Sri Lanka celebrates victory over terrorism with a grand parade

ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

 
May 18, Matara: Sri Lanka today staged an extravagant military parade to celebrate the monumental victory over the terrorist war waged by the Tamil Tiger rebels for three decades.
The victory celebrations presided by the President Mahinda Rajapaksa were held at Southern city of Matara with the participation of the Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne, armed forces commanders, Defense Secretary, government ministers and other political leaders, the diplomatic core and other dignitaries.

The three armed forces - Sri Lanka Army, Navy and Air Force, police and Civil Defense Force paraded along the streets of Matara town. Highlight of the military parade was the wheel chair parade of the disabled soldiers.

The parade included 3,734 army, 1,189 navy, 1,100 air force, 643 police and 578 civil defense personnel of other ranks and 24 paratroopers of all the forces.

(Photos by Sudath Silva)

It is Modi all the way…

By Varghese K George
TheHindu.com
May 16, 2014

As trends from across the country emerge, it is clear that Narendra Modi will be the next prime minister of India. With leads in 530 of the 543 seats available, the BJP and its allies were leading in nearly 313 seats, much more than the halfway mark.

What appears also clear by 11 am, within three hours after the counting begun, is that the BJP is headed for a historic victory and the Congress towards a catastrophic failure. The BJP appears sweeping Gujarat, Delhi, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, while Congress mascot Rahul Gandhi faces a tough battle in home constituency Amethi. Mr Gandhi is trailing behind his BJP opponent Smriti Irani in early counting rounds, while SP supremo Mulayam Singh just may lose in Azamgarh.

Not only has the BJP consolidated in its strongholds such as Gujarat and Rajasthan, it has emerged from the ashes in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and blazed a new trail in unlikely states such as West Bengal and Assam. The BJP also was leading in one seat in Kerala – a state where the party had marginal presence.

With the stamp of Mr Modi writ all over the outcome, the Gujarat strongman has emerged as a pan-Indian leader, who has overcome barriers of geography, caste, class and demography to stitch together an alliance that catapulted the saffron party to an impressive victory. Early last year, when he took over the reins of the BJP campaign, it was gasping for survival, but what followed has perhaps changed the political landscape of India.

The process of government formation will kick in with the election commissioners meeting the president of India on 19th evening to present him the results of the 16th general elections. The BJP parliamentary party will elect him the leader soon after and the swearing in could be expected on 23rd or 24th of May.

Equally startling as the BJP victory is the comprehensive defeat of the Congress that has been at the head of the government for the last 10 years. There appeared hardly any state other than Kerala, where the party was expected to hold on to a respectable presence. Party heavyweights ranging from Kapil Sibal to Kamal Nath and new entrants such as IT czar Nandan Nilekani appeared beaten at the hustings.

Sri Lanka has overcome many development challenges successfully - World Bank

The DEVELOPMENT PROGRESS the World Bank sees was IN PART made possible by the Funds Remitted by MILLIONS of patriotic Sri Lankan Expatriates to their families in Sri Lanka, who are out of sight but are NEVER out of their minds!
 
It is now TIME to enable them to GRADUALLY COME HOME in their old age to their well earned reward of living out their lives among their families, and contributing FURTHER to the development of their Motherland giving the last full measure of their devotion to their country.

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Sri Lanka has overcome many development challenges successfully - World Bank

ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

May 09,Kandy: In the recent past Sri Lanka has been successful in overcoming many development challenges including moving people out of poverty and taking measures to boost shared prosperity, the World Bank said.

Addressing the South Asian Urban Transformation Workshop held in Kandy, in central Sri Lanka, World Bank Country Director for Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Francoise Clottes said the country is now focusing on addressing new challenges involving bold decisions and transformational approaches.

The World Bank official said given the magnitude of the urbanization process, Sri Lankan cities will have tremendous opportunities for economic and social development while facing unprecedented policy challenges at the same time.

She said the urbanization also means greater pressure on land and housing as well as the entire networked infrastructure underlying the supply of basic urban services, leading to a rapid deterioration in a quality of life for their citizens.

"The challenge is to respond fast and efficiently," the official said.

Urban development is a relatively new area of engagement for the World Bank, supported by the first IBRD loan to Sri Lanka in 2012 to regenerate Sri Lanka's urban areas.

The Metro Colombo Urban Development project is currently helping the Colombo Metropolitan Region to address obstacles to realizing its full economic potential, including inadequate infrastructure and services and significant vulnerability to flooding

The World Bank is also extending its support to Sri Lankan government in the urban sector through a second large project which was approved by the World Bank Board 3 days ago- the Strategic Cities Development Project, which focuses on urban services improvement in two cities: Kandy and Galle.

Sri Lanka is taking important steps to implement its urban vision, including connectivity improvements, urban renewal and sustainable initiatives in its strategic cities, according to the World Bank official.

"The Bank will stand ready to provide support to understand the economic drivers of rapidly growing cities," she said.

"Fostering economic growth in major urban centers outside of Colombo should produce a more spatially balanced contribution to the economic opportunities and bolster shared prosperity and overall national economic growth."

Ms. Clottes said the Sri Lankan government is not only aware of issues connected with urbanization but also provides the space to deliberate and find means of addressing these issues.

DISMISS the NPC, REPEAL the 13th Amendment and PROSECUTE the TRAITORS who oppose BANNING Eelamist Terrorist Groups!

 By Ananda-USA

The NPC passing a resolution opposing the recent GOSL ban on Separatist Terrorist groups abroad, is CLEAR EVIDENCE of TREASON against Sri Lanka.

What is the GOSL still waiting for?

Declare it TREASON by UNREPENTANT DEDICATED TERRORIST SUPPORTERS, DISMISS the NPC, REPEAL the 13th Amendment as INIMICAL to Sri Lanka's National Security and Sovereignty, and ENFORCE the 6th Amendment by ARRESTING, PROSECUTING, CONVICTING and SEVERELY PUNISHING these terrorist hoodlums for their TREASONOUS activities during the last 30 years that is STILL continuing in FULL SWING!

What more EVIDENCE of TREASONOUS INTENT do you need?

It is CLEAR that empowering these SEPARATIST TRAITORS to CONSPIRE with Sri Lanka's enemies both WITHIN and WITHOUT, will ultimately DESTROY Sri Lanka.

GOSL ... uphold your duty to Defend and Protect the Nation and its People NOW!

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Northern PC passes resolution opposing Sri Lankan government's ban on pro-LTTE organizations

ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Apr 29, Colombo: The Northern Provincial Council in Sri Lanka has adopted a resolution against the government's decision to proscribe 16 international Tamil diaspora organizations alleged of functioning as LTTE front organizations.

The Council controlled by the major Tamil party, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Monday passed 23 resolutions including a resolution demanding the government to withdraw the ban on the 16 overseas Tamil organizations.

The resolution moved by the Council member M.K. Sivajilingam has been passed unanimously.

However Provincial Councilor A. Jayathilaka has told local media that the UPFA members in opposition objected to the TNA resolution.

The government on April 01 signed the UN Resolution 1373, which sets out strategies to combat terrorism and to control terrorist financing.

Among the organizations proscribed are, the LTTE's Trans National Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) headed by New York lawyer Visuvanathan Ruthirakumaran, Global Tamil Forum (GTF), which is headed by Fr.SJ Emmanuel and active in Europe, and the UK-based British Tamil Forum (BTF).

The Tamil groups claims the government banned the diaspora groups to thwart the international investigation into Sri Lanka's alleged human right violations requested by the UN resolution.

Sivajilingam said that also a resolution to thank the countries that supported the US-sponsored resolution on Sri Lanka adopted at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva last month.

Australia says co-operation with Sri Lanka to prevent people smuggling is a success

At least ONE country, Australia, recognizes that Sri Lanka has been, and wants to be, a good law-abiding supportive friend to other neighboring countries, despite all the BS that self serving advocates of illegal immigration in the Eelamist Tamil Diaspora have dished out! 

They recognize the ESSENTIAL TRUTH: no country that allows its Laws to be Flouted at Will can LONG ENDURE!

Jayawewa, Sri Lanka! STAY THE COURSE!
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Australia says co-operation with Sri Lanka to prevent people smuggling is a success

ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Apr 24, Canberra: The Australian government says it is engaging proactively and positively with Sri Lanka to prevent the illegal migration of people through the sea route and the measures taken in cooperation with Sri Lanka are successful in reducing the number of people illegally entering its borders.

In an interview with a radio program Australian Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Scott Morrison said the Australian government is cooperating with Sri Lanka to ensure that the island nation has the necessary means to ensure the integrity of its borders, which ensure integrity of his country's borders.

He was responding to a media query about the patrol vessel gifted to Sri Lanka to assist the anti-people smuggling operations.

Australia Tuesday signed the deed for the transfer of one of the two Bay Class patrol vessels it promised to gift to Sri Lanka by the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott when he visited Sri Lanka last November to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo.

The first of the two boats has already left Cairns port and the other one will be delivered in July, the Minister said.

Responding to the concerns regarding returning the illegal migrants back to Sri Lanka promptly, Morrison said the measure is to ensure that people don't take the dangerous sea voyage all the way to Australia.

He noted that thousands have been repatriated back to Sri Lanka and the international organizations such as UNHCR and IOM are there to provide assistance to the people.

"Well India is about 30km away and you can almost walk there on high tide. In Sri Lanka the UNHCR is there, other international organizations are there, the IOM, there have been thousands of people repatriated back into Sri Lanka over the last few years and it is many years since the Sri Lankan civil war ended now and what we're seeing is real progress," the Minister commented.

The Minister noted that large number of Sri Lankans have arrived through legitimate migration pathways as skilled migration and family migration and rubbished the suggestion that only resort people have in Sri Lanka to come to Australia is illegally by sea.

"We have a legitimate migration program and if people want to engage that legitimate migration program then the evidence is there that if you've got a skill and you've got a basis to be able to come here legitimately then that is being demonstrated to be possible," he said.

Dismissing the concerns expressed by the UNHCR on Australia's policy of turning back the illegal migrants without considering their cases, the Australian Minister said the policy is a success and it is not only good for Australia but also good for the region since the policy curtails the migration and prevents the deaths of the migrants at sea.

Attempts to revive Tamil Tiger terrorist organization in Sri Lanka surface

ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Apr 12, Colombo: Sri Lanka’s military authorities say there is a renewed attempt to revive the defeated Tamil Tiger terrorist organization Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the North to launch another phase of its struggle for a separate state.

The military in a statement reveled that information on several key suspects who were leading the campaign for resurgence of the LTTE surfaced in the general area of Pallai in the Jaffna Peninsula.

Investigations into the activities of former LTTE operatives have resulted in several arrests which in turn have led to recovery of arms, ammunition, explosives and other material that were in their possession.

Investigations have revealed that the local group was functioning under the instructions of Europe-based LTTE leaders Nediyawan and Vinayagam who were preparing the ground for another armed struggle.

Immediate objectives of the local group included the recovery or war like material dumped by the LTTE during retreat, re-establishment of LTTE intelligence network, regrouping of the potential cadre including those rehabilitated, collecting information on potential targets including in other provinces, the military said.

Military Investigations have revealed that the funds for the subversive activities came from Europe using an illegal money laundering scheme in the subcontinent known as Hawala system. It has been found that many safe houses, vehicles and other resources required for resurgence of the LTTE had been procured by the suspected LTTE leaders using this money.

Three local leaders in the attempted resurgence of the LTTE were identified as Sundaralingam Kajeepan alias Thevihan, who was involved in aerial attacks on Anuradhapura Air Base and Kollonnawa Petroleum Storage in year 2007, Selvanayagam Kajeepan alias Gobi, and Navarathnam Navaneethan alias Appan.

All three LTTE operatives were shot dead by the security forces during the Thursday night’s search operation in the general area of Nedunkerni in Vavuniya.

Investigators have trailed the three suspects and made several arrests of second and third level cadres who were under the command of the three leader. However the main three had remained elusive.

On March 13 when a team of police and army officers zeroed in on Gobi, the leader, who was taking shelter at the residence of the Tamil activist Balendran Jeyakumari, shot at the police and escaped.

A search in Jeyakumari’s residence had found A Menelab F-3 type mine detector, and therefore, Ms. Jeyakumari was placed under arrest on suspicion of aiding and abetting Gobi in his activities.

The general area where the three leaders -Thevihan, Gobi and Appan -were hiding was identified. On 10 April 2014 troops in a search operation in the jungle area off Padaviya recovered four backpacks containing rations, medicine, cloths, and other items believed to be used by the suspects.

The troops have surrounded the identified area and in the early hours of Friday, April 11 the three armed suspects who attempted to escape the area clashed with the troops in the cordon. All three were killed and two of the dead were later identified as Thevihan and Gobi. The third is yet to be identified, but is believed to be that of Appan.

Sri Lanka police said 65 persons including 10 women were arrested in the past month under suspicion of attempting to resuscitate LTTE. Sri Lankan authorities recently arrested a senior LTTE cadre called Subramaniam Kapilan a.k.a. Nandigopal when he arrived at the Colombo airport following his deportation from Malaysia.

The government on April 01 banned the LTTE and 15 other Tamil diaspora groups that are alleged of having terror links and involved in reviving the terrorist movement in the country.

Military Spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said a volume of information on the whereabouts of the suspects came from the local people who did not approve of any attempt of resurgence of the LTTE and the information helped immensely in the investigations.

Judicial inquiry into the Friday’s incident is in progress, the Spokesman said.

In Pictures: President welcomes Sri Lanka's WorldT20 Cricket Champions

 ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Apr 08, Colombo: 

 Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa welcomed the WorldT20 Cricket Cup winning Sri Lankan national team tonight at the Temple Trees.

The President congratulated the team and praised the players for bringing honor and fame to the country.

The team arrived Tuesday afternoon from Dhaka after their win on Sunday against India. The team was paraded from the Katunayake airport to the Galle Face in an open top double decker bus and millions of fans lined the streets to get a glimpse of the players. (Photos by Sudath Silva)

Say NO to Indian Interference in Sri Lanka's Internal Matters!

 By Ananda-USA
April 6, 2014

The Congress Party's Election Manifesto is STILL PANDERING to Tamil Nadu politicians, despite its ally, the DMK, having abandoned the Congress Party in the upcoming elections.

Just a few days ago, Indian High Commissioner Y. K. Sinha was harping on the  "full implementation of the 13th Amendment and going beyond and show concrete movement towards a meaningful devolution of powers".

Sri Lanka really needs to KICK India out of INTERFERING in Sri Lanka's internal matters, and to DRIVE A SPIKE into the heart of this "DEVOLUTION" demand by REPEALING the 13th Amendment and IMPLEMENTING the 6th Amendment to the Constitution without DELAY.

As long as Sri Lanka CONTINUES to mollycoddle the Tamil Separatists and their India backers, and give them hope that through DEVOLUTION OF POWER under the 13th Amendment they can GAIN through BLACKMAIL in PEACE what they FAILED to WIN by VIOLENCE in WAR, Sri Lanka will FOREVER be pursued by India trying to PLEASE its Tamil constituency.

This MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE!

Irrespective of WHICH PARTY comes to power in New Delhi (and it appears that a COALITION led by the BJP will do so), Sri Lanka needs to not only to TELL India, but DECISIVELY KICK India, out of our country. BTW, if a BJP-led coalition comes to power, the AIADMK led by Jayalalitha will most likely be a part of it, and Sri Lanka's troubles with India could WORSEN!

One way of getting the MESSAGE ACROSS, is to DO UNTO as DONE UNTO: by inviting Indian Separatists from Kashmir, Assam and elsewhere in India to Sri Lanka for Discussions on their GRIEVANCES, offering to use "Sri Lanka's GOOD OFFICES" on a CONTINUING BASIS to MEDIATE with the Government of India. After all, just as Sri Lankan Tamils have kinfolk in India, we Sri Lanka Sinhalese have kinfolk ALL over INdia, and we have a STAKE in resolving their OUTSTANDING GRIEVANCES ... Don't we?

The current approach of accepting one-way INTEFERENCE in Sri Lanka by India MUST END; let us make it a TWO WAY STREET!

FIRST and FOREMOST, the GOSL must get India out of its involvement in Reconstruction and REhabilitation of the North and East of Sri Lanka. They are just BUILDING a FIFTH COLUMN among the Tamil citizens of Sri Lanka. Limit Indians to ONLY THEIR EMBASSY in Colombo!

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The Indian Elections: What The Congress Party Has To Say About Foreign Policy

By Alyssa Ayres
Forbes.com
April4, 2014

This post is part of a series on the Indian elections.

With India’s national elections about to kick off on April 7, politics dominates the media and private conversations alike. Most of the conversation focuses on the poll horse race, at this point heavily favoring the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to win more than 200 of the 543 seats in the lower house of Parliament and form a coalition government. (Click here to learn three things to know about the upcoming elections).

Foreign policy, however, has been largely invisible throughout this campaign cycle, except for the contributions of the two main regional parties in Tamil Nadu, which have a long-standing and special focus on Sri Lanka. Of the two main national parties, only Congress has released its official manifesto so far, putting its foreign policy platform on view for all. (The BJP appears to be in an internal squabble about its manifesto, which was slated for an April 3 release but now may not come out until next week).

Chief of India's ruling Congress party Sonia Gandhi holds her party's manifesto for the April/May general election in New Delhi on March 26, 2014 (Adnan Abidi/Courtesy Reuters).

Chief of India’s ruling Congress party Sonia Gandhi holds her party’s manifesto for the April/May general election in New Delhi on March 26, 2014 (Adnan Abidi/Courtesy Reuters).

The Congress Party manifesto provides some important insights into how the party views India’s role in the world, and indeed how the party views India itself. For Congress, foreign policy comes at the very end of its 50-page platform document, and occupies less than two pages. The most striking aspect for an American reader is the absence of any specific reference to the United States—not one mention.

While the document prioritizes India’s role as a “critical bridge between the developed world and developing world,” and refers by name to China, Brazil, South Africa, Pakistan, Afghanistan, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and Sri Lanka, there’s not a hint of any specific interest in furthering ties with the United States beyond doing so as part of “building peaceful, stable and mutually beneficial relations with all major powers” as prioritized at the top of the foreign policy platform.

What the platform does emphasize at the very top, however, are the party’s commitments to contribute to global challenges like “climate change and sustainable development, non-proliferation, international trade and cross-border terrorism.” Its second and third priorities focus on support for an Indian seat on the UN Security Council, and in combating global terrorism.

At that point the document turns to describing India’s unique role in the world—using the “critical bridge” language, but additionally highlighting the “cumulative heritage of Non-Aligned Movement” (NAM) and pledges to “continue to support the goodwill nurtured for decades amongst socialist countries.” These elements come as something of a surprise given that they have no counterpart language in the platform situating India as a rising power, or more fully describing India’s interests and partnerships with the United States, European Union, Japan, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia or other powers with which India has strong ties. Given anticipation around the world for an India rising to global power, it’s worth noting that the Congress worldview appears focused on India as a “bridge” more than India as a “power.”

Within the region, as one might expect, the platform pledges to strengthen SAARC, resolve border differences with China, improve relations with Pakistan while “calibrating” according to Pakistani action in tackling terror and affirms support for Afghanistan’s peace process. The section on Sri Lanka is relatively detailed in comparison to other countries, committing to press for “full equality” for Sri Lanka’s Tamil minority as well as a credible inquiry into allegations of excesses at the end of the Sri Lankan civil war in 2009.

Although not included in the section on foreign policy, the Congress manifesto contains substantial attention to trade and economics, including a commitment to get back to eight percent growth, and a road map for the next half decade. The platform promises to promote “greater integration with the global economy” and encourage foreign direct investment.

The manifesto also pledges to “ensure that India has a globally competitive business and investment-friendly environment.” It specifically calls to improve India’s rank in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business index from its current 134 to 75 within five years. These are welcome words for foreign investors and governments supportive of enhancing trade and investment ties. They also serve as an acknowledgement that recent years—in a Congress-led government—have dampened perceptions of India.

Outside observers will be watching to see how the foreign policy discussion in India evolves further during the coming weeks, especially after the BJP releases its manifesto. In an effort to focus on foreign policy positions in the Indian elections, Mumbai’s Gateway House convened a panel discussion April 1 (watch the video here) which featured representatives of the BJP, Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party. I was delighted to participate as a discussant with some thoughts on what Americans have in mind as they await the outcome in India. As the April 1 panel proceeded, it appeared as if the three parties represented had similar positions on trade, UN Security Council, China and other issues—so the coming weeks and more fully articulated statements from all the parties on their foreign policy positions will be helpful.

For now, the Congress Party’s platform puts into writing an approach to the region consistent with its years in government. It’s the framing of India’s role in the world, however, that officially presents some ideas that sit less comfortably alongside the notion of India as a rising global power.




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India asks Sri Lanka to show concrete movement towards a meaningful devolution of power

 ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
 
Apr 05, Colombo: India has asked Sri Lanka to take forward the process of broader dialogue through full implementation of the 13th Amendment and going beyond and show concrete movement towards a meaningful devolution of powers.
Such move would greatly facilitate national reconciliation by building trust and confidence on all sides, India's top diplomat in Colombo said.

Indian High Commissioner Y. K. Sinha said New Delhi had also conveyed to Colombo on a number of occasions the need for expeditious steps towards genuine national reconciliation, including investigations into allegations of human rights violations, restoration of normalcy in affected areas, reduction of 'high security zones', satisfactorily addressing the issue of missing persons and the redressal of humanitarian concerns of the affected families.

Addressing the Foreign Correspondents Association in Colombo Friday, the Indian envoy said India's view is that the end of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka provided a unique opportunity to pursue a lasting political settlement within the framework of a united Sri Lanka, and acceptable to all the communities in the island, including the Tamils.

Welcoming the successful elections held for the Northern Provincial Council last year, the envoy urged both the government and the major Tamil party Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to engage constructively, "in a spirit of partnership and mutual accommodation", so that the urgent needs of the people of the Northern Province are addressed with a sense of urgency and purpose.

"Only such a cooperative approach will pave the way for genuine reconciliation amongst the communities involved," Mr. Sinha said.

Speaking about the trade between the two countries and the number of development projects India has funded in Sri Lanka, the envoy expressed confidence that India-Sri Lanka relations will expand exponentially in the coming years.

"It is our hope that the Government of Sri Lanka, recognizing the critical importance of genuine reconciliation, acts with vision and sagacity. We will remain engaged and offer our support in a spirit of partnership and cooperation," the High Commissioner noted.

Asian giants, several Latin American and Asian countries firmly behind Sri Lanka in Geneva

TheDailyNews.com
April 4, 2014

Several Asian, Latin American and African countries including Asian giants Russia and China yesterday condemned the High Commissioner for the United Nations Human Rights Council for exceeding her mandate in calling for an International investigative mechanism for Sri Lanka and for policticising the UNHRC to cater to the geo-polical interests of certain powerful countries.
The Venezuelan representative said the High Commissioner’ s report was the outcome of a highly politicised process during which Sri Lanka was not listened to. The head of the Russian delegation said the international community should recognize the achievements that has been made by Sri Lanka and “we condemn this attempt of trying to use Human Rights as a way of settling political accounts and achieving geopolitical advantage”.

Excerpts of comments:

Cuba

Example of the politicization of double standards

The report presented by the Human Rights Commissioner today is another example of the politicization of double standards that have taken root in the Council. The concluding recommendations in the report reflects the imbalance that prevails when dealing with Human Rights situations in the South. Despite the flaws of this process the Government of Sri Lanka has demonstrated its genuine commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights of its population. Sri Lanka has on several occasions made this Committee aware about the progress made and of different aspects of the national reconciliation process.

The Sri Lankan government has taken many measures and these have enabled them to make significant progress in the areas of rehabilitation, de-mining, resettlement, de-militarisation, reconstruction and development. All these measures are appreciable. The High Commissioners report does not acknowledge many achievements of Sri Lanka’s national reconciliation process nor does it recognise we have a commitment to support it. The message been sent by this action to other countries is a very negative one. The imposition of a so-called independent investigation in the country which has become so fashionable in recent times, does not acknowledge the internal process carried out by Sri Lanka.

Some will argue that the treatment meted out to Sri Lanka and the resolution on Sri Lanka will have one purpose, which is to the scale up the dialogue with the Sri Lankan government. Now this argument is not a credible one. This is not an issue which requires the attention of the Council. The treatment given to Sri Lanka will have a negative impact on the national reconciliation process which Sri Lanka is experiencing today. Cuba shall continue to support efforts made by Sri Lanka to promote and protect human rights.

Venezuela

Sri Lanka is making definite progress towards its national reconciliation

The report was the outcome of a highly politicised process during which the country concerned was not listened to. The report recommends that an international independent investigation mechanism be established. Venezuela will vote against this. Sri Lanka is making definite progress towards its national reconciliation and has prepared a national action plan stemming from the report of the LLRC.

There are 144 recommendations currently being implemented in relation to rehabilitation of former combatants, resettlement, reconstruction etc. Poverty reduction in the former conflict affected areas have been kept on par with national levels. The overall poverty in the country has been reduced. Doing so Sri Lanka has gone beyond its MDG’s. There has been no appreciation for the major efforts made by the Sri Lankan government to honour its human rights commitment since peace returned to the country in 2009. The report does not reflect this properly. Sri Lanka continues to prove it is seriously committed to work with the council. Venezuela rejects the attempts to interfere in the domestic process of Sri Lanka. We must uproot these interventionist, selective and the demonstration of double standards. The council must support the efforts of the Government of Sri Lanka.

Iran

The constructive engagement of Sri Lanka in the UPR mechanism as the most appropriate platform to address the human rights situations in all countries is admirable

We are of the view that the international community should support Sri Lanka in its endeavour to achieve full reconciliation. The council should appreciate the positive steps taken by the Government of Sri Lanka to host the official visit of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in August 2013 and the effective measures taken so far to address the accountability issues.

The constructive engagement of Sri Lanka in the UPR mechanism as the most appropriate platform to address the human rights situations in all countries is admirable. We oppose the politicization of human rights issues and taking up country’s specific issues. In this regard the Human Rights Council should engage the country concerned in a constructive manner and contribute to the improvement of human rights situation on the ground.

Zimbabwe

Sri Lanka continues to make significant progress on the reconciliation process and has regularly updated the council on such progress

Zimbabwe wishes to lend its support to the Government of Sri Lanka’s efforts to implement the provisions of resolution 2231 which is about promoting reconciliation and accountability in the country. It is clear that Sri Lanka continues to make significant progress on the reconciliation process and has regularly updated the council on such progress.

The recommendations of the resolution 2231 was to request the Government of Sri Lanka to implement the recommendations of the LLRC.

However, the High Commissioners report goes beyond this mandate by making reference to and recommendations on extraneous issues and its call for an inquiry by an international mechanism to investigate the alleged violations.

Sri Lanka’s cooperation with the OHCHR and mechanisms of the councils should be commended. Its goodwill is evident by the facilitation of the High Commissioners visit in August 2013, pursuant to an invitation extended by the government in 2011. It has also continued its engagement with all procedures exemplified by the visit in December 2013 by the special rapporteur of of human rights of internally displaced persons.

Zimbabwe calls on the Council to reciprocate Sri Lanka’s good will by encouraging rather than condemning as it goes about fulfilling its obligations.


  China

China supports Sri Lanka  to defend its national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity

The Chinese delegation takes note the LLRC report in promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka. China commends Sri Lanka efforts and achievements in promoting national reconciliation socio-economic development and promotion and protection of human rights including the efforts into investigating the allegation of violations of human rights and seeking justice. China welcomes the government of Sri Lanka to actually implement the recommendations of LLRC and put in place the National Action Plan to this end.
The Government of Sri Lanka has strengthened its cooperation with UN Human Rights mechanism and other relevant mechanism which should be recognized. China finds regrettable that the report fails to present comprehensively and objectively of the the achievements of the efforts by the Government of Sri Lanka It is only through constructive dialogue and cooperation that difference in the area of human rights can be settled and exerting pressure and confrontation make the issues more complicated.

China supports Sri Lanka to defend its national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is convinced that the people of Sri Lanka have wisdom and capacity to solve their internal affairs. China requests all countries to respect the rights of the people and the government to deal with the internal affairs and understand the difficulties confronting Sri Lanka, give enough time and space to Sri Lanka to to implement international mechanism.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh recognizes Sri Lanka’s struggle to come out of the clutches of terrorism and bring peace and reconciliation to its people 

Bangladesh recognizes Sri Lanka’s struggle to come out of the clutches of terrorism and bring peace and reconciliation to its people. We recognize the positive steps taken so far in spite of the difficulties in a post war situation. Given the enormity of the challenges, the progress made so far cannot be ignored.
My delegation recognizes also Sri Lankan government’s willingness to engage constructively with the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms as shown by its extending invitations to several special rapporteur mandate holders while engaging with the other mandate holders and working groups.

We believe that due regard or recognition to the significant progresses made in the reconciliation process in Sri Lanka including the rigorous work undertaken since July 2012 in operationalising the recommendations of the National Action Plan for the implementation of the LLRC needs to be given by the Human Rights Council.

Considering its socio-economic constraints, which are common to many developing countries, Sri Lanka needs to be given the time and space and assistance and cooperation by the international community to implement its domestic process of reconciliation.

We also believe that any action taking in the promotion and protection of the human rights of the country must have the consent of that country, and based on the principles of cooperation and genuine dialogue and on the founding principles of universality, impartiality, non-selectivity which govern the work and functions of the Council as clearly delineated in GA resolution 60/251 and the IB package.

Having said that we also recognize that much remains to be done. We therefore while emphasizing on the need for a home grown political solution to this long standing dispute encourages Sri Lanka to look for durable solutions based on equity and inclusiveness. In doing so, we urge Sri Lanka to continue its efforts to uphold human rights.

 

Pakistan

Sri Lanka is a country with excellent democratic credentials 

My delegation believes in a culture of engagement for ensuring the promotion and protection of human rights. We believe that country specific initiatives are confrontational counter productive and seriously undermines the spirit of cooperation and coordination on important human rights issues.

We believe that the High Commissioner’s report is not balanced and and some of the elements including the recommendation to establish an international inquiry mechanism exceed the mandate granted by the Human Rights Council Resolution 22 /1 to the High Commissioner. We are also disappointed over the discriminatory approach followed by the OHCHR with regard to placement of Sri Lanka’s comments in response to the report on the extra-net.

Sri Lanka is a country with excellent democratic credentials. It has successfully overcome 30 years of brutal terrorism by the LTTE with external support. Now is the time for the international community to help the people in Sri Lanka to heal their wounds and not penalize them for defeating the LTTE at the behest of the people still continue to align themselves with these terrorist forces. There is also a need to acknowledge the commitment and cooperation extended by the government of Sri Lanka to the entire human rights machinery.

Since the end of the terrorist conflict in May 2009 Sri Lanka has continued to regularly and voluntarily engage with the council and with the missions based in Geneva on the progress in their reconciliation process.
Pakistan lauds the progress achieved by Sri Lanka in implementing the national plan of action and recommendations of the LLRC. As part of this continued engagement the High Commissioner undertook a week long visit to Sri Lanka from August 25-31, 2013 on the invitation of the government.

The government of Sri Lanka arranged a comprehensive program and provided unfettered access during the visit .She must refrain from advocating a course of action that will exaggerate the challenges that the Sri Lankan people are trying to overcome after 30 years of terrorist and separatist violence.

The international community should act as a facilitator for peace and stability and be part of the solution rather than the part of the problem. There is a dire need to comprehend and comprehensively address the enormous challenges being faced by Sri Lanka rather than penalizing the country for rooting out terrorism from its soil.
Russian Federation

Sri Lanka has undoubtedly achieved significant success in achieving national reconciliation while upholding all kinds of rights of the population

Russia has consistently opposed addressing the matter of Sri Lanka by the Council because we do not see objective reasons for doing this. In this connection, we cannot agree to many of the assessments made in the High Commissioner’s report which lie beyond her mandate and which could be interpreted as interference into domestic affairs of the state. We would like to once again underline that reports of this kind are supposed to help the normalization of the situation and not lead to an escalation of tension.

Sri Lanka is open to dialogue and in existing problems the country is pursuing its cooperation with the UNHRC. The High Commissioner’s visit, in the course of which she had unimpeded access to all areas of interest to her is a confirmation of this. Sri Lanka has undoubtedly achieved significant success in achieving national reconciliation while upholding all kinds of rights of the population. We would like to underline the recent democratic elections in the North of the country which saw the Tamils in the lead. Incidentally, these elections were only possible now that the terrorism has been beaten.

We welcome the government’s adoption of further 53 recommendations of the LLRC and we call on Colombo to continue its work to implement the National Action Plan to implement the Commission’s conclusions. The fact that for four years now we have not seen any explosions is the most convincing demonstration of the fact that the government’s domestic policy is addressing the interests of all the people in the country. The international community should recognize the achievements that has been achieved by the country and we condemn this attempt trying to use human rights as a way of settling political accounts and achieving geopolitical advantage. We consider that the process of national reconciliation should take place and implemented by the Sri Lankans themselves without the imposition of any so called assistance from outside. In this connection we disagree with the new draft resolution because it is far beyond the matters of reconciliation and is a direct interference in to domestic affairs of a sovereign state.


Uganda

The  international  community to assist and appreciate the achievement made by Sri Lanka

Uganda has taken on the report of reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka. We also take note that as a country which has emerged from decades long conflict, having defeated terrorism Sri Lanka has made commendable achievement in its effort at achieving reconciliation among its communities. There is need for the international community to assist and appreciate the achievement made by Sri Lanka and encourage Sri Lanka to continue to its persist rather than calling for international investigation. The report’s calls for an international investigation in to this situation has no basis.

We should be mindful that Sri land fought one of the most ruthless terrorist groups in the world. We therefore welcome the commitment shown by the Government of Sri Lanka for continuous engagement with the UN Human Rights Council by facilitating the visits of a number of the Human Rights Council Special rapporteurs and mandate holders. This manifests the importance given by the Government of Sri Lanka for its domestic reconciliation procedure while engaging with international community.

Uganda believes that special consideration should be given to countries that emerge from long time conflicts. Uganda welcomes the implementation of Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission recommendations through national action plan.

- See more at: http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=features/asian-giants-several-latin-american-and-asian-countries-firmly-behind-sri-lanka-geneva#sthash.062laesG.dpuf

PAKISTAN’S BITTER PILL FOR PILLAI

Country specific resolutions confrontational

Direct interference in domestic affairs of a sovereign state

Pakistan on Wednesday cautioned United Nations Human Rights Council High Commissioner Navy Pillai against taking action that will exaggerate the challenges that the people of Sri Lanka are trying to overcome after 30 years of separatist and terrorist violence.

During the interactive dialogue at the UNHRC sessions in Geneva, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN Ambassador Zamir Akram said country specific initiatives are confrontational, counter productive and seriously undermine the spirit of cooperation and coordination on important human rights issues.
“We believe that the High Commissioner’s report is not balanced and some of the elements including the recommendation to establish an international inquiry mechanism exceed the mandate granted by the Human Rights Council Resolution 22 /1 to the High Commissioner. “She must refrain from advocating a course of action that will exaggerate the challenges that the Sri Lankan people are trying to overcome after 30 years of terrorist and separatist violence.

The international community should act as a facilitator for peace and stability and be part of the solution rather than part of the problem. “We are also disappointed over the discriminatory approach followed by the OHCHR with regard to placement of Sri Lanka’s comments in response to the report on the extra-net”. “Now is the time for the international community to help the people of Sri Lanka to heal their wounds and not penalize them for defeating the LTTE, at the behest of the people still continuing to align themselves with these terrorist forces.

“There is a dire need to comprehend and comprehensively address the enormous challenges being faced by Sri Lanka rather than penalizing the country for rooting out terrorism from its soil. “Russia said it considers the process of national reconciliation should take place and implemented by the Sri Lankans themselves without the imposition of any so called assistance from outside”. “In this connection we disagree with the new draft resolution because it is far beyond the matters of reconciliation and is a direct interference in the domestic affairs of a sovereign state”. “We cannot agree to many of the assessments made in the High Commissioner’s report which lie beyond her mandate and which could be interpreted as interference into domestic affairs of a state.

We would like to once again underline that reports of this kind are supposed to help the normalization of the situation and not lead to an escalation of tension”. China said it regrets that the Hig Commissioner’s Report on Sri Lanka fails to present comprehensively and objectively the achievements of the Government of Sri Lanka .

“It is only through constructive dialogue and cooperation that differences in the area of human rights can be settled.”Exertintg pressure and confrontation makes the issue more complicated.

“China supports Sri Lanka to defend its national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Cuba said the report presented by the Human Rights Commissioner is another example of the politicization of double standards that have taken root in the Council. The concluding recommendations in the report reflects the imbalance that prevails when dealing with Human rights situations in the South. Sri Lanka has on several occasions made this Committee aware about the progress made and of different aspects of the national reconciliation process.

The Sri Lankan government has taken many measures and these have enabled them to make significant progress in the areas of rehabilitation, Deming, resettlement, De-militarisation, reconstruction and development. All these measures are appreciable.

The High Commissioners report does not acknowledge many achievements of Sri Lanka’s national reconciliation process. Zimbabwe said Resolution 22/1 was to request the Government of Sri Lanka to implement the recommendations of the LLRC. However the High Commissioner’s Report goes beyond this mandate by making reference to and recommendations on extraneous issues.

Bangladesh said it believes due recognition and regard should be given to the significant progress made in the reconciliation process in Sri Lanka including the rigorous work undertaken since July 2012 in operationalizing the recommendations of the National Action Plan for the implementation of the LLRC.

- See more at: http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=local/pakistans-bitter-pill-pillai#sthash.9J18uXXk.dpuf

Who really supported the US Resolution against Sri Lanka?

 

In Favour – 23 countries – Total Population – 1, 166, 795 , 285

Against  – 12 Countries – Total Population -  1, 928, 669,135

Abstentions – 12 Countries – Total Population – 1, 993 569, 625

Conclusion

The majority in terms of world’s population is with Sri Lanka

Source: Daily Mirror

UN vote shows strains in Delhi’s diplomacy

By Ramesh Ramachandran
AsiaTimes.com

In a departure from its familiar voting pattern on UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolutions critical of Sri Lanka, India on March 27 abstained from a vote on a resolution approving an independent international investigation into war crimes and human-rights violations allegedly committed by the government of Sri Lanka during the 2009 civil war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE.)

The customary “explanation of vote” by the permanent representative of India to the UN offices in Geneva said, among other things, that:

1. “In asking the OHCHR [the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights ] to investigate, assess and monitor the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, the resolution
ignores the progress already made by the country in this field and places in jeopardy the cooperation currently taking place between the Government of Sri Lanka and the OHCHR and the Council’s Special Procedures. Besides, the resolution is inconsistent and impractical in asking both the Government of Sri Lanka and the OHCHR to simultaneously conduct investigations”;

2. “India believes that it is imperative for every country to have the means of addressing human rights violations through robust national mechanisms. The Council’s efforts should therefore be in a direction to enable Sri Lanka to investigate all allegations of human rights violations through comprehensive, independent and credible national investigative mechanisms and bring to justice those found guilty. Sri Lanka should be provided all assistance it desires in a cooperative and collaborative manner”; and

3. “It has been India’s firm belief that adopting an intrusive approach that undermines national sovereignty and institutions is counterproductive.”

After having voted for UNHRC resolutions on Sri Lanka in 2012 and 2013, India’s abstention this year on the resolution presented by the US early in March is indicative of a course correction in New Delhi’s engagement with Colombo. This is aimed at retrieving the ground lost in the intervening years, burnishing India’s credentials as a relevant player in the island nation’s affairs and signaling a return to bilateralism as the centerpiece of India-Sri Lanka ties (not necessarily in that order).

If India’s support for the resolutions in the previous years exposed an utter bankruptcy of ideas on how to engage with Sri Lanka (thereby implicitly admitting to a failure on the part of New Delhi either to influence the course of events or bring about the desired change in Colombo’s disposition), the abstention should be seen as a belated attempt to pull the relationship back from the brink. Of course, it helped that the reaction from the regional parties was muted this year, giving New Delhi extra room for maneuver, and enabling it in the process to regain its voice vis-a-vis the states on foreign policy matters.

It needs to be said here that India cannot claim to adhere to a consistent policy toward Sri Lanka. First, it nurtured the LTTE and burned its fingers in the process. Then it extended tacit support to Colombo – before, during and after the end of the Sri Lankan civil war in May 2009 – only later, in its wisdom, to support the UNHRC resolution piloted by the United States.
 
The 2013 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting summit in Sri Lanka was in the news as much for the renewed focus on the rights record of the host nation as for the decision by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh not to take part in it. In his stead, it was left to External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid to lead the Indian delegation for the biennial event of the 53-nation Commonwealth. In a letter of regret that was hand-delivered to President Mahinda Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka, Singh informed Rajapaksa of his inability to attend personally, but he did not assign any reasons for that.

Suffice it to say that a careful reading of the history of India-Sri Lanka relations would make it evident to just about anyone that India’s policy towards this island-nation in the Indian Ocean can be described as consistently inconsistent, and characterized by myopia and self-inflicted crises.

For the Ministry of External Affairs, what should be particularly worrying is the erosion in India’s standing in what it calls its sphere of influence. The recent debate over which way India should vote on a UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka is instructive to the extent that it illustrated how far India has come from being an influential actor in its neighborhood to being a marginal or fringe player.

Put simply (not simplistically), some of the key questions were: is it advisable for New Delhi to vote for the resolutions and risk losing whatever goodwill and leverage it might have had with Colombo? Should not all other options have been exhausted before India (figuratively) threw in the towel and (literally) threw in its lot with the West? Thursday’s abstention has partially answered that question.

However, there remains another worry. The protestations from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, and her rival, M Karunanidhi, patriarch of the Dravida Munetra Kazhagam party, over India’s vote on Sri Lanka in 2012, coming as they did a few months after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee “vetoed” an agreement on sharing the Teesta River waters with Bangladesh, injected a certain degree of dissonance in the conduct of foreign policy. What fueled diplomats’ anxiety was the precedent that would be set if the center – India’s federal government – caved in or succumbed to India’s states on matters that fell in its realm.
Already, India’s engagement with Pakistan on one hand and China and Myanmar on the other are determined to an extent by the domestic conditions prevalent in Jammu and Kashmir and the northeastern states respectively. Prime Minister Singh betrayed his frustration when he said in the Lok Sabha – India’s parliament – that difficult decisions were becoming more difficult because of coalition compulsions. He called for bipartisanship in the interest of the country.

At the same time, what cannot be denied is that there exists a view among a section of serving and former practitioners of diplomacy that devolution of foreign policy to more stakeholders would not be entirely unwelcome.

As a former foreign secretary told this writer: “Foreign policy today is made not only in New Delhi but elsewhere, too. There are multiple stakeholders and one cannot deny states a say in foreign policy if it relates to them.” In other words, it is argued that if the states assert their rights and/or seek more consultations, then the center must respect those sentiments.

Having said that, an impression seems to be gaining ground, erroneously at that, that foreign policy is the worst sufferer of this new phenomenon of the states having their say. A cursory look at recent years would show that the states have consistently been vocal on a host of other issues, too. The recent examples of certain states or regional parties opposing the policy of raising the cap on foreign direct investment in the retail sector is a case in point, as is the opposition to the center’s proposal for setting up a national counter-terrorism center. In some of these cases New Delhi chose to yield, albeit temporarily, but in some others it had its way.

Therefore, it would not be accurate to suggest that regional influences are wielding a “veto” over New Delhi. Also, it would not be fair either to paint the states as villains of the piece or to apportion all the blame for the center’s foreign policy woes to regional parties that are, or could be, aligned against it in the political arena.
For instance, the center accuses the West Bengal government headed by the Trinamool Congress party of scuttling a river-waters sharing agreement with Bangladesh. However, the Congress party, which heads the ruling coalition at the center and also in Kerala, is guilty of playing to narrow political sentiments, too. This was evidenced by the state government and party’s stand on two Italian marines who are facing murder charges for the deaths of two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast.

On balance, it is time to reshape India’s neighborhood policy in a manner that reflects the broadest possible national consensus on the way forward in reshaping ties with countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.

A reset is imperative, irrespective of which coalition forms the next government in New Delhi. India can ill afford a Pavlovian foreign policy. Equally, framing India’s foreign policy options as a binary choice can be self-defeating. There needs to be a dispassionate debate and a greater appreciation of various shades of grey.

Sri Lanka signs UN resolution on combating terrorism, bans 16 LTTE organizations

ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.




Apr 01, Colombo: Sri Lanka today in a decisive measure signed the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373, which sets out strategies to combat terrorism and to control terrorist financing.

With the signing of the Resolution 1373, the Sri Lankan government has banned the Tamil Tiger terrorist organization, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and 15 other Tamil diaspora groups that are alleged of having terror links and involved in reviving the terrorist movement in the country.

Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs signed the order and it will be published in the Government Gazette shortly, the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

According to the Ministry statement, the order is based on the recommendation by the Secretary, Ministry of Defence and Urban Development, as the Competent Authority regarding the identification of persons, groups and entities, believed on reasonable grounds to be committing, attempting to commit, facilitating or participating, in the commission of acts of terrorism.

Under the Regulation all funds, assets and economic resources belonging to or owned by the designated persons or entities will remain frozen until the organizations are removed from the designated list.
In terms of the Regulation moving, transferring or dealing with frozen assets without the permission of the Competent Authority are prohibited and any person who fails to comply with an order to freeze assets is liable to heavy penalties.

Any contact with the proscribed organizations is a violation of the regulation.

The government's move comes in the wake of UN Human Rights Council adopting an intrusive resolution to investigate alleged human rights violations only during the last seven years of the government's war against the Tamil Tiger terrorists. The resolution effectively eliminates the investigations into the major crimes committed by the LTTE prior to 2002 in the 30-year long war. The Sri Lankan government recently revealed foreign attempts to revive the defeated terrorist organization in the North with the support from the diaspora funds.
According to Sri Lankan defense authorities K.P. Selvanayagam a.k.a. 'Gobi', an LTTE cadre escaped after the end of the war and fled overseas, has returned to the island to lead the revival of the terrorist organization.

Among the organizations proscribed are the LTTE's Trans National Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) headed by New York lawyer Visuvanathan Ruthirakumaran, Global Tamil Forum (GTF), which is headed by Fr.SJ Emmanuel and active in Europe, and the UK-based British Tamil Forum (BTF).

The 15 organizations proscribed are controlled by four individuals, Defense Ministry spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said. The organizations are functioning in several countries including USA, Canada, UK, Australia, Norway, Italy, Switzerland, and France.

The other organizations banned are Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), Tamil Coordinating Committee (TCC), World Tamil Movement (WTM), Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC), Australian Tamil Congress (ATC), National Council Of Canadian Tamils, Tamil National Council (TNC), Tamil Youth Organization (TYO), World Tamil Coordinating Committee (WTCC), Tamil Eelam Peoples Assembly, World Tamil Relief Fund and Headquarters Group.

.......................................................
SL bans LTTE fronts

By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
March 31, 2014

The Sri Lankan government has in a decisive move with far reaching implications proscribed as foreign terrorist entities, several overseas organizations suspected of being fronts of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

The government banned the organizations as “foreign terrorists” utilising the UN Security Council Resolution 1373 which was brought about by the USA on September 28, 2001 after the attack on World Trader Center in New York on September 11, 2001.

It is expected that External Affairs Minister Prof. Gamini Lakshman Peiris will announce details of the proscription imposed on such foreign terrorist entities later this week.

The report said:
“It is learnt that the Sri Lankan ministry of External Affairs has gazetted legislation outlawing several organizations reportedly functioning in several countries including the USA, Canada Britain, Norway, Italy, Switzerland, France and Australia.

“Among organizations proscribed are the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) headed by New York lawyer Visuvanathan Ruthirakumaran,Global Tamil Forum headed by Catholic Priest Fr.SJ Emmanuel,the LTTE group led by Perinbanayagam Sivaparan alias Nediyavan and the tiger group led by Sekarampillai Vinayagamoorthy alias Vinayagam.

It is expected that External Affairs minister Prof.Gamini Lakshman Peiris will announce details of the proscription imposed on such foreign terrorist entities later this week.

The proscribed entities listed in the Gazette consist of the main LTTE and 15 other alleged front organizations of the tigers.The proscribed organizations are as follows-

01. Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam a.k.a LTTE a.k.a Tamil Tigers.
02. Tamil Rehabilitation Organization a.k.a TRO.
03. Tamil Coordinating Committee a.k.a TCC
04. British Tamil Forum a.k.a BTF
05. World Tamil Movement a.k.a WTM
06. Canadian Tamil Congress a.k.a CTC
07. Australian Tamil Congress a.k.a ATC
08. Global Tamil Forum a.k.a GTF
09. National Council Of Canadian Tamils a.k.a NCCT a.k.a Makkal Avai
10. Tamil National Council a.k.a TNC
11.Tamil Youth Organization a.k.a TYO
12. World Tamil Coordinating Committee a.k.a WTCC.
13. Transnational Government Of Tamil Eelam a.k.a TGTE
14. Tamil Eelam Peoples Assembly a.k.a TEPA
15 .World Tamil Relief Fund a.k.a WTRF
16. Headquarters Group a.k.a HQ Group

According to authoritative sources the organizations listed as suspected terrorist entities functioning on foreign soil fall under four broad categories reportedly under the overall control of four key individuals.
They are the organization/s under-

1. Perinbanayagam Sivaparan alias “Nediyavan”;
2. Rev.Fr. SJ Emmanuel
3. Visuvanathan Ruthirakumaran
4. Sekarampillai Vinayakamoorthy alias Vinayagam

Explaing further the rationale behind such proscription at this juncture, informed sources stated that the fundamental objective was to appraise foreign countries, particularly Western nations of how LTTE fronts existing amidst members of the Tamil Diaspora resident on their soil were now financing the revival of LTTE activity in Sri Lanka.

The Government is concerned about the recent attempt to revive the LTTE in Sri Lanka. All evidence unearthed so far indicate that funds, support and assistance from LTTE front organizations are primarily responsible for the attempted tiger renaissance in Sri Lanka.

Since the UN resolution 1373 expects countries to assist one another to combat terrorism, Sri Lanka will request the host countries to investigate the activities of such organizations and key members on their soil and take appropriate action.

Sri Lanka will provide particulars about such key activists as authorities in Sri Lanka are in possession of the entire data base of former LTTE senior leader Veerakathy Manivannan alias Castro who was in charge of the LTTE international secretariat which directed and coordinated overseas LTTE activity until early 2009.

Castro simply abandoned his office in Pudukudiyiruppu and escaped when the Sri Lankan armed forces advanced thereby letting the data base with particulars of overseas LTTE activity fall easily into the lap of the security forces.

The Government is also likely to obtain cooperation from these Western countries to proclaim LTTE activists abroad as offenders” listed as Wanted or to be watched through related INTERPOL notices.

Speaking further authoritative sources said that as a result of the proscription coming into force Sri Lankan nationals in the Island will be forbidden to maintain contact or links with members of the proscribed organizations. This would prevent Sri Lankan political parties and leaders from obtaining funds from such entities for undertakings in Sri Lanka. This move is likely to affect several members of Tamil political parties in Sri Lanka.

This would also forbid Sri Lankan politicians and Non –Governmental Organization (NGO) activists being in contact with representatives of such entities either in Sri Lanka or during trips abroad.

Sections of the media in Sri Lanka giving wide coverage to statements and interviews given by officials of such organizations will also be restricted from doing so.

Furthermore, the proscription will also render members of these proscribed entities liable for arrest under the Prevention of Terrorism Act(PTA) if and when apprehended while visiting Sri Lanka.

It is learnt that extensive dossiers of key individuals from these proscribed organizations and their activities abroad would be provided to the respective countries concerned in due course.

Sri Lankan authorities are expected to strictly enforce provisions of the proscription under UN resolution 1373 after the Sinhala –Tamil New Year in April this year.

Lest We Forget in 2014: Reflections on the Tigers

By Sergei DeSilva-Ranasinghe

TheDiplomat.com

May 21, 2010

A year after the LTTE’s defeat, evidence shows criticism of Sri Lanka’s army is misplaced, says Sergei DeSilva-Ranasinghe.

A year ago this week, the Sri Lankan government officially declared victory over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in one of the most extraordinary counter-insurgency campaigns in recent times.
The endgame of the conflict, particularly from January to May 2009, saw the bloodiest fighting, often with the presence of tens of thousands of civilians that the LTTE desperately used to fend off its inevitable defeat. Since then, new evidence has become public that offers further insights into the final months of Sri Lanka’s secessionist civil war.

For decades, the jungle-laden Mullaitivu District, located in Sri Lanka’s northeast, served as the LTTE’s main stronghold. However, under significant military pressure from the Sri Lankan Army during the final stages of the conflict, the LTTE conducted a fighting retreat towards its last bastion astride the Mullaitivu coastline.

As it did so, the LTTE used all means at its disposal to inflict casualties to delay, halt or even push back the Army’s advance. For example, the LTTE constructed a series of embankments between two and three metres high, also known as earth bunds, which proved to be formidable defensive obstacles. Assault troops also encountered camouflaged LTTE armour plated bunkers.

According to one frontline Army officer from the time: ‘You don’t know where they are, and you can’t even see them until your right on them…The first you know is when you are wounded in the leg. All we can do is to fire towards the sound, throw grenades and send off RPGs [Rocket Propelled Grenades] in the general direction.’

In addition, frontline infantry often confronted elaborately laid LTTE minefields that required field engineers equipped with Bangalore torpedoes to clear pathways. Similarly, the LTTE cleverly utilised booby traps made of discarded rubbish and metal that were tied to hidden explosive caches dispersed over a wide area that when triggered caused multiple and devastating explosions.

Each passing month saw increasingly fierce combat. Reports suggested that the Army absorbed anywhere between 10 and 20 fatalities per day—sometimes more—while the Army claims that the LTTE suffered average losses ranging from 25 to 40 combatants per day. Due to high levels of attrition and the need to augment its depleted conventional formations, the LTTE had little choice than to continue to rely heavily on forced recruitment of civilians, a practice that it revived full-scale in late 2007.

To ensure a ready supply of civilians, the LTTE adopted a series of coercive measures such as that reported in one Sri Lankan newspaper which quoted a 14-year-old female child soldier saying the LTTE had warned her that her family would be punished if she didn’t join. Indeed, the Army confirmed that an increasing number of conscripts were seen at the frontline, notably child soldiers. ‘It’s like looking at your own child. Quite large numbers [of the LTTE fighters killed or captured] are under 16,’ one Army Brigadier told the Telegraph. ‘They grab them from their parents and [when] they try to pull them back they [the parents] get shot. These children have dog tags and cyanide capsules.’ Indeed, it was later revealed, according to the independent Sri Lankan daily, The Island, that in the final months of the war the LTTE planned to carry out a massive offensive against the Army with 300 suicide bombers, but was forced to cancel it as many suicide bombers were either killed in action or deserted to government-controlled territory.

The incidence of civilian casualties was low prior to the commencement of the Mullaitivu campaign, as combat was essentially between two conventional armies in the field, and civilian concentrations were situated far from the fighting.

However, as the territory controlled by the LTTE rapidly contracted, the density of trapped civilians increased rapidly, meaning civilians were often being caught in the crossfire. In an effort to provide safe passage from the combat zone, the Sri Lankan government declared two limited ceasefires, which saw civilian safe zones created at Vishwamadu and Oddusudan. However, such measures were doomed to failure when the LTTE rejected them and chose not to offer any alternative locations.

According to Tamil journalist DBS Jeyaraj: ‘The Sri Lankan government had…declared two limited ceasefires. But the LTTE imposed further restrictions and the number of civilians coming out dropped during ceasefire days…the LTTE exploited the ceasefire in February to mount a very effective counter strike…The April ceasefire was used to construct several new “trench-cum-bund” defences.’

Meanwhile, the LTTE positioned its artillery and mortar assets near or amidst civilian concentrations, tactics confirmed by a range of media outlets including Reuters India in February 2009, which quoted a 74-year old Catholic nun as claiming: ‘The LTTE fired from close to civilians. We had objected, but that didn’t work.’
Out of desperation, thousands of civilians defied the LTTE edict, forbidding any civilians from leaving LTTE-controlled territory, and attempted to escape under cover of darkness and brave crossfire from running battles, LTTE-laid minefields and LTTE fire targeting escaping civilians.

At a press conference in Colombo last July, Dr. Shanmugaraja, a former LTTE physician who surrendered in the final weeks of the war, said: ‘Many civilians were killed and wounded as the LTTE opened fire at them when they tried to flee from the Tiger’s grip…Their strategy was to keep the civilians around them and survive. That was why they came along with civilians once safe zones were demarcated for the civilians by the Security Forces.’

In addition, there’s ample evidence to suggest that civilians in LTTE-controlled territory were integrated into the LTTE military-logistical system and war effort. For example, Sri Lankan-Australian scholar Michael Roberts, an expert on Sri Lankan politics and anthropology, wrote in his article, Dilemma’s at War’s End: ‘All young people seem to have been inducted as auxiliaries. As they lost territory, the LTTE also used heavy machinery and marshalled labour to build ditches and embankments…a task that clearly involved massive logistical operations.’
 

He added: ‘In effect, over the last year or so, many able-bodied people in the LTTE command state have been rendered into an integral part of their logistical support for war, being more or less part of the frontline. In such circumstances, of course, the category “civilian” is an ambiguous category.’

In fact, the presence of more than 280,000 civilians in LTTE-controlled territory served a clear and diverse purpose, which was highlighted in their use as military labour to build fortifications; porters shuttling food, ammunition and supplies to frontline LTTE units; of manpower to augment the LTTE’s military strength; human shields that gave the LTTE significant bargaining power with the international community to call for a permanent ceasefire; and the maintenance of its supply lines.

In effect, the LTTE depended indirectly almost entirely on regular Sri Lankan government convoys to areas under enemy control for food, medicine and essential items—an extraordinary situation. Another former LTTE physician, Dr. Vardharaja, elaborated on this exploiting of civilians by the LTTE to ensure supplies kept coming in, when he said: ‘The problem was that the LTTE took medicine from us to treat their injured. They asked us to tell the media that we don’t have medicine. There was as a shortage of medicine because LTTE took the whole stock.’

By mid-April 2009, the Army had successfully repulsed all LTTE counterattacks and finally cornered the group on a sliver of territory along the coast, 13 kilometres long and just 3 kilometres wide. The LTTE decided to stage its last stand in its coastal stronghold with an estimated 240,000 civilians still present, leaving the Army facing an unprecedented difficulty of capturing the last patch of land while ensuring civilians’ safety.

It is this reality that underscores how misplaced the international criticism of the military’s conduct in the final stages of the civil war was. On February 9, for example, a suicide bomber reportedly infiltrated an internally displaced persons registration camp and detonated her suicide jacket, killing 8 civilians and 24 soldiers. On April 20, 3 LTTE suicide bombers infiltrated and detonated their suicide jackets, killing 17 civilians and injuring 200. The LTTE shrewdly used tents, make-shift shelters and bunkers to conceal snipers, machine gun nests and artillery/mortar emplacements, which were often merged with civilian dwellings. Given this, assault troops had no choice but to systematically clear tens of thousands of tents, makeshift shelters, bunkers and trenches, which left them exposed to LTTE ambushes laid inside tents, makeshift shelters or subterranean bunkers. As such, in an attempt to mitigate the incidence of civilian casualties, the Army relied heavily on dozens of trained snipers to great effect in neutralizing LTTE combatants.

In the final weeks of the war, the LTTE continued to aggressively conscript civilians who were given crash training and assigned to scratch units at the frontline. For instance, in a now public April 2009 report, Rajan Hoole, who heads the dissident Tamil University Teachers for Human Rights (Jaffna) and who is known for his criticism of both the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE, pointed to conversations with civilians who fled LTTE controlled territory.

‘The LTTE has recently started the practice of sending out teams of 6 cadres with instructions for each team to return with 30 conscripts,’ Hoole wrote. ‘If they fail they are reportedly subject to heavy and often lethal punishment.’

However, the LTTE’s efforts were in vain. After bitter fighting on May 16 and 17, the last civilians were extracted from the combat zone, leaving 400 hardcore LTTE leaders and fighters exposed. By the morning of May 19, the LTTE lay defeated and its leaders eliminated, bringing a decisive end to the nearly three decade long Sri Lankan civil war. The Army’s final operation involved 4 weeks of heavy fighting and the loss of over 500 soldiers.

The evidence revealed by the LTTE’s own former sympathisers indicates the lengths the group was willing to go to and the difficulties facing conventional militaries confronting a fanatical adversary that conducts itself with impunity. Under such circumstances it’s unrealistic to believe civilian casualties can be avoided. Indeed, the very success of the Army in extracting more than 280,000 civilians from the combat zone from January to May 2009, despite this effort contributing to it suffering heavy casualties in process, is an indication of the complexity of conducting military operations in an environment where an enemy is willing use civilians as a key element of its military strategy.

Civilian casualties are, of course, tragic. But the endgame of Sri Lanka’s civil war requires a much more in-depth and nuanced understanding of the dilemmas that faced the Army before any conclusions can be drawn.

Sri Lanka’s Growing Links with China

By Jack Goodman

TheDiplomat.com

March 06, 2014

 Trade, investment and a strategic Indian Ocean location bring the two countries closer together.

 

“We love this country,” declared a Chinese Foreign Minister on a state visit to Sri Lanka in 1971, China “was ready to give its fullest co-operation to speed up the socialist march of Ceylon.”
Sri Lanka’s socialist “march” didn’t ever quite catch up with China’s, but since the first Rubber-Rice pact was signed in 1952 China-Sri Lankan relations have been a source of unity and continue on an upward trajectory today.

As China’s economic power has grown, investing overseas has been a tactic used across the world by China to help bolster the national interest. Its financial foreign policy rests on two strategies: “accumulating foreign currency reserves and sending money abroad in the form of FDI, aid, assistance and loans,” wrote U.S. economic advisor Ken Miller in Foreign Affairs.  Sri Lanka is a model for the latter part of this strategy.
The statistics alone indicate the inexorable rise of China’s financial stake in Sri Lanka.

Impending confirmation of a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries is symbolic of the tight-knit relations between Beijing and Colombo in 2014. Bilateral trade exceeded $3 billion for 2013 and China is Sri Lanka’s second largest source of imports behind India.

Despite the symbolism, China will profit more from the generous new tariffs of the FTA. Sri Lanka has a growing trade deficit with China that stood at approximately $2.4 billion in 2012. China is the destination for less than 2 percent of total Sri Lankan exports.

However, concerns over trade deficits for South Asian nations like Sri Lanka are “outweighed by overall economic benefits and political support,” wrote India’s former Special Envoy to Southeast Asian countries on UN Security Council Reforms, Professor S D. Muni.

China is Sri Lanka’s biggest source of foreign direct investment (FDI) as well as providing development loans for projects such as the $500 million new Colombo Port Terminal, Hambantota Port, Sri Lanka’s first four-lane expressway, and a new National Theatre, among others. These lucrative benefits for Sri Lanka have played a pivotal role in building the current relationship.

The recent commitment from Sri Lanka to join the Maritime Silk Road (MSR) indicates the proximity of the two states’ strategic aspirations and is a reflection of the assimilation of national interests. The Indian Ocean ports of Gwadar in Pakistan, Hambantota in Sri Lanka and Chittagong in Bangladesh have all benefited from Chinese investment and account for 30 percent of global trade, according to Indian Ocean Rim Association.
The MSR is a vital strategic project for China in the Indian Ocean, and will increase China’s presence in South Asian shipping routes. Sri Lanka can be seen as a gateway port up the western coast of India and further west to Iran, a vital exporter of oil to China. The brand new port of Hambantota, 85 percent of it paid for with a Chinese loan, is located on the south of the island, historically not a traditional shipping route. However, it is the perfect location to meet the strategic objectives of the MSR.

Supplementing the impact of economic relations, the political consequences of this month’s United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) decision over the U.S.-led resolution that calls for an independent investigation into the end of the Sri Lankan civil war could be significant. The Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Kurshid delivered a warning to Sri Lanka, calling on it to find “possible ways to avoid an hostile attitude towards people and countries that matter.”

In face of these Western-led accusations, Sri Lanka have found a political ally in China through a shared policy of non-interference in internal affairs. This translates as China’s view that issues in relation to human rights are the prerogative of the sovereign state to deal with internally. China’s soft power in Sri Lanka will grow, almost unintentionally, if Colombo’s disenfranchisement with the West continues over the matter of an independent investigation. Despite a recent “curveball” in the form of a comment from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, China has always pledged support for Sri Lanka:
“China opposes some countries’ interference in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka under the pretext of human rights issues,” Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Sri Lankan counterpart G. L. Peiris in Beijing recently.
Chinese influence in Sri Lanka is clearly growing, but the possibility that Colombo is driving this relationship can’t be overlooked. Noises from Sri Lankan government and other figures suggest that they are fully in control of what is officially known as a “Strategic Cooperative Partnership.” In this context China is playing a pivotal role in Sri Lanka’s regional development in South Asia.

At the heart of this is Sri Lanka’s objective to fulfill its commercial potential as the country at the geographic center of the Indian Ocean. Former Sri Lankan Ambassador to China Nihal Rodrigo, speaking at a South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) event last year, didn’t express concern over China’s naval expansion and development of South Asian ports, but rather claimed that it “provides it (China) easier connectivity across the Indian Ocean which benefits South Asia.” Both governments therefore have something to gain from Hamantota Port, described as one aspect of Sri Lanka’s “five-hub” growth strategy, which aims to position and build the island as a global naval, aviation, commercial, energy and knowledge center.

Hamantota Port was “commercial in nature” and not to be “misconstrued as fitting the string of pearls paradigm,” said Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the 2012 Galle Dialogue. This countered accusations from some American scholars that China had intentions to encircle India beyond innocently increasing trade links.

The Maritime Silk Road is therefore perceived as critical for Sri Lanka to become a leading player in the development of Indian Ocean trading ports, which China has more or less augmented itself. Sri Lanka also has an opportunity to build favorable ties with both the region’s superpowers, India and China, as well as the emerging Southeast Asian nations.

There is evidence to suggest that Colombo and Beijing now share policies on a whole range of issues, political and economic. This is in part a reflection of Chinese influence, but it is also attributable to Sri Lanka’s ability to manipulate the relationship in its favor.

China’s role in Sri Lanka should be viewed within a regional South Asian context and not just unilaterally. For now at least, Indian and American fears appear to have little credence.

Jack Goodman is a visiting researcher at the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies, Colombo, Sri Lanka.