the “Women’s Development Society,”
in the presence of other officials at the Embassy of Japan in Colombo.

Jaguar and Porsche assembly plants insist on promised concessions

Universal Autoassembly Private Limited and three other petitioners had complained to the Supreme Court that the Minister of Industrial Development had failed to recommend the petitioner companies for the exemptions from excise duty, for the local assembleyof Jaguar cars, Porsche vehicles and Bejing Automobiles.

The petitioners said President Rajapaksa under Section 3C of the Excise (Special Provisions) Act No. 13 of 1989, (as amended) had ordered that the petitioners be given this tax concession. The order had been gazetted on June 5, 2008.

The petitioners added that they had learnt of a recent Cabinet decision to amend the applicability of this Excise Duty Exemption.

The petitioners had said that had it not been for the duty exemption for locally assembled vehicles, they would not have proceeded to set up an assembly plant, with the approval of the Board of Investment.

They alleged unreasonable treatment by the first respondent, Minister of Industrial Development Kumara Welgama and other Ministers of the Cabinet and requested Court to grant them interim relief by directing the respondents to abide by the order made by the President. The petitioners requested Court to declare the violation of their fundamental rights by the respondent Cabinet of Ministers.

The petition was called before the Supreme Court yesterday and was listed for support on October 8, 2008.

Sanjeewa Jayewardene, appeared with Rajiv Amarasuriya, instructed by Sugath Perera Associates for the petitioners.

The Bench comprised, Justice Raja Fernando, Justice J. Balapatabandi and Justice P. A. Ratnayake.

More job opportunities for skilled workers in Europe

Following the successful completion of his tour of Europe, the Minister of Foreign Employment and Welfare, Keheliya Rambukwella said that there is good potential in Europe for Sri Lankans to work as migrants.

According to the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) Chairman, Kingsley Ranawaka, as a result of the negotiations held with the authorities of several European nations, Sri Lanka will be entering into MoUs with Poland and Romania before the end of the year and with France in January.

Ranawaka also added that opportunities in industrial, construction and hospitality sectors for skilled labour would be on offer for Sri Lankans who possess skills and qualifications in accordance with international standards.

The SLBFE recently initiated a number of steps to discourage the common practice of sending unskilled domestic workers and encourage skilled migrant labour for higher wages.

In a bid to strengthen matters pertaining to migrant labour the Government recently took steps to sign MOUs with several countries regarding worker rights, welfare and employment opportunities.

Authorities have also signed MOUs with the UAE, Jordan, Libya, Bahrain, Korea and Kuwait seeking better protocol on issues related to Sri Lankan migrant workers.

According to Ranawaka, Sri Lanka plans to enter into similar MOUs with Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Japan in the future.

LTTE associates attack a London temple after President visited it

Lanka-e-News' London reporter says that a mob has attacked Kingsbury temple in London yesterday (26) damaging door and widow panes and two vehicles parked in the premises after President Mahinda Rajapakse visited the temple on his way to New York to participate in the UN General Assembly.

Our reporter says that the monks residing in the temple have identified two persons as they fled after breaking several glasses by attacking with an iron rod and the monks say they are LTTE sympathizers.

The President visited this temple on September 20 and the chief prelate of UK Glayaye Piyadassi Thero invoked blessings to him.

The attack has taken place around 1.35 AM. The damage caused to vehicles is estimated around 25,000 pounds. No monk residing in the temple has been harmed. A complaint has been lodged in Metropolitan police and an investigation is underway.

Our London reporter says that three previous times as well the LTTE associates pulled down the lion’s flag hoisted in the temple.

Govt’s call to vacate Kilinochchi ignored

The Government’s call for the residents of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu to move out to safer locations has so far not had the expected response.


According to authoritative sources from the Vavuniya Kachcheri, despite the Government’s request for the public to move out of these areas and proceed to Vavuniya, so far there has not been any report of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) entering Vavuniya.


The Government appealed to the residents in the Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts to leave the area without risking their lives. The Air Force, dropping leaflets from the air, requested the civilians to flee to safer locations in view of the much anticipated military onslaught against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).


However, despite repeated appeals by the Government, The Bottom Line reliably learns so far no civilian has arrived in Vavuniya.


Vavuniya Kachcheri sources said while the Government in collaboration with the World Food Programme and the UNHCR are fully geared to provide shelter and food to the nearly 200,000 IDPs who are expected to visit Vavuniya, so far nobody has entered Vavuniya.


“We are ready with six transit camps to house the IDPs temporarily. They will be here for two to three weeks in these transit camps. We are also ready to provide them with long term camping facilities following their stay at the transit camps. For this, we have identified three locations. But sadly, so far nobody has come,” Kachcheri sources said.


Meanwhile the source said as there was no sign of IDPs entering Vavuniya, the Government has already dispatched lorry loads of food to Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu.


In the absence of the non governmental organisations and other aid workers, the food convoys will be channelled through the respective Grama Sevekas.


“We know that majority of the civilians are prevented from entering Vavuniya by the LTTE. The Tigers are using the innocent civilians as human shield. But what can we do? If the people want a quick solution to the problem of terrorism, then they must enter Vavuniya some how,” the officials said.

Police given time to answer in Rosy, Chandrani FR case

The Supreme Court has given the respondents, Bambalapitiya OIC Upul Seneviratna, IGP Victor Perera and the Attorney General, time to file answers in Fundamental Right (FR) Applications filed by UNP Parliamentarian Chandrani Bandara and Colombo West Organiser Rosy Senanayake.


Senior State Counsel Riyaz Hamza moved for time to file answers on behalf of respondents when the cases came before the Supreme Court. The Bench comprising Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva, and Justices Raja Fernando and P.A. Ratnayaka gave them time till January 21, 2009.


Sujeewa Senasingha, instructed by Integrated Associates, appearing for petitioners told the Court that he is not objecting to give time or respondents to file answers.


Serasinghe further submitted to Court that the UNP, together with certain other opposition political parties, organised a lawful peaceful protest against the rising cost of living and the escalating fuel prices on June 3, 2008 and some Police stations made applications to Colombo Chief Magistrate to stop the said protest. The Chief Magistrate rejected those applications.


When the petitioners were participating in the said protest, the first respondent had insulted them and abused them in filth, the counsel said.

Appointing PB as ‘advisor’ in contempt of court charges UNP

The UNP yesterday charged that the impending appointment of former Treasury Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundera as a ‘presidential advisor’ by the Mahinda Rajapakse administration is in contempt of court.

UNP Parliamentarian Lakshman Kiriella at a media briefing held in Colombo yesterday said that the government’s decision to appoint the former Treasury Secretary as a presidential advisor was against the Supreme Court judgment and said that the Attorney General (AG) and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) have failed to abide by the court ruling.

"The last paragraph in the judgment has clearly ordered the IGP and the AG to take ‘necessary action’ against the Treasury Secretary for violating government rules and regulations. But instead of doing so the Rajapakse administration is planning to appoint a person found guilty by court as a presidential advisor which is against the Supreme Court ruling," claimed Kiriella.

According to Kiriella a ministry secretary can be held responsible while having limited powers but a presidential advisor has no responsibility but has unlimited powers.

"At a time when Jayasundera was answerable to the President, cabinet, parliament and also the Public Service Commission (PSC) he still could commit offences, but what would happen once he is appointed as an advisor which has unlimited powers and is not answerable to any person?" questioned Kiriella.

That would be disastrous and will create a serious situation than ever before," Kiriella added.

Speaking further Kiriella noted as to why the Rajapakse administration is reluctant to take action against Jayasundera and said it was due to his involvement in all government illegal dealings.

"It is a public secret as to how Jayasundera as a government servant had a hand to the Mihin Air and Mig deals and also as to how he was involved in the LTTE deal the Rajapaksa’s had before the Presidential election. As a result the Rajapaksas do not want to remove Jayasundera believing that he would spill the beans," said Kiriella.

Silencer Gun & Dead Tiger Found after Clashes

WELIOYA: INTENSITY and ferociousness of the ongoing battles in WANNI was reaching new heights as triumphant troops were inching forward to reach their goals amidst rains of enemy fire in the WELIOYA sector as of Thursday (25).

The strategic ANDANKULAM and KOMALAMUNAI areas witnessed close fights bringing death to at least six terrorists and injury to fourteen more. At the end of the fighting, troops collected one dead LTTE cadre, one silencer gun with a telescopic lens, five magazines, twenty ammunition rounds, one I-com set, one night vision device, one belt order, nearly one hundred ration packets, a stock of medicine, maps and one hundred and seventeen anti personnel mines. Those fights, including one attack against an LTTE bunker continued until late in the evening.

3 air raids targeting LTTE strong points

Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets raided identified three separate LTTE locations in Kilinochchi, Mullaittivu and Vavuniya districts throughout the day, 26 September.

Air Force spokesperson, Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara, speaking to media said that the first air raid was launched around 9.45 a.m. targeting LTTE gathering place in 2 Km north of Akkarayankulam in Kilinochchi district.

Meanwhile, fighter jets simultaneously engaged in two more LTTE bases around 1.45 p.m. today. One of the two targets was an LTTE storage facility located in 2 Km south of Piramantalkulam in Mullaittivu district while the other was an LTTE supply base located 1 Km southeast of Puliyankulam in Vavuniya district, the spokesperson added.

Air Force confirmed that three targets were engaged accurately.

Security forces on the doorstep of Kokkavil - Mullaittivu front

Security forces personnel engaged in Wanni liberating operation in Mullaittivu front are on the eve of another significant victory against LTTE terrorists as the troops of 57 Division advancing into the Kokkavil general area this afternoon, 26 September.

According to the latest information received from the forefront, the troops of 57 Division are in close vicinity to the Kokkavil railway station complex.

More information will follow ..

New bid to identify the mysterious 'Mr Patel'

A RENEWED appeal has been launched by a national charity to identify a mysterious man from Sri Lanka found dead in bed at Torquay's Grand Hotel nearly 11 years ago to the day.
Mr Patel, the name he used to check in, was thought to have links with the Tamil Tigers terrorist group — but his true identity was never established.
He was found dead — possibly from cyanide poisoning —at the seafront Grand on September 24, 1997.
Missing People, the UK's leading charity for missing and unidentified people, today made a fresh appeal for information in the hope of finally solving the case.
Mr Patel, reckoned to have been in his 30s, had checked into the hotel on September 23.
He was about 5ft 8ins tall, of medium build with neatly trimmed black hair and a pock-marked complexion.
He had distinctive scars on both of his shoulders which suggested he had links with the Tamils. He was wearing a T-shirt, jeans and a leather necklace.
Missing People has checked their missing person's records for clues as to a possible identity, but as yet no conclusive match has been made.
Teri Blythe, Head of Missing People's Identification department, said: "In most cases an unidentified person is also a missing person, so it is likely that this man will have family and friends out there who do not know his fate.
"We therefore hope that this appeal will bring some vital clues that will lead us to identify this body and put an end to someone's distress."

PayMate Forays Into International Market

PayMate has forayed into the international market by partnering with Bank of Ceylon (BOC) from Srilanka, Everest Bank from Nepal and the one of the largest card issuers and acquirers from the Middle East, to offer services like remittances and retail payments via mobile. With these alliances, PayMate is looking to extend its mobile payment platform to neighbouring countries.
The customers will be able to register for these services via their bank network. Once registered, they will receive a four-digit PIN, which they can then use to authenticate their transactions on their mobile, whether it is retail payments or remittances.
PayMate sees exciting opportunities in neighbouring countries which have similar demographics to India and can be treated as microcosms. Our experiences and learnings in India can be applied with greater effect and therefore results,” said Ajay Adiseshann, MD and founder, PayMate.

According to R.K. Ummat, Everest Bank, “The banking scenario in the country is definitely undergoing a revolution with our customers getting highly tech-savvy. The mobile subscriber base in Nepal is also rapidly increasing. Partnering with PayMate will enable the subscribers of Nepal Telecom and 2,00,000 strong Everest Bank customer base to avail of the user-friendly mobile payment services. Moreover, the mobile services scenario in the country is developing rapidly, and we are extremely excited about our association with PayMate and Nepal Telecom.


Commenting on the association, Dr Gamini Wikaramasinghe, chairman, BOC, shared, With the mobile phone increasingly becoming the one-stop-shop for consumers, a simple and secure service like PayMate now offers unparalleled convenience for our customers. BOC has been in forefront of offering newer services to its customers by associating with PayMate. We aim to offer the best of m-commerce solutions to the Sri Lankan market through knowledge sharing and technology expertise.

Partial transcript of the National Post’s interview with President Mahinda Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka

Q. You campaigned on a platform of negotiating with the Tamil Tigers. What happened?

A. I was elected somewhere around the 18th of November [2005]. So we said we were ready to talk to them and [Tamil Tigers leader Velupillai] Prabhakaran himself said that this man is a practical man. His first statement was that, so I said that we need to start negotiating. Then they said, ‘Yes just wait for a few weeks' and started attacking us. They started killing. 5th of December, they killed about 13 unarmed soldiers; they were taking food to the camp, then they killed them. That was the first incident. Then I said, ‘Don't do this, we will negotiate.' But in a few days they killed at least five, six, then they killed civilians, children, mothers, pregnant mothers. So they were doing this for about seven months. I didn't even react because I was planning to negotiate with them. I was trying to talk to them. People thought that I am very weak. And some ambassadors came and told me, from the West, ‘What are you doing?' I said, ‘I am trying to talk to them. That's why I don't want to do anything.' They were sympathizing with me, the way that this man [Prabhakaran] was going on. Army commander was in Colombo, they tried to kill him [in April 2006]. Then only one day, that evening, I ordered the Air Force to go and attack one or two camps. That was the first reaction. Then again that evening I said, ‘No, enough.' But I was again trying to persuade them. We went to Geneva, the Norwegians got involved and in Geneva in the middle of the discussions suddenly these people [the Tigers' delegation] got up and went. Then they agreed to come back for a second time. Twice in Geneva and once in Oslo. Oslo meeting, they refused to meet the delegation that we sent. When they came back, again they attacked my brother, defence secretary.... Then they closed down the ... water that was flowing towards the eastern province. Farmers were without water for their paddy fields. Actually that was drinking water also. Then we tried to negotiate to open it. For five days we were trying to negotiate. No. They thought we are weak. That was the time I said, ‘No. Because of the farmers and the people it's a humanitarian problem.' I said, ‘Now it is enough' and gave the orders to go and open the [sluice gate]. When we opened that, the next day itself these people came and attacked the Trincomalee harbour and the Muttu, they took over Muttu. So from that time I ordered them to clear the place, so we cleared it. And we went on, we not only liberated [eastern Sri Lanka] from the Tigers but immediately we had local government elections.


Q. Is this war almost over?

A. Yes, I think so.


Q. Why do you say that?

A. It will take a little more time. I would say, terrorism you can't just finish it overnight. Because the time within the last 20 years and the ceasefire, within that two years of ceasefire they managed to arm themselves. I mean, they have brought sophisticated weapons, guns, ammunition, and they were training so all that, that is because of the ceasefire. So our government didn't check their baggage. It was all open to them and everybody knew that they were taking weapons, buying weapons and the ships came and unloaded. All this happened in that period. So really what they do is, when they are weak, they want a ceasefire. They will go behind the international community and say, ‘Now pressurize the government, we are ready to talk to them.' That is the time that they recruit people, train them and equip with weapons.


Q. How is this going to end?

A. We have told them now, if they are surrendering tomorrow, we can stop all this and start negotiating again. They are not surrendering themselves. So militarily, we have to defeat the terrorists and then with the civil society we have to give them a political solution. ... I have already appointed another all-party committee to give me a proposal for the entire country.


Q. If the military defeats the Tigers, then what? How will you resolve the grievances of Tamils?

A. Then we will negotiate with them. First let us defeat the terrorists. Then as soon as we defeat them, we will let the civilians take over the administration there. We must have the administration first. And start developing the area. We will have elections. This is a democratic country.


Q. What are you doing about international human rights abuses concerns, especially abductions and disappearances?

A. Now I will give you one good example. Recently near the Hilton [hotel in Colombo], there was a bomb blast. A suicide cadre. Now the identity card says that he is a Muslim. But we managed to get the SIM of the mobile [phone]. So we traced from that that he had given calls to various places. The last call was from [the rebel capital] Kilinochchi. That is the order to go and blast the place. So he had given a call to some place in Batticaloa or Trincomalee. So we went there to find. That was his house. He was a Tamil. And parents, as soon as he left to Colombo, they have gone to the police station and made a statement that army came and checked them and thereafter a white van came and abducted this man. Can you imagine? Now this is a good example. And some of these people who are claiming that they were abducted are in Paris or in Germany or in London or in Canada.... Certainly we take them into custody. Why should we abduct them? It is much better to take them and keep them. All these suspects, we take them into custody. And they have given us a lot of information. We have found a lot of things. Ammunition, explosives. But if there is a complaint, certainly we look into it. And I must tell you that even in the army, the forces, we have human rights units. There is a major general, a Tamil lady, who is in charge of human rights. So every day they will go and teach them and give lectures.


Q. What would you say to Canadians who support the Tamil Tigers?

A. They must stop this. They should not encourage the terrorists. They are not helping the Tamils. The Tamil people have been killed more than Sinhalese leaders, they have killed Tamil leaders, democratic leaders who had been in political parties, leaders of political parties who were against this man [Prabhakaran]. They have killed more Tamils. Anyone who spoke against them [the LTTE] is killed, so they should not encourage this, they must stop this, they will never succeed. Prabhakaran will never succeed. They must not encourage it. Tamil people must understand that we can live together, and there are no barriers.

Family man reported missing in Jaffna

A young family man from Chaddanaathar Veethi area within the Jaffna Municipality limits has been reported missing since 4 July, according to a complaint lodged by his wife with Human Rights Commission (HRC) in Jaffna. The disappearance has taken place a day after the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers took away photos of her husband from their house, she said in the complaint.
The SLA soldiers who came to victim's house had threatened him several times.

The victim, Arumaithurai Kishorkumar, 23, a driver is the father of a two-month-old child at the time of his disappearance.

Two brothers of Kishorkumar have gone into hiding due to continuous deaths threats, the wife further said in her complaint to the HRC.

Nishantha Ranatunga approved as manager

The Sports Minister has approved the nomination of Nishantha Ranatunga as manager of Sri Lanka team for the upcoming Twenty20 tour of Canada. He has been nominated by the Interim Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket.

Mr. Ranatunga has represented Sri Lanka at two ODIs and has played 92 Division One matches.

The tour of Canada begins next month.

6 unauthorized financial institutions banned

The Central Bank yesterday (Sept. 25th) banned six unauthorized financial institutions, including Sakvithi House Constructions (at 08, Nawala Road, Nugegoda), whose owner had defrauded more than Rs. 09 billion from the public.

This is the first instance that the CB had publicized the names of illegal financial institutions.

The other five are Okanda Finance (at 22/1 A, Vaidya Road, Dehiwela), Nadini Finance (at L-02/17, Reality Plaza, Ja-ela), D.K. Udayasiri (at 412/2, Gala Junction, Kiribathgoda and 187/B, Wedisinghe Trade Complex, Kurunegala), Piyadasa Ratnayake alias 'Danduwam Mudalali' (at Gurupokuna in Hungama) and Sriyavi Homes, Lands and Investments (at 283, Dandugama, Ja-ela).

According to CB, these institutions have been ordered not to carry on finance business by accepting money from the public as deposits or in any other form and the lending of money on interest and/or the investment of money in any manner.

Opposition objects to minister as PSC head

Opposition MPs have raised in Parliament the appointment of a government minister to head a parliamentary select committee tasked with investigating allegations of a secret pact with the LTTE.

Subsequent to a claim by the opposition of such a pact, Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara today (Sept. 26th) told the House that a PSC headed by Nimal Siripala de Silva and also comprising 21 members would inquire into it.

Chief Opposition Whip Joseph Michael Perera objected to the minister's nomination, since the allegation was leveled against the government.

His opposite number Dinesh Gunawardena noted however, the nominee by the speaker could not be challenged.

Two other PSCs were appointed to probe the controversial purchase of MiG-24 aircraft for the Air Force and alleged discrepancies at the Department of Inland Revenue.

2 JVP MPs complain against Basil Rajapaksa

JVP MPs Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Sunil Handunnetti have complained to Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara about an incident of breach of their parliamentary privileges involving MP Basil Rajapaksa.
In separate complaints, they pointed to the September 24th meeting of Committee on Public Enterprise, where the ruling party member had verbally abused them over an appointment to the Water Board.

The two JVP MPs request the speaker to take action against the Mr. Rajapaksa and to ensure the dignity of all COPE members.

Protest rally at UN against SL genocide - Tamilnet

In an attempt to draw the attention of the United Nations, over 1,000 American and Canadian Tamils and friends of Tamils protested in front of the UN Headquarters in New York on September 24th, reports ‘Tamilnet’.

Denouncing the visit to the UN by Sri Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, the protestors demanded sanctions against Sri Lanka, and advocated invoking the principle of Responsibility to Protect as a means to halt what the protesters alleged ‘genocide of Tamils’, it adds.

The protesters chanted "Rajapaksa, don't come to the UN, go to The Hague."

A petition signed by the rally attendees addressed to Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon was handed over to the UN.

The appeal says the Sri Lankan government has abdicated its responsibility to the Tamil inhabitants of the island and the international community embodied in the UN must begin to enact its ideals for the unilateral protection of the vulnerable Tamil people.

The petition proposed possible action by the UN such as sending an independent monitor from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, setting up internationally supervised safe havens for civilians in active conflict zones, a total ban on military aid to Sri Lanka, prosecution of the individuals in the Sri Lankan government and its armed forces for ethnic cleansing, crimes against humanity and genocide on the island, and arranging for a special session on Sri Lanka.

Ratnasiri pays a floral tribute

Prime Minister Mr. Ratnasiri Wickramanayake pays a floral tribute at the Bandaranayake Memorial at Horagolla Friday to mark the 49th death anniversary of the late Prime Minister S.W.R.D.Bandaranayake.

Death toll in moonshine case increases to six

The death toll in the illicit moonshine tragedy in Weliweriya, Gampaha rose to six yesterday with more than 52 others hospitalized, some of them in life threatening condition, police and hospital officials said.

Police said that they were searching for the kingpin of the moonshine business from where the victims had consumed the brew.

Colombo stocks ease

Colombo stocks saw index-strong JKH, Dialog and Commercial Bank losing at Friday’s closing to slip the market, but with relatively high turnover.

JKH which opened flat in the morning was down by 25 cents to close at Rs 86.25, Commercial Bank lost 25 cents to close at Rs 70.75 while Distilleries was down 50 cents down to Rs 72.

“A transfer of 5.2 million shares in CT Land likely to be within the CT Group at Rs 17 a share boosted the turnover in the market,” a stock analyst said.

The All Share Index lost 3.52 points to 2,209.05 while the Milanka dipped by 5.01 points to 2,484.25. The turnover was Rs 175 million.

Ayurvedic Research Institute to treat Cancer patients

The Navinna Ayurvedic Research Institute has begun to treat cancer patients following the success in a research conducted on the indigenous medicine to treat the desease, the Government Information Department said in a statement.
“It has been confirmed that spreading of cancer could be controlled by immunizing the Cancer patient with indigenous medicine,” Directress of the Ayurvedic Research Institute and Consultant Dr. (Mrs) Dayangani Senasekara said.

The Information Department quoted her as saying that the life expectancy of Cancer patients could be extended enabling them to lead a normal life by restoring their previous appearance.

According to statistics, there were 13,364 cancer patients in 2005, of whom 7306 were females and 6058 males. Dr. Jayatilake said that most of the patients had been able to lead a normal life and their health condition returned to normal.

The Ayurvedic Research Institute and Institute of Indigenous Medicine jointly with the Kelaniya University, Kalubowila hospital, University of Colombo and the Sri Jayawardenapura University are currently conducting research on liver cancer.

The results are being anticipated by the Research Institute in a few months time.

Constable sentenced to jail

Mount Lavinia Magistrate sentenced a police constable who had assaulted attorney-at-law Mr. W. Dayaratne, at present President of Sri Lanka Bar Association (BASL) in July 2003 and causing him injuries to one year rigorous imprisonment.

Additional Magistrate Dharshika Wimalasiri convicted Hemalgamage Sarath, a police constable attached to Colombo Emergency Service who had assaulted Mr. Dayaratne on July 17, 2003. During the trial it was revealed that a neighbour of Mr. Dayaratne living at Muragan Place, Colombo had knocked against a vehicle of a police officer attached to Wellawatte police station.
Subsequently the accused police constable who was attached to Wellawatte police had come with a group of policemen and had attempted to attack Mr. Dayaratne’s neighbour. When Mr. Dayaratne intervened and questioned the group of policemen, the constable had assaulted him. Subsequently the attorney had lodged a complaint at Wellawatte police station and had gone to Colombo South hospital but had been unable to get medication as there was a strike by the health workers. He had then got admitted to a private hospital.
On the instruction of then Inspector General of Police, Criminal Investigation Department had conducted an investigation and had arrested the constable. He had been identified by Mr. Dayaratne at the identification parade.

PAFFREL to launch mobile service

People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) is to launch a mobile service to provide national identity cards for voters.

PAFFREL Deputy Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi said that this would be a part of a large CEDA project under which a mobile job market, and human rights workshops would be conducted.

The first mobile NIC clinic as it is called would be held in Thalalla in Matara on October 18 and 19.

Mr. Hettiarachchi said it will be possible to provide an identity card in half an hour as officers of the Department of Registration of Persons, Grama Niladharis will be present and there will be facilities to take photographs.

“We have decided to launch this project as a follow up to our action of getting the national identity cards compulsory,” he said.

PAFFREL has also decided to start a job market project under which a three year programme would be launched together with business chamber representatives and the Ministry of Skills Development.

In addition a human rights activity programme has also been planned under which a two day workshop would be held bringing eminent human rights activists and the stakeholders together.

The main objective of this is to bring the government and the human rights activists who have different attitudes on human rights together and bridge them to build up an understanding.

Challenges can be faced: Wimal

National Freedom front Leader Wimal Weerawansa said that Sri Lanka is strong enough to face the challenges of the world market even without the GSP+ tax concession of the European Union.
“If we give in to the demand of the EU and obtain the GSP+ tax concession it could compromise the sovereignty of the country” he said. Addressing a press conference yesterday at the National Freedom Front office MP Weerawansa said that the intention of foreign powers is to create political instability and bring in to power those whom they can control.
Moreover, he appealed to the European Union not to make the GSP+ concession a tool to control the country.“They are using the GSP+ concession issue to punish the government for not listening to the calls by the European union to go back to peace negotiations with the LTTE”, he said.

He called on garment factory workers and the public to urge the European Union to extend the GSP+ concession without exerting undue pressure on the Sri Lankan government.EU’s GSP+ tariff concession enjoyed by Sri Lanka accounts for 9% to 14% tax waiver for exports from Sri Lanka to the European Union countries.

Heated exchange of words between govt & opposition

A heated exchange of words took place between government and opposition MPs in Parliament today over the conduct of MPs Anura Kumar Dissanayake and Basil Rajapaksa at the COPE meeting on Wednesday.

Basil’s behaviour is ‘exemplary’ - Speaker

When the JVP raised a privilege issue today over the behaviour of Nation Building Minister Basil Rajapaksa at Wednesday’s COPE meeting, Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara said that during today’s meeting Mr. Rajapaksa’s behaviour has been exemplary.

Look after civilians, Ferrero-Waldner urges Sri Lanka

All sides in Sri Lanka's long-running conflict should do more to protect civilians and uphold human rights, European Union foreign affairs commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said Thursday.

'The rights and needs of civilians and those who are internally displaced by the ongoing conflict in the north (of Sri Lanka should be) fully respected, in line with international humanitarian law. Their safety and freedom of movement must be paramount,' Ferrero- Waldner said in a statement.

After a meeting in New York on the fringes of the UN General Assembly, Ferrero-Waldner called on both the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to allow full access to relief supplies for refugees.

'I am preoccupied by the continuing disrespect for human rights by all sides and am very concerned by reports of forced recruitment and summary executions by the LTTE. These violations must cease and the perpetrators brought to justice,' she said.

Ferrero-Waldner is the top foreign-policy official at the European Commission, the EU's executive.

Sri Lanka Aims to Meet Asia's Demand for Technology Graduates

Sri Lanka hopes to take advantage of the growing regional demand for information technology graduates. A new training institute opens next year to provide skilled graduates to meet increasing demand. Ron Corben recently visited Colombo and has this report for VOA.

On the outskirts of the Sri Lankan capital Colombo, construction is fast progressing on a new $5.7 million information technology and management institute.

The institute, at Malabe, sits in a new industrial park for information technology businesses. The institute is the dream of veteran Sri Lankan businessman, Neville Fernando

Fernando, who personally financed the institute, says language courses are key to the institute's program, so that graduates will be able to work for multinational companies.

"So what we teaching will be IT-related subjects, even the English language course. All this will be IT-based so that they work in any IT factory anywhere in the world. Even Korean, Japanese, Chinese will be taught because in the Asian region there is a lot of demand for IT technicians," he said.

Mr. Fernando hopes the institute will allow more young Sri Lankans to stay at home to study, instead of going abroad. The campus will have space for 1,000 students, and will offer classes in business administration, communications technology, and management in areas such as tourism.

Vickum Senanayake is the Sri Lanka country chief for the U.S. technology company Oracle. He says the number of technology graduates each year falls short of demand.

"Our need is around 20,000 graduates coming out of the university and various other tertiary education institutes. But we produce maybe about a maximum 3,000, 5,000 in the IT sector," he said.

Senanayake says there also is a gap between the skills needed and the training offered at existing schools. He says the IT industry has been grappling with these problems for more than five years.

An even bigger problem is persuading graduates to stay in Sri Lanka, instead of seeking jobs in other countries.

"It is a huge concern not just for Oracle but the industry as a whole. People who get skilled up are quite valuable to the industry and we keep losing these people to the region or the West mostly and lots of skilled migration," he said.

The dean of the new institute's information technology faculty, Chandima de Silvais, thinks the school will go a long way toward meeting demand in Sri Lanka. But, he says, India will remain a draw for many graduates.

"In terms of India as a destination for employment I do not think Sri Lanka or any other Asian country can match. There are thousands of jobs demands in India. Our institute can cater to that in time to come. But in terms of education alone Sri Lankan parents might still opt to send their children to a good institution in Sri Lanka. So I think it would be a landmark in Sri Lankan education," he said.

Businesswoman Geetha Karandawala says the institute comes at an opportune time in Sri Lanka's IT development.

"People are beginning to see particularly the IT-related career pathways and Sri Lanka because of its language skills and I think it is a very good area for future employment and career development. If the timing is right then the project works and I think the timing is right now for this kind of project," she said.

Sri Lanka is gaining attention from international companies looking to invest in its IT sector. One international bank already plans to set up a support office in Sri Lanka to take advantage of the country's English-speaking workers and trained technical staff.

37 Tamil civilians seek protection with security forces- Pulmoddai

37 Tamil civilians belonging to 9 families Thursday (Sep 25) have sought protection with security forces at Pulmoddai, South of Mullaittivu.

The civilians including 15 children, 8 females and 14 males have braved their way along the choppy Eastern waters on two boats into the liberated territory, who are reportedly locals from Mullaittivu, military sources said.

"We had no option other than to make our move despite presence of sea tigers along the Mullaittivu coast. Now we know our lives are in safe hands and our children spared from been dragged into the battlefront", a mother was quoted as saying with our correspondent.

Their eyes were glittering with hopes of a new life, and why not after decades of unprecedented hardships at the hands of LTTE, our correspondent said adding that these people will be sent into the civilian welfare centers in Vavuniya and Mannar.

37 Tamil civilians seek protection with security forces- Pulmoddai

37 Tamil civilians belonging to 9 families Thursday (Sep 25) have sought protection with security forces at Pulmoddai, South of Mullaittivu.

The civilians including 15 children, 8 females and 14 males have braved their way along the choppy Eastern waters on two boats into the liberated territory, who are reportedly locals from Mullaittivu, military sources said.

"We had no option other than to make our move despite presence of sea tigers along the Mullaittivu coast. Now we know our lives are in safe hands and our children spared from been dragged into the battlefront", a mother was quoted as saying with our correspondent.

Their eyes were glittering with hopes of a new life, and why not after decades of unprecedented hardships at the hands of LTTE, our correspondent said adding that these people will be sent into the civilian welfare centers in Vavuniya and Mannar.

Villager shot dead in Wellawali, Ampara

A villager identified as V. Thambirasah (42) from Mandoor 1 in Wellawali, Ampara was shot dead last night, police said.

Police Spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekara said Mr. Thambirasah was in his backyard at around 9pm when an unknown gunman had fired at him, killing him on the spot.

Committees on MIG deal, alleged pact with LTTE and Inland Revenue

Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara today appointed three committees to look into the charges against the controversial MIG deal, government’s alleged secret pact with the LTTE and the charges against the Inland Revenue Department.

CB names unauthorized finance institutions

Central Bank has named Okanda Finance, Sakwithi, Piyadasa Ratnayake, Nadini Finance, D.K Udayasiri and Sriyawi Homes as unauthorized finance institutions.

Next Commonwealth leaders meeting to be held in Sri Lanka

The next Commonwealth leaders' meeting is scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka in 2009.

Presidential media unit said the commonwealth leaders who met yesterday in New York have decided to hold the next meeting in Sri Lanka.

The leaders of the 53-nation commonwealth meet biennially to discuss a wide variety of issues including democracy, good governance and global trade. According to the sources next year’s meeting will focus on global terrorism.

The commonwealth leaders met yesterday in New York on the sidelines of the General Assembly had preparatory discussions on the Millennium Development Goals. Global and local impact of rising food prices was also on the agenda today for discussions to explore ways to address the challenges of and opportunities for increasing food production.

Sri Lanka Tourism gets global spotlight on World Tourism Day

Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism, Renton de Alwis, has been invited by the Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) to speak at a special Think Tank event to be held in Lima, Peru, on September 27, 2008, the Word Tourism Day.

The conference theme is “Tourism: Responding to the Challenge of Climate Change”. This interactive thinktank is hosted by HE Dr. Alan Garcia Perez, President of the Republic of Peru and HE Dr. Mercedes Araoz Fernandez, Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism of Peru in conjunction with UNWTO.

The forum will cover state-of-the-art of global thinking on Tourism and Climate Change with a strong focus on solutions. Discussions will include the UN roadmap, to adapt, mitigate, use new technology and provide financing for developing countries.

It will also cover the UNWTO/UNEP Davos Process on how to implement it around the world.

In October last year, Sri Lanka Tourism launched a pioneering initiative “Tourism Earth Lung Towards Carbon Clean Sri Lanka,” at UNWTO/UNEP/World Economic forums, conference held in Davos, Switzerland, details of which are available on the website www.earthlung.travel.

Organisations such as, UNWTO and PATA have recognised this initiative as one with potential to grow to be a global initiative for tourism destinations.

This year in Sri Lanka, World Tourism Day celebrations will focus around making Yapahuwa an eco-destination where general measures will be adopted to ensure the greening of its environment.

“Tourism Earth Lung: Towards a Carbon Clean Sri Lanka”, initiative aims to mitigate carbon related climate change issues though catalytic actions of the tourism industry working closely with the Ministry of Environment Natural Resources and all other stakeholders in the service, production and other industries.

The Peru event is to be broadcast globally through all media and will feature Sri Lanka Tourism Earth Lung initiative recognising its pioneering status. The initiative focuses on the areas of stopping deforestation, reforestation, use of conserving energy initiatives and mitigating pollution at the source. It aims to make Sri Lanka a carbon neutral to assist destination by 2018, with all stakeholders and the people of Sri Lanka mobilised towards the effort.

Catholic Bishops ask LTTE to release civilians

Catholic Bishops Assembly of Sri Lanka yesterday asked the LTTE to allow the civilians to reach the more secured areas from Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu.
Issuing a special statement Catholic Bishops pointed out that the civilians should not be used as human shields in the ongoing war in Northern region.
The Bishops said they are seriously concerned over the hapless situation faced by the displaced people who are still living in uncleared areas.
Catholic Bishops said despite the arrangements made by the government to deliver all the necessities to the displaced people in the rebel held areas, some food stocks are not reaching the people due to the disturbances by the LTTE.

Lanka refutes unfair allegations by HR Advocates

In a right of Reply exercised by Sri Lanka following the panel discussion and interactive dialogue on missing persons, under item 3 on Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development at the 9th Session of the Human Rights Council, on 22 September 2008, Mr. Yasantha Kodagoda, Deputy Solicitor-General, Attorney-General's Department stated the following.
"Mr. Moderator, let me at the very outset express to the Government of Pakistan and its people my Government's condolences regarding the most gruesome terrorist attack that took place in Pakistan last weekend.
Mr. Moderator, it is indeed very unfortunate that two organizations which addressed this august assembly abused this debate by engaging in a naming and blaming exercise distorting the truth. It was alleged Mr. Moderator, that an ethnic profiling exercise is afoot in Sri Lanka. We deny this allegation.
In Sri Lanka, we have a well functioning and vibrant Supreme Court which engages judiciously in the promotion and protection of human rights. It is unfortunate, Mr. Moderator, that the advocates of human rights who make these unfounded allegations against Sri Lanka, do not use this effective, domestic, legal remedy to obtain appropriate redress to the victims they allege to represent.
Mr. Moderator, we are indeed conscious that disappearances are a phenomenon that plagues human civilizations. We are committed to upholding the rule of law and working with UN mechanisms to resolve this issue even at a time when the very unitary character and the existence of my country are being threatened by ruthless terrorists.
Mr. Moderator, we fully endorse the continuation of this debate on disappearances during the future sessions of this council. In our view, this process should be aimed at supplementing the mandate of the UN working group on enforced disappearances and the very useful work being done in the field by the ICRC.

Air Force Fighter jets pound terror positions - Kilinochchi

Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets pounded LTTE reinforcements detected in the Akkarayankulam area this afternoon (Sept 25). Air Force spokesperson , Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara speaking defence.lk said that the air strike was taken at 2.20 PM targeting an LTTE gathering 1 Km North of Akkarayankulam Tank bund.

Troops four kilometres away from Kilinochchi town: Army Commander

(AFP) - Forces have advanced to the outskirts of Kilinochchi, the army chief announced Thursday.

"Our forces are around four kilometres (2.5 miles) from Kilinochchi town. In fact we can see some of the buildings," Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka said. He also said the leader of the LTTE, Velupillai Prabhakaran, was "now a caged animal."

"Our military campaign won't stop until we liberate our motherland from the LTTE," Fonseka added.

Fonseka, who was speaking at a book launch in the capital Colombo, did not say when he expected the town to fall. But he suggested a fresh offensive would begin in the coming days.

"We will fire the first shots towards Kilinochchi town next week," he said.

Earlier the Defence Ministry said troops operating in the Kilinochchi and North of Vavuniya fronts were further pushing their defence towards Jaffna-Kandy (A-9) road from west of Wanni.

According to the defence sources in the front troops of 57 division were getting closer to Kokavil and troops of Task Force 2 are heading towards Mankulam.

Troops of Army 57 division attacked 2 terror bunkers situated in the west of Akkarayankulam last afternoon and confirmed both bunkers were destroyed. However, terror casualties in these incidents were not known.

Palestinian president Abbas to visit Sri Lanka

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will visit Sri Lanka on October 9, diplomatic sources said today.

A highlight of his visit will be the official opening of the Palestinian-funded Yasser Arafat mosque at Beruwela, the sources said.

Mr. Abbas will also meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is a patron of the Palestinian Solidarity Movement of Sri Lanka and hold bilateral talks.

Early this year Sri Lanka opened a diplomatic missions in the West Bank town of Ramallah.

Enraged homeguard kills soldier and airman

An enraged Home Guard shot dead a soldier and an airman in Mahaoya, Ampara following a heated argument, Police said.

A Civilian seriously injured in the shooting has been admitted to hospital.

It was not immediately clear the reason for the argument.

Eight million the Single Highest Deposit racketed by Sakvithi Sir

A staggering sum of Rs.8 million has so far been reported as the single highest deposit made in the controversial financial instituting run by English tutor Sakvithi Ranasinghe who is currently absconding, police said.

Govt. hides report faulting ex-military chiefs

The government has swept under the carpet a report by a presidential commission that inquired into alleged irregularities in military procurements in the period 2000-2005, internal military sources said.
Mahinda Rajapaksa appointed this commission in 2006 soon after his election as President, on the basis of media reports that claimed a wrongdoing in the purchase of 30 mm firearms for the Navy.
Headed by Supreme Court judge Shirani Thilakawardena and SC judges Nimal Dissanayake and Nissanka Udalagama as members, the commission had its closed-door sittings at the BMICH, Colombo.
After concluding its deliberations, the commission handed over a report of recommendations to President Rajapaksa a few months ago, the sources said.
The report has implicated several former commanders of the armed forces in dealings that had lost more than Rs. 01 billion to the state and recommended punishment including the suspension of their civic rights.
They include Navy's Admiral Daya Sandagiri, Army's General Lionel Balagalla, Air Marshal Jayalath Weerakkody of the Air Force and former Navy Chiefs of Staff Rear Admirals Mohan Wijewickrama and Sarath Weerasekara.
However, most of these ex-military officers hold important positions in state institutions at present, according to the sources.
Gen. Balagalla is presently Chief Executive Officer of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, while Rear Admiral Wijesekara is Director General of the Civil Defence Department.
Air Marshal Weerakkody is due to take up functions as Sri Lanka's High Commissioner in Pakistan.
Admiral Sandagiri was posted to the Defence Ministry as a Deputy Secretary, but lost the position later over a legal issue.

Over 20,000 fled to India since 2006 - JVP

JVP Propaganda Secretary Vijitha Herath says an estimated 20,446 Sri Lankan Tamils had sought refuge in India in the two-year period since January 2006. Refugee camps in Tamil Nadu, South India are presently sheltering 95,219 Sri Lankans, including 28,000 who have citizenship of neither country, he told the media in Colombo today (Sept. 25th).


Mr. Herath said respective governments had failed to address the issue of these refugees, which had been used by the international community to interfere in Sri Lanka's internal affairs.

Amendments to the Citizenship Act presently before Parliament after approval by the Cabinet will negate the charge of step-motherly treatment of Sri Lankans with Indian origin, he said.

However, the JVP Propaganda Secretary admitted a difficulty in obtaining exact figures of Tamils fleeing to India, as most of them migrate illegally.

He added that Tamils with Indian origin began to be settled by Norwegian NGO Redbana and Gandhian in Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi Vavuniya and Mannar districts after 1978.

Construction Chamber promotes use of IT in Project Management

The competitive position of relevant Stakeholders of the Construction Industry depends on their ability to provide a Quality Service On Time at Competitive Price Levels which would require efficiency at all levels of Project Management. With ever increasing opportunities existing in overseas markets, especially in the Gulf, and the need for the industry to aggressively embrace an Export Culture over the next decade, increased efficiency and competitiveness of firms is the key to survival and growth in today’s global market environment.

The use of Information Technology Applications in the Construction Industry is not a new phenomenon but should be widely adopted by all industry stakeholders who are keen on competing for business opportunities, not only in Overseas markets but domestically as well. All avenues that could provide a particular business entity with a competitive edge should be explored and the use of Information Technology Applications is a tried and proven means to this end.

It is in view of the above that the Chamber of Construction Industry Sri Lanka is hosting an Interactive Workshop on “Information Technology for Effective Project Management” on 30th September 2008 at Hotel Galadari, Colombo. The workshop will be conducted in a simulated environment where participants will be given hands on exposure on the use of Application Software to manage various elements of Construction Projects.

This workshop comes at a critical time when the demand for construction is volatile which further emphasizes the need to utilize all available tools and mechanisms to be efficient and competitive to secure business opportunities, not to mention the increased sophistication of stakeholder needs, short lead times, rising cost of construction, shortage of labour, increased regulations and environmental concerns among others, faced by the Industry.

Prof. Chitra Weddikkara, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Moratuwa will deliver the keynote address followed by a lecture on "Effective Project Management - Use of IT" by Dr. R. Rameezdeen, Head of the Department of Building Economics, University of Moratuwa and a presentation by Mr. Jayachandran, Chief Engineer, Department of Buildings, on how to control project costs. IT Specialists will be on hand to demonstrate the use of selected IT Applications in relation to project management coupled with simulation exercises to give participants a better understanding.

It is the firm belief of the Chamber that if industry stakeholders expose their personnel to valuable programmes and initiatives of this nature, they would be able to identify IT related areas in their respective businesses which need capacity development leading to increased efficiency of operation and greater competitiveness enabling them to meet industry challenges that are already at their doorstep.

Fighting continues: troops getting closer to A-9 road from West

Battlefield reports received yesterday (Sept 24) indicate that troops operating in the Kilinochchi and North of Vavuniya fronts were further pushing their defence towards Jaffna-Kandy (A-9) road from west of Wanni. According to the defence sources in the front troops of 57 division were getting closer to Kokavil and troops of Task Force 2 are heading towards Mankulam.

Troops of Army 57 division attacked 2 terror bunkers situated in the west of Akkarayankulam last afternoon and confirmed both bunkers were destroyed. However, terror casualties in these incidents were not known.

Meanwhile, troops of Army Task Force 1, operating in the western half of the Kilinochchi front confronted with a group of terrorists in the Nachchikudha area last evening. 3 soldiers suffered injuries during this incident. Terror casualties were not known. On the same day afternoon, snipers deployed in the Nachchikudha forward area confirmed shooting down of one LTTE cadre.

In the Vannerikkulam area, troops confronted with a group of terrorists around 8 AM and claimed 4 terrorists were killed and at least 6 others were wounded. Later in the same day afternoon, troops attacked and captured an LTTE bunker located elsewhere. Intercepted terror radio transmission revealed 3 terrorists killed in the incident. Troops found a T-56 riffle along with 300 ammo and a radio communication set. Meanwhile, snipers deployed in the Vannerikkulam forward area confirmed shooting down of one LTTE cadre during morning hours.

Troops of Task Force 2 operating in the Vavuniya front had three separate confrontations with the terrorists in the Palamoddai area during the day and claimed 6 terrorists were killed. Also, troops found one T-56 weapon with 65 rounds, 3 RPG bombs, 3 hand grenades, and one pouch following one of the confrontations.

Meanwhile, troops of 56 division maintaining the active defence in the either side of the A-9 road in Omanthai attacked a terror bunker located in the Navatkulam area around 11 AM. Troops confirmed one terrorist was killed and the bunker was partially destroyed.

Troops of 59 division operating in the Mullaittivu front had daylong fighting in Andankulama forests reserve and claimed 5 terrorists were killed, 8 others wounded and 17 more were either killed or wounded. Also, 4 soldiers suffered injuries during these incidents.

Meanwhile on the Jaffna theatre of operation, troops maintaining active defence in the Muhamalai area attacked a groups of terrorists detected in the forward area around 10 last night. Troops found a body of an LTTE cadre during subsequent search. Later, intercepted terror radio transmissions revealed 2 terrorists were killed in the incident. One soldier was killed and another suffered injuries due to IED and AP mine explosions occurred elsewhere.

Police Commandos uncovers explosives- Wattala

Police Special Task Force (STF) personnel uncovered one T-56 riffle along with 116 rounds and half a kilogram of C-4 high explosives from Wattala area during a search operation yesterday (Sept 24).

According to the STF sources the items were found last afternoon from an unoccupied land situated close to an International School in the Hekitta area. The STF suspects the items might have hidden by the LTTE in order to use them for an intended attack.

Further investigations are in progress.

7 LTTE terrorists killed, 7 wounded at the Kilinochchi battlefront

7 LTTE terrorists were killed and similar numbers reported wounded, Wednesday (Sep 24), at the Western Wanni battlefront in the Kilinochchi district.

According to military reports received, 5 terrorists were killed and 7 injured when troops forced into an LTTE bunker defence in general area Vannerikkulama, at around 8a.m. Meanwhile, terrorist was killed sniped in the same area at 9.20a.m, military said citing ground troops.

Similarly, a terrorist was reported killed sniped in general area Nachchikudha, at 12.30p.m, according to military reports.

Thirty-Seven More Civilians Disobey Tiger Diktats & Reach Army Troops with Infants

WELIOYA: THIRTY-SEVEN besieged men, women and children in ALAMPIL, south of MULLAITTIVU center braved the LTTE obstacles and restrictions to reach the Army troops in ARISIMALE, PULMODDAI on two boats Thursday (25) morning at about 10.30.

The group consisted of three breast feeding infants and all their belongings including jewellery and money. They had secretly left their homes around 5.00 a.m. on Thursday (25) unnoticed by the terrorists.

Army troops received those fleeing thirty-seven Tamil civilians, including five small boys, ten little girls, eight women and fourteen men and entertained them to refreshments and meals before arrangements were made to re-locate them. Those civilians, in spite of warnings issued by the LTTE, had risked their lives in the seas after starting off their journey from MULLAITTIVU early in the morning.

Following initial investigations, those civilians are to be re-located elsewhere until normalcy is returned to the WANNI.

Simultaneous Infiltration Attempts Foiled; Muhamale South LTTE Leader Felled

NORTH: TROOPS serving NAGARKOVIL Forward Defence area and KILALY Defence Line areas in JAFFNA overpowered two infiltration attempts of the terrorists late night on Wednesday (24) at about 10.00 p.m. after opening fire on them.

Simultaneous attempts at NAGARKOVIL and KILALY claimed the lives of eight Tiger terrorists, including the LTTE’s MUHAMALE South leader, ‘VARDAN’ as a result of the strong fire-power of the alert troops.

A search conducted later on by the troops collected one of the dead terrorists. It is believed two separate groups of terrorists while simultaneously trying to enter through troop defences, expected to trick the troops into a trap.

Troops Overrun Two More Terrorist Bunkers

WANNI & NORTH: TROOPS of the 57 Division and Task Force 1 operating in KILINOCHCHI district stormed and captured two more Tiger terrorist bunkers on Wednesday (24) from VANNARIKULAM and ANDANKULAM areas and recovered one T-56 weapon, one radio set and 300 rounds of T-56 ammunition.

Similarly clashes in AKKARAYANKULAM, NACHCHIKUDA, VANNARIKULAM, ANDANKULAM and adjoining areas got rid of nine terrorists and injured at least thirty-one more, according to monitored and confirmed technical sources.

Eight valiant soldiers sustained injuries in those clashes during Wednesday (24).

Meanwhile, clashes that erupted in NAVATKULAM, PALAMODDAI and surrounding areas in the north of VAVUNIYA claimed the lives of seven Tiger terrorists who tried to resist the advance of the troops into those areas. The clashes went on till about 4.30 in the evening.

In the meantime, one soldier laid his life following explosion of a booby trap in MUHAMALAI, JAFFNA on Wednesday (24) around 2.00 p.m. Another anti personnel mine explosion triggered by terrorists in the same area at about 4.15 p.m. injured one more soldier serving the area.

Fitch: Increased Liquidity Pressure on Sri Lankan Finance Cos

Fitch Ratings has today commented that challenges to liquidity in the Sri Lankan Registered Finance Company (RFC) sector could arise if the weak macroeconomic environment continues.

The sector Outlook is Stable to Negative, reflecting the agency's view that the ratings of well capitalised RFCs with an established franchise should remain unchanged in the short to medium term - i.e. they should be better able to weather the current weak macroeconomic conditions. However, some negative rating actions could be expected on the smaller RFCs with weak deposit franchises and low support elements if the high inflationary, high interest rate environment were to persist, with liquidity increasingly becoming a challenge.

Fitch notes that whilst RFCs are currently meeting the statutory minimum liquid ratio of 15% as imposed by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), maintaining liquidity could become a challenge in a scenario where deposit growth slows or contracts, and asset quality weakens substantially over a short time horizon. Rising interest rates since the latter part of 2006 coupled with inflationary pressures has impacted credit quality in the sector, with its client base coming mostly from the relatively riskier market segment lying beyond the risk appetite of commercial banks. This is depicted by rising delinquencies over the period with the gross NPL ratio rising to 13.8% at end- June 2008 (Q109) from 11.5% at end-March 2007 (FYE07). The RFCs' loan book primarily consists of leases and hire purchase for the financing of relatively lower-value commercial vehicles. Fitch observes that deteriorating asset quality is exacerbated by the challenge of fully recovering dues on the sale of foreclosed assets, owing to a declining demand for vehicles in tandem with falling profitability throughout the economy.

In addition to credit risk, RFCs are subject to significant market risk, as fixed rate vehicle leases and hire purchase agreements with average tenures of five-years are primarily funded by customer deposits which mature in one-year or less. Deposits, which accounted for 63% of the RFC funding base at Q109, are benchmarked against deposit rates of private licensed commercial banks (LCBs). RFC rates on one-year fixed deposits are restricted to the CBSL cap which was imposed in 2005 at 3% above the preceding quarter's weighted average 364 day Treasury Bill (T-Bill) rate.

Fitch observes that the gap between the CBSL cap, the average RFC one-year fixed deposit rate and the average private LCB one-year fixed deposit rate has progressively narrowed during the latter part of 2006 and early part of 2007 as commercial banks scrambled for growth and liquidity. However, since then the gap between RFC rates and private LCB rates has significantly widened, and RFC rates have moved close to the CBSL cap as they continued to grow in a period of high inflation and high interest rates, while LCBs have correspondingly eased off on growth. The increasing premium on RFC rates over commercial bank rates is indicative of increased liquidity requirements within the sector as a result of their continuing growth and rising credit costs.

Effective from 1 April 2008, the CBSL reduced the ceiling on a one-year fixed deposit to 2% above the 364 day T-Bill rate. Fitch observes that the probable intention of the reduction was to mitigate aggressive growth in the current environment, and thereby minimise rising systemic risk in the RFC sector. However, whilst some RFCs are recognising this and are curtailing growth, Fitch observes significant growth in a number of RFCs. This could be detrimental as the credit profile of these companies could deteriorate if the current economic climate were to persist. In such a scenario, improving liquidity by way of deposit mobilisation could become a challenge. Furthermore, Fitch notes that whilst the larger established RFCs are able to minimise re-financing risk as they continue to have access to institutional funding, most commercial banks have made policy decisions to curtail growth to the large majority of this sector; therefore short-term liquidity relief and refinancing of borrowings would be an increasing challenge to a number of the smaller companies.

Four dead, 20 ill after consuming illicit liquor

At least four people have died and 20 fallen seriously ill after consuming illicit liquor in the Weliveriya area last night, police said. While samples of the liquor were sent to the Government Analyst, police are hunting for the illicit liquor den owner who is believed to be absconding.

Nation bids farewell to a statesman

The nation bid farewell to former President D.B. Wijetunga today. His remains were taken to parliament this morning for parliamentarians to pay their last respects before being airlifted to Kandy for the funeral

Former UNP Provincial Councilor's house set on fire

Former UNP North Central Provincial Councilor Hemantha Hettiyarachchi's house was set on fire last night.

He claimed the fire cost him Rs. 3.5 million in damages. The house has been completely ruined, he said.

Mr. Hettiyarachchi has complained to the Polonnaruwa police.

No one had been at home when the incident took place.

More civilians come to govt. controlled areas

A group of 37 civilians arrived by boat to government controlled areas this morning, the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said.

They arrived at the Pulmudai army camp at 10.30 this morning from Allampil in Mulativu.

There had been nine families in the boat consisting of 14 men, 8 women, 10 girls and five boys.

The group will be transferred to the Thirukkovil army camp, the MCNS said.

Athugala suspends ‘Alakamandawa’

Questions have been raised over the sudden halt of popular ‘Alakamandawa’ programme of state-run Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation following a directive by Chairman Ariyarathna Athugala.

Speaking to ‘Lankadissent’ a senior SLRC media man said on condition of anonymity that the programme had been stopped without prior notice, after it featured Dharmasiri Bandaranayake, a film and teledrama producer disliked by the chairman.

Many who watched the first episode of the program featuring Mr. Bandaranayake were puzzled when the remaining part was not telecast the following week.

In addition, the producer of that ‘Alakamandawa’ program has been cast out from the program, the source added.

In recent times, several program producers and directors have been dismayed by the chairman's unruly actions and certain programmes, including tele dramas have been similarly suspended, the media man said.

The above source was contacted after attempts to reach the SLRC Chairman failed.

Meanwhile, reports allege the SLRC Chairman has informed the management not to use for any further programmes a presenter who had invited Mr. Bandaranayake to a ‘Nuga Sevana’ programme.

Co-chairs discuss latest fighting

Co-chairs to the peace process – the US, the European Union, Japan and Norway met in New York yesterday (Sept. 24th ) to discuss the latest fighting in Sri Lanka, including the need for both sides to protect civilians, a US diplomat said.

"The fighting has been expanding, heading toward the north," Richard Boucher, the assistant secretary for south Asian affairs, said after attending the meeting at the US mission of the United Nations in New York, AFP reported.

"We're placing a lot of emphasis right now on the protection of human rights for civilians who are caught in the fighting and the democratic government's responsibility for respecting and extending human rights protections to the people in the areas they take over," Mr. Boucher said.

The participants in the meeting also discussed the need for both sides to make sure they are ensuring humanitarian deliveries to the people displaced by the fighting.

These points are being made to Sri Lankan officials both at the UN General Assembly in New York as well as in Colombo he said.

Keheliya returns the British ruling party slap on the face asking who the Western corrupt politicians are in LTTE payroll

(Lanka-e-News,) Our London sources say that the Sri Lankan media spokesman on national security Minister keheliya Rambukwella's statement at a London press conference that certain corrupt politicians of Western world are in the payrolls of the LTTE, has made shockwaves among the Labor Party politicians.

At this press conference held on September 22 parallel to the British Labor Party annual convention, Minister Rambukwella made an extra attempt to prove that LTTE had links with Al-Quida.

The Minister pointed out that there are large numbers of Tamils in some constituencies of Western countries. Some corrupt politicians in the Western world are in LTTE's payrolls and they support LTTE terrorism, he said.

It is understood that the Minister summoned the press conference urgently to answer the lobbying of some pro-LTTE sections against Sri Lanka government at the Labor Party congress.
Sen Kandaiah representing British Tamils said before 10,000 party members that Sri Lanka state is violating human rights of Tamils. He asked from the party to consider the violence and human rights violations against Tamils in Sri Lanka to be considered as an alarming sign.

The Labor Party congress was broadcast by BBC with potential of creating a great impact on people.

UK Foreign Minister David Miliband and other orators stressed the ethical duty of UK regarding the other countries of the world and Sen Kandaiah’s speech on Sri Lankan Tamils was also in that line of thinking. He made this speech as a number of Ministers, EU MPs and representatives of international organizations were on the stage.
Minister Rambukwella's press conference has been understood as a reply to Kandiah's speech. The Minister pointed out that Al-Qaida obtained technology for massive bombs like Islamabad Marriott hotel explosion from LTTE resembling it to 1996 Colombo Central bank bomb. He further guessed that the suicide kit was also introduced to Al-Qaida by LTTE.

Sri Lankan launches Beijing web check-in

Sri Lankan Airlines has launched an online check-in facility in Beijing Capital International airport that saves passengers from having to queue up to check-in. The service is available on Sri Lankan’s website.

Passengers from Beijing can choose their own seat on the aircraft through the system with a corresponding reduction in the time spent in the check-in area.

Online check-in opens 24 hours before a flight and continues until two hours before the scheduled departure. One person can even check-in groups of passengers, if the required information and reference numbers are available.

Passengers proceed direct to the baggage drop counter, where their bags will be weighed. Any excess baggage matters will be handled at that time. Those passengers who require special care, such as infants and wheelchair passengers, will not be able to check-in online, but will continue to be handled by Sri Lankan staff.

Sri Lankan operates three flights from Beijing to Bangkok and Colombo, connecting passengers to its global network of 41 destinations in 22 countries.

Fitch Affirms Peoples Leasing Co. Trust 32

Fitch Ratings Lanka has today affirmed the National rating on the lease backed trust certificates ( LBTCs) issued by Peoples Leasing Co. Ltd. Trust 32 (PLC32), as follows:

LKR188.4m, LBTC affirmed at 'A-(lka)' (A minus(lka)); Outlook Stable

The affirmation is based on the uninterrupted payouts made to LBTC investors during the period under review (December 2007 to August 2008) and the debt service cover being maintained above the trigger of 1.15. The affirmation also takes into account the high level of credit enhancement to investors in the form of excess collateralisation. The rating of the LBTCs is credit linked to that of the originator, as the trust enjoys full recourse to the originator in the event that cash flows from the underlying assets fall short of meeting investor payouts. However, such recourse has not been utilised to date.

Fitch notes that despite credit enhancement being sufficient to support a higher rating, structural constraints in the form of unhedged interest rate risk on the floating rate notes and the absence of a higher rated pre-defined alternative servicer restricts the rating of PLC32 to that of the originator. The absence of minimum quality criteria when replacing assets, lack of a minimum excess collateralisation trigger to trap excess cash and the untested nature of bankruptcy proceedings for the mortgaged leases (as a liquidity facility is not incorporated into the transaction) are further constraining factors of the rating.

While the transaction documents require the replacement of assets every quarter, only two such replacements have occurred to date. Nevertheless, the agency does not view this as a serious concern given the high level of credit enhancement in the form of excess collateralisation.

Around 54% of the outstanding principal on the notes had been paid off as at August 2008, reducing the balance of the LBTC principal to LKR188m. Excess collateralisation averaged 93% for the review period compared to 32% in the previous review period, mainly due to asset replacements in January 2008, which carried a higher principal outstanding than the assets removed. The increase in pool principal also resulted in the average debt service cover ratio of the transaction increasing to 1.45 compared to 1.23 for the previous review period.

Monthly collections of current dues and overdues averaged 57% and 60%, respectively, for the period reviewed compared to 53% and 52%, respectively for the previous period reviewed. Around 92% of total dues since inception have been collected as at August 2008. Pre-terminations of leases averaged 0.66% of the monthly opening pool principal during the same period compared to 0.45% for the previous review period, while a total of 8.4% of the initial pool principal was pre-terminated as at August 2008.

The rating addresses the timely payment of interest and capital on the LBTCs, which are backed by a pool of leases that were originated by People's Leasing Company Limited ('A-(lka)' (A minus(lka))/Stable).

Rating Outlooks have been published for all newly issued Asia Pacific Structured Finance tranches since June 2008, and concurrently with rating actions for tranches issued prior to June 2008. Unlike a Rating Watch which notifies investors that there is a reasonable probability of a rating change in the short term as a result of a specific event, rating outlooks indicate the likely direction of any rating change over a one- to two-year period.

A performance report will be available shortly on the agency's websites www.fitchratings.com and www.fitchratings.lk.

Lanka not signing defence pact with Pakistan

Denying that Sri Lanka is on the verge of signing a defence pact with Pakistan, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said his government was friendly with all nations.

Responding to questions during a meeting with the Foreign Correspondents Association, Rajapaksa said that there was no agreement to boost military cooperation between the two countries. "There is no pact, we maintain friendly ties with all countries."

Diplomatic sources said that Pakistan’s foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had submitted a draft defence cooperation agreement to Sri Lankan foreign minister Rohitha Bogollagama, on the sidelines of the Saarc Summit, held in Colombo recently.

Pakistan, presently supplies Sri Lanka with small arms and ammunition and also trains a large number of its military personnel.

Though, India has yet to respond to a Sri Lankan proposal for a defence pact, it remains uneasy about the growing military influence of Pakistan and China in Sri Lanka.

LTTE RADAR point neutralized in air assault - Poonaryn

SLAF MI-24 helicopter gunships launched a nighttime air assault at an LTTE RADAR point located in the coast of Nagavanthurai, Poonaryn yesterday(Sep 24), at 10 p.m.

Air Force sources said, that the target was neutralized in the precision raid.

Sri Lankan financial racketeer fled to India, police say

Police investigations have revealed that Sakvithi Ranasinghe, an English tuition master who was engaged in a massive racket amounting to more than Rs. five billion through several fraudulent investment companies, has fled to Chennai.

The individual has used his real name Ranasinghe Arachchige Chandana Weerakumara Ranasinghe in the passport. Police have taken steps to seek the assistance of Interpol to arrest the racketeer.

Over 4,000 Sri Lankans have been hoodwinked by bogus companies that promised unbelievable dividends for their investments. Police have so far arrested five persons regarding the case and 40 staff members of those bogus companies are also being interrogated.

Corrupt Jayasundara appointed as Adviser to carry on old deals, charges Kiriella

(Lanka-e-News, United national Party (UNP) MP Lakshman Kiriella charges that the President is going to appoint Dr. P.B. Jayasundara as a Presidential Adviser with the hope of carrying on old deals with his support while keeping a proxy in the actual post.
He made these observations addressing a press briefing held yesterday (23) in the official residence of the Opposition Leader. He pointed out that in the case that led to the resignation of Dr. P.B. Jayasundara, there was a number of charges against him.

MP Kiriella said that a Ministry Secretary has to answer to the President, parliament, cabinet and Public Service Commission. But a Presidential Adviser needs not to do so thought he wields power in a broad arena. He pointed out that it is expected to carry on the same old deals with him while keeping a proxy in the actual post of Secretary.

MP Kiriella points out that a Presidential Adviser who has power but needs not to be answerable is a worse scenario. He said that appointing Jayasundara to a post of Presidential Adviser is in contrast to the theme, objectives and the essence of the Supreme Court verdict. He further said that the government needed to protect him since he was the person who gave legal protection to the corruption of the government. He says that Dr. Jayasundara is behind the massive scams including Mihin Air, Mig deal and financing LTTE and the government does not want to anger him.
The UNP MP showed that the Public Service Commission that acts against the public servants who commit offences has failed to act against P.B. Jayasundara who was proved guilty of corruption. Moreover, the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General have also failed to act despite their responsibility has been mentioned in the court ruling. MP Kiriella said that the government proved the allegations that it did not safeguard the rule of law through these acts.

Dr. P.B. Jayasundara is to be appointed as a Presidential Adviser to control the Ministry of Finance through him, alleges UNP MP Kiriella.

CPC Chairman fuels fraudulent ships at loss

(Lanka-e-News, ) Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) workers suspect if the terrorist organizations are supplied fuel through a bunkering businesses run by the Chairman of CPC with powers of his position.

They say that the Chairman's obstinate decisions cause massive losses to the CPC and point out that the Chairman is supplying fuel to several selected ships at a lower price than the market fuel price.

A liter of diesel that is sold at Rs. 110 per liter locally is sold at Rs. 95.14 to several ships including MT Queen Energetic under the Chairman’s instructions causing Rs. 14.86 loss per each liter of diesel. Around 300,000 liters of diesel have been sold to these shops so far and the loss caused to the CPC is Rs. 4,458,000.

This deal has been underway since last 18th under 30 invoices bearing numbers 4802866 and the serial numbers below it. When the ships are fuelled the details such as the owner of the ship and to whom the fuel is sold by the ship and the quantity of fuel are mentioned clearly in the invoice. But nothing was exposed here raising doubts. This bunkering is carried out within the high security zone.

Reportedly, the Chairman's bunkering business has no license. CPC privatized its bunkering arm and now eight private sector companies carry out bunkering with license.

The trade unions question how the Chairman supplies diesel at a lower price to the ships while the Minister of Petroleum and Petroleum Resources says that the advantage of the decrease of world fuel price cannot be given to the consumers immediately.

CPC levies a cess (a development levy) of Rs. 15 per literof petrol and Rs. 10 per liter of diesel since September 17. The Opposition Leader Ranil Wickramasinghe said in the parliament yesterday that imposing a cess without parliamentary approval is a breach of parliamentary privileges.

Meanwhile, the CPC Chairman and the subject Minister repeat that the CPC is still losing. But the Chairman has made an urgent order to purchase a brand new Montero at the cost of Rs. 14,900,000 in addition to a fleet of two more Monteros worth around Rs. Rs. 30,000,000.

CPA launches ‘Never Again in Sri Lanka’ website

The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) announces the launch of ‘Never Again in Sri Lanka’, a new website that features 22 videos in Tamil, Sinhala and English on the anti-Tamil pogrom of July 1983 in Sri Lanka.
The 30 second videos on the site feature renown Sri Lankan civil society, film, teledrama, entertainment, academic and religious personalities.

Recognizing the enduring value of these short clips for advocacy, CPA created the site to use these videos as a focal point for on-going discussion and reflection on the events of July 1983.

The design and functionality of the site makes it easy to leave comments, integrate videos into social networking sites (e.g. Facebook, MySpace) and share content with other websites and blogs.

The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) was formed in the firm belief that there is an urgent need to strengthen institution- and capacity-building for good governance and conflict transformation in Sri Lanka and that non-partisan civil society groups have an important and constructive contribution to make to this process. The primary role envisaged for the Centre in the field of public policy is a pro-active and interventionary one, aimed at the dissemination and advocacy of policy alternatives for non-violent conflict resolution and democratic governance. Accordingly, the work of the Centre involves a major research component through which the policy alternatives advocated are identified and developed.

ADRA Improves Living Conditions for Sri Lankan Refugees in India

Through the continued work of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), more than 47,000 Sri Lankans refugees who fled to India due to the ongoing civil war in their homeland will receive assistance, including better access to clean water and enhanced sanitation, personal hygiene classes, and waste management training.

The 12-month long Water Environment Sanitation and Shelter (WESS) project, valued at more than $707,000 and funded by the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) through the ADRA Germany office, is improving access to clean water in 67 camps throughout the southern state of Tamil Nadu. The projects is helping install water pumps and tanks, build and refurbish latrines, and improve the existing surface drainage system. ADRA is also providing community and household bins, establishing compost beds, and equipping waste management services with the tools necessary to maintain a sanitary environment.

"ADRA India's intervention on water and sanitation for our community has made a drastic change in providing us a hygienic environment," said Annalakshmi, a 32-year old project beneficiary living in the Vazhavanthankottai camp in Tamil Nadu. "I feel proud being a member of our refugee camp and I hope ADRA India will be with us all the way to achieving our dreams of making our community a model one."

In the same region, ADRA is also building new shelters and improving existing ones, and providing training on accident risk mitigation. ADRA's projects have increased the capacity of refugees by teaching them how to support themselves financially through various livelihood activities and maintain a better level of health through education, training, and facilities improvement.

"We are committed to continuing to offer humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka's most deprived and disadvantaged people living in the refuge camps, as long as it's needed," said Paulo Lopes, country director for ADRA India.

Since 1983, Sri Lanka has been entangled in a long and bitter war between Sri Lankan government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), commonly known as the Tamil Tigers, who have been fighting for an independent homeland in the northeastern part of this island-nation. As of November 2007, there were at least 131,000 Sri Lankan refugees in India, of which 111,000 arrived before 2002, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Recently, a surge in the fighting has left more than 1,000 soldiers and civilians dead, and caused the displacement of an additional 135,000 people, mostly of Tamil origin from northeastern areas of Sri Lanka. UNHCR estimates that nearly 23,000 people have crossed into India to seek refuge.

Since 2006, ADRA India has supported Sri Lankan refugees in Tamil Nadu, largely as a result of financing partnerships with ECHO, New Zealand's International Aid and Development Agency (NZAID), ADRA Norway, ADRA Germany, and ADRA New Zealand.

Analysis: Sri Lanka: Rwanda II in the Re-making

By Ranji Samuel



After fourteen years of the failure of humanity in Rwanda, the re-making of Rwanda II is reaching the crucial face in Sri Lanka. The machete-wielding government-sponsored forces that went on a killing spree of the minority Tutsis in 1994 and murdered 800,000 people in 100 days. It's a damning indictment of world leaders and UN bureaucrats who failed to stop the genocide. Once again, this time it is the minority Tamils in Sri Lanka. The world stands still as a mere spectator when the minority Tamils faces the same fate in the northern Sri Lanka.

Fears of a humanitarian crisis are mounting in northern Sri Lanka as troops press ahead with an offensive to capture territory from Tamil rebels. A week ago the UN and other agencies pulled out of the area, where fighting has displaced more than 200,000 people.

“Although I appreciate and respect the security rules that govern aid workers and understand why we had to leave, I still have to deal with a great sense that I abandoned those people” said one aid worker who was forced withdrew from the region by the Sri Lankan government.

"It's like an open prison," for Tamils in Sri Lanka, says Gajendran Ponnambalam, the Member of Parliament for Jaffna and a member of the country's main Tamil opposition party. Even though he is an elected representative for the region, Mr. Ponnambalam lives 400 kilometers away in Colombo. Jaffna is too dangerous. A half a dozen Tamil opposition party MPs were assassinated in last 4 years.


"There is absolutely no security. All the Tamil members of parliament from Jaffna have been threatened. The government uses paramilitary groups to carry out these threats,” he further said.

The news media played a crucial role in the 1994 Rwanda genocide. Local media fuelled the killings, while the international media either ignored or seriously misconstrued what was happening. 14 years later, a similar scenario is in the making. The government of Sri Lanka has ordered the workers International and local Non Governmental Organizations to leave the Tamil area where more than 200, 000 refugees are languishing under trees. In the pretext of safeguarding the NGOs, the government has effectively eliminated all credible eyewitnesses for a pending human tragedy.

Civil authorities in the northern Sri Lanka say that providing essential relief to the displaced in the Killinochchi district has become difficult as fighting intensifies.

Government Agent Nagalingam Vedanayagam said that about twenty five thousand are displaced as civilians flee their villages fearing further fighting.
Another Government Agent from the northern Sri Lanka was suddenly transferred out of recently. It was believed that a statement he made, on the situation of displaced people from the region, at a meeting presided by a top government official, might have been the cause according to reports. Sources said the Public Administration Ministry was directed to move out the government agent due to reasons of security.

The history has a habit of repeating itself. “What got my attention in Tamil problem was an incident in one paragraph in the Hindu news paper back in June 1981” says senior Indian journalist Anita Prathab.

“When I saw this news item, I was shocked because I can understand two group of community fighting each other and they do that in India all the time. But, the fact the library was burnt down, that to my mind the biblical wars” says Anita Prathab. To Anita it brought her the image of the burning down of Alexandria library. “When a library is burnt down, it is an orchestrated, pre-meditated act to hit at the very cultural root and identity of a group of people. Some thing seriously wrong in Sri Lanka” she further said.

In June 1981, the government forces where two senior Cabinet ministers masterminded and executed the burning down of the Jaffna library alleges Tamils in the area.

Sri Lanka's police have started registering thousands of people, nearly all the ethnic Tamils, who have fled the war-torn north for the capital Colombo.

One man waiting outside a school in the suburb of Wellawatte told TNS that Tamils were being singled out and the registration drive was a human tragedy.

In the last 25 years more than 80, 000 Tamil Civilians have been killed, about 400, 000 has fled the country and another million were made internally displaced. Neither Sri Lankan constitution nor the Sovereignty of Sri Lanka could prevent the killing of the Tamils and their exodus.

Security for Radhika insufficient - FMM

The Free Media Movement is concerned that sufficient security is not provided to journalist Radhika Devakumar.

She is receiving treatment at Colombo National Hospital after being shot in an attempt on her life.


A lone gunmen stormed her house at Kattankudi around 7.30 pm on September 08th and shot her at point blank range, the bullets entering her shoulder, abdomen and chest.

The FMM charges that the government did nothing to ensure medical attention to her or for transfer her to Colombo for further treatment.

Media organizations hired an ambulance from Red Cross to transport her to Colombo, convener of the FMM Uvindu Kurukulasuriya said.

Despite it being clear that the attack was an attempt on the journalist’s life, only one police constable has been deployed for her security at nights.

Noting that the ministerial subcommittee on media has not responded to calls to strengthen her security, the FMM emphasizes that Ms. Devakumar’s life is still under threat.

Lake House doubles allowance after protest

A protest by journalists attached to Lake House resulted in the management deciding to double an allowance to purchase books.

They had been given a Rs. 5,000 allowance every September in view of Literary Month, but the amount had been reduced to Rs. 1,500 this year.

The figure was increased to Rs. 3,000 at a discussion this afternoon (Sept. 24th) attended by chairman Bandula Padmakumara, directors, editors of Lake House publications and 10 journalist representatives.

However, journalists said they are not satisfied with the increase, but suspended their protest after the directors promised to meet tomorrow and consider a further increase.

CPI 2008: Sri Lanka is 92nd in the Corruption Index

Sri Lanka occupies the 92nd position among 180 countries in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2008 conducted by Transparency International (TI), the global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption.

Sri Lanka's score remains at a low 3.2, indicating a serious corruption problem in the public sector. Neighbouring countries except Bhutan, all score below 3.5. Lack of transparency in political finance and poor parliamentary oversight are quoted as a key governance problem in Sri Lanka. Only India (3.4) and Sri Lanka are above a score of 3 with Maldives (2.8), Nepal (2.7), Pakistan (2.5) and Bangladesh (2.1) remaining with low scores. Analysts attribute India's position to the implementation of the Right to Information Act.

Explaining the significance of the CPI, Transparency International Sri Lanka's Executive Director J C Weliamuna said that the Index ranks countries in terms of the degree to which corruption is perceived to exist among public officials and politicians. It measures each country's level of corruption and places it on a scale from 0 to 10, where 10 stands for 'highly clean' and 0 stands for 'highly corrupt'. The CPI focuses on corruption in the public sector and defines corruption as the abuse of public office for private gain. In conducting the surveys used in compiling the Index, questions that relate to misuse of public power for private benefit are asked. These include bribery of public officials, kickbacks in public procurement and embezzlement of public funds. Questions that probe the strength of anti-corruption policies are also included. While the CPI 2008 has drawn on 13 different polls and surveys from 11 independent institutions, TI has strived to ensure that the sources used are of the highest quality and that the survey work is performed with complete integrity.

The 2008 Index indicates that irrespective of the countries being rich or poor, or being in the East or West, corruption prevails. Corruption is an issue which needs to be tackled separately with dedication. Among the poor countries, Barbados (7.0), Chile (6.9), Slovenia (6.7), and Estonia (6.6) have scored higher. They are known to take serious measures to beat corruption within their countries. In the last slot in the Index are Somalia (1.0), Myanmar (1.3), Iraq (1.3), Haiti (1.4), Afghanistan (1.5) and Sudan (1.6). This is attributed to the internal and external conflicts and dictatorial regimes that existed in those countries and is quoted as an eye-opener to countries like Sri Lanka with the ongoing internal conflict. Topping the list for 2008 are New Zealand, Denmark and Sweden sharing the highest score of 9.3 followed immediately by Singapore (9.2), Finland 9.0) and Iceland (8.9).

"Stemming corruption requires strong oversight through parliaments, law enforcement, independent media and a vibrant civil society," says Huguette Labelle, Chair of Transparency International in a media release issued in Berlin. "While these institutions are weak, corruption spirals out of control with horrendous consequences for ordinary people and for justice and equality in societies more broadly," she added.

Tamil Nadu leaders seek Indian intervention in Sri Lanka

Tamil Nadu political leaders K. Veeramani and Thol Thirumavalavan courted arrest along with several supporters on Tuesday Sep 23, to demand India’s intervention in Sri Lanka.

Dravida Kazhagam leader Veeramani before being arrested said the Government of India should immediately intervene in the Tamils’ issue in Sri Lanka and desist from assisting the Sri Lanka Government that is seeking a military approach.

Thol Thirumavalavan, who heads the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi said ‘It is a matter of national shame that some defence personnel from our (country) were found assisting Sri Lanka’s military establishment a few days’ ago’.

His reference was to the injuries two Indian radar technicians suffered when the LTTE executed a pre-dawn land and air attack on a Sri Lankan military base in Vavuniya earlier this month.

Two Soldiers Injured

JAFFNA: FIGHTING OCCURRED closer to the MUHAMALE FDL (Forward Defence Line) when the troops met resistance from Tiger terrorists Tuesday (23).Two soldiers were injured in confrontations and admitted to PALALY Army hospital for treatment.

Two More Dead Tigers Delivered to ICRC

VAVUNIYA: TWO MORE dead bodies of Tiger terrorists died during battles in AKKARANAKULAM area were delivered to the officials of the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) around 2.00 p.m. on Wednesday (24) across OMANTHAI Entry/Exit point.

The ICRC officials took away the remains into un-cleared areas north of OMANTHAI.

Suicide Jacket & 8-kg Heavy Claymore Unearthed

TRINCOMALEE: GROUND TROOPS on receipt of information unearthed a 8-kg heavy claymore mine, one suicide jacket, two anti personnel mines, two T-56 weapons, six T-56 magazines, 100 T-56 ammunition rounds, four LTTE combat kits, two pouches and one electric detonator from PALLECHCHENAKULAM area, TRINCOMALEE Wednesday (24) morning at about 9.30 a.m..

The stock has been kept buried behind a house when the troops following precise information stormed the place and unearthed the place.

Police and the Army troops are conducting investigations.

Canada says Bahu an LTTE member, refuses visa - Bahu refused Canadian allegations

Canadian High Commission in Colombo last week denied visa to the Leader of New Left Front and General Secretary of New Sama Samaja party, Dr Wickramabahu Karunaratne, saying that his past actions "constitute membership in the LTTE," and therefore, Dr Karunaratne fails the admissibility tests laid out in Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).


"It has been reported that you have publicly participated in LTTE activities by personally and knowingly attending and speaking at pro-LTTE events such as Pongo Thamil [sic] in Madrid and in London. In addition, you have publicly announced your support for B.Nadesan. As a prominent member of a political party that has historically and consistently shown support for the LTTE we can conclude that your actions constitute membership in the LTTE," a letter from C McKinney, First Secretary, Immigration at Canadian High Commission in Colombo said.

Dr. Karunaratne, who commented that the move, based on "absolute lies" was "un-democratic" and said he intrepreted it as a message to "fall in line" with the rest of the Sinhala politicians and activists, at a time when most of them who were earlier seen as moderates, have succumbed to the pressure from the Rajapaksa regime, yielding direct or indirect support to its military campaign against Tamils.

Dr. Karunaratne is the only notable Sinhala politician in Colombo, giving voice to Tamils right to self determination.

In a note to media, he also asked whether the Canadian authorities banned entry to the British parliamentarians who had addressed the Pongku Thamizh meetings in London.

Karunaratne said that he has never been to Spain, and that he could not attend Pongku Thamizh meeting in London due to delay in obtaining a visa.

He added that his socialist party "defended the right of self determination of the Tamil people and the autonomy for the Tamil home land since 1974,"...and "stood for voluntary unity of Sinhala and Tamil nationalities."

Karunaratne pointed out that the "LTTE is a Tamil nationalist bourgeois party that uses the method of terror in the course of the struggle," and therefore, not compativlw with his socialist party that "believes in mass actions."

In a letter to Canadian High Commission in Colombo, Karunaratne said: "if you have such credible evidence of my self being a member of the LTTE, I am sure you would have shared that knowledge with the Mahinda regime. It is strange that the government has taken no action what so ever." Canadian officials "ludicrous claim" is not taken seriously even by the war mongering Sri Lankan government," he said.

He asked clarification on whether he has "the right to appeal against your [Canada's] irresponsible and dangerous conclusions."

McCain Scores Support From Conservative Tamil-Americans

Ethnic Tamil-American group throws its support to McCain and Palin. A McCain administration "will be supportive of our concerns, and the most pressing of these is the continuing slow genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka," said a press release from the group.

Republican candidates Senator John McCain and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin have gained another support group in their campaign for the White House. The group, Conservative Tamils for McCain, has announced their support of the McCain-Palin ticket. The group appended the following statement, which describes their hopes for a McCain presidency.

The statement reads:

We Conservative Tamil Americans hope that when John McCain becomes president of the U.S. next January, he will be sympathetic to our concerns. Specifically, we are distressed by the continuing slow genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka. We think that he will be as concerned as we are about the destruction of the Tamil people and their culture in Sri Lanka.

We support Senator McCain in his pursuit of the presidency because we agree with him that the Sri Lankan civil war will be a continuing "headache" for the U.S. as this war continues. We hope that President McCain will use the influence of the U.S. to achieve a political settlement that will end the civil war and allow all Sri Lankans to live in peace on their island

We urge the 44th president of the Unite States, Mr. McCain, to send an envoy like former senator George Mitchell (as in Ireland and the Middle East) to talk to both parties in Sri Lanka and draw a road map to peace in Sri Lanka. The road map can be drawn from the successful models of Montenegro, Bosnia, East Timor, Quebec, Slovakia, and Kosovo.

Successive Sri Lankan governments have done nothing to resolve this vicious civil war for more than sixty years, and we believe that they will do nothing to resolve it unless they are forced to do so.

Tamils are weary of waiting for a reasonable devolution from Colombo. German Ambassador to Sri Lanka Jürgen Weerth in August 2008 said that he has also given up hope of finding any solution for Tamils that involved the Colombo government. Germany, he said, did not believe in allowing the majority community to rule over minorities. "A country should have a give-and-take policy when ruling. Each community should be given preference, instead of supporting one community," he said.

Weerth further said that Sri Lanka should establish the rule of law, and eliminate human rights violations in the country. He said that while Sri Lanka has a good constitution, the government ignores it.

An outgoing British High Commissioner

UNP goes to Supreme Court on oil prices

Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) today filed a Fundamental Rights petition in the Supreme Court against the government for not bringing down oil prices subsequent to the recent decline of world oil prices.

General Secretary of the party Tissa Attanayake said that he had filed the petition this morning on behalf of the UNP.

UNP has named Minister of Petroleum Resources Development A.H.M Fowzie, Chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation Asantha De Mel and another four as the respondents.

In the petition the opposition has pointed out that the basic fundamentals of the Sri Lankans have contravened due to the government’s failure to reduce the oil prices.

Attanayake said that they have appealed the Supreme Court to null the cess tax on oil prices that was imposed by the government few days ago.

STF commando killed, 3 wounded in Ampaa'rai - LTTE

A Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) commando was killed Wednesday around 11:30 a.m. in kagnchikudichcha'ru in Ampaa'rai district, while the STF commandos were engaged in a search operation, according to LTTE officials in the East. The STF personnel were caught up in a Tiger booby trap when they were on a search mission in the jungle area.
Three STF personnel were wounded in the explosion.

The STF has not issued any details of the ambush claimed by the Tigers.
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CEB owes Rs. 40 billion to CPC - John Seneviratne

Power and Energy Minister John Seneviratne told parliament today that the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) owes the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) Rs. 40 billion of which Rs.16 billion was for this year.

Investigation", unnecessary for GSP+ - Rohitha

The Government finds the procedure of instituting an “investigation” to determine if the GSP+ concession can be extended to Sri Lanka unnecessary and inappropriate, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said when he met Benita Ferrero Waldner EU External Relations Commissioner in New York.

Basil-Anura Kumara lock horns

Senior Presidential Advisor MP Building Basil Rajapaksa and JVP parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayake had locked themselves in a noisy brawl at today’s COPE meeting in parliament. Eyewitnesses said both MPs had jumped at each other for a round of fisticuffs and it was after a lot of effort that the MPs present had separated the two.

Talks only when Tigers give up arms- President

President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the 63rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly today said that the government would only be ready to talk to the LTTE when it is ready to commit itself to decommissioning of its illicit weapons and dismantling of its military capacity, and return to the democratic fold.

Country papers presented

The participants from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, presented country papers on Research, Development and Technology Transfer in Agricultural Mechanisation, and Policies and Extension Programmes related to small Holder Farm Mechanisation in the respective countries. Condition of small farmers and situation of agriculture and mechanisation status are similar in these countries including some backward areas of India.

Dr Pitam Chandra, Asst Director General ICAR, New Delhi, along with Sudhir Shah of M/S Mahindra and Mahindra (Tractor Division) chaired the Technical session. Excerpts from India like Dr KK Tyagi, Principal Scientist from IASRI, New Delhi on Mechanisation survey, Kale Director, CFMTTI, Budhani on testing and training, and Dr Surendra Singh, Project Co-ordinator, All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Farm implement and Machinery on R and D and technology transfer, presented the Indian Scenario of agricultural mechanisation.

It has been felt necessary to have collection of information and formulation of database on status and availability of farm machinery in the SAARC Countries for formulation of a common policy on mechanisation of small holder agriculture for the region. Sharing of knowledge on training, demonstrations, and custom hiring Entrepreneurship development and success stories in imperative for deriving mutual benefits from experiences in the countries of the region. This would help in identification of regionally differentiated mechanisation packages suitable for various diverse situations in the SAARC countries.

Before the Technical Session Dr BS Pathak, Director Sardar Patel Renewable Energy Research Institute, Vallabh Vidyanagar in his key note address said that though there has been a strong plea for many years in India to give a start to decentralisation of industrial activity and services by locating agro industries and their ancillaries in the villages, preferably in the production catchment.

This will create employment without dislocation, reduce product loss, open the way for the farmer to share the benefits of value addition and reduce transport transport cost as the processed products have less mass and require less space. Most process residues of agro industries, which create a problem of disposal in towns, can be used as animal feed or organic manure or for irrigation.

The acceptance of this approach would lead to improvement in power supply, roads, communication, health services and educational facilities in the rural sector, which will benefit millions. If this happens, mechanisation will play an even more important role in upgrading production agriculture in South Asia.

Another billion cellphones

Research firm Frost and Sullivan forecast that in 2012, not only will Thailand no longer be an "emerging economy," but that the eight emerging economies in Asia-Pacific will have 1.06 billion yuppiephone subscribers; the billion-phone countries are Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.


Your CAT Telecom signed deals with two Korean content services to put, er, content on Hutch and other parts of the nation's Number 4 yuppiephone service, the CDMA network; senior executive president of vice Jirayu Roongsrithong was so excited that he forgot to name the Korean providers or the sort of content we can expect on the trial service within three months or so, but these days one expects period soaps and mindless game shows from Korea.


Finally, the No 1 yuppiephone network Advanced Info Service announced it will begin broadcasting "real-time" news video clips over your mobile phone, for a small consideration of course, and let's not vent wonderment about how a video clip can be real-time; Prattana Leelapanang, the assistant president of vice for wireless business marketing, explained that news is the most popular content, although content accounts for only 15 per cent of all non-voice services, followed by music and photos; AIS claims that 350,000 customers have signed up for mobile TV, much of which is provided by T-News Agency.


President Wichian Mektrakarn of No 1 yuppiephone network Advanced Info Service was aghast that the PAD protesters believed he would disconnect their important calls about anti-government demonstrations right in the middle of the calls; he also pointed out that it would be almost impossible and hugely labour-intensive to do so; Mr Wichian explained helpfully that security forces had call-blocking hardware that could stop all mobile calls in any selected area - not that he was suggested police or the Army would actually do any such thing.


It's just not fair that there are no adverts on TrueVisions pay-TV network, the former UBC, declared MCOT Plc board members, who apparently don't watch TrueVisions; therefore, MCOT is going to allow TrueVisions to run advertising, so long as it gives a chunk to MCOT, and to heck with that old contract which forbids advertising on pay-TV because, you know, subscribers should get some benefit; for now TrueVisions gives 6.5 per cent of its subscriber fees to MCOT as a skimming fee and fire insurance, and TrueVisions has suggested it switch and give 6.5 per cent of advertising fees instead.


Malaysia served harsh notice to three of the four WiMax licence holders to use them or lose them; with WiMax only barely, tenuously available, the P1, REDtone International and Asiaspace services now have to expand service to 25 per cent of the population by New Year's Eve, or big trouble; Minister of Energy, Water and Communications Shaziman Abu Mansor bragged, "Frankly, I am just waiting for whoever that can't deliver," so he can hook the licences back in, and give them to someone who can deliver; one reason Mr Shaziman is so tough is that no firm given third-generation mobile licences managed to meet the main licence terms, and he probably wants to make an example of someone.


No 2 yuppiephone network DTAC decided that third-generation data services are going to be so big that they require an 850-million-baht call centre of their own; located in Rangsit, staffed by 1,000 commuters, it is DTAC's fourth call centre after the two in Bangkok and one in Chiang Mai, which already handle up to 100,000 calls a day, mostly seeking information on DTAC prices and billing problems; Tipayarat Kaewsringarm, chief customer officer, said 3G competition will be intense, and customer service matters.


With almost half of US and European companies cutting back IT spending in the economic doldrums, China and India have begun to sprint away; analysts Forrester Research said IT spending in the Asian giants will grow 18 per cent this year, against 5.2 per cent globally and even less than that in the West; it may be a bit of wash for a while, though, because US ($484 billion) and European ($436) companies spend far more than India ($25.2 billion) and China ($54.7 billion) counterparts; Thai IT spending this year is expected to be around $4.36 billion, up 9.3 per cent from 2007.


Ralph and Phyllis Tarrant of Sheffield, England, celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary ; they received a gift that is impossible in Thailand - a telegram from Queen Elizabeth; imagine that, a telegram, remember them?

Beef up security in Weligama - Rauff

Government should beef up security in Weligama immediately to avert another communal clash, SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem said in parliament .

SC allows media and rights groups to intervene against Mervyn

The Supreme Court today had allowed intervention by three media and two rights groups in the FR case filed by a media station against Minister Mervin Silva.

STF recovers explosives, arms and ammunition from Wattala

The Special Task Force today recovered 565 grams of C-4 high explosives, a T-56 weapons, two magazines, 124 bullets, Code seats and currency notes from Hekitta, Wattala.

Sri Lanka Parliament proceedings cancelled tomorrow to pay last respects to Late President

Sri Lankan main political party leaders yesterday decided to cancel the Parliament proceedings as the casket carrying the late President D.B Wijethunga's remains is scheduled to be brought to the Parliament tomorrow.

Late President's casket will be brought to the Sri Lankan parliament at about 9:00 a.m. for the legislators to pay their last respects.

Speaker W.J.M Lokubandara said the remains will lay for two hours in the parliament. Following the viewing the casket is scheduled to be taken to the Sri Lankan hill country where the funeral is to take place with full state honors at Gatambe, Kandy tomorrow evening.

Finance Minister Siyambalapitiya assures explanation on the ‘Sakvithi’ fraud

Finance Minister (non-cabinet) Ranjith Siyambalapitiya told Parliament today that the House would be given an explanation regarding the incident where English tutor turned ‘businessman’ Sakvithi Ranasinghe had allegedly swindled more than Rs. 900 million from the public.

He following discussions with the Central Bank officials the explanation would be given.

“It is timely to bring about strict laws when dealing with financial institutions. He said that the Central Bank needs to take measures to identify fraudulent financial activities”, he said.

The Minister replying to a question raised by the National Freedom Front parliamentary group leader MP Wimal Weerawansa on whether the Central Bank has a proper mechanism to observe finance institutions and identify suspected financial institutions offering high interest rates.

MP Weerawansa said that recent financial fraud of by Sakvithi Ranasinghe owner of ‘Sakvithi’ financial institution have left a huge number of people depressed after investing on the institution and finally the whole amount is missing.

Tax on property developers reduced

The five per cent tax charged from property developers and buildings of more than 5,000 square feet would be reduced to one per cent with effect from today, Urban Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said.

Minister Gunawardena said the tax which was charged under the Urban Development Act, was utilized to provide better houses for the families s living in shanties.

Minister Gunawardena said that this decision was taken following requests made by property developers and the BOI promising to contribute Rs. 150 million for the housing projects.

He said along with the completion of 1,000 houses, another 3,000 houses are to be constructed for those living in shanties.

Doctor accused for murder of garment employee takes poison, condition serious

The doctor in remand custody for allegedly murdering a garment sector worker is reportd to have consumed poison and is in a serious condition, hospital sources said.

The doctor has been admitted to the national hospital.

This was the second attempt on his life while in remand custody. Earlier he triedto hang himself.

The doctor had allegedly raped the garment sector employee and at the Negombo hospital and thereafter murdered her. The body was found in the garden of the hospital.

JAAF’s campaign wins AME awards 2008

At a very high profile and an elaborate awards function in Macau, China on Wednesday 17th September 2008, Grey’s global marketing campaign ‘Garments without Guilt’ was declared a winner in the highly competitive Asian Marketing Effectiveness Awards 2008.

“Garments Without Guilt” (GWG) is a campaign that is creating impact in key markets around the world. This marketing initiative is the positioning prompt for Sri Lanka Apparel’s global business initiative.

“This international recognition comes at an opportune time, when Garments without Guilt is already bagging widespread global media attention and accolades. This campaign has delivered on an international scale and with every passing month, we push the envelop further to deliver more impact.” says Ajai V Singh, Vice- President and Country head, Grey Colombo.

‘Garments without Guilt’ was adjudged a winner in a rather challenging category where business performance is not based on big dollar budgets, but extremely clear strategic thinking and equally immaculate execution and monitoring. The business impact of the brand marketing campaign becomes a criteria while creating consumer connections.

Grey’s new age marketing approach for Garments without Guilt was a clear differentiator in a room full of both regional and global heavyweight brands. “This campaign has legs as it is based on a solid idea which will definitely deliver on creating a robust brand” says Sailesh Wadhwa, Director Strategic planning Grey Colombo.

The high profile event was attended by Asia-Pacific regions top marketing, advertising and media professionals.

Asian Marketing Effectiveness Awards, now in its 6th year is not only about identifying the Asia-Pacific region’s top creators, but rewarding those that add value to consumers and businesses, and truly define and build habits — the key difference between marketing and effective marketing.

It is unique in its vision to recognise brand value, insightful strategies that think about the consumer, build the product, and package and price it right — using communication and retail activation to drive sales. It’s about marketing communication effectiveness measured on real results [ROI] and business transformation.

Each entry is judged on the base of demonstrated real results and effectiveness based on business objectives. They are designed to set the standard for effective marketing within the region, and aim to uncover the campaigns that show results through innovative spirit, and combining creativity with effectiveness to build world class brands.

JAAF through its Sri Lanka Apparel - Garments without Guilt global campaign is championing the cause of ethical apparel manufacturing and sourcing. The campaign has been well received by global apparel industry, partner buyers, international media, and international consumers at large.

The campaign gains its strength from the fact that the Sri Lanka is the only outsourced manufacturing country in Asia which has signed up to 39 of the ILO Conventions and is one of the only 2 countries in world to have been granted concessions by the European Union under the GSP + scheme for good governance.

Stop funding Tiger terror - TMVP leaders appeal to Tamil expats:

TMVP Leader Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan (Karuna) and his deputy, Eastern Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan yesterday appealed to Tamil expatriates in Canada and elsewhere to stop funding the Tiger war machine.

In separate exclusive interviews with Stewart Bell of the National Post of Canada, the duo said the funds remitted by expatriates are used for Tiger military procurements, not humanitarian assistance.

Muralitharan said money sent from abroad to help civilians in uncleared areas was routinely used to buy arms.

He called Canada the number one source of external income for the LTTE, followed by Switzerland. He said while Canadians might believe the money they send to uncleared areas is being used for humanitarian aid, Prabhakaran uses it all to buy military hardware instead.

"They use all the money for the war," he said. "They didn't give anything to the people."

The money from overseas feeds not civilians but a procurement network that buys weapons and ships them to the island, he said.

"They have a lot of money. They bought many ships for smuggling arms," he said. "Diaspora people, they don't understand what is happening in Sri Lanka."

The Eastern Province Chief Minister Chandrakanthan echoed his leader's views. He said Tigers supporters in such countries as Canada are misguided and should stop sending money to the LTTE.

"A lot of these people who keep shouting, 'We want a separate state' are not aware of what the conditions are here," said Chandrakanthan. Muralitharan, who spent 22 years in the Tigers, said he broke with Prabhakaran in a dispute over Norwegian-brokered peace talks. He thought there was a good deal on the table but Prabhakaran wanted to restart the war, he said.

"He got angry with me, but he's a very angry person," he said. "I told him, 'I don't want to fight with you. We are brothers and sisters."

"Prabhakaran had no political vision," Chandrakanthan said in an interview. "If the Sri Lankan Army hits, he wants to hit back. He really relished hitting back, fighting, rather than thinking politically, where do we go from here?"

He believes if he can succeed in the East, the Tigers will realize there is a better way, but he holds out no hope that Prabhakaran will surrender his dream of a Tamil homeland called Tamil Eelam.

"Prabhakaran will not give up his thought of a Tamil Eelam. So long as Prabhakaran is there, he will always want people to believe that he can deliver Tamil Eelam, and Tamil Eelam in his vision includes the east as well." But he believes the Tigers are almost finished, bottled up in the north, having lost 60% of their territory and running out of fighting men and women.

"He can't go on like this because there is a limit to the manpower that he commands," Chandrakanthan said. "Just by shortage of manpower he will lose."

29th National Conference of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka

Over 600 participants will be attended top forthcoming 29th National Conference of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka [ICASL] which is to be held on 10th of October in Colombo.
This two day conference will accommodate a group of eminent and respected personalities and they would conduct the technical sessions over two days.
Speaking to media Chairman of the ICASL Nishan Fernando said the conference will be inaugurated by Alok Prasad , the High Commissioner of India .The conference also provides a conducive base of networking , an invaluable tool in management .

Air Force Jets raid hideout of LTTE kingpins- Kilinochchi

Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets launched a nighttime raid targeting a well guarded hideout of high profile LTTE cadres in Kilinochchi, said the Air Force sources.

Air Force spokesman, Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara speaking to defence.lk said that the air strike was taken at 8 PM (Sept 23) targeting the terror kingpins' hideout located in the Piramantalkulm area , in Kilinochchi district. He added that the exact damage caused to the terrorist in the attack is yet to be verified.

Who’s the Next Hindu Priest on LTTE Murder List?

FINAL JOURNEY of the LTTE slain Chief Hindu Priest (Kurukkal) Rev. Thivathunaraja (43) at Trincomalee Konesvaram Hindu temple is to take place today (24) at Trincomalee Galpalliya Hindu Cemetery in accordance with Hindu funeral rites and rituals.

The much-respected Chief Priest of Hindu Tamils in Trincomalee was mercilessly silenced by Tiger pistol men on Sunday (21) evening while he was riding his motorbike to attend a funeral. His remains lay in state at the Trincomalee Urban Council Hall for the public to pay their last respect after arrangements were organized by the District Secretariat, following a request made by clergy and family relatives.

The savagery of this senseless attack on the popular chief priest who has been preaching non-violence and co-existence in the eastern port city of Trincomalee for the last twenty-five years, took resident Tamils as well as others by surprise plunging all of them into a state of shock, revulsion and grief. Slain Rev Thivathunaraja (43), giving fullest support for the sustenance of peace and harmony in the area, helped the Security Forces maintain law and order and resolve civil matters amicably. He was the one who performed Hindu religious rites during ‘Ranaviru Upahara’ ceremonies during the past three years in Trincomalee while tiring to promote religious harmony among all three major ethnicities.

Needless to mention, Tiger terrorists by their conduct have once again proved that neither their deteriorating organization, nor their proxies give any respect to the Hindu religion which is venerated by millions of Hindus across the globe. In other words, the Hindu religion itself is experiencing the brunt of the systematic LTTE terror attacks, irrespective of the fact that Tigers for their own sustenance, had right throughout flourished, using Hindu temples as their hide-outs, fronts or underground weapon distribution centers. They were safe heavens in disguise.



The brutal murder of this Hindu priest who has been the guiding star for many other leading priests in the region, as their beloved spiritual patron, has opened a Pandora’s box at international Tamil Diaspora, as devotees across the world, began expressing their outrage and revulsion. As usual, slaying of a holy man for LTTE means just another “murder” for those weapon-brandishing vultures, no matter whether it goes against Hindu faith or not. He was the father of five school-going children, two girls and three boys. His wife is from Batticaloa area.

The civil society for over twenty years has witnessed how those religious men in Hindu temples are systematically decimated through the power of LTTE bullet. According to statistics, Tiger terrorists have decimated over twenty Hindu priests to this date and shamelessly desecrated the sacred precincts. Here is a brief catalogue of a few selected such assassinations carried out by Tiger terrorists in the past few years.

Hindu priest Rev. Chelliah Parameshwran Kurukkal at Santhiveli Pillaiyar Kovil, Batticaloa, who applied holy ash on President Mahinda Rajapaksa, during his visit to Vakarei after the east was liberated, was cold-bloodedly murdered in February 2007. He simply blessed the Head of the State on his arrival in conformity with much-cherished and venerated Hindu practices and traditions. The shooting earned the wrath of all religious denominations across the country.

In the early 1980s, LTTE sparked off the killing orgy after felling the 77-year old Hindu clergy, Narasimman in front of his Veerama Kali Amman Temple in Nallur. He was accused of being an informant to the Security Forces in Jaffna. Similarly, the former Jaffna Mayor Alfred Duraiappa was assassinated in the precincts of the famous Perumal Temple in Karainagar when he just stepped out after offerings in 1976. The list goes on.



On 14th November 2005, Rev. Sabhanandam Sharma (30), Chief Priest at Anjaniyar Hindu Kovil in Maradanamadan, Jaffna was brutally butchered by the LTTE inside his car (WP HM-7980) while he was returning from the Kovil after routine religious rituals in the temple were over.

Another Hindu Priest that mercilessly fell prey to LTTE bullets was Rev. Kandaswamy Senthil Kumar, Trustee at Uyilandankulam Kovil in Kolombothurai, Jaffna. The immediate reason announced for his assassination was his inability to pay ransom to the LTTE, as demanded by them.

Rev. Vaitheevara Aiyar Wengoda Krisna Sharma, of Sirakkatti Vinayagar Kovil in Jaffna reportedly went missing on 26th May 2006. Later, it was found that the priest was abducted by Tigers and later killed by those abductors. Two days later, his bullet- riddled dead body was found near the Kaithady bridge on 6th June 2006. The brutal death evoked public outrage and protests, but it was again silenced by the Tigers issuing threats. Terrorists also killed two innocent Japanese monks in Aanaikoddai, Jaffna while they were moving about in the peninsula chanting for peace.

The famous Perumal Hindu Temple in Jaffna town and Thelippalai Durga Amman temple were repeatedly robbed of its jewellery and valuables taken away for LTTE’s war chest irrespective of the protests. In the meantime, LTTE operating overseas has also been managing Hindu Temples in Paris, Norway, Germany, Canada and in the UK in order to collect “holy” money for war-mongering. Most of those temples are aimed at minting money for the LTTE in Sri Lanka with a view to destabilizing the country.

Military-LTTE clash in Yala

A clash between the military and the LTTE at Yala National Park left one soldier wounded in the early hours of this morning (Sept. 23rd).

The injured with a damaged pelvic bone was admitted to Kataragama Hospital, from where he was transferred to Hambantota Hospital.

Military sources said soldiers had observed an LTTE group in the national park and had launched an attack.

The soldier was wounded when the fire had been returned.

Military solution will completely deny peace"

A group of academics has stressed that seeking a military solution to the national problem would completely deny peace in Sri Lanka.

It said in an appeal, "it is the unresolved ethnic problem and the prolonged military conflict that have created conditions for the abhorrent human rights violations and unbearable sufferings of the internally displaced persons.

"Power sharing with maximum devolution of power to the minorities within a united Sri Lanka is the way to peace."

"We call for immediate ceasefire, and negotiations between the warring groups to recommence; with the goal of setting up an interim administrative structure for the north east of the country as first step to permanent peace," the academics added.

Signatories to the appeal are Dr. Wickramabahu Karunaratne, Dr. Selvy Thiruchandran, Dr. Nimalka Fernando, V. Thirunaveukkarasu, Prof. Kumar David, Chamil Jayanetti, Dr. Jayampathi Wickramaratne, Prof. Sumanasiri Liyanage, Prof. S. Ganesan, Dr. S.P. Wickramasinghe, Prof. Gamini Kulatunga, Prof. Michael Fernando, Kuhanendran, Kugadasan, Lakshman Gunasekara, P.S. Soosaithasan, Sabry, Seelan Kadirkamar, and Varda Kumar.

Ranil questions CESS on fuel

Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has questioned the imposition of a CESS on fuel without first informing the House. He told Parliament during a debate today (Sept. 23rd) the move was a disrespect on the House.

The government has imposed a Rs. 15 and a Rs. 10 tax on petrol and diesel respectively to cover up the inabilities of the Treasury, Mr. Wickremesinghe charged.

He questioned as to why the benefit of the world market price reduction of oil could not be passed on to local consumers.

Responding, Petroleum Minister A.H.M. Fowzie said the CESS had to be imposed as the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation earns a profit only through its sale of petrol.

Mahinda & Rajiva bluffing, says AHRC

The Asian Human Rights Commission has written an open letter to Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe on the killing of Nishantha Fernando, a complainant in a bribery case and a torture case against several police officers in Negombo.

AHRC Executive Director Basil Fernando says, “The AHRC did not receive any reply or even an acknowledgement of our letter from you or your ministry’s secretary. What action you took on this very serious request for assistance on death threats we do not know and to our knowledge the family also, has not heard from you or your ministry’s secretary.”

The AHRC had previously written to Minister Samarasinghe and his Ministry Secretary about death threats to Nishantha Fernando and his family on 24th June, 2008.

Addressing this second letter, the AHRC Executive Director notes, “You yourself, and the secretary to your ministry have been making solemn statements before the forums of the United Nations and other public forums, affirming the government’s commitment to provide witness protection to its citizens. However even in this simple matter where a man has directly sought your protection against death threats you have been unable to provide any form of protection to him.”

Making note of the proposed Bill for the Assistance and Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses, the letter says, “The famous Draft Bill for the Assistance and Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses that was introduced to parliament in June, is still pending. Despite of the many glowing speeches of the speedy passing of this law, persons like Mr. Fernando have not lived to see the benefit of such a law. Naturally, no one can be blamed for reacting to such deaths with a cynical conviction that all such talk about witness protection is just political bluff.”

Preparing for Ramadhan

With the Ramadhan festival at hand this young boy was seen selling scull caps at a stall in Colombo.

Mismanagement of Mihin led to the downfall - Mahindananda

During the debate on Mihin Lanka in parliament today Government Minister Mahindanada Aluthgamage said that the mismanagement of the air line led to its downfall.

Lankan Consulate in Dubai cracks whip on agents, sponsors

The Sri Lankan Consulate in Dubai has temporarily blacklisted and banned a number of recruiting agencies in the UAE, following the brutal assault on a 46-year-old housemaid that led to her permanent loss of hearing.

CPC losses reach Rs. 17 billion for 2008

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has incurred a loss of Rs. 17 billion from January 2008 to date, Petroleum Resources Minister A.H.M. Fowzie said in parliament today.

Dr Wickramabahu Karunarathne's visa to Canada rejected

The Candian High Commission in Colombo has rejected temporary resident visa to Canada for Dr Wickramabahu Karunarathne, President, Left Front and General Secretary, New Sama Samaja party claiming that he is a member of the LTTE.

Dr. Karunarathne has responded back to the High Commission.

Earlier the High Commission in a letter to Dr. Karunarathne informed him the visa had been rejected.

”It has been report that you have publicly participated in LTTE activities by personally and knowingly attending and speaking at pro-LTTE events such as Pongu Thamil in Madrid and London. In addition, you have publicly announced your support for B.Nadesan (LTTE police chief). As a prominent member of a political party that has historically and consistently shown support for the LTTE we can conclude that your actions constitute membership in the LTTE”, the letter from the Canadian High Commission said.

“As a result of your membership in this organisation you are inadmissible to Canada pursuant to section 34 of the Act and therefore I am refusing your application”, the letter signed by the First Secretary Immigration, C. Mckinney said..

Dr. Karunarathne in his letter said :

“Thank you for your letter dated 16 Sep 2008, which I found quite amusing.

Firstly, let me correct some absolute untruths included in your letter. I have never been to Spain; and I could not attend Pongu Thamil meeting in London as I got the British visa after the event.

Secondly, our party is a socialist party that believes in mass actions while the LTTE is a Tamil nationalist bourgeois party that uses the method of terror in the course of the struggle. If you have an iota of knowledge in political science you will see that I could not be a leader of the New Sama Samaja party and also be a member of the LTTE. Of course we have defended the right of self determination of the Tamil people and the autonomy for the Tamil home land since 1974. In spite of that, the LTTE has used terror against our party members. Disregarding that, in common demonstrations that demands human rights for Tamils we have participated with LTTE supporters. How ever in all such meetings we have stood for voluntary unity of Sinhala and Tamil nationalities.

Thirdly, if you have such credible evidence of my self being a member of the LTTE, I am sure you would have shared that knowledge with the Mahinda regime. It is strange that the government has taken no action what so ever. Your ludicrous claim is not taken seriously even by this chauvinist war mongering government.

Finally if you have any sense of democracy left, please let me know whether I have the right to appeal against your irresponsible and dangerous conclusions.

'Mihin Air to fly again': Chamal Rajapakse

Minister of Ports and Aviation Chamal Rajapakse, vowed to bring back Mihin Lanka budget airlines following in-depth business plans to be put into action from December, this year.

According to the Minister the plans would be first submitted to the Parliamentary Consultative Committee for further consultation.

He admitted that administrative failiure led to the suspension of Mihin Air and promised that an efficient management would be appointed.

Minister Rajapakse said this ending the adjournment debate on Mihin Lanka airlines where the opposition members feared a continuous loss following the suspension after 13 months of operation from April, 2007 due to the incurring loss of 3.2 billion rupees.

The government has submitted a cabinet paper to allocate 3.7 billion to purchase 6 airlines from China.

Opening the adjournment debate on Mihin Air, JVP Parliamentarian Sunil Handunnetti told the House that the government should not proceed with the purchasing of another six aircraft for the airline.

Funds should not be allocated from the 2009 budget without holding an inquiry on the Rs. 3.2 billion loss the institution incurred just by having two aircraft, he said.

He added that a number of government institutions had funded millions of rupees, but the administration failed to run for long.

The MP memtioned that the airline was established to provide services to Sri Lankan workers, especially housemaids but failed to do so. Instead political trips were made using this airline, he said.

Sri Lanka Workers Congress demands 5,000 rupee bonus for Deepavali

Ceylon Workers Congress has demanded the plantation companies to give a bonus of 5,000 rupees for all estate workers to celebrate the forthcoming Deepavali Hindu festival.

According to industry sources, last year the amount given was 3,000 rupees. With high rates of inflation in the country the CWC reportedly have sought the increased amount.

Industry sources fear that non-payment of this advance will lead to industrial action

Thousands of complaints flowing to police regarding Sakvithi financial racket in Sri Lanka

Mirihana police have limited recording complaints at 100 per day in relation to the massive investment racket conducted by Sakvithi Ranasinghe, a famous English tutor who hoodwinked more than 4,000 Sri Lankans through a broad advertising campaign.

The racketeer is now at large and believed have left the country. Four persons who worked in his company have been arrested by the police.

Ranasinghe manipulated the images of famous media persons also to lure people to his racket. The Police said the suspect had amassed more than 500 million rupees from individuals promising heavy returns on their money.

Police has sought a report from the Company Registrar through courts aiming to arrest the Directors of this company.

Transparency International releases Corruption Perception Index

Sri Lanka moved two positions up in the latest Corruption Perceptions Index prepared, by Transparency International, the global coalition against corruption, compared to last year. In 2004 Sri Lanka was at the 67th position, but dropped to 78 in the following year and in 2006 it further went down to 84th position and last year to the 94th position. This year Sri Lanka has been ranked at the 92nd position.

Liberation operations make further progress; terrorists suffer heavy losses

According to military reports received yesterday (Sept 22), terrorists suffered further losses during heavy confrontations continued in the battlefronts in Wanni. The reports reveal that at least 23 terrorists were killed during yesterday's incidents.

Troops of the Army's 57 division operating in the eastern half of the Kilinochchi battlefront continued their offensives in the Akkarayankulam and Vannivilankulam area during the day.

Troops attacked terrorists at several instances and claimed one LTTE bunker was destroyed, 4 terrorists killed and 3 others wounded. Also, troops found a highly decomposed body of a terrorist along with one T-56 weapon, one satellite phone along with other military items during the daytime.

In the general area Vannivilankulam, 57 division troops found 2 bodies of LTTE cadres along with one T-56 weapon in the morning. Elsewhere, snipers deployed in the forward area confirmed shooting down of one LTTE cadre.

Meanwhile, troops of theTask Force-1 operating along the western half of the Kilinochchi front continued their operations in the Nachchikudha and Vannerikkulam areas during the day. Troops attacked 5 LTTE bunkers in separate incidents and claimed 7 terrorists were killed and 10 others wounded. A soldier suffered injuries due to terror mortar fire during one of the incidents occurred in the Vannerikkulam. Also, snipers deployed in the Panaikandamadu area confirmed shooting down of 3 LTTE cadres during the day's operations.

Troops of Task Force- 2 operating in the Vavuniya front had several confrontations in the Palamoddai area, west of the A-9 road during the daytime and claimed 4 terrorists killed and 5 others wounded. Also, 56 division troops maintaining active defence in the east of A-9 road attacked an LTTE bunker located in the Navatkulama area, last morning and claimed 2 terrorists were either killed or wounded.

Troops of the 59 division operating in the Mullaittivu front made further progress in their operations in the Andankulama area along the day.

Troops captured an LTTE field fortification located in the Mullaittivu forest last morning. According to the reports, the fortification is consisted of 2 triangular shaped overhead bunkers and 2 huts. Troops suspect the terror base to be the 'Pasarai' Sea Tiger base.

During the other confrontations occurred in the area troops claimed 4 terrorists were killed, 3 others wounded, and 14 more were either killed or wounded. Meanwhile, troops engaged in mine sweeping operations in the area removed 147 AP mines and 2 IEDs.

Counter terror operations are being continued.

STF averts LTTE infiltration attempt: body recovered- Batticaloa

Police Special Task Force (STF) personnel confronted a group of terrorists, killing one, Tuesday (Sep 23) in general area Narakamulla, Batticaloa, at around 12.30 a.m.

Subsequently, troops have recovered a body of a slain terrorist along with few other military hardware including a T-56 assault riffle, 4 T-56 magazines, an I-com set, one binocular and a claymore exploder.

Sea Tigers’ ‘Pasarai’ Sea Tiger Camp Stormed & Captured

WELIOYA, JAFFNA & EAST: COLUMNS of valiant troops, now closing in on MULLAITTIVU stormed LTTE’s famous “PASARAI” Sea Tiger base in ANDANKULAM in the WELIOYA sector and brought the entire complex with triangular bunkers providing overhead protection on Monday (22) after resisting the fire-power of the enemy.

The Sea Tiger camp, believed to have been used by terrorists operating as Sea Tigers had two separate huts which served as sentry points. The camp has been surrounded by three triangular-type tall bunkers with overhead protection layers made of concrete.

Meanwhile, troops continued their provocations against terrorists in the same area till about 6.00 p.m. on Monday (22) by way of engaging terrorist bunker lines and also firing artillery rounds against their positions. Troops also came across 147 anti personnel mines and seven Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) that had been kept hidden by terrorists.

During those clashes in ANDANKULAM, at least seven more Tiger terrorists fell dead and fourteen terrorists suffered injuries.

Meanwhile, suspected terrorists on a three-wheeler have shot and killed two women in the VAVUNIYA town late night on Monday (22). The reason for the killing is yet to be identified according to the Police.

In the meantime, several rounds of clashes in NAVATKULAM and north of PALAMODDAI resulted in the loss of four terrorists and injury to at least seven more terrorists.

Troops in KARANIPPAIKULAM during a search came across skeletal remains of a dead Tiger terrorist along with one LTTE belt, one pouch, one grenade, one anti personnel mine and a few more LTTE items by the side of the skeleton.

Meanwhile, another search conducted in MAKIYAPIDDY, JAFFNA found four 40 mm grenades.

Similarly, following information, the Police conducted a search in VAKAREI, VERUGAL and SINNAGANGA areas and uncovered five outboard motors of 15 HP hidden in a jungle.

Transport of Essential Items to Un-Cleared Areas Continues

WANNI: SEVENTY-THREE (73) lorry loads of food and other essential items had been dispatched to un-cleared areas in the northern province during the period between 05 September 2008 to 11 September 2008.

Those consignments had reached areas in KILINOCHCHI and MULLAITIVU districts via OMANTHAI and UYILANKULAM Entry/Exit points.
The stocks contained rice, dhal, dried fish, clothes, fuel, spices, building materials, vehicle spare parts, medicine and the such like which are needed for the use of civilians in un-cleared areas.

A total of 1228 civilians had crossed over to the un-cleared areas through those checkpoints while an estimated 1119 civilians had arrived in VAVUNIYA from un-cleared areas during the said period.

Special Search on to Trace Jungle Based Terrorists

HAMBANTOTA: A SPECIAL cordon and search operation was immediately launched early this morning (23) around 6.00 a.m. when a team of Security Forces manning security points along the MENIK ganga (river) in the BLOCK 2 in YALA area after observation of some suspected Tiger terrorists, opened fire on them.

Security Forces on duty at those points observed a movement of armed men inside thick jungles off YALA during early hours on Tuesday (23) and closely pursued their movement.

However, those terrorists suddenly opened fire on the troops but the Security Forces responded to their fire. As the shooting escalated, terrorists withdrew further deep into the jungles.

One soldier sustained injuries in the encounter and was admitted to KATARAGAMA hospital for treatment. A well-coordinated search is on in the area at the time this report was filed.

Bunker Destroyed, Three Dead Tigers & Weapons Recovered

KILINOCHCHI: HEAVY fighting in AKKARAYANKULAM, VANNIVILANKULAM, PANNAIKANDAMADU and VANNARIKULAM during Monday (22) led to the destruction of another LTTE bunker and the recovery of three dead Tiger terrorists (two females and one male) with one satellite phone, three SIM cards, one extra battery, two T-56 weapons, one Light Machine Gun (LMG) drum, two dog tags, four caps, five packs, two ration packets, one medicine packet and one ID in the general area of AKKARAYANKULAM on Monday (22) evening.

Troops also confronted a group of terrorists and conducted searches in the area. Seventeen Tiger terrorists were feared killed and another thirteen more were reportedly injured in those clashes. An LTTE mortar fire attack in VANNIVILANKULAM injured one soldier during these clashes on Monday (22).

Meanwhile, explosion of an LTTE anti personnel mine in PARAPPAKANDAL, MANNAR on Monday (22) at about 6.55 a.m. injured one soldier.

President can't extend judicial officers - CJ

The President has no constitutional powers to extend the compulsory retirement age of judicial officers, Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva said yesterday (Sept. 22nd).

The CJ granted leave to proceed with a fundamental rights petition filed in the Supreme Court against the move to “amend the Rules made in terms of [The Public and Judicial Officers (Retirement) Ordinance]” by virtue of a notification in the Gazette(Extraordinary) bearing No. 1562/1 of 11th August 2008.

The petitioner challenges the Gazette notification that seeks to vest powers in the President to extend the age of compulsory retirement of any public officer appointed by him, if he considers it expedient.

The petitioner, Legal Director of the Centre for Policy Alternatives, Rohan Edirisingha, cited 21 persons including the Attorney General, President Mahinda Rajapaksa, President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga, the Public Service Commission and the National Police Commission as respondents.

The SC will announce its ruling on October 06th.

State land given to Berty’s brother-in-law

A 152-perch land at No. II Grama Niladari Division in the Eastern Nuwaragam Palatha Divisional Secretariat in Anuradhapura has been transferred to a brother-in-law of Chief Minister of North Central Province Berty Premalal Dissanayake.

The land is located in the reservation of Anuradhapura Tank.

It has been given to Ponsuge Bandula Wijesinghe for commercial purposes for 30 years under a gazette notification issued by the land commissioner of the North Central Province R.S.S.S.C. Wijesinghe on August 22nd 2008.

Vimal and Champika unite; joint proposal for the budget

National Freedom Front (JNP) and Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) are getting ready to submit a joint proposal for the budget.

JNP General Secretary Nandana Gunathilaka and JHU Media Spokesman Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe said that the parties expect to forward a proposal that provides relief to people and effect development positively to the President after a dialogue between the two parties.

Mr. Nandana Gunathilaka said that he could not deny the idea spreading in the country that there are many evils in the government. He said that his party joined with the government only to support war and said that they would not expect a good budget from Ministers who think badly.
He further stated that his party was considering a long term set of proposals pertaining to all the Ministries and would agree with JHU without bargaining if they have any proposals regarding the budget. He also said that an official notification regarding these discussions have not been made yet.

Mr. Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe appreciated the NFF proposal and said that JHU also had a set of proposals regarding budget. He said that the parties expected to put forward a set of proposals for the budget with mutual consent.

Sri Lankan government's decision to remove NGOs is life threatening

The New Zealand Council for International Development (CID) is very concerned at the Sri Lankan government's request for NGOs to leave the Vanni district and strongly supports the Australian Council for International Development's Executive Director Paul O'Callaghan recent comments in the media.

"Reports from our members indicate internally displaced people in the Vanni are already traumatized and in desperate need of food, medicines, sanitation facilities and shelter," states CID's Executive Director David Culverhouse."

"NGOs are there to assist these people and do so under the humanitarian imperative, that people have the right to receive humanitarian assistance."

"NGOs also play an important role in monitoring the actions of combatants on both sides of the conflict. The removal of NGOs could create an environment where human rights violations may take place with a perceived impunity. We fear that this will lead to a bloodbath."

"We therefore strongly support ACFID's comments and urge the Sri Lankan government to reconsider its decision for NGOs to leave the Vanni region."

Canadian Charity used for weapons

Vancouver Sun
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- A former commander of Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers has admitted the guerrillas used money meant for humanitarian aid to buy weapons. Col. Karuna Amman said in an interview the rebels routinely bought arms with donations from abroad that were meant to help civilians in guerrilla-held areas. He called Canada the No. 1 one source of external income for the guerrillas, who are fighting for independence for Sri Lanka's ethnic Tamil minority.
Karuna spent 22 years in the Tamil Tigers and was a top commander until he defected to the government side in 2004 and took his 6,000 cadres with him. The RCMP and CSIS have long claimed the Tamil Tigers raise money in Canada but this is believed to be the first time a former senior guerrilla has publicly confirmed the allegations. Police say they have documented at least $3 million in money transfers from Tamil Tigers supporters in Canada to overseas accounts linked to the guerrillas.

Toronto non-profit group raised millions for Tamil Tigers: RCMP

TORONTO - A Toronto non-profit group wired more than $3 million to overseas bank accounts, some of them linked to the Tamil Tigers, before it was shut down by the government in June for alleged terrorist financing, says an RCMP report released Monday.

The report, marked "Secret" but unsealed by order of a Federal Court judge, provides the first detailed look at the banking activities of the World Tamil Movement (WTM), a Toronto-based group accused of bankrolling Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers guerrillas.

Most of the money, $1.9 million, went to an account at the Bumiputra Commerce Bank in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, that the RCMP report says "is utilized as a vehicle to forward money to the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) from Canada."

The 83-page financial report is the fruit of two years of analysis of banking records seized by Canadian anti-terrorism police who are investigating a financial network run by supporters of the Tamil Tigers that allegedly raised money in Canada to buy arms for the guerrillas

"The bank records seized . . . demonstrate that the World Tamil Movement has developed an elaborate machine like entity that moves throughout the Greater Toronto Area collecting funds with extreme proficiency," the police report says.

Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day announced on June 16 that his government had added the WTM to Ottawa's official list of terrorist groups, alongside the likes of al-Qaida, Hamas and Hezbollah. The WTM is the first Canadian community group to be listed.

The WTM has denied any involvement in terrorist fundraising and vowed to challenge the government's decision, and at a large outdoor rally in Toronto on July 5, Tamils waved Tamil Tigers flags and endorsed a statement condemning Ottawa's decision to ban the WTM.

The minister has accused the WTM of transferring money to LTTE bank accounts in Sri Lanka, but the RCMP's Feb. 1, 2008, financial report paints a more detailed picture of a complex network made up of 20 Canadian bank accounts.

Five banks held the accounts: Toronto Dominion, Bank of Nova Scotia, Royal Bank, CIBC and the National Bank of Canada. The Canadian account holders wired money regularly to accounts in Malaysia, Singapore, the United Kingdom and Tamil Tigers-controlled areas of Sri Lanka.

RCMP Corporal Deanna Hill, the author of the police report, wrote that the WTM's financial set-up was "congruent with the money laundering techniques often employed by organized crime groups.

"I also believe that the number of accounts alone demonstrate that the World Tamil Movement has utilized the Canadian banking system to raise funds in a manner that is best suited to financing the terrorist activities of the LTTE."

The Tamil Tigers have been fighting for 25 years for an independent homeland for Sri Lanka's ethnic Tamil minority, which has faced discrimination under the island's Sinhalese majority.

In addition to fighting a conventional guerrilla war, however, the Tigers also employ terrorist tactics, such as suicide bombings and political assassinations, which has landed them on international terrorist lists, Canada's included.

The RCMP began investigating the Tamil Tigers' Canadian fundraising network in 2002, focusing on the WTM's large head office in Toronto and its smaller branch offices in Montreal and Vancouver. Police raided the Toronto and Montreal offices in 2006.

Police seized letters from the Tamil Tigers leadership thanking Canada for its donations, explaining how the money had been used to purchase weapons, and asking for more. But much of the police evidence appears to have come from a study of bank accounts held by the WTM and its officers.

The Project Osaluki financial report claims the WTM's most lucrative fundraising method was a pre-authorized payment program, in which the group persuaded hundreds of its supporters to sign forms allowing money to be withdrawn from their bank accounts each month.

The WTM took in up to $763,000 a year using the payment scheme. On a single day in 2005, the WTM withdrew $63,528 from 1,582 bank accounts. "It is obvious from the amounts collected with this method that the pre-authorized payment scheme is effective, timely and spares valued resources," says the RCMP report.

Most of the forms had been signed in Canada but police also interviewed witnesses who said they had signed them at Tamil Tigers checkpoints in Sri Lanka. "Upon their return to Canada, these persons were visited by representatives of the World Tamil Movement to exact the collection of the monthly stipend," Hill wrote.

In addition, the WTM made money through bake sales, car washes, newspaper sales, merchandise sales and festivals, the report says. "To date, the total amount of Canadian dollars that have been forwarded to accounts internationally from accounts controlled by the World Tamil Movement in Canada is $3,101,803.33.

Country sans terrorism soon

President Mahinda Rajapaksa expressed the hope that very soon all Sri Lankans living overseas will be able to return to a country that had been completely rid of the scourge of terrorism.

Addressing Sri Lankans at the New York Bauddha Viharaya while on his visit to attend the 63rd UNGA Sessions the President said he would not hesitate to take decisions that has a bearing on the future of the country.

He said special attention would be paid to the younger generation who is the future of the country. He said in the face of the multifarious challenges he is confronted with both locally and on the international front they are risking their lives to ensure that the future generation is left with an undivided country.

"Whether you are from Killinochchi, Batticaloa or the South my aim is to treat you all as my children and build a country where you all can live as free citizens," the President said.

The President said a wrong picture is being painted through certain media to Lankans living abroad. "But you who really love the country are aware of the true position and I am sure you will not be deceived by such distortions".

"It is my duty to explain to you the victories and progress we have achieved during the past three years. When I was entrusted with the country three years ago the peoples' expectation was to see the protection of the unitary state of the country. They gave me a mandate to accomplish this task".

"I was elected President at a time the LTTE was spreading it's reign in the North and East. It was preparing to set up a separate state. No sooner I assumed office the LTTE killed unarmed soldiers. They killed 200 innocent civilians including toddlers and pregnant mothers. In the end the LTTE shut down the Mavilaru anicut cutting out drinking water to the people and the farmers' cultivations.

"We held discussions to solve the issue. But the LTTE refused to come to a settlement. There fore, we were compelled to start a humanitarian operation to ensure the innocent people were not deprived of a basic need and to uphold their rights."

The President said they were able to use the Mavilaru operation as a springboard to rid the entire East of LTTE terrorism. Thereafter, they took steps to restore democracy in the region.

"Thus we were able to hold elections in the East barely one year after liberating the province and restore the political and democratic rights of the people".

Significantly, the Chief Minister of the Provincial Council was a former child soldier of the LTTE Sivaneshwaran Chandrakanthan, the President noted.

"At the moment we have launched an accelerated development programme for the East. We have showcased to the world how terrorism could be defeated and at the same time restore democracy and conduct accelerated development."

The President observed there certain organisations who had branded him as a war President. "I am not a war monger. My aim is to create an environment where the innocent people could live enjoying the fruits of freedom and democracy. What we are doing by our humanitarian operation is to achieve this objective".

He questioned how the North could be under the LTTE when all food provisions and medical facilities are supplied by the Government."It is we who pay the pensions of those citizens. So, how can the LTTE claim that this areas is under them".

He said the only thing was the LTTE were not allowing them to enter the North and that it is his mission to change this situation. "I was not elected three years ago only to be the President of the South. Be they from the South, Killinochchi or Batticaloa they are all my children. It is our duty to create the climate for them to live in peace and amity. There has to be a country where they can live together. My mission is to accomplish this task".

The President noted that there was only four and half kilometers more to Killinochchi and it was a matter of time before this will be

liberated. He had instructed the Security Forces to conduct their humanitarian operations in such way as not to harm the civilian population. "We shall liberate the North and develop it.We will grant the people of the North the democratic and political freedom", the President emphasized.

"We care against war.But it is our duty to protect the Motherland. The successful programme of my Government was recently endorsed by the people of North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provinces".

6 terrorists killed, 5 wounded in clashes - Kilinochchi

Six LTTE terrorists were killed and 5 others received injuries in confrontations took place in Vannerikulam area in western flank of Wanni battlefront yesterday, 22 September, the defence sources said.

Troops of Task Force 1 have launched an attack targeting LTTE bunker line in general area Vannerikulam around 9.30 am. Troops confirmed that 3 LTTE terrorists were killed and at least 5 others suffered injuries.

Separately, 3 more LTTE terrorists were killed by army snipers deployed in same front during the morning hours yesterday. Two of the three incidents reported in west of Vannerikulam area while the other in Vannerikulam general area itself, sources added.

Transport of Essential Items to Un-Cleared Areas Continues

WANNI: SEVENTY-THREE (73) lorry loads of food and other essential items had been dispatched to un-cleared areas in the northern province during the period between 05 September 2008 to 11 September 2008.

Those consignments had reached areas in KILINOCHCHI and MULLAITIVU districts via OMANTHAI and UYILANKULAM Entry/Exit points.
The stocks contained rice, dhal, dried fish, clothes, fuel, spices, building materials, vehicle spare parts, medicine and the such like which are needed for the use of civilians in un-cleared areas.

A total of 1228 civilians had crossed over to the un-cleared areas through those checkpoints while an estimated 1119 civilians had arrived in VAVUNIYA from un-cleared areas during the said period.

Special Search on to Trace Jungle Based Terrorists

HAMBANTOTA: A SPECIAL cordon and search operation was immediately launched early this morning (23) around 6.00 a.m. when a team of Security Forces manning security points along the MENIK ganga (river) in the BLOCK 2 in KATARAGAMA area after observance of some suspected Tiger terrorists, opened fire on them.

Security Forces on duty at those points observed a movement of armed men inside thick jungles off KATARAGAMA during early hours on Tuesday (23) and closely pursued their movement.

However, those terrorists suddenly opened fire on the troops but the Security Forces responded to their fire. As the shooting escalated, terrorists withdrew further deep into the jungles.

One soldier sustained injuries in the encounter and was admitted to KATARAGAMA hospital for treatment. A well-coordinated search is on in the area at the time this report was filed.

False alarm at Angulana, Galle Road reopened

Police open Galle Road in Angulana, Moratuwa after bomb threat on board bus was found to be a false alarm.

Supreme Court to review President’s powers

The Supreme Court yesterday granted leave to proceed with the rights violation petition challenging the Gazette notification seeking to vest powers in the President to extend the age of compulsory retirement of any public officer appointed by the President, if he considers it expedient.

The Bench comprising Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva, Justices Shiranee Tilakawardane and K. Sripavan granted leave for the alleged infringement of fundamental right to equality and equal protection of the law. Court also stayed the operation of the said Gazette Notification.

The Chief Justice reiterated that there was separation of powers for law makers and executives and that law making power was delegated power and vesting of power was legislative power.

He said retirement meant the appointment was terminated and employment ceased. “If I reach 65 years of age, I have to go,” he said.The matter would be taken up on October 6.

In the petition The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) and its Legal Director Rohan Edrisinha cited the Attorney General, President Mahinda Rajapaksa, President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga, Public Service Commission and National Police Commission as respondents.

M.A.Sumanthiran with Viran Corea and Suren Fernando instructed by Lilanthi de Silva appeared for the petitioners. Deputy Solicitor General Shavindra Fernando appeared for the Attorney General.

The Petitioners made this Application in their own right, and in the public interest, with the objective of safeguarding the rights of the general public of Sri Lanka.

On August 31, 2008, the Petitioners became aware that the President had purported to “amend the Rules made in terms of [The Public and Judicial Officers (Retirement) Ordinance]” by virtue of a notification in the Gazette(Extraordinary) bearing No.1562/1 of 11th August 2008.

The said Gazette seeks to vest powers in the President to, “notwithstanding anything in paragraph (1) of this rule… …if he considers it expedient [to] extend the age of compulsory retirement of any Public Officer appointed by the President”.The Petitioners state that the purported notification by the said Gazette will permit inter alia the extensions of terms of office of certain Public Officers (outside of the consultative mechanisms provided for by the Constitution for the appointment of Public Officers), with the very real likelihood that such extensions may be based on considerations other than on objective considerations which would otherwise be considered by the mechanisms provided for by the Constitution.

They Petitioners maintain that the de facto removal and/or effective circumvention and/or culture of disregard for the said Constitutional and legal provisions erode and jeopardize the Rule of Law which is an essential feature of a democratic State governed according to law.

In the aforesaid premises, the Petitioners contend that the purported Gazette notification is ultra vires and contrary to, and inconsistent with, (the afore-mentioned provisions of) the Constitution, and infringe the fundamental rights of Petitioners, Public Officers and the general public, especially those fundamental rights to equality and equal protection of the law, right against the discrimination on the ground of political opinion, race, religion, language etc and right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, freedom of speech and expression as well as the freedom to engage in association with others in any lawful occupation, profession, trade, business or enterprises that are guaranteed by the Constitution.

Petitioners are asking the court to declare that the notification contained in Gazette (Extraordinary) bearing No.1562/1 of 11th August 2008 (P3) constitute present and continuous infringement and involve imminent further infringement of the fundamental rights of the Petitioners, Public Officers and the general public.

They are also asking the court to declare that any steps taken under and in terms of the notification contained in Gazette (Extraordinary) bearing No.1562/1 of 11th August 2008 (P3) infringe the fundamental rights of the Petitioners, Public Officers and the general public and to declare that the purported Gazette (Extraordinary) bearing No.1562/1 of 11th August 2008 (P3) is ultra vires, a nullity and/or void in law;

Police spokesman had passed false information: SC

Last Sunday’s registration in schools, temples and police stations in the Western Province was not a direction by the police but by the Citizen Committees which comprised citizens of the relevant areas, the Supreme Court observed yesterday.

The court made this observation when a fundamental rights application filed by the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) was taken up yesterday.

Counsel M. A. Sumanthiran appearing for the CWC informed court the Police Spokesman had announced the registration was done with the approval of the Attorney General whereas it was not so.

Additional Solicitor General Palitha Fernando stated the programme was organised by the citizen’s committees and the area police had assisted the operation.

The Supreme Court Bench comprising Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva and Justices Shiranee Tilakawardena and K. Sripvan noted the Police Spokesman had passed false information with regard to the registration.

The court also made an order on the police to inform the relatives through the area police as soon as possible when a person was taken into custody and receipt of arrest should be forwarded.

The bench made this direction when an application was filed that a person who had gone missing was found in the custody of the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) after 3 days.

Counsel Sumanthiran stated the person Rajaratnam Premaraja from Lindula area had been arrested and on inquiry it was found that he was under the custody of TID.

The Supreme Court reiterated that persons cannot be removed without a court order.

The Chief Legal Officer informed court that newspaper publication in all three languages had been published on Sunday (September 21) with regard to the registration of persons who had come from outside to the Western Province. The case was put off for November 24.

The Hilton 21 bash in grand style

Hilton Colombo celebrated its 21st anniversary last Sunday night, in grand style. The event was a celebration of the many prosperous years the Hilton has enjoyed in the country.

Elaborated on the purpose of the event the Food and Beverage Manager Kapila Mohotti stated that the event was a unique one, which focused more on people having a good time and enjoying the 21 exclusive flavours of the Hilton, than on making a profit. He further said that their this objective had been satisfactorily achieved “everyone has done an excellent job and everyone has been giving us good comments through the night”

Speaking of the effort that went into the planning process he said that the event had taken over 5 months to plan and an organising committee of 30, including 15 managers and 15 chefs. The execution of the event that evening had taken over 230 persons from the kitchen, engineering and cleaning departments.From a numerical perspective, Mr.Mohotti explained, the event had cost around 5 million and the estimated turnout was 3000 persons.

Executive chef Rohan Fernandopulle elaborated on the effort and manpower that went into the 21 food stations that were set up. The highlight of which was the 21m long Sandwich which contained 245 feet of bread 40 kg of tuna 30kg of cheese 600 eggs and 30kg of cold cuts.

The 21 stalls saw over a 153 chefs working in 21 teams. The 21 m long flaring bar was manned by the award wining bartenders of the Hilton Colombo show casing their unique talents. The 21 gastronomic flavours were Mexican, Thai, Szechwan, Cantonese, Japanaese, Sri Lankan-Kottu, Sri Lankan-hoppers Napoli, Bologna, English, Labanese, French, Hydrabadi, North Indian, Texan, Bistake, Tempura, Ice creams\ milkshakes and deserts.

One other 21 themed attractions was the 21m ice sculpture, shaped in the form of candles, which were lit though the night. Each ice carved giant birthday candle varying in size, was placed on a carriage carved out of ice and hoisted upon a ramp across the length of the hotels pool. The sculpture according to Chef Fernandopulle had used over 10000kg’s of ice.As part of the Hilton Colombo’s 21 Anniversary CSR activity, part of the proceeds from the event goes to the Ceylon school for the Deaf and blind in Ratmalana. The event also saw performances from this institution including a Gajaba Vannama.

Other performances included the Marinas, Iraj, Centrigardes, Chinthy, Ashanthi, Dushyanth and Hashini, Natasha, Phase 3 and the Revelations, performing on the giant stage set up on the sports centre tennis courts.

EPDP leader rejected US visa

The US Embassy in Colombo had refused to grant a visa to EPDP leader and Social Services Minister Douglas Devananda.
Mr. Devananda had applied for a visa to accompany President Mahinda Rajapaksa to the 63rd General Assembly of the United Nations in New York.

Embassy officials had cited a human rights matter for the rejection, the newspaper reported.

The presidential delegation left the island on September 19th to attend the world assembly which concludes tomorrow (Sept. 23rd).

Blood transfusion kits bought ten months before date of expiry

Accusing the Health Ministry of a cover up regarding the shocking use of outdated blood transfusion kits, Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena, MP, said that he would bring this to the notice of the WHO.
Although the racket was initially believed to be confined to the National Blood Centre at Narahenpita, Jayawardena claimed that he had been able to gather enough evidence to suggest that the use of outdated kits was widespread. He said that he would meet the Resident Representative of the WHO based in Colombo ,to brief him of the situation. The Sri Lankan Health Minister is the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the WHO.
Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva couldn’t simply wash his hands off this criminal negligence of responsibility on the part of the Health Ministry, the MP said. The interdiction of four personnel, including the director of the National Blood Centre wasn’t adequate, he said, emphasising the urgent need to conduct a comprehensive survey to ascertain the impact of the use of outdated blood transfusion kits on both blood donors and receivers.
The Gampaha District MP said that the Health Secretary, Dr. Athula Kahadaliyanage had ordered the interdiction of personnel on the recommendation of the Public Service Commission (PSC).
Responding to our queries, he said the police were reluctant to investigate the incident as they believed the government was behind the racket. According to him, after receiving information of the involvement of an ambulance driver attached to the Kandy General Hospital in the racket, he had visited the Matale Police as the suspect lived there. "Matale Police were reluctant to act on my information. They wanted me to seek the assistance of the ASP in charge of the area," the MP said.
Referring to the recent admission by Police Chief Jayantha Wickremaratne that the public had lost confidence in the police, particularly its emergency services due to the lethargic attitude, the MP said that subsequently, on the ASP’s intervention, Matale police had searched the suspect’s home before declaring that there was nothing suspicious, the MP said. The MP who had accompanied the police, joined the search and quickly founds two bags full of pieces of blood transfusion kits. The recovery was made in the presence of the suspect’s son. Subsequently, the suspect had surrendered to Matale police and was remanded after being produced before a Magistrate.
The MP said that he had also received information to the effect that outdated kits were kept at the blood crosschecking lab of the Kandy General Hospital. "But I was unable to check the lab, as its keys were with a labourer as claimed by the Senior Medical Laboratory Technician," he said.
He said that outdated blood transfusion kits had been used on both donors and patients at many hospitals, including Kandy General, National Blood Centre, National Hospital, Anuradhapura and Kamburugamuwa in the Matara district.
A senior health ministry official said that Jayawardena shouldn’t seek political mileage by targeting the minister. Fielding questions, he said, he accused the National Blood Centre bosses of misleading the minister when the print and electronic media revealed the use of outdated kits. He said that the Bribery Commission had initiated an investigation while the Auditor General too, was conducting inquiries.
Both Jayawardena and the official admitted that the crux of the issue was the acquisition of a large stock of blood transfusion kits, which were just ten months short of being outdated. They said that the ministry could order stocks with a three year life time. The MP said that the ministry, after ordering an old stock which would have financially benefited the powers that be, had distributed them to hospitals.

Nation must be grateful to war heroes – Weerawansa

Leader of the National Freedom Front Wimal Weerawansa said the nation must express its gratitude to the war heroes who were making sacrifices on the warfront for the sake of their country.

"We must not forget that the troops that liberated Mavil Aru, the East, have now entered a decisive phase in their fight against the LTTE terrorism. At this crucial stage we must extend all our support and assistance to boost their moral and we must sink our political differences for that purpose," said Weerawansa on Saturday. He was addressing a special ceremony held at the Army’s 563 Brigade Headquarters in Vavuniya.

"All patriots are duty bound to look after the needs of the war heroes and their family members. The MMM has taken the lead to mobilize public support for the armed forces and the country’s war effort. The MMM, which operates to look after the welfare of family members of the security forces, launched Jayodaye Ranagosha campaign from the Kelaniya Temple and proceeded up to the Dalada Maligawa. We saw how enthusiastically the public took part in it. We collected a great deal of materials to be distributed among armed forces," he said.

Speaking on the occasion, convener of the MMM eminent lawyer S.L. Gunasekera said the on-going military campaign against the LTTE could be considered the biggest ever development project ,as without eliminating terrorism, the country could not develop.

Ven Bengamuwe Nalaka Thera said the MMM had been able to awaken the nation with the Jayodaye Ranagosha campaign. All the patriots wanted to help the armed forces and the police but there had been no mass organisation to coordinate the nation’s effort to crush terrorism and help the valiant personnel engaged in battle. MMM had filled that void, he said.

The MMM visited 563 Brigade Headquarters, 21 Brigade Headquarters in Neriyakulam and handed over stocks of dry rations and clothes to be given to the displaced persons coming from the LTTE areas.

Ven Kotapola Mangala Thera, veteran artistes Cyril Wickramage, Buddhadasa Withanarachchi, Col Anil Amarasekera, Prof Upali Marasinghe, NFF MPs Achala Jagoda and Mohammed Musammil were also present.

India to launch Bio –Tea project, but long after Sri Lanka

Asia Siyaka research report quoting Reuters said India, with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) a UN based body will launch Bio Tea production this month. Estimated funding is forecast at $1.6 million.

In local tea circles this is not sensational news because Stassens, the reputed Tea exporter and producer had already launched bio- tea production some ten years ago (On at least two of their holdings) and have now stabilized their markets.

India having entered bio –tea production could have significant repercussions in niche markets that absorb bio – tea.

Naturally this will not happen tomorrow or the day after.

Experts have commented, bio tea production is not a traditional process and needs specific cultural practices. Needless to say benefits of bio tea are substantial and in monetary returns not inconsiderable. Having said that tea circles here need take note that the competition is alive and kicking.

It is reported India would evolve a package of farm practices which will conform to organic tea cultivation. Hundred hectares each have been allocated to three Estates. Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal in Darjeeling, and in Upper Assam. Tea usually takes approximately three years to be productive, and viably so few years more. All in all India would not be a threat at this point of time, but the Tea Board here needs take note now to ready itself for competition that would unavoidably ensue.


Tea auctions last week went through buoyancy in market conditions. All elevations recorded upward price movement and gross sales average reflected Rs.330.14 per kilo effective sale details 10th September.

Brokers said low growns, specifically small holders, and Private Tea factory owners, reaped in good profits. Tea small holders were selling green leaf at approximately Rs.60. per kilo leaving them good profit margins. Tea small holders command quite some respect because they are, arguably, driving the industry. Small holder production is presently at 65%.

Meanwhile Pakistan continues to support Kenyan tea. Pakistan was a major buyer of Ceylons, Their present buying total of Ceylon tea is miniscule is 0.94 %.Kenyan sales to Pakistan is 56.36 %. or 38.2 million kilos.

Teas on sale this week too would reflect tail end of Uva quality. However last week Uvas fared well. realizing prices in excess of Rs. 1000. per kilo.A new entrant to the top seller list was Adawatta, in the lower reaches of Lunugala reputedly a good Uva quality producer. Adawatta sold BOP1 for Rs. 1240. per kilo. Aislaby and Bombagalla continued to maintain their top slot standing and also sold above the Rs.1000. per kilo mark.

Other selling marks that did well were Madulkelle, on the out skirts of the Hunasgiriya Range, bordering Kandy, Carolina in the Watawala basin, Duckwari in Rangala, and Delta in Pussellawa, were also best sellers.

Clearing and forwarding agents want ombudsman scheme, commission

Rampant allegations of bribery in the ports have prompted the Association of Clearing and Forwarding Agents (ACFA) to call for the establishment of an ombudsman scheme.

"The president who is the Minister of Finance should appoint an ombudsman who will act independently and impartially to promote integrity in the trade and port which will facilitate the clearance of goods without hindrance," the association said in a statement.

ACFA says that the ombudsman scheme should be a temporary measure until the formulation of a permanent committee to handle allegations of bribery.

ACFA suggests that this committee should formulate an integrity programme and set standards for the wharf business, customs and other government agents involved in the clearance trade.

"An ombudsman scheme will no doubt help but one person would not be able to handle the situation the clearing trade is in; a committee of several people will be required," an official of ACFA said.
"The whole industry knows that bribes are taken and that bribes are being given. But the problem is, how do we get out of it? There has to be complete overhaul in values and attitudes and authorities must engage preventive and control mechanisms to the entire process," he said.


"For about eight months we tried to carry out our dealings with Customs without having to pay bribes to get our goods cleared. But we could not continue to do so any longer.

"It became increasingly difficult for us to clear goods on time and had to pay arbitrary duties which made our products more expensive than our competitors," he told us.

Customs is made up of several divisions and when an agent finds fault with a certain consignment it is referred to the appropriate division. If this division cannot make a ruling it is passed on to another division resulting in delays.

It is somewhere at this point that an agent intervenes and agrees to expedite the clearance of the consignment, for a small under-the-table-fee of course.

The Director General of Customs, Sarath Jayatillake, said that it was a big problem.

While acknowledging the fact that some custom officials were involved in colluding with errant importers to clear undervalued goods, Jayatillake said that it was probably the wharf clerks who solicited bribes to expedite the clearance process.

The ACFA official says that wharf agents comprise of individual licensees appointed by Customs and employers of clearing companies.

"There are honorable agents in the customs houses (the term for private sector clearing and forwarding companies) and customs department and Jayatillake should use his authority to set up a committee to look into these allegations so that the integrity of the profession can be upheld," he said.

He said that ACFA would lobby for the establishment of a committee or ombudsman scheme and give their suggestions when they meet with Jayatillake next month.

Kiran wins Presidential Export award in ship repairing sector

Colombo Engineering Enterprises, the leading ship repairing company in Sri Lanka won the Presidential Export Award 1’08 in the ship repairing sector for the second consecutive year, recently.

Having earned a name as the "Model of efficiency" in Shipping, Colombo Engineering enterprises has won twenty two awards to-date for its’ off shores service in the International shipping industry. The Chairman of Colombo Engineering Enterprises is Kiran Attapattu.

In total, the company has won seven Entrepreneurship awards, four Exporter of the year awards, eight National Business awards and one achiever to Industrial Excellence National awards and two Presidential awards.

Its success is largely due to the introduction of state of the art International quality ship repairing technology to the International Shipping sector.

Third edition of ‘SLMA Guidelines on Vaccines' launched in Sri Lanka

An updated edition of the Sri Lanka Medical Association's (SLMA's) 'Guidelines and Information on Vaccines' has been published and launched in Colombo recently. It is to be distributed to medical practitioners across the country.
The third book in this series, the 141-page publication is an expanded and revised version which covers 22 vaccines, topics relevant to immunization and contains several valuable annexes.
The 30 chapters of the book are written by 17 specialists from the private sector, universities and the government sector including six from the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health.

Sri Lanka Marxists urge the government to remove the ministerial post of Nation Building Minister

Sri Lanka's Marxist party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today urged the President to remove the Nation Building Minister Rohitha Abeygunawarana from his post for bribery and corruption allegations against him.
In a special letter to the President, parliamentary group leader of the JVP, Anura Kumara Dissanayake today suggested to remove the ministerial post of the Kalutara District parliamentarian at least until the end of his investigations.
Bribery allegations against the government ministers are a serious situation, MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake pointed out.
The Minister was reportedly questioned by the CID on bribery and corruption allegations last week.

Two Tamils reported missing in Kaththaankudi

Two Tamil youths of Aaraiyampathi were abducted by unidentified armed men who arrived in a white van on September 18, according to complaints lodged with the Kaaththaankudi Police and the Batticaloa regional office of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL).

Yoganathan Suresh, 16, of Navaratnam Street, Aaraiyampathi and Gansehamudaliyar Uhanthan, 22, of Aaraiyampathi East were abducted when they went to Paalamunai Muslim area to sell goats.

Tension escalated between the two communities following the abduction, and Kaaththaankudi Police took immediate steps to diffuse the tension.

The Police have appealed to the public through public address system from mosques in the area to give information about the missing Tamils to prevent further tension between communities, sources said.

Sri Lanka cable firm to start copper rod plant

Sri Lankan electric cable manufacturer ACL Cables said it plans to set up a copper rod making plant for its own requirements as well as export as part of its backward integration efforts.
This copper plant is the natural sequence to our development process as we are a big importer of this product," Suren Madanayake, managing director of ACL Cables, said in a statement.
The factory will produce almost double the requirement of ACL Cables and the firm plans to export a large quantity of copper rods to the region.
The statement said the new venture for the manufacture of copper rods should improve ACL's competitiveness and quality standards, since the company will have access to "the purest and finest quality copper".
ACL Cables, which claims a 45 percent share of Sri Lanka's cable market, has four factories in the country manufacturing cables, conductors and enameled wire, and employs over 500 people.
It also exports to India, Australia, the Maldives, Bangladesh and African countries and is seeking new markets, the statement said.
The firm has been grappling with high costs and its group net profits fell sharply to 294 million rupees in the financial year ending March 31, 2008 while sales rose to 8.8 billion rupees.
It has attributed the downturn to high metal prices and lower margins on exports which make up 30 percent of group sales. Also, finance costs almost doubled last year.
The statement said ACL has already completed two backward integration projects.
It set up its own PVC compounding plant in 1993 which helped the company not only to improve the quality of regular compounds imported but also to develop new products such as fire rated compounds and water resistant compounds.
In 2007 ACL started its own rod plant to get various grades of aluminum rods to suit the needs of the local market.
Madanayake said the 2008 Asia Pacific Quality Award ACL Cables won recently should help it boost exports.
"This can only help us to forge ahead to develop other markets across the region and the globe for our products."

2000 Mini Coop cities to commence next Sinhala New Year-Minister Bandula

Minister of Trade, Marketing Development, Co-operatives and Consumer Service Bandula Gunewardene said 2000 Mini Coop cities will be opened soon.
There are 300 Mini Coop Cities island wide up to now.

Minister was confident that 2000 Mini Coop cities would commence in April 2009.

He further added that a new pension scheme is due to be initiated for the benefit of the 60, 000 Co-operative workers and it include transfers, annual leave and other benefits.

SL movie disturbs Canada's Tiger agents

Canada's Tiger agents have requested police permission to stage a protest demonstration against the screening of the Sri Lankan-made movie 'Prabhakaran' that exposes the tragedy of LTTE child soldiers. The film was screened at the Scarborough Cinema hall which comes under the jurisdiction of the Toronto Police.
This is a most opportune moment for all anti-LTTE Sri Lankan expatriates there to draw the attention of Canadians to the evil nature of the Tigers.

President in New York Buddhist Temple

President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited to Buddhist Temple in New York yesterday evening. Chief Incumbent of Temple Ven.Walpola Piyananda Thero, Minsiter Nimal Siripala De Silva, Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, UN Ambassador H.M.G.S.Palihakkara, Sri Lankan Ambassador of US Jaliya Wickremesooriya and other Sri Lankans were also present.

Police search for English tutor who swindled money

Police have launched a search for English tutor, Sakvithi Ranasinghe turned businessman who has swindled an estimated Rs. 5,000 million from the public, police said.

A large number of persons turned up at the Mirihana police station who had been affected to lodge their complaints today.

He had promised high interest rate returns for persons who deposited money with him, but had failed to pay back.

So far more than 5,000 complaints have been received against him.

SC bars imposition of Environment tax

The Supreme Court issued an interim order today barring the imposition of the Environment tax after hearing a fundamental rights application.

EPF employer contribution to be increased to 14%

The contribution to the Employment Provident Fund by the employer will be increased by 2% to further strengthen Sri Lanka’s biggest public fund for the benefit of the country, employer and the employee, Labour Relations and Manpower Minister Athauda Seneviratna said.

Inform relatives on arrests - SC

The Supreme Court today ordered that when a person is taken into police custody their relatives should be informed and a receipt of arrest issued.

Trade Union action against non-payment of allowance for SLTB employees

All Ceylon Transport Workers Union (ACTWU) in a letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa says that it has come to the end of its patience and will resort to indefinite trade union action as the government continues to ignore the payment of Cost of Living Allowance to SLTB employees which now stands at Rs. 20,000 per member.

EU wants Sri Lanka to safeguard civilians

EU Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Louis Michel expressed his grave concern over the escalation of the conflict in Sri Lanka and the effects on innocent civilians. “I’m deeply troubled by the escalation of the violence in Sri Lanka and the terrible impact it is having on the lives of so many innocent civilians,” he said in a statement. Michel said the situation is made all the worse because international relief efforts are having to be suspended because the safety of humanitarian workers cannot be ensured. “I would remind all sides to fully respect international humanitarian law,” he stressed.

Following the government of Sri Lanka’s request for UN and international organisations to withdraw from the conflict area, many thousands of innocent civilians trapped by the conflict will lose access to essential humanitarian supplies, noted the statement. In addition, these people are currently unable to leave the conflict area because of restrictions imposed by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and lack of secure escape routes to safer areas. He called on both sides to guarantee the safe transit of humanitarian convoys with food, medical and other essential supplies to people in need.

OPEN LETTER FROM BENITA FERRERO-WALDNER

Benita Ferrero-Waldner is European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy said in her open letter to media in Sri Lanka and explained recent critisisam about personal attacks against the Commission’s former Head of Delegation in Colombo, Ambassador Julian Wilson.
She said local media has published a number of articles about this matter and critisised Mre.Julian Wilson .She said these articles have revealed some fundamental misunderstandings about the relations between Sri Lanka and the European Union (EU) and European Commission and I feel the need to put the record straight.

"Let us look at the facts. We have long been a partner of Sri Lanka with our cooperation dating back to 1975 when external trade and development cooperation of the then nine-country European Economic Community (EC) was in its early days. Now the EU has 27 Member States, a population of close to 500 million people, and is a political community of values based on peace and freedom, democracy and the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities. It is the world's largest economic zone, it also spends around 10 billion Euros a year in development assistance projects in all five continents, and has extensive relations with countries throughout the world, based firmly on partnership. With Sri Lanka, we have a “Co-operation and Partnership Agreement” from 1995 signed by the Government of Sri Lanka and the European Community. The first article states that “cooperation ties between the Community and Sri Lanka and this Agreement in its entirety are based on respect for democratic principles and human rights which inspire the domestic and external polices of both the Community and Sri Lanka'she explained.
She said the EU has been accused of having an anti-Sri Lanka agenda. This is nonsense. If the EU has an agenda for Sri Lanka, which is shared by the Co-Chairs of the Sri Lanka peace process, it is that it wishes to see the country reach a peaceful settlement which benefits all the people of Sri Lanka and sets the basis for peaceful and prosperous development for its people. It is in that spirit that we have on several occasions sincerely urged all parties to put an end to violence and to return to the negotiation table, and urged the finalisation of a politically sustainable devolution plan. We are not trying to impose anything on Sri Lanka, not least because we believe for a peaceful settlement to work it has to be home-grown and owned by all Sri Lankans.

The European Commission is not a supporter of the LTTE and condemns all forms of terrorism. In 2006, as is well known in Sri Lanka, the European Union listed the LTTE as a terrorist organisation. The decision was based on the actions of that organisation, and came after several warnings to the LTTE which were systematically ignored. It was also made clear that the decision was directed against the LTTE but not against the Tamil people. Since then, there have been a number of criminal prosecutions in EU member states against LTTE fund raising in Europe. I would thus ask those who seek to accuse any officials of the European Commission of sympathy with the LTTE or any other terrorist organisation to think carefully before making any allegations in future. Such unfounded allegations are not acceptable. They are an insult not only to those named but to all Commission staff, men and women who have chosen to work to spread the values which have created today’s European Union. Julian Wilson is one of those people. If we are vocal, as he was, in expressing our concern at the situation in the country and about human rights and humanitarian issues, it is because these values have always been at the heart of the European Union and indeed our partnership with Sri Lanka. Since 2004, the Commission has provided over € 150 million (over 20 billion LKR) of humanitarian and reconstruction assistance. We provided support after the Tsunami, which came not only from the EU and its member countries, but also from thousands of ordinary European citizens who sympathised with the plight of those affected by the Tsunami. The primary focus of the Commission's humanitarian assistance is to help innocent civilians according to need. We are concerned about the situation today in Sri Lanka. This led my colleague Commissioner Louis Michel, in charge of humanitarian aid, to issue a statement on 15 September expressing concern and calling on all sides to fully respect international humanitarian law.

Let me turn to the subject of GSP+ (the special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance, known as "GSP+" which provides additional benefits for countries implementing certain international standards in human and labour rights, environmental protection, and good governance) on which there has been much speculation in Sri Lanka recently. We do not want Sri Lanka to lose GSP+, which has achieved its objectives in Sri Lanka and now benefits the country massively, with expanded trade with the EU and thousands of jobs. This is exactly why it was created. Which other partners offer Sri Lanka such generous market access? GSP+ is based on clear criteria set out in an EU law, developed to meet the legal requirements foreseen by the WTO. Beneficiary countries made a commitment to respect the principal requirement which is the ratification, incorporation and effective implementation of 27 international conventions specified in the GSP Regulation. If a country which benefits from GSP+ does not ensure compliance with these UN Conventions, it is perfectly normal that the eligibility be called into question. But with Sri Lanka, unfortunately, we have seen many reports and statements from United Nations sources as well as other publicly available information which we cannot ignore. I sincerely hope that Sri Lanka can maintain this important market access preference.

In conclusion, we already have a long relationship behind us and I hope a long and fruitful one ahead. Part of any long-term relationship is the need to be frank and open and I believe it is only through such dialogue that we can move forward. I hope my comments will be taken as they are offered; in the spirit of partnership and friendship with Sri Lanka.

EU celebrates International Children's Day

On occasion of International Children’s Day (1 October), the Gods Own Children Foundation with the support of the European Union has the pleasure of inviting the general public & the press to a Disadvantaged Children’s Art Exhibition themed “Needs of Children & Adults in Jaffna”.

The exhibition will be held on 30 September 2008 (9.00am – 8.00pm) & 1 October 2008 (9.00am – 1.00pm), at the St. Paul’s Milagiriya Church Hall, Colombo 4. Entrance to the exhibition will be free.

The drawings of differently-abled children studying at special needs schools in Jaffna operated by Gods Own Children Foundation will be on display. The artwork will be auctioned to the highest bidder in order to raise funds towards establishing a resource centre for the children.

Gods Own Children Foundation is a non profit organisation currently operating three non-fee levying Special Needs Schools in the areas of Ariyalai, Point Pedro and Siththankerny in the Jaffna Peninsula for over 350 children. The Schools accommodate 2 – 16 year old children with physical disabilities as well as children with learning disabilities.

An exhibition was also held in Jaffna on 7 & 8 September 2008 at the Ilam Kalaignar Mandram Hall in Nallur, Jaffna. The exhibition was a great success with an estimated crowd of 5000 attending.

LTTE receives heavy beating; 36 terrorists killed, 7 terror bodies uncovered - Kilinochchi

It is confirmed through intercepted LTTE communication channels that at least 36 LTTE terrorists were killed, injuring 18 others during fierce gun battles ensued between security forces and LTTE in the Kilinochchi front yesterday, 21 September.

Troops of 57 Division had confronted with LTTE terrorists, West of Akkarayankulam, East of Akkarayankulam, South of Kokavil and West of Mankulam areas through out the day (21 September), defence sources said.

Seven bodies of LTTE cadres killed in these confrontations were uncovered along with few other military hardware, in subsequent search operations conducted in these areas. One MPMG weapon, one RPG weapon, two LMG weapons, five T-56 assault rifles, one communication equipment and one hand grenade were also among the items found, defence sources added.

Seven army soldiers laid their lives for defending the motherland while 24 others sustained injuries during these confrontations, the reports added.

LTTE Provincial Leader Muttu among Dead

VAVUNIYA: VALIANT GROUND troops fighting bitter battles in the WANNI sector continued their advance further into Tiger-held areas for another day on Sunday (21) inflicting more and more losses to the world’s most ruthless terrorist outfit.

A round of confrontation in the east of NAVVI, VAVUNIYA around 3.45 p.m. on Sunday (21) saw troops killing LTTE provincial leader, MUTTU and ten more fellow-terrorists after the troops resisted their firepower. In the same manner, troops fought it out with terrorists in PALAMUNAI and KAMBAKULAM areas in the north of VAVUNIYA between 12.00 noon and 6.30 p.m. At least four terrorists were felled by valiant troops who later found three hand grenades and one pouch. The fighting in KAMBAKULAM caused injuries to one soldier.

Sri Lanka Police arrest youth with military and intelligence training

Police have arrested 22 Tamil men suspected of having connections to the LTTE from Nuwara Eliya in the central Sri Lanka. The men reportedly have received training on military activities and military intelligence from the LTTE.

According to Police sources, following the training the men have obtained employment in the area as lorry cleaners and estate sector laborers. They were to be used in a timely manner to start insurgent activities in the Central Province of Sri Lanka.

Police are continuing further investigations.

JVP opposes Tamil registration

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna has protested the government's order for the people from the north to register in centres set up in Colombo and suburbs, BBC Sandeshaya reports. Police have ordered all those who have fled the war-torn north for Colombo in the last five years to attend special registration centres.

It comes after a statement by Defence Secretary Gotabhaya that the LTTE was using the influx of people to infiltrate the south and plant bombs.

BBC Sandeshaya quoted JVP Propaganda Secretary Vijitha Herath as having said the government should not push Tamils towards the LTTE by deliberately targeting them in Colombo.

The party said it supported a systematic approach through government officials to collect data on migrants in Colombo.

But, it is wrong for police to deliberately target Tamils, the JVP propaganda secretary added.

"The constitutional right of the people to live anywhere they wish is not protected by using the police to forcefully register these people," he has said.

Civilian shot dead in Jaffna

Unidentified gunmen shot and killed a 25-year-old man Sunday afternoon in Chu'ndikkuzhi near Jaffna secretariat .

The victim has been identified as Tharmalingam Kumararasa, 25, a resident of Allaarai, Chaavakachcheari in Thenmaraadchi based on the information on the Identity Card (IC) recovered from the victim, Police said.

Meanwhile, no one has come forward to claim the body of the victim till Sunday night.

The body recovered by Jaffna police has been transported to Jaffna Teaching hospital for postmortem examinations.

THE WAR AND INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY

by Jehan Perera

There has been a tacit international acceptance of the government’s security measures for the north, which have included the request to international humanitarian organizations to withdraw from the battle zones of the north. Underlying this acceptance is the recognition that international organizations require governmental consent for their presence in Sri Lanka. This has been the explicit position of the UN agencies. The UN agencies in particular appear to feel especially obliged to conform to the will of the government, as they are inter-governmental bodies in which Sri Lanka has a sovereign vote. But even other international organizations are cognizant that their work visas are dependent on governmental approval.

The withdrawal of the international humanitarian organisations from the battle zones of the north despite protests by the affected people is indicative of the deference that is being given to the Sri Lankan government by the international community. In addition, the present government has shown itself to be more determined to resist international pressures than any previous government. Even the government headed by President Ranasinghe Premadasa, which did not hesitate to expel a British High Commissioner for complaining about electoral malpractices, gave in to international pressure on human rights issues. It accepted a long list of conditions given by Amnesty International that sought to remedy the human rights excesses of the period of terror in the context of the JVP insurrection.

The present government, however, has successfully resisted pressures from human rights organisations such as Amnesty International and has taken the loss of its seat in the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations with defiance. It appears that the government is similarly prepared to face the prospect of the threatened EU withdrawal of the GSP+ tariff concession that advantages Sri Lankan exports to the large European market. The government has taken several legal measures, including passing new legislation to incorporate international human rights agreements into national law. But it appears unyielding on the issue of the war and the humanitarian and human rights challenges that have arisen from it.

Behind the government's preparedness to justify its human rights performance without substantially changing the human rights situation on the ground is its overriding purpose of defeating the LTTE in battle and eliminating as many of its cadre as possible. As a former human rights defender himself, President Mahinda Rajapaksa would be well aware of international human rights standards and the workings of the international human rights community. The insights of the past and the manner of the final crushing of the JVP's armed insurrection may be determining factors in the government's conduct today.


GLOBAL WAR

The government has a further advantage that it is utilising in its effort to crush the LTTE. This is the dramatically changed international climate that prevails today in the aftermath of the US-led global war against terrorism. The world may be multi polar when it comes to economic and cultural issues. But the world continues to be uni polar on military and political issues with the United States being the sole superpower. The manner in which many countries led by the United States recognised the breakaway state of Kosovo, but in which none so far except for Russia has recognised the breakaway units of Georgia is evidence for this US dominance.

Today it can be seen that the LTTE is being weakened internationally with most countries pursuing and arresting its fund raisers and arms purchasers. It can also be seen that the world's big powers are giving tangible military assistance and intelligence from spy satellites to hasten the military defeat of the LTTE. The line up that militarily supports the government is formidable and includes China, Pakistan, India, Iran and the United States, though not necessarily in that order. This international support from the big powers that count appears to be an important factor behind the government's confidence that it can defeat the LTTE without being excessively cautious about human rights issues.

There is also likely to be another factor at play in the relative pliant international stance in the face of the government’s military programme in the north. This is the breakdown in faith in the ability of the peace process to yield a sustainable solution through negotiations between the government and LTTE. The spirit of optimism about the willingness of the LTTE to enter a process that had a united Sri Lanka, democracy and decommissioning of weapons as its goals that prevailed in the period 2002-04 suffered a severe blow in the period after 2005. The manner in which the LTTE disrupted the Presidential election in that year, and virtually goaded the new president to war, is an indelible memory, though it may be more pronounced in the national community than in the international one.

But the price of this international withdrawal is high, especially to the people in the battle zones of the north. A recent visit by a group of civil society organizations to Vavuniya in the north has revealed that the people feel abandoned and left to their fates in the midst of a raging war. The notion of military victory at any cost has gained ground, not only within the government but also within the larger polity. Opposition parties are prepared to organize mass demonstrations and take the government to court because it has not reduced the price of petroleum products in keeping with falling world prices. But they are not engaging in similar exertions in regard to the humanitarian crisis in the north and meeting the needs of those people.


UNPOPULAR CAUSE

It is unfortunate that the present humanitarian crisis in the north should coincide with the more long term decision of several European countries with a long track record of supporting human rights throughout the world to withdraw from Sri Lanka. European countries which have supported Sri Lanka's economic and human development for several decades have decided to withdraw from Sri Lanka and focus their attention on other parts of the world. They need to reconsider their decision to withdraw, and give greater importance to the principle of solidarity especially at this critical time.

One stated reason for the donor departure is that Sri Lanka has graduated to being a middle income country by international standards and there are countries that are more desperately in need of their support than Sri Lanka. But solidarity also means not giving up on those who have been partners, until they have come out of their problems. The decision to withdraw is doubly unfortunate in that the end of the current phase of intense fighting is likely to see new opportunities for humanitarian and reconciliation work. It is unlikely that either the government or LTTE can sustain the present high level of fighting, casualties and costs.

The major battles that will decide the outcome of the current phase of military confrontation are now taking place. The advantage appears to be with the government. There is a possibility of a change in the character of military engagement from full scale conventional warfare to guerilla and terrorist warfare. Soon there will be a need to rehabilitate and resettle the civilian population and make fresh efforts to conclude the war with a political solution.

At this time virtually the entirety of political society supportive of the present military campaign, and mostly silent about a political solution. The forces of ethnic nationalism are dominant, and leave little space for those who articulate the need for a non military solution. There is a need to for the international community to be present in Sri Lanka and to keep voicing the need for a non military solution that upholds human rights and the rights of ethnic minorities and supporting those who do.

August tourist arrivals fall 31.4 pct yr/yr

Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka fell 31.4 percent in August from a year earlier, the Indian Ocean island nation's tourism board said on Monday.
Arrivals in August fell to 30,672 and totalled 288,017 in the first eight months of 2008, down 8.2 percent from a year ago, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority said.
Tourism is one of Sri Lanka's main sources of foreign exchange, along with garments, remittances and tea.
Central bank data showed tourism brought the island $200.7 million in revenue in the first seven months of the year, 4.3 percent less than last year's $209.8 million in the same period.
Last month, tourism board Chairman Renton de Alwis told Reuters that Sri Lanka would not reach its revenue and visitor targets this year due to intensified fighting between the military and the Tamil Tiger rebels in the north.
The tourism authority had set a target of $550 million in revenue and 600,000 foreign visitors this year.
Although most popular tourist destinations are far from the conflict zone, sporadic bomb blasts in and around the capital, Colombo, have dampened arrivals.
A number of foreign embassies have advised their citizens to avoid northern Sri Lanka because of increased violence in a 25-year civil war that has killed more than 70,000 people since 1983 and over 9,000 since late 2006.

Netherlands Ambassador pays courtesy call to Secretary Defence

The Netherlands Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Her Excellency Mrs. Leoni Cuelenaere paid a courtesy call to Secretary Defence Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Monday (Sep 22) at the Ministry of Defence, Colombo.
A brief discussion was held between the two officials, concerning matters with bilateral interests.

Protest against President’s UN visit

A pro LTTE lobby has organized a protest rally opposite the UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday against the visit of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The organizers have sent emails seeking support for the protest.

Dental Conference 2010

In connection with the Asia Pacific Regional Dental Associations Conference 2010, to be held in Sri Lanka, a MoU was signed between Dr. Edric Vonsa of Thailand, the president of the Asia Pacific Regional Dental Surgeons’ Association and Dr. Upul B. Dissanayake, president of the Lanka Dental Surgeons’ Association.
Prof Prasad Amarasinghe, Dr. Oliver Silva the secretary of the Regional Association and Dr. Suresh Shanmuganathan the secretary of the Sri Lanka Dental Surgeons’ Association, were also present as attesting witnesses.

No reports on Wanni food shortage -ICRC

The International Red Cross in Colombo (ICRC) says there have not been any reports on food supply shortages in the Wanni where fighting has intensified between government security forces and the Tamil Tigers.
“The food supplies are there and we are constantly monitoring the situation” said Alexandra Matijevic spokesperson of the ICRC.
However, she cautioned that health of the displaced could be a concern with the on-coming monsoon rains.
Matijevic said that the ICRC has taken care of about 84,000 displaced persons in the areas affected by the recent fighting.
“We have been supplying them with water, food and other essential supplies”, Matijevic said.
Speaking on relief operations Alexandra Matijevic said, “The security of civilians and ICRC staff is a concern as the situation is extremely volatile in the Wanni“
She further added that the ICRC gets security guarantees on a day to day basis from government security forces as well as the Tamil Tigers and plans out relief work accordingly.

Public holiday on Thursday in honour of the late President

Thursday has been declared a public holiday for the Central Province in honour of the Late President D.B. Wijetunge who passed away at the ICU of the Kandy General Hospital yesterday morning, the Central Provincial Council said.
The State funeral is to take place on Thursday afternoon at the Getambe Municipal Grounds.
The venue and funeral arrangements were decided by the Public Administration Minister Karu Jayasuriya, Central Province Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa, the CPC Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake, MPs Abdul Cader and Lucky Jayawardene.
On Thursday morning President Wijetunge’s body would be flown to parliament and then brought back in the afternoon to Getambe for the cremation. Till such time the body is flown to parliament it would lie-in-state at his private residence in Pilimatalawa.
The late President was instrumental in setting up the Regional Broadcasting Services in the country when he was the Post, Information and Broadcasting Minister in the JR Government and his desire to set up the first station in Kandy as the Udarata Sevaya, ran into difficulties due to the lack of a suitable place for it. Subsequently the station was opened in Ruhuna.
The late President was ailing for sometime and always admitted himself to the Government Hospital whenever he fell sick. It was an example in simple and humble mode of living worthy of emulation.
His political career was based on the experience gained as Late Minister A. Ratnayake’s secretary. Since then political career as a parliamentarian, Minister and President brought him many plaudits.
In one of his speeches he is known to have said that the LTTE were terrorists and that there should be no compromise when dealing with it.
The late President was the first Governor of the North Western Province in 1987, when the Provincial Council system came into operation.
During his retirement, he always helped people from whatever strata they came from or irrespective of their political leanings.
The last time he was seen in public was at the launching of his Biography and lived a secluded life due to his failing state of health. He leaves behind his daughter.

Sakvithi evaporates with five billion rupees in Sri Lanka

Sakvithi Ranasinghe, the famous tuition master and much talked of creditor who provided lavish interest to investors through his unregistered finance company, has reportedly evaporated with around Rs. 5 billion invested by thousands of Sri Lankans seeking quick bucks.
The tuition master ran a massive advertising campaign in popular media and had headquarters in Nugegoda which have now been closed.
Mirihana police are conducting an investigation aiming to arrest him and believe that the suspect has left the country with his family.
Ranasinghe, who appeared under a false identity, is one of the racketeers who run illegal financial companies providing unbelievable profits to investors in the current context of inflation in Sri Lanka.

SL Police detain 10 civilians in Batticaloa after slaying of TMVP operativ

e
Sri Lankan forces and TMVP paramilitary men on Saturday detained 10 Tamil civilians in a cordon and search operation jointly conducted by them in Tha'lavaay area, after a TMVP operative was slain Friday night at the office of TMVP at Tha'lavaay.
40 Tamils were initially taken for inquiries and 30 of them were released while the rest were being detained at Ea'raavoor police. Those in police custody will be produced before Batticaloa courts, legal sources said.

The TMVP is aligned with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) while the Sri Lankan forces operate its armed men as paramilitary personnel in the East.
Earaavoor is located 16 km north of Batticaloa city.

Airtel accuses Sri Lankan telcos of discrimination

COLOMBO: Indian telecom major Bharti Airtel has charged the mobile operators in Sri Lanka of being discriminatory and trying to block its entry into the Island country.

“Recently, four existing mobile operators of Sri Lanka issued a joint rejoinder to Airtel's plea for fairness in inter connection,” the Indian company said.

Earlier, the operators, while welcoming Airtel to Sri Lanka, also advocated a level-playing field.

“Airtel welcomes their welcoming us and would soon like to see them walking the talk,” the state-run Daily News quoted Bharti Airtel as saying in a statement.

Airtel seeks the very same agenda that has been clearly articulated in the recently issued draft Development Agenda (2006-2016) of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) of Sri Lanka, the statement said.

Promoting competition, improving quality of service, making cellular services more affordable to the rural and urban consumers and discouraging anti-competitive practices are some of the areas TRCSL has proposed to strengthen, Bharti Airtel said.

The Indian mobile giant added that in the same Development Agenda, the TRC has spelt out the issues facing the Telecommunications industry, namely lack of a seamless interconnection regime, lack of effective quality of service management and improve oper ator responsiveness to customer needs.

LTTE gunmen assassinate head priest of Koneshwaram Hindu Temple - Trincomalee

LTTE terrorists gunned down head priest of the Knoeshwaram Hindu Temple, Sivakudaracha Kurukkal Sivakuharaja Kurukkal in Trincomalee this evening (Sept 21). According to the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS), the 43 year old priest was shot down while he was riding a motorbike around 6 PM.

According to the source, the victim was highly respected personality among the Hindu Tamils as well as the other communities living in the area. Also, he was marinating cordial relationships with the law enforcement authorities in the district and had performed a great service in building peace and harmony among the different communities.

Police conduct further investigations.

Air Force launches multiple air raids at terror targets- Kilinochchi

Sri Lanka Air Force carried out 4 air raids targeting terrorist gatherings in the forward area on the Wanni battlefronts during last few hours (Sept 21).

Air Force spokesperson Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara speaking to defence.lk said the first of the air raids was launched by fighter jets at 11 AM targeting a terror gathering detected 5 km north of Nachchikudha. The attack was launched in support of Task Force 1 soldiers operating on the western half of the Kilinochchi front, he added.

The second air strike was also launched by jets around 12 noon targeting terror location identified 3 km North of Akkarayankulam area, said the spokesperson.

He further said, the other raids were launched as close air support missions in support of Army 57 division troops operating in eastern half of the Kilinochchi front. MI 24 helicopters attacked two terror resistance points, one located 1.5 km southwest of Akkarayankulam at 10 AM and the other located 2 km northeast of Akkarayankulam at 1 PM, he added.

According to the battlefield reports, troops of 57 division are currently engaged in a fierce battle against the terrorists in the Kokavil area. Available information reveal over a dozen of LTTE cadres have been killed so far during these clashes.

Eight Terrorists Killed

KILINOCHCHI: TROOPS FIGHTING in northern WANNI area launched one more successful offensive operations against pockets of Tiger terrorists this afternoon (21) killing at least eight Tiger terrorists around 12.00 p.m. to 2.00 p.m. in the general KARAMBAKULAM area according to latest information.

Six Tiger bunkers were razed to the ground and three T-56 weapons along with 32 hand grenades, seven pouches and 15,000 small arms ammunition were recovered during the clashes.

Four soldiers were also reported injured in the incident. Monitored LTTE radio transmission confirmed at least ten more Tiger terrorists sustained fatal injuries in the attack.

Govt. opposes limiting president’s powers

Implementation of the 17th Amendment to the Constitution has met with further setback, following the ruling UPFA’s opposition to limiting the president’s powers to appoint members to independent commissions, ‘Ravaya’ reports.

The PSC, chaired by Minister Dew Gunasekara, had met for the 15th occasion on the 11th of September.

The meeting has ended without agreement, even on the date for the next round of talks, the newspaper said.

When contacted, Minister Gunasekara has told ‘Ravaya’ that 90 per cent of issues have been resolved, but declined to deliberate on the outstanding matters.

However, UNP representative at the PSC, Joseph Michael Perera said his party had proposed curtailing the president’s powers on appointing members to independent commissions on recommendation by the Constitutional Council.

The ruling party is opposing the suggestion, Mr. Perera said, adding that there was no point in the UNP’s participation in committee deliberations any further.

Rat Fever reaches epidemic proportions

Health authorities today warned the public and especially the paddy farmers to be extra vigilant when they attend to their farm work as the Leptospirosis widely known as Rat Fever has developed into epidemic proportions in the country claiming 33 lives in the last three weeks alone.

Two LTTE cadrs shot dead in Pothuvil

Two LTTE cadres were shot dead by the STF in Wadukoddai, Pothuvil today evening, Police said.

They were in possesion of explosives.

Sounds firing around Colombo harbor due to Navy rehearsal: Police

The sounds of firing reported around the Colombo harbour are from a rehearsal by the Navy, the Harbour Police said.

The sounds of firing were heard from 8.00 a.m to 8.30 am.

Canadian government biased on ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka

By Satheesan Kumaaran


Canadian government biased towards ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka
Canada is home to 400,000 ethnic Tamils subsequent to their fleeing for safety when the Sri Lankan state failed to address their grievances and protect them. Canada has chosen to remain a spectator while the relatives and friends of the 400,000 Canadian Tamils in Sri Lanka seek international intervention with the view to justice for the atrocities inflicted upon the people in the North and East of Sri Lanka by the Sri Lankan Government (GoSL).
Since his election of in 2005, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has continued to emit venomous war cries against Tamils in Sri Lanka and orders his armed forces to invade Tamil villages, towns and cities and causing heavy casualties both in humans and property. The GoSL reports to the Canadian government that the Tamils are terrorists in order to justify its war against the Tamil people. Far from being concerned about the GoSL’s actions against these so-called terrorists, the Canadian government turns a blind eye towards the ethnic conflict. Canadian foreign ministry officials serve without much interaction with Canadian or Sri Lankan Tamils.
Canada’s government needs to find out the real story about what’s going on in Sri Lanka. Canada needs to send a high-level delegation to Sri Lanka’s north and east to observe the situation on the ground and hear from the Tamils living there before making foreign policy decisions about how to respond to Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict.
Tamils in the Vanni (de facto state under LTTE control) for example are in grave danger as Sri Lankan armed forces advance on them with the belief that they could capture Vanni from the LTTE as they have done with other areas in the East and elsewhere. Military overtures will not solve the problem. Rather, both parties need to enter into genuine peace talks to reach a permanent solution to the conflict allowing the Tamils to live in freedom with peace and justice.
Canadian Tamils’ concern
Tamils living in Canada have continually raised their concerns to the government as their Sri Lankan brethren suffer great difficulties during the civil war between the Sri Lankan armed forces and the LTTE in the Sri Lanka’s North and East.
Canada’s former Liberal government, despite its disinterested approach towards Sri Lanka’s internal matters, never agitated the LTTE or the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL). The Liberals embraced the Tamils in Canada and sought local Tamil support. This resulted in more than twelve Liberal MPs being elected with the support of Tamils from the Toronto region alone. They did little to assist the Tamils in Sri Lanka, but they did not put pressure on the Tamil community in Canada like the Conservative government led by Prime Minister Stephen Harper has done after coming to power in 2006. He, along with many other Conservatives, has viewed the LTTE as their enemy without even taking the trouble to study the real situation in Sri Lanka and the history of Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict.
Their ignorance towards the violent reprisals of the government against constitutional and peaceful protests by elected Tamil leaders to advocate on the Gandhian mode for Tamil rights to be granted in a quasi-federal model and, consequently, Tamil youth responding by taking up arms against the State to fight for Tamil liberation is an unjust lapse of immense proportion.
In 2002, although the LTTE partially agreed to enter into peace talks on the condition that the GoSL grant Tamils reasonable autonomy, the GoSL led by then President Chandrika Bandaranaike and then by the current President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, rather than accommodating the LTTE declared war against the Tamils with the aim of occupying Tamil areas, causing heavy damages to the lives and property of Tamils in the East, and controlling the LTTE’s stronghold, Vanni, in the North.
All these incidents have raised concerns and frustration among the Diaspora Tamils, most of whom live in Canada. Most Tamils are Canadian citizens and contribute to the Canadian mainstream as peace-loving, polite, hardworking and tax-paying people. Since it came to power, the Conservative government has handled the Sri Lankan Tamil issue quite differently from what the real situation in Sri Lanka warrants. This is despite Canadian Tamils urging their government to step forward to help their brethren living in Sri Lanka by exerting pressure upon the GoSL not to force the LTTE to enter into a conventional war with the Sri Lankan armed forces which would result in heavy casualties among the civilians. The LTTE, on the other hand, maintains their silence, saying that they would want to enter into genuine peace talks with the GoSL in order to find a permanent solution to the ethnic conflict.
The Canadian government’s inaction and apathy could further destabilize the situation in Sri Lanka and result in further casualties and more disaster for the Tamils. The Canadian government’s silence could further encourage the GoSL to proceed with an open war against the Tamil people for their own sinister political motives and to satisfy Sinhalese chauvinism.
The Ground situation in the North
It has to be stated the Canadian High Commission in Colombo has not sent any high-ranking, responsible personnel to Sri Lanka’s North to find out the situation on the ground firsthand thus making it difficult for the Canadian foreign ministry to decide what action it should take towards Sri Lanka.
The recent military operations to capture the Vanni region have caused nearly half a million people to seek temporary shelter from the international aid agencies based in Kilinochchi in the North. In a pre-meditated manner, the Sri Lankan government is trying to eliminate all the avenues of being charged with war crimes, human rights abuses and state terrorism against Tamils exposed by the neutral international human rights organizations and Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) to the international community. These organizations a play critical role in the Vanni region and still provide much needed assistance to the people living in temporary shelters in a very difficult situation.
An outrageous situation has arisen in the Vanni region where the defence secretary of Sri Lanka, and brother of Sri Lanka’s president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, has ordered all the human rights organizations operating in Vanni to dismantle themselves and leave the region to set up shop in a government controlled area. He also barred any rights organizations from going into the rebel control area.
Close to 250,000 displaced Tamil civilians have already moved deeper into the heart of the Kilinochchi area, living in subhuman conditions without food, medicine, clean drinking water and even basic sanitation. Sri Lanka continues to use maximum fire power and indiscriminate attacks on these unarmed people. The U.N. recently called the situation in Vanni grim, and yet pulled all their staff out of the region.
The Canadian government has to change its warped foreign policy towards Sri Lanka and look towards the well-being and democratic rights of close to 500,000 people. If the international community, including Canada, does not step in to help the Tamils on the island, we may see another Rwanda.
When Tamils are dying back home, Canadian Tamils cannot be simply spectators and need to come out in protest against the Canadian government for encouraging the Sri Lankan government in the war against Tamils.
Canada’s local politics
Either Canadian political parties have little knowledge of Sri Lanka or it seems that they do not want to spend time and energy to focus on the conflict in Sri Lanka. Canadian political parties regard Sri Lanka as just a tiny nation in the southern tip of India in the Indian Ocean. By contrast, the U.S. has much interest in Sri Lanka because it is located strategically in the Indian Ocean in the middle of sea-lane allowing world ships to ply between West Asia, South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, Australasia, Europe and the Americas. This sea-lane is critical where the world economy is based on the need of oil which is the main commodity transported through this sea-lane.
However, despite its close relations with the U.S., Canada does not worry about Sri Lanka. The Canadian government sits back without worry for the Canadian oil need, as the American oil companies tie up deals with Canadian firms to bring safe transportation from West Asia and elsewhere. This attitude poses a great danger to Canada because the Canadian government has a great opportunity to stand on its own leg for its own economy rather than relying on its giant neighbour to the south.
Canada is basically a bi-party political power allowing the Liberals and the Conservatives to stay in power while other minor political parties like the NDP and Green Party exist solely as pressure groups in parliament with no clear voice. The Liberals never wanted to alienate immigrants living in Canada so they could win the immigrant community vote. To achieve this they chose to not openly support any side in Sri Lanka’s ethnic issue. The Liberals had better relations with the Tamils in Canada and with Sri Lankan government officials in Ottawa and in Colombo.
When the Conservatives were in the Opposition in parliament during thirteen years of Liberals Party governance, they branded the Liberals as the pro-LTTE party who encouraged terrorism in Sri Lanka. The Conservative Opposition questioned the ruling Liberals about allowing a Liberal cabinet minister to take part in a Tamil fundraising event. The Conservatives asserted that the money raised at this event would be spent on weapons to arm the LTTE in its quest to create a separate Tamil state in Sri Lanka. The then Prime Minister Jean Chretien stood during Question Period in the House of Commons to defend his colleagues, saying that money raised would go to support the relatives and friends of Canadian Tamils living in Sri Lanka who were facing food and medicine shortages and that the funds would be used to save lives there.
When the Conservatives came to power in February 2006 they immediately branded the LTTE a terrorist organization and other local organizations as the LTTE’s front organizations. It also urged the local Tamils not to donate any money to the Tamil organizations meant to collect for the Tamils in Sri Lanka saying that the money collected in Canada was used to buy weapons for the LTTE. The Conservatives do not seem to understand the real situation in Sri Lanka. The Tamils living in the North and East are in grave danger and they need the support not the LTTE. Banning the so-called LTTE-front organizations and listing the LTTE as a terrorist organization has alarmed many Tamils around the world.
As we approach the Federal election slated for October 14, 2008, the time has come for the Conservatives, Liberals, and New Democrats to decide what type of foreign policy they will institute to address the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. Do the Canadian parties support the so-called war on terror instigated by the GoSL or do they support the war for justice by the Tamils? This election call comes at a time when Tamils living in Sri Lanka are facing a do or die situation as GoSL armed forces undertake military operations with the hope of victory in Vanni. It’s time for the Canadian political parties to publicly announce what they would do for Sri Lanka should they be elected the ruling party on October 14.
(The author can be reached at e-mail: satheesan_kumaaran@yahoo.com)

Seven thousand years old human skelton found

A human skeleton was found in Ambalantota (Sri Lanka). The skeleton, estimated to be more than 7,000 years old, several other prehistoric stone tools including animal remains have been unearthed from the Godawaya archaeological site in Ambalantota. The human skeleton was found in a burial chamber with its head pointing to the North, sources from the Department of Archeology said. A team of archaeologists had conducted this excavation in sand and gravel deposits in Godawaya, supposed to be a historic and pre-historic site with archaeological value.

United Nations' offices in Kilinochchi looted

The United Nations in Sri Lanka today announced that its offices in rebel-held Kilinochchi have been looted.

“The UN in Sri Lanka says that it is seriously concerned by theft from its Kilinochchi Offices on Thursday and Friday nights. The UN has drawn this to the attention of the LTTE and says that humanitarian assets and staff ought to be protected at all times in accordance with international humanitarian law,” the UN said in a statement.

Last week, the UN and other international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) based in Wanni, except for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), withdrew from the area and shifted to government-held Vavuniya.

Rock temple found in thick jungles

This is an ancient rock temple found in an unreachable jungle area of Deegalla, located seven kilometers from Mathugama.

There is an old statue of Lord Buddha in sleeping posture inside the rock cave. Archaeological research has not been conducted in the area and people believe that the temple belongs to the period of King Weediye Bandara, who had his kingdom in the area in the 15th century.

Rock temple found in Sri Lankan jungle yields historical treasure

De Mel says UNP can go to court, but fuel price stays

By Rukshana Rizwie

Despite threats by the UNP threatening legal action against the state and Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) if fuel prices are not brought down, Chairman of the CPC Asantha de Mel challenged the UNP to proceed with threatened legal action.
“What the UNP needs to understand is that we sell the stocks that we bought at high prices,” he said.
“Currently we are using the stocks that we bought in August, where at that time the world market prices were high - hence our costs remain high.” The chairman explained that although oil prices in the world market decreased a few days ago, they shot up again yesterday and stand at $104.55 per barrel. This fluctuation he says cannot easily be reflected in local prices.
“We still have a budget deficit and continue to sell kerosene and diesel at a loss,” he said. “We sell some 40 million litres of petrol and make only six rupees of profit on a litre. At the same time we sell some 140 million litres of diesel and make a loss of 20 to 30 rupees on each litre. Its only takes logic to understand that we are making a loss here.”
This position comes amidst a decline in oil prices in the world market, and the UNP threatened legal action against the government for not granting the advantage of the fuel price reduction to ordinary citizens.
UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake during a press conference urged the government to reduce the fuel prices, saying that a litre of petrol can be sold at Rs. 91.50 and a litre of diesel at Rs. 77.
However, Chairman of CPC Asantha de Mel has ruled out such a possibility of reducing oil prices, saying they continue to make a loss in addition to the Rs.52 billion that they have already incurred.
“The CEB (Electricity Board) owes us 40 billion which they are yet to pay us,” he said. “Prices may have decreased for now in the international market, yet we didn’t go about increasing prices when we purchased at higher prices. For instance although we buy diesel at Rs 140, we sell it at Rs 110, even though we could sell it at a higher price.”
De Mel added that they have the best interests of the consumer in mind, but said yet the CPC also needs to be strengthened since it has to survive and cannot do so with a continuous budget deficit. He added that there likely would be a reduction when discussions on the budget commence in November.

Police personnel caught on camera

Lakbimanews

A sub-inspector is alleged to have taken pictures of a female police sergeant while having sexual intercourse with her, and circulated the video among friends.
This video is being circulated among police officers via mobile phone and e-mail. Lakbimanews was able to obtain the footage.
An investigation conducted by Lakbimanews confirmed that the male police officer is a married sub inspector. The female officer is also married and is a police sergeant.
The video confirms that the sub inspector is aware of the camera, and could have used a mobile phone.
However, the female officer has not made any complaint regarding the matter to the police. Police officers, who have the video in their possession, have also not commenced any investigation into the matter.
When contacted, an officer from the Police Children’s and Women’s Bureau said that they can commence investigations only if a complaint is made.
The officer added that they have from time to time, investigated complaints received regarding boyfriends who video their girlfriends on such occasions, as well as cases where people have secretly videoed husbands and wives in bed.

Aitken Spence to launch Hotel Atithi

Aitken Spence Hotels and Resorts are pleased to announce the newest addition to its portfolio of hotels in India with the soft opening of Hotel Atithi in Puducherry.
Aitken Spence Hotels is an emerging player in the Indian hospitality arena already managing two other resorts in India - Poovar Island Resort situated on the backwaters of Kerela and Barefoot at Havelock in the Andaman Islands, located on one of the best beaches in Asia, as rated by the Time magazine.
Aitken Spence Hotel Managements (South India) Pvt Ltd is a company incorporated for the purpose of development and management of hotels in South India. It is envisaged that the company will have around ten hotels under its portfolio within the next two years. Aitken Spence Hotels is part of the diversified conglomerate, Aitken Spence PLC. The company operates over 25 hotels in Sri Lanka, Maldives, India and Oman.
“Aitken Spence is looking forward to the commissioning of Hotel Atithi and strengthening its presence in the region. We have recruited a team of young hospitality professionals, majority of whom are from Puducherry. Aitken Spence has earned a reputation as an exemplary corporate citizen especially with its commitment to corporate social responsibility initiatives and is committed to respect and nurture the culture and traditions of the people of Puducherry” stated Mr. J M S Brito, Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of Aitken Spence PLC.

Neville to Bangkok

Veteran journalist and The Sunday Times columnist Neville de Silva is now tipped to be appointed as Minister Counsellor in the Sri Lankan Embassy in Bangkok, authoritative Foreign Office sources said yesterday.
De Silva, now based in London, is the uncle of Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Geneva Dayan Jayatillake and a brother of late veteran editor/columnist Mervyn de Silva.

President to decide on pardoning SB after UN meeting

By Kushali Atukorale
President Mahinda Rajapaksa is expected to consider the pardoning of United National Party (UNP) National Organiser S.B. Dissanayake, soon after his return from the Annual General Meeting of the United Nations.

Presidential Advisor A.H.M. Azwer said that the President will be giving considerable thought to pardoning Dissanayake, in deference to the request made by Asgiriya Chapter Mahanayake Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkitha Thera last Tuesday (16).

“The final decision lies in the hands of the President, therefore, we have to wait and see what steps the President will be taking once he gets back to the country, since it’s a very sensitive case as Dissanayake was found guilty of contempt of court, unlike committing some other wrong,” Azwer added.

Meanwhile, UNP Parliamentarian and leading party rebel Johnston Fernando, said the President might not pardon Dissanayake since he is one of the strongmen in the UNP.

“It’s unlikely that Dissanayake will be pardoned, as the President knows that Dissanayake will not hesitate to expose the misdeeds of the government. Therefore, Rajapaksa might let the chance go by, showing a totally different scenario to the request made by the Mahanayake Thera,” Fernando asserted.

Fernando also said that lack of such strong politicians of the calibre of Dissanayake in Parliament, is reflected in the massive amount of corruption practiced by those in power, “People like S.B. Dissanayake have the ability to expose corrupt Ministers and government officials and intelligently challenge any bill which only favours the government’s henchmen. Therefore, the President will not take a chance in pardoning him,” he added.

Former Minister S.B. Dissanayake, lost his Parliamentary seat because he had been absent from the Parliament for a period of three months in year 2004 and he also lost his civic rights due to contempt of Court and was sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment, when he had criticised the Supreme Court in a political speech using immoderate language, although Dissanayake had been advised not to insult the Courts on a previous occasion. While he was serving his sentence, President Rajapaksa reduced his imprisonment period to a year and half, but Dissanayake was not given a Presidential pardon.

Tax increases cripple automobile industry

By Aisha Edris
Soaring interest rates and higher duty fees on the importation of motor vehicles have affected the Automobile industry in the country drastically. Today, the industry has plunged into turmoil; many small scale automobile companies have been forced to shut down their businesses while a few others are running their businesses facing losses, due to the escalating prices of vehicles and less demand available for them. The non conducive business environment has made the business environment for vehicle importers and spare part shop owners tough.

We met with several individuals in the Automobile industry who were severely affected by the skyrocketing duty on imported vehicles and its spare parts. Many businessmen lamented about the increasing burden on them by the government.

Tough Regulation on the industry
Many in the automobile industry were confused as to why the government has been burdening them with a large sum as excise duty, which has sparked a drastic drop in vehicle sales and increased retail prices on imported vehicles.
General Manager, Senok Automobiles (Pvt) Ltd, Rajieve M Fernando explained to The Nation Economist that currently the industry, as a whole, was going through a tough period after the 2008 budget.
“The government increased the import duty on vehicles and spare parts, hence, the prices of vehicles have risen by 200 to 280 percent” he said.

Taxes on a 1800 CC car have risen by 237% to 266% which is an increase of about Rs.420,000. The taxes on vehicles below 1500 cc have risen by 173% to 197% inflating prices by an average of Rs.300,000.
Fernando noted that the many in the industry were confused about the government’s stand on continuous imposition of import duties on vehicles which might lead to the death of the industry.

“The situation in the country is not favouring the industry. The government is tightening its regulations on the automobile industry. It is not fair as this industry is one of the key players in the economy not just because it imports vehicles but the vehicles that are imported are used by both government and private individuals” he said.
He also said that the price of a vehicle is now 200% to 250% higher than the Cost Insurance and Freight (CIF) price which is the amount paid to the exporter. The prices nearly tripled because of the CIF prices and various fiscal taxes imposed by the government on the industry.

Death of an industry and winding up businesses due to higher duty
Since the 2008 budget was introduced the automobile industry had been going from bad to worse due to the high prices, the demand for both brand new and used vehicles had fallen drastically bringing shock waves to the importers.
According to a leading Automobile company in the country, the sales of many companies had plunged drastically due to the increasing taxes on imported vehicles. Many small scale (used vehicle) businesses had been forced to shut down their operations noted the businessmen.

“Some businesses are unable to sell even five vehicles per month since people are not willing to buy vehicles at higher prices. In outstation areas more than half a dozen automobile companies have closed down their operations,” he said.
Meanwhile, he also noted that there were several firms who were contemplating to wind up their businesses while several firms had already established their companies in South Africa since it offered less percentage of tax on imported vehicles.

Rise in interest rates
Meanwhile, several businessmen both in the spare part and motor vehicle industry were also affected due to the double digit interest rates in the country. The interest rates in the country rose over 20% and affected not only the motor industry but also several other fixed asset industries.
Rajieve Fernando noted that the severe fall in sales had affected the automobile companies and some of them were running at losses.

“Some of the companies cannot borrow from banks to improve their businesses since they are facing huge losses. Banks are not favourable in providing loans to automobile companies since they are facing losses,” he said.
Meanwhile, a high ranking official of Indra Traders noted that the company had seen a downfall of its sales sue to the increase in interest rates.

“The purchasing power of the people had fallen and they cannot afford to take bank loans or leases to purchase vehicles. We have seen a slight drop in our sales,” she said.
She also explained that optimistic investors who are looking forward to investing in the industry were taken back due to the prevailing uncertainties in the industry.

Last string to survive
Many of the businessmen who offered their opinion noted that their businesses were surviving mainly due to the duty free vehicle permit scheme that the government introduced within the year.
“So many automobile dealers are surviving because of the duty free vehicle permit scheme which allows government servants to import brand new vehicles. The brand new vehicle dealers and other vehicle importers too are surviving because of this scheme and if not our businesses have been shut down after the 2008 budget,” noted Rajieve Fernando of Senok.
While Indra Traders had taken measures to change its mix, according to the official of the Company it had changed its mix from mainly targeting private owned vehicles to selling industrial vehicles.

Fear of more burdens, messing economy
While both Panchikawatte traders and motor vehicles importers were facing turmoil due to the escalating prices, they feared that the government might burden them more in the 2009 budget.
Already there were rumours spreading in the Automobile industry that the government was planning to burden the industry once again. They were worried that if the present situation began to deteriorate the motor industry on the whole would start to plunge into a deep mess further escalating unemployment rate in the country.

A motor industrialist said that there were speculations about government trying to increase the duty on imported vehicles, he warned that if it happens that many people would be drastically affected both directly and indirectly.
He further noted that Ceylon Motor Traders Owners had tried its best to negotiate with the government but all the efforts were gone in vain.

Panchikawatte- haven for spare parts drastically affected
The Nation Economist visited Panchikawatte, the haven for motor vehicle spare parts in the heart of Colombo city. Many traders in the area were mourning over the increasing tax burden on their businesses, many questioned as to why the government was burdening the automobile industry on the whole.

Lower sales and higher interest rates to pay
More than half of the shops in the area were facing a downfall in sales. According to Mohammed Riswan, a motor accessory dealer, his daily income had reduced to more than 50% while he was facing a dilemma of surviving in the skyrocketing industry.
“Many people do not want to purchase motor accessories since it is not an essential item. It is very difficult for me to survive in this business, many of the accessory dealers have started closing down their businesses,” he said.
Shops down Panchikawatte area were deserted with less number of customers visiting shops, many owners said the main reason for the reduction was due to the fall in demand for vehicles and people today could not afford to purchase spare parts due to its high prices.

“We hear that there are less number of vehicles being imported to the country and rest of the vehicles owners cannot afford high prices to purchase spare parts for their vehicles,” noted W G C Fernando.
He further emphasized that there were few customers who did not mind the cost of the spare part if they were getting the originals.

“The general economic situation in the country is not favourable for all the industries. The Automobile industry was particularly vulnerable because the government started to impose a duty on imported vehicles and spare parts,” he said.

Like Fernando there were several other businessmen who were grieving about the volatile situation they were facing. Some were wondering whether they should shut down their businesses and to move in for more profitable ventures while others were trying pass the tough times dreaming for a better conducive business environment.
The businesses in the area were facing dilemma after another, today most of these businesses are facing a crunch as they have been taking bank loans one after the other to import the spare parts.

But unfortunately, these businesses are unable to pay off the bank debts as they are unable to make profits.
Fernando and several other businessmen informed that they had to start cost cutting to save the little income they receive from selling, “We have to pay our workers’ salaries by taking loans and the electricity bills are also paid through loans. Today, banks have informed us that they do not want to give us loans since our businesses are running at a loss,” he said.

Many in the industry suggested that the government should relieve them from tax burden to revive their businesses, and noted that if there were more tax placed on the importation of vehicles the government too would be affected since there would be less number of vehicles imported to the country, they warned.

New GM at Airport Garden

Mathew C. Thomas recently assumed duties as General Manager, Taj Airport Garden Hotel, Seeduwa, taking over from Sanjay Singh who moves to India on a new assignment.

Thomas counts 28 years experience in the hospitality industry with specialisation in Hotel Operations and Management and F&B Service. He joined the Taj Group of Hotels in 1980 and has enjoyed postings at the Taj Residency Ernakulam, Taj Residency Vishakapatanam, Taj Coromandel Chennai, Taj Malabar Kochi and the Taj Sheba Sana’a Yemen.

During this nearly three decade period, Thomas has worked in different capacities within the Taj Group and has a vast hands-on experience in related fields in the Hospitality industry. Under his stewardship, the Taj Residency in 2007 was chosen the Best Five Star Hotel in the State of Kerala for three consecutive years (2005-2007). Similarly, the Taj Residency Vishakapatanam, with Thomas at the helm, was chosen the Best Five Star Hotel in the State of Andhra Pradesh in 2003.

“I am indeed very happy to assume office at the Taj Airport Garden Hotel Sri Lanka, my second posting at a Taj property outside India. I find Sri Lanka very similar to Kerala, my hometown and I am sure, I will have a great time in `Lassana’ Sri Lanka”, he said.

Thomas has a Diploma in Hotel Management and Catering Technology from the Institute of Hotel Management Chennai and a Pre-Degree from Loyola College Chennai. An Executive Member of Cochin Travel & Tourism, he is also a member of the Classified & Approved Hotels of Kerala and the Kerala Management Association. A keen sportsman, with a passion for cricket, tennis and chess, Mathew is fluent in Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi, and, is an avid reader.

Situated in amidst a 38-acre coconut plantation sandwiched between the Colombo-Katunayake highway and the celebrated Negombo lagoon, the 120-room Taj Airport Garden Hotel is one of three prestigious Taj properties in Sri Lanka. A haven of spacious comfort, modern amenities and gracious hospitable service, it occupies a strategic location in relative close proximity to the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake.

Govt. imposes cess on fuel

The government has introduced a Rs. 15 and Rs. 10 import cess on petrol and diesel respectively from last Wednesday (17).

Trade unions attached to the CPC say that the government’s decision to introduce the new cess would have a direct impact on any possible reduction of local fuel prices in the near future. CPC Chairman, Asantha de Mel said that the cess on petrol and diesel is now in effect as the Gazette notification has already been issued. According to the Gazette notification, a cess of Rs. 15 has been added to a litre of petrol and Rs. 10 to a litre of diesel imported into the country.

According to de Mel, the cess would be applicable to the CPC as well as the LIOC.

De Mel also ruled out any chances of reducing local fuel prices any time soon saying the Corporation needed to recover over Rs. 50 billion of the money lost by the CPC.

We cannot bring down prices immediately as we are burdened with outstanding dues and until we recover these dues the CPC is not in a position to bring down fuel prices, he said.

De Mel added that if the world oil prices remained the same or continued to decline, the government might be in a position to reduce local fuel prices through the next budget.

CPC trade unions however claim that the government should not burden the consumers with high fuel prices due to the outstanding dues amounting to billions of rupees.

Secretary, Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya CPC branch, Ananda Palitha told The Sunday Leader that recovering outstanding dues of the CPC was a matter the government had to deal with without burdening the people.

The CEB owes Rs. 40 billion and other state institutions have to pay the CPC Rs. 10 billion. The government has to find a way of recovering the money and increasing prices is not the answer, Palitha said.

He also said that the new cess on petrol and diesel would prevent the local fuel prices from being reduced.

"When the world market prices increase, the government is quick to increase local prices, but when there is a decline, local fuel prices remain the same and new levies are added to it. The government should immediately bring down local fuel prices, Palitha said.

According to Palitha, the government could sell a litre of petrol for approximately Rs. 111 after purchasing a barrel of petrol at US$ 108 and adding all the relevant taxes.

Petroleum and Petroleum Resources Minister A.H..M. Fowzie was not available for comment.

Tigers prevent Wanni residents from leaving

Wanni residents working in international NGOs were prevented from leaving the Wanni by the Tigers, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), one of the INGOs that relocated last week said.

The DRC relocated to Vauniya together with the other humanitarian agencies on the request of the government on September 16.

The DRC however said that the local nationals were not allowed to relocate to Vavuniya by the LTTE. "We are extremely concerned at the plight of the displaced persons in this area. We are looking at all options to be able to provide them with further support as soon as possible. We hope that the displaced peoples’ rights to freedom of movement will be respected in order for them to be able to move to safer areas," Head of the Europe-Asia Section at DRC, Rikke Friis said.

DRC said that its national staff continued to remain in the Wanni region adding that most activities were on hold. DRC has been unable to bring out national staff due to the LTTE pass system that currently does not allow local residents to leave the area.

"It is a terrible situation also for our national staff. We are doing everything we can to be able to evacuate them and hope that we will find a solution soon," he added.

Currently, it is estimated that 200,000 IDPs are affected by the current escalation of the conflict between the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE. Further multiple displacements are expected in the very near future, the DRC said.

Hantana, Karagahatanna declared prohibited zones

Two mountain ranges, Hantana and Karagahtanna were declared prohibited areas for the public by Gazette notification last week .

"The Secretary to the Ministry of the Minister in charge of Defence shall be the Competent Authority," for the two ranges, the Gazette states.

"No person, other than a person to whom the Competent Authority has in terms of Section 15 issued permit, may enter or remain within,Karagahathanna/Hantana Mountain Range (s) Prohibited Places," the Gazette notifications signed by President Mahinda Rajapakse said.

"Any person authorised to enter or remain within the Karagahathanna/ Hantana Mountain Range Prohibited Place shall within such place engage only in such purpose and subject such conditions as shall be specified in the permit," they said.

Two sick zoo animals die following treatment

By Risidra Mendis

Animal rights activists have criticised zoo authorities for the recent deaths of two animals.

Animal rights activists have alleged that a ring tailed coati and a patagonium cavy died after veterinary surgeons injected the animals with a medication.

Speaking to Media animal rights activists said the ring tailed coati died around two days ago while the patagonium cavy died about a week ago. "The ring tailed coati had a problem with its leg. But after the veterinary surgeon injected the animal with medication it died. The patagonium cavy suffered a similar fate," animal rights activists said.

The pair of ring tailed coati and three pairs of patagonium cavy were brought to the zoo from the Praha zoo in the Czech Republic on June 10. The ring tailed male coati is around four years old while the female is around two years old. The male patagonium cavy are between the ages of two to four years old while the females are between three to four years old.

Zoo director Duminda Jayaratne was not available for comment.

More & More Tiger Terrorists Killed in Wanni Battles

KILINOCHCHI & WELIOYA : AT LEAST TWENTY-THREE Tiger terrorists were killed and a large number of others reported injured during confrontations erupted between troops operating west of A-9 road and Tiger terrorists Saturday (20) in the general areas west of MANKULAM, NAVADDIKULAM, north of PALAMMODDAI, AKKARAYANKULAM, PANDIVETIKULAM, VANNARIKULAM, PANNAI KANDAMADU and ANDANKULAM in WELIOYA in WANNI frontier.
In the first incident troops confronted a group of Tiger terrorists west of MANKULAM and killed two terrorists who were in the possession of two T-56 weapons along with one radio set and a compass Saturday (20) around 1.30 p.m.
Meanwhile, troops north of PALAMMODDAI area launched an offensive operation to capture a. LTTE trench line ahead of them the same day (20) at about 1.20 p.m.
Two Tiger terrorists were reported killed and four of the other LTTE cadres were injured according to information.
our soldiers were also sustained injuries and evacuated for medical treatment.

One T-56 weapon was recovered during subsequent search operations.
In NAVADDIKULAM area the same day (20) troops stormed a Tiger position and razed one bunker injuring two terrorists.
In another confrontation in PALAMMODDAI area Saturday (20) troops after observing a terrorist movement launched an attack killing five of Tiger terrorists in the thick jungle at about 2.10 p.m.
One T-56 weapon was recovered in the incident.

In the meantime, troops in the general AKKARAYANKULAM area overran a Tiger strong point killing one terrorist Saturday (20) around 2.35 p.m.
Troops suffered no injuries in the incident.

Two more confrontations erupted in PANDIVETIKULAM and VANNARIKULAM areas reported five terrorists killed Saturday (20) during day time.
One soldier was also injured and evacuated for medical treatment.

Meanwhile, in another fierce fire fight in PANNAIKANDAMADU area the same day (20) one valiant soldier sacrificed his life at about 5.50 p.m.

In VANNARIKULAM Saturday (20) troops repulsed several LTTE attempts to breach the security lines by killing at least three terrorists and injuring four more around 10.30 a.m.
Tiger terrorists launched a heavy mortar fire on to the confronted area after the incident.
Three soldiers received fatal injuries due to the mortar fire and succumbed to injuries on admission to hospital.
Meanwhile, troops operating in WELIOYA confronted LTTE terrorists in the general ANDANKULAM area and killed at least seven Tiger terrorists while injuring a large number of other cadres Saturday (20) during day time.

President Wijetunga's funeral on Thursday

The cremation of former President D.B.Wijetunga who passed away today morning will take place on September 25, Thursday at the Getambe public playgrounds.

Mr. Wijetunga's remains will be placed in Parliament on September 25 and would be taken to directrly to Getambe for the cremation which takes place in the evening.

The funeral committee said that until 25th the body will remain at his Pilimathalawa residence.

Another complainant in torture case shot dead - AHRC

Prompt enquiries from a competent and independent special police unit needs to be conducted into to the assassination of Siyaguna Kosgodage Anton Sugath Nishantha Fernando, says the Asian Human Rights Commission.

Fernando was a complainant in a torture case before of the Supreme Court and a bribery case before the High Court against several police officers attached to the Negombo Police Station, AHRC said in a statement.

Nishantha Fernando, who had made complaints of torture and bribery against a senior police officer and several other police officers, was shot dead today, 20th September 2008, at Dalupotha junction, Negombo.

He was shot at around 10 a.m. and was rushed to the Negombo hospital where he has been pronounced dead.

He was driving his van accompanied by his 11 year old son when two persons travelling on a motorbike came from behind and shot him.

The assassin fell from the motorbike but managed to remount and then and then fled towards Chilaw.

Fortunately, the son was unharmed.

Nishantha Fernando had repeatedly complained to the Inspector General of Police and all local authorities, including the Attorney General, the National Police Commission (NPC) and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka and also to the bribery commission, about the constant threats he had been receiving of assassination of himself and his family.

On the 23rd of June 2008 four men, believed to be hired by the police, arrived at his house and told him to withdraw the fundamental rights complaint currently pending before the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, stating that if within 24 hours he did not do so , he and his family would be assassinated.

He and his family immediately went into hiding and informed the all the relevant authorities of the threat.

The Asian Human Rights Commission also published the story of the threats widely.

He returned to his home after a long period in hiding only recently.

The initial complaint of Nishantha Fernando was against police inspector Mahagamage Dharmadasa for soliciting a bribe of 5,000 rupees (about 46 USD). The Bribery Commission inquired into the matter and filed a prosecution before the High Court of Colombo, bearing number Bribery/1658/2006.

Following the arrest of policemen, about 12 police officers from Negombo attacked the whole family (wife and two children) and seriously injured them.

Thereafter Nishantha Fernando was brought to the Negombo Police Station and further tortured.

A case bearing number SCFR.446/07 was filed against twelve police officers in Negombo regarding this assault.

The Supreme Court granted leave proceed in the case.

Now the case is before the Supreme Court for its final hearing.

Nishantha Fernando and his family had taken all the precautions for their safety and asked all the authorities to provide protection for him and his family.

The Inspector General of Police has written back to the human rights organisations saying that inquiries were being conducted into this matter.

However, this daylight killing of the complainant of a torture case and a bribery case clearly indicates the utter negligence of the police authorities in protecting him.

Despite of two cases pending before the Supreme Court and the High Court, none of the police officers were transferred from the police station and thus they were placed in an advantageous position to take their revenge from a citizen who had dared to complain against them.

In the earlier case of Gerald Perera, a torture victim who was due to give evidence before the High Court against a sub inspector of police and several other police officers who were formally attached to the Negombo Police Station, was shot dead while travelling on a bus.

The sub inspector and another lay accomplice have been charged with murder in that case, and several of the police officers have, on their own, given voluntary confessions to the Magistrate at Wattala about what they knew about the murder.

However, in the torture case against the police officers, they were all acquitted by the High Court Judge, who, while holding that the torture took place at the Wattala Police Station, acquitted the accused as there was no eyewitness to the torture.

The Sri Lankan government has agreed with the Human Rights Council to enact a witness protection.

The Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights introduced this act several months back to the parliament.

However, it has not been passed.

There is no statutory authority take prompt action in order to deal with the request by witnesses who complained about threats to their lives.

There is a callous disregard to all such requests which virtually creates confidence in errant police officers to take revenge their opponents in this manner, AHRC said.

The responsibility for providing witness protection is with the Inspector General of Police but there is nothing on record to show that he has not acted in a manner to encourage attacks on the witnesses.

There is fear now, quite legitimate under the circumstances, that the inquiry into this murder will be hushed up.

There are so many ways of sabotaging inquiry into murders in which the alleged suspects are the police.

The Asian Human Rights Commission urges the Inspector General of Police to initiate prompt and effective investigation into this matter with a special team of competent and impartial police officers.

Leaving the investigation to the Negombo police station or to any of the higher authorities of the police in charge of this area would mean to give opportunity to tamper with evidence and to destroy the possibility of prosecution in this case.

The higher authorities of police in the Negombo area were aware of the cases before the Supreme Court and the High Court against the police officers and about the complaints made by Nishantha Fernando and his family of threats to their lives.

However, these authorities did nothing to protect him.

Therefore to leave the inquiries in the hands of these persons would not create a belief that a credible and an impartial inquiry will be held into this case.

We also urge the United Nations Rapporteurs on Torture and on Extra-judicial Killings and all other relevant mechanisms to take up this case as a matter of priority and demand a proper inquiry into this killing, AHRC said.

We also urge the local human rights community and the media to take up this matter as it raises fundamental issues regarding protection of human rights in Sri Lanka.

We also urge the international human rights organisations to proactively pursue this case, AHRC added.

Man with many complaints against police shot dead

A businessman who had lodged several complaints against officers of the Negombo police station was shot dead at 10 am yesterday while driving his van past the Dalupota junction, in Negombo.

Sugath Nishantha Fernando, 36, was with his 11-year-old son at the time of the killing. According to eyewitnesses, two men on a motorcycle had come up from behind and fired at Mr. Fernando. The victim was rushed to hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival. His son escaped unharmed.

Human rights monitors are demanding an immediate and impartial inquiry. It is understood that Mr. Fernando had made a series of complaints of torture and bribery against the police, naming a senior police officer and several other police officers.

Complaints of repeated death threats made to Mr. Fernando and his family were filed with the IGP, the Attorney General, the National Police Commission (NPC), the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, and the Bribery Commission. Mr. Fernando’s family said that no action had been taken in response to the complaints.

According to complaints filed, a group of police officers attached to the Negombo police visited Mr. Fernando at his home on June 28 this year and threatened him to withdraw a fundamental rights complaint that is pending in the Supreme Court. The family reported the matter to the relevant authorities and went into hiding. It was only recently that Mr. Fernando emerged from hiding and returned to his home in Negombo.

In September 2004, Mr. Fernando made a complaint to the Bribery Commission against SI Mahagamage Dharmadasa, who was the then Crime OIC of the Negombo police.

That same month, Mr. Fernando lodged another complaint, this time to the National Police Commission, in respect of the sale of a lorry on allegedly forged documents by the officer in charge of the Kochchikade police station.

In December 2005, Mr. Fernando opened a food outlet in Dalupotha, but closed it later because the business was running at a loss. One of the food outlet employees, Dharmalingun Yogeswaran, complained to the police that Mr. Fernando had forcibly taken Rs. 4,000 from him.

Later that month, Mr. Fernando met the DIG Western Province and gave him a statement in which he denied allegations made against him.

Harry dominates DCSL annual meeting

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Harry Jayawardena-controlled Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka (DCSL) held on Thursday saw Mr Jayawardena, Chairman DCSL, berating a shareholder and threatening to expose him, shareholders who were present at the AGM, said.

"A shareholder by the name of 'Mr. Theagarajah' raised a question asking why the DCSL directors do not hold shares of DCSL in their personal capacity. This angered Mr. Jayawardena,” one shareholder said. He said that Mr. Jayawardena had asked Mr. Theagarajah why he was repeating this question. "He said things to the effect of, ‘This question has been asked many times. You are having an agenda. You are a professional and as a professional you should not be asking such questions. You have an agenda (in asking this question). If you keep on asking this I will have to come out with things about you'," the shareholder quoted the DCSL chief as saying. He said the AGM saw Mr. Jayawardene being arrogant – at most times - to the shareholders. Independent verification of what transpired at the meeting was not possible as Mr Jayawardene was not available for comment.

Before the meeting began, a minute’s silence was observed in memory of former DCSL Chairman Dr. V.P. Vittachi, who died last week. Mr. Jayawardena in his review contained in the annual report has said that several persons filed two fundamental rights applications in the Supreme Court challenging the sale of Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation (SLIC) in which the judgment is pending. "Your company has defended these allegations rigorously through an eminent team of legal luminaries," he has said. DCSL which is Sri Lanka’s dominant hard liquor manufacturer with investments in diverse businesses has posted a consolidated net profit of Rs.1.15 billion in first quarter 2009, down by 16% compared to Rs.1.37 billion in the same period last year.

Lankan expert to address international shipping conference

Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake, Chairman/Chief Executive – Aitken Spence Maritime and Director - Aitken Spence Group, has been invited to present a paper on “State Owned Port Operators – The Way Forward” at the 3rd Southern Asia International Ports, Logistics and Shipping Conference which will be held in Mumbai on September 25 and 26, his office said.

Dr. Dissanayake who has authored numerous articles on Marketing, Ports and Shipping related subjects, has played a pioneering role in developing commercial maritime education in Sri Lanka through the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers in his capacity as the founder Secretary and subsequently Chairman. He is former Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority and Jaya Container Terminals and past Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and has served on the UN/UNCTAD panel as an expert on Ports and Shipping.

Tilak gets long service award from AMW

Picture shows Mr Ajita De Zoysa (left) handing over the award to his younger brother Mr Tilak De Zoysa.

Chairman-designate and Managing Director of the Associated Motorways PLC Tilak De Zoysa was recently recognized with a long service award for 30 years service by the outgoing Chairman of the group Ajita De Zoysa at a ceremony held at the company.

Other award recipients were Deputy Managing Director Ranjan De Silva, Personnel Manager Marcus Liyanage for 20 and 30 years service along with 10 other employees.

Besides this children of staff who have excelled day the year 2007 for academic co-curricular and extra activities also received merit awards for excellence in their respective areas.

Former President D.B.Wijetunga passed away

Former President D.B.Wijetunga passed away in this morning [21] at the Kandy Hospital .
Dingiri Banda Wijetunga was born on February 15, 1916 in Kandy .
Wijetunga was born to a middle class Sinhala Buddhist family living on the outskirts of the then Udunuwara Parliamentary seat in the Kandy District of the Central Province in Sri Lanka. On completion of his secondary education he joined the Co-operative Department as an Inspector.
He closely associated with veteran politicians like George E. de Silva and A. Ratnayake. A. Ratnayake who was then Minister of Food and Co-operatives in the D.S. Senanayake Cabinet took him as his Private Secretary.
He joined the United National Party in 1946. He entered Parliament for the first time when he successfully contested the Udunuwara electorate at the 1965 general election and quickly made a reputation for himself as an excellent Member of Parliament who constantly worked for the welfare of his electors. In terms of meeting the needs of his constituents, he was considered the most effective MP in that Parliament.

He lost the Udunuwara electorate in 1970 but was returned to Parliament in the 1977 UNP landslide, being appointed Cabinet Minister of Information and Broadcasting in the J.R. Jayewardene administration. During this regime Wijetunga functioned in various ministerial capacities holding the portfolios of Posts and Telecommunication, Power, Highways and Agricultural Development.

He served briefly as the Governor of North Western province in 1988 before returning to Parliamentary politics a few months later. In the last general election he contested he secured the largest number of votes in the Central Province.
Wijetunga was surprisingly appointed Prime Minister in 1989 by President Ranasinghe Premadasa.He was the 10th Prime Minister of Sri Lanka . Party heavyweights such as Gamini Dissanayake and Lalith Athulathmudali were overlooked apparently because the President favoured a deputy who had no further political ambitions. He also held the Ministries of Finance and Labour and Vocational Training in addition to being the State Minister of Defence in the Premadasa administration.

As Prime Minister Wijetunga performed the role expected of him by the President to perfection, playing second fiddle to the charismatic Premadasa. Within the party however there was a simmering winter of discontent, as cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament found themselves powerless as the iron-fisted President used wide executive authority to centralize power to his office.

The former Prime Ministerial aspirants and arch rivals Dissanayake and Athulathmudali united to lead an abortive attempt to impeach the President. Both of them were expelled from the party and consequently lost their Parliamentary seats.

Athulathmudali was shot dead in April 1993 while campaigning for the Provincial Council elections. The killing provoked widespread protests against the government and allegations were hurled at the President for complicity in the assassination. A week later President Premadasa was also murdered in Colombo on May Day 1993 in a suicide bombing widely considered to be an act of the Tamil Tigers). Wijetunga became acting President till Parliament convened to elect a successor to the slain President in terms of the Constitution.

The amiable Wijetunga was elected unanimously by Parliament to complete the remainder of Premadasa's term. The humble Kandyan farmer was sworn in as the fourth executive President of the country on May 7, 1993.

In a moving farwell speech to Parliament Wijetunga cited Shakespeare's oft-quoted line "Do not be afraid of greatness, Some men are born great, Some achieve greatness, And some have greatness thrust upon them."

As president, Wijetunga set about his work in his own simplistic, inimitable fashion. After the authoritarian Premadasa, Wijetunga ushered in a more political free era.

His rule also coincided with the rise of Chandrika Kumaratunga within the ranks of the SLFP. For some of the elite the daughter of two Prime Ministers was a refreshing contrast to the humble village peasant in President Wijetunga.

His rather hawkish approach to the ethnic conflict also made him unpopular especially among the minorities who traditionally backed his party.

After a decisive defeat in the Southern Provincial Council Election in 1994, he dissolved parliament in August that year, in a desperate bid to stem the rising wave of popularity of Chandrika Kumaratunga.

However his party was defeated in the hustings and Wijetunga graciously appointed Kumaratunga as Prime Minister. Even though under the constitution, Wijetunga was bestowed with wide powers, he wisely chose not to exercise much authority, letting the Prime Minister manage the affairs of the country.

He relinquished office in November 1994 after Kumaratunga was elected President by an unprecedented majority.

Former Prewsident D.B.Wijetunga passed away

Former President D.B.Wijetunga passed away in this morning at the Kandy Hospital.He was 93 .

20 feared killed so far in Pakistan blast

At least 20 people are feared killed so far following a huge explosion at the Marriott hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan a short while ago. The death toll is expected to rise. Several foreigners among the casualties. Several still trapped.

Jayasundara to finance ministry through the back door!

There is a move to appoint Mr. P.B. Jayasundra, who resigned from the post of Secretary to the Finance Ministry and the Treasury, to the Ministry of Finance as an advisor say reports. Mr. Jayasundara was fined by the Supreme Court when it was found that he was involved in an unscrupulous deal when Marine Services Ltd. that belonged to Ceylon Petroleum Corporation was privatized during the UNP regime. Mr. Jayasundara was the Chairman of PERC at the time of the transaction.

As holding a high post in the government is immoral Mr. Jayasundara tendered his resignation on 29th July. However the President without accepting his resignation took him to two international ceremonies as a representative of the country.

However, when several civil organizations were making arrangements to take legal action Mr. Jayasundara's resignation was accepted and now, according to reports, is to be appointed as an advisor to the Ministry of Finance. A senior minister of the government speaking to media said Mr. Jayasundara could be appointed as an advisor on the authority vested on the President and there was no legal obstacle for such an appointment.

SriLankan Airlines increases passenger convenience through On-Line Check-In

SriLankan Airlines has been systematically introducing its On-Line Check-In system throughout its route network, significantly improving the level of passenger convenience prior to departure.

On-Line Check-In (OLCI) affords passengers the luxury of checking themselves in through the Internet, long before they reach the airport, and entirely avoiding troublesome queues at Check-In Counters.

SriLankan introduced OLCI at its hub in Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport, last December. Since then, eight of its overseas stations have launched the facility.

Capt. Milinda Ratnayake, Head of Service Delivery, said the target is to provide this facility in every one of 41 destinations as quickly as possible, so that all the SriLankan passengers can enjoy a higher level of convenience.

We are ready to face any challenge, says Ceylon Petroleum Corporation chairman

Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) says if any one in Sri Lanka wants to seek the Supreme Court assistance to obtain the advantage of current fuel price reduction in the world market, they are ready to face it. Reacting to Sri Lanka's main Opposition United National Party’s (UNP) announcement, Chairman of the CPC Asantha De Mel said these types of announcements are made by the parties who don’t have any knowledge on the fuel crisis.

UNP parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayaka yesterday said that his party will take legal action against the government for not granting the advantage of fuel price reduction in the world market to the country.

The CPC has been pressured by the public as well as politicians to cut prices as global prices came down recently.

De Mel stressed that the Corporation is not in a position to reduce the fuel prices within this month as the oil is bought on a monthly price and daily fluctuation of price in the world market does not have an immediate effect.

According to the CPC chairman the Corporation is selling a liter of diesel at 110 rupees with a loss of 5 rupees. The main opposition however says that a liter of petrol can be sold at Rs. 91.50 and a liter of diesel at Rs. 77.

Sri Lanka’s politicians use the rising fuel prices as a political tool to sway masses in their favor.

Sri Lanka Interim Cricket Head's brother to be appointed as the national team manager

Sri Lankan cricket officials are considering to appoint Nishantha Ranatunga as the Manager of the national cricket team and seeking his willingness.

Nishantha Ranatunga was a former national cricket player who played only two one day internationals for Sri Lanka. He is the younger brother of Sri Lanka Cricket Interim Committee Chief Arjuna Ranatunga.

Currently Sri Lanka national cricket team does not have a permanent manager and under the instruction of the Sport Minister Gamini Lokuge a manager is appointed for each tour.

Expo Fisheries Sri Lanka 2008 - National Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Exhibition 2008

The Expo Fisheries Sri Lanka 2008, first ever international fisheries industry exhibition to be held in Sri Lanka is being organised from 7-9 November 2008 at the Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre (SLECC), Colombo, Sri Lanka.


The Expo Fisheries Sri Lanka 2008 will provide an opportunity to promote local and foreign manufacturers, technology, equipment and accessories. New Fish processing methods, latest hygienic methods related to this industry, packaging and storage technology together with and Know-how both in the local and foreign markets will be introduced.

RP, Ind’sia, Lanka to blacklist abusive employers in Jordan

Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia -- the three Asian countries sending household service workers (HSWs) here -- have agreed to share information on abusive employers and put them on a common blacklist, Philippine Ambassador to Jordan Julius Torres said.

Torres, who has been ambassador here since April, said he is inclined to have the ban lifted -- with conditions. He said negotiations between Philippine and Jordan authorities are ongoing so that the ban will be lifted.

"A few months after I arrived, I already recommended the lifting of the ban" because it does not solve the problem of maltreatment or abuse of employers, he said.

Torres admitted that the deployment of Filipino house helpers to Jordan continues despite the ban which took effect January this year. He said 5,000 Filipino HSWs have come to Jordan since then.

"Hindi ito screen kundi bintanang nakabukas (The ban is not a screen but an open window)," he said.

Torres said the sharing of information among the three countries is part of the measures taken by the embassy so that the deployment ban will be lifted by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration's governing body.

"So those employers who have a record of, for instance, maltreating or not paying the salary of a Sri Lankan household service worker will not be able to hire a Filipino or an Indonesian kasambahay (house help)," he said.

At the same time, the ambassador said the job market here for other types of work for expatriates is just opening up.

"We have direct recruits for workers in hotels, shops, groceries, and banquet halls," he said.

Earlier, vice consul and third secretary Jeffrey Salik said that of the 100,000 HSWs here, 30,000 are Filipinos.

Lanka battles kill 26 rebels, 1 soldier

Government soldiers and Tamil Tiger rebels fought a series of battles across Sri Lanka - 's war-ravaged northern region, killing 26 rebels and one soldier, the military said Saturday.
Fighting on the Indian Ocean island has escalated in recent weeks with government forces sweeping deep into rebel-held territory, capturing insurgent bases and threatening to overrun the Tamil Tigers' administrative capital at Kilinochchi.

The latest infantry clashes took place Friday along the front lines in Vavuniya, Kilinochchi, Welioya and Jaffna districts, a military statement said.

Soldiers killed 13 guerrillas in three separate clashes in Vavuniya, while in Kilinochchi nine rebels were killed, it said.

Troops destroyed a rebel bunker in Welioya after a clash that killed three insurgents and wounded 22 more, the military said.

A rebel mortar attack and booby trap explosions in Welioya killed one soldier and wounded five more.

Another rebel was killed in the northern Jaffna peninsula, the statement said.

With most communication with the northern areas cut, rebel military spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan could not be reached for comment.

Independent verification of the fighting and casualties was not possible because most journalists are banned from the war zone. Both sides have been accused of exaggerating enemy casualties and underreporting their own.

The rebels have been fighting for an independent state in the north and east since 1983, following decades of marginalization of ethnic Tamils by governments dominated by the Sinhalese majority. More than 70,000 people have been killed in the conflict.

Court orders to arrest suspects in Kottawa shooting episode

The judiciary ruled that there is no reason to justify the incident where an army motorcycle squad fired at a speeding van in Kottawa on September 09th, killing the driver.

Homagama Additional District Court Judge, Ranga Wimalasena directed the Homagama HQI on September 17th to produce all suspects of the case before courts two days later.

On receiving a call through 119, the army motorcycle squad that was operating in the area has chased and shot at a van that had not stopped at a police checkpoint in Kottawa Town, Police Spokesperson SSP Ranjith Gunasekara said.

The driver of the van had succumbed to his injuries following the shooting, he added.

He was identified as W. Wimaladharma (35), a father of two, working as a driver of the ‘Studio 300’ in Peliyagoda.

Police had received information that the van was abducting a lady, but on searching the van after the shooting, no one else was found.

In his statement, the Army Lance Corporal who had initially shot at the vehicle said that the van had knocked down one of the bikes of their squad, who were returning after duty.

As the van continued to speed ahead, the motorbike squad had given chase and shot at it, he added.

However, a couple in a motor bike traveling 200m ahead of the van as well as two SLA personnel of the bike squad were also injured as the bullets were sprayed rather than being aimed at the van’s tyres.

Fighting conitnue in Wanni

VAVUNIYA & WELIOYA: TROOPS ADVANCING towards north of PALAMODDAI, VAVUNIYA had a series of confrontations with the LTTE terrorists during Friday (19) and were able to kill at least twelve terrorists while injuring five more.

Meanwhile, troops killed four terrorists in two other confrontations in PUVARASANKULAM and NAVATKULAM areas during the morning hours of the same day.

More over troops operating in ANDANKULAM area in the WELIOYA sector killed three terrorists and wounded at least eighteen more during their confrontations with LTTE terrorists on Friday (19). One bunker captured and twenty anti personnel mines recovered. One brave soldier had to sacrifice his life and five others sustain injuries.

Further more in two other incidents in the same area three soldiers were wounded due to enemy mortar fire and improvised explosive device explosion (IED) on the same day.

SOLDIERS OPERATING in KILALY area attack and killed one terrorist around 2.30 p.m. on Friday (19).

Meanwhile, troops were able to recover one Rocket Propeller Gun (RPG), one T- 56 weapon with a magazine, three detonators and a Global Positioning System (GPS) from MADUVIL north in a search operation conducted in the afternoon on Friday (19). Two soldiers were wounded due to booby trap explosion during the search.

Troops serving VAKARAI west conducted a search operation in THONITATTAMADU around 5.15 p.m. on Friday (19) were able to recover seven 152 mm high explosive artillery shells and artillery equipments such as one trail wheel, one equilibrator, one tool box, two seals, four cleaning rods, one oxygen cylinder and one sight box.

In PALAMPATAR, MUTTUR town area, in a search operation police found five 60 mm mortar rounds, five 60 mm mortar chargers and ten hand grenades around 2.30 p.m. on Friday (19).

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 (20) 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 in force to ensure security in the area and adjoining villages were discussed at length during the meeting held at the Area Headquarters auditorium.

Senior officers of the Army and the Police including senior DIG, D.W. Prathapasinghe responsible for the security in the area attended the meeting.

Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka gave further instructions on future security arrangements before turning back to Colombo the same day (20).

All set to welcome Wanni civilians

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has directed officials to provide all facilities and essentials to civilians from Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts entering cleared areas.

Prior to his departure from the island to attend the 63rd United Nations sessions in New York, President Rajapaksa directed the relevant officials to provide food, pharmaceuticals and other essentials to these two districts and to those arriving in Vavuniya.

President Rajapaksa also thanked the officials, for the provision of essentials to the people of the Mullaitivu district, nine months ago, when the INGO's on LTTE's orders had left the region.



On the advice of Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa and in coordination with the World Health Organisation (WHO), a programme has been already formulated to distribute around 4,700 MT of food items to the masses of the Kilinochchi and the Mullaitivu districts, with immediate effect.

WHO representative in Sri Lanka Mohamed Salhim, Essential Services Commissioner General S.B. Divarathna and Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa are in close consultation to dispatch a consignment of these food items to Vavuniya by trucks and to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of the districts of Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi.

They are also to meet the Wanni Army Commander next week in this regard.

MI-24 helicopter gun-ships launched effective air assaults at 2 LTTE strong-points

Air force MI-24 helicopter gun-ships launched effective air assaults at 2 LTTE strong-points located 3km Northwest of Vannerikkulama in Kilinochchi, Friday (Sep 19), at around 7.45 p.m.

According to Air force sources, the targets were taken in support of the advancing troops of the 58 Division.

Meanwhile, Air Force personnel engaged in search operations in general area Kandalkadu, Trincomalee have reportedly uncovered a haul of military items yesterday.

Two injured in a shooting in Aturugiriya

Two persons were shot and injured by three unknown persons in a bike bearing a forged number plate at around 9am near a pawn shop at Arangala junction in Athurugiriya.

The injured were admitted to the hospital immediately, police said.

Two dead after being attacked by wild elephants

Two deaths were reported in Rahman town in Ampara after wild elephants attacked the town last night, Damana police said.

Last Saturday also a death was reported following attacks by wild elephants.

Two youths killed in Negambo and Kotahena

Two youths have been shot dead at separate incidents in Kotahena and Negambo today by unidentified gunmen, police said.

TMVP cadre shot dead

A TMVP cadre was shot dead in Batticaloa last night. Police said another cadre was also injured in the shooting.

Dr. Johnpulle seeking Rs. 50 mn as compensation

Well known physician Dr. Raja Johnpulle filed a fundamental rights application in the Supreme Court yesterday seeking Rs. 50 million as compensation for the damage caused to his house and property allegedly by UPFA supporters under the protection of police.

Dr. Johnpulle cited North Central Province Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake, IGP Jayantha Wicremaratne, MP Duminda Dissanayake, the Anuradhapura Fire Brigade Chief, Anuradhapura DIG, Anuradhapura OIC, several senior police officers attached to the Anuradhapura Police Division and supporters of the Chief Minister as respondents.

The petitioner asked the Supreme Court to direct the Attorney General to charge the respondent police officers under the Police Ordinance for the cowardly act they carried out by giving protection to the violent mob who looted and destroyed his house and property worth more than Rs. 40 million.

He asked court to direct the National Police Commission to deem the respondents unfit to hold any office in the Police Department and that none of them should be considered for any promotions.

Dr. Johnpulle said he as a physician was involved in dignified career and was a respectful and well known person among the people in Anuradhapura.

During the period of the North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provincial council elections on August 20, 2008 at about 2.00 pm an unknown person called him on phone and threatened him with death. He also said the man threatened that all his properties would be destroyed.Subsequently he had contacted the Anuradhapura DIG by telephone and informed about the threats. He had guaranteed his safety but he did not take any action to protect him or his properties. After that Dr. Johnpulle had informed about the call to the Opposition Leader, Election Commissioner, Elections DIG Gamini Nawarathna and the Inspector General of Police.

Around 3.15 pm on the same day he and his staff had heard a large crowd coming from the direction of the Anuradhapura town heading towards Kadapanaha area in a violent manner. The front line of the said array was comprised with Motor cycles and there were some police officers coming with them.

Among these cyclists, around 50 Motor Cycles stopped near his gate and some of these cyclists were with their faces covered and had weapons including guns, swords and clubs on their hands.

Some of these men climbed the parapet wall and started destroying the cut out which, displayed a picture of the UNP Chief Ministerial candidate Janaka Perera and when he objected one of the persons dealt a blow on him with a club.

Subsequently he and his staff had to run away to protect their lives while the rioters continued to damage the properties by throwing stones and clubs at his house. Whilst the unruly mob proceeded to damage the house the police officers who came with them kept watching with no resistance and in fact they were giving protection to the mob.

At this moment all the attempt to contact the Head quarter police station Anuradhapura and the DIG failed as the telephones and cellular phones were switched off.

In the meantime, extra units of Police officers had come to the scene but they had done nothing to prevent the incident and were watching the the crime without any resistance.Dr. Johnpulle complained that eye witnesses had given evidence that Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake and his son, MP Duminda Dissanayake and Kithsiri Ganganath Coordinating Secretary attached to Presidential secretariat were present when the rioters were on the rampage.

However when he came back the day after the incident he found the house completely destroyed with nothing left in it as all ten rooms of the house along with the house hold goods the valuables and the precious souvenirs that were collected over decades were all brought down to ashes. It was further saddening to see that all the vehicles belong to him and some belonging to the patients too were completely destroyed.

On the same date, Dr, Johnpulle had complained to the police about the incident that took place right in front of the eyes of the Anuradhapura Police however up to date any kind of proper investigation had not been done and the Police had taken five days to report the facts to the Magistrates court.

According to the report Anuradhapura police have failed to take statements from victims of this crime and failed to arrest any suspect who has committed this offence though named. Further the Anuradhapura OIC who reported fact to court on August 25 failed to report of the discovery of the four live hand grenades that were found out side the compound and the two Bomb blasts that took place the following day inside the compound of the house.

In an affidavit an eye witness had stated that Anuradhapura HQI and other police officers acted in a cowardice manner encouraging the arson and the mischief that were committed in a capricious and arbitrary manner in violation of the provisions of the Police Ordinance.

The petitioner said under the Police ordinance, a police officer who shall be guilty of cowardice are liable even with imprisonment.

He said the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution was infringed and asked court to award a compensation of Rs. 50 million.

He also asked court to issue an interim order to direct the AG to oversee and direct the investigations in this matter and to charge the Respondents who are police officers under the Police Ordinance for cowardice and or any other provisions of law.

The petition was settled by Upul Jayasuriya and Madhubashana Ariyadasa.

Security beefed up in Pottuvil

Security was tightened in Pottuvil after the sudden death of a Muslim youth who was being held in the Monaragala remand prison, police said.

The victim 24-year-old A. Saleem and 18 others were arrested by the Pottuvil police two weeks ago while cutting firewood in a forest at Etimale in Potuvil.The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress which expressed concern over the killing alleged that the victim had been beaten to death by the police. SLMC General Secretary Hassan Ali said that the police had allegedly forced him to admit that he was involved with the LTTE.

Mr. Ali said the victim had only gone to the forest to cut firewood for his livelihood when he was arrested by the police. “Forcing one to agree to their point to justify their conduct has been a usual practice with the police,” he said.

He said the victim had been killed during an interrogation carried out by the police while he was in prison

The SLMC General Secretary said the party had advised mosque authorities in the area to provide information on the killing to them after which the matter would be taken up with the government.

Pottuvil police Inspector Sena Suraweera said 19 people including Saleem were arrested for cutting firewood illegally. They had been remanded by the courts later. Mr. Suraweera said he had fainted while in prison and was admitted to the Monaragala Hospital where he had died.

Police said the suspects were arrested on suspicion that they were supplying food to the LTTE cadres who were hiding in the forest.

Meanwhile Police Spokesman Ranjith Gunasekera said he had not received any report about such an incident.

Judicial Medical Officer Dr. Chandana Kumara who carried out the post mortem decided to send parts of the body to the Government Analyst.

Lankan on board hijacked ship

Somali pirates hijacked a cargo ship with at least one Sri Lankan on board, the African Press Agency (APA) reported yesterday.
Among the crew members on board the cargo ship, the Great Creation, were Chinese and a Sri Lankan.

"It was hijacked on Wednesday but its name was known only today and we are continuing to receive more details about the incident," the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) said. It said 55 ships were hijacked off the Somali pirate-infested waters since last January.

The increasing numbers of Somali pirates have been attacking commercial and aid ships in the Gulf of Aden off Somali coast that has made Somali waters among the most dangerous in the world.

Meanwhile IMB officials said a Hong Kong cargo ship Centauri en route to Kenya with 25 Pilipino crew members was hijacked off the country’s coast on Thursday.

Dew alleged violations of election laws and certain irregularities that took place during the August 23 North Central Provincial Council elections.

A delegation of government and opposition parties yesterday brought to the notice of Constitutional Affairs Minister D.E.W. Gunasekara alleged violations of election laws and certain irregularities that took place during the August 23 North Central Provincial Council elections.

Minister Gunasekara who is also Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee appointed to submit proposals to amend the 17th Amendment told Daily Mirror that opposition parties including the UNP, the JVP and some constituent parties of the government alleged that election officials had only allowed SLFP representatives to be present at the counting of preferential votes.

He said this was a serious allegation against the credibility of the election results as well as the impartiality of election officials. “The members of the opposition and the government allies told me they were barred from entering the counting centre at Anuradhapura. They told me about irregularities during the counting of the postal votes. It is surprising the result of postal voting of the Anuradhapura District has not been announced through the electronic media up to now,” Minister Gunasekara said.

He said he brought matter to the notice of the Electoral reforms Sub Committee Chairman Dinesh Gunawardana and wrote to Election Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake.

“We have to make sure there will be no loopholes in the new election laws. The most appropriate way to introduce new laws is through the Parliamentary Sub Committee on Election Reforms,’ Mr. Gunasekera stressed.

Rupavahini assault case

The CID told Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court that they have yet to complete the investigations into the Rupavahini Corporation incident where Minister Mervyn Silva had allegedly entered the Rupavahini Corporation premises and allegedly assaulted the News Director T. M. G. Chandrasekera.

Sergeant Wasala Wijeratne of the CID told Additional Magistrate Kumari Abeyratne that they had identified certain persons who were eye witnesses and the Police Division had taken steps to record their statements.

He requested court to grant a date to file the report. During the Magisterial inquiry the suspect Mestriyage Don Upul Nuwan Gunathilake alias Kudu Nuwan was not present in court. Counsel Anton Senanayake appearing for the suspect informed the Magistrate the suspect was in remand custody in connection with another case.

The CID asked the Magistrate to issue them a copy of the remand order. The magistrate fixed the case for November 14 and ordered the CID to file the report on that date.

Magistrate orders UNP PCM to surrender

The Ratnapura additional magistrate M.M.M. Mihail issued an open order at the Kalawana Circuit Court directing Hasitha Samantha the UNP member of the Sabaragamuwa provincial council to surrender to court within a month.

He is wanted by the police in connection with an incident of killing and assault.

The magistrate also directed the order be publicised over loudspeakers in the area and also to paste a copy of the order on the wall of the house which Hasith Samantha last occupied.

If the PC member does not surrender to court the judge said that his assets should be taken into court custody.

The order was issued by the Magistrate in response to a B-report by the Kalawana police under section 61 of the criminal procedure code.

According to the police B-report filed in court the councilor is suspected in connection with the murder of Jayasuriya Bandara a CTB depot inspector of Paragala, Ayagama and assault on K.H. Kusumpala a conductor and Sadun Nishantha Senanayake a driver of Weddagala, Kalawana.

The suspect was absconding, police has told court.

Former Mayor imposed suspended term and fine

The former Mayor of Kandy, Kesara Dahamsonda Senanayake was sentenced to one-year rigorous imprisonment suspended for five years and fined Rs. 200,000 in default six months imprisonment for committing a monetary loss to the government by using public funds to go to Singapore with his wife instead of attending a conference and a work shop for Mayors in Taipei, Taiwan for which the money was given.

The Colombo Chief Magistrate Nishantha Hapuarachchi yesterday (18) delivering his judgment found the accused guilty on two counts of committing a monetary loss of Rs. 185,185.56 to the government and for intentionally defrauding the government of the said sum of money.The Commission to Investigate into Allegations of Corruption or Bribery framed charges against the accused after an open inquiryat the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.

The Commission filed charges against Kesara Senanayake for abusing his office as the mayor and committing the offence. The complaint stated that he being the mayor of Kandy was invited by the organizers in Taipei to attend the Conference and the workshop from April 13 to 15.

The mayor intentionally and knowingly had committed a monetary loss to the government by obtaining financial grants from the Kandy Municipal Council on the pretext of attending the conference and workshop organized for the Mayors of Asia Pacific region in Taipai, Taiwan.

The mayor had gone to Singapore with his wife instead of attending the event.

The defence position was that the mayor went to Singapore to obtain the visa from the Taiwan Embassy. However as there was no Taiwan Embassy in Singapore, he was not able to get the visa to travel to Taiwan.

The mayor had heen hospitalized at a Singapore hospital following an accident. As a result he was unable to attend the conference.

Mr. Kesara Senanayake made a statement from the dock and produced documents to prove his admission in hospital.

The Magistrate delivering his judgment stated that the prosecution had proved their case beyond reasonable doubt and the defence had failed to prove their case as they did not provided secondary evidence to establish their position.

The magistrate observed that the accused had not officially informed the organizers of the conference about his inability to attend the conference and the workshop.

He had neither informed the Taiwan Hotel at which lodging had been arranged for him that he would not come as a result of the accident.

On his return to the country he had not notified the Kandy Municipal Council about the accident nor his non attendance at the conference.

Therefore the magistrate observed that the accused had committed the offence and sentenced him to one years rigorous imprisonment on the first count and imposed a fine of Rs 100,000 on two other counts.

Assistant Director (legal) Asitha Anthony of the Commission prosecuted.

Daya Perera, President Counsel with Sanjaya Gamage and Sampath Mendis appeared for Kesara Senanayake.

Extra Rs. 40 m requested for FM’s overseas tours

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has been requested for an extra amount of Rs. 40 million for official overseas tours of Foreign Minister, Rohitha Bogollagama, a senior official of the Presidential Secretariat said.

Grants reserved for official overseas tours of the Foreign Minister under the Budget 2008 have been used up within a few months.

Despite receiving information that the FM has been staying in super luxury hotels during such tours, the President has given initial consent to provide the extra amount of Rs. 40 million, the source further says.

Rubber cultivation in danger in Kalutara district of Sri Lanka

Kalutara district, one of the major rubber cultivation districts of Sri Lanka is losing the acreage of rubber lands day by day, statistics point out.

Somarathna Poddeniya, a resident of Agalawaththa says that the three major crape rubber factories of the district are in dilapidated condition now.

Rubber plantations of the district are gradually being replaced by oil palm and tea which earn quicker profits to the growers.

Poddeniya points out that oil palm causes faster evaporation of ground water than rubber and as a result the ground water levels drop sharply in dry seasons. Clearing and plotting of rubber plantations by land sales is also considered another reason for the extinction of rubber cultivation.

According to the reports organic technologies used in rubber plantations slow down soil carbon oxidation and increases carbon fixation and storage protecting the environment while helping the economy.

Cement companies in Sri Lanka urge the government allow price hikes

Four main cement suppliers of Sri Lanka urged the government to allow them to raise price of cement with effect from next month.

Cement companies have pointed out that with the escalating world prices they cannot sell the cement at the current market price in the country.

According to the sources in Consumer Affairs Authority the discussions are currently underway in the price control unit regarding the proposal made by the.

However, the cement companies have not mentioned the exact amount of proposed price hike, sources said.

A 50 kg bag of cement currently sells around Rs. 750 in the Sri Lanka market and some importers have suspended importing due to lack of profits.

Sri Lankan police continue to detain SEP member

By K. Ratnayake
Sri Lankan police have refused to release Socialist Equality Party (SEP) member Velummailum Kamalthasan and his relative Santhiralingam Ilancheliyan, who have now been held without charge for five days in the Negombo police station lock-up.

The pretext for their detention is to allow the police to make “further inquiries” into any connection to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). As part of the government’s escalating war against the LTTE, the security forces have detained thousands of Tamils as alleged “LTTE suspects” under the country’s draconian anti-terrorism legislation.

Police are continuing to detain the two men despite a letter sent by SEP general secretary Wije Dias to the Inspector General of the Police on Wednesday confirming that Kamalthasan is a party member. While opposing the government’s renewed war, the SEP is well known for its longstanding opposition to the LTTE’s separatist program and to terrorist acts in general.

The SEP and the International Students for Social Equality (ISSE) are urging workers and young people as well as World Socialist Web Site readers to write urgently to the Sri Lankan authorities to demand the immediate and unconditional release of Kamalthasan and Ilancheliyan.

The two men were detained on Monday morning while preparing to travel by bus from Negombo to Colombo. Police checking the bus ordered them out for questioning. Despite producing registration documents issued by their local police stations to confirm their identity, they were taken to Negombo police station.

When contacted by the SEP at the Negombo police station, Head Quarter’s Inspector Somasiri Liyanage at first promised to release the two men if the party could prove Kamalthasan was a member. By Monday evening, however, he had changed his tune. Liyanage and an intelligence branch officer Herath told an SEP representative that as the two men originally came from Jaffna, inquiries would have to be made there about any LTTE links.

The police claim they are waiting on information from the Terrorist Investigation Department (TID) and Karainagar police in Jaffna. Negombo police superintendent P.S.K. Vithana bluntly refused to release Kamalthasan and Ilancheliyan, declaring that being an SEP member was not a guarantee of having no connection with the LTTE. He did not attempt to justify this malicious lie.

In speaking to Kamalthasan’s relatives, the police have openly expressed their hostility to the SEP, declaring that the party’s intervention had “spoiled the situation”. In other words, the two men are not being held because of possible connections to the LTTE, but because the SEP demanded their release.

The continued detention of Kamalthasan and Ilancheliyan is a clear case of political victimisation and is illegal. Under Sri Lankan law, police can hold a suspect for 24 hours or, in cases of suspected terrorism or conspiracy against the state, for up to 48 hours. After that period, the police must take any detainee to a magistrate’s court to obtain a remand order. Neither Kamalthasan nor his relatives have been told on what legal basis he is being held or why he has not gone before a court

Kamalthasan joined the SEP in 1998 in Poonahari, where he had fled after being displaced from his hometown of Karainagar. After returning to Karainagar, he attempted to earn a living through fishing and making fibreglass fishing boats, but the navy’s restrictions on fishing made that difficult. Like many others, he went to the Middle East as a migrant worker to support his family.

Kamalthasan returned to Sri Lanka last year and has been staying with relatives in Negombo, just to the north of Colombo. He supports his wife, elderly parents and two sisters, one of whom is sick.

SEP representatives who have spoken to Kamalthasan and Ilancheliyan report that the two men are in good spirits despite the difficult and crowded conditions in the police lock-up. They are being held with three other young Tamils who have been similarly detained.

Since plunging the country back to war in 2006, the government and the security forces have unleashed a campaign of harassment and repression directed particularly against the country’s Tamil minority, but also aimed at any critics of its policies. Arbitrary detentions have been accompanied by hundreds of abductions, “disappearance” and murders by death squads operating with the complicity of the security forces.

The defence ministry announced a further tightening of restrictions on Thursday, with an order for all Tamils from Jaffna, Vavuniya, Kilinochchi, Mullaithivu and Mannar who have been living in Colombo for the past five years to register with the police by tomorrow. Commenting last weekend, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse justified the new “security measure,” declaring that “human control” was necessary.

The SEP and ISSE have launched a campaign for the immediate release of Kamalthasan and Ilancheliyan. We call on our supporters, WSWS readers and all those concerned about deepening attacks on democratic rights to write to the Sri Lankan authorities to demand their freedom.

US initiatives to boost Sri Lanka's regional economy

The US Friday announced the launch of a new multi-year initiative, funded by the USAID, to promote economic growth in Sri Lanka's war-ravaged eastern province.

The US embassy said in a statement that the new programme, Connecting Regional Economies (CORE), was designed to increase social and economic security "as part of the US government's integrated strategy to address the root causes of conflict in Sri Lanka".

"By addressing the disparity in economic development between eastern Sri Lanka and the more prosperous western province, CORE aims to establish conditions whereby sustained economic development can be launched," the embassy statement said.

It said that the CORE programme will focus on improving the supply chain and market linkages between producers, processors and end markets in five districts of the eastern, north-central and Uva provinces.

According to the statement, the USAID-funded CORE program would be implemented by 'The Services Group', a US-based company, in coordination with five Sri Lankan government ministries.

The USAID has provided more than $1.9 billion in foreign assistance for economic development programmes, infrastructure, stabilization and disaster relief assistance for Sri Lanka since 1956.

Burmese student monks to demonstrate Burmese Embassy in Sri Lanka

Burmese student monks in Sri Lanka will demonstrate outside the Burmese Embassy on September 26th. September 26th is the first anniversary of the bloody Saffron Revolution led by the Buddhist monks in 2007 that was crushed by the country's military government.

Teenage Tiger girl surrenderes herself to police

An 18 year old female LTTE cadre surrendered herself to the Thirukkovil Police in Ampara this afternoon.

She had run away from a group of LTTE members who had been hiding in the woods.

There were 10 other young girls in the group and she had run away because the conditions were unberable, she had told the police.

Meanwhile Dehiaththakandiya Police found 200 grams of C4 explosives near the SP42 Bedumela fields last night down the Dehiyaththakandiya - Arlagamvila Road.

A "racer bullet" pistol was also found along with the explosives, police said.

Grenades and mortar rounds found in Palampata, Trinco

A haul of weapons and ammunition was found in Palampata, Trincomalee this evening, police said.

The items found were ten grenades, several 60mm mortar rounds and five primary charges required for motar fire. The Trincomalee Police Special Investigations Unit found these items four kilometres into the woods of Palampata, police added.

Armed men get away with Rs. 700,000 from Private bank in Rajagiriya

Armed men have got away with Rs. 700,000 from the NDB bank branch at Rajagiriya on Thursday afternoon, Police said.

Two armed men had entered the bank at 1.30 p.m had collected the money from the counters and got away in a vehicle of one of the customers.

Welikada Police OIC Neville de Silva said so far no arrests have been made.

Sri Lanka should declare "No Conflict Zone" for the IPS in Vanni – AHRC

Hong Kong-based-Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) urge the Sri Lankan government to honour the pledges it has made to provide protection and the necessities of these persons and also create possibilities for those who wish to leave these areas to do so safely. AHRC also urge the United Nations and the international community to assist and to monitor the situation of the internally displaced persons under the present circumstances, via AHRC press release on September 17, 2008.

AHRC said, Jeyapuram Vannen and Akkarayan in District of Kilinochchi be immediately declared a ‘NO CONFLICT ZONE’ for the innocent civilians to find refuge. There is similar requirement also in the area of the District of Mullaithivu. Until this is successfully done all indiscriminate shelling should strictly be avoided.

No faith motion forced PB to resign - UNP

The UNP has claimed the undated no-faith motion it had moved against Finance Secretary P.B. Jayasundara had forced him to resign.

Even before he had tendered his resignation, the matter had been leaked to the media, said UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake at a media briefing in Colombo today (Sept. 19th).

The party had tabled an undated no-faith motion in Parliament against the ex-Finance Secretary as that had been the best move possible by an opposition, Mr. Karunanayake said.

Speaking further, the UNP MP said the Central Bank had now resorted to uttering falsehoods to cover up the nudity of the present regime.

The country's debts have doubled in the past three years, he claimed, adding that the government would not be able to raise the 280 million US dollars it needed.

It had been able to find only 59 m USD of a required 70 m USD funding, Mr. Karunanayake said.

He also said the UNP would seek legal redress to ensure the consumer gets the benefit of the reduction of world oil prices to 87 dollars per barrel.

The UNP MP also said SriLankan Airline had suffered a Rs. 9,600 million loss in the past six months.

For the first time in its history, a recent flight of the national carrier had returned from Kuwait without a single passenger, Mr. Karunanayake claimed.

If the airline loses Rs. 2,500 million more, Emirates will take back all its aircraft given on wet lease, he said.

Commenting on the country's hosting the SAARC summit recently, the UNP MP said it had only enabled the foreign minister to undertake tours to several countries.

Foreign help to test milk powder

Sri Lanka is to seek foreign expertise to test the quality of imported milk powder.

The country does not have the technical know-how required for the purpose, said Consumer Affairs Minister Bandula Gunawardena at a media briefing in Colombo today (Sept. 19th ).

He said the need for testing imported milk powder has arisen after China reported that several infants have died and thousands more fallen sick after consuming contaminated milk powder.

The Prime Minister Meets with the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda held talks with Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, at the Prime Minister's Office.
At the start of the meeting, Prime Minister Fukuda mentioned the friendly relations between Japan and Sri Lanka. Referring to an exhibition on the cultural heritage of Sri Lanka, which is being held in Japan, he said, "Japan and Sri Lanka enjoy a long history of extremely friendly exchanges. I hope that the exhibition will serve as an opportunity for many of the Japanese people to further enhance their understanding of Sri Lanka." In response, Prime Minister Wickremanayake said, "I believe that the exhibition will play a very significant role in our good bilateral relations. I also believe that the exhibition will help the Japanese people understand the culture of Sri Lanka."
At the meeting, the leaders discussed bilateral relations, the Sri Lanka ethnic problem, situations concerning human rights and humanitarian issues, and economic cooperation.
On bilateral relations, Prime Minister Wickremanayake stated that the people of Sri Lanka have a sense of affinity to Japan, owing to Japan's continued assistance to Sri Lanka's development.
On the Sri Lanka ethnic problem and situations concerning human rights and humanitarian issues, Prime Minister Fukuda expressed his concern about the Sri Lanka ethnic problem and requested strenuous efforts toward the resolution. He also indicated the international community's concern that human rights are not fully protected in Sri Lanka and requested further efforts in this regard. In response, Prime Minister Wickremanayake explained the current situation of the ethnic problem, among other matters, including responses taken by the Government of Sri Lanka.
On economic cooperation, Prime Minister Fukuda expressed his expectation that Japan's ODA loans to Sri Lanka, the implementation of which has recently been decided upon, will help the country's socioeconomic development, and requested effective use of the funds.

The Danish Refugee Council evacuates Northern Sri Lanka

Following an ultimatum by the Sri Lankan government the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) together with other international NGOs and UN agencies is leaving the LTTE controlled areas of Northern Sri Lanka. 200.000 displaced people are jeopardized.
International staff have left Kilinochchi in Northern Sri Lanka under an evacuation of organized by the UN. Kilinochchi is a key towns in the Vanni region, an area largely controlled by the LTTE (tamil tigers), now facing an imminent attack from Government forces.
DRC together with other international NGOs and the UN agencies had been requested by the Sri Lankan Government to leave the area by 29 September 2008 at the latest; after which time the Government said they would be unable to guarantee the security of humanitarian aid workers.
"We are extremely concerned at the plight of the displaced persons in this area. We are looking at all options to be able to provide them with further support as soon as possible. We hope that the displaced peoples' rights to freedom of movement will be respected in order for them to be able to move to safer areas," says Rikke Friis, Head of the Europe-Asia Section at DRC.
DRC national staff remain in the Vanni region, and most activities are on hold. DRC has been unable to bring out national staff due to the LTTE pass system that currently does not allow local residents to leave the area.
"It is a terrible situation also for our national staff. We are doing everything we can to be able to evacuate them and hope that we will find a solution soon," says Rikke Friis.
Prior to the evacuation DRC was providing humanitarian assistance and protection, including distribution of emergency food packages, hygiene kits and non-food items. DRC has also been undertaking cash for work programmes, emergency shelter and latrine projects.
Currently, it is estimated that 200,000 or more internally displaced people (IDPs) are affected by the current escalation of the conflict between the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE. Further multiple displacements are expected in the very near future.

HILTON TURNS 21 THIS SUNDAY AMIDST MUCH POMP AND PAGEANTRY

Hilton Colombo turns 21 year on this Sunday and prepare to be wowed! Slated to be the biggest event of the year, the celebrations include a number of fun-filled events, activities and spectacular entertainment.
Issuing a press statement the hotel said the stunning anniversary party would feature a scrumptious 21 meter sandwich; ‘21 Flavours’, featuring 21 cuisines from around the world; a 21 meter bar; a stunning 21 meter ice sculpture and much more.

One hundred and forty chefs, under the patronage of Hilton’s Executive Chef, Mr. Rohan Fernandopulle will prepare delectable food items for ’21 Flavours’ which will feature 21 different delectable cuisines in 21 stalls. For this amazing display of culinary masterpiece, Hilton’s popular restaurants – Il Ponte, Curry Leaf, and Spoons – will battle it out with Garde Manger, Main Kitchen, Banquets, Pastry, Wok and other team kitchens to delight the crowds with an array of 21 scrumptious cuisines from around the world.

Each stall will be decorated to represent the cuisine served. The best decorated stall will win a grand prize of Rs. 21,000. The stalls will be judged for creativity, innovative use of material and concept. It will be judged by Ms. Nissanka Pethiyagoda. Journalist; Kirsty Hayes, wife of the British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka; Trevor Kennedy, Executive Creative Director, Leo Burnett Sri Lanka; Senaka Senanayake; popular artist, and Felicia Sorensen, Queen of Curries and Sri Lanka's Ambassador of food.

Guests attending the ‘Big 21’ will also be treated to some of the best entertainment acts in Colombo, with all-time favourites such as Bathiya and Santhush, Marians, Iraj, Centigradz, Chinthy, Ashanti, Dushyanth & Ishani, Natasha, Phase 3 and the choral group Revelations.

The event will also feature some stunning flaring performances by some of Hilton’s finest bartenders at the 21 meter bar. At the specially designed bar three types of cocktails and one mocktail will be on offer.

Amongst the many events on the cards, a 21 meter sandwich will be prepared by a team of 12 chefs using a range of Hilton’s signature sandwich fillings. A colossal 21 metre ice sculpture will also be on display at the hotel’s sports centre car park. Shaped in the form of candles, they will be lit up and the sculptures will last throughout the night.

The event will also feature an item by the children of the Ceylon School for the Deaf & Blind and many other exciting surprises making this a “not to be missed” event, ensuring tons of fun and frolic for people of all ages be they adults or kids.

In celebration of Hilton’s 21st anniversary this year, the hotel brought together many splendid activities revolving around the number ‘21’ during the past year to mark the number of years the Hilton has been providing its services in Sri Lanka. Some of the events which took place during the past year include the highly successful ‘2100kg Kottu Party’, the splendid ‘21 hour Latino Carnival’ and the ‘Carols for Charity’ Concert. In addition, among the Big 21 themed events were the giveaways for ‘21 Babies’, the ‘21 Couples Competition’ and the ‘$2100 Presidential Package’ for Valentines Day this year.

With more than 500 hotels and resorts on six continents, Hilton continues to be an innovative leader in the full-service hospitality segment and one of the most recognized global names in the industry. Hilton’s belief that ‘Travel Should Take You Places®’ celebrates a commitment to the guest experience and to the idea that travel can and should be transformative. Hilton’ s variety of services, amenities and programs are designed to give guests more choice and control over their stays so they can be at their best, 24/7 whether they travel for business or leisure. Each unique Hilton hotel and resort is designed to reflect the sense of place of its location; each team member chosen to reflect the local culture and community. Further details can be obtained from www.hilton.com.

Sri Lanka Insurance gets AA- rating from RAM

Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation Ltd (SLIC) has been rated 'AA-' by RAM Ratings, with a 'stable' outlook, saying the firm is well capitalized, has kept full required reserves but disclosures could improve.

"The rating is supported by the company’s strong competitive position and unparalleled capitalisation as well as the size and strength of its balance sheet," RAM Ratings said in a statement.

"As the oldest player in the industry, SLIC has amassed unmatched strength in its capitalisation through retained profits."

The previously state-run SLIC was privatized in 2003. It is the largest insurer in balance sheet terms and the company accounted for 45.19 percent of industry assets at the end of December 2006.

RAM Ratings said that SLIC had ample financial flexibility due to its robust balance sheet.

But RAM said disclosure and corporate governance had room to improve and as the company implemented new procedures and sought a stock exchange listing, there could be improvements.

At the end of 2006, the firm had shareholder funds of 8.4 billion rupees which was half of the industry shareholder funds.

Though it had lost its earlier monopoly status, after privatization it was improving its market share.

SLIC had an investment portfolio valued at 30 billion rupees, which was the industry's largest.

RAM said the firm had a "respectable" bottom line, without elaborating.

SLIC also had "adequate" portfolio management skills which had brought investment income to the bottomline, even after paying out tsunami related losses.
RAM said the firm had good underwriting capabilities but an "all risk" category coming under the miscellaneous class of insurance had shown a high incidence of claims.

"In the meantime, the company’s life underwriting standards are deemed adequate as they are modelled after those of its international re-insurers, i.e. Munich Re and Swiss Re," the rating agency said.

"The company’s reserving is perceived to be strong. Since FY (financial year) Dec 2006, SLIC has been providing for both life and non-life reserves, as per actuarial recommendations.

"We note that SLIC is also the only insurer that has been able to consistently keep its reserve adequacy ratio above 100 percent in the past 4 years," RAM said.

International Medical Corps Matched With Top 25 American Express Members Project,

International Medical Corps has been matched to one of the Top 25 in American Express’ Members Projects, ‘Saving the Lives of Malnourished Children.’

Chosen out of 1,190 projects, “Saving the Lives of Malnourished Children” is now eligible to receive up to $1.5 million in funding. The project with the most votes receives $1.5 million, 2nd receives $500,000, 3rd $300,000, and 4th and 5th $100,000. The funding would bring a vital lifeline to hungry and malnourished children around the world.

We need your help between now and September 29th. Voting is easy and doesn’t cost a thing! In just a click, you can save the lives of thousands of malnourished children.
For severely malnourished children, we offer a step-by-step treatment program that gives them what they need to recover, including nutrient-dense food supplements like the peanut-based product, Plumpy'Nut. Our comprehensive monitoring system saves more than 90 percent of children being treated in our feeding centers. Being one of the Top 5 would mean our nutrition could reach more children around the world who need our help.

Hunger and malnutrition kill more people in the world than HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria combined. As food prices rise, this funding is even more critical. More people are being driven deeper into poverty trying to afford basic staples. Many have nothing to eat at all. Your vote makes it possible for fewer young lives to be lost because they do not have enough to eat.

Getting the word out to your friends and family makes a huge difference! Forward this link to a friend and you bring us that much closer to the $1.5 million to help malnourished children around the world!


International Medical Corps (IMC) is a global, humanitarian, nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through health care training and relief and development programs.

Established in 1984 by volunteer doctors and nurses, IMC is a private, voluntary, nonpolitical, nonsectarian organization. Its mission is to improve the quality of life through health interventions and related activities that build local capacity in underserved communities worldwide.
By offering training and health care to local populations and medical assistance to people at highest risk, and with the flexibility to respond rapidly to emergency situations, IMC rehabilitates devastated health care systems and helps bring them back to self-reliance.


International Medical Corps has received a pledge of $100,000 in matching funds to provide vital health care to millions of children and families suffering in the global food crisis and other emergencies around the world. Every donation made before October 31st will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to $100,000. That means that we can double every dollar you provide, multiplying your gift and reaching more children and families who so desperately need our help.

For more information please visit http://internationalmedicalcorps.smnr.us/

LTTE boats beaten off Nachchikudha; 10 boats destroyed, at least 25 terrorists killed

At least 25 terrorists were killed, 10 LTTE craft reported destroyed, including 3 large attack boats in the coastal waters at Valaipadu, off Nachchikudha, following an intense sea battle between Navy and LTTE, Thursday (Sep 18), since 11.30 a.m.

According to naval sources, the battle lasted over 3 hours which erupted 5 nautical miles West of Nachchikudha, forcing LTTE to retreat with heavy damages.

As the battle progressed, naval Rapid Action Boat Squadron (RABS) and elite Special Boat Squadron (SBS) craft were reinforced into the confrontation zone, which launched simultaneous attacks at the approaching LTTE craft. The LTTE boats were led by a senior sea tiger cadre identified as Kadar, military said citing intercepted LTTE communication. An LTTE boat has received damages and was observed towed after the initial interception, according to earlier reports.

Initially 4 suspicious boats were detected off the Valaipadu coast North of Nachchikudha, and confrontation broke-out when the approaching naval craft were attacked by LTTE boats, defence sources said.

These are the Best Years of Our Forces - Gota

Q: You will soon complete your third year as Secretary of Defence. What is your assessment of these past years and the role you played there?

Within these three years we’ve achieved a lot. I wouldn’t call these my achievements but it was those of the security forces. I think personally that the people elected the President primarily to solve this problem, and not for anything else. The people despite their silence were unhappy about the trend in the country and wanted the kind of change President Rajapaksa could bring. You can see this clearly in the voting pattern.

When we took over there areas referred to as LTTE controlled areas; they were not accepted by any country, leave alone Sri Lanka. This is one country and for one part to be called LTTE’s is certainly not acceptable. We have been able to bring a lot of these areas under our control and the real victory here is the Eastern province. We’ve had elections there and established a democratically elected provincial government and started a development process. This is a major achievement. The weakening of the LTTE and their sea Tiger capabilities, were areas not tackled for a long time. Maybe smuggling by the LTTE still continues, but in the last year alone we destroyed 10 of their ships and as of today we have complete domination in the sea around Sri Lanka. The Navy has changed its tactics and we’ve been very successful against the LTTE.

And anyone can see our achievements on the ground. And also our success in the air whereby we’ve been able to completely destroy much of their assets and destroy many of their key leaders and we have captured their sea Tiger bases and training camps on a daily basis now. The main thing is that we’ve been able to be accurate in our targets, with no damage to civilians, even though some have tried to paint a different picture. Even the LTTE has not been able to show any civilian casualties because of this. Infact on Wednesday we took a target in Kilinochchi located inbetween a UN organization. Even the UN had commended our ability to target it precisely. Our success has been because of our ability to assess the situation at the beginning very accurately. We did a complete military assessment before we started on the offensives; none of this is done ad-hoc. This was because we wanted to make sure that nothing would weaken the Jaffna peninsula after we had control like we did in the East after it was cleared. We knew we needed extra troops once we came to the Wanni, which is why we planned it in a way that we had the troops. We started a recruitment programme to bring in more cadres but looked essentially at troop welfare because this was an aspect overlooked before.

Q: How would you differentiate between the role of Secretary of Defence in a war torn country as opposed to that of the President as the Commander in Chief?

In our Constitution itself, the Secretary of the Ministry is the chief accounting officer and the one responsible for implementing the policies of the government. My responsibility is exactly that. This is all I’ve been doing for the last two years. Of course it is also my responsibility to help the Defence Minister to formulate the policy with the assistance of the three service commanders, which I did. The first thing we did when I was appointed was to assess the entire security situation in the country and on that basis formulate the policy. My responsibility was the execution of that policy.

Q: Looking back at the last 25 years of the war, which operations brought the biggest dividends for the Sri Lankan government and which would you rate the biggest debacles?

Looking at the successes I’d rate the present period as the best we have ever had. Of course in the past too we have had some successful periods while other proved not so. Liberating the Jaffna peninsula has been the foremost to me, because it is the most strategic to the Northern province, with Trinco, Kilinochchi and Mulaitivu following after. Taking control of Jaffna has been a great success for us. I suppose losing Elephant Pass was strategically one of the biggest debacles, then Wanni, Mulaitivu and Pooneryn would be seen as serious debacles. Of course there are the ones where we unnecessarily gave in like the Eastern province, the surrendering of the policemen. These are incidents we could’ve prevented easily, but happened simply because we had no proper vision.

Q: Government assesses that it will bring the entire Northern Province under its control soon. There is a fear among Tamils that a military victory could prove fatal to any devolution of power. Do you believe in a political solution to the conflict?

What form of devolution is looked at or the very question of a political solution doesn’t fall within my purview. That is for the politicians. But it’s not correct to say the Tamils are in fear because the President has shown through the Eastern province, when many countries in fact advised him against it, that he is sincerely committed to a political solution. Similarly we will have the same program for the North. People don’t appreciate what happened in the East; they have underestimated it. Because, unlike in many similar instances all over the world, the President didn’t put his stooges for the East. Karuna is not a creation of President Rajapaksa. He didn’t select Karuna and made him a political stooge and plant him in the East. They are part of the LTTE and long before President Rajapaksa was elected they broke away from the LTTE due to their own reasons and all the President did was to help Karuna reorganize. He had to give power to someone and he thought they were the best for the job. He only helped them; it was the people who elected them. Karuna is from the area and a leader of the LTTE for the East. The President merely worked with them at this election to get them in to the democratic process. There is a difference in the TMVP. They came on their own and was not created by the government. It was a major success for the government but it was not based on any ethnic basis, because the worst thing is to divide and contest on a community or religious base. It’s very impressive to play with these words like the federal system. But what is most important is what the people in the areas want. Giving different powers to the areas will not solve the problem. The basic problems of the people are far more grave than this. These political solutions are not the solutions for the people; they are for the interested politicians. This is especially so in this part of the world. The US is demarcated in to different states because it’s a huge country. But when you divide regions based on community or religious grounds is never the solution.

Q: Over 80, 000 Muslims were expelled from North by the LTTE in 1990 and now this displaced population- mainly settled in Puttalam district- has risen to 150,000 creating a major demographic distortion in the district. What plans are underway to resettle these displaced Muslims in their original lands?

Resettlement is not my area. I believe people should be able to live any where they want. I feel however there are these organized settlements which we have to be careful about. There are so many people coming from the North and East and settling down in the Western province. If its voluntary that’s fine. But I’m not so sure it is not an organised move. Its important to check if the LTTE is organizing it. They have no means of income but they are paying huge sums and settling down. Where is the money coming from? The strange thing is that when the govt. does it it, becomes govt. sponsored settlement but when an NGO does it, it become right. That is also wrong. This has the potential to change the demography.

Q: Right now bitter battles fought in Wanni area by the Army and the LTTE and the INGOs seem to be in a dilemma over the order to leave the area. What welfare measures are in place for the civilians now trapped in Wanni?

Again NGOs are not my subject except those in operational areas. Most these NGOs are there for various development projects; but given the ground situation there is no possibility of continuing this work. So they need to come out of there. Next more importantly is the security threat. This is very relevant when you look at what happened in Muttur. The parents of those killed blamed the NGOs decision to keep them there despite the situation. We don’t want to get in to the same situation. Certainly when they can do their work again they can go back. The responsibility of the UN primarily becomes that of the host government. We’ve asked them to come out of Killinochchi and relocate in Vavuniya. This is not withdrawing but relocation. The problem is that these foreign analysts don’t know the geography of the country. They think its like Africa and this is some 1000 km move. And don’t forget that even foods and medicines given by UN is still distributed by GAs. Medicines go through govt. hospitals. This system can happen equally effectively from Vavuniya. Then they say they can’t monitor if it goes to the right people. What is the monitoring that happens with the miniscule staff already? Still if they want they can go with the convoys and monitor the distribution. Don’t forget; with no UN system in place, food distribution happened quite effectively in Vakare or Thoppigala by the AGAs.

Q: India earlier this week expressed concerns about the civilians in the Wanni and has continued to maintain that a military solution would not suffice.

This is the problem; anybody will express concern without understanding this whole process. When you say NGOs and a humanitarian crisis you must analyse and say how many of the NGOs were involved in humanitarian work. We have asked them to say what humanitarian work they were doing so we can fill that gap. All we need to do is to arrange the system so that these GAs can come to Vavuniya and collect these goods. The main problem is that people outside don’t know the ground situation here. The fact remains that we can’t change the military plan to suit the UN or NGOs. Military plan must go on. It is then our responsibility to look after civilians, which is why we’ve asked them to come out.

Q: Despite having F-7 interceptors and latest technology, the air force has failed to throw a real challenge to LTTE air power. There are negative reports on the aptitude of the radar system. What really went wrong for the LTTE to outsmart Air Force on seven occasions?

During the last few years especially the LTTE was targeting the Air Force primarily. Why? Because that was proving the biggest threat to them. Why was the Army Commander or the SLAF camps and assets? Because although they have these planes we have complete air superiority. This was a major problem for them. There is no challenge for the SLAF really. I wouldn’t say anything went wrong with our air defence systems. The first time this threat was posed we got a lot of assistance from many countries on how to face this situation. Their assessment was that this was a difficult task because there is no counter for such unsophisticated planes. The air defence systems available now are for more sophisticated ones and not this type of low flying planes. These planes are not even used in conventional warfare because they can’t do much to change the military balance. All it can do is to create a fear psychosis in the people. It can’t do any big damage. There’s no use in going for a highly sophisticated interceptor because it can’t do anything; all we can do is to go at a very crude level solution; which is what we have done. Given this taking that air craft down the last time was a big success. Compare its failure to do any damage the 7 times it came with how effective our 6oo odd sorties carried out in this year alone.

Q: The reported use of CS gas by the LTTE causes serious concerns. Have intelligence reports indicated the possibility of LTTE using stronger chemicals?

No. We are prepared for any situation. It’s not a major threat according to our reports. We are preparing ourselves for any contingency.

Q: The intensity of the international community campaign on human rights seems to be tapering off. What factors contributed to this shift in the approach of the international community towards the government?

Because they now realize that this was because of the bad publicity spread by the LTTE. Of course the govt. was weak in this area. This is the responsibility of the Foreign Ministry, with support from Sri Lankan living abroad irrespective of ethnic divisions. Even the Tamil diaspora is misinformed. When you speak of the international community the main thing is to identify who is most important to us. India is the most crucial for us. Any govt. must give priority to India. India is 100% with us and we understand their concerns and will not do anything that will affect their security. We have the best relationship with India. India also understand why we have to have the relationship with Pakistan and China. Then comes the South Asian region and then the US, UK and the EU. But these countries are all prosecuting terrorists and putting an end to fund raising. This is because our human rights record is excellent. Our forces are not a terror group. You never heard of our troops going and indiscriminately firing at entire villages because there is a good education program on distinguishing between the civilians and terrorists. This is not an easy thing. Its not easy preventing a explosive laden vehical from entering Colombo. These control measures are absolutely necessary despite the inconveniences. Although all Tamils are not LTTE almost all LTTE is Tamil. This is a fact. So obviously the Tamil community get targeted, but not purposely.

Q: There had been reports to the effect that you would join main stream politics as three of your brothers have already done. Do you have any plans to enter parliament?

No. I have no interest in politics.

Q: What are the key differences you note in the Army then and now in terms of man power, hardware and morale and even procurement which has raised certain queries?

One of the main things we’ve concentrated as a crucial measure was troop welfare, from schooling for their children and housing for families to their care after injury. We in fact created a separate unit under one Minister for this purpose alone and the day to day problems. Housing and education are primary in welfare and we’ve taken concrete measures towards this end. We’ve already started a 1500 house scheme in Anuradapura, which is a separate city in itself; with solidly built houses and all the infrastructure facilities in place, which alone cost Rs. 1 billion. Our aim is to give it free if possible or otherwise at a very nominal fee. There is also a loan scheme from the Ministry given without interest. There is a special fund set up ‘api venuwen api’ to facilitate these projects. There is another project is to give them land. We have started a special school for defence services children. This is a very well equipped school with all the modern facilities. We will start similar school in Kurunegala soon.

Then on the inquiries on procurement and all these charges, so we’ve started an institution to carry out these functions. Because when you do purchases in military hardware through a third party and private parties get involved, there are these situations. So we’ve created an institution which will be the intermediate party which will work with these parties and the governments in procurements. We are encouraging more government to government deals as much as we can. But the way it happens in the world is that be it China or the US, though these are government deals they are essentially run like private companies. They have formed companies because it is still a business. It’s a major industry. So we’ve created a similar unit to handle this with minimum participation from third parties. This is easy to tell but so difficult to do. But we have started it and it has produced very good results. If you study it closely it is a very good thing. This is something that I was concerned about and I consider this a major success.

Another area is retirement where sometimes after retiring after 22 years they are comparatively young and they go and join these private security companies, where they are not paid well. This is why we started a private security company from the Ministry where these people can be employed. There is no profit motive in this at all. We want to give a good service and in turn a good salary to the employees. We’ve recruited retired security personelle so far and for the moment we are handling government institutions only. This is a good welfare measure as well.

Three Km Stretch of Land Falls to Army Within Twenty-four Hours

WANNI: TROOPS of the Task Force I in WANNI made further progress into KARAMBAKULAM area by another 1.5 km stretch of land as dusk fell on Thursday (18). Today’s domination completes a total of 3 km patch of land that runs along with the KARAMBAKULAM tank bund.

Egged on by the gains on Wednesday (17), troops throughout Thursday (18) advanced further into Tiger dominated areas, north of KARAMBAKULAM killing fifteen more terrorists and injuring eighteen more, ground troops confirmed.

In the latest confrontations for supremacy, three brave soldiers sacrificed their lives on behalf of the country. Twelve more soldiers sustained injuries and were evacuated for treatment in hospitals.

The latest fall of that 3 km long mainland stretch line came as a rude shock to Tiger terrorists, a couple of hours after the Army Commander visited WANNI and returned. Troops are fast consolidating their positions and establishing their presence in the area as this report went to Press.

On Wednesday (17) valiant troops of the Task Force I, getting another mileage in their quest for peace, captured the entire 1.5 km-long KARAMBAKULAM tank bund, about 11 km northeast of NACHCHIKUDA, consequent upon a close fire fight that saw twenty-five Tiger terrorists killed and a similar number badly injured.

Probe over death of prisoner

A prisoner at the Moneragala Prison died this morning upon admission to the hospital after falling sick. Police are investigating the cause of the death and whether there was foul play.

More PC Polls next year

The government is planning to hold elections to the Western, North- Western and Uva Provincial Councils early next year, highly placed political sources said yesterday.

The matters pertaining to these elections had been discussed at a meeting held between 17 UNP members currently holding portfolios in the government, and senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa recently, at the residence of Public Administration Minister Karu Jayasuriya.

The elections are expected to be held to these three councils by the end of January or February next year.

Mr. Rajapaksa had reportedly said that the elections to the Southern and Central Provincial Councils would be held separately later next year while the Southern Provincial Council Election would be held first. It was also hinted at the meeting that they were looking for a new face to field as the southern chief ministerial candidate.

Supplementary Crops Development Minister Dharmadasa Banda said there was growing concern in some quarters regarding Uva Chief Minister Gamini Vijithmuni Zoysa being re-nominated for the post.

Mr. Rajapkasa had also told the ‘UNP reformists’ that they could contest future general elections under the UPFA’s betel symbol. Some members had expressed their willingness to contest future elections on the UPFA ticket while maintaining their UNP identity while the others were willing to contest as SLFPers.

CHA concerned over travel pass system for Jaffna

The Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies (CHA) is concerned over the military travel pass system imposed on the civilians to travel out of the Jaffna peninsula.

“In addition to their burden to spend extra money, the requirement to obtain a travel pass is denying their right to travel to other parts of the country, or their freedom of movement and of choosing his/her residence within Sri Lanka as enshrined in Article 14 (1) (h) of the Constitution. .

CHA notes a citizen who wishes to travel outside the Jaffna peninsula has to request in writing to the area military camp commandant (Civil Liaison Officer) to issue him a form to obtain a travel pass and this letter should be countersigned by his area Grama Sevaka.

He is compelled to give out all his travel plans including the details of his present residence, the details of place where he is going to stay in the south and the reason for his travel outside Jaffna peninsula.

CHA says they would welcome a system while being cognizance of security considerations is legal and causes little or no inconvenience to the public is considered.

High Court judge discharges Minister

Kandy High Court Judge Jayantha Perera discharged Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage who was one of the eight accused in a case of abduction, unlawful assembly, grievous hurt and simple hurt on two brothers at Paragala in the Nawalapitiya electorate in 2001.

When the case was taken up for inquiry on Wednesday (17), State Counsel N. Marasinghe told court he was seeking to withdraw the charges preferred against the fourth accused (Mahindananda Aluthgamage).

He said the Attorney General had reassessed the evidence and has come to the conclusion that there was no evidence against the fourth accused and the charges preferred against him would be withdrawn, while the other seven stand charged.

The High Court Judge allowed the submissions and discharged the fourth accused (Minister Aluthgamage) from further proceedings.

The accused in this case were W. Prasanna Kumar, B. Sumedha Chamikara, H. Somadasa, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Aluthgamage Ananda Aluthgamage, K. Bandara Nihal Aluthgamage, K. Aluthgamage Weerasinghe and W. Chinthaka Weeraratne.

The accused were charged for unlawful assembly at Paragala on or about December 5, 2001.

Launch of Lanka’s first ever Film and TV Degree

The Kelaniya University yesterday launched Sri Lanka’s first ever degree programme in Film and Television, at a simple ceremony held at the University premises.

Veteran filmmaker and one-time National Film Corporation Chairman Dr. D.B. Nihalsingha was appointed as a Senior Fellow in Film and Television to undertake that task, what was again a first for a University in Sri Lanka.

The University’s Vice Chancellor M.J.S. Wijeyaratne handed over the appointment letter to Dr. Nihalsingha at the ceremony which was attended by several distinguished guests including NFC Chairman Jayantha Dharmadasa, Presidential Film Affairs Advisor Ravindra Randeniya, Swarna Mallawarachchi, Chandani Seneviratne, Sarath Dharmasiri and top university officials.

While Prof. Wijeyaratne emphasized that this was a historic moment in the university’s history, Mr. Randeniya said it was a huge victory for the Sri Lankan film industry as a whole.

The four-year degree programme will produce industry-ready graduates who will be able to play crucial roles in the local film industry.

Wanted JVP PS member surrenders

Akuressa Pradeshya Sabha Opposition leader Saman Kumara (JVP), who was wanted by the Police over a complaint of attempted murder of the President of the PS Munidasa Gamage of the UPFA, surrendered to the Morawaka Magistrate on Wednesday through a lawyer.
He was remanded till September 24.

Another suspect in the same incident JVP PS member C. Vidanagama is already in remand.

The Chairman of the Pradeshya Sabha, Munidasa Gamage, was shot at while inside his vehicle at Pitabeddera on August 4, last year.

According to initial Police investigations two people who came on a motor cycle in the night had attempted to kill the PS Chairman.

Berty Premalal accuses party men of sabotage

Chief Minister of the North Central Province Berty Premalal Dissanayake has accused his colleagues of sabotaging a bid to elect Anuradhapura District councillor Gamage Weerasena as Chairman of the NCP.

A furious Dissanayake alleged that a section of the UPFA members had voted with the UNP to defeat Weerasena, the ruling party’s choice. In an unexpected move, the UNP has proposed P. B. Dissanayake also of the ruling party as the Chairman, thereby forcing the NCP’s Secretary Keerthi Gamage to call for a contest between the two councillors.

Dissanayake has polled 17 votes against Weerasena’s 14. The 33-member NCP Council comprises 20 UPFA, 12 UNP and two JVPers. Only 31 councillors had participated in the voting due to the absence of JVP member Wasantha Amarasinghe and UNP’s Naina Mohammed.

According to political sources Dissanayake had alleged that Weerasena’s defeat was a political conspiracy and action would be taken against the conspirators.

Supreme Court orders CEB to prepare a system of concessionary tariffs

Sri Lanka Supreme Court ordered the state owned electricity monopoly Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) yesterday to prepare a system of concessionary tariffs and to submit it to the Court by October 03.

The Supreme Court made this order considering a fundamental rights petition filed by Thiniyawala Palitha Thero of Nalandaramaya Temple, Nugegoda against the May 15th gazette that reformed the electricity tariff system.

CEB, the Minister of Power and Energy and the Attorney General are the defendants of the case.

The petitioner seeks the court to order the defendants to nullify the gazette and to implement a new tariff system since the gazette violates the fundamental rights of the petitioner. The petition was considered by a tri-member panel of judges led by Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva.

Sri Lanka allows to import fish

Sri Lankan government announced that it has lifted the tax imposed on importing several fish varieties with immediate effect.

The government said this measure has been taken to curb the high fish prices currently experienced by the Sri Lankan consumers and the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resource has been instructed to handle the importation directly.

However, fishing industry sources have also expressed their concern over this decision taken by the government which may directly impact their livelihood with imported fish being sold at lower prices.

Sri Lanka Cabinet approves tax reduction for locally manufactured motor vehicles

Sri Lanka Cabinet approved tax reductions to all locally assembled and manufactured cleaner fuel vehicles at yesterday's Cabinet meeting.

Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Champika Ranawake has submitted the proposal seeking approval to implement a proposed excise duty structure to promote the importation of various types of clean fuel vehicles with effect from next year.

In addition the Minister has proposed a tax concession for the local industries for the assembly of cleaner fuel vehicles.

This tax reduction will be applied to all environmental friendly motor vehicles assembled and manufactured locally using local materials with a total value addition of 25%.

Former US envoy to Sri Lanka dead

William Howard Wriggins, who was the US ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives in 1977-79, has died, the embassay said Thursday.

An embassy statement said that he died Aug 30 at Hannover, New Hampshire.

Born in 1918, Wriggins had an illustrious career in academia and public service. In 1960 he penned what became a landmark work, 'Ceylon: Dilemmas of a New Nation'.

His interest in South Asia, specifically Sri Lanka, continued his entire life. He authored numerous book and papers on Sri Lanka, including a biography of former president J.R. Jayewardene, which he co-authored with K.M. de Silva.

Wriggins' interest and love for Sri Lanka spanned 50 years. He traveled frequently to the island and maintained close contact with his many Sri Lankan friends up until his death.

He survived by his wife, Sally Hovey Wriggins, three children, and six grandchildren.

HILTON TURNS 21 THIS SUNDAY AMIDST MUCH POMP AND PAGEANTRY

Hilton Colombo turns 21 year on this Sunday and prepare to be wowed! Slated to be the biggest event of the year, the celebrations include a number of fun-filled events, activities and spectacular entertainment.
Issuing a press statement the hotel said the stunning anniversary party would feature a scrumptious 21 meter sandwich; ‘21 Flavours’, featuring 21 cuisines from around the world; a 21 meter bar; a stunning 21 meter ice sculpture and much more.

One hundred and forty chefs, under the patronage of Hilton’s Executive Chef, Mr. Rohan Fernandopulle will prepare delectable food items for ’21 Flavours’ which will feature 21 different delectable cuisines in 21 stalls. For this amazing display of culinary masterpiece, Hilton’s popular restaurants – Il Ponte, Curry Leaf, and Spoons – will battle it out with Garde Manger, Main Kitchen, Banquets, Pastry, Wok and other team kitchens to delight the crowds with an array of 21 scrumptious cuisines from around the world.

Each stall will be decorated to represent the cuisine served. The best decorated stall will win a grand prize of Rs. 21,000. The stalls will be judged for creativity, innovative use of material and concept. It will be judged by Ms. Nissanka Pethiyagoda. Journalist; Kirsty Hayes, wife of the British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka; Trevor Kennedy, Executive Creative Director, Leo Burnett Sri Lanka; Senaka Senanayake; popular artist, and Felicia Sorensen, Queen of Curries and Sri Lanka's Ambassador of food.

Guests attending the ‘Big 21’ will also be treated to some of the best entertainment acts in Colombo, with all-time favourites such as Bathiya and Santhush, Marians, Iraj, Centigradz, Chinthy, Ashanti, Dushyanth & Ishani, Natasha, Phase 3 and the choral group Revelations.

The event will also feature some stunning flaring performances by some of Hilton’s finest bartenders at the 21 meter bar. At the specially designed bar three types of cocktails and one mocktail will be on offer.

Amongst the many events on the cards, a 21 meter sandwich will be prepared by a team of 12 chefs using a range of Hilton’s signature sandwich fillings. A colossal 21 metre ice sculpture will also be on display at the hotel’s sports centre car park. Shaped in the form of candles, they will be lit up and the sculptures will last throughout the night.

The event will also feature an item by the children of the Ceylon School for the Deaf & Blind and many other exciting surprises making this a “not to be missed” event, ensuring tons of fun and frolic for people of all ages be they adults or kids.

In celebration of Hilton’s 21st anniversary this year, the hotel brought together many splendid activities revolving around the number ‘21’ during the past year to mark the number of years the Hilton has been providing its services in Sri Lanka. Some of the events which took place during the past year include the highly successful ‘2100kg Kottu Party’, the splendid ‘21 hour Latino Carnival’ and the ‘Carols for Charity’ Concert. In addition, among the Big 21 themed events were the giveaways for ‘21 Babies’, the ‘21 Couples Competition’ and the ‘$2100 Presidential Package’ for Valentines Day this year.

With more than 500 hotels and resorts on six continents, Hilton continues to be an innovative leader in the full-service hospitality segment and one of the most recognized global names in the industry. Hilton’s belief that ‘Travel Should Take You Places®’ celebrates a commitment to the guest experience and to the idea that travel can and should be transformative. Hilton’ s variety of services, amenities and programs are designed to give guests more choice and control over their stays so they can be at their best, 24/7 whether they travel for business or leisure. Each unique Hilton hotel and resort is designed to reflect the sense of place of its location; each team member chosen to reflect the local culture and community. Further details can be obtained from www.hilton.com.

The Prime Minister Meets with the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda held talks with Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, at the Prime Minister's Office.
At the start of the meeting, Prime Minister Fukuda mentioned the friendly relations between Japan and Sri Lanka. Referring to an exhibition on the cultural heritage of Sri Lanka, which is being held in Japan, he said, "Japan and Sri Lanka enjoy a long history of extremely friendly exchanges. I hope that the exhibition will serve as an opportunity for many of the Japanese people to further enhance their understanding of Sri Lanka." In response, Prime Minister Wickremanayake said, "I believe that the exhibition will play a very significant role in our good bilateral relations. I also believe that the exhibition will help the Japanese people understand the culture of Sri Lanka."
At the meeting, the leaders discussed bilateral relations, the Sri Lanka ethnic problem, situations concerning human rights and humanitarian issues, and economic cooperation.
On bilateral relations, Prime Minister Wickremanayake stated that the people of Sri Lanka have a sense of affinity to Japan, owing to Japan's continued assistance to Sri Lanka's development.
On the Sri Lanka ethnic problem and situations concerning human rights and humanitarian issues, Prime Minister Fukuda expressed his concern about the Sri Lanka ethnic problem and requested strenuous efforts toward the resolution. He also indicated the international community's concern that human rights are not fully protected in Sri Lanka and requested further efforts in this regard. In response, Prime Minister Wickremanayake explained the current situation of the ethnic problem, among other matters, including responses taken by the Government of Sri Lanka.
On economic cooperation, Prime Minister Fukuda expressed his expectation that Japan's ODA loans to Sri Lanka, the implementation of which has recently been decided upon, will help the country's socioeconomic development, and requested effective use of the funds.

The Prime Minister Meets with the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda held talks with Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, at the Prime Minister's Office.
At the start of the meeting, Prime Minister Fukuda mentioned the friendly relations between Japan and Sri Lanka. Referring to an exhibition on the cultural heritage of Sri Lanka, which is being held in Japan, he said, "Japan and Sri Lanka enjoy a long history of extremely friendly exchanges. I hope that the exhibition will serve as an opportunity for many of the Japanese people to further enhance their understanding of Sri Lanka." In response, Prime Minister Wickremanayake said, "I believe that the exhibition will play a very significant role in our good bilateral relations. I also believe that the exhibition will help the Japanese people understand the culture of Sri Lanka."
At the meeting, the leaders discussed bilateral relations, the Sri Lanka ethnic problem, situations concerning human rights and humanitarian issues, and economic cooperation.
On bilateral relations, Prime Minister Wickremanayake stated that the people of Sri Lanka have a sense of affinity to Japan, owing to Japan's continued assistance to Sri Lanka's development.
On the Sri Lanka ethnic problem and situations concerning human rights and humanitarian issues, Prime Minister Fukuda expressed his concern about the Sri Lanka ethnic problem and requested strenuous efforts toward the resolution. He also indicated the international community's concern that human rights are not fully protected in Sri Lanka and requested further efforts in this regard. In response, Prime Minister Wickremanayake explained the current situation of the ethnic problem, among other matters, including responses taken by the Government of Sri Lanka.
On economic cooperation, Prime Minister Fukuda expressed his expectation that Japan's ODA loans to Sri Lanka, the implementation of which has recently been decided upon, will help the country's socioeconomic development, and requested effective use of the funds.

Foreign help to test milk powder

Sri Lanka is to seek foreign expertise to test the quality of imported milk powder.

The country does not have the technical know-how required for the purpose, said Consumer Affairs Minister Bandula Gunawardena at a media briefing in Colombo today (Sept. 19th ).

He said the need for testing imported milk powder has arisen after China reported that several infants have died and thousands more fallen sick after consuming contaminated milk powder.

No faith motion forced PB to resign - UNP

The UNP has claimed the undated no-faith motion it had moved against Finance Secretary P.B. Jayasundara had forced him to resign.

Even before he had tendered his resignation, the matter had been leaked to the media, said UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake at a media briefing in Colombo today (Sept. 19th).

The party had tabled an undated no-faith motion in Parliament against the ex-Finance Secretary as that had been the best move possible by an opposition, Mr. Karunanayake said.

Speaking further, the UNP MP said the Central Bank had now resorted to uttering falsehoods to cover up the nudity of the present regime.

The country's debts have doubled in the past three years, he claimed, adding that the government would not be able to raise the 280 million US dollars it needed.

It had been able to find only 59 m USD of a required 70 m USD funding, Mr. Karunanayake said.

He also said the UNP would seek legal redress to ensure the consumer gets the benefit of the reduction of world oil prices to 87 dollars per barrel.

The UNP MP also said SriLankan Airline had suffered a Rs. 9,600 million loss in the past six months.

For the first time in its history, a recent flight of the national carrier had returned from Kuwait without a single passenger, Mr. Karunanayake claimed.

If the airline loses Rs. 2,500 million more, Emirates will take back all its aircraft given on wet lease, he said.

Commenting on the country's hosting the SAARC summit recently, the UNP MP said it had only enabled the foreign minister to undertake tours to several countries.

Sri Lanka should declare "No Conflict Zone" for the IPS in Vanni – AHRC

Hong Kong-based-Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) urge the Sri Lankan government to honour the pledges it has made to provide protection and the necessities of these persons and also create possibilities for those who wish to leave these areas to do so safely. AHRC also urge the United Nations and the international community to assist and to monitor the situation of the internally displaced persons under the present circumstances, via AHRC press release on September 17, 2008.

AHRC said, Jeyapuram Vannen and Akkarayan in District of Kilinochchi be immediately declared a ‘NO CONFLICT ZONE’ for the innocent civilians to find refuge. There is similar requirement also in the area of the District of Mullaithivu. Until this is successfully done all indiscriminate shelling should strictly be avoided.

Armed men get away with Rs. 700,000 from Private bank in Rajagiriya

Armed men have got away with Rs. 700,000 from the NDB bank branch at Rajagiriya on Thursday afternoon, Police said.

Two armed men had entered the bank at 1.30 p.m had collected the money from the counters and got away in a vehicle of one of the customers.

Welikada Police OIC Neville de Silva said so far no arrests have been made.

Teenage Tiger girl surrenderes herself to police

An 18 year old female LTTE cadre surrendered herself to the Thirukkovil Police in Ampara this afternoon.

She had run away from a group of LTTE members who had been hiding in the woods.

There were 10 other young girls in the group and she had run away because the conditions were unberable, she had told the police.

Meanwhile Dehiaththakandiya Police found 200 grams of C4 explosives near the SP42 Bedumela fields last night down the Dehiyaththakandiya - Arlagamvila Road.

A "racer bullet" pistol was also found along with the explosives, police said.

Burmese student monks to demonstrate Burmese Embassy in Sri Lanka

Burmese student monks in Sri Lanka will demonstrate outside the Burmese Embassy on September 26th. September 26th is the first anniversary of the bloody Saffron Revolution led by the Buddhist monks in 2007 that was crushed by the country's military government.

US initiatives to boost Sri Lanka's regional economy

The US Friday announced the launch of a new multi-year initiative, funded by the USAID, to promote economic growth in Sri Lanka's war-ravaged eastern province.

The US embassy said in a statement that the new programme, Connecting Regional Economies (CORE), was designed to increase social and economic security "as part of the US government's integrated strategy to address the root causes of conflict in Sri Lanka".

"By addressing the disparity in economic development between eastern Sri Lanka and the more prosperous western province, CORE aims to establish conditions whereby sustained economic development can be launched," the embassy statement said.

It said that the CORE programme will focus on improving the supply chain and market linkages between producers, processors and end markets in five districts of the eastern, north-central and Uva provinces.

According to the statement, the USAID-funded CORE program would be implemented by 'The Services Group', a US-based company, in coordination with five Sri Lankan government ministries.

The USAID has provided more than $1.9 billion in foreign assistance for economic development programmes, infrastructure, stabilization and disaster relief assistance for Sri Lanka since 1956.

Global Payments Launches Mobile Payment Processing Solution for Merchants in Asia-Pacific

Global Payments Asia-Pacific Limited ("Global Payments"), a joint venture between The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited ("HSBC") and U.S.-based Global Payments Inc. (NYSE: GPN), has introduced a secure GPRS-powered mobile payment service called Global MobilePay(TM) that provides mobile card acceptance capabilities for merchants in the Asia-Pacific region.
Global Payments is one of the first payment processors to launch an extensive mobile payment solution for merchants across Asia. This service is now available in Brunei, China, India, Malaysia, the Maldives, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Taiwan.
Global MobilePay is a sophisticated card acceptance solution that uses GPRS wireless communication network for merchants that need to accept card payments beyond fixed locations or when traditional land line communication does not meet business needs. Merchants can now conduct face-to-face transactions anytime and anywhere. Through Global MobilePay, Global Payments now provides a comprehensive package that includes a mobile payment terminal, SIM card and GPRS network connectivity through a telecommunications partner, as well as payment processing services.

This new offering from Global Payments is ideal for merchants who need to accept card payments away from a retail countertop, such as cash-based delivery service providers or trade show exhibitors. With Global MobilePay, mobile merchants can now accept electronic payments to improve customer service and reduce the cost of handling cash significantly. For merchants in hospitality industries, Global MobilePay can help enhance customer payment experience. Hotels can use this payment solution to offer in-room check in and check out services, while restaurants can provide payment at table services to bring more convenience to patrons.

"Global Payments has always been trusted with superior payment processing, and now with Global MobilePay our merchants are empowered with the best-in-class solution to accept card payments virtually anywhere," said Ian Courtnage, Managing Director for Global Payments Asia-Pacific.

Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN) is a leading provider of electronic transaction processing services for consumers, merchants, Independent Sales Organizations (ISOs), financial institutions, government agencies and multi-national corporations located throughout the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, the United Kingdom, and the Asia-Pacific region. Global Payments offers a comprehensive line of processing solutions for credit and debit cards, business-to-business purchasing cards, gift cards, electronic check conversion and check guarantee, verification and recovery including electronic check services, as well as terminal management. The company also provides consumer money transfer services from the United States and Europe to destinations in Latin America, Morocco, and the Philippines.

Sri Lanka’s Response on Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s Gaza Report

Statement made on behalf of Sri Lanka by Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha, Secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights, during the Interactive Dialogue on the Report of the High-Level Fact Finding Mission to Beit Hanoun
Sri Lanka welcomes the report of the Fact-Finding Mission to Beit Hanoun and the presentation of Archbishop Tutu. The Mission appreciated the need for thorough investigation before pronouncing on so worrying a situation, and we are sorry that Israel did not feel itself able to cooperate with the Mission. The terrible suffering of the Palestinian people over so many decades is an issue that has worried the world, and we believe Israel, set up through the United Nations, and legitimately concerned about terrorist threats to its existence, should make it clear through cooperation with the United Nations that it subscribes to international norms and law, in its efforts at self defence.

Discussion with Israeli personnel was intended to redress the imbalances perceived by Israel, and such discussion should not be denied in a context in which, as even the European Union had indicated, disproportionality was feared.
The issues of disproportionality and compensation raised by the Mission should, Mr. President, make clear the need for a more committed and consistent approach on the part of those who were largely responsible initially for the sufferings of the Palestinian people. Sri Lanka recognizes the horror of what was perpetrated by several European countries against the Jews over many centuries, and in particular, during the Holocaust, and we are glad that such anguish will not recur. For this reason alone, the current commitment of the European Union to Human Rights is welcome. We also understand the need to compensate for earlier aberrations felt after the Second World War. However, that this compensation should have been at the expense of innocent others is something we still cannot understand, and which only could have been possible in a context in which the current concern with equality of rights did not obtain.
But for this reason, we believe it is imperative that compensation for the Palestinians, restoration of lands that were not sanctioned by the United Nations when it established Israel, insistence on strict adherence to social and economic rights as well as political and civil ones, should be promoted by all member states. We hope the report of the Mission will draw attention to lapses, and that Israel, recognizing kinship of suffering, will move swiftly to a political settlement that recognizes the willingness to compromise displayed by democratic Palestinian forces in the midst of so many difficulties. We call then upon those who exercised power sixty years ago, who continue to exercise power now, to temper power with justice and work with commitment and consistency to end the suffering that, perhaps unwittingly, they created so many years ago.

Jehan Perera and International Romance

In the plethora of allegations being flung against the Sri Lankan government with regard to what is claimed to be a humanitarian crisis in the Wanni, Jehan Perera’s most recent essay may serve as an object lesson as to how the discussion has been so sadly affected by prejudice. I have long believed that, unlike many who assume the
government is necessarily bad, Jehan tries to be balanced. Unfortunately he fails
because he begins with preconceptions without considering the facts.
The essay entitled ‘Humanitarian Crisis has larger implications’ is primarily about the decision that ‘all international humanitarian organisations’ should leave the Wanni, which he thinks ‘signals a war without limits and without witnesses’. But this in itself is just plain nonsense. A war without limits means a war which ignores international law, and this is something the government has never done. A war without witnesses implies a determination to do things which will not bear witness, but as Jehan later acknowledges,the government has ‘permitted the ICRC to remain’. Indeed, when the government issued its instructions for others to relocate, it had asked that both ICRC and WFP wait behind, and it was the UN that, in a Three Musketeers mood, announced that it should be all or nothing. – ‘I informed him that …. It is not possible for the staff of one UN agency to work alone’.
Later on, Jehan also criticizes the government for expecting civilians to ‘move out of the LTTE controlled area in the absence of an organized movement of people that is
supervised by reputed humanitarian organisations’, i.e. it is the fault of the government that the UN, etc. are not in Wanni to help the people move out.
What Jehan has conveniently forgotten is that, when the UN was asked to assist in this respect, it got all sanctimonious and said that this was not its business – that, at any rate, was the impression conveyed by reports of what its spokesman had said.
The UN indeed seems to have been in two minds about the whole business throughout,
simply acknowledging the Government’s attempts ‘to facilitate the freedom of movement
of civilians’ while claiming to have ‘raised with the LTTE its urgent concern that civilians, be allowed maximum freedom of movement at all times’, all this shortly before saying, virtually, a plague on both your houses, and that this was for the government and thec LTTE to decide.
Thus, again, after a very positive statement about the government request that ‘UN and NGO staff should relocate’, there was a much harsher statement from New York,
pressed for by the ‘Interagency Group in Colombo’. Jehan was critical of a response to this statement, probably mine, claiming that it pointed out that the situation in other countries with similar problems is much worse, whereas he claims ‘the Sri Lankan conflict is one of the very worst in the world in terms of deaths, including battlefield deaths’. What he ignores is that I was talking not in general terms, but with specific reference to civilian casualties and the comparatively excellent record of our forces in this regard.
Jehan’s claim that the current situation signals a ‘war without limits’ indicates that he is
willing to go along with the canard about our forces. If I did not know that Jehan was
terribly naïve – claiming that his assertion about tit-for-tat, as regards terrorist activity,
was made in a hurry – I would have said he seems to be strengthening the case for the
misconception in New York. As it is, I can only say that he really must learn to be more
careful in his insinuations, and take greater care about language, both what he reads
and what he writes.
Thus, having granted that the government had ‘demonstrated a measure of flexibility’ in
permitting the ICRC to remain, two paragraphs later, he declares that ‘the government
has not shown willingness to compromise on its decision with regard to the eviction of
humanitarian agencies from the Vanni region’. If he can ignore his own words, it is not
surprising that he failed to note it was not a question of ‘eviction’, but that the
government decision was based on its incapacity to ‘ensure the safety of aid workers in
the Vanni’, as the local UN statement acknowledged.
This perception of difficulty arose from several factors. First, there was the LTTE location
of military installations near NGO offices, evidently to raise the spectre of threats to
humanitarian workers when the military installations were attacked. Second, there was
the takeover of the vehicles of a couple of NGOs, with some secretiveness about this
which indicated that, at best, the NGOs were under pressures they could not resist.
Finally, there was an actual attack on an NGO vehicle, after it had been kept for hours at
an LTTE checkpoint and then made to travel in the dark. The conclusion was
inescapable, that the LTTE would be ruthless in the use it made and the advantages it
would take of humanitarian staff and other assets.
And, clearly, the NGOs are not going to stick their necks out and stay in the midst of such danger. Indeed, even when the government gave them safe passage, they decided
discretion was the better part of valour. On the very day Jehan made his
pronouncement, his vision of gallant international humanitarian workers, clothed in white samite, mystic, wonderful, standing bravely by their charges, they were categorically refusing to go to Kilinochchi though the government had cleared the journey. Indeed, the brave Sri Lankan humanitarian NGOs, ignored in their analyses by romantics like Jehan, did travel. But the Interagency Group, which had pressurized New York to ask that they should be facilitated ‘to reach persons affected by the fighting’ sat tight and claimed that ‘In these kind (sic) of situations the humanitarian agencies tend to err on the side of caution. We had to weigh this risk up against the situation for our staff on the ground.’
So much for the knights in shining armour of Jehan’s dreams. What he has to realize is that, in the end, Sri Lankans have to rely on Sri Lankans. This does not mean that there are no wonderful foreigners, willing to help, willing even to take risks on our behalf. But to assume that they can be relied on is to mistake the whole nature of the aid and advocacy industries that have developed in the last couple of decades. We must lay down the policies ourselves, and the parameters of work, whilst acknowledging that fresh ideas and different perspectives are always useful.
We now must ensure the safety and fulfil the needs of our fellow citizens in the Wanni.
It will not be easy, for it is in the interests of the LTTE to ensure that we fail. But with the care the forces have thus far employed, with the commitment to our own that this government – and indeed, previous ones – have evinced, keeping services going for so long even through the period of LTTE abuse, with the dedication of our government officials in the Wanni who have done so much under difficult circumstances, we will succeed. Jehan should support the government in its efforts, like the brave NGO officials who travelled to Kilinochchi yesterday when the white knights stayed behind; and together with all of them, he should urge the LTTE to let our people come into safety.
Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha
Secretary General
Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process

FILM COMPETITION CHALLENGE

The prestigious Commonwealth Vision Awards , jointly organised by the Royal Commonwealth Society and the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association, encourages the development of short film production.

Important changes have been made to the competition. Broadcasters and independent filmmakers from across the five regions of the Commonwealth are invited to submit a written proposal for a short creative film, between 3 – 4 minutes in length, on the theme for 2008, ‘Global challenges and the new generation’

At the first of a two stage process, film-makers aged up to 35 years old are encouraged to provide a written scenario that demonstrates originality and creativity, is relevant to the theme and overall will impact on audiences world-wide.

Up to fifteen of these entries will be short-listed by a selection panel and awarded £1,000 each to assist in the production of the finished film.

At the second stage, judging of the short-listed films will take place in January 2009 and the awards announced and presented in March. The winning film-makers will be invited to attend the Awards Ceremony in London , where the winner will receive £2,500 and a trophy and other awards will be made. The following day, a master class with a leading film director and workshop is planned.

The winning entries will, from January 2009, be broadcast internationally, in both Commonwealth and non-Commonwealth regions, particularly on and around Commonwealth Day (Monday 9 March 2009).
Further information on the competition, an application form and brochure may be received by sending an email to VisionAwards@rcsint.org, or by fax +44 (0) 20 7930 9705 or by writing to: Ms Alice Kawoya , Project Manager, The Commonwealth Vision Awards , c/o The Royal Commonwealth Society, 25 Northumberland Avenue, London WC2N 5AP, United Kingdom. Applications may also be made online at www.rcsint.org/vision



The closing date for initial applications is: Monday 20 October 2008

Sri Lanka Embassy in Washington DC hosts Ifthar

Philip FERNANDO

Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya addresses the Sri Lankan Muslim community in Greater Washington area. In keeping with the tradition of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Washington D.C of commemorating the important festivals of all four world religions practised in Sri Lanka, Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya hosted a grand Ifthar ceremony (breaking of the fast) at the Embassy on September 14, 2008.

A large number of Sri Lankan Muslims and members of all Sri Lankan communities from the Greater Washington area participated in a great spirit of solidarity and fellowship. The Ambassador in his address traced the historical contribution of the Muslims towards the wellbeing and development of Sri Lanka, while referring to them as bridge builders of peace and matchmakers of diverse interests.

In his speech, the Ambassador specifically referred to the prospect of dawn of peace in Sri Lanka and cited the Eastern Province as a shining example of the changing horizon of Sri Lanka. In a widely acclaimed speech, he also focused on the significance of fasting in the Islamic tradition and pointed out how it helps one to feel the hunger of the less fortunate.

He exhorted the large and representative gathering to further the ideals of peace and harmony and appealed that this could be achieved by peaceful coexistence with one another, recognizing unity in diversity.

Director and Chief Imam of the Islamic Centre of Washington D.C., Dr. Abdullah Muhhamad Khouj addresses the gathering. The Director and Chief Imam of the Islamic Centre of Washington D.C., Dr. Abdullah Muhhamad Khouj who officiated at the Ifthar and led the prayers, praised the Sri Lankan community for their togetherness and unity in the sprit of the multicultural traditions of the country.

He spoke at length on the significance of fasting and explained how it could be utilized to discipline oneself and feel for the underprivileged.

He admired the presence of all three communities of Sri Lanka at the ceremony, and praised the officials of the Embassy for their commitment to harmony, and advancing peace and prosperity among all sections of the Sri Lankan community by organizing a grand ceremony of this nature that promotes appreciation of the richness of our multicultural heritage.

Sri Lankan Muslims community in Greater Washington area particpate in prayers led by Dr. Abdullah Muhhamad Khouj. The participants were treated to sumptuous breakfast meal which was jointly organized by staff of the Embassy. The Muslim community in Washington greatly appreciated that this year, the Ifthar was celebrated in as even grander manner than the Embassy hosted the Ifthar ceremony in the past. It was particularly appreciated that the prayers were led by the Chief Imam of the Islamic Centre of Washington D.C., a renowned scholar whose grandfather conducted prayers at the Holy Mosque of Mecca.

LTTE boats beaten off Nachchikudha; 10 boats destroyed, at least 25 terrorists killed

At least 25 terrorists were killed, 10 LTTE craft reported destroyed, including 3 large attack boats in the coastal waters at Valaipadu, off Nachchikudha, following an intense sea battle between Navy and LTTE, Thursday (Sep 18), since 11.30 a.m.

According to naval sources, the battle lasted over 3 hours which erupted 5 nautical miles West of Nachchikudha, forcing LTTE to retreat with heavy damages.

As the battle progressed, naval Rapid Action Boat Squadron (RABS) and elite Special Boat Squadron (SBS) craft were reinforced into the confrontation zone, which launched simultaneous attacks at the approaching LTTE craft. The LTTE boats were led by a senior sea tiger cadre identified as Kadar, military said citing intercepted LTTE communication. An LTTE boat has received damages and was observed towed after the initial interception, according to earlier reports.

Initially 4 suspicious boats were detected off the Valaipadu coast North of Nachchikudha, and confrontation broke-out when the approaching naval craft were attacked by LTTE boats, defence sources said.

More information will follow.

SLAF raids LTTE hideout and defensive positions - Mullaittivu

Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets simultaneously raided a hideout of the senior LTTE leaders and terror defensive positions in the perimeter of the hideout located in northwest of Vishwamadu, Mullaittivu district this afternoon, 18 September.

The air sorties were launched around 4.30 pm and the targeted LTTE hideout, located 2Km west of Piramanthal in Vishwamadu, had been constructed in isolated area with highly concealed manner, Air Force spokesperson, Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said.

Simultaneously, the fighter jets also engaged the defensive positions in the perimeter of the terror hideout, spokesperson added.

Sri Lanka Air Force carried out precious air raids targeting high profile LTTE hideouts and hi-tech facility in Kilinochchi and Mullaittivu districts during last week based on ground intelligence and air surveillances conducted.

Commander Receives an On-the-Spot Assessment in Wanni

Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka Thursday (18) morning, making a trip to Wanni Security Forces Headquarters (SFHQ-W) once again made a point of meeting Special Forces (SF) troops, succeeded in repulsing the intended Black Tiger intrusion attack on the SFHQ-W premises in Vavuniya, several days ago.

Lieutenant General Fonseka touring affected areas in the failed mission, next to the perimeter of the SFHQ-W complex, closely inspected the locations, through which Black Tigers have infiltrated for their suicide mission, and how valiant troops of the Special Forces (SF) in the adjacent camp, thwarted the terrorist attempt by gunning them down. Taking a personal interest, Commander shared his concerns with several troopers who participated in the daring attack against the terrorists and profusely commended them for their bravery and timely action.

Commander, during the routine meeting at SFHQ (W) with Major General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander Security Forces, Wanni and all Divisional Commanders before his visit outside, evaluated the gains hitherto achieved in Mullaittivu and Kilinochchi districts.

Movement of vehicles carrying humanitarian aid along A-9 Road and security concerns, Capture and consolidation of new areas, south of Kilinochchi and different locations in the Mullaittive district, Progress of ongoing operations and possible exodus of trapped civilians, Future contingency plans for troops and affected civilians were among several other areas of discussion that were taken up during the meeting.

Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka also took time off to inspect the Radar site in the complex and a building destroyed in the LTTE aerial attack. Major General Jagath Jayasuriya after welcoming the Commander at the meeting apprised him of the status quo and other operational developments in the Wanni theater of war for liberation of trapped civilians before the meeting got under way. General Officer Commanding in 56 Division Major General Jagath Rambukpotha received the Commander and his retinue at the Air Force ground on arrival.

Twin air raids targetting stronholds in Kilinochchi

Sri Lanka Air Force carried out two successive air raids targeting LTTE strongholds in Kilinochchi district this afternoon, 18 September.

Air Force spokesperson, Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara, speaking to defence.lk said that the SLAF fighter jets carried out air sorties targeting LTTE strongpoint located 3 Km north of Vannerikulam tank this noon.

Meanwhile, SLAF MI-24 helicopters raided another LTTE stronghold located 1 Km east of Vannerikulam tank around 12.30 pm. Both air raids were carried by in support of ground troops of Task Force 1 operating in Kilinochchi front.

According to the defence sources, a fierce gun battle reported between security forces and LTTE terrorists in general area Vannerikulam from this morning.

Two killed, two injured in Ampara

Two persons were killed and two others were injured in an attack carried out by unidentified persons in Pannalgama, 40 kilometres off Ampara town, residents said.

Two persons injured were admitted to the Ampara hospital around 8.00 p.m.

Police said that a team has gone to the area and they were awaiting details.

One-day search operation results in 125 arrests

One hundred and twenty five persons were arrested in Nugegoda as a result of a one-day search operation in Nugegoda, police said. 24 army deserters, 53 persons indulged in drug smuggling, 15 persons avoiding court warrants, 8 suspected Tamil persons, 20 suspected Sinhalese and 5 others due to several reasons were among the arrested. All police stations in the Nugegoda division were invlved in this operation.

Troops to be provided gas masks

Health authorities will make the necessary arrangements to provide gas masks for army personnel especially those who are in the frontlines in the battlefield, Media Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa said today.

Addressing the media, he said it has been established that the forces had came under a CS gas attack this week by the LTTE during fighting and the masks would be provided to safeguard the troops from such attacks in the future.

Sumith Abeysinghe new Treasury Secretary

President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Thursday appointed Deputy Treasury Secretary Sumith Abeysinghe as the new Treasury Secretary replacing Dr P.B. Jayasundera who resigned over the Supreme Court judgment in the LMSL privatisation case.

Transfer of Pakistanis from Lankan jails postponed

The transfer of 17 Pakistani prisoners from Sri Lankan jails to Pakistan has been postponed, the Pakistan High Commission in Colombo has said. Earlier, the transfer of Pakistani prisoners kept on drug trafficking and forged traveler cheques was due to take place today.

No fuel price reduction soon- CPC

CPC Chairman Asantha De Mel ruled out the possibility of reducing fuel prices in the near future despite the sharp reduction of petroleum prices in the international market, since the CPC had incurred a Rs. 52 billion loss during the recent oil crisis.

Mobitel expands more

Sri Lanka Mobitel CEO Mr. Suren J. Amarasekara said at a press conference yesterday which was announcing the launch of the 4th stage of, that Mobitel was “grappling with growth.”

With the launch of this new stage the company aims to enhance its 3G services to cater to the more sophisticated needs of subscribers, which goes far beyond voice communication and include features such as, video calling, video streaming, mobile TV, music streaming and high speed internet. Thus this phase focuses mainly on introducing the latest in wireless data transfer technology, as well as in extending the coverage to remote areas, and beefing up the capacities in existing sites.

In this new stage of expansion Mobitel collaborates with Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd of China. Speaking at the conference the Chairperson of Sri Lanka Telecom and Sri Lanka telecom Mobitel Mrs. Leisha De Silva Chandrasena said the company had chosen to join forces with Huawei due to their “commitment to this particular market.”

She also stated that this partnership would lead be the beginning of a “new chapter in 3G for Sri Lanka.”

Combining the expertise of the Huawei, a globally renowned 3G technology services provider, and the experience and infrastructural capability of the parent company Sri Lanka Telecom, Mobitel is well positioned to deliver unparalleled services and facilities to its subscribers across the island.

A demonstration of new technology still within the confines of the Huawei Technologies research and development laboratory was showcased to the media. This software allows for a transfer of 5.58 megabits of data per second. The purpose of the demonstration was to assert the fact that Sri Lankan and Mobitel in particular were ready for this new technology.

Considering the present growth rate of the company it was noted that the present expansion mark of 2.75 million would be insufficient. In response to this Mr. Amerasekera stated that they hoped to soon launch the 5th stage of expansion in the near future. This stage would increase the service provider’s capacity from 2.75 million to 4 million users.

FR petition against selling of sili sili bags issue

A consumer has filed a fundamental rights suit in the Supreme Court complaining against a charge being levied for the ‘Sili Sili’ bag or polythene bag when purchasing goods from supermarkets and asked court to prepare a guideline with regard to the use of such bags.

Liyanage Ariyapala of Kottegoda, Matara filed this application in the way of a public interest litigation citing the chairman of the Consumer Affairs Authority, Rumy Marzook, Environmental Minister, Pathali Champika Ranawaka, Central Environmental Authority and its chairman Udaya Gammanpila as respondents.

Mr. Ariyapala stated that he purchased goods from a well known supermarket chain in Matara and he was used to being given a free ‘Sili Sili’ bag to carry the goods. But recently he was charged for the bags he was given and when he queried from the cashier the answer was that ‘carrier’ bags were not given free.

The petitioner said there he was charged at the rate of Rs. 5 for a big bag, Rs. 3 for medium and Rs. 2 for smaller one when earlier it was given free.

Filing the application, Mr. Ariyapala stated that charging him for Sili Sili bag was illegal and it violated his fundamental rights.

He further stated that he was aware about the gazette notification where polythene bags under 20 microns thickness were illegal to be used.

He asked for an order preventing the supermarket from charging customers for polythene bags and also requested court to prepare a guideline with regard to the use of polythene bags.

Govt’s responsibility to protect local footwear industrialists’

The Industrial Development Minister Kumara Welgama said that the Cess on footwear had been increased from Rs. 300 to Rs. 400 to protect the small and medium footwear industrialists.
“It is a responsibility of the government to protect the local footwear manufacturers and it is not under obligation to protect the foreign footwear manufacturer. Today, under our government many small and medium scale industrialists have started their industries.

They are the ones who have come forward to uplift the quality of the local industrial programme,” Minister Welgama said.

He was addressing the small and medium scale footwear industrialists at a discussion held at his Ministry.The minister also said:

“In the future, we hope to start a training school together with the FDDI institute in India for footwear manufacturing. Already, we are making the necessary arrangements for it,” he said.

The minister at this discussion agreed to consider a request by the Footwear Manufacturers Association to introduce a loan scheme for the leather tanning industry.

The minister hopes to take steps in the future to decrease the tax percentage paid by factories from the present 13% to 5% and waive VAT and other taxes now levied on imported machineries.

UNP reasons high fuel prices

The government is postponing bringing down fuel prices in order to win over the masses by announcing a reduction through Budget 2009, alleged UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake.

Speaking to the media in Colombo today (Sept. 18th), he Secretary said the government was not reducing prices despite the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation earning a profit of Rs. 1.5 billion after crude prices downed to $91 per barrel in the world market.

He added that the UNP would resort to legal action if the government did not reduce the local prices soon.

Ranil at Court

Colombo District Court judge Sisira Ratnayake has decided that the opposition leader needed not be summoned to court except on an exceptional occasion.

The judge made the remark while taking up a fundamental rights petition that alleges opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe is in contempt of court.

The respondent appeared in person before the court this morning (Sept. 18th) and his lawyers requested the dismissal of the case as there was no adequate evidence to support the charge.

The complainant's lawyers claimed Mr. Wickremesinghe was in contempt of court after having submitted fake documents to the court.

After considering submissions by both parties, the judge deferred delivering his verdict until October 30th.

Lankan student of California University murdered by setting ablaze

A 25 year old Sri Lankan medical student at the University of California succumbed to severe burn injuries yesterday at the National Hospital in Colombo.

The student, Susantha Padeniya, was set ablaze by two persons who were appearing as his friends on August 15 and he saved his life for the moment by jumping into a river. He was in vacation when he faced the mishap.

Since then, the student whose condition was critical was being treated in the National Hospital.

Two persons are in custody on suspicion for the murder.

Sri Lankan government distributes Rs. 30 million for Wanni

The Sri Lankan government has distributed Rs. 30 million for displaced persons in Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi due to the ongoing war in the northern region.

Addressing a press briefing in Colombo this morning, Media Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa stated that in this program, the government has distributed Rs. 25 million for the Kilinochchi District and Rs. 5 million for Mullaitivu.

In addition to these funds, the government has provided all facilities such as food and other essential requirements for the people living in those areas, he said.

"According to the sources, we have been confirmed that there is no shortage of food or any essential items in Wanni," the Minister added.

Government statistics reveal that nearly 135,000 people are still living in Kilinochchi under heavy resistance coming from the LTTE.

Six students injured following University clash

Following the uproar at the Kelaniya University six students were reportedly injured.

UNP nominee elected chairman NCP

P.B. Dissanayaka who was the nominee of the UNP for the post of Chairman of the North Central Provincial Council was elected by a majority of three votes today. He received 17 votes while chief minister Berty Premalal's nominee Weerasena Gamage received 14 votes.

LTTE used ‘CS gas’ on troops - Army

Army probe finds LTTE had recently directed ‘CS gas’ on some troops in the Wanni. The gas is used mostly in anti-hijack or hostage operations.

Indian government asked to justify LTTE ban

A special tribunal in India has asked the central government to justify its renewal of the ban on Sri Lanka's LTTE.

The tribunal, headed by Justice Vikramjit Sen, asked the central government to produce fresh evidence against the LTTE so as to have the ban on the group extended by another two years.

EU MP slams own delegates

The statement made by a delegation from the European Parliament which visited Sri Lanka recently has damaged the reputation of the European Parliament, Geoffrey Van Orden, Member of the European Parliament and Chairman of Friends of Sri Lanka said in a statement.

He said that the government of Sri Lanka went to a lot of trouble to provide generous hospitality and make every possible arrangement for the visiting delegation, and this included a visit to the troubled Eastern Province, which, however, subsequently did not take place following an issue over the aircraft.

“The Delegation leader held a press conference and issued an offensive and tendentious press statement – effectively a biased statement that only served the interests of the LTTE, which certainly did not reflect the views expressed by the European Parliament, and which implied that the authorities were responsible for the failure of the visit to the East. Not surprisingly, there was extensive and very negative press coverage and the reputation of European Parliamentarians has been damaged,” Geoffrey Van Orden said.

He said the negative statement by the delegation came at a very sensitive moment, with the Government making progress in overcoming terrorism and removing LTTE control from more areas in the North of the country.

“At the same time, some seek to undermine Sri Lanka’s position in the GSP+ arrangements. Further damage would be done to the good relations between the Parliament and Sri Lanka if the Delegation leader were now to publish a negative report in justification of the actions by the Delegation, and to offer no apology for its contribution to the recent events,” Geoffrey Van Orden added.

Norway provides emergency relief to Sri Lanka

The Norwegian government is providing NOK 36 million to humanitarian efforts in Sri Lanka. Norway is concerned about the civilian population affected by the conflict.
The Norwegian Foreign Office points to the fact that fighting is intensifying in northern Sri Lanka, where tens of thousands of civilians are now being forced to flee. The humanitarian organisations are working under extremely difficult conditions.
Now that the UN and NGOs have had to withdraw from LTTE-controlled areas, we foresee increased humanitarian needs, the Foeign Office states.

Norway urges all the affected parties to comply with international humanitarian law and ensure that those in need get the assistance they are entitled to, including humanitarian access and freedom of movement for civilians.

The money Norway is now providing will be channelled through UN agencies, the Red Cross and other NGOs.

Troops capture Karambakulam tank bund - Kilinochchi

Troops of the Task Force I, getting another mileage in their quest for peace, captured the entire 1.5 km-long Karambakulam tank bund, about 11 km northeast of Nachchikuda Wednesday (17) afternoon, consequent upon a close fire fight that saw twenty-five Tiger terrorists killed and a similar number badly injured.

Four brave soldiers of the Army sacrificed their precious lives in the encounter that lasted for over three hours in Karambakulam. Fifteen more soldiers wounded in the fight were immediately evacuated to hospitals. At the time, this report was being filed, columns of heroic troops were steadily dominating the tank area after setting up their positions, as Engineer troops simultaneously began removing booby traps and other explosive devices at hand.

Meanwhile, Tiger terrorists operating in the east of Akkarayankulam areas struck against the troops thrice throughout Wednesday (17) before the dusk fell. Confident troops bravely resisted and directed hard blows on the enemy and chased them away, gunning down at least fifteen Tiger terrorists during the three encounters, Wanni Security Forces confirmed.

In the meantime, troops of the 56 Division following the sighting of two LTTE terrorists who were moving towards their bunker in Navatkulam area opened fire at them using small arms and rocket propeller grenades Wednesday (17) morning at about 10.25 a.m.. The bunker was completely destroyed and two terrorists were confirmed killed as a result.

Around 9.50 a.m. on Wednesday (17) again troops attacked another LTTE bunker in the general area of Vilakkvittakulam causing severe damages to it, occupied by three terrorists. It is believed all three terrorists were feared killed in the attack.

A soldier on clearing operations in JANAKAPURA area in Welioya in the meantime sustained injuries due to explosion of an anti personnel mine.

UNP commomarates Former President-JR

UNP MPs Tissa Attanayake, Amara Piyasili , Renuka Herath and Thalatha Athukorala comes together to pay tribute to their former Leader J. R. Jayewardene at his 102nd birth anniversary today.

Deportation of expats arriving on forged papers hits airlines

RIYADH: Foreign workers who were repatriated from the Kingdom’s prisons earlier are being sent home by return flights on arrival in the Kingdom with forged documents.

An immigration official at the Jeddah airport, who didn’t want to be named, said those workers who are sent to prisons and detention camps are fingerprinted when they arrive at the airport for deportation.

“Now, even if they come with different passports, their real identities are revealed after fingerprinting and iris scan at the airport and such passengers are sent back.”

A SriLankan airlines official, who also asked not to be named, said the airline carries at least one such Sri Lankan passenger daily. “The airline is losing a lot of money because it has to bear the travel expenses of workers who are deported from the airport on arrival with forged documents,” he said, adding all airlines are bearing the travel expenses of such passengers.

He said these workers don’t realize that their identities are registered in the database at the airport of the host country and resorting to unscrupulous means won’t work.

He said the influx of such passengers are more in Jeddah since a large number of deportees to India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Bangladesh and the Philippines are repatriated from the Jeddah detention camp.

“We have sent more than 4,600 island workers to Colombo through the detention camp in Jeddah during the past 12 months,” said Abdul Lateef Mohammed Lafeer, Sri Lanka’s consul general in Jeddah. “The detention center in Jeddah is the only camp in the Kingdom that bears the cost of airfare to the workers’ land of origin.” Sri Lankan Labor Counselor L. Abeyratne said either the embassy or the worker has to bear the return passage to Colombo in the event of a deportation.

New Sri Lankan forest 'tourist zone' opened

Sri Lanka's Badagamuwa Forest Reserve has been declared a 'tourist zone' by the country's Forest Conservation Department, in a bid to boost tourism to the area.

The reserve itself is highly accessible as it sits alongside Kurunegala-Dambulla main road and the authorities are keen to promote it as an exceptional tourist area popular for both holidaymakers and young people enjoying gap year travel.

Sri Lanka is well known for its natural beauty and unique biodiversity, attracting naturalists from all over the world to study its rich selection of indigenous plants and animals.

The 300-year-old Badagamuwa Forest covers an area of 500 acres and was declared a nature reserve by the government in 1994.

Sri Lanka's government has made significant investments in infrastructural developments in recent years, having recognised the area's importance to local tourism.

Sinharaja, located in the south-west of Sri Lanka, is the last viable tropical rainforest in the country, and is a Unesco World Natural Heritage Site.

Kirusa partners with Microimage

Kirusa, the world's leading vendor of Voice SMS and a leading developer of value-added mobile services, today announced a partnership with Microimage Mobile Media, a recognized mobile & media technology provider, and the availability of a java client for Voice SMS, enabling mobile users to send Voice SMS messages using their local phone address book. The java client is available today in English, and will be made available in other languages shortly, so that users can receive messages in the language of their choice.
Microimage Mobile Media is the pioneer in providing mobile localization for emerging markets. They provide range of localized messaging & content browsing products to empower native language users. MMM's Java client is available in Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Bengali, Sinhalese, Thaana and many more languages, that allows people to send and receive messages in their own language. MMM's J2ME platform supports handsets like Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, Samsung etc.
"It's great to partner with Kirusa. We aim to continuously enhance our market presence with handset specific client development expertise and pool in lots of innovations to the mobile communications market. We hope this partnership will enable both companies to add value to the existing markets and also enable us to penetrate new markets by providing enhanced functionality," said, Harsha Purasinghe, CEO of Microimage Mobile Media.
With this partnership, Kirusa and Microimage Mobile Media will work to integrate the java client with the Kirusa Voice SMS solution, to support sending and receiving of Voice SMS messages from within the client.
Subscribers will no longer have to memorize and type the phone number of the recipient for sending a Voice SMS. They will be able to select the recipient's name from the phone's address book. In addition, recipients will be able to receive Voice SMS notification in the language of their choice. Further, the notifications can be in different colors, emoticons and background themes.
Ewald Anderl, CTO of Kirusa, said, "Kirusa continuously strives to give our customers the trendiest and most advanced mobile value added services. We are impressed with the technical vision and strength of Microimage Mobile Media in developing mobile client applications, and we are delighted to partner together to bring enhanced mobile value added services to the market."


Microimage Mobile Media is a leading technology innovator for mobile and media domains. The company is a new venture of Microimage, which is a successful college startup from Sri Lanka. The new mobile media venture commenced operations as an independent entity from November 2007. Microimage mobile media provides solutions in the areas of broadcasting platforms and interactive media applications, native language mobile applications/solutions for emerging markets and handset specific applications. Microimage has won many awards and recognition over the years including recognition from GSMA by winning the inaugural GSM Asia innovation award and getting commended at the world awards in Barcelona, Spain. The company has market presence in Sri Lanka, India, Maldives, Laos and Singapore.

Kirusa is the world's leading vendor of Voice SMS and a leading developer of mobile value added services that provide the freedom of multimodality. Kirusa's solutions include the hugely successful KV.SMS(TM), the world's most advanced "Voice SMS" solution that has been selected by more than twenty carriers around the world. The Voice SMS solution allows mobile subscribers to send and reply to SMS messages with voice.
Kirusa's solution works on all handsets and on all networks, and offers the industry's most intuitive user interface, with features such as Direct Listen(TM) for direct access and reply to messages, Speed Codes(TM) for quickly sending messages, group messaging, mobile number portability, background music, interconnection, international Voice SMS. KV.SMS can be deployed in a matter of weeks, and its rapid user adoption has led to explosive revenue growth for Kirusa's customers. Kirusa offers an exchange service for interconnection of Voice SMS messages between carriers, and is pioneering a suite of applications that touch mobile users through voice.
Kirusa has partnered with Qualcomm to deliver a Brew client for sending and receiving Voice SMS messages. Kirusa solutions are built on Kirusa's patented and patent pending technology and its highly reliable and scalable multimodal platform. The platform enables subscribers to cost effectively deploy additional revenue-generating services such as messaging, search, information, and entertainment applications. Kirusa's solutions are used by mobile subscribers millions of times every day.
Kirusa has been recognized as one of top 100 technology companies by Silicon India, and one of top 25 emerging technology companies by Smart Techie magazine. Headquartered in New Jersey and led by an experienced team of wireless telecom executives and technologists, Kirusa has sales offices in three continents, with research and development facilities in New Delhi and in Bangalore, India. 'Kirusa Voice SMS,' 'Direct Listen,' and 'Speed Codes' are trademarks of Kirusa, Inc.

Air Force conducts close air support missions - Kilinochchi

Sri Lanka Air Force carried out two close air support missions for Army 57 division troops operating on the Kilinochchi front this evening (Sept 17).

According to Air Force spokesperson , Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara MI 24 helicopter Gunships have targeted two terror resistance points on the Akkarayankulam tank bund around 5.15 PM.

Sri Lanka will look after its own, to the best of our ability": Peace Chief

Sri Lanka is deeply touched by the concern expressed by countries of the European Union for the human rights situation in some countries in Asia and Africa. We hope that, with advances in globalization, such concern will soon be universal. As others here have pointed out, the moral stature this Council should command requires consistency. Though we know this is not easy, we hope all of us will strive to achieve it in time.

Sri Lanka also appreciated understanding of the fact that "internal conflict is a breeding ground for violations of human rights". A more illuminating description might have been that terrorism breeds such violations, as indeed has been graphically illustrated in so many theatres recently. In this regard, it should be noted that internal conflict is less corrosive when democratic governments are mindful of the rights of their own citizens, on whose approval their mandates rest. Elsewhere, where there is no such sense of responsibility, and where "Othering" occurs, violations as we have seen can be worse.

The same thing applies with regard to the work of humanitarian organizations. Much is made of the fact that Sri Lanka had to impose restrictions on international organizations for their own safety. Indeed, the pomposity of the pronouncements regarding the international community, can sometimes be painful. However, just yesterday, when the government guaranteed safe passage to NGOs to proceed to Kilinochchi, where the LTTE had its headquarters, they would not take the risk, claiming - and I quote - 'In these kind (sic) of situations the humanitarian agencies tend to err on the side of caution'. It will not surprise our friends in this august assembly that representatives of national NGOs did proceed, and of course, kept safe. The ICRC, we should note, has been asked to continue in place, and does so dutifully.

In short, Mr. President, Sri Lanka will look after its own, to the best of our ability, and with the assistance of our friends who care about our people, including the dedicated workers of several UN agencies. Given the caution of the international NGOs, even when the government was able to offer safe passage, it is clear that the best assistance the international community can offer is to persuade the LTTE to let our people go, to the safety of government controlled areas from where - as UNHCR testified with regard to the Eastern Province last year - we can ensure return and restitution as soon as possible.

Whilst most countries spoke with circumspection, and as conspicuously in the case of Japan with productive understanding, we regret the assertion of Ireland that the peace process has terminated. We have explained to the Irish Foreign Ministry in Dublin that the peace process continues, and that terrorism should not be rewarded by being treated as the sole arbiters of peace when other democratically pluralistic Tamils are keen on negotiations and a political solution.

With regard to the aspersions cast on Sri Lanka by others, Mr. President, I have responded elsewhere. Here let me reiterate that it would help the work of this Council if those who spoke here in the spirit of finger pointing were required to register the sources of the funding they enjoy that facilitates and explains their performances. I am not talking of Amnesty International which, with a few aberrations, tries to fulfill its original ideals. But transparency in the case of more hysterical criticism of Sri Lanka would, Mr. President, soon make clear a situation that certainly requires the Council's attention.

Organizations that have not presented audited accounts for several years, where the treasurer has been dead from about the turn of the century, have every right to raise issues, but they should also make it clear from where they come, and where they are heading.

Three Aerial Attacks Cripple Tiger Resistance

KILINOCHCHI: MI-24 FIGHTER JETS, offering its active support for dominating troops in the northeast of AKKRAYANAKULAM this evening (17) at about 5.15 p.m. conducted another air sortie targeting withdrawing terrorists. The precise target enabled dominating troops to carry on with their clearing work in the area.

Meanwhile, Air Force fighter craft conducted two aerial attacks on LTTE gun positions today afternoon (17).

One LTTE mortar position, about 2 km west of VANNARIKKULAM was shelled around 1.20 p.m. About 2 ½ hours later to the above incident, fighter jets again pounded an LTTE artillery position, about 9 km northwest of AKKRAYANAKULAM.

Army Well Geared to Face Any Gas Attacks

COLOMBO: THE SRI LANKA ARMY, as one of the most professional and battle-hardened outfits in the South Asian region, is fully equipped and well geared up to face any unacceptable ‘chemical or gas attacks of the enemy,’ Army Headquarters said Wednesday (17) evening.

The assurance comes in the wake of allegations that Tiger terrorists, now struggling for survival in the Wanni are resorting to ‘gas attacks’ against Security Forces and that some soldiers were already affected. A few soldiers in the Wanni during their encounters with the enemy in the most recent past developed breathing difficulties following emission of a gas, believed to have been directed by the Tigers towards the advancing troops.

Investigations went into the incidence soon after admission of those soldiers to the hospitals have affirmed Tiger terrorists have used CS gas, generally used for anti-hijack or hostage operations in this Wanni instance. Produced in 1928, the name CS gas came to be known after death of its founders Ben Corson and Roger Staughton.

The Army while reiterating its capacity to challenge any such threats in the future has already distributed gas masks among the troops fighting in the Wanni.
It is also pertinent to note here that use of any chemical or gas in the warfare goes against UN stipulated Conventions and worldwide accepted norms, the Army said.

Army Well Geared to Face Any Gas Attacks

COLOMBO: THE SRI LANKA ARMY, as one of the most professional and battle-hardened outfits in the South Asian region, is fully equipped and well geared up to face any unacceptable ‘chemical or gas attacks of the enemy,’ Army Headquarters said Wednesday (17) evening.

The assurance comes in the wake of allegations that Tiger terrorists, now struggling for survival in the Wanni are resorting to ‘gas attacks’ against Security Forces and that some soldiers were already affected. A few soldiers in the Wanni during their encounters with the enemy in the most recent past developed breathing difficulties following emission of a gas, believed to have been directed by the Tigers towards the advancing troops.

Investigations went into the incidence soon after admission of those soldiers to the hospitals have affirmed Tiger terrorists have used CS gas, generally used for anti-hijack or hostage operations in this Wanni instance. Produced in 1928, the name CS gas came to be known after death of its founders Ben Corson and Roger Staughton.

The Army while reiterating its capacity to challenge any such threats in the future has already distributed gas masks among the troops fighting in the Wanni.
It is also pertinent to note here that use of any chemical or gas in the warfare goes against UN stipulated Conventions and worldwide accepted norms, the Army said.

Two Dead Tigers & Five T-56 Weapons Found

WANNI: TROOPS in the aftermath of fierce fighting in AKKARAYANAKULAM throughout the day where the troops were able to capture KARAMBAKULAM tank bund found two dead LTTE terrorists, one rocket propeller gun, one disposable rocket propeller gun, five T-56 weapons, one I-com set and a few more items left behind by fleeing Tiger terrorists Wednesday (17) evening at about 6.00 p.m.

AKKARAYANAKULAM area turned to a heavy battle field during Wednesday (17) as troops rode in giving heavy beating to Tiger terrorists.

2 journalists threatened in Ampara

Two journalists covering a protest against the TNA in Ampara this morning (Sept. 17th) were threatened by a person who claimed himself to be a coordinating secretary to Minister Myown Mustafa.

Correspondents Wasantha Chandrapala of BBC Sandeshaya and Achala Upendra of Swarnavahini have complained to the SSP of Ampara of the incident at Saindamarudu town.

Meanwhile, the Free Media Movement led Five Media has strongly condemned the threat issued to the two regional journalists.

They said in a statement that this was yet another assault on the people's right to information.

It called on the government to conduct a proper inquiry and requested parties concerned to allow regional correspondents to engage in their profession with respect.

President accepts the resignation of corrupt Jayasundara

Treasury Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundara has submitted a letter of resignation to the President today (17).

Presidential Secretary Lalith Weerathunga says that the President has accepted the resignation of the Treasury Secretary.

The Supreme Court ruled that the P.B. Jayasundara engaged himself in a corrupt deal causing losses to state when a land belonged to Lanka Marine Company was handed over to John Keels Company. He was ordered to pay a damage of Rs. 500,000 which he paid immediately.

Against the Supreme Court ruling that he was ineligible to hold the post, he remained without resigning. President's Counsel Vasudeva Nanayakkara filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the Inspector General of Police and the Bribery or Corruption Investigation Commission stating the respondents failed to implement law. The petition is to be heard in future.


Dr. P.B. Jayasundara acted as the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and the Chairman of the Sri Lankan Airline in addition to the post of Treasury Secretary.

Robert Evans swears he did not take bribes from LTTE

Robert Evans , member of the European parliament declaring he is passionately involved with the Tamil rights in Sri Lanka said he has not accepted a single penny as bribe from the terrorist organization Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

"I have not taken a single penny from the LTTE or received orders from Kilinochchi," he said addressing a well attended meeting held at Zoroastrian Centre on Alexandria Avenue , in Harrow of South London organized by the British Tamil Forum, allegedly the front organization of the proscribed LTTE.

Evans who led a controversial trip to Sri Lanka which led to acrimonious exchange of words between he and the Sri Lanka government was replying some of the accusations raised by the media that he is in the payroll of the terrorist organization. He said, "I refused to give only a photo opportunity of shaking hands with Pillayan , the Chief Minister of Eastern Province.

Evans told the meeting marred by violence of the BTF goons why elected members of the Tamil National Alliance , the proxy party of the LTTE , did not stay in their electorates was their fear for life and blamed that on the government .

Simply referring them as elected MP's he did not say how they were elected allegedly in the most fraudulent election ever.

Robert Evans said Sri Lanka would lose the GSP+ concession for its products due to human rights concerns. The Member of European Parliament of the Labour Party warned that Sri Lanka would lose its GSP+ concessions due to human rights issues. He said out of 27 boxes concerning human rights to be tipped in the application to extend the GSP+ by Sri Lanka several boxes remain un-tipped and that's why the island nation is going to lose the concession that would send thousands of factory workers unemployed.

But Sri Lankan authorities said the application has not yet been submitted.

The controversial public meeting held by the LTTE front organization was presided over by another labour Party politician, Minister Garret Thomas whose victory in Harrow electorate depends largely on pro-LTTE Tamils. The meeting was also addressed by Lord Malloch Brown, the Foreign Minister in charge of the South Asian region who was the Chief guest at the gathering on the invitation of the labour MP's.

An anti-LTTE Tamil who attempted to ask a question, from Lord Malloch Brown while he was leaving , since he was prevented from asking questions from the floor, from the latter was assaulted by British Tamil Forum goons in front of the minister close to the entrance.

Due to the commotion the public meeting was closed at 8.30 p.m. and the BTF members were publicly requested to have their negotiations with Garret Thomas the MP for the Harrow area and the pro-LTTE Keith Vaz MP who was also present on the stage . The MP who was in hot water due to his improper dealings with the LTTE did not speak publicly. The most alarming thing in the meeting was Gareth Thomas did not select a single question from one of the hundreds of emails sent by Sri Lankans seemingly not to the liking of the LTTE.

When selecting questions from the floor the British Minister did not show any kind of balance and blatantly restricted the questions to LTTE supporters, whom they categorized as voters of harrow. Pro-LTTE Councillor Idaikar from the stage signed people to applause whenever pro- LTTE statements were made or anti-Sri Lankan statements were made both in questions and answers.

Goons have been openly employed to heckle Malloch Brown, and one well dressed bald headed heckler, who identified himself as Kumar shouted at him: "All Tamils are Tigers". "Tigers thirst is a separate state" and "Pirabhakaran is our beloved leader" were some other slogans heard in the presence of Malloch Brown. At one stage Malloch Brown said questions in the fashion of sloganeering would not resolve the Sri Lankan conflict and no solution could be found in London unless the Sri Lankan parties get together for reconciliation. Malloch Brown seemed to be the one who was speaking only with at least a semblance of impartiality and the other British politicians were speaking as they were LTTE spokesmen or as if they are extremely in want of the nearly one hundred thousand pro-LTTE Tamil votes in Harrow and the surrounding areas.

The most important announcement made at the meeting was that they are pushing a resolution reflecting the Tamil opinion regarding Sri Lanka to the executive committee of the British Labour Party on September 16, 2008 to be adopted by the coming national convention.

"During my visit to Sri Lanka what I told them was there cannot be any solution to the problem without any political solution. There cannot be a military solution in Sri Lanka," he emphasized.

When a LTTE supporter asked him why 40,000 Tamils remained in the rain at the recent Pongu Thamil festival in London Lord Malloch Brown said he could understand the anger but London could do nothing but persuade by bringing pressure using GSP+ on the human rights issue. Britain has brought pressure through the United Nation's Human rights council, and Commonwealth, he said . He ruled out any action through the UN security council.

When he was asked why he shook hands with Pillayan and not Prabhakaran Lord Mallock Brown said he met Pillayan as he was elected in an election however much it was flawed while not endorsing the flaws. At the same time Prabhakaran was not to be found anywhere. On the other hand he leads an organization that is proscribed he said. He said his government fully supports the proscription of the LTTE. When asked whether the British government would de-proscribe the LTTE he said there is a process for de-proscription and the LTTE had not applied for de-proscription since 2001.

When he was asked why the British government does not liken the Eelam situation to Kosovo situation, Malloch brown said Kosovo is an extremely exceptional situation and if that was applied to other situations in not only in Sri Lanka but places like Sudan or numerous other places to embark on the fragmentation of nation states it would be a recipe for world anarchy .

Asked by the LTTE supporters if he would support a government in exile he answered in the negative. He said it was not possible since the Colombo government is an elected one. He said Britiain would condemn human rights violaions by both sides.

Asked whether a referendum should be held in Sri Lanka to resolve the problem Brown said such a thing only could be an outcome of a negotiated settlement.

Brown said the LTTE did not do its part in the ceasefire agreement and the ball is also in the LTTE court for a negotiated settlement.

Asked why he met Pillayan and not LTTE Brown said they remain democratically elected and the LTTE never faced an election. .

Lord Malloch Brown said Britain is no longer an imperial power to order things in Colombo and Britain could only pressure and use all levers to bring pressure like the GSP+. He said there are limits to what they could do. He said they would be glad to welcome a democratically elected leadership in the North. He emphasized it is left for the people of Sri Lanka both the Sinhalese and the Tamils to bring a resolution to the conflict.

Mortar Fire Injures Soldier; LTTE Bunker Captured

VAVUNIYA & KILINOCHCHI: MARCHING TROOPS of the 56 Division operating in PALAMODDAI and North of PALAMODDAI and WEDAMAKULAM areas were able to gun down about eleven terrorists during Tuesday (16) while recovering one T-56 weapon.

Those terrorists while fighting the valiant troops triggered one anti personnel mine and injured one brave soldier. He was rushed to hospital.

Meanwhile, intermittent confrontations occurred between terrorists and valiant soldiers marching forward in the areas east of AKKARAYANKULAM and VANNARIKULAM got rid of at least eight LTTE terrorists and injured fourteen more during Tuesday (16). Soldiers captured one enemy bunker following those confrontations.

A soldier received injuries in AKKARAYANKULAM area around 7.00 p.m. on Tuesday (16) when terrorists directed mortar fire on the troop movements.

Andankulam Fights Inflict Heavy Casualties on Tiger Terrorists

WELIOYA: ANDANKULAM, one of the major battle-hit areas in the WELIOYA sector where Tiger terrorists are resisting the advance of the troops, turned out to be a fierce fighting ground once again on Tuesday (16) as confrontations, exchange of mortar fire and explosion of anti personnel mines dominated until about 7.00 p.m.

Two Tiger terrorists were feared killed and twenty-nine more terrorists received injuries during the day’s incidents. Seven brave soldiers sustained injuries and one soldier sacrificed his life in those areas. Fourteen anti personnel mines, three improvised explosive devices, one I-com set and a few other LTTE items were collected by the troops serving the area. Two of the soldiers sustained wounds following mortar fire directed by Tiger terrorist in RANABAPURA area in WELIOYA.

Meanwhile, a soldier was wounded due to explosion of an anti personnel mine in MUHAMALE area, JAFFNA around 4.00 p.m. on Tuesday (16).

Troops in MANNAR in the meantime found one ICom radio set during a search in PARAPPAKADATAI area around 6.00 p.m. on Tuesday (16).

Suspects in infant selling case refused bail

Kaluthara Chief Magistrate today refused bail to four suspects in the case of selling a three-month-old infant for Rs. 5,000. He also remarked that the receipt given in relation to the purchasing of the child is similar to one given at a grocery store.

Our uncles are watching…

102nd birth anniversary of Former President J.R Jayewardene was held at Sirikotha Today.Pictured here Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe speaking with the Party Chairman Rukman Senanayake.

Man arrested with 102 grams heroin

Kotahena police officers arrested a 51-year-old man who possessed 102 grams of heroin worth Rs400,000 yesterday night.
Police said that the arrest took place opposite Kotehena Tamil Vidyalaya in Kotahena Mahavidyala Mawatha .

One killed in shooting near Minister Mervin Silva's bodyguards house

One man was killed when an three unidentified gunmen fired shots towards the residence of a body guard of Minister Mervin Silva at Kadawatha early this morning.

The body guard identified as Manjula had been playing cards outside the house in Kirimatiyaara when the incident took place but he escaped unhurt. Three others were also injured one of them seriously.

The dead man idenitified as Anuruddha Suranjith.

Colombo stocks crash, index loses more than 1.7%

Associated Motorways Ltd contributed most to the turnover in the Colombo stock market on Wednesday with Rs. 125 million and trading more than 700,000 shares but the day was dominated by sharp falls in most shares, brokers said.

They said John Keells Holdings (JKH) had together with Distilleries and Dialog bought down the stock market. “JKH saw a Rs 1.75 drop to Rs.83.25 and DCSL dropped Rs 2.25 to Rs 72.75. Dialog lost 50 cents to close at Rs 10.25,” a broker said. The All Share Index fell by 40.91 points to 2,280.25 while the Milanka dropped sharply by 51.45 points to 2,581.73 at stock market close. The turnover was at Rs 304 million.

No British recognition of Tamil govt. in exile

Lord Malloch-Brown, British Minister in charge of foreign and commonwealth affairs (Asia and Africa), has said his country would not recognize any Tamil government in exile.

The minister said: “There are political parties representing the Tamils in Sri Lanka. The LTTE is leading a armed struggle. The government in Colombo represents a democratically elected government. The UK government would not support a Tamil government in exile”.

He told a meeting in London that the EU and UK consider the GSP+ as a legitimate tool to apply pressure on Sri Lanka.

The meeting was organised by Gareth Thomas, MP, to give Harrow residents the opportunity to discuss their concerns on the ongoing conflict in Sri Lanka with Malloch Brown, Robert Evans, and councilor Thaya Idaikkadar.

Tamil community members urged the minister to consider stronger sanctions against the Sri Lankan government including withdrawing the GPS+ facility.

The minister said he has already spoken to trade and foreign ministries on the requirement of Sri Lanka to safeguard human rights to secure the extension of GSP+.

“On the one hand we don't want Sri Lankan workers to lose their jobs. On the other hand, this is a trade preference for countries. Sri Lanka has to do a lot to secure that extension,” he told the gathering.

The British minister said Sri Lanka should abide by international standards on human rights for the concession to be extended for another three years.

TN Congress denies military aid to Lanka

In a bid to pacify the Tamil nationalist outfits, who are up in arms against Congress, Tamil Nadu Congress president K.V. Thangabalu has denied the Centre was providing military assistance to the island, 'The Statesman' reported.

“The charges against the UPA government in this regard are totally false. In fact, our defence minister has asked the Sri Lankan government to ensure the safety and security of Tamils,” he told the media.

As reports of injuries to two Indian military engineers, during air raids by the LTTE, is causing widespread resentment among the people, the Congress leader said he had already taken up the issue of the safety of Tamils with the Centre.

He alleged that the BJP and its sister organisations were resorting to attacks against minorities and said that Congress would not be silent spectator to it.

Tourism ambassador overlooked

Sri Lanka's tourism ambassador Dilantha Malagamuwa has reportedly been overlooked by organizers of a tourism promotion event in Tokyo, Japan.

Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickremanayake was the chief guest at the opening of an exhibition to showcase the country's hospitality industry at National Museum Hall yesterday (Sept. 16th).

Only the friends of the Sri Lanka ambassador in Tokyo have been invited to the event that will continue until the end of November, reports said.

Even the SLFP's Japan branch head Anura Batuwatte had not received an invitation.

After the opening of the exhibition, the Prime Minister is due to attend a conference of international travel agents in the Japanese capital.

He is accompanied in the tour by Tourism Deputy Minister Faizer Mustafa and East Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan.

Lodgers in WP told to register

Police direct persons from the North who are temporarily lodged in the Western Province to register with the nearest police station.

In a notification, Police have also said that all such persons should register themselves by calling over at the police between 8.00 am - 6.00 pm before September 21st.

They are required to bring along documents to prove their identity, the Police Headquarters .

Sri Lanka Marxist party seeks to reappoint Wasantha Samarasinghe to the national list seat

Sri Lanka Marxist People's Liberation Front (JVP) informed the General Secretary of the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Susil Prema Jayantha in writing to appoint Wasantha Samarasinghe to the vacant seat of the UPFA national list.

Wasantha Samarasinghe resigned from the national list seat to contest the North Central Provincial Council election as the Chief Minister candidate of the JVP. He was elected to the council but submitted his resignation.

JVP insists that the national list seat belongs to the party in accordance with the UPFA agreement. Meanwhile, certain government politicians say that the agreement between the JVP and the government is now defunct since the JVP is sitting in the opposition.

High yielding rice variety introduced in Sri Lanka

Rice Research and Development Institute in Bathalagoda has developed a new high-yield rice variety.

The Deputy Director of the Institute Dr. Nimal Dissanayake says that the new variety yields 120 to 130 bushels per acre. The new rice variety identified as AT 308 yields in three months and can be grown in any part of the country.

BG 358 and BG 360 Samba rice varieties yield around 130-160 bushels per acre. But they can be grown only in some zones of the country.

17 Pakistanis in Sri Lankan jails to be shifted to Pakistan

The Sri Lankan government will transfer 17 Pakistanis kept in prison here on drug trafficking and forged traveler cheques, on September 18 (tomorrow). The release of Pakistani prisoners will be made under an agreement for the transfer of prisoners ‘Transfer of Offenders’ signed in 2004, according to a statement issued by Pakistan’s High Commission in Colombo.

The prisoners will be received in Karachi by the Pakistani immigration authorities, and will later be handed over to prison officials of the Home Department of Sindh to complete the remaining term of their imprisonment.

The prisoners are Ziauddin Malik, Muhammad Saleem, Muhammad Farooq, Shahzad Ahmad, Muhammad Iqbal, Faizur Rehman, Muhammad Sarwar, Hassan Ali, Muhammad Rafique, Najamul Hassan Akif Shoaib, Hussain Ahmad, Ali Ahmad, Saadat Rasheed, Syed Tariq ur Rehman, Ali Akbar Shah and Syed Najamul Hassan.

The prisoners have thanked President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Sri Lankan government for allowing their transfer.

They also thanked the Pakistan High Commission who were closely involved with the progress of their cases and worked hard to provide expeditious relief.

Some of the prisoners had been languishing in Sri Lankan jails for upto 14 years. Most prisoners are apprehended for drug trafficking and follow a lengthy process of trial and conviction the maximum penalty of Sri Lankan laws prescribe death for Norco-trafficking of any amount.

It was a persistent effort by the Pakistan High Commission, who with some key political support and expeditious trials by the courts have been able to dispatch the prisoners to enable them to celebrate Eid in Pakistan. It would now be possible for their near and dear ones to visit them in jail.

This is only the second such transfer based on the Agreement. Six prisoners were previously transferred in July 2006 under the agreement. The prisoners are required to serve their remaining sentence in Pakistan.

Malaysian Indian woman to sue for false detention

A Malaysian Indian woman is seeking compensation and an unqualified apology from the Malaysian immigration department for her wrongful detention for 11 months after she was mistaken for an illegal alien from Sri Lanka.

Perak state's Health, Environment and Human Resources Committee chairman A Sivanesan relayed Rajeshvari's demand during a media conference in Ipoh on Tuesday.

Urging the department to check all detention depots in the country, Sivanesan said he feared that Rajeshvari's case could be "just the tip of the iceberg".

He said it had been two weeks since Rajeshvari's release, but the immigration department director-general Mahmud Adam had been "dead silent" on the matter.

"There is no apology, offer of compensation or visit to her house to explain her wrongful detention," he was quoted as saying by The Star newspaper.

Rajeshvari spent 11 agonising months at the depot for illegal immigrants because she could not recall her MyKad (identity card) number and was not fluent in Bahasa Malaysia, the official Malaysian language.

The 22-year-old, who was six months pregnant then, was waiting for a relative at a coffee shop in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, when a raiding police party asked to see her MyKad. She failed to produce her identity card as she had lost it.

Noting that Rajeshvari planned to sue the department, Sivanesan said the police officer and immigration department officer involved in her arrest and subsequent detention should explain why she was detained for so long.

Barat M. Kulasegaran, MP from Ipoh, said when Rajeshvari was charged in court, she was not given an interpreter who could converse in Tamil nor was she given any legal representation.

"It is the court's duty to provide an accused with an interpreter and a lawyer," he said.

Rajeshwari was mistaken for an illegal Sri Lankan immigrant by the Malaysian authorities despite her repeated pleas that she was a local. She gave birth to a boy, Logekali, while in detention.

"I know it's my fault that I could not produce or remember my identity card number but I did give the officers my address and school's name only to be told that these did not exist," she said.

She claimed she told them this several times in Bahasa Malaysia but they did not believe her.

"I was never a bright student and left school at 13 but I can still converse in basic Bahasa," Rajeshvari added.

With help from Malaysian Indian Youth vice-president Andrew Raju, she finally managed to obtain a birth certificate for her 10-month-old son and a temporary identity card for herself.

Rajeshvari now wants to put the nightmare behind her and start afresh.

"I want to forget the agonising months at the detention centre and be with my family again. All I want is the best possible future for my son," she said.

Sri-Lankan rupee declines against US dollar

The Sri-Lankan rupee declined against the US dollar in early trading on Wednesday. At about 12:20 am ET, the Lankan currency touched 107.92 against the buck, compared to 107.87 hit late Tuesday in New York.

Sri Lanka's economic growth accelerated in the second quarter despite inflation at double digits.

A report from the Department of Census and Statistics showed that the economy grew 7% year-on-year in the second quarter, quicker than a 6.2% expansion seen during the first three months of the year. A year ago, the economy had grown 6.4%.

The central bank has retained its key interest rate unchanged at 10.5% for the nineteenth straight session in its battle against inflation.

Hearing impediment –Cochlear implant

One year old baby Zaid Nazreen is having hearing impediment in both his ears from his birth. On a referral made by Consultant ENT of the Durdans Hospital Surgeon, Dr.A.D.K.S.N. Yasawardana, Consultant at the Apollo Hospitals, Colombo, Dr.Devanand Jha has advised Cochlear implant surgery which is estimated to cost between Rs.1,800,000 to Rs.2,800,000 depending upon the model of implant to be used.

Baby Zaid’s parents cannot afford this amount and hence his father, who is an employee of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), appeals to the generous public for help. Contributions may be sent to A/c, No.5490564 of Bank of Ceylon, Independence Square branch, Colombo 7.

Jets raid high profile LTTE hideout in Kilinochchi

SLAF fighter jets launched successive air strikes at key LTTE locations in Kilinochchi and Mullaittivu including a 'high profile' LTTE hideout located in the Vattakachchi area, Wednesday (Sep 17) at around 6.35a.m.

The targets were acquired with precision on reliable ground information received Air Force Spokesperson, Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said.

The target at Vattakachchi area has been identified as a secret LTTE hideout and was engaged on real-time information received of the presence of a key LTTE figure, defence intelligence sources said. This is a site most frequented by the terror chief, and LTTE is expected to remain tight lipped on the casualty figures, defence observes state.

Heavy traffic in enemy communication circuits was experienced immediately after the attack and subsequently had died-out, maintaining silence over the circuits, sources said citing LTTE electronic emission and radio monitoring reports.

Meanwhile, an LTTE ammo and arms storage was hit in a similar air strike, 3km North of Udayarkattukulama, Mullaittivu, at around 6.30a.m., Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara further said.

Asst.Engineer shot dead in Kalawanchikudy

An assistant engineer attached to the Ministry of Nation Building was shot dead this morning at her residence in Kalawanchikudy in Batticaloa.

The dead engineer has been identified as Logeshwaran Premalatha (28).

Two unidentified men who had come to her residence around 7.30 this morning had opened fire killing her, Police said.

Mervyn private sec’s house fired at

One dead 3 injured after shots were fired towards the house of Amal Rodrigo private secretary of Minister Mervyn Silva, in Kadawatta this morning.

Catholics should be grateful to President for liberating Madhu - Vatican Cardinal

A delegation from the Asia region for the Liturgical Convocation of the Catholic Church called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees yesterday.

The entire Catholic community in Sri Lanka should be grateful to President Mahinda Rajapaksa for liberating the historic Madhu Shrine from the terrorists and restoring to the Church, Vatican Cardinal Francis Arinsay said when he called on the President at Temple Trees yesterday(Sep 16).

President Rajapaksa said the adherents of all religions in Sri Lanka always act with mutual understanding and commended the patronage extended by all religious leaders in this connection.

"The Security Forces liberated Madhu Shrine to further consolidate the religious freedom and peaceful co-existence among fellow-citizens. The Security Forces were cautious enough to conduct their operations to ensure no damage would be caused either to the Madhu Church or the nearby buildings," the President said.

Although the retreating terrorists inflicted damage to the Church, the Security Forces renovated the buildings and handed back to the Church authorities to conduct the religious observances, he said.

Cardinal Arinsay said only after his arrival in the island he was able to see the actual situation.

"Sri Lanka is blessed with natural beauty," he said.

Vatican representative in Sri Lanka, Archbishop Mario Senari, Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith and Ministers Milroy Fernando, Pandu Bandaranayake, Dayashritha Tissera, Sarath Kumara Gunaratne and Neomal Perera were also present.

Laugfs Solid Tyres now in European market

The first consignment of tyres made by the Laugfs Rubber Corporation Limited, a fully owned subsidiary of Laugfs Holdings Limited, was shipped to a European destination last week.
Understanding the strategic advantages of Sri Lanka being a leading natural rubber producing country in the world and recognizing the promising export potentials to the global market, Laugfs Rubber acquired the defunct Three-wheeler tyre manufacturing plant from the former Sri Lanka Rubber Export Manufacturing Corporation located at Millawa, Horana in the year 2007.

Later, Laugfs Rubber transformed this abandoned factory into an ultra modern solid and industrial tyre manufacturing facility with an investment of Rs.450 million as a BOI approved project. Located in the midst of the rubber producing lands of Horana, the Laugfs Rubber manufacturing facility is capable of producing high quality solid tyres to the world market. With this move Laugfs Holdings entered into the export market and has planned to become a leading solid tyre exporter to the world market within the next few years.

Whilst many Sri Lankan solid tyre manufactures produce tyres under others brands, Laugfs produces and markets solid tyres under their own “Laugfs” brand and market globally through its global marketing network. For the marketing of “Laugfs” solid tyres, Laugfs Rubber has formed a holding company in Hong Kong and has distribution centers in North America, Canada, Europe, Australia and the Middle-East. Laugfs joins hands with very eminent personalities in the global solid tyre marketing and distribution to strengthen this effort. Laugfs Solid tyres are produced and exported to overseas export market clients (OEM) and also for the replacement market.

Having started initially with only 15 metric tons of production per day, Laugfs production capacity will be gradually enhanced to 100 metric tons per day by the first quarter of 2009.This will equal exports of 200 containers per month from Sri Lanka to the world market under the Laugfs Brand.

SC dissmisses FR application

The Supreme Court came to a conclusion that proper procedure be adhered to in awarding the bid for oil exploration in the Mannar Basin and terminated the proceedings of the fundamental rights petition.

The Bench comprised Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva, Justices Ms Shiranee Tilakawardane and N.G.Amaratunga.

In this case an attorney-at-law Malika Gunasekera cited Petroleum Resources Minister A. H. M. Fowzie, Members of the Petroleum Resources Development, BOI and Niko Resources Ltd, an unsuccessful bidder and Cairn India Ltd, the successful bidder as respondents.

Mr. Gunasekera in a public interest litigation claimed that he filed this petition to prevent the wrongful alienation of an invaluable resource of the country for the benefit of surreptitiously selected party. He claimed that the petroleum oil exploration of the country, in Mannar Basin had been awarded in violation of established and mandatory tender procedures / procurement guidelines of the Government.

The petitioner stated that by awarding the tender to Cairn India Ltd an immense loss and damage would cause to the finances of the people of the country on a continuous long-term basis, with further detrimental implications for the future development of the petroleum oil exploration of the country.

In his petition he further stated that the country spends more than US 3 billion a year on oil imports and with rising oil process in the world, this is likely to rise to over US 5 billion a year and one of the main strategies in saving the country from such unbearable burden has been to identify areas for the exploration of oil, within the territorial waters of the country.

In order conduct a survey in 2002, the government entered into an agreement conducted Seismic Survey with TGS Survey of Norway and under the terms of agreement TGS was allowed to sell the findings to prospective oil exploration companies to cover the cost. And these findings had been sold to two oil exploration companies based in Britain and India.

Subsequently the oil exploration had been awarded to Cairn India Ltd violating the established government guidelines and tender procedure, the petitioner complained.

Filing this application the petitioner asked court to declare that well published international offers be called for in a transparent, open and competitive basis to be processed strictly in conformity with established government guidelines for oil exploration in all blocks in the Mannar Basin.

Having heard the application the court dismissed the application and terminated the proceeding.

S. Srikantha appeared for the petitioner Malika Gunasekera. Romesh de Silva with Sugath Caldera instructed by G.G.Arulpragasam appeared for Cairn India (Pvt) Ltd and M. A. Sumanthiran appeared Niko Resources Ltd of Canada. State Counsel Milinda Gunatilake appeared for the State.

Jailing of Thero : Environmental Ministry responsible

UNP parliamentarian Lakshman Kiriella, lamented that Buddhist prelates are being imprisoned because of the inefficiency and laziness of the environmental Ministry. Even after the Supreme Court gave a ruling in 2005 to the Ministry to formulate regulations, as the existing laws on noise pollution are not clear, the Environmental Ministry and its Central environmental authority have not taken any action. The UNP had also invited them to present them to Parliament and that the UNP will support the legislation, but the Ministry is irresponsibly ignoring this issue, he added.

Owing to this delay, all religious leaders are under grave threat of being jailed. If a Temple or a place of religious worship uses a loudspeaker, the incumbents can be arrested for noise pollution on a complaint to the Courts, as nobody knows what volume of noise is permissible. The failure of the Ministry to formulate the regulations and legislate laws, for the Courts to follow has resulted in this uncertainty to the peril of monks and religious Leaders specially, he regretted.

The environmental Ministry like all the other Ministries of the Government is engaging only in bluffs and sidetracking the issue, stating that they are waiting for Court direction. The Courts have never stated not to get the legislation passed in Parliament at any time. The UNP too will give its fullest support if a bill is presented, he asserted.

Even the Education Ministry is toeing the same line to the detriment of children’s education. It is unable to formulate regulations in regard to the admissions of children to schools. Only after a parent took the Education Dept. to the Courts that the Ministry acted. Yet, School admission muddle is still raging, he exclaimed.

UNHCR saddened by drowning of Lankan refugees

The UN refugee agency is deeply saddened by the death of eight Sri Lankan refugees who drowned last Friday while trying to return home by boat from southern India. “We appeal to refugees to use official channels to return home in safety and dignity,” UNHCR said.

SAARC opposition to terrorism, support and concern for citizens

(By: Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha- Secretary General, Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process )
The Peace Secretariat welcomes the statement by the Defence Minister of India regarding concerns about civilians in the North. Recently, in an interview with the BBC, the question was put as to whether the comments of NGOs such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, along with the position of the Indian government, suggested that the Sri Lankan government was being isolated.
My response was that, whilst the general approach of HRW and the particular approach now of AI were apparent, and had been dealt with, there was no disparity between the position of the Sri Lankan and the Indian governments. As far as the Sri Lankan government was concerned, our Tamil fellow citizens were sacrosanct, terrorism was not, and had to be dealt with firmly. This as far as one could understand was the position of the Indian government too.
Defence Minister Antony seems to have confirmed this, in saying quite clearly now that 'While taking action against the LTTE, steps should be taken to protect the civilian Tamils in Sri Lanka and ensure their safety and security.' This is obviously true, which is why the government continued throughout to provide social services to civilians under LTTE control, why it continues with the assistance of the UN and NGOs to provide humanitarian assistance, why it has requested the ICRC to stay on to monitor the situation, trusting that the experience of the ICRC will enable it to better withstand LTTE pressures to abuse aid and equipment.

Unfortunately, many other commentators, whilst urging for civilians the concern the government has throughout manifested, have failed to make it clear that the struggle against terrorism must continue. The Indian Defence Minister has made clear that that should not be abandoned. Such understanding of the difficulties Sri Lanka faces confirms our sense of the commitment of our SAARC neighbours from which we have benefited. Recently, at a briefing meeting in Geneva, the representatives of both Pakistan and India made clear their support for Sri Lanka in its current difficulties, the latter noting that India expected Sri Lanka, in its current role as SAARC Chairman, to take the lead in the struggle against terrorism.
We will strive therefore to fulfil the humanitarian expectations of our friends, as well as of those international agencies whose primary concern is our suffering people. We trust that none of them will lose sight of what should be our joint objective, a democratic pluralistic country free of authoritarianism and terror.

Relocation of NGOs and INGOs will not stop relief activities

Relief activities will not come to a halt by the relocation of NGO and INGO offices from LTTE-held areas to Vavuniya as the Government already provides adequate humanitarian and relief services to needy citizens in these areas, Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights, Mahinda Samarashinge said today (16).
Despite the heavy pressure excerted on the withdrawing staffs of the INGOs and NGOs a significant number of organizations have evacuated the areas with their assets and staff in response to the Government request on the 8th of this month, the Minister added.
He also said that these organizations will all relocate before the 29th of this month, additing that they are welcomed to continue their relief activities by setting up offices in Vavuniya.
Speaking at a media briefing in Colombo this morning, MinisterSamarasinghe noted that this step was taken to ensure the safety of all INGO and NGO personnel working in these areas.
Government officers joining the Minister at the media conference said that at present there is an uninterrupted flow of goods and services to civilians in the Wanni through government channels and added that the activities will be further strengthened over the next few days.

GOCF and EU conduct Art Exhibition of disadvantaged children in Sri Lanka

Gods Own Children Foundation with the support of the European Union conduct Disadvantaged Children’s Art Exhibition themed “Needs of Children & Adults in Jaffna” in Colombo .
This exhibition will mark the International Children’s Day (1 October) and the exhibition will be held on 30 September 2008 (9.00am – 8.00pm) & 1 October 2008 (9.00am – 1.00pm), at the St. Paul’s Milagiriya Church Hall, Colombo 4.

The drawings of differently-abled children studying at special needs schools in Jaffna operated by Gods Own Children Foundation will be on display. The artwork will be auctioned to the highest bidder in order to raise funds towards establishing a resource centre for the children.

Gods Own Children Foundation is a non profit organisation currently operating three non-fee levying Special Needs Schools in the areas of Ariyalai, Point Pedro and Siththankerny in the Jaffna Peninsula for over 350 children. The Schools accommodate 2 – 16 year old children with physical disabilities as well as children with learning disabilities.

An exhibition was also held in Jaffna on 7 & 8 September 2008 at the Ilam Kalaignar Mandram Hall in Nallur, Jaffna. The exhibition was a great success with an estimated crowd of 5000 attending.
GODS OWN CHILDREN is a Non Governmental , Non Profit organisation which was established to assist Disadvantaged Children in the Jaffna Peninsula. GODS OWN CHILDREN FOUNDATION is a Non Political entity , and provides equal opportunity and access to Education to all Disadvantaged Children who seek our services , and does not discriminate on the basis of Religion , Caste , Creed or any other factor.
Gods Own Children operates Non-Fee levying special needs schools in the Jaffna Peninsula in Sri Lanka.

Twin air strikes at LTTE gathering points- Kilinochchi

SLAF fighter jets made precision air sorties at two separate LTTE gathering points located 3km and 4.5km West of Iranamadhu, Kilinochchi, Tuesday(Sep 16), at 10.10a.m.

According to Air Force Spokesperson, Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara, the air strikes were made in assistance of the advancing 57 Division troops now operating in the outer perimeters of Kilinochchi.

More information will follow.

Bomb blast at Hortan Place

The conductor of a state run bus averted a major disaster after he detected a bomb placed inside the bus and evicted the passengers before the explosion went off at Horton place, Colombo 7, Police said.

Twenty eight year old Manjula Udayanga, the conductor of the bus plying between Mattakkuliya to Moratuwa had observed the parcel under a seat near the Alexandra Petrol shed on Horton Place and ordered the passengers off the bus.

He said he also alerter two policeman on traffic duty and in turn the bomb squad had been summoned. For safety purposes the bus was driven to a safer location closer to the Art Gallery.

"We were awaiting the arrival of the bomb squad when the explosion went off causing a huge sound", he said.

He said that all seats were full and there would have been about 40 passengers in the bus when the bomb was detected.

Though all passenges were evicted, four persons were injured. One of them was passing in a vehicle at the time of the explosion while three others complained of hearing problems after the blast.

Police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekara said that the about 300 grams of explosives had been used in the bomb.

Determined, Dared and Done Again!

A Team of Special Forces that crept through a gap in the LTTE defenceline east of Akkarayankulam engaged in a fierce fight with 5 LTTE teams from Charles Anthony and Imran Pandian units this morning killing 60 Tigers. 8 Special Forces died in the fight and 20 others received injuries.

4 Battalions of regular infantry were dispatched to guard the periphery of the area as the Special Forces took on the Tigers. Heavy artillery and MBRL fire was directed at the enemy for almost five hours.

The SF team engaged in today's battle was from 1 Special Forces. Special Forces deployment was increased in the area following the deployment of LTTE 'elite units' in Akkarayan. The decision was made at a meeting between Commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka, Maj. Gen. Jagath "Choola" Dias (GoC 57), SF CO Brigadier Nirmal Dharmaratne and Brigadier Shavendra Silva (GoC TF-1).

Meanwhile Tigers have started digging another trench parallel to the A-9 from Kilinochchi to Iranamadu via Kokavil using forced civilian labour and heavy equipment captured/surrendered from NGOs. Some of this equipment was destroyed in an air strike yesterday.

The 59 Division operating in the general area Nayaru are set to capture the Nayaru Bridge within the next few hours. The pace of the operations have increased following intelligence reports of a possible LTTE attempt to blast the bridge.

If the bridge is captured, the next towns to fall would be Chemmalai,
Alampil and Mulaitivu, in that order.

Arjuna complains STF harassment

UPFA MP for Colombo Arjuna Ranatunga has claimed a drunken group of police Special Task Force members had abused him in filthy language.

The ex-cricketer had complained to Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa that he had been in a vehicle with friends near Global Tower in Colombo yesterday (Sept. 15th) when the altercation happened.

Mr. Rajapaksa had ordered the IGP to investigate the matter, following which a team from the Police Headquarters had visited the scene of the incident.

They had arrested several STF members who were on duty there and produced them before the judicial medical officer, only to be told that they had not been under the influence of liquor.

Speaking to media, a senior police official said the STF team had been investigating a suspicious vehicle parked at the scene, when Mr. Ranatunga had abused them in filthy language.

The MP had then lodged a false complaint with the Defence Secretary, said the police official.

The Defence Ministry has handed over the security of coastal railway track to the STF following several bomb blasts on the line recently.

The team in question had been searching the stretch between Bambalapitiya and Wellawatte at the time.

Janaka Perera wants govt. honesty

The UNP is prepared to support efforts to eliminate terrorism if war is not made political tool, said opposition leader of the North Central Province retired Maj. Gen. Janaka Perera.

He was speaking to the media in Kandy, where he called on chief prelate of Malwatte Chapter, Most Ven. Tibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera yesterday (Sept. 15th).

The soldier-turned-politician said he was prepared to return to the warfront if the government waged the war with honest intent.

"I will truly side with the government if it wages this war for the unity of the country and to eliminate terrorism. I am the only military commander who had been saying all along that the LTTE can be defeated. That is what I said when I was in the diplomatic service as wll. I will never change that stance."

Speaking further, the politician said that he was not a coward, and had served in every northeastern war theatre during UNP as well as PA regimes, adding that he would continue to fight on behalf of the country.

Bomb blast at Hortan Place

Bomb blast was went off at a bus when it was checked by the
Security Forces.
According Police one person was injured due to the blast.

UN aid workers complete pullout from Wanni uncleared areas

All remaining UN aid workers pulled out from the uncleared areas of the

Wanni today, UN Spokesman in Colombo Gordon Weiss said.
He said that the pullout took place with the escort of the LTTE, after

previously civilians held demonstrations and protested about the

pullout.

The last batch to pull out had 35 staff members including 11

foreigners, he said.

Earlier the government had told UN aid workers and INGOs to pull out

from the uncleared areas.

SSP Ajith Fonseka dies of heartattack

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajith Fonseka, 55 passed away

of a sudden heart attack at his office this morning, police said.

SSP Fonseka was in charge of the Fort, Pettah and Slave Island areas.

He joined the police service in 1973 and promoted to the rank of SSP

in year 2000.

He leaves behind his wife and three children.

Hartal agaisnt the presence of TNA MP

A hartal campaign has been launched in the Akkaraipattu and Thirukkovil areas in protest agaisnt a TNA MP who planned to visit his hometown, reports from the area said.

The civilians have condmended the MP, Chandrakanthan Chandranehru for his failure to criticise the actions of the LTTE.

They pointed out that the LTTE in certain areas have warned Tamil civilians not to carry out farming activities and the TNA MP had failed to condemn the LTTE's actions.

SAARC Trade Fair 2008 clinched orders worth Rs. 46 million

SAARC Trade Fair 2008 which concluded in Colombo recently clinched orders worth Rs. 46 million of which Sri Lankan entrepreneurs received firm orders amounting to nearly Rs 24 million.

Of the 305 stalls, around 100 stalls were occupied by the regional countries-India (35 stalls) and Pakistan (15).

The Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) responsible for organizing this fair, have similar such fairs in the offing in the coming months.

Among those are Hands Lanka Exhibition 2008 at Lanka Exhibition & Convention Centre (SLECC) on October 9, Expo Fisheries Sri Lanka 2008 also at SLECC on November 7 and National Agribusiness & Dairy Exhibition at BMICH on December 7.

Intense patrolling along Palk Straits

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the Indian Navy have intensified their patrolling in Palk Straits, following information that LTTE cadre injured in war with Sri Lankan forces were planning to cross over to India clandestinely.


Defence services here have deployed patrol vessels, gun ships, interceptor boats and hovercrafts of ICG and Indian Navy, to keep vigil along the International Maritime Boundary Line.

According to information reaching intelligence agencies here, LTTE cadets injured in the on-going hostilities had no proper medical facilities.Therefore, the soldiers and officers of the LTTE were planning to cross over to Tamil Nadu for treatment. A senior defence official said that intensive patrolling was launched three days ago based on reliable information.

Sri Lanka may hand over rebel leader to India

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse has said if Tamil Tiger's supremo Vellupillai Prabhakaran is captured alive by government troops, the government may hand over him to India.

Rajapakse told foreign correspondents based in Colombo Monday evening that he didn't know where the rebel leader is, who is also being wanted by India in connection with the 1991 assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

The president said the Sri Lankan government might consider sending Prabhakaran to India if the later makes such a request.

Rajapakse's comment came as government troops advanced further into the northern Vanni area controlled by the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Government sources said the troops are now only about 5.5 km from the LTTE's administrative center of Kilinochchi.

UN agencies and non-governmental humanitarian organizations are leaving Vanni after the government said it can no longer ensure their safety as heavy battles between government troops and the LTTE are expected in the near future.

The president said the government will take control of the whole Vanni very soon and free all Tamils in the north from the clutch of the LTTE, but he refused to give a time frame.

He also called on Sri Lankan Tamils living overseas to stop supporting the LTTE and "come back to Sri Lanka to join the peace and development process."

"An election will be held in the north after defeating the LTTE. The people will have a chance to choose their own leaders," said the president.

Stressing that the government is still committed to a negotiated settlement to the ethnic issue, the president said he is waiting for the report of the All Party Conference, appointed by himself in early 2006 to find a political solution.

He said the government will not talk to the LTTE unless the rebel organization lays down arms, but it is ready to talk with other Tamil leaders and Tamil people.

Claiming discrimination at the hands of Sinhalese majority governments, the LTTE has been fighting against government troops since the mid-1980s to carve out an independent Tamil homeland in the north and east, resulting in the death of more than 70,000 people.

Conflicts between the two sides began to escalate in 2006 and government troops regained control of Eastern Province in 2007 and advanced further in the LTTE-controlled north.

Military commanders said the war with the LTTE is at a decisive stage and hopefully the LTTE will be crushed within one year.

But analysts say the conflict is far from over and the weakened rebel outfit still has enough strength to hit back.

Infinite & Datatex launches apparel & textile initiative

Infinite Computer Solutions, a global service provider of Infrastructure Management, Intellectual Property (IP) leveraged solutions and IT services, announced their plans of launching their Enterprise Solutions Group initiative for the textile & apparel industry in Srilanka.

Infinite is the Business & Implementation partner for Datatex Textile ERP in India, South Asia & Australia. Datatex is a global leader in the Apparel & Textile ERP space with broad range of customers that have annual revenues ranging from a couple of million dollars to over $ billion.

6 Datatex Textile ERP “TIM” and its latest variant “NOW” enable apparel & textile manufacturers, increase productivity by addressing various functional areas like Planning, Merchandising, Sales, Materials, Manufacturing, Costing, Business Intelligence, Manufacturing Execution System functionality. Infinite generally deploys different global leading ERP modules for the Financial Accounting, Budgeting & Controlling functionality and creates seamless integration platform between Datatex and the generic ERP.

Enterprise Solutions Group (ESG) is the group within Infinite which is responsible for services built around the packaged solutions, typically the likes of SAP, Oracle & Datatex. Infinite has built up expertise in the apparel & textile space in the last four years with fourteen implementations in India, China, Bangladesh & Italy. Infinite is involved with giants like Arvind & Bombay Rayon in the textile space and is implementing business transformation projects on the Datatex suite of products for the apparel & textile industry.

According to Guruprasad S Rao, Head, ESG “ Infinite is launching its business transformation services for the apparel Industry, and we envisage that this Information Technology & Business Consulting initiative will add huge value to the Srilanka based apparel industry to have better EBITDA margins from their business operations.”

He further mentioned that since the apparel industry has huge amount of human manpower involved in its ambit, Infinite’s initiative is likely to have a major socio-economic impact in the country.

Guruprasad also announced a special “SAFE PASSAGE PROGRAM” for different apparel & textile companies which are using certain generic ERP solutions and have mixed results from them as an incentive for them to switch over to the Datatex ERP platform. This SAFE PASSAGE PROGRAM would help existing companies shift from their generic solution to Datatex with minimal investment barrier.

World crude prices tumble, now at $93

World crude oil prices fell further on Monday to $93.52 per barrel for the Brent variety, down from $99.56 per barrel on Friday but local retailers say they are unable to lower selling prices in Sri Lanka.

The Central Bank said the OPEC Basket was trading at $95.33. Both the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and the Lanka IOC said at the weekend they were unable to reduce prices as they were making losses on their purchases plus other costs including taxes.

In the Singapore Refined Products market, petrol was trading at $107.25, diesel at $118.64 and kerosene at $122.19.

Two successive air raids on high profile LTTE targets; LTTE high-tech facility destroyed

Sri Lanka Air Force supersonic fighter jets carried out two successive are raids targeting two separate high profile LTTE targets in the Mullaittivu district this morning, 16 September.

Air Force spokesperson, Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara, speaking to defence.lk said that SLAF jets raided an LTTE high-tech facility located in 5Km northeast of Puthukkudiiyiruppu area in Mullaittivu district around 6.40 a.m., today.

The targeted LTTE high-tech base had been equipped with computers, international communication facilities and other sophisticated equipments solely for military purposes and was run by a high profile LTTE leader who is a close relation of the LTTE terror chief.

Independent sources further reveal that, Charles Anthony, son of Prabhakaran has been frequenting this facility as a key figure mainly associated with its technical upgrading.

Meanwhile, SLAF jets carried out another raid targeting an LTTE logistic and transit facility located in 3Km Northeast of Udayarkattukulam in Mullaittivu district around 6.30 this morning, spokesperson added. According to the information received from Wanni, several arms and ammunition manufacturing yards of the LTTE terrorists are operating in this area.

Defence observers say that recent trend in air raids shows a significant enhancement in defence surveillance capabilities as majority of the targets have been LTTE's covert locations rather than overt camps. They are in the view that exploited and demoralized LTTE cadres and people, tired of terrorist rule in the Wanni region might have open new sources of information flow to the military.

The target was kept under close scrutiny until such time prevailed, the defence official further added.

Lankan jailed for credit card fraud in UK

Three members of a gang in Britain which bought petrol stations and bribed insiders as part of a Coventry-based £254,000 credit card scam have been jailed.
Many drivers who filled up at one of the garages they controlled were secretly filmed by ceiling cameras keying in their pin numbers to pay their bills. Their credit and debit cards were then cloned and used in transactions around the world.

London's Southwark Crown Court heard when police raided a house in Winsford Avenue, Coventry, they found a state-of-the-art "cloning factory for compromised cards".

Chris Coltart, prosecuting, said it contained 4,500 blank white cards, complete with magnetic strips. Some even had pin numbers written on them and ready to be flown abroad.

Also seized was a "wealth" of expensive equipment, including card readers, laptop computers, and memory sticks containing details of hundreds of "compromised" accounts. There was even a BP name badge.

Among those arrested was 28-year-old British national Ariyakunathasa Pirathesan, who lived at the "veritable fraud factory" and was described by Judge Martin Beddoe as a "very principal player" in the conspiracy.

Further inquiries led to a Leicester warehouse he had rented, which contained more equipment and extensive "footage from covert cameras of pin numbers being inputted into pads".

He was jailed for four-and-a-half-years.

Also detained were two illegal immigrants. Sri Lankan Sombalu Jeyaganesh, 34, of Allan Drive, Raynhill, Liverpool, helped emboss the cloned cards. In addition, a "commercial valuation" found for a petrol station in Bootle, Merseyside, was found in a bedroom he was using at the Coventry address.

The third man to be arrested was Sivanesan Mylvaganam, of Garden Avenue, Mitcham, Surrey, 28, who was also recruited to help "process" the fake cards. They each got three years and were recommended for deportation.

All three admitted one count of conspiring to defraud clearing banks between January 1, 2007, and March 13 this year.

Passing sentence, the judge told them: "This was a massive, very determined, well-organised and sophisticated operation. This particular form of credit card fraud is becoming widespread.

"It is a real and significant scourge on the banking industry and the holders of their credit cards. Financial damage caused by this activity is substantial, and it was substantial in this case.

"The need for substantial deterrent sentences in cases such as this is obvious," he added.

Mr Coltart told the court although the actual amount stolen- mainly as a result of cash machine withdrawals abroad was £254,000, the "average loss figures for compromised cards" suggested the fraud could eventually have netted up to £3.5 million.

Uva's Samaraweera opposes governor Mathew's decision

The Opposition Leader of Uva Province Upali Samaraweera criticized Governor Nanda Mathew for his decision to suspend the Opposition leader's post of the province saying he has no power to do so.

Mr. Samaraweera said that the Governor will have to submit a paper to the Board of Ministers of the province if he wants to suspend the allocation of funds for the post and get it approved.

He indicated that this is unlikely as a resolution moved by the Opposition to oppose the Governor's move was passed in the council at the sessions last week with the ruling UPFA members supporting it.

Mr. Samaraweera said it is absurd that Governor Mathew had taken such a decision as none of the other provincial councils have supported such a decision so far.

He explained that the Attorney General had clearly stated that the Opposition leaders post is a traditional one though there is no legal provision to allocate funds for it. He said the Attorney General came up with this definition after the Ministry of Provincial Councils and local Government inquired from him when a JVP Member in the Western Province filed action stating the post of Opposition Leader in the provincial councils was illegal.

Mr. Samaraweera said there is a possibility of Governor blocking the funds for him but he will not be affected as he does not depend on provincial council perks. "I have my personal business and therefore I don't mind even if my allocation is scrapped," he said.

Milk powder not affected by contamination in china

Fonterra Brands Lanka yesterday dispelled fears of any connection between the contaminated milk produced by a Chinese company, which is 43 per cent owned by Fonterra New Zealand, and the milk products distributed in Sri Lanka by Fonterra.
Human Resource Director, Fonterra Brands Lanka, Roshan Kulasuriya said the Chinese company in question was producing its own milk powder and did not import it from Fonterra New Zealand, the parent company of Fonterra Brands Lanka.

At least 600 babies have developed kidney stones after drinking milk formula produced by Sanlu, in which Fonterra has a stake. Two babies have died.

US acts to Prosecute Recruiters of Child Soldiers

New legislation adopted yesterday will permit the United States to prosecute foreign military commanders who recruit child soldiers abroad. The Child Soldiers Accountability Act passed by the House of Representatives unanimously on September 8 was adopted by the Senate yesterday.

Committee finalizes Bill on NGOs

The Parliamentary Select Committee on NGOs in consultation with the Foreign and Finance Ministries is drafting a Bill to monitor NGO and INGO operations in the country, the PSC Chairman said.The Chairman, JVP propaganda secretary Vijitha Herath said the PSC met on a number of occasions during the past several months and some of the local and foreign volunteer organizations were scrutinized at the meetings.
“We will meet again next week to discuss certain other matters with regard to their activities,” he said.

Samurdhi Banking Associations will online within this year

Thirteen year old Sri Lanka’s poor masses banking association Samurdhi banking Association plans to link its rural banking associations effect from 18th of this month.
Minister Jagath Pushphakumara said these banking associations would be interlinked within short period. The Asian Development bank has come forward to provide funds to develop this interlink system.

Speaking to media Minister Pushphakumara said around 106 banking associations in three districts would be online during this year. At present Samurdhi Authority of Sri Lanka manages 1042 Samurdhi Banking Associations .
The minister said the Samurdhi Banking Associations could minimize waste and earned a handsome profit during last year.

UNP to demand the government to implement the 17th amendment

UNP will take the initiative to build an alliance of political parties and mass organizations to demand the government to implement the 17th amendment to the Constitution .
General Secretary of the UNP Tissa Aattanayake said that the UNP Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe has been authorized by the party to hold discussions with political parties and other mass organizations regarding the formation of the alliance.
UNP General Secretary further added that commissions including the police, government services, election, and judicial commissions have been made inactive and democracy has been weakened and threatened due to the failure to establish the Constitutional Council proposed in the 17th amendment.
The party plans to form a broad alliance to demand to establish the 17th Amendment in the parliament and outside the parliament and the proposed alliance would be established very soon said Mr. Attanayake .

HUMANITARIAN CRISIS HAS LARGER IMPLICATIONS

By Jehan Perera

A humanitarian crisis is looming over the northern Vanni region under LTTE control. The prospects of escalated warfare and the government's order to all international humanitarian organisations in the area to withdraw from there with immediate effect signals a war without limits and without witnesses. However, protests by civilians have led the international humanitarian organisations to temporarily halt the withdrawal of their staff from those areas. The UN has requested an extra three weeks to complete its withdrawal. The government has also demonstrated a measure of flexibility and permitted the ICRC to remain in Kilinochchi indefinitely.

The humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka has gained international attention with the UN Secretary General's office making a statement regarding the issue. Government spokespersons have responded critically to this statement, pointing out that the situation in other countries with similar problems is much worse and that Sri Lanka should not be compared to them. On the other hand, objective statistics show that the Sri Lankan conflict is one of the very worst in the world in terms of deaths, including battlefield deaths.

The Uppsala Conflict Data Programme on Uppsala University in Sweden has shown that 2007 there were four wars in the world with more than 1000 battle related deaths. "The Iraq conflict had the highest number of battle related deaths, followed by the ones in Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Somalia." (Journal of Peace Research, Vol. 45, No 51, September 2008. It is therefore no surprise that the country's international image is getting increasingly negative.

However, so far the government has not shown willingness to compromise on its decision with regard to the eviction of humanitarian agencies from the Vanni region. The Sri Lankan army has now advanced sufficiently deep within LTTE controlled territory to bring the LTTE's administrative centres within firing range of long distance artillery. On the other hand, the advance of the government troops has been accompanied by civilian displacement, with most of the civilian population falling back along with the LTTE. The prospect of a final victory may induce the government to seek the war's end at any cost.


BLEAK PROSPECTS

Face to face fighting will be extremely costly to the advancing Sri Lankan army. Long range artillery fire is the means by which the government can safeguard the lives of its own troops. Accordingly the government has dropped leaflets and made announcements areas. Those remaining in the Vanni are likely to become cannon fodder in the face of long range artillery duels between the government and LTTE. In fact the government has explained its order to withdraw humanitarian workers from the Vanni on the grounds that it is necessary to ensure their safety. This being so, it does not need much imagination to guess the plight of the civilian population who will be left in the Vanni.

The situation of the civilians trapped in the war zones can be understood to be terrible in these circumstances. While some of the civilian population, especially those whose family members are combatants with the LTTE, may voluntarily be accompanying the LTTE, the others are not being permitted to leave by the LTTE. The advantage in long distance combat lies with the government, whose fire power has been bolstered by recent arms purchases. But as the civilian population goes deeper into LTTE controlled territory it becomes more difficult for the army to fire on even LTTE gun positions without endangering the civilian population who become the LTTE's human shields.

It is unwise and unethical for a democratic government that seeks reconciliation with all sections of its people for sustainable peace to give military imperatives priority over the lives and security of the country's people whether they are living under government control or rebel control. In this context there are three challenges for the government. The first is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the civilian population trapped in the Vani. They are all citizens entitled to equal rights and equal protection of the law. The government must ensure their equality in practice by giving priority to their concerns.

The proposed departure of the humanitarian organisations from the Vanni will lead to bleak prospects for the displaced and local civilians who are either voluntarily and involuntarily staying back in the Wanni. The organisations asked to leave include specialist humanitarian organisations such as UNHCR and the World Food Programme. If these organisations are prepared to take the risk of continuing to work in war zones, they need to be supported and encouraged in this action.


PRIMARY DUTY

The government may claim that it has done its duty by the people by dropping leaflets and informing them to leave the Vanni. However, it is not reasonable to expect the civilians to spontaneously move out of the LTTE controlled area in the absence of an organised movement of people that is supervised by reputed humanitarian organisations. People would be fearful to leave on their own in disregard of the LTTE's order that they remain in the Vanni. The people would also be fearful of leaving in small and unorganised groups towards army lines, as they would not be sure about the reception they would get from troops who are on high alert against surprise LTTE attacks.

This is why an organised movement of people is necessary if they are to be evacuated from the Vanni, and such a movement requires the presence and mediation of international humanitarian organisations. In the absence of this humanitarian option, it is possible that desperate civilians may even resort to the old practice of fleeing to India by boat. If this happens there is the prospect of the government's conduct of humanitarian matters coming under further international scrutiny. The movement of refugees to India will provide anti Sri Lanka forces in India further cause to mobilise against the Sri Lankan government to its detriment.

During previous phases of the armed conflict successive governments have obtained the assistance of both local and international humanitarian organisations to ensure that essential supplies reach the affected people. The government needs to treat international humanitarian organisations as its partners who fill a void it cannot at this time. Their work needs to be facilitated and not curtailed at this time when the worst phase of war is about to occur. Not even the excuse of the so-called last battle towards which both government and LTTE seem to be heading can be an excuse for being irresponsible and callous towards the civilian population.

What Sri Lanka faces today is an internal conflict. It is not relevant to point to other wars against terrorism, such as the US war in Iraq and Afghanistan and say worse things are done there. Those are wars being fought by a superpower in other people's countries. Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict is being fought in our own country. Internal conflicts are not one-off affairs, where the victors can just pick themselves up and walk off the field of battle. If an internal war is to end on a sustainable basis, there must be reconciliation. The government needs to be mindful of what the people in the Vanni region want. The provision of access to war zones to international humanitarian agencies is a basic requirement in international law that the government needs to honour.

Sri Lankan bunker prices may slide with common use facility

Ship fuel prices at Colombo port could fall by around five per cent after a tank farm previously operated by one player is converted to a common storage facility, a supplier has said. LANKA MARINE SERVICES (LMS), a unit of JOHN KEELLS HOLDINGS was ordered to return a tank farm and land to Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) by the island's Supreme Court, which said transfer of the tanks as part of a privatization deal was flawed.
Ship fuel suppliers, including LMS, have formed an association and are now proposing to share the facility, though capacity is likely to be fragmented.
* Lanka Marine Services said it would complete handing over the premises yesterday, with the court having given the firm till September 12 to move its oil stocks out.

Pakistan, Sri Lanka for Twenty20 series in Toronto next month

Canada will hold its first quadrangular Twenty20 cricket tournament featuring Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Zimbabwe and the hosts here from Oct 10 to 13.
The tournament, which was originally scheduled to have started Aug 14, was postponed as uncertainty prevailed over sponsorships.
Bangladesh and the West Indies, which were earlier listed to participate in the tournament, have pulled out. They have been replaced by Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
Bangladesh pulled out because the new dates clashed with its home series against the touring New Zealand. The West Indies sought postponement of the quadrangular series by two weeks.
With the organisers not accommodating the West Indies request and bringing in Zimbabwe as a replacement, the tournament will now be held at the Maple Leaf cricket ground here next month.
Nauman Nabi, chairman of Sports International Marketing who are the tournament organisers, said it was not possible to delay the tournament beyond the schedule announced Sunday as the Canadian winter weather will not be conducive to playing cricket.
The Twenty20 tournament will be another feather in the cap of fledging Canadian cricket, which is witnessing a revival of the sport in the country.
Just last month, Cricket Canada held the first-ever ODI series involving the West Indies, Bermuda and the hosts. Two top Canadians banks - the Royal bank of Canada and Scotiabank - have become the sponsors of the sport from the school to national level.
The Canadian government too has announced to give official backing to the promotion of the sport.

Helicopters raid LTTE strongholds - Akkarayankulam

Sri Lanka Air Force MI-24 helicopters raided terror stronghold located in northeast of Akkarayankulam tank this evening, 15 September.
Air Force spokesperson, Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara, speaking to defence.lk said that identified LTTE stronghold located 4.5 Km northeast of Akkarayankulam tank was raided by SLAF MI-24 helicopters around 6.15 p.m.
LTTE terrorists given heavy resistance from this targeted area for the troops of 57 Division engaged in fierce battle with LTTE terrorists from this morning, 15 September.

Fierce gun battle in Akkarayankulam, 18 terrorists killed, many injured

According to the latest information received from the battlefront, hours-long gun battle ensued between security forces and LTTE terrorists from this morning, 15 September, in general area east of Akkarayankulam tank killing 18 terrorists and injuring many others.
LTTE terrorists are constructing an earth barrier along the Akkarayankulam tank - Terumurikandi road (East of Akkarayankulam) to delay the security forces' movement towards Kilinochchi. Despite the heavy resistance given by the terrorists, troops have dominated a land stretch along the Akkarayankulam - Terumurikandi road where the earth barrier not exist.
LTTE terrorists are making desperate attempt to secure their defences in the area by reinforcing more LTTE cadres from Jaffna and Kilinochchi areas, defence sources in the battlefront said. Few LTTE teams being reinforced also suffered maximum damages due to heavy firepower launched by the security forces, troops confirmed by intercepting terror transmission.
Three security forces personnel made their utmost sacrifices for defending the motherland while 9 others suffered injuries, defence sources said.

Air Force Chief visits Vavuniya Air Base

Air Force commander Air Marshal Roshan Gunathilake has visited the Air Force base in Vavuniya this morning, 15 September.
The Air Force commander has examined the existing security measures and directed the officials to take further steps to strength the security of the base. Air Marshal Roshan Gunathilake has given his gratitude to the airmen who have successfully averted the LTTE attack carried out by suicide cadres recently.

Police and army search for suicide cadres in Yala

Army the police have mounted a search for two LTTE suicide cadres who are reported to have entered the Yala jungles, police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekara said.

He said that the LTTE cadres are reported to be carrying five claymore mines with them.

He said though they have entered the Yala jungles there would be no restrictions on visitors to the Yala area as they are reported to have entered from the northern side, closer to where seven villagers were kiled.

Meanwhile Chena cultivators in the area have been protesting as the military has placed new restrictions on people entering the area for Chena cultivation.

Earlier in the day a Civil Defense Force member and a civilian were found dead in the Mahaoya police area of Ampara. They were believed to have been shot dead.

Supreme Court rejects bid to stall oil exploration deal

The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a bid – through a fundamental rights petition – to reverse the recent award of an oil exploration contract to Cairn India in the Mannar basin.

The petition was filed in June by Malika Gunasekera, a lawyer, as a public interest litigation case citing lack of transparency among other issues in the agreement with the government.

A 3-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva agreeing to submissions made by senior state counsel on behalf of the state noted that the awarding of the oil exploration contract to Cairn India was concluded in a transparent manner. The Court held that there was no sufficient ground to prove wrongful alienation of an invaluable natural resource for the benefit of a surreptitiously selected party, in violation of established and mandatory tender procedures / procurement guide lines of the government .

Justice Silva said the court will not stop the oil exploration and scare away investors. Citing an example he said that by halting the Eppawala phosphate project the country lost a golden opportunity of producing fertilizer to meet the needs of the agriculture industry.

Rs one million robbed from businessman at Koswadiya, Marawila

An armed gang got away with nearly Rs. one million cash from an businessman in Koswadiya, Marawila, today afternoon, Police said.

The businessman was the agent to collect money on behalf of one of the leading biscuit manufacturing company, Police said.

At least four persons had stormed his place and taken away the money at gun point.

3 weeks for aid agencies to vacate

The government says that aid agencies, including the United Nations, have three weeks to withdraw their humanitarian missions from the LTTE controlled areas in the Wanni region.
Minister of Disaster Management Mahinda Samarasinghe said the aid agencies were required to bring all their equipment to the government controlled areas.
There won’t be any scope for fraud as every item will be compared with that enlisted in government documents, he said.
The aid agencies will have to answer for any difference, he added.

3 weeks for aid agencies to vacate

The government says that aid agencies, including the United Nations, have three weeks to withdraw their humanitarian missions from the LTTE controlled areas in the Wanni region.
Minister of Disaster Management Mahinda Samarasinghe said the aid agencies were required to bring all their equipment to the government controlled areas.
There won’t be any scope for fraud as every item will be compared with that enlisted in government documents, he said.
The aid agencies will have to answer for any difference, he added.

Sri Lankan wins global journalism award

Sonali Samarasinghe's work to reveal misuse of power and corruption in Sri Lanka made her the second winner of the Global Shining Light Award in Norway at the weekend.
"I cannot accept this prize without remembering my colleagues in Sri Lanka. This year, 12 journalists have been killed, and one has been held hostage for 180 days," Sonali Samarasinghe said when she came to stage to receive the award.
Her colleague, J.S. Tissanayagam has been in custody for 180 days, detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
Samarasinghe was awarded for her articles on "Gangsterism and the faulty legal system" for The Sunday Leader in Sri Lanka.
Sonali Samarasinghe and the Sunday Leader decided enough was enough.
What started out as an attempt to follow-up on the beating of a bar patron by the son and bodyguards of a powerful government minister became an investigation that exposed how that government minister used his power and connections to the Prime Minister, to run roughshod over the media and the justice system.
Samarasinghe tracked down all the people connected to the beating and in the process found many other people, including police officers and lawyers with stories of corruption and brutality by the government minister and his son.
"Hopefully, this award will show that our work does not pass unnoticed internationally," the prize-winning journalist said on stage.

The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists gives out the award, which is in the memory of the Wall Street journal journalist Daniel Pearl, who was slain by Pakistani militants in 2002.

Import of 3 power-sets questioned

The Railway Department yesterday (Sept. 14th) received three power-sets despite its Maligawatte Yard having 37 compartments worth around Rs. 800 million in a state of neglect for nearly a year.
Both these power-sets and compartments have been imported from China.
Each of these compartments costs Rs. 25 m, the organization for the protection of railway property and workers rights have informed the president, calling on him to conduct an investigation.
The power-sets - 65-feet long and with six compartments each and costing Rs. 350 m, are to be deployed for service after test runs.
The Railway Department is planning to import 12 more power-sets.

Minister bitten by snake, admitted to the ICU

Nations Building Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardane was admitted to the Intensive Care unit of a private Hospital in Kalutara after he was bitten by a snake at Payagala today.

Restore S.B’s civic rights – Mahanayake urges President

The Mahnayake of the Asgiriya chapter, the Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkitha has requested President Mahinda Rajapaksa to grant a Presidential pardon to UNP National Organizer S.B. Dissanayke who was deprived of his civic rights following a court order.

New Korean Ambassador Meets Army Commander

Newly appointed Korean Ambassador for Sri Lanka Mr. Choi Ki Vul, along with a few officials of the Embassy, paid a courtesy call on Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka Monday (15) morning in his office at Army Headquarters, Colombo.
Army Commander, after receiving the diplomat and his retinue on their arrival to his office, briefed him about the ongoing humanitarian operations in northern areas where thousands of innocent civilians are trapped in the clutches of the LTTE terrorists.
Present situation of the east, which is now in the fast development track after the Security Forces from terrorism liberated it, was also briefed to the visiting ambassador during dialogues.
Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka presented a brief account on measures to be taken to establish peace in the Wanni areas when the Security Forces eliminate terrorism from those areas.
At the same time, steps that have already been taken by the Army to enhance welfare of Internally Displace Persons (IDPs) were also explained to the visiting diplomats. To mark his visit to the Army Headquarters, Mr. Choi Ki Vul placed his signature in the Visitors' Book before leaving the Army Headquarters.

Lanka government to stop all agricultural food imports in 2 years

The Sri Lankan government has set a target to cease all food imports to the country by 2010.
Agricultural Development and Agrarian Services Minister Maithripala Sirisena recently addressing a team of farmers stated that this embargo will include all agricultural food items which can be easily cultivated in Sri Lanka.
“Sri Lanka is blessed with many natural resources where most of the food items can be grown without any problems. Government has no plans of importing any more rice at this moment but will continue to support the farmers with fertilizer subsidy. This year Rs. 40 billion is allocated to provide fertilizer subsidy to paddy farmers,” the Minister said.

EU Voices Concern At Escalating Sri Lanka Violence

European Union Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Louis Michel on Monday expressed "grave concern" at the escalation of violence in Sri Lanka and called for human rights laws to be respected.
"I'm deeply troubled by the escalation of the violence in Sri Lanka and the terrible impact it is having on the lives of so many innocent civilians," Michel said in a statement
"The situation is made all the worse because international relief efforts are having to be suspended because the safety of humanitarian workers cannot be ensured.
"I remind all sides to fully respect international humanitarian law."
Fresh fighting has broken out across Sri Lanka's tense north, leaving 20 Tamil Tiger rebels and one soldier dead, the Defense Ministry said Monday.
Sunday's fighting raised the number of rebels killed by troops since January to 6,542, while 635 soldiers have lost their lives during the same period, the ministry says.
Tens of thousands of people have died on both sides since the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam began fighting for a separate homeland for minority Tamils in 1972.
Michel stressed that both parties should ensure the safety and free movement of civilians.
"Both sides should guarantee the safe transit of humanitarian convoys with food, medical and other essential supplies to people in need," he said.
Civilians should also be guaranteed safe passage to leave the conflict area " and relocate in safer areas," he added.

LMS completes handing over as directed by Supreme Court of Sri Lanka leaving behind large stock of bunker fuels

John Keels Holdings (JKH) of Sri Lanka completed the handing over of the previously owned land of Lanka Marine Services (LMS) to Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) recently as per the directions of Supreme Courts. It has also abandoned US$ 184,000 worth of bunker fuels during the process.
According to JKH, due to technical reasons the company was unable to remove oil stocks to the value of approximately US$ 184,000 remaining on the land.
In terms of the Court direction the ownership of the left over fuel will now be transferred to the SLPA and the consolidated loss will be added to the JKH balance sheet.
Another oil stock to the value of US$ 416,000 also remains in the pipelines, located outside the premises.

US acts to Prosecute Recruiters of Child Soldiers

New legislation adopted yesterday will permit the United States to prosecute foreign military commanders who recruit child soldiers abroad. The Child Soldiers Accountability Act passed by the House of Representatives unanimously on September 8 was adopted by the Senate yesterday.

Two successive air raids on high profile LTTE targets; LTTE high-tech facility destroyed

Sri Lanka Air Force supersonic fighter jets carried out two successive are raids targeting two separate high profile LTTE targets in the Mullaittivu district this morning, 16 September.

Air Force spokesperson, Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara, speaking to defence.lk said that SLAF jets raided an LTTE high-tech facility located in 5Km northeast of Puthukkudiiyiruppu area in Mullaittivu district around 6.40 a.m., today.

The targeted LTTE high-tech base had been equipped with computers, international communication facilities and other sophisticated equipments solely for military purposes and was run by a high profile LTTE leader who is a close relation of the LTTE terror chief.

Independent sources further reveal that, Charles Anthony, son of Prabhakaran has been frequenting this facility as a key figure mainly associated with its technical upgrading.

Meanwhile, SLAF jets carried out another raid targeting an LTTE logistic and transit facility located in 3Km Northeast of Udayarkattukulam in Mullaittivu district around 6.30 this morning, spokesperson added. According to the information received from Wanni, several arms and ammunition manufacturing yards of the LTTE terrorists are operating in this area.

Defence observers say that recent trend in air raids shows a significant enhancement in defence surveillance capabilities as majority of the targets have been LTTE's covert locations rather than overt camps. They are in the view that exploited and demoralized LTTE cadres and people, tired of terrorist rule in the Wanni region might have open new sources of information flow to the military.

The target was kept under close scrutiny until such time prevailed, the defence official further added.

Two successive air raids on high profile LTTE targets; LTTE high-tech facility destroyed

Sri Lanka Air Force supersonic fighter jets carried out two successive are raids targeting two separate high profile LTTE targets in the Mullaittivu district this morning, 16 September.

Air Force spokesperson, Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara, speaking to defence.lk said that SLAF jets raided an LTTE high-tech facility located in 5Km northeast of Puthukkudiiyiruppu area in Mullaittivu district around 6.40 a.m., today.

The targeted LTTE high-tech base had been equipped with computers, international communication facilities and other sophisticated equipments solely for military purposes and was run by a high profile LTTE leader who is a close relation of the LTTE terror chief.

Independent sources further reveal that, Charles Anthony, son of Prabhakaran has been frequenting this facility as a key figure mainly associated with its technical upgrading.

Meanwhile, SLAF jets carried out another raid targeting an LTTE logistic and transit facility located in 3Km Northeast of Udayarkattukulam in Mullaittivu district around 6.30 this morning, spokesperson added. According to the information received from Wanni, several arms and ammunition manufacturing yards of the LTTE terrorists are operating in this area.

Defence observers say that recent trend in air raids shows a significant enhancement in defence surveillance capabilities as majority of the targets have been LTTE's covert locations rather than overt camps. They are in the view that exploited and demoralized LTTE cadres and people, tired of terrorist rule in the Wanni region might have open new sources of information flow to the military.

The target was kept under close scrutiny until such time prevailed, the defence official further added.

Two successive air raids on high profile LTTE targets; LTTE high-tech facility destroyed

Sri Lanka Air Force supersonic fighter jets carried out two successive are raids targeting two separate high profile LTTE targets in the Mullaittivu district this morning, 16 September.

Air Force spokesperson, Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara, speaking to defence.lk said that SLAF jets raided an LTTE high-tech facility located in 5Km northeast of Puthukkudiiyiruppu area in Mullaittivu district around 6.40 a.m., today.

The targeted LTTE high-tech base had been equipped with computers, international communication facilities and other sophisticated equipments solely for military purposes and was run by a high profile LTTE leader who is a close relation of the LTTE terror chief.

Independent sources further reveal that, Charles Anthony, son of Prabhakaran has been frequenting this facility as a key figure mainly associated with its technical upgrading.

Meanwhile, SLAF jets carried out another raid targeting an LTTE logistic and transit facility located in 3Km Northeast of Udayarkattukulam in Mullaittivu district around 6.30 this morning, spokesperson added. According to the information received from Wanni, several arms and ammunition manufacturing yards of the LTTE terrorists are operating in this area.

Defence observers say that recent trend in air raids shows a significant enhancement in defence surveillance capabilities as majority of the targets have been LTTE's covert locations rather than overt camps. They are in the view that exploited and demoralized LTTE cadres and people, tired of terrorist rule in the Wanni region might have open new sources of information flow to the military.

The target was kept under close scrutiny until such time prevailed, the defence official further added.

Milk powder not affected by contamination in china

Fonterra Brands Lanka yesterday dispelled fears of any connection between the contaminated milk produced by a Chinese company, which is 43 per cent owned by Fonterra New Zealand, and the milk products distributed in Sri Lanka by Fonterra.
Human Resource Director, Fonterra Brands Lanka, Roshan Kulasuriya said the Chinese company in question was producing its own milk powder and did not import it from Fonterra New Zealand, the parent company of Fonterra Brands Lanka.

At least 600 babies have developed kidney stones after drinking milk formula produced by Sanlu, in which Fonterra has a stake. Two babies have died.

Committee finalizes Bill on NGOs

The Parliamentary Select Committee on NGOs in consultation with the Foreign and Finance Ministries is drafting a Bill to monitor NGO and INGO operations in the country, the PSC Chairman said.The Chairman, JVP propaganda secretary Vijitha Herath said the PSC met on a number of occasions during the past several months and some of the local and foreign volunteer organizations were scrutinized at the meetings.
“We will meet again next week to discuss certain other matters with regard to their activities,” he said.

Mr. Herath said the PSC members studied the Indian Act which authorizes the observation and monitoring of NGO work, but it was viewed as a tough piece of legislation to be adopted in Sri Lanka.

Uva's Samaraweera opposes governor Mathew's decision

The Opposition Leader of Uva Province Upali Samaraweera criticized Governor Nanda Mathew for his decision to suspend the Opposition leader's post of the province saying he has no power to do so.

Mr. Samaraweera said that the Governor will have to submit a paper to the Board of Ministers of the province if he wants to suspend the allocation of funds for the post and get it approved.

He indicated that this is unlikely as a resolution moved by the Opposition to oppose the Governor's move was passed in the council at the sessions last week with the ruling UPFA members supporting it.

Mr. Samaraweera said it is absurd that Governor Mathew had taken such a decision as none of the other provincial councils have supported such a decision so far.

He explained that the Attorney General had clearly stated that the Opposition leaders post is a traditional one though there is no legal provision to allocate funds for it. He said the Attorney General came up with this definition after the Ministry of Provincial Councils and local Government inquired from him when a JVP Member in the Western Province filed action stating the post of Opposition Leader in the provincial councils was illegal.

Mr. Samaraweera said there is a possibility of Governor blocking the funds for him but he will not be affected as he does not depend on provincial council perks. "I have my personal business and therefore I don't mind even if my allocation is scrapped," he said.

Lankan jailed for credit card fraud in UK

Three members of a gang in Britain which bought petrol stations and bribed insiders as part of a Coventry-based £254,000 credit card scam have been jailed.
Many drivers who filled up at one of the garages they controlled were secretly filmed by ceiling cameras keying in their pin numbers to pay their bills. Their credit and debit cards were then cloned and used in transactions around the world.

London's Southwark Crown Court heard when police raided a house in Winsford Avenue, Coventry, they found a state-of-the-art "cloning factory for compromised cards".

Chris Coltart, prosecuting, said it contained 4,500 blank white cards, complete with magnetic strips. Some even had pin numbers written on them and ready to be flown abroad.

Also seized was a "wealth" of expensive equipment, including card readers, laptop computers, and memory sticks containing details of hundreds of "compromised" accounts. There was even a BP name badge.

Among those arrested was 28-year-old British national Ariyakunathasa Pirathesan, who lived at the "veritable fraud factory" and was described by Judge Martin Beddoe as a "very principal player" in the conspiracy.

Further inquiries led to a Leicester warehouse he had rented, which contained more equipment and extensive "footage from covert cameras of pin numbers being inputted into pads".

He was jailed for four-and-a-half-years.

Also detained were two illegal immigrants. Sri Lankan Sombalu Jeyaganesh, 34, of Allan Drive, Raynhill, Liverpool, helped emboss the cloned cards. In addition, a "commercial valuation" found for a petrol station in Bootle, Merseyside, was found in a bedroom he was using at the Coventry address.

The third man to be arrested was Sivanesan Mylvaganam, of Garden Avenue, Mitcham, Surrey, 28, who was also recruited to help "process" the fake cards. They each got three years and were recommended for deportation.

All three admitted one count of conspiring to defraud clearing banks between January 1, 2007, and March 13 this year.

Passing sentence, the judge told them: "This was a massive, very determined, well-organised and sophisticated operation. This particular form of credit card fraud is becoming widespread.

"It is a real and significant scourge on the banking industry and the holders of their credit cards. Financial damage caused by this activity is substantial, and it was substantial in this case.

"The need for substantial deterrent sentences in cases such as this is obvious," he added.

Mr Coltart told the court although the actual amount stolen- mainly as a result of cash machine withdrawals abroad was £254,000, the "average loss figures for compromised cards" suggested the fraud could eventually have netted up to £3.5 million.

World crude prices tumble, now at $93

World crude oil prices fell further on Monday to $93.52 per barrel for the Brent variety, down from $99.56 per barrel on Friday but local retailers say they are unable to lower selling prices in Sri Lanka.

The Central Bank said the OPEC Basket was trading at $95.33. Both the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and the Lanka IOC said at the weekend they were unable to reduce prices as they were making losses on their purchases plus other costs including taxes.

In the Singapore Refined Products market, petrol was trading at $107.25, diesel at $118.64 and kerosene at $122.19.

LAUGFS takes control of two hotels

LAUGFS Group of Companies yesterday announced the taking over of the management control of south’s premier three star hotel the Emerald Bay Hotel in Induruwa and Temple Trees, a boutique hotel in Bentota.

LAUGFS Group Chairman W. H. Wegapitiya said that the company took the management control of the two hotels in a bid to strengthen the hospitality sector arm of the group-- LAUGFS Leisure Limited.

We took over the two hotels in order to strengthen our leisure arm LAUGFS Leisure Limited. This initiative will go in line with our desire to become a leader in the leisure industry,” he said.

“Hotel Emerald Bay is a 50 room three star hotel located at Induruwa and we are looking forward to improve its current status and the Temple Tress is a ten room boutique hotel located at Bentota. By taking control of these two hotels we are hoping to bring tourists from European countries through the company’s own marketing network. For that reason we have created an in-house marketing team which will actively engage in offering packages to clients in Europe,” he said.

Speaking on the strategy behind the taking over of the two hotels at a time tourist arrivals to the country is at a low, Mr. Wegapitiya said that soon there will be a socio-economic boom in the country and LAUGFS is preparing for that.

“Sri Lanka going to be a strong destination among the global travelers and soon there is going to be a social and economic change in the country. With that confidence we are now looking at the leisure sector more seriously,” Mr. Wegapitiya said.

According to the LAUGFS Group Chairman the company had already initiated a Rs.450million worth project in Chillaw to build a 40 room boutique hotel for the up-market clientele.

“We will commence construction of the new hotel soon at a 22 acre property in Chillaw,” he said.

Commenting on the LAUGFS Group’s performance during the last year and so far this year, Mr. Wegapitiya said that the year 2007 and 2008 were the best years of the company.

“I would say that 2007 was a very good year for us in terms of profits, and diversifications. During the last year and so far this year we managed to diversify our operations into various areas including lubrication, re-trail super markets and Agriculture. Next week we will be opening our salt based chemical plant in Hambantota,” he said.

Colombo stocks fall with JKH among the losers

Marginal trading amongst Colombo blue chips early on Monday but John Keells Holdings (JKH), on the back of the devastating judgment in the privatisation of Lanka Marine Services Ltd (LMSL), fell Rs 2.25 to Rs 86.75 per share, brokers said.

A stock of 126,900 JKH shares were traded at these rates, a few days after LMSL vacated the oil tank farm facility under a Supreme Court decision made in the LMSL case. Industry analysts said the transfer of all the oil from the facility had also disturbed the market and caused some chaos in supply, resulting in a sharp hike in bunker oil as against Singapore rates.

Hatton National Bank also fell 50 cents to Rs 47. However Lanka IOC, on the strength of falling global oil prices, was an attractive stock trading at 50 cents higher to RS 27 for 262,400 shares. Aitken Spence Hotels, which has hit success in India and West Asia with its new chain of hotels, saw prices rise by Rs 1.50 to Rs 117 for a small parcel while Bogowantalawa Tea Estates also gained Rs 1.75 to Rs 26.75 on the back of lucrative tea prices.

The All Share Index fell three points to 2,352.63 while the Milanka dropped 10.24 points to 2,674.74. Turnover in early trade was Rs 56 million.

Six terrorists killed and four wounded as Kilinochchi battles continue

Troops launched an attack on a terrorist bunker located in VANNIREKULAM area around 10.50am yesterday (14). Three terrorists killed while two more were wounded during the incident.

Three terrorists were killed and another two were wounded in a battle in VANNIREKULAM area around 6.00am yesterday (14). Three soldiers were also wounded in action during this incident.

In PANNEYKANDAMADU area around 1.05pm on the same day one soldier was reported wounded due to an Anti Personnel Mine explosion. In the same area around 5.00pm terrorists launched a mortar attack on the troops. Eight valiant soldiers were wounded during this attack.

Heavy Clashes erupt in Welioya battle front; 08 terrorists killed and 18 wounded

A total of three terrorists were killed during two separate battles in ANDANKULAM around 1.35pm and 2.50pm yesterday (14). Four LTTE cadres were also wounded during these incidents.

Two terrorists were killed and two more were wounded in a confrontation in ANDANKULAM around 6.00pm on the same day.

Five terrorists were wounded in two separate battles in the same area around 9.30am and 5.35pm yesterday (14). Another four terrorists were wounded during a confrontation in the same area around 5.30pm.

Three terrorists were killed and another three were wounded in an incident in THANNIMURIPPUKULAM area around 3.20pm yesterday (14).

Meanwhile in ANDANKULAM area around 6.30pm on the same day one soldier was killed due to an IED explosion.

Crisis in Siyatha newspaper highlights the need for editorial independence

The Free Media Movement (FMM) expresses its serious concern over the resignation of four senior journalists from the Sinhala language weekly Siyatha over the lack of editorial independence and the flagrant violation of the professional rights of journalists.


In a letter collectively signed by them, they allege that Siyatha management completely and repeatedly disregarded, inter alia, policies of editorial independence agreed upon at the launch of the newspaper. They go on to note that the management was more interested in commercial gains over independent and accurate news coverage.
The journalists who resigned were Chief Editor Manjula Wediwardana, Deputy Editor Athula Withanage, Features Editor Jayasiri Jayasekara and Chief Sub Editor Sisira C. Vithange. Editorial Coordinator Chanaka Krishantha has also signed letter.

The FMM strongly believes media owners have a shared responsibility in ensuring media freedom in Sri Lanka. The respect for editorial independence is paramount in this regard and cannot be held hostage to the partisan political interests of owners. We recognize that commercial advertising and profits support the media industry in Sri Lanka, but this cannot be at the expense of independent journalism.

Interfering with editorial work and changing the content and layout of pages, displaying advertisements at the expense of news and features coverage and a complete disregard of the proper working conditions of journalists at the Siyatha by its management are some of the allegations found in the letter signed by those who resigned.

These are practices designed and enacted to block independent journalism. Those who fight for a free media cannot condone them and it is in this light that we find the alleged behaviour of the Siyatha management reprehensible.

The FMM strongly urges the Siyatha management to immediately explore the possibilities of renegotiating its contract with those who resigned that must include a written and clear framework that guarantees editorial independence and the working rights of journalists. Failure to do so sends the clear message that Siyatha's management places partisan political rhetoric and gain over professional standards and ethics.

Seven terrorists killed in clashes - Kilinochchi

Troops of Task Force 1 operating in the Southern Kilinochchi front dislodged several terror strongholds in the general are Vannerikulam during daytime today (Sept 14).

Troops attacked two LTTE bunkers located in the North of Vannerikulam around 6 AM. Later, intercepted terror radio transmissions confirmed 4 terrorists were killed and 3 suffered injuries in the incident. Also, 3 soldiers sustained injuries. During search operations troops found 66 AP (anti personal) mines.

Later, in the morning troops attacked 2 more LTTE bunkers located elsewhere in the same area and claimed 3 terrorists were killed and 4 wounded. Own troops suffered no casualties.

In the Vannerikulam area, troops attacked another LTTE bunker around 5 PM. A soldier sustained injuries during the incident. Terror casualties were not known.

UNP to file suit against Berty and police

The UNP will file suit against North Central Province Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake, his son Petroleum Resources Minister, Duminda Dissanayake and the senior police officers of Anuradhapura shortly regarding setting fire to the residence and the dispensary of party’s Anuradhapura district Co-ordinator Dr. Rajah Johnpulle on the eve of the PC election.

The initial work has been completed regarding this fundamental rights application to be filed by the party.

UNP Puttalam district parliamentarian, Palitha Range Bandara said that Anuradhapura HQI, Sarath Prema, DIG, K.P.P. Pathirana and SSP Samarakoon would be cited as respondents for their alleged neglect of duty and ‘cowardliness’ in controlling the situation dispersing the angry crowd.

Mr. Bandara who was also a former police officer said the police could have used tear gas or any other means in keeping with the department regulations to bring the situation under control.

“In this case, we are seeking a Supreme Court ruling ordering the Attorney General to take action for an impartial inquiry into this incident. Otherwise, we are not confident the police being impartial,” he said.

He said his party could seek legal redress according to the Criminal Law in this regard.

“We have already finalised the work. So, the case can be filed today or tomorrow,” he said.

A legal team headed by senior lawyer, Upul Jayasuriya is appearing for the party in this issue.

Police driver involved in clash

An accident caused by an allegedly drunken police constable driver in Maradana early yesterday led to a confrontation between the police and a group of people who ultimately assaulted the alleged offender.

The constable driver was reportedly returning after night duty when his vehicle had hit another moving vehicle in Maradana area at around 2:45 a.m.

The group who were inside the private car had seriously assaulted the constable till policemen from the Maradana Police Station arrived at the scene and intervened.

Police Spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekara saidthe driver was found guilty in the accident and was learnt that he was under the influence of alcohol.

The constable attached to the Organised Crime Detection Unit was reportedly sleeping after attending a party in the previous night, was woken up and ordered to drop a senior officer to Colombo Fort.

He met with the accident when he was returning after dropping the senior officer. There was a pregnant mother amidst the group who were in the private car and she was apparently under shock following the accident.

SSP Gunasekara said since the constable was found guilty he was likely to be interdicted from the service after an inquiry.

Human Rights Commission refuses to investigate a complaint against Sri Lanka Ambassador of Netherlands

Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission has informed Ms. H.M. Sala Ramani that the Commission is unable to investigate her complaint regarding not paying the agreed salary for the domestic work of the Sri Lanka Ambassador of Netherlands, holding her for 2 ½ years in the Ambassador’s house without visa, deliberately acting in a way she was subjected to be arrested and fined at an airport in Germany, not granting the due leaves and not paying additional allowances for the holiday duties.

Ms. H.M. Sala Ramani lodged a complaint in Human Rights Commission on July 15, 2008 regarding the injustices she had faced whilst working in the residence of the Sri Lanka Ambassador of Netherlands. Commission first informed her that their attention is focused to her complaint numbered HRC 3698/8. Later, the Commission informed on September 08 to Ms. Sala Ramani that the Commission could not take up her complaint since the case does not come under the powers and the tasks of the Commission in accordance with 1996/21 Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission Act.
Ms. H.M. Sala Ramani sought Rs. 500,000 damage for alleged breach of her fundamental rights.


The defendant of the case was Sri Lanka Ambassador of Netherlands Ms. Pamela Dean who is attached to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ms. H.M. Sala Ramani lodged a complaint on April 09, 2008 in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the injustice caused to her. The complaint was forwarded to a disciplinary committee of the Ministry and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Rohitha Bogollagama personally pledged before media to take stern action against culprits although nothing actually took place.

Joseph Michael appointed to the post of UNP Deputy Leader

Senior MP of the United national Party (UNP) Joseph Michael Perera is to contest for the post of Deputy Leader that is re-established under party reforms.

Mr. Perera was the Chairman of the UNP senior's committee appointed to propose recommendations to reform the party. The report of the committee was presented to the UNP Working Committee recently.

Mr. Perera has told to his associates that he was the most senior parliamentarian of the party. Mr. Joseph Michael Perera was elected to the parliament first in 1974 and he has held the several portfolios and the post of Speaker of the parliament.

New Forum to Help Kandy Private Sector

This is a unique body that includes the senior elected officials of the Provincial Council, KMC and other major local government institutions, senior members of the bureaucracy as well as representatives of trade chambers including the Central Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Women's Chamber, Sinhala Welenda Mandalaya ,Tamil Traders Association and the Muslim Traders Association.

Chief Minister Ekanayake addressing the first meeting of the Executive Committee of BDF held recently said that he agreed to chair the new outfit not to just talk but to actually act on what it decided and appealed to the members to be proactive. He also made a plea to further expand the membership of the BDF and make it even more broad-based and representative.
Several important issues were taken up for discussion at the meeting. One concerned the 0.5% tax that the municipal councils have levied on tourist hotels. A proposal was made to hand back to local government bodies Rest Houses that are currently under private management. A proposal was also tabled to levy a fee on buses that use bus stands so that the funds thus raised could be invested to improve the facilities in the bus stands and for general maintenance. The Chief Minster agreed to have further consultations on all three proposals with the relevant stakeholders.

The lack of coordination between several key government agencies such as RDA, Water Board and the CEB was discussed. Chief Minister Ekanayake told the meeting that those concerned should use the monthly meetings of the District Coordinating Committee as the appropriate forum to improve coordination.
The Project Manager of The Asia Foundation (TAF) Mr. R Wijekoon joining a discussion about Kandy city traffic congestion told the meeting that he would be able to present to the next meeting of the BDF a report on the traffic problem that the TAF was currently preparing.

Minister and Chairman, main culprits in fuel scam

(Lanka-e-News, ) The trade unions of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) accuse that the Minister of Petroleum and Petroleum Resources joined by the Chairman of the CPC are purchasing fuel against tradition of basing on the recommendations of the Operations manager of Kolonnawa fuel stores and the Marketing Manager of CPC.

The trade unions allege that the CPC is storing excess stocks of fuel without considering the local demand and the fluctuation of prices in the world markets. They charge that the purchasing of 130,000 metric tons of fuel and storing them in Muthurajawela when the price was as high as US $ 146 was conducted not for the interest of the country but for acquiring commissions. They point out that the price of a barrel of crude oil has dropped to US $ 99 and question why the advantage is not given to the consumers.
Daily consumption of fuel in the country is 4300 metric tons. Kolonnawa stores complex distributes around 2000 metric tons while Muthurajawela stores distribute around 2000 metric tons. Accordingly, the amount of fuel distributed each month is 50,000 metric tons. An oil tanker arrives in Sri Lanka once in 15 days usually.

Storing such a huge stock of fuel in Muthurajawela is a threat to security too, the trade unions point out. Muthurajawela fuel storage is situated in an unsecured area close to sea and it is prone to terrorist attacks. Fuel is pumped to this complex from a buoy in Uswetakeiyawa. The pumping is stopped on 6 PM due to security concerns and the ship is taken to deep sea. Trade unions point out that a three day delaying fee is paid to the shipping company due to this process and there is a commission deal behind this. A liter of petrol can be sold at Rs. 95 with tax in accordance with the current world market price of fuel. But since the CPC maintains the old prices without giving the concession to the consumers, the Lanka Indian Oil Corporation (LIOC) that owns a 30% share of the fuel market earns a giant profit by selling fuel at higher prices. The trade union leaders point out that a Rs. 25 a liter surcharge is levied from locally refined fuel as well although the tax was intended to be charged only from imported fuel in accordance with the original gazette.

Exposing the fuel racket in the parliament, United National Party (UNP) MP Dayasiri Jayasekara said that the income of Standard Chartered Bank has risen by 122% due to fuel related transactions. He further said that a cabinet paper had been submitted on August 19 to obtain US $ 500 million loan from Iran at 18% interest to set up a new petroleum refinery. As a condition of this loan, a 20 year tax concession and other compensations have been promised.

Armed men in Black suit kill two villagers in Trincomalee

Unidentified armed men shot and killed two villagers, 50 years and 27 years of age, Saturday night at Kappalthu'rai in Chinabay Police division in Trincomalee district. The armed men entered the village Saturday night dressed in black suit and had shot dead the victims in their houses.

The bodies were handed over to the Trincomalee general hospital for identification and postmortem.

Kandy District Leads in Land Encroachment

The Presidential Secretariat and the Defense Ministry have ordered the Kandy District Administration to take immediate action to stop encroachment on state land and illegal construction on such land said the Kandy District Secretary Ghotabhaya Jayaratne addressing a meeting of the Kandy District Coordinating Committee held recently in the Kandy District Secretariat. The Presidential Secretariat, is of the view that illegal encroachment is far more widespread than elsewhere in the island. The Defense Ministry is concerned that illegal construction on road reservations forms a potential security threat.

Mr. Jayaratne also stated that government department and agencies that had custody of such land simply failed to enforce the law and prevent encroachment and illegal construction. He cited the Road Development Authority as one prime example. Encroachment of road reservations is a common practice in every part of the country. Peradeniya University has also lost a considerable amount of land to encroachers and the university has done practically nothing to reclaim the land he noted.

Member of the Central Provincial Council Mahinda Abeykoon stated that some people have encroached on land that the state took over in the early 1970s under the land reform and left unattended. He said that the opposition unfairly accused government politicians of backing the encroachers. The fact of the matter is that the government has an obligation to provide land to the landless but he conceded that it should be done in a legal manner.

The judicial action against encroachment is a time consuming process that takes one year or more to resolve. Encroachers are aware of this and act with impunity because time is on their side. There are 5000 land reform land grantees, many of whom are encroachers, in the Kandy District who are awaiting deeds of ownership.

The Chief Minister of the Central Province Mr. Sarath Ekanayake stated that he has ordered his officials to expedite the granting of deeds to those encroachers who have a case and to take firm action to evict the others.

Australian NGO Director warns of Humanitarian Disaster in the absence of foreign aid workers

The extreme humanitarian situation of Internally Displaced Persons, including thousands of children, who are already malnourished, would deteriorate dramatically as clean water is not available for all the IDPs and they have been deprived of medicine by the Sri Lankan government, said Executive Director Paul O'Callaghan of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID), which has 25 member organisations working in Sri Lanka over many decades. He has expressed fear of a blood bath as foreign aid workers of UN agencies and NGOs packed their bags following the orders by the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) to leave the Vanni region last week.


Apart from the direct military conflict we would expect that many, many people will die or be in extreme circumstances if humanitarian workers are not able to access this area," Mr. Paul O'Callaghan told Australia's ABC Radio last week, after Colombo's decision to exclude foreign workers.

According to UN estimates, 40% of all children in the North are currently malnourished and don't have access to any prospect of food, he noted.

In response to the GoSL's statement that it did not want to see a repeat of the 2006 massacre of 17 local aid workers employed by French agency Action Contre La Faim, Mr O'Callaghan said the circumstances of that incident were never clear and reiterated that by clearing Tamil areas of foreign aid agencies the GoSL is also ensuring no independent sources exist to comment on ground realities. "If you exclude all foreign humanitarian workers then you won't have any, not only the immediate support for those communities but also those who can actually see what's happening on the ground," he said. Accusing the GoSL of having received the highest number of complaints of any government in the United Nations Human Rights Commission over recent years, O'Callaghan said the GoSL had as result been reviewed recently by the commission. In response, the GoSL had made commitments to the commission only a few weeks ago to protect civilians.

"[The GoSL] undertook at that point to make special efforts to ensure that the situation for citizens who are not involved in the conflict would be taken care of, and that those citizens would be able to be safe and obtain food and water and medicine and so on," he told ABC Radio Australia, and added that it is worrying to see the GoSL's change in policy after only recently pledging to protect civilians.

"So this does worry us - that we could see very quickly a very large scale disaster occurring, quite apart if you like from what the civil war is directly involved in," he concluded.

ACFID is an independent national association of Australian NGOs working in the field of international aid and development. Paul O'Callaghan, who is the Executive Director of ACFID, also serves on the Foreign Minister?s Aid Advisory Council, is a member of the National Nonprofit Roundtable and the Australian Collaboration and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management. While in government (1982?2000), he served as Australia?s High Commissioner in Samoa (1997?2000) and had earlier diplomatic appointments in Malaysia and Thailand.

Maldivians to vote in Colombo

Maldivians living abroad will be able to exercise their right to vote outside the country for the first time in this year’s presidential election, as ballot boxes will be placed in four countries including Sri Lanka.

Monkeying Around in Kandy

For the visitors and tourists the Udawattakelle monkeys who hang around on the fringes of the forest reserve are a source of amusement and pleasure. They give the impression that Kandy is a model city where people and these wild animals share habitat in perfect harmony. But those who have the fortune or misfortune to live or work adjacent to Udawattakelle, the ancient forest reserve that the Kandyan Kings established and protected, the story is somewhat different.
A homeowner who wished to remain anonymous complains that their normal life is severely disrupted by the monkeys who damage the car and household items, attack domestic pets, destroy plant material in the garden, and damage the telephone wire. A similar story is told by business houses, especially restaurants that are a favourite of the monkey because of the food that they may find in the compound. Everybody that is affected by the monkeys have a story to tell about leaking roofs and costly roof repairs.

Nobody knows for sure if the monkey population has grown in recent years. But residents who live close to Udawattakelle say that monkey raids on their houses, hotels, schools and other human habitats have risen in recent years. Dr Asoka Dangolla, who is a Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Medicine at the University of Peradeniya, has looked at the Udawattakelle Monkey problem from a scientific perspective. He says that the monkeys appear to have got attracted to human food mostly food waste because it is tastier than the usual food that animals eat in their forest habitat. This may have also increased the “carrying capacity” of the monkey habitat and breeding leading to a larger population. But Dr. Dangolla says that he is not aware of any scientific count of the Udawattakelle monkey population. But it is evident that they have a protected home in Udawattakelle and a good source of food in the town leading to a comfortable lifestyle!!

Of course the victims of the monkey raids have no objection to the monkeys picking up food waste. What they object to is the damage that they cause to the roofs, gutters and other exterior fittings in the buildings, sometimes costing tens of thousands of rupees. Some monkeys also make forays into the buildings.

The monkey problem has been discussed in several official fora among others, Department of Animal Production and Health (Gatambe), Central Provincial Council, KMC, and the Department of Wildlife Conservation - in the last few years. But none of these discussions, it appears, have led to concrete action.

Dr Dangolla cites several alternative methods to control the monkey population that have been successful in other countries. Capturing the monkeys every 5 years and injecting a hormone to prevent breeding has been successful in Japan. Capture and translocation releasing them in another jungle habitat- has worked in India.

In Kandy people who have had to face the harassment have resorted to their own methods. These include catching and painting the monkeys in different colours, sometimes using luminous paint, shaving, getting them to eat chili, killing one monkey to set an example to scare the rest, or catching one and keeping it in a cage. But none have a lasting impact.
Controlling the monkey population in Kandy needs to be done in a very humane manner with sensitivity to the feelings of the people about animal life. Dr. Dangolla feels that capturing about half of the current monkey population, performing surgery on both males and females to prevent breeding, and translocating them may alleviate the problem. He says that he has performed such surgery on individual monkeys who have been ill or injured that required veterinary help and released them back to the wild with the permission of the government authorities. There are quite a few veterinary doctors who could be mobilized to perform surgery, he says. But a real solution requires substantial resources and the cooperation of several institutions and agencies such as the Department of Wildlife Conservation, Department of Animal Production and Health, CPC, KMC and the University. In addition the Kandy public needs to be informed and educated on the problem and the solution.

Dr. Dangolla, who has developed a proposal for such a project, says that monkey that come in groups have to be captured using traps, something that has never been done in Kandy. He estimates that a trap that he has designed would cost around Rs100, 000 to build and that about five such traps should be adequate for the entire operation. But additional money is needed for surgery, translocation and other related expenses he said. A government agency such as the Central Provincial Council has to take the lead in this, Dr. Dangolla said. Professionals such as himself could help, he noted.

Chinese railway power sets reaches port of Colombo

The first consignment of 15 power sets imported from China reached the Port of Colombo today.

The trains imported under a special loan scheme approved by the Chinese government cost US$ 40 million.

According to Transport Ministry, the number of power sets in the country will be increased to 50 with the import of these new S-10 Class units.

The Chinese Government agreed to release the power sets based on the year 2000 prices following discussions held with President Mahinda Rajapaksa during his recent visit to China.

The added trains will minimise the inconvenience caused to commuters travelling from Chilaw, Main Track, and Coast Line, the Ministry said.

Sri Lanka March tourist arrivals up 8.6pc

Destination Sri Lanka said that tourist arrivals to the island nation in March registered an 8.6 per cent growth over the same period last year.

For the first three months of 2008, there was a marginal increase of 0.7 per cent in tourist arrivals according to the monthly statistical report released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority.

The highest performer during the period was the Middle East, which registered an increase of 80.6 per cent in comparison with 2007.

Of the 294.6 per cent growth from the region in March, Iranian tourists formed the major portion with arrivals of 1,300 during the month. These arrivals were the result of the operation of nine charter flights supported by Sri Lanka Tourism.

Among the other markets that performed well was Russia with 58.3 per cent increase between January and March while France registered 93.5 per cent growth and the UK showed a 11.9 per cent growth during March.-

MET Department warns citizens to expect natural disasters

Sri Lanka Meteorology Department today expressed their concern over natural disasters expected to take place during the approaching rainy season.

With increased attention towards the global warming during the last few months, Sri Lanka Meteorology Department warns of majors changes in the local climate which would lead to unexpected natural disasters from landslides, floods, rain, and related health implications.

“With the monsoon expected in October, without proper drainage systems in most parts of the country floods and landslides can be expected,” the Department explained.

Train accident kills two

At least two persons were killed and another injured when a tree-wheeler collided with the Matara bound Train at Batuwatta, Ragama.

Buddhist and Pali University registrar and deputy registrar win long battle against JVP-backed student union

The Court of Appeal has ordered that the Registrar and the Deputy Registrar of the Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka be reinstated in their posts, after a period of suspension and unpaid compulsory leave. The petitioners – Registrar R. A. Piyaratna and Deputy Registrar Gallage Jayatissa –– had been on compulsory unpaid leave from December 2006 after being suspended by the university following complaints and demonstrations against them by the Janatha Vimukthi Perumuna (JVP)-backed student union.

The court has ordered that the petitioners be paid all outstanding emoluments for the period they were on unpaid compulsory leave, and that all disciplinary inquiries against them be dropped.

Initially, the petitioners were sent on compulsory paid leave in December 2006, but following pressure from the student union, they were put on compulsory leave without pay from March 2007.

In their appeal the petitioners cited the following as respondents: The Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka; the Minister of Higher Education, Wishwa Warnapala; the Secretary to the Ministry of Higher Education, Ven. Prof. Wegama Piyaratana Thera; the vice-chancellor of The Buddhist and Pali University, Ven. Ekeriyagala Nanda Thera; the Faculty of Buddhists Studies, and 13 others, including two university employees, K. W. Bandula and A. A. Navaratna.

The petitioners claimed that the Inter-University Students Union had falsely accused them of providing wrong information on student activities to the media, including a report on ragging on campus. The media had highlighted complaints from residents in the university neighbourhood of unruly behaviour on the part of the students, and a case of sexual harassment.

According to the petitioners, the student union had put pressure on the university’s vice-chancellor, Ven. Professor Wegama Thera. The petitioners claim the vice-chancellor should have held an inquiry into the students’ behaviour, not the petitioners’ actions. Six separate inquiries were ordered against the Registrar and the Deputy Registrar, who were duly exonerated in all six inquiries.

The Ministry of Education then appointed senior assistant secretary S. S. N. Silva to look into the student union allegations, and he too found no grounds for charges against the petitioners. Dissatisfied with the report, the students staged a demonstration demanding a further inquiry against the petitioners. Five more inquiries were conducted, and these too found no grounds for action against the petitioners.

In December 2006, the Ministry of Education put both petitioners on paid compulsory leave. The student union held a satyagraha, demanding that the petitioners be removed from their posts. In March 2007, the petitioners received letters from the university informing them that they were on compulsory leave without pay.

The petitioners then filed a writ in court challenging the university decision. They said the first respondent, the university, had promised not to interfere in the payment of their salaries. According to the petition, the vice-chancellor had made a request to the Minister of Higher Education to transfer the petitioners to other universities.

The petitioners said the student union had put pressure on the vice-chancellor to interdict the petitioners without payment. Attorney-at-Law W. D. Weeraratne appeared for the petitioners.

The Court of Appeal bench comprised President’s Counsels Chandra Ekanayake and Anil Gooneratne.

Call for legal action against ‘terrorist’ undergrads

The organization of Lawyers for Human Rights and Development has called for stern legal action against university students who engage in what it calls terrorist activities within local universities, disrupting tertiary education. In a letter written to Higher Education Minister Wiswa Warnapala, the organization has suggested that all university students formally agree to a condition of not engaging in such acts and that any student who breaches this agreement be expelled from his or her university.
“University students are entitled to subscribe to any political belief and they have the right to engage in any political activity. However they have no right to violate the rights of other students or put their lives in danger and jeopardize their education in order to achieve their own political goals,” the organization said.

Referring to recent media reports of clashes among student factions in some universities, the Lawyers for Human and Rights and Development said it is no secret that thugs who called themselves university students and certain groups of students, who have become thugs with the backing of politicians, are trying to sabotage university education.

“They destroy public property worth millions of rupees, attack staff members and sometimes hold lecturers and even vice-chancellors as hostages. All of these actions are punishable by law.
The same law that applies to the country’s citizens should also apply to students and politicians. Unfortunately, students and politicians appear to believe that they are above the law,” it added.“It is the responsibility and duty of the Government to safeguard the lives of all students who enter university in the hope of obtaining higher education and ensure that they are in a position to continue studies without any hindrance,” it said.

UN says unable to leave Sri Lanka's war-torn north

AFP

The United Nations said Sunday its aid staff were unable to comply with a Sri Lankan government order to quit the war-torn north of the island because of protests by local civilians.
UN agencies say some 160,000 people have been displaced in the past few months in the districts of Mullaittivu and Kilinochchi as the government steps up its offensive against Tamil Tiger rebels.

Some 70,000 people have fled due to fighting in the past two months alone.

UN agencies began pulling out of the region on Thursday after Colombo said it could not guarantee the safety of aid workers.

"We have temporarily suspended withdrawing our staff, vehicles and other equipment. Large groups of civilians continue to block our offices in the Wanni since Friday," UN spokesman, Gordon Weiss told AFP.

He said thousands of men, women and children were protesting outside UN and other international aid agency offices in Kilinochchi to stop aid workers from leaving.

"The Sri Lankan government is very much aware of the present situation," he said, adding that the UN's Colombo offices were waiting further instructions from their headquarters in New York.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have warned against the pullout, saying it cause a "humanitarian crisis."

Tamils want British support for sanctions against Colombo

London: The Tamil community begins a campaign tomorrow urging the UK to support sanctions against Sri Lanka including the withdrawal of the GPS + trade concession, for human rights violations and other abuses.

It is to tell the British government that there is a ‘compelling case’ for separation as the only solution for peace and stability in Sri Lanka.Led by the British Tamils Forum (BTF) which some allege is an LTTE front, the meeting in Harrow will be attended by two British ministers and a member of the European Parliament who recently created controversy in Sri Lanka and subsequently submitted a critical report on President Rajapaksa’s administration to the European Parliament. The name of Robert Evans, of the MEP, has often been associated with pro-LTTE protests in London and elsewhere.

One of the British ministers, Gareth Thomas, a parliamentary under secretary, well known for his anti-Sri Lankan views, is MP for West Harrow which has a substantial Tamil vote bank.

With the ruling Labour Party’s political fortunes plummeting as never before for several decades, Gareth Evans has to fight for survival by catering to this Tamil constituency, analysts say. It is Gareth Thomas who has written to Tamil households in his electorate inviting them to attend this public meeting to be held in Rayners Lane in Harrow.

Using its influence in the Labour Party, the BTF and others have got Gareth Thomas to invite Lord Malloch-Brown, the foreign office minister in charge also of Sri Lanka, to spend one hour answering questions on British foreign policy particularly relating to Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile other Tamil voices that are not consonant with the BTF agenda, has asked Gareth Thomas for assurances that they will not be refused entry to the meeting as has happened previously when strong arm methods were said to have been used to prevent the airing of other Tamil opinions.

While the BTF has managed to round up two of their faithful- Gareth Thomas and Robert Evans- to lead the charge against the Sri Lanka government, it is not too certain that Lord Malloch-Brown would unequivocally support their agenda for sanctions and condemn the Colombo government.

The BTF has advised the Tamil community which has been asked to bring their families to the meeting, to concentrate on two areas – human rights violations and IDPs and separation as the solution to the Sri Lanka conflict.

They also intend to rely heavily on the Robert Evans critical report to the European Parliament to demand an end to GPS+.

Earlier the UK All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils ( perhaps the only parliamentary group for a specific ethnic community) issued a statement calling on firm action by Britain for sanctions, including UN sanctions, for violence ‘unleashed’ against the Tamils and for sending out foreign NGOs from the conflict areas.

11,000 Tiger cadres killed, 4,000 remain: Army Chief

About 11,000 Tiger guerrillas have been killed since the military launched its campaign to secure the Mavil Aru anicut in July 2006, Army Commander Sarath Fonseka told his officers on Friday. The toll was given during his quarterly address to officers of Grade 1 and above. They comprised selected officers from the ranks of Major upto Majors General. Some 200 of them, with the exception of those serving in operational areas, took part in the conference at Army Headquarters.

Lt. Gen. Fonseka said the Army was moving on four different fronts to regain control of the remaining areas in the Wanni. He said on one front, Pooneryn was only some 30 kilometres away. However, he did not identify the fronts in question. He said according to estimates provided by the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI), only some 4,000 Tiger guerrillas now remained.

Army sources said if the troops secured the remaining 30 kilometres along the western coast of Wanni, that would pave the way for the establishment of a land based route to the Jaffna peninsula. Attempts earlier this month to advance beyond a one time Sea Tiger base at Nachchikuda met with stiff resistance.

Lt. Gen. Fonseka also referred to the role of the media during his speech. He said that the media should know what to write and what to keep out. During the 80 minute conference, the officers were also given a presentation on the successes made by the Army since 2006.

Wanni civilians in dire straits says MSF

The situation of the tens of thousand of civilians remaining inside the Wanni was dire, according to international relief agencies that were relocating staff out of the Wanni following a government directive last week.

European relief groups Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and Solidar both said that civilians and the IDPs were facing grave situations in the absence of a permanent presence of aid workers in the Wanni except for representatives of the ICRC.

“MSF is very concerned about the possible consequences of ongoing hostilities for the population still living in the area, and the impact of displacement on the health of the population,” the French relief agency said on September 11 as it began relocating staff to Vavuniya.

“The absence of UN and INGOs paints a grim picture for over 150,000 persons who are currently living in welfare camps, public buildings and even under trees in town areas of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts,” Solidar said yesterday.

There are at least 160,000 IDPs in the Vanni according to UN reports and a total civilian population of between 260,000 to 310,000.

MSF said that there were potential health related dangers in the Vanni. “The potentially serious health impact will only be worsened by the arrival of the rainy season begins in roughly a month's time. Existing hospitals and clinics have also been affected by the fighting, and though the system is compensating for the moment, if the situation is prolonged there will be serious shortages of medicines and supplies, as well as qualified medical staff.”

The ICRC last week said that 12 medical institutions including four hospitals had been relocated in the Vanni due to on-going fighting and 200 beds had been rendered unavailable.

MSF said that it was unlikely that civilians would move out of the Vanni any time soon despite government appeals to do so. “Although the government of Sri Lanka has dropped leaflets recommending that the population move from this area, and though they have announced the creation of a humanitarian corridor to facilitate this, there is little evidence that civilians have been able to move to safety.”

The French aid group also expressed its willingness to return to Vanni once the government gives the green light.

“MSF is prepared to return to Kilinochchi as soon as possible. In the interim, the withdrawal should not affect programmes in other parts of Sri Lanka's conflict-affected north, including Vavuniya, Point Pedro in the Jaffna peninsula, and Mannar.”

Solidar said that it had prepared to operate out of Vavuniya for the last year and a new office with eight expatriate staff was already up and running.

Hambantota Port project faces suspension

The Hambantota Port Development Project is facing suspension by end of September as a result of a serious cash flow crisis due to the government's failure to pay the contractor his dues.

The government owes the contractor, China Harbour-Sinohydro Consortium US$ 117mn for the work completed but is yet to make payment despite repeated appeals, it is learned.

On September 3, the China Harbour Consortium wrote to Ports Minister Chamal Rajapakse they will be compelled to suspend work on the project by September 30 unless the US$ 117 million (approx Rs. 12.5 billion) due is paid.

The Consortium while thanking the Minister for his support and assistance to the project has said they will 'be compelled to suspend work if the outstanding amount due to China Harbour is not made available to us by 30th September 2008.'

The letter was copied to the Ambassador to China in Sri Lanka, Ambassador of Sri Lanka in China, Finance Secretary P.B. Jayasundera, Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona, Ports Secretary Thosapala Hewage and Vice Chairman, Ports Authority, R.M.P.B.Wickrema.

The local agent for the Consortium is businessman Prabath Nanayakkara who is also the agent for the Colombo-Katunayake expressway.

"Since His Excellency the President unveiled the commencement plaque at the inauguration ceremony last October, the construction works have been proceeding according to the planned schedule and we have achieved an operational output of US$ 60 million..," the letter states.

The Consortium has added they have completed 100% of the mobilisation and preliminary works, 85% precast element construction, 85% cofferdam construction,10% Breakwater construction and 5% Harbour Basin Excavation construction.

It has further stated that pursuant to the contract the Contractor should be entitled to a 25% of the contract sum as advance payment which amounts to approximately US$ 90 million to ensure the smooth implementation of the project.

"However we regret to inform that upto now we have only received US$33 million. The balance accumulated payments due to China Harbour from the Employer amounts to US dollars 117 million. As a result the Contractor is now experiencing a serious cash flow deficit and will be reluctantly compelled to suspend work if this problem is not addressed as a matter of priority," the Consortium has written.

The letter also said, "China Harbour have made every effort to achieve the current progress and have made considerable investments in equipment and other resources and are not in a position to shoulder this burden of a cash flow deficit any longer. Therefore we wish to inform that we will be compelled to suspend work if the outstanding amount due to China Harbour is not made available to us by September 30 , 2008."

Govt mechanism in place in Kilinochchi and Mullaittiuvu - Secretary Defence

The withdrawal of foreign aid workers and Non Governmental Organisations from Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu, the last of the LTTE territory, would not hinder humanitarian activities as a well organised government mechanism is operating in these areas through government agents, their staff and other state officials, Defence Secretary, Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa told the Sunday Observer. He said the government took this firm decision to avoid unfortunate incidents.

"The INGOs and NGOs were mainly involved in development projects in uncleared areas but under the prevailing situation they cannot carry out any development projects there. The other reason is that we cannot guarantee the safety of their lives as the military offensive has been intensified", he said.

The Defence Secretary said that these workers were given deadlines to reach government controlled areas but if they continue to remain defying instructions, the government could not take responsibility for their safety in future.

He said that the government is particularly keen about the safety of the UN staff and as the offensive is getting stronger, the government has instructed the UN to set up their offices in Vavuniya". The UN is engaged in humanitarian relief activities. They are allowed to operate from Vavuniya and hand over the relief to GAs", he said.

The Defence Secretary said that the government would follow the normal procedure as the government mechanism is fully active in the Wanni providing humanitarian assistance.

He said the government had successfully handled and resettled 170,000 IDPs after the liberation of the East and a similar number of displaced people is expected once the security forces liberate Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu. "We have already taken steps to provide facilities to them"he said.

The Defence Secretary also said that the IDPs' problems in the East had been well addressed within a short period of time.

Explaining how the government looked after the highest number of IDPs in the country in 1996 during 'Operation Riviresa' where over 400,000 IDPs fled to government controlled areas, he said the government has wide experience in providing facilities for the exodus of people fleeing non-liberated areas and it was proven with the successful resettlement in Mavil Aru, Vakarai, Sampur and Thoppigala, where civilians were being used as human shields by the LTTE prior to the Eastern liberation.

Ravi demands Rs. 1 billion from ANCL

UNP Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake has threatened to sue Silumina newspaper of Lake House to the tune of Rs. 1 billion, following a news item that appeared in its issue of September 7, titled ‘UNP leadership rejected by the people’ quoting Karunanayake as saying it.

Attorney-at-Law G.G. Arulpragasam, writing to the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd, ­ — Lake House on behalf of the Parliamentarian, has said that the report under the said headline is absolutely false and has been made with the intention of creating a rift between the Leader of the UNP and Karunanayake and also, to defame him and to ruin, ridicule and to humiliate his unblemished character as a person, as a professional and as a politician and to mislead the public and to gain wrongful advantage.
“I am instructed by my client to state that you have been carrying on a malicious campaign against my client, making unfounded and false accusations against my client and my client’s subordinates.

“I am instructed by my client to state that, as a result of the said defamatory article together with the headline, my client has suffered grave harm, injury and damage to his good name and reputation, character and credit and my client estimates the damages suffered by him at Rs. 1 billion.

“In the circumstances I am instructed by my client to and do hereby demand of you the said sum of Rs. 1 billion within 14 days from the date hereof. In the event of your failure to pay the said sum of Rs. l billion, within 14 days from the date hereof, I have further instructions from my client to institute legal proceedings against you and your editor, for the recovery of the said sum together with interest and costs of suit,” the lawyer has said in his letter to Lake House.

If Ranil goes, we’ll return - Lokuge

The group of original UNP ‘reformists’ who crossed over to the government last year claim their re-entry would entirely depend on the removal of Ranil Wickremesinghe as party leader.

“Despite the reforms that are to be introduced by the new group of rebels, there is no way we can work with the present UNP Leader,” Sports Minister and former UNP MP Gamini Lokuge said.

Charging that Wickremesinghe lacks the common touch and cannot relate to the needs of the masses, Lokuge added that there was no way they could do good work in their own electorates under the present UNP setup.

Lokuge said that apart from Wickremesinghe and his acolytes, the 17 reformists do not have any problems with the rest of the UNP Parliamentarians. He also expressed confidence that with Wickremesinghe’s exit, the party would also see the back of his inner circle that is responsible for the majority of bad decisions taken by the leadership.

Meanwhile, the group of current UNP rebels is reported to be content that their 14 reforms are being considered and vowed to remain in the party and continue their struggle within. “Whatever actions we have taken so far are correct and reasonable and we never had hidden agendas unlike some people. Today we have achieved something due to the openness and straight-forwardness, which made us talk to the Leader about what we were thinking,” Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene said.

Delay in food transport to north

The prevailing security situation is delaying the transport of food and other essentials to the war displaced in the north by two days, said the Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Ministry. Its Secretary A.C.M. Rasik has told 'Ravaya' that it took as many as five days for a lorry to reach the peninsula.

He also said the government has so far released Rs. 25 million to district secretaries of Kilinochchi and Vavuniya to provide for the homeless.

He said he was unaware of the exact amount of funding given by the United Nations, the World Food Programme and the International Organization for Migration towards the provision of relief.

The government would provide civilians of the north with the maximum support, with six centres already arranged to accommodate them, he said.

The newspaper noted however, that the Ministry Secretary had no exact figures of the people who have crossed over to cleared areas since the escalation of fighting in Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi.

Gotabhaya finds Colombo security a problem

Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has told state owned and government run newspaper “Daily News” on September 13th that he prefers Tamil citizens from the North and East to leave Colombo instead of simply staying in the city.
He, as Defense Secretary, accepts providing security in Colombo “is an immense problem” with thousands arriving in Colombo from war torn parts of the country.

With the government escalating the war and going on the offensive, many Tamils are said to be fleeing those areas.

The Defense Secretary was quoted as saying that in August alone 6,950 Tamil people from the war torn areas had arrived in Colombo.

This influx to Colombo is seen as “abnormal” and he has also said the situation is “alarming”.

"I prefer most of these people who had come from other areas to Colombo and suburbs and who are staying here without any valid reason to go back to their areas," Rajapakse has told ‘Daily News.’

Over a year ago, the government enforced a clearance permit system for Tamil people in the war torn North to leave those areas and they are expected to have those “papers” in hand, while staying in Colombo.

“They are almost illegal citizens here in the South, if they don’t have those papers and are liable for arrest any time” said a human rights lawyer to Lanka Dissent, commenting on the news in the state owned and government run Daily News.

Crime Without Punishment: The Strange Case of Colonel Karuna

The trial, imprisonment and release of a former Tamil Tiger leader raises some tricky and potentially embarrassing questions for the British government. The former leader of the Tamil Tigers in the east of Sri Lanka Commander Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Colonel Karuna was arrested for travelling to the UK on a false passport in November 2007 and sentenced to 9 months in prison at the end of January 2008.

He was released from prison on May 9 and transferred to an immigration detention centre. He was deported at the beginning of July having escaped charges of war crimes and human rights abuses committed in Sri Lanka.

For the past 25 years the Tamil Tigers have been fighting for a homeland in what is now north and east Sri Lanka. During this time Karuna, proved himself to be an adept guerrilla leader. He quickly rose through the ranks of the Tigers to become Special Commander of the eastern region of the Tamil Eelam, in eastern Sri Lanka. Shortly after his promotion Karuna broke from the Tigers to form his own army, the Tamil People's Liberation Tigers.

After switching sides he began to associate with members of the Sinhala establishment, the dominant ethnic group in Sri Lanka. Tamils allege that the association was so strong, and Karuna's army so important in the fight against the Tamil Tigers, that the Sri Lankan army and Special Forces aided his missions against the Tigers.

Throughout this period Karuna has been accused of being behind some of the most abhorrent abuses of human rights in Sri Lanka. Amnesty UK alleges such abuses include torture, hostage taking, the use of child soldiers, and crimes against humanity.
Human Rights Watch refers to Karuna as having a "long and horrific record of abuse", and claim he is "one of the worst human rights abusers ever to end up in custody in the UK". However, few Tamils believed he would become the first person to be successfully convicted in the UK for war crimes or human rights violations.

Shortly after arriving in the UK Karuna was charged under Section 25 of the Identity Cards Act for the possession of a false identity document, but the circumstances of his arrest and imprisonment are shrouded with secrecy and intrigue, raising questions about the role and competency of the British government.

At Isleworth Crown Court Karuna pleaded guilty to travelling on a fraudulent passport, but said he did so with the backing of the Sri Lankan government. Karuna's lawyer, David Philips, told the court that Karuna "entered the United Kingdom using a diplomatic passport ... it contained a six month multiple visit visa, issued at the British High Commission" in Colombo. "The Sri Lankan government gave him the passport and sent him to the United Kingdom" and it was the Sri Lankan Defense Secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, also the Prime Minister's brother, who organised it.
He went on to say that Karuna did not go to the British High Commission to collect the documents and was merely following the instructions of the Sri Lankan government.

Karuna's lawyer told me that none of Karuna's allegations were investigated, and no questions about them have been asked in Parliament. He went on to tell me that his attempts to investigate were met with closed doors and a "wall of silence".

Despite Karuna's claims of a change of heart, his break with the Tigers was generally regarded as opportunistic. Very few sources are prepared to talk on the record about Karuna for political or safety reasons. However, Nadesapillai Vithyatharan, a prominent Tamil newspaper editor in Sri Lanka, and a friend of Karuna's when he was in the Tigers, explained that Karuna jumped before he was pushed. Karuna had allegedly embezzled money from the Tigers, infuriating their leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran. Karuna was a marked man.

His relations with the Sri Lankan government did not fare much better. By 2007 it seemed that Karuna's usefulness to the government was beginning to ebb away. In June of that year, the editor of the Asia Tribune, K.T. Rajasingham, met with the President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapakse and his Minister for Social Welfare, Douglas Devananda, in Geneva to discuss Sri Lankan affairs, including the "problem" of Karuna.

The minutes of the meeting show Rajasingham's stance on Karuna: "Unfortunately, I supported Karuna thinking that though he started his career as a terrorist, he could be rehabilitated", made to respect human rights and be repositioned in the democratic mainstream of politics. He went on to explain that Karuna was a liability to the Sri Lankan government, "a spent force". Three years after leaving the Tigers, "he has no more real stories to narrate and will be of no use to anyone". Rajasingham's most chilling comment is that Karuna's former deputy and political rival Pillayan "is planning to arrest Karuna" but is hesitating due to opposition from the Defense Ministry. "I suggest the government get rid of Karuna, a liability and work with Pillayan and his men who are more popular in the east than Karuna".

Pilliayan has since become the government's man in the east. Banda (not his real name), a Sinhala, and a Sri Lanka expert for a major international news organisation explains, on condition of anonymity, that, "due to fratricidal animosities between Karuna and Pillaiyan [Karuna] sought the help of the government to get out of the country".

Karuna was, then, willingly removed from Sri Lanka, but given allegations of serious war crimes and human rights abuses hanging over him, it is unlikely that he could have wished British authorities to hear of his escape.

In addition to Rajasingham's evidence, independent sources have confirmed that, as Karuna alleged in court, Sri Lankan officials helped him through the through the airport, bypassing customs, and delivering his passport to him onboard the plane.

The British government seemed to have been convinced enough by Karuna's evidence to call the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the Foreign Office for an explanation. The Sri Lankan government has denied all allegations of assisting Karuna.

The question is, however, if the Sri Lankan government wanted rid of Karuna why go through such a convoluted process? This is Sri Lanka after all, where disappearances are part of daily life. A number of explanations exist. Vithyatharan suggests that assassination or disappearance was out of the question, for it would have heralded a "victory for the Tigers".

Banda explains that Karuna is considered something of a folk hero amongst the Sinhala community in Sri Lanka for turning the tide of the 25-year civil war against the Tigers. He is a "Sinhala hero, remember that. He's the one who helped the government army to chase Tigers off the East". Any obvious action against Karuna would have been deeply unpopular.

It is highly probably that Karuna would not have been able to leave the country without the help of the Sri Lankan government. Visas from Sri Lanka, especially those issued for diplomatic passports, are not given out without government assurances that that application is genuine. Further, all persons entering and exiting embassies and high commissions, especially in war zones, are logged for security reasons. Although identity fraud is common in Sri Lanka it is rare for diplomatic passports to be forged.

Karuna could not have picked up the passports himself. The journalist who broke the Karuna story in Sri Lanka for the Sunday Leader, Ranjith Jayasunderas, explains that British embassy officials he spoke to are "certain that his passport was delivered to them by regular Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry channels".

The question remains, however, of the competence of the British High Commission in Colombo and perhaps even the Foreign Office. One British member of the European Parliament with an interest in Sri Lanka said, off the record, that the British government issued the visa "on the basis of support" from the Sri Lankan government, and was "stitched up by the Sri Lankan government" in a way that was "alarming to say the least".

However, Karuna's face is rather well known in Sri Lanka and among the diplomatic community in Sri Lanka - at least as well known as Martin McGuinness's is in the UK. There is little chance that Britain's High Commission staff did not recognise Karuna's photo on the passport when issuing the visa. It would be remarkable if at least one official in the High Commission had not recognised Karuna's photograph.

A senior British MP said, on condition of anonymity, that the "history of Tamil Tiger participants is that clearly there have been various covert and sanctioned exercises where individuals have left (Sri Lanka) over the years". "I guess that our man in Colombo and the Foreign Office and other governments would not find themselves in unknown territory to allow free passage".

Banda suggested that the Foreign Office may have intervened on behalf of the Sri Lankan government to ensure Karuna's safe passage. "My contacts within the HC in Colombo didn't know this went through until it blew up they were not aware ... so it looks like someone high up was really involved".

Whether or not they were, there have been few if any questions asked about the conduct of the High Commission staff. As Jayasunderas points out, "this need not have been Karuna. It could very well have been Bin Laden with plastic surgery, smuggled in by the Sri Lankan government. He would have gotten through just the same".

The Home Office refused to comment on the case. The High Commissioner at the time, Dominck Chilcott, told me that the questions raised here are "all very good" but that he cannot comment on the matter.

Perhaps the most disappointing element of the debacle, especially for human rights activists, was the inaction of the British government when they may have had the opportunity of securing a conviction of an alleged war criminal.

Both Amnesty and Human Rights Watch petitioned the UK government and the Metropolitan police to charge Karuna but the case was not pursued. Yolanda Foster, Amnesty International's expert on the case, claims that there was a collection of evidence from NGOs presented to the Metropolitan police, including a large number of credible cases of human rights abuse.

Human Rights Watch has gathered considerable evidence of Karuna's role in human rights abuses, including the abduction of children to serve as child soldiers, in the form of case studies, witness statements, maps and photographs. Evidence gathered by the Norwegian Sri Lanka Monitoring Project and UNICEF confirm the allegations. UNICEF alone has documented evidence of more than 200 cases of child soldier recruitment by Karuna's militia.

Amnesty is unhappy that despite the quantity of evidence, the police sent only a limited number of cases to the Crown Prosecution Service. The CPS says it dropped the case because it felt the information presented by the Met was insufficient. It says there was "insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any criminal offences in the UK".

The reasons for the lack of evidence presented to the Crown Prosecution Service are still unknown. The Guardian made a freedom of information request, which was not fruitful. The Met have failed to respond to letters from Amnesty and the chair of Parliament's Sri Lanka Group, Andy Love, attempted to find out more from the Home Office, but it refused to divulge details of the case.

"The claim about lack of evidence seems spurious" Chandra Sriram, the director of the Centre on Human Rights in Conflict told me. The real issue for Sriram given the abundance of available evidence against Karuna "is the absence of political will to carry a case forward".

"The British government blew it," says Brad Adams, Human Rights Watch's Asia director. Adams accuses the government as a whole for the failure to prosecute, from the police to the Home Office. The police and CPS seemed not to understand who they had and lacked the resources to pursue the case. For Adams, the government's stated commitment to human rights is "not matched by its actions".

Amnesty's Yolanda Foster told me, "We are very disappointed that the UK government did not pursue the case". "There were very serious allegations made against Karuna but he has been returned to Sri Lanka where there is a culture of impunity". Amnesty is concerned that Sri Lankans who did come forward now face retaliation.

Having now been deported, Karuna's fate in Sri Lanka remains uncertain. Whilst some who know him, including his lawyer, are impressed by his "fierce loyalty", others believe that suspicion and in-fighting may spell the end of Karuna one way or another.

The Tamil People's Liberation Tigers's political wing, the United People's Freedom Alliance contested and won elections in the former Tiger strongholds in the east earlier this year.

Although the victory was tainted by claims of intimidation and fraud, leading to the withdrawal of the largest Tamil party, the Tamil National Alliance party, the result has been accepted by the government.

Sri Lankan media have reported that Karuna has been reinstated as the leader of his party, leaving activists to bemoan a missed opportunity for the British government to show its commitment to human rights.

Karuna's was, however, a pyrrhic victory, for in his absence his rival Pillayan was offered the post of Chief Minister of the Eastern Provincial Council. Just in time to meet the British Foreign Office minister, Lord Malloch-Brown during his four-day visit to Sri Lanka. Karuna remains on the sidelines.

Karuna still has many enemies, both among Tamils and Sinhala. His fate hinges on his continued worth to the Sri Lankan government. The only certainties are that the human rights situation in Sri Lanka will continue to deteriorate and ordinary Sri Lankans will continue to suffer.

7 Lankan refugees drown

Seven Sri Lankan refugees, who made an attempt to flee to their country, drowned at midsea when the boat in which they were travelling capsized in the early hours of Saturday.


According to reports, 13 Sri Lankan refugees, including five women and two children, from different camps, including Palani and Thiruvannamalai, had boarded a country boat at Thonithurai, near Mandapam, on September 11 to proceed to Sri Lanka. Owing to rough seas and strong winds, the boat capsized at mid-sea in the Palk Straits. All occupants were thrown into the water.

Six of them managed to swim and reach a nearby islet, while seven others, including two children, were feared to have drowned.

The six refugees who swam to the islet remained stranded on it for 24 hours. However, three refugees, including Ravi and Suman and the boatman, swam ashore leaving three others, Reginald, Selvanathan and Ithayarani on the islet.

Personnel in an Indian Navy vessel, who were on patrol, spotted the three and brought them to shore and handed them over to Dhanuskodi police for inquiry.

Chandran, Rameswaram tahsildar, and a team from ‘Q’ Branch questioned the refugees who escaped death. They gave the names of four of the missing persons as Nithya (25), Gopika (7), Sahayarani (28) and Poomeni (65), but could not state which camps they were from.

Meanwhile, the Indian Navy has intensified the search for the bodies.

LTTE warns of genocide as UN pulls out

Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tigers yesterday accused the government of planning a genocidal campaign against Tamils as UN agencies pulled out of rebel-held regions in the island’s north.

UN agencies started exiting on Friday after Colombo said it could not guarantee the safety of aid workers as troops pushed toward the Wanni region, which comprises Kilinochchi and Mullaittivu districts.

People in Kilinochchi have protested the departure of UN agencies from the Wanni region, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said in statement.

Residents had gathered outside the offices of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the World Food Program, said the rebels, who have been fighting to carve out an independent homeland in the island’s north and east since 1972.

They were “demanding the agencies should stay behind and continue their humanitarian work for the Wanni people facing a humanitarian crisis,” the rebels said. “The appeals (from residents) mostly said the Sri Lankan government is ordering the international agencies out as it readies for the final stage of the genocide of the Tamils,” the rebels said. There was no immediate government reaction to the charges.

But the government said earlier in the week it wanted to avoid troops being accused of killing aid workers, in a repeat of the August 2006 massacre of 17 local employees of the French aid agency Action Against Hunger, as it presses on with its offensive against the rebels.

UN agencies say at least 160,000 people have been displaced in the past few months in Mullaittivu and Kilinochchi. Some 70,000 people have fled due to fighting in the past two months alone.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s defense secretary yesterday told thousands of people living in the capital “without any valid reason” to return to their villages, calling them a national security threat. Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse said thousands of people arrive in Colombo each month from other parts of the war-torn nation, many of them ethnic Tamils fleeing fighting in the north, according to state-run media.

“It is an immense problem for the security forces to provide security. The LTTE mingles with these people to infiltrate these areas,” he said.

C-4 explosives, timer found in Dehiwala

The military recovered 100g of C-4 explosives and a timer during a search operation in Dehiwala. According to the Defence Ministry the explosives were recovered near a transformer close to the Zoo.

One Policeman killed and 4 others injured in Bati

Policeman Killed in LTTE attack on Police post at Tamilativu, Batticaloa; another 4 policemen injured in claymore blast at Wellavei, Batticaloa.

Rohitha A’gunawardane questioned by Bribery Commission

The Bribery Commission recorded a statement from Nation Building Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardane today.

Five Tigers nabbed in Damn Street

The Damn Street Police say they nabbed five LTTE cadres during a search operation conducted in the area last night. The police suspect that the five Tiger cadres are hardcore members of the outfit and were on a terrorist mission in the City.

Govt. plans to privatise Blood Bank says JVP

The JVP yesterday charged in Parliament that the government was planning to privatise the Blood Bank.

JVP MP Vijitha Herath said this was to be done through the Blood Transfusion Service Bill which was to be presented to the House shortly.

Mr. Herath made this point during an adjournment debate on the blood transfusion equipment controversy of the National Blood Bank in the House yesterday.

He said Section 4-1 of the Ordinance provides provisions to issue licence for the private sector to open private blood banks and collect plasma.

Mr. Herath warned this would result in the decline of the standards in the collection of blood and would lead to the spreading of AIDS which spread through blood transfusion.

He said the collection of plasma without a proper standard led to the spreading of AIDS in France some years ago. The JVP MP pointed out that recent findings of outdated blood transfusion equipment at the National Blood Bank would also be used as an excuse to allow setting up of private blood banks. “These moves should be stopped immediately,” he said.He said the security forces would also suffer because of this contaminated transfusion equipment. “The blood donors in this country mostly donate blood for the injured soldiers and using outdated and low standard equipment to give blood to soldiers would lead to various health hazards among them,” he added. Mr. Herath said the Health Ministry started focusing on the issue only after it was revealed by the media.

He called on the Health Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva to tender a public apology to the nation on the issue. “In other countries the Ministers resign whenever there is any scandal or serious shortcomings in their respective Ministries and Sri Lanka too should also follow such practices,” he said.

Samarasinghe as a JVP National List MP?

The JVP member Wasantha Samarasinghe who was elected to the North Central Provincial Council has resigned from his post immediately after being sworn in as a councillor to take over other party responsibilities.

Mr. Samarasinghe who was an MP resigned from Parliament and contested the election.

The party’s Propaganda Secretary, MP Vijitha Herath said that Mr. Samarasinghe would be assigned some other party work.

Mr. Herath said Mr. Samarasinghe was leading the JVP-affiliated Inter-Company Employees’ Union.

“There is a lot of work to be done by him in this union by travelling all over the country,” he said.

There were also talks going in the party regarding the re-nomination of Mr. Samarasinghe as a National List MP. In the meantime, General Secretary to the Ceylon Teachers’ Service, Mahinda Jayasinghe would also tender his resignation to engage himself full time on trade union work. He was elected to the council representing the Kegalle district.

BOI receives Super brand Status

The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, the autonomous statutory body for facilitating foreign direct investments, has been awarded the prestigious Superbrands status by the Superbrand Organization under the Business-to-Business category.
The Superbrands Organization is an international organization headquartered in London with operations in more than 30 countries. The organization evaluates and awards Superbrand status in consultation with local business leaders based on criteria such as quality, reliability & trust, distinction, reputation and prestige.

The award recognizes the effective role played by the BOI in Sri Lanka’s economic landscape, Mr. Dhammika Perera, Chairman and Director General of the BOI said. He said the award will be an impetus to attracting strategic investments beneficial to the country in areas such as employment, export growth and transfer of technology, and positioning Sri Lanka as a profitable destination for would-be investors in South Asia.

During the last two years, the BOI has significantly increased the foreign direct investments to Sri Lanka. FDIs have increased from US$287 million (2005) to US$ 603mn (2006) and US$734mn (2007). The BOI is targeting US$1 billion in FDI this year.The Superbrand award was accepted by Mr. Duminda Ariyasinghe, Executive Director, Investment Promotion of the BOI from Mr. Steve Dodgson the COO of Superbrands International at the Tribute event held recently at Cinnamon Grand Hotel on behalf of the Chairman/DG, Mr. Dhammika Perera.

The BOI is a self-supporting government agency that does not rely on Treasury for funds. The BOI has spearheading innovative models including the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model to develop capital intensive infrastructure projects such as new zones.

The BOI, since its inauguration in 1978 as the Greater Colombo Commission has acted as the facilitator for FDI. It has been a catalyst of economic and social changes in Sri Lanka. BOI provides advice and assistance at each stage of investment to investors. Some of the key steps include: Providing information and guidance before submission of project application and coordinating approvals from other agencies; Evaluating applications and giving concessions; Providing assistance during the start up of the project: site selection and clearance, advice on factory building etc; Making recommendations to immigration authorities for issuing resident visas; Facilitating import/export clearance and Customs procedures for import of capital goods etc.

The BOI will continue to assume a key role in the country’s future economic development. Its future role will be influenced by various factors and challenges such as external economic environment, growing competition for foreign direct investment in the South Asian region as well as Sri Lanka’s competitiveness and investment environment.

SLT offers 3Gbps bandwidth

Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), the nation's number one integrated communications service provider is happy to announce upgrading and muscling up its international internet backbone. SLTnet, the internet arm of SLT which is the largest internet service provider (ISP) in Sri Lanka today offers up to 3 Giga bits per second (Gbps) international internet bandwidth, adding even more capacity to be of better serve to the nation.
SLT has direct connectivity to Global ISPs in Asia, Europe and USA as well as the highest rated social networking, web application and video service providers in the world. This is part of the company’s drive to cater to the internet users’ needs by providing faster access to information at any time, any where and on any device via its Next Generation Network (NGN) architecture.

With this initiative, SLT provides internet users in Sri Lanka super fast access to online web applications such as web search, web mail, calendar, images, VoIP calling applications, audio, video and maps amongst a host of other most popular features on the internet. Also SLT is now in the process of further upgrading and improving the direct connectivity with social networking, web application and video service providers as and when the need for broader bandwidth arises.

Commenting on this internet backbone upgrade, SLT Chairperson, Leisha De Silva Chandrasena said, “Today the internet market is rapidly developing. There has been an increase of internet traffic in Sri Lanka, which has been a considerable investment for SLT over a period of time. Also we see that the demand for Broadband in Sri Lanka is on par with global trends. Taking this into account, we want to provide a quality internet experience to Sri Lankan internet users. That is the reason behind SLT’s huge investments in laying down of giant infrastructure for international and domestic connectivity. We are committed to undertake continuous upgrades in our network to bring about a better future to the lives of all Sri Lankans. It has also been our aspiration to do whatever possible to improve our services to deliver a quality customer experience”.

Adding further to the Chairperson’s comment, SLT CEO, Pat Abayasekara said, “SLT is happy to invite and facilitate the hosting of mirror sites of all popular international sites like Google, Yahoo, MSN, Facebook, Youtube etc., to improve the quality of services to Sri Lankan internet users and to help avoid the bottlenecks found in the international internet backbone.

SLT has already implemented integrated IP based Soft-switch and Media Gateways to deliver quality infotainment content to the country’s internet users. Today, SLT has the capability of providing Next Generation Network services through its domestic and international state-of-the-art IP backbone. It also takes the company a step further in its transition to a fully-fledged communication solutions provider. With the technology and infrastructure already in place, SLT is also looking forward to business convergences with fixed, internet, mobile and multimedia businesses in the local and global environments.

SLT, the largest Internet service provider in Sri Lanka, is the unchallenged, dominant player with a share of more than 60% of the Internet market, and caters to the needs of the wider community of Sri Lankans, be it residential or corporate in nature.. The company offers a host of internet services like dialup internet with many value added features, pre-paid internet services, Broadband internet through ADSL technology, Wi-Fi, international internet roaming, hosting services at the internet Data Centre (iDC), Broadband internet connectivity for valued corporate customers to their IP-VPN (Internet Protocol Virtual Private Network), Broadband internet through Metro Ethernet connectivity, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) as well as international IP transit services are part of its global services.

Tamil Tiger Terror Machine Forcibly Holding Civilians in the Vanni as a Human Shield

by Mahinda Gunasekara

(September 13, Melbourne, Sri Lanka Guardian) The Tamil civilians living in the areas usurped by the Tamil Tiger Terrorists in the Mannar, Killinochchi and Mullativu districts have been held under the iron grip of the AK47 wielding killer cadres of the terror machine, devoid of the basic rights and freedoms which are the birth right of every human being. They were virtual slaves who were required to give up family members including underage children to be brainwashed and turned into robotic killers specializing as pistol gang members, sniper assassins, suicide bombers, black tigers, machete wielding ethnic cleansers, fed on the venom of ethnic hatred towards members of the Sinhalese and Muslim communities whom they often targeted, and even members of their own Tamil community who were considered dissidents that had to be eliminated if they did not tow their line. It has come to light that the civilian population is forced to undergo military training and engage in the war preparations of the LTTE.

The LTTE made a pretense of wanting to reach a negotiated settlement of their grievances by agreeing to temporary ceasefires during the last two decades whenever they were militarily weak in order to buy time to rebuild their weapons stockpile and fighting units, only to use the flimsiest of reasons to unilaterally abandon the talks and resume hostilities. Even the last ceasefire (CFA) facilitated by the Norwegians in February 2002 was yet another farcical peace process where the LTTE refrained from discussing any substantive issues and merely played for time, whilst they smuggled in over eleven shiploads of weapons and began drawing up plans for their final war of liberation towards the latter part of 2005. The Nordic Monitoring Mission (SLMM) ruled that the LTTE had violated the CFA on 3830 occasions during the first five years, including the murder of over 400 persons made up of dissident Tamils, other Sinhalese and Muslim civilians, members of the security forces and political leaders of the calibre of the late Hon. Lakshman Kadirgamar, as against 351 violations on the part of the government’s security forces mainly relating to harassment at checkpoints. UNICEF also reported that the LTTE had abducted and forcibly conscripted over 5200 children during the same period, many of whom were under the age of 15 years which is considered a war crime.

The government of Sri Lanka sought fresh talks in 2006 despite the fact that the LTTE had carried out unprovoked attacks killing over 200 and further causing serious injury to over 400 security forces personnel from December 2005 onwards. The talks scheduled to be held in Geneva and Oslo under the auspices of the Norwegian facilitator were a total failure, as the LTTE delegation which travelled to Europe did not participate. It was only after the LTTE cut off water from the Mavil Aru (Maha vila) reservoir in mid-2006 depriving 30,000 families of their living source, that the government withdrew from a meaningless CFA and took steps to stop the haemorrhaging of the nation. The retaliatory attacks launched by the security forces has resulted in the defeat and withdrawal of the LTTE from the eastern province, the liberation of the Tamil civilians from the dictatorial hold of the terror outfit, bringing with it democratic governance and the dawn of a new era of development and the promise of a better life for the resident population.

Having re-taken the east from the terrorists, the security forces are today advancing on four fronts into the usurped territory in the northern province, and are making steady progress against the well entrenched terror forces of the LTTE, marching over acres of minefields and explosives laden booby traps, re-gaining control and extending the writ of the state into the newly liberated areas. The borders of the illegal regime controlled by the LTTE terrorists are fast shrinking, and they are seen to be taking desperate measures by forcibly holding the Tamil civilian population as a protective human shield for their cowardly fighters who are running away from battle and taking cover behind the civilians. We have seen pictures of the three cornered barbed wire holding pens erected by the retreating LTTE forces, which had apparently been made to imprison and punish non-cooperating civilians who refused to participate in the LTTE’s armed warfare.

The government for its part has provided a security corridor to enable the civilians removed to Killinochchi by the LTTE from areas that they withdrew and other resident civilians to move to a safer locality in the Vavuniya district, where their safety and other needs could be met. Furthermore, the government continues to ship food, medicine and other essentials for use of the civilian population still remaining in the dwindling region controlled by the LTTE terrorists. There is no assurance that these humanitarian supplies are released for use of the civilians as it is well known that the LTTE diverts a large portion for use of its cadres. Even the government operated hospitals were found to have been vandalised and medicine pilfered by the retreating LTTE forces. It is also commendable that the government has permitted the ICRC to remain in Killinochchi to overlook the distribution of humanitarian aid, whilst requesting all other INGOs, NGOs and UN Agencies to withdraw to Vavunia in the interest of their own security as it is difficult to guarantee their safety within the war zone.

It is important to note here that several INGOs, NGOs and UN Agencies have acted in a suspicious manner in carrying out their mandated functions in the LTTE controlled Vanni area. In this connection, we would like to refer to the disinformation carried out by UNICEF’s Penny Bourne who had served in the area for ten years when the normal term is just three years, especially with regard to the air raid in August 2006 on the LTTE’s military training camp and transit centre in Chencholai which she referred to as a strike on a kindergarten children’s school, the reported loss of the heavy equipment and vehicles belonging to Norwegian People’s Aid which are now being used by the LTTE to dig deep trenches and build defensive earthen dams, the transfer of high protein biscuits and food packs brought in by the World Food Program (WFP) supposedly for use of patients in hospitals to LTTE military camps, and other acts which tends to diminish trust in these foreign based and foreign funded outfits. Added to which, the following quote from the recent letter written by one Selva Gnanam of Melbourne makes one wonder about the real motives of these bleeding hearts rushing in to resolve conflicts in distant lands such as Sri Lanka? “I read of young girls (who had escaped from the Vanni) being raped by senior LTTE cadres and later offered to foreigners as'entertainment' (these girls would later volunteer as suicide bombers because they were not 'pure' any more). Then I realised why so many Westerners came to the Vanni for 'direct negotiations' with the LTTE, and why they were backing the LTTE in Sri Lanka, while fiercely opposing terrorism in their countries. It was an 'erotic escaped' in an exotic island, far away from wife/husband and family.”

The LTTE in its so called ‘defacto state’ has only managed to develop concrete bunkers, acres of landmines, deep trenches, neatly laid out cemeteries to bury the misguided cadres used in their unceasing waves and other maniacal missions, child soldiers, suicide bombers, kangaroo courts and torture chambers, with the vast resources extorted and gained through illicit means such as narcotics smuggling, human smuggling, passport racketeering, credit card fraud, and every conceivable criminal activity estimated by Janes Intelligence at the astounding figure of $300 million per annum. The civilian population was deprived of all democratic and fundamental rights during the period extending to over two decades that the LTTE controlled the usurped terrain by armed force. It was up to the government of Sri Lanka to maintain the schools, hospitals, roads, and ensure the continuous supply of food and all essentials, provide welfare and all other public services at an annual cost of over Rupees 15 billion, whilst the LTTE waged war including suicide terrorism against the government and people of Sri Lanka in pursuit of a mono-ethnic, mono-political, fascist separate state through force of arms.

As a first step, we call on the LTTE to open the Gates of Hell and let the civilian population go to a place where they could be provided with safety and the necessities of life without endangering their security by forcibly using them as a human shield. The brain washed cadres too could also decide to lay down their arms and submit themselves to a program of rehabilitation without spilling more blood or losing their life in battle against the superior forces of the legitimate government, or biting into the cyanide capsules around their necks to satisfy the gory commands of their aging megalomaniacal leader who is acting out his last scene in his hole in the Vanni. Velupillai Prabhakaran, alias Suriya Thevan the Sun God whose flickering flame is fast dying out as his illusive dream of a Tamil Empire in the mythical land of “Eelam” is fast fading away, should pay heed to the mass suffering and endless tears of the civilians whom he is holding against their will, and allow them the freedom to move to any place of their choice without any further delay

TNA Demands the I C to Help Evict the Forces from the Tamil Homeland

(September 13, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) strongly condemns the Government of Sri Lanka’s decision to call all NGOs and foreign aid workers to leave from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled areas (generally known as the Wanni). In a statement, issued by TNA Leader R.Sampanthan, TNA alleges that demanding people to leave their homes and to displace over and over again to secure safety, food and medicine is a breach of their human rights. Explaining that “this clearly demonstrates the insincerity, inhumane and the genocidal motives of the Sinhala State of Sri Lanka and its current government”, the statement “demanded the international community to help evict the Sinhala Forces from the Tamil Homeland and recognise the right for self-determination of the Tamils”.

The statement in Full:

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) strongly condemns the Government of Sri Lanka’s decision to call all NGOs and foreign aid workers to leave from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled areas (generally known as the Wanni).

These Non Governmental Organisations and Agencies were helping the already many times internally displaced Tamil people. This demand for the aid agencies to leave comes at a juncture when the Government of Sri Lanka is indiscriminately bombing these already displaced people every day using its air force and artillery. It will be another blow to the already physically and psychologically affected people if these aid workers left the Wanni.

These aid workers were helping rebuild life of people after the 2004 Tsunami, de-mining, humanitarian assistance to children affected by the war and other general humanitarian work. They were not involved in any major development work or building factories to assist large scale manufacturing. As they were performing humanitarian work with approval not just from the Government of Sri Lanka but from the LTTE as well, we feel leaving these helpless people at this juncture without seeking consent from both warring parties is inappropriate and irresponsible.

People were displaced fearing for their lives and to secure relatively steady supply of food and medicines. These aid agencies should think and recognise their responsibilities before leaving these helpless people who are living under appalling conditions under tress and in temporary accommodations.

Demanding people to leave their homes and to displace over and over again to secure safety, food and medicine is a breach of their human rights.

This clearly demonstrates the insincerity, inhumane and the genocidal motives of the Sinhala State of Sri Lanka and its current government. We request the international community to recognise the ulterior motives of the government of Sri Lanka and to acknowledge that it is impossible to on the one hand unleash a genocidal war and on the other pretend to be acting in a humanitarian fashion.

We therefore demand the international community to help evict the Sinhala Forces from the Tamil Homeland and recognise the right for self-determination of the Tamils.

Tigers halt INGOs from moving heavy vehicles in Wanni

International Aid agencies, which have been asked by the Government to leave Wanni and relocate their offices in the safer perimeters in view of an LTTE attempt to create collateral damage are reportedly in a dilemma over their heavy vehicles and equipments, news sources from Wanni report.

Earlier, INGOs were requested by the Government to vacate the tensed and non-liberated Wanni area along with their vehicles and equipment, preventing them falling into the LTTE's hands. According to informed sources, LTTE has issued terrifying notices to officials of the organizations, not to remove their vehicles and equipments if they leave Wanni.

Defence observers are of the view, that it is the total responsibility of the INGOs and UN aid agencies that took the vehicles to Wanni to prevent them from being used by the LTTE for its most ruthless terror activities against both civilians and military.

If they had not been in a position to take the responsibility for their vehicles and other assets, they should not have taken them there. The military believes, according to sources, the INGOs are not in a position to remove their vehicles etc. to the cleared areas, as they are already being used by the LTTE, which also commandeered several heavy vehicles belonging to the Norwegian People's Aid.

The LTTE is believed to have used some of the INGO vehicles to construct defences and dig trenches stretching as far as 20km to prevent the Army from advancing.

The international aid agencies which have been asked by the Government to leave the Wanni area in view of the on-going heavy fighting are in a dilemma over their heavy vehicles and equipment.

The government has requested them to bring those vehicles and equipment to the cleared areas to prevent them from falling into the LTTE's hands.

However, the LTTE has ordered those organisations not to remove their vehicles and equipment if they leave the Wanni, according to sources.

The Government, sources say, insists that it is the responsibility of the INGOs and UN agencies that took the vehicles to the Wanni to prevent them being used by terrorists against the State.

CULTURAL FESTIVAL IN SWITZERLAND:

Children dressed in LTTE combat uniforms carrying replicas of rocket launchers, missiles and machine guns much to the dismay of the audience.

The vast majority of Tamil diaspora members and Swiss nationals who attended a cultural festival in Thurgau in Switzerland were shocked to see schoolchildren as young as eight years enacting a drama dressed as child combatants using replicas of most lethal weapons.

The event, organised by the Tamilischer Kulter Verein Thurgau, an organisation purportedly for promotion of Tamil culture and art was held in Thoreau for fund-raising for 'displaced persons in the North'.

However, the entire event turned out to be a down and out fundraiser of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Senior LTTE activists controlling the chain of Tamil schools under Thamilchollai administration in Europe have given explicit orders to all the teachers that the policy of "Eelam (Tamil separate state) first" should be incorporated into the school syllabus.

This event is believed to have been organised under the order of Thamilchollai administration.

What shocked the Tamil diaspora members, especially the women and the middle-aged and the elderly was that young school children were dressed in combat uniforms carrying replicas of most dangerous weapons from rocket launchers, missiles and machine guns with capacity to kill hundreds within seconds.

While a handful of young parents watched the dances of their children with pride in their hearts, the vast majority of Tamils in the audience were shocked and dismayed about this display and openly expressed apprehensions about the longterm psychological impact on young minds when such violent behaviour is glorified.

"Nobody should have a right to play games with such gullible children," said a Swiss national who went to see the event with his Tamil friends. "This is a blatant violation of child rights and all international conventions against recruitment of child soldiers.

Swiss authorities should take action against the organisers of the event as the use of children for glorification of violence and subjecting children to such practices could lead them to grow up as social misfits who believe in violence," he pointed out.


A leading member of the Swiss Tamil diaspora expressed dismay at the "sick minds of the people who stoop to such levels to raise funds for a militant movement".

He added that only diehard militants and ignorant parents would approve such practices of brain-washing young gullible young minds.

He pointed out that the Child Soldiers Global Report 2008* *details how a near global consensus that children should not be used as soldiers and strenuous international efforts have failed to protect tens of thousands of children from war.

"It is very dangerous to play with child's mind. Early years of child's life is very important as that will have a lasting impact on his adult life," Dr Carlton Moulin, a psychologist said. What the children see in tender years will touch the rest of their lives for good or for ill. Some children may live their lives in situations of peace and security.

For countless others war continues to be all too real. Over this aspect of the adult world they have little say and no control, he pointed out. He added that these children of Tamil diaspora will be influenced by the violent acts they are asked to perform although they have no experience at all about the theatre of war.

"They live in peaceful and prosperous Switzerland and as they are citizens of this country, the harm will be to the Swiss society," he lamented.

The last Global Report was published by the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers (Coalition) in November 2004. Since then the movement to end the use of child soldiers has seen continued progress towards a universal consensus against their use in hostilities, witnessed by the fact that over three-quarters of states have now signed, ratified or acceded to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict.

A small number of militant groups like the LTTE persist not only in recruiting children but also in exposing them to the physical and psychological dangers of combat. Despite repeated denials by the LTTE spokesperson, there is evidence that the LTTE continues to recruit large numbers of children into its armed forces - often forcibly through intimidation, coercion and violence - and to use them in a range of combat and non-combat roles.

Sri Lankan soldiers found several bodies of young children in LTTE camouflage uniforms after a fierce battle in the north two months ago and the bodies were returned through the representatives of the ICRC. At LTTE training centres in Kilinochchi, there are unconfirmed reports that untrained children as young as 15 were given weapons and sent to the battlefront.

Under the intensive campaign for long-term recruitment drive, use of weapons and killing instincts are often inculcated in the educational and recreational settings where children's physical and intellectual formation takes place.

In the schools in the uncleared areas, it is compulsory for all schools to include drills and other military training for young secondary-school students. For senior students from age 14 onwards, the LTTE has introduced military training.

The Optional Protocol permits the admission of under-18s into schools operated by or under the control of the military, but requires them to operate in accordance with Articles 28 and 29 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

However, in some military schools run by the LTTE proxy institutions, children wear military uniforms, live in military-style barracks and are subject to military discipline. Some offer a standard school curriculum, while others provide a narrow education involving hard physical drill and weapons handling.

Sri Lanka is aware of the dangers faced by the LTTE child combatants and the Defence Secretary has given strict instructions to protect the LTTE child combatants who surrender and hand them over to the nearest civil authorities for rehabilitation and care.

LTTE concrete complex pounded by the SL Air Force

Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jet's launched an air strike to a heavily reinforced concreted building complex concealed in 01km north of Iranamadu in jungle area around 08.00a.m today (13).

The complex had been used by the LTTE for various terrorist activities. The pilots of the fighter jet planes confirmed that the target was successfully engaged

Mihin Lanka to lease 2 aircraft

Mihin Lanka that has incurred more than Rs. three billion in losses since it began operations has called international tenders to acquire two aircraft on lease basis.

According to a senior official of the Ministry of Port and Aviation, the airline has sought a huge borrowing from the government to pay for the aircraft that are to be leased.

It had lost its earlier aircraft obtained on lease basis due to the non-payment of dues.

'Lankabusinessonline' website reported yesterday (Sept. 13th) the troubled budget carrier is to ask for another three billion rupees in peoples' money in the next budget to revive operations.

Meanwhile, sources said the request has been made by its new chief executive officer who replaced Sajin Vaas Gunawardena.

Gunawardena, a coordinating secretary to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, has had no prior experience in a senior capacity or in an airline.

Mihin Air had a startup capital of Rs. 750 m, and later was given Rs. 500 m of SME Bank's money by Lankaputra Bank, without any bond.

Jaffna local govt. polls soon

Local government polls for northern Jaffna district are expected soon, with nominations to be called this month.

This has been confirmed to the media by head of the UPFA's media unit, minister Dallas Alahapperuma.

He has also said the government expected to hold future elections for local government bodies at electoral level.

A draft bill to amend the laws to effect this change as well as to govern registered political parties will be tabled in parliament soon, Mr. Alahapperuma has said.

NGOs paid huge ransoms to leave Vanni; not reported to the government yet

(Lanka-e-News, ) 'Lanka-e-News' learns that the international and local NGOs coming to the government controlled area from the LTTE-held territory are not bringing back all their assets in accordance with the government order to do so.

Despite the statement of the Minister of Human Rights and Disaster Management Mahinda Samarasinghe that the government has the statistics of the assets of the INGOs and NGOs, Lanka-e-News learns that some NGOs have not submitted correct inventories of the assets they took to Vanni and maintained there.

For instance, the assets of UNICEF in Vanni can be considered. In the office situated adjacent to LTTE intelligence wing office, there were more than 10 vehicles and they had a stock of fuel adequate for around six months in an underground store. It is not yet clear what action UNICEF took regarding the fuel stock.

Similarly, almost all the NGOs in Vanni maintained fuel stocks sufficient for periods from two to six months.
A liter of petrol which is sold at Rs. 157 in other areas is sold at Rs. 1000 in Vanni and a liter of diesel is sold at Rs. 450 whilst the price of diesel in other areas of the country is Rs. 110. In many occasions the liter in Vanni is smaller than the liter in other areas. Fuel is sold in empty Coca Cola cans.

Prior to the allegations made in the parliament that the UNICEF maintains contacts with the LTTE, four to five vehicles per day ran between Colombo and Vanni. UNICEF has not provided inventories of electric generators and other accessories transported to Vanni during this period.

International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) and 10 other INGOs operate in Vanni conducting humanitarian work. Around 10 percent of the staff of these organizations is foreigners while the rest of the staff is Vanni residents. There number exceeds 1500 and the majority of them are engaged in demining. More than 100 Vanni residents worked in UNICEF and other UN affiliated organizations.

INGOs wanted the staff to be brought to Vavuniya but the LTTE did not permit it. One Thyagaraja who worked with these organizations representing LTTE sternly opposed the move stating that Vanni needed the services of the Vanni residents.

Eventually, INGOs asked the LTTE not to deploy them in military tasks. The price the LTTE sought for this is acquisition of some assets of the NGOs. The reports on an LTTE promise not to deploy these persons in military duty are dubious in a time the LTTE is enlisting underage children too for the final battle.

The government has accused that some officials of the INGOs act as procurement agents of the LTTE. The security forces suspect that the satellite phones the suicide cadres used for the recent Vavuniya attack were received through a NGO.

Lanka-e-News learns that the assets of the NGOs returning to Vavuniya have either been robbed by the LTTE or they have been given to the LTTE as ransom for not deploying the relief workers for military activities. Although many organizations have not reported these incidents to the government, they have mentioned those incidents in their internal reports.

Meanwhile, the INGOs have decided to pay three months salary to Vanni residents prior to terminate their services. 'Lanka-e-News' Vavuniya correspondent Rathugamage says that the LTTE has already deployed these people in activities such as building bunkers which are not considered as direct military activity.

Fitch Affirms Bank of Ceylon's Ratings

Fitch Ratings Lanka has today affirmed Bank of Ceylon's (BOC) National Long-term rating at 'AA(lka)', Individual rating at 'D/E' and Support rating at '4', reflecting its systemic importance as the largest bank in Sri Lanka, its stable financial profile and 100% state ownership, and taking into account the expected level of support from the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and its strategic importance as the primary banker to GOSL. The Outlook on the ratings remains Stable.


Being the main banker to GOSL and one of the main bankers to state-owned enterprises (SOEs), BOC's credit exposure to the state sector (GOSL and SOEs) remains high at 42% of loans and 28% of assets at FYE07, but decreased from 48.9% of loans and 31% of assets at FYE06. In addition, holdings of government securities (including restructuring bonds) accounted for a further 17% of assets at FYE07 (15% of assets for the six systemically important banks). Off balance sheet exposure to the state sector represented 35% of commitments and contingencies and 11% of assets at FYE07. Fitch notes that such exposure is to some extent a function of BOC's financing of petroleum imports.


The NPL ratio in the non-state sector fell substantially to 7.4% at FYE07 from 13.0% at FYE06 mostly on account of improved recoveries, but rose to 8.8% at H108 as observed across the industry, in the face of the challenging macroeconomic environment. The bank's management maintains that it already adheres to the more stringent regulatory classification standards effective from FY08.


BOC's profitability as measured by ROA dipped to 0.8% in FY07. Profitability is constrained by rising interest costs, lower than average yields, high taxes and operating costs.


Fitch notes that BOC continues to benefit from its significant state sector exposure in terms of capital adequacy. Core and total capital adequacy ratios stood at 10.62% and 11.60% at H108 under the Basel II regime effective in FY08 and remain comfortable. Equity increased through an infusion of LKR1bn and higher profit retention. Net NPL/equity ratio improved to 20.0% at FYE07 but declined to 30.5% at H108 due to the weakening economic environment.


Established in 1939 and nationalised in 1961, BOC is the largest licensed commercial bank in Sri Lanka, accounting for 17.7% of banking system assets at FYE07. BOC has a branch network of 307 branches, including three overseas branches.

Douglas Peiris given suspended sentence

Former police SSP Douglas Peiris was sentenced for three years rigorous imprisonment suspended for five years by Colombo High Court Judge Tilak Thabrew for being guilty of producing a fraudulent document before Assistant Controller of Immigration and Emigration Ratnasena Dissanayake to obtain a passport under the name of Wimalasena Thalpawila.

Large stock of mortar shells recovered in Trinco

Sri Lanka Air Force ground troops in a search operation unearthed 182 mortar shells in the caliber of 82mm in Kandalkadu area in Trincomalee this evening.

Sri Lanka 's prime minister to visit Japan next week

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake will visit Japan for four days starting Monday, the Foreign Ministry said Friday.

Wickremanayake is scheduled to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on Wednesday, the ministry said.

Leader cheated; We lost masses as well as god, say UNP rebels

(Lanka-e-News, ) United National Party (UNP) MP Johnston Fernando says that the struggle of the UNP rebels will proceed until the victory since there has not taken place any party reform but taking time for few more months clinging into power.

He made these comments in response to a query made by Lanka-e-News regarding the decisions taken by UNP Working Committee yesterday (11).
He said that although new positions were set up through the reform, nothing was discussed about powers. MP Johnston Fernando said that Bodhi Ranasinghe and Malik Samarawickrama, close friends of UNP leader Ranil Wickramasinghe, met the rebels and asked to agree to create a post of deputy leader and two posts of assistant leaders. They discussed to prune the powers of the leader and vest in them to the other leaders as well. But it did not happen, the MP said.
MPs Lakshman Senevirathna, Johnston Fernando, Jayalath jayawardhana, Ravi karunanayaka and Wajira Abewardhana have openly said that they were against this fraud.

Mr. Abewardhana said that the party would not win through mere setting up of posts.

MPs Lakshman Senevirathna and Johnston Fernando openly said to the party leader that he was pretending and buying time. They asked why he could not come to a decision regarding these two positions in a context he had decided to offer Mangala Samaraweera the Prime Minister post in a future government without consulting any party committee such as Working Committee. They expressed opposition to the posts that have no power stating that the move will create more conflicts in the party.

Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe asked the Working Committee to move the proposals for a vote but MP Ravindra Samaraweera opposed it vehemently. He said that the current conflict is big enough and asked not break the party through a vote. He pointed out that the leader could emerge triumphal if he resigned from the party leadership when he lost the Presidential.

MP Lakshman Senevirathna approved the statement and said that the leader was cheating. He pointed out that toothless posts would not make the party victorious. ‘We do not want positions. We want to make the party win. Grant power to positions. Otherwise, we oppose them.’

MP Johnston Fernando pointed out that Mr. Karu Jayasuriya and Gamini Athukorala were not given power despite they were given positions. ‘Don’t curse the party by creating such situation again. We have lost both masses and gods,’ he said.

MP Ravindra Samaraweera addressing again said that the UNP could not win Sinhala Buddhist votes as well as Tami votes. ‘Prabakara will definitely lose. Pillaiyan is in the government side. Government will take him to Vavuniya and north. We want to know what the leader’s actual stand on war. There are thousands of people recruited to Army during the UNP rule. Now you have bestowed all of them to the President Mahinda Rajapakse. Please don’t destroy the party further.’

Later the committee report was passed without a vote.

MP Johnston Fernando says that the party convention is in December before which many changes can take place in the country. Therefore, his group would continue their struggle, he said.

MP Lakshman Senevirathna questioned why the party leader who is the President of the Asian Democratic Union as well as the Vice President of World Democratic union, is in fear of consolidating democracy in the party.

MP Johnston Fernando asked why to fear elections in a party in which Mr. R. Premadasa who came from Keselwaththa came to the leadership.

For the first time in the history of the UNP, a Working Committee proposal was passed without unanimity. The names of the Working Committee members who opposed the party leader’s proposal were recorded.

Lanka-e-News learns that only a few persons expressed ideas in support of the UNP leader. Many remained silent.

ICRC transports 680 patients from north

The ICRC says it has transported over 100 ambulances, carrying almost 680 patients from the north to the government-controlled in August.

ICRC said in a statement that its staff transported 62 bodies of fallen fighters across Omanthai crossing during the month.

Last month, nearly 1,750 persons contacted ICRC with allegations concerning missing persons, arbitrary arrests, and unlawful killings or ill-treatment of civilians committed by weapon bearers, it said.

Since the hostilities escalated at the beginning of July, more than 84,000 displaced persons received a combination of hygiene items and household essentials, ICRC said.

The ICRC's relief operation in the Vanni has been financed out of the organization’s 2008 budget for Sri Lanka of 27 million US dollars.

'Siyatha' editor & 4 others resign in protest

The chief editor and four other editorial members of new Sinhala weekly 'Siyatha' have resigned in protest.

They have tendered their resignations to chairman Roshantha Kariyapperuma and consultant Priyantha Kariyapperuma of Voice of Asia (Pvt.) Ltd., which publishes the newspaper.

The resigned journalists cited a continuing breach of ethics and agreements, denial of editorial independence and the absence of a cohesive advertisement policy for their decision.

They are chief editor Manjula Wediwardena, deputy editor Athula Vithanage, features editor Jayasiri Jayasekara, chief sub editor Sisira C. Vithanage and editorial coordinator Chanaka Krishantha.

AHRC on Tissanayagam trial

Abandoning the absolute prohibition against the admissibility of confessions in criminal trials is similar to permitting stabbing in a boxing ring.

This remark by the Asian Human Rights Commission comes in the wake of the indictment served against journalist J.S. Tissanayagam.

AHRC said in a statement the Tissanayagam case raises a fundamental question about the different kinds of criminal trials offered to the accused under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, and Emergency Regulations as against the accused in regular criminal trials.

Under Sri Lankan law, according to the Evidence Ordinance, any statement amounting to a confession made to a public officer is not admissible at any time in the trial.

This means that there is an absolute prohibition of the admission of confessions made to public officers other than judicial officers.

The rule contained in Article 26 of the Evidence Ordinance reads as follows: 'No confession made by any person whilst he is in custody of a police officer, unless in the presence of a Magistrate shall be proved as against such person.'

However, in cases under the PTA confessions are admissible, provided they have been made 'voluntarily'.

This means that there are two different laws regarding criminal trials in Sri Lanka.

This is a violation of the fundamental principle of equality before law regarding the issue of fair trial itself, AHRC said.

There is absolutely no basis to argue that the type of trial offered to one class of person coming under a particular law, should be different to the basic rules of fair trial applicable to all other cases.
The absolute prohibition against the admissibility of confessions in a criminal trial was based on the perception of the nature of the police and other investigating officers.

Judges, over a long period have reaffirmed the relevance and validity of this principle in the specific context of Sri Lanka.

In some judgments the Supreme Court went on to hold that a confession made to police officers or other such officers be held inadmissible due to the awe and fear with which state officers are regarded in Sri Lanka.

Thousands of cases of blatant cruelty exercised by police officers throughout the country in recent years demonstrate that the circumstances under which the absolute prohibition against confession was introduced to Sri Lanka has not changed.

The justification for this rule is as valid as ever.

There is no reason to believe that the circumstances under which suspects in offenses under the PTA and Emergency Regulations are held are any less frightening, more comfortable and cozy than the circumstances under which suspects of other crimes are held.

In fact, the overwhelming evidence, beginning with the treatment of suspects of the 1971 insurrection up to now under the PTA and Emergency Regulations demonstrate the very opposite.

Anyone who wishes to know of the gruesome details of such detentions need only look into the evidence given by thousands of persons before the commissions for forced disappearances during the period of the late 80s.

Besides the reports of the commissions there are volumes of recorded statements by the commissions which run into thousands of pages that indicate what the conditions of detention under these circumstances can be.

The recent rules of prolonged detention at police stations and other detention centres should be a greater reason to reinforce the absolute prohibition on the admissibility of confessions in trials.

Whether any confession was made in the Tissanayagam case or whether it was made voluntarily or not is not the issue that needs attention.

It is the abandonment of the absolute principle against the admission of confessions that needs substantive consideration.

The changes in the rules of fair trial in favour of the prosecution is like changing the rules of the boxing ring to allow stabbing to one of the combatants against his opponent.

It is like the last fight of Hamlet where, by the king's conspiracy, a poisoned sword was given to Laertes while a normal sword was given to Hamlet, the AHRC statement said.

A fair prosecution should never be fought with a poisoned sword.

The change in rules of fair trial is one of the most fundamental issues of any nation. It is not just the question of the right of one person.

In fact, it exposes the nature of justice in the country as a whole.

Therefore we urge that all the concerned persons within the government, the legal community, civil society and the international community intervene in order to negate these provisions under the PTA which allows the abandonment on the absolute principle against the admissibility of confessions, it added.

AHRC, founded in 1984 and based in Hong Kong, is a regional non-governmental organization monitoring and lobbying human rights issues in Asia.

Wanni operation continues; 34 terrorists killed, 30 wounded

According to the finalized military report received from the battlefront said that 34 LTTE terrorists were killed while 30 others suffered injuries during clashes ensued in Vavuniya, Mullaittiuvu, Kilinochchi and Welioya fronts yesterday, 11 September.

Troops of 56 Division operating in Vavuniya front confronted with a group of LTTE terrorists in general area north of Vedamakilam during day hours yesterday. Four LTTE terrorists were killed and two others suffered injuries due to this attack, ground troops confirmed. Meanwhile, 6 more LTTE terrorists were killed and 6 others suffered injuries in two separate clashes reported in general area Palamodai in Vavuniya front.

Further, 9 more LTTE terrorists were killed by the troops operating in 57 division in three separate confrontations took place in general area Akkarayankulam in Mullaittiuvu district.

Troops of Task Force 1 operating in Kilinochchi district had several confrontations with LTTE terrorists in general area Kariylaimoddai, Manniyakulam, Vannerikkulam and Panaikandamadu areas. Nine LTTE terrorists were killed while 6 others suffered injuries in these confrontations, the report added. One soldier has laid his life for defending the motherland while 11 others sustained injuries.

In Welioya front, troops of 59 Division had several confrontations in general area south of Nayaru and Andankulam. 5 more LTTE terrorists reportedly either killed or wounded when the troops attacked at terror bunker defence in south of Nayaru. In the same area, ground troops confirmed that an LTTE terrorist was killed and 2 others suffered injuries when the troops attacked LTTE bunker line. Separately, 4 LTTE terrorists were killed and 3 others suffered injuries in several confrontations reported in general area Andankulam in the same front. Six terrorists reportedly either killed or wounded.

Meanwhile, troops on mine clearing operations in general area Andankulam have unearthed 114 anti-personnel mines and 9 Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) in Welioya front.

Air Force ground troops found 185 mortar rounds - East of Muttur

Ground troops of Air Force deployed in Kandalkadu area in east Muttur have found a large quantity of 82mm mortar rounds in a search operation conducted this afternoon, 12 September.

Air Force spokesperson, Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara, speaking to defence.lk said that the troops of 36 Regiment Wing have found 185 82mm mortar rounds, which had been concealed in barrels, while conducting a search operation.

The recovery was made around 2.00 p.m, he added.

Government will setup many Police stations in North

IGP Jayantha Wickremaratne says all arrangements have been made to set up police stations in many parts of the northern province including in Mannar, Mankulam and Mullaitivu. Police stations have already been set up in the eastern province.

The IGP made these remarks at the official inauguration of a ceremony to enhance public co-operation to establish an honourable police service in the year 2009.

Mr. Wickremaratne further said long years of service in bunkers with a war mentality had created a distance between the police officer and the general public.

He added that an educated police force would be created with the setting up of a police higher education academy and provision of financial aid to police officials pursuing higher studies.

Time has come for all to join hands disregarding petty political objectives –JHU

Leader of the Jathika Hela Urumaya parliamentarian Venerable Ellawela Medhananda Thera says time has come for all to join hands disregarding petty political objectives, to find a solution to the national problem.

The Venerable Thera said that the entire world has identified that the LTTE is engaged in a barbaric terrorism.

He added the humanitarian work commenced with the Mavillaru operations has been able to restore civilian life in many parts of the northern and eastern provinces. Certain politicians refrain from commenting on these victories due to sheer jealousy. Venerable Medhananda Thera also said the liberation of Kilinochchi without causing any harm to the civilians is a difficult task but added that the gallant soldiers will fulfill this mission with great patience.

Construction works of the Naval jetty of the Norochcholai will commence shortly

Work on the naval jetty constructed to bring coal to the Norochcholai coal-powered thermal power station from the sea will begin shortly.

Preliminary construction and civil engineering work in the main power plant of this thermal power station has already been completed.

The government decides to complete construction on the 1200 megawatt Norochcholai power station project by the year 2011.

Work is also underway on the power transmission system from Puttalam to Veyangoda.

Two successive air raids on LTTE locations; LTTE storage facility destroyed - Muhamalai

Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets carried out two successive air raids targeting key LTTE locations ahead of the own defence line in Muhamalai, Jaffna this evening, 12 September.

Air Force spokesperson, Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara, speaking to defence.lk said the SLAF fighters have raided LTTE forward operational base located around 200 meters away from the LTTE's Forward Defence Line (FDL) in Muhamalai at 5.05 p.m.

Five minutes later, SLAF carried out the second air raid targeting an LTTE storage facility located 500 meters away from terror FDL in Muhamalai around 5.10 p.m. The targeted location had been identified as a store complex used by the LTTE terrorists to store their weapons, ammunitions and communication equipments, spokesperson said.

The targeted LTTE storage facility is completely destroyed due to air bombardment and it is still in flames, the spokesperson confirmed.

Both the targets were engaged on information gathered through Air Force technical and intelligence sources, spokesperson added.

Government of Sri Lanka will issue Computerized National Identity Cards

Commissioner of Registration of Persons A.P. Dharmadasa says computerized National Identity Cards will be released to the general public shortly. The process of preparation of the NICs is now in the final stages.

A special feature of the new ID is that it includes the finger print of the card holder as well. Special information of the person is being included through secret codes. All information are stated in the three national languages.

Govt. confident of looking after civilians fleeing LTTE - Minister Anura Yapa

Government will take all the necessary measures to ensure safety of all the civilians in the North, at the the crucial juncture of the war against terrorism, the Minister of Mass Media and Information, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said addressing the weekly cabinet briefing yesterday (11).

While clarifying the doubts that certain organizations and persons expressed with regard to the welfare of the civilians trapped in the LTTE held areas, the Minister said that the Government has enough experience in providing welfare and security to civilians in such situations and resettling them."

He recalled how the Government resettled around 60,000 civilians in Vakarai and Muttur that even won the praise of the international community.

Minister said that Government has overcome such situations successfully in the East, when the troops were engaged in the mission to liberate the area from LTTE terrorists.

The Minister expressed confidence that the Government could establish civil administration successfully in the Northern Province as was done in East.

Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena noted that the INGOs and NGOs serving in the LTTE held areas are invited to render their relief service to the civilians from Vavuniya.

He also urged these organizations to pressurize the LTTE to allow civilians to move freely to the liberated areas without obstruction.

He said that Government has taken swift measures to provide all the necessary facilities and relief items to the people in Jaffna through the District Secretariats.

Transformer exploded in Thalawakale

An electrical transformer had been exploded using an IED (improvised explosive device) at Devsiripura, Thalawakale around 9.45 last night (Sept 11), police said. Police suspect LTTE terrorists had carried out the sabotage.

The supply of electricity to the area have been disrupted due to the explosion. Police said , after completion of government analyst's investigations the repair action would be initiated.

Further investigations are in progress.

Sethusamudram channel project likely to miss deadline

The controversial Sethusamudram ship channel to link eastern and western coasts to avoid a 785-km detour around Sri Lanka is expected to overshoot its October deadline, as petitions against it are still pending in courts and only 25 per cent of the work has been completed, officials said.

The Rs 242.7 billion ($6 billion) project aims to create a 167-km-long navigable channel to link the Gulf of Mannar with the Bay of Bengal via Adam's Bridge, Palk Bay and Palk Strait between India and neighbouring Sri Lanka.

"As of now, nearly 25 per cent physical progress has been achieved. Efforts are on to expedite the execution. But meeting the October deadline does not seem possible," said a senior official in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (S&PI).

The ministry oversees the implementation of major central sector projects related to several fields like atomic energy, power, railways, shipping, roads and highways.

The Sethusamudram project was sanctioned in June 2005. It was the first major shipping infrastructure project Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government sanctioned after assuming office in April 2004.

The Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways is implementing the project with the active participation of Tuticorin Port Trust (TPT).

"The delay was inevitable in view of several litigations in the Madras High Court and even the Supreme Court. Two precious years were lost in riding out all these hurdles," the official, who requested anonymity, said.

Said a senior official of Sethusamudram Corporation Ltd (SCL): "The dredging is going on at the Palk Bay side. Whether the deadline is met or not depends upon the court's (Supreme Court) final verdict."

"It is a good project, and will help the country in furthering trade interests. We will save a lot of time, energy and money once the channel gets operational," the official said on phone from Chennai.

At present ships cannot use the channel, partly because of the sand stone reef called Adam's bridge at Pamban, near Rameswaram, where the depth of the sea is hardly 11 feet.

When completed, the channel will save nearly 424 nautical miles or 785 km and around 30 hours of sailing time for ships navigating between India's east and west coasts.

The project ran into controversy soon after the central government decided to start the work with several organisations including the country's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) opposing the channel.

They claimed that the channel would destroy the bridge now called Adam's Bridge. The epic Ramayana says the bridge was built by the army of Lord Ram on its way to Lanka for the battle with Ravan and the rescue of Sita.

The project has also raised the hackles of some environmentalists who say the shoals form a unique ecosystem that will be destroyed by the dredging, while the sand being dredged from the spot and being dumped in the seabed elsewhere will also destroy a lot of marine life.

The centre has, however, in an affidavit to the Supreme Court termed the opposition to the project as "misconceived" and "unsubstantiated" and asked the court to "refrain from interdicting".

Humanitarian organisations have key role to play

Sri Lanka is today facing a serious humanitarian crisis especially in the conflict zones in the northern Vanni region. This follows the escalation of military action by the government and LTTE and the government’s decision to order the immediate relocation of humanitarian workers in the area on the grounds that their safety can no longer be guaranteed. The government’s decision to discuss this matter, demonstrate flexibility, and permit the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to remain in Kilinochchi is a positive step . The National Peace Council urges the government to demonstrate the same flexibility with humanitarian aid agencies.

During previous phases of the armed conflict successive governments have obtained the assistance of both local and international humanitarian organisations to ensure that essential supplies reach the affected people. Humanitarian aid agencies in LTTE controlled territory have provided critical support to the government by dispensing aid to both displaced and local civilians living in those areas. The National Peace Council is concerned that withdrawal of the humanitarian organisations will create a vacuum that the government alone cannot fill. The humanitarian outlook will become extremely bleak for those displaced and local civilians left behind.

The primary duty of any democratic government is to ensure the security and sustenance of the people it governs. No section of the people, whether or not they are under rebel control, can be excluded from this democratic duty. If circumstances do not allow the government to fulfill this duty, it needs to permit others to do so. The government needs to treat international humanitarian agencies as its partners filling a void that it is unable to fulfil. Their work needs to be facilitated and not curtailed.

The National Peace Council calls on the government to ensure that specialist international agencies with a humanitarian mandate, such as the UNHCR and World Food Programme that are specially trained to work in conflict zones, are permitted to remain in the Vanni region where displaced and other war affected people are living. If these organisations are prepared to take the risk of continuing to work in war zones as part of their mandates, they need to be supported and encouraged in this action. This includes cooperative approaches to travel and visa applications and positive public messages of support for the efforts of the UN and other humanitarian agencies.


The National Peace Council also calls on the LTTE to create a supportive environment to assist humanitarian agencies to provide for the basic needs of displaced people, by not removing their assets and equipment and diverting humanitarian supplies. The LTTE also needs to ensure the safe and secure access of humanitarian workers so that they may fulfill their humanitarian mandate.

The government and LTTE must also exercise restraint and take all necessary precautions to ensure that civilians are not harmed as a result of their fighting. This is the crux of International Humanitarian Law. We call on both parties to cooperate with aid agencies to establish a humanitarian corridor so that civilians can move to safety and access humanitarian assistance. Safe movement should be guaranteed by the presence of independent and neutral observers such as the ICRC.

Construction Chamber promotes Energy Sector Reforms

The Chamber of Construction Industry Sri Lanka, in its endeavour to create and develop awareness and consensus on the importance of effective infrastructure and infrastructure delivery systems for national development, will host the third of a series of seminars under the theme of infrastructure development, dealing with the need for energy sector reforms on 16th September at the Galadari hotel.
Sri Lanka has some of the highest electricity tariffs in the Asian region while it will require ever increasing energy supplies at affordable costs in order to remain competitive in today’s globalized market if it is to sustain economic growth and development. Affordable energy is also a key building block for socio-economic development in the island.
With the entire world now looking at reducing its dependence on Oil and focusing attention on alternate and renewable sources of energy, it is opportune for Sri Lanka to explore affordable - alternate, sustainable and environmentally friendly sources of energy with a view to mitigating the ?Economic Shocks? faced by it as an importer of foreign oil.
In order to achieve this holistic objective, Chamber recognizes that there is a need for energy sector reforms which can bring about a paradigm shift in the way we extract, produce, deliver and use energy, and the sources of energy that the country depends on, while promoting energy conservation in all areas of industrial and economic activity and daily life.
Hence this seminar will bring together some of the most authoritative and respected specialists in the energy sector to a common forum and is viewed by the Chamber as an important stepping stone to catalyzing a vigorous debate among all sectors of industry and the public at large with a view to creating increased awareness and broad consensus on the urgent need for energy sector reforms.
Hon. John Seneviratne, M.P., Minister of Power and Energy will inaugurate the seminar as the Chief Guest and deliver the key-note address spelling out Policies, Plans and Programmes of the Government relating to the Power and Energy Sectors.

Two LTTE terrorists killed in ambush- Vavuniya

Two LTTE terrorists were reported killed and bodies recovered by troops in an ambush laid, at Periyakunchilkulama, Vavuniya yesterday (Sep 11), at around 6.25p.m.
Subsequently, troops have also found 2 hand grenades, 4x T-56 magazine , 120x T-56 ammunition and a belt order.
Search operations are continuing in the area, security sources said.

Three prisoners attempting to escape shot dead in Galle

Three prisoners who attempted to escape from the Galle prison were shot dead by Prison Guards this afternoon, officials said.

Two of the men were shot dead while attempting to climb over the rear wall of the prison compound while the other man who had escaped was tracked down later and shot dead in a confronatataion,Prison officials said.

Their bodies are lying at the Karapitiya Hospital for identification.

Lalith Dissanayaka sworn in as new MP

Lalith Dissanayaka was sworn in this morning as a UPFA MP in Parliament before Speaker W.J.M.Lokubandara.

He replaces JVP Kegalle district MP Anuruddha Polgampola who resigned from his seat this week over allegations that he illegally smuggled a person to Japan.

Colombo stocks start positive but seen sluggish

Sri Lankan shares despite starting at a brisk pace on Friday morning are likely to be on a slow sentiment towards the end of market close, according to stock analysts.

“As usual there will be low turnover today, as it is also the last day of this week. Retail activity will not be high despite expectations earlier in the week,” a stock analyst said. He said the re-emerging bomb scare in the city result in a wait and see approach by many investors.

The All Share Index lost 0.59 points to 2,371.45 while the Milanka dipped by 7.62 points to 2,702.62 during early trades. The turnover was at Rs 26 million.

Estate worker abducted, CWC files motion

The Ceylon Workers’ Congress filing a motion in the Supreme Court yesterday said an estate worker, who had been abducted at Lindula by an unidentified gang in a white van, was found being held at the Terrorist Investigating Division.
In this motion to the earlier fundamental rights petition filed by the CWC against the mass arrest of Tamils it said Rajaratnam Nadarajah an employee of Watawala Plantation Ltd. is a father of two children and had been abducted on August 19 while he was on his way to work.
His brother-in-law A. Periyasamy had visited the Lindula Police Station to complain Estate worker
about the abduction of Mr. Nadarajah and was told by the OIC to look for him in Colombo.
Mr. Periyasamy had contacted the CWC and on August 22 Mr. Nadarajah was found being held by the TID.
The motion alleges that the Mr. Nadarajah had been assaulted and the reason for the purported abduction or continued detention by the TID was not known and that no receipt of his arrest or a detention order had been issued.

Mendis bags top ICC award

Sri Lanka’s cricketing discovery of the decade bowler Ajantha Mendis poses with the International Cricket Council’s Emerging Player Award after returning today from the glittering awards ceremony in Dubai .

AMW introduces Nissan Bluebird SYLPHY to the local market

Associated Motorways PLC (AMW) launched its latest Nissan model the ‘Bluebird Sylphy’ to the local market this month.
The ‘Bluebird Sylphy’ the newest luxury car represents four areas associated with Nissan; sophistication, comfort, safety and elegance.
The most arresting feature of the new Sylphy is the special intelligent key system – the key never has to be removed from the bag or pocket; simply carrying it allows doors to be locked or unlocked, and even to start the engine.
Living up to its brand promise of being “elegant in motion” the new Sylphy is elegantly beautiful inside and out, shaped by Nissan’s distinctive S-motion design theme. The cockpit with its stylish curves has been specially made with the intention of keeping the driver’s and passengers’ comfort in mind. The wood trim enhances the interior elegance of the car.
For the driver’s satisfaction the seat is made with clamshell curves which embraces the diver’s body in the proper driving posture. The driver’s seat is an exercise in functional elegance while the spacious rear seats offer arm rests with a cup holder. In the rear there is ample legroom while the front seats offer maximum legroom and ample overhead space for driver and co-pilot.
The Sylphy offers lots of well-considered storage spaces for smaller items such as expandable seat-back pocket, super multiconsole, cup holders, pass through armrest and a glove box. All these features are better than most luxury sedans and are also pleasant for the user. The entire upper compartment of the front arm rest flips back 180 degrees to become a tray for rear passengers, yet still allows those in the front to access to the main storage spaces.
The new Sylphy with its CD Player and AM/FM Radio has 6 speakers which gives the driver and passengers not only enjoyable listening pleasure but also, with its surround sound system, provides a unique theatre experience. The antenna is built-in to the rear glass, which gives clear signals and helps in not distorting the sound.
In terms of safety features active [front only] and adjustable headrests are available for all passengers. The car also has anti-lock braking system, brake assist, electronic brake force distribution, rear childproof door locks and 195/60R16 radial tires with 16 alloy wheels.
Providing continuous support for safe driving the ‘Sylphy’ has SRS dual airbags system as well as optional curtain airbags in the event of a side on collision. Innovations have also been applied to reduce injuries to pedestrians in the event of an accident.
Mr., Dil Warnakulasuriya, Snr. Assistant General Manager (Marketing) of AMW said, “With an offering of above class spacious interior and intelligent functions, the new ‘Sylphy’ will be able to full fill an elegant car experience for our customers.
The Sylphy, which is positioned between the Tiida and Cefiro, has similar features as the Cefiro. Customers who are price conscious but still aspire to own a Cefiro can now enjoy the pure driving pleasure of the new elegant Sylphy”.
NISSAN BLUEBIRD SYLPHY comes in seven body colours – cecil blue, amethyst gray, silky beige, rose red, sapphire black, diamond silver and white pearl.
This 04-door sedan with the aluminium engine increases the power and reduces noise and is more fuel-efficient. It develops a maximum power of 109ps. Its 1500 CC fuel-efficient petrol engine is equipped with C-VVTC (courteous variable vale timing control) and is ideal for the fuel conscious Sri Lankan market.
In addition the car has 16 Valve twin cams, electronic fuel injection control system. The electronically- controlled four speed automatic transmission with manually selectable overdrive gives the driver control over shift points to suite the drive while providing excellence low to mid- speed performance.
Among its many convenience features the new Sylphy has power/retractable door mirrors with directional indicators, power windows, intelligent key, central locking with remote keyless entry, anti-dazzle rear view mirror, ultra violet blocking and heat reducing glass which is ideal for our tropical Sri Lankan weather. The halogen headlamps are multi reflector and adjustable. Fog lamps come as a standard feature.
The boot, one of the biggest in any luxury car has enough space to accommodate many items such as luggage, golf clubs and other lifestyle utilities.
The Sylphy also has “Plasma cluster fully auto Ion air conditioning” where internal air is kept fresh even in heavy traffic while the UV and heat reducing tinted glass has 87% ultra radiation, which is prevented from entering the Sylphy thanks to UV reducing green glass. Internal air is kept fresh, even in heavy traffic.
With its special intelligent features and elegant look The Sylphy is expected to be one of most popular luxury vehicles in Sri Lanka.

Foreign soldiers in Lankan military - UNP

UNP MP Palitha Range Bandara claims that the existence of foeign soldiers within the Sri Lankan military has now been confirmed beyond any doubt.
Indian military personnel in charge of the radar system at the Vavuniya Air Force base are being treated at a private hospital in Colombo, following the LTTE air raid on the military complex in the northern town a few days ago, he said.
Speaking to the media in Colombo yesterday (Sept. 12th), Mr. Bandara said the fallacy of Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickremanayake's denial of foreign troops in the Sri Lankan military has now been proven.

UNP to restore 2 key positions

The United National Party will restore the key positions of deputy leader and assistant leader that had been abolished in March 2007, said party spokesman Gayantha Karunatilake.
The decision came yesterday (Sept. 11th) at the UNP Working Committee, which took up a set of recommendations for party reforms submitted by a committee of party seniors.
The two positions became non-existent following the death of deputy leader Gamini Atukorale and the crossover to the government of assistant leader Karu Jayasuriya.
The unanimously adopted proposals also call for the reorganizing of National Youth Front, Lakwanitha Peramuna, Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya and the students arm of the UNP, Mr. Karunatilake told the media in Colombo today.
The party seniors had also suggested the filling of vacant electoral organizer positions within eight weeks and that all party MPs should act as shadow ministers.
UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake tabled the recommendations by the committee comprising Joseph Michael Perera, John Amaratunga, Sarathchandra Rajakaruna, Gamini Jayawickrema Perera and Renuka Herath.

Call for PSC to probe CJ

Four Buddhist organizations have asked President Mahinda Rajapaksa to appoint a Parliamentary Select Committee to probe Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva, 'Ravaya' reports.
In a joint written request, they have called for an inquiry against the CJ, for having insulted Buddhism in the Supreme Court and to look into 100 questionable court rulings given by him.
The four organizations are the Conversion Observation Centre, Buddhist National Movement, Soma Thera Chinthana Foundation and Bodubala Sena.
Their protest campaign originates pursuant to an order by the CJ to evict Buddhist monks who were present at a recent SC hearing in which another monk stood accused of having violated sound pollution prevention laws.
Director of the Conversion Observation Centre, Ven. Galagodatte Gnanasara Thera said they would also meet the president personally to raise the issue, and would organize a protest march from Colombo to Kandy.
A date is yet to be fixed for the march that will also call for a dialogue on problems faced by monks and for the appointment of a special court for them.
The Thera noted that according to traditions of Buddhist monks, they rise up and pay obeisance only to another monk and no one else, which they had followed at the court incident.

A hideout of Pottu Amman air raided

Sri Lanka Air Force spokesman Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara says that the Air Force bombed a place believed to be the headquarters of the LTTE intelligence wing which is frequented by Pottu Amman. The spokesman further said that the pilots verified the target was achieved.

With the over 200,000 civilians moving further inside the LTTE territory and the slowness in advancing of the infantry regiments, the number of aerial attacks have gone up.

After yesterday's clash in Vavuniya, Air Force launched two air raids in the evening. The targets were a LTTE camp in Kanagarayankulam in Vavuniya and an armory of the LTTE in Udayarkattikulam in Mullaithivu.

Forming national unity more challenging - JVP

LTTE separatism should be defeated by uniting all masses as Sri Lankans, said JVP Propaganda Secretary Vijitha Herath, speaking at the inauguration of ‘National Patriotic Centre’ at the BMICH, Colombo yesterday (Sept.10th).

He said that all forms of separatism, terrorism and betrayals should be countered.

Noting that a new star is born amid controversy, the JVP MP said that patriots had been threatened, even in the past.

Just as the nation’s independence couldn’t be buried forever even when Rivideva and Chala, the best captains of King Wickremebahu I crossed over to the enemy during the Chola invasion , betrayals in the present too, are temporary, he said.

Stating that a patriot shot not be distressed, angered or saddened, MP Herath said that the National Patriotic Centre was formed for them to overcome challenges faced by the country.

Mentioning that a true patriot cannot embezzle national wealth, the JVP parliamentarian questioned how those who misuse funds allotted for soldiers can be patriots.

Patriotism should not be limited to defeating the LTTE, he said.

Noting that their path does not include racism and betrayal, Mr. Herath added that their aim was a broader one, which includes true national independence and patriotism.

ICRC steps up aid for Wanni people

The displacement of civilians in the Wanni continued last month as tens of thousands of people fled intensifying fighting between government forces and the LTTE, said the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Both residents and those already displaced moved towards Kilinochchi town and Mullaitivu district, seeking refuge in schools, with relatives and in dedicated sites, it said in a report.

Clean water and sanitation were the most pressing needs of the displaced. Local authorities also expressed concern about there not being enough shelter available.

"The ICRC has stepped up activities in the Wanni to meet the needs of the displaced," said Toon Vandenhove, the organization's head of delegation in Sri Lanka.

"Although we have been able to help a significant number of people who had to flee their homes, we are concerned about those who have already had to move several times because of the fighting. Not all have received humanitarian assistance."

Working closely with the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, in the month of August, the ICRC distributed relief items – including nearly 14,000 family hygiene kits, over 4,700 baby-care parcels, 2,100 mosquito nets and 2,750 emergency household kits containing bed linen, towels and sleeping mats – to nearly 78,000 displaced persons in the Wanni.

Among the recipients of these items were 12,000 individuals who also received tarpaulins and construction materials such as cadjan (palm thatch), timber frames and doors for building temporary shelters.

Since the hostilities escalated at the beginning of July, more than 84,000 displaced persons received a combination of hygiene items and household essentials, including almost 12,000 persons who could access clean water thanks to the ICRC.

While there have so far been no reports of significant or large-scale health problems, the authorities remain on the alert for outbreaks of diarrhea, malaria and other diseases. The health situation will have to be monitored closely, especially with the monsoon rains fast approaching.

Health-care facilities in the Wanni continue to operate, albeit in ever more difficult circumstances.

The Kilinochchi District General Hospital has been receiving increasing numbers of patients as other facilities have had to either reduce their operations or relocate alongside the displaced.

"The ICRC calls on both parties to the conflict to do their utmost to spare civilians the effects of ongoing hostilities. We are committed to staying close to those in need of humanitarian aid and to meeting their most urgent needs regardless of whether they seek refuge in government or LTTE-controlled areas," said Mr Vandenhove.

The ICRC's relief operation in the Wanni has been financed out of the organization’s 2008 budget for Sri Lanka of 27 million US dollars.

Voir dire allowed in Tissanayagam case

Colombo High Court Judge Deepali Wijesundara has ordered a 'voir dire' inquiry on September 18th to decide whether a confession given by journalist J.S. Tissanayagam had been made voluntarily or not.

The defence, led by Senior Counsel Anil Silva also challenged the indictment which charged him under Prevention of Terrorism Act before the court on September 09th.

He noted the journalist was charged under PTA for an offence committed during the Ceasefire Agreement, a period where the PTA was not in operation.

The prosecution led by Senior State Counsel Rohantha Abeysuriya moved to amend the charges against Tissanayagam, to which his lawyers objected.

The defence said it was in objection to the charges as a whole as they were vague and the gazette on which the prosecution had based one of their charges was non-existent.

Furthermore the third charge in the indictment is said to be under Emergency Regulation 7 of December 2006 published in Gazette No 1474/3 of the Democratic Socialist Republic, another non-existent gazette, said Mr. Silva.

The Judge allowed the amendments saying as long as it was the existing document that was amended and nothing new was added to it.

The amended charge sheet was read out to Tissanayagam and he pleaded not guilty.

The prosecution began with witness ASP Srilal Ananda Raj Ranasinghe of the Terrorist Investigation Division testifying before court.

The witness ASP stated that he recorded the confession made by the journalist on the 07th and 09th of May 2008 while he was detained at the TID.

ASP Ranasinghe said the journalist volunteered to make a confession that he recorded in Tamil with the help of an interpreter, Police Constable Nizam.

At the end of the evidence the prosecution counsel sought permission of the court to mark the confession made by the journalist as evidence.

But at this stage the defence objected to the document being marked and said that it was not a confession made voluntarily.

The judge allowed the documents to be marked and said the defence could ask for a voir dire inquiry to decide whether it was volunteered or not.

The court fixed the voir dire inquiry and the cross examination for September 18.

CID wants to grill Janaka on alleged plot to kill President

UNP chief ministerial candidate at the recently concluded North Central Provincial Council elections Major General (rtd) Janaka Perera yesterday said he had been instructed to present himself at the CID for questioning over an alleged conspiracy to assassinate President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

He said that CID had intimated to him that they wished to question him on this alleged assassination plot but had not given him a date and time to be present. He said that he would soon visit the CID and present himself for questioning.

Perera said that in the background of his popularity in the NCP where he polled the highest number of preferential votes, the government feared his popularity would increase further and he would be a threat to it.

He recalled that seven of his body guards were arrested by the police after the elections on allegations that they were Army deserters and later on charges of conspiring to assassinate some VIPs. Later they were remanded for seven days. They were also charged for possessing illegal radio communication equipment which later turned out to be legally acquired.

"I am prepared to face these trumped up charges against me or my supporters," he said.

"What irks the authorities is that their popularity is waning while I am becoming more and more popular among the people after the NCP elections. My supporters behaved so well during the election period that I came in for a lot of admiration from the public and no wonder I scored the highest preferential votes," he said.

Meanwhile, a high ranking Anuradhapura Police source, who wished to remain anonymous, said that the Anuradhapura Police had no hand in the so called CID investigation.

SriLankan Airlines takes measures to cut fuel age

SriLankan Airlines is focusing on sharply reducing its fuel usage to counter the challenge posed by high global oil prices. A series of fuel-saving measures has already been implemented, while more will be put in place within weeks.
S A Chandrasekera, the airline’s Chief Financial Officer, said: "The global airline industry is undergoing its biggest ever crisis due to the steep increases in the price of aviation fuel. Larger airlines are suffering losses and many smaller ones are going out of business. SriLankan is taking this challenge head on."
The price of a barrel of crude oil has surged 85% during the last 12 months, and reached a high of USD 143 in July this year from last year’s USD 75, although it is now on a declining trend. SriLankan is projecting a fuel bill of USD 500 million for the current year at present prices, which accounts for approximately 50% of its overall costs.
"Fuel is our biggest cost factor by far. While we are significantly reducing costs throughout the airline, we know that even a small saving in the amount of fuel consumed on every flight will result in savings in hundreds of millions of rupees," said Chandrasekera.
SriLankan recently invited a team of experts in fuel efficiency from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), who conducted an in-depth study and recommended detailed measures. The airline has appointed a special committee to implement the proposals and enhance them wherever possible.
"We are not satisfied with simply following IATA’S recommendations. We have already added a large number of our own initiatives, and are tailoring the IATA suggestions to suit the requirements of our airline," said Captain Anushad Liyanagoda, who was recently appointed to the newly created post of Manager Aviation Fuel.
The airline has already come up with several imaginative methods to reduce fuel consumption, and is quantifying the amount of savings from every one of them. One of these is "RNAV Approaches", where aircraft make continuous descent approaches into Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA). Discussions have been held with the Civil Aviation Authority and air traffic controllers to implement this programme, which would save 100-200 kilogrammes of fuel on every landing.
Another measure already implemented is to use diesel-powered Ground Power Units to supply power to internal systems and air-conditioning on all aircraft while they are parked at BIA, instead of using Auxiliary Power Units of the aircraft themselves, which use aviation fuel. This move is saving 130 - 200 kg of aviation fuel per hour.
Other initiatives include "Flap 3" landings; single engine taxi between terminals and runways; minimised use of reverse thrust during landings; flying shorter routes whenever possible; and re-evaluation of the airline’s choice of alternate airports. There is also a new Re-despatch Procedure, which is saving approx 1,200 kg of fuel on every flight from Europe to Colombo; and all flights are being closely monitored to obtain maximum usage of tail winds.
The airline is also recalculating the most efficient cruising speed for each flight; and new climb and cruise methods are being considered to optimise fuel burn. The cost of fuel at each destination is also a key factor, with a new study being undertaken on "Tankering", where aircraft uplift more fuel from cheaper points than is required, to save on purchases at airports where the cost is higher.
Weight carried on each flight is also a key focus area. Over-fuelling of aircraft has been stopped, which saves on hundreds of kilogrammes..
The performance of every aircraft in the fleet is being closely evaluated, to bring each up to optimum efficiency. The airline is also focusing on having ‘clean’ aircraft to reduce drag while in flight, with minimum dust and rough surfaces.

UN chief slammed by Sri Lankan leaders

Colombo - United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon came in for tough criticism on Thursday from Sri Lanka's government, which accused him of unwittingly helping Tamil Tiger rebels.
Responding to the UN chief's concern over civilians displaced by heavy fighting in the north of the island, a Sri Lankan government rights official said a government offensive had caused hardly any civilian casualties.Ban had on Tuesday reminded the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) of their obligations to ensure the safety of civilians.
"Unfortunately, the secretary general may not have realised that his remarks could be used to advantage by the LTTE, who will use any weapon to hand, including an innocent secretary general, to halt the advance of Sri Lankan forces," Sri Lankan human rights ministry official Rajiva Wijesinghe said.He said in a statement that the LTTE "will relish that he made these remarks".Sri Lanka regularly views any criticism of its own rights record as support for the LTTE, which has been fighting for autonomy in the island's north and east for minority Tamils since 1972.Fighting is now centred in the north, after forces wrestled the east of the island from Tiger control in July 2007.
According to UN agencies, at least 160 000 people have been displaced in the past few months in the rebel-held districts of Mullaittivu and Kilinochchi. More than 70 000 people have fled due to fighting in the past two months alone.UN agencies plan to pull out of the rebel-held areas in the north this week, after Colombo said it could not guarantee the safety of aid workers.Colombo wants to avoid troops being accused of killing aid workers in a repeat of the August 2006 massacre of 17 local employees of the French aid agency Action Against Hunger in the east of the island.

According to the Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies, there are 11 United Nations and other agencies working in the rebel-held Wanni area.Tens of thousands have died on both sides during over three decades of bloodshed.

Seven bodies found in Monaragala

The bodies of seven unidentified people were found in Kotiyagala, Monaragala this afternoon, Police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekera said.

RDA Engineer nabbed for bribery

An Executive Engineer attached to the Road Development Authority (RDA) in Pilimatalawa was arrested by the Bribery Commission today for allegedly soliciting a bribe of Rs.100, 000 to acknowledge a quality report.

Explosion along railway track, minor damages

Police say the explosion along the railway track near the ‘Kalupalama’ caused minor damages to the track. No casualties.

NAVY could cut off LTTE weapon supply says Gota

Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksha said the Sri Lanka Navy could successfully cut off the weapons supply network of the LTTE .He said it is an important victory in the battle against the terrorists.
Launching of an Inshore Petrol Craft of the Sri Lanka Navy on Thursday he appreciated SLN’s role and said Navy has succeeded in destroying floating weapon facilities of the LTTE.
Mr.Rajapaksha explained that the commitment and tactics of the Navy have resulted in changing the image of the Sea Tigers that was previously over estimated. Over the last three years the navy destroyed ten vessels believed to be floating weapons facilities of the terrorists.
Meanwhile the Defence Ministry said the LTTE continues to interfere with the efforts of Tamils to flee LTTE territory. Adopting a leading International defence website the ministry said this is to keep potential military manpower handy and also for propaganda purposes.
Civilians controlled are a sign of political power, and they can also be used as human shields, to provide some protection from artillery or air attack. The website stated that if civilians are hurt by artillery or bombs, you can accuse the government of atrocities. According to the site, the LTTE was also using INGOs for political purposes. The site added that the LTTE are now staging counterattacks, but none strong enough to stop the army advance.

Security forces are advancing to reach the Kilinochchi area

Government forces are now fighting with the LTTE to capture the Kilinochchi area. Government media spokesman Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said troops have advanced to reach the vergers of the Kilinochchi town.
He pointed out even though international organisations and certain individuals have voiced concern regarding the plight of civilians in the face of humanitarian operations, the government is well experienced in resettling civilians and granting relief.
The Minister pointed out even the international community has commended the government in this regard. Speaking at the cabinet press briefing in Colombo on Thursday the Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to address the needs of civilians affected by humanitarian operations.
The Minister appreciated the assistance provided by India in this connection. He said government attention has also been directed regarding the killing of journalist named Radhika in Batticaloa recently. The Minister said the police have taken steps to arrest the individuals who shot the journalists who is a member of TMVP.

Basil does not use money to buy UNP parliamentarians

Government of Sri Lanka refuses parliamentarian Basil Rajapakse does not attempt to bribe any UNP parliamentarian to crossover to the government.
Rejecting claims made by the Opposition Leader of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council Ranjan Ramanayake Media Minister Laxman Yapa Abeyawardana said Ranjan Ramanayake made such allegations to cover up the internal crisis of the party. If restructuring of the UNP does not occur the UNP Democratic Group plans to remain independent in parliament.
According to the UNP sources leading UNP members and some parliamentarians still criticise their party leadership and asked more changes of the party.

Blake on September 11 attack

The US Ambassador in Sri Lanka Robert O’ Blake says his country was compelled to change the policy regarding terrorism with the disastrous experience encountered exactly seven years ago.
The envoy in a special interview with the state radio he said after the September 11th 2001 incident, the United States Federal Bureau of Investigations intelligence divisions as well as the Department of Internal Security have begun to conduct investigations into terrorist attacks in other countries. Mr. Blake added it was thereafter that the US had taken stringent measures against terrorist organizations such as Taleban in Afghanistan and al-Quaida.

The US ambassador also said Sri Lanka is a long standing friend of his country and it is the policy of his country to extend fullest support to the Sri Lankan initiatives to eradicate terrorism.

He added that the government is currently engaged in an effective programme to defeat LTTE terrorism and pointed out that the US had taken steps to block the financial as well as supply sources aiding the war mechanism of Tiger terrorists.

BOI, Cairn India signs oil investment deal

The Board of Investment (BOI) and Cairn Lanka (Private) Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cairn India, on Thursday signed an agreement for a commitment of an initial investment of more than US$110 million towards the exploration of hydrocarbons

“The programme of work will be in the Block SL 2007-01-001 which is offshore North West Sri Lanka and covers approximately 3,000 square Kilometres (km2 ) in water depths of 200 metres to 1800 metres in the Mannar basin,” acccording to a press release by Cairns Lanka.

The signing for the exploration licence to explore for oil and natural gas in the Mannar Basin took place, earlier in July this year, in Colombo with the Minister for Petroleum and Petroleum Development Resources A.H.M Fowzie and Indrajit Banerjee, Executive Director of Cairn India.

Magna supermarkets sold to Laugfs

Kshatriya Holdings PLC, owners of the newest supermarket chain – Magna -, said today it has finalised an agreement to sell its nine supermarkets outlets to Laugfs.

A company announcement to the Colombo Stock Exchange said, it has “formalized an agreement with the owners of ‘Laugfs’ chain of supermarkets to sell the assets of the nine supermarket outlets owned by Kshatriya Holdings PLC through its fully owned subsidiary Magna Supermarkets Ltd.”

It said the total consideration would be linked to the valuation of the assets. Kshatriya Holdings PLC expects to conclude this transaction within the next few days. Magna Supermarkets will cease operations on the conclusion of the sale, the statement said. The Laugfs Group along with Cargills and John Keells Holdings, are the biggest supermarket operators in Sri Lanka. Kshatriya Holdings, owned by members of the Schaffter family, recently entered the arena of supermarketing taking over the Kings chain of supermarkets.

Don’t use children for political activities - President

President Mahinda Rajapaksa today warned certain “political elements” not to use children as a shield in their political activities and said it is opportune to take concerted action now to prevent this trend and protect the children.

UN, INGOs to relocate humanitarian operations to Vavuniya

At Monday's high level policy meeting of the ConsultativeCommittee on Humanitarian Assistance [CCHA], Minister of Disaster Management andHuman Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe, Chair of the CCHA, informed the CCHA that theSecretary/Defence had communicated a decision taken by the Government of Sri Lanka(GoSL) that all UN agencies and INGOs working in the Wanni should relocate theirhumanitarian and development operations to Vavuniya with immediate effect for the safety of personnel and property.
This decision was communicated at a discussion Minister Samarasinghe held prior tothe CCHA with Hon. Basil Rajapaksa, M.P. Senior Advisor to the President, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Additional Secretary Ministry ofForeign Affairs Mr. Prasad Kariyawasam, the UN Resident Coordinator, Heads ofAgencies of WFP, UNICEF, the Senior Advisor to the UN on Safety and Security(UNDSS) and representatives of UNHCR and the ICRC. Minister Samarasinghe stated that, as the UN and INGOs are working in the Wanni atthe GoSL?s invitation, the Government has an obligation to ensure the safety and security of all those working there.

Expressing his appreciation to the agencies for contributing and complementing the GoSL in providing assistance to displaced personsin the Wanni, the Minister requested them to continue with their good work bysupporting the GoSL in the provision of humanitarian assistance by relocating their operations to the humanitarian hub established by the Government in Vavuniya. Minister Samarasinghe announced to the international partners that the Government willensure that the IDPs in Kilinochchi will continue to be looked after by the Governmentthrough the District Secretaries (Government Agents) as was done in Vaharai.
The GoSL is fully committed to further strengthening the Government Agents of Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya and Mannar Districts in order that they can carry out their responsibilities in providing humanitarian assistance to the people in the Wanni. TheCCHA also appointed a committee to be chaired by Hon. Basil Rajapaksa, M.P. todiscuss operational issues with the UN and I/NGOs. The CCHA, chaired by Hon. Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister for Disaster Managementand Human Rights, is a high-level committee appointed to deal with important policyissues concerning humanitarian assistance.
The CCHA meets monthly and is attendedby Mr Gotabhaya Rajapaska, Secretary/Ministry of Defence; Mr Basil Rajapaksa, Advisor to the President, Secretaries of the ministries of: Foreign Affairs, Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development, Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Health; the Commissioner General of Essential Services (CGES); Secretary General of the Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process; Chairman of the Co-chairs and Ambassador to the United States of America His Excellency Robert O. Blake; Representative of the Presidency of the EuropeanUnion Ambassador to France His Excellency Michel Lummaux; Ambassador ofJapan H.E. Kiyoshi Araki; Head of Delegation of the European Union, Mr Neil Buhnethe Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator of the UN; heads of ICRC, UNHCR, UNOCHA; ECHO and the Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies (CHA).
The co-chairs of sub-committees developed under the CCHA: Resettlement and Welfare, Logistics and Essential Services, Livelihoods, Health, and Education,represented by high-level Government officials and UN heads of agencies ? UNHCR, WFP, ILO, UNICEF, and WHO, were also present to update members on progressmade to date. The sub-committees address operational issues that fall within their respective areas.

SMBs In Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh Cross 2 Million Mark

The total number of SMBs (small and medium businesses, or companies with up to 999 employees) across three emerging SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) countries—Pakistan, Bangladesh & Sri Lanka—has crossed the 2 million mark in terms of the number of businesses, and US$1 billion in terms of IT spending in 2007.

This is according to a study by New York-based Access Markets International (AMI)-Partners, Inc. Notebook PC penetration in Pakistan is on the rise particularly among MBs (medium businesses, or companies with 100-999 employees). Additionally, the mobile workforce in Pakistan has now crossed the 75% mark in both small and medium businesses. Total IT spending exceeds US$1 billion for SMBs within these three countries, of which Pakistan SMBs account for over 70%.

Of the three SAARC countries under consideration, Pakistan & Bangladesh comprise the lions' share of the number of businesses (almost 90%). SMBs in Pakistan are technologically more advanced when compared to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Among SBs (small businesses, or companies with up to 99 employees), PC penetration is highest in Pakistan, closely followed by Sri Lanka. PC penetration in all three countries’ MBs have reached total saturation (100%), meaning every medium business has at least one PC.

“The larger vertical industry in all three countries’ SBs is the retail sector,” says Arnab Bhar, Analyst at AMI-Partners. “When exploring MBs, the manufacturing sector captures the largest portion of the pie.”

A typical Pakistan small business has a higher number of branch locations compared to SBs in Bangladesh or Sri Lanka. “The average Pakistan SB has been in business for almost eight years,” says Mr. Bhar. “However, in terms of economic performance, Sri Lankan SBs generate a higher average annual revenue (more than US$90,000 per annum) compared to Bangladesh and Pakistan.”

Small businesses in Bangladesh are generally experiencing an increase in revenue of about 7% this year with the bulk of their revenues coming from consumers. In Pakistan, although the majority of revenue generation is from consumers and other SBs, nearly 10% of Pakistan SBs said they generated a good portion of revenues from large businesses (companies with 1,000 and more employees) and government institutions, indicating healthy growth prospects for these companies.

When looking at revenue generation by location for MBs Sri Lankan MBs receive more revenue from trading with international territories and exports then Bangladesh or Pakistan. However, the majority of revenues for MBs in all three countries are generated locally.

Medium Businesses in all three countries are enjoying rapid growth with Bangladesh inching out Sri Lanka for the lead and Pakistan coming in a close third. “Bangladesh MBs plan to hire more than 20 employees on average which is significantly higher than the expectations of Sri Lanka or Pakistan MBs,” Mr. Bhar says. “Nearly 80% of these businesses are already in multiple locations and almost all of them plan to open an additional site this year.”

India's Bharti to launch Sri Lanka services by Dec

Bharti Airtel Ltd India's top mobile operator, expects to launch telecoms services in Sri Lanka by end of the calendar year, its chief executive said on Thursday.

"We are discussing with the government, the regulator as well as the operator. The discussions are progressing," Manoj Kohli told reporters when asked if Bharti had been able to resolve issues with the existing Sri Lankan operator.

Bharti, with 72 million wireless subscribers on its networks at end-July, competes with No 2 Reliance Communications controlled Vodafone Essar and state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd.

India, with nearly 300 million mobile phone users, is the world's second largest market for such services, and the over 8 million users added each month makes it the fastest growing market as well.

Sri Lanka plans Bali style development

Sri Lanka is to offer a new tourism zone for development in Kalpitiya in the country´s north western coast, which has 14 islands in which to build eco-friendly resorts, officials said.

The Kalpitiya Integrated Tourism Development Project (KITRP), and nearby islets in the Puttalam area will be built as a premium destination, Sri Lanka´s tourist promotion office said.

"We will promote Kalpitiya as a destination," says Sri Lanka Tourism chief Renton de Alwis.

"For example, Bali is not promoted as Indonesia. Bali has its own air links and immigration."

Prasad Galhena, who is in charge of the KITRP project, says the area will have super luxury hotels, where premium rates would be charged. The project is expected to generate four times the US$79 a day spend of a tourist.

A currently dis-used airfield in Palavi in the same area would be developed. Kalpitiya is now mainly an agricultural and fishing area. Officials say no re-settlements are planned and the existing
community will be integrated into the planned development.

The government is planning to develop a mini city with new roads power links and a hospital. Condominiums, a race course and an amusement park is also planned. Tourism secretary George Michael says the area with 14 islands contains 4,000 acres for development.

Galhena said requests for proposals from investors would be called by November after cabinet approval is received. Officials are hoping to get approval for an investor guide that has been already prepared by mid-October.

Sri Lanka´s tourism has been hit by an internal conflict. Authorities are hoping to bring in close to 600,000 tourists this year. The Kalpitiya premium zone when fully developed is expected to attract one million tourists, and official say is the largest single tourism project promoted so far.

Kilaly LTTE terrorist leader Kaliardhan killed

4 LTTE terrorists were reported killed including the Kilaly LTTE area leader Kaliardhan during a confrontation ensued with security forces today (Sep 11), at the Kilaly defences, at around 3 a.m.

MCNS cites this - a significant loss to the LTTE, adding that a large number of terrorists have sustained injuries in the confrontation.

Colombo stocks start on positive sentiment

Colombo stocks showed positive sentiment in early trade on Thursday with the All Share Price Index (ASPI) up by 3.37 points to 2387.45 and the Milanka Price Index (MPI) up by 7.40 points to 2738.31, stock market analysts said .

Sri Lankan shares despite opening on brisk momentum will be on a sluggish sentiment towards the end of market close, according to stock analysts.

“Index strong shares such as JKH and SLT each increased by 50 cents in the morning," a stock analyst said. JKH was at Rs.92.50 and SLT at Rs 46.

The All Share Price Index increased by 3.37 points to 2,387.45 while the Milanka Price Index up by 7.40 points to 2,738.31 during early trades. The turnover was at Rs. 46 billion .

Bill to monitor NGOs

Government to introduce a new bill to closely monitor NGO activities, Minister Lionel Premasiri said in parliament.

UAV makes forced landing

An Air Force Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) made a forced landing at the Anuradhapura Air Force base due to a technical fault short while ago, Air Force sources said.

No tsunami threat to Sri Lanka

Massive earthquakes which hit Indonesia and Japan prompting initial Tsunami warning is NOT a threat to Sri Lanka.

United nations Chief concerned over humanitarian impact of clashes

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed deep concern over escalating violence in northern Sri Lanka and the humanitarian impact of the clashes on civilians.
The Sri Lankan Government has requested that United Nations relief workers relocate from areas witnessing conflict.

In a statement, Mr. Ban reminds all concerned of their responsibility to take active steps to ensure the safety and freedom of movement of civilians, allowing humanitarian organizations to do their work in safety, as well as to reach persons affected by the fighting who need humanitarian assistance.”

According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), fighting between Government forces and the LTTE uprooted 12,000 families in July alone.

In today’s statement, Mr. Ban pointed to the need to follow international humanitarian law, particularly the principle of proportionality and the selection of military targets.

“He emphasizes strongly the importance of a negotiated settlement to the political problems facing Sri Lanka.”

Last month, the UN Country Team acknowledged the Government’s announcement that it will take extra steps to improve the freedom of movement of thousands of civilians affected by recent fierce fighting in the north of the country.

“Measures that comply with international obligations governing the protection of civilians during armed conflict provide vital options for civilians as they make individual choices about where to seek safety and succour,” the UN Country Team in Sri Lanka said.

Sri Lanka wins ‘Spirit of Cricket’ award

Sri Lanka cricket team wins the award for ‘Spirit of Cricket’ at ICC awards in Dubai.

MENDIS won the ICC award

Ajantha Mendis won the ICC award for the emerging cricketer of the year at the ICC awards in Dubai this evening.

CID grills Polgampala

Former JVP MP Anuruddha Polgampala who was deported from Japan recently is now being questioned by the CID over immigration offences, the police said.

Minister seeks legal advice against media

Trade and Commerce Minister Bandula Gunawardana says his Ministry was seeking legal advice to take action against media reports criticizing the escalating gas prices, as gas prices are determined on a price formula approved by the Supreme Court.

Bomb blast in Mount - no damages reported

A joint cordon and search operation by the army and police is currently underway following the bomb blast that occurred down De Saram Road, Mount Lavinia targeting a railway track a short while ago, defence sources said.

The bomb had been placed beneath the railway track at the end of De Saram Road, Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said.

No one has been hurt in the incident and no damage has been caused to the railway track or any other property, he added.

Investigations find university . email a hoax

Investigations into the e-mail alleging that a female student was abused by university marshals within the Colombo University premises has now revealed that the e-mail was sent from a cyber café in the Wellawatte area.

Investigations by the CID, police and university into this incident are still continuing.

Dean, Arts Faculty, University of Colombo, Professor Amal Jayawardena said that this e-mail was clearly bogus given the fact that there was no name of the victim or sender, and the unknown place that the e-mail was sent from.

"Even the students have now realised that they got worked up over an e-mail that was not credible," Prof. Jayawardena said.

"There are many people who would have used the café where the e-mail was sent from and it is obvious that the e-mail was sent to simply take revenge over some issue," he said.

Regarding the clash that erupted within the university where some lecturers were attacked by students, Professor Jayawardena stressed that it was the duty of the staff to ensure a safe environment as well as intervene if the students faced any problems.

Following this clash the lecturers refused to work until they received an apology from all the university students.

The university students held a public meeting where they tendered an apology to the staff regarding the attack. The classes resumed thereafter.

Subsidised fertiliser only for registered farmers

A new circular gives clear instructions to the National Fertiliser Secretariat on how to distribute subsidised fertiliser among farmers for the forthcoming Maha season.

National Fertiliser Secretariat Director , R. Dharmawardena said that a bag of 50 kg fertiliser will be sold at a subsidised rate of Rs.350 while the average cost to the government is almost Rs. 6000 for a 50 kg bag of fertiliser.

Subsidised fertiliser will only be sold to registered farmers. According to the law all farmers have to be registered with the Department of Agriculture to receive subsidised fertiliser.

According to the new circular availability of the subsidised fertiliser will vary according to the agro climatic zones and the irrigation systems that are in use.

Dharmawardena explained that paddy farmers in Anuradhapura, Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee would get a higher amount of subsidised fertiliser than paddy farmers in the wet zones.

The subsidised fertiliser will be provided by the Department of Agriculture.

The National Fertiliser Secretariat will have a meeting with all regional level officers to educate them on the best method of distributing subsidised fertiliser to paddy farmers on September 15 (Monday).

Last year the National Fertiliser Secretariat issued a total of 180,000 metric tonnes of urea for the Maha season.

This year the demand for urea is expected to be more than 180,000 metric tonnes for the Maha season.

This demand for more fertiliser comes in the wake of the increasing demand for paddy and the increasing use of abandoned land for paddy cultivation.

The Maha season is expected to start in September and continue till February 2009.

Initially the Secretariat had requested a total of Rs.15 billion to provide the fertiliser subsidy for this year. However by mid 2008 this money has been spent. Thereafter the Secretariat made a request for a further Rs.12 billion to pay for the fertiliser subsidy to help paddy farmers.

This resulted in this year’s budget going up to Rs.27 billion for the fertiliser subsidy alone.

Ten more botanical gardens by 2016

The first phase of the Hambantota Botanical Gardens will be completed in 2010. This is the first botanical garden to be set up in the dry zone. It will be on 300 acres.

Under the Mahinda Chinthanaya policy document 10 botanical gardens will be established by 2016.

This is the first time the government has included the development of botanical gardens in a national plan.

At present there are three botanical gardens in the country. The Peradeniya Botanical Garden was set up in 1821, the Hakgala Botanical Garden in 1861 and the Gampaha Botanical Garden in 1876.

Speaking to The Morning Leader Director Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, Dr. C. Wijesundera said under the first phase of the Hambantota Botanical Gardens, the entrance to the garden, the landscaping, the information centre and all basic amenities would be set up.

Speaking further Dr. Wijesundera said that polythene tunnels are being constructed at the Avissawella Botanical Gardens to grow anthuriums and orchids and that the second phase of the Hambantota and Avissawella botanical gardens would be completed in three to four years after the first phase.

"Botanical gardens will never be complete as there is always new additions to be included. We are still in the process of developing the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens," Dr. Wijesundera explained.

CAA to get tough with errant traders

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) is to take stern action against those who cheat consumers, Chairman CAA, Rumy Marzook said.

Following the seizure of two underweight Shell Industrial Gas cylinders on Monday, CAA Chairman Marzook requested the consumers to be vigilant of errant gas traders in the future and report to the CAA if any underweight gas cylinders are found.

"All domestic gas and industrial gas cylinders should contain 12.5kg and 37.5kg gas respectively. The gas companies cannot supply underweight cylinders and they are accountable for any underweight cylinders in the market. The CAA is stern on those who try to cheat the consumers and there are no loopholes for them to escape from legal action by the CAA," Marzook added.

According to Marzook the CAA respects the confidentiality of the caller who reports errant traders to the CAA and said quick action would be taken against the law breakers.

"Although we have deployed flying squads to nab errant traders still there would be loopholes where the errant traders could not be identified. When this particular Shell gas consumer informed us about the underweight industrial gas cylinders the CAA immediately got down to action."

President’s Gazette to be challenged in SC

A petition is to be filed at the Supreme Court tomorrow challenging the Gazette notification issued by the President, giving him the authority to extend the retirement age of individual public servants.

The respondents to be cited are the Attorney General, President Mahinda Rajapakse, Secretary to the President and Members of the Public Service and Police Commissions.

The petitioners are to state that the purported notification in the Gazette (Extraordinary) bearing number 1562/1 of August 11, 2008 promotes arbitrariness, politicisation and the rule of men rather than the rule of law.

The petition is to be supported by President’s Counsel, M.A. Sumanthiran and Attorneys Viran Corea and Suren Fernando.

The petitioners are also to argue that the Gazette is ultra vires the constitution and an usurpation of the powers vested by the constitution in the public service and police commissions and the cabinet of ministers.

It is to further charge that the Gazette is arbitrary, discriminatory and an ad hoc treatment of public officers leading to the further politicisation of the public service.

The petitioners are to state that unless the Supreme Court orders suspending and/or preventing giving effect to any purported extension under the Gazette, irreparable loss, harm, damage and prejudice would be caused to the public service, the public of Sri Lanka and the rule of law.

China to grant 7.31 million US$ to Sri Lanka

The Chinese government will grant50 million yuan (about 7.31 million U.S. dollars) to Sri Lanka for economic and technical cooperation, visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi told reporters here on Wednesday.

He said the grant will be provided by China to Sri Lanka under an agreement of economic and technical cooperation signed earlier in Colombo between the two governments.

During his talks with his Sri Lankan counterpart Rohitha Bogollagama, the two sides agreed to maintain high-level contacts and expand multi-level associations between the two countries' legislatures, political parties, foreign ministries and local governments.

They also agreed to expand the two countries' cooperation in education, tourism and continue to carry out cooperative projects such as the Hambantota Port and Norochcholai Power Plant.

In international fora, the two sides will strengthen their coordination and defend the legitimate rights and interests of developing nations.

Yang arrived in Colombo Tuesday evening for a two-day official visit to Sri Lanka at the invitation of Bogollagama.

He also called on Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse and Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake during his stay in Colombo.

The Chinese foreign minister left Colombo for Beijing Wednesday afternoon.

Tiger aircrafts safe - LTTE

Pro LTTE website www.tamilnet said that the Black Tigers destroyed the Radar installation inside Sri Lankan military's Vanni headquarters at 3:05 a.m. on 09 September, Tuesday.
Thereafter, Tamileelam Air Force (TAF) aircrafts and Col. Kittu Artillery formation targeted the Sri Lankan Vanni HQ with the coordination of the Black Tigers, successfully .The LTTE aircrafts safely returned to their bases after completing their mission. The communication facility with its tower, engineering facility, anti-aircraft weapon and the ammunition store at the Sri Lankan base were completely destroyed, the LTTE said.

The Vanni headquarters of the Sri Lankan forces and the headquarters of the Sri Lanka Army Special Forces (SF) for Vanni sustained heavy destruction in the attack, the Tiger statement issued in Tamil further said.

More than 20 Sri Lankan troopers were killed and many sustained critical injuries, the Tigers claimed.

10 LTTE Black Tigers laid down their lives in the special operation.

Lt. Col. Mathiyazhaki, Major Aananthi, Captain Kanimathi, Captain Muththunakai, Captain Arivuththamizh, Lt. Col. Vinothan, Major Nilakaran, Captain Ezhilazhakan, Captain Akilan and Captain Nimalan were the Black Tigers, the LTTE statement said.

Will resume battle for 17th Amendment - Ranil

The battle for the implementation of the 17th Amendment would be resumed from the point it was left off for the recently held Provincial Council polls, Opposition leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe said. The Opposition leader was addressing the swearing in ceremony of the opposition leaders of the North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provincial Councils at UNP Headquarters Sirikotha today (September 10th).
The consequences of not implementing the 17th Amendment were keenly felt during the recent PC polls, Mr. Wickremesinghe said.

Noting that future elections should be held in a free and fair manner after implementing the 17th Amendment and appointing independent police and elections commissions, he added that all should join this effort regardless of political differences.

The opposition leader extended an open invitation to all political parties, civil organizations, civil activists and intellects to join this cause as a broad front.

Measures to initiate this broad front would be taken up from where it was left off, he added.

Addressing the event, the opposition leader of the North Central Provincial Council, retired Major General Janaka Perera said that several ex- Army figures who were with him were arrested during the PC polls.

Despite being charged as Army deserters and possessing illegal communication equipment, it was proven otherwise, he said.

By summoning me to the CID to question over an alleged plot to assassinate President Mahinda Rajapaksa, it is evident that the government is hatching some plot to disrupt my activities, he said.

Speaking, the opposition leader of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council, Ranjan Ramanayake said that he, who fought against corruption and violence in the cinema, has received an opportunity to do so in real life.

A better service for the people of Sabaragamuwa can be provided as the opposition leader of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council rather than being the Chief Minister, he added.

Noting that he contested the Sabaragamuwa PC polls due to the UNP leader, Mr. Ramanayake said that Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe should remain as the party leader and requested fellow party members to extend their support.

Sri Lankans in Europe petitions to EU to stop LTTE funding

Sinhala and Tamil Community in Europe countries have asked the President the European Union not to support the LTTE and its allied organisations to raise funds from EU countries.They also asked to freeze LTTE "s bank accounts in EU countries .
Senaka Rajapaksha, Convener of the Public petition which is to be handed over to the EU President said their plan is to obtain signatures of the Sri Lankans who live in Europe and other countries to sign the petition.
He said their campaign is to to collect 73 million signatures of people throughout the world for a petition in this regard says Sri Lankans overseas could extend support to a public petition through www.petitiononline.com.

Mr. Rajapakse said several organizations including the TRO are engaged in collecting funds for the LTTE under the guise of procuring aid for humanitarian operations. The convener has also pointed out that many countries including the United States and the United Kingdom have banned organizations engaged in collecting funds for the LTTE.
Full text of the petition



To: EU President
Mr.Hans-Gert Pöttering
President of the European Parliament

rue Wiertz
Wiertzstraat
B-1047 Bruxelles

Dear Sir,

US FREEZES TRO ASSETS AND DESIGNATES IT A FRONT ORGANIZATION OF THE LTTE

The U.S. Department of Treasury, froze the U.S.-held assets of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), an organization registered as a charity in the U.S. and many other countries and “acts as a front to facilitate fundraising and procurement for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).” The freezing follows clear evidence that “the TRO has raised funds on behalf of the LTTE through a network of individual representatives.”
This is the first time that a foreign government has taken action against a front organization of the LTTE by designating it and freezing its assets. In August 2005, the British Charity Commission (BCC) removed the TRO from the British Charities register, on the grounds that it “had not been able to account satisfactorily for the application of funds.”
In February 2006, the BCC presented a final report highlighting irregular large cash withdrawals from the charity and its links with the LTTE. However, following the loss of charity status, the same persons connected with TRO registered a new charity called ‘White Pigeon’ and began raising funds.

The U.S. Department of State banned the LTTE as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (TRO) in October 1997, and in November 2001, named the LTTE a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) under Executive Order 13224. Despite such action, the front organizations continued their activities unhindered and reportedly collected large sums of money following the December 2004 tsunami that devastated a number of countries in the Indian Ocean region.
A press release issued today by the U.S. Embassy in Colombo, says, “The TRO's efforts worldwide reportedly have allowed the LTTE to use humanitarian aid, which TRO collected for the international community after the December 2004 tsunami, to launch new campaigns to strengthen LTTE military capacity.”
In recent times, the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) has consistently made submissions to countries around the world where LTTE front organizations function, including the U.S., that these front organizations were channeling funds they raise, to procure weapons and other war-like material for the LTTE’s murderous campaign in Sri Lanka.

Following these submissions and investigations into them, the U.S. has now taken decisive action to block transfer of funds to the LTTE from the TRO, which will have a direct impact on the LTTE’s capacity to fund terrorist activity in Sri Lanka.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has added the following entities to the list of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) : TAMILS REHABILITATION ORGANISATION (a.k.a. ORGANISATION DE REHABILITATION TAMOULE; a.k.a. ORGANISATION PRE LA REHABILITATION TAMIL; a.k.a. ORGANIZZAZIONE PER LA RIABILITAZIONE DEI TAMIL; a.k.a. ORT FRANCE; a.k.a. TAMIL REHABILITATION ORGANIZATION; a.k.a. TAMIL REHABILITERINGS ORGANISASJONEN; a.k.a. TAMILISCHE REHABILITATION ORGANISATION; a.k.a. TAMILS REHABILITATION ORGANIZATION; a.k.a. TAMILSK REHABILITERINGS ORGANISASJON; a.k.a. TRO; a.k.a. TRO DANMARK; a.k.a. TRO ITALIA; a.k.a. TRO NORGE; a.k.a. TRO SCHWEIZ; a.k.a. TSUNAMI RELIEF FUND -- COLOMBO, SRI LANKA; a.k.a. WHITE PIGEON; a.k.a. WHITEPIGEON).

In September 2006, the GOSL froze nearly Rs.78 million of TRO funds in Sri Lanka following investigations into its financial transactions by the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Central Bank under Sri Lanka’s Financing of Terrorism Law.
On September 22, 2007, Mr. Arjun Ethirveerasingham of the TRO office in Colombo, speaking at a seminar held in Geneva, on ‘Humanitarian action in the undeclared war in Sri Lanka,’ said, “The freezing of the TRO bank accounts in Sri Lanka is part of GOSL’s policy to restrict access, aid and relief to the affected populations.
The freeze has been effective in severely limiting the amount of humanitarian relief reaching the war and tsunami affected communities.” Today’s action by the United States shows with no uncertainty that the TRO was not focused solely on rehabilitation but also on financing LTTE’s arms procurement. The U.S. Embassy press release says, “The TRO also has facilitated LTTE procurement operations in the United States. Those operations included the purchase of munitions, equipment, communication devices, and other technology for the LTTE.”
The LTTE depends heavily on funds from overseas to finance its terrorist activities in Sri Lanka. Its intransigence on the issue of negotations also stems from the fact it is confident in being able to continue funding its terrorist activities in Sri Lanka, with money transferred from abroad.
With several other countries similarly investigating the activities of the TRO and other LTTE front organizations, there is fervent hope that those countries will, like the U.S., freeze the assets of the front organizations, so the LTTE will, at long last, understand that the only option is to return to the negotiating table.

We the undersigned peace loving people of this world requested to freeze all funds collected by the LTTE and TRO (Tamil Rehabilitation Organization)
in EUROPE.

LMSL sets aside Rs 153 mln as compensation to workers

Lanka Marine Services Ltd (LMSL), preparing to vacate the oil tank premises by tomorrow (Thursday) in line with a Supreme Court order, has deposited a sum of Rs 153.2 million in a bank account to be used for compensation to its workers, informed sources told TimesOnline on Wednesday.

Following discussions with the Department of Labour with representatives of LMSL, a compensation package for the workers was agreed upon in the amount of Rs.153,228,593. The Labour Department has, in a letter, informed the Attorney General that based on the calculations of a formulate in respect of 113 workers in LMSL, this amount was deposited for 'compensation including ex-gratia payment and for gratuity.' The department has said that the rough calculations on the compensation package was the formula adopted for the VRS Scheme offered to the workers (on 29th July 2003) based on the last drawn salary as at present. The payment of compensation was subject to a ceiling of minimum Rs.100,000 and a maximum of Rs.750,000. The Supreme Court on Monday asked LMSL to vacate the premises latest by Thursday and desposit a sum of money, before that, in a bank to be distributed as compensation payments to workers.

No Constitutional Council until report on 17th amendment is ready:PM

The President will not appoint the Constitutional Council (CC) until the Parliamentary Select Committee appointed to look into the operation of the 17th Amendment finalises its report, Prime Minister Ratanasiri Wickremananayake told Parliament today.

He said this is in response to a question raised by Chief Opposition Whip Joseph Michale Perera who asked the government to take immediate steps to set up the CC and restore democracy that he said is being eroded in the country.

He said in the absence of the independent Police Commission, the Police Department has become a highly partisan institution.

Mr. Perera also said there were many irregularities in the recently concluded polls in the North Central and Sabaragamwua provinces and said free and fair polls cannot be conducted without the independent Elections Commission being set up.

LMSL to run floating oil storage facility

Lanka Marine Services Ltd (LMSL), asked to vacate its land under a Supreme Court judgment, said today that it will continue to service its customers through a combination of a floating storage and the planned shared facility that will be run by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA).

“By next week, LMSL will be providing its customers with all grades of bunker fuels as in the past using a combination of floating storage and the proposed shared land storage facility to be run by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. The company has engaged a tanker on a long term charter for procurement and storage of bunker fuels. LMSL will also continue to provide bonded storage and delivery services of marine lubricants on behalf of the many global lubricant manufacturers represented by them,” the company said in a statement.

LMSL, a subsidiary of John Keells Holdings (JKH), said the company has – in line with the Supreme Court order made on Monday – deposited a sum of Rs 153.2 million in a separate bank account and notified the Commissioner General of Labour of this security deposit as the compensation payment to workers.

It said LMS has commenced the removal of the remaining stocks of oil and lubricants and will work with the SLPA until September 12 to take out all removable stocks of oil and lubricants from the land. The Supreme Court in July overturned the privatization of LMSL saying it was irregular and ordered the company to vacate the premises and hand it over to the SLPA.

China ensures continued support to Sri Lanka's territorial integrity

Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi today (Sept 10) ensured continued support of the Chinese government for Sri Lanka's sovereignty, territorial integrity and President Mahinda Rajapaksa's efforts to bring about a solution to the ethnic conflict and achieve ethnic solidarity in the country.
He expressed China's confidence that under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa Sri Lanka will play an important role in promoting and ensuring peace and stability in the region. He made these sentiment when he called on the President at the President's House today.
President Rajapaksa thanked China for generous assistance and cooperation with Sri Lanka especially in projects such as the Hambantota Port, Norochcholai Power Plant and the Performing Art Centre. The Chinese assistance would help Sri Lanka to overcome an unexpected crisis in the power sector, he added.
Also, he observed that most projects initiated with China are already underway and Sri Lanka would encourage more investment from Chinese Companies and already decided to earmark a separate area for Chinese investment.
President reminded how every government had attempted to negotiate with LTTE and how the terror outfit had resorted to violence targeting civilians at each occasion. Hence, he pointed out the necessity of eradicating terrorism.
He said that the East has now being liberated and Sri Lankan security forces are successfully moving forward to achieve this end in the North and restore democracy to the people of the North.
The Chinese Foreign Minister who stressed the importance of continuing the strong and good relations between China and Sri Lanka was appreciative Sri Lanka's unshaken support for 'One China Policy' and thanked the President for continued support on the issues of Taiwan and Tibet that are matters of China's core national interests.
Foreign Minister said China would continue with efforts to accept more Sri Lankan students for higher education, support Sri Lanka in international forums and that the Chinese people look forward to greater strength in China- Sri Lanka relations in the years to come.
Following the meeting Sri Lankan and Chinese Foreign Ministers signed an agreement whereby China gave a grant of 50 million RMB to Sri Lanka for economic and technical cooperation in the coming year.
The Chinese delegation included Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Dabo Ye and other senior officials.
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Palitha Kohona and Secretary of Defence Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Chief of Protocol, Foreign Ministry W. Hettiarachchi also attended the meeting.

Troops success in Vavuniya; even Black Tigers ran for their lives - soldiers

Sri Lankan security Forces once again displayed their professionalism and combat effectiveness in counter terrorist warfare yesterday (Sept 9) when they crushed the combined ground and air attack carried out by the LTTE in Vavuniya.

A group of "Black Tigers" or the members of the terror band for brainwashed suicide cadres launched a predawn attack at the airbase Vavuniya with the support of heavy artillery and aerial bombardment. However, they miserably failed even to get a glimpse of their target when they met with Army elites on the way. According to the reports, the aim of the terrorists was to destroy the vital air force assets including the air defence radar located in the airbase.

The terrorists' barrages of 130mm artillery could not prevent the army counter offensive and the whole mission became a flash in a pan as troops hunted down all the "Black Tigers" outside the perimeters of the Wanni Security Forces' complex. According to the soldiers who took part in the battle, the so called "Black Tigers" had quickly taken on to their heels in all directions when Army Special Forces soldiers had started their hunt. Reports indicate about 70 artillery rounds had been fired by the terrorist to prevent army soldiers countering the ground assault.

During the attack 13 soldiers laid down their lives and 18 others sustained injuries. Also, one Police constable was killed, 8 Police personnel and 5 Air Force personnel were injured.

Troops found 11 bodies of LTTE cadres along with weapons. Among the weapons seized, there were 1 Multi Purpose Machine Gun (MPMG), 2 Rocket Propeller Grenade launchers (RPG) with 4 bombs, 1 grenade launcher (40mm), 6 T-56 riffles, 27 hand grenades, 4 radio communication sets, 3 suicide jackets, 14 jackets, 32 pistol rounds, 1 GPS and other accessories of weapons and bombs. Among the slain terrorists there were 6 males and 5 females, clad in Army uniforms.

Defence observers are in the view that the terrorists had planed the attack to revive the sagging morale of the fighting cadres and to convince the Tamil Diaspora that its fighting capacity was intact despite the increasing battlefield losses. Also, they contended that the incident would be a harrowing defeat for those terror fund raisers overseas. Those who fight war in the internet and fund LTTE to send more Sri Lankan Tamil children to death would certainly be disappointed, they stated.

Meanwhile, battlefield reports received from Northern battlefront indicate 23 deaths and 28 casualties to LTTE in yesterday's clashes. Also, 2 soldiers were killed and 13 others sustained injuries during the day's incidents.

On the Kilinochchi South front, terrorists made two abortive attempts to break the Army forward defence in the Panailandamadu area around 8.15 PM. Troops of Task Force 1 repulsed the attack successfully and beat off the terrorists. Later, intercepted terror radio transmission revealed that 6 terrorists were killed and 12 others injured during the clash. Two soldiers were killed in action and 9 others sustained wounds.

In the general area North of Rumulamunai, troops attacked a terror bunker around 11 AM and claimed 2 terrorists were killed and 2 others wounded. In a similar attack carried out in the Vannerikkulama area around 6.20 AM troops claimed 2 terrorists were killed and 3 others wounded. Meanwhile, snipers deployed in the Kariyalaimoddai area reported shooting down of 3 LTTE cadres during afternoon hours.

Troops of 57 division operating in the West of Mullaittivu front, attacked two LTTE bunkers located in the Akkarayankulama area around 1.30 PM. Intercepted terror radio transmission revealed 2 terrorists killed and one wounded.

In the general area East Anichiyankulam, a soldier suffered injuries due to an IED (improvised explosive device) last afternoon.

On the North of Vavuniya front, troops of Task Force 2 attacked and capture a terror overhead bunker located in the Palamoddai area around 1PM. Intercepted terror transmission confirmed one terrorist killed and 3 others wounded. Meanwhile, snipers deployed in Palamoddai confirmed shooting down of 2 terrorists during morning hours. Elsewhere, a soldier suffered injuries in an AP (anti personnel) mine explosion around 4 PM.

In the general area North of Navatkulama, troops of 56 division carried out two separate attacks at terror bunkers during morning hours and claimed one terrorist was killed and 2 others wounded.

On the East of Mullaittivu front, troops of 59 division attacked and captured a terror trench defence located in the Ulathuvely area around 1.30 PM. Troops found one terror body during subsequent search. Later in the evening, troops attacked and captured 4 terror bunkers and 5 trenches located in the same area.

In the general area Andankulama, troops confronted the terrorists at several occasions and claimed 3 terrorists were killed, 5 others wounded and 4 more were either killed or wounded. Also one soldier sustained injuries

Meanwhile, troops engaged in mine clearing operations in the area removed 85 AP mines and disposed 6 IEDs.

In the Jaffna theatre troops continued to attack terror locations in the Muhamalai and Ponnar areas. However, exact terror casualties in these incidents were not available. One soldier suffered injuries in an AP mine explosion in the Ponnar around 9 AM.

Counter terror offensives are being continued.

Don't blind the eye available to look into the Tamil question in Sinhalese point of view

Western People's Front (WPF) MP Mano Ganeshan made a sentimental appeal at a press briefing ) not to make him the last Tamil MP who speaks the Tamil question in Sinhalese.

He indirectly stated that via interrogations by Terrorism Investigation Department (TID), he is projected through certain media as a person who has links with the LTTE and that is a threat to his life.

He said that as a law abiding citizen he went to the TID on August 26 obeying to the written summon. He said that he went to Kilinochchi openly and met LTTE political division leaders during the period between 2000 and 2005 aiming to discuss a political solution to the ethnic problem through power devolution. He said that Minister Thondaman, Chandrasekaran and G.L. Peiris were also present when he went to Kilinochchi.

After seeing the news on the TID investigation and the statements made by him, the former president Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumarathunga phoned him and verified that he went to Kilinochchi with a message from her to Prabakaran. He said that if someone had tapped his phone, the government would have known that the former President phoned him.

In response to a query from a journalist, MP Mano Ganeshan said that the policy of his party was devolving power to avoid partition. He added that the hearts of Tamil people could be won only through power devolution.

K’gala ISB to lead team to Canton Trade Fair

Kurunegala-The Industrial Service Bureau of Kurunegala will lead a delegation to the Canton Trade Fair and Exhibition 2008 to be held in China, a spokesman for the Bureau said.

This, he said, would be an opportunity for talented businessmen and businesswomen of Kurunegala to explore what was happening around the world and gain access to potential trade partnerships.

The Canton Trade Fair and Exhibition will be held at the Pazhpou complex of Guangzhou, China from October 5 to 28 and again from November 2 to 6.

Mega brands Lanka Bell and Maliban in ICT partnership

Maliban, one of Sri Lanka’s enduring mega-brands and Lanka Bell, the wholly Sri Lankan telecommunications giant have come together in a partnership that has resulted in the renowned confectioner acquiring the latest in enterprise business solutions for its communications needs.

Lanka Bell has linked the Maliban Head Office complex and the company’s dealer network island-wide via a seamless integrated telecommunications solution.

Comprising of advanced E1 technology and CDMA connectivity meshed with sophisticated PABX infrastructure with Direct Inward Dialling, the solution enables Maliban to conduct all its voice communications across the company’s network of 85 main distributors at zero cost, bringing about a new dimension in communications efficiency.

Consequent to the acquisition of the new solution, Maliban is connected via Lanka Bell on numbers 5555000 (general) and 5555111 (hotline).

Commenting on the partnership between the two companies, Lanka Bell’s Managing Director Prasad Samarasinghe said: "This is just one example of the kind of quantum change that can be achieved in the way companies do business by adopting the latest in integrated communications solutions that Lanka Bell has to offer.
Maliban and Lanka Bell are two local brands that have achieved world class quality and leadership in their respective fields. We are truly committed to this partnership and serving the needs of Maliban by exposing Maliban to the latest in technology and cost effective solutions."

Maliban Chairman and Managing Director A. G. R Samaraweera said: "Lanka Bell has evolved into a dynamic enterprise solutions provider with access to expertise and products that are truly cutting edge. We look forward to working with Lanka Bell to maximise the benefits and cost efficiencies made possible by the communications solution provided to our company."

The only wholly Sri Lankan owned company in the telecommunications sector, Lanka Bell is the second largest ‘fixed line’ provider in the country with around one million subscribers. The company was established in 1997 with an initial investment of US$ 150 million and introduced CDMA technology to Sri Lanka in May 2005 changing the country’s telecommunication landscape by connecting the remotest of villages in record time. The company has invested more than Rs 6 billion to date in its operations in Sri Lanka. In it latest initiative, Lanka Bell has linked Sri Lanka to the 1.2 Terabit FLAG global undersea fibre optic cable system at a cost of US $ 27 million enabling the company to offer a wide range of enterprise solutions to Sri Lanka’s corporate sector.

As a result of FLAG, Lanka Bell now offers a range of international solutions, Samarasinghe said, adding that "With virtually unlimited capacity, Lanka Bell is ready to serve the corporate sector with enterprise grade dedicated internet solutions of up to 100Mbps or more."

He said International Private Leased Circuits (IPLCs) made possible through over 66 PoPs across the globe facilitate connecting with international branches, suppliers and business partners. Quality international voice (IDD) to any country in the world also enables clear communication for smooth business operations.

In keeping with Lanka Bell’s commitment to investing in technology to provide up to date cost effective solutions, the company has invested in a WiMAX data network which is now in its second phase of expansion as a result of demand. This enables the delivery of a multitude of services such as BellBroadband, dedicated internet, IP-VPNs and much more.

US $4 billion high end tourist resort in Kalpitiya will be a reality

Sri Lanka Tourism Chairman Renton de Alwis yesterday confirmed that the US $4 billion Kalpitiya Integrated Tourism Development Project in the Dutch Bay region will commence early 2009.

Addressing a news conference, he said that 14 islets, which include Battalangunduwa, have been earmarked for the project meant for the high end market.It’s expected to be completed within the next five years.

"It will not be a city that goes to sleep," De Alwis said.

"Our objective is to make tourism the number one foreign exchange earner in the country with an increase of an additional one million tourist arrivals once the Kalpitiya Integrated Tourism Development Project (KIRTP) comes into operation," explained he explianed.

"This will be a new, exclusive tourism resort,which will be a destination of its own," De Alwis pointed out.

The targeted market for this resort will be ultra rich whose average spending will be four times higher to what a tourist spends now in the country, he said.

It is expected to generate 15,000 direct employment and 50,000 indirect jobs he said.

Plans are also underway to build an International airport at Palavi, close to Puttalam, where tourists could arrive direct from other countries without changing flights at the BIA in Katunayake,

Bernard Goonetillake, Director, Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management said.

In addition there are also plans to introduce a sea plane service to facilitate the transportation of the tourists to the islets, he added

"We want to make this an exclusive destination which could compete with Maldives or Bali," he noted.

The emphasis will be on eco tourismwith sustainable power generation and consumption utilising Green Technology, based on Green Building Designs,oonetillake said.

The resort would have luxury accommodation and condominiums with amusement parks, underwater amusement parks, underwater restaurants, marinas, cable cars, diverse water sports, including diving and safaris, golf courses, observation towers, camping sites, training schools, Hot air ballooning, with a race course and a museum he elaborated.

Asked whether the inhabitants in the islets will be re-settled elsewhere, Project Director Prasad Galhena said "In most islets except a few like Battalangunduwa where the fisher folk live, there are no human habitations."

"In places where there are scattered human settlements the people will be segregated into one area. We will get the community involved in tourism related activities," he explained.

Tourism Ministry Secretary George Micheal said that the implementation of the project will see a tremendous improvement in the living standards of the people in the area, with huge infrastructure development and the creation of a new city with all facilities geared to cater to the needs of the tourist, akin to a mini Bali.

The proposed project will be under a public-private partnership with foreign investment as well Galehena said.

Ban Ki-moon concerned over situation in North

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed deep concern over escalating violence in northern Sri Lanka and the humanitarian impact of the clashes on civilians. In a statement, Mr. Ban “reminds all concerned of their responsibility to take active steps to ensure the safety and freedom of movement of civilians, allowing humanitarian organizations to do their work in safety, as well as to reach persons affected by the fighting who need humanitarian assistance.”

Monks never stand up even before kings: JHU

JHU parliamentarian Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera told parliament yesterday that a Buddhist monk should stand up for the Buddha Dhamma or only in the presence of a senior monk. Ven. Medhananda Thera was justifying the action of the Buddhist monks who did not stand up in the Supreme Court recently, saying that Buddhist monks never stood up even before kings in the past. “Bhikkhus are not supposed to rise to their feet before a layman however powerful he may be. But we should respect the laws of the country” he said. The JHU monk said this was the tradition of the Sasana.
At this point, UNP MP Palitha Ranga Bandara queried about the Asgiriya Mahanayake Thera’s statement which was contradictory.
Ven. Medhananda Thera responded saying it might have been the personal viewpoint of the Mahanayake Thera.

Monks never stand up even before kings: JHU

JHU parliamentarian Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera told parliament yesterday that a Buddhist monk should stand up for the Buddha Dhamma or only in the presence of a senior monk. Ven. Medhananda Thera was justifying the action of the Buddhist monks who did not stand up in the Supreme Court recently, saying that Buddhist monks never stood up even before kings in the past. “Bhikkhus are not supposed to rise to their feet before a layman however powerful he may be. But we should respect the laws of the country” he said. The JHU monk said this was the tradition of the Sasana.
At this point, UNP MP Palitha Ranga Bandara queried about the Asgiriya Mahanayake Thera’s statement which was contradictory.
Ven. Medhananda Thera responded saying it might have been the personal viewpoint of the Mahanayake Thera.

Reduce fuel prices: JVP

JVP yesterday called on the government to reduce the prices of petrol, diesel and kerosene with immediate effect as the world market price of crude oil had declined from US$140 a barrel in May to US$108 in September.
JVP front-liner K.D. Lalkantha made this request in a letter to Petroleum Minister A.H.M. Fowzie.

Mr. Lalkantha said fuel prices had a chain-reaction effect on the prices of other commodities.

“When the price of fuel goes up the price of these goods and services also go up. Transport is a good example,” he said.

“Though we requested the government to reduce various taxes charged on fuel it had not done so,” Mr. Lalkantha charged.

He therefore called on the government to reduce the price of fuel as a measure of giving some relief to the people who were being battered with the sky rocketing cost of living.

Kovil attack: Monk, two others get bail

A monk and two other suspects who had allegedly damaged the statues of deities at the Sri Mariamman Kovil in Grandpass were released on bail by a Colombo court yesterday.

The suspects Venerable Hapugasyaye Dhammananda Thera, Sanathchandra Loku Bogahawatte and Chaminda Wijekumara were produced before Additional Magistrate Ajith Anawaratne.

Counsel Neville Abeyratne appearing for the first suspect said the kovil and the temple were situated adjacent to each other and was separated by a common wall and the parties to the case co existed in a cordial and harmonious manner for more than 20 years and the incident took place due to a misunderstanding.

He guaranteed it would not be repeated again and moved for bail for the suspects under whatever conditions the court seemed fit and said there was a dispute about the identification of the first suspect.

Counsel U.A.L. Bandara appearing for the second and third suspects said his clients were not residents in the area, they had come there for some other matter and had been arrested while they were sleeping in the temple and were not involved in any unlawful acts.

Counsel Mithrapala Jayasinghe who appeared for the aggrieved party said subsequent to the remanding of the suspects some persons had come to the kovil and had inquired about the case.

He said if the suspects were released there may be interference with the case and objected the granting of bail.

The Grandpass police said the investigations had been completed and the temple and kovil provided police protection and will not object to bail.

The case was fixed for October 28.

Medical student’s case: Suspects re remanded

The two suspects, in the attempted murder of the California University medical student by setting him on fire in Dambulla three weeks ago were further remanded till September 22 by a Court in Dambulla.

H.M. Jayatilaka and A.G. Nalin Ranga Subasinghe of Matale had their remand order extended by the Dambulla Magistrate on Monday when the case was taken up and the defence counsel’s bail request was refused by the Magistrate.

Indika Prassanne Padeniya (24) was assaulted and set on fire while he was on a visit to his hometown in Dambulla but he managed to save himself by jumping into a river close by.

Indika’s mother is also under treatment after acid was thrown on her.

Anil Koswatta: New Chairman of SLEDB

Mr. Anil Koswatta has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board. Mr. Koswatta is also an advisor attached to the Ministry of Export Development and International Trade and had also served as the Chairman of Lanka Cement Ltd.
Mr. Koswatta is also working in the capacity of a Senior Manager of a leading Multinational Company and a pioneer member of the Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs, Sri Lanka. He was appointed by President Rajapaksa under the recommendation of Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of Export Development and International Trade.

SLAF raids LTTE intelligence nerve center in Kilinochchi

Taking on offensive raids into the LTTE backyard, SLAF fighter jets made precision air sorties at the LTTE's main intelligence command and control center located 1km West of Kilinochchi, Wednesday (Sep 10), at around 6.45a.m.

The target was acquired on reliable ground information received INTEL sources said adding that a high profile LTTE gathering was taking place at the site during the time of the attack. This is also a site frequented by the outfit's intelligence wing leader Pottu Amman, the sources said.

The target was taken with precision, Air Force Spokesperson Wing Commander Janaka Nanaykkara said, speaking to defence.lk.

Tiger communication circuits have totally gone down and silence remained since the attack, our sources said citing radio and electronic emission reports. Reiterating a major loss to the LTTE's inner core, INTEL sources added that the target site was used for coordination of major terror attacks at both civilian and military installations.

The attack follows a step-up of air offensive mission by the SLAF, who reportedly gunned down an LTTE aircraft while fleeing towards Mullaittiuvu, after its failed air attack at the Vavuniya Air Force base, yesterday.

Pro-LTTE media remained tight lipped on tiger casualties, alleging the security forces for reprisal attacks at its heartland, in Kilinochchi.

TMVP cadre shot dead in Akkaraipattu

Uknown gunmen shot and killed a TMVP cadre and injured another at Alaiyadivembu in Akkareipattu last evening, police said.

Murugapillai Keethiswaran (18) was in front of the Alaiyadivembu TMVP office when he was he was shot. He died on the spot, police added.

Ariyarajah Kamalaraj (19) was injured in the incident. He is currently receiving treatment at Eluwatuwana Hospital in Akkaraipattu.

Janaka summoned by CID

UNP leader Ranil Wickramasingha says Janaka Perera has been summoned by the CID to question him over an alleged plot to assassinate President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Displaced at risk following government order- AI

The government’s order for United Nations (UN) and non-governmental aid workers to leave the war-torn northern Wanni region could further endanger tens of thousands of displaced persons trapped between the two parties to the conflict, Amnesty International warned.

Brandix Seeduwa Factory achieves world 1st in eco-friendly manufacture

Sri Lanka’s apparel sector inspiration Brandix has achieved a world first across all sectors, with its Green Factory in Seeduwa becoming the first apparel manufacturing facility in the world to be rated Platinum under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System of the US Green Building Council (USGBC).

The 130,000 square-foot Brandix Eco Centre, Brandix Casualwear’s lead manufacturing plant for global giant Marks & Spencer, achieved a score of 76 on the 85-point LEED certification system, setting a global benchmark for low energy consumption, water conservation, solid waste management and low carbon emissions.

It is the only converted Green Factory in the world to receive the Platinum rating, the highest standard in eco-friendly manufacture.

Formally inaugurated on April 25 this year by Marks & Spencer CEO Sir Stuart Rose, the plant converted into an Eco Centre at a cost of US $ 3 million has achieved a reduction of carbon emissions by 80 per cent, an energy saving of 46 per cent, a reduction of water consumption of 58 per cent and zero solid waste to landfill, eco-friendly indicators as yet unmatched by any re-designed Green Plant anywhere in the world.

“This is possibly one of the most satisfying milestones achieved by Brandix in its short but meteoric history,” commented AJ Johnpillai, Director Brandix.

“The fact that it is a global first for us, our country and the apparel industry worldwide, makes it all the more significant, and is a huge shot in the arm for our apparel sector in these challenging times.”

He said the score of 76 achieved by Brandix, 12 points higher than the 64 required for Platinum status, demonstrated the degree to which the Brandix Eco Centre had exceeded the planet’s highest Green Factory rating.

“This is also a tribute to the local engineering skills available and in particular to our consultants Energy Solve International, whose knowledge and commitment were invaluable.”

The conversion of the 30 year old factory into a Green manufacturing location was made more challenging by the LEED requirement that at least 50 per cent of the occupants of the building had to remain in service inside the building during its conversion, and Brandix’s determination that the energy conservation ratings required would be achieved with air-conditioning, another requirement for Platinum status. Air-conditioning accounts for about 70 per cent of the energy consumed in a garment factory.

To meet the requirements of LEED certification, Brandix invested in the latest screw-type chiller unit patented in the US to provide energy-efficient air-conditioning for the entire factory, which comprises of three sewing plants.

Square ducts were converted to round ducts to reduce distribution losses, and a 75mm insulation and heat-reflective panel was introduced into the roof.

The windows were enlarged to provide more light and a better view out to workers, and the glass replaced with special glass with a high solar reflective index.
Special prismatic material used for skylights in the roof allows only the passage of solar light without the accompanying heat.

Sophisticated new light emitting diodes used as task lights provide light to the sewing machines, supplementing the natural light provided by the skylights. Bay lights are to be used only on cloudy or rainy days.

Brandix has introduced facilities for direct and indirect rain water harvesting including the collection of water from down-pipes for reuse.

A series of measures exist to reduce water consumption through recycling, whereby direct rainwater is initially recycled for all use except for drinking. Subsequently, a tertiary filtration system and a disinfection process allows the used water to be recycled again for toilet flushing and gardening.

The factory has also achieved zero solid waste disposal by recycling or reusing 100 per cent of the solid waste it produces.

Even canteen waste is being composted and contributes to biogas generation. The green areas in the gardens have been increased substantially to provide all occupants with the stipulated view of green area, and two indoor green patches have been introduced to the plant with the largest floor area.

Transportation within the premises is by electric car to eliminate use of fossil fuel inside the plant. An advanced intelligent building management system controls relative humidity and carbon dioxide levels to improve comfort levels for workers.

Brandix pioneered the concept of total solutions in the Sri Lankan apparel industry and has been recognized as Sri Lanka’s largest apparel exporter by the Export Development Board for the past two years.

Comprising of 25 fully-integrated manufacturing facilities backed by strategically located international sourcing offices, Brandix provides direct employment to over 25,000 people.

The Group specializes in casual bottoms, intimate and active wear, textiles, knitted fabrics, sewing and embroidery thread, accessories and hangers, and offers wet processing and finishing and fabric printing.

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.

Australian High Commissioner pays a courtesy call to Secretary Defence

The Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, H.E Ms. Kathy Klugman, Tuesday (Sep 9) paid a courtesy call to the Secretary of Defence at the MOD premises this afternoon.

H.E had a brief discussion with the Secretary Defence Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, concerning matters of interest to both countries, sources said.

ICRC steps up aid effort for displaced people in the Vanni

The displacement of civilians in the Vanni – in parts of Killinochi, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya districts under the control of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) – continued in August as tens of thousands of people fled intensifying fighting between government forces and the LTTE. Both residents and those already displaced moved towards Kilinochchi town and Mulaitivu district, seeking refuge in schools, with relatives and in dedicated sites.

Clean water and sanitation were the most pressing needs of the displaced. Local authorities also expressed concern about there not being enough shelter available. "The ICRC has stepped up activities in the Vanni to meet the needs of the displaced," said Toon Vandenhove, the organization's head of delegation in Sri Lanka. "Although we have been able to help a significant number of people who had to flee their homes, we are concerned about those who have already had to move several times because of the fighting. Not all have received humanitarian assistance."

Working closely with the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, in the month of August, the ICRC distributed relief items – including nearly 14,000 family hygiene kits, over 4,700 baby-care parcels, 2,100 mosquito nets and 2,750 emergency household kits containing bed linen, towels and sleeping mats – to nearly 78,000 displaced persons in the Vanni. Among the recipients of these items were 12,000 individuals who also received tarpaulins and construction materials such as cadjan (palm thatch), timber frames and doors for building temporary shelters. Since the hostilities escalated at the beginning of July, more than 84,000 displaced persons received a combination of hygiene items and household essentials, including almost 12,000 persons who could access clean water thanks to the ICRC.

While there have so far been no reports of significant or large-scale health problems, the authorities remain on the alert for outbreaks of diarrhoea, malaria and other diseases. The health situation will have to be monitored closely, especially with the monsoon rains fast approaching.

Health-care facilities in the Vanni continue to operate, albeit in ever more difficult circumstances. The Kilinochchi District General Hospital has been receiving increasing numbers of patients as other facilities have had to either reduce their operations or relocate alongside the displaced.

"The ICRC calls on both parties to the conflict to do their utmost to spare civilians the effects of ongoing hostilities. We are committed to staying close to those in need of humanitarian aid and to meeting their most urgent needs regardless of whether they seek refuge in government or LTTE-controlled areas," said Mr Vandenhove.

The ICRC's relief operation in the Vanni has been financed out of the organization's 2008 budget for Sri Lanka of 27 million US dollars.

Omanthai crossing point

Acting as a neutral intermediary, the ICRC is present at Omanthai crossing point six days a week to facilitate the passage of civilians and their vehicles between government-controlled and LTTE-held areas. In August, it facilitated the passage of nearly 16,650 civilians and 2,500 vehicles. Over 100 ambulances, carrying almost 680 patients, made the crossing during the same period. ICRC staff transported 62 bodies of fallen fighters across Omanthai crossing during the month of August.

Protecting civilians and persons held in connection with the conflict

The ICRC continues to monitor violations of international humanitarian law affecting civilians throughout the country. In August, nearly 1,750 persons contacted the organization with allegations concerning missing persons, arbitrary arrests, and unlawful killings or ill-treatment of civilians committed by weapon bearers. In order not to endanger the people reporting such violations, ICRC staff discussed them with the parties to the conflict in full confidentiality.

With the approval of government officials and the LTTE, the ICRC visited a growing number of people arrested in connection with the armed conflict to monitor their treatment and conditions of detention. In August, ICRC delegates carried out almost 50 visits to 35 government-run places of detention, during which they spoke in private with 675 security detainees. The families of more than 420 detainees received transport costs to visit their relatives.

During the same period, delegates also met in private with five security detainees held by the LTTE to deliver family parcels and messages consisting of family news.

Restoring family links

The ICRC has been cooperating closely with the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society to help family members separated from one another to restore and maintain contact. In August, the ICRC collected and distributed more than 700 family messages.

Sri Lanka will take part industrial fair at Sichuan

The 9th Western China International Economy and Trade Fair due on October 26, will provide enormous opportunities to Sri Lanka for promoting international trade and investment in China.

It will be for the first time that Sri Lanka would participate in the event. It was only recently that the Sri Lanka-China, Business Cooperation Council (SLBCC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the China Business Council to promote international trade between two countries. It is believed that inking of the MoU has paved the way for domestic manufacturers and entrepreneurs to partake in the event.

In an exclusive interview with Fibre2fashion, Mr Nihal Aluvihare, SLBCC Secretary-General, asserted that “the three day annual trade fair is held in Sichuan province every year in month of May but this time due to earthquake, it had to be postponed to October 2008.”

He further added by saying that so far, about 11 companies have registered for participation and the figures are expected to rise by another 3 to 4. Most of these would be dealing with handicraft, coir products, bronzeware and gems and jewelry.

Moreover, opening ceremony of the trade fair on October 26 would be graced by the presence of Heads of different Countries, such as Prime Minister of Laos, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, and senior ministers from Afghanistan, Singapore, Maldives, Malaysia, and Indonesia, just to name a few.

It has been said that the SLBCC would be organizing a major investment forum during the event, where a high-powered Sri Lankan delegation is expected to participate to help attract major Chinese investors to Sri Lanka.

'India, China should be investment leaders in Sri Lanka'

Sri Lanka has asked China and India to undertake huge investments in the country taking advantage of its strategic location that would economically benefit both the countries.

Sri Lanka is looking to China and India to be investment leaders in the island nation, Minister of Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion Sarath Amunugama said while speaking to a Chinese business delegation here.
He said the island nation was centrally located as a trans-shipment hub to the Middle East, the subcontinent, the far East and Australasia.

Investors in Sri Lanka would benefit from the advantages accorded to Sri Lankan enterprises under the Indo-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement and the GSP agreement with the European Union, Amunugama said while recalling over five decades of close relations between Sri Lanka and China.

The minister said the Norochcholai coal power plant being built with Chinese assistance will reduce the cost of electricity in Sri Lanka.

The 15-member Chinese business delegation, accompanied by the Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Ye Dabo, held a long meeting with Amunugama and senior trade officials on ways to expand economic cooperation.

The delegation represented Chinese companies in mining, automobile assembly, communications equipment manufacturing, trading, household appliances, light industry and consumer goods who are interested in investing in Sri Lanka.

Five Media condemns Radhika attack

Five Media has strongly condemned the attempt on the life of woman journalist Radhika Devakumar last night (Sept. 08th).

In a statement, the local media rights group said the correspondent for Tamil newspaper 'Thinakaran' for the past eight years' was shot by unidentified gunmen at her home at Kalladi, Batticaloa.

She is still in serious condition at Batticaloa Hospital.

Ms. Devakumar also served as the media coordinator for east chief minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan for a short period.

At a media awards presentation last year organized by Five Media, she was recognized for her services to the field.

The statement urges authorities to conduct a speedy investigation and bring the culprits to book.

It also called for safeguards for the protection of journalists and an atmosphere conducive for them to engage in their profession freely.

De Soyza women’s hospital blood bank facing closure

In the wake of the controversy over the use of date expired blood plasmapheresis kits at the National Blood Transfusion Service at Narahenpita, the blood bank at the De Soyza Women’s Hospital in Colombo is facing closure due to shortage of doctors, a hospital source said.

SL shares sorrow with Bihar flood victims

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has expressed Sri Lanka’s ‘deep sorrow’ to the Government and people of India on the loss of lives and suffering caused by the severe floods the State of Bihar.

Colombo stocks end dreary

Colombo stock market on Tuesday ended on an unexciting note with stock analysts anticipating similar sluggish trends tomorrow.

Lanka IOC was down by Rs 1 to close at Rs 26. JKHs continuing its dismal performance dropped 50 cents to Rs 94.50. The All Share Index dropped by 6.35 points to 2,388.28 while the Milanka decreased by 10.22 points to 2,739.77 at market close. The turnover was at Rs 206 million.

World crude prices sink below $100, first time in many months

Wildly fluctuating world crude oil prices sank to $99.72 on Tuesday, falling for the first time below the $100 per barrel mark for the Brent variety, Central Bank statistics show.

On Monday it was pegged at $103.62 per barrel while on Friday it was up at $117.91. The OPEC Basket was trading at $99.72. In the Singapore Refined Products market, petrol was trading at $108.30, diesel at $120.20 and kerosene at $124.10.

UN in Wanni to relocate after Government order

In the aftermath of the government order issued to all local and international NGOs to vacate the Vanni region the United nations Sri Lanka has decided to relocate its humanitarian staff to government controlled areas, the UN said in a statement.
br> Here is the full text of the statement.

“The UN in Sri Lanka acknowledges the announcement by the Government of Sri Lanka that they can no longer ensure the safety of aid workers in Vanni, and their request that UN and NGO staff should relocate to government controlled territory. The UN notes that the government holds primary responsibility for ensuring the safety of humanitarian workers.

Further the UN Sri Lanka has also stated that the UN is now evaluating its operations in the area with the view to relocating humanitarian staff. A precise timetable for the complete withdrawal of all staff is yet to be determined, but relocations will begin this week.

The UN remains fully committed to addressing the humanitarian needs of the civilian population in the affected areas, and will continuously monitor the situation to assess how this can be done under the circumstances.

Emergency passed in Parliament

The emergency was passed in Parliament this evening by a majority of 99 votes with 110 voting or and 11 against the motion.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP votes against the motion while the UNP abstained.

Sri Lanka pushes for adventure tourism

The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Board (SLTPB) is aggressively marketing the island country as an adventure tourist destination with adventure seekers being identified as a potential growth market.

“Adventurous holidays are a rapidly growing trend in global tourism and an increasing number of travellers are seeking out new adventures like Sri Lanka, having done the usual African Safaris,” said SLTPB managing director, Dileep Mudadeniya.

'The adventure tag fits in very well to Sri Lanka given the number of fantastic adventure and wildlife activities we have on offer,' he said.

The country is blessed with an abundance of natural diversity despite its small size. This astounding diversity is largely due to its dramatically different terrains ranging from coastal plains to hill country and lush rainforests to arid dry zones.

Large areas rich in flora and fauna are conserved in 13 national parks across the country and over 100 other protected areas, thanks to the nation's 2000-year old history of conservation.

Sri Lanka has more than 950,000 hectares of national parks, sanctuaries and nature reserves. Popular among them are the Bundala National Park, Horton Plains, Kumana Bird Park, Sinharaja Forest, Wasgomuwa National Park, Wilpattu National Park and Yala National Park and the Habarana Safari Park.-

Army fires at van driver who failed to stop

A van driver who failed to obey police and army orders to stop his vehicle was fired upon at Kottawa. The man is in a serious condition in hospital.

Initially the police had stop the van, but after they failed they had informed a army motorcycle squad who tried to stop. The man had knocked down two of the bike riders injuring them as well.

The army bike squad had opened fire as he failed to stop.

Police said they had first received a call that the man was trying to abduct a woman, but only the driver was in the vehicle.

Government troops repulsed the LTTE attack and destroy one LTTE air craft

Government of Sri Lanka said the security forces have successfully repulsed the LTTE attack made on the air force camp in Vavuniya on Tuesday.

The air force has managed to destroy the LTTE’s light air craft that came to carry out the attack. Their aim was to destroy the air force radar network established in Vavuniya by attacking both by land and air. However, their mission was fruitless.
He points out that LTTE’s attempting to show its military power by carrying out such random attacks since they have faced many defeats at the face of heroic forces.

Media spokesman for national security Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said the LTTE is trying to revitalise their fund raising mechanism internationally. He further said that the security forces are systematically carrying out the humanitarian mission against the LTTE in Wanni. He stressed that the government will never stop the mission until the last terrorist killed.

Terrorists Try Their Trumpets in Wanni

WANNI: AN LTTE attempt to launch an attack on the security installations in the WANNI was being challenged by Security Forces after directing artillery fire since early morning on Tuesday (9).

At the same time, an LTTE light craft flying at low altitude was trying to bomb the Sri Lanka Air Force airfield in WANNI. The Air Force fighter craft pursued it and attacked the enemy craft.

Initial reports said that two LTTE craft had come for the mission. Air Force confirmed one of the LTTE air craft was grounded after firing at it.

A full report regarding the incident is to follow.

One soldier has died and nine soldiers were admitted to hospital after injuries, the initial reports said.

Tigers in Wanni Battles Receive More Beatings

WANNI: TIGER TERRORISTS trying to break into troop-held areas from their NACHCHIKUDA, TAMBALAMUNAI, PANISAIKUNDUMADU and VANNERIKULAM areas in the KILINOCHCHI district to the west of the A-9 road received another beating on Monday (8) during confrontations the lasted till about 5.00 in the evening.

Those clashes resulted in the death of ten Tiger terrorists who directed fire on the troops in the opposite direction. Artillery rounds and gunshots fired by the troops injured about nine more Tigers in those areas according to monitored transmissions.

Meanwhile, similar clashes in the WELIOYA sector including ULUTTUVELI and ANDANKULAM areas brought death to six more terrorists during fierce confrontations. Three LTTE dead bodies including that of a female were found by the troops afterwards along with one T-56 weapon, one pouch, 180 anti personnel mines, eight Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), one hand grenade, one Multi Purpose Machine Gun (MPMG) link and several LTTE items. Six more terrorists have received injuries in the WELIOYA sector clashes.

Meanwhile, LTTE bunkers in the north of PALAMODDAI, NAVATHKULAM and KOMPUWENNAKULAM in the VAVUNIYA sector were smashed on Monday (8) following clashes. Three terrorists were felled and four more were injured during those clashes in the VAVUNIYA sector. One magazine, one hand grenade and one pack belonging to the terrorists were recovered afterwards.

Italy now too hot for LTTE, its agents

The city of Palermo in the South has for years been the main hub of LTTE activity in Italy. The terrorist group's propaganda machine worked overtime from there and ensured that innocent Tamils, who have through their mutual respect for each other decided to reside in Palermo, paid them protection money.

But today, there is hardly any illegal activity there. The LTTE agents who were involved in the extortion racket, have disappeared or gone underground due to the intense surveillance of the Secret Police in Palermo and Catania.

Things have become so hot for them that many have left Palermo and either migrated to Reggio Emillia, a northern town in Italy or to the UK. The UK has become refuge to LTTE sypmathisers. The plan is to send the operatives' wives and children there and then seek political asylum. Sometimes the route is devious. They proceed to Norway, believing that it is a safe haven and then from there proceed to UK. In Norway the Tamil community knows the ways and methods of obtaining forged documents by bribing officials.

Recently in Norway, a mother was arrested with her child. This child was born in Italy but the mother had failed to register its birth at the Embassy. The family had got into a major difficulty as the present Ambassador in Italy, Hemantha Warnakulasuriya had issued a directive that no birth should be registered without the parents and the child being present at the Embassy. He had also made a revolutionary change that the birth must be registered on the same day. The process had normally taken months. A few years ago nothing was impossible in the Sri Lanka Embassy in Italy. It is well known in Italy that the Ambassador had removed one of his most corrupt officers. The efforts of the father to get his child's birth registered at the Embassy by paying thousand of Euros have failed. The mother and the child are still in custody in Norway.

The UK has now become the refuge of the terrorists and most Tamils now believe that unlike in Italy one could bribe his or her way through in the UK and easily obtain asylum.

The DIGOS, the secret police, has continued to have a close watch on the illegal activities of the LTTE operatives in Italy. The terrorists once thought that Italy was the safest haven in Europe, but today it has become hell. It has become the only country in Europe where LTTE terrorists and their supporters are hounded out, prosecuted and deported.

SLAF strikes at LTTE strongpoint- Vavuniya

SLAF fighter jets launched precision air sorties at an identified LTTE camp located 2km South of Kanagarayankulama, East of A-9 trunk road, Tuesday (Sep 9) at 1p.m.

Air Force Spokesperson Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara, speaking to defence.lk said the sorties were made on accurate information received on intense terrorist activity in the area. Heavy LTTE casualties are expected in the air strike, he further added.

The SLAF attack comes hours after an LTTE air craft was reportedly shot down in the skies off Mullaittiuvu, following a successful interception mission by the F-7 flyers.

Fighter jets raid LTTE armoury- Mullaittivu

Air Force fighter jets continued attacks at identified LTTE positions in Wanni and North Tuesday (Sep 9), as latest reported confirmed another raid at a terrorist arms and ammunition dump in the Mullaittivu District, at 2.35 p.m.

According to Air Force Spokesperson Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara, the target was located near the Udayarkattukulama Tank, 2.5km Northeast of Mullaittivu. The target was accurately engaged the Spokesperson further said.

Troops repulsed the LTTE

Latest military reports received from Vavuniya reveal that a major attack launched by LTTE terrorists at the security forces headquarters Wanni and Air Force Base Vavuniya early this morning (Sept 9) was completely foiled.

According to the reports, the terrorists launched a pre-dawn ground assault coordinated with artillery fire and an air raid with the intention of causing severe damage to the Air Force assets in the Vavuniya air base.

Defence sources in Vavuniya state, the terrorists launched artillery fire to the Army camp in order to prevent counter attack and directed their ground assault at the airbase. However, valiant soldiers moved forward amid heavy enemy artillery fire and crushed the terror ground assault completely. According to the available information, 10 bodies of slain LTTE cadres have been found so far.

According to Air Force sources, an LTTE air craft was detected in the early warning radar monitors at around 3.26 a.m., while another was spotted 5 minutes later. SLAF jets took on the hunt intercepting the enemy craft and reportedly shot down one, in the Mullaittivu skies around 4a.m.

10 soldiers laid down their lives and 15 others suffered injuries. One police constable was killed and 8 others sustained injuries due to the enemy artillery fire. Five Air Force personnel also suffered injuries. A civilian was also reported killed due to the indiscriminate LTTE artillery shelling.

Sri Lanka demands $2 million for ODI series

Pakistan's attempts to undertake an unscheduled tour of Sri Lanka later in September seems destined for failure as the Sri Lankan board has demanded a whopping $2 million for the proposed ODI series.

According to sources a leading sports channel from Dubai had offered to broadcast the series on a barter basis and are willing to treat it as a one-off event.

"Ten sports have offered to bear all production costs for the series in return for getting the rights of the series and then arranging for the title sponsorship and other revenues and paying all expenses. But the Sri Lankan board is demanding two million dollars payment for the television rights itself," the source said.

He said the Pakistan cricket Board had informed the television channel that it would be content with an appearance fee of around five to seven hundred thousands dollars for playing the matches besides prize money to be offered for the series.

"But the Sri Lankans are adamant that they get paid two million dollars for the series rights by the channel which is willing to bear all expenses for the planned series," the source said.

Pakistan expressed interest in playing the series in Sri Lanka after they failed to convince the South African cricket union to urgently arrange a One-Day tri-series also involving Sri Lanka.

Cricket SA informed the PCB two days ago that it couldn't hold the series as it wanted its players to take rest after a hectic tour of England.

"The channel and the Sri Lankan board are slated to have final negotiations over the final terms and conditions for the series on Tuesday but if the Lankans maintain their current demand the series would not be possible," the source said.

He said the channel had made it clear that it was willing to shell out around $3.5 million as expenses on the series including production costs but not more then that and it would not be possible to accept the Lankan demand for two million dollars just for the rights of the series besides production costs.

The Sri Lankan Board has been going through a financial crisis in recent months and got some relief from the recent tour by India but even that tour was not a sell out for the same company which holds rights to Sri Lankan cricket television rights.

Kachchativu belongs to SL - Anura Dissanayake tells parilament

The government is acting in an irresponsible and careless manner in reacting to the ewawnr claims by some south Indian politicians with regards to the ownership of the Kachativu islands, JVP parlimentry group leader Anura Dissanayake said.

“Kachativu has always been a part of Sri Lanka as is eminent from historical texts. There is no question of it belonging to India,” MP Dissanayake said.

The JVP MP made these comments in a special statement to parliament this morning on the Kachativu issue.

A case is pending in the court in Tamil Nadu filed by former chief minister of the state Jaylalitha asking that the island be declared a part of India. The Tamil Nadu chief minister Karunanidi too has stated that Kachativu must be reclaimed by India the MP said.

He added the issue has come up after the recent killing of two Indian fishermen who have strayed into Sri Lankan waters.

The government must tell the parliament what it hopes to do about this and give serious thought to the issue.

Indian radar operators wounded in attack

Two Indian radar operators working for the Sri Lanka Air Force sustained injuries in the attack carried out by the LTTE on the Wanni security forces headquarters in Vavuniya, 'Tamilnet' reported.

Quoting army sources in Vavuniya, the website said the wounded Indian radar operators were airlifted to Colombo for further treatment.

155 soldiers died in terrorist attacks in August.

Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickremanayake says 155 military personnel were killed and 983 others wounded in terrorist attacks during August this year.

Moving a motion to extend the state of emergency by a further month, Mr. Wickremanayake told the House today (Sept. 09th) that four civilians also died and 50 others sustained injuries in these attacks.

The military should have the legal backing to wipe out terrorism, he said, adding that it was capturing territory in the north, to which a minority in the south was displaying its opposition.

War escalation leads to more human misery

The Inter-Agency Standing Committee’s Country Team has published a report on the ground situation in Northern Sri Lanka and sketched a very grim picture of the lives of internally displaced persons in Jaffna and the Wanni.

IAS is a consortium of international and national NGOs which functions with UN support.

Meanwhile the Defense authorities have asked all international NGO’s to withdraw their staff from the uncleared Wanni areas, on security reasons.

With air raids, mortar attacks, armed infiltrations and heavy military operations in these areas, the Northern security has also been kept on high alert.

Nevertheless following a court decision on the IDPs return to the High Security Zones, government had started registering IDPs who wish to return to their places of origin within the zone.

That apart the report notes that buffer zones South of the HSZ that has to be cleared of land mines for resettlement has not seen that work start as yet.

CB launches new index

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) yesterday introduced the Prosperity Index which, according to the CBSL, was launched to achieve many benefits. These benefits include the ability to measure the trickle down of benefits of the development to the provinces, evaluate the relative position of the provinces, identify opportunities and areas for development, increase prosperity in the districts and provinces, evaluate the competition amongst provinces for socio-economic resources, formulate macro socio-economic policies and establish targets to achieve prosperity.

Kudu Nuwan surrenders to police

Underworld figure Kudu Nuwan surrendered to the Kollupitiya police a short while ago together with his lawyer in relations to the rape of a girl recently.

All LTTE attackers killed

The military said that all the ten LTTE cadres, who came for the attack on the military base in Vavuniya were killed jointly by Army and the Air Force personnel.

Naxals meeting LTTE, ULFA for arms procurement

Left-wing extremists are spreading their presence to as many as 22 states with the maoists even approaching banned groups like LTTE and ULFA for arms procurement, an intelligence report has claimed.

The report, submitted to the Union Home Ministry, said maoists were aiming at "liberating" 35 per cent of country's territory by the end of next year, according to official sources.

Thirty-nine Left-wing extremists groups are operating in the country with underground sympathisers and armed cadre active in 15 states while overground supporters exist in seven states, it said.

Throwing light on the funding and arms procurement policy of naxals, the report said the underground groups are in touch with certain militant groups like ULFA in Assam and LTTE in Sri Lanka for procurement of arms and explosives.

The maoists have no presence only in six states -- Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, Sikkim, Goa and Himachal Pradesh, the report said.

"Having links with militant groups does not mean that they are colluding with them to carry out attacks. They are having links with the militant groups for procurement of arms," an official said.

Outlining the naxal strategy and goals, the report said the groups plan to possess 35 per cent of country's land as "liberated area" by the end of next year.

It also said while there are over 20,000 underground maoist activists in the country and nearly 50,000 overground members, more than lakh naxal sympathisers and supporters are working in various frontal organisations.

Recently, the Centre had given the nod for setting up of a 10,000-strong Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (COBRA) to tackle naxalism.

According to sources, the government is also formulating a plan to deploy specially-trained personnel in six states, mostly in the worst-affected areas.

The new force under the command of CRPF is likely to be deployed in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, Maharashtra, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, official sources said.

While worst-hit Chhattisgarh will get three battalions (nearly 3,000 personnel), Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh will get two each and Orissa, Maharashtra and Bihar will get one battalion each.

The sources said the deployment is being planned in such a manner that the force could also function easily in nearby states where the COBRA will not have a presence initially.

Australian intervention urged in Sri Lanka

The Australian government has been asked to intervene following an order by the Sri Lankan government for aid workers to leave the country's northern war zone.

Colombo says it can not guarantee the safety of aid workers as it launches an aggressive battle to oust the rebel Tamil Tigers.

The government is trying to avoid a repeat of the 2006 massacre of 17 local aid workers employed by a French aid agency.

The Australian Council for International Development has asked the Australian government to bring the conflicting Sri Lankan parties back to the negotiation table.

ACFID's executive director, Paul O'Callaghan, says the Australian government should also publicly urge the Sri Lankan government to ensure innocent civilians have access to humanitarian aid.

"From our perspective is that the humanitarian situation now for well over 150,000 people is extreme," he said.

"It's an extreme situation even before the decision yesterday by the government to exclude foreign aid workers."

Sri Lanka Says Rebel Aircraft Shot Down In Air Attack

The Sri Lankan government said it had shot down a Tamil Tiger aircraft Tuesday after the rebels launched a major land and air strike that left 21 people dead.

Troops repulsed the assault on the Vavuniya military base, 260 kilometers north of Colombo, the ministry said, adding jet fighters had attacked and destroyed a low-flying rebel plane.

If confirmed, it would be the first successful government strike against rebel aircraft.

The ministry said the Tamil Tigers used two planes to bomb the base while rebels on the ground tried to break in and attack security forces inside.

"The (rebel) aircraft has been shot down in the Mullaittivu skies while running away following a failed mission," the defense ministry said, referring to the rebel district where Tamil Tigers operate air fields.

It said 10 soldiers and an equal number of rebels were killed in ground battles at the Vavuniya camp while a policeman was also killed in the predawn raid.

The ministry statement said about 28 security personnel were also wounded in the attack.

There was no immediate comment from the Tamil Tigers who are known to operate about five Czech-built ZLin-143 aircraft smuggled into Sri Lanka in parts and reassembled.

Residents in Vavuniya said they saw antiaircraft fire illuminating the sky while loud blasts were also heard in the de facto frontier town.

"We heard the noise of a light aircraft," a resident said by telephone. " Antiaircraft guns of the military fired for about 20 to 30 minutes."

Pro-rebel Web sites said there were no indications of rebel aircraft being hit. Instead, the pro-Tiger Puthinam.com said five shops in a town in Mullaittivu district were hit by government air attacks Tuesday morning.

Two weeks ago, the rebels carried out an air strike on the northeastern port town of Trincomalee, targeting the navy. At least four people were killed and another 10 wounded in that attack.

In October last year, the Tamil Tigers started a coordinated land-and-air attack against a key government air base and damaged a large fleet of aircraft, including spy planes.

The latest air strike came as government forces stepped up aerial attacks against them inside their de facto state, just north of the military base that was attacked Tuesday morning.

The military has claimed the upper hand in the latest ground battles.

Troops are braced for a fierce battle as the military tries to capture the rebels' territory in the north after ejecting them from the east last July.

On Monday, the government asked the few local and international aid workers still remaining in the rebel-held north to leave immediately.

Tens of thousands of people have died since the Tamil Tigers began a campaign in 1972 to carve out a homeland for minority Tamils in the majority Sinhalese island's north and east.

IED used for explosion

Police now suspect an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) may have been used in the Pettah blast and not a grenade. Police also feel underworld activity and not terrorism is involved with the incident.

10 soldiers and equal number LTTE killed in fighting around Security Force complex in Vavuniya

At least 10 soldiers and an equal number of LTTE cadres were killed as the army and airforce foiled a major attack by the LTTE at the security forces headquarters Wanni and Air Force Base Vavuniya early this morning, the Defence Ministry said.

The fighting brokeout as two LTTE air crafts also dropped bombs closer to the runway at Vavuniya.

Subsequently one of the two crafts was destroyed by air force jets off Mullaitivu, the military said.

The LTTE also had fired artillery on the military complex killing another policeman while over 23 have been injured in the attacks.

Policeman killed 10 injured in artillery attack in Vavuniya

A policeman was killed an at least eight were injured in LTTE’s artillery attack on Vavuniya today morning, the military said.

The LTTE mounted an artillery attack on the security force complex in Vavuniya before two light air crafts came and dropped bombs at the air force complex, but one of the aircrafts escaping after the attack was brought down over Mullaitivu, Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara said.

He said the artillery attack was launched around 3.00 a.m. and the aircrafts had come an hour later.

An air force jet which had taken off from Katunayaka had destroyed the air craft over Mullaitivu, according to air force spokesman Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara.

Policeman killed 10 injured in artillery attack in Vavuniya

A policeman was killed an at least eight were injured in LTTE’s artillery attack on Vavuniya today morning, the military said.

The LTTE mounted an artillery attack on the security force complex in Vavuniya before two light air crafts came and dropped bombs at the air force complex, but one of the aircrafts escaping after the attack was brought down over Mullaitivu, Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara said.

He said the artillery attack was launched around 3.00 a.m. and the aircrafts had come an hour later.

An air force jet which had taken off from Katunayaka had destroyed the air craft over Mullaitivu, according to air force spokesman Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara.

Prabhakaran's family flee to South Africa?

Sources close to the LTTE say that LTTE supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran's wife Mathivathani and two of their children have fled to South Africa using the sea route. The couple's eldest daughter Dwaraka and the youngest son are said to have joined their mother in the voyage. Their eldest son Charles Anthony is said to have stayed back in the Wanni to help their father in military operational matters.

It is also learnt that Prabhakran has resisted sending the family to a European country as he did in 1987 during Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) operations against the LTTE. He is said to be concerned that they may fall foul to the authorities due to undue publicity.

In 1987 Pirabakaran sent his wife and three children to Sweden and they remained there until the IPKF left the island.

SLAF destroys a LTTE Air Craft

Sri Lanka Air Force destroyed a LTTE Aircraft in this morning when the LTTE attempted to attack SLAF Air base in Vauniya.

Sri Lanka port to modernise bunker fuel storage facility

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority plans to upgrade an aging bunker fuel storage facility it is taking over from a private firm, senior officials said.

The SLPA is getting ready to invite expressions of interest from companies by year’s end to replace the old pipelines and modernise the facility.

It aims to have a plan in place to replace the old pipelines by year’s end.

The pipelines leading from the storage tanks to the port are old and in urgent need of repair.

The SLPA is to take over the facility on September 10 from Lanka Marine Services (LMS), the biggest bunker supplier in Colombo port on a Supreme Court order.

The judgement, delivered in a case that challenged the privatisation of LMS and its acquisition by John Keells Holdings, called for the facility to be used by all licensed bunker suppliers to ensure more competition.

SLPA officials said it has already drawn up a set of interim tariffs for the facility’s use by competing suppliers.

The SLPA has held talks with all eight holders of valid bunker licenses who have formed an association of bunker suppliers to decide how to use the tanks and pipelines.

The SLPA’s approach will be to have cost-based tariff to encourage the facility’s use by suppliers and ensure greater competition in the supply of ship fuels in Colombo port. -

Rs. 15 mn to boost fruit cultivation

By Don Asoka Wijewardena
The Agriculture and Agrarian Services Ministry has allocated Rs.15 million to expand fruit cultivation for local consumption and export drive. The Ministry is hopeful of producing 1 million MT of fruits by 2010 which will be reach self-sufficiency in fruit consumption. The government and private sector lands utilized to cultivate small and medium-scale food crops will be used for fruit cultivation expansion and even tea, rubber and coconut lands will also be used to cultivate fruit.

Medical experts have recommended that the consumption of fresh fruits could create a healthy human society and each person’s diet must contain at least 112 grams of fruit, the Agriculture and Agrarian Services Ministry said.

The Advisor to Agriculture and Agrarian Services Ministry A.H.L.Somathilaka said that under the concept of Api-Wawamu Rata-Nagamu Programme the Agriculture Ministry had shouldered a heavy responsibility to increase the productivity of all food crops. The food crops that could yield better harvest for local consumption and export markets would be prioritized.

He said that the per capita consumption of fruit was 40 grams, but medical experts had recommended that each person should consume at least 112 grams of fruit in one’s diet. About 55 varieties of fruits could be found in Sri Lanka and of 55 kinds of fruits around 25 varieties could be considered as food crops.

Somathilaka pointed out that of 55 varieties of fruits the Ministry had selected 11 kinds of fruits as major and important fruit varieties for further expansion. Pineapple, mango, avocado, banana, jak, pomegranate, papaw, grape, mangostine, rabutan, oranges, mandarin, lemon would be cultivated in large-scale in order to reach self-sufficiency in fruits.



He said that the Ministry had identified a number of problems involved in the expansion of fruit cultivation. One problem was the limited number of both large-scale and medium-scale lands where only banana and pineapple could be cultivated successfully and the shortage of quality seedlings. The other reason was the production of fruits would be limited to only one season of the year. Waste, lack of modern technology in fruit storage, lack of transport facilities, weak organization of marketing facilities and lack of advanced distribution network for fruit had been identified as impediments.

Somathilaka outlined that the Ministry had drawn up a plan to utilize government and private sector land used for food crops cultivation and special attention would be focused to expand the seedlings farms across the country. In this programme all State and private sectors seeds and seedlings farms would be streamlined to increase the seed production.

He added that the Ministry had also decided to transfer modern technology to would-be fruit cultivators and awareness programmes on the use of modern technology for fruit cultivation would be provided to farmers and interested parties free of charge. The Ministry would encourage small and medium-scale fruit cultivators to set up fruit production factories and would consider to grant special subsidy to cultivators. The Ministry was also considering the provision of bank loans to fruit cultivators to improve their cultivations.

According to the Agriculture and Agrarian Services Ministry, a data bank comprising future plans and organizations in fruit cultivation, areas earmarked for cultivation, the estimated hectares allocated, production commencement and season, information on potential export markets will be introduced to facilitate the fruit cultivation programme.

Boy ‘sold’ by mother addicted to liquor, rescued

A 12-year-old boy who had been ill-treated by a middle-aged woman and her daughter for about one and half years has been rescued. They have been arrested along with the middleman who had helped them to procure the boy.

Acting on a tip-off, the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) found the boy employed as a domestic servant at Iluppudeniya in the Chilaw police area.

NCPA Chairman Jagath Wellawatte said that the victim’s mother had handed over the child to a woman at Illudeniya through a middleman. He said the mother was a liquor addict and the NCPA was investigating whether the boy’s three brothers, too, had been ill-treated. They live at Thoduwawa in the Mahawewa area.

Police spokesman: some ‘dogs’ have entered service

The National Police Commission (NPC) yesterday said that Police Headquarters needed to take tough action against sex maniacs in the department to ensure an already bad situation from getting worse.

A shocked K. C. Logeswaran, Secretary to the Commission yesterday told The Island that a report would be called from Police Headquarters on the alleged sexual assault on a teenage boy by M. G. Chandrasiri, Officer-in-Charge of Hakmana Police. He expressed shock and regret that a cohesive strategy hadn’t been adopted to discourage sex offenders even after the Officer-in-charge of Kalutara (North) Police Jakson was interdicted recently on a rape charge, pending a court inquiry. He is alleged to have raped a 14-year-old girl.

Logeswaran noted that the molestation of the teenager had taken place within the Hakmana police station premises. Nothing could have been worse than this, he said.

Police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekera yesterday said that the police wouldn’t shield the suspects. Gunasekera said that some dogs have entered the police. "I don’t agree with the assertion that the service has gone to the dogs," he told The Island, vowing to track down the Hakmana OIC. "He is still at large," he said, adding the Matara Police Division has been directed to apprehend him.

Gunasekera said that the police were also looking for Nuwan Udaya Gunatilleke, alias Kudu Nuwan wanted in connection with the recent rape of a girl, an employee of a karaoke bar, in the Kollupitiya police area. He, too, was at large, the spokesman said.



Child Development and Women’s Empowerment Sumeda Jayasena wasn’t available for comment. The Hakmana incident has come close on the heels of a government pledge to launch a comprehensive action programme to fight child abuse. This pledge was given at a press briefing held at the Information Department with the participation of Minister Jayasena and Jagath Wellawatte, Chairman of the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA).

Wellawatte has sought a meeting with IGP Jayantha Wickremaratne to discuss several issues. Responding to our queries, he told The Island yesterday emphasising the urgent necessity to speed up inquiries into cases of child abuses. "These cases shouldn’t be dragged on," he said, asserting the delay on the part of the system should be avoided.

Sri Lanka bars foreign aid workers from rebel area

The Sri Lankan government said Monday it is barring all foreign aid workers and many local staff from rebel-held areas in the north because of the raging civil war there.
The decision came as the government stepped up its offensive aimed at crushing the Tamil Tiger rebel group and capturing its de facto state after a quarter century of civil war.

With the fighting escalating, aid groups have expressed concern for the welfare of the tens of thousands of civilians who have fled their homes near the front lines in recent weeks and moved deeper into rebel territory.

Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said Monday the government decided to order all foreign aid workers from the territory under rebel control for their own protection.

"We can't assure the security of these people," Rajapaksa said. "We are taking precautions."

The impact the announcement will have on aid work in the impoverished and war-torn areas of the north was not immediately clear. The United Nations and the U.S. government declined to comment, and officials from international aid groups said they were working on a coordinated response.

The U.N. estimates that between 70,000 and 85,000 people have fled their homes because of the marked rise in fighting in recent weeks, bringing the total number of displaced civilians there to 160,000.

Aid workers say thousands are receiving food and shelter from international aid groups.

According to a notice sent to aid groups Monday, no foreign aid workers will be allowed to pass the Omanthai checkpoint that serves as the entry point to rebel territory. Foreigners already inside — as well as local workers who are not permanent residents of the area — must leave, according to the notice.

Aid groups were also ordered to remove their vehicles, equipment and machinery from rebel territory immediately.

Rajapaksa said he was trying to avoid a repeat of the 2006 massacre of 17 local aid workers for the French agency Action Against Hunger in the eastern town of Muttur that followed a fierce battle between troops and rebel fighters.

European monitors blamed security forces for those killings, while the government blamed the rebels.

"We don't want to get into a situation like that, so we are giving (the aid groups) adequate notice," Rajapaksa said.

Liberation operation continuous; 22 terrorists killed in clashes

Reports on yesterday's (Sept 7) battlefield incidents indicate 22 deaths and 21 casualties to LTTE and report 11 more as either killed or wounded. Also, 8 soldiers suffered injuries during the clashes.

In the Wanni theatre of operations, troops of Army Task Force 1 operating on the South of Kilinochchi front continued their quest to liberate Nachchikudha, strategic coastal village.

Troops attacked an LTTE bunker located in the Nachchikudha around 2.15 PM and claimed 2 terrorists were killed and 3 others wounded during the confrontation. Separately, troops attacked a group of terrorists in the same area around 3 PM and claimed 3 terrorists wounded.

In the Vannerikkulama area, troops engaged indirect fire on a terrorist movement around 7 PM. Forward deployed troops confirmed 4 terrorist were killed in the incident.

Meanwhile, Task Force 1 soldiers launched a limited operation in the Paraikandamadu area last evening in order to extend the existing Forward Defence. Two soldiers suffered injuries due to terror mortar fire. Monitored enemy radio transmission confirmed 4 terrorists killed in during the confrontation. Also, sniper deployed in the same area confirmed shooting down of one LTTE cadre around 4.50 PM.

On the North of Vavuniya front, troops of Task Force 2 had four separate confrontations with the terrorists in the Palamoddai area during the daytime. Troops confirmed 3 terrorists were killed and 4 others wounded during these incidents. Also, troops captured 4 military trenches. One soldier suffered injuries due to an IED (improvised explosive device) explosion around 2 PM.

Meanwhile, troops of Army 59 division continued their operations in the East of Mullaittivu front along the day in the Andankulama and North of Kiriibbanwewa areas.

Troops attacked terror defence line in the Andankulama area during morning hours and captured 18 LTTE bunkers. Monitored enemy radio transmission confirmed 4 terrorists were killed and 6 others wounded in this incident. Also, two soldiers suffered injuries .

In two separate confrontations reported in the same general area, troops claimed terrorists were wounded and 3 more were either killed or wounded.

In the general area North of Kiriibbanwewa, troops had several confrontations with the terrorists during the daytime and claimed 3 terrorists were killed and 8 others were either killed or wounded.

Meanwhile, troops engaged in mine clearing operations in the area removed 132 AP mines and 15 IED in the day's operations.

In the Jaffna theatre of battle troops carried out several attacks at LTTE bunkers located in the Muhamalai, Nagarkovil and Kilaly areas during the day. However, the exact damages caused to the enemy in these attacks were not known. One soldier suffered injuries due to an AP mine explosion in Muhamalai around 4.30 in the evening.

Liberation operation are being continued.

Triple air raids target LTTE gathering - Nachchikudha

Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets carried out three air raids targeting gatherings of LTTE reinforcement cadre in the North of Nachchikudha this afternoon (Sept 8), said Air Force spokesperson Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara .

He said, the raids were launched at 1.25 PM, 1.35 PM and 2.10 PM in support of advancing Task Force 1 troops on the Southern Kilinochchi front.

27 Indian youth arrested in Colombo for overstaying

Sri Lankan Immigration officials arrested a batch of 27 Indian youth in Colombo during the weekend for staying on though their visas have expired, a senior official said on Monday.

Sri Lanka's Immigration and Emigration assistant controller William Deivendrarajah said the Indians were sent to Sri Lanka allegedly by a foreign employment agent in India and were arrested at a lodge at Maradana in Colombo for overstaying in the country.

"During the interrogation it was alleged that a foreign employment agent in India, who had promised to send them to Dubai for employment, had sent them here to get their medical certificates done, claiming that the Dubai agency would not accept medical certificates from India," Deivendrarajah told IANS.

The arrested Indians were now being kept in the immigration detention centre at Mirihana, pending deportation.

"Of the 27 arrested, nine youth would be deported to India on Wednesday and another six would be deported next Tuesday. The remaining 12 Indians would be kept in the detention until they get their air tickets," Deivendrarajah said, adding that authorities here could not proceed with the investigation further as they were sent by an agent in India.

He said the Indian High Commission here has been informed about the arrests and the developments thereafter.

Get ready for the final battle, LTTE says to Vanni people

LTTE has informed the Vanni people to get ready for the final battle.

This is revealed by the discussion minutes of a recent discussion held between the UN officials, INGOs and NGOs.

LTTE which is now engaged in strengthening cadre, providing self defense training and re-enlisting the fighters who left the organization has asked the Vanni people through a letter to join the final battle.

LTTE has informed Vanni people to build bunkers in their houses before August 26.
Meanwhile, the UN agencies have stated in response to a government request to urge the Vanni civilians to leave LTTE-held territory, that they cannot advise them to vacate their homes.

UN Spokesman Gordon Weise says that UN officials are in Vanni to assure humanitarian relief to distressed people and not to advise them where to go.

He pointed out that urging people to vacate their homes with all of their belongings to go to an unknown place is a difficult task. He said that it is the task of the protagonists of war.

He stated that UN had no urgent plan to vacate people from the area and it was more important they are staying in Vanni at this moment the conflict is intensifying.

UNP's crucial Working Committee meeting on September 11

The report of the United National Party (UNP) reform committee is expected to be presented to the party Working Committee meting that is scheduled to be held on September 11. The Committee was appointed as a result of the internal struggle of a group of UNP MPs to amend the constitution of the party and to take it to the winning path.

UNP sources speculate that this Working Committee meeting will be politically crucial.

Meanwhile the group agitating for reforms is reportedly frustrated since the committee of seniors appointed to compile reform proposals has not met them after the initial meeting.


Committee Chairman Joseph Michael Fernando said that neither new proposals have been received by the committee nor any important discussion is underway. However, he said that the committee would meet the MPs tomorrow at the meeting of the UNP parliamentary group.

UNP General Secretary Thissa Aththanayaka said that the committee had given six opportunities to submit proposals. One group has proposed to reform the party constitution and to create new party positions. Another group took a moderate stand without proposing any change or reform. The third group has proposed certain reforms. However, the majority has not participated in the discussion so far.

Mr. Aththanayaka said that the committee report would only make some clarifications based on the above ideas and no recommendation would be made. The positions certain sections propose have been abolished constitutionally and Working Committee and party congress approval is needed to restore them, he said.

A MP of the UNP reformist group said to Lanka-e-News that they would take to streets to seek support to reform the UNP if the leadership would not agree to reforms.

Meanwhile, Mr. Rukman Senanayaka has reportedly refuted to assume the post of UNP Deputy Leader which was proposed by former Chairman of UNP Malick Samarawickrama and several others.

In another front a group of UNP Western Provincial Councilors have asked for an appointment from the reformist group for a discussion. The dialogue is to be take place soon.

In this context, the Working Committee meeting to be held on September 11 is expected to be very warm.

Berty unleashing more terror - Janaka Perera

Berty Premalal Dissanayake, who won power through violence and malpractice, and Duminda Dissanayake, his minister son, are continuing to target political opponents in the North Central Province, alleged provincial opposition leader Janaka Perera.

Speaking to the media in Anuradhapura today (Sept. 08th), Maj. Gen. Perera claimed many UNP activists and supporters have been victimized by the ruling politician.

Thugs of the chief minister attacked and injured a party candidate at Thambuttegama town yesterday, he said.

Speaking further, he said he had evidence to prove mass vote rigging in Anuradhapura during the recent provincial polls there.

This evidence will be placed before the media and legal action initiated against officials involved in the malpractices, Maj. Gen. Perera added.

PSC asked for probing CJ

The president has been asked in writing to appoint a Parliamentary Select Committee to probe Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva, says a Buddhist monk. Ven. Galagodatte Gnanasara Thera, Director of the National Observation Centre against Unethical Conversions, said the CJ had demeaned the Buddhist clergy in a recent ruling, and verdicts had been questionable in around 100 cases heard by him.

Speaking to the media at the Centre in Navala today (Sept. 08th), the prelate said observing a court proceeding is no taboo, but the CJ had ordered "send them (Buddhist clergy) out" from a hearing against a monk on a sound pollution charge.

Ven. Gnanasara Thera alleged the top prelates had been out of their mind and belittled Buddhist traditions when the CJ challenged the dignity of the clergy.

He noted that even in parliament, Buddhist monk MPs do not rise up when the mace is brought in or the speaker makes his appearance at the supreme legislature.

Ven. Gnanasara Thera said new sound pollution prevention laws prevented the clergy from carrying on with their traditional observances, and Ven. Pannala Pannaloka Thera is in remand as victim of one such instance.

Had the country's chief justice been a non-Buddhist, there would not have been a ruling against a monk in that manner, he said.

Ven. Gnanasara Thera vowed to press on with the struggle, saying that young monks would organize a march from Colombo to Kandy and a dhamma dialogue initiated towards the establishment of a separate court for the clergy and to unite patriotic forces.

SC orders teacher unions to start paper marking

The Supreme Court ordered teacher unions today (Sept. 08th) to begin the marking of answer script of G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination immediately.

Taking up a petition challenging the boycott by teachers, the SC also ordered the Education Secretary to grant a salary increment and formulate a promotion mechanism for teachers without delay.

Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva blamed the Salaries Commission for the situation, saying that it has placed the salaries of teachers and police constables on the same scale.

Increased connectivity from People's Bank

State banking giant People's Bank recently passed a milestone in bringing more than 400 banking outlets, including 200 of its branches and 218 of its service centers, under one linked system, a press release said. A part of the Bank's IT strategy to bring its entire network under one system, this expansion marks an important step in offering increased customer convenience in both financial decision-making and everyday banking. This system is backed by the technology of various communications service providers, an internationally-accepted core-banking package through Silverlake, and the IT expertise of the IT staff of People's Bank.
The online real time nature of this linkage will offer customers the opportunity to conduct their financial transactions from most parts of the island, through any of these connected service points. The days of having to visit one particular branch or service center are thus becoming outdated. Customers in rural areas will also undoubtedly find this a great convenience, in saving time, energy and money spent on visiting a branch or service center in another part of the country. This facility is further strengthened by the ATM network of People's Bank that is nearing 250 in number. While fast moving towards forming a single network of linked branches, People's Bank is also launching many innovative services.

Dr. D. N. D. Ramanayake, Head of IT at People's Bank stated that as the Bank with the largest branch and service center network of 638, People's Bank is indeed offering rich functionality to the masses by bringing all these service points under one linked system, making online real time banking a reality to most people in Sri Lanka. He went on to add, "We have already launched our palm top banking system, and plan to introduce SMS and internet banking in the near future as well. We plan to be a truly connected bank, taking the Bank to the doorsteps of our more than 10mn-strong customer base"

Mr. M. Wickramasinghe, Chief Executive Officer/General Manager, People's Bank said, "At People's Bank, we always hold customer convenience and increased levels of efficiency to be key concepts in all our innovations and value additions. A single linked system as this, is another way in which we have put the needs of the customer to the forefront." As the Bank of the aspiring people of Sri Lanka, it is a crucial undertaking to unite technology and banking, thus increasing the quality of products and services and supporting the people to achieve their goals.

Malaysia targets Lankan tourists

Taking advantage of easy air accessibility and close proximity, Malaysia is stepping up efforts to woo more Sri Lankan tourists to its shores.

An estimated 31,000 Sri Lankan tourists visited Malaysia last year, but optimistic Malaysian tourism promoters say the figure could multiply in the future, as more visitors from the island are keen to land in Kuala Lumpur (KL).

"There has been a lot of positive response. Tourism flow from Sri Lanka to Malaysia grew by 58.6 percent and until this July, 24,000 people had visited Malaysia.

"We have very good accessibility with 11 direct flights out of Colombo every week, so accessibility is not an issue," said P. Manoharan, Tourism Malaysia’s director for India, who led a 10-member delegation to Colombo, told Bernama.

Noting the busy traffic from Colombo to KL, Sri Lanka Airlines flies seven times to Malaysia every week, while Malaysia Airlines has four weekly flights. In addition, Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways have indirect flights connecting to KL.

Despite the prolonged civil war that has ravaged the island for more than two decades, more Sri Lankans are travelling abroad -- about 860,000 last year compared to 700,000 in 2005.

Malaysia is ready to offer a myriad of holiday packages to Sri Lanka, which Manoharan described as an emerging market in South Asia, thus making it the next important target after India, which sent about 400,000 visitors last year to Malaysia.

"We want to target the leisure market and the corporate sector. Sri Lankan travellers consider Malaysia a safe destination.

"We have a lot to offer from shopping, holiday destinations to our cuisine which is much similar to theirs, and we are competitively priced as well," he said.

Several leading Malaysian hoteliers and tour operators were in Colombo to promote the country's attractive destinations to the Sri Lankan travel industry.

Chathurika sued for alleged violation of film agreement

Popular actress Chathurika Peiries was issued summons by Colombo District Court in response to a case filed by a film production company claiming Rs.1.5 million as damages.

Sri Sai Baba Cine International situated at Palmyra Mawatha, Palmyra Court in Colombo-03, a film production company of India and Sri Lanka cited Ms. Peiries of Gemuni Mawatha, in Kotuwegoda at Rajagiriya as the defendant.

The plaintiff company said film producer and director N. S. Niranjan was producing a film and had entered into an agreement with Ms. Peiries to act in the film and participate in its dubbing but on April 28 she is alleged to have refused to attend the dubbing.

The plaintiff complained that according to the agreement the actress was obliged to complete a further seven days of shooting and two more days of dubbing, however she had demanded a further payment of Rs. 30,000 and a payment of Rs.25,000 a day to continue working on the film.

The plaintiff film company in its complaint said the actress had already been paid Rs.100,000 and because of her failure to comply with the agreement the release of the film had been delayed thereby causing losses to the value of Rs.1.5 million.

It said the film was scheduled to be released in July this year but because of the alleged conduct of the defendant the schedule which included the filming, dubbing and developing of the film in India was disturbed.

Sri Sai Baba Cine International asked court to order the actress to pay Rs.1.5 million as damages together with legal costs.

The Colombo District Court issued notice on Chathurika Peiries returnable on September 12.

Sabaragamuwa PC sessions start on Sept 11

The inaugural sessions of the newly elected Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council are to be held on September 11, Thursday with the participation of Chief Minister, Mahipala Herath.

The newly elected Minister of the Province Lalith Dissanayake said the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the Council would be elected on that day.

However, the date of the inaugural sessions of the North Central Province is yet to be decided as the opposition MPs have not been sworn-in yet.

North Central Province Governor, Karunaratne Divulgane said the date would be decided this week in consultation with the Chief Minister, Berty Premalal Dissanayake.

He said the future plans of the provincial council including the budget date would also be decided at this discussion.

Meanwhile, UNP sources said the newly elected members of both provinces would be sworn-in before Party Leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday at the party headquarters Siri Kotha.

A total of 29 members were elected from the UNP with 12 in the North Central Province and 17 from the Sabaragamuwa Province.

The other main opposition party representing the two councils, JVP said the dates for the swearing-in of its members have not been decided yet. JVP Sabaragamuwa Province Member, Chamira Koswatte said it was likely that they would be sworn-in this week.

Two members including Mr. Koswatte and Mahinda Jayasinghe were elected to the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council while former MP Wasantha Samarasinghe was elected to the North Central Province.

Minor political parties slam Dinesh

The Minor political parties yesterday slammed the decision to ban the parties which were not active in the political arena.

This decision was notified by Minister Dinesh Gunawardene the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Reforms in a public statement on Saturday.

Democratic Unity Alliance (DUA) Frontliner Roy Bogahawatte told the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna which Minister Gunawardene represent and the SLFP which has not contested at elections since 1989 should also be banned as they have not been active as a political party during the past few years.

He said DUA has been in the active politics and have been able to win two seats in the Colombo Municipal Council in the local government election of 2006. He said it was the people who could decide whether a political party was active or not. However, he said the Minister was correct in one sense as a large number of public funds was wasted when there were a large number of political parties.

He explained that it was public funds that were wasted on propaganda to promote parties and to print ballet papers and hand outs when there were a large number of political parties.

United Socialist Party Leader, Siritunga Jayasuriya also slammed the decision stating that it was a blow for democracy. He said the Minister had no right to make such a statement as a member of the government though he might have the right to do so as an individual.

He said what was expected from the Electoral Reform Committee Chairman was to implement the 17th Amendment of the Constitution which provided for an Independent Commission and not the kind of statement which he had made.

Democratic Left Front Leader, Vasudeva Nanayakkara also expressed similar sentiments stating that nothing should be concealed but keeping political parties just for the purposes such as to get extra polling agents during elections should be avoided while laws should also be brought in to prevent the political parties from giving their party name to be used by other parties.

He said United Socialist Party has been active politically and even contested Eastern Provincial Council.

Minister Gunawadene in his recent public statement mentioned that out of the 57 political parties only 21 of them were politically active.

He said the government would soon bring a law to ban all political parties which were dormant.

Journalist shot in Batti

Freelance journalist Radhika Devakumari was shot and injured in Batticaloa this evening. Police say she was shot near her house by unknown gunmen.

Underworld gang involved in Pettah blast, six injured: Brig Nanayakkara

The grenade explosion in which six persons were injured in Pettah was an incident involving underworld gang membes, militry spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara said.

He said the explosion had gone off under a car causing damage to the vehicle.

"We can ruleout that it was an incident involving the LTTE", he said.

Earlier residents said a loud sound was heard and ambulances and fire brigade was heard rushing to the area.

Eyewitnesses said that about 10 persons had been injured.

Blast at Gaspaha Junction

Nine persons were injured and three motor cars were damaged due to a minor blast occurred in Gaspaha junction , Colombo.Injured were admitted to the National Hospital.Hospital sources said two of them were critically injured due to the blast.According to the Police inspections are now on progress and roads of the area were closed.
Police said it may be a hand grenade , said the police.
Our sources said this blast was occurred opposite of a shop.

Blast at Gaspaha Junction

Blast at Gaspaha Junction a short while ago.This is minor blast , said the Police.
Nine persons were injured and admitted to the National Hospital.

THE LAST BATTLE AND NATIONALISM

by Jehan Perera


There is a growing opinion that the last battle is being fought in the north. It was the LTTE that popularized this usage of language. This was in 2004, well before the present phase of war. At that time the Ceasefire Agreement was in existence. But it was coming under increasing stress. The government of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe which had signed the agreement had been sacked by President Chandrika Kumaratunga and defeated in the general election that followed. Around this time the LTTE began a massive fund raising campaign internationally and recruitment drive locally. Their argument was that the ceasefire had brought no benefit to the Tamil people, and therefore they would fight the last battle to obtain independence.

The 2002 Ceasefire Agreement had given the LTTE the space to plan for war in conventional terms. The LTTE used that time to further transform its military structures, including a massive recruitment campaign. The CFA also ensured forward defence lines and demarcation of borders that separated government and LTTE controlled territory, and the legitimacy awarded by the peace process was used to build state-like structures with the support of expatriate and donor funds. Simultaneously this development reduced its flexibility to fight a guerrilla war. Further, the split in the LTTE with its Eastern Command, led by Colonel Karuna, weakened the organisation’s conventional strength.

The Asian tsunami of December 2004 led to a postponement of the last battle. The election of President Mahinda Rajapaksa in November 2005 on an anti-ceasefire platform, was facilitated by the LTTE by its imposed boycott of Tamil voters. With the new President in office, the open and visible preparation for the last battle commenced anew. The LTTE repeatedly provoked the new government within a month of President Rajapaksa’s election by ambushing government troops. They claimed that the attacks were by civilians, frustrated by the government’s lack of interest in taking the peace process forward. The LTTE prepared the ground for the last battle.

Ironically, it appears that the LTTE miscalculated its strength in relation to resolve of the government and the strength of the Sri Lankan state. The government forces have proved to be more capable in conventional warfare than the LTTE, with significantly more advanced firepower and much larger numbers. With no independent journalists in the field, the only sources of information are the media releases of the government and LTTE. But the weight of evidence is that the government has the upper hand. According to maps produced nearly one half of previously LTTE controlled territory in the north is now under government control. There has been speculation about strategic LTTE withdrawals, meant to lure in the government forces and overstretch them, as happened in previous phases of war. But every kilometer lost by the LTTE also brings the firepower of government artillery closer to key LTTE targets.


GOVERNMENT ADVANTAGES

The government forces have two major advantages over the LTTE in the present battle for the control over territory. The first is that the LTTE is being forced to fight like a conventional army in its defence of territory and its state-like structures, including military bases, towns and buildings. The government forces are superior in numbers and firepower to fight a conventional war. The government can draw on the 19 million strong population that is under its governance, whereas the LTTE will have less than half a million at the most. The second advantage that the government has is that it is being backed by international powers, both in terms of military equipment and surveillance, whereas the LTTE is finding its members on the run internationally leaving it to rely largely on its internal resources.

In the face of these major disadvantages to itself, the only way that the LTTE can hold the government at bay would be by unconventional means. Over the decades the LTTE has shown itself capable of springing surprises. Terrorist and suicide attacks in which the LTTE has specialized are meant to for surprise. The development of an air wing is another example of a development that caught the world by surprise, although this has had only limited effectiveness as a military tool. In addition the LTTE is also making the task of the government forces more difficult by using the civilian population as part of their defence strategy.

In recent weeks international humanitarian organizations have been reporting that the LTTE is not permitting civilians to leave the LTTE controlled areas. Even the family members of the local staff of international humanitarian organizations are being denied permission to leave. Instead, the entire population is being compelled to withdraw along with the LTTE ever deeper into the LTTE controlled territory. People are forced to live in temporary shelters or under trees. Repeated appeals by the UN and international humanitarian organisations to let the civilians leave the LTTE controlled areas, and to seek shelter in government controlled areas have been turned down or not responded to by the LTTE.

The appalling conditions of living of the civilian population are made much worse by the fact that the LTTE is compelling the people to join the combat. There are reports of brothers or sisters of wounded cadres now having to succeed them in the LTTE’s ranks. Civilians, including women and older people, are being given self-defence training and more members of each family are being pressed into semi-military service. If the government forces choose to attack LTTE targets with their long range artillery and air power, they risk making collateral attacks on the civilians.


CIVIL SOCIETY

The very term Last Battle suggests a fight to the finish regardless of the human costs. As the government and LTTE are in complete control of their respective war machines, there is little that either the international humanitarian community or local civil society can do to thwart them. Neither the government nor LTTE appear to believe in a political solution with the other. Civil society pleas for negotiations have gone unheeded, as each of the protagonists places its faith in its armed forces. But at the conclusion of the very costly battles for the north there will not be peace, even if more territory passes from one side to the other. This can be seen even today in the east. Peace is not only the absence of war, it is about creating the conditions for human rights and economic growth.

The government was able to militarily defeat the LTTE and retake the entirety of the territory in the east that the LTTE once controlled. The government has even held provincial elections in the east. However, any visitor to the east would not see any normalcy there, but a highly militarized environment in which there are soldiers all over. Periodically there are killings of soldiers, LTTE cadre and civilians. Tension is rife amongst the people and security forces. Even if the government succeeds in capturing the entirety of the north, and driving the remnants of the LTTE into the jungles, the instability and tension will continue.

The fact is that eradicating a symptom cannot end the cause of the problem. Even if the government were to defeat the LTTE on the battlefields of Sri Lanka, it will not be able to eradicate Tamil nationalism. The desire of Tamil people to enjoy equal rights and to have real decision making power in Sri Lanka is not limited to the LTTE-controlled Wanni. It exists in the same measure in other parts of the north and east, in Colombo and elsewhere in the country. In addition, there is a reservoir of Tamil nationalism in the Tamil expatriate community that lives abroad, that no amount of military solutions in Sri Lanka can ever hope to subdue. There is only one answer to Tamil nationalism and that is a just political solution.

The danger also exists that military victory will be seen in ethnic terms that will be alienating and not unifying. When Jaffna was retaken from the LTTE in 1995, it was seen as a crushing defeat for the LTTE from which they would not recover. At that time Jaffna was the administrative capital of the LTTE, apart from being the cultural capital of Tamil civilization on the island and the largest Tamil city. The manner in which President Chandrika Kumaratunga formally received a scroll in Parliament from Deputy Defence Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte informing her of the capture of Jaffna was like a replay of ancient history when the Sinhalese kings fought battles. This mistake must not be repeated. The symbols and agenda of the Sri Lankan state need to be multi ethnic and not mono ethnic if peace is to be the lasting outcome.

SC releases monk in sound pollution case

The Supreme Court today (Sept. 08th) ordered the release of the chief incumbent of Welikada Meditation Centre in Rajagiriya who was remanded last week after failing to appear in courts in a noise pollution case.

The release order came following a bail application made on behalf of the monk.

Controversy surrounded the case after the SC rejected a motion for bail for Ven. Pannala Pannaloka Thera on September 05th.

Over 50 Buddhist monks who were present when the SC took up the case, refused to rise up when the panel of judges led by Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva entered the courtroom.

This was noticed by the CJ, who said it was breach of tradition as a mark of respect for the judiciary.

Addressing the defendant's counsel Kalyananda Thiranagama, the CJ has told him to inform the monks to either rise up and show their respect or reenter the courtroom.

However, they had defied the request, and the CJ rejected the bail motion and adjourned the court until 15th September.

Gamini Wickremanayake of Environmental Foundation Pvt. Ltd had earlier informed the SC that the meditation centre was using loudspeakers throughout the night, disturbing area residents.

After Ven. Pannaloka Thera or his representative failed to respond to the summons issued, the SC directed Welikada Police to arrest and remand the Buddhist monk until September 15th.

Namal Rajapaksa advises police

Namal Rajapaksa, eldest son of the President, has advised the police to build a better a relationship with the public in order to prevent crime and to maintain law and order.

His advice came during an unannounced visit to the Kandy Headquarters Police yesterday afternoon (Sept. 07th).

The chairman of 'Tharunyata Hetak' organization also said that the police alone cannot ensure security and peace, and said cooperation of the people was essential.

Supreme Court says LMSL must move out by Sept. 10

The Supreme Court ordered Lanka Marine Services Ltd (LMSL) on Monday to vacate the oil tank facility in Colombo by Wednesday, September 10 and to deposit money in a bank to handle compensation for workers, court officials said. The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) was ordered to take possession of the property by Wednesday.

In an earlier ruling the court had given LMSL time till September 10 to vacate the premises but also gave the John Keells Holdings (JKH)-held bunkering unit an option of asking the SLPA whether further time was possible to move out. LMSL is vacating the 8-acre property near the port in line with a Supreme Court judgment in July that declared the LMSL privatisation, about six year ago, as illegal, irregular and improper.

LMSL has been seeking more time to quit the premises saying there are delays by workers to unload the oil from the tanks and taken away to another premises, and had asked for two months time till October to move out. On Monday when the case came up, the court ordered LMSL to vacate by Wednesday but gave the company time till September 12 to remove the oil. Any oil that remains after that will be be owned by the SLPA, the court decided.

The court also ordered that the company deposit a sum of money -- equivalent to the amount of money that was paid as compensation for some 300 workers retrenched by LMSL at the time the privatisation took place – to take care of compensation requirements of current workers. The Labour Commissioner is due to make order on the compensation to workers shortly, court was informed.

Colombo stocks flat; high retail activity expected tomorrow

Sri Lankan index strong shares such as John Keells Holdings (JKH) brought down the stock market on Monday but stock analysts said the next few days should see some revival in the market due to retail activity.

“JKH’s oil bunkering has been one of their main income earners. Still there does not seem to be a clear situation there (at LMSL) and this is the main reason why this share is falling,” Thakshila Hulangamuwa, Vice President Business Development Asha Phillips said. Some index heavyweights such as LIOC contributed the highest to the turnover with Rs 79 million and saw a 50-cent rise to close at Rs 27. Hulangamuwa said retailers are expected to get activated during the coming days. "They were quiet for too long," he added.

The All Share Index decreased by 3.67 points to 2,394.63 while the Milanka decreased by 11.17 points to 2,749.99 at stock market close. The turnover was at 152 million.

Welikada Businessman’s Assailants Arrested

Kottawa police arrested two army deserters and another in connection with the murder of businessman Palitha Kristy Jayathunga in Rajagiriya recently. The businessman was killed and dumped in his vehicle on August 28.

Air Force fighter jets pond terror defences - Nachchikudha

Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets pounded on an LTTE strong point and bunkers located in the North of Nachchikudha area this morning (Sept 8), said Air Force spokesperson Wing Commander Janka Nanayakkara.

Karunanidhi fires letter to Manmohan against Lankan navy

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi Sunday shot off a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to ensure the safety of Indian fishermen and request the Sri Lankan Navy to exercise constraint and refrain from shooting Indian fishermen.

End LTTE fundraising- Foreign Secretary tells Brussels

Foreign Secretary Dr. Palitha Kohona told officials in Brussels that at a time Sri Lanka is engaged in the arduous task of putting an end to terrorism in the north of the country, it was vital to also end the capacity of the LTTE and its front organizations to raise funds and engage in propaganda in Western countries.

Sri Lanka fails to qualify for final

Sri Lanka failed to qualify for the final of the International Rugby Sevens tournament in Kandy after losing to Korea (14-28) in the semi final this afternoon.

JVP urges minister the right to reply

The JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake has requested the Media Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa to give him an opportunity to reply the accusations levelled against him and his party by various people over the state media.

Sponsor arrested for Lankan maid's murder in Saudi

The Aziziyah District police have arrested the Saudi sponsor and his wife for the alleged murder of a Sri Lankan housemaid. The maid was found dead near her apartment prior to the police investigation, Arab News reported.

The Saudi sponsor and his wife reportedly staged-managed the crime to indicate that Kamalawathie Menike Wijetunge, 45, had committed suicide outside the apartment where she was working.

The police found Kamalawathie dead on the staircase with an empty Clorox bottle near her body. This gave the initial impression that she had drunk the disinfectant in a bid to commit suicide.

The postmortem report revealed that there was no disinfectant (liquid Clorox) in her body. Further investigations revealed black and blue marks on her body. The police then arrested the Saudi sponsor Mubarak Al-Dosary and his wife for the alleged murder.

Kamalawathie had come to the Kingdom in February last year to work for Al-Dosary. She had been working with the same sponsor till her death in December. She was married and came from a village in the Ampara district.

The Sri Lankan Embassy came to know of her death only in March when it made inquiries with the concerned authorities on a complaint made by her relatives that they had lost contact with the maid. Kamalawathie is the second Sri Lankan maid to have become a victim of abuse by local sponsors.

The other victim was Ihalagedarage Dayawathie, a Sri Lankan housemaid whose body was found in a desert in Al Jouf on Oct. 21 last year. Last week, her body was repatriated at the expense of Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) following police clearance. Hofuf police had arrested the Saudi sponsor Hamdan Ruwaishid and his wife Maryam bint Sadook for Daywathie's alleged murder.

The SLBFE received over 3,000 complaints last year from Sri Lankan women working as housemaids for breach of contract, harassment and unpaid or underpaid wages. Earlier this year, the Sri Lankan government had decreed a rise in pay for household workers by 15 percent in their work contracts, but the complaints of harassment and nonpayment of full dues have continued. Sri Lankan women workers send back a significant part of the $2.5 billion that Sri Lanka receives as remittances from overseas migrant workers. Remittances are a major foreign exchange earner for Sri Lanka.

A Sri Lankan diplomat at the Riyadh mission said that these are sporadic incidents. "Compared to the housemaid population in the Kingdom, these incidents constitute not even a fraction of the domestic work force," he stressed.

Sinhala and Tamil community holds a peaceful demo against the LTTE in Swiss

by Special Correspondent
Sri Lankan community in Europe made a peaceful demonstration against the LTTE and the Swiss government on Saturday at Waisenhausplatz in Bern-Switzerland, despite heavy rain. The Swiss - Sri Lankan community organizes the rally.
Spokesman of the organising committee of the Saturday’s demo Mr.Abeyasdinghe Gamage said around four hundred Tamils and Sinhala community in Italy, Germany, UK and Swiss gathered to Bern and hold their demonstration opposite the Parliament of Switzerland.
They asked the Swiss government to stop fund allocation for the allied organisations of the LTTE. Speaking to media through telephone he said Sri Lankan community wants peaceful environment in Sri Lanka and other countries.
The LTTE is a dangerous terrorists and always make violence against peace loving citizens.

Develop a New Approach to ENERGY – A Driver of Development

By Dakshitha Talgodapitiya
With public sector efforts alone not being sufficient anymore, recognizing the need to engage a broad range of actors and formulation of inclusive planning processes are needed to leverage Government and donor resources by mobilizing the private sector, civil society organizations and other stakeholders to work towards implementation of an affordable and sustainable energy development initiative.

Urgent action is needed to move beyond the ‘business-as-usual’ approach to energy. It is no longer sufficient to think of energy usage as being driven by economic development. The time has come to begin assessing the role of energy versus other inputs as a means of stimulating development.

Energy’s importance to development is not merely a matter of conjecture or wishful thinking. There is an empirical basis to the relationship between access to modern energy and development. Energy resources are not evenly distributed across the world nor are all of their different usages environmentally benign. Energy-importing countries face geopolitical, market, social and environmental forces that, in one or more ways, make securing adequate and affordable energy a challenge. This challenge is particularly important to countries such as Sri Lanka, where future energy demand is predicted to increase.

Without measures to increase the sustainability and availability of energy supplies through improved management and development of renewable energy resources, other financial shocks will continue to undermine our ability to service foreign debt and attract foreign investment. Having stated this, traditional commercial fuels are likely to remain the backbone of the countries’ energy infrastructure despite the decreasing costs of renewable energy.

Energy access issues are conspicuously absent, leaving important linkages with productivity and cross-sectoral applications unaddressed. Although energy is certainly important to the environmental agenda and to macroeconomic growth, it receives little attention within national development frameworks and reporting processes.

Productive uses of energy are particularly important to economic growth. Modern fuels and electricity, for example, help boost household income by providing lighting that extends livelihood activities beyond daylight hours. The “power-machines” generate valuable time savings, increase output and value additions, provide opportunities for employment, and diversify income sources. Energy is important in supporting productive activities of both the formal and informal sectors.

Although energy’s potential for catalyzing growth and development is unquestionable, current patterns of energy production and consumption are threatening the environment. The earth’s environment is intrinsically linked to how energy is supplied and consumed.

In most cases, environmental damage can be directly or indirectly mitigated by increasing energy efficiency, introducing modern technologies for energy production and use, substituting cleaner fuels for polluting fuels, and introducing renewable energy.

Given the complex and imperfect nature of energy markets, market forces alone cannot be expected to deliver energy services that are sustainable while meeting the needs of the most vulnerable communities. Cooperation and partnerships between sectors and regions are needed to enable effective use of energy services.

Defining commonly shared problems and channeling resources and expertise requires effective partnerships among governments, public entities, development agencies, civil society, and the private sector. Without such partnerships it is difficult to secure the financial capital, knowledge and technology necessary to expand energy services. It is therefore critical that all sectors, public and private alike, cooperate together to ensure that cleaner, more efficient energy systems, and the markets that are needed to sustain them, are available to the poor.

Partnerships are particularly important in helping countries mainstream energy into broader development strategies and frameworks. Energy is a cross-cutting issue by its very nature and thus requires participation from all development sectors in order to maximize its impact on development. To ensure that the poor benefit fully from greater access to energy, energy planning should be linked to development goals and priorities in other sectors.

Partnerships are also quite important for mobilizing financial resources to expand energy investments and services. Public financing from both domestic resources and official development assistance, combined with private entrepreneurship and investment, are needed to develop energy services for the poor. New forms of risk sharing between the private and the public sectors should be developed under public-private partnerships as a way to attract private sector resources to the area of sustainable energy. Official development assistance should be used strategically to build capacity, assess and prepare projects, and support the creation of an enabling policy environment.

Developing a new approach to energy, where energy services are acknowledged not just as a result of development, but as an actual driver of development, will be crucial if energy is to play a more prominent role in the nation’s development agenda.

[This writer is the CEO of the CCI, Sri Lanka. E-mail- cci@ccisrilanka.org]

SLA blocks NGO vehicles entry to Vanni-Tamil Net

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Oamanthai exit point to LTTE controlled region in Vanni on Friday blocked vehicles belonging to Non Governmental Organisations from passing through the exit point, according to NGO sources in Vavuniyaa town, the pro LTTE Website said .
The website said this move comes after SLA shells have begun targeting Ki'ilnochchi and the A9 Road.

Meanwhile, sources in LTTE controlled areas also said there were no NGO vehicles that arrived in Ki'linochchi on Friday. NGO vehicles passed through LTTE checkpost towards Vavuniyaa as usual, the sources further said.

Sirisena squabbles with Chamal to sell water

A cabinet paper presented to the cabinet by Minister of Irrigation and Water Management Chamal Rajapakse to market water and was approved has been opposed by Minister of Agricultural Development & Agrarian Services Development Maithripala Sirisena.

Minister Sirisena has presented a cabinet paper no. 55/2008 opposing the cabinet paper presented by Minister Rajapakse on 04.07.2008. Minister Sirisena has opposed the cabinet paper presented by Minister Rajapakse stating that water management affairs come under the purview of his ministry.

Several political parties and mass organizations have opposed the attempt of the government to market water resources in the island. Many patriotic organizations have indicated that the government has been attempting to sell water resources in the country.

SEC seeks AG’s advice on judgment

Amidst a flurry of activity post-LMSL, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) asked John Keells Holdings (JKH) to inform its shareholders on the financial impact of the Supreme Court judgment on its bunkering arm while seeking the advice from the Attorney General (AG) on how to comply with the court verdict.

Elsewhere, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption said its probe into the LMSL issue based on the Wijedasa Rajapaksa-led report of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) was progressing. “That probe has been on and will conclude soon,” its Chairman Justice Ameer Ismail said. The SEC in a statement on Thursday said it has asked JKH “to duly inform the investing public with regard to the financial impact to the company consequent to the judgment”.

It said information which is reasonably expected to have a material effect on market activity and the price of a listed security is required to be disclosed in a timely manner, accurately and completely in order to facilitate investors to make a considered investment decision with respect to listed securities. “The responsibility for such disclosures lie with the Board of Directors of the listed company and failure to provide such information may result in the commission of an offence in terms of the SEC Act.”
SEC officials said they expect a response from the AG on the complaince issue next week. In other developments, LMSL prepared to vacate the oil tank facility on Wednesday as the Sri Lanka Ports Authority finalised a joint arrangement with eight companies that have bunkering licences, including LMSL, for common use of the facility under an ‘Oil Bank’ operation.

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) came under further scrunity this week over the way it was handling the JKH/LMSL affair in the context of the company being a chamber member and JKH Chairman Susantha Ratnayake being the chamber’s Deputy Vice Chairman. At least two heads of well-known member-firms, who declined to be named, said the judgment must be respected. “The chamber must act otherwise it would be seen as a rich man’s club and old boys network,” one CEO said.

The chamber has said it was examining the judgment but any possible action was an internal matter and not for public dissemination. Mohan Mendis, an exporter, writing as a member of the public criticised the Colombo business community, and said: “Not even a brief statement has been forthcoming from a sector who would normally be very critical of violations of corporate governance and breaches in codes of ethics by government and in other quarters.” Meanwhile Treasury Secretary P.B. Jayasundera, severely criticised in the judgement, briefed the cabinet on the November budget and cost-cutting measures.

Torture in prison: True or false?

Commissioner General of Prisons, Maj. Gen. Vajira Wijegunawardena said the Prisons Department had initiated an inquiry into allegations that a woman who allegedly assaulted a jailor’s wife had been beaten up and ill treated while in remand custody.

“This is a very grave allegation and I am treating it with the seriousness it deserves. I am in the process of conducting an inquiry into this incident and if proven guilty, persons involved will be interdicted,” the Commissioner of Prisons said.

Investigations are being carried out following a complaint that a woman identified as G. G. Nandani Kumari was assaulted and ill-treated while in remand custody.

Nandani a resident of Kaikawila in Matale was arrested by officers attached to the Matale police station on June 27 following a private argument with a neighbour, Ms. R.M. Padmakumari. Mrs. Padmakumari is the wife of the OIC of the Matale remand prison.

Nandani claimed that she and her son were assaulted by Padmakumari. However, the latter admitted herself to the Rathtota hospital the same day alleging Nandani had cut and injured her with a knife.
Nandani later complained to the Kandy branch of the Human Rights Commission that she was ill treated, assaulted and intimidated by police officers and jailors of the prison.

The case had also been reported to the Secretary of the Jana Sansadaya. organization. Chithralal Perera of the Jana Sansadaya said the matter was referred to the IGP, Jayantha Wickramaratne.
“The case has been referred to the relevant authorities. We are awaiting a response. However, we will continue to campaign on behalf of the victim Nandani and will not stop until justice is achieved,” Mr. Perera said.

Housemaid returnee relates rape horror

A Sri Lankan woman employed as a housemaid in Kuwait and who was allegedly raped by a group of Bangladeshi men resulting in her getting pregnant, arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport yesterday.

Instead of being taken to the ‘Sahana Piyasa’ (relief centre) as was the usual procedure, she had been given her bus fare and sent home. She was among 40 Sri Lankan women who were reportedly ill treated while serving as housemaids in several West Asian countries and returned to the country yesterday.

The woman who wished to remain anonymous shared her harrowing story with The Sunday Times.
While she was on her way to a shop near the house she was employed, a group of Bangladeshi men had abducted her and taken her in a van to a distant house where she was held for two months, she said.

“Six of the men would rape me at random intervals. Finally the police arrived and rescued me. Now I am two months pregnant,” she said.

She said her first employer had tried to seduce her, and so she had run away to a foreign employment agency office. There she had been sent to another house, where she wasn’t paid for her work. She went back to the agency once again, and was sent to another house.

“I had to face trouble at that place too, so I complained to the Embassy, but the Embassy sent me back to the same place,” she said. It was during her stay at that house that the Bangladeshi men had abducted her.

After hearing her story, the police who rescued her arranged for her return to Sri Lanka.

Dean says journalists refused to show their IDs

The Dean’s office of the Medical Faculty of the University of Colombo has issued a statement, saying journalists had entered the faculty premises without permission, resulting in last week’s incident at the medical faculty hostel.

The press release from the Dean’s office claims that two unidentified persons were seen to be taking photographs of the hostel and its surroundings, and that they had refused to produce proof of identity, despite repeated requests from the sub-warden that they identify themselves, and that they had continued to take photographs.

The press release added that the unidentified persons had used abusive language and physically attacked the sub-warden, and that his immediate response was to ensure the security of the establishment, in line with University requirements for safety and vigilance.

Six months jail for female cop who robbed female cop

A woman constable, who stole an automated teller card (ATM) belonging to another female constable and withdrew cash, was sentenced to six months rigorous imprisonment, suspended for five years, by the Teldeniya Magistrate.

Magistrate H.S. Ponnaperuma also imposed a fine of Rs. 750 and warned the woman constable, identified as L. U. Kumudini Kumari, that if the fine was not paid, the jail term would be extended by three months.

Constable Kumari pleaded guilty and admitted that she used a People's Bank PET card belonging to another woman constable, with whom she shared a room at Uyanwatte Training College when they were sent to Kandy for Perahera duty. Police told court that Constable Kumari had withdrawn Rs. 120,000 on four occasions using the stolen card.

Police also arrested another woman police constable who accompanied constable Kumari to the ATM machine. She was later released as investigations showed that she did not know that constable Kumari was using a stolen ATM card.

The complainant, constable Dhammika, told police that upon realising that the ATM card which she had placed inside a diary had gone missing, she first called her home, only to be told it was not there. She then contacted the People's Bank’s Kandy branch and found out that someone had been withdrawing money from her account.

Acting on constable Dhammika’s complaint, Kandy’s Special Crimes Investigation Unit Chief Inspector M.A.M. Farouk and Inspector T.B. Wijekoon carried out investigations and arrested constable Kumari.

UN says it can’t advise LTTE on trapped civilians

By Leon Berenger
United Nations agencies in Sri Lanka have said they are unable to advise civilians to vacate LTTE-controlled areas despite a government request to this effect. Heavy fighting in the Wanni has forced thousands of civilians to move deeper into guerrilla-dominated areas.

“UN officials are in the area only to ensure humanitarian assistance to those in need,” UN spokesperson Gordon Weiss adding that they were not there to advise the people on which direction they should move.

“Any person has the freedom of movement, and they can move where and when they want in search of safety and assistance,” Mr. Weiss said. “It is difficult to persuade people to leave their homes, taking whatever they own and head for a place that will be alien to them,” he said.

Last week the Government called on the INGOs based in the Wanni to persuade the LTTE to allow civilians to leave for Government-controlled areas without imposing restrictions on them, following reports that the separatists were holding on to the people and using them as human shields.

“Convincing the civilians on the direction they should take is up to the relevant authorities or the parties to the conflict,” Mr. Weiss said. He confirmed that civilians were moving in large numbers deeper behind LTTE lines as the security forces continue to close in from several fronts.

Mr. Weiss said the UN agencies had no immediate plans for leaving the area, as their presence was more important at this juncture when the situation was becoming grave. However, he said they were apprehensive of the security situation.Meanwhile the Government is drawing up a contingency plan to accept civilians fleeing the LTTE areas.

“This however will take some time since several issues have to be looked into. We must see whether the routes have been fully demined before they could be declared safe passages,” Military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said.

However, he said that the displaced people could use the A-9 road and reach Omanthai and there on to other government-controlled areas where they would be given the fullest security and humanitarian assistance.

Last week a vehicle belonging to Forut, an INGO, was damaged as it got caught in an unexplained blast 20 kilometres south of Vavuniya while it was heading to the conflict zone in the Wanni. The driver of the vehicle sustained minor injuries in the incident.FORUT spokesperson Antoinette Ludowyk said that the incident had not changed their plans and that their humanitarian work was continuing in the area with the assistance of the authorities.

Six soldiers wounded in Kilinochchi

One Army soldier was wounded by a booby trap explosion in PAREIKANDAL area around 2.00pm yesterday (06).

Another Army soldier was wounded by an LTTE mortar attack in NACHCHIKUDA area around 3.45pm yesterday (06).

Two Army soldiers were wounded in a confrontation in VANNERIKULAM area around 05.00am yesterday (06).
One Army soldier was wounded by an LTTE small arms attack in VANNERIKULAM area around 11.45am yesterday (06).

Another Army soldier was wounded in a confrontation in VANNERIKULAM area around 08.30am yesterday (06).

Dyan as NOC chief?

A move is reportedly afoot to appoint Dyan Gomes, a close associate of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, as President of the National Olympic Committee.

The top NOC position falls vacant when the term of incumbent Hemasiri Fernando ends in September 2009.

Gomes is also closely associated with the President's brothers Basil and Gotabhaya, according to Temple Trees sources.

Air Force jets strike at LTTE recruit training center- Mullaittivu

Air Force fighter jets launched precision air strikes at an identified LTTE recruit training center located 3km West of Mankulama in Mullaittivu, Sunday(Sep 7) at 10.20a.m.

According to Air Force Spokesperson Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara, the air sorties were carried out successfully. LTTE is yet to release details of losses and will remain tight lip as usual defence observes stated.

One of the best-kept secrets in the east

The capital cities of paradise destinations, such as Sri Lanka, are not places where the visiting traveller yearning for quality sand, sea and sunshine time is inclined to hang around for too long.


But Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital and largest city, is a candidate to buck that trend, what with its bright mosaic of vibrant modern life fused with sedentary colonial charm. It is blessed with the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean seductively kissing the shores of its seaward flank and providing the perfect backdrop to soothe the senses and sap the tired soul.

To rewind the city’s historical lineage going back centuries, the Romans, Arabs and Chinese were very early visitors. But it was the comparatively later arrivals— the Portuguese, Dutch and British—who left lasting cultural, social and spiritual imprints that endure to this day.

And what picture-postcard contrasts are thrown up by cosmopolitan Colombo: north of the city centre is the bustling Fort business district with its mix-and-match architecture of Victorian (a hark back to when the country was part of the British Empire) and glass-and steel modernism; to the south the Galle Face Green where promenading or jogging (or even swimming or frolicking on the frothy waves of seawater below) is a delightful way of local life; and to the east the Pettah bazaar district where the lively sights and sounds are as sharp as the circulating aroma!

If you are interested in getting up close and personal with Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage, then Colombo is a good starting point. Several museums and art galleries bear eloquent testimony to this beautiful island’s rich historical past, and resonate with memories of a bygone era.

The Colombo National Museum, Sri Lanka’s premier museum, is a grand white-walled colonial building that houses many of the island’s historical treasures, such as 4000-year-old archaic palm-leaf manuscripts, rock sculptures from ancient provincial cities and the royal weapons of Sri Lankan kings.

Follow that with a visit to the Natural History Museum and the Dutch Period Museum, and you would have digested an almost complete dose of the island nation’s historical fare in one fell swoop.

Despite the negative vibes created in the past two decades as a result of the sectarian strife to the north of the country, Sri Lanka is noted for both its ethnic and religious diversity. These positive elements can be spotted in many parts of Colombo where marbled mosques, decorative Hindu temples, domed Buddhists temples and grand spiral churches sit in spiritual juxtaposition—and often on the same street corner.

Says Sri Lanka’s 'Mr Tourism'—chair Renton de Alwis of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority: “Colombo is, indeed, one of the best-kept secrets in the east and it’s time the world knew about it. It’s a destination with contrasts and that is what makes it so exciting.”

Best hotels
The city is also home to some of the best hotels in Sri Lanka, ranging from the Galadari. TransAsia, Hilton (which celebrated its 21st year in business in Colombo by lauding the first 21 babies born after the stroke of 2008 in the city’s leading maternity hospital) and Cinnamon Grand in the modern and luxurious five-star category, to the grandiose period charm of the 150-year-old Galle Face Hotel and Mount Lavinia Hotel.

Then there is the exciting new development of niche villas such as the Colombo House, Casa Colombo and the Tintagel (which has the distinction of being the former home of three of the country’s prime ministers) which provide delightful contracts to their five-star cousins. Of the three, Casa Colombo bills itself as “retro chic” and really lives up to that boast with a pink swimming pool!

Colombo also has attractive hand-made leather products, brass-ware and local crafts that can be found in native boutiques like the famed (thanks to TV’s “Lonely Planet”) Paradise Road, Barefoot Gallery and Lakmedura that are dotted around the metropolis.

Night life
The city is also known to come alive and kicking after dark as Sri Lankans love to party on any given night. One of the most popular nightspots is Tramps (yup, as in the legendary London nightspot) at the Galadari where you can sip innovative cocktails and dance the night away alongside Colombo’s beautiful people.

Incidentally, the 500-room Galadari —where the general manager is accomplished Sri Lankan hotelier Sampath Siriwardena with almost three decades of sterling experience with some of the best known global hotel brands—is tagged as the 'businessman’s home in Colombo'.

Enthuses Siriwardena: “To get a real taste of our famous Sri Lankan hospitality you have to experience it. Here at Galadari Hotel we have everything in place to offer our guests that experience like no other.”

Colombo is a key element in the tourism master plan of Renton de Alwis, regarded as one of the best tourism brains in Asia-Pacific, having also served in the 1990s as vice president (Asia) of the Pacific Asia Travel Association.

He explains: “The current challenge, as it has been in the past 30 years, is to manage tourism in a social-political environment that is not optimal to supporting tourism. Despite that Sri Lanka tourism has done extremely well to stay on top of things.

“Today the challenge is to set in place policies and strategies to manage tourism in a post peace scenario.

“Our current platform is as an ‘Earth Lung’ where we are working toward making Sri Lanka a carbon-clean destination to contribute to the global effort in mitigating climate change. We are taking a proactive leadership role in this area.”

Thousand being held indefinitely

By Franklin R. Satyapalan


The Government has decided to appoint a Commission of Inquiry to review the sentences of many thousands of prisoners serving long term jail sentences in a bid to release them, where possible, to ease heavy congestion in the country’s prisons, Justice Ministry sources said yesterday .

This move comes in the wake of prisons reaching breaking point with around a thousand condemned criminals being held indefinitely, the sources said.

The inordinate delay over the past several years, since 2004 in commuting death sentences to life imprisonment had led to these convicts being held indefinitely. This had further aggravated congestion in the prisons, the sources said.

Attempts to contact the Secretary to the Ministry of Justice Suhada K. Gamalath for comment were unsuccessful but when the Commissioner General of Prisons Maj. Gen. (Retd) Vajira Wijegunawardena was asked, he confirmed that he had a major problem in his hands in accommodating ‘long-termers’ and thousands of dangerous criminals

He said steps are being taken to review the sentences of over 1300 long term prisoners, some of whom had been in prison for 20 to 25 years and need to serve several more years at great cost to the Government.

He said that all his attempts to obtain more low lands whilst cultivating 300 acres in Anuradhapura by using these long term prisoners profitably in the Government’ss Api Wavamu Rata Nagamu program were in vain as he was badly short of staff for security for these prisoners.

Maj. Gen. Wijegunawardena said at present 48% of the 29,600 prisoners are convicts with 8% of those convicted being ‘long termers’.

"I am trying my best to at least recruit 1500 Prison officers by the end of this year. Otherwise, I won’t be able to cope with the congestion", he said.

It was only last month that a high powered Committee appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to examine the status of 147 prisoners condemned to death, but who continue to serve life terms without a specific period for their release recommended that 132 be released immediately in stages, the Commissioner General said.

He said that he had started a new concept called Bandanagaraya Gamata where prisoners will visit places of religious worship and address the younger generation on the evils of resorting to crime. They would make confessions and attempt to reform society from crime and criminal activities.

Military uncovered a suicide jacket and few arms in Padawiya

Security forces while engaged in clearing operations in general area Koonketiyawa, Padawiya have reportedly uncovered a suicide jacket and few other warlike items.

According to reports received, the forces found in the clearing operation a Suicide jacket ,eleven Claymore mines ,C-4 high explosives ,22 Anti personnel (AP) mines ,AP mine fuses ,Electrical detonators ,
Detonator code ,Remote control devices ,Firing devices ,Hand grenades ,one T-56 assault riffle and Few other ammunition rounds .

Policemen violating the Constitution by their inaction – UNP MP

Police officers are violating the Constitution, having taken a leaf from President Mahinda Rajapaksa,UNP MP Ranga Bandara alleged.

Addressing a news conference in Colombo last Friday, Bandara said that police inaction on complaints made by UNP candidates and their supporters during the North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council elections indicates that they have forgotten the oath taken to abide by the Constitution and their terms of employment.

"For example when UNP member Dr. Johnpulle’s house and dispensary in Anuradhapura were set on fire by UPFA goon squads a few days before the election, Senior DIG’s who were present at the scene looked the other way. This is not surprising because their Commander in Chief, President Rajapaksa himself is violating the Constitution by his various actions", Bandara further alleged.

ITU Sec. Gen. here to participate in GSMA Asia Pacific confab

Dr. Hamdoun Toure, Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), has arrived in Sri Lanka to participate at the 29th GSMA Asia Pacific Conference in Colombo. Dialog Telekom will host the conference theme ‘Beyond 21’, which coincides with the 21st anniversary of GSM.

Dr. Toure will deliver the keynote address at the welcome reception hosted by Dialog to coincide with the 21st Anniversary of GSM on 7 September. The GSMA Asia Pacific Conference will be inaugurated on 8 September, by Dr. Toure and Lalith Weeratunge, Secretary to the President of Sri Lanka and Chairman of the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka.

Dr. Hamadoun Toure took office as ITU Secretary-General in January 2007, and has been instrumental in transforming the organisation into an innovative unit geared to meet the challenges of the new global ICT environment. Prior to his appointment as the Secretary General of the ITU he has been progressively occupying strategic positions over the past 26 years in the technical, operational, marketing and management spheres.

Dr. Toure has played a pivotal role in building a global consensus on combating cybercrime. The creation of a multi-stackeholder coalition to protect children on-line is a result of his initiatives. Dr. Toure is a Knight of the National Order of Mali and an Officer of the National Order Of Cote d’lvoire.

He would arrived in Colombo on 6 September, his first visit to Sri Lanka, at the invitation of Priyantha Kariyapperuma, Director General of the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka.

Another shameless police cover up

By Shyamajith Fonseka

Police media spokesman, Ranjith Gunasekara said that under Section 1995/14 of the Evidence Ordinance video filming or taking photographs pertaining to court cases will in the future be prohibited. He emphasized that the Evidence Ordinance will be enacted to the full. This he said was in fairness to the parties concerned in court cases.
He made this statement with reference to the obstructions made by police to media personnel of a private television channel, who attempted to film an accident involving a vehicle owned by Minister P. Chandrasekaran. The incident had taken place in Dehiowita last week.

Fatal injuries

A three-wheeler driver died due to fatal injuries caused by the accident. The three-wheeler had collided head on with the minister’s luxury jeep. It is alleged that the jeep was traveling from Hatton to Colombo at high speed when it suddenly collided head on with the three wheeler near the Dehiowita junction. Meanwhile, security personnel and police officers had not permitted media correspondents to cover this incident. Media correspondents claimed that police officers did not allow them to take even a single picture of the incident. Meanwhile, Avissawella OIC, N. Attanayake had refused to give any information about the matter to the media saying he had already sent the case to the police headquarters.

Photographic evidence

However, IGP Jayantha Wickramaratne in his first press conference after assuming duties emphasized that photographic evidence would help police in the investigation of crimes and that the public could even use their mobile phones to take pictures of such incidents. In sharp contrast, the police media spokesman is contradicting the IGP’s comments.
However, this gives rise to serious doubts regarding criminal incidents because media coverage and video images would definitely highlight evidence and expose the culprits. The new rule, the media feels would be a direct bid to let off culprits involved in a crime. The media contend that even with so much of media exposure so many incidents have been swept under the carpet, and with the SSP’s new ruling it might just help thugs and nefarious elements to escape scot free.
Speaking to LAKBIMAnEWS police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekara said “there is nothing to hide; we have already arrested the driver. There is no need to sweep the case under the carpet --that is pointless”.
He also added, “apparently the media has no legal right to televise or take pictures of criminal incidents. This is illegal under the Section 1995/14 of the Evidence Act.” He emphasized that publicising such incidents would jeorpadise cases and influence judges and the jury one way or the other. Meanwhile, he said, any person is free to take photographs of incidents with their mobile phones but it is an offence if they are given to the media for publication. All unedited versions of the pictures and video clips should be handed over to the police so that it would enable them to deal with the crime. He further added: “We are planning to hold a special conference to educate the local media regarding the implementation of the Evidence Ordinance”.

Expressed displeasure

Meanwhile, five media organisations have expressed their displeasure over the police media spokesman’s statement regarding video-filming and capturing pictures of incidents that may lead to court cases. Media organisations were of the view that the Police media spokesman’s stance was a blatant violation of the people’s right to information, and that under these circumstances no incident could be photographed or video-filmed since it could lead to a court case in the future.
The five media organisations, Sri Lanka Working Journalists’ Association, Media Employees Trade Union Federation, Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum, Sri Lanka Tamil Journalists’ Association and Free Media Movement requested President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Minister of Defense and the Attorney General to clarify the government’s policy in this regard.
Speaking to LAKBIMAnEWS, President of the Sri Lanka Working Journalists’ Association, Sanath Balasuriya said, “This attempt is to cover up the failure of the police to deal with cases or to find the culprits. However, we are not aware of this new rule. All I can say is that this law is really unfair as far as media organisations are concerned. This is a means of preventing the public from knowing what really happened during an incident. The implementation of an obsolete section of the Evidence Ordinance is another joke perpetrated by the police. We are totally against this new rule”.

SLFP, JVP at loggerheads over MP

By Lasantha Weerakulasuriya

The SLFP and the JVP are once again at loggerheads over the appointment of JVP members to Parliament on the UPFA National List. The Government is ready to inform the JVP that the UPFA is unable to appoint a JVP member to the seat vacated by Wasantha Samarasinghe who resigned from Parliament to contest the recently concluded provincial council election in the North Central Province on the JVP ticket.
The JVP struck a deal with the SLFP in 2004 as a major partner in the coalition “UPFA”, but withdrew from it informing the SLFP and sat in the Opposition benches.
A senior Government Minister said that though the JVP had an understanding with the UPFA to appoint members in the event a member resigned, that agreement is no longer operative, as the JVP withdrew from the UPFA coalition. When contacted, JVP media spokesman Vijitha Herath said that the UPFA cannot take such a decision as the agreement signed between the two parties was still valid though they sat in the opposition. Herath said that so far the party has not decided as to who will fill the seat that has fallen vacant by Wasantha Samarasinghe’s resignation.. “We will inform the UPFA once we finalise the nominee”, he noted.

Sangha take on the judiciary

By Jayantha Sri Nissanka

A clash between the Maha Sangha and the Judiciary is expected to take a turn for the worse, as the Maha Sangha has planned many protests against judicial action that has been taken to remand Venerable Pannala Pannaloka thera on the sound pollution issue.
Speaking to LAKBIMAnEWS, Sharsrapathi Vitharandeniye Medhananda thera, convenor of the Buddhist National Organisa-tion said that the Maha Sangha will launch an islandwide ‘sabda pooja’ (noisy ritual) shortly. The date will be decided shortly, and the ‘sabda pooja’ will take place after 10 pm and continue till 6 am to challenge the police to arrest all the monks in the country and produce them in courts.
In addition, the Maha Sangha is expected to boycott any event where Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva participates.The Sangha fraternity has also decided that he will not be allowed to enter any temple, he noted. “There will be a series of actions with us as a Joint Buddhist Organisation, against the judicial decision taken to remand one of our priests”, Ven. Medhananda said.
“Our Mahanayakes have advised us that we need not even stand to attention when the national anthem is being played” he said. He argued that the highest authority in the country, the executive too respected the Maha Sangha and that they never stand even when the President arrives for any occasion.
“Members of the Maha Sangha do not stand even when the mace is being brought into Parliament before sessions, although this is the second highest authority in the country. If the Executive and Legislature respect us as we are the custodians of the country’s main religion, why should we stand where the Judiciary is concerned? Though we do not stand in courts due to our religious position, it does not mean that we disrespect the judiciary. Judges should understand this”, Ven. Medhananda Thera noted.
Meanwhile, in the event that there may be any untoward incidents in courts on September 15, sources said that two police buses will be kept on alert to meet any exigencies.

Sampath Bank under probe by TID, CB

By Paneetha Ameresekere

The Central Bank (CB) and the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) have launched two separate investigations on Sampath Bank with regard to two transactions totaling US$ 25 million made by/through it, informed sources said.

"One investigation is dealing with an alleged US$ 20 million investment made by Sampath on bonds issued by a Japanese investment bank which is being carried out by the CB and the other is in connection with an alleged US$ 5 million loan given to a party by Sampath which has been invested on a ship, the sources said. This transaction is being investigated by the TID.

They alleged that the head of the bank’s audit committee had been questioned by the CB in relation to the US$ 20 million investment on bonds, while an "AGM" and two officers under her had been questioned with regard to the US$ 5 million loan transaction.

They said that the bond investment was made during the period 2002/3, and the CB allegedly harboured fears whether the bank would regain its investment as the Japanese bank had allegedly sailed into rough weather a few years ago.

"But now that troubled bank is on an even keel, the question is whether Sampath, whilst regaining its capital investment, would also receive any interest payment due on those bonds, or whether the interest due would have to be written off," the sources said.

Sampath Bank Managing Director Anil Amarasuriya was not immediately available for comment.

Meanwhile, it’s learnt that the Bank’s Board will meet towards the end of this month to move forward in respect of their proposed rights issue that has run into a rough patch, as its market price is trading lower than its rights price due to the country’s current economic downturn.

The proposed rights issue in the present form is "1:4" at an issue price of Rs. 100 per share.

Sampath’s shares closed last week at Rs. 96 a share

Minister admits to Human Rights violations in Sri Lanka

A senior government minister has admitted to human rights violations taking place in the country.

Investment Development Minister, Prof. G.L. Pieris has reportedly told the BBC Sandeshaya that "the international community should understand the context in which these abuses are taking place."

Prof. Pieris, who is currently in London to promote investments, had reportedly told the media that as a government Sri Lanka has a duty to protect civilians from "explosions and such kind of incidents."

Prof. Pieris’ comment comes at a time Sri Lanka is preparing to submit its application to European Union before October 31 for a renewal of the GSP+ facility.

Prof. Peiris had also said, "The criteria are complex and multiple. Sri Lanka’s strongest elements have to do with moral and ethical standards which prevail in government factories. No child labour or sweat shops in Sri Lanka, the minister added, and the country has adhered to the standards with regard to the environment."

TNA waits green light to meet Indian PM

The TNA plans to meet Indian Premier Manmohan Singh in the near future, party sources said.

It was reported in the media that TNA Parliamentary Group Leader R. Sampanthan would visit India to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the course of last week.

The visit however has not been finalised, as the TNA is yet to get a response from India with regard to the programme.

Sampanthan said the meeting with Indian Prime Minister was still on the cards, but that a date for the meeting had not been finalised.

"The TNA is yet to get a response from India with regard to the days on which the delegation could meet the Indian Prime Minister," party sources said.

Sri Lanka air force helicopters attack rebel camp

Sri Lanka's air force launched a pre-dawn attack on a Tamil separatist naval camp in the embattled north Sunday, and infantry clashes elsewhere in the region killed eight rebels and three soldiers, the military said.

Helicopter gunships attacked the Sea Tigers camp in Kavitaramunai in the rebel stronghold of Pooneryn about 4:15 a.m. Sunday, said air force spokesman Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara. The Sea Tigers are the rebels' naval wing.

Pilots said the attack was a success but details of casualties were not immediately available, Nanayakkara said.

Meanwhile, ground battles Saturday along the front lines separating government-controlled areas from rebel-held territory left eight rebels and three soldiers dead, said military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara.

Clashes in Vavuniya killed five rebels and three soldiers while fighting in Welioya and Kilinochchi killed three rebels and wounded eight soldiers.


With communication all but cut with the northern areas, rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan could not be reached for comment.

Fighting has escalated on this Indian Ocean island in recent weeks with the government intensifying its campaign against the rebels' de facto state in the north, promising to crush them by the end of the year.

Independent verification of the fighting and casualties is difficult to obtain because most journalists are banned from the war zone. Both sides routinely exaggerate enemy casualties and underreport their own.

The rebels have been fighting for an independent state in the north and east since 1983, following decades of marginalization of ethnic Tamils by governments dominated by the Sinhalese majority. More than 70,000 people have been killed in the conflict.

Global Reinsurance Sector Rating Outlook Remains Stable

Fitch Ratings-London-02 September 2008: Fitch Ratings' rating Outlook on the global reinsurance sector remains Stable. The agency believes that individual companies' operating performance, capitalisation, and anticipated market conditions, despite their deterioration over the past year, will continue to support current ratings over the next 12-18 months.


Fitch believes that the non-life reinsurance sector will generate an underwriting profit in 2008, assuming "normal" catastrophe-related losses. Non-life reinsurers have generally maintained underwriting discipline. Given pressures such as declining investment income and capital flows out of the sector, Fitch believes this discipline is likely to be maintained over the next 12-18 months.


"While underwriting margins are likely to continue to erode over the near-term, unless there is a major catastrophe event, the sector will continue to generate reasonable returns on capital," says Mark E. Rouck, Senior Director in Fitch's Insurance rating group. "Fitch does not see a 'tipping point' in the foreseeable future at which reinsurers' operating performance and market conditions no longer support a Stable rating Outlook."


For life reinsurers, Fitch believes that market conditions and individual companies' performances will remain largely unchanged over the near-term. The agency has heightened concerns about life reinsurers' asset quality in the face of deteriorating credit and financial market conditions but these concerns do not appear significant enough to affect the rating outlook.


Nevertheless, market conditions in both life and non-life reinsurance are closer to those that would cause Fitch to revise its rating outlook to negative than they were at this time in 2007.


"The reinsurance sector is not emerging from the last twelve months completely unscathed," says David Stephenson, Director in Fitch's Insurance Rating Group. "Underwriting and investment conditions are clearly less favourable than they were a year ago, and capital cushions have been partially eroded. While Fitch does not expect the cyclical deterioration in market conditions to be deep or prolonged enough to change its Rating Outlook to Negative, the deterioration is closer to such conditions than it was a year ago."


For non-life reinsurers, conditions that could push the outlook to negative include deep and prolonged soft market conditions, especially if coupled with investment market or "shock" catastrophe-related losses. While the agency does not believe that projected market conditions over the next 12-18 months constitute a "deep and prolonged" soft market they are closer to such conditions than they were a year ago.


For life reinsurers, the outlook could change to negative if widespread declines in asset-quality or fundamental changes in factors affecting product demand, such as a significant change in regulatory reserving requirements or a dramatic increase in the use of substitute products, were expected. Although the agency does not believe that asset-quality will deteriorate to the point that it affects the rating outlook, asset-quality in the first half of 2008 has deteriorated.


Fitch's special report, entitled "2008-2009 Global Reinsurance Review and Outlook" is available on Fitch's website www.fitchratings.com.

Sri Lankan Leasing Firms Vulnerable to Economic Pressure

Fitch Ratings' rating Outlook on the global reinsurance sector remains Stable. The agency believes that individual companies' operating performance, capitalisation, and anticipated market conditions, despite their deterioration over the past year, will continue to support current ratings over the next 12-18 months.


Fitch believes that the non-life reinsurance sector will generate an underwriting profit in 2008, assuming "normal" catastrophe-related losses. Non-life reinsurers have generally maintained underwriting discipline. Given pressures such as declining investment income and capital flows out of the sector, Fitch believes this discipline is likely to be maintained over the next 12-18 months.


"While underwriting margins are likely to continue to erode over the near-term, unless there is a major catastrophe event, the sector will continue to generate reasonable returns on capital," says Mark E. Rouck, Senior Director in Fitch's Insurance rating group. "Fitch does not see a 'tipping point' in the foreseeable future at which reinsurers' operating performance and market conditions no longer support a Stable rating Outlook."


For life reinsurers, Fitch believes that market conditions and individual companies' performances will remain largely unchanged over the near-term. The agency has heightened concerns about life reinsurers' asset quality in the face of deteriorating credit and financial market conditions but these concerns do not appear significant enough to affect the rating outlook.


Nevertheless, market conditions in both life and non-life reinsurance are closer to those that would cause Fitch to revise its rating outlook to negative than they were at this time in 2007.


"The reinsurance sector is not emerging from the last twelve months completely unscathed," says David Stephenson, Director in Fitch's Insurance Rating Group. "Underwriting and investment conditions are clearly less favourable than they were a year ago, and capital cushions have been partially eroded. While Fitch does not expect the cyclical deterioration in market conditions to be deep or prolonged enough to change its Rating Outlook to Negative, the deterioration is closer to such conditions than it was a year ago."


For non-life reinsurers, conditions that could push the outlook to negative include deep and prolonged soft market conditions, especially if coupled with investment market or "shock" catastrophe-related losses. While the agency does not believe that projected market conditions over the next 12-18 months constitute a "deep and prolonged" soft market they are closer to such conditions than they were a year ago.


For life reinsurers, the outlook could change to negative if widespread declines in asset-quality or fundamental changes in factors affecting product demand, such as a significant change in regulatory reserving requirements or a dramatic increase in the use of substitute products, were expected. Although the agency does not believe that asset-quality will deteriorate to the point that it affects the rating outlook, asset-quality in the first half of 2008 has deteriorated.


Fitch's special report, entitled "2008-2009 Global Reinsurance Review and Outlook" is available on Fitch's website www.fitchratings.com.

Army Chief unveils 'War Heroes' memorial in Jaffna

Paying utmost tribute to the sacrifices made by the tri-forces personnel and Police in the call of duty, the Army Chief Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka unveiled the 'War Heroes' memorial at Palaly, during a field visit made to the peninsula this morning (Sep 6).

The Army Chief was accompanied by the Jaffna Security Forces Commander, Major General G.A Chandrasiri, Divisional Commanders of SLA, Palaly SLAF base Commanding Officer Wing Commander A.J Amarasinghe, Jaffna DIG W.S.U. Fernando and few other senior military officials.

Met Department forecasts more showers

More rainy days are expected with Colombo district being the most affected, said deputy director of the Meteorology Department S.R. Jayasekare.

“Although Colombo district will experience more rains Western, Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces and Galle, Matara districts too would have moderate showers especially during the mornings” he said.

Sri Lanka enters Rugby Sevens semis

Sri Lanka entered the Semi final of the International Rugby Sevens in Kandy after winning its third game in a row by beating Chinese Taipei 22-7

Law used to suppress Buddhist monks - JHU

A Non Government Organization named Environmental Foundation Ltd, has used the law of the country to suppress the Buddhist monks, Kalutara District parliamentarian of the Jathika Hela Urumaya, Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera said.

Ven. Rathana Thera was speaking on the crisis risen by the ban on loudspeakers at a press briefing held at the Mahaweli Centre yesterday (September 05th).

Despite the Supreme Court order on sound pollution, the JHU, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources or the Central Environment Authority has not issued such an Act, he added.

Speaking at the press briefing, JHU legal adviser and Central Environment Authority Chairman Udaya Gammanpila challenged those who say otherwise to present the number and the regulations of the Act.

Noting that the chief incumbent of the Rajagiriya Welikadawatta temple, Ven. Pannaloka Thera was remanded for not appearing in court for allegedly violating a Supreme Court order on sound pollution, Mr. Gammanpila condemned allegations that this monk was remanded in keeping with an Act of Parliament moved by the JHU.

Mentioning that the JHU held discussions with President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday, Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera said that the President greed to summon the All Party Conference which represents all political parties.

DBS quits “Nation” in dismay

A very reputed and respected journalist D.B.S. Jeyaraj, popular among English readers who was contributing a column to the “Nation” news paper has informed the new management of the Rivira Media Corporation that he is calling it quits with them on ethical issues.

“It was indeed pathetic to see Mr. Abeywardane referring to Mr. Nilanka Rajapakse frequently to determine the fate of news stories. When “Montage” editor and contributing writer to “The Nation” Frederica Jansz was issued a death threat, even a single column story about it was pulled out of the paper as instructed by Mr. Rajapakse. I have been observing with dismay the deterioration setting in at the newspaper. It is blatantly obvious that news and views regarded as anti – government are being blacked out or reduced in tone or content.” says Mr. Jeyaraj in his letter addressed to the new owners of the news paper.

In a very long and personalised letter informing his decision to quit, Mr. Jeyaraj likens the new management to that of government controlled Lake House, saying, “Mr. Alahakoon was relieved of all responsibilities and has been kicked upstairs”.

Mr. Jeyaraj also says the new management with Prasanna Wickramasuriya a relative of President Rajapaksa and a namesake Nilanka Rajapakse has turned the news paper into a hand out of news plants and it’s a case of using a combination of violence, intimidation and money power as used by the Tamil Tigers to convert institutions and individuals to their point of view

No military effect or value in Tamil Tigers' aerial attacks, says Defense Secretary

Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajaakse says that the LTTE's air attacks launched by two light weight aircrafts have no military effect or value.

He says that these attacks are launched to appease their support base and to appear still strong amidst continuous defeats.

He says that the Tigers have bombed six times so far and during that period Sri Lanka Air Force sorties have carried out around 6000 bombing raids. He further pointed out that Air Force drops bombs weighed from 250 Kg to 1000 Kg whilst LTTE can drop only two bombs weighing 30 Kg each at a time. Based on those facts, LTTE aerial attacks can be considered very small, he said.

Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse further points out that the Air Force carries out its operations with specific targets. But the LTTE had to drop its bomb without taking a target since the Air Force was constantly alert.

Between IPL and England tour, Sri Lanka cricket crisis deepen

Sri Lanka cricket's crisis over the timing of the England tour which clashes with the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) next year deepened Saturday with the interim administration and several key players in the team refusing to budge an inch from their positions.

Despite reports that Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) wanted to go ahead with the England tour with the best players, several key players in the team have stood their grounds on their commitments to play the IPL tournament, forcing an intervention from sports minister Gamini Lokuge.

A top SLC official said that the initiatives by the minister to hold "compromise talks" with the administrators and the players "is yet to provide a breakthrough".

"Efforts are being made to find a solution to this over the past two months. The players have completed two series after the crisis (Asia Cup tournament and the tour by India). But a solution is yet to be reached," the SLC official said Friday.

The sports minister has appointed SLC CEO Duleep Mendis to work out a solution.

When contacted, Mendis, said that he was hoping to meet the players next week to find a compromise, but stressed that there was no way that Sri Lanka could send a second-level team for the proposed England tour.

"We have to send the best team for the England tour. I will have to come out with suggestions on how best we could solve this problem," Mendis told IANS Saturday.

Sri Lanka are due to play two Tests and three one-dayers in England next May. The time table is clashing with the 2009 IPL tournament.

The players argue that the IPL contracts had been signed long before the idea of a tour to England was mooted and want to go ahead with their initial commitments.

Skipper Mahela Jayawardane, Muttiah Muralitharan, Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Pervez Mahroof, Thilakaratne Dishan and Dilhara Fernando are some of the key players who have signed three-year contracts with the IPL. The 38-year-old left-handed Sanath Jayasuriya is the third highest paid player of the IPL.

Sri Lanka's new 23-year old spin sensation, Ajantha Mendis, has also signed up with the Kolkata Knight Riders for three years.

Three arrested in Sri Lanka hill country for sending money to LTTE

Sri Lanka Police today arrested three persons who were involved in a large number of thefts and lootings in Nuwara Eliya and sending the money to the LTTE in North.

“Three suspects were arrested by the Nuwara Eliya police recently for allegedly looting jewelries and money worth over 3,043,000 rupees,” the Defence Ministry said today.

It was revealed by the police that these suspects, two tamils and a Sinhala youth have engaged in large-scale theft and looting in the area and sending the money to the LTTE organization raising their funds.

They have also taken steps to organize and promulgate the LTTE activities in the estate sector keeping close acquaintances with the LTTE intelligence leaders in the uncleared areas, the Ministry said.

Government to issue a special identity card to the residents of Jaffna peninsula

Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara recently revealed that the Government will be issuing a new identity card to the residents of Jaffna Peninsula in northern Sri Lanka.

According to Brigadier Nanayakkara, the new identity card, carrying a recent photograph of the person along with many other essential details, is expected to reduce the inconvenience made to the Jaffna residents at the security checkpoints.

It is reported that this special identity card will be issued to all persons above the age of 15 years and is expected to cover the entire population in the Jaffna peninsula within next 5 months.

Securities Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka asks John Keells for disclosure in price sensitive information related to Lanka Marine Services

Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) of Sri Lanka has asked John Keells Holdings (JKH) to make timely disclosures after a court order on its bunkering unit, Lanka Marine Services (LMS), seeking legal advice on what it could do to help implement the order.

SEC said in a statement that JKH had to disclose material information relating to the deal, and failure would result in an offence.

Sri Lanka has a disclosure regulation framework where the SEC relies on timely release of pertinent information for investors to make decisions, rather than going to the merits of companies and their performance.

Following the Supreme Court decision that ordered the LMS to handover its bunker farm land to Sri Lanka Port Authority, the Sri Lankan authorities have asked LMS to pay 750 million rupees in back taxes.

Kurunegala awaits Rural Industrial Carnival this month

The Maligapitiya grounds in Kurunegala would be flooded with exhibitors and onlookers from September 18 to 21, as the Wayamba Rural Industrial Carnival will take place here.

The Ministry of Rural Industries and Self Employment Promotion in association with the National Crafts Council, Industrial Development Board (IDB) and other affiliated groups are organizing this four day expo.

Mr Manamendra, Deputy Secretary, Rural Industries and Self Employment Promotion Ministry, informed Fibre2fashion, “The main aim of this commercial exhibition is to promote marketing facilities for industries related to handicraft and textile. Along with these two sectors we are also planning to promote the leather industry of the nation.”

“The small, medium and large scale rural enterprises will be participating here. Nearly 160 stalls will be put up at the Maligapitiya grounds for the participants for displaying their products.”

This carnival is seen as an excellent opportunity by the entrepreneurs, for building new contacts and further boost their business.

Firstever Indo-Lankan mountaineering expedition flagged off

New Delhi, Sep 5 : To enhance cooperation with the Sri Lankan Army and keeping with its tradition of scaling new heights over newer regions, the Indian Army today set on a mountaineering expedition to Mount Stok Kangri in Leh region in Jammu and Kashmir with the neighbouring island nation.


Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen S P S Dhillon flagged off the first ever Indo-Sri Lankan joint mountaineering expedition marking a new chapter in the mushrooming army to army relations, according to the Defence Ministry here.

At 20,000 feet, Mount Stok Kangri is part of Stok Kangri massif, which is nearly 20 km South-East of Leh. It belongs to one of the most beautiful peaks in the Ladakh region of India, and is the highest peak among the known peaks in the Stok Kangri massif.

Apart from being technically challenging, it offers a spectacular perspective of the central expanse of the Indus Valley, which also has several other renowned peaks like Gulap Kangri (19729 ft), Matho West (19650 ft) and Kantak (17410 ft).

The expedition team led by Lt Col I S Thapa, SM, VSM, includes four officers, three JCOs and 12 others, besides eight men, including four officers of the Sri Lankan Army.

Tiger proxies evicted from UNESCO parley

Three members of a pro-LTTE Non Governmental Organisation were evicted from the 61st Annual UNESCO Conference of DPI/NGO at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris yesterday.

Three members of the Tamil Centre for Human Rights (TCHR) have registered as participants submitting false information to the Department of Public Information of UNESCO and the DPI/NGO Conference Secretariat in Paris and New York.

According to reliable sources, UNESCO conference authorities have cancelled the registration of the three members - S.V.Kirubahar, Director TCHR, France, Mrs Deirdre McConnel Kirubahara, Director TCHR, UK and J. Jean-Marie, Program Officer, TCHR, Paris.

While the registration batches of the first two were removed and they were evicted from the UNESCO conference hall immediately, Jean-Marie could not be found at the conference venue until the day's proceedings were over.

The source revealed that the action to bar TCHR representatives from the conference was taken after the Sri Lanka Embassy lodged a strong protest to UNESCO DPI/NGO regarding enrollment of well known supporters of the LTTE at an international conference organised by UNESCO.

Officials have expressed surprise over inclusion of TCHR among the recognised international NGOs when the United Nations had refused to grant affiliation to TCHR since 2000 because of the TCHR's close links with the LTTE.

They believe that the TCHR has provided false information to UNESCO DPI/NGO Conference authorities in New York and Paris to register for the Conference.

More than 2000 representatives from over 300 NGOs are attending the three day conference to mark the 60th anniversary of the UN Human Rights Charter.

The conference was declared open by UNESCO Director General Koichiiro Matsura at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris on September 3.

When the Conference Chairperson Ms Shamina de Gonzago decided to cancel the registration of TCHR representatives on September 5 afternoon, the delegates were attending eight different working groups and it was difficult four the UNESCO security personnel to trace the TCHR delegation.

Subsequently they managed to find TCHR General Secretary Kirubahara and his wife, Director, TCHR UK Deirdre McConnel Kirubaharn and they were evicted after removing their conference badges.

Mr Jean-Marie was not to be found at that time, but the security officers had prevented him from entering the conference hall for the following session.

Several NGO representatives expressed displeasure at the attempt made by LTTE supporters to use a reputed conference forum for terrorist disinformation. They expressed gratitude to conference authorities from timely action.

Catholic Pastor arrested while smuggling GPSs and I-com sets- Katunayake

The Bandaranaike International Air Port (BIA) custom officials Friday (Sep 5), arrested a Catholic Pastor while attempting to smuggle inland, 30 odd communication equipment and other accessories.

According to the Air Port officials, the pastor was arrested on precise intelligence information received, who had brought in 40 Gamin type GPSs with catalogues and 30 other I-com equipment with antennas and accessories inside two speakers.

The equipment were neatly stuffed inside the speakers BIA customs said, adding that LTTE may be well behind this, as the organization is well known in manipulating 'humanitarian' faces to defy the world.

Further investigations are been continued by the customs and Police, the sources said.

Air Force troops confront LTTE in Peraru jungle - Trincomalee

Air Force troops on foot patrol in the Peraru jungles, Trincomalee, confronted with a group of terrorists, successfully thwarting the LTTE attempt to infiltrate the military defences, Saturday (Sep 6) at around 7.30 a.m.

Subsequently, troops have uncovered a T-56 assault riffle, 2 claymore mines, 10 electrical detonators and a large stock of medical items, Air Force Spokesperson Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said.

It is believed the terrorists have suffered serious casualties during the confrontation, he said adding that search operations are been continued in the area.

Earlier, the SLAF troops while on patrol in general area Kandalkadhu have reportedly found 2 T-56 assault riffles, the Spokesperson further said.

MI-24 helicopter gun-ships launch air assaults at LTTE bunker positions- Welioya

SLAF MI-24 helicopter gunships, launched precision air assaults at identified LTTE bunker positions located at Tannimurippukulama, North of Welioya, on Saturday 6th of September at around 9.30 a.m.

According to Air Force Spokesperson Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara, the air assault was made in support of the advancing troops of the 59 Division.

Bonanza for PC members too next year

The provincial Councilors are in line to get a pay hike early next year following the expected salary increase to judicial officers in the budget 2009, political sources said. This will follow a salary and allowance increase to the Parliamentarians whose salary scales are on par with those of the judicial officials.

Pavement vendors to be removed

Police say they will take measures to remove pavement vendors from the city as they pose both a security threat as well as a hindrance to pavement users.

Suspect arrested in Wattala

A suspect with more than 75 kilos of LED was arrested in Wattala last night. Police suspect the man may have links with the LTTE.

Oxfam and FCCISL in joint mission

A MoU was signed between the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL), and Oxfam GB, yesterday with an aim to enhance the positive impact of CSR on poverty.
The initiative undertaken by FCCISL and Oxfam GB will explore how to incorporate Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives more strategically into Sri Lanka’s private sector. It will undertake a mapping of the current scale, scope and effectiveness of CSR, and will provide practical guidance for the private sector on how to imbed CSR into core business practices. The stakeholders in the government, private sector and civil society will be involved in developing a shared definition of CSR, and draw on strategies to galvanise a more strategic uptake of CSR as a poverty reduction tool, at business and policy levels.

A key focus will be on building the capacity of FCCISL as a national resource so it would be able to provide the private sector with advice and support on developing and implementing coherent strategies that imbeds CSR into core business, which can be an important means to help lift people out of poverty.

CSR does not have a standard definition in Sri Lanka, or even a fully recognised set of specific criteria, but is an evolving term with a range of usages and meanings, depending on the context, interpretation and commitment of the company involved. However, CSR can contribute to sustainable development and poverty reduction in two ways: in core business operations (through fair hiring practices, anti corruption measures and ethical supply chains); and their social investment activities (by addressing the root causes of poverty).

Dialog Boosts Uplink Speeds To 5.4 Mbps

Trial Launch Of Latest 3.75G HSPA Technology At 29th GSM Asia Pacific Conference Dialog Telekom, Sri Lanka’s leading mobile communications service provider, will launch its 3.75G High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) service on a trial basis, at the 29th GSM Asia Pacific Conference in Colombo on Monday. With 3.75G, customers could experience uplink speeds of up to 5.4Mbps, and the trial run would also feature at Dialog Future World.
The service supplements download speeds of up to 14.4 Mbps, empowering Dialog customers with mobile data speeds that are unparalleled. The enhanced upload speed will be available in selected areas, and extend to all 3G coverage areas with network upgrades over the next few months. In addition, Dialog also introduced the latest mobile broadband terminals to the Sri Lankan market, which are capable of delivering downlink speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps. This includes a wide portfolio of Vodafone mobile broadband terminals such as the E220, E800, E172, and the E270 priced at low as Rs 5,490 with an unlimited mobile broadband package.

Dialog’s 3rd Generation network provides the widest 3G coverage in Sri Lanka with a 500 base station infrastructure footprint spanning Greater Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Nuwara Eliya, Moneragala, Ampara, Trincomalee, Jaffna and many other towns in Sri Lanka.

Dialog Telekom has placed Sri Lanka’s mobile sector well ahead of regional counterparts with the launch of its 3G service in August 2006. Committed to revolutionising the mobile telephony landscape in Sri Lanka, Dialog 3G supports a range of cutting edge services for enterprise as well as consumer segments including but not limited to Mobile TV, Mobile Video Portals, multi party video conferencing, mobile video surveillance and 3rd Generation Roaming across 40 countries and 70 operators.

First ever Leo Foundations Asia Pacific workshop empowers tomorrow’s leaders

The participants and faculty at Leo Foundations 2008 – Sri Lanka hailed the inaugural Asia Pacific Leo Foundations workshop as a rewarding and invaluable programme that developed their skills in the marketing communications industry. Hosted by Leo Burnett Solutions Inc. (LBSI), the Sri Lankan office of internationally acclaimed advertising agency network Leo Burnett Worldwide, the programme brought together 28 young advertising professionals from across the Asia Pacific region for an intensive four day workshop.
The participants at Leo Foundations 2008, comprising young professionals from a cross section of disciplines across the Burnett network, described the workshop as an intensive, engaging and highly productive programme. The group felt empowered by their learnings, as they were able to dive deep into the company’s HumanKind philosophy. They also found the learnings about the total marketing communications process to be an insightful learning.

The Leo Foundations programme was initiated to develop tomorrow’s leaders, and was hosted by LBSI with Linda Locke, Chief Executive Officer of Godmother Consulting Pte Ltd as the course director. The participants were taken through the complete cycle of the communications industry, starting with understanding the client’s issues and marketing objectives, and the positioning of a brand to gaining powerful insights and writing great briefs were included in the programme. They also learnt how to brainstorm ideas and convert them into great communications, as well as to evaluate it and present it.

The faculty comprised John Borzi of 6 Degrees, who himself is a former Burnetter, along with a team of Senior Burnetters from the region, including Richard Dale (Engagement Planning Director, Leo Burnett – Worldwide), Mark Blears (Regional Brand Director, Leo Burnett – APMEA), and Trevor Kennedy (Executive Creative Director, Leo Burnett – Sri Lanka). This experienced and renowned team provided the participants at the inaugural Leo Foundations programme a grounding on the core elements of the advertising business in a 21st century context. Michael Wood (Chairman, Leo Burnett – Greater China) and Michelle Kristula-Green (President, Leo Burnett – Asia Pacific) attended the final sessions, and played the role of client to critique the presentations made by the 6 teams.

Commenting on the first ever Leo Foundations programme in Sri Lanka, LBSI’s Managing Director, Ranil de Silva said, “I am glad that this programme was such a success, and that the Burnetters who gathered in our beautiful island were able to leave with many rich learnings. The talented faculty shared the journey we experience in our daily lives. More importantly, the participants had the opportunity to network – they were able to interact with many of their counterparts from across the region. I am confident that many new friendships and professional relationships were established during the workshop.”

Also speaking about the programme, Michelle Kristula Green, President – Leo Burnett Asia Pacific, said, “This intensive 4 day programme was tailor-made especially for Leo Foundations 2008 to cater to the learning needs of the young Burnetters from the Asia Pacific region. I am confident that the knowledge and experience that the participants take back with them will be an invaluable asset to their careers.”

Leo Foundations 2008-Sri Lanka was held from August 25 – 29, 2008, at Jetwing’s “The Beach” in Negombo, and during the programme, LBSI played host to 28 Burnetters from South Korea, China, Thailand, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Australia, Phillipines and Sri Lanka. The course structure and contents was rooted in the newly launched “HumanKind” purpose of the global Leo Burnett company.

Sustainability focus wins Hayleys six National Ag-Biz awards

A catalytic role in helping Sri Lankan farmers improve yields and quality of both agri crops and livestock has enabled the agriculture sector companies of the Hayleys Group to sweep the boards at the annual National Agribusiness Council Awards 2008 for a third successive year.
Hayleys Agro Products Limited (HAPL) and HJS Condiments Ltd., and Sunfrost Limited won three Gold awards, one Silver and two Bronze awards at this year’s event, in yet another acknowledgement by their peers of the impact these companies have had on agriculture through milestone contributions to enhancing sustainability in the sector.

Hayleys Agro Products received two Golds, one for inputs in Agrochemicals/Fertiliser and one for Veterinary Care products, a Silver for Services and a Bronze for Import and Supply of Farm Machinery Equipment and Tools, while HJS took the Gold for Marketing and Sunfrost the Bronze for Services.

Among the noteworthy recent developments credited to double Gold winner Hayleys Agro Products is the introduction of the latest environment-friendly non-toxic pest control products for vegetables and paddy, the introduction of new crop-specific and soil-specific fertiliser blends and the introduction of new technology feed additives that improve the quality and production of milk and eggs.

“Our focus on economically, environmentally and socially sustainable agriculture through inputs that promote the concept of Integrated Pest Management and the use of organic crop protection products and more efficient fertilisers has already had a measurable impact on farming practices and yields,” said Rizvi Zaheed, Hayleys Group Director and Managing Director of Hayleys Agro. “As the older, more toxic crop protection products get phased out, Hayleys Agro has brought in leading edge new and Greener products from world leaders such as Bayer CropScience and Dow AgroScience.”

One such product, branded ‘Success’ an organic, non-toxic spray to combat the Diamond Back Moth (also known as the cabbage caterpillar) has now captured 90 per cent of the market in this segment, he disclosed. “This is a ‘Green’ product that belongs to the Naturalyte group of crop protection products that are at the forefront of the drive for sustainable agriculture,” Mr. Zaheed said.

HAPL also introduced to Sri Lankan farmers a ‘targeted pest’ category crop protection product branded ‘Mimic’ which is the first agro chemical to win the Green Chemistry Award in the USA, and ‘Admire’ also a target-specific low toxicity product in the Nitroguanidin category. These products are in large scale use in the country and are bringing about a quantum change in the quality of agricultural produce.

Meanwhile, the Gold award for Marketing won by HJS Condiments, acknowledges the company’s success in taking its products to new international markets. The largest fruit and vegetable exporter from Sri Lanka, HJS Condiments participated at the Anuga Fair 2007, and secured large orders for pickles in jars to new customers in Poland, Greece and Holland, Mr. Zaheed said.

The company also secured the ‘Subway’ and ‘Burger King’ accounts in Japan to supply gherkins and has increased the number of markets to supply gherkin slices to McDonalds and Burger King, covering UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and entered the Egypt market to supply relish.

In the sphere of Veterinary Care, Hayleys Agro has introduced ‘Nutrisacc Powerpack’ a new technology product that enhances milk production in cows.

The product, a mineral supplement that has an absorption rate of 90 per cent, comes in the form of a powder that when added to the feed of milking cows results in an improvement in the quantity of milk produced by an average yielding cow by up to 25 per cent. Another technology product, branded ‘Ultimate Toxin Protection Program’ or ‘UTPP Biotech’ binds the toxins and inhibits mould growth in poultry feed and feed raw materials. These toxins could inhibit growth of chicks, hinder egg production and even result in mortality. In addition to introducing such latest inputs generated by international research and development in agriculture, Hayleys Agro continues to provide comprehensive extension services at the grassroots level in all agricultural areas of the country and has invested substantially in bio technology for new generation agriculture. Simultaneously, the company continues to introduce new products and services to build capacity in traditional agriculture, including mechanical devices such as combine harvesters, combine threshers and mechanical reapers that improve productivity even in the face of labour shortages, new high-yielding plant varieties and seed paddy.

Hayleys Agro has the advantage of being commercially involved in virtually every stage of the life cycle of agro produce from producing seeds to supporting the export of processed vegetable and fruit, giving the company an unique profile in the agriculture sector, and enabling it to add value at many points and in many aspects.

The company’s products range from crop protection chemicals -- insecticides, fungicides and weedicides to vegetable seeds, seed paddy and seed potatoes, fertilizer, agri equipment including sprayers, tractors, combine harvesters and threshers; micro irrigation systems and animal health products including antibiotics, biologicals, feed additives and veterinary pharmaceuticals. Marketed under a one-stop concept, the company’s products are widely available in over 90 per cent of agricultural outlets in the country.

New UNP Provincial Council members to take oaths

The newly elected UNP members of the North-Central and the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Councils will take their oaths before the party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday at 9.00 a.m. at the party Headqarters Sirikotha, General Secretary Parliamentarian Tissa Attanayaka said.

The party has returned 12 members to the North-Central and 17 to the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council at the election held on August 23 .

The UNP is consulting legal counsel on the possibility of taking legal action against the PC polls as the party has refused to accept the results of the election, Mr. Attanayaka said.

The 42 members, two Chief Ministers and eight ministers of the two provinces took oaths before President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Governors Karunaratna Divulgane and Dixon Dela Bandara at a ceremony held at the Presidential Secretariat on Thursday.

Meanwhile,the Sabaragamuwa Chief Minister Mahipala Herath said all five ministers including him assumed office yesterday at their respective ministries.

“The date of the inaugural meeting has not been decided yet and it will be fixed after consulting the Governor Dela Bandara. First we will have to elect the Chairman of the new council and the time table of the council’s sessions will be decided after that,” Mr. Herath said.

North-Central Provincial Council Secretary Keerti Gamage said a discussion is scheduled with the Governor Divulgane next Friday to decide the date of the election of the Council Chairman and the inaugural session.

North-Central Chief Ministerial candidate of the JVP,the former MP Wasantha Smarasingha said the party was yet to decide on the date of oaths taking of the party’s three members elected to two Provincial Councils.

Magistrate orders to file explanation on two different JMOs’ reports

The Colombo Magistrate yesterday asked for explanation from the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) as to why two different JMOs’ medical reports had been filed in court in the inquiry into the alleged involvement with a terrorist organization of a senior journalist Tissainayagam and two others.

When the case was taken up for magisterial inquiry before the Colombo Additional Magistrate Ms. Kumari Abeyratne the counsel for the suspects K.V. Thavarasha filed a copy of the medical report that was filed before in the Supreme Court signed by the JMO and said the document filed before the Magistrate court was not the report that was filed in the Supreme Court and it was from a different JMO.

Following these observations in the Medical reports the Magistrate called for explanation from the TID and asked to file it in court on September 27.

At the outset of the investigations into the case, the counsel for the suspects Jesiheren complained to court that his client had been severely manhandled and tortured at the TID while in detention. On May 27, the Magistrate ordered the TID to produce the suspects before the JMO for examination and report.

As the report which was filed in the Supreme Court and in the Magistrate Court seemed to be different, the magistrate made the order.The suspects Jeyaprakash Sittampalam Tissainayagam was arrested by the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) on March 7, 2008 at the TID premises when he visited his colleague N. Jesiharan and Valarmathy who were detained there. Thereafter they were kept in detention until indictments were filed on August 12 in the Colombo High Court.

According to the indictment, the accused together with unknown persons had committed an offence or abetted the commission of an offence whether planned or unplanned, by words either spoken or intended to be read or by signs or by visible representations or otherwise, which intends to cause the commission of acts of violence or racial or communal disharmony and brings the government into disrepute, through the printing or distribution of the publication North Eastern Monthly magazine or by agreeing to commit or abet the commission of the offence of acting to promote that organization during the period between June 1 2006 and June 1, 2007 and that since the aforesaid offence has been committed as a result of the said conspiracy, an offence which is a punishable under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act no. 48 of 1979 as amended by Act No. 10 of 1982 and Act No. 22 of 1988 which is to be read with section 113 (a) and section 102 the penal code has been committed.

In the said time, place and circumstances, an offence had been committed by words either spoken or intended to be read or by signs or by visible representations or otherwise, which intends to cause the commission of acts of violence or racial or communal disharmony and brings the Government into disrepute, through the printing or distribution of the publication North Eastern Monthly Magazine or by acting to promote that organization, through the publishing of its contents which is a punishable offence under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act.

There an offence has been committed by contributing or collecting or obtaining information relating to or donating funds for the purpose of terrorism through the collection of funds from Non-Governmental Organisations for the North Eastern Monthly magazine, which is an offence punishable under Regulation 6 (c) of the Emergency (Prevention and Prohibition of Terrorism and Specified Terrorist Activities) Regulations.

The charges also referred to July 2006 the editorial of the North Eastern Monthly Magazine under the heading “Providing security to Tamils now will define North eastern politics of the future” where it has been stated; “it is fairly obvious that the government is not going to offer them any protection. In fact it is the state security forces that are the main perpetrator of the killings.”

In the November 2006 North Eastern Monthly, under the heading “With no military options Govt. buys time by offering watered- down devolution” Tissainayagam has stated; “Such offensives against the civilians are accompanied by attempts to starve the population by refusing them food as well as medicines and fuel, with the hope of driving out the people of Vaharai and depopulating it.

As this story is being written Vaharai is being subject to intense shelling and aerial bombardment.” custody by the TID alleging that they had aided and abetted the LTTE movement to recruit new members to the movement,by collecting funds for the movement and propagating the LTTE struggle as a lawful struggle.

CID to grill Polgampola

The Janatha Vimukti Peramuna Parliamentarian Anuruddha Polgampola, who resigned his seat early this week, is to be questioned by the CID over his involvement in human smuggling to Japan, Police media spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekara said yesterday (5).

The Japanese authorities had questioned the JVP parliamentarian. The person who had accompanied him was deported by the Japanese authorities.

SSP Gunasekara said he was not aware whether Polgampola had returned to the country yet, but when media contacted Polgampola on his cellular he admitted that he had done wrong in going to Japan without informing the JVP hierarchy and had tendered his resignation from Parliament.

Elephant population increases

With years of rapid development and construction there was an issue that the elephant population in the country was dwindling, but the number of elephants had increased during the last decade, Environment and Natural Resources Minister Champika Ranawaka said.

Speaking at ceremony to hand over tusks to the Kotte Raja Maha Vihara on Thursday, Ranawaka said, "being a Buddhist country we are bound morally and legally to protect the elephants."


He said that to date there are only 137 tame elephants of which 27 are tuskers. There were earlier instances where owners of tamed elephants abused the innocent animals.

Ranawaka said that steps will be taken at national level to keep elephants and provide them for Peraheras. In this regard, exiting local and international laws would be taken into consideration and the Environment and Natural Resources Ministry would work according to them, he said.

ACL Cables wins Asia Pacific quality award

ACL Cables, has won the World Class Asia Pacific Quality Award (IAPQA) 2008, which is a very prestigious award and a rare honour for the country. This international award vied for by companies in 46 member countries across the Globe requires contesting companies to go through a very stringent selection process and is awarded purely for excellence in quality. The award has not only affirmed ACL’s local and international standing as a leader in the industry but has raised the bar amongst their customers who are already recognising ACL as a top-notch company committed to Quality.

Suren Madanayake, Managing Director of ACL Cables who received the award on recently at the 14th annual conference of the Asia Pacific Quality Organization (APQO) and 9th International Conference of Quality Managers (ICQM), said "apart from winning the IAPQA award which is a great honour, we see this as a leverage point for ACL’s global expansion, since not only did we defeat 46 countries in the winning process but the fact that this award which is given purely for quality was won by an industrial product is in itself unique. Although Sri Lanka is known for winning international accolades for commodities such as Tea, Rubber and Garments, this is the first time a Sri Lankan Company has brought honour to the country by winning an international quality award for an industrial product."

ACL Cables PLC was established in 1962 and over the last 4 decades the Company has made great strides in Sri Lanka’s cable industry by becoming its key player through innovation and advanced technology. The Company has hugely expanded their operations both within and outside the country. For example ACL acquired technology for XLPE insulated cables from NOKIA Cables of Finland and developed it through internal R&D to be the most advanced in the region. This is the reason why ACL was selected by the largest corporate in India to introduce XLPE Insulated Aerial Bundled Cables to New Delhi in 2003– despite the presence of 50 such companies in India.

2009, an election year - President

Tagging 2009 as an election year, President Mahinda Rajapakse has informed all electoral organizers of the SLFP to maximize their services to the public, a senior minister says.

Speaking to media the minister said that the President was speaking at a special meeting of the SLFP electoral organizers at Temple Trees on September 04th.

Agreeing to provide each electoral organizer a sum of Rs. 30 million for development activities in their respective areas, the President has said that the remaining Provincial Council polls would be held in the initial half of 2009.

In addition, he has directed them to prepare for a decisive election at the end of the year 2009.

Considering the political environment, the President is reflecting on calling for a Presidential election on December 2009 before Parliamentary polls are due on 2010, the minister added.

According to the constitution, President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who received the mandate to remain in his post until 2011, cannot call for Presidential elections until four years elapse since taking up office.

On 18th November 2008, it will be four years since he took up office as President.

After this date, he will receive the legal right to call for Presidential elections any time he wishes to do so.

Mangala denies contesting South PC polls

Lanka Dissent

There is no truth in media reports that claim I will contest the Southern Provincial Council as a Chief Ministerial candidate after resigning from Parliament, leader of the SLFP ‘Mahajana’ Wing, Mangala Samaraweera says.

These news reports also say that I have even informed the opposition leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe of this, he added, speaking to ‘Lanka Dissent’.

Recent media reports claimed MP Samaraweera has informed the opposition leader of his readiness to resign from his MP post and contest the Southern Provincial Council as a Chief Ministerial candidate if the UNP forms an alliance with friendly political fronts, targeting forthcoming elections.

Speaking to ‘Lanka Dissent’ on the matter, MP Samaraweera further said that though he and the UNP leader discussed on appointing a candidate from a joint opposition front to the 2009 Presidential elections, Provincial Council polls were not mentioned.

CPA files FR petition against detention order amendment

Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) filed a Fundamental Rights petition in the Supreme Court yesterday (September 05th) against the amendment empowering the Defence Secretary to detain persons for prolonged periods.

Noting that the amendment violated fundamental rights, the CPA requested the SC to declare it as null and void.

A person arrested on suspicion of posing a threat to national security according to the emergency regulations under Public Security Ordinance can be detained up to one year.

However, this amendment empowered the Defence to extend a detention of a person up to one and half years and this was in violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed under the constitution, the petitioners said.

The amendment further says that the detainees should be produced before a magistrate once every 60 days.

Petitioners, the CPA and Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu cited Defence Secretary - Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, President’s Secretary - Lalith Weeratunga and the Attorney General as respondents.

IHR on Human Rights of Sri Lanka

Intellectuals for Human Rights (IHR) regrets to bring in to the notice of the relevant authorities about the thousands of people who has become refugees; and to the health, economical and security issues they are facing due to the current war situation between Government security forces and LTTE.Innocent civilians in Mannar, Kilinochchi and Mullative districts have become displaced intheir own land and the attention of the relevant authorities of the Government was not made to address these issues.
In one hand government requests these people who have become refugees, to settle in the cleared areas and on the other hand LTTE put their efforts to keep these people in sameareas. IHR believes that this act of LTTE is to use these innocent people as a human guard tobe protected and IHR vehemently condemn it. Using children, women and elderly in a conflict was identified as a violation of human rights in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Law by the UN.
IHR urge that LTTE should immediately stop forceful use of innocent people as a guard to protect their selves in war activities. We also insist LTTE to respect to the rights of the people to settle, move or to choose a safer place to live as per their wish; to stop torturingand inhuman activities against these affected innocent people who are willing to be free from the conflict areas. Hence, IHR request from the Government to take proper estimate on the people whowere displaced and now refugees due to the current conflict situation.
Accordingly, theGovernment to be involved in solving issues relating to food, housing, and health of these people. If the government does not take immediate measures to address these issues; thesepeoples’ lives would be more miserable due to the monsoon rains which will start in near future.We again emphasise to the Government that providing water, food & health facilities and protection to refugee people according to internationally accepted standards is a mainresponsibility of a government.
Especially a specific place which has available space toaccommodate the refugees is a must and obstacles which are preventing people fromaccessing these places should be removed by the government. As IHR also highlighted above; Government should ensure supply of all required facilities to these refuge people including water, food and protectio

Sri Lanka’s Response to Amnesty International’s statement to the Human Rights Council

The Government of Sri Lanka wishes to refute certain assertions made by Amnesty International (AI) on 04 September 2008, in a statement to the Human Rights Council, as to the supposed “severe problems of protection and assistance for displaced persons triggered by the intensification of hostilities”. The Government appreciates Amnesty’s recognition that the situation of the civilians caught up in the conflict is exacerbated by the unwillingness of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to allow these people to move to areas of relative safety and security. The denial of freedom of movement and the right to physical and human security is a serious violation of international humanitarian and human rights law and the Government calls upon AI and other concerned organizations to continue to pressurize the LTTE to comply with these fundamental norms.

Despite the ongoing conflict in the north of Sri Lanka waged by terrorist secessionist forces against a lawfully elected and properly constituted government, the Sri Lankan state continues to provide and facilitate humanitarian assistance to its citizens caught up in the conflict. The Government recognizes that much of the humanitarian assistance that is sent to areas not yet cleared of LTTE presence does not reach the civilian population, but is misused by the LTTE. Added to this is the fact that IDP numbers are sometimes artificially inflated by local officials due to pressure exercised by the LTTE so as to generate increased amounts of humanitarian assistance. Despite all this, the Government continues to deliver supplies and services for the stated numbers, whilst continuing with the provision of social services through government officials paid by and answerable to the government.

With regard to supplies, the Ministry of Nation Building has for instance supplied nearly 10,000 metric tonnes of mixed food items to the Wanni in the January to August period. This is indicative of the Government’s commitment to ensure the welfare of Sri Lankan citizens wherever they are located. This commitment – proven by longstanding practice – is unfortunately not reflected in AI’s statement and is a striking omission. Contrary to the statement regarding food security and the nutritional status of persons in the Wanni, the WFP has not only assisted the Government to transport food into the Wanni (7,000 MT) but has also procured and distributed 3,650 MT of rice within the District due to a surplus of rice production. The Ministry of Health has supplied over 330 million Rupees worth of medical supplies to the North (including Rs. 70 million to the Districts of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu) in 2008. The Ministry of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services has supplied Rs 35 million in emergency supplies to IDPs in these districts in response to requests from local administrators.

In its statement, AI refers to a number of 70,000 persons newly displaced in the Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu Districts since May this year. This figure is debatable since the movement of persons already displaced in Mannar District who were compelled to moved again into Kilinochchi have been recounted as “new” displacements. The Government, however, does not believe in hair-splitting over numbers in an emergency situation but, as stated above, supplies assistance based on figures received from its local administrators. These figures are jointly monitored, agreed upon and published by the ministries of Nation Building, Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services and UNHCR. The AI statement asserts that UNHCR has stopped releasing official figures due to the due to the security situation. This is factually incorrect as UNHCR has never released IDPs figures independently and is unable to do so as they are not mandated to collate IDP figures nor involved in the registration process of IDPs (unlike in the case of refugees). Figures released by the UNHCR are numbers collated by the respective GAs and, following a review of the figures by the Ministry of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services together with the Ministry of Nation Building and UNHCR, the numbers are published on UNHCR’s website. The current delay in releasing the July 2008 “new” IDP figures is a result of the Ministry of Nation Building awaiting clarifications from local administrators in Kilinochchi. The confusion in the Amnesty statement may be due to ignorance, but in future we hope that will be greater care, and checking at source.

The Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights chairs the Consultative Committee on Humanitarian Assistance (CCHA) and the IDP Coordination Meetings which bring together all relevant state actors including Senior Advisor to the President, Hon Basil Rajapaksa and the Secretary, Ministry of Defence as well as Secretaries of key ministries such as Disaster Management and Human Rights, Nation Building, Health, Resettlement, Education and Foreign Affairs, along with the Commissioner General of Essential Services, the Peace Secretariat, Police and Armed Services as well as the District Secretaries (GAs) of Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya, Mannar, Trincomalee and Batticaloa. These fora provide opportunities for collaboration and collective decision making between Government and its international partners who are also represented at these meetings. The UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator, heads of agencies from UNHCR, UNICEF, WHO, WFP, ILO and UNOCHA, the US Ambassador representing the Co-Chairs to the Peace Process, the Ambassadors of Japan, the Delegation of the European Union and France which currently holds the EU Presidency as well as the ICRC, ECHO and the Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies represent Sri Lanka’s partners in its humanitarian work.


Concerted action based on open dialogue and a common commitment to the safety and welfare of Sri Lankan civilians is facilitated through these mechanisms. Practical issues connected with fuel allocations for humanitarian actors, health supplies and services, food, non-food relief items as well as access issues are put forward and consulted upon, woth coordination of arrangements and finding of solutions to problems. On numerous occasions Sri Lanka’s international partners have welcomed facilitation initiatives under the aegis of the CCHA. For example AI refers to long delays in security clearance for supplies to uncleared areas. The CCHA after discussion facilitated the sealing of WFP truck carrying essential supplies prior to departure which enabled smooth and expeditious passage through checkpoints. AI also talks of “changing and increasingly stringent” security clearance procedures which supposedly cause delays and confusion. Fora such as the CCHA exist for the clarification and communication of new procedures. Relevant actors are thereby fully informed. AI’s statement which purports to be a serious commentary on the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka omits mention of this important Government–led instrumentality. This reflects a one-sided approach in its analysis, which appears over-dependent on secondary sources and media reports inimical to the Government.

The AI statement refers to the Universal Periodic Review in May 2008 and the recommendations accepted as well as pledges and voluntary commitments made by Sri Lanka which contain inter alia several issues of direct relevance to IDPs. The assertion that the IDP situation was deteriorating is wrong, and the government position in May was quite accurate, inasmuch as the situation of the IDPs in the East had improved radically, with most having returned to their place of origin. However new operations have led to a fluid situation in the North, where the LTTE’s intransigence places pressures on the humanitarian situation. However, the Government reiterates its commitments made at the Human Rights Council and is taking steps to implement those pledges. Efforts include confidence building and stabilization measures, communication and consultation with IDPs, information sharing and policy and legislative initiatives to secure, guarantee and advance the rights of IDPs in line with national and international obligations.

Reading AI’s statement, it is clear that it does not appreciate the complexity of the IDP situation in the country. It fails to mention that there are three clearly disparate groups of IDPs; some displaced for well over a decade due to the conflict, i.e. those who were forcibly evicted from the North by the LTTE in the early 1990s; others have been displaced more recently as a consequence of natural disasters (the 2004 tsunami) and another group displaced after 2006 due to the resumption of hostilities when the LTTE launched massive attacks which had to be repulsed with measures taken to ensure that they could not be repeated. Re-displacement of some of these IDPs has further added to the complexity of the situation.

It should be noted that return or resettlement of the tsunami IDPs as well as the post 2006 IDPs in the East has been successfully conducted to a considerable extent. The old problem however, ignored by successive governments when reacting to LTTE activities was slow, is now being addressed systematically. So as to identify and implement durable solutions for protracted ‘old’ IDPs the Government of Sri Lanka is, in partnership with UNHCR, organising a National Consultation on this issue which will take place later this month. This Consultation has been organised as a follow-up to the visit to Sri Lanka by the Representative of the Secretary-General of the UN on the Human Rights of IDPs, Professor Walter Kälin in December 2007. Professor Kälin is supporting the government in this initiative by his presence and contribution to the National Consultation.

The successful resettlement of approximately 180,000 IDPs in the Eastern Province should also be noted, as it will provide a model to solve the current problems of IDPs in the North. UNHCR acknowledged that the returns were voluntary and in line with international standards. The Government is confident that the remaining 18,000 IDPs in the East will be resettled as soon as demining is completed.

In relation to the IDPs in the Wanni, the Ministry of Defence has recently announced a proposal on a humanitarian corridor for civilians which is seen as vital for their movement to safety and for humanitarian access and provision of essential items and services. This has been welcomed by the Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies as well as the UN which states that “the UN in Sri Lanka acknowledges the announcement by the Government of Sri Lanka of additional measures that are intended to facilitate the freedom of movement of civilians who have been affected by fighting in the Vanni.”
In this connection, the Government is also supporting the development of a humanitarian hub in Vavuniya just south of the uncleared areas where humanitarian actors will be facilitated to store and distribute supplies. Civilians are being encouraged to move to these areas in order that they may access humanitarian assistance in greater safety and security.

Based on past experience and well founded information, the Government is aware of LTTE attempts to infiltrate their cadres into the ranks of IDPs. In keeping with the need to ensure the safety and security of the general populace, the security authorities are obliged to carefully check the IDPs to confirm the genuineness of their status as IDPs and in some instances restrict their free movement until cleared. Until proven otherwise these persons are all treated as IDPs and are, accordingly, provided with all necessary assistance. These procedures are carefully monitored and issues pertaining to their welfare are openly discussed at mechanisms such as the CCHA. The AI statement makes a reference to the Kalimoddai Welfare Centre as a “de facto detention centre”. As noted, children go to school from there, and movement is permitted during the day though, for obvious security considerations, there are restrictions on staying away overnight. However the provocative language used by AI is misleading, reminiscent as it is of measures taken in other countries during the World War, and is unsuitable for an international organization that positions itself as the global human rights watchdog.

AI ultimately makes an attempt to create a nexus between the Sri Lankan conflict, the situation of IDPs and the hackneyed call for international monitors. The Government has made its position on international monitors abundantly clear on numerous occasions. While stating that the security situation makes it difficult for humanitarian actors to operate, AI at the same time calls for the deployment of monitors in a theatre of conflict. This is a bizarre proposal at best that once again highlights AI’s complete lack of insight into ground realities. With regard to the specific needs of IDPs in the Wanni, the Government’s efforts are complemented by seven specialized agencies of the UN with relevant expertise in the provision of food, shelter, health, water and sanitation as well as several international organizations recommended by the UN (numbering 14) and the ICRC whose operations in the area are facilitated by the Government to access the IDP population. These partners of the Government have the local knowledge, experience and expertise to assist the Government in its efforts to alleviate the situation and challenges faced by IDPs.

In light of the foregoing, the Government of Sri Lanka finds itself unable to accept AI’s exaggerated statement due to the numerous deficiencies in fact and reasoning that characterizes yet another extreme intervention. The Government remains acutely aware of its obligations – to its own citizens and to the global community – and is not helped by statements that are not directed at constructively addressing the situation in Sri Lanka based on existing ground realities.

Sri Lankan student to meet President of Cyprus

Sri Lankan student Amarasingham Jeevan will meet President of Cyprus Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat as part of a youth peace-building programme taking place in Nicosia next week.

Jeevan, 25, from Battaramulla, was selected from hundreds of young people around the world to take part in a weeklong programme of activities relating to the theme “Conflict and Beyond” as part of the Commonwealth Youth Leadership Programme. The event comes just a week after long-awaited reunification talks between the Cypriot President and Turkish Cypriot leader are due to commence.

As well as discussing conflict resolution with the respective leaders, Jeevan, along with 28 other gifted youth delegates from 21 Commonwealth countries, will take a rare tour inside the Green Line with UN Peacekeepers and participate in workshops with the UNDP and British Council.

Jeevan is currently studying at the Human Rights Institution of Sri Lanka and works for the Foundation for Co-Existence, one of Sri Lanka’s largest NGOs focussing on building peaceful relations between different ethnicites and cultural groups.

Amarasingham will bring valuable knowledge and experience to the programme which aims to inspire leaders of tomorrow.

“It is from a young age that one needs to passionately believe in a cause in order to instigate positive change. I think young people are able to inspire and galvanize as effectively if not better than anyone of a senior age.”
The Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) is an international Non-Governmental Organisation working to promote an understanding of the nature and working of the Commonwealth, and of the factors which shape the lives of its peoples and the policies of its governments. The RCS is supported by a worldwide membership of over 10,000, with self-governing branches, honorary representatives and affiliated organisations in 39 countries and territories. The international headquarters are in London.
The Commonwealth Youth Leadership Programme (CYLP) is also known as “Nkabom”, meaning ‘coming together’ in the Ghanaian language of Twi. It is a biennial project organized by the RCS running from 14-21 September. It directly precedes the RCS International Meeting, running in Cyprus from 22-27 September, which brings together RCS branches and membership from across the world.

Party vests Ranil with power to form alliances with other parties

UNP General Secretary, Tissa Attanayake said the UNP political affairs Committee has empowered its Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, to take all necessary steps and decisions to form a broader alliance with other political parties with a view to breaking the backbone of this Government’s undemocratic acts and dictatorial trends.
The Government is very clever in its policy of ‘united we fall divided we rule’; so, it always tries not to allow other parties to be united.
The UNP cannot afford to fall into the traps of the Government which is anxious to fish in troubled waters, he added.

Police arrest foreigner suspected of involvement in Geylang murder

SINGAPORE Police have arrested a 20-year-old foreigner in connection with the death of a 21-year-old Sri Lankan woman in a hotel at Lorong 18 Geylang on Thursday.

The victim's naked body was found under a bed in a pool of blood by hotel staff on Thursday.

After round-the-clock enquiries and extensive probes, police said the ethnic Indian man was tracked down and arrested at about 9.30am on Friday at Ama Keng Road.

A man will be charged in court on Saturday with murder. If found guilty, he faces the death penalty.

Sri Lanka Disaster Management Center says they are ready for emergency

Disaster Management Center of Sri Lanka says they are ready to face any emergency situation caused by the heavy thunder showers island wide.

Keerthi Ekanayaka, National Coordinator for Disaster Management Center said all the district centers are on duty throughout the day to get information. He added that all the instructions had been given to the public to prepare for emergency situations.

According to the sources there are no reports in any part of the country regarding the disasters yet. Meteorology Department of Sri Lanka expects the heavy showers to fall tomorrow at some parts of the country as thunderstorms are developing tonight. According to the Meteorology Department there will be showers at several places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces and in Galle and Matara districts as well.

Highest rain fall for the last 24 hours was reported in Bandarawela city with 47.5 mm.

Sri Lanka to Collect Decades Old Taxes With New Law

Sri Lanka is set to bring in a new law to collect taxes going back more than half a century from individuals, companies and corporations, a government official said.
The new law which has already been drafted will make it easier for authorities to collect back taxes and lay down procedures to do so.

A committee will also be set up under the direction of the president, to examine whether the concerned individuals are alive, and whether the companies concerned are still in operation and find ways to go forward in each case, the official said.

The proposal has already been approved by the cabinet of ministers and the draft law is with the island's Attorney General, who is examining its compliance with the constitution, the official said.

Sri Lanka's Inland Revenue Department was set up in 1933, when the island was still under the British, and income tax was started in 1932, according to the website of the department.

It was started by amalgamating stamp and estate duty collection offices.

In Sri Lanka state corporations make huge losses because they are used for political purposes and are bailed out with taxes collected from private citizens and corporations or with printed money.

Sri Lanka's politicians have also displayed a marked reluctance to raise value added taxes even by a few percentage points, but have instead laid the grounds for very high inflation.

Due to money printed to fill budget deficits Sri Lanka has had high inflation and balance of payments crises since 1950 when a central bank with money printing powers was started.

In Sri Lanka, state workers, ministers and parliamentarians get tax free salaries and pensions, while income taxes are paid by private citizens and companies. Only a few state corporations make profits.

The Nation's news editor and senior sub editor forced to resign for not supporting government

Reporters Without Borders condemns the government pressure that led to the resignations on 30 August of Munza Mushtaq, the news editor of The Nation daily newspaper, and Marianne David, Senior Chief Sub Editor. Their resignations were immediately accepted by the new management of Rivira Media Corporation, which owns the newspaper and which supports the president. Several members of The Nation's staff said Mushtaq and David had refused to adopt a pro-government editorial policy.

Buddhist monk who damaged to idols Hindu temple remanded

A Buddhist monk who was accused of forcibly entering with several lay persons into a Hindu temple in Colombo and damaging the idols there was remanded until September 09 .

The remanded Bhikku was Sapugasyaye Dhammananda Thero of Buddhagaya temple of Dimelwaththa in Grandpass, Colombo.

Grandpass police produced the suspect in court yesterday charging that they forcibly entered the Muththumariamman Kovil of Grandpass on September 03 and damaging the idols of Vishnu, Eshwaran, Kali, Ravana and Lakshman. Colombo Additional Magistrate Ajith Anawarathna remanded the bhikku.

Ex ministers lose seats in new PCs

Three former ministers of the North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provincial Councils were left out of the list of ministers at yesterday’s swearing in ceremony of Chief Ministers, Ministers and Members of the two provinces, which took place at the Presidential Secretariat.

Former Ministers Weerasena Gamage and Ananda Sarathkumara Ratnayaka of the North-Central and Y.G.Pathmasiri of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Councils have not been given ministerial posts in the administration.

Chief Minister of the North Central Province, Berty Premalal Dissanayaka, said the decision on ministerial portfolios was taken by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He said he had no idea as to how two former ministers were left out from the ministerial list yesterday.

Chief Minister of Sabaragamuwa Province Mahipala Herath told Daily Mirror a ministerial post had been given to the Mahajana Paksaya this time instead of Lanka Sama Samaja Party, of which Mr. Pathmasiri is a member and a minister in the previous administration.

The Ministers sworn in before President Rajapaksa and governors Dixon Dela Bandara and Karunaratna Divulgane at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday are:

North- Central Province Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayaka, Minister of Law and Order, Finance and Planning, Economic Development, Provincial Engineering and Construction, Equipment, Information, Education, Local Government, Provincial Irrigation, Land, Environment, Transport, Cultural, Tourism and Power.

K.H.Mettananda – Minister of Agriculture, Animal Products, Animal Health, Fisheries and Provincial Councils.

H.B.Semasingha - Minister of Co-operatives, Trade, Foods, Small Industries, Textiles and Rural Development.

Peshala Jayaratna – Minister of Health, Indigenous Medicine, Social Development, Probation and Children’s Welfare, Sports and Youth Affairs and Women’s Affairs.R.M.Punchibanda Ratnayaka – Minister of Rural Infrastructure, Provincial Road Development and Electricity.

Sabaragamuwa – Chief Minister Mahipala Herath, Minister of Law and Order, Finance and Planning, Local Government, Education and Information Technology, Cultural Affairs and Sports, Electricity, Home Affairs and Constructions, Co-operatives, Trade and Foods, Passenger Transport and Estate Welfare.

Lalith Dissanayaka – Minister of Lands, Provincial Irrigation, Agriculture, Animal Products and Animal Health, Environment and Fisheries.

Janaka Wa