Recently State Intelligence Service (SIS) agents arrested a LTTE suicide cadre in Negombo who revealed the whereabouts of another suicide cadre in Wellawatte, residing in a luxury apartment located in 37th Lane. When SIS agents arrived at the apartment, second suicide cadre committed suicide by jumping from the 7th floor. SIS agents recovered four suicide kits. A mobile phone used by this LTTE agent had the phone number of an Army Colonel attached to Military Intelligence (MI) as well as to the SF. It was Lt. Col. Ranjith Perera attached to the Ratmalana Army Transit Camp.
The suicide cadre revealed that this Colonel facilitated the transportation of cadres and suicide kits to several areas. He further said that they had tried their utmost to carry out a suicide mission during the recent ‘Deyata Kirula’ exhibition at the BMICH. Their target had been to kill the President, the Defence Secretary or Army Commander. But the attempt had failed as the security cordon was too tight. The Colonel had suicide cadres in his vehicle when the President visited the ‘Deyata Kirula’ exhibition at the BMICH.
‘Colombo’s Praba’ caught & Lt. Col. Ranjith Perera exposed
A person had been in the habit of meeting diplomats at the Colombo Swimming Club (CSC) whom he lobbied and misled, regarding the conflict in Sri Lanka. His name is Prabha and lived in Wellawatte. He was the owner of an electronics outlet called Panama Traders, Shop Numbers 3-26 and 3-27 on the 3rd Floor of Majestic City. His mobile phone number was 0777 398 117 and his shop phone number was 011 4527057.
One of Prabha’s major links was Lt. Col. Ranjith Perera, a Colonel General Staff (GS) of 52 Division. He served from 2006-2-9 to 2008-1-8. He had been denied promotion to the rank of full Colonel by the Army Commander. This was because during a battle at Tanankilappu in Jaffna when the LTTE had attacked this Lt. Col.’s battalion, he had not offered resistance, and without his superior officer’s command, he had withdrawn his battalion from battle.
As Colonel GS, he had passed sensitive information to Prabha over his phone. Some of the incidents, where prior information had reached the LTTE, are:
* The LTTE attack on February 14, 2007, when the Mechanised Infantry Regiment was observing its ceremonial day, in which the then Mechanised Brigade Commander Col. Ralph Nugera was seriously injured and soldiers killed.
* When the Defence Secretary and the Army Commander flew to Jaffna, the LTTE mounted an artillery attack from Pooneryn on Palaly Air Base. The aircraft did not land and returned safely to Colombo. This trip was a tightly kept secret among the security forces, but not so for the LTTE, as the sensitive information had been already passed onto the Tigers through Lt. Col. Ranjith Perera.
* The other was when the then GOC Jaffna Maj. Gen. G.A. Chandrasiri was on an inspection tour of Jaffna. Then too, the LTTE directed artillery fire.
* And whenever the Sri Lanka Army advanced from the Muhamalai front, the LTTE almost always had prior information from this Lt. Col. All these information passed through Prabha.
Sources:
>> Bottom Line - 2009/5/20
>> Bottom Line - 2009/5/27
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Lt. Col. Ranjith Perera - Traitor who was on LTTE payroll and leaked sensitive info to 'Prabha'
Minister Amarasiri Dodangoda passes away
Senior SLFP politician and Justice Minister in the UPFA government Amarasiri Dodangoda, who was ailing for some time, has passed away. Minister Dodangoda was a former Chief Minister of Southern Provincial Council and an ardent supporter of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Jim Luce - In Sri Lanka: A U.S. Congressman Gets It
Colombo, Sri Lanka (Huffington Post). At a press conference at the Colombo Hilton this morning, North Carolina Congressman Heath Shuler was flanked by the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Washington and the Sri Lanka Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The American Congressman stated boldly, "I would like to congratulate the government of Sri Lanka in their victory over terrorism. We are seeing peace today for the first time in 26 years".
I could not have been more elated. It was the first time I have heard an American elected official seem to understand what has transpired here in Sri Lanka. As the only American journalist in the room, I was unsure if those gathered grasped the significance of his statement.
Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya, whom I interviewed last week from New York, and Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary Dr. Palitha Kohona, looked as if they understood this was an important moment.
"The situation here on the ground in Sri Lanka is much different than has been reported in the U.S.," Congressman Shuler said.
"I have had open access to the government and the camps for internally displaced people, and commend the government for allowing me to come into this country and to see what I needed to see.
Interviewing Congressman Shuler for The Huffington Post.
>> Full Story
Jim Luce - In Sri Lanka: On the Streets of Colombo
Colombo, Sri Lanka (Huffington Post). The euphoria remains on the balmy streets of Colombo. One week ago the Tamil Tigers were at last defeated -- on the beaches of the north -- after 26 years of terrorism. Their human hostages have escaped.
The Sri Lankan flag flies now from virtually every tuk-tuk (three-wheeled taxi) and every building. Children grin broadly as they come home from school, and on this Friday afternoon, the small Muslim community heads for the city's mosques.
I can easily identify the Muslim community here. I cannot tell Sinhalese from Tamil, to me they are all -- Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist -- Sri Lankan.
Last week, in his speech announcing the end of the conflict, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksha announced that from now on one should differentiate between Tamil and non-Tamil - all were Sri Lankan.
That is not to say that Tamil culture is not respected here. In fact, all signs in this nation are posted in three languages: Sinhalese, Tamil, and English. Sri Lanka announced its independence from Britain in 1948 and became a republic in 1972.
Signs in Sri Lanka are written in Sinhalese, Tamil, and English.
>> Full Story
Now that the LTTE is Crushed – Some Advice for the "Western Powers"
By Stephen Long - Los Angeles, California
I just returned from a lengthy visit to Sri Lanka, and I witnessed first-hand the Government’s splendid victory over the LTTE terrorists. Every day I read with great interest the many comments and opinions that were written on the conflict by both Sri Lankan and international journalists. From my perspective, I can assure you that the Government acted with restraint and compassion throughout the entire ordeal. I also saw that the so-called "Western Powers" were totally misinformed on the situation, which resulted in their passing a hasty judgment that condemned the Government’s conduct toward the IDP’s and the human shields still trapped in the No Fire Zone.
Having said this, I am grateful for US Congressional Representative Heath Schuler of North Carolina for his support of the Government’s relief efforts yesterday, and for accurately reporting what he saw with his own eyes in the IDP camps in the North. I’m sure his report will go a long way towards correcting misperceptions in America.
A couple of things I could never understand: The first is why were the "Western Powers" so interested in preserving the life of the terrorist leader, Prabhakaran? Secondly, why was the US Ambassador, Robert Blake, feeding his boss, Hillary Clinton, such erroneous and false information that lead to her "disappointment" with the Sri Lankan Government, and her eventual condemnation? I’m sure the answers to these questions will eventually surface over time, but examining them here is not the focus of this article.
I would like to offer some advice to the "Western Powers" in regards to re-examining their policy and approach to dealing with Sri Lanka:
>> Full Story
UN rights commissioner bypasses own council in seeking Sri Lankan probe
The United Nations human rights chief took the extraordinary step Thursday of seeking to override a decision on Sri Lanka by the world body’s top rights assembly.
Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, pressed for an independent probe into abuses during the country’s war with Tamil separatists after a majority of the 47-member Human Rights Council rebuffed her appeal for that body to launch one.
Canada was among a dozen Council members – most of the others were European – that Wednesday opposed a Sri Lankan-drafted resolution describing the conflict as a "domestic" matter that should ensure the UN’s "non-interference."
But the measure passed with the backing of 29 Council members, among them China, India, Egypt and Cuba. The remainder abstained.
>> Full Story: National Post
Veheragala project to be opened soon
The Veheragala irrigation project completed at a cost of Rs. 2,000 million will be opened next month supplying water to the Lunugamvehera reservoir for drinking as well as cultivating purposes.
"We used only treasury funds for this project. We used direct labour employing local people to work on this project. Providing job opportunities to people," Weheragala Project Resident Engineer L. S. Suriyabandara said.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa ceremonially launched the construction work on the project in 2005 when he was Prime Minister to uplift the living standards of the farmer community by bringing in irrigation facilities to the Hambantota district. The reservoir was constructed at Veheragala by damming the Menik Ganga.
Irrigation and Water Management Minister Chamal Rajapaksa and Irrigation Minister Jayatissa Ranaweera inspected and monitored its progress.
In the adjoining Kirindi Oya basin, it has a catchment area of an 1,178 sq. km and most of the water in this river was diverted to the Lunugamwehera reservoir, which has a capacity of 222 million cubic metres from the total annual average flow of 240 million cm of water to the sea.
>> Full Story
President to battle drugs too
President Mahinda Rajapaksa, addressing a seminar, held at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (29), on the prevention of the use of tobacco said that it won’t be a big effort to eradicate the use of drugs for a Government that eradicated the 30 year old terrorism that prevailed in the country.
Stressing the importance of eradicating the use of drugs the President said the worst affected by terrorism were wives and children and it is the same with the use of drugs. A drug free country is a blessing to women and children, he said.
"I know it is a difficult task to eradicate the drug menace. But just because it is a difficult task we should not give up the effort. Terrorism that was described as a menace that cannot be eradicated was totally erased from this country. So it won’t be difficult if we adopt correct measures. By the year 2015 both drugs and tobacco menace should be totally eradicated. That is our target", the President said.
He also said legislation has already been enacted to ban smoking in public places, not issuing licenses to operate new liquor bars and not selling cigarettes and liquor to people below certain ages. Similarly we will bring legislation to prevent the use of tobacco and eradicate the use of drugs.
>> Source
Friday, May 29, 2009
Sri Lanka Denies Report on Civilian Deaths
By VOA News, 29 May 2009
The Sri Lankan military is denying a British newspaper report that says more than 20,000 civilians were killed in the final push against Tamil Tiger rebels.
The Times says Friday an independent investigation found most of the civilians were killed by government forces. The newspaper says it arrived at the death toll after reviewing aerial photographs, official documents, witness accounts and expert testimony.
Sri Lankan officials said The Times death toll is inaccurate. The government has blamed rebels for civilian deaths.
U.N. officials have estimated at least 7,000 civilians were killed in the bloody final assault, which ended a 25-year civil war this month.
The United Nations Human Rights Council on Wednesday rejected calls for a war crimes investigation. It praised the Sri Lankan government for liberating hundreds of thousands of civilians and accused Tamil rebels of using civilians as human shields.
The Tamil Tiger rebels began their fight for a separate homeland for the ethnic Tamil minority in 1983. The U.N. estimates that as many as 100,000 people died in the more than two decades of conflict.
>> Source
Related:
>> BBC: Sri Lanka rejects deaths report
Basil moots humanitarian measure for IDPs
Special Presidential Adviser and Member of Parliament Basil Rajapaksa has recommended that the relatives of aged, disabled and wounded displaced persons in the North be engaged to look after those segments, after verification of the relationship through the Grama Sevaka and Divisional Secretary of the respective area.
He made that recommendation as an urgent measure to ensure better humanitarian services to those segments of the displaced. Directives were issued to those who seek to look after their kith and kin to contact the Secretary, Ministry of Social Services and wefare, Mrs.V.Jegarajasingham (Tel-011-2883525) and Senior Deputy Inspector General(Northern Range),Nimal Lewke(Te-024-2222227).
These decisions were arrived by him as a meeting on the welfare of the IDPs held on Wednesday with the participation of Ministers Rishard Baduideen, Lionel Premasiri and Governor Northern Province Dickson Dela.
>> Source
Heroes Facilitated
The Commanding Officers of Divisions and Task Forces involved in the Vanni offensive were felicitated by the Army Commander Gen. Sarath Fonseka at the Army headquarters yesterday.
Pictured here are Maj Gen Jagath Dias, Maj Gen Nandana Udawatte, Maj Gen Kamal Gunaratne, Brig Prasanna Silva, Brig S. Liyanage, Brig Shavendra Silva, Brig Chargie Gallage, Brig P.M.R. Bandara, Col. N. Wanniarachchi and Col Ravipriya Liyanage at yesterday’s gathering.
Police probing journos who were on Tiger payroll - IGP
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jayantha Wickramaratne has claimed that several journalists, mostly Sinhalese, were on the payroll of the LTTE and were thickly involved in the insurgency, according to latest investigations.
The Sri Lanka Police Chief revealed the startling information when interviewed by Sudarman Radaliyagoda for the state owned Independent Television Network (ITN), Thursday May 28.
He said, "Although the Police know more details of this treason I do not like to reveal all of them since it might obstruct further investigations. They betrayed the noble profession and not only distorted and misreported against Sri Lanka but also worked for cash and other fringe benefits like fully funded foreign trips."
Answering questions of interviewer Radaliyagoda whether by the examinations of senior LTTE hand Daya Master, a media coordinator of the LTTE who surrendered to the army earlier, whether they were able to extract information about Colombo journalists who were in the payroll of the terrorist group, LTTE, the police chief said it was true some implicating evidence have been found, and most of the evidence made him ashamed since they were mostly Sinhalese "journalists".
>> Full Story
KP’s local agent arrested at IDP camp
The local agent of the LTTE’s notorious international arms dealer Kumaran Pathmanadan, aka KP, was arrested by Army intelligence yesterday at a welfare camp in Vavuniya.
Army sources said that the man Identified as Urumaran, was well educated and KP’s direct contact in the supply of weapons to the LTTE.
Initial investigations had revealed that he was fluent in English and some other European languages. He had travelled abroad on nineteen occasions.
He had joined the civilians and reached a welfare camp in Vavuniya but someone who knew about him had tipped off Army intelligence yesterday morning. On being questioned Urumaran had admitted that he was the local handler of arms and ammunition that came to the LTTE from abroad mainly on sea going vessels.
>> Full Story
IDP centre conditions contrary to reports in US - Congressman
The visiting US Congressman Heath Shuler is pictured here speaking to media in Colombo today. He said that he has seen the standards of relief villages where the Internally Displaced are accommodated and it is different to what had been reported in the US.
The delegation led by Congressman Heath Shuler met the President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday (28) at Temple Trees and said he was delighted and impressive with the facilities given by the Government to IDPs.
The delegation that arrived in Sri Lanka on May 26 went on an observation tour of the relief centers where civilians are accommodated.
During the meeting with the President, the Congress delegates discussed further possibilities of providing assistance for the IDPs.
The US delegation also discussed programs being carried out by the Northern Development Task Force to re-settle the displaced within 180 days, sources added.
>> Ada Derana
>> News.lk
Abu Ghraib abuse photos ‘show rape’
Photographs of alleged prisoner abuse which Barack Obama is attempting to censor include images of apparent rape and sexual abuse, it has emerged. Detail of the content emerged from Major General Antonio Taguba, the former army officer who conducted an inquiry into the Abu Ghraib jail in Iraq.
At least one picture shows an American soldier apparently raping a female prisoner while another is said to show a male translator raping a male detainee.
Further photographs are said to depict sexual assaults on prisoners with objects including a truncheon, wire and a phosphorescent tube.
Detail of the content emerged from Major General Antonio Taguba, the former army officer who conducted an inquiry into the Abu Ghraib jail in Iraq.
Allegations of rape and abuse were included in his 2004 report but the fact there were photographs was never revealed. He has now confirmed their existence in an interview with the Daily Telegraph.
>> Full Story
We Are the Same…Not Different
By Ven. Walpola Piyananda, Chief Sangha Nayake of America
The old saying, “the world is getting smaller all the time,” was never more true than it is today. We have seen how the economic crisis in the United States triggered the downturn in the entire world economy, and we have also seen how extremist terrorism quickly spread like a cancer from one country to another – seemingly overnight. Geopolitical boundaries have very little meaning these days in terms of events; even if we think they are local and insignificant, each and every one of them affects the whole planet. In other words, we’re all downwind of everything that happens to everyone.
There are metaphysical and spiritual reasons for this phenomenon, the main ones being: we are all connected at deeper levels than we ever suspected; there is no such thing as separation; “me,” “mine” and “I” are myths; karma, cause and effect, is the fundamental law of the universe.
The Buddha explained the mechanism of cause and effect in his teaching of Dependent Origination: as conditions arise and pass away, phenomenon also arises and passes away; for one condition to exist, such and such a condition must arise; for a condition to cease to exist, such and such a condition must cease; and so on.
Sri Lanka and Sri Lankans now have a golden opportunity to realize these basic, ancient truths. For example, the primary cause for the social and economic ruination of Sri Lanka during the past three decades has ceased to exist: Prabhakaran, his LTTE, and its dreams of a racially-segregated Tamil homeland in Sri Lanka are finished. That primary cause having ceased, now is the time to work on eliminating the other, more subtle, secondary causes that threaten to keep us de-stabilized, and from resuming our rightful place as a global economic player. Those causes are the unfounded feelings of separation that exist between Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Burghers, and Malays; the illusionary sense of false identity claimed by each of these groups; and the equally-illusionary false notion that one group is superior to the other, or that one is entitled to dominate the others because of history, tradition, or size of population. All of these causes must cease to exist, and be replaced by strong new positive conditions, which are spawned by all groups identifying themselves as Sri Lankan first.
The terrorist conflict first arose because of perceived differences between the Sinhalese and the Tamils, and it eventually spread out of control. In actuality, the Sinhalese and Tamil races both trace their origins to the Indian sub-continent: one group theoretically from the North, and the other from the South. We look alike, our blood is the same color, we share the same cultural and religious roots, we both share the same aspirations for success and happiness, and we both experience suffering in the same way. So how can we claim to be different? Realistically, we can’t.
As our President recently said, and I paraphrase, “There are only two types of Sri Lankans: one type loves the country and wants to see it unified and prosperous; and the other type wants to perpetuate the old ideas of disunity and separation. There are no other types; and there are no minorities.” I completely agree with the President, and support him in his efforts to help us change our mind-set to accommodate this new view: there is no other way to achieve peace and harmony in our motherland except by unifying our individual hopes for its future.
The Buddha taught us that the present moment was the only reality, and this timeless message is so relevant and important for our current situation in Sri Lanka. Old wrongs and past issues must pass away, and allow new conditions to arise that will stimulate a fresh start. Two generations have already grown up since the old wrongs were committed, and young people today only learn about them from their elders who knowingly or unknowingly perpetuate them in the minds of their children. This negative mental indoctrination of successive generations does nothing but keep the false idea of separation alive, and if we are to succeed in rebuilding our country, it must be stopped for good. It must be replaced by the idea that we are all Sri Lankans – regardless of the group we came from.
On a positive note, we have the opportunity now to encourage conditions to emerge that will greatly benefit our country in a wide variety of ways. We can show our Tamil brothers in the North and East (and everywhere else on the island, for that mater) that we are serious about including them in a consensus Government that appreciates our language, cultural and religious differences rather than ignores, criticizes, or condemns them. We can also eliminate political parties founded on racial or ethnic platforms. Another way is to direct our collective energies toward fostering social and economic programs that create an environment conducive to growth. In addition, we can support the arising of conditions that make everyone feel safe from the threats of physical and mental terrorism, and insures that all are free to enjoy the benefits of a new, reformed political culture that is free from corruption and self-serving bureaucratic obstacles.
To the so-called “Tamil Diaspora,” I ask you to take a second look at your imagined need for an ethnic Tamil homeland in the first place. Why is this necessary – particularly in the free democratic country of Sri Lanka? How will it benefit you? What role do you see yourselves playing in the new unified Sri Lanka? How can you help it recover and eventually prosper? Many members of the Diaspora were born in the Western countries they currently live in, and have no real sense of “life on the ground” in the country they wish to divide. To those, please ask yourselves: “Would Sri Lanka be better for my Tamil brethren in a separate country only for Tamils – or in a free, unified democracy where everyone is included in the political process?” This latter is President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s goal, and I’m confident that he will make it a reality.
In conclusion, all of us, as citizens of one nation, need to allow the conditions to arise that are conducive for success in our new, reborn Sri Lanka. Each one of us is responsible for the outcome, and each one of us will enjoy the rewards.
The Hindu Bhagavad Gita says, “Understanding, wisdom, clarity, forbearance and truthfulness, inner control and peace, joy, grief, the arising and passing away of things; Whatever exists is disposed to such states of mind, and all these varieties come from me.” Let us learn to accept our differences and appreciate them as the products of countless generations of conditions.
As our Christian friends quote from the Bible, “All things must pass away, and all things are made new.” I implore you all to let the past pass away, and create the new with optimism and re-invigorated commitment to your country.
Our Muslim friends use the phrase from the Quoran, “For those who believe and work deeds of righteousness is a reward that will never fail.” To this I say, “Inshallah!”
In the words of the Buddha, “Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world. By non-hatred alone is hatred appeased. This is a Law Eternal.” I implore you to put aside hatred and ill-will towards any living being, and focus your attention on the good that lives in everyone.
Tiger chief's parents in Sri Lankan camp: military
COLOMBO (AFP) — The parents of slain Tamil Tiger chief Velupillai Prabhakaran have sought shelter with Sri Lankan security forces after fleeing the offensive against the rebels, the military said Thursday.
The parents of Velupillai Prabhakaran were identified among civilians who escaped the war zone in northeastern Sri Lanka where the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) fought its final battle, spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said.
"They (the parents) have been identified at the Manik Farm welfare camp," Nanayakkara said. "They are not being treated as suspects."
>> Full Story
Thursday, May 28, 2009
DNA of Prabhakaran and Charles Anthony Matched
The Sri Lanka military said it had positively matched the DNA of the bodies of LTTE leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran and his son Charles Anthony, both killed last week in the final battle of Sri Lanka's 25-year war. Authorities, after referring the samples to scientists, conducted a match on both of them.
Sources:
>> Reuters
>> SL Army
>> Defence.lk
>> Associated Press
Secretary Defence meets US congressional delegation
Today (28 May) there was a special meeting between the Secreary Defence Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the US congressional delegation at the Ministry of Defence premises.
With the Congressman Heath Shuler who was elected North Carolinas 11th congressional district in November 2006, H.E .Mr. Jaliya Wickramasuriya, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the UN and some other members were also present for this occasion.
>> Source
LTTE’s women’s political wing head Thamilini in Police custody
Political wing head Subramaniam Shivathai, alias Thamilini, was taken into custody giving her a surprise yesterday (27), by a special police team, at the Internal Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Vavuniya, while she was in the camp with her mother and sister, pretending to be an ordinary civilian, a senior police officer said.
Thamilini had come to the government controlled area with the people escaping from Puthumathalan which was a No Fire Zone at the time. She had told the police that she threw away her cyanide capsule and her pistol and passed off as a displaced person.
Thamilini’s mother, Subramaniam Gowri Wijayaraja and a sister Maheshwari had also come with her. Another sister, Santhilan, had been killed in 1998, during a clash with the security forces in Paranthan.
Thamilini and her family members had not been recognized by anyone when they lived with the others before they were sent to the camp in Vavuniya.
Thamilini had been a student at Paranthan Hindu College up to the ‘O’ Level and had studied for the ‘A’ Level at the Central College of Kilinochchi. She had joined the LTTE in 1991, after listening to a lecture by the LTTE, and received battle training in a camp in Nirveli. For some time she had been put in charge of a coir mill and a farm in the Kilali area. During interrogations she had disclosed that she was attached to late Thamilchelvam’s office.
When Nesmia, the previous head of LTTE Women’s Wing, was killed in a clash with the Army in Muhamalai, Thamilini had been appointed in her place. Her LTTE registration number was 1736.Thamilini was the name given her by the LTTE.
Special police intelligence officers and army investigators are continuing interrogations.
>> Source: Asiantribune
Sri Lanka shares jump over 2 pct on U.N. resolution
COLOMBO, May 28 (Reuters) - Sri Lankan shares .CSE gained over 2 percent on Thursday in early trade as investor confidence jumped after Sri Lanka defeated attempts to push a war crimes and rights investigation at the U.N. Human Rights Council.
The Colombo All-Share Price Index .CSE had gained 2.52 percent or 54.30 points to 2210.34 at 0552 GMT, its highest close since Sept. 26. It recorded a turnover of over 400 million rupees ($3.48 million).
"The UN resolution has given an international acceptance for the war and market is up on that, in addition to the war victory," said Hussain Gani, associate director at Asia Securities.
>> Full Story
Patricia Butenis named the new US Ambassador for Sri Lanka
US President Barack Obama named Patricia Butenis, a career diplomat who has previously been posted in Baghdad, Pakistan and New Delhi, as ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
President Obama also named Ambassadors for Japan and India.
The ambassadors will "strengthen our partnerships abroad at this critical time for our nation and the world," Obama said in the statement.
The ambassadorial positions still need confirmation by the US Senate.
>> Full Story
News Video: Sri Lanka Prevails at UNHRC
Human Rights & Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe
Human Rights & Disaster Management Secretary Prof. Rajiva Wijesinghe
Sri Lanka eases restrictions at biggest camp: U.N.
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's government has relaxed restrictions on motor vehicles in the country's largest refugee camp that had hampered aid distribution, though the needs of people there remain acute, the United Nations said on Wednesday.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon recently visited the Manik Farm refugee camp, where some 220,000 people displaced by the fighting between Tamil Tiger rebels and government forces in northeastern Sri Lanka have been relocated.
A 25-year war ended earlier this month with the Tigers' defeat.
The Sri Lanka government had banned the use of motor vehicles by U.N. and other aid agencies at the camp, citing concerns that some rebels might try to escape in or under the vehicles. U.N. officials had complained that the restrictions were crippling aid distribution at the camp.
>> Full Story: Washington Post
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
BREAKING NEWS: UN rights body praises Sri Lanka, condemns Tigers
The UN Human Rights Council praised on Wednesday Sri Lanka's victory over the Tamil Tigers and condemned the rebels for using civilians as human shields.
China, Cuba, Egypt and 26 others on the 47-member council voted in favor of a resolution that described the conflict as a "domestic" matter that did not warrant outside interference. The council also supported the Sri Lankan government's decision to provide aid groups only with "access as may be appropriate" to refugee camps.
Twelve mostly European countries opposed the resolution after failing to get support for a resolution that criticized both sides.
>> Source
>> UNHRC Press Release 1
>> UNHRC Press Release 2
How they voted at the UNHRC sessions
The following are the manner in which the United Nations Human Rights Council member states voted at the 11th special sessions in Geneva today (May 27).
Adopted by a recorded vote of 29 to 12, with 6 abstentions.
The voting was as follows:
In favour: Angola, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, China, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Madagascar, Malaysia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa, Uruguay, Zambia
Against: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada,Chile, France, Germany,Italy, Mexico, Netherlands,Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland;
Abstaining: Argentina,Gabon, Japan, Mauritius,Republic of Korea,Ukraine].
(Courtesy: UNHRC)
Related:
>> BBC: UN supports Sri Lanka aid effort
>> AP: UN council ignores calls for Sri Lanka abuse probe
>> Bloomberg: Sri Lanka Rights Resolution Fails to Call for Probe Into Abuses
Prabhakaran look-alike flees to India?
Defence authorities have found a look-alike of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, who is said to be a Tamil businessman of New Chetty Street, Kotahena, according to a report in the local Sinhalese newspaper Divaina.
Following the exposure, the man identified as Sathgunaraja, a wealthy supplier of goods to the north, has fled to India, Divaina reports.
Yesterday afternoon (May 26), an unidentified group had shot and wounded his son, who is said to be in critical condition in hospital.
Sathgunaraja had reportedly visited the north frequently and had been a close friend of the LTTE leader, said the newspaper.
>> Divaina News Item
Interpol throws net to arrest KP
Interpol has thrown the net to capture LTTE arms smuggler Kumaram Padmanathan alias K.P. Investigations are now being conducted in Thailand , Malaysia, Australia, Singapore and several other countries that are considered be his hideouts, sources said.
Interpol has intensified the search following a request made by both the Sri Lankan and Indian governments, sources further said.
(Govt Info Dept)
“Sri Lanka has prevailed over a fanatical army” - Ambassador Dayan Jayatilleka
GENEVA – The U.N.'s top human rights official demanded an independent investigation Tuesday into atrocities allegedly committed by both sides in Sri Lanka's civil war.
High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay told an emergency meeting of the Geneva-based U.N. Human Rights Council that tens of thousands of civilians had been killed or injured in intense fighting between the government and Tamil rebels since December. But a majority of the 47 countries on the council appeared unwilling to heed her appeal for a war crimes probe.
Pillay said the Sri Lankan government had an obligation to respect humanitarian law at all times, even when fighting terrorism.
"In no circumstances can the end justify the means," Pillay said. "There are strong reasons to believe that both sides have grossly disregarded the fundamental principle of the inviolability of civilians."
Sri Lankan Ambassador Dayan Jayatilleka said it was "outrageous" to suggest the government should be investigated along with the rebels, saying it was like asking the victorious allies of World War II to accept a war crimes tribunal for the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
"Just name me one country in history anywhere in the world ... that would embrace such a suggestion," Ambassador Dayan Jayatilleka told The Associated Press. "It's outrageous. Sri Lanka has just prevailed over a notoriously fanatical and formidable army, the Tamil Tigers."
Jayatilleka insisted the conflict was a domestic matter in which other countries had no right to interfere, and denounced the staging of the council meeting.
>> Full Story: AP
President launches road map for a new Sri Lanka
President Rajapaksa's address to the nation on the May 19 is justifiably acclaimed as the best ever by any of our twelve past heads since independence, and most probably heralds in the changes needed for our nation's stable future.
The recent events which culminated in the complete eradication of LTTE separatist terrorism after nearly three decades of naked terror, adds a new dimension to our history and ushers in the maturity of our nation, with an opportunity to gather all its citizens as Sri Lankans under one banner, irrespective of caste, creed or race.
The events also expose the power hungry opportunist and anti national forces within our country.
National issues
There are dangers ahead not from terrorism or from outside forces but from within our own country. These possible dangers have been faced before and have been overcome from time to time, but unfortunately have become an interest part of our politics, which since independence has been based on power rather than policies.
As stated before in an earlier article of mine, the recent elections show that after sixty years of independence, the vast majority of people have voted on national issues rather than personal gain or advantage.
>> Full Story
Many surrendered rebels offered rehabilitation
Military reports reveal that more than 9000 LTTE cadres relinquished their ties with the LTTE and surrendered to SL armed forces. Most of them decamped their erstwhile companion, the LTTE, on their own and mixed up with innocent civilians fleeing from terror grips. “The majority simply surrendered and the rest have been identified by SL armed forces,” Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said.
Already, they undergo questioning before a legal panel, and legal authorities consider the majority should undergo rehabilitation. Some 2000 rebels self-confessed and are likely to face trial. "They are simply the pawns who took every risk at the command of cruel leaders, and, being brainwashed to see only the darker side of life, they must go through rehabilitation so that they can live as normal Sri Lankans," said Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara.
(Govt Info Dept)
Beware! Dengue epidemic on the rise
(Colombo-Lankapuvath-May 27) The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry reminds public to be vigilant about dengue fever. Colombo, Kandy, Kegalle, Batticaloa, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kurunegala, Matale, Hambantota, Anuradhapura and Matara are the worst affected districts.
75 deaths and 5,200 patients infected with dengue virus and Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever have been reported in the country. Dengue is the common mosquito –borne viral disease of humans, which can be brought under control by exercising vigilance
D.A.Rajapaksa’s gift to the nation...
“My son will have to learn I know, that all men are not just, all men are not true. But teach him also that for every scoundrel there is a hero, that for every selfish politician, there is a dedicated leader. Teach him to be gentle with gentle people and tough with the tough. Let him have the courage to be impatient. Let him have patience to be brave. Teach him to stand and fight if he thinks he is right. Teach him always to have sublime faith in himself, because then he will always have sublime faith in mankind”,- Abraham Lincoln in a letter to his son’s class teacher.
The nation will endorse that there lived a scoundrel in this country who tried to bury the possibilities of peace ,democracy and magnanimity for three long decades. And that scoundrel was Velupillai Prabakaran from Velvettithurai who led a ruthless terror gang called the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elaam.In the face of the ruthlessness of that criminal, there was born a son from deep South to D.A.Rajapaksa from Medamulana, who took up the challenge and the noble responsibility to defend the unity, integrity and the sovereignty of his country. He is Percy Mahendra Rajapaksa, the second son of D.A.Rajapaksa,who was popularly known in politics as the “ Brave Son of Ruhuna”in the early post independence politics of this country.
The late Sir John Kotalawala once described D.A.Rajapaksa as a brave and honourable Member of the House.The late SWRD Bandaranaike hailed D.A.Rajapaksa for the latter’s high standard of honesty and integrity. D.A.Rajapaksa’s parliamentary travelling claim as a MP only added up to a modest Rs.400/- for four years. When that was brought to the notice of the House by the Speaker, Sir John Kotalawala stood up to say, ‘Mr.Speaker, I could proudly say that the Hon.D.A.Rajapaksa happens to be one of the few honourable members in this House’.
>> Full Story
RANIL WICKRAMASINGHE SEVERELY CRITICISED FOR PROPOSING TO END EMERGENCY REGULATIONS AND ACT AGAINST TERRORISM
By Walter Jayawardhana
Two government Ministers criticised Opposition and UNP leader Ranil Wickremasinghe for stating that the government should immediately give up implementing the Emergency Regulations and the Act against Terrorism which was passed by the legislature against the terrorist activities of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the 1980’s
Addressing the parliament Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva said that the leader of Opposition is in an indecent hurry to end these two acts which are absolutely necessary to mop up operation of the LTTE activities in the country after ending the war. “Is the Leader of Opposition in a hurry to bring back all the LTTE activities,” the Minister asked.
He further said the government has a duty to paralyse the terrorist movement in a manner that it cannot come back to the country. The troops have got to find out Suicide Bombers from places they are hiding and suicide jackets from places they are being hidden for the protection of the Sri Lankan people who are still at the danger , the Minister said.
>> Full Story
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Russia pledges continued support to Sri Lanka
COLOMBO, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Russia has pledged to continue to assist Sri Lanka for the restoration of peace and reconstruction in the country after the defeat of Tamil Tiger rebels, the Sri Lankan government said Tuesday.
The presidential office said in a statement that Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev told Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse on Tuesday in a telephone conversation that Russia considered Sri Lanka an old friend and ally, and looked forward to continuing the warm relations between the two countries.
He assured that Russia will give all assistance to Sri Lanka for the restoration of peace, reconstruction, and for necessary and expeditious relief to the large number of internally displaced persons, according to the statement.
Rajapakse thanked the Russian president for the considerable assistance given to Sri Lanka, especially in the UN Security Council and other UN organizations at the last stage of civil war.
>> Full Story
Indonesia accuses West countries of double standards over Sri Lanka
JAKARTA, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia accused Western countries of applying double standards for their rights violation probe pushing into Sri Lanka's final offensive against the Tamil rebel comparing to the situation in Sri Lanka to that in Palestine and Afghanistan, according to local media on Tuesday.
"We see (the call for rights probe) are political. Why did they reject of respond unenthusiastically to the initiation of rights violations into Israel's assault on Gaza?"the Jakarta Post quoted Foreign Ministry Spokesman Teuku Faizasyah as saying.
He said that Indonesia supports Colombo's draft resolution to be presented at the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council meeting on Sri Lanka in Geneva scheduled on Tuesday.
The resolution highlighted "the principle of non-interference" in internal matters and respected for Sri Lanka's sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence, Faizasyah said.
>> Source
Cult of personality grows around Sri Lanka's leader
Since the Tigers' defeat, the Buddhist majority sees Mahinda Rajapaksa as a living godby Doug Saunders, Globe and Mail
As the President's motorcade passed slowly through Colombo Monday, 20-year-old university student Chaturi Waidyasekera pressed her head to the ground, then rose and chanted, “Praise our king.”
Dozens of others did the same, beneath billboards that pictured Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the white robes of a Buddhist deity. Ms. Waidyasekera explained, calmly, that she believes the elected leader of Sri Lanka should remain in office for life because last week he ended a 26-year civil war with the violent defeat of the Tamil Tigers.
“For once in our history we have a leader who has made our island into one kingdom,” she said. “Why do we need elections any more? He is the king we need.” She was actually one of the more moderate voices along the route: For others, the President was nothing less than a living god.
After the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam were defeated last week, it seemed like this was simply a victory celebration, a mass depressurizing of a people made tense by years of war. Members of Sri Lanka's majority, Sinhalese-speaking Buddhists, took to the streets in a celebration that lasted days.
>> Full Story
Sri Lanka to add soldiers to prevent Tiger return
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Sri Lanka's military said it plans to enlist at least 100,000 more soldiers to head off any resurgence of the separatist Tamil Tigers, who were routed by government forces last week to end a quarter century of civil war.
The troop buildup comes amid concern that remnants of the rebel group living abroad may try to resurrect it under new leadership, army commander Gen. Sarath Fonseka said in a television interview Monday.
"There may be people abroad trying to promote a new leader and stage a comeback ," Fonseka told state-run Independent Television Network. "Our strength is 200,000 and it will become 300,000 soon. It will not be easy for them to build up a terror group as they did before."
>> Full Story
Sri Lanka rejects Tigers' offer
Sri Lanka's defence secretary has rejected the Tamil Tigers' offer to enter a democratic process after their military defeat by government forces.
In an interview with the BBC, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said the LTTE rebels could not be trusted to give up "terrorism".
"I do not believe the LTTE can enter a democratic process after years of their violent activities," Mr Rajapaksa said.
The rebels had said they would give up violence after their leader was killed in recent fighting in the north-east.
"I am not interested in LTTE at all," the defence secretary - the most senior civilian official in charge of the war against the Tamil Tigers - told the BBC in a wide-ranging telephone interview.
He said there were "enough democratic Tamil political parties in the country" to represent the Tamil minority.
>> Full Story: BBC
UN faces fierce clash over call for Sri Lanka war crimes inquiry
Sri Lanka is to clash with Western powers at the United Nations Human Rights Council today in an effort to ward off any investigation into alleged war crimes committed during its military offensive against the Tamil Tigers.
The country has marshalled a team of powerful allies led by China, Russia and India to fight off a European-backed resolution at today’s special session on Sri Lanka calling for an inquiry into abuses on both sides of the conflict.
Observers at yesterday’s preliminary meeting in Geneva, which was described as acrimonious, said that the 47-member Council was divided over the European resolution, with 18 countries for and 18 against. The other nine are undecided.
The division sets the stage for a session today that will test the very purpose of the Human Rights Council. Israel, which had an investigation into its Gaza offensive forced on to it by the Council, is furious at the prospect of Sri Lanka escaping the same fate.
>> Full Story
Sri Lanka's Tamils vie for leadership role
"COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Behind sandbagged walls, a driveway lined with metal spikes, a battery of security cameras and rifle-wielding bodyguards sits the man who would be the next leader of Sri Lanka's Tamil community.
Douglas Devananda, a former militant leader who bears the scars of nearly a dozen assassination attempts by the rival Tamil Tigers, tells the AP that with the rebels' defeat he is ready to assume the leadership of the minority group's struggle for greater political power.
Now the path is clear, we want speedy action," said Devananda, a government minister who also leads a Tamil paramilitary group.
The death of Tamil Tiger chief Velupillai Prabhakaran — who targeted government leaders and Tamil rivals with equal zeal — has left a huge void in the Tamil nationalist movement at a crucial moment when the government is promising to negotiate an end to the country's ethnic divide.
Among those vying with Devananda are a former rebel commander whose defection to the government side helped destroy the group, the Tamil Tigers' main ally in parliament and an intellectual critic of both the government and the rebels.
>> Full Story
Victory Parade on June 03 at Galle Face
The government has organized a military parade to commemorate the nation’s victory over terrorism on June 3rd at the Galle Face Green, graced by the President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Nominations for Northern municipal council polls to be accepted from mid June
May 25, Colombo: Sri Lanka Election Department has decided to call nominations for the Jaffna Municipal Council and Vavuniya Urban Council elections from June 17 to 2.
Elections Department sources said the Election Commissioner is to publish the gazette notification for the nominations on June 04th.
The election for the Jaffna Municipal Council and Vavuniya Urban Councils are to be held between August 4th and 17th, but no definite date has been decided yet.
The election date for the councils will be announced by the Commissioner following the completion of the nomination period.
The elections for these two local government bodies are to be held after a long time as the government was unable to hold any polls in the region due to the LTTE activities.
>> Source
Allow 'free access' to aid agencies: Former PM tells Lanka
(ZeeNews) Former Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe on Monday asked the Government to allow "free access" to aid agencies to camps where the displaced Tamil civilians are lodged.
He also said the Government should try to resettle at least 80 per cent of the displaced civilians in their towns and villages by this year.
"ICRC and the UN relief agencies should be given free access for development of Wanni and rehabilitation of the refugees. We need international help. This year government should target 80-90 per cent resettlement of the Tamil people in Wanni," he told reporters.
"The UN agencies should be allowed free access to the IDP camps," he said.
Wickremasinghe said while President Mahinda Rajapaksa "finished the LTTE and terrorism" in the country, other Sri Lankan leaders also played a role in defeating the Tiger rebels by weakening the outfit.
"During my period, the Ceasefire Agreement was brought which to a great extend weakened LTTE during 2002-04," he said, adding that at least 4,000 tiger rebels had surrendered during that time, he said.
He said his party is willing to help the government in rehabilitating and resettling the displaced people.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Remembrance and 'Pirith'Chanting Ceremony to invoke blessing on the Fallen Heroes
An all night 'Pirith' Chanting Ceremony was held to invoke blessing on all those who lost their lives or went missing in the war against terrorism at the Naval base in Trincomalee, last Saturday (23rd May). It was held under the aegis of The commander of the Navy Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, where many other high ranking officers were also present. This event was preceded by a ceremony to pay respect to the Fallen Heroes, during the morning the same day. The 'Pirith' ceremony was followed a 'Sanghika Dhakshinawa ' ( almsgiving ceremony) to the Buddhist clergy. The unique feature of this event was the holding of this almsgiving ceremony onboard SLNS Sayura. This is the first time a programme of this sort was held onboard a Naval ship.
This is a fitting tribute to all those naval personal who laid down their lives to protect the country from the clutches of terror. These brave men were at the first frontier,the sea effectively cutting off the enemy's movement and stopping their supply and logistics through sea.
The Trincomalee Naval Base was the main launching pad for most of the Naval operations against the enemy. This is where most of the ships and vessels of the Sri Lanka Navy operate and is also the 'home' for thousands of officers and sailors. That is why it is rightly considered the 'Heart' of the Sri Lanka Navy. And it undoubtedly is the most suitable venue to pay tribute to all those brave Naval souls who laid down their lives in order for us to lead a peaceful life.
The Sri Lanka Navy played a decisive role in this war to vanquish the most brutal terrorist outfit in the world, the LTTE. The Eelam War IV, was the beginning of the end of the LTTE and its megalomaniac leader, Prabhakaran. The unstoppable winning streak of the Tri Forces of Sri Lanka began from Mavil Aru, when the merciless LTTE cut off the life line water supply to the paddy fields of the Trincomalee District, denying the innocent farmers of their livelihood.
>> Full Story
Sri Lanka Wants Partners Not Monitors for Post-War Development
By Paul Tighe and Jay Shankar
May 25 (Bloomberg) -- Sri Lanka said it needs partners, not monitors, in the international community to help the South Asian island nation rebuild after the end of a 26-year conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
Assistance must be “according to the wishes of the people of Sri Lanka,” Basil Rajapaksa, senior presidential adviser, said, according to the government’s Web site. “We don’t want ‘monitors,’ we need partners.”
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon ended a two- day visit to the country at the weekend with a call to the government to start the process of reconciliation with the Tamil community and for aid to reach an estimated 300,000 people displaced by the fighting in the north.
Sri Lanka’s government said last week its forces defeated the Tamil Tigers, ending their fight for a separate Tamil homeland in the east and north. President Mahinda Rajapaksa said aid workers will be allowed into the conflict zone once the army completes operations to clear rebels hiding among the refugees.
“The international community must understand that it is we, the people of this country, who had to endure this problem” of terrorism, Basil Rajapaksa said in an interview. “There is nobody else who understands the repercussions and the sufferings.”
Good Record
The government has a “good record” dealing with displaced civilians in the past, he said. It is committed to returning people who fled in recent months to their homes.
“We will ensure that when everybody in the north returns to their homes, they will go back to a place where there is security,” he added.
Sri Lanka said last week it intends to resettle the displaced people within 180 days and close the transit camps.
>> Full Story
IDPs in the welfare camps identify and inform Tiger cadres in their midst
Colombo, 25 May, (Asiantribune.com): Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in welfare camps have begun sneaking on several former Tigers hiding among the inmates and handing them over to the Army. This was disclosed by a high Army official today (25)
In several instances, the civil inmates in camps have singled out and assaulted the former Tigers living among them for abducting their children and handing them to the LTTE. Several such former Tigers who have been beaten up by civilians have been hospitalized by the Army.
Army spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said that all found to be former Tigers who are inmates in welfare camps have been taken in for questioning about the roles they played in the Tiger movement. “Some of them will be indicted before the Courts depending on the roles they played in the Tiger movement, and some others will be sent for rehabilitation”, he said.
In all there are about 5000 former Tigers housed among civilians in the welfare camps, he added.
>> Full Story
Joint statement by the government of SL and the UN secretary general at the conclusion of un secretary-general's visit to SL, 23rd may 2009
At the invitation of the H.E. Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, H.E. Ban Ki-moon paid a visit to Sri Lanka. During the course of his visit, he held talks with the President, Foreign Minister as well as other senior leaders of Sri Lanka. During his stay, he also consulted other relevant stakeholders, members of the international humanitarian agencies and civil society. The Secretary-General visited the IDP sites at Vavuniya and overflew the conflict area, near Mullaitivu that was the scene of the conflict.
President Rajapaksa welcomed the Secretary-General as the highest dignitary to visit Sri Lanka in the post-conflict phase. This was a reflection of the close cooperation between Sri Lanka and the United Nations as well as Sri Lanka's commitment to work with the UN in the future.
>> Full Story
Sri Lankan Americans Hold Peace Rally in Washington
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 23, 2009) – Several hundred Sri Lankan Americans and friends of Sri Lanka gathered in Washington today for a daylong peace rally in support of the Sri Lankan victory over the LTTE earlier this week. Billed as Sri Lanka: One nation - under one flag, the rally organized by “We are Sri Lankans” was held in the shadow of The White House.
The rally was attended by Sri Lankan Americans cutting across ethnic and religious persuasions. They hailed from all parts of the country including Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, Michigan, Kansas, New Jersey, New York and Washington, D.C.
“Today’s rally was a show of solidarity in response to the government’s humanitarian mission to rescue thousands of civilians and put an end to the 26-year-old conflict with the LTTE and widespread terrorism,” said one of the rally’s organizers. ”We are now a fully sovereign nation under one flag and one democratic ideal. We are now fortunate to move forward as a stronger and more peaceful, prosperous society.”
>> Full Story
International community tried to save LTTE chief at the last moment, Sri Lanka government says
May 24, Colombo: Sri Lanka government today disclosed the details over the appeal made by foreign powers to save the former LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran at the last stages of the war.
Speaking at a function held in Matara this morning Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said that a foreign country has appealed the Sri Lanka government at the last moment.
According to the Minister, this country has handed over to the authorities a list of 50 names of LTTE leaders seeking to escape.
However, Minister Alahapperuma did not disclose the name of this country, but he said that the entire nation would know who it is in the near future.
He said this appeal clearly showed that certain foreign powers have supported the LTTE during the last three decades to fight against Sri Lanka government and its people.
According to a recent column by a Tamil journalist in a Sri Lankan daily, LTTE's chief negotiator Kumaran Padmanathan alias 'KP' was in constant touch with the 'diplomats of at least four western nations, UN functionaries in Geneva and New York, a foreign cabinet minister and a few prominent western journalists' trying to get the LTTE leaders out at the final moment.
Tamil Tigers admit leader is dead - BBC
In a telephone interview with the BBC, Mr Pathmanathan said Prabhakaran had died on 17 May but did not give details of the circumstances.
Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels have admitted for the first time that their leader Velupillai Prabhakaran is dead.
A statement issued by the Tigers said their "incomparable leader" had "attained martyrdom" and declared a week of mourning.
A spokesman for the group also told the BBC that it would now use non-violent methods to fight for Tamils' rights.
Sri Lanka's army last week released pictures it said showed Prabhakaran's body after its final offensive. 
The statement from the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) said he was killed "fighting the military oppression of the Sri Lankan government" last Sunday.
The rebels had made a last stand in the north-east of the island after Sri Lankan troops cornered them in a coastal strip.
The Tigers' defeat brought to an end their 26-year fight for a separate Tamil homeland.
The statement was signed by the defeated group's head of international relations, Selvarasa Pathmanathan.
It said that the LTTE had declared a week of mourning for their dead leader, starting on 25 May.
The statement called on Tamils all over the world to "restrain from harmful acts to themselves or anyone else in this hour of extreme grief".
In a telephone interview with the BBC, Mr Pathmanathan said Prabhakaran had died on 17 May but did not give details of the circumstances.
Mr Pathmanathan said the Tigers would now use non-violent methods to fight for the rights of Tamils.
"We have already announced that we have given up violence and agreed to enter a democratic process to achieve the rights for the Tamil (self) determination of our people," he said.
Most of the Tamil Tigers senior leadership is believed to have been killed in the fighting. Sri Lankan officials gave conflicting reports of the death of Prabhakaran.
They initially said he had been killed in an ambush by commandos as he tried to break through government lines in an ambulance.
But the army later said his body was found on the banks of the Nanthikadal lagoon and he had been shot in scrubland - probably during fierce fighting.
Sick and injured civilians displaced by the war are crammed into camps
Tamil Tiger officials at first denied Prabhakaran's death, insisting that he was "alive and safe".
Sri Lankan officials have said that more than 6,200 security personnel were killed and almost 30,000 wounded in the final three years of the war. Estimates for Tamil Tiger deaths vary from 15,000 to more than 22,000.
About 275,000 Sri Lankan civilians are still displaced because of the fighting, posing a huge problem for international aid agencies.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Sri Lanka on Friday to see the situation for himself.
At the end of his visit a joint UN-Sri Lankan statement said that the government had pledged to investigate claims of human rights violations committed during the conflict.
But the government has rejected UN calls to allow aid agencies unhindered access to refugee camps.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa said authorities had to identify any remaining rebel fighters in the camps.
>> Full Story
Liberation is Over! Then ...........................
by Mark De Silva
Not only the Sri Lankans, but the entire World was very much keen to know "What's happening in Sri Lanka?" especially during last two years or so. Reason was, on- going War between Government Forces of Sri Lanka and LTTE. Any observer would have understood, day- by -day LTTE areas were drastically contracted while Government Forces have accelerated liberating the country.
Now LTTE is no more in Sri Lanka, but Pro-LTTE activities in Off-shore. Even most of the Sri Lankan Tamils, who don't want to come back to live in Sri Lanka are shouting for an Eelam. Also they called themselves “Tamil Diaspora”. Why do they do so? What benefits they expect by doing these things?
Let us see the benefits they enjoy by hiding behind the curtain of Diaspora;
- Refugee Status
- Asylum Seeking
- Work Permits
- Better income by employment
- Education /Foreign Training
- Ability to save money & send their relatives living in Sri Lanka
If we look deep into this matter without blindly touching the surface, we find;
- LTTE planted bombs aiming the Public; Sri Lankan Forces did not!
- LTTE attacked & killed innocent people; Sri Lanken Forces attacked only to the Terrorists.
- LTTE wanted to divide this small Island of Sri Lanka in to two; Sri Lanken Forces wanted to liberate the country.
- LTTE recruited child soldiers; Sri Lankan Forces did not.
- LTTE used illegal weapons such as Land mines; Sri Lanken Forces did not.
- LTTE done mass destructions by attacking Economically, Administratively and Strategically important locations in Sri Lanka: Sri Lanken Forces did not.
- LTTE funds grew with illegally imposed Taxes from Sri Lanken Tamils as well as issuing permits to enter into LTTE controlling areas for the Sinhala ethnics charging a fee; Sri Lanken Forces did not but Sri Lanken Government gazettes the Taxes, time to time in a legal framework without concerning the ethnicity.
- LTTE did not allow Sinhala and Muslim ethnics to live in LTTE controlled areas; Tamils live all over the country without any obstructions. Especially, the highest ethnicity group permanently residing in Colombo (the Capital city of Sri Lanka) is Tamil. Do they stay in Colombo and other parts in Sri Lanka, if they were being harressed?
Being a Minority ethnic group in a country does not permit to say ‘Majority ethnic group ill-treating the Minority. As well as the most of countries Majority leads the country as per their share of population unless the capabilities of Minority, remarkably “Extra-ordinary”.
Also the word “Diaspora” does not permit ethically nor legally to establish a new country for them. If so, Indian ethnic groups would entitle to claim at least three new countries! (Tamil Nadu, Punjab & Kashmir)
Let me ask a question; “What is the Main Ethnicity of USA? Is it English? French? Kenyan? Mexican or Jews? You would never be able to answer to that question, since they don’t have one! They think like Americans; Behave like Americans & at last but not least they introduce themselves as Americans! Because, they respect each other with a sense of responsibility.
There are 193 countries in the world. Does it mean, there are 193 Ethnic groups? No, Never! Definitely more than thousand! But most important fact is ‘there are exactly 193 Nations!’
Back to the topic, Sri Lanken Tamils should not be guided by Tamil Diaspora comfortably living in Off-shore . Try to go abroad and apply for Citizenship via Asylum seeking should not be entertained and it’s not the only path to Prosperity. This would plant the curse, revenge, Megalomania & Self inferiority complex among the ethnic groups. Reach to Good Financial and Social prosperity won’t be a big task, if develop the resources in the North of Sri Lanka and change the mentality of civilians.
What are the Plus points Sri Lanka gets after liberating the country?
Here they are;
- Mannar was the district, contributed the highest Rice production to the country in 1970s.
- Mannar district alone could supply the country’s Demand for Dry fish.
- Soil in Kilinochchi is rich of nutrients for vegetation. Especially, nobody could separate vegetables grown in Kilinochchi as Up-country & Low-country vegetables because you would experience the mass production of vegetables what we typically expecting from Up-country (Carrot, Beet, Leeks, Cabbage, Potatoes and Beans) and Low-country (Lady’s Fingers, Pumpkins, Chilies, Onions and Maze)
- Pulmodai area is rich of Chemical substances and Minerals.
- In Kankasanthurai and Jaffna peninsula, the earth is rich in Dolomite. As per the estimates, there are un-tapped deposits of Dolomite available for at least 45 years.
- Mulathiv area is ideal for Teak/Mahogany plantation.
- Petroleum exploration revealed, North Sea is high potential for Fossil Fuel deposits.
- As per a Survey conducted by the Government, presently the Palmyra trees in North used for various products are less than 3%. Improving Palmyra products would add a sufficient contribution to GNP.
- What about Tourism? There are many Tourist destinations in North but not developed.
Ignore the LTTE activities take place in other countries; Obstruct the trend towards Terrorism by up-grading the living standards of Northern Tamils. The Drive-Ego should be,’ The Developing the Resources in the North makes a Better tomorrow for all’
Past is History; Future is Mystery. But remember, “Today is, Yesterday’s Tomorrow. Today’s Tomorrow will be Tomorrow’s Today! So every plan you make & action you take today, would build-up your day of Tomorrow.”
War Crimes of the International Community in Sri Lanka
SPUR (Society for Peace, Unity and Human Rights for Sri Lanka Inc)
Reg: A003 0777 M
P.O. Box 4066, Mulgrave VIC 3170, Australia
Phone: (+613) 9795 7143 Fax: (+613) 9795 7142
24 May 2009
Media Release
The EU and some other members of the "International Community" (IC) have unfortunately joined the LTTE international wing in adding their voice to alleged Human Rights violations during the last stages of the "civil" war in Sri Lanka.
What are these countries doing in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan and what have they been doing in many other countries in S America, Africa and Asia – if not committing human rights violations and possible war crimes and crimes against humanity?
The coalition of the willing marched into Iraq - declaring there were weapons of mass destruction and chemical weapons in Iraq. The country was strip-searched but no weapons of mass destruction or chemical weapons were found. Was that not a war crime - to invade a sovereign country on a pretext - on a made up story and destroy that country’s infrastructure and put the population through hell? Was that not a violation of human rights?
Having given Iraq permission to invade Kuwait, the US attacked Iraq and imposed sanctions on the government so stringently that the children were malnourished - was that not a war crime and violation of human rights?
Is not the constant bombing of Pakistan border villagers and killing civilians by the US and her partners a human rights violation and a crime against humanity?
Some of the vociferous members of the International Community (IC) who left no stone unturned to save the LTTE leadership stand indicted of committing human right violations and also war crimes against Sri Lanka.
1. By allowing the LTTE to collect money to purchase heavy weapons these members of the IC have aided and abetted the LTTE to commit war crimes and human rights violations against the entire population of Sri Lanka.
2. The US by providing training to Theepan - an LTTE leader.
3. India – by initially training and arming the LTTE and other terrorist groups to destabilise Sri Lanka and allowing many intransigent South Indian politicians to act as if Sri Lanka is a part of India.
4. Human rights violations perpetrated by the UK.
a. UK for allowing the LTTE to establish their head office in London and to formulating their war activities from the UK,
b. Giving the LTTE front organisations grants which were used to equip the LTTE with weapons,
c. The MI5 providing Anton Balasingham with forged papers and smuggling him out of Sri Lanka and into England and alleged close relationship with K.P Pathmantahan, the LTTE leader in his recent moves and travelling. It is alleged that M15 is planning to revamp the LTTE vis a vis the position occupied by Anton Balasingham and his wife to be re-established with KP.
d. Providing facilities for the LTTE print and electronic media to propagate anti-Sri Lanka cold war with the intention of harming the interest of Sri Lanka her people.
5. France, Germany, Switzerland, Canada, Norway etc by allowing the LTTE to carry out terror attacks on various Sri Lankan establishments on their soil and not taking action against the perpetrators of these crimes have aided and abetted in those crimes against Sri Lankans.
6. All those countries that allowed LTTE front organisations to raise money in millions of dollars to provide weapons that were turned on the Sri Lankan population, indiscriminately killing civilians - are guilty of human rights violations.
7. Norway, the biggest violator of human rights against the Sinhalese, Tamils, Malays, Burghars, the entire population of Sri Lanka by their encouragement, support and supply of equipment to the LTTE, by providing them with information of the movements of the armed forces while acting as the monitoring mission during the infamous ceasefire they brokered. Norway should be tried for carrying out an undeclared war on a sovereign country without any provocation. And directly strengtheninga UN banned terrorist organization.
8. Some of the UN agencies also aided and abetted the LTTE in various ways, the Representative of the UN Secretary General in Sri Lanka hid himself in a toilet to telephone KP - the weapons procurer for the LTTE. While some agencies have supplied material, equipment to the LTTE even the ICRC is not guiltless.
This war would not have gone on for so long had the international community acted more responsibly and recognised and acknowledged the LTTE for what it was - a terrorist organisation – and:
• Prevented the collection of funds in their countries,
• Froze their assets
• Not merely banning them under a toothless UN resolution, but banned them under the criminal codes of the respective countries,
The LTTE would not have been able to reach the levels of sophistication they did without the assistance of the guilty IC members.
The concerned members of the IC are guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity by the attempted mass killing of the Sinhala, Muslim and of Tamil people - because the crimes the LTTE committed in Sri Lanka were aided and abetted by the IC therefore, the IC is guilty by association.
The countries of the EU - France, Germany, Britain who so vociferously condemn Sri Lanka and others SHOULD confess to the human rights violations they have committed and put themselves up for investigations and take their punishment on a first committed first served basis.
The best thing these IC members can now do to absolve themselves of this guilt is to leave Sri Lanka alone to develop and forge bonds to become again the ONE NATION it was before colonial and neo–colonial manoeuvres which brought in division and dissent among Sri Lankan people similar to many other developing countries.
Jeanne Jayasinghe
President
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