Friday, September 23, 2011
Statement by H.E. Mahinda Rajapaksa President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka at the General Debate of the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly United Nations, New York. 23rd September, 2011,
Mr. President of the Sixty Sixth Session of the General Assembly
Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is with great pleasure that I congratulate Your Excellency Nassir Abdul Aziz Al-Nasser on your assumption of the Presidency.
I must also congratulate His Excellency Ban Ki-moon warmly on his re-election as Secretary-General and we look forward to working with him constructively. As we gather here today, it is appropriate to reflect on the values and ideals which inspire the United Nations system. One of the principal attributes is the spirit of flexibility which has always been a feature of the United Nations.
We must acknowledge the need for that spirit of openness and adaptability today, more than at any other time. This is because the foundations of the world order are being transformed dramatically and fundamentally. At the heart of these changes is the need to protect smaller countries in the developing
world and to advance their interests vigorously.
In the midst of uncertainty, there are some things which must remain constant. These reflect our esteemed beliefs and convictions. Despite repeated references in this Assembly by many member countries, on the right of the Palestinian people to a State of their own within secure borders, we still have not been able to make it a reality.
It is a matter for profound disappointment that this has not yet happened. There is a window of opportunity now and we must make use of it before it is too late. It is time for decisive action rather than more discussion. This will be in the interest of the security and the well being of the entire region including Israel.
The need for sustained support for countries of the African Continent at this critical time is also worthy of mention.
It is important to remind ourselves that every country cherishes the values and traditions, and deeply held religious convictions it has nurtured over the centuries. These cannot be diluted or distorted under the guise of human rights, by the imposition of attitudes or approaches which are characteristics of alien cultures.
If this were done, it would amount to a violation of human rights in a fundamental sense. It must also be pointed out that even where sanctions are imposed, extreme care has to be taken to ensure that the people at large are not harmed by such action.
I would also express, once again, my solidarity with the people of Cuba and I wish them all success.
Mr. President,
Excellencies,
Whilst clash of ideas, opnions and values continues, we have clearly to recognise that dialogue, deliberation and consensus offer the only viable means for resolving differences. The might of powerful nations cannot prevail against justice and fair play.
In the troubled times in which we live, we can derive guidance from the wise words of Gautama the Buddha who advised the Lichchavi Princes, whose energies were being consumed by bitter disputes among them, that the way forward consists of meeting, discussing and departing in an atmosphere of amity and goodwill. This represents the essential spirit of the United Nations, particularly relevant today.
The most significant challenge to stability and progress in the modem world is posed by the menace of terrorism. Recent experience the world over amply demonstrates that inconsistent standards and discriminating approaches can unintentionally give a fresh lease of life to the forces of terror. An explicit and
uniform response which refuses to recognize political shades of terrorism, is necessarily required.
Terrorism presents a threat from which not even the wealthiest and most powerful of nations are immune. It must be remembered, as well, that terrorist groups frequently operate under the guise of front organizations. Conferring legitimacy on these has the inevitable effect of providing comfort and encouragement to the merchants of terror.
As the leader of a nation which has paid a heavy price due to terrorism over a quarter of a century, I would underline that we must firmly resolve to rid the world of terrorism. We need to have solid practical action on the ground, and send out our collective message on this issue, loud and clear universally.
Mr. President,
Excellencies,
The interest of the developing world needs to be protected in another significant respect. It is vitally important to insist that the structures and procedures of multilateral organizations are uniform and consistent and devoid of discrimination.
My country has reason for concern with approaches tainted by an unacceptable degree of selectivity, which we have brought to the notice of the organizations in question in recent weeks. The developing world must keep a vigil against these irregular modalities which should be resisted through our collective strength.
After three decades of pain and anguish, today, Sri Lankans of all ethnicities, living in all parts of Sri Lanka, are free from LTTE terror and no longer live in a state of fear.
However, I am deeply mindful that the battle for peace is every bit as important and difficult as the struggle against terror. After the eradication of terrorism, my government has turned its undivided attention to building anew, the foundations of a unified and vibrant nation and drawing upon the inherent strengths of our country and in particular, the unique caliber of our human potential.
It is justifiable for us to be proud of our nation's achievements during the brief span of thirty months which have elapsed since the beginning of the post conflict phase. The resettlement of more than 95% of internally displaced persons, who constituted the largest number of civilians forcibly held by a terrorist group at any time, while continuing even today to clear the mines laid by terrorists in extensive areas is a proud achievement.
Today, in the Northern Province, the Armed Forces are engaged in development of the infrastructure which were destroyed by the terrorists during a period of three decades. Contrary to malicious propaganda, the numbers of the Armed forces personnel present in the Northern Province is at a minimal level.
Revival of the economy has enhanced incomes and improved livelihoods, excombatants and other cadres after exposure to programmes of vocational training and counseling have been re-integrated into society, electoral process has been restored after decades making possible the emergence of a democratic
leadership. These are among our valued accomplishments.
The remarkable growth of 22% of the economy of the Northern Province is a clear indication of the success achieved by the government's initiatives with regard to development in that part of the country. The GDP growth of the country has been consistent at 8 percent, unemployment at a record low of 4.5 percent and it is also worthy of mention that in the assessment by the World Economic Forum in its Global Competitiveness Report for 2011 - 2012, Sri Lanka shows dramatic improvement, moving up to 52nd from 79th rank over a span of two years.
It is worthy of note that all these developments have taken place within the brief space of 30 months - an achievement all the more significant because of our strong emphasis on reconciliation. Important as economic development is, we have attached the highest priority to fostering the spirit of inclusivity and removing any remnants of bitterness from the hearts and minds of all our people.
Over the last two years, we have recruited 669 Tamil police officers bringing the total number of Tamil officers to 1143, while plans are afoot to recruit more this year.
After more than two decades, a census is being conducted in the Northern Province as a part of the national census, to provide a firm basis for our initiatives.
As a result of these achievements what we see in Sri Lanka today is a selfreliant nation, with robust hope for the future, and a strong economy, strengthened by inward investment flows, unprecedented expansion of tourism and significant growth of volumes of international trade.
Towards consolidation of these trends, leaving behind us, the trauma of the past, we ask of the international community the hand of friendship and goodwill, based on understanding of our nation's determination to confront with courage the challenge of a new era in our history.
We ask our friends in distant lands to drop pre-conceived notions. We strongly believe in home-grown solutions for them to be sustainable. It is clearly impractical to conceive of universal remedies for problems which afflict our societies.
My country, as it comes out of the darkness of the last three decades into the light and promise of the future, must be afforded the time and space to seek its destiny in accordance with the wishes of its people. It is in keeping with the values enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the whole body of international law which governs us.
A further consideration that the international community should take into account is the vulnerability of developing nations and make provision, by means of appropriate institutional arrangements, for their protection. As I observed when inaugurating the fiftieth anniversary meeting of the AsianAfrican
Legal Consultative Committee in Colombo three months ago, dumping of commercial and industrial goods manufactured in developed countries imperils the economies of many Asian and African countries represented here.
Mr. President,
Excellencies,
In conclusion, let me say that the use of substantial subsidies by Treasuries and Reserve Banks to support agricultural production in the developed world, and other forms of protectionism, cause serious distortion of the interplay of market forces, and reduce to a great extent the ability of farmers in many developing
countries to access international markets for their export products on an equitable basis.
The disproportionate pollution of the environment by industrialized countries, and the resultant impact on global warming and climate change, cannot be remedied with any semblance of justice by imposing harsh restraints on developing countries which have contributed very little to aggravation of the problem. These circumstances heighten the importance of social equity at the international level.
May the Noble Triple Gem bless you all.
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57 comments:
Premkumar Gunaratnam's return to Sri Lanka ... no doubt with cart loads of LTTE money ... coincided with the impending breakup of the JVP.
Is he now a FULLTIME LTTE undercover agent working to attain Eelamist goals?
He is realtively unknown in Sri Lanka, having lived a long time in exile in Australia, so LTTE MONEY TO BUY ALLEGIANCE is his principal weapon.
Surely, the GOSL can find enough EVIDENCE to give him PERMANENT TENURE breaking rocks in prison?
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With JVP also in turmoil, Rajapaksa rides high
* Veteran radical leads revolt by hardline faction; crisis deepens despite Somawansa's denial
By Our Political Editor
SundayTimes.lk
September 18, 2011
Internecine battles within the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), between the now liberal, metamorphosed moderate leadership and radical extremists have come into the open spilling in its wake many secrets hitherto unknown of the Marxist party.
The latest casualty is a rebel politburo member who is accused of divulging party secrets to the media. The Central Committee decided just a week ago to suspend him from membership and pursue disciplinary action. Media exposure of an internal crisis, first revealed in the front page of the Sunday Times (September 4), has led to the news spreading to grassroots-level party cadres in the districts.
At the centre of the crisis are six key members, some whose identity is only known by just one name. The group of six is led by Premakumaran Gunaratnam better known among his colleagues as Kumara.
Born in Kegalle and using another name, 46-year old Rathnayaka Mudiyanselage Dayalal Wanniyakalge Daskon, is fluent in Sinhala but cannot speak Tamil. Both his parents were Tamil. Others are Opatha (real name Induruwage), Marlon (real name Wijesiri), Asoka, Dimuthu Attygalle and Pubudu Jagoda also known as Lasith. Until recently, these six, lesser known, were members of the politburo (PB) together with better known politicians like Somawansa Amerasinghe (the leader), Tilvin Silva (General Secretary), Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Vijitha Herath, G. Kularatne and K.D. Lalkantha. As has been the practice, some of the names in the PB are not contained in the declaration made to the Commissioner General of Elections.
The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) was formed on May 14, 1965 by a small group in Galle led by Rohana Wijeweera. JVP cadres refer to this as the Kalattewa sakachchava, or the Kalattewa Discussion named after the village where the formation took place. It came after Wijeweera failed to return to Russia where he was studying medicine at the Patrice Lumumba University. He had also studied Marxist ideology as part of his university course and came to Sri Lanka on a short break.
Premakumara Gunaratnam (Kumara) heads the extremist wing of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). JVP leader Somawansa Amerasinghe
He was thereafter denied a visa to return to Russia as he was suspected by the Russians to have links with the Peking wing of the local Communist Party during the height of the ideological split in the Communist world led by Russia and China.
Among his contemporaries at the university was Daniel Arup Moi who was to become the President of Kenya from 1978 to 2002. The JVP was responsible for the abortive armed insurgency in April 1971.
With crudely turned out pistols (Galkatas) and shot guns, JVP militants attacked several police stations, killing policemen and seizing weaponry. Whilst the JVP was proscribed, an estimated 7,500 youth were killed and more than twice that number detained under a state of emergency. The emergency lapsed in 1976.
However, once again in July 1983 the party was proscribed after the outbreak of the race riots. Six years later, JVP leader Wijeweera was arrested on November 13, 1989, and died whilst in custody. The present leader, Somawansa Amerasinghe, was the only surviving member of the original PB. He had already left for Britain from where he led the party.
With JVP also in turmoil, Rajapaksa rides high
....continued 1....
The JVP entered mainstream politics in 1994, after the state of emergency was withdrawn. It re-emerged as the National Salvation Front (NSF) and won a parliamentary seat in the Hambantota District. During the presidential election of 1994, it nominated Nihal Galappathy as the NSF candidate. During the 2000 parliamentary elections, ten JVPers were elected. Later at the general elections on December 5, 2001, the party won 16 seats in Parliament. The JVP was also successful in winning 219 seats at the local government elections in 2002. After protracted discussions for more than ten months with the People's Alliance, the JVP formed the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) in January 2004. The UPFA government was formed on April 2, 2004. The JVP secured 39 parliamentary seats and won 80 seats at the Provincial Council elections in 2004. The party quit the UPFA then led by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga in early 2005. This was after a dispute with her over spending of funds in the then LTTE-dominated north for tsunami rehabilitation. The JVP strongly opposed funds going to Tiger guerrillas for tsunami rehabilitation work.
Frictions within the JVP exacerbated in the weeks preceding the Presidential elections of January 2010. The PB was called upon to endorse a decision for the JVP to join other opposition parties to field former Army Commander, one time General and celebrated war hero, Sarath Fonseka, as the common candidate. The resolution was moved at the PB by Anura K. Dissanayake but was defeated by a majority vote. That saw a disappointed Dissanayake threatening to quit politics. It was Tilvin Silva who urged him to calm down and made a fervent appeal to the PB members. His speech, where he stressed the need for the party to change in keeping with the times, led to a change of heart. The PB reversed its original decision. The party was now willing to change with the times than change the times.
That was how the JVP came to support Sarath Fonseka and its leaders brushed shoulders with parties whom they branded earlier as "decadent capitalists" and lackeys of "western imperialists". They indulged in what was taboo by frequenting the ballrooms of leading city hotels taking part in receptions, lectures for the capitalist businessmen, news conferences and cocktail parties in support of Fonseka's candidature.
In July, this year, the inner sanctum sanctorum (the holiest of holies wedded to the JVP ideology), styling itself the 'Bolshevik Party' met at a secret location in Gampaha. Though it is called a party, it is made up of the staunchest and most-dedicated among the JVPers and their strength is anything from 150 to 175. Ahead of the meeting, the extremists had raised issue over matters arising out of Sarath Fonseka's defeat at the presidential election.
They asked how one man -- Anura K. Dissanayake -- could change the destiny of the party and emphasised that having truck with other political parties or groups was not going to help JVP achieve its goals. The Bolsheviks, named after the revolutionaries of Russia led by Vladimir Lenin almost a hundred years ago, faced three different reports for discussion on the future of the party. Leader Amerasinghe and General Secretary Tilvin Silva gave two. Their views converged on each other's, were moderate and spoke of interaction for the party's benefit with other opposition groups. Here was a hardline entity melting to change with the new political environment.
With JVP also in turmoil, Rajapaksa rides high
.....continued 2....
However, Kumara was different. Co-operating with the other political parties, he said, was a big mistake and insisted the party should re-assert its own identity. He has insisted that there should be no truck with the "capitalists" under any circumstances. Now that the Tiger guerrillas are defeated, he opined that the JVP should have a different approach to the Tamil people of the north. In fact, Kumara and leader Amerasinghe, had a spat when the funeral of Tiger guerrilla leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran's mother Parvathi, was held in the north. Kumara had asked one of the party MPs (among 39 then represented in Parliament), Ramalingam Chandrasekeran, a former Chairman of Committees, to attend the funeral. However, when the news reached Amerasinghe, he was angry and stopped him. This had led to a heated verbal exchange.
Though Kumara's view not to ally the JVP with other parties won the endorsement of the Bolsheviks, he received hardly any support in the JVP Central Committee. During several meetings, the differences surfaced openly. At one point, at a PB meeting, Anura K. Dissanayake proposed that Anoma, wife of Sarath Fonseka, be made the common candidate by all opposition parties for the Colombo Mayoralty. The idea was to defeat the UPFA and thus demonstrate that the opposition was united to move forward as a single entity. However, the proposal did not materialise. Even leading UNPers were approached towards this effort though it did not meet with favour from the leaders. A media campaign was also launched. Kumara also raised issue over plans by Anura K. Dissanayake to stage a protest in Colombo wearing black clothes to demand the release of Fonseka from jail. He said the JVP should not take part. However, his efforts did not meet with success. The protest was held outside the Welikade Prison on August 8 to mark the 150th day of Fonseka in jail.
It is in this backdrop that K.D. Lalkantha proposed at a PB meeting that this body be dissolved and the Central Committee be empowered to pick another one through secret ballot. This is how Marlon, Asoka, Lasith (Jagoda) and Dimuthu came to be dropped from the PB. Now, the Kumara faction is branding the exercise a conspiracy to rid "those who stood for the party ideals" and say part of the move was to bring Bimal Ratnayake as a member of the PB. The extremists accuse Ratnayaka of being a jathikavaadiya or nationalist. The extremist rebels are now spreading the message about the paradigm shift in the JVP leadership's attitude, abandoning party principles, to members in the Kalutara, Ratnapura, Anuradhapura, Gampaha and Polonnaruwa districts among others. They have found themselves in an advantageous position since they not only control the party's propaganda unit but also their newspaper, Lanka. The latter is under the charge of Jagoda.
This is whilst senior JVP leaders say that the party should be purged of "extremist dissidents". The old guard has set in motion a process of gaining control of district level leadership. The extremist group is resisting this in some districts. Therein lay the crunch. The question is whether the grassroots-level JVPers would endorse the new moderate look their leaders want to give their party or would they back the extremist group? The new slogan for JVP is"Rata avulaka, Perata Enna" (Country in chaos, come forward). A witty member of the old guard could not contain his emotions. He said, "Rata Avul Nevai. Apey Oluva Avul Vela Thiyanney" (It is not the chaos in the country. It is our head that is in chaos).
With JVP also in turmoil, Rajapaksa rides high
.....continued 3....
As the rift widens, some in the old guard have sent feelers to those in the government asking whether the law enforcement authorities could move into deal with Kumara. This is for allegedly travelling to Australia on a forged passport. This is despite his holding a passport issued to him on October 23, 2000. If the effort succeeds, there are others who fear it could also boomerang on the old guard. A Kumara-faction supporter said in the event of an arrest, Kumara and his supporters were willing to go public with more of what they call secrets including how some seniors acquired assets not compatible with their standing or income as JVPers.
Also on offer are well documented files about houses constructed by some leaders allegedly with material brought for the construction of their new headquarters in Battaramulla. They claim that the same contractor, a party supporter, had built the houses in question. Most JVPers are known to come from poorer income groups though some have struck it rich thereafter. He also said that such an arrest would give the required exposure to Kumara and send a strong message to grassroots-level JVPers that their leaders were now enjoying luxury lifestyles.
Officially, the JVP is known to keep a tighter rein on party finances and maintain stricter discipline. Salaries earned by MPs are pooled and money for expenditure is doled out. Even vehicles are apportioned by the party after they are imported using privileges extended to parliamentarians. If members are found violating a code of conduct, they are required to write a confession (self-criticism) to the party leadership seeking forgiveness and assuring that they would not do it again. In most cases, the punishment is severe admonishment. Serious misdemeanours, however, lead to dismissal.
Several weeks ago, the JVP's two storied headquarters and property were in the name of Madanayake (not his real name but one given by the party). They were transferred in the name of General Secretary Tilvin Silva. This week, when Madanayake was asked to transfer two vehicles belonging to the JVP that remains registered under his name, he had refused and wanted the crisis within the party resolved first. Except for three, all others deployed at the party headquarters have been moved out on suspicion that they were supporting the extremist group.
On Friday, the person under whose name the JVP branch office property in Gampaha is registered was invited to the Battaramulla office. He was asked by Tilvin Silva to sign a deed transferring it in his name. He had refused and urged that the current crisis be resolved.
The Sunday Times learnt that the state of play in the JVP, particularly Kumara's allegedly illegal travel abroad, has received the government's attention at the highest levels. In fact, Kumara, who was leader during the spate of JVP violence in the mid-1980s was arrested by then troop commander in Trincomalee, Col. Sarath Fonseka. The arrest came after a soldier, who had been befriended by Kumara, disclosed that the latter was planning attacks. He was among a group that was "rehabilitated". For a long period of time, he helped the Army taking them to an undersea explosive dump and baring details of how he carried out an attack on an Indian navy vessel, part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF). Besides assisting the Army on their rehabilitation programmes, he was also employed as a sign board painter. A retired officer said Kumara made a significant contribution during the rehabilitation process. "He told us to feed the detainees, clothe them and talk politely to them. This paid dividends. They began baring details of the JVP modus operandi and their battle plans," he said.
With JVP also in turmoil, Rajapaksa rides high
....continued 4....
A group of 21 "rehabilitated" cadres had opted to travel to Japan. However, Kumara had chosen to leave for Australia where he had relatives. He was later known to have gone to Australia with his wife, a doctor and his children. He had returned alone. Thereafter, CID detectives believe he used the name of an employee of the Ceylon Fisheries Corporation (who has a similar name to his) to obtain a forged passport in his name. Kumara had allegedly used this for travel to Australia before returning to Sri Lanka recently. A source close to Kumara, however, denied the claim and said he had remained in Sri Lanka throughout. In the event of Kumara being arrested and indicted, the onus of proving that he did not travel illegally to Australia falls on his shoulders.
One government source who spoke on grounds of anonymity said, "we are watching the situation very closely and weighing the pros and cons of an arrest carefully."
The remarks made clear the government wanted to avoid any action that would drive the Kumara faction underground. Towards this end, even CID detectives on the trail of Kumara have slowed down. This is despite claims by Kumara's antagonists that members of his group purchased some weapons from one time Tiger guerrillas when former LTTE eastern commander, Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan (now a government deputy minister) broke ranks. However, the Kumara faction strongly denies it is in possession of any weapons. Another reason is to prevent any environment being created for political groups to go underground and resort to violence.
When present UPFA Minister Wimal Weerawansa was in the JVP, he was the promoter of National Patriotic Front. It did not meet with favour from the Kumara faction. Kumara, who then headed the education wing of the JVP, had his own publication to criticise him. Named Sarya after a Russian Publication, Kumara hit out strongly against Weerawansa's role then. Kumara's brother, Ragunathan Gunaratnam was killed during the JVP-instigated violence in 1987-89.
Despite the internecine battles, senior party leaders insist there are no immediate signs that the party would split. Talks are under way by emissaries of the two sides to have a joint convention to resolve matters. Such a move comes amidst reports that leader Amerasinghe would prefer to step down paving the way for a younger person to succeed him. Amerasinghe, however, has not confirmed these reports. Kumara has insisted that under no circumstances would he or his backers agree to coalesce with any party including capitalist ones. He wants to formulate the party's own plans to come to power.
Yet, without doubt the JVP is in a serious internal crisis despite denials by its old guard. Leader Somawansa Amerasinghe was asked to comment. At first, he said, he would not be available (on Friday) to make any remarks. Upon being pressed about the rift within the party, he said, "There is no such rift in the party. There is no rift at all. I have not seen anything of this nature within the party. I have not heard anything about a rift."
With JVP also in turmoil, Rajapaksa rides high
.....continued 5....
Amerasinghe, the amiable politician he is, is no doubt, in an unenviable position. With the news of the rift reaching the grassroots level, he cannot remain in a state of denial for many weeks to come.
In the country's overall political context, the crisis within the JVP is certainly not a healthy one. It comes at a time when the main opposition United National Party (UNP) is in tatters and whatever little remaining efficacy depends on the outcome of the polls to 23 local bodies on October 8. In the absence of a proactive role played by the UNP, it was the JVP that filled in the vacuum to a large extent. It is now preoccupied. Sooner than later it could turn into a bigger vacuum with little or no effective opposition in the country. There is little doubt; this will come as another feather in the cap for President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He will reap a bountiful political harvest after sowing little or nothing.
The Australian Govt should investigate the nexus between the Greens Party and the Tamil LTTE Eelamists.
Cohabitation by Senators with terrorist networks does not bode well for Australia.
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Motion to suspend Sri Lanka from the Commonwealth defeated in the Australian Senate
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Sept 22, Colombo: The Australian parliament today has defeated a motion moved in the Senate by Australian Greens Senator for New South Wales, Lee Rhiannon to suspend Sri Lanka from the Commonwealth, the External Affairs Ministry said in a release today.
Speaking on the motion, a representative for the Government of Australia said that they do not believe that complex foreign policy issues can be resolved through motions such as the one mooted by Senator Rhiannon.
Senator Rhiannon also convened a closed door round table discussion to further the call for a war crimes tribunal for Sri Lanka earlier in the week, the participants for which included pro- LTTE lobby group representatives and critics of the Sri Lankan Government. No invitation was extended by the Senator for any Sri Lankan Government representative to participate in this discussion.
Senator Rhiannon recently requested the Minister of Immigration and Citizenship of Australia to provide details of those that had applied for visas to Australia to attend the forthcoming CHOGM meeting as a part of the Sri Lanka delegation. The Minister declined to provide that information.
Several articles have appeared in the Australian media on the attempts by the Global Tamil Forum (GTF) and the Australian Tamil Congress (ATC ) calling on Governments including Australia to suspend Sri Lanka from the Commonwealth and to seek to prevent the participation of the Sri Lanka delegation at the forthcoming CHOGM meeting in Perth.
The sole aim of these groups is to resurrect the militarily defeated LTTE terrorists (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) and their cause of creating a separate mono ethnic state of Tamil Eelam in the North and East of Sri Lanka. The efforts of these groups have concentrated in the aftermath of the war in targeting key Sri Lankan Government officials and damaging their reputations internationally. Their calls have continued to be ignored worldwide.
Sri Lanka's High Commissioner to Australia Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe has given extensive interviews to the Australian Associated Press (AAP) and ABC Radio Australia this week countering allegations made against Sri Lanka.
Interesting, perhaps rather wishful, story at LankaWeb by Charles Perera about the sentiments of people in Jaffna on the Tiger Nominated Agents of the TNA.
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Sampanthan and TNA have got the votes, but they have not won the hearts of the people in Jaffna.
By Charles.S.Perera
LankaWeb.com
September 21, 2011
Sampanthan and his vociferous acolytes of the TNA because they won the Local Government Elections think they have become the voice of the people in the North. But they are mistaken if they think they are the uncontested representatives of the Tamil people in Jaffna. They are certainly not that popular among at least the Jaffna intelligentsia as they seem to think.
I have many friends in Jaffna who do not agree with Sampanthan and his TNA gang. One of them who had been living abroad for a long time and has come to live in Jaffna writes
“After quite a long time it is only now we are free to talk. We thank all the good people who tirelessly worked to bring this fresh air of freedom to the people of Jaffna. Now it is time to improve interaction between the people of different communities in Sri Lanka. I notice in Jaffna even close relatives have failed to maintain cordial relationships among them. There is a distrust even among families. Lack of love is a major problem. Families are “pretending” to be normal families.
“When there were terrorists they did not speak freely, because they were frightened of the terrorists. Even to-day they live with that fear and they pretend to like TNA as they are frightened of the TNA as they were frightened of the terrorists.
“There is suspicion and lack of sincerity. People are unfriendly and even families pretend unity and every body seems busy trying to do some thing, but there is unhappiness. Lack of real love and affection among the Tamil people seem to be a major problem. If there is no love and affection among the people in Jaffna how can they extend it to other Communities elsewhere in Sri Lanka ?”
My friend was born in the South of Sri Lanka, but came later to Jaffna. That may perhaps be why he does not look at the Sinhala with the same eye of the TNA MPs who brandish a separatist agenda and sows seeds of hatred towards Sinhala which begins to rebound on the Tamils themselves.
My friend from Jaffna is a vegetarian. He says the religious concept is slowly changing. He has a poor opinion of the Jaffna version of Hinduism which he says is a cult. “ It is not helping the people to develop love. It is propagating subtle violence”. He adds, “ it may seem an exaggerated opinion but I tell you as you may understand or at least will be willing to consider this side of the truth.”
He says that, “ every home and every houses are full of problems and siblings are living with mutual suspicion or hatred.”
He questions, “ why do these people live with out any fine feeling about life? They are their own enemies . they have forgotten to laugh and smile. Our religion has taken away our freedom of thought, our thoughts are based on fear of God not of God’s divine love which we can share with our people. We talk like parrots of our dharma Karma or moksha, but seriously speaking these people have no idea of what they speak. They have become very materialistic in Jaffna, but they talk and talk about God. This is a pathetic situation and I truly believe this is the root cause of many other problems.”
Sampanthan and TNA have got the votes, but they have not won the hearts of the people in Jaffna.
....continued 1....
My friend continues, “ I do not know what to do with our people. Life is more important, than any thing else but our people seem to have a low level of self esteem, therefore they are ready to follow this cause and the other living in a fools paradise. Very few people are changing.”
In another e-mail he repeats what he had said before, “ I am really tired to see my fellow Tamils in Jaffna, specially the so called elite Community. These people are not friendly. Every one seems to be hostile to each other . I don’t know what type of culture this is. The TNA politicians are hate mongers. Another biggest culprit in this respect is UTHAYAN Tamil Daily. The TNA and Uthayan are the two factors that poison the minds of the people in Jaffna.”
He continues, “I think Sri Lanka needs a law to make “ hate “ a crime and implement it strictly. Recently TNA had a meeting near my home they put loud speakers it was horrible. They still talk in the same old racist way. They are still not matured or civilized. Their children are abroad and they cannot even speak Tamil, but they insist that the Tamil population has to grow in the Talibanic way.
“The good people are afraid to come to politics and bad people are everywhere. what to do? “
“Basically Jaffna life is very boring for me. People are only interested in day to day matters or money making. They don’t read, they don’t sing, they don’t paint, they don’t study philosophy or any literature . Oh! its really sad to see that these people are so EMPTY. When ever I meet some people its really very very sad they don’t seem to know many things. Tamil politicians know this and they are exploiting these people easily.”
He says that the TNA MPs are making a big noise because they are so empty inside. “ They have no confidence in themselves, so they go to India to solve the problems they have in Sri Lanka. The Tamil people question why are TNA MPs always going to India to find solution for problems they have in Sri Lanka without trying to find solutions and settle matters here. But the ordinary Tamil people still remember what had been going on in the past, and being afraid they easily give in to TNA MPs.”
“When ever I happen to be in gatherings people talk about money, land schools abroad , and scholarships. They talk about petty fights of siblings. They don’t enjoy their lives.
Younger generation wants to go abroad or to Colombo. Even older people now prefer to settle down somewhere abroad or in Colombo. Main reason for this exodus seems to be they want to run away from themselves, their problems. But they cannot get away from their karma.”
“ We are the only people who have come from living abroad to settle down here. We have not been accepted by the people here. Some of them even suggest that we get back. If things get worse and I do not find a means to help these people in some way , I may have to go back however much sad it would be.”
Sampanthan and TNA have got the votes, but they have not won the hearts of the people in Jaffna.
....continued 2....
In another e-mail after the Local Government Elections in Jaffna he writes, “….this Sampanthan and his gangsters are just thieves. I am very much tired about whole TNA. I will never trust TNA, or FP or TULF, and I did not like leaders such as Chelvanayagam Amirthalingam and company. Only leader I respected and supported was late Mr Alfred Thangaraja Duraippa. The rest are the garbage. I don’t read the TNA’s bunch of lies. For years and years these people repeat the same old stories. Its not a pleasure to waste my time reading these poisonous ramblings of third grade politicians.
“ Every body knows Prabakaran was the biggest disgrace to the whole of mankind. Many of these politicians such as those of the TNA supported that fanatic and pushed the people to prostrate at his feet.
My Friend in Jaffna says, “…I think TNA MPs are the sole living war criminals and we have to file a case against these criminals. God will definitely punish them.”
He added, “… The present government is doing very well in almost every front of governance. Western world is very much in political nakedness. Whole world knew the Tigers were terrorist. Only country that completely eliminated terrorism is SRI LANKA.
I think the West still don’t want to believe that Sri Lanka is the only country which has that caliber. “
“It is after a very long time I am telling my political opinion so strongly to someone .”
When I wrote to ask my Tamil friend in Jaffna whether I could put together his e-mails in to an article , he said, “….dear Charles, Thank you for considering my points of view. You can include my opinion. Please do not put my name because you know many mad people are around here. I hope they will not do me any harm but they will simply outcast me. “
In the mean time, my other friend Thurai writes, “Dear Charles, Deep & dark side of LTTE have close contacts with Indian Hindu fundamentalist. They are dealing with large sum of Black money. Now both have contacts with BJP, through Rev. father Emmanuel’s World Tamil Forum.
They use the Tamil & Sinhala Problem without considering the wealth or death of Sri Lankan
Tamils, to take financial benefits from Tamil Diaspora. They have close Businesses & Cinema dealings with South India. I found a Jaffna Boy who had arrived in Europe at 15 Years now he is 40year and is a Billionaire and has his a own firm.
Jaffna Tamils will never understand the truth unless someone exposes the truth of TNA (Mostly High Cast Tamils) and their supporters who have illegal dealings with India.
You know Indian politicians are No. 1 in Black money savings in Swiss Bank
2nd are LTTE supporters. We have to work with Jaffna Tamils to make them understand the truth, by providing Employment and good prospectus and at the same time exposing the true face of TNA to the Tamils and the world.
This is the truth about TNA. The government should make them responsible for the terrorism in Sri Lanka and file action against them. If there were civilian deaths at the end of the military operations against terrorists, the TNA MPs are responsible more than the Army. Because the army was doing its duty to eliminate terrorism for the security of the people and the country, where as the TNA MPs were the proxi for the terrorists aiding and abetting standing in safety outside the heat of the war Zone.
Good progress, but NOT MASSIVE ENOUGH and NOT RIGHT TECHNOLOGY either!
Sri Lanka should move away from imports of FOSSIL fuels to Renewable and Nuclear Energies.
Nuclear Energy will take time to implement, although the MODULAR REACTORS recently developed by the United States may accelerate implementation by reducing safety and proliferation related barriers.
From Refueling economy and non-Proliferation points of view, India's Throrium based reactor technology may alse be attractive for Sri Lanka.
Nuclear Power MUST BE A PART of Sri Lanka's energy mix for meeting LARGE base-load demands.
However, it is on HARNESSING INDIGENOUS Renewable Energies that Sri Lanka must FOCUS ON in a BIG WAY.
Solar Thermal, Solar PV, Wind, Ocean Wave and Bio-Fuels, coupled to Massive Electrification of Mass Transport through Electric Railways and Electric Buses, and Plug-in Electric Automobiles for individual commuters MUST BE THE PATH FORWARD.
Each of these technologies can make Sri Lanka independent of imported fuels, improve national security through self-reliance on indigenous sources of energy, and help reduce pollution stemming from increasing industrial and transportation energy consumption.
A KEY approach to achieving this level of ENERGY INDEPENDENCE shpould be a COMMITTMENT to Enabling Individual Homeowners to generate ALL the power they consume in their homes and for routine local transportation, through rooftop solar power generation and facilitating the adoption of plug-in electric cars.
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Massive development in power and energy
By Disna MUDALIGE
DailyNews.lk
September 24, 2011
The government yesterday said that the country will witness massive development in the power and energy sector by 2014 with the completion of the Lak Vijaya power project and the Upper Kotmale hydro power project adding more than 1,000 MW of power to the National Grid.
According to Power and Energy Minister Patali Champaka Ranawaka, construction of Lak Vijaya Coal Power Plant Phase II to add another 300 MW to the National Grid is to be completed by January 2013, 10 months ahead of the scheduled time of the contract, on the directive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Minister Ranawaka also said that the Lak Vijaya power plant would be closed for 10 days beginning from September 28 to replace the Sulpher extractor which was destroyed in recent fire.
Minister Ranawaka was speaking at the official handing over of phase one of the Lak Vijaya project to the Governmet of Sri Lanka in Colombo yesterday. The minister noted that the Lak Vijaya project was commissioned when the country was in need of an expansion of power supply to cover the entire country.
It has also become a great relief during the present power crisis of the country.
He said that the contribution of hydro power from June to September was so low as 20 percent. With rains experienced in the catchment areas from first week of September, hydro power generation has increased to 35 percent. He also noted that necessary renovation work at hydro plants such as Rantambe, Bowatenna, Victoria and Kotmale were carried out when the hydro elctricity generation of such plants were very low.
Chinese Mechinery Enginering Corporation’s vice president Li Chao Yan said that CMEC has granted USD 450 million to reduce interest rates for phase one.
Bravo! President Man Mohan Singh of India ECHOES President Mahinda Rajapaksa's call for REFORMING the United Nations, before the UN becomes IRRELEVANT & DESTRUCTIVE to most nations of this world.
He declared:
1. "There cannot be any selective approaches in dealing with terrorist groups or the infrastructure of terrorism," and
2. "must respect the unity, territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of individual states"
The United Nations must REFORM or WITHER & DIE.
Sri Lanka supports the entry of India into the UN Security Council as the FIRST of a number of nations that deserve to be inducted into the Security Council!
..............
India calls for UNSC reforms
By Arun Kumar
ExpressBuzz.com
September 24, 2011
UNITED NATIONS: Declaring that India stands ready to play its part in meeting global challenges from economic downturn to terrorism, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday sought key reforms at the UN and global financial institutions.
"There cannot be any selective approaches in dealing with terrorist groups or the infrastructure of terrorism," Manmohan Singh told the United Nations General Assembly as he called for an unrelenting fight against terrorism.
"Terrorism has to be fought across all fronts," he said in his 21-minute address that was greeted with allround applause.
"Terrorism continues to rear its ugly head and take a grievous toll of innocent lives."
Manmohan Singh said: "In South Asia there are encouraging signs of cooperation in the area of security, as exemplified in India's cooperation with Bangladesh."
Calling upon the UN to once again embrace the principles of internationalism to meet the global challenges, he said: "We have no choice but to meet these challenges."
"We will succeed if we adopt a cooperative rather than a confrontationist approach," he said, seeking revitalisation of the UN General Assembly and reforms and expansion of the decision making Security Council to "reflect contemporary reality".
"More importantly, we will succeed if our efforts have legitimacy and are pursued not just within the framework of law, but also the spirit of law," Manmohan Singh said asserting that actions taken under the authority of the UN "must respect the unity, territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of individual states".
Among the key challenges facing the comity of nations, the prime minister identified a troubled world economy, terrorism, social and political upheaval in West Asia and North Africa, the still unresolved Palestinian question and iniquitous growth.
To address what he called the "deficit in global governance", Manmohan Singh called for making the UN "stronger and more effective".
He also called for pursuing the reform of governance systems of international institutions with "speed and efficiency", saying "we should not allow the global economic slowdown to become a trigger for building walls around ourselves through protectionism or erecting barriers to movement of people, services and capital".
Noting that nuclear proliferation continues to remain a threat to international security, Manmohan Singh said the "action plan put forward by (then) prime minister Rajiv Gandhi provides a concrete road map for achieving nuclear disarmament in a time bound, universal, non discriminatory, phased and verifiable manner".
Expressing the confidence that people's faith in the UN Charter and objectives of the United Nations "through statesmanship, foresight and collective efforts", he declared "India stands ready to play its part in this noble endeavour".
Step-by-step, Step-by-step, India moves towards nuclear-tipped ICBMs.
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Nuclear capable Shourya missile test fired
By Hemant Kumar Rout
ExpressBuzz.com
September 24, 2011
CHANDIPUR-ON-SEA: In a major step forward in technology demonstration Indian defence scientists successfully test fired a new generation nuclear capable missile Shourya from a defence base off the Orissa coast on Saturday.
The surface-to-surface medium range ballistic missile was fired from a silo built underground in the launching complex – III (LC-III) of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur-on-sea at about 2.30 pm.
Chief Controller (Missiles and Strategic Systems) of DRDO Avinash Chander told “The Express” that the missile was launched from a canister in a ground launch mode and reached the target within few meters accuracy.
“The launch of the missile was perfect like in text book and followed the path exactly to the predefined target in Bay of Bengal. The missile was equipped with multiple advanced computing systems, very high accuracy navigation and guidance systems,” he said.
Defence sources said missile which took off vertically was tracked and monitored through an integrated system of sophisticated radars, electro-optical tracking instruments and a chain of telemetry stations positioned in different points along the east coast. Ships located near the target also tracked and witnessed the final event.
It was the second successful test of Shourya. The two-staged solid propelled missile, essentially a land variant of Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) K-15, was first tested from the same test facilities on November 12, 2008.
A scientist associated with the mission said the missile traveled around 650 km within 563 seconds before plunging down the sea. After being fired from its canister, it rose to a height of 50 km and then flew horizontally to reach its targeted site. It flew at Mach 6 speed, six times the speed of sound.
Having a strike range of about 750 km Shourya is about 10 metres long and its diameter is 0.74 meter. Its launch weight is 6 tonne and it can carry a warhead upto 1000 kg.
This missile which is meant to be fired from underground silos is aimed at giving India more options to hit back, in case it is attacked with nuclear weapons. Scientists said there will more tests of the missile which increases India's options for a second strike capability before it is declared fully operational.
Director of DRDL P Venugoplalan, Programme Director AK Chakravarti, Director of ITR SP Dash, Director of SPIC Satish Kumar and Project Director A Joseph witnessed the test launch. As a precautionary measures 3200 persons residing within 2 km radius of the test range were temporarily shifted prior to the test.
Caste based Govt benefits schemes in INDIA have DISTORTED the Poverty Data provided by people who LIE to join the correct caste for receiving Govt benefits.
I have long held that COMMUNAL BASES for allocating Govt Benefits destroys the national fabric of nations.
Govt benefits should be assigned to CITIZENS ONLY on the basis of POVERTY & NEED ... NOT caste, sex, religion, or language of community groups.
Communal considerations only PIT CITIZENS at each other's throats in a mad scramble for Govt benefits.
YET, India, buckling under the burden of UNSUSTAINABLE welfare COST erected on a FAULTY COMMUNAL FOUNDATION, advises Sri Lanka to DEVOLVE POLITICAL POWER to the Tamil Community on the basis of ETHNICITY ... to please its own Tamil Community.
Sri Lanka SHOULD NOT ACCEPT bad advice from a country that is SUFFERING ALREADY from implementing such COMMUNAL schemes!
INDIA, Thy CURE IS WORSE THAN THE SICKNESS .... DO NOT POUR THIS POISON DOWN Sri Lanka's THROAT TOO!
..............
Poverty has increased in India: Top Adviser
New Delhi, Sep 25 (IANS) The current debate over poverty, if Rs.32 a day is enough for a person, is misdirected and the government should answer why the numbers of poor in the country are on the rise, says National Advisory Council member N.C. Saxena.
'The government's estimate for poverty in 1972-73 was benchmarked at Rs.1.50 per day. It translates into Rs.32 per day today. There is nothing new with this estimate,' said the retired bureaucrat, known for speaking his mind, even in front of prime ministers.
'The government should instead be concerned that poverty has increased in India. The number of people below poverty line has gone up from 32 crore (320 million) in 1947 to 40 crore (400 mn) now,' Saxena, whose council is chaired by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, told IANS.
He said there were serious anomalies in the public distribution system -- under which the poor who hold what is called 'below poverty line cards' are entitled to subsidised grain. 'This needs to be addressed.'
His comments follow an uproar after the Planning Commission told the Supreme Court last week that a person spending over Rs.965 per month in urban India and Rs.781 in rural areas cannot be deemed as poor and should be denied access to welfare schemes.
Saxena -- who has published many critical papers on poverty and tribal welfare -- said 60 percent of the people with cards for getting state doles were actually above poverty line and 20 percent of the genuine poor in the country did not have such a card.
'Many tribals and people living on the margins were left out in the last poverty survey. They are not getting the benefit of the public distribution system and other such social security schemes. The government should look into this,' he said.
'Vietnam, Myanmar and Bhutan have reduced poverty. But we have failed to do so despite much effort,' he said, adding as much as Rs.80,000 crore ($17.5 billion) is spent every year on various welfare schemes in India.
According to Saxena, who has also been a member-secretary of the Planning Commission, if the 2002 Census for ascertaining people below poverty had a 60 percent margin of error, the current round could have up to 80 percent error, as it is linked to caste.
'People are likely to furnish incorrect answers if they know the survey will determine their poverty status,' said Saxena, who had suggested a methodology to ascertain poverty numbers, followed by a letter now to Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh.
Poverty has increased in India: Top Adviser
......continued ......
India currently has at least three estimates of poverty.
Economist Arjun Sengupta said 70 percent Indians were living on less than Rs.20 a day, and Saxena's own report pegged it at over 50 percent of the population. A third study, by economist Suresh Tendulkar, pegged poverty in India at 37.5 percent.
Correct estimates are important to ensure welfare schemes reach the needy alone.
(Amit Agnihotri can be reached at amit.a@ians.in)
This GOAL, while LAUDABLE, is likely to bankrupt Sri Lanka if not carefully controlled.
No Foreign Donors will provide unlimited funds to buy houses for UNDESERVING people ... ultimately Govt Taxpayer funds and massive Govt-toGovt loans will be need to fund the program.
Who DECIDES who gets a house and who does not?
Will rich people who don't own a house get one too? All adult children of rich people would get one too?
Are houses to be given FREE without any responsibility by the recipient to REPAY the cost to the Govt on some long term easy financing basis?
Without such a repayment burden, there would be A MAD SCRAMBLE by EVERYONE to get a FREE HOUSE!
ALL kinds of LIES would be told, FALSE INFORMATION provided, and the UNDESERVING would pile into the QUEUE to acquire a FREE ASSET!
NO ONE except DESERVING War Veterans, who have paid for it in blood, should get a FREE house.
Recipients should agree to REPAY the Govt on a long term basis, and be REQUIRED TO LIVE IN IT as their PERMANENT home.
The need to REPAY at a reasonable valuation and interest rates will prevent ABUSE OF THE PROGRAM by the UNDESERVING.
Furthermore, there should be limits on RESALE by the ORIGINAL OWNER to OTHERS to exclude LAND SPECULATORS.
Failure to do so will amount to a SCAM for redistributing taxpayer funds.
............
Every family in Sri Lanka to get a house with basic facilities by 2015
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Sept 25, Colombo: The government's target is to provide a house with the basic facilities to every family by 2015, Sri Lanka's Housing and Construction Minister Wimal Weerawansa says.
Weerawansa says his Ministry has lined up a series of projects with assistance from foreign donor agencies and organizations to achieve the target.
Speaking during a ceremony to hand over houses to families in Colombo, he has observed that the Mahinda Rajapaksa government's policy was to ensure a dignified and secure life for each and every citizen and family in the country.
He has added that a house with basic facilities was one of the main components to lead a dignified life.
According to Weerawansa, the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) is committed to meet the target of houses for all Sri Lankans by 2015.
This man suffers from Diarrhea of the Mouth ... he is an PERMANENT EMBARRASMENT to the GOSL.
..........
I only oppose killing stolen, sick cattle: Mervyn Silva
Nation.lk
September 25, 2011
Minister Mervin Silva, who earned the wrath of the Muslim community when he said last week that he was opposed to the slaughter of cattle and would never allow such things in the future, corrected himself at a meeting at the Colombo Devatagaha Mosque on Thursday. Mervin Silva, who arrived at the Mosque accompanied by Colombo Municipal Council election UPFA candidates Mohamed Maharoof and Azad Sally, said the newspapers had misquoted him and the UNP went to town on this misquoted statement.
“I was not opposed to the slaughter of cattle. I am only opposed to slaughtering of stolen cattle, sick ones not fit to be slaughtered and also adopting inhuman methods that cause pain to the animals,” he said.
The Minister explained that there were three veins that connect the neck of an animal to the brain and if these veins were removed before slaughtering the animal won’t feel any pain.
He further said that he was very close to the Muslim community and they should not misunderstand him.
Earlier he was received with the recital of the Holy Quran and after making his explanation the Minister donated a cheque for Rs 100,000 to the Mosque. (SS)
Bravo, Government of Sri Lanka.
But, MOVE EXPEDITIOUSLY! FINALLY! Let it not be TOO LITTLE ... TOO LATE!
CRIME left UNPUNISHED is an OPEN INVITATION to Criminals.
...............
Hundreds of Tamil rebels likely to be indicted: Sri Lanka
TimesofIndia.com
September 25, 2011
NEW YORK: Sri Lanka's foreign minister has told The Associated Press that hundreds of hardcore Tamil rebels are likely to be prosecuted on charges including mass murder for crimes committed during the island's quarter-century civil war that ended in 2009.
The rebels are among some 11,500 Tamil fighters who were captured or surrendered after the war's bloody end. Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris said all but about 3,000 of them had already been released from military-run rehabilitation camps and were reintegrating into society.
Interviewed in New York where he attended the UN General Assembly opening session this past week, Peiris said that of those remaining, ``less than 2,000'' hardcore rebels were expected to be indicted, and that court proceedings were likely to being next year.
Responding to accusations the government is overlooking allegations of rights violations by its own forces, Peiris denied that troops targeted civilians during the conflict.
But he said it was within the mandate of a reconciliation commission appointed by the nation's president last year to review the conflict and learn lessons from it, and to also look into allegations of rights violations. If the commission found reliable evidence that any individuals had committed serious crimes, they would be indicted in a Sri Lankan court.
``They (the commission) cannot fulfill their mandate if they exclude from consideration these issues,'' he said.
He said, for example, the commission would examine British TV footage purporting to show atrocities by troops.
The commission is due to submit its final report by Nov. 15. Rights groups have questioned its impartiality and whether it investigated allegations that tens of thousands of minority Tamils were killed, primarily by government forces, as they closed in on retreating Tamil Tiger rebels during the final five months of the war.
Experts advising U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon gave credence to those allegations, and Ban has forwarded their report to the U.N. Human Rights Council, although it remains unclear if the council will recommend a formal probe. The experts also reported that the Tamil rebels held civilians as human shields, used child soldiers and killed people who tried to leave areas under their control.
Peiris accused several Western nations, including Britain, Australia and Canada of being unduly critical of Sri Lanka's efforts to recover from the war and using the island nation as a ``political football.''
``Sri Lanka has to be given the time and space to resolve its issues. It's premature for any kind of intervention by the international community,'' the minister said.
Hundreds of Tamil rebels likely to be indicted: Sri Lanka
.....continued.....
A documentary aired by Britain's Channel 4 in June included graphic video showing soldiers shooting bound, blindfolded prisoners and abusing corpses. The British government subsequently demanded progress by Sri Lanka in investigating alleged war crimes by year's end or it would support international action to press Sri Lanka to do so.
Sri Lanka said the video was fake, but the U.N. independent investigator on extrajudicial killings who reviewed it with a team of technical and forensic specialists said it provided definitive evidence to warrant a war crimes prosecution.
Peiris did not comment on the video's authenticity, but said the reconciliation commission ``has indicated that even matters like the Channel 4 footage will be looked at by them.''
Sri Lanka is also under pressure to expedite a political settlement in the predominantly Tamil north of the island, where the Tigers, who were also known for their use of suicide bombers, had fought for an independent homeland. Tamils have long complained of discrimination at the hands of Sri Lanka's Sinhalese majority. Hopes for independence have been snuffed out, but Tamil groups are still seeking greater autonomy.
Tamil politicians has accused the government of stalling on negotiations on devolution of power that broke down earlier this year but the talks will resume in early October. Peiris said progress would take time and refused to set deadlines for a settlement. But he said provincial council elections would be held in early 2012.
He said the government has cleared 440,000 land mines since the end of the war and has resettled 95 percent of the 300,000 Tamils displaced by the conflict.
Not SCORES, but THOUSANDS, of LTTE CADRE need to be PROSECUTED & PUNISHED for the murder & mayhem they inflicted on Sri Lankans.
Over 150,000 inncoent dead Sri Lankan citizens cry out for JUSTICE!
Allowing these LTTE to GET AWAY SCOT FREE ... WITHOUT PUNISHMENT, while they FILE FAKE "War Crimes" charges against GoSL Leaders, is a TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE.
GoSL, take your GLOVES OFF and FIGHT like you did in the Eelam War ... a Defensive "Concilatory" Posture WILL NOT WORK with these CUNNING TERRORISTS.
There can be NO RECONCILIATION with these LYING MURDERERS.
Pursue them to HELL & BACK!
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Scores of LTTEers likely to be indicted: GL
DailyNews.lk
September 26, 2011
Scores of hardcore LTTEers are likely to be prosecuted on charges including mass murder for crimes committed during the three decade conflict that ended in 2009, External Affairs Minister Prof GL Peiris told The Associated Press.
The Tigers are among some 11,500 fighters who were captured or surrendered after the war’s end. Prof Peiris said all but about 3,000 of them had already been released from military-run rehabilitation camps and were re-integrating into society.
Interviewed in New York where he attended the UN General Assembly opening session this past week, Peiris said that of those remaining, “less than 2,000” hardcore tigers were expected to be indicted, and that court proceedings were likely to begin next year.
Peiris denied that Lankan troops targeted civilians during the conflict.
But he said it was within the mandate of a reconciliation commission appointed by the President last year to review the conflict and learn lessons from it, and to also look into allegations of rights violations. If the commission found reliable evidence that any individual had committed serious crimes, they would be indicted in a Sri Lankan court.
“They (the commission) cannot fulfill their mandate if they exclude from consideration these issues,” he said.
He said, for example, the commission would examine British TV footage purporting to show atrocities by troops.
The commission is due to submit its final report by November 15.
Peiris accused several Western nations, including Britain, Australia and Canada of being unduly critical of Sri Lanka’s efforts to recover from the war and using the island nation as a “political football.”
“Sri Lanka has to be given the time and space to resolve its issues. It’s premature for any kind of intervention by the international community,” the minister said.
Peiris did not comment on the video’s authenticity, but said the reconciliation commission “has indicated that even matters like the Channel 4 footage will be looked at by them.”
Peiris said progress would take time and refused to set deadlines for a settlement. But he said provincial council elections would be held in early 2012.
He said the government has cleared 440,000 landmines since the end of the conflict and has resettled 95 percent of the 300,000 Tamils displaced by the conflict.
NO WE DON'T Need to DEVOLVE POWER to any Ethnic Community; that is a RECIPE for Sri Lanka's DESTRUCTION!
My Comment submitted to The Hindu: The path forward for Sri Lanka is not to slice and dice itself to deliver a communal Bantustan for its very small Tamil minority placing its national integrity at risk in the hands of the Tiger Nominated agents of the TNA. We will leave India to lead the way towards its own disintegration by taking that foolish approach in Kashmir.
Sri Lanka will NOT DEVOLVE any power on COMMUNAL BASES of ethnicity, language, religion, caste or sex. Instead it will continue to develop its democracy, as old and enduring as India's, based on EQUAL RIGHTS for ALL of its citizens, irrespective of community. One vote for each citizen to elect MPs will be the sum total of the power devolved to each citizen; not one iota more, not one iota less.
India cannot claim success in integrating its people or ensuring its integrity while 850 million people are under Naxalite terror, several states subject to separatist threat, and poverty, illiteracy and civil discord are endemic throughout the nation.
......
‘Sri Lanka needs a solution that accommodates Tamil hopes’
By R. K. Radhakrishnan
TheHindu.com
September 26, 2011
Sri Lanka needs a solution to the ethnic question, home-grown or otherwise, to accommodate the just demands and aspirations of the Tamil-speaking people within the framework of the unity and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka, N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief, The Hindu, said here on Sunday.
“We do not want a solution imposed from outside. But there must be a solution. It does not matter whether it’s a home grown solution or whether you have been influenced by ideas from abroad,” he said. “But you must have a solution when the problem has been of such long standing. This is something we eagerly look forward to in the present situation in Sri Lanka.” While emphasising the need for an enduring political solution, Mr. Ram cited a famous statement attributed to the Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping: “It doesn’t matter if a cat is white or black as long as it catches mice.”
Speaking on ‘India and Sri Lanka: The Emerging Future’ at a meeting organised by the Sri Lanka-India Society in Colombo, he asserted that there was a new opportunity to work out a Sinhala political consensus. Mr. Ram said that if a common minimum programme could be worked out by the two big parties – the SLFP and the UNP – on the scope and content of devolution in Tamil areas in the North and the East, then, it would be a genuine breakthrough. “I am personally confident that Sri Lanka will get there,” he said.
Drawing a parallel with the Indian experience in managing the hopes and aspirations of diverse peoples, he said that the Indian Constitution does not mention the word “federal” anywhere. “Today States [in the Indian Union] are extremely strong. With single party rule becoming virtually extinct at the Centre in India, States have become more demanding, more assertive, often irrepressible, and more resourceful. Some kind of rebalancing has taken place and we journalists call it political federalism,” he said.
‘Sri Lanka needs a solution that accommodates Tamil hopes’
......continued.........
TNA, a credible and leading force
After the recent local body elections, the Tamil National Alliance has emerged not just as a credible force, but as the leading force, he commented, adding that he looked forward to the structured dialogue mechanism that had been put in place. “The President [of Sri Lanka] and the others did a commendable job, reaching out to the TNA, recognising their credibility and the expectations are very, very high when they resume their talks [with the government]… This is a matter of supreme national importance and anyone who underestimates this will be making a grievous mistake,” he said.
Reviewing India-Sri Lanka relations, Mr. Ram commented that it was a matter of great satisfaction that in both countries post-1993, “the process of building tension-free and contention-free bilateral relations on the basis of close consultation and complete political trust, with a strong economic, cultural, and people-to-people content had won support across political divides and become consistent government policy virtually regardless of the party or leader in power.” He noted that the solidity and strength of the high-level political relationship were tested during the final stage of the military operations in the North and during the end game played out in the Wanni in 2008-2009 but “fringe elements in India advocating the secessionist cause” found that they could not derail the relationship.
Speaking about the India-Sri Lanka Agreement of July 1987, Mr. Ram observed that “if that Accord, controversial and divisive in its time, has substantive content, values, and lessons to communicate to us today” and “that conceptual framework for the resolution of Sri Lanka’s principal national question is more or less the working model for those who are seeking to resolve it within the island state’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.”
The Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Ashok K. Kantha, said that there is expectation in India that the Sri Lankan leadership, which put an end to the armed conflict, would work towards a genuine political settlement and facilitate national reconciliation. “As we seek a comprehensive all-round engagement with Sri Lanka, as we seek to upgrade our ties with Sri Lanka, in all its dimensions, whether economic, political, security, cultural, intellectual, academic, at the same time, it is important that some of the concerns and apprehensions [expressed during the debate on Sri Lanka in the Indian parliament] must be addressed,” he said. “A strong, united and prosperous Sri Lanka is in India’s interest,” he added
The relationship between the two countries was being strengthened by “robust, multi-dimensional linkages,” he said and cited the examples of economic and security linkages between India and Sri Lanka.
Mr. Kantha said that the security interests of India and Sri Lanka were also intertwined. “We have sought to upgrade our defence engagement in the recent past, especially after the conclusion of the armed conflict,” he added.
JVP Rebel Premkumar Gunaratnam, sought for forging passport, on the run!
Happy Landings ... THUD!
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Rebels of Sri Lanka Marxist party gaining control of the party machine - reports
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Sept 26, Colombo: During the internal crisis of Sri Lanka's Marxist party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the faction led by veteran leaders was losing power in many sectors, Sri Lanka media reported.
Local media reports said that the faction led by JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe has already lost power in Kalutara and Kandy districts.
The control of the trade union wing is also being taken over by the rebel faction, JVP internal sources say.
The student wing leaders also are supporting the rebels while the JVP veterans lost its newspaper Lanka also.
However, they are reportedly clinging to the party headquarters and some other property while the majority of vehicles have been taken over by the rebels.
Meanwhile, media reports said that the state intelligence agencies have commenced an investigation on the whereabouts of the rebel faction leader Premakumar Gunarathnam to ascertain if he had migrated to Sri Lanka from a foreign country using a forged passport, as alleged by his enemies.
Gunarathnam, who has been self-exiled in Australia and reportedly returned to Sri Lanka recently, played a key role during the 1988-89 insurgency as a member of the armed cadre of JVP.
HEIGHT of IMPUNITY!
LTTE Terrorist attorney and leader of the TGTE, files case against GoSL leaders on behalf of Ex-LTTE terrorist and wife of DEAD LTTE terror leader!
These buggers are FLOUTING & POKING FUN at the Anti-Terrorism Laws of the United States on a MASSIVE SCALE!
As I have said before, ALLOWING LTTE Leaders, including TNA Leaders, to get away SCOT FREE without PROSECUTION & PUNISHMENT for their CRIMES & TREASON of the last 30-years is what has precipitated this TRAVESTY of JUSTICE of Murderers accusing the Victims!
AT LEAST NOW, ENFORCE the Laws of Sri Lanka. Punishment IS Detterence!
BETTER LATE than NEVER!
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Editorial: Abuse of law as a tool of terror
Island.lk
September 25, 2011
Vathsala Devi, a former LTTE combatant and widow of notorious LTTE killer, 'Colonel' Thambirajah Ramesh, has filed law two suits in the US against President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Sri Lanka's Deputy UN Permanent Representative, Maj. Gen. Shavendra Silva for killing her husband during Eelam War IV. It is reported that among the charges against Maj. Gen. Silva is torture.
The case against the President is handled by Attorney-at-Law Vishvanathan Rudrakumaran, a New York based US citizen, who is the self-styled prime minister of the Provisional Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE). He was directly involved in LTTE's terrorist activities overseas and handpicked by Prabhakaran to represent the LTTE at talks with the Government of Sri Lanka (2002-2003). His terrorist links are only too well known, though he has the freedom to operate openly in the US making as he does a mockery of the State Department ban on the LTTE!
Interestingly, the so-called impartial, independent international media has, in reporting the filing of the aforesaid court cases, carefully avoided reference to Devi as an ex-LTTE combatant and wife of a dead LTTE killer!
It is ironical that these two cases have been filed in the US, which has owned up to the extrajudicial execution of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, who was unarmed and posed no threat to the US Navy Seals at the time of his capture, and refused to act on prima facie evidence of blatant war crimes such as the killing of over 600,000 Iraqi civilians since the invasion of their country by the US and the UK on the basis of falsified intelligence reports. There is irrefutable evidence that President Obama, his senior security advisors and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton watched Osama's execution live from White House and the Seals were taking orders direct from him (Obama). As for torture, the US Supreme Court last May refused to hear an appeal by five former detainees who insisted that a Boeing Co subsidiary had helped the CIA fly them to secret prisons abroad for interrogation and torture. (In September last year, the Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed their case, agreeing with President Barack Obama's administration that hearing it could lead to the revelation of 'state secrets'!)
The two cases against President Rajapaksa and Ambassador Silva should be considered a blessing in disguise. At least now, Sri Lanka should consider instituting legal action against the likes of Rudrakumaran and Devi for their involvement in the LTTE's crimes including civilian massacres, ethnic cleansing and genocidal violence.
Editorial: Abuse of law as a tool of terror
.......continued......
When the LTTE rump successfully manipulated the UN through some western governments sympathetic to its cause and hostile to this country to pressure UNSG Ban Ki-moon to appoint an advisory panel on Sri Lanka's alleged accountability issues and publish its flawed report, the outfit may have thought that its surviving second rung leaders and confederates both here and abroad would be able to go scot free simply because the senior LTTE leaders had perished in war. That was the reason why the the UNSG's panel in a bid to give its unsubstantiated allegations against the Sri Lankan military a semblance of balance (for the consumption of the international community), chose to blame the LTTE as well for a few war crimes. Although Prabhakaran and the members of his inner circle including Ramesh have been eliminated, now that the LTTE has accepted the UNSG's panel report, the victims of LTTE terror are in a position to take legal action against Devi, who was involved in LTTE's crimes against civilians as a combatant; the LTTE proxies in the garb of politicians who declared the outfit as the sole representative of the Tamil people and defended it to the hilt in the Sri Lankan parliament; Tiger activists like Rudrakumaran (US citizen), Adele Balasingham (LTTE ideologue's widow currently resident in the UK) responsible for recruiting, brainwashing and turning young men and women into suicide bombers, and many other LTTE members masquerading as champions of human rights. The Nazis were not allowed to get away with their crimes against humanity because Hitler had committed suicide, were they?
That Prabhakaran et al are dead does not mean there is no one else to be arraigned on charges of war crimes the LTTE perpetrated for nearly thirty years through cadres like terrorist leader, Ramesh and his widow. There are many LTTE activists who must be hauled up before Courts both here and abroad.
The case against Deputy Ambassador Silva is reported to have been filed by the Human Rights Impact Litigation Clinic (of the College of Law, American University Washington) on behalf of Vathsala Devi and another person. Victims of LTTE terrorism should seriously consider seeking assistance from the same Clinic, which has taken up the cudgels for a notorious female terrorist, to sue the LTTE leaders and its members overseas responsible for war crimes including about 200 massacres of innocent men, women and children besides many political assassinations and bombing of scores of civilian targets.
Let us wait and see whether the Dutch Govt can ENFORCE THEIR OWN Laws as well as they can criticize Sri Lanka for enforcing OUR Laws!
Or, will their GOOD INTENTIONS DISSOLVE INTO A SLAP ON THE WRIST?
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Dutch prosecutors seeking long sentences for Sri Lankan terrorist fundraisers
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Sept 27, The Hague- The Dutch prosecutors trying five Sri Lankan Tamils accused of extorting money from other Dutch Tamils in the Netherlands are seeking long prison terms, the Associated Press reported.
The prosecutors have demanded sentences ranging from 10 to 16 years for the five ethnic Tamils accused of organizing illegal lotteries and extorting cash from Tamils in the Netherlands with all proceeds going to Sri Lanka's terrorist group, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), to finance its terrorist war.
Prosecutors have told The Hague District Court the men continued to raise money even after the war ended. They said millions of euros were raised in part to fund suicide attacks.
The prosecutors have described the LTTE as a "violent and ruthless "organization that carried out suicide attacks and recruited child soldiers to deploy for combat.
The accused are all naturalized Dutch citizens.
Absolutely NOT!
Thamilini should be given a LONG PRISON TERM at HARD LABOR!
She is one of those LTTE LEADERS who masterminded the wanton destruction of lives of Sri Lankan citizens ... and is cast in the mold as Goebbels of Nazi Germany.
Throw the book at her ... if only to dissuade others ... like the current crop of TNA leaders ... from LIONIZING & PURSUING RACIST TERRORIST IDEALOGIES!
Her PUNISHMENT MUST FIT Her CRIMES!
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Sri Lanka Court discusses rehabilitation of former female LTTE political wing leader
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Sept 27, Colombo: A Sri Lankan court has directed the counsel appearing for a former leading member of the LTTE women's wing to consult the Attorney General to send her for rehabilitation in order to re-integrate her into the society.
Colombo Chief Magistrate Rashmi Singapulli has directed the counsel appearing for LTTE Women's Division Leader Subramaniam Sivathai alias Thamalini to discuss with the Attorney General on the possibility of sending Thamilini for rehabilitation.
The Magistrate has issued the directive following submissions from Thamilini's counsel that the suspect who was remanded for over two years in remand prison was undergoing imprisonment and hardships without being charged.
The counsel had said his client's younger days were taken away by the LTTE and now she had to spend the rest of her life in imprisonment.
A special police team arrested Thamalini on May 27, 2009 at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Vavuniya. She joined the LTTE in 1991 and received battle training in a LTTE camp in Nirveli.
Meanwhile, the CID has said that it had sent the extracts of the investigation report to the Attorney General's Department and that Department was yet to take any action on it.
BOYCOTT the UN whose principal role now is to provide FIG-LEAVES to COVER THE NAKED AGRESSION by Neo-Colonialist Western Powers.
There is NO Unity, Integrity, Truth or Justice ANYMORE in this PUPPET of the Neo-Colonialists.
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U.N. review on response in Eelam War IV
By R. K. Radhakrishnan
TheHindu.com
September 27, 2011
Signalling more trouble for Sri Lanka, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has initiated a review of the U.N.'s actions regarding the implementation of its humanitarian and protection mandates during the Eelam War IV and its immediate aftermath.
The U.N., on September 24, announced the appointment of Thoraya Obaid, former head of the UN Population Fund to conduct the review. Ms. Obaid, the first Saudi national to head a U.N. agency when she was appointed as Executive Director to the Population Fund, is expected to commence work in October and is expected to complete her work in four months.
While Ms. Obaid's mandate is to look at the conduct of U.N. and its personnel on the ground, experts here are of the opinion that the review could not be carried out without commenting on the war itself.
The three-member UNSG's panel of experts on accountability issues, which went into the questions of human rights allegations during the war in Sri Lanka, and also the manner in which the United Nation functioned during the months leading to the end of the war, said there were credible reports that both government forces and the LTTE committed war crimes during the final months of the war. “The Secretary-General should conduct a comprehensive review of actions by the United Nations system during the war in Sri Lanka and the aftermath, regarding the implementation of its humanitarian and protection mandates,” the panel had recommended.
The panel had observed that during the final stages of the war, the United Nations political organs and bodies failed to take actions that might have protected civilians.
The move comes as Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa met Mr. Ban in New York, and a host of heads of nations to impress upon them his country's point of view on the allegations of human rights excesses.
According to the U.N., “Mr. Ban reiterated the need for such a process as envisaged in the joint statement he signed with Mr. Rajapaksa in May 2009, when the long-running conflict between Government forces and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) ended.”
Rice Exports will help Sri Lanka achieve Food Security by sustaining and preserving land under paddy cultivation.
Food will become the scarcest of ALL COMMODITIES as World Population baloons.
Like Japan, Sri Lanka must consider INDIGENOUS RICE PRODUCTION a National Security Priority, and never allow massive conversion of paddy lands to other uses.
Export of rice to other countries will help guarantee and increase income to rice farmers .. essential if Food Security in rice is to be sustained.
Jayawewa!
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Sri Lanka to export rice to African nations
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Sept 28, Colombo: Sri Lanka will soon be exporting rice to African nations under a directive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the country has become self-sufficient in rice.
Addressing a food security meeting at the Temple Trees on Wednesday, President Rajapaksa has asked the relevant authorities to formulate a programme to export extra rice stocks to some African countries whose leaders have expressed interest in purchasing rice from Sri Lanka when he met them on the sidelines of the United Nations 66th General Assembly sessions in New York.
Sri Lanka has already exported 250 metric tons of rice to Kenya from a stock in the Food commissioner's Department store in Veyangoda. This is the first consignment of rice exported to Kenya by Sri Lanka.
The Secretary to the Ministry of Cooperatives and Internal trade Sunil S. Sirisena says the country has become self-sufficient in rice under the Mahinda Chinthana programme.
Provision of the fertilizer subsidy, the government's programme of protecting the farmers, and providing a fixed price for paddy, have contributed for the increase in rice production, the Secretary pointed out.
Sri Lanka is exploring the possibility of exporting rice to several other African countries and Middle East countries including Saudi Arabia in the future.
The President has also instructed the representatives of the Food Security and Cost of Living Committee to keep prices of commodities in check and ensure adequate supplies of essential food items for the forthcoming holiday season.
Senior Minister S.B. Nawinna, Ministers Basil Rajapaksa. Rajitha Senaratne, Johnston Fernando and Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and Deputy Minister Geethanjana Gunawardena have also participated in the meeting.
Raj Rajaratnam's LTTE Funding Activities
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Crouching Tiger, Hidden Raj
By David Rose
VanityFair.com
September 30, 2011
Earlier this year, Raj Rajaratnam, founder of the Galleon Group hedge fund, was convicted of conspiracy and securities fraud in one of the biggest insider-trading cases in the history of Wall Street. But there was another reason the federal government was interested in Rajaratnam—his alleged financial support for Tamil separatists in Sri Lanka, whose cause is spearheaded by the ferocious Tamil Tiger terrorists. Vanity Fair’s David Rose gets the untold story from a Tamil Tiger turned F.B.I. informant.
By Lakruwan Wanniarachchi/AFP/Getty Images; inset, by Shannon Stapleton/Reuters.
FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS Left, Convicted insider trader and former Galleon hedge-fund founder Raj Rajaratnam at the Manhattan Federal Courthouse in New York, in April 2011. Inset, members of Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tigers.
In November 2002, the Doubletree hotel in Somerset, New Jersey, hosted a daylong gala: lunch, speeches, dinner, more speeches, and finally dancing. There were more than 400 guests, and they were all there to mark the 25th anniversary of the Ilankai Tamil Sangam, ostensibly a cultural and social organization. Many of its members supported the demand by Sri Lanka’s Tamil minority for an independent state, and although the Sangam was not avowedly militant, the flags and videos of the movement’s military wing, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (L.T.T.E.), were on display throughout the hall. The Tamil Tigers, as the group is known, were then in the 19th year of a civil war against the Sri Lankan government. Designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department in 1997, the Tamil Tigers invented the suicide-bombing belt, a technology it exported to Hamas and al-Qaeda. The Tigers were responsible for hundreds of suicide attacks on buses, temples, and shopping malls, and for village massacres in which children were killed in front of their parents. In May 1991, the Tigers assassinated the former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. Two years later, they assassinated the Sri Lankan president, Ranasinghe Premadasa.
One of the distinguishing features of the Tamil Tigers is that the group was mostly financed from abroad by the large Tamil diaspora. Many of its donors were eminently respectable, and worked in America, Canada, Australia, and Europe in professions such as medicine and the law. And so at about seven p.m., it fell to a hospital anesthesiologist to introduce the Doubletree event’s star speaker, Raj Rajaratnam, a corpulent Tamil whose Galleon Group hedge fund had already made him the world’s richest Sri Lankan. His net worth would eventually reach a reported $1.8 billion.
Unbeknownst to Rajaratnam, his audience that night included an F.B.I. informant equipped with a concealed recording device. The informant, whom I will call by one of his nicknames, Rudra, would eventually make thousands of hours of clandestine recordings in the course of his 11-year undercover career, and the Department of Justice has used them as the basis of 20 successful criminal prosecutions. Rudra says his memory of what Rajaratnam said at the gala is clear, and it is supported by his former F.B.I. handlers, who heard the recordings when they were made. “He got up and, flanked by L.T.T.E. flags, he said, ‘Everyone must support the Tigers’ cause,’” Rudra recalls. “He mentioned the fact that his wife was an Indian Sikh [a minority group from which some had also mounted a terrorist campaign aimed at creating a separate state]. Rajaratnam said: ‘They’re terrorists. We’re terrorists. We are all freedom fighters.’ Everyone laughed. Then he added: ‘They’re our terrorists, and you all must support this struggle.’”
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Raj
........continued 1.....
Rudra says that Rajaratnam sounded all the more persuasive because his own generosity was well established. For example, a few were aware within the Tamil community that Rajaratnam apparently had given the Tamil cause at least $1 million in recognition of the Tamil victory in 2000 over the Sri Lankan army at the strategic Elephant Pass, which controls access to Sri Lanka’s northern peninsula, where ethnic Tamils are concentrated. (John M. Dowd, a partner at the law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, which represents Raj Rajaratnam, said that Rajaratnam has never directly supported L.T.T.E. terrorism. He declined to answer specific questions from Vanity Fair, saying that he had nothing to add to the position already set out on behalf of his client in court filings.)
In May 2011, Raj Rajaratnam was convicted in New York on 14 counts of conspiracy and securities fraud in one of the biggest hedge-fund insider-trading cases in the history of Wall Street. The trial revealed how Rajaratnam developed a web of corrupt relationships and paid millions of dollars for insider tips that enabled him to beat the market time and again. But throughout the two-month hearing, prosecutors said nothing about one of the uses to which Rajaratnam allegedly put his criminally acquired fortune—funding Tamil terrorism.
Jay Kanetkar, who was Rudra’s main F.B.I. handler from 1999 until he left the bureau in June 2006, says that Rajaratnam’s alleged involvement with terrorism was a significant factor in why the F.B.I. and the Department of Justice went to such extraordinary lengths to nail him. “It was a conscious decision,” Kanetkar says, “to treat Raj the terrorist the way they treated Al Capone when they got him for tax evasion.”
The money trail that leads to Rajaratnam begins in a federal prison in Buffalo, New York, early in 1999. Jay Kanetkar and an F.B.I. colleague, both with the Joint Terrorism Task Force in Newark, New Jersey, happened to be looking for a new case to work when they got a call from an agent in the Immigration and Naturalization Service named Kevin Ryan. He said that Rudra was coming to the end of a five-year prison term imposed for storing two kilograms of heroin in a suitcase at his home on Staten Island as part of a drug-smuggling operation organized by the Tamil Tigers to raise money. A Sri Lankan citizen, now he was due to be deported. That fact, Ryan suggested, might give the F.B.I. some leverage to persuade Rudra to become an informant. Rudra, whose mild, slightly bumbling exterior conceals an evident sangfroid, was then in his mid-thirties, and he readily agreed. Although he had been drawn into the Tamil Tiger orbit while studying in India, and had even met its murderous leader, Vellupillai Prabhakaran, he says now that his commitment to their cause had only ever been lukewarm. And he was angered by the group’s failure to check on his family while he was in prison. Rudra says, “So I decided: I’m going to bring them down.”
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Raj
........continued 2.....
Soon after being recruited by the F.B.I., Rudra met one of the Tigers’ leading international fund-raisers, Vijayshanthar Patpanathan, also known as Chandru, who told him that Rajaratnam was a “high-level business guy” who played a critical role in funding the terrorist group. (Chandru was later convicted and jailed by a New York federal court for conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, as a result of information supplied by Rudra.) “Three years before that 2002 fund-raiser, Rajaratnam was identified by Rudra as a major source,” says Kanetkar. Rudra also told the F.B.I. that Raj’s father, Jesuthasan Rajaratnam, a wealthy financial manager in his own right, was another generous donor. Father and son had set up the Rajaratnam Family Foundation, to support charitable causes in Sri Lanka and elsewhere. But it was also a clandestine financial channel for the Tamil Tigers, recent court filings allege. (John M. Dowd, who represents Jesuthasan Rajaratnam as well as his son, Raj, had no comment on specific questions regarding the allegations, but he did say that neither man had ever directly supported the L.T.T.E.)
For Rudra, meeting Tiger operatives was not difficult: they were often on hand at social functions, such as those organized by the Sangam. The challenge for him and the F.B.I. was to build his credibility. The ruse his handlers devised was for Rudra to intimate that he had had contact with top Mafia figures in prison, and that through them he had access to corrupt U.S. officials. These, he suggested, could get things done for the Tamil Tigers—such as smuggle Tamils who lacked proper visas into the United States. Beginning in the fall of 2001, Chandru paid Rudra $6,000 a head in order to arrange safe passage at Newark International Airport for at least nine such individuals, whose entry was coordinated between the F.B.I. and the I.N.S. Rudra used his supposed “contacts” again, in April 2004, when Chandru told him that Father Gaspar Raj, a Catholic priest who was also a key Tamil Tiger member, had been detained by federal agents at Newark and was about to be deported. Rudra says: “I called Jay Kanetkar and said he should get him out, and he did.”
Prabhakaran ran the Tamil Tigers abroad on classic, cellular lines, with each group operating independently and unaware of the others’ activities. But Rudra’s standing rose so high that he became an exception, the trusted go-to guy for every Tiger cell in America. “I’ve seen the e-mails,” he says. “They thought I could do anything.” Eventually, he was working with four separate cells, which were variously attempting not only to raise money but to arrange supplies of weapons, including surface-to-air missiles. (The would-be arms smugglers were also arrested and convicted on the basis of Rudra’s testimony.) Meanwhile, says Kanetkar, “he had four concealed video cameras in his living room, plus two in the kitchen. We had every angle covered.” Every time Rudra spoke on the phone or met a contact, the conversation was recorded.
Occasionally there were hiccups, such as the time a recording device fell out of Rudra’s pocket in front of Chandru—“I told him it was a pager,” Rudra says. His reassurance must have worked, for in August 2003 he accompanied Chandru to Sri Lanka. There had been a cease-fire, and they were able to travel from the capital, Colombo, to Vanni, the fortress housing 300,000 people that the Tamil Tigers had built from scratch in the island’s northern jungles. Vanni had underground bunkers for advanced computers and communications equipment as well as two fully equipped subterranean hospitals. There Rudra met most of the Tamil Tigers’ senior leadership, wearing a concealed F.B.I. wire all the while.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Raj
........continued 3.....
By 2005, Rudra’s penetration of the Tigers’ network was so deep that the F.B.I. had acquired a comprehensive picture of the group’s fund-raising capability. Raj Rajaratnam’s name came up frequently. “On the recordings, he was spoken of in a reverential way, with all the kudos he got as a financial whizz,” says Kanetkar. “At the same time, he wasn’t a commoner, which is why it was hard for Rudra to get close to him. He was reserved for the big stuff.” For example, in September 2005, two Tamil Tiger members were duped by the F.B.I. In an attempt to have the Tigers removed from the government terrorism list, they agreed to pay $1 million to two “corrupt State Department officials” (in reality, F.B.I. agents) whom Rudra had introduced them to. The Tamils went straight from that meeting to Rajaratnam’s house, apparently to arrange to get the money, according to Rudra and Kanetkar.
“Rudra told us that the L.T.T.E. had given Raj a very large sum of money for him to invest in the Galleon fund,” says Kanetkar. “It was clear that the Tigers did have that kind of money. They were raising $1 million every time they held a function, and also going door to door—extorting people to pay thousands of dollars for the next wave of operations.” Kanetkar and his counterterrorist colleagues had been aware of evidence that Rajaratnam was using illegal insider information since 2001, when wiretaps caught an executive from the Intel Corporation offering him insider tips. The F.B.I. saw the two endeavors—terrorism and insider trading—as connected, says Kanetkar: “Money from insider trading was going into his pocket, and money from his pocket was going to the L.T.T.E.”
For the Tamil Tigers, possibly the most damaging consequence of Rudra’s work undercover was the eventual closure by the authorities of the group’s main fund-raising “front” charities, not only in America but elsewhere, including Britain, where Rudra, accompanied by Kanetkar, shared his knowledge with the British Security Service, M.I.5. “This had a measurable impact on the course of the war,” says a former Department of Justice official. “It significantly weakened their capacity to fight.” The Tigers’ last stand came in April 2009, when the Sri Lankan army finally overran Vanni, killing not only Prabhakaran but, allegedly, thousands of noncombatants.
Of the Tamil front groups, the biggest was the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (T.R.O.), which was active in 17 countries. Its assets were frozen by the U.S. Treasury in November 2007. Rudra’s secret recordings included detailed accounts by Tiger leaders of how money was transferred from the T.R.O. to the terrorist group itself, and in this case there is a copious documentary record of the role played by Rajaratnam. An affidavit filed in April 2007 by the F.B.I.’s special agent Louis Forella states that the banking records of “individual B”—Rajaratnam, according to court filings—show that “[he] wrote three checks totalling $1,000,000 between July and September 2000” that eventually made their way to a T.R.O. account in London, from which much of the money was later withdrawn in cash. The affidavit also cites letters from a later-convicted Tamil Tiger fund-raiser named Karunakaran Kandasamy about the need to fulfill Rajaratnam’s “long lasting desire” to meet Prabhakaran, describing the Galleon Group founder as “among the people who provide financial support for our struggle for freedom. . . . [He] has been working actively on the forefront.”
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Raj
........continued 4.....
Court filings in a pending civil action against Rajaratnam, being brought by Tamil Tiger victims, more than 30 of their families cite a State Department cable dated October 2006 from James R. Moore, the deputy chief of the mission of the U.S. Embassy in Colombo, which was copied to the Treasury Department, the Department of Homeland Security, and the F.B.I. Moore described his dealings with Sri Lankan officials on Tamil Tiger financing, and quoted reports from the local central bank’s financial intelligence unit and the ministry of foreign affairs on the T.R.O. and its influx of funds from America (more than from any other country). “Of these remittances from the U.S., the [Rajaratnam] family is the largest private donor,” the cable said. In the period January 2003 to March 2006, according to one of the reports cited by Moore, the T.R.O. in Sri Lanka received nearly $10 million from its affiliate in America, a trend that was continuing, with $566,000 sent in the single month of August 2006. Overall, the Rajaratnam foundation was contributing more than 35 percent. The cable added: “These funds have been received from the T.R.O. office registered in Cumberland . . . Maryland, which is the entity that is presently being investigated by the U.S. authorities”—the investigation spearheaded by Rudra—“with regard to arms purchases for L.T.T.E.” When it finally shut the T.R.O. down, the U.S. Treasury stated that the organization had “facilitated L.T.T.E. procurement operations” including “the purchase of munitions, equipment, communication devices, and other technology.”
Tax and bank records confirm the scale of Rajaratnam’s support. In the course of 2003, he gave $5.05 million to his family foundation, which in turn passed on $5 million to the T.R.O. In June 2004, the court filings state, he gave another $1 million directly to the T.R.O. At the end of that year, the Indian Ocean tsunami devastated coastal Sri Lanka. Rajaratnam responded by setting up another charity, Tsunami Relief, Inc., which made appeals to the public and was administered by two of his staff at the Galleon Group headquarters, in New York. In all it raised more than $7 million. While money did go to the Sri Lankan government, nearly half of it was given to the T.R.O. in the U.S. and in Sri Lanka. (Court filings lodged on behalf of Raj Rajaratnam and his father say that while it is true that they gave large donations to the T.R.O., they were unaware that the T.R.O. was channeling money to the L.T.T.E.)
Rajaratnam gave few interviews before his arrest, in September 2009. But just a month before, he told a Sri Lankan business magazine that he was proud of his “humanitarian work in Sri Lanka,” saying that in the future, he would like to do more. (By this time, the Tigers had been defeated.) “I’m a firm believer that with success comes responsibility and the incredible power of possibility,” he said, “a responsibility to help those less fortunate and the possibility of actually succeeding in making a difference.” Rajaratnam’s criminal lawyers have told reporters he should receive a lenient sentence for his insider-trading crimes because of his charitable generosity. He is due to be sentenced on October 13.
Could Rajaratnam have genuinely confused charitable works with financial support for terrorism? The evidence suggests he knew exactly what he was doing. In 2001, on the Web site of the Tamil Sangam, the organization Rajaratnam addressed at the Doubletree, Rajaratnam’s father provided the research for statements that set out the association’s credo: “The L.T.T.E. is a freedom movement. Historically, freedom movements have been labelled as terrorist organizations by the oppressors. From George Washington to Mahatma Gandhi to Nelson Mandela, all freedom fighters have been called terrorists . . . . L.T.T.E. has not engaged in any killing that is not justifiable in the context of war.”
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Raj
........continued 5.....
Understandably, that’s not how Mike Elsner, the attorney from Charleston, South Carolina, whose law firm, Motley Rice, has filed a claim against Rajaratnam, his father, and the T.R.O., on behalf of Tamil Tiger victims, sees the matter. Insider trading is not exactly a victimless crime, but to work out who is doing the suffering involves calculations that verge on the hypothetical. Elsner’s clients, in contrast, suffered concretely and very directly. In his office he showed me a video compiled from interviews he had conducted in Sri Lanka. They’re heartbreaking. Parents—some of them, in Sri Lanka’s multicultural society, Tamil themselves—talk about losing their children in horrifying circumstances, such as the destruction of a high-school baseball team caught in a blast at a Colombo railway station, or a young couple blown up two months before their wedding, and who were buried in the clothes they never got to wear at the ceremony. “This is what Rajaratnam was paying for,” Elsner says. In the response filed to the victims’ lawsuit, Rajaratnam’s lawyers state that there is “no connection” between Rajaratnam’s donations to the T.R.O. and the harm suffered by the claimants, adding that there is no evidence he ever sponsored acts of violence.
Under U.S. law, you don’t have to prove that money a person gave to an entity that funded terrorism was actually spent on bombs and bullets: it’s enough to show that the recipient body did in fact use some of its funds for terrorist purposes. The suit, which was filed in federal court in New Jersey, has already cleared its initial legal hurdles, with the court accepting jurisdiction and upholding it as a claim for crimes against humanity. The suit is asking for damages of an unspecified amount. Rajaratnam will almost certainly go to prison as a result of his conviction in the Galleon case. If he ever gets out of jail, he may not still be so rich.
OH, NO! NO WAY!
We don't need anymore International Foreign Cooks STIIRRING the Reconciliation SOUP!
Sri Lanka Govt should EXPEL all Foreign Meddlers in the Internal Politics of Sri Lanka ATTEMPTING TO RECREATE the NGO RAJ of the last 30 years in when they were Law Unto Themselves undermining the Authority of the National Government, and Undermining Sri Lanka's TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY.
Oh, No! NOT AGAIN!
Never ALLOW these BUGGERS in!
..........
C'wealth offers to help in Lanka's reconciliation efforts
By H S Rao
London, September 30 (PTI)
The Commonwealth has offered its good offices to help the Sri Lankan government in the reconciliation process in the country following the end of a three-decade ethnic conflict in May 2009.
"Commonwealth has offered its assistance to Sri Lanka to bring about a reconciliation between the Tamils and the Government, " Amitav Banerji, Director, Political at the Commonwealth has said.
He said the Sri Lanka''s Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) is expected to submit its report next month and it might be presented to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth.
Asked whether the issue of Sri Lanka hosting the 2013 CHOGM would be reviewed, Banerji said "the decision that Sri Lanka would host 2013 CHOGM was taken at the 2009 CHOGM" and that issue was not on the agenda at the Perth meeting next month. It might come up at the RETREAT.
Steve Cutts, the Commonwealth Assistant Secretary- General, said several issues including reform of the Commonwealth, democracy and human rights and the impact of the current global economic crisis on development would be on the agenda.
Banerji said the official level meeting would be held on October 24 and 25 and the Ministerial level meeting on October 26 and 27 before the CHOGM on October 28 and 29.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon recently submitted a special report on Sri Lanka to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and also to the president of the UN Human Rights Council, alleging human rights violation in the country.
The report accused both Sri Lankan forces and the LTTE of committing war crimes during the ethnic conflict that ended in May 2009 and called for an independent probe.
The government has set up the LLRC to probe the ethnic war, but refused to entertain outside interference on the issue.
The JVP is a violent movement that twice attempted to overturn two Govts of Sri Lanka, under the opposing major political parties of Sri Lanka, the SLFP and the UNP, to impose by force their "vision" of Communism on an unwilling people.
Even now, the JVP is in the midst of an internal power struggle between its extremist and more moderate political elements. It seems the extremists are poised to win that struggle. The extremists again want to resort to their violent methods and totalitarian idealogies of the past.
If anyone believes JVP's assertions that they are both "reformed" and "democratic", as the US Ambassador Butenis recounts, then I have a great deal on a Bridge in New York that I would like to sell them at discount too.
Is the US, desperate to find levers to undermine and destabilize the UPFA Govt in Sri Lanka, and aid the Tamil Eelamists dismember the nation, contemplating jumping into bed with the JVP to that end, just as they are doing with the rump LTTE in the Tamil Diaspora?
Any PORT in a STORM? SHAME!
..............
US envoy’s confidential report on JVP
October 01, 2011
United States Ambassador Patricia Butenis quoting Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Leader Somawansa Amarasinghe has in a confidential 2009 cable to Washington said, “Mr. Amarasinghe described the JVP as a reformed Marxist party, which stood for a united, multiethnic and multilingual Sri Lanka, with equality for all.”
Wikileaks website said Ms. Butenis in one of her latest cables had quoted Mr. Amarasinghe as saying that former army commander Sarath Fonseka was marginalized after the military defeat of the LTTE because he was in favor of reconciling with former LTTE members.Ms. Butenis met Mr. Amarasinghe and JVP MP Sunil Handunneththi on January 15, 2009. In that meeting they discussed the JVP’s version of a united, multiethnic, multilingual Sri Lanka; JVP’s support for Mr. Fonseka’s presidential candidacy; JVP’s support for a truth commission instead of a war crimes trial and JVP’s view of the involvement of the international community in Sri Lankan internal affairs.
According to the cable she has reported to Washington that, “Mr. Amarasinghe described the JVP as a reformed Marxist Party, with equality for all. He emphasized that they were not a nationalist party and believed strongly in multiparty democracy. The JVP was even in favor of a Tamil prime minister. The JVP also believed in developing power as far as possible, including allowing villages to decide on the allocation of funds.”
Regarding JVP support for Mr. Fonseka’s presidential campaign, Mr. Amarasinghe cited seven reasons; he was the only person who could defeat President Rajapaksa, JVP has never supported the current government, Mr. Fonseka was willing to eliminate the executive powers of the president, he was well respected by the people, he was very direct and he had a broad vision for the future of Sri Lanka.
Ms. Butenis has said, “Mr. Amarasinghe went on to add that Mr. Fonseka was marginalized after the military defeat of the LTTE because he was in favor of reconciling with former LTTE members. This convinced the JVP that Mr. Fonseka was committed to uniting the nation.”
Expressing their view on war crimes issue Mr. Amarasinghe said there were human rights violations in every war and with regard to the final year of the Sri Lankan war there were in fact far fewer human rights violations than ever before. In terms of moving forward, he favored the idea of a “truth and reconciliation commission,” not a war crimes trial.
Canada's APPEASEMENT of its vociferous Sri Lankan Tamil community, bribing every Canadian MP in sight, now compounds its past errors in allowing the LTTE to oopenly operate and raise funds in Canada by joining the attempt to punish democratic Sri Lanka for having defended itself.
Canada should be held partly responsible for the deaths of over 150,000 Sri Lankans of ALL COMMUNITIES from LTTE's murder & mayhem.
Oh, Canada ... How you have DESCENDED into the clutches of a TERRORIST NETWORK that undermines and subverts your society and your laws.!
How LOW you have FALLEN!
...............
‘Domestic politics shouldn’t be at Lanka’s expense’: Canada told at UNGA
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Island.lk
September 30, 2011
The government has accused Canada of appeasing the Tamil vote bank at the expense of Sri Lanka as diplomatic relations between the two countries hit a new low.
Authoritative sources told The Island that Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird had targeted Sri Lanka at the UNGA in New York on Sept. 26 following an abortive Canadian initiative to formalize during the September HRC Sessions in Geneva "an interactive dialogue on the LLRC process in Sri Lanka at the March 2012 Session of the HRC."
Responding to a query, sources said that Minister Baird had made his move in spite of having met External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris in New York, where Baird revealed their decision to suspend the initiative for the time being. Sources said that to the dismay of the Sri Lankan delegation, Minister Baird had referred to the Sri Lankan issue on the floor of the UN.
Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative at the UN Dr. Palitha Kohona expressed the government’s serious concern over the Canadian action. The former Foreign Secretary said: "In the UN, an organization comprising 193 countries subscribing to a range of social, economic and political philosophies, procedure and process are critically important to ensure good governance and prevent inter-governmental organizations such as the UN being abused for narrow domestic political advantage and selective application of principles. The rule based framework of the UN system, that we all value, must be safeguarded for the protection of all against such abuse."
The External Affairs Ministry told The Island that it would be grossly unfair on the part of those countries, which had accommodated large groups of Sri Lankan Tamils on their respective electoral registers, to undermine post-war Sri Lanka. "We shouldn’t be humiliated to pacify Sri Lankan Tamil voters," a senior official said. Those demanding an independent international inquiry in respect of accountability issues in Sri Lanka, had conveniently forgotten failures on their part, which gave the LTTE wherewithal to wage war.
An official with the State Intelligence Service (SIS) told The Island that the ongoing confrontation between the Sri Lankan government and some foreign governments had given LTTE front organizations, an opportunity to raise funds. Responding to a query, the official said that Canada, while attacking Sri Lanka was in the process of strengthening laws to block illegal immigrants, including Sri Lankans.
The official said that Sri Lanka appreciated ongoing efforts by Canada, Australia, UK et al to curb illegal migration. In fact, curbs on illegal migration could affect Diaspora plans, he said. "A lot will depend on their ability to sustain growth of the vote bank. Measures targeting illegal migration taken by foreign governments, particularly Australia are likely to weaken the Diaspora," he said.
Japan sees tremendous improvement in security and development in post-war Sri Lanka
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Oct 01, Colombo: During the last two and half years following the end of the war Sri Lanka has improved tremendously in terms of security and development, the Ambassador of Japan in Colombo Kunio Takahashi has observed.
Reiterating that his government will maintain a mutual supportive relationship with Sri Lanka, the Ambassador has said that however, he believes the efforts of the Government and the people of Sri Lanka toward reconciliation and reconstruction should be continued.
Mr. Kunio has made these remarks at a signing ceremony to grant US$ 780,000 (approximately Rs. 85 million) for the demining activities in Northern Sri Lanka through Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (FSD) to expedite the Sri Lankan government's efforts to clear the heavily-mined areas in the North.
The Japanese Ambassador and the Country Programme Manager of FSD, Nigel Robinson signed Grant Contract on Friday (September 30) at the Embassy of Japan in Colombo.
"Through this demining project, it is envisaged that more than 5,000 people in Vavuniya and Mannar Districts would gain access to safe lands and resume their livelihood activities," the Japanese Embassy said in a statement.
The project will also simultaneously contribute to providing employment opportunities to more than 100 residents in the area.
Japan has been a major donor supporting mine clearance in Sri Lanka to accelerate the return and resettlement of Internal Displaced Persons (IDPs) and to facilitate recommencement of agriculture and other livelihood activities of returnees.
Since 2003, Japan has provided US$ 21.5 million for demining activities in the North and the East under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP).
Japan has also extended assistance for development in the North for projects, such as improvement of central facilities of Jaffna Teaching Hospital, construction of Vavuniya-Kilinochchi Transmission Line, and urgent rehabilitation of resettled communities in Jaffna and Mannar districts.
"Japan hopes that these assistances would holistically contribute to sustainable peace and development in Sri Lanka and promote the livelihood of the people," the Embassy said.
You BET there is a CONSPIRACY against Sri Lanka, and, the People of Sri Lanka KNOW who is ORCHESTRATING it.
We, the GREAT MAJORITY of Sri Lankans, shall NEVER FORGET those who are trying to REVIVE the dark days of TERRORIST MURDER & MAYHEM in the past 30 years, and DISMEMBER our Motherland!
NEVER!
.................
Sri Lanka 'defeated conspiracy at UN'
BBC.co.uk
September 30, 2011
There has been a major international conspiracy against Sri Lanka at the recently concluded UNHRC session in Geneva, the country's delegation claims.
Plantation Development Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe told journalists in Colombo that the delegation managed to thwart the conspiracy.
The UN High Commissioner on Human Rights Navi Pillai, he said, tried to bring in the report of the UN expert panel to the UNHRC "through the back door."
The government delegation also expressed regret over the conduct of the Canadian government representative who attempted to propose to the session that the expert panel report should be discussed by the UN rights body.
Shavendra Silva
Expressing serious concerns over Sri Lanka's human rights record, Canadian prime minister has said he would boycott 2013 Commonwealth Summit to be held in Colombo if the rights situation does not improve.
Maj Gen Shavendra Silva
Former AG says the Govt must protect Gen Shavendra Silva
"When many delegates expressed objections, Canada finally got a message that the resolution would not be passed," the minister, who was the head of Sri Lanka government delegation said.
"This is a big victory for us," he added.
Minister Samarasinghe, however, warned that more attempts might be made to pass a resolution against Sri Lanka at the next UNHRC session in March, next year.
Responding to journalists questions on the government's response to the civil case filed against Maj Gen Shavendra Silva, Sri Lanka's deputy permanent representative for UN in New York, former Attorney General Mohan Peiris said the government is concerned why a person with diplomatic immunity is issued with legal notice in the United States.
"Although it is a civil case, the charges are related to disposing of his official duties," said Mr Peiris.
"Therefore, I think the government must provide protection to Gen Shavendra Silva."
Jayawewa! Gas Now, Oil Next.
Will the Discovery of Oil & Gas be a BLESSING or a CURSE?
Will the Neo-Colonialists who ignored Sri Lanka up to begin their RECONQUEST of Sri Lanka NOW, first through REGIME CHANGE?
Robbers target Banks ... because THAT IS WHERE THE MONEY IS!
Will Sri Lanka become a Neo-Colonialist TARGET Now, for reasons other than Geo-Politics?
....................
Sri Lanka President announces finding natural gas in Mannar basin
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Oct 02, Kandy: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Sunday officially announced the finding of a natural gas field in the northwestern seas off Mannar for the first time.
Addressing a function at the President's official residence in Kandy, the President has announced that Cairn Lanka, the company conducting the exploration has discovered the gas deposits and informed him today.
"President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing a meeting in Kandy today announced that exploration teams have found a gas field in Sri Lanka," the government information department said in a statement.
Cairn Lanka, which began oil drilling operations in the Mannar basin in August, has confirmed that it had informed the Sri Lankan authorities about the finding, foreign media reported.
The President has said that he is elated of the new discovery and expressed confidence that Sri Lanka will harness crude oil from its own oil fields.
Cairn India, the parent company of Cairn Lanka, in a statement issued Sunday has said that the discovery was made at a depth of 1,354 metres (4,442 feet) below sea level, a Reuters report said. Cairn has said that further drilling will be required to establish the commercial viability of the discovery.
Cairn has said earlier If Sri Lanka's drilling program is successful then commercial oil production can be expected by 2014 with a billion barrels.
The Block SL 2007-01-001 was awarded to Cairn in the 2008 Sri Lanka bid round. Cairn Lanka (Private) Limited, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cairn India and holds a 100% participating interest in the Mannar block.
Mannar basin has eight oil and gas exploration blocks and two of them have been granted to China and India. Officials of Russia's largest oil company, Gazprom recently visited Sri Lanka to hold discussions on oil exploration in the Mannar Basin.
Great, but, But, BUt, BUT ..
what exactly is an "Aviation degree"?
Is it a degree in Aeronautical Engineering, addressing the design and production of aircraft, or a degree in Aircraft Operations, or a school for training Pilots, or a school for training Aircraft Traffic Controllers?
Better still, will the School of Aviation address all of these aspects?
What exactly will it be?
.............
Sri Lanka to introduce an aviation degree in universities
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Oct 02, Colombo: Sri Lanka Minister of Civil Aviation Priyankara Jayaratna says that steps will be taken to introduce aviation as a subject for a degree in the Sri Lankan university curriculum.
The Minister says that his Ministry is having discussions with the Ministry of Higher Education in this regard.
Addressing a meeting in Puttalam district, Minister Jayaratna said that the hope is to establish an aviation academy in Sri Lanka as a joint venture with Singapore.
According to the Minister Sri Lanka lacks experts in the aviation industry and it is necessary to produce local supply to meet future demand.
He says aviation experts will play a big role in the future and it is time for Sri Lanka to follow other developing countries and introduce aviation as a subject in the school and university curricula.
The JVP supported the DNA whose leader Sarth Fonseka, driven by personal ambition, precipitated "war crimes" allegations against Sri Lanka.
PATRIOTIC Sri Lankans WILL NOT SUPPORT such a FICKLE & OPPORTUNISTIC party!
...........
JVP is no longer a factor in politics: UPFA MP
by Shamindra Ferdinando
Island.lk
October 1, 2011
The SLFP believes the JVP is no longer a factor in politics and whatever the outcome of the ongoing dispute in the party it will not make any difference.
"The JVP is politically finished though some of its leaders are talking big," UPFA MP Mahinda Amaraweera told the Sunday Island.
Commenting on a recent JVP declaration that it wouldn’t go for alliances with any political party in the future, the Hambantota District MP said the JVP had conveniently forgotten where it stands in the current political setting.
Amaraweera said the JVP was no longer a political party but a joke. Unfortunately the JVP leadership had refused to acknowledge the Marxist party’s plight in spite of the electorate losing interest in the party.
The JVP had been reduced to just three members at the last parliamentary polls, he pointed out. Those in the JVP talking against political alliances should explain their position on the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) as its three MPs, Sunil Handunetti, Vijitha Herath and Anura Kumara Dissanayake (National List) were elected on the DNA ticket.
The DNA group comprises five MPs with former national cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga and Tiran Alles (National List) being the other two. Defeated presidential election candidate Gen. Sarath Fonseka heads the DNA.
MP Amaraweera asserted that the JVP couldn’t survive the post-war politics, though it had made an attempt to exploit the post-war situation to launch political activity in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.
Military sources told the Sunday Island that the JVP had thrown its weight behind those seeking to haul Sri Lanka up before an international war crimes tribunal over accountability issues. They alleged that the JVP had joined hands with some of those elements campaigning against Sri Lanka to undermine post-war recovery process.
They issued statements accusing the military of disappearances and abuses and went to the extent of staging demonstrations in some parts of the country demanding justice for Tamil youth, these sources said alleging that the JVP had tried to outdo the TNA, the former LTTE proxy, in making unsubstantiated allegations targeting the government.
Military and police sources said that the JVP had been trying to destabilize universities and causing mayhem at other sectors. The recent chaos caused at the Katunayake Export Processing Zone was evidence of their strategy.
However, many people regardless of political differences supported a JVP initiative which involved former Chief Justice Sarath Nanda Silva in a campaign against unbridled waste, corruption and irregularities in the state sector. The organization styled as ‘Voice against Corruption’ could play an important role in the fight against corruption, they said.
JVP is no longer a factor in politics: UPFA MP
....continued....
Political sources said that the ongoing dogfight would keep JVPers away from the Oct. 8 local government polls. The JVP failed to secure a single seat at the first and the second rounds of LG polls this year and the forthcoming third round would be worse in terms of the number of votes received by the party.
Despite having just three MPs, the JVP sought to influence both national and international opinion targeting President Rajapaksa’s government, they said.
Responding to a query, a senior minister said that going underground would never be an option, though some feared a section of the group taking up arms again. The JVP challenging the 200,000-strong army is a ridiculous proposition, the minister said.
The ongoing dispute was nothing compared to the debilitating setback caused by a dozen MPs led by Wimal Weerawansa quitting the party during President Rajapaksa’s first term in office, he added.
UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake last week told The Island that the Opposition campaign against the government had suffered a major setback due to the crisis in the JVP.
MP Attanayake seemed to have forgotten the UNP’s plight, a political source said reacting to this remark. Fighting would erupt between sharply divided UNP factions soon after the Oct. 8 polls, he said.
Once the UNP’s internecine row re-erupted, the media would lose interest in the so-called JVP crisis, sources said. They believed that the JVP’s current problem could attract some JVP supporters to Housing Minister Wimal Weerawansa’s National Freedom Front.
In addition to the use of trawling methods destructive to Sri Lanka's fisheries, the Indian fishing fleet is orders of magnitude larger than the Sri Lankan fleet in that area.
If fishing by Indians in Sri Lanka's water is allowed, exploitation by the massive Indian fishing fleet will denude and destroy Sri Lanka's fisheries.
No, Sri Lanka's fisheries should be restricted to Sri Lankan fishermen.
This is a crucial aspect of ensuring FOOD SECURITY for Sri Lankans.
..............
Sri Lanka rejects proposal to share fishing waters with India
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Oct 02, Colombo: Sri Lanka has strongly rejected an Indian proposal that suggested both Sri Lankan and Indian fishermen fishing in each other's waters.
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne has said that there will be no negotiations to allow Indian fishermen to fish in Sri Lankan waters and share resources.
India's former Foreign Secretary Ms. Nirupama Rao has suggested an arrangement sharing each other's waters as a solution to resolve the fishermen's crisis.
The Minister has said that poaching by the Indian fishermen mainly from Tamil Nadu cost the country Rs. 5 billion a day.
Also the Indian fishermen's use of trawlers for fishing, a practice banned in Sri Lanka, is damaging the seabed and the corals, the Minister has pointed out.
Dr. Senaratne has said that he would take a tougher stand at the joint working group meeting with the Indian officials from the ministries of External Affairs and Fisheries to be held on October 7 in Colombo.
He has said at the meeting he would stress not to allow Indian fishermen entering the country�s territorial waters while ensuring that Sri Lankan fishermen would not stray into Indian waters.
The crossing of the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) that separates the two nations' waters by the fishermen on both sides has become a serious diplomatic issue.
The fishermen in Northern Sri Lanka have said the number of Indian fishermen who poached in Sri Lankan waters have increased from about 1,000 to around 3,000. The fishermen lament that they use small boats and less number of fishing nets in comparison to the Indian trawlers.
The Minister has complained that the Tamil Nadu fishermen who crossed over to Sri Lankan waters and get caught go scot-free without any punishment whereas the Sri Lankan fishermen arrested in India languish in Indian jails.
India's External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna in August said a total of 104 Sri Lankan fishermen are still in Indian custody whereas all Indian fishermen apprehended on charges of fishing related violations in Sri Lanka have been released.
External Affairs Ministry Secretary Karunatillake Amunugama and Fisheries Ministry Additional Secretary Shantha Bandara will participate in the talks on Friday (07) with the Indian officials.
Indian government has taken measures to release at least 35 Sri Lankan fishermen from custody, Indian media reports said. Meanwhile 10 fishermen who have been released earlier have arrived in Kankasanthurai last week.
Sri Lanka elite police recover huge stock of arms hidden by LTTE
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Oct o3, Mullaitivu: Sri Lanka's elite Special Task Force (STF) police have recovered a huge arm cache hidden by the Tamil Tiger rebels in a former rebel-controlled area of Mullaitivu, officials said Monday.
The haul of weapons discovered by the STF police includes over 1,700 rounds of anti-aircraft ammunition and many other weapons, ASP P.J. Sylvester Wijesinghe has told the state-run radio SLBC.
Meanwhile the Army troops on their search and clear operations in the general areas of Oddankulam, Kokkutoduvai, Mulankavil and Mankulam recovered 49 anti-personnel mines and one Rocket Propeller Grenade (RPG) on Sunday (02).
Troops clearing the East recovered a stock of arms and explosive devices including 24 anti-personnel mines, 2 81-mm mortar bombs, one RPG, one part of Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) ammunition, two pressure mines, one T-56 weapon and ammunition yesterday.
Nearly two-and-a-half years after the war ended the security personnel engaged in search and clear operations in the North and East are still finding hoards of weapons and explosives.
The officials say it will take a decade to completely clear the heavily mined North and East that was under the rebel control for three decades.
Libraries opened for schools in rural areas of Sri Lanka
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Oct 03, Dambana: The inauguration ceremony of the "Nana Guna Piyasa" programme established under a concept of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa for providing libraries to schools in remote areas of the country was held at Dambana Primary School in Monaragala District, Bibila Education Zone under the patronage of the Secretary to the President, Lalith Weeratunga and Uva Provincial Council Chief Minister, Shashendra Rajapaksa.
New Libraries were also opened at Madurukatiya, Okkampitiya and Lunugala Vidyalayas.
Seen here is the Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga distributing books among school children. Directors of Keyan Sri Lanka Company, Mr. P. IIango and Mrs. Ritu are also pictured.
(Photos by Udesh Gunarathna)
Cautious optimism for natural gas
By Channa Fernandopulle
DailyMirror.lk
October 4, 2011
With the discovery of natural gas in the Mannar basin, the business community expressed cautious optimism on what such a discovery meant for future prospects of the country.
“I think it’s still too early to comment since we still don’t know what the final implication will be. However; there is no doubt that it is a very significant find,” said Sunil Wijesinha.
Wijesinha went on to state that he was hopeful the discovery would eventually lead to some relief being granted to industries which require high amounts of energy to operate.
“Their competitiveness has been eroded due to high energy costs and as a result these industries have been stifled. If we can finally get a competitive price it will be a big boost towards the revival of those industries that are currently struggling to survive.”
Wijesinha also stressed the importance of correctly handling the development of these resources from the outset, citing Bangladesh as an example of populist polices, with regard to natural gas which eventually became an impediment to industry due to uncontrolled usage. Meanwhile Jayampathi Bandaranayake, Chairman of the Board of Investment said, “Discovery of natural gas deposits is certainly significant for the economic benefit of the country, as it will spawn businesses around it. It’s still early days but my initial reaction is that this will definitely be something positive for the country.”
Speaking about the necessity of involvement by foreign companies in the current exploration exercise Surath Wickramasinghe, President of the Chamber of Construction Industry said, “Sri Lanka does not possess the technology, financial resources or the equipment to do drilling by ourselves. Despite these constraints however the benefit of this discovery in the long term will be enormous. The quantity and quality of these deposits as well as their commercial viability remains to be seen.”
Kumar Mallimaratchi, President of FCCISL said: “I think it’s definitely something good. I hope the government will take the correct decisions, so that the country will benefit rather than multinational companies. I hope the government looks at this as an opportunity to develop the Mannar area as well as the entire country.”
Dr Harsha de Silva expressed similar concerns whilst also emphasizing the preliminary nature of the operations currently underway.
“Firstly, the issue is whether what has been discovered will be commercially viable and that won’t be known until Cairn conducts its exploration in the other three blocks as well. If it is discovered, then it is commercially viable. Thereafter they will begin actual drilling which will be very expensive. In any case, if anything is to happen it will take a minimum of 6-8 years to make income out of natural gas after exploration is completed.” Dr De Silva explained.
He also expressed concern over the non-renewal of Dr Neil De Silva’s position as the head of Petroleum Resources Development Secretariat at a time when natural gas exploration was starting to yield results.
“We have been known to get into bad agreements in the past”, said Dr De Silva with reference to hedging agreements made in connection to petroleum.
“We need to have professionals handling oil exploration. When vacuums are created, individuals with various vested interests will come crawling out the woodwork .Cairn India could well be taken over by Vedanta Resources in the near future, and you can be sure that they will be hard negotiators. Therefore it is important we have professionals negotiating on our behalf.”
“This is a resource that belongs to the people of this country. As such, the government is under an obligation not to get into agreements that will be detrimental to the people of this country”
More bidders for Mannar basin, After natural gas discovery
By Sanjeevi JAYASURIYA
DailyNews.lk
October 04, 2011
The discovery of natural gas will bring along many economic and social benefits to Sri Lanka where high calibre bidders could be attracted for the remaining five blocks. The discovery through the first block drilling is a positive sign for future bidders, Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premjayantha told Daily News Business.
“The agreement entered with Cairn Lanka (Pvt) Limited covers the discovery of oil and gas including natural gas and there is no necessity to alter the agreement,” he said.
“This is a big success for the country and there are two more blocks for drilling which will commence shortly. However, it is necessary to evaluate the drilling outcome and ascertain the commercial viability of the findings,” the Minister said.
Three out of eight blocks in the Mannar basin were given to Cairn Lanka with 100 percent participating interest. The remaining five blocks will be offered to potential bidders in the near future.
The technical process to ascertain commercial viability of the drilling will take time and currently drilling is carried out in a water depth of 1,354 meters located in the block SL 2007-01-001 at the Mannar Basin.
“The global energy demand is increasing continuously and the discovery will position Sri Lanka as an attractive investment destination and encourage potential bidders for the remaining blocks. The energy focus is shifting from nuclear energy to natural gas the country is at an advantageous position to export the excess after meeting the demand for domestic consumption,” he said.
The Kerawalapitiya and Kelanitissa power generation will boost the national grid supply and with the addition of natural gas as a power source the cost could be reduced in the future. The natural gas is environmentally friendly and carbon emission will be reduced by two thirds where it will lessen the carbon foot print.
“The natural gas unit price will be less than the price of other power sources and it could supplement the transportation sector as an alternative power source. The natural gas could be utilized to produce urea where the subsidy which cost the government more than $ 400 million could be reduced.
The current oil bill of $ 3 billion could be saved partly or fully depending on the outcome of the drilling,” the Minister said.
“The country could experience rapid development and investment flow similar to other oil producing countries in the event it discovers fuel where further drilling is in progress,” he said.
Sri Lanka buys China planes weeks after Russia helicopter deal
Reporting by Ranga Sirilal; Editing by Nick Macfie)
COLOMBO Oct 3 (Reuters) - China has delivered two passenger planes to boost Sri Lanka's post-war aviation industry, the island's air force said on Monday, as the South Asian nation seeks non-Western sources of financial assistance amid Western-led allegations of war crimes.
Since the end of the war with Tamil Tigers separatists in May 2009, Russia, China and India have increased cooperation with Sri Lanka and are among its biggest benefactors in terms of global political capital.
China, Sri Lanka's largest source of funding in 2009 and 2010, has lent at least $3.43 billion since the end of the war for infrastructure projects including sea and air ports, coal power plants, and express highways.
Russia and China, both with U.N. Security Council vetoes, take a general stand that states have a right to police internal conflicts without outside interference.
They have been Sri Lanka's bulwarks against Western pressure to probe allegations of war crimes from the final months of the civil conflict.
The air force said two MA 60 twin-engine turboprop aircraft with seating for 56 passengers would be used for domestic commercial flights before expanding the service to the region through Helitours, its commercial arm handling charter flights and helicopters.
In August, the air force bought 14 Russian military Mi-171 helicopters.
President tells hill country business community: Kandy to be made world-class city
By Rasika Somarathna in Kandy
DailyNews.lk
October 04, 2011
*Airport for domestic flights
*Major sports complex at Bogambara
Some envisaged plans to develop Kandy under the Rs 20 b project:
* William Gopallawa Mawatha to be developed as a four lane fully carpeted road with walk ways for pedestrians from Getembe to Katugastota
* An airport for domestic flights is to be established
* Five commuter tunnels are to be developed linking all key locations in the city
* A network of flyovers (Sri Lanka’s highest) are to be established linking the bus stops, hospital, station and other key locations within the city
* Three bus stands are to be developed namely, goodshed, near the clock tower and at Bogambara
* Separate shopping complex for pavement hawkers
* New housing units for tenement dwellers within the city.
* Kandy market complex to be upgraded to an ultra modern shopping complex
* An underground tunnel for vehicle traffic from Bogambara to Tennekumbura. The prison is to be shifted ensuring 13 acres of prime land in the midst of the city for other development.
* Consumer friendly shopping mall, vehicle parks
* A world class sports complex to be established at Bogambara.
A Rs 20 billion development plan is underway in Kandy to give the world heritage metropolis a major facelift under a Presidential initiative. President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the business community and professionals in Kandy on Sunday said that the city would be developed and facilities expanded, maintaining its cultural value, historical significance and scenic beauty.
He said that Kandy would be developed as a world-class city preserving its past glory.
“It is to be developed under the green and walking city concept with a gamut of facilities to afford comfort for both city dwellers and visitors,” President Rajapaksa said. Emphasis has been given to the welfare of city dwellers, minimizing congestion, keeping the city clean, expansion of infrastructure, adequate drinking water and streamlining the transport sector cum road network.
The President also stressed that the 58-year UNP rule in the council had failed to fulfill needs and aspirations of the city dwellers and had also failed to develop Kandy.
“Fifty eight years is enough, you and me, both have a responsibility to develop Sri Lanka’s second largest town, Sri Lanka’s last kingdom and one which houses the Sacred “Tooth Relic,” he told the business community and professionals of Kandy.
The President noted that Sri Lanka was taking giant strides in economic and other areas and had emerged as a middle income earning country.
“We have to keep Kandy in pace with this rapid development”, he added.
President Rajapaksa said that the government had faced certain difficulties in enacting development work in Kandy due to interference by the UNP led Municipal Council.
Despite these obstacles every effort had been taken to develop the city. The development of the roads in and around the city is testimony to the fact he said. The President noted that the government had already spent Rs three billion for development in Kandy during recent times and added that a UPFA led council would further help the government to fast track development in the city.
He urged those present to work towards ensuring a UPFA led Municipal Council at the forthcoming polls to supplement this progress.
Prime Minister D M Jayaratne, Ministers Keheliya Rambukwella and Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake and Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa also participated.
President reveals plans to develop Sri Lanka's tea capital Nuwara Eliya
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Oct 04, Nuwara Eliya: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa who was touring Nuwara Eliya today revealed the government's plans to develop the tea capital of the country.
Addressing a public rally at the Nuwara Eliya Town Hall, President Rajapaksa said the government plans to set up a public employees training center and a domestic airport to boost tourism to the city.
He asked the city officials to find a suitable location to build an airstrip for domestic air services.
The President has pointed out that although the city is ruled by a UNP Mayor the government has spent a large sum of money to develop the city.
Nuwara Eliya Hospital was upgraded to the level of a national hospital and many highways and rural roads in the district have been carpeted, the President has noted.
He requested the public in the Nuwara Eliya district to support the government to accelerate development in the area.
During a meeting with a group of learned persons, political activists, businessmen and professionals at Nuwara Eliya yesterday, the President said the government aims to handover the highest returns from tourism industry to the rapidly developing Nuwara Eliya district.
While noting that living standards of people in the estates have gone up due to the expansion of the Nuwara Eliya hospital and the town development programme, the President added that a special programme is being implemented to eradicate malnutrition in the district and requested the cooperation of the people to further develop the Nuwara Eliya town.
Minister of Live Stock and Rural Community Development, Arumugam Thondaman, Private Transport Services Minister, C.B Ratnayake, Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Muthu Sivalingam and Parliamentarian, P. Radhakrishnan participated in the discussion.
The President took a walking tour through the city this morning and inspected the damage caused by felling the large trees that adorned the town for timber. He issued orders to put an end to the long standing timber racket by a former mayor of the opposition party.
During is walk the President met a group of school boys and spent some time chatting with them. He also met the people of Nuwara Eliya and engaged in a cordial conversation.
President's Chief of staff, Gamini Senarath and Public Transport Minister, C.B. Ratnayake also participated on the occasion.
LTTE Brainwashing of Children CONTINUES ABROAD.
To what PURPOSE?
Future CANNON FODDER for REVIVING the EELAMIST conflict in Sri Lanka?
PARENTS, if you love YOUR children, do not allow their BRAINS TO BE POISONED by HATE. That is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY!
It will only DESTROY them.
That is the PRINCIPAL LESSON of the Tamil Experience in Sri Lanka.
............
LTTE front organizations run private schools in Netherlands
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Oct 04, Colombo: Front organizations of the defeated Tamil Tiger terrorist movement Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are running private Saturday schools in the Netherlands, Radio Netherlands reported citing a recent report by the Dutch national police.
During the weekend classes of 21 schools across the country Tamil children are taught the Tamil language as well as dance and acting, the police report has revealed.
The schools are located in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Den Haag, Breda, Eindhoven, Arnhem and Leeuwarden.
According to the police report these schools use teaching materials that glorify the heroism of the Tamil people and the LTTE's struggle for an independent homeland in Sri Lanka.
The police report further says that these front organizations run similar schools in other European countries as well. However, not all Tamil schools in Europe teach LTTE doctrines, the report further noted.
Bravo, Mr. Defence Secretary, Gothabhaya Rajapaksa!
This is an idea that I have often advocated at this blog.
Sri Lankan cities need GREEN AREAS and neighborhood Mini-Parks.
Every city block should have a Mini-Park ... where commercial activity and advertisements of every kind are STRICTLY PROHIBITED.
Let us build and maintain clean and healthy cities for the Sri Lankan people to live in and enjoy.
Let Sri Lanka become the Resplendent GREEN Isle that it was born to be!
...............
Green areas to be established in Sri Lanka capital
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Oct 04, Colombo: Sri Lanka Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa who spearheads the plans to develop the capital city under the Urban Development Authority that is in his direct purview revealed the plans to name certain sections of the city as green areas.
Constructions of buildings will be banned in these areas, the Defense Secretary said addressing a function held yesterday in Colombo to mark the World Habitat Day. The areas are expected to give priority to natural environment to make the life of the city dwellers decent and healthy.
Defense Secretary Rajapaksa further said that a new bill is being drafted in this regard and it will be brought into the parliament soon.
Sri Lanka government has accelerated its plans for improving the infrastructure and beautifying the capital city.
The JVP continues to display its VIOLENT roots.
ARREST all who break the LAW, and let them expend their energy BREAKING ROCKS in PRISON!
............
Sri Lanka Marxist party office attacked
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Oct 04, Colombo: Offices of Sri Lanka's Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) located in areas out of Colombo have come under attack following the split in the JVP, party sources said.
The JVP office in Matale had been attacked by a group of about 20 persons who had arrived in a double cab. The windows of the office had been broken and a motorbike parked outside the office had also been damaged.
A complaint has been lodged with the Matale Police, sources said.
Two factions in the JVP are currently engaged in a power struggle trying to wrest control of the party machinery.
The dissidents group led by elusive JVP senior Premakumar Gunarathnam is trying to take control of the party headquarters in Pelawatte and the party affiliated organizations and media institution.
Meanwhile, the group led by party leader Somawansa Amarasinghe is trying to secure its power base within the party.
Bloggers,
A new article on the opening of the Magampura Administrative center has been posted.
Please shift over to it.
Thanks.
http://www.divaina.com/2011/10/14/news06.html
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