By Eddie Walsh
The-Diplomat.com
November 14, 2011
Over the next few months, The Diplomat is running a series of interviews with Washington DC-based ambassadors on defense, diplomacy, and trade in the Asia-Pacific region. In the third in the series, conducted by Washington correspondent Eddie Walsh, Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka discusses his country’s re-emergence as a regional actor following more than two decades of civil war.
How has the current government advanced the national security interests of Sri Lankans since it assumed power?
In 2005, when President Rajapaksa came into power, the first thing that he wanted to do was to take care of national security. We had been losing a lot of people, including a president, a foreign minister, a presidential candidate, a prime minister of a neighboring country, and innocent civilians by suicide bombers, bus bombs, etc.
We thought the best thing to do to solve national security was to have discussions with the people who were making national security a problem. But that didn’t work. We studied what they were doing for the sake of the peace accord. The peace accord was signed and there were a lot of positive things happening at that time. But what the terrorist group was doing was buying time to re-group, re-arm, and re-train to attack.
We realized that after making so many mistakes for so many years that we needed to organize our security forces very well. We then decided to take military action against the terrorist group (The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam). It was very successful in the eastern province. In a couple of months, we managed to take the civilians away from this terrorist group and develop this province.
The terrorists then decided to move to the northern province. They took civilians with them as a human shield. That was the difficulty that we had, so the military operation was converted into a humanitarian operation. Our main task was then to rescue these civilians. Finally, after 18 months, we managed to rescue over 300,000 civilians, corner the terrorists, and get rid of them. There also were nearly 12,000 terrorists who surrendered to the army. We have now rehabilitated and reintegrated most of them into society.
Afterwards, the main task became to clear the 1.5 million mines left behind. With the help of the international community, including the United States, Japan, and India, we removed many of them. We estimate 60 percent have been cleared and we are progressing well.
One of the things that isn’t well understood is what the national security objectives of Sri Lanka are post-civil war. Could you elaborate on what your country’s national security objectives are now that the military conflict has ended?
Our main task is to make sure that this terrorist organization won’t come back again. Soon after defeating the terrorist group, our number one goal was to remove the landmines and resettle the people. The next issue was to rehabilitate and release the combatants to society, which has been done.
Now, we have to develop the area, which was neglected and destroyed by the terrorists for the last 26 years, and achieve reconciliation. We believe the first step toward reconciliation is to give the people a house, a livelihood, a school, and a hospital. It’s to give them infrastructure and economic development, which is happening right now.
Simultaneously, the challenge is to get the northern and eastern provinces involved in the political process. Very soon after the conflict ended, the government made sure to have the presidential election and general election in the whole country. Recently, we even had the local elections throughout the entire country.
We are one of the oldest democracies in Asia. We never had a military government. We therefore are very concerned about having elections. The LTTE would kill people coming to elections, including Tamils. For the first time, civilians are free to elect their own people to the parliament without any influence.
How does Sri Lanka’s pursuit of its core national security issues impact your relations with other countries?
Our priority is the security and welfare of the people of Sri Lanka. As with any country in the world, we are concerned about our own security. We want to work with any country in this world for international security. We are non-aligned and a small country. We believe that we don’t have a single enemy because we can’t afford to have any enemies as a tiny island. We will continue with our non-aligned policy of having no enemies.
But we are strategically located in the center of the Indian Ocean. We know about the importance of maritime security and work closely with the U.S. Pacific Command. Although we have eliminated terrorism and have strong border protection, 75 percent of the terrorist groups currently operate from outside of Sri Lanka.
In addition to internal security, we therefore discuss transnational threats, including maritime security and terrorist fundraising and propaganda. We work very closely with authorities in other countries on these issues. This can be helpful not only to Sri Lanka, but to the whole world.
There are pro-LTTE diaspora living in the United States who are still active but under different names. We are concerned about this and sharing information with authorities here on it.
Is it fair to say that Sri Lanka sees an opportunity to play a leadership role in the international community on maritime security and counter-terrorism?
Yes. The Galle Dialogue is an exchange we are hosting in Colombo next week to discuss maritime security. This dialogue will have many countries in the region, including the United States. The Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean are very important for international security. We are taking a leading role there.
We also are willing to share our experiences in fighting terrorism. For example, the suicide jacket was a LTTE idea. It was the world’s first. They also designed the suicide Sea Tigers boat, which the Navy couldn’t see coming because it was right on the water line. The LTTE even had two Cessna planes, which weren’t seen by radar. We can share our experience of how we fought against this ruthless organization. This is very valuable for the international community. Just recently, the U.S. Navy and Sri Lanka have been sharing information and conducting training on the suicide boats because of what happened to the USS Cole.
I want to raise a specific point here. It’s very hard even for governments to be able to buy weapons. It’s a huge process, but this organization had weapons equal to the Sri Lankan army. They raised money illegally, bought weapons illegally, and transported them out of other countries illegally, brought them through international waters illegally, and smuggled them into Sri Lanka illegally. Although Sri Lanka is now protected, it must still be happening with other terrorist groups, such as al-Qaeda and Hamas, abroad. Terrorists are terrorists and they have these methods to be able to go under different names and do these illegal things. So we have to work with the international community to share information for the sake of international security.
The possibility of developing a formal regional security architecture is a major topic in Northeast Asia. Unfortunately, there isn’t much of a security architecture currently in place in South Asia, nor is there widespread discussion on the possibility of promoting one. As a middle power in the region, does there need to be a reform of the security architecture in South Asia and does it need to be more multilateral? What can you uniquely contribute to a formal regional security architecture if it was developed?
I think so. We should get together and have a broad understanding about security in South Asia. We are very open and want to work with anybody. But sometimes, big countries don’t think in the same manner. We are a 100 percent honest and transparent when it comes to security and we need to share and work together for security in the region.
Although we are a small country, we can contribute a lot. People need to work with us very closely to take our experiences, particularly with terrorism. There should be more dialogue with our security forces and more exchanges and training with our army, air force, and navy. But, if people say this is a country which has human rights concerns and we don’t want to have dealings with them, then a lot of people are going to lose.
There’s a concern that as China and India rise, that there could be increased conflict in Asia as they compete for power and influence with entrenched powers, such as the United States. What is your perception of this narrative and how does it affect your ability to remain non-aligned?
It’s an ideal situation for Sri Lanka that China and India are growing. We have an excellent relationship with both India and China. As a small country, this is an advantage. We are already getting the fruits out of being their neighbor. Because we haven’t signed agreements, we aren’t concerned. For example, the Sri Lankan port built by the Chinese is owned by Sri Lanka and there are no contracts given to China. Non-aligned is a good word for us.
Is potential regional conflict between China and India (or the United States) your biggest traditional security concern?
I can’t comment on hypothetical questions. What you say is only a perception. I can say that Sri Lanka enjoys the most cordial relations with India, China and the United States. The golden thread that runs through our foreign policy is being non-aligned and friends with all. There may be areas of disagreement, but there is none that can’t be resolved by dialogue. Diplomacy isn’t a zero sum game of cultivating one or one set of friends at the expense of another.
From Sri Lanka’s perspective, what are the most serious global security threats to international peace and stability (ex. WMD proliferation, cyber security, etc.)?
I feel the number one threat is cyber security. Cyber security is an area where we are having a continuing dialogue with other countries, including the United States. Second is front organizations that operate under cover to support terrorism. It’s also important to reflect on food security and energy security.
Having been the victim of the Indian Ocean tsunami and a major stakeholder in regional counter-piracy, Sri Lankan national security must prioritize non-traditional security issues. Can you elaborate on which NTS issues are the most serious for Sri Lanka’s national security? Do you think there’s an opportunity for more regional cooperation on these issues, or is the interest in multilateral cooperation on NTS issues starting to wane in South Asia?
We have always been conscious of non-traditional security issues. That’s why we recently set up a Coast Guard and strengthened our Navy. We co-operate with our immediate neighbor India on this issue. In the coming weeks, we’ll have the Galle Dialogue for a second year in succession. That will address maritime security issues. Helping to counter piracy will be one of our main contributions to addressing non-traditional security issues. It would also help more concretely in countering the ill-effects of the drugs and narcotics trade.
Sri Lanka sits at the intersection of West Asia and Southeast Asia, and obviously that has strategic implications. As you look ahead, is there a willingness to play an increased strategic role outside of South Asia, particularly in West and Southeast Asia?
We’ve always been seen as a South Asian country. But, that doesn’t mean we don’t want to look beyond the region. We trade with all countries around the world. We already have an FTA with India and Pakistan and we are looking to going beyond those. Our focus, though, is on trade and economic development.
What is Sri Lanka’s perception of Japan’s role in Asia, including the possibility that it may re-emerge as a military power?
We consider Japan as a very good and true friend. Statements given by the current and previous Japanese leadership show that they always believe that Sri Lanka’s problems should be supported from the outside, but that Sri Lanka needs its own homegrown solutions for its own challenges. They think whatever support they can give they should, but that they shouldn’t interfere. I think that’s Japan’s policy in many countries. We welcome this policy of non-alignment in foreign affairs.
Prior to President Barack Obama’s visit to Australia this month, there are reports that there has been an agreement on the upgrading of runway facilities on either Cocos or Christmas Island off Australia’s north-west to serve as a conduit for future U.S. and Australian military operations in the Indian Ocean. Do you welcome increased Western naval and air capabilities in the region?
The Galle Dialogue will discuss these important issues. The main idea is to discuss maritime security in our region. We work closely with the Pacific Command already. If anybody is doing something for the security of the region, we always support it because we know the danger of terrorism.
The recently concluded Commonwealth summit was heralded a success even though it failed to reach agreement on key human rights reforms. This has led others to the question of whether the Commonwealth remains relevant in the 21st century. From the perspective of Sri Lanka, is the Commonwealth still relevant, and what needs to be done to make sure it remains relevant for the next couple of decades?
We believe in the Commonwealth. In 2013, they are going to have the heads of government meeting in Sri Lanka. We also are bidding for the Commonwealth Games with Australia. So, we are working very closely with Commonwealth countries and feel they should be more active.
One of the challenges with economic growth for countries that have gone through periods of extreme social change coupled with high growth rates is that such states can become growth dependent once the population regards sustaining economic growth as central for government legitimacy. Obviously, this is a less serious concern for democracies than authoritarian regimes, but it nevertheless presents challenges. How is Sri Lanka leveraging today’s economic growth to ensure a long-term economic development and prosperity once the growth rates begin to plateau?
The last five years, we have been experiencing high growth. It’s not just post-conflict. Last year, it was 8.2 percent. In the northern province, it was 22 percent. This is growth by agriculture and tourism, which will benefit the people directly.
Before the conflict started, we had fish production of 40 percent in the northern province. It dropped down to 5 percent during the conflict. By going back to the 40 percent, it doesn’t mean that the growth is going to create imbalance – it’s going back to what it was before.
We need to have huge growth over the next five years, which will bring up the per capita income of the people. The last three years, it has doubled. We are expecting that it should double again in the next four years. So, if you balance out all of these things, we can manage it.
Right now, we feel that we need to take advantage of the growth. For example, tourism increased by 50 percent last year, and it will go up 50 percent this year. The way it’s going, the next four years we’ll have 2.9 million tourists coming into the country, but we have only 15,000 rooms. We need 50,000 rooms to accommodate 2.9 million tourists. So, I’m encouraging hotel chains, like Marriot and Starwood to go to Sri Lanka. When they go there, and the people get jobs, it will balance out the growth.
At some time, it will settle down. But, for now, we need growth. We need to worry about that for the moment.
As Sri Lanka looks to generate higher value-added economic development, which high-tech sectors will the government seek to make strategic investment in over the next ten years?
Science and Technology development is a priority for Sri Lanka, and there are a number of initiatives aimed at developing IT infrastructure and the human resources to support it. Today, Sri Lanka draws nearly $500 million from the IT/business processing outsourcing sector. Sri Lanka is emerging as a global IT- destination of choice. It’s ranked among the top 50 global outsourcing destinations by AT Kearney, and Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo, is ranked among the top 20 emerging cities by Global Services Magazine. Sri Lanka’s advantage comes from the availability of a highly-skilled labor pool at an affordable price. National level competency development programs focus on building Sri Lanka as a “Center of Excellence” for domains.
Sri Lanka is a country of abundant cultural resources. However, there has been little focus on public diplomacy and cultural exchange at the strategic level. Do you see this changing in the future? If so, where will the government first make such investments abroad?
Cultural exchanges take place periodically at the regional level. You are absolutely right. Sri Lanka has a rich heritage of cultural resources. We have specific arrangements with countries in the South Asian region who are members of the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation. We’ll naturally extend this to other countries. There are cultural events from other countries including the United States held in Colombo. We will increasingly focus on public diplomacy and cultural exchanges. It also relates to smart power and soft power.
Sri Lanka remains a major force in international cricket. However, like Fiji in rugby, some experts question whether the Sri Lankan government has properly exploited the team’s brand to generate increased awareness and influence of the country abroad. Do you think this is fair criticism, and what more can be done to invest in the Sri Lankan brand through sports diplomacy?
I don’t think that criticism is fair. We are well known for our cricket. We won the World Cup and our players are recognized the world over. If you look closely, in cricket playing countries our brand name is exploited to the advantage of their own promotions. What better exposure for us than this? We will continue to be focused and serious about investing in cricket and sports diplomacy.
50 comments:
Sri Lanka forum focuses on maritime security in Indian Ocean
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Nov 14, Galle: The lack of a coordinated international effort to uphold maritime security not only affects oceangoing vessels, but also the national security of coastal nations, and therefore cooperation among countries with interests in the Indian Ocean is essential to effectively fight piracy and trafficking of humans and narcotics, a Sri Lanka defence official said today.
Delivering the keynote address at the Galle Dialogue 2011, Sri Lanka's International Maritime Security Conference, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said the Indian Ocean's importance in the global context is very great and the stability and maritime security of Indian Ocean is vulnerable to external threat.
The two-day international conference is held at the Lighthouse Hotel, Galle for the second consecutive year by the Sri Lanka Navy under the aegis of Ministry of Defence. This year's theme is "Challenges and Strategic Cooperation for Indian Ocean Maritime Concerns".
Speaking of the threat from Somali pirates to the merchant ships sailing in the region, Rajapaksa said existing international maritime laws and practices have proven ineffective in combatting the activities of the Somali pirates and the multilateral efforts undertaken through International Task Forces to contain Somali piracy are, though laudable, not enough.
Somali piracy is one of the maritime security threats in the Indian Ocean, he said pointing out that Sri Lanka's own terrorist group LTTE smuggled in a formidable arsenal of weapons through the sea and coastal nations are at greater risk of terrorist exploitations.
He said the best solution to combat such threats is the greater cooperation between the maritime powers.
"Combating this problem requires greater information sharing, better screening practices and better coordination among nations," he noted in his speech.
The Defence Secretary called for maritime powers to cooperate by sharing intelligence, and enhance maritime domain awareness through joint and coordinated patrols as well as exercises to enhance interoperability.
Providing assistance to improve the resources and capabilities of less advanced naval powers will also enhance overall maritime security, he added.
The conference with participation of local and foreign defence experts from over 20 countries will continue tomorrow.
A Proceedings volume of the Galle Maritime Dialogue 2011 should be made available in hard copy and online.
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‘Galle Dialogue - SL’s offering to the world on defeating terror’
DailyNews.lk
November 15, 2011
Navy Commander Vice Admiral Somathilake Dissanayake making the welcome speech at the second Galle Dialogue 2011 yesterday said that this initiative was what we offered as a nation to the world after defeating three decades of brutal terrorism. The Navy Commander said we adopted the strategies and policies in defeating the asymmetric maritime threat and the changing global environment contributed to this effort.
Full text of the speech:
“I extend a warm welcome to all of you for the second Galle Dialogue Maritime Security Conference, hosted by the Sri Lanka Navy. Most of you travelled long distances to be here recognizing the importance of our effort. Your presence here is an inspiration for a very healthy progress of this unique Maritime Conference.
“The ‘Galle Dialogue’, inaugurated in August 2010, is a brainchild of the Secretary, Ministry of Defence and Urban Development Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.
Navy Commander Vice Admiral Somathilake Dissanayake
Today in 2011, we have gathered in Galle, to keep the initiative alive and beneficial. I consider it a privilege to welcome the eminent gathering. Welcome to Sri Lanka - the Pearl of the Indian Ocean.
“The rich culture in my country is that visitors are received with respect, looked after well in keeping with our customs and traditions and sent back with nostalgic memories.
The success of our hospitality is measured by the satisfaction derived by the visitors during their stay. I am sure, at the end of this conference, you will be looking forward to come back in 2012.
“The Galle Dialogue 2010 initiative was what we offered as a nation, to the world after defeating three decades of brutal terrorism. The lessons we learnt in a hard way, the strategies and policies we adopted in defeating the asymmetric maritime threat we faced, and the changing global environment, contributed to this effort.
“Over 20 foreign delegates from 10 countries participated in the inaugural Dialogue in 2010, with as many as 150 local participants, covering Defence establishments to Universities, Government agencies and Private Partnerships. They all had a common interest, a shared interest to make seas safer for the mankind. They cherished the opportunities provided to learn from others, share knowledge and have a forum to deliberate on maritime issues.
“Galle is a city with a rich maritime heritage where seafarers from far East and far West, interacted many centuries ago, where the sea-borne ‘silk route’ brought cultures, people and trade together. Let me remind you that the seas were safer and uncomplicated at that time. It is this maritime heritage of ours’, we want to revitalize by bringing all maritime nations together for a common cause, where all meet and discuss irrespective of individual ideologies.
“The theme for Galle Dialogue 2010 was ‘Charting the course for sustainable maritime cooperation’, and the course was plotted to rendezvous again in 2011 for this year’s theme, ‘Challenges and Strategic Cooperation for Indian Ocean Maritime Concerns’.
“This year we are having 10 papers presented to an audience of 38 foreign delegates from 18 countries and 130 local delegates.
“I am sure those foreign delegates who took part in 2010, will see the differences in this year’s proceedings, just as you have seen how Colombo has transformed to become a more beautiful and a glamorous city. Similarly, unprecedented development has taken place in the North and the East but unfortunately due to time constraints, we are unable to take you there.
‘Galle Dialogue - SL’s offering to the world on defeating terror’
..........continued............
“The most significant achievement is the change we have made in the hearts and minds of Sri Lankans, not only in the South but also in the North and East. Today, all Sri Lankans share joy, happiness and contentment and eagerly looking forward for a better and bright future.
“Since we last met, there had been many significant changes in the maritime domain. The changing dynamics have generated new challenges; both traditional and non-traditional. Last year, during the deliberations, collaborative maritime security was identified as a crucial requirement as no coastal nation could single handedly cater for countering maritime threats in the region. “The availability and flow of instant information, perhaps in a very convincing state may not always reflect the true ground picture which may even reach the global arena. This is why we need a forum, an environment to sit and take account of the issues, listen to others and most importantly to understand the crux of the problems, and collectively derive solutions and policies to counter the common threats.
“Imagine of a situation where we do not have forums to sit, listen, debate and share our concerns or we do not provide an environment for that effect.
“Are these maritime issues immune from developments over land? Are they fully independent of geo-political concerns on land? And in this context, what and how are these challenges to be addressed?. Is it by strategic cooperation or is there any other means? What are the solutions to the threats that are alive in the Indian Ocean?
“I am sure this dialogue will enrich all of us gathered here today on these issues through the proceedings of the next two days. Hence, I request, the audience, to actively take part in the proceedings for our own benefit, and for the sole purpose of having safer seas to all.
“As per the instructions of the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development, our quest is to keep this maritime conference an annual event with gradual expansion of participation to all regional countries and extra-regional countries. Our aim is to adopt the very approach our forefathers took many centuries back, where this island nation was the meeting place for the Romans, Arabs, Chinese and our immediate neighbour India, just as the earliest European seafarers mapped this island in their charts, as an inevitable maritime stop-over.
“May I on behalf of the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development request our foreign friends to map the Galle Dialogue in your respective annual ‘charts’; to make a stop-over every year to trade knowledge, ideas and experience, towards enhancing our cooperation and achieving our aim.”
The Wages of Sin to be Paid to Sarath Gonseka.
Unlimited Ambition, Pride and Ingratitude ... Thou art the Destroyers of Men!
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Verdict on white flag case against Sri Lanka's former Army Commander on Friday
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Nov 15, Colombo: The Colombo High Court of Sri Lanka is to deliver the verdict on the controversial "White Flag" case against former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka on Friday (18).
Meanwhile the court has postponed hearing of another case against Fonseka for next year.
The Court has postponed the case, filed against Fonseka and his aide Senaka de Silva for allegedly conspiring against the government and harboring army deserters, for January 23rd.
Fonseka and de Silva were indicted last year for harboring army deserters and conspiring to topple the government.
The case was the first to be filed in a civil court against the former Army Commander after two courts martial against him.
The "White Flag" case involves an alleged comment made to a weekly national newspaper by Fonseka during last year's Presidential election campaign where he had said the Defence Secretary had ordered the shooting of LTTE leaders who were trying to surrender during the final stages of the war in 2009.
Lanka pushes for regional maritime security role
By Shamindra Ferdinando reporting from Galle
Island.lk
November 14, 2011
Now that Sri Lanka has eradicated the LTTE’s military capability, particularly its sea-going arm, Sea Tigers, the country can play a pivotal role in maritime security in the region, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa says.
Delivering the keynote address at the inauguration of two-day Galle Dialogue 2011 at Light House Hotel, Galle, Defence Secretary Rajapaksa said that India played a major role in the region as the regional power, while Sri Lanka, too, had a role to play. He discussed the ongoing efforts to bolster SLN strength as well as the formation of the SL Coast Guard as part of post-war strategy.
The Defence Secretary touched on several contentious issues including what he called as unregulated fishing and over exploitation of fishing resources in the region.
His comments came in the wake of continuing controversy over Tamil Nadu fishing fleet poaching in the Sri Lankan waters amidst protest from Jaffna fishermen.
Commenting on threats posed by Somali pirates, Defence Secretary Rajapaksa called for a cohesive strategy to neutralise them. The global community couldn’t afford to turn a blind eye to operations undertaken by pirates, the outspoken official said, asserting that existing measures weren’t adequate to meet the threat. He highlighted the economic cost of the failure on the part of the international community to tackle piracy.
Detailing action taken by the US etc to curb piracy, the Defence Secretary said that isolated action wouldn’t help achieve the desired results. The LTTE’s ability to procure arms, ammunition and equipment abroad and move them across international waters had pointed to the failure of those having the wherewithal to stop illegal ship movements, he said, warning that a similar situation could arise in any part of the world. He called for far reaching remedial measures.
Highlighting co-operation between Australia and Sri Lanka to curb human smuggling, the Defence Secretary said that following the conclusion of the conflict in May 2009, terrorists had reached the developed countries as economic refugees using ships once used by the LTTE to smuggle in arms, ammunition and equipment.
Sri Lanka plans $21 bln public investment through 2015
By Shihar Aneez
Reuters.com
Tue Nov 15, 2011 5:37pm IST
* Sri Lanka to keep public investment at 6 pct GDP
* China funds most infrastructure projects
* Foreign debt jumps 57.5 pct to $20.9 bln since '09
COLOMBO, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka has planned more than $21 billion in public investment through 2015, aiming to revive the island nation's infrastructure after the end of civil war in 2009, the central bank governor said on Tuesday.
Since the end of the war, Sri Lanka has allocated more than $6 billion to the development of ports, power plants, railways and highways, to meet needs neglected during the 25-year conflict and make the country more attractive for foreign investment.
"Our public investment programme is more than $21 billion over the next five years," Cabraal told Reuters. "It will be around 6.5 percent of our gross domestic product (GDP) each year. This will be spent towards all infrastructure."
Sri Lanka has planned to spend $3.75 billion for public investment this year, $4.43 billion next year and $5.05 billion in 2013, Cabraal said. The number will rise to $5.76 billion in 2014 and $6.53 billion in 2015.
The increased infrastructure spending has boosted banks' appetite to capture a piece of the post-war pie. India's Axis Bank last month opened its first branch in Sri Lanka, and said it would focus on loan syndication for infrastructure.
Total foreign debt has risen 57.5 percent to 2.3 trillion rupees ($20.9 billion) through August, since the war's end in May 2009.
Sri Lanka's total outstanding debt as of end-August 5.1 trillion Sri Lanka rupees ($46.3 billion). As a proportion of GDP, it came down to 82 percent in 2010 versus 86 percent in 2009.
Opposition parties say Rajapaksa's government is spending beyond the country's means and has pushed through the projects with minimal transparency, and awarded them to politically-connected firms and China. ($1 = 110.215 Sri Lanka Rupees) (Editing by Bryson Hull)
We needed a National Plan to coordinate and regulate all areas of Development and Growth with the objective of improving the quality of life of Sri Lankans in a sustainable way far into the future.
In formulating this plan, in addition to promoting economic growth, we should consider maintaining high levels of environmental quality and social equity, and the impacts of population increase and global scarcity of natural resources in the future.
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Sri Lanka launches a National Physical Plan to guide development
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Nov 15, Colombo: Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday (15) launched a National Physical Plan that will guide the country's development up to 2030.
The first National Physical Plan, to be launched after independence in 1948, will direct all physical development activities and provides the required guidelines for the development of the country.
The President has carefully considered the need for an operational plan to take the country forward and therefore the requirement of a National Physical Policy was identified, the government said.
According to the government, the plan aims to formulate National Physical Policies, Plans and Strategies and to ensure and monitor the implementation of such National Policies and Plans through regional and local plans with the objective of promoting and regulating integrated planning of economic, social, physical and environmental aspects of land and territorial waters of Sri Lanka.
The policy was prepared by the National Physical Planning Department of Sri Lanka in accordance with the provisions in terms of Section 03 of the Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act No.49 of 2000.
Making our Resplendent Isle Greener Still!
Jayawewa!
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Sri Lanka President launches campaign to plant 1.1 million trees
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Nov 15, Colombo: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa today launched the second stage of the Deyata Sevana national tree planting campaign a campaign to plant 1.1 million trees in the country.
The President at an auspicious time this morning planted a Na tree at the Botanical Garden in Battaramulla and launched the Campaign themed under "Haritha Ratak - Deyata Sethak".
Under the project a "Green Park" will be established adjacent to the Japanese Friendship Road near Diyawanna Oya in Battaramulla.
The first stage of the Deyata Sevana Tree Planting Programme commenced a year ago has planted 2.9 million trees island wide.
The government says it has recognized the significance of the continuation of the tree planting campaign island wide every year. However, the success of the implementation and continuation of the program will depend on the participation of the public, the government adds.
Minister of Environment, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, several other Cabinet Ministers, large number of school children and diplomats also attended the tree planting ceremony.
Construction of South Container Terminal of Colombo Port in Sri Lanka to commence next month
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Nov 15, Colombo: Construction of South Container Terminal of Colombo Port in Sri Lanka is set to begin on the 1st of December, Sri Lanka Ports Authority says.
Hong Kong-based China Merchants Holdings (CMHI) and Sri Lankan conglomerate Aitken Spence entered into a non-binding agreement with the Sri Lanka Port Authority in September to design, construct, develop, manage, operate, and transfer the South Container Terminal at the Port of Colombo, with an additional capacity of 2.4 million TEUs. The port now handles 4.5 million TEU.
The terminal to be built comprises a total quay length of 1,200 m and a depo land area of 58 hectares, with water depth of -18m.
In the first phase of the project, 600 meters of the terminal will be completed by 2014 and the entire terminal will be completed by year 2016, SLPA sources say.
My Comment at the HarvardCrimson.com
CBK is the last one entitled to shed crocodile tears on how Sri Lanka's politics were mismanaged.
She is responsible for much of it.
For a brief period when negotiations with the LTTE came to nought, she decided to use the military option with her uncle Ratwatte leading the charge. What a fiasco it was ... lack of determination and the will to win, lack of a strong mind rooted in our history of fending off invasions, meager support for the Defence Forces scuttled the military option.
When she was personally attacked by a LTTE suicide bomber, this craven lady lost all heart for the fight, and espoused the "human rights" NGO agenda helping to demonize the victims of terror ... the Sinhala majority of Sri Lanka.
Now that the LTTE is eradicated from Sri Lanka, and the job has been done by PATRIOTS, she is again the darling of the West helping to engineer a REGIME CHANGE in Sri Lanka.
Is there no limit to this woman's shameless chutzpah?
India, and patriotic Tamil Nadu Indian should recognize that FISHING in the Palk Strait is being used by Tamil terrorists to cause FRICTION between India & Sri Lanka.
That is at the root of accusations of illegal cross-border fishing that both Sri Lankan & Indian security forces are trying to deal with.
Indeed, the rise of Tamil terrorists in Tamil Nadu should be a cause for security concerns in India.
However, wiping out the livilihood of bona-fide fishermen of both countries by a total ban on fishing sounds like cutting off one's nose to spite one's face!
Surely a less drastic and effective solution is available? Besides, banning fishing will not solve the problem of terrorists who are being harbored and coddled by Tamil Nadu politicians such as Chief Minister Jayalalitha.
Tackle the terrorists where they live ...in Tamil Nadu!
.............
Ban fishing in Palk Bay: Coast Guard
M Vandhana
ExpressBuzz.com
November 17, 2011
MADURAI: Warning of a potential 26/11-type attack by terrorists who could sneak in using seized Indian fishing vessels along the Palk Bay, the Indian Coast Guard on Wednesday recommended declaring the Indo-Sri Lanka International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) a No Fishing Zone (NFZ).
Making the drastic submission in an additional counter-affidavit filed before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, Inspector General V S R Murthy, Deputy Director General (Operations & Coastal Security), Coast Guard, said the NFZ would prevent illegal cross-border fishing. “The (TN) fishermen crossing IMBL may be potential target for non-State actors towards anti-national activities. Such forces may utilise...Indian fishing vessels for...attacks similar to...26/11,” he said.
On October 14, the court, hearing a PIL filed by advocate B Stalin seeking protection for Indian fishermen, passed an interim order directing the Coast Guard to deploy sufficient coast vessels under the supervision of senior Indian Navy officials. Seeking to vacate the interim order, the Coast Guard officer submitted that “no armed force vessels can cross into the territorial waters of another country for protection of their fishermen since it will be construed as intrusion into the sovereignty of that country.” It would violate Indo-Lankan treaties signed in 1974 and 1976.
If Jayalalitha thinks ordinary criminals and rowdies are a problem, she should wait until the Tamil Tiger terrorists she is supporting get into action making life hell for all Indian Tamils.
Has Jayalalitha forgotten the LTTE death threat she was hiding from during the SunGod's heyday in Sri Lanka?
Racist Hypocrite buying votes on the tilting deck of the Tamil Nadu ship of state!
She will wake up only when bombs begin going off in the streets, and a large segment of Tamil Nadu citizens have been radicalized into terrorist supporters.
..............
‘Take down hardcore criminals, rowdies’
ExpressBuzz.com
November 15, 2011
CHENNAI: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Monday drew the attention of police officers to the menace of hardcore criminals and rowdies, who were still at large and said, it should be tackled. Speaking at the Police Officers’ conference here, Jayalalithaa said danger to life and property was still a hydra-headed monster, which had to be put down. Incidents of elderly women being killed, children being kidnapped, etc., have to be tackled with an iron hand. Women-related offences have to be strictly reduced to nil, she said.
The CM said Chennai City was witnessing a large number of chain-snatching incidents, incidents of breaking into commercial establishments and other daring robberies. While this is one dimension of a problem in society arising out of unbridled greed, the police, nevertheless, have the duty of preventing such acts by constant vigil and effective policing, she said.
“On my part, I will spare no effort to create a modern, effective and efficient police force. I expect discipline, adherence to law and dedication to duty on your part”, the CM said.
Jayalalithaa said at present, complainants, particularly women, who were victims of crimes, were not provided seats and were made to stand in the police stations. To avoid this, all the 1,492 police stations in the State would be provided with 10 PVC chairs each at a cost of about `1 crore. “My government will be the first in the country to take this initiative of providing chairs to people who visit police stations,” she added.
She congratulated the police personnel for their splendid response to complaints of land grabbing and for restoring peace in many homes. While processing the land grab cases, the police should also examine whether cases involving forgery, impersonation or acquisition of title through false documents could be referred to the Registration Department for cancellation and bogus title.
As a measure of crime control, it is felt that CCTV units should be installed in all commercial establishments and places where large gatherings congregate. The CM said installation of CCTVs would be made mandatory as a condition of licence under relevant provisions of municipal and panchayat rules.
...............
Jayalalithaa pressures PM again to act on Lanka
ExpressBuzz.com
November 17, 2011
CHENNAI: Stating that the apparent inaction of the Centre on the continued attacks on fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy has caused a feeling of insecurity among Tamil Nadu fishermen, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Wednesday asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take urgent action to stop attacks on them.
“I strongly feel that...India should assert itself with the Lankan government to control the rogue elements in their Navy who continue to indulge in acts of physical assault on our innocent fishermen who, for several generations, are engaged in fishing solely for their livelihood in the Palk Bay area,” Jayalalithaa said in a strongly-worded letter to Singh.
Jayalalithaa pressures PM again to act on Lanka
.....continued.....
Expressing a deep sense of agony over the recurring attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen, she said, “Despite my letters to you and despite your taking up the issue with the Government of Sri Lanka and their...assurances in this regard, the attacks...continue unabated and the situation is worsening day-by-day.”
Referring to her earlier letters to the PM on June 7 and 21, October 10 and November 7 in which she had high lighted apprehension as well as attacks on and harassment of the fishermen of Tamil Nadu by the Lankan Navy, which had caused great unrest among the people, the CM requested Singh to treat the attacks as attacks on India.
Frederica Jansz flees abroad for dear life ahead of verdict on Gonseka's "White Flag" case.
The Wages of Sin are LOOMING!
Another 10 years breaking rocks?
...........
Verdict of Sri Lanka's white flag case tomorrow; main witness leaves country
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Nov 17, Colombo: The Colombo High Court of Sri Lanka is to deliver the verdict on the ill famous "White Flag" case against former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka tomorrow (18).
The Colombo High Court trial-at-bar comprising judges Deepali Wijesundera, W.M.P.B. Warawewa and M. Zurfick Razeen will deliver the verdict.
In the "White Flag" case, former Army chief Sarath Fonseka is accused of telling the English weekend 'Sunday Leader' newspaper that Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa had ordered to shoot the surrendering Tamil Tiger cadres during the final stages of the war.
Meanwhile, latest media reports from Colombo said Ms. Frederica Jansz, the main witness and the journalist who interviewed Sarath Fonseka, has left the country just ahead of the delivery of the verdict.
The Sunday Leader Managing Director Lal Wickramathunga has reportedly accompanied her.
The Police meanwhile have increased security ahead of the delivery of the verdict and placed additional barricades around the court complex in Hulftsdorp, Colombo, media reports said.
Are these ALLEGATIONS ever investigated in depth to PROVE that the SL Navy is at fault?
1. Did the event really take place, or is it a lie by the "fishermen" collaborating with Tamil Eelamists? Investigate the fishermen's bona fide's.
2. If a group of armed men did attack the fishermen, who were the armed men? Where is the PROOF they were SL Navy personnel? Did they originate in Tamil Nadu or Sri Lanka?
A much better system of 24x7 surveillance needs to be instituted by both Navies ... because these are clearly a concerted plot to cause FRICTION between the two countries.
Who would benefit? ONLY Racist Tamil Eelamist terrorists.
They seem to be well-funded. Trace the source of these FUNDS and you will find the LTTE global network at the root of it!
..............
Lankan Navy attacks TN fishermen again
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Nov 17 (NT) Just one day after a mid-sea attack which made Tamilnadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to promptly urge the Centre to 'assert itself' to Sri Lankan government, the island's navy personnel were at it again Wednesday night.
According to reports reaching here, fishermen from Rameswaram who ventured into sea yesterday faced deadly attack from Sri Lankan Navy personnel.
The Navymen allegedly assaulted the Indian fishermen throughout the night with wooden logs and stones, and the attack ended only this morning.
Two fishermen who were severely injured in the attack have been hospitalised, sources said.
Only in the wee hours of Tuesday Lankan navy personnel attacked fishermen from Tamilnadu and inflicted bleeding injuries on them before taking away their catch.
In the attack, an Indian fisherman sustained serious head injuries and several boats were also damaged, according to reports.
On Monday, fishermen from Rameswaram had been to the waters when they were near Dhanushkodi and Katchatheevu, The Lankan Navy personnel, in 16 mechanised boats, reportedly abused fishermen and started attacking them ruthlessly.
Religious Fundamentalists are IN DEED running AMOK in Sri Lanka, EXPLOITING poverty and greed to harvest souls.
BAN ALL RELIGIOUS MISSIONARIES from ENTERING Sri Lanka.
Religious freedom does not EQUATE TO FREEDOM FOR FOREIGN MISSIONARIES to ply their trade collecting souls for pieces of gold.
KICK THEM OUT OF Sri Lanka as Japan did in its feudal past.
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Buddhist prelate accuses some NGOs in Sri Lanka of working with religious fundamentalists
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Nov 17, Colombo: A leading Buddhist monk in Sri Lanka says that certain non-government organizations (NGOs) acted against the traditional Buddhist and Catholic religions in the country.
Chief Incumbent of the Naga Vihara in Kotte, Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero has said that some NGOs were engaged in a money making ploy together with religious fundamentalist groups.
Speaking during a meeting at the Organization for Professional Associations (OPA), the Thero has said it was therefore important to have a regulator to look into such issues.
Meanwhile, coalition partner of the governing United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA), the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) has called for the introduction of the controversial legislation on anti-conversions.
The legislation came under fire on several occasions and the JHU is now once again making a bid for its passage in the parliament.
GREAT! Give the UN a few ASSIGNMENTS OF REAL VALUE to GLOBAL SECURITY to keep them from wasting everybody's time and money on FAKE war crimes charges against legitimate governments who eradicate terrorists!
GET BUSY, UN ... we expect RESULTS SOON!
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UN agency promises probe into LTTE maritime ops
by Shamindra Ferdinando
Island.lk
November 16, 2011
The Sri Lanka Navy on Tuesday (15) urged the UN agency, International Maritime Organisation (IMO), to investigate how the LTTE had operated a fleet of ships in spite of being a proscribed organisation.
Rear Admiral J. S. K. Colombage raised the issue with Ms. Brenda Pimental, IMO’s Regional Coordinator, at the Galle Dialogue 2011, at the Light House Hotel, Galle. The SLN veteran pushed the IMO for a cohesive inquiry to identify shortcomings in the system and adopt remedial action.
Colombage said that the illegitimate LTTE operation could be a case study for the UN agency. The official was responding to Ms. Pimentel, after she presented a 30-minute paper on ‘Current Challenges in Global Maritime and IMO initiatives’ on the second-day of the confab attended by 19 countries, including nuclear powers, US, Russia, China, France, India and Pakistan.
Although the government of Sri Lanka had acted swiftly and decisively when asked to implement the International Ship and Port Facility Code (ISPS Code), Sri Lanka’s plea for action against the LTTE wasn’t heeded.
The ISPS Code is a comprehensive set of measures to enhance the security of ships and port facilities developed in response to perceived threats to ships and port facilities, in the wake of Al Qaeda attacks on the US.
"The LTTE shipping fleet flouted all international laws. It operated with impunity in spite of a range of laws governing international shipping operations," Colombage said.
An agitated Ms. Pimentel requested the SLN to make representations to the London-based IMO promising to take up the issue. The IMO, formerly known as the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation (IMCO), was established in Geneva in 1948 and came into operation 10 years later. Ms. Pimentel said that the IMO would be meeting again in London next week.
Rear Admiral Dato Musa bin Omar, Assistant Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations, Royal Malaysian Navy, seated next to Ms Pimentel, assured Colombage that Malaysia would throw its weight behind its request. Omar asserted that a joint appeal by several countries would make a difference at the IMO.
UN agency promises probe into LTTE maritime ops
......continued.....
In August 2009, Malaysia facilitated the arrest and extradition of Kumaran Pathmanathan alias ‘KP’, who had played a pivotal role in LTTE ‘shipping operations’ since early ‘90s.
Captain Kalana Jinadasa, currently based in the Northern Command, queried whether the IMO could take punitive action against those countries, which provided flags of convenience to LTTE ships. Capt. Kalana suggested that those countries should be accountable for co-operating with the LTTE.
Ms. Pimentel said the IMO couldn’t move against countries. "We don’t have the power to enforce rules and regulations. The responsibility of taking action against those undermining the system rests with the countries," she said.
During the then SLN Chief Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri’s tenure at the helm, Sri Lanka raised the issue of the LTTE operating ships under various foreign flags, intelligence sources said. Responding to a query, an official said that Sri Lanka called for tangible action on the part of the UN agency after the SLN trapped two LTTE ships off Mullaitivu flying ‘flags of convenience’ during the Norwegian-arranged Ceasefire Agreement (CFA).
Rear Admiral Colombage told ‘The Island’ that the LTTE wouldn’t have survived for so long, had the global community heeded Sri Lanka’s appeal to put the LTTE fleet out of action at an early stage. According to him, the LTTE still maybe operating ships with the convenience of those involved in the industry, over two years after the demise of its conventional military capability. The LTTE collapsed on the banks of the Nanthikadal lagoon on May 19, 2009.
Well, well folks ... HERE IT IS ... THE TRUTH AT LAST!
FAKE ALLEGATIONS against SL Nany by FAKE FISHERMEN!
This is an ORGANIZED OPERATION ORCHESTRATED by the Tamil Eelamist Terrorist Network!
................
Indian Coast Guard says fishermen 'sensationalizing' attacks by Sri Lankan Navy
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Nov 16, Madurai: While suggesting to establish a 'no fishing zone' along the Indo-Sri Lanka International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) to prevent skirmishes with Sri Lankan Navy, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has said that the fishermen had sensationalized alleged incidents, instead of seeking help from ICG or the Indian Navy.
In a counter-affidavit in the Madurai bench of Madras High Court Inspector General of ICG (Deputy Director General, Operations and Coastal Security) V.S.R. Murthy has suggested the 'no fishing zone' along the IMBL similar to the zone established by the state of Gujarat along five nautical miles on the Indo-Pakistan IMBL.
The official has suggested strict punitive measures for violators of the 'no fishing zone' to avoid illegal cross border fishing, PTI reported.
The ICG official has said that during enhanced patrolling by ICG, Sri Lankan Navy had reported numerous instances of a large number of Indian fishermen operating in Sri Lanka's waters and submitted statistics to show the intrusions.
He has said the ICG is investigating the alleged attacks on the Indian fishermen reported to ICG by the Tamil Nadu authorities. He alleged that fishermen had sensationalized alleged incidents, instead of seeking help from ICG or navy.
He has told the court that Sri Lankan newspapers had carried news of Indian fishermen destroying their fishing nets, resulting in retaliatory attacks by Lankan fishermen.
He has said that no Sri Lankan naval vessel had intruded into Indian territory as it would amount to contravene the legal treaties of years 1974 and 1976.
The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jeyalalithaa has written again to the Indian Prime Minister, for the fifth time, to take action to control the 'rogue elements' of the Sri Lankan Navy who attack the Indian fishermen.
The ICG official has also warned that Indian fishermen crossing the IMBL may be potential target for non-state actors towards anti-national activities as they could use Indian fishing vessels to carry out serial blasts, as in Mumbai.
The court has directed the Coast Guard to provide security to fishermen to fish in Indian territory without prejudice to the Kachchatheevu agreement.
Blow by Blow Retort To Channel 4: A candid and spirited response by Sri Lankan Ambassador in Germany
Questions to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister on her baseless allegations of Sri Lankan Navy attacks on fishermen
ONLY 3 Years?
ONLY 3 Years for betraying the nation to foreign powers on "war crimes" charges?
Not Enough PUNISHMENT for one who should know better!
A Uniformed Soldier, He FAILED TO DISCHARGE HIS DUTY TO PROTECT Sri Lanka!
Instead, he opened up the Motherland to FALSE war crimes allegations!
3 Years is NOT ENOUGH!
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Former Sri Lanka Army commander found guilty of 'White Flag' statement
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Sentenced to three years in prison
Nov 18, Colombo: The three-member trial-at-bar of the Colombo High Court that heard the controversial 'White Flag' case against the former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka, Friday (18) found him guilty of the charges and sentenced to 3 years in prison.
The Colombo High Court trial-at-bar comprising judges Deepali Wijesundera, W.M.P.B. Warawewa and M. Zurfick Razeen delivered the verdict.
The former Army Commander was accused of three counts including inciting violence, in an interview given to the English weekly Sunday Leader, alleging that Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa had ordered to shoot the Tamil Tiger cadres surrendering with white flags during the final stages of the war.
However, the verdict was divided 2 to 1 with judges Wijesundera and Razeen finding him guilty only of the first charge of inciting violence while Justice Warawewa found the former commander not guilty of all three charges. The trial lasted 16 months.
The judges have sentenced the former Army Chief to three years in prison and fined Rs.5,000.
The Police have increased security with hundreds of armed police guarding the complex ahead of the delivery of the verdict and placed additional barricades around the court complex in Hulftsdorp, Colombo.
Fonseka, who contested the presidential elections in January 2010 as the common opposition candidate, is currently serving a 30-month prison term imposed by a court martial last year after finding him guilty of four charges related to alleged irregularities in military procurements during his tenure as Army Chief.
Another court martial earlier delivered an order sentencing the former General for a dishonorable discharge from rank for engaging in politics while being in active service. The retired military chief was stripped of his ranks and medals he earned during his 40-year carrier.
Two New Offshore Patrol Vessels from India for the SL Navy
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Sri Lanka to acquire ships from India
By R. K. Radhakrishnan
November 1, 2011
Given its proximity to one of the busiest sea lanes in the world, Sri Lanka has embarked on a plan to expand its Navy with Indian support to tackle the twin challenges of piracy and narco-terrorism.
Emphasising this, Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, told senior Naval officers who gathered here for the Galle Dialogue that Sri Lanka had recently revamped and expanded its Coast Guard Department whilst further strengthening its vastly experienced Navy. He emphasised this at an interaction at Temple Trees, the official residence of the President here on Friday. He also used the opportunity to interact with children who had arrived there, and also had a few words of advice for them.
“If, with the assistance of friendly nations, Sri Lanka can obtain naval assets capable of operating in deep seas, our overall capabilities will be greatly increased. Considering also the warm relationships this country enjoys with the major naval powers in the region, I am certain that Sri Lanka will be able to play a greater role in upholding the maritime safety of the entire Indian Ocean region. This will be to the benefit not only of the regional nations, but to the world,” he said.
Elaborating on this, a senior Defence official said that Sri Lanka had approached India for acquiring two offshore patrol vessels and the process had been set in motion a few months ago. But the pace of forward movement on these has been slow since in India, all such deals have to go to the highest level – the Cabinet. Besides, finances too have to be tied up to ensure that the building of the vessels proceed without a hitch.
Describing the Galle Dialogue as a “great success,” the official pointed out that many countries such as China, Pakistan and the United States had sent senior officials to the conference because of the growing need to tackle the issue head-on. India had sent its Naval Operations in-charge, a Captain level officer.
The Defence Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa said "In the light of Norwegian admission of the involvement of its military in the CFA, the issue was whether a third party had access to SLA deployment plans on the northern theatre."
In other words, did Norway spy on the SLA for the benefit of the LTTE, while collaborating in hiding LTTE's own build up for waging the "final war"?
The Treachery of the Norwegian QUISLINGS is EXPOSED by their own REPORT!
No Nation should trust these VIPERS to help make peace ... EVER AGAIN!
................
Failed peace process: NATO, Norwegian military roles exposed
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Island.lk
November 17, 2011
Now that Oslo had admitted that the Norway-led Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) received intelligence from both the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), those running the peace process couldn’t have been unaware of LTTE’s preparations for war, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said yesterday.
He was commenting on the Norwegian peace evaluation report released in Oslo last Friday.
"In spite of foreign intelligence services confirming our own assessment regarding LTTE preparations for war, those spearheading the peace process turned a blind eye to the rapidly deteriorating situation," Rajapaksa said.
The Norwegian study quoted SLMM head as having said that RAW only reached them through informal channels, therefore they couldn’t be fully trusted.
"They weren’t giving it to us to be nice. We would always ask ourselves why they want us to know this. Intelligence provided by NATO only confirmed what they already knew," the SLMM Chief was quoted as having said.
However, the Oslo-funded study revealed that the Norwegians had high level meetings in New Delhi with RAW.
The Norwegian-led SLMM comprised men from Scandinavian countries.
The study also cited the SLMM as having alleged that Sri Lanka, the LTTE and India opposed the mission having radar surveillance.
Defence Secretary Rajapaksa said that the Norwegian report only proved the failures on the part of those running the peace process.
In fact, the SLMM could reveal the intelligence it had received from NATO or any other regional or global power, the Gajaba veteran said. He said that the failed Sri Lankan peace process should be a case study for the global community.
Commenting on a query attributed to Hanssen Bauer and Brattskar whether the ethnic and political problems in Sri Lanka could be solved by military means for which he was quoted as having said, ‘yes’, the Defence Secretary emphasized that the crisis caused by the LTTE needed a military response. "What really surprised me is that a section of the global community still seems to believe in a political solution to a terrorist problem," Rajapaksa said.
Failed peace process: NATO, Norwegian military roles exposed
.....continued....
The Defence Secretary pointed out that the report also admitted the Sri Lankan military had been denied an opportunity to take part in substantive negotiations, while Norwegian military experts were involved in ‘military technicalities of de-escalation, advanced positions and front lines.’
Former Navy Commander Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri told the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) the step-motherly treatment given to the Sri Lankan military in the run-up to the finalization of the CFA.
The Defence Secretary asserted that the Norwegian revelations had highlighted the need to re-examine the whole process, particularly military and intelligence aspects.
In the light of Norwegian admission of the involvement of its military in the CFA, the issue was whether a third party had access to SLA deployment plans on the northern theatre, Rajapaksa said.
The LTTE’s focus was on the Jaffna frontline extending from Kilali to Nagarkovil through Muhamalai, where the SLA had some of its most experienced fighting formations backed by artillery and armour deployed.
In One Word: NO!
No Powers should be devolved to ANY PROVINCE on COMMUNAL BASES such as Race, Religion, or Language.
Powers necessary to secure the Integrity of the Nation should CONTINUE TO REST with the CENTRAL Govt. The need for this was demonstrated by Tamil Separatism.
In particular, Land & Police Powers should not be devolved to Provincial Governments.
Better still, DISSOLVE all Provincial Governments and ADOPT DISTRICT administrations as the largest unit of Local Government. Provinces are too big, and threaten the unity of the Nation.
Furthermore, Provincial Administrations should be PROHIBITED BY LAW from passing any laws that deprive any citizen from freely moving to, residing in, and engaging in any legal business activity or livelihood in that region.
All of Sri Lanka is the BIRTHRIGHT of ALL of its citizens, not PART BY PART, but as a WHOLE, irrespective of local demographic concentrations.
ONE Nation, ONE People, ONE Destiny should be the GOAL of Governance in Sri Lanka. EQUAL Rights for all citizens, coupled to the EQUAL RESPONSIBILITY to Love, Protect and Defend the Nation.
No Racist Aparthied Bantustans created on Communal Bases should be allowed to grow in Sri Lanka.
In particular, no "Tamil Homeland" or exclusive "Tamil Areas" governed by ONLY the Tamils, of ONLY the Tamils, for ONLY the Tamils should ever be permitted.
Tiger Nominated Agents of the TNA, who worked hand-in-glove with LTTE terrorists, enslaved the Tamil People by force, and killed and ethnically cleansed other communities by the hundreds of thousands, now come reciting homilies of "self-determination" demanding "devolution".
The TNA reminds me of the murderer who AXED his parents to death, and demanded clemency from the judge because he is now an Orphan!
The demand for DEVOLUTION of POWER by the TNA is siren song heralding incremental separatism setting a precedent for communal segregation of Sri Lanka's citizenry, and ultimate triumph of Tamil Eelamist racism.
Let us not be beguiled into falling prey to these TNA vipers.
The GOSL should explain to them the policy of governance in Sri Lanka applied to all citizens: the right to vote for one's candidate to the national parliament is the full, complete and only franchise that will be available in common to all Sri Lankan citizens, and that Ethnic attributes will NEVER be a basis for devolution of power anywhere in the land. PERIOD.
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TNA insists on extensive devolution of powers
By Kelum Bandara
DailyMirror.lk
November 1, 2011
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has sought devolution of executive, legislative and judicial power as a means of resolving the north and east question, a TNA parliamentarian said yesterday.
TNA insists on extensive devolution of powers
......continued.....
The government and the TNA will meet on December 5, 6, 14 and 15 for extensive talks on areas where the TNA has sought devolved power.
When asked for comments about Wednesday’s talks with the government, TNA parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran said police and land powers, the unit of devolution, the powers of governors and the powers to be vested with the government were among the matters to be discussed widely during talks with the government next month.
“With regard to the powers to be vested with the government, we have to discuss whether a second chamber should be established or not. It needs to be agreed whether the unit of devolution should be the north or the re-merged north-east,” he said and added that the interests of Muslims should be considered in deciding on the unit of devolution.
TNA leader R. Sampanthan said his party was committed to a reasonable, durable and workable solution within the framework of a united and undivided Sri Lanka and when asked whether the entire negotiation process would be wrapped up after the four meetings in December, Mr. Sampanthan said his party expected much progress in this respect.
On the TNA’s recent visit to the United States, he said, “It is a long story. Anyway, talks with the US representatives were useful and constructive.
Responding to the allegation that the TNA excluded the members of its alliance partner TELO in all high profile meetings, Mr. Sampanthan said his party was not in the business of excluding or including anyone and that decisions were based on certain circumstances.
BS by Addle-Pated Fools! FALSE REPORTING at its BEST!
This article SMELLS OF LTTE PROPAGANDA ... MISINFORMATION GALORE!
If Minister G.L. Peiris EVER espoused FEDERALISM as a panacea for Sri Lanka, he is an ABSOLUTE MUTT. We are confident that he NEVER did that.
MOREOVER, how can we praise INDIA for managing ethnic diversity well, presumably because of its a federal system, when 850 million of Indian citizens, living in a broad populous swathe of the nation stretching from Mumbai to Culcutta and beyond, are terrorized, and indeed governed by, Maoist Naxalites, and regional terrorism abounds in many additional parts (Kashmir, Assam, Nagaland, etc) of the nation as well? Is that "Successful" management?
Diversity EXISTS in India ... but it is NOT BEING WELL MANAGED because of Good Governance. India has failed to transform Indians into a disciplined people acting as ONE People of ONE Nation; they still think and act as disparate communities having no fellowship for each other.
This DISCORD is heightened by WRONG COMMUNAL GOVERNMENT POLICIES that deliver government benefits to Indians based on their caste, ethnicity, sex etc, pitting its diverse communities AGAINST EACH OTHER in search of free Govt benefits.
Instead of using COMMUNAL ATTRIBUTES (e.g. "Scheduled Castes" etc) for helping people in need, POVERTY ALONE ... IRRESPECTIVE OF CASTE ... should be used to deliver government benefits.
Furthermore, the Indian Govt has not yet eradicated discrimination on the basis of caste. Many low-caste Indians are still denied and excluded de-facto from public resources ... water sources, grazing land, shops, schools, universities etc etc ... and government officials DO NOTHING! Is this "Success"?
India's policies of Governance have arrested the emergence of an equitable society in India and has arrested its ECONOMIC GROWTH as well. Peace and amity between communities and governance without communal discrimination is a pre-requisite for economic growth; that India has failed to achieve.
Instead of hoisting India as a "model of good governance" upon Sri Lanka, India should be viewed as a state that has taken the wrong path in many areas. India should learn from Sri Lanka which has eliminated such communal discrimination from it society and delivered much greater benefits to its people.
Indeed, adopting India as a model of governance would be a step backward into the dark ages for Sri Lanka.
NO THANK YOU ... NO FEDERALISM for Sri Lanka! NOT TODAY, NOT EVER!
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Lanka praises India for managing ethnic diversities
ZeeNews.India.com
November 19, 2011
Lanka praises India for managing ethnic diversities Colombo: Sri Lanka on Saturday praised India for successfully managing ethnic diversities in a federal democratic framework.
"The key lessons from India’s development efforts and its stature as a world’s largest democracy was its success in managing ethnic diversities in a democratic framework and its ability to reach out to the poorest sections of the society through innovative social schemes involving the closest cooperation between the central and the state governments in a stable federal structure," Foreign Minister GL Peiris was quoted as saying by the Indian High Commission in a release today.
Lanka praises India for managing ethnic diversities
,..,..continued.....
Peiris was addressing a gathering at a lecture yesterday by former Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran on "India and Sri Lanka and the Asian Resurgence", marking the launch of the India-Sri Lanka Foundation, it said.
Peiris has long been a proponent of a federal solution to Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict involving the Tamil minority community.
However, with the failure of the Norwegian peace initiative during which the LTTE was thought to have agreed for a federal solution, the federal idea has been shelved.
The Sinhalese nationalists perceived federalism as another means for giving into the LTTE's demand for a separate state.
Amid the direct talks with the main Tamil party TNA, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has tasked a parliamentary select committee to formulate a solution to political aspiration of the Tamil community.
Rajapaksa has responded to calls by Tamil parties for following the Indian model, saying he would look for a "home grown solution".
Some Security Heads should ROLL!
How can a Prisoner serving prison time be GARLANDED, by anyone, in or out of court? How can this be allowed to happen?
EVERYONE who showed contempt for the Courts, and broke the law by being VIOLENT, should be PUNISHED SEVERELY.
First among them, should be the LAWYERS bearing Garlands ... they should know better!
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Sri Lanka police to arrest unruly Fonseka supporters who protested at court premises
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Nov 19, Colombo: Sri Lanka police have been directed to conduct an investigation on the supporters of former Army commander Sarath Fonseka who behaved violently at the Hulftsdorf court complex yesterday after the court delivered the verdict of the controversial 'white flag' case, police said.
Tension prevailed outside the Colombo High Court yesterday before and after the guilty verdict was delivered against the former Army Chief.
Police are also ordered to investigate the lawyers and others who acted in ways that were defamatory to court.
A group of lawyers garlanded the convicted prisoner former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka and some others chanted slogans against the verdict.
A police vehicle was also damaged and several prison officials were manhandled in the court premises by Fonseka loyalists preventing the prison officials from taking the prisoner back to the prison.
Some rituals invoking curses on the rulers and judges were also performed in the court premises.
Some 5,000 Special Task Force (STF) and the Army personnel had been kept ready to prevent any violent incidents from happening following the verdict.
The former military commander was found guilty of inciting violence in a split decision by the three-member panel of judges. He was sentenced to three years in prison and fined Rs. 5,000.
Outing a Counterfeit Guerrilla: A tale of lies by Tamil Tigress Niromi de Soyza
By Muttukrishna Sarvananthan Colombo,
November 19, 2011
The objective of this research note is not only to uncover the truth or otherwise of the “memoir” by Niromi de Soyza (nom de guerre) titled Tamil Tigress: My story as a child soldier in Sri Lanka’s bloody civil war, but to go beyond and investigate the purpose/s of publication of her “personal story” and reason/s for hiding her real name and identity.
This research note is based on the reading of the book under scrutiny in its entirety, promotional blurbs and reviews of the book by journalists in Australia, critical reviews of the book by two persons of Sri Lankan origin living in Australia, listening to the author of Tamil Tigress at a literary festival, and discussions with few people among the Tamil diaspora in Melbourne and Sydney. In addition, I sought an interview with Niromi de Soyza, in order to afford her an opportunity to respond to my doubts, which she tried to postpone for two months (but did not refuse to meet) for reasons best known to her. In spite of her instant granting of interviews to media personnel (both print and electronic) in Australia and participation in almost all the literary/book festivals held around Australia since the release of her book in mid-2011, her evasiveness to meet a researcher from her place of origin compounded my suspicion about the author of the book.
I first came to know about this book when one of my Sri Lankan diaspora acquaintances living in Australia forwarded me a web link to the Booktopia Blog about this book on 02nd July 2011.[i] For this Professor of Medical Sciences at the Monash University in Melbourne the book was “Mind boggling. A must buy.” The same Professor forwarded me an interview of the author to the Good Weekend magazine (Sydney Morning Herald) by Nikki Barrowclough on 09th July 2011. My only question at that time was, why is this self-proclaimed Tigress using a nom de guerre in lieu of her real name two years after the decisive end of the civil war in Sri Lanka?
Since I was travelling to Melbourne in late August 2011 in order to commence my Endeavour Research Fellowship at the Monash University, I deferred my curiosity about the book by the self-proclaimed Tigress. In any case the book was not available in Sri Lanka at that time (perhaps even now). After I arrived in Melbourne I have come across two critical reviews of the book that have questioned the authenticity of the self-proclaimed Tigress. One is by Arun Ambalavanar (2011) who lives in Sydney but originally from Karavetty, Northern Sri Lanka. The second is by Michael Roberts (2011) who was an Adjunct Associate Professor of Historical Anthropology at the University of Adelaide (who still lives there) hailing from Galle, Southern Sri Lanka. These two critical reviews of the book rekindled my own curiosity about the book, yet I did not read their criticisms fully immediately.
Then, a lecturer at the Monash College invited me to the World Matters 2011 (an annual literary festival) held at Montsalvat in Eltham (outskirts of Melbourne) on 14th, 15th & 16th October 2011.[ii] On the last day of this literary festival, Niromi de Soyza was to participate as a panellist in the ‘Missing Peace’ spotlight on Sri Lanka chaired by David Feith (lecturer at the Monash College). I did attend the panel discussion on Sri Lanka and saw the face of the author of Tamil Tigress. Beyond her face, a lot of what she said and the customary tears she shed (real or contrived) raised more questions than the answers I was looking for. Her tears have become customary because she has done it with Nikki Barrowclough (2011) earlier. What astounded me most was what she claimed her “alma mater” is. Then onwards my intense curiosity turned into profound suspicion
Outing a Counterfeit Guerrilla: A tale of lies by Tamil Tigress Niromi de Soyza
....continued 1....
Niromi announced in Melbourne that part of the proceeds of the sale of her “personal story” will be donated to a charity in the name of her “alma mater” and she gave an email address with the username sjc87. When I searched the web for sjc87 I came across the following website http://www.sjc87scholarship.org/. SJC is the acronym of St. John’s College (Jaffna) which is a boys-only school and therefore cannot be an alma mater of Niromi de Soyza, who is a woman.
In the list of “Working Committee” members of the ‘St. John’s College Batch of 1987 Trust’ or the ‘SJC 87 Initiative: Every Child deserves an Education’, the two names given in Sri Lanka have only mobile phone numbers, which is dubious to say the least. In fact, all the contact details of members of the working committee mentioned on the website are mobile phone numbers and email addresses only, which arouse suspicion; there are no postal addresses (even P.O. Box addresses) or land phone lines in any country of their presence. The working committee members are spread across the world: 3 in Australia, 1 in Canada, 1 in New Zealand, 2 each in Sri Lanka, UK and USA.[iii] One past pupil of St. John’s College Jaffna living in Australia (who is active in the old boys’ association based in Australia) could not identify any of the three working committee members of SJC 87 Initiative living in Australia and New Zealand.
However, the SJC Initiative website does mention a Registration number INC9892583 and Charity fund raising approval number CFN/21586.[iv] But, it is highly unlikely that this purported charity is providing scholarships to children of the schools in Kilinochchi district mentioned on the website.[v] Further, the pictures of classrooms in the beneficiary schools on the website could not have been taken in the past two years.
Moreover, the presenter in the promotional video of the SJC 87 Initiative outlining its activities and soliciting donations is a native Australian woman. This indicates that the primary target of this promotional video is the native Australian general public and not the Sri Lankan diaspora in Australia (who are by this time well versed with such scams by the LTTE lobbies). Ironically, while the entire working committee members are men of Sri Lankan Tamil origin the presenter is an Australian woman.
It is typical of the overseas domiciled LTTE to use host country personnel to advance their cause in whatever form it may take. Prominent members of the LTTE in many countries were/are married to host country women/men; for example, the wife of Anton Balasingam (the former “ideologue”, “theoretician” or simply “political adviser” of the LTTE) is Adele Balasingam originally from Victoria (Australia) and was living in the UK until her husband’s death in December 2006 whose current whereabouts are unknown; the wife of Chandru Pararajasingam [the head of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) office in Colombo during the ceasefire time (2002-2005) - TRO was the humanitarian arm of the LTTE] is an Australian named Margaret Pararajasingam. There are four doctors in the working committee of the SJC 87 Initiative; one each in Australia and New Zealand and two in America. I am not sure whether these are medical practitioners or doctorates or just quacks like Anton Balasingam.
The SJC 87 Initiative is probably a scam. The website of SJC 87 Initiative seems to have come online in August 2011 immediately after the release of Niromi de Soyza’s autobiographical book in July 2011. There may be an organic link between Niromi’s book and the SJC 87 Initiative. This book could have been purposefully written for fundraising to the SJC 87 Initiative AND more. Niromi asserted in Melbourne that she is not in touch with either the Tamil diaspora or the Sinhala diaspora in Australia. If that was the case, how could she be funding the SJC Initiative from the sales of her book? Certainly she is not telling the truth.
Outing a Counterfeit Guerrilla: A tale of lies by Tamil Tigress Niromi de Soyza
....continued 2....
Niromi showed (in Melbourne) a picture of what she claimed the “gravestone of Ajanthi” at “Kopay/Urumpiraay” and talked about the desecration of that LTTE cemetery by the Sri Lanka Army for building the new army headquarters (Jaffna) on the same premises in early 2011.[vi] In fact, Kopai (Valikamam East) and Urumpirai (Valikamam South) are not one and the same place but are far apart. The place she was referring to in Kopai was not a cemetery in the first place and therefore there is no issue of desecration of the cemetery.
During the time of ceasefire (in 2003) two large “maaveerar thuyilum illam” (great warriors’ sleeping place) were constructed by the LTTE; one in Kopai and the other in Kodikamam in the Jaffna peninsula, as monuments for propaganda purposes (the huge maaveerar thuyilum illam in Kilinochchi was also a propaganda monument and not a real cemetery). One of the compilers of the very first list of maaveerars (great warriors) circa 1990 confirmed to this author early this year that there was no human body ever buried or cremated in any of the aforementioned so-called cemeteries. All the aforementioned maaveerar thuyilum illams were built on crown/state-owned lands.[vii] In fact, the Kopai LTTE cemetery was built on a land belonging to the Department of Prisons earmarked for building a new and bigger prison for Jaffna, which is housed in an old depleted building within the City. However, some other maaveerar thuyilum illams did have bodies of fallen Tigers, either cremated or buried; e.g. Vaharai in the Batticaloa district and Sakkottai in Point Pedro. Secondly, there was no evidence to confirm that the picture of the gravestone shown by Niromi was that of “Ajanthi”; it could have been anyone’s.
Niromi claims in her book that she has an Undergraduate Degree in Biotechnology and a Master’s Degree in Law (de Soyza 2011: 299). Besides, at the literary event (in Melbourne) the chair said that she holds a Master’s Degree in Intellectual Property Rights Law. Taking these claims as truth, is it not ironical for an intellectual property right law graduate to be an admirer of Julian Assange (Purcell 2011), founder of WikiLeaks (who is a proprietary rights abuser)? Furthermore, if Niromi is really an admirer of Julian Assange (who is opposed to confidentiality and privacy), how come she conceal her own name and true identity? Moreover, how could Niromi protest against the alleged rapes by the Sri Lankan Army and the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) personnel, at the same time being an admirer of an alleged rapist? Is this not duplicitous?
Ironically, Niromi de Soyza has not mentioned (even once) the name of Adele Balasingam in the book, who was the founder of the ‘Freedom Birds’ (the women’s wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in 1985) and its military wing. (See Schalk 1994) This profound omission by Niromi could be to protect Adele Balasingam (Australian/British dual national) from potential criminal prosecution on charges of ‘crimes against humanity’ for recruiting underage girls from schools in Jaffna and the Vanni in Northern Sri Lanka for combat (self-confession in her own writings and in interviews given to international media and scholars). This author has testimonies from such affected girls who are still alive. The non-reference to Adele Balasingam could also be a deliberate snub because Anton and Adele Balasingam became persona non grata to the LTTE since about late-2006 after the former acknowledged the responsibility of the LTTE in the murder of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi during the course of an interview to Indian television channel.
Outing a Counterfeit Guerrilla: A tale of lies by Tamil Tigress Niromi de Soyza
....continued 3....
On balance of probability, Niromi de Soyza’s Tamil Tigress is largely a fiction based on The Motorcycle Diaries by Ernesto Che Guevara (Niromi’s teenage idol) and few books and articles on the LTTE by M.R. Narayan Swamy, et al. The writing style appears to be cloned from Guevara (1995) and most of the information on LTTE in Niromi’s “personal story” skimmed from many books and articles on the LTTE, e.g. Swamy (1994). However, she may have had some rudimentary connection to the LTTE; like being a member of the Students Organisation of the Liberation Tigers (SOLT). Due to brevity of space, I just give the following two examples to confirm my assertion:
Example 1
“…….A self-trained man, he (Prabhakaran) wanted us to develop exceptional patience and mental strength which he claimed to have achieved as a young boy by staying inside a sack in the sun all day (no ordinary achievement, considering Jaffna’s heat), by inserting needles under his fingernails and by torturing insects. He knew he was one day going to fight the Sinhala regime, he said…… ” (de Soyza 2011: 121)
Note the striking similarity between the foregoing and the following sentences.
“…….., Prabhakaran began preparing for the battles that he perceived lay ahead. He would tie himself up, get into a sack and lie under the sun the whole day. He would also go and spread himself on chilli bags. He even inserted pins into his nails. At other times, he would catch insects and prick them to death with needles to gain the mental preparation to torture the “enemy””” (Swamy 1994: 52).
Example 2
Niromi claims to be an eyewitness to the point-blank shooting to death of Shanthan (an LTTE cadre) for falling in love with a female cadre Nora by Mahathaya in early 1988 (then deputy to Prabhakaran). (See de Soyza 2011: 276-79) I believe this purported murder was skimmed from an article by Jan Goodwin in which she mentions about Prabhakaran murdering two of his close aides for having sex. (See Goodwin 2008: 4-5) Niromi has replaced Prabhakaran with Mahathaya in order to vilify the latter and justify the former (who is revered by Niromi) as the pro-Tiger lobbies overseas have been doing for the past twenty years.
I am largely in agreement with the questions of authenticity raised by Ambalavanar (2011) and Roberts (2011) and factual inaccuracies pointed-out therein (though some of it could be trivial or even acceptable to Sarvan 2011). According to Niromi, in The Telegraph (London) article, her mother was a teacher (de Soyza 2009: 3), but according to the memoir her mother worked for the Dept of Telecommunications (de Soyza 2011: 94). This double act is certainly not excusable. There are numerous other contradictions, inaccuracies, lies, and misrepresentations which I have not pointed out here due to brevity of space. Nonetheless, Niromi de Soyza should be commended for revealing the class, caste, gender and other social strictures of the Jaffna society; despite some of them are exaggerations.
I could empathise with the rank and file of the Tamil Tigers. I have undertaken a survey of over one-hundred former guerrillas for an INGO in late-2010. I have been helping former guerrillas find jobs in the private sector. But I cannot empathise with dupers, imposters, and scammers masquerading as noble warriors. My suspicion is that there is a group/s of people behind Niromi’s “personal story” book, which is at least partly a fundraising scam.
Outing a Counterfeit Guerrilla: A tale of lies by Tamil Tigress Niromi de Soyza
....continued 4....
To me, in difference to Ambalavanar (2011) and Roberts (2011), there is much more serious felony perpetrated by Niromi de Soyza and the people behind her book including the purported charity she is funding through the sales of her book. It is the responsibility of the appropriate authorities in Australia (and beyond) to get to the bottom of this apparently well-conceived and well-concealed scam. At a time when Sri Lanka is reeling under a low-intensity authoritarian regime of the Rajapaksa family (Lions), the last thing Sri Lankans want is ghost or pseudo Tigers.
Muttukrishna Sarvananthan (Ph.D. Wales M.Sc. Bristol M.Sc. Salford B.A. Honours Delhi) is the Principal Researcher of the Point Pedro Institute of Development, Point Pedro, Northern Sri Lanka (http://pointpedro.org) and an Endeavour Research Fellow at the Global Terrorism Research Centre (GTReC), Monash University, Melbourne, Australia from Sept 2011 to Feb 2012. He can be contacted at muttukrishna.sarvananthan@monash.edu
[i] See http://blog.booktopia.com.au/2011/06/27/niromi-de-soyza-author-tamil-tigress-answers-ten-terrifying-questions/
[ii] See http://worldmatters.weebly.com/
[iii] See http://www.sjc87scholarship.org/Working_commitee.html
[iv] See http://www.sjc87scholarship.org/Welcome.html
[v] ibid
[vi] See GroundViews, Desecration of graves in Jaffna: Path to reconciliation? March 08, 2011. http://groundviews.org/2011/03/08/the-desecration-graves-in-jaffna-path-of-reconciliation/
[vii] Read my comment in ibid.
REFERENCES
Ambalavanar, Arun, (2011), “The Farce of a Fake Tigress”, Sri Lanka Guardian, August 15.
http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2011/08/farce-of-fake-tigress.html
Barrowclough, Nikki, (2011), “Tigress, interrupted”, Good Weekend magazine (Sydney Morning Herald), July 09, pp26.
de Soyza, Niromi, (2011), Tamil Tigress: My story as a child soldier in Sri Lanka’s bloody civil war, Sydney: Allen & Unwin.
de Soyza, Niromi, (2009), “Life as a female Tamil Tiger guerrilla relived by one of first female soldiers”, The Telegraph, May 08. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/srilanka/5283438/Life-as-a-female-Tamil-Tiger-guerilla-relived-by-one-of-first-female-soldiers.html
Goodwin, Jan, (2008), “When the Suicide Bomber Is a Woman”, Marie Claire, January 16. http://www.marieclaire.com/world-reports/news/female-suicide-bomber?click=main_sr
Guevara, Ernesto Che, (1995), The Motorcycle Diaries: A Journey around South America, London: Verso.
Purcell, John, (2011), “Niromi de Soyza, the author of Tamil Tigress, answers Ten Terrifying Questions”, June 27. http://blog.booktopia.com.au/2011/06/27/niromi-de-soyza-author-tamil-tigress-answers-ten-terrifying-questions/
Roberts, Michael, (2011), “Forbidden Fruits: Niromi de Soyza’s “Tamil Tigress”, Norma Kouri and Helen Demidenko?” Groundviews, August 31. http://groundviews.org/2011/08/31/forbidden-fruits-niromi-de-soyzas-tamil-tigress-noumi-kouri-and-helen-demidenko/
Sarvan, Charles Ponnuthurai, (2011), “Writing and truth: The instance of Niromi de Soyza’a Tamil Tigress”, The Sunday Times (Plus), September 25. http://sundaytimes.lk/110925/Plus/plus_07.html
Schalk, Peter, (1994), “Women Fighters of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ilam: The Martial Feminism of Atel Palacinkam”, South Asia Research, Vol.14. No.2, autumn, pp163-183.
Swamy, Narayan M.R., (1994), Tigers of Lanka: From Boys to Guerrillas, Delhi: Konark Publishers PVT Ltd.
Windsor, Gerard, (2011), “Tamil Tigress: Life of a child veteran fighting persecution in a protracted civil war”, Sydney Morning Herald, September 03. http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/tamil-tigress-20110901-1jmmv.html
This is A DISASTROUS STEP INIMICAL to preserving the sovereignty of Sri Lanka.
Ownership of land is the PRIME PREROGATIVE of a CITIZEN. Alienation of that right will IN TIME convert Sri Lankan citizens into landless renters in their own country.
Given the vast disparity in wealth between many foreign citizens (Western nations, Arab Gulf states, Tamil Eelamist Diaspora), Sri Lankan citizens will soon find themselves priced out of the market and become renters. In TIME, as the labor of citizens and increasing population increases the value of land, only the foreign owners will benefit, and Sri Lankans citizens will be relegated to the bottom rung of the economy just as native Hawaians who lost control of their lands became a marginalized inconsequential segment of Hawaii's economy.
Do we want that?
STOP this FOOLISH land alienation NOW! KICK OUT those MUTTS who fail to see the forest being too close to the trees.
Sri Lanka's land MUST BE OWNED ONLY by Sri Lankan CITIZENS.
DO not SELL the BIRTHRIGHT of Sri Lanka's People to Wealthy Foreigners!
...............
Sri Lanka to Allow Foreign Ownership of Lands
By Christine Gaylican
November 18, 2011
Determined to attract more investment and tourism to Sri Lanka, the country has eased its foreign ownership restrictions on land ownership.
Reports said the Finance Ministry will soon scrap the 100% tax slapped on property acquisitions and would instead replace it with a new special land tax to be imposed in 2012.
Although the final tax structure is still being finalised, the Foreign Ministry said the Sri Lankan government is serious with the fiscal policy adjustment, which in the long term will have significant economic impact.
"The new tax scheme considered by the government will remove the restrictions on foreign buyers as well as for land developers anywhere in the country," sources from the Finance Ministry official told reporters.
The Finance Ministry source cited that there had been ambiguous interpretations of the tax laws in Sri Lanka, which had not resulted to additional earnings for the national coffers.
"Under the current system, foreigners can buy land tax-free if their investment in the entire project is over $10 million. Because of this, land is often sold at inflated prices, allowing huge profits to be made tax-free. Another example is when foreigners buy Sri Lankan companies that are holding land, or to use as a vehicle for buying land, and thus avoid paying the 100% tax," explained a Finance Ministry officer.
In 2004, the said tax scheme was imposed by the Sri Lankan government to scare away property speculators taking advantage of the property boom.
Nonetheless, this has not been cost-effective for the government. If this new land property tax scheme will be pursued by the Sri Lankan government, it would be beneficial for property owners, who can take advantage of the rental yields currently at 3.5% in capital Colombo and between 10 to 11% at the beachfront west coast of Sri Lanka. Global Property Guide reports that rental yields in the South Asian nation has been increasing over the past three years
"Dulce Decorum Est Pro Patria Mori"
NO ONE, except OUR PATRIOTS willing to Die for their Country, knew that handing OUR MOTHERLAND over to terrorists was NOT AN OPTION!
Adi Sinhale'
Ae' Weera Meemuthun Layin
Saara Wu
Udaara Wu
Mathru Bhumi-yayi
Mathru Bhumi-yayi!
...............
"Gotabaya Rajapaksa was confident that LTTE could be defeated militarily" says Solheim
"No one. May be with exception of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, but he's the only person I can mention who thought LTTE could be defeated militarily" Eric Solheim was quoted as saying in the Norwegian analysis report -'Pawns of Peace'.
"Until 2008 not a single Indian intelligence service official was confident that LTTE could be defeated militarily. Yet, M. K Narayan and other officials in contrast to their earlier perception on the Sri Lankan conflict, changed their stances and came to believe that the Sri Lankan security forces had the might to crush LTTE terrorists Solheim has further stated.
It was also noted that Solheim was of the view that even the United States of America was pessimistic of a military defeat of the LTTE.
For several years, Norway was involved in efforts to contribute to a peaceful solution to the conflict in Sri Lanka. After the military victory by the Sri Lankan army over the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) in May 2009, Norway no longer had a role to play. This evaluation of Norwegian peace efforts in Sri Lanka was commissioned mainly for the purpose of informing international peace efforts.
The report evaluates Norway's role as a peace facilitator in Sri Lanka 1997 - 2009, in light of the knowledge and opportunities available at the time. This included assessing the Norwegian understanding of the conflict, its management of its different roles in the peace process, as well as relationships to in and outside the peace process.
With the election of Mahinda Rajapaksa as President of Sri Lanka, Gotabaya Rajapaksa was appointed Defence Secretary in November 2005.
As Secretary Defence, Mr. Rajapaksa is largely credited with masterminding the successes achieved by the Sri Lankan Military in defeating the notorious terrorist outfit LTTE and ending Sri Lanka's three decade prolonged war in May 2009.
He was also one of the top targets of the LTTE terrorists, and survived an assassination attempt in December 2006 by a LTTE terrorist suicide bomber.
Jayawewa, Sri Lanka!
Ratna Deepa, Janma Bhumi
Lanka Deepa, Vijaya Bhumi
Mey Apey Udaara Wu
Mathru Bhumi-yayi
Mathru Bhumi-yayi!
.................
Making Sri Lanka the ‘WONDER OF ASIA’ by 2016 : Budget 2012 ‘Development–oriented’
Views of public and all stakeholders incorporated :
by Uditha Kumarasinghe
SundayObserver.lk
November 20, 2011
President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his capacity as Finance and Planning Minister will present Budget 2012 in Parliament tomorrow. The budget would be development-oriented with the aim of making Sri Lanka the “Wonder of Asia” by 2016, according to Government sources. This will be the 65th Budget to be presented since Independece. Budget 2012 will be the third Budget of the seventh Parliament. The Budget Estimates for 2012 will maintain the budget deficit at 6.2 percent of the GDP to ensure economic growth at 8 percent and the rate of annual inflation at 6 to 7 percent, Government sources told the Sunday Observer yesterday.
The total estimated expenditure for 2012 will be Rs. 2,220 billion, with an increase in Recurrent Expenditure from Rs. 1,029 billion in 2011 to Rs. 1,109 billion in 2012 and Capital Expenditure from Rs. 938 billion to Rs. 1,111 billion.
The total revenue will be Rs. 1,115 billion. Public Investment has increased from Rs. 453 billion in 2011 to Rs. 541 billion in 2012 to maintain the momentum in the growth rate of 8 percent.
According to the sources, the Government has laid emphasis on every sector in the Budget as it is development-oriented. Since Budget 2012 is aimed at economic development billions of rupees would be allocated for investment. Finance and Planning Ministry sources said the 2012 Budget has a series of proposals to help uplift the socio-economic conditions of the people and the development of the country as a whole.
The Budget will also introduce many fresh proposals and relief measures which would help increase the income level of people in the country.
Referring the salary increase for workers, the sources said that the President has granted 60-70 percent salary increases for public sector employees since 2005.
The Government had also taken steps to increase the number of public sector employees in the country to 1.2 million during this period.
According to the 2012 Appropriation Bill presented in Parliament by Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne on October 18, the Government has allocated the highest amount, nearly Rs. 230 billion to the Defence and Urban Development Ministry.
The Appropriation Bill allocated Rs. 104 billion for the Economic Development Ministry, Rs. 124 billion for the Finance and Planning Ministry, over Rs. 144 billion for the Ports and Highways Ministry.
The allocations for the health and education sectors have been increased in the Bill. Over Rs. 73 billion has been allocated for the Health Ministry and Rs. 33 billion for the Education Ministry.
The sources said in preparing the Appropriation Bill, President Rajapaksa and Treasury officials had consulted each line Ministry and other stakeholders, mainly to formulate a realistic budget to divert resources for priority areas identified in the Mahinda Chinthana and phased out in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework 2012 - 2014. Priority has been given to complete ongoing development projects.
The debate on the Second Reading of the Budget will continue for seven days from November 22-30.
The Vote on the Second Reading will be on November 30 at 5.00pm.
The Committee stage debate will continue for 17 days from December 21. The Vote on the Third Reading is scheduled for December 21 at 5.00pm.
Is the LTTE gathering funds through robberies and illicit activities for renewed terrorism?
GOSL .... Please pay attention to this crime wave and security safeguards in the North!
...............
Crimes in North on the rise
By S. Selvakumar
Nation.lk
November 20, 2011
The crime rate in the North has registered an unprecedented increase over the past couple of months unfolding a high number of drug peddling, prostitution, rapes and illicit liquor brewing.
The police raided a brothel last week and arrested eight women and five men. In another incident, five students were arrested inhaling heroin. Upon further inquiries, a man who supplied heroin to the area was also arrested.
When asked why such incidents have increased in the recent past, DIG Jaffna V. Indran said the rot has set in with the arrival of large number of local tourists since there is no war in the North now.
He said thousands of locals from other parts of the country arrive in Jaffna every week. As a result many guesthouses and hotels have been open in Jaffna due to the related profit increase.”
Naturally when more local tourists accommodate guesthouses and hotels there is a tendency of consuming more liquor as well as marked increase in other vices which were very minimal earlier,” DIG said.
Indran said even as early as 9 am liquor shops were crowded and people queued up for purchase, ‘but the police does its best to arrest the increasing illegal activities’ he stressed.
Suresh Premachandran, TNA parliamentarian for Jaffna district said Jaffna was guarded by thousands of security personnel as well as an increased number of police personnel. ‘If they keep strict vigilance the crime rate could be arrested’, he pointed out.
TULF leader V. Anandasangaree was of the view that people were without proper income and some have no means even to have their meals. “Unemployment leads people to all kinds of illegal activities to make fast buck. Narcotics and brothels have become lucrative businesses for earning quick money”, he said.
Asked why robberies have increased in the Kilinochchi district when compared to other districts in the North, Sangaree said it was again to find elusive money. There were a number of incidents recently in Kilinochchi where shops and houses were robbed. Daylight house robberies are carried out threatening inmates. Cash, jewellery and valuable goods have been robbed in this manner. Shops have been burgled during nights.
In a recent incident, a shop was robbed in the night and the same night the shop owners’ house was also robbed.
INDEED! The man who failed to overturn the democratically elected government of his country by military force is now complaining of "undemocratic actions" and asks for the help of that democracy to spring him from jail!
I think NOT!
A Classic Case of a man who AXED his parents to death pleading for clemency because he is an ORPHAN!
................
Former Sri Lanka Army Commander calls for a broad political movement to fight against the government
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Nov 20, Colombo: Former Army Commander of Sri Lanka Sarath Fonseka has called for the formation of a broad political movement to fight against the undemocratic actions of the government.
Fonseka has made the request from the United National Party (UNP) Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya when the latter had visited him in the Welikada Prison.
Fonseka, who is serving a jail term following a military court martial, last year, was convicted in the controversial White Flag case last Friday and given another three-year prison term to serve consecutively.
Jayasuriya had spent close to an hour with Fonseka during the visit to prison.
Meanwhile, ColomboPage learns that opposition political parties are discussing the formation of a political movement to fight against the government.
A discussion is scheduled to be held under the patronage of Fonseka's wife, Anoma Fonseka at the Public Library Auditorium on Tuesday (22).
Norwegian peace model and its faults
There is ONLY ONE POLITICAL SOLUTION in a Multi-ethnic, Multi-Religious, Multi-Lingual nation where ALL RESOURCES belongs EQUALLY to ALL OF ITS PEOPLE... EQUALLY SHARED CITIZENSHIP devoid of all COMMUNAL CONSIDERATIONS.
NO DEVOLUTION of an IOTA of Political Power to any part of Sri Lanka on ANY COMMUNAL BASIS.
No Racist Apartheid Bantustans in Sri Lanka, EVER!
Let us not DIVIDE Our Motherland into a PATCHWORK QUILT of Warring Ethnic Fiefdoms in the name of FALSE DIVERSITY.
CULTURAL DIVERSITY belongs in the PRIVATE SPHERE, at HOME and in community organizations in people's private lives; not in the PUBLIC SPHERE OF GOVERNANCE!
REJECT the BEGUILING SIREN SONG for DEVOLUTION of POWER to Ethnic Groups by the UNREPENTANT Separatist Racists!
ONE Nation, ONE People, ONE Destiny should be our FIRM UNCHANGING GOAL.
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Sri Lanka parliament approves PSC to find a political solution to ethnic issue
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Nov 23, Colombo: Sri Lanka parliament on Wednesday passed a motion to set up a parliamentary select committee (PSC) to formulate a political solution to the country's ethnic issue.
The parliament announced that a motion to appoint a Select Committee of Parliament to recommend and report on political and constitutional measures to empower the people of Sri Lanka to live as one nation was passed by the House.
The political parties of the country are requested to name their representatives to the PSC.
The committee is expected to suggest steps to enhance the unity of people in the country and empower them and the country to promote socio-economic, political and cultural development.
Under the motion approved today, the PSC, which will have quasi-judicial powers, is to comprise 19 governing party members and 12 opposition members.
The 16 political parties in the ruling alliance each will have a one representative and the largest constituent, Sri Lanka Freedom Party will have altogether four representatives in the PSC.
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), which is engaged in a dialogue with the government, has earlier said the party would also participate in the PSC.
However, a TNA legislator Suresh Premachandran has told the AP news service that the Tamil party would not participate in the PSC as it would be another "time-buying tactic" of the government.
The PSC is to recommend constitutional measures that need to address the grievances of the minorities and provide solutions for all people that will "preserve and promote their respective identities and live with dignity and security as one nation,� within six months.
The PSC is expected to work a solution within the time frame with the input from all the political parties while the government continues to hold discussions with the Tamil National Alliance.
The government proposed the formation of the PSC stating that a unique opportunity has arisen for the people to unite and work together as one nation towards the economic, social and political development of the nation and its citizens.
The government says it is possible to find a solution by safeguarding the identities of all ethnic groups and preserving the territorial integrity through the initiatives of a parliamentary select committee.
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said that he will accept any decision of the parliament on the ethnic issue and a solution should not be confined to discussions with one party.
MR warns of post-war threats to national security
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Island.lk
November 23, 2011
President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday (22) said that some of the self-styled human rights champions had the audacity to call the killing of hardcore LTTE terrorist Thamilselvan in a SriLanka Air Force raid an attack on the peace process.
Such criticism was part of their strategy to force Sri Lanka to call off its battle against LTTE terrorism, the President told the annual Convocation of Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) at Temple Trees, where the conferment of Bachelors and Masters degrees on 51 SLA, 23 SLN, 12 SLAF and 4 (three from the Maldives and one from Nepal) took place.
President Rajapaksa alleged that those who had backed the LTTE’s cause were still active and posed a serious threat to Sri Lanka’s post-war recovery process. He urged the armed forces to remain alert to the persistent threat though the LTTE’s military muscle had been neutralised.
A pair of jets bombed Thamilselvan’s hideout in Kilinochchi in the first week of November 2007 within two weeks of the devastating LTTE raid on Anuradhapura airbase.
President Rajapaksa alleged that the LTTE had the backing of certain individuals, various organisations and political parties.
Responding to criticism of the conduct of the Sri Lankan military by a section of the international community, the Commander-in-Chief recalled the circumstances under which his government had moved essential items to the Jaffna peninsula, Jaffna islands and Mullaitivu at the height of the war. Having failed to secure an international guarantee for the protection of food ships, the government had shouldered the responsibility of conducting the humanitarian operations, the President said. Many of those who had benefited from the government’s humanitarian efforts had now conveniently forgotten the situation at that, he said.
The President emphasised the need for the military to be aware of the threat emanating from external elements due to Sri Lanka’s strategic position in the Indian Ocean.
The President said, "As you have received higher education, unlike those trained in the handling of weapons, you should be able to comprehend the ground situation here and rapidly changing economic and political scenes at global level. You should be aware of the current focus on the Asia Pacific region."
President Rajapaksa emphasised the importance of those holding command positions at all levels to be disciplined. Those holding junior ranks and ordinary soldiers didn’t like to carry out orders given by an undisciplined senior, he asserted, while warning that the failure on their part would bring them to ridicule in the eyes of their juniors. The President urged the newcomers to earn the respect of those under their command.
Commenting on LTTE fund raising operations during the conflict, the President said, "They spent money to acquire arms, ammunition and equipment. They had to maintain a large fighting cadre and then look after the children of those sacrificing their lives for their macabre cause. But today, what they raised abroad is spent on an anti-Sri Lankan campaign. Unlike those bogus human rights champions, we never deprived civilians of essential items. We paid the salaries of those public servants serving in areas under LTTE control. We in fact went to the extent of paying pensioners living in areas outside our areas, whereas the LTTE maximises its resources against the state."
MR warns of post-war threats to national security
.....continued....
The President said there would not be a sharp drop in defence expenditure in the aftermath of the war. Of the staggering sum of Rs. 229 bn allocated for defence, Rs. 197 bn would be spent on paying salaries of those serving the defence forces and other payments as well as welfare, he said. Funds once made available to procure, arms, ammunition and equipment were now primarily used to uplift the standard of the military. The President explained measures taken to support the services, those wounded in battle and families experiencing economic difficulties.
He also discussed ongoing efforts to haul Sri Lanka up before an international war crimes tribunal over accountability issues, while referring to attempts made during his visits to the UK, USA and Australia to indict him. The President said that he didn’t consider such action as personal attacks on him, but targeting the country on the basis of unsubstantiated allegations made by the LTTE.
The President explained the LTTE strategy during and after the war. "During the war, the LTTE took refuge among the civilians and attacked us. But in the post-war era, they exploited human rights to target us." Referring to the recently concluded ‘White flag’ case, the President alleged that former Army Commander’s unsubstantiated allegation of execution of surrendering LTTE cadres at the final phase of the conflict continued to cause trouble. Pro-LTTE television documentaries and setting up of international war crimes tribunal targeting Sri Lanka were part of the anti-Sri Lanka campaign, he said.
Soon, it will be possible to circumnavigate Sri Lanka by train along its coast without using other modes of transportation between any terminating train stations.
More UNIFICATION of Sri Lanka into one tightly knit nation!
Jayawewa! Sri Lanka!
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Plans for extending rail network in Sri Lanka from South to East
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Nov 23, Colombo: Planning Director of Sri Lanka Railways Wijaya says the Department has a massive railway development plan to extend the railway network in the country.
Samarasinghe, speaking to Sinhala daily today has revealed that plans are underway to extend the Colombo - Matara railway to Batticaloa in the Eastern Province.
The official previously told the media that plans were underway to build several new railway lines to connect villages in the country.
The planned railway lines include tracks from Panadura to Horana, Kurunegala to Dambulla via Habarana, Badulla to Wellawaya via Bibila, Maho to Puttalam, Medawachchiya to Trincomalee and Avissawella to Hambanthota.
In addition, plans are underway to build an electric railway network in Colombo metropolis.
Aadi Sinhaley
Aey Weera Meemuthun Layin
Saara Wu
Udara Wu
Mathru Bhumi-yayi
Mathru Bhumi-yayi!
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Rebels fought against British colonial rulers of Sri Lanka honored as national heroes
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Nov 24, Colombo: Sri Lanka's Ministry of Cultural Affairs has organized a felicitation ceremony to honor 177 Sri Lankans who were labeled as traitors for fighting against the island's British colonial rulers in the early 1800s.
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has declared the 177 persons who joined the Uva-Wellassa Rebellion in 1818 against the British colonial government under Governor Robert Brownrigg as national heroes.
The Sri Lankan government now considers this rebellion as a freedom struggle against the British occupation of the country.
The Ministry of Cultural Affairs has compiled a book written by Professor Anura Manathunga and titled "Pioneers of 1818 Freedom Struggle" (1818 Nidahas Aragalye Purogamiyo) on the national heroes.
Minister of Cultural Affairs T.B. Ekanayake will hand over the book to the President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Temple Trees on Friday (25).
A special felicitation ceremony for the heroes will be held on November 26 at the National Museum.
President Rajapaksa in March this year revoked the centuries-old British gazette notification issued by the then Governor Sir Robert Brownrigg which labeled the Uva Wellassa freedom fighters as traitors and ordered to confiscate their assets.
This CENSUS should be conducted islandwide, including those who died from terrorism in the SOUTH; not just in the NORTH & EAST.
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Census on deaths during conflict
DailyMirror.lk
November 24, 2011
The Government is preparing a census of persons who either died or went missing during the period of conflict, according to Secretary of Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The Secretary told the first “Conference on Reconciliation”, held earlier this morning, that the government saw the need to address the issues of accountability and this was a step towards that effort.
“The government officials in the north have been entrusted with the task of completing this census and they will identify individuals specifically by name,” the Secretary said.
He promised that the data had been collected for the census and it would be released soon.
“We have divided the deaths into various categories natural causes, accidents, those that died fighting for the LTTE, those that were forced to fight for the LTTE, those that died resisting the LTTE and those that died while fleeing the country illegally by boat,” he said.
He further stated that those who died owing to the military were a very small figure and that if credible allegations were filed, the military would take responsibility for these deaths. (Dianne Silva)
More Indian Racist Demagogues trying to PROPEL themselves into power on the back of Sri Lanka.
Now PITTING Hindus AGAINST Buddhists!
When will these DEMAGOGUES be brought to a reckoning on THEIR PERFORMANCE for the BENEFIT of THEIR OWN PEOPLE in THEIR OWN COUNTRY?
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Muthalik projects himself as saviour of Lankan Hindus
November 23, 2011
CHENNAI, 23 NOV: The national president of Karnataka based Sriram Sena, a rabid Hindu outfit known for targeting minorities, Mr Pramod Muthalik, is now officially also the leader of a newly formed outfit called "Ilankai Indu Makkal Padukappu Peravai" (Sri Lankan Hindu People Protection Forum). Mr Muthalik revealed this at a Press meet at Madurai today. He was in Madurai to address a meeting organized by the newly-formed Forum to discuss the prevailing situation in Sri Lanka. “The problem in Sri Lanka would be converted into a national issue and the forum will campaign through out the nation in all languages to bring awareness,” Mr Muthalik told reporters in Madurai today. His organization also pledged support to retrieve Katchativu Island from Sri Lanka. Mr Muthalik is the latest Hindu leader to get into the act of supporting the Sri Lankan Tamil cause felt to be aggravated by the Congress government in Centre. The state Hindu Munnani is already in the forefront picking on the issue and supporting the cause of a separate state for Lankan Tamils.
The state BJP, taking off on the point that the Hindu temples are being razed in Sri Lanka making way for Buddhist stupas and that the oppressed Lankan Tamils were predominantly Hindus has already made a show of support for the latter. The MDMK, an organisation committed to the cause of Sri Lankan Tamils, is not averse to siding with the BJP for its support of the Sri Lankan Tamil cause. The ruling AIADMK led by chief minister Miss J Jayalalithaa, who has the backing of pro-Tamil outfits voicing concern for Sri Lankan Tamils, has already dropped enough hints at them that she wants the Congress-led government in Centre to quit and an alternate power to emerge in New Delhi.
UAE-Sri Lanka trade turnover stands at 548.4 million U.S. dollars, of which Sri Lankan exports to the UAE amounted to 246.2 million U.S. dollars
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UAE trade minister to arrive in Sri Lanka tomorrow on trade mission
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Nov 23, Colombo: The Foreign Trade Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is to arrive in Sri Lanka Thursday to boost bilateral ties , the Trade Ministry said.
UAE Foreign Trade Minister Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi will lead a business delegation to Colombo for a three-day official visit on November 24-26 at the invitation of Sri Lanka's Minister of Industry & Commerce Rishad Bathiyutheen.
The UAE delegation is expected to hold discussions to strengthen the bilateral trade efforts between the two countries.
The UAE minister will also lead the UAE-Sri Lanka Business Forum to be held in Colombo tomorrow.
The UAE has become the largest foreign direct investor to Sri Lanka among the Gulf countries.
The major UAE conglomerates operating in Sri Lanka Etisalat, Al Ghuraia and Al Futaim contribute to Sri Lanka's corporate sector outlook significantly.
Currently, UAE-Sri Lanka trade turnover stands at 548.4 million U.S. dollars, of which Sri Lankan exports to the UAE amounted to 246.2 million U.S. dollars, making the UAE one of the key trading partners in the Middle East.
Bloggers,
I have posted a new article by Charles Perera of Lankaweb.com.
Please shift over to it. Thx.
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