By Political Editor
SundayTimes.lkAugust 21, 2011
Contrary to earlier expectations of a Parliamentary Select Committee to address Tamil grievances, the Government will now appoint one “to recommend and report political and constitutional measures to empower the people of Sri Lanka as one nation.”
Thirteen Cabinet Ministers are among the 18 parliamentarians who have given notice of a motion in Parliament last week. They want it listed in the Addendum to the Order Book No 4 of Parliament. The proposed Parliamentary Select Committee, they have said, should recommend to the House within six months the initiative appropriate to achieve political and constitutional measures to:
* Enhance the unity of the people of Sri Lanka
* Further empower the people to work as a nation, and
* Enable the people to take decisions
For this purpose, the motion says,
* That the committee and its chairman shall be nominated by the Speaker.
* That notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 95, the committee shall consist of not more than thirty one (31) members.
The motion is based on three different grounds. First is that a unique opportunity has arisen for the people of Sri Lanka to unite and work together as a nation towards the economic, social and political development of the country and its citizens. The second is that to this end it is opportune to take steps to enhance the unity of the people of Sri Lanka and empower them to take decisions and engage in actions towards their economic, social and political development.
The third is that a Select Committee of Members of Parliament being a committee of elected representatives of the people is best equipped to determine the nature and scope of steps to be taken to enable the reasons stated above.
The motion, among other matters, says that the PSC is empowered to summon such persons and documents as it deemed necessary, examine on oath or affirmation persons so summoned, continue notwithstanding adjournment of Parliament from time to time and submit interim reports from time to time.
The Government had earlier planned to appoint a PSC to address issues relating to Tamil grievances. This was in fact conveyed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa when a high powered three-member Indian delegation visited Sri Lanka. It was headed by India’s National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon, the then External Affairs Ministry Secretary Nirupama Rao and Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar.
Government sources told the Sunday Times yesterday that while addressing issues related to Tamil grievance, the proposed committee will also look at broad issues that concern all communities in Sri Lanka.
Signatories to the motion are Susil Premajayantha, Champika Ranawaka, Rauff Hakeem, Tissa Vitarana, Douglas Devananda, Dinesh Gunawardena, Maithripala Sirisena, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Rishad Badhiutheen, Basil Rajapaksa, V.S. Radakrishnan, D.E.W. Gunasekera, Muthu Sivalingam, Perumal Rajadurai, Rajiva Wijesinha and Dullas Alahapperuma.
33 comments:
We PATRIOTS of Mother Lanka have always held that fabricated "Tamil Grievances" should not be addressed separate from the "Grievances" of all other citizens of Sri Lanka, and that demands of one group should not be addressed in ways that undermine the legitimate rights of other citizens to ALL OF Sri Lanka's Bounty.
More specifically, we maintain that no rights and powers should be devolved to any one community that are unavailable to other communities identified by communal attributes of ethnicity, religion, language, caste, sex or wealth.
We hold that ALL resources of Sri Lanka, in particular its land, are the COMMON INHERITANCE of ALL Sri Lankans to be shared and accessed EQUALLY without segragation or division into separate units.
As such, no regions of Sri Lanka should be recognized as belonging to any particular community, to the exclusion of other communities.
Only EQUAL RIGHTS normally due to EVERY CITIZEN, and the EQUAL RESPONSIBILITY of EACH CITIZEN to abide by the LAWS OF THE LAND, AND TO LOVE, PROTECT and DEFEND Sri Lanka as the shared Motherland of all its citizens should be recognized IN LAW.
Our GOAL should be to create ONE Sri Lankan NATION, of ONE Sri Lankan PEOPLE, sharing ONE Sri Lankan DESTINY for ALL TIME!
No SLICING & DICING of Sri Lanka into communal Bantustans should be permitted for ANY REAL OR IMAGINED REASON!
"Indian Parliamentary Groups" organizing political conferences on Tamil separatism-related issues in Sri Lanka, under whatever "humanitarion" and "political solution" guises, is a further move to destabilize Sri Lanka and advance the Eelamist agenda.
Let the Indian Govt take note of this new method of interfering in Sri Lankan politics, and the undermining and bypassing of its own responsibility to formulate foreign policy.
This kind of activity, that interferes in the internal affairs of neighboring countries, precipitated the EELAM WAR in the first place.
INDIAN GOVT SHOULD STOP THIS NOW, or it may LEGITIMIZE similar conferences being held in other countries on its own internal conflicts and issues!
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Indian parliamentary group holds "Agony and Solace"conference to address Sri Lanka's Tamil issue
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Aug 22, Colombo: an Indian parliamentary group is organizing a conference aimed at ensuring a permanent solution to the ethnic Tamil issue in Sri Lanka with the participation of ten Tamil political party representatives from Sri Lanka
The Parliamentarian Forum on Human Rights for Global Development (PFHRGD) will hold the "Agony and Solace"-Conference-2011 at the Constitution Club of India in New Delhi on August 23 and 24.
The Tamil political parties in Sri Lanka invited to send representatives to the conference include Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal (TMVP) led by Eastern chief minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan and the four constituent parties of the Tamil National Alliance.
The Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) led by government Minister Douglas Devananda has not reportedly been invited and the upcountry Tamil parties also have been left out.
Organizers say the conference expects to unify the Sri Lankan Tamil parties to achieve a permanent political solution for the problems faced by the Sri Lankan Tamils.
"Sri Lankan Tamils in the past sixty years are facing long-term political problems are still concerned about their lives and possessions," the convener of the conference, Tamil Nadu parliamentarian Dr. Sudarshan Nachiappan said in a statement on the PFHRGD website.
The conference is aimed at drawing the attention of the Indian Parliament to resolve the issues and achieve a reasonable solution, he wrote.
The PFHRGD, established in 2003, comprises over 150 members from both houses of the Indian parliament cutting across party lines.
Let Government Employees LEAD National Integration by EXAMPLE!
Jayawewa!
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Sri Lanka to make second language proficiency compulsory for public employees
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Aug 22, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government has taken steps to make the second language proficiency compulsory to all public employees.
Ministry of National Languages and Social Integration announced that the employees who joined the public service from the 1st July 2007 should obtain the proficiency certificate for the second language before the end of 2012.
The Department of Official Languages in collaboration with the Department of Examinations will conduct examinations regarding language proficiency.
The public employees who fail to qualify in second language proficiency will be subjected to the suspension of Salary increments there onwards, the Ministry announced.
The government believes knowledge to communicate in all three languages Sinhala, Tamil and English will aid the reconciliation process between the communities easier.
Isn't it time that Sri Lanka's Parliament tabled a discussion, on behalf of the Sri Lankan Muslims community, of the "Plight of Kashmiri Muslims"?
What is Sri Lanka doing to ALLEVIATE THEIR PLIGHT?
I think IT IS ABOUT TIME!
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SL Tamils: Ministers Discuss Strategy for Parliament
OutlookIndia.com
August 22, 2011
With the issue of Sri Lankan Tamils slated to be discussed in Lok Sabha tomorrow, senior ministers today held a meeting to discuss the government's stand on the matter.
The meeting attended by Home Minister P Chidambaram, Law Minister Salman Khurshid and Minister of State for Personnel V Narayanasamy discussed the issue as also certain bills likely to be taken up.
Several MPs are eager to express their sentiments on the plight of Tamils in Sri Lanka through a discussion in the House.
On August 16, DMK leader T R Baalu had initiated the discussion on the steps taken by the Centre for relief and resettlement of Tamils in Sri Lanka and other measures to promote their welfare.
Since the House was adjourned, the discussion will resume tomorrow.
Let’s depict the true picture: MR
DailyMirror.lk
August 22, 2011
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has stressed on the need for a concerted mechanism by the Sri Lankan diaspora to quell the misinformation campaign against Sri Lanka by various international forces.
During a discussion with a group of Sri Lankans now domiciled in Australia and Europe at Temple Trees on Saturday The President said there must be an effective programme to counter allegations and the disinformation campaign that has been launched by LTTE-front organizations mainly in the Western countries.
The President also hailed the Sri Lankans in foreign countries who toiled to disseminate information that depicted the true picture of the on-goings in the country.
After considering so many issues in this regard the group agreed with the President that a more dynamic and comprehensive mechanism had to be developed to counter allegations against the country and the Government.
It appears that former LTTE cadre "rehabilitated" and "released" have reverted to their old terrorist ways. This must be CRUSHED ... NOW!
Those committing all acts of terror ... including "GREASE DEVIL" activities and VIGILANTE ACTION against suspected Grease Devils ... should be PROSECUTED & PUNISHED to the FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW.
Furthermore, a THREE STRIKES AND YOU ARE OUT LAW should be enacted against repeated offenders to imprison repeat offenders for life at hard labor, and made RETROACTIVE to their last terrorist offence to corral rehabilitated and released LTTE cadre.
In California, the Three Strikes Law mandates IMPRISONMENT FOR LIFE the third time a person commits any crime, misdemeanor or felony, within the state.
Such a law should be enacted in Sri Lanka with the proviso of IMPRISONMENT AT HARD LABOR added in to ensure that the criminals are TRULY PUNISHED while in prison. Their stay in prison should not become a government supported free feeding program; they must be made to EARN THEIR KEEP.
Finally, the THREE STRIKES LAW should be WIDELY PUBLICIZED to DETER these TERRORISTS.
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Hundreds arrested in Sri Lanka's Jaffna city for attacking police post, residents protest
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Aug 23, Jaffna: Residents in Sri Lanka's Northern city of Jaffna today held a protest today against the arrest of about 100 persons in the Navanthurai area following a clash between villagers and the army.
The protest was reportedly held outside the Human Rights office in Jaffna by parents and relatives of the persons arrested by the police during the clash.
Nearly 100 persons were taken into custody in Navanthurai, Jaffna for attacking a security check point in the area last night, Police spokesman SP Prishantha Jayakody said.
The protesting family members have called for the release of their loved ones from police custody.
People armed with clubs had taken to the streets protesting against a 'Grease Devil' who had entered their village.
The angry protestors had been engaged in an argument with the police when several army trucks had arrived at the scene. The police had made the arrest when the mob had attacked the army trucks.
The defense sources are now in the belief that terrorist elements are prompting attacks on the police and Army under the cover of 'Grease Devils' as the phenomenon is mostly spread in the East and the North.
A policeman was beaten to death in the northwest coastal town of Puttalam on Sunday by a mob for rescuing a suspected 'Grease Devil' from their attack.
Few days ago the Navy camp in Kinniya of Trincomalee in the East came under attack from a large mob when the villagers charged that the Navy camp is sheltering two 'Grease Devils'. The mob also attacked the police, which arrived at the scene to control the situation.
Sri Lanka has been gripped with the fear of 'Grease Devils' for the past few days. Prowlers, only clad in underwear and with grease applied on them to avoid being caught, have been terrorizing women in several rural areas of the country.
Yes, indeed!
It is the Police and the Armed Forces who protect law-abiding innocent citizens; any violence directed against the forces of law and order must be CONFRONTED & PUNISHED IMMEDIATELY.
Any MP who presumes to speak on behalf of these ANTI-NATIONAL CRIMINALS should be drummed out of his position, for he has violated his oath to uphold the law.
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Police vow to apprehend cop killers
Island.lk
August 22, 2011
The police yesterday vowed to apprehend those responsible for killing 30-year-old police constable Navaratne Bandara (61006) close to Palavi junction in the Puttalam police division on Monday (21).
Police headquarters spokesman SP Prishantha Jayakody said that a mob had targeted him shortly after he rescued a person who was being attacked near Palavi junction. According to him, the gang had pounced on him after the rescued person was taken by the police to the local police station. However, the mob had cut the police officer with swords in spite of him pleading with them to leave him alone.
IGP N. K. Illangakoon yesterday visited Puttalam to evaluate the security situation and explore ways and means to thwarting a possible fresh outbreak of violence.
The police emphasized that additional personnel had been moved into troubled areas as part of the overall measures to meet any eventuality. The military, too, deployed troops along with armoured personnel carriers at Puttalam to bolster the police.
Senior police and military officials said that tough security measures were needed to quell disturbances in the wake of intelligence reports pertaining to certain extremist elements propagating violence. They said counter measures were needed urgently regardless of political consequences. Failure to take whatever the measures needed to put down this nonsense could cause a catastrophic situation, one official said.(SF)
Mosques to get military protection
By Rifthi Ali
DailyMirror.lk
August 23, 2011
Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday ordered the military to provide special security to all mosques in the country in the nights, during the month of Ramazan with immediate effect.
He gave this direction following a meeting with representatives of the All Ceylon Jamiyathul Ullama (ACJU) led by Ash-Shaikh M.I.M.Mubark and the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka (MCSL) led by N.M.Ameen yesterday.
Meanwhile, the Defence Secretary is due to meet ACJU representatives and Mosque federations in Ampara, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Kurunegala, Kandy and Puttalam today. Mr. Rajapaksa said the government had no necessity to send grease devils to extend emergency regualtions in the country.
MCNS alerts on consequences:
Violators of law warned
*No basis to monster myth *Puttalam calm after PC killing *Criminals taking advantage
By Sandasen MARASINGHE
DailyNews.lk
August 23, 2011
The government will take legal action against those who take the law into their hands, damage public property and assault public officials, Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) Director General Lakshman Hulugalle said yesterday.
He said that certain groups are trying to change the existing peaceful environment in the country earned after a great effort, by attempting to create a commotion.
Hulugalle added that those who mislead the public would also be dealt with by law.
Hulugalle told the Daily News that it seemed some groups were getting organized in several areas and assaulted Police officers and security forces’ camps, taking the law into their hands which is also a crime under law.
He said that nobody can take the law into their hand in the name of a mythical creature that does not exist and commit crimes such as murder police officers or assault civilians and damage public property.
He added that nobody can assault, injure, hack or kill any one entering a village though he may be a stranger.
Hulugalle also stated that criminals like rapists and thieves etc are taking advantage of this situation and appealed to the public to act intelligently. Referring to the murder of a Police officer in Puttalam, Hulugalle said that it was pathetic that the police officers who visit areas to investigate complaints made by the people in the same area, have to suffer such a fate in the hands of these same people.
“How could the Police conduct investigations into these so-called unwanted elements when the people in those areas assault and kill the police officers.” He added that the same people complain that the police have failed to solve the problem. Hulugalle said the Police arrested the situation in Kahawatte.
“There was no ‘Grease Monster’. All rumours were initiated by a woman’s narration to her husband, who had a paramour. She had told her husband that she was thrown away by a mythical creature out of the house.” Hulugalle said that but the medical reports proved that she had a clandestine affair with some one else were which she admitted to the Police later.
Military Spokesman Brigadier Nihal Hapuarachchi said that normality had been restored in Puttalam. “People are attending to their day today activities. The Army and Police, including the STF are patrolling the area,” he said.
Interesting IDEA: Plant crops between Maha and Yala seasons.
The intermediate crop plant type should be selected not only to match the rainfall and temperature variation patterns during these periods, but also to fix nitrogen from the air in their root systems and FERTILIZE and ENRICH the soil as well.
In this way, in addition to producing up to two additional harvests of the intermediate crop, it can reduce the need for external supplements of fertilizer for the Maha and Yala crops.
Certain plants fix nitrogen captured from the air in their root systems; this is the basis of their enriching and soil fertilization through CROP ROTATION.
As a backyard vegetable and fruit farmer, I try to use this technique myself, albeit on a small scale.
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Sri Lanka to introduce cultivation of mid-season supplementary food crops
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Aug 23, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government has decided to introduce the cultivation of mid-season supplementary food crops after the Yala paddy harvest.
The Agriculture Ministry is to initiate the mid-season supplementary food crop cultivation from this year between the two main harvesting Yala and Maha seasons for paddy in the year.
Agriculture Ministry Secretary W. A. Karunatilake has told the media that most of the paddy lands remain uncultivated during the period between the two seasons.
He has said there were a few months between the two paddy harvesting seasons and the Ministry was looking at introducing the cultivation of green gram during the period in-between.
He has added that the initial plan is to cultivate green gram as a mid-season crop in 10,000 hectares of paddy land.
According to Karunatilake, the seeds are to be sown in paddy fields soon after the harvesting of the Yala season.
Bravo, Defence Secretary, Mr. Gothabaya Rajapaksa!
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Maximum punishment for unlawful groups, Sri Lanka Defence Secretary vows
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Aug 23, Colombo: Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said the government and the security forces have no connection with the incidents of mythical 'Grease Devils'.
Following a special meeting held with the Muslim religious leaders of the East, the Defence Secretary said the government and the security forces are attempting to establish lasting peace in the country following the defeat of terrorism and have no intention to destabilize the prevailing peaceful situation in by tolerating such crimes.
The Defence Secretary said the security forces are dedicated to establish the peace in the country because they are the most affected by the unruly incidents.
Referring to the killing of a police officer in Puttalam and the attack on a Navy camp in Kinniya recently, the Secretary said stern actions will be taken against such unlawful groups as taking law into their own hands is similar to supporting terrorism.
The Defence Secretary urged the Muslim leaders to convey the message to their people that surrounding camps of security forces and attacking law enforcement institutions are akin to terrorist acts and the government will impose maximum punishment on those who violates the law.
"Therefore please tell your people not to engage in such things and believe rumours, most of the people are innocent but there are few behind these incidents," he has said.
Dismissing the rumours spread throughout the country that the government is behind the 'Grease Devil' attacks to prolong the Emergency Regulations, Rajapaksa said, only President takes decisions with regard to the extension of state of emergency and he has no intention to extend it to suit the needs of the America, Britain, India or any other country.
"The President only decides to extend the law of emergency considering the prevailing security situation in the island. The President is responsible only for the parliament and the public of the country," Rajapaksa said.
EVERYONE who participated in this attack should be arrested, prosecuted, fined and imprisoned.
There MUST BE PENALTIES for breaking the law and causing civil discord!
Releasing the A-Level students on "compassionate grounds" was a MISTAKE!
Law breakers MUST FEEL THE PAIN!
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Army thwarts ‘Pongu Thamil’ style raid on Jaffna detachment - Students among attackers
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Island.lk
August 23, 2011
The Army on Monday night (22) thwarted a ‘Pongu-Thamil’ style attack on an army detachment at Navanthurai, Jaffna by civilians demanding the immediate handing over of a ‘grease yaka,’ taking refuge there.
At the behest of the LTTE, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) launched a ‘Pongu Thamil’ protest campaign in the immediate aftermath of Feb. 2002 Oslo-arranged Ceasefire Agreement. Under ‘Pongu Thamil’ banner, civilians, including hundreds of students launched violent protests targeting the military and police in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.
Mobs struck in Jaffna in the wake of disturbances in some parts of the East and Puttalam, where unruly group of civilians went on the rampage causing damage to public property. A senior military official told The Island that troops acted swiftly and decisively to quell the protest leading to the arrest of 102 persons, including two Advanced Level students.
The official said that the two students were released on compassionate grounds to sit for the examination. The remaining persons were to be produced before Jaffna Magistrate’s Court.
Security Forces Commander Jaffna Maj. Gen. Mahinda Hathurusinghe told The Island that a large group of civilians armed with clubs and swords had blocked the entrance of the Navanthurai detachment at 10. 30 a.m. "Troops weren’t initially aware of that they were being accused of harbouring a ‘grease yaka’. We alerted the police and took immediate steps to neutralize the threat," the Jaffna Commander said.
The Defence Ministry said that those bent on destabilizing post-war recovery efforts were taking advantage of ‘grease yaka’ myth to wreak chaos.
Navy headquarters said that a major destabilization effort was underway to pit civilians against the police and the military.
These are Tamil Tiger Tactics.
The "Grease Devils" and the "Vigilantes" are acting in collusion to break the law and attack the Security Forces.
ARREST all of them, PROSECUTE them, CONFISCATE their ASSETS, and THROW them in PRISON at HARD LABOR!
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Unrest spreads over night attacks by Sri Lankan 'grease devils'
Guardian.co.uk
August 23, 2011
Vigilantes attempt to stop nocturnal prowlers blamed for murders, assaults and thefts
More than 40 incidents involving "grease devils" – nocturnal prowlers blamed for assaults and thefts – are being investigated as locals Sri Lankans take the law into their owns hands, chasing the perpetrators vigilante-style.
In the latest clash, in Jaffna, police arrested more than 100 people who threw rocks at authorities after they tried to stop them chasing grease devils. Twenty-two people were hurt. At least five people, including a police officer, have been killed in two weeks, prompting deployment of the army.
According to tradition, a grease devil was a thief who wore only underwear and smeared grease over his body to evade capture. The term is now used for night-time assailants following a series of ultimately unrelated murders of elderly women.
The latest clash, in the military-controlled northern city of Jaffna, followed a familiar pattern. People chased unidentified men thought to be grease devils, and then threw rocks at security forces who stopped them from pursuit.
"When the police searched the area for grease devils, people reacted angrily. So police took 100 people for questioning," said military spokesman Brigadier Nihal Hapuarachchi. A total of 102 were later arrested.
Nevin Pathmadeva, senior superintendent of police in Jaffna, said 22 people including four police officers were injured.
Three residents told Reuters the army shot into the air when they tried to chase the men, who ran into a nearby military camp. Police and soldiers later beat them with batons.
"I saw black-coloured grease men with bare bodies and underwear running into the army camp when the military blocked us from chasing them," one of the three residents told Reuters.
All three spoke on condition of anonymity, for fear of angering the authorities. The government has warned of severe punishment for anyone spreading grease devil rumours.
Jaffna has been under military control since 1995, when the army wrested it back from the Tamil Tiger separatists. Sri Lanka defeated the Tigers in May 2009, ending a 25-year civil war.
Defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President Mahinda Rajapaksa's younger brother and a decorated infantry officer who was the architect of the victory, said the security forces had nothing to do with the grease devil violence.
"Surrounding military camps and attacking the forces are terrorist acts. Our forces are capable of facing any threat after facing a 30-year brutal terrorist war. So do not try to joke with the forces," he said at a meeting with leaders of mosques, which the government has said it will protect.
Sri Lanka has suffered from a widespread impunity that flourished amid the three insurgencies since 1971 – public anger at ineffective policing has frequently turned violent.
"People in frustration have sought to take law in to their own hands," said the Women's Action Network, a body of women's groups working with victims of sexual violence in northern and eastern Sri Lanka, in a statement.
EXCELLENT!
Now PROSECUTE them, CONVICT them, FINE them, and IMPRISON them at HARD LABOR!
PUNISHMENT must be CERTAIN, SWIFT and PAINFUL for DETERRENCE!
The LIVES of INNOCENT LAW-ABIDING citizens is at stake!
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Twenty five held over PC’s killing
By Suraj A Bandara
DailyNews.lk
August 24, 2011
Around 25 suspects were arrested over the killing of Police Sergeant Nawarathna Bandara who was attached to the Puttalam Police traffic unit, Puttalam Police sources said.
Around 15 suspects were arrested in connection with the murder, while 10 were arrested over their involvement in the commotion.
The Police recorded statements from around 100 persons in connection with the incident. Police are investigating how a large number of people were mobilized to attack the Security Forces members suddenly with swords and clubs.
Puttalam district DIG Ravi Wijegunawardena said the tense situation in the district has been brought completely under control and Army and STF have been deployed to normalize the area and assist the Police.
No mercy for Rajiv Gandhi killers from Jayalalitha
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Aug 29 (DNA) The three LTTE activists sentenced to death for their role in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination suffered a major setback on Monday with chief minister Jayalalithaa washing her hands off their plea.
"Only the President of India has the authority to commute death sentence. Its beyond my powers," she told the Assembly on Monday while intervening in a discussion on the issue.
Murugan, Santhan and Perarivalan, the three accused in the case and whose clemency petition was turned down by the President had rushed a last minute letter to the chief minister pleading to save them from the gallows.
With Jayalalithaa declaring her stance on the issue, the only hope the LTTE assassins have is their plea to the Madras High Court. Elsewhere in the state, Tamil chauvanist forces are indertaking fast and demonstartions in support of the convicts who are expected to be hanged on September 9.
Those all out to save Gandhi’s killers want GoSL punished for ‘war crimes’ – ex-Foreign Minister
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Island.lk
August 29, 2011
Former Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama yesterday said that the ongoing protests aimed at saving those facing the hangman for their role in Gandhi assassination was manifestation of now desperate tactics of those supporting the LTTE’s cause.
In a brief interview with The Island, Bogollagama said that those demanding freedom for three persons-two Sri Lankans and one Indian Tamil found guilty of Gandhi assassination wanted to haul Sri Lanka up before an international war crimes tribunal on the basis of unsubstantiated and controversial ‘Darusman report’ and ‘Sri LankaKilling Fields.’
Bogollagama alleged some Tamil Nadu groups and various other interested parties were obviously playing politics at the expense of India and its judiciary. Responding to a query, the former Kurunegala District MP said that in spite of some political groups based in Tamil Nadu and so-called civil society groups taking up LTTE’s cause, Sri Lankan activists so far remained silent on the issue.
"Don’t forget two of the convicts are Sri Lankan Tamils and key members of the LTTE during its heyday.
Will those Sri Lankan politicians supportive of the LTTE urge India to reconsider its decision. The bottom line is that whether India can afford to give in to pressure and call off the decision to execute those found guilty of a major international terrorist act," Bogollagama said. The politician warned of the possibility of the LTTE expanding its protest campaign to Western capitals as part of their strategy to save those facing the hangman on Sept. 9. "Their tactics are the same," Bogollagama said, recalling massive protests in the UK, Canada and several other countries in the run-up to the final confrontation between the Sri Lankan Army and the LTTE on the banks of the Nanthikadal lagoon.
Bogollagama said that the international community needed to examine the strategies of terrorists and their sponsors and take remedial action. According to the former minister, who held key positions in both UNP and UPFA governments, like many other operations the ongoing protests in Tamil Nadu, too, heavily depend on a section of the media. "A case in point is the UK media operation directed at Sri Lanka. The Channel 4 News at the behest of the LTTE produced ‘Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields’ for telecast by Channel 4."
Those all out to save Gandhi’s killers want GoSL punished for ‘war crimes’ – ex-Foreign Minister
......continued .....
Bogollagama said that some Tamil Nadu politicians demanded economic sanctions against Sri Lanka following the telecast of ‘Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields’ last June, whereas they wanted those responsible for a major political assassination spared. The HR groups, which regularly criticized elected governments for meeting the challenge of terrorism should reveal their position on the campaign to save those convicted of Gandhi’s assassination, Bogollagama said.
Referring to recent riots in the UK, Bogollagama recalled how during a demonstration in Dec 2010 over sharp tuition fee hikes, protesters ambushed Rolls Royce carrying Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall. They also targeted a Jaguar carrying bodyguards tailing the Rolls Royce.
The former MP said failure on the part of governments to deal with those who believed they could get away with anything could cause security chaos all over the world. Bogollagama said that those right-wing supporters of the Norwegian who massacred almost 80 persons, including children, could inspire large scale protests.
India couldn’t be afford to be soft on terrorists, Bogollagama said, while asserting politics shouldn’t be allowed to override what he called a purely a judicial issue.
Commenting on the government of Sri Lanka lifting the state of emergency recently, Bogollagama said that those who hailed that decision conveniently forget to mention that doing away with such draconian laws was made possible by the Sri Lankan military. Had they failed on the battle-front, the emergency would never have been lifted, the former Minister said.
Minister Peiris tells diplomats: Post-war development at a pace in North
By Rasika Somarathana
DailyNews.lk
August 30, 2011
*Political institutions resurrected
*Appreciates contribution by int’l community
Despite challenges, the government has been able to achieve impressive and sustained progress in developing the former conflict-torn North, both socially and economically, External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L.Peiris told the diplomatic community.
“Most impressive here is the pace of development carried out during the short span of two and a half years since the Lankan conflict ended,” he said while giving a detailed report on the progress of development work in the area.
Addressing foreign diplomats in Colombo recently, the minister said that the government had also been able to establish civil administration and resurrect political institutions in the area which were dormant for the major part of the last 30 years due to acts of terrorism.
He said that this exercise would be completed with the holding of Provincial Council elections in the North, most probably early next year.
Prof Peiris noted that the government appreciates the contribution made by the international community and other organizations in various development initiatives.
According to the report given to diplomats, compiled by the Presidential Task Force for Resettlement, Development, and Security in the Northern Province, 420,888 people have been resettled in the area, since the end of conflict. No welfare centres in other districts remain other than two in Manic farm.
The remaining IDPs in Manic farm too are to be resettled shortly.
Some of the other highlights regarding development in the area are, the repairs to over 24,500 houses or newly built ones. The government with the assistance of other organizations plans to build 73,044 houses in the area.
”With government assistance farmers have been able to cultivate 75 percent of the paddy lands which were abandoned in the north due to the conflict. In the last two and a half years, farmers have cultivated 136,000 acres out of 180,000 acres which remained abandoned when the conflict ended,” he said.
Among the most impressive progress made have been witnessed in the health and education sectors. The government has spent over Rs. 2.6 billion to repair hospitals, build new ones and provide equipment and drugs. Almost all the major hospitals and small and medium scale medical centres have been repaired. New ones have been built at identified locations.
Minister Peiris tells diplomats: Post-war development at a pace in North
.....continued.....
In the north, out of 1020 schools, 900 are functioning. However arrangements have been made for students in schools that are not functioning to follow classes in alternate locations. As of 2010, over 220,000 were studying in schools with nearly 14,000 teachers to assist them. The government has invested over Rs. 1.2 billion in the education sector so far.
Prof. Peiris told diplomats that the government was the one which has invested the most on road development in post independence Sri Lanka. In the north too, the government has invested nearly US $ 490 million to construct 512 Kms of major roads.
”In the rehabilitation of northern railways, the government has invested US $ 652.4 million to construct 252 kms of rail roads. On the rehabilitation of reservoirs and large and medium scale irrigation schemes the government has invested nearly Rs. 01 billion to supplement over 100 schemes,” the minister said.
Impressive growth rates too have been recorded in food crops cultivation and livestock development.
In the black gram cultivation a 115 percent increase has been recorded, followed by green gram (70 percent increase), ground nut (84 percent increase), red onion (69 percent increase) and cow pea (47 percent increase).
In the livestock sector 40 per cent of the annual requirement needed is produced within the province at present. According to predictions, the province is slated to achieve self-sufficiency in livestock production within the next few years.
Some of the major projects in the north are rehabilitation of KKS harbour, rehabilitation of Palali airport runway, reconstruction of major bridges such as sangupiddy, Mannar etc and the construction of Kokavil transmission tower, the minister said.
PROSECUTION of TRO members who aided and abetted LTTE terror should be UNRELENTING!
FIND THEM ... Leave no stone unturned!
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Arrest warrants on absconding TRO members
By Jayantha de Silva
Island.lk
August 29, 2011
Colombo High Court Judge Deepali Wijesundera yesterday issued warrants on several members of Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation who had been absconding from cases pending against them in the High Court for providing funds , aiding and abetting the proscribed LTTE.
The Judge ordered to initiate action against all accused under the section 241of the Penal Code.
The accused are Vellupillai Sivanadiar, Murugesu Shanmugaraja, kanthilingam Prem Regie, Kathiravelu Ganeshalingam, Eliyathambi Nadaraja, Balasubaramanium Sri Kandaraja, Komaliyan Prabakaran, Kandiah Kunjipadan, S.G.Jojanas , T,Raymond and K. Thevarasa.
Introducing New Laws under the POTA is good, but ENFORCEMENT of POTA & TREASON Laws already on the books is the MORE URGENT NEED!
The Tiger Nominated Agents of the TNA are running around pretending to be "dem ocratic politicians" escaping PROSECUTION for past misdeeds, engaging in more TREASON plotting with foreign powers, and destabilizing the nation again with their underground activities.
Letting them get away with their past TREASON was the FIRST mistake.
Allowing them to pose as legitimate political leaders who collaborate with foreign powers is the SECOND mistake.
Gradually, the Tamil people are being COWED into fearful subservience to the TNA, as in the days of the Sun God.
Let us LEARN from how the USA controlled the resurgence of Confederate separatism after the US Civil War, and PUNISH all covert and overt TRAITORS by ENFORCING the laws of the land!
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Sri Lanka to bring in new laws to deal with LTTE as emergency rule ends today
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Aug 31, Colombo: Sri Lanka is considering enacting new laws under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) to handle possible future and past terrorist activities by the defunct terror group LTTE as the emergency regulations that were imposed on and off for the past 30 years cease to be in operation from today.
Sri Lanka's Attorney General Mohan Peiris has told the media today that President Mahinda Rajapaksa is to declare four regulations under section 27 of PTA to handle matters related to the terrorist organization in the absence of the emergency law.
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on August 25 proposed to lift the powerful emergency regulations.
The new laws cover the continuous proscription of the terror outfit and its front organization Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), detention of the LTTE suspects and rehabilitation of the LTTE cadres who surrendered.
With the end of emergency regulations the proscription of these terrorist organizations will also end unless the new laws become effective.
The new declarations will come into force as the emergency lapses by midnight today and provide the legal framework to handle the LTTE threats, the Attorney General said.
The government is preparing to present a draft bill to the parliament to enact the new laws in the absence of the emergency law.
The Attorney General has said that the removal of emergency regulations will not result in the release of some 6,000 persons detained under the emergency regulations and their release or prosecution is to be decided case by case.
Let us now INVESTIGATE the terrorist/political affiliations of these "Grease Devils"!
Who wants to bet that they are Eelamists?
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Jaffna Kovil robbers caught red-handed
By Sandasen MARASINGHE
DailyNews.lk
September 01, 2011
Six youths who were involved in breaking into six Kovils in various parts of Jaffna were caught red-handed by the Army, when the culprits were attempting to remove valuables from the Inuvil Kanthaswamy Hindu Kovil, disproving an allegation levelled against the Security Forces.
Some of the Kovil items recovered
Senior Superintendent of Police Jaffna Nevin Padmadeva told the Daily News that the Police also recovered brassware worth Rs two million that was robbed by these gangsters from only one Kovil.
He also stated that a Pusari (priest of a Kovil) told the Police that earlier, they thought these robberies were committed by persons attached to Security Forces. He added that the priests felt very sorry to find that these henious crimes were committed by a few organized gangsters in their own area.
SSP Padmadeva further stated that the criminals themselves and some other groups are spreading rumours tarnishing the image of the Security Forces when such a crime is committed. The Police received many complaints about these kovil robberies, but, did not mention anything about suspicious persons.
The gang was caught by Army personnel serving in Chunnakam area with the assistance of civilians and handed over to the Chunnakam Police. The suspects were between ages of 17 to 25.
SSP Padmadeva said that inquiries revealed that the suspects had engaged in a series of thefts in addition to robbing valuables, such as gold and brassware from Hindu Kovils.
He added that the suspects had involved in robberies at the Siththankerny Sivam Kovil, Mullai Vairavar Kovil, Muththukumar Maheswari Kovil in Waddukkoddai, Ponnali Siththivinayagar Kovil and Chankanai Kudaththu Manomani Kovil.
Police are on the look out for two other suspects involved in the Kovil robberies. Police also investigating to find out the other items stolen by these thieves.
The suspects were produced before the Mallakam Magistrate and were remanded till September 12.
Further investigations are being conducted by Chunnakam Police OIC IP Chinthaka Bandara on the directions of Senior Superintendent of Police Nevin Padmadeva under the supervision of Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police - Northern Province Gamini de Silva.
FINALLY, a leading Indian Government Official voices the TRUTH:
A Nation's territory and territorial waters MUST BE HELD INVIOLATE!
What applies to India,
Must apply to Sri Lanka as well!
............
Lankan Daily Praises Krishna Over Fishing Issue
OutlookIndia.com
August 31, 2011
A leading Sri Lankan daily today praised on External affairs minister S M Krishna, days after he said Kachchathivu islet was Lankan territory and the Indian fishermen had no right to do fishing there.
With an editorial captioned "Let's pay tribute to India for reconfirming Sri Lanka's hold on Kachchathivu", 'Lankadeepa', one of largest Sinhala language daily said, "Sri Lanka ought to express its happiness and praise to the Indian minister for such a diplomatic statement".
Reffering to the Indo-Sri Lanka agreements in 1974 and 1976, Krishna had said in Lok Sabha recently that Kachchativu Island lies on the Sri Lankan side of the maritime boundary.
He had said Indian fishermen have access to visit the "Island for rest, for drying of nets and for the annual St Anthony's Festival, and that the rights do not cover fishing around Kachchativu Island".
Lankadeepa opines that Krishna's comments over Kachchathivu was a reflection of how New Delhi valued the friendly relations with its southern neighbour.
Sri Lankan leaders need to reciprocate such friendly gestures with appropriate responses, the paper says.
Rajiva Wijesinha denies NDTV report on war crimes allegations against Sri Lanka army personnel
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Sept 01, Colombo: Sri Lankan parliamentarian and Adviser on Reconciliation to the President Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha today denied an Indian media report which said he admitted that some army personnel may be guilty of alleged war crimes during the last phase of the war with LTTE.
Wijesinha has told the local Daily Mirror that he did not make any such statements.
"I did not say anyone was found guilty of killing civilians during the final phase of the war. In fact I pointed out that the general allegations about indiscriminate attacks on civilians were easily shown to be exaggerated if not false," Daily Mirror quoted the MP.
India's NDTV reported that according to Wijesinha some army personnel have been found guilty of killing civilians during the final phase of the war against the LTTE, and accordingly action will be taken against them.
The NDTV said Wijesinha has revealed that the LLRC has already made some reports calling for potential indictment of some army personnel.
"I said nothing categorical about LLRC decisions because these are not in the public domain except for the initial recommendations," Wijesinha told the Daily Mirror.
According to the NDTV report, Wijesinha has said that someone has been indicted in the Eastern Province where there is impunity.
"But we are not going to make the trial public. We are not going to make a song and dance of it," NDTV quoted Wijesinha.
Wijesinha has denied saying there is impunity in the Eastern Province.
"I obviously did not say there was impunity in the Eastern Province, I said there were allegations that there had been impunity, and said those allegations were wrong for the reason I then gave," he told the Daily Mirror.
Wijesinha has also noted that there should be an investigation on the "white flag" story, NDTV reported. He has expressed hope that the LLRC would recommend an investigation into the incident.
SIX Sri Lankan Universities (Colombo, Peradeniya, Moratuwa, Ruhuna, Kelaniya and Sri Jayawardenapura) to be upgraded to World Class Standards.
Criteria to include:
1. Publications in world class peer-reviewed journals,
2. Foreign student intake,
3. Foreign academic teaching,
4. Production of globally employable graduates
Jayawewa!
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Sri Lanka's Higher Education Ministry to upgrade six local universities to fit world standards
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Sept 01, Colombo: The Higher Education Ministry of Sri Lanka is to upgrade six local universities in order to achieve top ranks in the world university rankings.
The infrastructure, curriculum and foreign student intake in the Colombo, Peradeniya, Moratuwa, Ruhuna, Kelaniya and Sri Jayawardenapura universities are to be upgraded within the next few years.
Higher Education Ministry Secretary, Dr. Sunil Navaratne has said the main objective of the programme is to receive ranks above 1,000 in the world renowned university ranking systems.
Local universities are currently ranked at 3,500-5,000 range in world rankings.
Dr. Navaratne has said that there are several criteria to be fulfilled in order to achieve a rank above 1,000.
The universities must have publications in world class peer-reviewed journals, foreign student intake, and foreign academic teaching. Also the university should produce globally employable graduates, he has noted.
There are reportedly three well known university rankings - Webometrics, QS World University Ranking and Times Higher Education ranking.
According to the Webometrics ranking, Peradeniya University is ranked at 2,220, Colombo at 2,240, Moratuwa at 2,573, Ruhuna at 3,514, Open University at 5,988, Jayawardenapura at 6,382 and Kelaniya at 6,594.
Vavuniya GA blasts BBC for twisting war-related news
Island.lk
September 01, 2011
Vavuniya Government Agent P. S. M. Charles yesterday blasted the BBC for twisting war-related news to compromise the national reconciliation process. An irate Ms Charles said that a calculated attempt was being made to deceive people living here and abroad regarding the number of missing in Sri Lanka during eelam war IV.
Responding to a query, Ms Charles said that BBC Tamil Service posted an unsubstantiated report captioned "1,000 children 'still missing' since war" on its website on Aug. 29 in spite of her briefing the BBC's local correspondent regarding progress made by a Family Tracing and Reunification (FTR) Unit with the support of the UNICEF. She said that information provided by her had been used to propagate a lie that nearly 1,000 children reported missing during the final phase of the war were still unaccounted for.
Ms Charles said that when it was alleged that nearly 1,000 children disappeared during the final phase of the conflict she would like to know what exactly the media meant by 'final phase.' Was it a reference to the fighting from January to May 2009 after the fall of Kilinochchi or a longer period," Ms Charles said.
"The FTR activity spearheaded by the UNICEF was launched following a spate of complaints received by me and the Probation and Childcare Commissioner in charge of the Northern Province. In fact, the process began at the end of the conflict in May 2009. The FTR received only 2,564 tracing applications up to June 30, 2011. Of them 676 related to missing children," Ms Charles said.
Based on complaints received by the FTR unit, UNICEF said that 64 per cent of the complaints regarding missing children were lodged by parents who accused the LTTE of conscripting them.
The UNICEF recently handed over a copy of its report to Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. The government made available a copy of the report to British Defence Secretary Dr. Liam Fox when he visited Colombo to deliver the Kadirgamar memorial lecture.
Ms Charles said that since the conclusion of the conflict they had been able to locate many of those missing children. Among them was a child missing for the past 15 years, she said.
The official expressed confidence that more missing persons could be found with the help of various government and non-government agencies involved in the process.
Ms Charles said that anyone wanting to make further inquiries could get in touch with the UNICEF in Colombo.
Courtesy : The Island
Ultimately, this expressway should extend ALL AROUND THE ISLAND in a continuous loop, from Colombo to Matara, Hambantota Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Mullaitivu, Paranthan, Pooneryn, Mannar, Puttalam, and Negombo back to Colombo.
This will form an OUTER BELTWAY WHEEL around the entire island.
It should be supplemented by an INNER BELTWAY ringing the HILL COUNTRY and tying together interior cities such as Kegalle, Ratnapura, Madampe, Haputale, Moneragala, Polonnaruva, and Kurunegala back to Kegalle.
A set of RADIAL EXPRESSWAY SPOKES should tie these two EXPRESSWAY BELTWAYS to each other, and to two WHEEL HUBS located at Kandy and Anuradhapura. Anuradhapura will serve as the Northern EXPRESSWAY HUb, while Kandy will serve as the Southern EXPRESSWAY HUB. In this way, the entire island will be linked by a network of high-speed expressways to enable quick and efficient access to any part of the island, without the cost and delays associated with traffic congestion on ordinary roads.
Many segments of these new EXPRESSWAYS can run PARALLEL to EXISTING non-expressway roads which will serve to feed traffic to the toll expressways for long-distance travel.
Developing expressways parallel to existing roads will facilitate and minimize costs of land acquisition for this purpose, while enabling easy access from the feeder roads that directly serve private residences and businesses.
I am certain the current GOSL shares this VISION ... which will be implemented as the economy grows and the funds become available in the future.
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Sri Lanka's first expressway to be extended to Hambanthota
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Sept 01, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government has decided to extend its first expressway now completed between Colombo and Galle to Hambanthota in the deep South.
Deputy Minister of Highways Nirmala Kotalawala has said that the government has decided to extend the Southern highway to Hambanthota and a feasibility study is being done in this regard.
The toll highway completed from Kottawa in Colombo district to Pinnaduwa in Galle district will be extended to Matara in the second phase of the highway construction project. The work on the second phase will commence next year, the Minister has said adding that extension to Hambanthota will also be started at the same time.
The authorities have finished acquiring that land from Galle to Matara for the highway and payment of compensation to those concerned has already begun, the Minister has revealed.
The government expects to complete the Galle - Matara segment by 2013.
The Minister has also noted that there is a delay in opening the already completed Kottawa - Pinnaduwa section as there are some minor works need to be done including the completion of signaling and access points..
Hambanthota is fast developing and the government hopes to win a bid to host the Commonwealth Games there in 2018.
A harbor with bunkering facilities has already been built while construction work is in progress to build the country's second international airport. Among other development projects is the construction of a 300-key city resort in Hambanthota by the Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Asia Limited.
ALL LIES!
This bare-faced LIAR, Seenithambi Yogeswaran, of the Sri Lankan Tamil National Council, should be PROSECUTED for DEFAMING the GOSL.
He should be required to provide IRREFUTABLE PROOF in COURT that the events he is claiming are true.
If they are untrue, he should be CONVICTED and IMPRISONED for inciting COMMUNAL violence, and DEFAMATION of the GOSL.
Being a Member of Parliament does not absolve him of his responsibilities as a Sri Lankan citizen.
In fact, being an MP only HOLDS HIM TO A HIGHER STANDARD OF ETHICAL CONDUCT.
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Lanka building Buddhist viharas in place of temples: Lankan MP
Rajapalayam (TN)
September 01, 2011 (PTI)
A Sri Lankan Member of Parliament has charged that the Lankan government was not permitting rebuilding of Hindu temples destroyed or damaged during the war and was instead building Buddhist viharas in their place. "The original structure of the temples are being razed and Buddhist viharas and coming up in their place," claimed Seenithambi Yogeswaran, of the Sri Lankan Tamil National Council, here yesterday. So far, more than 1,400 Hindu temples had been affected, he said, adding the destruction of the temples threatened the culture of the native Tamil people itself. Yogeswaran claimed that even basic amenities had not been provided in areas where the Tamil population lived. He also rejected the Mahinda Rajapaksa government's claim that the civil war had come to an end, saying that so far no political solution had been found for the Tamils. Even the relief materials sent from India were not given to the Tamil people, he alleged. Yogeswaran claimed India had given the Lankan government funds to construct 50,000 houses, but the island nation government had not even completed 1,000 houses. He stressed on the need to implement the Rajiv Gandhi-Jayawardene accord, giving autonomy for Tamil areas.PTI COR/SSN ARP
There is NO END to the affrontery of the Tiger Nominated Agents of the TNA.
Now that the Emergency Regulations have been taken down, they are going after the Prevention of Terrorism Act, so that can resurrect their TERRORISM with IMPUNITY.
In addition, these TRAITORS, UNPUNISHED for their TREASONOUS ACTS in the last 30 years, now want "political prisoners" guilty of SEDITION released!!
Allowing these TRAITORS to go UNPUNISHED is the GREATEST post-war mistake of the Government of Sri Lanka.
The Second Grievous mistake is NOT BANNING Tamil COMMUNAL PARTIES such as the TNA, PLOTE, EPRLF, etc etc ad nauseam, COMMUNAL MUSLIM parties such as the SLMC, and COMMUNAL Sinhala parties such as the JHU.
BAN ALL RACIST COMMUNAL PARTIES from Sri Lankan Society!
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TNA demands repeal of PTA, amnesty for political prisoners
By Pabodha Hettige
Island.lk
September 01, 2011
The government should immediately repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and grant a general amnesty to all the political prisoners and the detained ex LTTE cadres, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) says. "If necessary action is not taken to repeal the PTA it will be a hindrance to the national reconciliation process," TNA MP, M. K. Shivajilingam said.
Not repealing the PTA would suggest that the government was planning to establish a military regime as evident in the northern and eastern regions, he said.
The government allowed the state of emergency to lapse last week ahead of United Nations Human Rights Council confab scheduled to take place in September and the PTA was kept in force.
The PTA was a threat to democracy at a time the Tamil community was ready to accept the concept of a united Sri Lanka, he said.
Shivajilingam also said that there were nearly 800 political prisoners including men, women and children in the custody of the government. The TNA believed that there could be about 10,000 prisoners of war in custody, he said. "The government claims that only about 6,000 are still under arrest and no comments have been made about the remaining 4,000 people," he said.
However according to the reports the government had so far released nearly 5,000 such detainees, he said.
"The government must have lifted the emergency to avoid the pressure from the international community and to demonstrate that a genuine attempt was being taken to address the concerns of the world," Shivajilingam said.
Elephant Census: At 5,879, Sri Lanka has the highest elephant population in South Asia?
More than India, Pakistan or Bangladesh? Hard to believe!
SAD! How SAD it is if all those other big countries have killed off their national treasures!
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Sri Lanka's first elephant census finds over 5,800 elephants in the country
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Sept 02, Colombo: The Wild Life Department of Sri Lanka today announced that the wild elephant survey carried out from August 11 till 14 has revealed that an elephant population of 5,879 currently exist in the country.
Wild Life Minister S.M. Chandrasena told a press conference that 1,107 out of the total 5,879 elephants are baby elephants. The survey has also found 122 tuskers.
The Wild Life Department said the country was divided into seven wild life zones managed by a wild life director and the zones covered the national parks, nature reserves, strict natural reserves and sanctuaries in the country.
The counting of elephants took place at 1,553 centers around the country including the Northern and Eastern Provinces.
The highest number of elephants, 1,751 had been recorded from the Mahaweli zone.
According to the survey results, there are 47 elephants in the Central zone, 1,573 in the Eastern, 1,189 in Wayamba, 1,086 in the South and 223 in the Northern zones.
The Department said the elephants were in a good health condition and that Sri Lanka still recorded the highest elephant population in South Asia.
Sri Lanka count finds more elephants than expected
By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI
September 01, 2011
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — The first national survey of Sri Lanka's wild elephants found more than had been estimated — a sign the endangered species has a healthy, growing population on the Indian Ocean island.
The count conducted last month in forests and wildlife parks found 5,879 wild elephants, of which 122 are tuskers and 1,107 calves, Wildlife Minister S.M. Chandrasena said Friday.
Previous counts did not cover the entire island, but the end of a quarter-century civil war in 2009 opened former war zones to wildlife workers.
The information gathered from the survey will be used to devise plans to protect the endangered species, Wildlife Department Director General H.D. Ratnayake said.
The previous population estimate was 5,350 elephants, he said.
"These statistics show that Sri Lanka's elephants are in good health and that their population is growing," Ratnayake said.
Ratnayake said other details of the survey are still being processed and would be released later.
About 20 wildlife groups withdrew their support of the count, accusing the government of using it as a "smoke screen" for capturing the endangered animals and domesticating some of the young for use in Buddhist temples, tourism and labor.
Their accusation came after Chandrasena was quoted as saying 300 young elephants would be captured and handed over to Buddhist temples after the census. Elephants in elaborate costumes are often used in Buddhist ceremonies where they parade through the streets carrying the sacred relics of the Buddha.
Chandrasena has said he was misquoted and no wild elephants would be captured.
In the early 1900s, an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 elephants roamed wild on this tropical island off southern India. But poaching and the loss of habitat due to human activities such as deforestation for farming have taken their toll.
Wild elephants are increasingly entering villages in search of food, rampaging through houses, destroying crops and killing an estimated 50 people a year.
Around 250 elephants are killed annually, mostly by farmers defending their crops or villages.
The survey was conducted using the method known as "water hole count" and about 4,000 wildlife workers, farmers and villagers were deployed for three days at more than 1,500 locations across the country to survey the elephants as they come to water sources for a drink.
Previous elephant counts were confined to specific regions. One such census, in 1993, found 1,967 elephants, but it excluded the island's north and east, where a civil war was raging at the time. With the war's end in 2009, wildlife officials this time conducted the survey in the former war zones too.
Ripples over alleged chinese spy ship
DailyMirror.lk
September 02, 2011
SL Navy says no suspicious ship in Colombo port
In the latest development over the continuing concern by India over the heavy Chinese involvement and presence in Sri Lanka, the Indian media quoting Indian government sources alleged yesterday that a Chinese spy ship disguised as a fishing trawler which was tracked in the Indian Ocean recently by the Indian Navy had moved towards Sri Lanka and docked at the Colombo port.
According to Indian media reports the ship was detected near the coast of Little Andaman. It is believed that the ship had spent more than 20 days in the sensitive location before Indian radars could locate it.
While the Indian Navy dispatched a ship as soon as the presence of the Chinese spy ship was confirmed, no action could be taken as the vessel was in international waters. However, the Indian Navy ship did tail the Chinese vessel till it move towards Sri Lankan waters. The ship is reported to have docked at Colombo.
It is believed that the ship had as many as 22 laboratories on board.
However, Sri Lanka Navy, which has the full authority every security related matters including the physical inspection of every vessel that is entering Colombo Port denied detection of any suspicious equipment on board Chinese vessels in the recent past.
“We have not found any suspicious equipment on board any Chinese vessels at Colombo port in the recent past as claimed by some media,” Navy Spokesman Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya said.
The Indian media report quoting the Indian Government sources said the Chinese ship had specific aims to map the Indian Ocean and collect Bathymetric data, which helps in submarine and aircraft carrier based operations.
The labs on board the ship are also believed to have been used to collect data on Ocean currents, the temperature at various depths and also underwater obstructions and obstacles. This information becomes crucial if one has to use torpedoes.
Sri Lankan government solving real issues of the war affected Tamils says Minister
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Sept 02, Colombo: Leader of Sri Lanka's National Freedom Front (NFF) and Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa says it is the government, and not the Tamil Diaspora or even some Tamil political parties, that addresses the real needs of the war affected Tamil people.
Speaking during an event to launch a housing project in Mullaitivu, Weerawansa has said that some parliamentarians from the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) were not keen to resolve the issues faced by the Northern Tamil people, as they used the issues for their political survival.
He has said that neither the Tamil Diaspora nor the TNA parliamentarians who raise issues in parliament have done anything to address the real needs of the war affected people in the North.
The first phase of the project to build 50 houses started in Panichchankulam in Mullaitivu Wednesday.
The Housing and Common Amenities Ministry and the Resettlement Ministry have planned to build 200 houses per year in all five districts in the Northern Province.
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