By Hon. Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Secretary of Defence, Sri Lanka
Defence.lk
August 02, 2011
"The false claims and allegations made by Tamil Diaspora together with the LTTE international network will be laid to rest with the release of the factual analysis reports, said Secretary Defence Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa. He expressed these views addressing the gathering at the launching of the report titled "Humanitarian Operation Factual Analysis July 2006 - May 2009," on Monday (Aug 01), at the Hilton Colombo.
Secretary Defence further questioned, "Why should the government, which directly looked after the family of LTTE leaders, kill those who surrendered to the military?"
"The sole purpose of these allegations is to discredit Sri Lanka and disrupt the prevailing peace in the country," he said commenting on the Channel-4 canard, "11,000 former LTTE cadres have been rehabilitated and reintegrated to society thus far. Medical supplies were released to the North even up to the last day of the humanitarian mission, which ended on May 18, 2009", he further stressed.
Full text of the speech delivered by Secretary Defence Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the release of the report, "Humanitarian Operation: Factual Analysis" on 01st August, 2011 at Hilton- Colombo.
Religious Dignitaries
Hon. G. L. Pieris, Minister of External Affairs
Other Honourable Ministers
Members of Parliament
Excellences, the Ambassadors & High Commissioners of other nations
Mr. Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the President
Secretaries to Ministries
Chief of Defence Staff
Service Commanders
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Good morning. I would like to warmly welcome all of you and thank you for your presence here today. The purpose of today's event is to officially release the report that has been compiled by the Ministry of Defence on the Humanitarian Operation. The purpose of this report is to set out the factual background and operational context, which brought peace to Sri Lanka by liberating our people from the brutal terrorism of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, the LTTE, in May 2009.
The report begins with a detailed analysis of the LTTE, including its true nature, and its growth and sophistication over the years, and the threat it posed to all Sri Lankans. The LTTE was a vicious terrorist group that suppressed democracy in the areas it dominated, killed all its rivals and assassinated moderate Tamil politicians and intellectuals, and spread terror throughout Sri Lanka with its many attacks on innocent civilians. Raising funds through its international criminal network, the LTTE not only had the ability to use semi-conventional tactics on land, but also acquired sea and air dimensions to strengthen its offensive capability. The size and scale of the LTTE was equivalent to many conventional forces; any attempt to defeat it militarily required the proportionate use of force.
Through the years, successive Governments of Sri Lanka attempted many solutions to the conflict, including military engagement as well as peace talks. The sincere efforts of the Governments to seek a solution through negotiation, however, were always sabotaged by the LTTE. Though it sought the refuge of ceasefires whenever it was weakened militarily, the LTTE had no interest in peace. This is made abundantly clear by its acts of brazen provocation during each ceasefire period, especially the last ceasefire from 2002 to 2006.
The second part of this report begins by describing the resumption of hostilities in 2006. The closure of the Mavil Aru sluice gate by the LTTE in July of that year threatened a humanitarian disaster in the east, affecting many thousands of Tamils, Muslims and Sinhalese civilians. The near simultaneous attacks launched on Security Forces positions made it clear that the closure of the Mavil Aru sluice gate was only the start of the LTTE's offensive. In the circumstances, the Government had no option but to launch a military operation to save the country from the LTTE menace. This section of the report charts the progress of that Humanitarian Operation. It also describes the many precautions taken by the Government to safeguard civilian lives during the period of hostilities, and the broader frameworks within which civilian rights were protected.
The final part of the report is a brief overview of the consequences of the Humanitarian Operation, which shows a Sri Lanka that is finally at peace. The country is now rebuilding after suffering thirty long years of terrorism. Democracy has been restored to every part of the country, the North has almost completely been demined, nearly all internally displaced people have been resettled in their homes, normalcy has returned throughout the land and an economic revival is at hand. Sri Lanka has thirty years of lost opportunities to catch up on. While we will certainly engage with and account for the events of the past, our focus must be on the future.
In this regard, it is disturbing to note that the rump of the LTTE organisation together with some in the Tamil Diaspora are still working to tarnish the image of this country, sow discord amongst our people, and drag Sri Lanka back into the past. They make various allegations against the conduct of the Humanitarian Operation, which have unfortunately been given far too much attention. These allegations are quite absurd.
Take for instance the allegation that the Security Forces killed or gravely mistreated those who surrendered or were detained. This has been repeated loudly and repeated often, but it is not an accusation that stands up to scrutiny. By the end of the Humanitarian Operation more than 11,000 LTTE cadres surrendered to Security Forces. Despite the various acts of terrorism and mass murder they had committed, these cadres were not mistreated in any way. The 595 child soldiers who surrendered were reunited with their families within one year, while over 6,100 adult cadres were rehabilitated and released by June 2011. Most of the remaining cadres are undergoing further rehabilitation programmes and will be reintegrated to society when they are ready. Those culpable for atrocities at a higher level will be prosecuted through legal channels.
The Government of Sri Lanka has taken the utmost care to look after not only those citizens who were oppressed by LTTE terrorism in the North and East, but even those who were directly connected with the LTTE. As the Humanitarian Operation was drawing to a close, the parents of LTTE leader Prabhakaran were among the IDPs who came over to Government controlled territory. Instead of being mistreated in any way, Prabhakaran's father and mother were treated with the utmost consideration and care until they passed away of natural causes in January 2010 and February 2011 respectively.
The same consideration has been extended to the families of other LTTE leaders. Soosai was the leader of the Sea Tiger wing, one of the most influential leaders of the LTTE after Prabhakaran, and responsible for the deaths of so many Naval personnel. The Navy intercepted his wife and children, along with the family of another senior LTTE leader Ruben, as they tried to leave Sri Lanka by boat at night during the last week of the Humanitarian Operation. From the time of their interception, these families have been well looked after by the Navy.
Another example is the family of Tamilchelvan, who was an LTTE area commander who rose through the ranks to become the head of its so-called political wing. He was killed in a precision air strike carried out by the Air Force in November 2007. After his family identified themselves to the Security Forces in May 2009, the Government has looked after them. They are living comfortably in Colombo. Such courtesies were not only extended to the families of LTTE leaders, but also to former LTTE cadres themselves. George Master and Daya Master, who were full-time members of the LTTE also surrendered during the last stages of the Operation. They too were cared for.
Why should a Government that extended such care to families so directly linked to the LTTE, and former LTTE cadres themselves, be accused of mistreating civilians who suffered because of the LTTE? Yet that is the accusation levelled against Sri Lanka by parties with vested interests. It is extremely unfortunate that there are some who get swayed by such malign and absurd accusations instead of paying attention to the facts. They have got carried away by the media hysteria generated by LTTE apologists, and have neglected to verify the true picture for themselves.
Take for example this accusation of "up to 40,000 civilian casualties" occurring during the Humanitarian Operation. This is a vague accusation, based on even vaguer arithmetic, which keeps getting repeated without any sort of critical analysis by people who should know better. At various times during the Humanitarian Operation, various estimates were made by various parties about the overall population figure in the North.
According to the Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies, the number was between 75,000 and 150,000. According to the UN Resident Coordinator, the number was between 120,000 and 180,000. According to the World Food Programme, the number was 210,000. According to the Government Agent in Mullaitivu, the number was 305,000. The largest estimate given is that last one, by the GA Mullaitivu. The registered number of IDPs at the end of the Humanitarian Operation was 294,000.
According to the Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies, the number was between 75,000 and 150,000. According to the UN Resident Coordinator, the number was between 120,000 and 180,000. According to the World Food Programme, the number was 210,000. According to the Government Agent in Mullaitivu, the number was 305,000. The largest estimate given is that last one, by the GA Mullaitivu. The registered number of IDPs at the end of the Humanitarian Operation was 294,000.
Estimating the number of people who were in the North is a very complex task. A large number of people left Sri Lanka without going through legal channels during the period of the conflict. Approximately 100,000 people went to India by boat, including several LTTE cadres, and live there in camps. However, we do not have enough information to identify these people. Similarly, there are large numbers residing as refugees in places such as Indonesia, the Christmas Islands, Australia and Canada. Their names are unknown to us, and these countries do not release that information.
To address this issue of initial population estimates, a comprehensive statistical analysis has been undertaken by the Government. This analysis is challenging. There is no census data for the North after 1981, and so many people fled LTTE controlled areas to the rest of Sri Lanka as well as other countries over the last three decades. Nevertheless, the Government is confident that a much more accurate estimate of the population in the North can be arrived at with the conclusion of this analysis. It is only then that this subject can be discussed with any accuracy.
In the meantime, the Government has other sources it can rely on. In December 2009, the Government together with UNICEF launched a programme to trace the missing in the Northern Province. The Vavuniya Government Agent and the Probation and Childcare Commissioner in the Northern Province jointly established a Family Tracing and Reunification Unit with UNICEF assistance. This Unit undertook a comprehensive programme to catalogue all those who were missing, adults as well as children. Families were encouraged to report missing persons to a hotline, and any information available with the Government Agent, District Secretaries, Divisional Secretariats, hospital staff and police officers was also collected. As of 30th June 2011, 2,564 reports have been received. These relate to 1,888 adults and 676 children. It is important to note that the reports made by the parents of these missing children confirm that 64% of them were recruited by the LTTE. It is likely that the actual percentage is even higher. In this context, it is clear that the accusations levelled against Sri Lanka have little foundation. Why then, do they continue to recur?
It is important to realise that although the LTTE has been militarily defeated in Sri Lanka, its international organisation remains largely intact to this day. As the report being released today demonstrates, the LTTE had at its disposal a vast international network that was active in many parts of the world. A significant component of that network was its propaganda arm. This continues to work actively, though often in disguise, to promote the separatist cause and discredit the Government of Sri Lanka. This network has funds at its disposal, and pushes its agenda through influential international figures and misled media outlets, which continue to accept and even promote this propaganda with very little objective examination.
The most recent example of this is the report aired last week on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom. It features two men who are supposed to be army officers. Neither are they shown on screen, nor are their voices heard for even a few seconds, as is the practice in responsible journalism when unnamed individuals speak in interviews. Of the two names these people are given, Fernando is one of the commonest while Sasrutha is hardly ever heard of. The voice-overs made on the behalf of this pair allege that war crimes took place during the last days of the Humanitarian Operation. However, absolutely no evidence is given for these allegations, nor is there any proof that these so-called Army officers are even genuine people.
Nevertheless, the voice-over goes on to describe these people as eyewitnesses. But what are they eyewitness to? The actual claim they are supposed to be making is that Shaveendra Silva told them that I had called him and instructed him to do certain things. This is absolutely false, and is a claim that Shaveendra has always categorically denied. These people making this claim are not eyewitnesses to anything, what they are saying is pure fabrication. The absurdity of their claim is even clearer when you analyse it a little more deeply and with some knowledge of how a military operates. There are rules and procedures for following orders that have been historically established. The only officers Shaveendra would give instructions to would be Brigade Commanders and Commanding Officers. None of these officers have left Sri Lanka. Who, then, are these shadowy figures that Channel 4 claims to have unearthed? What is their credibility? How can their absurd allegations be taken at face value? Have they an unexplored agenda?
Another accusation made against Sri Lanka in this latest report concerns the alleged attempt made by two of the LTTE's political cadres to surrender to the Government through mediation by international figures. The report shows an interview with a British journalist who has always been extremely critical of Sri Lanka, who claims that assurances were given that these cadres could surrender. Whether assurances had been given or not, more than 11,000 LTTE cadres including several LTTE leaders have not only surrendered and have been rehabilitated and reintegrated to society. But nobody has communicated anything to the responsible authorities about these two particular people that are being spoken of as surrendering on that particular day. As the Secretary Defence, I was certainly not contacted.
Just like its recent so-called documentary, this continuing serial by Channel 4 simply promotes baseless accusations whose sole purpose is to discredit Sri Lanka. It is an attempt to tarnish this country's image and divide our people. It is an attempt to set back the peace that has been won after three painful decades.
This is not reportage; it is propaganda. That supposedly respectable media channels are complicit in the separatist agenda is extremely disturbing. At a time when the media establishment in the UK is under heavy fire and is drawing the attention of British authorities for its lack of ethics, it seems Channel 4 is no exception.
Another good example of propaganda pretending to be journalism concerns the allegations made about the supposedly deliberate shelling of hospitals. The doctors who served in those hospitals have stated very clearly that there was no deliberate shelling. This is supported by satellite evidence from before and after the period in which fighting took place near the hospitals. Unfortunately, the affidavits of the doctors at the scene are not given any attention by the so-called opinion makers. Instead, they focus exclusively on the comments the doctors were forced to make under duress by the LTTE. This is extremely disturbing and reveals a fundamental bias against the Government of Sri Lanka. The implication that the doctors were being truthful while held hostage by the LTTE, and are lying under Government pressure when they are free is frankly insulting.
One of the other allegations made against Sri Lanka is that not enough food or aid was sent to the people in the North throughout the Humanitarian Operation. This is again an allegation with no basis in fact. At the start of the Humanitarian Operation, the Government of Sri Lanka set up the Consultative Committee on Humanitarian Assistance. This Committee, often called the CCHA, met regularly at the Ministry of Defence. It was chaired by Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe and had the participation of the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence. Ambassadors involved in the peace process as well as the Heads of International Organisations and NGOs involved in delivering aid regularly attended the meetings. All issues with regard to humanitarian assistance were discussed at these meetings, and immediate solutions were provided. There were no allegations at these meetings that not enough was being done; on the contrary, it was clear that the Government was making every effort possible to cope with an extremely complex and hazardous situation.
Irrespective of how difficult things became, the Government did its utmost to make sure that the people suffering in the LTTE's clutches received the resources they so badly needed. International agencies such as the World Food Programme and the ICRC have records that attest to this. Even in the very last stages of the Humanitarian Operation, when the trapped population could not be reached by road, supplies were sent in through an ICRC ship that was escorted by the Sri Lanka Navy. Records of the ICRC show that medical supplies were delivered even on the 18th of May 2009, the day the Humanitarian Operation ended.
However, instead of finding out these facts and consulting those who are in a position to reveal the truth, Sri Lanka's opponents continue to flog their stale old lies. Instead of being acknowledged as the LTTE apologists they are, these opponents of Sri Lanka are sometimes lionised for their strident comments. A good example of this is the treatment of Miss Damilvany Gnanakumar.
This lady claims to have arrived in Sri Lanka to visit her relatives but was unable to leave due to the hostilities, and therefore volunteered to assist in the hospitals. While there, she claims she saw large numbers of casualties and surgery being carried out without anaesthesia even on children. Not only do the doctors at the hospital flatly refute these claims, but Miss Gnanakumar is known to have been an LTTE operative. She was recruited by Castro, the leader in charge of the LTTE's international operations, and worked at an LTTE front organisation in London before arriving in Sri Lanka in February 2008. While here, she underwent military training under Durga, a female leader of the LTTE. Miss Gnanakumar was no civilian volunteer but an LTTE cadre. The sad reality is that her word has been taken at face value.
While the LTTE's propaganda machine continues to spin its lies, and such lax standards of journalism continue to prevail in the west, the narrative on Sri Lanka may continue to be obscured by vicious falsehoods. I sincerely hope that with the publication of this document, these falsehoods will be laid to rest once and for all, and that the world will see, beyond any doubt, that the Humanitarian Operation was just.
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54 comments:
Finally, the GOSL is PUSHING BACK against the FALSE PROPAGANDA off the Eelamist Diaspora, as we have often urged at this Forum.
As the Defence Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa promises, it is important that HIGH LEVEL LTTE leaders responsible for muder and mayhem in Sri Lanka are held ACCOUNTABLE, prosecuted and appropriately punished.
Among those who should be held responsible and PROSECUTED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW are those who committed TREASON against the nation. Chief among those TRAITORS yet unpunished are the Tiger Nominated Agents of the TNA.
Sivajilingam's orchestration of demonstrations in Tamil Nadu and inciting Indian re-invasion of Sri Lanka would earn him death sentence for TREACHERY in the United States.
The FAILURE TO PUNISH the TREASON of TNA leaders has now encouraged them to issue ULTIMATUMS to the GOSL, just as they did under the protection of the LTTE before its military effort.
I ask AGAIN: When is the GOSL going to PUNISH those guilty of TREASON in the past three decades? WHEN?
Tamil party threatens to withdraw from talks with Sri Lankan government
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Aug 04, Colombo: Sri Lanka's major Tamil party, Tami National Alliance (TNA) has threatened to withdraw from the talks with the government on power devolution if the government fails to step up the pace for a meaningful resolution.
Following the 10th round of talks held today between the two groups, the TNA in a statement has said that it had brought forward three conditions at reconciliation aimed for a meaningful devolution of power to the north and east regions.
The TNA has already handed over its proposals and was awaiting the written proposals of the government.
The TNA expects a quick response to their three immediate proposals on the structure of governance for north and east regions, allocation of subjects and functions to the provincial councils and the issues relating to fiscal and financial devolution.
The party has expressed its frustration at the slow pace of the government in making any headway in the discussions.
It has given government 10 days to respond to their proposals and threatened to withdraw if the government fails to respond positively.
The warning is seen as a hardening stance of the party, once considered as a proxy party of the terrorist group LTTE, following its victory in the Tamil dominated areas at the local government elections held last month.
Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management Nimal Siripala de Silva and Minister of External Affairs Prof G.L. Peiris were scheduled to be present for the discussions with the TNA delegation while the two other parliamentarians Prof. Rajiva Wijesinghe and Sajin Vaas Gunawardena are reportedly in foreign tours.
The TNA delegation, led by Leader MP R. Sampanthan, comprises senior Parliamentarians Mavai Senathirajah, Suresh Premachandran and M.A. Sumanthiran.
Bravo .. GOSL!
Let the Tiger Nominated Agents of the TNA now EXPOSE their Stripes by orchestrating pressure from Tamil Nadu and the West.
Let us investigate these connections also, and use them as evidence as well, when they are prosecuted for their TREACHERY in the past. That TREASON will now shift into HIGH GEAR!
Give them enough ROPE to HANG themselves!
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Sri Lanka government rejects Tamil party ultimatum, decides to proceed with PSC
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Aug 05, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government, rejecting the ultimatum set by the major Tamil party Tamil National Alliance during the talks held with the government yesterday, said a solution for power devolution should be acceptable for all Sri Lankans and cannot make decisions on crucial issues hastily.
At yesterday's discussions the TNA demanded the government to respond in writing within 10 days to their three immediate proposals on the structure of governance for north and east regions, allocation of subjects and functions to the provincial councils and the issues relating to fiscal and financial devolution.
In response the government has said that "it certainly is not possible, nor is it consistent with the national interest at this stage, to make a final pronouncement on crucial issues, hastily and without wider consultation."
The Tamil party has threatened to withdraw from the talks with the government on power devolution if the government fails to step up the pace for a meaningful resolution.
The warning is seen as a hardening stance of the party, once considered as a proxy party of the terrorist group LTTE, following its victory in the Tamil dominated areas at the local government elections held last month.
The Secretary of Long Term Reconciliation Committee, Parliamentarian Sajin Vas Gunawardena has said the ultimatum delivered to the government by the TNA is similar to the attitude portrayed by the Tamil Tiger terrorist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for peace talks.
"The demand is not helpful or constructive for the purpose of carrying forward in a structured and methodical way, a process which can reach a positive outcome, only if it has the widest possible support among the public," the MP has said.
Pointing out that the TNA does not solely represent the Tamil community, Vas Gunawardena has said that the government has now decided to proceed with the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee.
"It is the appropriate forum for a discussion in which all the representatives of the people can participate with a view to identifying the constitutional reforms that are needed as the country emerges from the anguish of terrorism and faces with courage the challenges of accelerated economic and social development," the MP has said.
He has said that the Government hopes that all political parties, including the TNA will participate in the process.
Another member of the government's negotiating team, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said the government representatives at the talks have pointed out the importance of carrying forward the discussions as the government is genuinely involved in resolving the problems of the people in the north.
The Minister has said that It has become possible to find a solution by safeguarding the identities of all ethnic groups and preserving the territorial integrity through the initiatives of a parliamentary select committee.
" It is imperative to come into an agreement by discussing in depth the numerous opinions of various parties. The outcome should be a solution which enhances national unity," the Minister has said.
But, will the Tamil Community as a whole show a modicum of GRATITUDE for rehabilitating these murderers?
No! NOT ONE IOTA!
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Rehab of ex-LTTE cadres costs Rs. 2.5 Billion
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Island.lk
August 25, 2011
The government of Sri Lanka has spent a staggering Rs. 2.5 bn on the rehabilitation of ex-LTTE cadres since the conclusion of the conflict in May 2009.
Commissioner General of Rehabilitation Maj. Gen. Sudantha Ranasinghe yesterday said that in spite of constraints, the government had provided the funds needed for post-war rehabilitation process.
Responding to a query, the official said that the first year (May 2009 to May 2010) had cost the Sri Lankan taxpayer Rs. 1.8 bn and about Rs. 700 mn since then.
With the release of 150 ex-LTTE cadres, the total number released so far would exceed 8,000 with some 2,000 LTTEmembers, including about 100 women still undergoing rehabilitation.
Maj. Gen. Ranasinghe alleged that those shedding crocodile tears for the ex-LTTE combatants hadn’t supported the rehabilitation project, though some foreign governments and INGOs were backing the government’s efforts.
The rehabilitation Chief said that at the beginning of the programme there had been 11,664 personnel at 24 rehabilitation facilities and those who accused the military of war crimes should talk to former members of the LTTE and ascertain their views. He said: "We have over 11,000 witnesses who either surrendered or were captured and then released following rehabilitation. Besides them, there are some 300,000 civilians.Unlike faceless men in fake videos produced by Channel 4 News, we have over 300,000 witnesses."
"At one time we brought 1,500 of those undergoing rehabilitation to Colombo and its suburbs. No one tried to escape as they knew no other army would have treated them the way we did," the official said.
Asked whether ex-LTTE cadres would be given an opportunity to support reconstruction and rehabilitation similar to the projects undertaken by the military, the Major Gen. said that two weeks ago former combatants had helped villagers at an isolated village in the Kilinochchi District. The official expressed confidence that ex-LTTE personnel could play a pivotal role in rehabilitation and reconstruction projects.
Military spokesman Maj. Gen. Ubaya Medawela emphasised that the military had a crucial role to play in the post-war development plans. Although some interested parties had expressed concern over their involvement, the military would continue with projects undertaken in the northern and eastern provinces. "Our troops built over 7,000 new houses and repaired about 10,000 others since the end of the war," the outgoing military spokesman said. He estimated that the SLA had completed projects worth approximately Rs 6.3 bn and more projects were in the pipeline.
Punishment for SABOTAGE should not end at DISMISSAL.
DISMISSAL should be followed by PROSECUTION, a PRISON SENTENCE, and a monetary FINE for RESITITUTION.
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Ministry warns CEB workers against sabotage
By Ifham Nizam
Island.lk
August 05, 2011
Strict disciplinary and legal action will be taken against Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Unionists if they are found guilty of sabotage.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Power and Energy told The Island yesterday that if any CEB employee is found guilty of sabotage his services would be terminated.
He said that the trade union action of the CEB employees had gone beyond the limit with some groups engaged in sabotage activities.
Those groups had removed five fuses in transformers in the Hapugala area in Kegalle on the night of August 3.
According to the Power and Energy Ministry sources, the fuses had been removed by a person with technical knowledge and not by an ordinary employee.
However, union members refute allegations levelled against them.
CEB Joint Trade Alliance spokesman Ananda Nimalarate told The Island yesterday that they applaud the decision by the Power and Energy Ministry to punish those responsible.
However, he said that as a rule, none of the CEB employees will work against the CEB or damage property belonging to it.
"Even in 1996 when we took part in a major strike, we didn’t resort to sabotage. On August 3, we took part in a sick note campaign and it is common knowledge that most of the 13,000 workers remained at home and only few monitored the progress," he added.
India strongly disapproves attack on Sri Lankan pilgrims in Chennai
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Aug 05, New Delhi: India said it strongly disapproves the recent attack on visiting Sri Lankan pilgrims by some pro-LTTE elements in the state of Tamil Nadu.
In response to a question, the Official Spokesman of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said the Ministry's attention had been drawn to an incident in Chennai on 3 August, in which Sri Lankan pilgrims staying at a guest house in the city had been targeted and also subjected to some physical and verbal abuse by a local group.
"The Ministry considers this to be an unfortunate incident and regrets the inconvenience caused to the visitors from Sri Lanka. It also strongly disapproves of this kind of behaviour towards those visiting the country, especially religious pilgrims," the Spokesman has said.
"India has always made its guests feel welcome and such incidents do not go with their highest traditions of treating guests with respect and dignity," the statement added.
The Ministry said following investigations, three people have been arrested for their involvement with the incident.
A group of 84 Sri Lankan pilgrims had come under attack in Chennai on Wednesday by a pro-LTTE group calling themselves as "black tigers". The attack had reportedly injured three of the pilgrims.
The Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission in Chennai had transferred the pilgrims to a safe location following the attack.
The Sri Lankan government media spokesman commenting on the incident said the government will hold discussions with the Indian government to prevent any future attacks on Sri Lankan pilgrims who visit India as a large number of pilgrims from Sri Lanka regularly visit India.
Sri Lanka to connect solar power plant to national grid next week
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Aug 05, Colombo: The Power and Energy Ministry of Sri Lanka is to connect a 500KW solar power plant at Baruthankanda in the Hambanthota District of Southern Province to the national grid next week, enabling solar power to become a major source of power in future.
Power and Energy Minister Champika Ranawaka says the solar power plant will be connected on Monday (8).
He said the solar power plant project was initiated to look at the country's potential to develop solar power as a key power resource.
The solar power plant project has cost Rs. 412 million and had been funded by the government of Korea. The newly developed plant is expected to provide power to a land extent of 1.5 hectares.
According to Ranawaka, the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA) is to supply environment friendly solar power to about 3,000 families in Hambanthota from Monday.
The Minister has further noted that the Ministry has lined up several large scale solar power projects in the North and East as well as in the North Central Provinces.
The government of Japan has granted Rs.1.024 billion to build a solar power station with a solar power system and when completed, it is expected to add 737 Kilowatts of power to the national grid.
Solar power is expected to play a major role in the country's power generation in future, Ranawaka has said.
Every Day in Every Way, Sri Lanka's Capabilities Grow Greater!
Jayawewa!
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SriLankan Airlines flies to Russia
By Dharma Sri Abeyratne
DailyNews.lk
August 06, 2011
SriLankan Airlines will fly to Moscow for the first time which will be its 52nd destination.
According to Civil Aviation Ministry sources, there was no direct flight service between Russia and Sri Lanka.
Civil Aviation Ministry officials together with Minister Priyankara Jayaratne signed an MOU with Russian officials on Thursday in Ukraine.
Moscow is the 52nd destination of the SriLankan Airlines. In accordance with the MOU, seven flights will be operated a week at the initial stage. Flights will operate to Moscow via Dubai every Thursday and Saturday. It has been planned to increase flight frequencies to 14 from the beginning of next year.
Students studying in Russia will mainly benefit by this direct flight service. In addition, ties between the two countries will be strengthened along with growth in several fields, such as, trade, tourism, business, education etc.
In addition to this destination, SriLankan plans to fly to more new destinations in Asia and Europe, in the near future in line with ongoing aviation sector development initiatives.
SriLankan Airlines will fly to Toronto in Canada for the first time from October this year.
The Airlines will operate seven flights per week with a stopover in Heathrow London. In addition, the Airlines plans to fly to Shanghai from September using a modern Airbus. At present SriLankan Airlines operates flights to five European countries.
The Airlines has a fleet of 17 aircraft, the largest fleet in its history. It includes five A320s, five A330s, five A340s and two De Havilland Twin Otters.
SriLankan Airlines has plans to acquire a few new aircraft within this year.
The Airlines recruited 11 new pilots following a training programme conducted by it.
Sri Lanka wins convincingly against Australia in 1st ODI in T20 Cricket at Pallekele, Sri Lanka
Awesome batting by Dilshan who hit 104 off 56 balls!
But here is the funniest comment on the match:
Rob Noah, at the fag end of this match, has sent in the feedback of the day: "If I was Cameron White and I had inherited this team, I would let out a Homer Simpson-like scream before running off into the woods. Then again I would do the same if I found that I was Cameron White."
Ha! Ha! Ha!
Central Govt. seeks serious probe from TN
By Kelum Bandara
DailyMirror.lk
August 06, 2011
The Central Government of India had asked the Tamil Nadu state government to take up the incident, in which some Sri Lankan nationals were threatened by a gang in Chennai, with due seriousness and bring the perpetrators to book, informed sources said yesterday.
A group of 84 Sri Lankan pilgrims were threatened by some persons at the hotel they were staying in. Later, these gang members had apparently used threatening language and asked the hotel employees not to provide accommodation to them. Subsequently, with the intervention of Deputy High Commission of Sri Lanka in Chennai,
these Sri Lankans had been transferred to the Mahabodhi Pilgrims Rest.
The Sri Lankan government took up the matter with the High Commission of India in Colombo after the incident. Accordingly, the Central Government of India had instructed the state government in Tamil Nadu to look into the matter seriously particularly because this was a case involving foreign nationals.
Also, the High Commission of India had briefed Sri Lanka's External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris and the Foreign Secretary about action taken in this regard. According to informed sources, three persons involved in the threatening incident had been arrested on Thursday by the Chennai police.
These Sri Lankans left for India on July 17, 2011 on a pilgrimage. They were scheduled to return to the country yesterday. According to family members of these pilgrims, the members of the gang who identified themselves as 'black tigers' had snatched away their bags and set them on fire.
It is learnt that these arrested members of the gang belong to a political party of Tamil film director Senthamilan Seeman. His political party is called 'We Tamil Movement'.
Norway's support for the Murderous LTTE terrorists BOOMERANGS on Norway!
............
Oslo killer met LTTE activists in Norway?
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Island.lk
August 02, 2011
Israel’s top diplomat in New Delhi alleges LTTE inspired suicide attacks on Jewish State
Could there be a link between Norway-based LTTE operatives and Anders Behring Breivik, who bombed the Norwegian government headquarters in Oslo and wiped out a youth group on a nearby island on July 22 killing over 80 civilians?
Responding to a query by The Island, informed sources said that the Norwegian could have had a link with the LTTEactivists in Norway.
Breivik, in his 1,518 manifesto, which was released hours before he carried out the massacre, said had felt that Europe should follow the LTTE example of expelling the Muslims from Sri Lanka. He had interpreted the expulsion of Muslims from the North in October/November 1990, by the LTTE at gun point, as a move by the government of Sri Lanka to drive out the Muslim community.
The killer’s manifesto also referred to the Anuradhapura massacre in 1985 and the slaughter of Muslims at the Kattankudy Mosque, in August 1990.
He had been in close contact with UK based radicals and also bought equipment from western suppliers, including Polish merchants.
During a recent visit to Colombo Israel’s top diplomat in New Delhi, accredited to Colombo, Mark Sofer told The Island that the LTTE had influenced those causing mayhem in the Middle East. He alleged that LTTE suicide attacks had inspired those targeting Jewish targets.
The Sri Lankan embassy in Oslo is seeking additional information and making inquiries regarding the Oslo massacre.
Political sources said that while Norway was funding Sri Lankan NGOs to promote the LTTE and a long standing settlement between Sri Lanka and the LTTE, a section of the Norwegian youth drew inspiration from LTTE terrorism.
E Pluribus Unum ... it is NOT!
When POLITICIANS fail away at their own country, holding the nation hostage for ransom to gain their political ends ... this is what happens: EVERYONE SUFFERS!
Now, the borrowing costs of the US Govt will increase. The US Govt will have to pay a higher interest rate on Treasury Bonds, exacerbating its budgetary deficit.
Those interest rate increases will ultimately filter down to, and burden, to ordinary US citizens when they make MAJOR PURCHASES such as cars and homes!
With Politicians like these, WHO NEEDS ENEMIES?
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U.S. Gets the Downgrade It Deserves
By Jeff Macke
August 08, 2011
S&P downgraded the U.S. credit rating from AAA to AA+ on Friday evening. The move was controversial, unprecedented and newsworthy to the point that it made the cover of even the non-financial press. The headline on the cover of today's NY Post blares "Debt Bomb."
The Financial Times is calling the downgrade "a contentious and historic move that highlights the weakened fiscal stature of the world's most powerful country." The key word there is "highlights." Which is humiliating but hard to argue. Make no mistake: The U.S. more than earned this downgrade. The nation is absurdly debt-laden and shows absolutely no signs of stopping.
The most galling aspect of the downgrade is that the final straw was the debacle of a debt-ceiling debate. Yesterday I said DC's lugubrious drama and resulting fake solution made up the most financially damaging fake crisis since LBJ's "Gulf of Tonkin" incident escalated the Vietnam War. S&P was nice enough to more or less confirm the point in comments made to the Financial Times. "The political discourse has diminished the credit standing of the United States," said John Chambers, the man who essentially made the final call.
Increased government spending at this point was a foregone conclusion, no matter what either side was saying. The country is in a recession (at least as far as I'm concerned; the National Bureau of Economic Research will make the official call in about six months, but why wait?). Stimulus is the only solution we know for a slow economy and was obviously what Washington was going to do. The problem for financial markets is less the spending itself and more the fact that the spending isn't actually stimulative at all.
Our GDP is under 2%, our unemployment rate is over 9% and both numbers are likely much worse than advertised. Our nation turned our desperate eyes to Washington, looking for grownups who could give us hope. Austerity, stimulus, a jobs program, corporate hiring breaks … just a different strategy of some sort. What we got was a batch of simpletons and whiners working the mic like bad professional wrestlers for two weeks before giving us a faux solution at the 11th hour. It was actually worse than professional wrestling; at least The Rock would have given us better rants.
During the Great Depression, FDR had a policy of trying almost anything and seeing what worked. If a plan seemed to stimulate, he kept it. If it didn't, he scrapped the idea and moved on to something else. Nothing except WWII snapped us out of the Depression, but there's a reason Roosevelt kept getting elected; at least the man didn't keep pouring more resources into solutions which obviously didn't work.
Breakout has been telling you the downgrade was a done deal for more than a week . We've been telling you how traders have been pricing in a downgrade. We've called it looming. We reported on the stock market chattering about this downgrade yesterday. I laid out the winners and losers on the fake deal last Monday.
U.S. Gets the Downgrade It Deserves
......continued.....
What I'm saying is the downgrade was both deserved and anticipated. Looking ahead, here's what you need to watch and know:
* Stock Market Reaction: From where I'm sitting, stocks have been pricing this in for a week and half. It's no surprise the selling started at roughly the same time as the ratings agencies started threatening the downgrade. The chatter of a downgrade on Friday was met with a brief, albeit frightening, sell-off of a few hundred points. That seems the most likely response here. Another "Black Monday" shouldn't result from S&P stating the obvious.
* Debt Market Reaction: This is where the potential problem lies. All debt is priced based off the "risk free" rate paid by the U.S. government. Our government paid the lowest rates; everyone else from municipalities to corporations paid a higher rate based off how much riskier they were than the U.S. as a whole. Now that the US is deemed less than risk free, it's unclear how much higher the cost of money will be for everyone else. In other words, no one knows for sure how big the knock-on effect will be.
Note that the yield on corporate debt from blue chip to junk is nearly as low as it's ever been. Also note that Treasuries are paying historically low rates; in fact, so low that buying the 2-year actually costs you money if you include even modest inflation in the calculation.
Also remember that no rational person on earth was unaware that the state of the United States financial system was not as pristine as a AAA rating implies. The question wasn't whether or not a downgrade was deserved but if the ratings agencies had the guts to cut the AAA for the first time in history. S&P walked the talk, Moody's folded like a cheap tent in the wind. Make of it what you will, but you can't say we couldn't see this coming. There's cause to be concerned about rates across the board moving higher, but there's room for it to happen without triggering an economic crisis.
The Federal Reserve has already announced it will continue to accept Treasuries as collateral. In English, this means the Fed isn't going to force a margin call. That's good news.
Your bottom line is that you can weep for what the U.S. has become but you don't need to flee from Treasuries or blue chip debt based on the actions of Standard & Poor's. The agency did the right thing and deserves a huge amount of credit for having done so. In effect, this move just means S&P gets the very same credit they just took from the United States.
It's a butt-kicking our country richly deserves.
I think this is very serious
US fighter jets intrude into Lankan air space
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/110807/News/nws_01.html
Srilanka should take these articles very seriously
US sets UNHRC trap for Lanka
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/110807/Columns/political.html
Now, Indian point man here for Lankan solution
http://www.lakbimanews.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2427:now-indian-point-man-here-for-lankan-solution&catid=40:news&Itemid=64
I predicted that the TNA will begin to play the "India/Tamil Nadu card" when their BRAZEN ULTIMATUM was rejected by the GOSL.
It is now beginning to happen.
The GOSL should inform the TNA that:
1. Sri Lanka will NOT DEVOLVE ANY POWER to COMMUNAL entities in Sri Lanka, and that
2. Sri Lanka will not DEVOLVE ANY POLICE and LAND POWER to ANY sub-national regional entity in Sri Lanka, including any and all Provincial Councils, as a National Security matter of the UTMOST importance.
Devolution of Power to the "Tamil" community exclusive of non-Tamil citizens violates both of these fundamental principles of Governance. Sri Lanka should be justly governed as ONE Sri Lankan NATION, of ONE Sri Lankan PEOPLE, sharing ONE Sri Lankan DESTINY.
JUST TELL THEM THIS, TELL THEM WHAT YOU TOLD THEM, and TELL THEM AGAIN in WRITING .... and let them do their worst.
Sri Lanka's integrity, security and sovereignty WILL NOT BE HELD HOSTAGE TO RANSOM by Tiger Appointed Agents of the TNA.
After TELLING THEM, watch them and PROSECUTE THEM for ANY and ALL ANTI-NATIONAL TREASONOUS ACTIVITIES, including plotting to interference in Sri Lankan politics with foreign powers, and terrorist networks.
I asked before: When will the GOSL prosecute TNA leaders for their TREASONOUS ACTIVITIES during the last three decades.
I ask again: WHEN?
...............
India to mediate in restarting talks between Tamil party and government in Sri Lanka
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Aug 07, Colombo: Political sources in Sri Lanka say that India has planned to mediate diplomatically to re-start the stalled dialogue between the government and the major Tamil party, Tamil National Alliance (TNA).
Accordingly, a group of TNA parliamentarians are to visit India during the next few days to meet the Indian leaders there, political sources say.
The sources further said that India would direct TNA to withdraw the ultimatum given by them to the government to respond to their proposals within 10 days.
Meanwhile, sources say that the Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh is to visit Sri Lanka by the end of the year and India expects to speed up the process of negotiations before that.
At the end of the 10th round of talks held Thursday, the Tamil party threatened to withdraw from the talks with the government on power devolution if the government fails to step up the pace for a meaningful resolution.
The TNA demanded the government to respond in writing within 10 days to three of their proposals on the structure of governance for north and east regions, allocation of subjects and functions to the provincial councils and the issues relating to fiscal and financial devolution.
In response the government said that "it certainly is not possible, nor is it consistent with the national interest at this stage, to make a final pronouncement on crucial issues, hastily and without wider consultation."
The TNA's warning is seen as a hardening stance of the party, once considered as a proxy party of the terrorist group LTTE, following its victory in the Tamil dominated areas at the local government elections held last month.
The government says a solution for power devolution should be acceptable for all Sri Lankans and cannot make decisions on crucial issues hastily.
Pointing out that the TNA does not solely represent the Tamil community, the government said it has now decided to proceed with the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee.
Interference in Sri Lanka's internal matters by Indian political parties now moves into high gear.
Indians assume that Sri Lanka is FAIR GAME for anything that will help them politically in India.
Applying the CPI's own arguments to India, Sri Lanka should "demand" that India give autonomy, or even independence, to the Moslem majority of Kashmir!
What is shoved down the throat of the Sri Lankan GOOSE, should be eased down the throat of the Indian GANDER as well!
Bloody HYPOCRITES trying to feather their own rattler's nests at Sri Lanka's expense!
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India's Communist Party demands autonomy for Sri Lankan Tamils
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Aug 07, Kolkata: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) today demanded the Sri Lankan government to take specific measures to grant autonomy to the Tamil-speaking areas of the Northern and Eastern regions.
Issuing a communique', the Central Committee of the CPI (M) which met in Kolkata on August 6 & 7, said though two years have passed since the end of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan government has not taken any worthwhile steps to reach a political settlement on the Tamil question.
"Though President Rajapakse had promised that after the war a political settlement would be found, no progress has been made, the CPI (M) said.
"It is essential that specific measures are taken for the devolution of autonomy to the Tamil-speaking areas of the Northern and Eastern regions so that the Tamil people can live a life of dignity and as equal citizens within a united Sri Lanka," the CPI (M) demanded.
The CPI(M) said along with power devolution, the Sri Lankan government should step up efforts to rehabilitate all the displaced persons affected due to the conflict.
The party called for a high level independent enquiry into the "serious allegations of atrocities and human rights violation" allegedly committed by the Sri Lankan armed forces.
The Central Committee urged the Indian government to make all necessary efforts to ensure that a political settlement is arrived at without any further delay.
The racist separatists of the "Tamil" National Alliance will NEVER listen to what we say .... so we might as well save our breath.
INSTEAD, the GOSL should give them no more than to other citizens, and should MARGINALIZE THEM and PUNISH THEM for every Anti-National thing they say and do.
This is what happens when you try to "Reconcile" with UNREPENTANT Tiger Nominated Agents instead of HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE for their CRIMINAL ACTS in the past three decades. Letting them get away with TREASON was the FIRST MISTAKE.
Reconciliation SIMPLY wont work with them; Just like the LTTE in the past, they are just a MALIGNANT CANCER in Sri Lankan Society.
DO not PANDER to the TNA!
Implement Demographic Homogenization as a part of a Government Policy of Ethnic Integration.
SETTLE as many non-Tamils in the North and East as there are Tamils in the South of Sri Lanka ... NOW!
ONE Nation, of ONE People, sharing ONE Destiny should be Sri Lanka's GOAL!
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Don’t play politics at expense of the Tamils" - Govt. to ignore TNA’s 10-day ultimatum says angry Basil
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Island.lk
August 06, 2011
The government on Friday (Aug.5) indicated it wouldn’t meet TNA’s 10-day ultimatum to keep talks on devolution on track with Economic Affairs Minister Basil Rajapaksa lashing out at the party for playing politics at the expense of the Tamil community.
The TNA on Thursday demanded President Mahinda Rajapaksa to reveal within 10 days its position on the structure of governance, the allocation of subjects and functions of the Centre and Provincial Councils and issues relating to financial devolution.
In an obvious response to the TNA’s move, an irate Basil Rajapaksa alleged that the Tamil party, which did nothing to alleviate the sufferings of the Tamil speaking people during the conflict was hell-bent on destabilizing post-war Sri Lanka.
Addressing a gathering at Thandikulam, Vavuniya, Minister Rajapaksa emphasized that the government would never allow the TNA to achieve what he called its narrow political aims. The Gampaha District leader reiterated the UPFA’s commitment to the well being of the Tamil speaking people, though their elected representatives were still pursuing a separatist agenda.
In spite of eradication of terrorism, efforts were being made to obstruct ongoing national reconciliation process, the minister alleged. He urged the TNA not to cause chaos as part of its overall political strategy.
Government sources told The Sunday Island that the TNA could be acting at the behest of foreign elements to pressure the government. The TNA, which at gun point recognized the LTTE as the sole representatives of the Tamil speaking people in the run-up to April 2004 parliamentary polls, appeared to have forgotten the past, sources said.
The bottom line was that the TNA couldn’t have even sat at a negotiating table with the government had the LTTE survived the war, sources said. That was the reality the TNA and its overseas supporters had ignored.
Gota points a finger at British media at diplomatic briefing
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Island.lk
August 06, 2011
Responding to an LTTE driven campaign to haul Sri Lanka up before an international war crimes tribunal over accountability issues, the government of Sri Lanka has raised several contentious issues including the alleged involvement of a section of the British media with the terrorist group.
Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa expressed the government position before the Colombo-based diplomatic corps at the recent launch of ‘Humanitarian Operation Factual Analysis- (July 2006 to May 2009) at the Colombo Hilton.
The 161-page book tackled the entire range of issues, including the failure of the Norwegian led peace process leading to Eelam War IV. The Defence Ministry publication also recalled the efforts made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to pursue the peace process under the Norwegian auspices.
President Rajapaksa went to the extent of twice sending government delegations to Norway to meet the LTTE without success.
Referring to the ongoing UK phone hacking scandal involving the British press, the defence secretary alleged that a section of the UK media had been promoting LTTE’s separatist campaign, thereby undermined post-war stability here.
British HC had been represented at the book launch. The defence secretary asserted that with the loss of its conventional military capability, the LTTE had been totally dependent on the media to pursue its Eelam dream.
He lashed out at UK based Channel 4 News, Channel 4 and several other media organizations for throwing their weight behind the LTTE project.
The Gajaba veteran also echoed former US Defence Attaché Lt. Colonel Lawrence Smith, who earned the wrath of the State Department for expressing doubts over the attempt made by some LTTE cadres to surrender to Army’s 58 Division on the Vanni East front through a third party.
Responding to accusations by another British journalist, the Defence Secretary emphasized that he was not approached by any party regarding a move by two LTTE political wing cadres to surrender.
Alleging the Channel 4 News and Channel 4 of discrediting Sri Lanka, Rajapaksa said: "They are engaged in propaganda. That supposedly respectable media channels are complicit in the separatist agenda is extremely disturbing. At a time when a particular media establishment in the UK is under heavy fire and is drawing the attention of British authorities for its lack of ethics, it seems Channel 4 is no exception."
He went onto explain the absurdity in allegations regarding battlefield executions and a plethora of other violations in the backdrop of the Sri Lankan military rescuing 300,000 civilians and most importantly over 11,600 LTTE cadres accommodated at rehabilitation facilities at the conclusion of the conflict in May 2009.
Gota points a finger at British media at diplomatic briefing
......continued......
What he basically said was had the SLA practiced genocide as alleged by the LTTE and those supporting it, there wouldn’t have been any survivors among the LTTE cadre. He estimated the LTTE strength of the LTTE in early 2008 at 30,000 comprising regular and auxiliary personnel.
Some 7,900 ex-LTTE cadres have been released following rehabilitation. About 150 ex-combatants will be released on Aug. 10.
Ignoring restoration of peace following a three decade long war, a section of the British media was continuing to discredit Sri Lanka and divide Sri Lankans, Rajapaksa said.
He recalled how successive governments beginning with that of JRJ had made abortive bids to bring the LTTE to the political mainstream. The Defence Ministry publication pointed out that except for the LTTE, all other Tamil armed groups and the JVP, which took up arms against the state twice, were in the mainstream today.
He emphasized that the government had no option but to take the LTTE’s military challenge following the closure of the Mavil Aru sluice gates by the LTTE in July 2006.
Former UN Disarmament Chief Ambassador Jayantha Dhanapala, in his submissions to the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), commended the Sri Lanka Army for rescuing over 300,000 civilians held hostage by the LTTE.
He urged the government to explore ways and means of using international humanitarian law with regard to fighting between a State and a non-state actor.
The Defence Secretary said that the government looked after those closely involved with the LTTE. Families of Sea Tiger leader Soosai and Thamilchelvan had been looked after by the government since their capture - the former LTTE political wing leader’s family live comfortably in Colombo.
He said that the ongoing uproar over accountability issues had been caused by media at the behest of the LTTE. Unfortunately some people have got carried away, he said, attacking those international figures, including those in the media contributing to the LTTE operation.
He declared: "While the LTTE’s propaganda machine continues to spin its lies, and such lax standards of journalism continue to prevail in the west, the narrative on Sri Lanka may continue to be obscured by vicious falsehoods."
Is this not a mistake, but a threat?
..............
US fighter jets intrude into Lankan air space
By Leon Berenger
SundayTimes.lk
August 07, 2011
Govt. to protest; combat planes believed to be from the Seventh Fleet
The government will protest to the United States over the intrusion of Sri Lanka’s air space by a squadron of ten fighter jets. The Sunday Times learns that the protest will be handed over to the US Embassy in Colombo by the Ministry of External Affairs.
“What we are trying to establish is whether the US fighter jets had violated the oceanic air space or the territorial part of it,” Civil Aviation Director Genera H. M. C. Nimalsiri told the Sunday Times yesterday.
“In terms of accepted international norms, anyone wanting to use the country’s air space is required to file flight plans and obtain prior approval,” he said.
A senior Air Force official speaking on grounds of anonymity admitted that there were periodic incursions by US combat aircraft into Sri Lanka’s air space. “There were occasions where we had to tell them to move out,” he said.
“We have communication intercepts to confirm that they were carrier-based aircraft. In this instance we have reason to believe that the jet squadron was from the US Seventh Fleet,” he said. The tracking station atop Pidurutalagala -- the tallest point in Sri Lanka -- was the first to identify the intruding US aircraft. Officials there immediately conveyed it to the Civil Aviation Authority and the Sri Lanka Air Force.
The tracking station with modern radar equipment with a range of 200 nautical miles and covers 380 kilometres of airspace. A US embassy spokesperson declined to comment yesterday.
SEALs on rescue mission killed in Afghan crash
By KIMBERLY DOZIER and PATRICK QUINN - Associated Press
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The 30 American service members — most of them elite Navy SEALs — who died when their helicopter was shot down had rushed to help Army Rangers who had come under fire, two U.S. officials said Sunday.
The heavy loss shows that covert tactics carry huge risks despite the huge success of the SEAL mission that killed Osama bin Laden more than three months ago. Some of the SEALs who died Saturday were from the same unit that killed bin Laden, although none of the men took part in that mission.
The U.S.-led coalition plans to rely more on special operations missions as it reduces the overall number of combat troops by the end of 2014.
This weekend, the rescue team had subdued attackers who had pinned down the Rangers and were departing in their Chinook helicopter when the aircraft was apparently hit, one of the officials said.
Thirty Americans and eight Afghans were killed in the crash, making it the deadliest single loss for U.S. forces in the decade-long war in Afghanistan. The Rangers, special operations forces who work regularly with the SEALs, secured the crash site in the Tangi Joy Zarin area of Wardak province, about 60 miles (97 kilometers) southwest of Kabul, the other official said.
Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the event, as the investigation is still ongoing. The SEAL mission was first reported by CNN.
NATO was recovering the remains of the twin rotor Chinook helicopter. A current and a former U.S. official said the Americans included 22 SEALs, three Air Force combat controllers and a dog handler and his dog. The two spoke on condition of anonymity because military officials were still notifying the families of the dead.
Eight Taliban fighters were also killed in the battle, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in a statement.
Afghanistan has more U.S. special operations troops, about 10,000, than any other theater of war. The forces, often joined by Afghan troops, are among the most effective weapons in the coalition's arsenal, conducting surveillance, infiltration and capture missions and night raids.
SEALs on rescue mission killed in Afghan crash
.......continued.......
From April to July this year, 2,832 special operations raids captured 2,941 insurgents and killed 834, twice as many as during the same time period last year, according to NATO.
SEALs, Rangers, and other special operations troops are expected to be the vanguard of the American military effort in Afghanistan as international military forces start pulling out. By the time combat troops plan to have left the country, the coalition will have handed control of security to the Afghan forces they have spent tens of billions of dollars arming and training.
Special operations troops are expected to remain in the country after 2014 for counterterrorism missions and advisory support. Just how many will remain has not yet been negotiated with the Afghan government, but the United States is considering from 5,000 to 20,000, far fewer than the 100,000 U.S. troops there now.
Special forces are frequently used to target insurgent commanders as part of an effort to force the Taliban's leadership to agree to a negotiated peace. The operations, mostly in the form of night raids, are often carried out by Afghan and coalition special operations forces.
Night raids have drawn criticism from human rights activists and infuriated Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who says they anger and alienate the Afghan population.
But NATO commanders have said the raids are safer for civilians than relatively imprecise airstrikes.
As U.S. forces removed the wreckage Sunday, nearby Afghan and NATO forces battled insurgents as they carried out clearing operations in the areas around the crash site, a region that is just a stone's throw from the capital. The province, which borders Kabul, has increasingly come under Taliban control in recent months — even as the U.S.-led coalition has begun handing over security for parts of Afghanistan over to the government of President Hamid Karzai.
"There have been a small number of limited engagements in the same district" as Saturday's helicopter crash, NATO said in a statement. "However those clashes have not been in the direct vicinity of the crash site. As of now, we have no reporting to indicate any coalition casualties resulting from these engagements."
US sets UNHRC trap for Lanka
* India also increases pressure, position of Russia and China uncertain
* Govt.'s talks with TNA break down; national and international crises worsen
By Our Political Editor
SundayTimes.lk
August 07, 2011
The clock is ticking away for the Government of Sri Lanka. It is still debating whether or not to respond to a call by the United States for what it terms an "Interactive Dialogue" before the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva beginning next month. That is through a discussion of the impending final report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC). That report is due in November this year.
Consenting to such a move would mean that participants at the Council sessions will be able to extend the discussions to the report of the UN Panel of Experts on alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka, matters arising from the Channel 4 videos including the one titled Sri Lanka's Killing Fields and all other related issues. They would also cover alleged violations of international humanitarian laws and human rights abuses during the military defeat of Tiger guerrillas.
This is on the basis that some of the issues raised by the UN Panel of Experts may be addressed in the LLRC final report due to be released in November, this year. In fact, speeches by members of the Sri Lanka delegations to previous UNHRC sessions have indicated that some of the matters, which were raised in the report, were under review by the Commission. Even Sri Lanka's diplomatic missions have been briefed of this position earlier so they may apprise host governments and diplomats in those countries. However, the LLRC is not officially acknowledging the UN POE (panel of experts) report or any of its findings/recommendations but may address issues on its own.
The government response is awaited by the US before September 20 when the UNHRC meets for its 18th sessions or in just over six weeks. It will continue till December 20. If a reply is not forthcoming, Sri Lankan diplomats, both in Geneva and Washington DC, have warned the External Affairs Ministry (EAM) in Colombo of the prospects of a different resolution before the Council at its 18th sessions in Geneva next month. It is to come from a US ally, a member country of the UNHRC and the character of such a resolution could be "more damaging," the diplomats have said. They are, however, unaware of the shape and content such a resolution would take. According to the diplomats, there are fears there could be calls for an "international investigation," sanctions and travel bans on those identified in the UN Panel report. The Ministry, the Sunday Times learnt is strongly in favour of rejecting the request but in complete disarray, it fears it has no strategy to altogether prevent the matter coming up. In other words, this situation means that Sri Lanka will most certainly figure at the UNHRC next month.
The Sunday Times reported in its front-page lead story last week that the US has delivered a demarche to Sri Lanka that it wants the final report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) discussed at the 19th sessions of the UNHRC in Geneva in March next year. To facilitate such a discussion, US wanted to obtain the Sri Lanka Government's consent and move a resolution at the UNHRC at their 18th sessions that begin next month.
The draft of such a resolution, handed over to the Government, reads, "Welcoming that the Government of Sri Lanka established the lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) in order to establish the persons, groups or institutions that bear responsibility for events between February 2002 and May 2009,
Noting that the LLRC is due to complete its work on November 15, 2011, Decides after consultation and with the consent of the country concerned to hold an interactive dialogue on this matter during its 19th session.”
US sets UNHRC trap for Lanka
......continued 1.....
The idea is to list it as part of the Programme of Work (or agenda) of the UNHRC for its next sessions in March next year. The unavoidable danger to Sri Lanka in this move is the opportunity such a listing affords member countries as well as non-state actors to raise issue from time to time until it is discussed in March next year. Besides governments, even international organisations and NGOs could make contributions at the Council. It would thus become an open forum for them to air their views, which would mostly be critical of Sri Lanka.
More details of the demarche that was delivered first by the US Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Betty E. King to the Office of Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative in that city have now emerged. A demarche is a formal diplomatic stance of one government's official position, views and wishes on a particular subject. It was received by the Charge d' Affairs U. Jauhar. He transmitted it to the EAM. Since then, there have been regular consultations between Colombo with Sri Lanka's diplomatic missions in Washington DC and Geneva. However, no reply has yet been formulated to the US request.
The absence of a studied diplomatic offensive, or the lack of it, to counter the fallout from the upcoming UNHRC Geneva sessions, has continued to remain a serious problem for Sri Lanka. Whilst there is an External Affairs Ministry, President Mahinda Rajapaksa, had to undertake some of the task himself. In June this year, he flew to St Petersburg (former Leningrad) for the 'International Economic Forum.' On the side-lines of the event, he met with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Chinese President Hu Jintao to seek the support of the two countries. He will undertake a four day visit to China beginning tomorrow. Besides other matters, this is to re-iterate his request to the Chinese leaders on their own soil. Thereafter, he will also travel to New York to meet leaders of several countries when he attends the 66th UN General Assembly sessions that begin on September 13.
In Washington DC, the epicentre of diplomatic activity, a public relations firm hired by the Sri Lanka embassy has been at the centre of some criticism. It has come to light that Paton Boggs, a public relations firm has been paid US $ 35,000 per month (over Rs 3.8 million) with additional fees for any specific tasks undertaken. Surprising enough, for the money that is being paid, the firm has designated two persons, Vinoda Basnayake, an American of Sri Lankan origin and Anurag Varma, an American of Indian origin to liaise with the Embassy of Sri Lanka. "At least seven or more permanent PR experts could have been obtained on a monthly salary for the heavy price paid," said an exasperated External Affairs Ministry official who did not wish to be identified for obvious reasons. "For the inputs we are getting," he said "it is a rip off." Moreover initiatives to win over key players in the House of Representatives the Senate and other establishments have been a dismal failure. In Geneva, though Tamara Kunanayakam, currently Sri Lanka's envoy in Cuba has been nominated, she is yet to move in.
Sri Lanka issue before the UNHRC
The Sri Lankan issue before the UNHRC will revolve around 46 countries with one member, Libya which remains suspended. They are Angola, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chile, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Czech Republic, Djibouti, Equador, Gautemala, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, the Maldives, Mauritania, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Rumania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Uganda, the United States and Uruguay.
US sets UNHRC trap for Lanka
......continued 2.....
With just over three weeks to go for the UNHRC sessions, there is no visible thrust by the External Affairs Ministry to win the support of these member countries. It would be unwise to speculate which country will take up position in favour of Sri Lanka and who would be against. In modern day diplomacy, it is not unusual even for countries to abandon their allies and leave their seats vacant when it comes to voting on a particular issue.
In international diplomacy, there is an age-old axiom which reads: "there are no permanent friends only permanent interests" -- and those interests are mostly national. The Russians and the Chinese have had longstanding economic and military relationships with Sudan and Iran, two countries on the agenda of the UN Security Council. Both Russia and China provide millions of dollars' worth of weapons, and in turn, receive vital oil supplies from Iran and Sudan (besides involvements in massive construction and oil-drilling projects).
Still when Western countries, led by the US, penalized Iran with drastic economic sanctions spelled out in four different resolutions in the Security Council, both China and Russia went along, dropping their ally. Fast forward to Sudan: Again, when the Western powers decided to refer Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir to the International Criminal Court on war crimes charges, both China and Russia caved into Western pressure. Like Sri Lanka, Sudan is not a party to the Rome Convention that established the International Criminal Court. So, al-Bashir could have been taken to the ICC only on a referral by the 15-member Security Council-- and specifically with the support of the two veto wielding members, Russia and China. Some retired Sri Lanka diplomats opine that perhaps that is the only route that Western powers could take if Sri Lanka is to be hauled before the ICC --provided Russia and China remain silent (as in the case of Iran and Sudan). But what does Sri Lanka have, that Iran and Sudan doesn't?
The Russians and the Chinese relented on resolutions against both countries primarily for one reason: national interests. And there is a hidden agenda that reads: we will support you if you do not stir up trouble in our own backyards.
Both Russia and China are accused not only of political repression but also blatant human rights violations in Chechnya (attempting to break away from Russia) and a growing militant insurgency in China's north western provinces, Xinjiang, Gansu and Ningxia, which are predominantly Muslim. The looming threat that both issues could end up on the Security Council agenda has helped Western powers into twisting Russian and Chinese arms.
The US move for an 'Interactive Dialogue' comes hard on the heels of the House Foreign Affairs Committee deciding to recommend a cut in aid to Sri Lanka. It came on a recommendation by Congressman Howard Berman, a Ranking member of President Barrack Obama's Democratic Party who moved for such a ban winning a unanimous voice vote. This is if the government does not address "accountability issues," ensures media freedom countrywide and withdraws emergency regulations. It followed an amendment moved to the Foreign Relations Authorisation Act 2012. This amendment, however, will become law only after the US House of Representatives and the Senate have talks on the Authorisation Act which apportions funds for the next financial year. It is for the period October 1 2011 to September 30 2012.
US sets UNHRC trap for Lanka
......continued 3.....
An eleven page Congressional Research Service report which Berman circulated to the Committee members together with his proposal to cut aid notes "…. The West's ability to pressure the Sri Lankan government was viewed as somewhat limited due to China's growing involvement in the country. China's aid to Sri Lanka has reportedly increased dramatically since 2005. In the view of some analysts and observers, China is seeking to gain influence with the Sri Lankan government as part of a 'string of pearls' naval strategy to develop port access in the northern reaches of the Indian Ocean.
"Indian defence planners are reportedly particularly concerned with Chinese efforts to develop ports in the region. India is home to an estimated 60 million Tamil people and New Delhi has raised concerns over the treatment of Tamils in Sri Lanka. China is reportedly investing significantly in the development of a port in Hambantota, Sri Lanka, on the country's southeastern (sic) coast. China is also reportedly helping to develop port facilities in Gwadar, Pakistan, Chittagong, Bangladesh and Sittwe, Burma. Colombo was also reportedly upset with Western calls for a truce in the lead up to their defeat of the LTTE in May 2009. Rajapaksa stated "They are trying to preach to us about civilians. I tell them to go and see what they are doing in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"Sri Lanka will be watched closely by the international community for how it handles human rights and war crimes issues related to the end of the war and for how it handles reconciliation with its Tamil minority. The international community may also be increasingly interested in the role that Sri Lanka may play in the evolving geopolitics of the Indian Ocean region."
Krishna suo moto statement
In the backdrop of these developments, India's Minister of External Affairs, S.M. Krishna made a suo moto statement in the Lok Sabha on Thursday. The term means on one's own initiative, without external prompting or explicit demand. He said "there have been a number of requests for Calling Attention Motion and Short Duration Discussions as well as Parliamentary Questions on issues relating to Sri Lanka in both the Houses of Parliament. I, therefore, propose to make a Suo Motu statement which, I hope, will respond to most, if not all, issues of interest and concern to my fellow Parliamentarians……"
Here are some significant highlights: "…….Our primary objective in all that we are doing in Sri Lanka is to ensure the welfare and wellbeing of Sri Lankan Tamils, including IDPs, and to assist in the development of Northern Sri Lanka. In a Joint Press Statement issued on the occasion of the visit of the Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister to India on 17 May, 2011, I urged the expeditious implementation of measures by the Government of Sri Lanka to ensure resettlement and genuine reconciliation, including early return of IDPs to their respective homes. I am happy to convey to the House that according to information available to us, around 2,90,000 IDPs have already been resettled and only around 10,000 IDPs remain in the camps.
"Government has also articulated its position that the end of armed conflict in Sri Lanka created a historic opportunity to address all outstanding issues relating to minority communities in Sri Lanka, including Tamils. The Joint Press Release of May 17, 2011, states that all such outstanding issues had to be settled in a spirit of understanding and mutual accommodation imbued with political vision to work towards genuine national reconciliation. The External "Affairs Minister of Sri Lanka affirmed his Government's commitment to ensuring expeditious and concrete progress in the on-going dialogue between the Government of Sri Lanka and representatives of Tamil parties and that a devolution package, building upon the 13th Amendment, would contribute towards creating the necessary conditions for such reconciliation.
SL govt. and TNA differ
By Political Editor
SundayTimes.lk
August 07, 2011
What Minister Krishna called the "expeditious and concrete progress in the on-going dialogue between the Government of Sri Lanka and representatives of Tamil parties," it seemed a strange co-incidence, broke down on Thursday, the very day he made a statement to the Lok Sabha. Both the Sri Lanka government and the TNA accused each other in different statements which signalled the end of the on-going dialogue. The TNA said that they would resume talks in two weeks only if conditions set by them are met. However, the Government has declared that in view of the TNA demarche it would now set up a Parliamentary Select Committee. That meant the dialogue is now over. Here are edited excerpts of the statement issued by Sajin Vass Gunewardane on behalf of the government side:
"The condition they insisted on is that, within a period of 10 days, the government delegation should inform the TNA in writing about its position on the following matters:
(i) The structure of governance;
(ii) The allocation of subjects and functions to the Central Government and to the Provincial Councils;
(iii) Issues relating to fiscal and financial devolution
"It will be observed that these three areas, taken in combination, encompass almost the entirety of the issues involved in the discussion between the SLFP, main political party of the Government and the TNA. It is certainly not possible, nor is it consistent with the national interest to make a final pronouncement on all these crucial issues, hastily and without wider consultation, at this stage.
"Between meetings the Government has made every effort to discuss these complex issues, vital to the future of our nation, with all stakeholders in order to arrive at a consensus and in this way to build a foundation for a fair and durable solution.
"We do not think that the ultimatum delivered to the government by the TNA, which is tantamount to the attitude portrayed by the LTTE, is at all helpful or constructive for the purpose of carrying forward in a structured and methodical way a process which can reach a positive outcome only if it has the widest possible support among the public. It is this objective which the government has tried to achieve in its sustained discussions with varying shades of political opinion during the last few months…….."
"……..In the circumstances, which have now arisen on account of the demarche of the TNA, the Government will proceed with the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee……."
Here are edited excerpts from the TNA statement: "……. Ten rounds of talks were held from 10th January 2011 on the evolution of an acceptable political solution and in regard to matters of immediate concern of the Tamil people. The TNA raised the following matters of immediate concern: Resettlement and Rehabilitation of the Internally Displaced Persons, removal of High Security Zones, disarming the para-military forces operating in the North and East and the issue of the political prisoners and detainees.
"The resettlement process continues to be snail-paced with several thousand still in the camps and many more tens of thousands in transit camps and with friends and relatives. Even those who have been permitted to return to their original places, have no proper shelter nor been helped effectively to recommence their livelihood activities, resulting in there being no qualitative improvement in the lives of the people.
SL govt. and TNA differ
.....continued....
"Although some progress has been made in the Valigamam North High Security Zone area, several other areas in the North including Sampur in the East continue to be prohibited zones for the civilians. Para-military personnel continue to operate with impunity causing abductions, demanding ransom and even carrying out killings. The Government delegation gave an undertaking on the 3rd of February 2011 that the next of kin could check at a specified place in Vavuniya the whereabouts of their relatives in detention. To date this has not happened and credible information pertaining to the detainees continues to be withheld and denied to their next of kin.
"After the end of the war in May 2009, a programme is being implemented whereby cultural and religious places in the Tamil areas are misused, damaged and destroyed; increased militarization and military's intervention in civilian life; lands being allocated to persons from outside the North and East ostensibly for development purposes, resulting in demographic change in the North and the East, the transformation of the cultural identity of areas in the North and the East, all of which will have irreversible evil consequences to the future well-being of the Tamil people.
"Representations made to the Government in regard to such matters have not resulted in remedial action indicating that they have not received due consideration by the Government. ………………In regard to a political solution the TNA placed before the Government delegation discussion papers setting out proposals in regard to the structure of governance, the division of subjects and functions between the centre and the devolved units, fiscal and financial powers and other matters relevant to the achievement of an acceptable and durable political solution.
"The TNA invited the Government's response to these proposals and despite the Government's commitment to so respond, no response has been forthcoming for several months. Consequently no meaningful or purposeful discussion could be had on the discussion papers tendered by the TNA. This we regret to state was clearly demonstrative of the lack of a genuine commitment on the part of the Government to the evolution of an acceptable political solution……………"
"There is no point in dragging the talks without coming to any concrete decisions. We have given government two weeks' time to respond to our conditions. Depending on the response, we will decide", said TNA parliamentarian Mavai Senathirajah. Another TNA source who spoke on grounds of anonymity said, "During last Thursday's meeting we reminded that the presence of the Army and the HSZ are an impediment to the process of the talks. The government delegation did not expect we will come out with such strong demands. They listened carefully and took notes. We reminded them that there is no point continuing talks unless the previously discussed matters do not materialize. So we had to say good bye."
The Government statement makes clear that there will be no more talks with the TNA. Instead, they will move for the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee. However, this has raised a more critical question. The Sunday Times has learnt that the Tamil National Alliance will not join in the effort. The question therefore is whether the United National Party (UNP), now embroiled in a crisis (See box story on this page) will do so. Their head of communications, Mangala Samaraweera, has said they will not. However, earlier, UNP leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe, told UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, his party would co-operate. With the leadership crisis reaching a peak, it is unlikely the party will take part. That leaves the PSC to only the constituent partners of the UPFA.
That would not be the healthiest exercise in the wake of all the international pressure now building up. Naturally, that leaves the government in a dilemma both at home and abroad.
PeacefulHumanRace,
The recent intrusion of US jets into Sri Lankan airspace may be accidental.
The jets may have been scrambled to provide air cover at a site in Afghanistan where a Taliban attack on a US Chinook helicopter killed over 30 US servicemen about that time.
In any case, the US Navy should have requested permission from Sri Lanka .. which would have certainly granted it immediately.
This goes to show the CONTEMPT in which big powers hold the sovereign rights of small nations.
Leading SUV makers to invest in Hambantota
By Indunil HEWAGE
DailyNews.lk
August 08, 2011
Several motor companies show interest.
Two of the worlds leading Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV) manufactures are planning to establish two SUV assembling plants in the Hambantota district. The two companies from Korea and Europe have already sought the Board of Investments approval to acquire lands near the Ruhunu Magampura Port for this project.
Speaking to Daily News Business, National Insurance Trust Fund, (NITF) Chairman Senaka D Abeygoonasekera said these companies are planning to assemble SUV’s in Hambantota and then export the vehicles to the South East Asian countries. The reason for the investors to select Ruhunu Magampura Port at Hambantota is a ‘free port’.
“They are planning to infuse a substantial amount of money for these two projects, creating a large number of employment opportunities for the youth in Hambantota. Some of the raw material needed for their operations such as rubber bushes, rubber based raw materials, tyres and fabric that are used to manufacture SUVs are also to be obtained from Sri Lanka,” Abeygoonasekera said.
“In addition, they have already requested to obtain the NITF insurance coverage for their staff, equipment, buildings and other materials.” he said.
NITF is in the process of evaluating their machinery and buildings and, once the evaluation process is finalized, will be providing the required insurance coverage for them. With these two investments in the Hambantota District, NITF is optimistic that its premiums are going to be over Rs 200 million. Meanwhile Volkswagen too has already forwarded a proposal to assemble vans at the Ruhunu Magampura Port Investment Zone. They are planning to assemble vans with 8, 10 and 12 seat capacity mainly for the local market as vans are in demand.
These Volkswagen vans also would be exported. In addition, the Micro Car Company too has tendered to be the other player in the motor assembly facility at the Ruhunu Magampura Port. Associated Motorways too has expressed concern to set up a Maruti car assembly plant in the area mainly to service the local market.
Meanwhile the Cabinet had already given the nod for an Indian, a Singaporean and a Sri Lankan company to commence operations in the Magampura Port. They are in the fertilizer, (Heyleys Adventis) sugar (Shree Renuka of India) and petro chemical (Peak Energy Ltd of Singapore) categories. They have all been given attractive incentives. The remaining 11 investors are expected to get the Cabinet approval for their “request for proposals” next month.
Port Authority Chairman Dr Priyath Wickrama said that they had allocated 100 hectares for these investors in the premises and they would invest around US $ one billion at the Port.
Sri Lanka to probe US fighter jest intrusion into country's air space
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Aug 08, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government is considering to launch a special investigation into the violation of the country's airspace by U.S. fighter jets, a foreign media report said.
Quoting an unnamed government official, Xinhua news agency said the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) had identified the U.S. aircraft after they were picked up on the radar screens recently.
Sri Lankan local media reports said Sunday that at least 10 U.S. fighter jets had intruded into Sri Lanka's airspace but the intrusion was not believed to have been intentional.
The SLAF spokesman Andrew Wijesuriya has said that the US aircraft were on a training mission and they were in violation of the country's air space.
"The U.S. aircraft were told they were in violation of our airspace and subsequently they changed direction and moved out," the official has said.
Reportedly, the External Affairs Ministry is to take the matter up with the US embassy in Colombo.
However, a US Embassy official has denied that there was any intrusion by US fighter jets into Lankan air space, the local Daily Mirror reported.
As all other Indian Demagogues have found, nurturing Eelamist rattler's close one's breast will only yield snake bites!
The BJP will be NO EXCEPTION!
............
BJP Mission Eelam sinks
AsianAge.com
Aug 08, 2011
The Eelam war might have ended on the northern beaches of Sri Lanka but across the Palk Strait, the island’s Tamil conflict continues to gather heat across Tamil Nadu amid scores of concerned politicians, human rights activists and youth.
Not a day passes without at least one demonstration in some part of the state and the protestors demanding a war crimes trial against the rulers in Colombo and speedy resettlement for war survivors.
The BJP is a recent player in the Eelam theatre. Keen on grabbing a bit of the Dravidian political space, the saffron party has been carrying out campaigns in support of the Lankan Tamils.
And on Sunday, the lotus flags descended on Rames-waram with a large contingent led by national general secretary Muralidhara Rao and Pon Radhakrishnan who threatened to cross over to the disputed Katchatheevu island to press for the fishing rights of Tamil Nadu fishermen in the Palk Strait.
However, with no local fishermen willing to lend their boats, the BJP protesters gave up their programme after some slogan-shouting.
The pro-LTTE Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and Pattali Makkal Katchi held a joint conference in Chennai on Sunday, where VCK chief Thol. Thirumavalavan said he was “willing to resign from his seat in the Lok Sabha” for the sake of the Lankan Tamils.
PMK leader S. Ramadoss said his party would join hands with the VCK to push the Eelam Tamil cause.
Another bunch of putative SEPARATISTS, wanting to REIGN in their own COMMUNAL POND, now want to follow in the TNA's footsteps demanding Devolution of Police and Land Powers.
Have they LEARNED NOTHING from the Genocide and Ethnic Cleansing that the LTTE inflicted on the Muslims, to try to weaken and destabilize Sri Lanka AGAIN?
ONE Unitary Nation, of ONE United People, Sharing ONE Inseparable Destiny should be Our GOAL.
Our Safety and Existence will depend upon it.
E Pluribus Unum!
................
Sri Lankan government ally calls for devolution of police and land powers
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Aug 08, Colombo: An ally of the Sri Lanka's governing United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA), the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC), has called for the devolution of land and police powers to the provinces.
The ACMC, previously known as All Ceylon Muslim Congress, is led by Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiyutheen.
ACMC General Secretary Y.L.S. Hameed has told the media that the Muslim community was concerned over the central government handling all these subjects. The party was supportive of a joint commission to handle land and police powers, he has said.
Hameed has added that a proposal would be handed over to the government's proposed parliamentary select committee (PSC) to find a solution to the ethnic issue.
However, Hameed has observed that the PSC should ensure equal representation of the Muslim community.
Angelo Mathews performs his MAGICAL FIELDING .... AGAIN!
Throws the ball to Mahela Jayawardene just before he runs outside the field!
This is at the 2nd T20 game at Pallekel, Kandy. Sri Lanka won the series against Australia 2/0.
wOw! WoW! WOW!
......Excerpt from CricInfo.com Commentary .....
7.1 BAW Mendis to Warner, OUT, My word. We need a new scoring entry for this. Caught Jayawardene b Mendis simply won't do! Sit down and hear this out. Warner slog-sweeps this, Mathews takes the catch at the edge of midwicket boundary, but just as he is about to run over the fence with his momentum, he throws the ball back in - both his feet in the air. The closest fielder is 30 metres from him, but he has lobbed it back that far! Australia can't believe it. The replays aren't lying. Top presence of mind from Mathews and Mahela. Relayed Mathews caught Jayawardene bowled Mendis!
DA Warner c Jayawardene b BAW Mendis 16 (29m 18b 2x4 0x6) SR: 88.88
Angelo Mathews on that super catch: "Pure instincts. Just saw Mahela and went for it. I wasn't looking at the boundary, just wanted to take the catch, and relay it to Mahela after I saw it."
Factbox - China-Sri Lanka economic ties
By Shihar Aneez
August 10, 2011
COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday started a four-day state visit to China, with support against a Western war crimes push and deeper economic ties on his agenda.
Here are some facts about Chinese's financial cooperation and investment in the Indian Ocean island nation:
OVERALL:
China was Sri Lanka's largest lender in 2009 and 2010, giving $1.2 billion (733 million pounds) and $821 million respectively. In 2009, that figure accounted for 54 percent of total foreign loans, and 25 percent in 2010.
In the first six months of 2011, trade between China and Sri Lanka was worth $1.28 billion, a rise of 39.5 percent on the same period in 2010, according to Chinese customs data.
China's imports from Sri Lanka in the first six months of 2011 were worth $68 million.
INVESTMENT:
Foreign investment of $1 billion will flow into a 500-room hotel by Honk Kong-based Shangri La Asia and a shopping mall by China National Aero Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC) in Colombo, the largest investments so far into a post-war tourism boom.
The latter has run into an issue, with the president questioning whether the land should be sold as first agreed by his brother, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, or given on a long-term lease, according to local media.
CONTRACTS & TRANSACTIONS:
Sri Lanka has signed a $450 million deal with China Merchants Holdings and local conglomerate Aitken Spence to boost the Colombo port's cargo-handling capacity.
Sri Lanka, with a tradition of strict foreign exchange controls, has allowed international banking transactions denominated in the Chinese yuan since June 29.
LOANS:
China Development Bank Corporation has agreed to provide $1.5 billion within three years for construction of roads, bridges, power plants and water and irrigation schemes.
PORT DEVELOPMENT:
China has lent $400 million for the first phase of the new port in Hambantota and its Exim Bank has lent $77 million for an oil bunkering facility, while another $810 million has been given for the second phase with China Communications Construction Company as the contractor.
ELECTRICITY DEVELOPMENT:
ROAD DEVELOPMENT: China has pledged around $760 million to the island nation's road construction across the country, including $302 million for projects in the war-ravaged north.
A $310 million Chinese loan from its Exim Bank has been granted for the Colombo-Katunayaka express road, which will connect Sri Lanka's only international airport and its commercial capital, Colombo. It is due for completion next year.
AIRPORT: China has also lent $190 million for Sri Lanka's second international airport in Hambantota, which is on Sri Lanka's southern tip and happens to be the president's electorate.
RAILWAY: China's Exim Bank has committed $102.5 million for Sri Lanka to buy 13 new diesel engines for its railways. The engines will come from Chinese manufacturers.
(Editing by Bryson Hull and Sanjeev Miglani)
Sri Lanka's enemies and Western nations jealous of Sri Lanka's military success while they remain mired neck deep in wars ... accuse Sri Lanka of w"war crimes".
HYPOCRISY ... pure & simple.
NO OTHER NATION has handled a terrorist conflict with such care and compassion for the victims of terror as has Sri Lanka.
...............
Sri Lanka's Rajapaksa in China as West turns up war crimes heat
By C. Bryson Hull
August 9, 2011
COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa landed in China on Tuesday seeking tighter economic ties in a stormy financial world, and against the backdrop of an aggressive Western push for a probe into war crimes allegations.
Rajapaksa was due to attend the Universiade sporting event in Shenzhen and will later meet President Hu Jintao and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao in Beijing, in the latest of his several visits to one of Sri Lanka's closest allies.
The Sri Lankan leader on Monday said economic cooperation was the focus of a trip made on an invitation from Hu in June, with the aim of expanding ties and learning from China's economic growth example.
China is Sri Lanka's largest bilateral donor and in June committed $1.5 billion to Sri Lanka's $6 billion post-war rebuilding plan, having already financed a power plant and new port in Rajapaksa's southern Hambantota electorate.
"They want to make sure the same magnitude of money flows in, in times of insecurity," said a Colombo-based diplomat on condition of anonymity, referring to the global debt turmoil that has hit world markets.
That, however, is not likely to be at the top of his list.
"The fact is he is awfully disturbed by the pressures he is getting from the Western hemisphere on the war crimes issue," said Kusal Perera, a political analyst at The Centre for Social Democracy.
Sri Lanka is now in its third year of peace after destroying the Tamil Tiger separatists, listed by more than 30 nations as a terrorist organisation.
But ethno-political reconciliation is still distant and the island nation is facing an aggressive campaign to probe civilian deaths at the end of the quarter-century conflict in May 2009, when China, Russia and neighbouring India stood by Rajapaksa's prosecution of the war to the finish.
WANTED: BEIJING BACKING
Now Rajapaksa, whose victory brought him immense popularity at home, is up against a coordinated push from the West, rights advocates and a well-financed global network of former Tiger supporters for an external probe.
"The heat is on and they feel it very much and I think he is trying to see whether he could get China to mobilise support at the September U.N. Human Rights Council session," Perera said.
A senior Sri Lankan diplomat told Reuters on condition of anonymity that the war crimes issue would be on the agenda, but there was unlikely to be any clear statement about that at the end of the trip.
Washington has told Colombo it wants the findings of Sri Lanka's internal probe, the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission, to be submitted to U.N. Human Rights Council session after they are given to the government on Nov. 15.
That could put a host of material critical of Sri Lanka's handling of the war before the rights council at its March session, and give momentum to calls for an external probe.
Sri Lanka views that as a violation of its sovereignty based, and hypocritical of the United States, which is blamed for thousands of civilian deaths in its campaign against al Qaeda in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan.
A U.N.-sponsored report found "credible evidence" that Sri Lankan forces and the Tigers committed war crimes including killing possibly thousands of civilians.
Sri Lanka's Rajapaksa in China as West turns up war crimes heat
.......continued......
Sri Lanka has acknowledged some civilian deaths but says the U.N. report's allegations are vastly inflated or untrue and first emanated from Tamil Tiger propaganda operations.
Chinese support appears likely. Both China and Russia usually oppose foreign intervention in domestic conflicts, and both held off U.S.-British attempts at the U.N. Security Council to get a ceasefire at the end of the war.
China faces ethnic unrest in its western areas where Tibetans and Uighurs have resisted Beijing's control, and Russia has battled Chechen separatists, and both conflicts are akin to Sri Lanka's war with the ethnic minority Tamil Tigers.
"For China, it's a two-for-one. They like to annoy India, and (separatism) is a core issue for them," said a former Western diplomat involved with Sri Lanka.
India is wary of China's influence with the Rajapaksa administration, as it considers Sri Lanka in its sphere of influence and is concerned the Hambantota port is part of a Beijing strategy to encircle it.
(Additional reporting by Chris Buckley and Michael Martina in Beijing; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)
ON THE CONTRARY, it is the RACIST DEMAGOGUES of Tamil Nadu, who stir up communal violence in Sri Lanka while tolerating endemic discrimination in Tamil Nadu, who are TOTALLY WRONG!
The LTTE who "fought"
in Sri Lanka were not "freedom fighters" as Karunanidhi likes to paint it, but murderers who sliced and diced innocents in whole villages in the dead of the night in their ethnic cleansing, blew to bits thousands of innocents in buses, trains and buildings, kidnapped and brainwashed children into serving as child soldiers and suicide bombers, killed all Tamil leaders who criticized their methods, hung up ordinary people from lamp posts, enslaved and tortured people in the Wanni Gulag, and corralled Tamils into human shields to save themselves.
The LTTE FAILED because of the INDOMITABLE SPIRIT of this Sri Lankan Government and Sri Lankan people.
These are the monsters that Karunanidhi aided, abetted and sang praises of.
If the LTTE had terrorized the United States, today Karunanidhi would be imprisoned as a war criminal in Guantanamo Bay, and prosecuted for his crimes!
Bloody RACIST HYPOCRITE!
...........
India's DMK leader says Sri Lankan Defense Secretary "totally wrong"
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Aug 09, Chennai: Leader of India's DMK party and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi has said on Tuesday that his party has been supporting the Tamil cause in Sri Lanka for a long time and it was not doing it for political mileage as Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has suggested.
"If Gotabhaya thinks DMK is doing it for political mileage he is totally wrong as the party has been fighting for the cause for long. He knows full well that DMK is for liberation of the Tamil race in Sri Lanka," Indian daily The Hindu quoted the DMK leader.
Karunanidhi has said that he cannot accept Rajapaksa's assurance that Sri Lankan government has taken all steps to alleviate the Tamil community's suffering.
"Those who wanted to get the rights through fighting cannot accept the remarks of those who denied them their political rights," he has said.
The DMK leader has said that his party has never supported the 'genocide' of Tamils in Sri Lanka, like his successor AIADMK leader J. Jayalalithaa who had said that it was natural for people to die in a war.
Sri Lanka Air Force monitored excess airspace observing routine aircraft carrier operations - US
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Aug 09, Colombo: The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has monitored a space that extends beyond its territorial skies and observed the routine flight operations that United States aircraft carrier conducts in the Indian Ocean, the United States said today in a statement.
Referring to the issue that its military aircraft entering Sri Lankan airspace, the U.S. Embassy in Colombo issuing a statement said that as media reports indicated the SLAF, which monitors a large Flight Identification Region (FIR) that extends beyond Sri Lanka's territorial airspace, monitored the transit and the routine operations of the aircraft carrier.
Explaining the circumstances, the statement said the aircraft carrier USS RONALD REAGAN with accompanying ships recently transited the Indian Ocean returning to the Pacific. It conducted routine flight operations during the transit through waters beyond the territorial sea of any State, it added.
The Embassy assured that at no time did the USS RONALD REAGAN or its aircraft approach Sri Lanka's territorial sea or airspace.
A spokesman for SLAF said the U.S. aircraft were told they were in violation of Sri Lankan airspace and subsequently they changed direction and moved out.
Local media reports said the Sri Lankan government is considering to launch a special investigation into the violation of the country's airspace by U.S. fighter jets.
" U.S. naval aircraft operate with due regard for the safety of civil aviation," the Embassy said.
The statement said responding to a request for information, the charge' d'affaires on August 2 informed the Sri Lanka Minister of External Affairs that the transit had occurred, and the Defense Attache's Office was in full communication with the Ministry of Defence that same evening.
EXCELLENT MOVE: This will not only help control ordinary criminals, but separatists terrorists also.
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STF camps in all districts
By Supun Dias
DailyMirror.lk
August 09, 2011
A Special Task Force (STF) camp will be set up in each of the country’s administrative districts on the orders of Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa to combat and tackle illegal activities which the police find difficult to handle, the STF Commandant said yesterday.
“The setting up of camps is the first step by the STF to engage in the development activities of each district. Contd. from A1
“The setting up of camps is the first step by the STF to engage in the development activities of each district. We have about five camps in the Batticaloa district. We have busted illegal felling of trees, sand mining and the transport of cattle in the area especially inside thick forests,” STF Commandant R.W.M.C. Ranawana said.
“We are assisting the police to put a stop to illegal activities which take place in the country. We have a cadre of 8,000 personnel and a vast intelligence network,” DIG Ranawana added.
The STF has been empowered to arrest suspects, carry out raids on illegal activities and assist the police in maintaining law and order.
“We are continuing to combat criminal gangs and we even managed to arrest Neluwe Priyantha, the undisputed underworld leader of the Southern Province. He was said to be involved in more than 80 killings though only five or six of them has been reported to the police,” he added.
“We went to Kahawatta, assisted the police and arrested all the suspects who were killing women and frightening the residents. The people have always have had a high regard for the STF and its work in maintaining law and order,” DIG Ranawana said.
He said people can inform the STF about any illegal activity or if they need its help on telephone numbers: 0112588499, 2588481, 2580518 and STF Intelligence 2586363.
LoL!
DEMOCRACY PROTESTS in the UK?
Police battering "democracy protestors"?
The "International Community" should now charge UK Leaders with corruption and suppression of HUMAN RIGHTS ... and ... you guessed it ... BOMB London from the Air until those Leaders are TOPPLED ... just as they did in developing nations .. like LIBYA!
That is they way we ENFORCE DEMOCRACY ... even on the Nation that gave birth to the Mother of Parliaments!
If BOMBING is good for the GOOSE, it should be BETTER for the GANDER!
Oh, My ... how God punishes the HYPOCRITES!
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Police calm London, but riots flare across UK
By DAVID STRINGER & RAPHAEL G. SATTER - Associated Press
August 09, 2011
LONDON (AP) — Thousands more police officers flooded London streets Tuesday in a bid to end Britain's worst rioting in a generation as nervous shopkeepers closed early and some residents stood guard to protect their neighborhoods. An eerie calm prevailed in the city, but unrest spread across central and northern England on a fourth night of violence driven by poor, diverse and brazen crowds of young people.
Scenes of ransacked stores, torched cars and blackened buildings frightened and outraged Britons just a year before London is to host the summer Olympic Games, and brought demands for a tougher response from law enforcement.
London's Metropolitan Police department put thousands more officers in the streets and said that by Wednesday there would be 16,000 — almost triple the number present Monday. The department said a large presence would remain in the city through the next 24 hours at least.
Britain's riots began Saturday when an initially peaceful protest over a police shooting in London's Tottenham neighborhood turned violent. That clash has morphed into a general lawlessness in London and several other cities that police have struggled to halt with ordinary tactics.
While the rioters have run off with sneakers, bikes, electronics and leather goods, they also have torched stores apparently just for the fun of seeing something burn. They were left virtually unchallenged in several neighborhoods, and when police did arrive they often were able to flee quickly and regroup.
Some saw Britain's economic crisis and deep cuts planned to socials benefits as a deeper underlying cause for the outburst of violence — though few rioters said it was their motivation.
The show of strength by police appeared to have quelled unrest in London late Tuesday, but in a move that could raise tensions, a far-right group said about 1,000 of its members around the country were taking to the streets to deter rioters.
"We're going to stop the riots — police obviously can't handle it," Stephen Lennon, leader of the far-right English Defense League, told The Associated Press. He warned that he couldn't guarantee there wouldn't be violent clashes with rioting youths.
Anders Behring Breivik, who has confessed to the bombing and massacre that killed 77 people in Norway last month, has cited the EDL as an inspiration.
Firefighters were tackling a major blaze at the site of a recycling center and fuel depot in Tottenham early Wednesday, but it was unclear whether the fire was linked to rioting.
Outside of London, chaos continued to spread.
Police calm London, but riots flare across UK
......continued 1......
In the northwestern city of Manchester, hundreds of youths rampaged through the city center, hurling bottles and stones at police and vandalizing stores. A women's clothing store on the city's main shopping street was set ablaze, along with a disused library in nearby Salford. Looters targeted stores selling designer clothes and expensive consumer electronics.
Manchester's assistant chief constable Garry Shewan said looting and arson had taken place there on an unprecedented scale, but appeared to have little motive. About 50 people were arrested there.
"We want to make it absolutely clear — they have nothing to protest against. There is nothing in a sense of injustice and there has been no spark that has led to this," he said.
In the central England city of Nottingham, police said rioters hurled firebombs though the window of a police station, and set fire to a school and a vehicle outside a second police station — but there were no reports of injuries. A total of 90 people were arrested in attacks on stores, a college, a community center and cars.
Neither Manchester nor Nottingham had previously been involved in unrest. There also were minor clashes for the first time in the central England locations of Leicester, Wolverhampton and West Bromwich, and the western city of Gloucester — where police and firefighters tackled a blaze and disturbance in the city's Brunswick district.
In London, stores, offices and nursery schools closed early amid fears of fresh rioting. Several usually busy streets were quiet as cafes, restaurants and pubs also decided to shut down for the night.
Many shops had their metal blinds pulled down, while other business owners rushed to secure plywood over their windows before nightfall.
Some London residents prepared to defend their homes and stores. Outside a Sikh temple in Southall, west London, residents stood guard and vowed to defend their place of worship if mobs of young rioters appeared. Another group marched through Enfield, in north London, aiming to deter looters.
In east London's Bethnal Green district, convenience store owner Adnan Butt said residents were tense.
"People are all at home — they're scared" of the rioters, he said.
Police offered advice on what actions businesses or homeowners could legally take to defend properties from attack. "As a general rule, the more extreme the circumstances and the fear felt, the more force you can lawfully use in self-defense," London police said in advice circulated late Tuesday.
Senior officers said they were considering the possible use of plastic bullets — blunt-nosed projectiles designed to deal punishing blows to rioters without penetrating the skin. Such weapons, formally called baton rounds, still are used to quell riots in Northern Ireland but have never been used by police on Britain's mainland.
Prime Minister David Cameron's government rejected calls by Conservative lawmaker Patrick Mercer and some members of the public for strong-arm riot measures that British police generally avoid, such as tear gas and water cannons.
"They should have the tools available and they should use them if the commander on the ground thinks it's necessary," Mercer said.
The disorder has caused heartache for Londoners whose businesses and homes were torched or ransacked, and a crisis for police and politicians already staggering from a spluttering economy and a scandal over illegal phone hacking by a tabloid newspaper that has dragged in senior politicians and police.
"The public wanted to see tough action. They wanted to see it sooner and there is a degree of frustration," said Andrew Silke, head of the criminology department at the University of East London.
Police calm London, but riots flare across UK
......continued 2......
So far 685 people have been arrested in London and 111 charged — including an 11-year-old boy — and the capital's prison cells were overflowing. Britain's Crown Prosecution Service said it had teams of lawyers working 24 hours a day to help police decide whether to charge suspects, allowing them quickly clear police station cells.
About 230 people were arrested after two days of violence in Birmingham — where police were investigating reports of shots fired in a restive inner-city neighborhood. "Officers are on the scene but there have been no injuries reported," the city's police department said in a statement.
In the northern city of Liverpool, about 200 youths hurled missiles at police and firefighters in a second night of unrest, and about 40 were arrested.
A total of 111 officers and 14 members of the public have been hurt so far in the rioting, including a man in his 60s who was attacked as he attempted to put out a fire started by members of a mob.
Police said the injured man had been tackling a blaze in a garbage bin, when he was set upon by several rioters. "It was quite a grave assault and his condition is causing us some concern," said police commander Simon Foy.
The unrest has been Britain's worst since race riots set London ablaze in the 1980s. London's beleaguered police force noted that it had received more than 20,000 emergency calls on Monday — four times the normal number. Scotland Yard has called in reinforcements from around the country and asked all volunteer special constables to report for duty.
A soccer match scheduled for Wednesday between England and the Netherlands at London's Wembley stadium was canceled to free up police officers for riot duty. Britain's soccer authorities said they were in talks with police to see whether this weekend's season-opening matches of the Premier League could still go ahead in London.
Prime Minister David Cameron cut short a holiday in Italy to deal with the crisis, reversing an earlier decision to remain on his vacation. He recalled Parliament from its summer recess for an emergency debate on the riots Thursday.
Cameron described the scenes of burning buildings and smashed windows as "sickening," but refrained from tougher measures such as calling in the military to help restore order.
"People should be in no doubt that we will do everything necessary to restore order to Britain's streets and to make them safe for the law-abiding," Cameron told reporters after a crisis meeting at his Downing Street office.
Other politicians visited riot sites Tuesday — but for many residents it was too little, too late.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg was booed by crowds who shouted "Go home!" in Birmingham, while London Mayor Boris Johnson — who flew back overnight from his summer vacation — was heckled on a shattered shopping street in Clapham, south London.
Johnson said the riots would not stop London from "welcoming the world to our city" for the Olympics.
"We have time in the next 12 months to rebuild, to repair the damage that has been done," he said. "I'm not saying it will be done overnight, but this is what we are going to do."
Violence broke out late Saturday in the low-income, multiethnic district of Tottenham in north London, after a protest against the fatal police shooting of Mark Duggan, a 29-year-old father of four who was gunned down in disputed circumstances Thursday.
Police said Duggan was shot dead when officers from Operation Trident — the unit that investigates gun crime in the black community — stopped a cab he was riding in.
Police calm London, but riots flare across UK
......continued 3......
The Independent Police Complaints Commission, which is investigating the shooting, said a "non-police firearm" was recovered at the scene, but that there was no evidence it had been fired, or that Duggan had fired a weapon at police. An inquest into Duggan's death was opened Tuesday, but a full hearing will likely take several months.
Duggan's death stirred memories of the 1980s, when many black Londoners felt they were disproportionately stopped and searched by police. The frustration erupted in violent riots in 1985.
Relations have improved since then, but tensions remain and many young people of all races mistrust the police.
Seeking explanations for the unrest, some pointed to rising social tensions in Britain as the government slashes 80 billion pounds ($130 billion) from public spending by 2015 to reduce the country's huge budget deficit, swollen after the country spent billions bailing out its foundering banks.
But many rioters appeared simply to relish the opportunity for unchecked violence Monday night. "Come join the fun!" shouted one youth as looters hit the east London suburb of Hackney.
In Croydon, fire gutted a 140-year-old family run department store, House of Reeves, and forced nearby homes to be evacuated. "No one's stolen anything," said owner Graham Reeves, 52. "They just burnt it down."
Police said a 21-year-old man was arrested late Tuesday in connection with the blaze.
___
Paisley Dodds, Jill Lawless, Danica Kirka, Meera Selva, Sheila Norman-Culp and Stephen Wilson contributed to this report.
Even the "Justice Minister" falls prey to communalist thinking!
A separate ethnic Bantustan for each Ethnic Community he pleads!
This shows why ALL DEVOLUTION ON COMMUNAL BASES should be TOTALLY REJECTED!
The ONLY SOLUTION is Ethnic Integration with the GOAL OF DEMOGRAPHIC HOMOGENIZATION of Sri Lanka.
ONE Nation, of ONE People, sharing ONE Destiny.
No ETHNIC Bantustans in Sri Lanka!
No Devolution on Communal Bases!
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Justice Minister emphasizes the need to include Sri Lanka's Muslim community in a political solution
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Aug 10, Colombo: Justice Minister of Sri Lanka Rauf Hakeem says the Muslim community should be included in the process to seek solutions to the ethnic issue.
He observes that the omission of Muslims in the process would result in the failure in finding a proper solution.
Hakeem made these comments during a meeting with a group of diplomats from the British High Commission in Colombo.
The Minister highlighted the importance of providing a solution acceptable to all communities since the country has seen the end to a three decade long war.
According to Hakeem, while the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) represents the aspirations of a majority of the Tamil people, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) represents the interests of the Muslim community.
The SLMC should therefore be included in these discussions, he said.
Delhi Tamil Students Union hopes to WIN FRIENDS & INFLUENCE PEOPLE of India by charging the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) that invaded Sri Lanka to carve out an Eelam for Tamils in Sri Lanka!
IDIOTIC Eelamist Tamils NEVER LEARN!
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New book targets India over ‘accountability issues’ in SL
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Island.lk
August 09, 2011
Those wanting to haul up Sri Lanka before an international war crimes tribunal, on the basis of ‘Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields’, now have an opportunity to learn all about about atrocities committed by the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) from its deployment in Sri Lanka during July 1987 to March 1990.
Government sources told The Island that unlike unsubstantiated allegations propagated by the UK-based Channel 4 News, at the behest of the Global Tamil Front (GTF), a new book ‘In the Name of Peace: IPKF Massacres of Tamils in Sri Lanka’ documented violations of the International Humanitarian Laws (IHL).
Sources said that those Tamil Nadu politicians, demanding economic sanctions targeting Sri Lanka, had been silent though the book was launched in early April 2011 ahead of the release of controversial ‘Darusman report.’ Recently Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh dismissed a Tamil Nadu demand to isolate Sri Lanka.
All three groups turned down an invitation by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) to testify. They alleged the LLRC was nothing but a government apparatus, which wouldn’t conduct an impartial examination.
The Northeast Secretariat on Human Rights (NESoHR) documented IPKF atrocities ‘In the Name of Peace: IPKF Massacres of Tamils in Sri Lanka’ which was published by the Delhi Tamil Students Union. The book launch took place at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi under the patronage of the Coordinating Committee for Oppressed Nationalities.
The book launch was followed by the screening of a documentary film, ‘Mullaiththeevu Saga’ by Someetharan on the alleged atrocities committed by the Sri Lankan military during the final phase of the conflict.
The book focused on 12 massacres carried out by the IPKF, including the Jaffna hospital massacre in October 1987 and the Valveddiththurai massacre.
A. Bimol Akoijam, representing the organizers, Satya Sivaram, an independent journalist and visiting professors, S. Santhosh and Sabir Ahmed spoke at the book launch.
Sources said that NESoHR had been established in July 2004 as part of an overall strategy to promote the Oslo-led peace process following the April 2004 parliamentary polls and also to highlight excesses by Sri Lankan forces.
Responding to a query by The Island, sources said that NESoHR had earned the wrath of the government for being partial to the LTTE. Sources said that among those involved with the group were late Joseph Pararajasingham and A. Chandra Nehru, both TNA MPs, who publicly supported the LTTE campaign. The group’s chairperson Rev. Father M. X. Karunaratnam was killed in April 2008. The Sri Lankan government has been accused of all three killings, with the third hit blamed on the Special Forces operating behind LTTE lines.
Sources alleged that the Indian media had largely ignored the NESoHR attack on the IPKF and failure on its part to prosecute members of the Indian military responsible for excesses during their deployment in Sri Lanka.
Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga investigated IPKF atrocities during her first term in Office, though the issue was never taken up with the government of India. The IPKF went all out to destroy the LTTE after the group went back on the Indo-Lanka Peace Accord leading to one of the bloodiest periods of the eelam conflict.
China's first aircraft carrier makes maiden sea trial
TheHimalayanTimes.com
August 10, 2011
BEIJING: China's first aircraft carrier held its first sea trial on Wednesday morning, in a step likely to stoke patriotic pride at home and jitters abroad about Beijing's naval ambitions.
The long-awaited debut of the carrier, refitted from a former Soviet craft, marked an initial step toward China's plans to build a carrier force that can project power into the Asian region, where seas are spanned by busy shipping lanes and thorny territorial disputes.
The carrier "left its shipyard in Dalian Port in northeast Liaoning province on Wednesday morning to start its first sea trial," said Xinhua, describing the trip as only a tentative trial run for the unfinished ship.
"Military sources said that the first sea trial was in line with the schedule of the carrier refitting project and would not take a long time," said the report.
The aircraft carrier, which is about 300 metres long, plowed through fog and sounded its horn three times as it left the dock, Xinhua said on its military news microblog.
In an interview published this week, Chinese navy rear admiral Yin Zhuo said his country intended to build an air carrier group, but that task would be long and difficult.
"The aircraft carriers will form a very strong battle group," Yin told the China Economic Weekly. "But the construction and functional demands of an aircraft carrier are extremely complex," he told the magazine.
Training crew and, eventually, pilots for carriers was a big challenge, said Yin.
"An aircraft carrier requires the concerted action of a team of thousands. That's far from easy," he said.
Last month, China's defense ministry China confirmed the government was refitting the old, unfinished Soviet vessel bought from the Ukraine government, and sources told Reuters it was also building two of its own carriers.
Earlier, a Pentagon spokesman downplayed the likelihood of any immediate leaps from China's nascent carrier program.
But the carrier plan is just one part of China's naval modernization program, which has forged ahead while other powers tighten their military budgets to cope with debt The growing Chinese naval reach is triggering regional jitters that have fed into longstanding territorial disputes, and could speed up military expansion across Asia.
In the past year, China has had run-ins at sea with Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines. The incidents -- boat crashes and charges of territorial incursions -- have been minor, but the diplomatic reaction often heated.
Last week, Japan warned that China's naval forces were likely to increase activities around its waters, prompting Beijing to accuse Tokyo of deliberately exaggerating the Chinese military threat.
China's defense budget has shot up nearly 70 percent over five years, while Japan -- tied by a public debt twice the size of its $5 trillion economy -- has cut military outlays by 3 percent over the same period, a Japanese government report said.
A senior U.S. Navy intelligence officer earlier this year said he believed China wanted to start fielding multiple aircraft carriers over the next decade, with the goal of becoming a global naval power capable of projecting power around the world by mid-century.
The U.S. navy official said it would take years for China's navy to learn how to integrate flight deck operations and attain the sophistication needed to use them effectively.
China's first aircraft carrier begins sea trials
By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN
August 10, 2011
BEIJING (AP) — China's first aircraft carrier swept through fog-shrouded waters Wednesday to open sea trials that underscore concerns about the country's growing military strength and its increasingly assertive claims over disputed territory.
The mission by the refurbished former Soviet carrier marks a first step in readying the craft for full deployment. China says the ship is intended for research and training, pointing to longer-term plans to build up to three additional clones of the carrier in China's own shipyards.
"As a major economy, China on the one hand should take more responsibilities for the world and on the other hand, it has some new security interests that it needs to protect. Under the circumstances, China's naval power needs to grow accordingly," said Wang Shaopu, director of the Center for Pan-Pacific Studies at Jiaotong University in Shanghai.
Information about the cruise was tightly restricted in line with the Chinese military's habitual secrecy, although the official Xinhua News Agency indicated that the step had been planned for some time. The 1,000-foot (300-meter) vessel departed through fog from the northern port of Dalian where it is being overhauled.
"After returning from the sea trial, the aircraft carrier will continue refit and test work," Xinhua said.
The United States on Wednesday urged greater openness from China about its military capabilities and asked for a formal explanation of how the aircraft carrier would be used.
"China is not transparent as other countries, it's not as transparent as the U.S. about its military acquisitions, its military budget. This causes concern," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told a news conference in Washington.
"We are prepared to be extremely transparent with regard to U.S. military positions and equipment, and we would like to have a reciprocal relationship with China," she said.
China has spent the better part of a decade refurbishing the carrier formerly known as the Varyag after it was towed from Ukraine in 1998, minus its engines, weaponry, and navigation systems.
Beijing's carrier program is seen as the natural outgrowth of the country's burgeoning military expansion, fed by two decades of near-continuous, double-digit percentage increases in the defense budget. China's announced military spending rose to $91.5 billion last year, the second highest in the world after the United States.
While the development of carriers is driven largely by bragging rights and national prestige, China's naval ambitions have been brought into focus with its claims to disputed territory surrounding Taiwan and in the South China Sea.
China's first aircraft carrier begins sea trials
.....continued 1.....
Taiwan, the self-governing island democracy claimed by China as its own, has responded to the growing Chinese threat by developing missiles capable of striking carriers at sea. An illustration at a display Wednesday of military technology in the capital Taipei showed a Hsiung Feng III missile hitting a carrier that was a dead ringer for the former Varyag.
Over the past year, China has seen a flare-up in spats with Japan, the Philippines and Vietnam and had its relations strained with South Korea — all of which have sought support from Washington, long the pre-eminent naval power in Asia.
China defends its carrier program by saying it is the only permanent member of the United Nations Security Council that has not developed such vessels and that it has a huge coastline and vast maritime assets to defend. Beijing has also said its carriers would be employed in international humanitarian efforts, although the ex-Varyag's ski jump-style flight deck severely limits the loads its planes can carry.
As the world's second-largest economy, China says it lags behind smaller nations such as Thailand and Brazil, as well as regional rival India, which have purchased carriers from abroad.
While Chinese carriers could challenge U.S. naval supremacy in Asia, China still has far to go in bringing such systems into play, experts said. The U.S. operates 11 aircraft carrier battle groups and its carriers are far bigger and more advanced.
Wednesday's exercise was essentially a test of the ship's propulsion system, with preparations to launch and recover aircraft still a long way off, said Andrei Chang, editor of Kanwa Asian Defense magazine.
"This was really just for show. They still have a long way to go," Chang said.
No World Leader deserves this signal honour more than President Mahinda Rajapaksa: a political leader with vision, courage and compassion who has freed his people from terrorism, and set them on the path to a bright new age.
Jayawewa, Mr. President!
We are CONFIDENT that the President sunderstand that an "Honorary" degree should not be used to title himself as "Dr. Mahinda Rajapaksa" in normal circumstances.
That is a distinction reserved for those who have EARNED that salutation through BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS by pursuing an ACADEMIC University Program.
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Beijing University confers Honorary Doctorate on Sri Lankan President
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Aug 11, Beijing: The Beijing Foreign Studies University in China conferred an Honorary Doctorate, on the visiting Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa today (11).
President Rajapaksa, who is on a 4 day official visit to China, declared open the new Sri Lanka Research Centre at the Foreign Studies University in Beijing this morning.
Addressing the occasion, the President said economic development in a country should be achieved in coordination with the culture, traditions and the future aspirations of the country's people and Sri Lanka could learn much from China's experience.
The Chancellor of the University Professor Chen Yulu conferring the degree on the President said that the steps being taken by the President would help not only to improve the educational ties between Sri Lanka and China but also to strengthen peace in the world.
The President presented a Buddha Statue to the Chancellor to mark the occasion and also planted a tree to represent the long standing friendship between the two countries. Chinese Professors, Students of Sinhala and the Sri Lankan delegation participated in the event.
President Rajapaksa presented a memento to the first student of Sinhala Language in China Zheng Yuzhong. He also presented Sinhala text books to Chinese students learning Sinhala.
External Affairs Minister, Prof. G.L. Peiris, Higher Education Minister, S.B. Dissanayake, parliamentarian, Sajin Vass Gunawardena, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, External Affairs Ministry Secretary, Karunathilaka Amunugama, Sri Lankan Ambassador in China, Ranjith Uyangoda and the Chinese Ambassador in Sri Lanka, Mrs. Yang Xinping were present at the occasion.
OK, so what is Prof. Hoole's beef?
STAY TUNED as we follow this story!
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Prof. Hoole leaves Sri Lanka
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Aug 11 (Hindu) Professor Ratnajeevan Hoole, a respected Sri Lankan Tamil academician and a prominent returnee after the military defeat of the Tamil Tigers, said on Thursday that he was forced to leave the country.
"Yes, I left through Colombo airport for London before [sic] I am arrested. I will work in the U.S. till lawyers can sort this out for me," he told The Hindu via e-mail, when asked if he had fled Sri Lanka. "I will return because Sri Lanka [Jaffna in particular] is my home," he asserted.
Prof. Hoole, one of the few Tamils who was vocal in his criticism of the Tamil Tigers when the outfit ruled the Northern Province had had to flee Sri Lanka then. This time he had to leave because of his differences with the lone Tamil Minister in Sri Lankan Cabinet, Douglas Devananda. Mr. Devananda had filed a defamation case against Prof. Hoole in the Kayts court over articles that the academician had written in the media, which were highly critical of Mr. Devananda's role in the North, and the ruling UPFA in general.
"My story is in the last three [editions of] the Sunday Leader. In the first of three articles, I saw what was going on during the Local Government elections [July 23] and reported it. That has upset Douglas [Devananda] in whose hands the government has placed the full govt. apparatus, especially in Kayts [island]," he said in an e-mail communication. "The next Court date is the [August] 15th [fortunately for me, because this week is court vacation]. I was advised to be out of the island by then not only by my lawyers but by all my friends in Jaffna," he added.
Jayalalitha should enforce law & order and control terrorists in Tamil Nadu instead of preaching to Sri Lanka.
Or, is she Orchestrating these activities in collaboration with her new found Tamil Nationalist/Eelamist friends?
She will soon be eaten by the same Tiger she is riding on now!
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Sri Lankans visiting Tamil Nadu requested to register with police
KhaleejTimes.com
August 12, 2011
COLOMBO — Sri Lankans visiting Tamil Nadu have been requested to register themselves with the Indian police upon arrival as a security measures.
The extra-security has been implemented after a group of Sri Lankan pilgrims to India were subjected to attack by a pro-LTTE group identifying themselves as “Nan Thamizhan” (I am Tamil) earlier this week. The 84 Buddhist pilgrims, predominantly elderly men and women came under attack at a lodge the pilgrims were staying in Chennai.
In 2009 the Sri Lankan government won a three decade war against terrorist faction Liberation of Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE), fighting for a separatist state for the minority Tamil population in the Buddhist majority island.
The Tamil Nadu police have arrested three people for their involvement with the incident.
Vadivel Krishnamoorthy, Deputy High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in Chennai stated that pilgrims and other visitors arriving in Chennai would now have to register with the police at the airport before proceeding further so that they could be provided special security.
Travellers in groups will have to disclose place of their accommodation to the police so that extra security could be provided. The same security though may not be extended to individual travellers. However, Deshbandu Sarath Jayawardane, organizer of the pilgrimage said that they would avoid taking pilgrims to Chennai in the future. Jayawardane, together with two other pilgrims was badly injured during the attacks.
According to reports the Tamil Nadu Provincial Government has promised to take immediate steps to ensure the safety of Sri Lankans who visit Tamil Nadu.
Tamil Nadu police officers have been instructed to provide adequate security to Sri Lankan visitors, especially pilgrims.
After the attack, several Sri Lankan pilgrim groups were moved by the Deputy High Commission to the Mahabodhi Centre to ensure their safety.
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