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Sunday, 18 October 2009 10:37 PM 

We wish our Hindu readers, a happy "Deepavali" festival

"Deepavali" known as the Festival of Light, symbolizes the victory of good over evil, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. Celebrated by Hindus the world over, "Deepavali" marks the progress that humans have made in the constant struggle for a better life in keeping with the great spiritual values of Hinduism. It is in this sense a celebration of the spiritual prosperity of people, too. Today our sri Lankan society is able to celebrate this great festival with a spirit of unity that is marked by the increased harmony and understanding among all our people, irrespective of ethnic, religious and other differences that have kept them apart for a long period. As the Hindus of Sri Lanka, join their fellow believers the world over in the joyous spirit of Deepavali, we are now at the threshold of a new era, where the suffering faced by the Hindu community will be a thing of the past; and they could all look forward to living in peace and harmony in the comfort and tranquillity of their own homes. May the light of goodwill and peace dispel the darkness of terror and hatred that prevailed in our land.

Hindus commemorate Deepawali - Diwali is celebrated on a dark moon night in the month of Kartik (according to the Hindu calendar) contrasting the power of brightness over darkness. As myriads of fireworks light up the black skies, and multicoloured twinkling lights of earthen lamps, candles, electric bulbs adorn the earth, all seems to be right with the world, with God in her proper place. The Northern Province is also brightened, as peace now reigns throughout the entire country following the elimination of terrorism from the soil. The gallant soldiers under the President’s leadership created an environment for the Tamil civilians to live peacefully. President Rajapaksa, in a message to mark the festival said Hindu devotees have been afforded the opportunity of commemorating Deepavali in the light of goodwill and peace dispelling the darkness of terror and hatred. The sufferings faced by the Hindu fraternity would be a thing of the past as the country was now on the threshold of a new era. He said known as the Festival of Lights, Deepavali symbolises the victor of good over evil, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake in another message observed that everyone should array themselves on the day of light to make permanent the freedom gained (ITN ; 17 Oct 2009).

Deepavali festivals in welfare camps - The National Youth Services Council in collaboration with Youth Affairs Ministry has organised five 'Deepavali festivals' in welfare camps at Vavuniya and Settikulam. The Deepavali festivals will be held in 'Arunachalam Ramanathan', 'Ananda Kumaraswamy', 'Kadirgamar' and Zone No. 4 relief camps to coincide with the Government's Uthuru Wasanthaya Thurunu Saviya program. Selection of a Deepavali prince, Deepavali princess, best beard, best hair and so many other items will be included in the program. Festivals will be held from October 18 to 22. Along with the Deepavali festivals, the NYSC had made arrangements to hold many other beneficiary activities at the camps. Five open air stages will be built in Vavuniya and Settikulam relief villages, for recreation, four peace walks will be conducted to sell stickers to raise funds to rebuild the Murugandi Temple railway station under Uthuru Mithuru program. Some 5,000 milk powder packets will be distributed among camps, 15 volleyball courts will be built in relief villages and sports pools will be set up for the youth in the 18-22 age group (Daily News : 17 Oct 2009).

World military researchers should learn and theorize the victory of the Sri Lankan security forces - Minister Champika Ranawaka - Minister Champika Ranawaka said "Dear members of the armed forces, with much gratitude let me repeat that if not for your leadership, courage, strategies and the dedication we would not have been able to uproot the LTTE. We are free today due to your sacrifices." He said that Sinhala brothers were being chased away from the North. According to statistics 21,000 Sinhalese were living in Jaffna district in 1981. Not a single Sinhalese was spared. Sinhalese were ethnically cleansed. Over 150,000 Sinhalese were chased away in the North and East to create the so-called Tamil Homeland. During the past 25 years they have being living as displaced persons, Ranawaka said.  "Suresh Premachandran and Sampanthan who are living in Colombo among Sinhalese now are talking about Sinhalization. The chased out Sinhalese do have an inherent right to resettle in their homeland in the North. Velupillai Prabhakaran chased away Muslims from North in 1991. During the past 18 years they have being living in Kalpitiya. They too have an inherent right resettle in their homeland in the North," he added. The government is now facilitating this huge rehabilitation task, he said (Read Full Text of the Speech in Sinhela Net).

Book authored by Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, ‘Charge of the Lion Brigade’ launched - At the outset Ranawaka thanked President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Defence Minister cum chief of the armed forces, Secretary Defence Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, ex-chief of Defence Vice Marshal Donald Perera, ex-Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka, ex-Navy Commander Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, Air Force Commander Air Chief Marshal Roshan Gunatilaka, Civil Defence Director Sarath Weerasekara, Inspector General of Police Jayantha Wickramaratna, Commander of various divisions and valiant soldiers for the courages triumph over the world most ruthless terrorists mafia the LTTE (Sinhela Net : 17 Oct 2009).

SVU donates a new house to a war hero's family - The Defence Ministry Seva Vanitha Unit which has initiated numerous projects for the welfare of war heroes donated a newly constructed house to a wife of a war hero who sacrificed his life for defending the motherland. This house was handed over by the chair person of Defence Ministry's Seva Vanitha Unit Mrs. Ioma Rajapaksa to Mrs Inoka Kumari, the wife of Lt MGPL Wikramasingha (7 GW) at a function held today (17th Oct). Lt MGPL Wikramasingha was a father of two kids when he sacrificed his life for the motherland in Welioya. The Seva Vanitha Unit of the Ministry of Defense had financially aided (960000 rupees) to build this house and the construction work was done by the 4th Engineering Section of Sri Lanka Army. The vise president of Defence Ministry's Seva Vanitha Unit Mrs. Indu Rathnayaka, the chairman of Pradeshiya Saba Gampaha Mr. Ranjith Gunawardana, Regimental Commander (GW) and Deputy Commander (Area HQ-Rathnapura) Col. JCP Pakshaweera RSP USP, Lt Col DMS Bandara and a large gathering of Army personnel were present at the event (sri Lanka Defence Ministry: 17 Oct 2009).

Raj Rajaratnam, contributor to the LTTE and Clinton’s campaign, is nabbed - Sri Lankan born Rajaratnam is accused of operating an elaborate insider trading operation which made him one of the wealthiest men in the United States with an estimated net worth of 1.3 Billion US Dollars. He has been arrested along with five others. Rajaratnam is accused of giving more than 3.5 Million Dollars to the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO). It is revealed that he had chanelled funds to the LTTE through his Galleon Group Hedge Fund launched during the 2004 Tsunami. Rajaratnam and his wife were also major contributors to a number of democratic campaigns. He had largely supported Hilary Clinton’s election campaign. In addition his associates formed a “Tamil For Clinton Fund Raising Group” for her Presidential campaign and sought her help in getting the Tamil tigers taken off the State Department’s designated terror list. It was thereafter that Clinton said all terrorists cannot be treated alike (ITN ; 17 Oct 2009).

Overseas LTTE assets will be confiscated, Sri Lanka Defense Secretary says - Sri Lanka's Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa revealed that the government has made arrangements with the assistance of its ambassadors to obtain the assets accumulated by the LTTE to Sri Lanka. The Defence Secretary, addressing the launching ceremony of the book "Charge of the Lion Brigade" written by Patali Champika Ranawaka, the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources at the BMICH on Friday (16), said the people should be vigilant since separatist forces are still active though terrorism has been defeated fully in the country. "Separatist forces who could not achieve their objectives through the LTTE have not stopped their attempts although terrorism has been fully defeated in the country," the Defence Secretary said. He stressed that people should act intelligently to support a nationwide attempt to revive the economy of the country to give peace dividends fully to the common masses of the country, to make the victory a complete one, without allowing separatist forces to derail it. Minister Ranawaka presented copies of his book to all the distinguished guests at the launching ceremony, including Ven. Ellawala Medhanandha thero, Rev. Fr. Oscar Abeyrathna and commanders of the three forces (Colombo page ; 17 Oct 2009).

Resettlement in the Jaffna Peninsular is to be completed by the 15th of Next month - The Army says that over 8,000 IGPs housed in the relief villages in Vavuniya have already been resettled in their original abodes. Over 16,000 have been resettled in the Jaffna Peninsula at present. The Commander of Wanni Region Major General Kamal Gunarathne says the resettlement in the Eastern Province will be completed by the 20th of this month. Resettlement in the Jaffna Peninsular is to be completed by the 15th of November. The commander told the SLBC that nearly 30 thousand civilians of the Jaffna Peninsular are housed in the relief villages in Vavuniya at present. Measures have been taken to resettle 2,000 persons in their original abodes each day. Security forces had rescued nearly 282 thousand persons from the grip of LTTE terrorists. Out of that over 55,000 persons have been resettled in the north and eastern provinces. Nearly 225 thousand persons are still living in relief villages. Among them by Thursday 1200 persons will be resettled in rice bowl area in Mannar . De-mining process in the district is now rapidly in progress (SLBC ; 17 Oct 2009).

Resettled refers to justice meted out to them by the Government - All resettled civilians of Mannar are with the present Government. No other administration had meted out justice to the Tamil civilians. These remarks have been made by R. Kiroshian, Chairman of the Rural Development Society of Nochchikulam. He said they had never witnessed development in their region in the past 30 years. They encountered only difficulties. They were gripped with fear due to terrorism. All lives were in the dark. He said they are thankful to the President and the Government as the environment has changed. They now enjoy electricity. Many development projects are in place. Actually, the region has developed. No administration unleashed development in this manner. This clearly indicates the justice meted out by the Government to the Tamil civilians. As such, their support is only for the present Government (ITN : 17 Oct 2009).

Not satisfied only by defeating terrorism. Development is also vital – Defence Secretary - The Government cannot be satisfied only by vanquishing terrorism. The country should be developed and tribute paid to war heroes who made supreme sacrifices. These observations were made by Defence Secretary Gothabhaya Rajapaksa. He said no one had served the heroic soldiers as in the case of the last three years. No one will do it for another 100 years. In the past, the Commanders of the Security Forces retired from lower ranks. But this Government promoted all of them to the highest ranks, in appreciation of their work. Action was initiated to increase their pensions up to the salary drawn by them, superseding the rules. The officers who had been neglected were given high positions such as Ambassadors and Deputy Ambassadors. Generals who served in the front line and informed the President that their services were further available had been posted them as Diplomats. Some may describe it as injustice being meted out to them. The posting of skilled officers as Ambassadors helped in apprehending KP. The Defence Secretary was speaking at the launch of the book “Charge of the Lion Brigade” authored by Minister Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka. The book contains an analysis of the Military and political strategy adopted in defeating the world’s deadliest terrorist outfit. The ceremony was held at the BMICH yesterday. Members of the Maha Sangha, Parliamentarians and Defence Chiefs were among those present (ITN : 17 Oct 2009).

Raj Rajaratnam contributed to LTTE front TRO, Hillary campaign - Sri Lankan born Raj Rajaratnam who was arrested in the US yesterday was a major contributor to the campaigns of Hillary Clinton and also the single largest known U.S. contributor to a charity linked to the Tamil Tiger terror group in Sri Lanka, according to records obtained by ABCNews.com. Rajaratnam is accused of operating an elaborate insider trading operation through his Galleon Group hedge fund, which made him one of the wealthiest men in America with an estimated net worth of $1.3 billion. The case against Rajaratnam and the five others indicted alleges they netted over $25 million in profits and marked the first time a court authorized wire taps were used in a hedge fund case. A Sri Lankan native, Rajaratnam gave more than $3.5 million to the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), whose assets were frozen by the U.S. Treasury Department in Nov. 2007 because of its alleged ties to the Tamil Tigers. According to documents filed with the IRS, Rajaratnam's contributions to the TRO were made in 2005 and 2006 through a separate charity, which he founded in the wake of the tsunami which hit Sri Lanka in Dec. 2004. Despite its stated relief efforts, the Treasury Department described the TRO charity as "a front" for Tamil Tigers fundraising and procurement in the United States. "TRO passed off its operation as charitable, when in fact it was raising money for designated terrorist group responsible for heinous acts of terrorism," said Adam Szubin, director of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control at the time. The Tamil Tigers waged a bloody insurgency against the government of Sri Lanka in which both sides were accused of civilian atrocities. Under the Clinton administration, the State Department designated the Tamil Tigers as a terrorist organization in 1997 (Daily Mirror: 17 Oct 2009).

Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa being greeted by covering with silk shawl for defeating the terrorism.

Considerable development plan in local government under the Uthuru Wasanthaya in NP - Northern Governor - The Government plans to invest Rs.1500 million for Local Government Administration in Jaffna under the "Uthurau Vasanthaya" development project, said Governor of Northern Province Major General G.A.Chandrasiri. After 30 years a symposium on a local Government and an exhibition will be held in Jaffna on October 18 and 19. Already 359 projects have been implemented this year by local bodies in Jaffna at a cost of Rs.1445.71 million to develop the local Government sector. The symposium on October 18 and 19 will educate the people on northern development taking place in the Northern Province that is initiated by President Mahinda Rajapakse, spearheaded by Hon. Basil Rajapakse MP Senior Adviser to the HE the President and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force of the Northern Province (Sri Lanka Defence Ministry: 17 Oct 2009).

Sri Lankan police arrest former rebel sea wing front liner - The Sri Lankan police has arrested a front line member of the sea wing of the former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), said the police Saturday. The rebel had fled the government welfare camp in the northern town of Vavuniya and was arrested in the area by a special police team dispatched from the capital Colombo. Defense authorities said over 10,000 suspected rebels have been identified among the near 300,000 internally displaced living in government camps. The rebel sea wing known as the Sea Tigers were responsible for many attacks against the Sri Lanka Navy along the northeastern coasts during their over three decades old separatist campaign (istockanalyst: 17 Oct 2009).

Charge of the Lion Brigade - by Minister of Environment and Natural resources Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka - It is indeed an honour to me to be among this august audience for the launching of the book authored by me titled “Charge of the Lion Brigade” – the epic victory over LTTE by Sri Lankan Armed Forces. At the outset let me thank our president His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Defence Minister cum chief of the armed forces, Secretary Defence Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, ex chief of Defence Vice Marshal Donald Perera, ex Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka, ex Navy Commander Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, Airforce Commander Air Chief Marshal Roshan Gunatilaka, Civil Defence Director Sarath Weerasekara, Inspector General of Police Jayantha Wickramaratna, Commander of various divisions and valiant soldiers for the courage’s triumph over the world most ruthless terrorists mafia the LTTE. Dear members of the armed forces, with much gratitude let me repeat that if not for your leadership, courage, strategies and the dedication we would not have been able to uproot the LTTE. We are free today due to your sacrifices. Thank you very much (LankaWeb : 17 Oct 2009).

Sri Lanka born Raj Rajaratnam indicted by FBI for alleged insider trading in New York - On Friday October 16th, 2009, Raj Rajaratnam the billionaire founder of the hedge fund firm Galleon Group, and ex-directors at a Bear Stearns Cos. hedge fund was arrested by the FBI and accused of conspiring with others to trade based on insider information about several publicly traded companies, including Google Inc. If convicted he will face maximum jail sentence of 20 years. U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, putting total profits in the scheme at $20.6 million, told a news conference it was the largest hedge fund case ever prosecuted and marked the first use of court-authorized wiretaps to capture conversations by suspects in an insider trading case. According to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, Rajaratnam obtained insider information and then caused the Galleon Technology Funds to execute trades that earned a profit of more than $12.7 million between January 2006 and July 2007. Other schemes garnered millions more, authorities said (Asian Tribune: 17 Oct 2009).

No room for economic migrants and ex-terrorists - by Asoka Subhawickrama, Sydney, Australia - The war in Sri Lanka is over. Any so called asylum seekers from that land, Tamils or not, are unscrupulous economic migrants who are queue jumping and displacing genuine refugees from elsewhere desperate to find safety. These bogus refugees concoct stories of rape, torture and killings because that is the only way they can set foot in Australia. By treating these fiction as fact, we let them insult our intelligence and tarnish the good name of that poor but friendly and democratic country, Sri Lanka. The international Tamil Tiger establishment is a sophisticated machine that would use any ruse to generate funds. People smuggling and then milking them once they are settled in their host countries is one of the important income avenues of the Tigers. These bogus refugees are eagerly playing their part. What is more, among them you are sure to find dangerous ex Tamil Tiger terrorists, who are trained to kill. Please don’t let them set foot in my country, Australia.

Defence Secretary warns: Separatist forces still active Victory over terrorism due to President’s correct vision, wise statesmanship: - The people of this country should act intelligently to take forward the victory achieved by the valiant Forces against the LTTE as some elements are trying to create a dangerous situation to de-stabilize the military victory and to create a political environment to achieve their separatist objectives which could not be achieved through the LTTE, said Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. The Defence Secretary said that people should be on vigil since separatist forces were still active though terrorism has been defeated fully in the country. “Separatist forces who could not achieve their objectives through the LTTE have not stopped their attempts although terrorism has been fully defeated in the country,” the Defence Secretary added. “We should act intelligently to support a nationwide attempt to revive the economy of the country to give peace dividends fully to the common masses of the country, to make the victory a complete one, without allowing separatist forces to derail it,” the Defence Secretary emphasized. Defence Secretary Rajapaksa made these observations as the guest speaker at the launching of the book Charge of the Lion Brigade authored by Environment and Natural Resources Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka at the BMICH yesterday. Quoting a paragraph from the book Charge of the Lion Brigade to describe the current situation of the country, the Defence Secretary said: “Since the Triumph over the evils of the LTTE there have been subtle attempts to sideline genuine patriots by a slew of pseudo-patriots who have suddenly emerged from nowhere to hog the limelight. If the nationalists who made an immense contribution towards changing the course of the recent history of our motherland do not contain this undesirable situation, there is every possibility of these pseudo-patriots influencing the people with anti-nationalist views (Daily News ;1 7 Oct 2009).

Power supply restored in Northern Sri Lanka - Sri Lanka Ministry of Power and Energy has taken steps to restore the power supply to the entire Northern Province under an accelerated program. The Ministry launched 13 power projects in the Province yesterday under the patronage of head of the "Uthuru Wasanthaya" Task Force, Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa and Minister of Power and Energy W.D.J Senaviratne, the government media unit said. Over 800 families in the Vavuniya, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and Mannar districts will benefit from the projects, implemented at a cost of 106 million rupees. The power network in the Province had been destroyed by the LTTE terrorists during the three decades long conflict. The government has taken measures to upgrade and repair the damaged transformers and grid substations. According to the Power and Energy Minister, W.D.J. Senaviratne the measures were successful in providing power supplies to several areas in the North and plans are in the works to provide electricity to all the villages in the North within next three years at an estimated cost of 11 billion rupees (Colombo Page ; 17 Oct 2009).

Open Letter to UN Secretary General: Ms. Hillary Clinton’s book on Rape has Blank pages on Okinawa - Bandu de Silva, Former Sri Lankan Ambassador to France, and the Vatican - This is an open letter to UN Secretary Genera lMr.Ban-ki-Moon, by the former Sri Lanka's Ambassador Bandu de Silva. The full text of the letter is given below: His Excellency Mr.Ban-ki-Moon, Secretary-General, United Nations, Ms. Hillary Clinton’s book on Rape has Blank pages on Okinaw; The debate Your Excellency organized last month and the Resolution adopted by the UNSC unanimously, or rather anonymously, if I may use the malapropism used quite rightly by Hillary Clinton’s media team to describe the adoption of the Resolution, was confined to sexual violence against women in armed conflict. If Your Excellency mean to fine-tune and say “Oh! No! The book is only for ‘war situations’ I have no argument and my case fails. But the Russian representative quite rightly warned about the prospects of violence on women in general being side-traced by the UNSC taking such exclusive positions of confining the debate and the Resolution to war situations only. Even about the war situations, reading the information put out by Your Excellency’s Information Department on statements made, I find the Secretary of States of US has slipped up by making unverified statements on a country like Sri Lanka to say that rape had been used as a war strategy. My small country may not be a star-class democracy but I hasten to say that under our legal system which is essentially British, an accused is not pronounced guilty until the accusations are proved. The same applies to states I suppose, when they are accused of crimes against humanity, crimes against women-hood in this case. But we did not find that in the US Secretary of State’s statement (Asian Tribune: 17 Oct 2009).

How a foreign power helped Navy sink Tiger vessels - Sri Lanka’s single most successful naval operation, which destroyed eight floating arsenals belonging to the LTTE, would not have been possible without the covert support of a foreign power, The Island learns. Acting on specific information received from overseas, the Sri Lanka Navy had zeroed-in on four LTTE ships about 2,800 km south east of Dondra on September 10 and 11, 2007. Although one of the four vessels, believed to be the largest ship operated by the LTTE had escaped, the SLN blew up three. The SLN subsequently tracked down the missing vessel and sank it about 2,600 km south of Dondra on October 7, 2007. The destruction of four ships within weeks had helped Sri Lanka to cripple the arms procurement network (Island : 17 Oct 2009).

Self-reliance to achieve the Century of Asia - The importance of self-reliance in the resolution of issues facing countries of the developing countries, especially in the Asian continent was stressed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa when he addressed the eighth Ministerial Meeting of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) in Colombo last Thursday. His best example was the success that Sri Lanka had in defeating the LTTE, which apart from, being described as the most ruthless terrorist outfit in the world, was also considered to be invincible many members of the international community, particularly from the West. Explaining the success that Sri Lanka had in defeating terrorism, under which the country had suffered for nearly 30 years, the President said: “We believe that our defeat of terrorism could be an encouraging example, to the rest of the international community. While Sri Lanka had the political support of many friendly nations, success came mainly through our own effort. The conclusion to be drawn is perhaps, that the problems of a country can only be resolved by those who know best its ground realities, namely, by its own people.” (Daily News : 17 Oct 2009).

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH SAYS FUTURE POLITICAL CAREER OF KEITH VAZ IS VERY GRIM AS A SINGLE COMMON CANDIDATE WILL TAKE ON HIM - By Walter Jayawardhana - Pro-Tamil Tigers British parliamentarian Keith Vaz is facing the greatest danger to his political career, the Daily Telegraph reported. In an anti-sleaze movement certain British political elements are organizing to put up single candidates against politicians such as Keith Vaz, the newspaper said. “Anti-sleaze candidates could pose a serious threat to Alan Duncan who was sacked from the shadow cabinet and Keith Vaz the former Europe Minister at the next general election,”the Daily Telegraph said. “The Daily Telegraph has learnt that several individuals have come forward in Leicestershire, where both men are MP’s to try to coordinate a campaign against them,”the newspaper added. The Daily Telegraph said discreet discussions are being held with the main political parties to try to persuade them to withdraw their candidates to allow independents to have a clear run against Mr. Vaz and Mr. Duncan. In the past such arrangements have succeeded in defeating targeted politicians like in the case of former Minister Neil Hamilton from a constituency considered very safe for him. The Telegraph said the threat of an independent taking on Vaz will be viewed with alarm at the labour headquarters. Labour Party MP Vaz who is also chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee claimed thousands of Pounds in expenses from a Westminster flat despite his family’s house being located 12 miles from parliament misusing a privilege given to parliamentarians living faraway from the parliament. At the last election his majority was 16,000. Vaz became a champion campaigner for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) causes and his opponents charged that he had been on the payroll of the Tamil terrorists (eom).

Ten month salary loan for Army personnel: Army refute false propaganda - All types of false propaganda are being carried out through certain media including websites to create a conflict between Chief of Defence Staff General Sarath Fonseka and the Government. This should be stopped. Unless this is stopped forthwith legal action will be taken against the perpetrators of this false propaganda, Army Media Spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkkara said. The facts as stated in these reports are clearly fabricated and groundless and mislead the people, he said categorically refuting false information. “General Sarath Fonseka is still attached to the Army service as the Chief of Defence Staff. The false reports are well organized, originating from some organizations bent on achieving their personal targets,” he said. Explaining about the release of the ten months’ salary loan to 9,000 Army personnel, Brig. Nanayakkara said Rs. 700 million has been released by the Treasury for this purpose under the direction of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Loan payments of 200 applicants in the Army have already been made so far, he said (Daily News : 17 Oct 2009).

Gotabhaya defends appointment of Retd. Generals as Diplomats - Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday said that those who criticized the Government for appointing retired generals as ambassadorial and deputy ambassadors, failed to understand that due to such appointments, the Government was in a position to deal with terrorists at the international level as was evident in the arrest of KP. Rajapaksa, the chief guest at the launch of a book titled Charge of the Lion Brigade by Environment Minister Champika Ranawaka said having been a member of the security forces he was keen to find top position for retired military officials. The Defence Secretary said the steps taken by the present government for the welfare of the security forces could not be matched by any other even in another 100 years. He said he was well aware of the difficulties of the military personnel and that was why the government had launched a number of welfare schemes for them (Island : 17 Oct 2009).

Securities charge: Top Sri Lanka equity investor charged in US for insider dealing - Galleon group chief Raj Rajaratnam, a top equity markets investor in Sri Lanka and five others have been charged in a US $ 20 million insider dealing case in the United States. The Wall Street Journal, quoting court documents said Rajaratnam, portfolio manager of Galleon Technology Funds has been charged with four counts of securities fraud. Others charged include Rajiv Goel, an executive at Intel’s investment arm, Anil Kumar from, management-consulting firm McKinsey and Co., Danielle Chiesi and Mark Kurland of New Castle Partners LLC and and Robert Moffat, a senior vice president at IBM (Daily News : 17 Oct 2009).

Australian PM not swayed by Lankan refugees’ hunger strike - Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Friday refused to be swayed by hundreds of Sri Lankan asylum-seekers who launched a hunger strike after their wooden boat had been stopped in Indonesia, Sydney based agency reports said yesterday. Prime Minister Rudd refused yesterday to be blackmailed by a snap hunger strike by the 218 adult Sri Lankan asylum-seekers, The Australian said. The Australian story said: The Prime Minister yesterday defended his decision to have the vessel intercepted following a personal appeal to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Mr Rudd’s muscular posturing appears to enjoy the support of his caucus with Labor backbenchers strongly backing his refusal to budge on demands that he allow the Sri Lankan asylum-seekers to settle in Australia (Island ; 17 Oct 2009).

Citizens should act intelligently to take forward the victory achieved by the valiant Forces- Secretary Defence Victory over terrorism due to President’s correct vision, wise statesmanship: The people of this country should act intelligently to take forward the victory achieved by the valiant Forces against the LTTE as some elements are trying to create a dangerous situation to de-stabilize the military victory and to create a political environment to achieve their separatist objectives which could not be achieved through the LTTE, said Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. The Defence Secretary said that people should be on vigil since separatist forces were still active though terrorism has been defeated fully in the country. "Separatist forces who could not achieve their objectives through the LTTE have not stopped their attempts although terrorism has been fully defeated in the country," the Defence Secretary added. "We should act intelligently to support a nationwide attempt to revive the economy of the country to give peace dividends fully to the common masses of the country, to make the victory a complete one, without allowing separatist forces to derail it," the Defence Secretary emphasized (Sri Lanka Defence Ministry: 17 Oct 2009).

Api Wenuwen Api collected Rs 700 Mn but not enough – Gota - Some ‘talked big’ but did not contribute even ten rupees - Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday expressed concern that only Rs. 700 million had been collected through the Api Wenuwen Api scheme. Rajapaksa the chief guest at the book launch titled ‘Charge of the Lion Brigade’, said those who talked a lot and criticise the initiatives of the government had not even contributed 10 rupees. Being a member of the security forces he was well aware of the difficulties of the security officers, and that was why the government had provided a number of welfare schemes for the betterment of the security forces. The book was authored by Jathika Hela Urumaya Parliamentarian, Environment and Natural Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka. At the outset Ranawaka thanked President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Defence Minister cum chief of the armed forces, Secretary Defence Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, ex-chief of Defence Vice Marshal Donald Perera, ex-Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka, ex-Navy Commander Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, Air Force Commander Air Chief Marshal Roshan Gunatilaka, Civil Defence Director Sarath Weerasekara, Inspector General of Police Jayantha Wickramaratna, Commander of various divisions and valiant soldiers for the courages triumph over the world most ruthless terrorists mafia the LTTE (Island ; 17 Oct 2009).

Looking ahead - It is reassuring that a positive and statesmanlike initiative by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi has been matched by a like response from Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa. There can be little doubt that the five-day visit by a group of ten parliamentarians of the State’s ruling combine to Sri Lanka, for a first-hand assessment of the conditions of the nearly 250,000 war-displaced Tamils housed in government-run camps in the north, has contributed to a better understanding of the prevailing situation in the island nation. After months of confusion and misperceptions, influential sections of the Tamil Nadu polity have had a rare opportunity to come to terms with the realities of post-Prabakaran Sri Lanka. There appears to be a readiness to look ahead towards practical solutions rather than behind to a benighted past dominated by calamitous violence, terrorism, and illfare in the cause of a secessionist struggle that never had a chance of achieving its proclaimed goal. By enabling the delegation freely to visit the refugee camps in Vavuniya district, Jaffna town, and plantation areas where Indian-origin Tamils are settled, Sri Lanka demonstrated a far-sighted willingness to accommodate the sensitivities of political parties in Tamil Nadu. In concrete terms, the mission can be commended for obtaining an assurance from President Rajapaksa that 58,000 displaced Tamils in the camps would be returned to their homes in a fortnight’s time, and that the remaining Tamils would be resettled gradually, as soon as de-mining operations permitted a safe return to their areas (Hindu : 17 Oct 2009).

SRI LANKA ARMY DECLARES THAT THE RUMOURS, POSTERS AND NEWSPAPER SPECULATIONS OF AN ALLEGED RIFT BETWEEN FONSEKA AND GOVT UNTRUE - By Walter Jayawardhana - Sri Lanka army Friday categorically denied widespread reports in the web and opposition publications of a rift between the government and the ex-army commander who led the troops in the war against Tamil rebels to victory. The statement followed reports that Chief of Defence Staff General Sarath Fonseka, the most popular soldier in the country, had fallen out with the government and claims that he was planning to contest the Presidential election soon as a common opposition candidate. Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said in a statement false news was being published, alleging differences between Gen. Fonseka and the government. The media speculations were “baseless and not true,” and published with ulterior motives, he said. Even posters have been put up alleging the differences. The military spokesman said General Fonseka is still serving the army and the persons who are publishing these falsehoods will be dealt by law. He said the people who are spreading the story seem to be well organized in the campaign. “Such reports have been planted deliberately to create a rift between the government and the army which has won public confidence and popularity,” Nanayakkara declared. Reports about the alleged rift came after the government offered the former commander a post as secretary in the Sport Ministry, which the opposition claims was a move to ridicule him. Opposition newspapers speculated that the government was turning against Fonseka following rumours that the general was considering to run in next year’s presidential election against the incumbent, President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Fonseka is popular among Sri Lanka’s Sinhalese majority for leading military operations against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam between 2006 and 2009. The rebels were decisively defeated in May, ending a 26-year civil war by implementing a military plan of strategy produced by Fonseka (EOM).

Displaced families resettled - Over 236 displaced families at Silawatura in Mannar district were resettled Thursday providing them shelter, boats, nets and other fishing equipment. The fishing activities had been restricted by Naval forces for last three decades due to the LTTE sea movement in the area. Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa, MP while handing over fishing equipment to Silawatura fishermen said "there is no naval restriction and fishermen in Silawatura are free to move about in the Sea and catch fish at any time they want". These families had vacated their village with the escalation of LTTE activities in the area in 1990. Since then they had lived at temporary camps in Kalmunai for past 19 years. Northern Province Governor Major General G.A Chandrasiri, Senior DIG North Nimal Leuke, DIG Vanni west Ravi Wijayagunawardena, Vanni Commander Major General Kamal Gunaratne, Provincial Naval commander Rear Admiral Ruwan Dais were also present at the occasion (Daily News ; 17 Oct 2009).

New bridges to be commissioned - The two newly constructed bridges in Trincomalee district will be commissioned by President Mahinda Rajapaksa next Tuesday (20).  The bridges have been constructed over the lagoons at Kanniya and Irakkandi, close to Nilaveli. The bridge at Kanniya which is 400 meters in length will be the longest bridge in Sri Lanka. Saudi Arabia has provided financial assistance worth Rs. 725 million for the construction of the bridge. The other bridge at Irakkandi has been completed with aid of Rs. 625 million granted by the Spanish Government. These two bridges were in a highly dilapidated condition from LTTE terrorist attacks (Daily News: 17 Oct 2009).

Peace is returning, but it takes time - Asoka Subhawickrama, North Strathfield, - THE problem with commentators on Sri Lanka such as Thedchana Nithyakeerthy and Colin Andersen (Letters, 8/9) is that they do not know, or pretend not to know, the ground situation in Sri Lanka. The Tamil Tiger terrorist machine has been dismantled, but there are thousands of trained cadres hiding among the displaced people. There is no gunfire in the villages, but they are full of mines planted by the fleeing Tigers. Caches of hidden armaments are still discovered daily. It will take more months to de-mine villages, remove the armaments and identify and rehabilitate the former child soldiers. What is the indecent hurry professed by these so-called human rights activists? Sri Lankans value human rights, but their priority is the right to live. Before the Tiger terrorists were decimated, a day didn't go by without a Tiger bomb blast in a city or a machete attack on a hamlet. In the three months since the fall of the Tigers, there hasn't been a single such atrocity. Sri Lankans don't mind waiting a few more months for the situation to return to normalcy (The AGE in Australia: 09 Sept 2009).

Massive Development Projects in North and East of Sri Lanka

Old ferry service to be replaced with a new bridge at Kinniya (see map) - The bridge at Kanniya which is 400 meters in length will be the longest bridge in Sri Lanka. Saudi Arabia has provided financial assistance worth Rs. 725 million for the construction of the bridge.  The newly constructed bridge will be commissioned by President Mahinda Rajapaksa next Tuesday (20). 

No friction between Government and Chief of Defence Staff - The Army emphasises that there is no rift between the Chief of Defence Staff and the Government.  Military Spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara said stern legal action will be initiated against those who attempt to give publicity to such false reports. A false propaganda campaign is underway throughout the country claiming there is a rift between the Government and the Chief of Defence Staff General Sarath Fonseka. This is being spread by certain elements using the media to achieve various objectives. It is totally false. He opined that General Fonseka is still the most Sernior officer of the Army and this attempt has been made to dispute a rift between the Government and the Security Forces. These unfounded campaigns are targeted at duping the public. This campaign should be immediately halted. If not, he added that the Government will have to resort to legal action (ITN : 16 Oct 2009)

Another 2,000 displaced people resettled in Jaffna today - Another batch of 2000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) from the Vavuniya camp were resettled in Jaffna this morning. The government is to resettle 40,000 IDPs in Jaffna in batches of 2000, government officials said. The latest batch of returnees were taken in buses along the A9 route to Jaffna (Daily Mirror : 16 Oct 2009).

Sri-Lankan-born billionaire, others, arrested for insider trading - Raj Rajaratnam, the Sri-Lankan-born billionaire investment wizard who founded Galleon Group, was arrested Friday along with five others on federal charges of illegal insider trading. The six individuals, who include former directors at a Bear Stearns Cos hedge fund, are suspected in a $20-million insider trading scheme which federal prosecutors said was the biggest ever fraud case involving hedge funds. According to the charges, the scheme also involved Rajiv Goel of Intel Capital, Anil Kumar of McKinsey & Co and Robert Moffat of IBM Corp. Two former officials at Bear Stearns Asset Management, are Danielle Chiesi and Mark Kurland, who were affiliated with the firm’s New Castle Partners, were also arrested. Rajaratnam’s Galleon Group is one of the world’s largest hedge funds, with branches in London, Singapore, Mumbai and Menlo Park, California. The 52-year-old investor was identified this year by Forbes as the 559th richest person in the world, with a net worth of $1.3 billion, Bloomberg financial news service reported. “The defendants operated in a world of, you scratch my back, I’ll scratch your back,” US Attorney Preet Bharara said at a New York press conference. “Greed, sometimes, is not good.” Bharara said investigators used wiretaps for the first time ever in probing insider trading. Wiretaps are normally reserved for organised crime and drug cases (Legal News : 16 Oct 2009).

Responsibilities of gallant soldiers met - The President and the Government are fulfilling their responsibilities towards the valiant soldiers. These observations were made by Minister Susil Premajayanth participating in the “Thulawa” programme telecast over ITN.  The Minister said the people are aware of how the war was waged under several Heads of State and how it was conducted during these three years. The difference is clear. The Government is confident and the President along with the Government was fulfilling their duties. It is also the same with the people. Narrow political motives and the political power are crumbling in the face of their eyes. Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena joining in the same programme said the Southern polity had endorsed that the President’s programme was clear and correct. It was observed that a majority of 568,091 votes were obtained in the three Districts, which is more than the total number of votes received by the UNP. There is no need for more arguments. The 300 thousand votes were increased to 500 thousand. The people of this country need to be with the Government. The people’s opinion was clearly evident. To obtain more votes democratic parties have to be done away with (ITN : 16 Oct 2009).

North is lit - Power is supplied to North. The programme is being accelerated and three electrification schemes have been commissioned in the North. The opening took place in the Pooneryn area under the patronage of Chief of the “Uthuru Wasanthaya” Task Force and Senior Presidential Advisor and Parliamentarian Basil Rajapaksa. The entire power network in the area was paralysed for several years due to terrorist threats. The terrorists had destroyed the entire network. However, with the liberation of the area, development was undertaken on the instructions of the President. The development is being carried out by the “Uthuru Wasanthaya” Task Force and the guidance of Basil Rajapaksa. Electricity was provided to the area today. Basil Rajapaksa said no one would have thought that the country would be liberated from terrorism and all communities afforded an opportunity to live under one flag. However, it has become a reality. The honour should go to the war heroes and the victories achieved should be safeguarded. Minister W.D.J. Seneviratne said they had succeeded in providing power supplies to several areas in the North. Plans are afoot to provide electricity to all villages in the North within next three years. The estimated cost will be 11 billion rupees (ITN : 16 Oct 2009).

Healthy Looking Asylum Seekers? - by Vajiragnana Warnakulasuriya, Melbourne - Honourable Minister Ministry of Foreign Affairs Federal Government of Australia, Dear Sir, All TV media here in Australia showed Tamil boat people making a plea from the government to absorb them to Australia as they can never live in Sri Lanka for fear of being persecuted. These are people who left after the war having spent their life in the jungle as human shields almost for three months. We were told during this time they were deprived of food, medicine and other basic amenities. Then they somehow fled to Indonesia, after months in dire conditions managed to set sail to Australia after paying U$15,000/person! Did any of you see any one suffering from malnutrition? These are people who have been telling to the gullible West that they don’t have food, Medicine and all other basic amenities and they have been living in absolute poverty (LankaWeb : 16 Oct 2009).

Govt to set up two new FTZs in N-E;  Two Sri Lankan investors indicate willingness to start cement and fertilizer factories: The Government will establish two new Free Trade Zones in the North and East - one will be in the Kilinochchi District and the other in the Trincomalee District, Enterprise Development, Investment Promotion and Mass Media and Information Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa told the Daily News yesterday. Tax holidays for 15 years and other incentives would be offered to the investors who start industries in the North and East while the local residents would gain employment opportunities from these FTZs. Two Sri Lankan investors have already indicated their willingness to start a cement factory and a fertilizer factory, he said. Though the FTZs were started as far back as 1978, the total foreign direct investments made up to 2005 was only 2,700 million US Dollars. It was on an average around US$ 100 million per year but from 2005 to 2008 direct foreign investments had reached the 2,800 million dollar mark which is a great achievement, he said "We are a government that encourages the private sector and the BOI had initiated steps to approve new enterprises and now a total of 500,000 persons are directly employed in the FTZs and a large number of persons have also received indirect employment and we are heading for a brighter economic future," he said (Daily News: 16 Oct 2009).

President Responds to Commander’s Request for Funds to Pay Welfare Loans - HE THE President Mahinda Rajapaksa, following representations made by Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya to Secretary Defence Dr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa over insufficiency of funds to pay the Distress Loan (ten-month loan), applied by all ranks in the Army, has instructed the Treasury to release a sum of Rs. 700 million on a priority basis. The popularly called ‘ten-month loan’ granted to all Army Officers and Other Ranks against a very minimal rate is deducted from their salaries within a period of five years. However, payment of such welfare loans remained suspended for the last 2-3 years owing to lack of funds in the Army. The directive will thus enable the Army to release those loans to Army applicants effective from this week (Sri Lanka Army : 16 Oct 2009).

India offers more assistance to Sri Lanka - Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama welcoming India's Minister of State for External Affairs, Smt. Preneet Kaur who is currently on a three day visit to Sri Lanka to attend the 8th Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Ministerial Meeting in Colombo on 15th October, conveyed Sri Lanka's appreciation for the humanitarian assistance provided to the country by India in the aftermath of the conflict. Smt. Kaur, responding to the Minister, stated that India was pleased to have been able to provide timely assistance and reiterated her Government's willingness to provide further humanitarian assistance in specific areas upon request (Sri Lanka Defence Ministry: 16 Oct 2009).

U.S. companies impressed with more opportunities, investment options in East - A group of American and Indian business leaders joined a delegation of U.S. and Sri Lankan trade officials on 14 October visit to the Eastern Port city Trincomalee. The trade mission was part of the Sri Lankan government's efforts to rebuild its Eastern and Northern Provinces, where it concluded its 26-year conflict with LTTE terrorists in May. "The Eastern Province is the model for redeveloping the North,'' said Jaliya Wickramasuriya, Sri Lanka's Ambassador to the United States and a member of the government delegation. "Trincomalee has taken the lead in that effort. That is why we are here" he further said. The day-long visit was intended to encourage large and medium-sized businesses to operate in the Eastern Province (Sri Lanka Defence Ministry: 16 Oct 2009).

Minister Faiszer Musthapha invites Kuwaitis to explore Sri Lanka - Sri Lanka's Tourism Promotions Minister Faiszer Musthapha, who is currently visiting Kuwait, appealed Kuwaitis to visit Sri Lanka and enjoy its beauty and hospitality. Minister Musthapha had made the request during the Sri Lanka tourism promotional event held on 13th October 2009 organized by the Sri Lankan Embassy for the members of travel trade, media and well-wishers. The Sri Lankan Embassy as part of its promotional campaign to attract tourists from the Middle East has launched several initiatives to promote Sri Lanka as a tourism destination. It is significant that with the dawn of peace in the country there is a surge of tourist arrivals from Middle East including Kuwait from where a 30% increased has been recorded (Sri Lanka Defence Ministry: 16 Oct 2009).

President tells international financial institutions: Asia should not be held to ransom - International financial institutions, that play an increasing role in the Asian region, should be more concerned about the burdens they impose through conditions for assistance and elimination of poverty and should not be held ransom to such conditions, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said. Delivering the Keynote Address at the inauguration of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue 8th Ministerial Meeting at the BMICH yesterday, the President said these institutions should recognize the many disadvantages caused by subsidies implemented by the advanced economies, while preaching to the developing countries to move away from subsidies. “Similarly, the importance of subsidies in helping the lesser developed countries to face up to the challenges of growth, also deserve serious recognition,” he added. The President noted that the crisis was largely imposed on the region by those outside of Asian block (Daily News ; 16 Oct 2009).

War heroes should not be dragged into politics - Media Minister - The Opposition should not destroy the good image of the brave soldiers who fought the LTTE fearlessly to liberate the country from the clutches of terrorism, Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said. The Minister addressing a press conference yesterday said the Opposition is trying to tarnish the image of the Security Forces personnel by bringing them into politics. "Only the present Government could ensure the dignity of Security Forces personnel. Now they have won the respect of others." "The dignity of our war heroes should not be sullied by bringing them into politics. We are all well aware of the sacrifice they have made and we must respect their tremendous service. No one has the right to destroy their good image by bringing them into politics," Minister Yapa Abeywardena added (Daily News: 16 Oct 2009).

I also lost dad to assassin's bullets, Rahul tells slain cop's widow - Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday made an unscheduled visit to the mourning family of slain inspector Francis Indwar, who was recently beheaded by Maoists. "Your loss reminds me of what LTTE extremists had done to my father, Rajiv Gandhi,'' he told Sunita, cop's widow. Though Sunita has been receiving a stream of VIPs, she was not expecting the VVIP guest to share her moment of grief. "I'm overwhelmed and grateful for his kindness and can understand how the family had felt at the assassination of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv,'' she said. "Since my grandmother and father were killed in the '80s and '90s, terrorist violence has increased manifold as also the use of sophisticated weaponry,'' he said (Times of India ; 16 Oct 2009).

Voters will defeat Opposition conspiracy - NFF Leader - LTTE terrorism which plagued the whole country was uprooted under the guidance of President Mahinda Rajapaksa after he was elected President at the Presidential Election in 2005, Chairman of the National Freedom Front Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa said. Weerawansa addressing a press conference yesterday said people took a wise decision to elect President Mahinda Rajapaksa. “The UNP and the JVP do not have a suitable person to contest the Presidential Election. They are talking about a common candidate,” he said. “The UNP knows that Ranil Wickremesinghe cannot win at the election while the JVP is also in the same position,” he said. “It is comical to see that those who conducted Sathyagrahas and campaigns when the war heroes were fighting to liberate the country are now seeking their support to come to power.” Detractors have clearly understood that Ranil Wickremesinghe can never win. Therefore, they have joined hands with certain international forces to defeat the Government. “The JVP also says shamelessly that they would defeat the Government by forming an alliance even with the UNP. JVP is now going astray as the party doesn’t have a correct vision,” Weerawansa added. Weerawansa appealed to all patriotic forces to unite to defeat the international and local conspiracy against the country (Daily News: 16 Oct 2009).

Development of war torn areas - The Sri Lanka, civil war is over, and the reports appearing in the newspapers to the effect that the Government is busy demining and resettling the IDPS and in developing agriculture and Industries throughout the Island is encouraging. The Jaffna people have shown some warmth in the Northern Election to the ruling party. The president is happy over the election result. During the Srimavo Bandaranaike's regime, Alfred Duraippah the Jaffna M.P. did some improvements in Jaffna Town, which was his constituency. The Northern and The people of Jaffna would be very thankful if the President kindly includes the following in his 'Mahinda Chinthana'. (a) A university in Nelliady (b) Pipeborne water service to the entire Jaffna peninsula ie from Thondamanaaru (river). I think the Government is working on this. (c) Railway track extension from Kodikamam to Valvettiturai via Point Pedro (d) A glass factory in Thunnaalai, Vadamarachchi. About a Kilometre’s distance from the famous Vishnu Kovil-Sri Vallipura Alvar Kovil, suitable raw material for making glass is available. If he fulfils the above needs his name will be written in the history of Sri Lanka in Golden letters as the President who developed Northern Sri Lanka. The glass factory will earn Foreign exchange. No Government has done any major development programme in Jaffna since the opening of the cement factory long ago according to my knowledge. Vanni and certain other parts of Vadamarchchy and Thenmaradchy and some other areas look like Mahiyanganaya which is one of the earlier seats of civilisation in Sri Lanka. I understand that the President will develop Jaffna in a magnificent manner. I hope these views draw the attention of the President who does not utter anything against peace loving Tamils at any time. I am of the opinion that the President will see a way to get aid from some countries for Northern development (Island : 16 Oct 2009).

KARUNANIDHI SAYS SRI LANKA HAS ASSURED HIS DELEGATION OF MPS THAT 58,000 IDPS WILL BE RESETTLED FROM THURSDAY - By Walter Jayawardhana - Tami Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said at a press conference in Chennai that the Sri Lanka government has assured the ten MP’s who visited Sri Lanka that another 58,000 Sri Lankan Tamils who are staying in state run camps will be taken back to their homes to be resettled. Speaking to reporters after being briefed by the delegation of DMK, Congress and VCK parties Karunanidhi said that the Tamil Nadu state will urge the Indian government to grant more help to the Sri Lankan government to complete the demining of the areas so that the remaining Tamil refugees who are in the camps could be resettled quicker. Karunanidhi was quoted having said, “There are 253,000 Tamils living in the camps and they will be sent back to their original places in phases – that is the assurance the MPs team got from Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.” He told reporters that according to the Sri Lanka government the resettlement could be done only in phases and all cannot be resettled in one go. The 58,000 batch will start going back on Thursday and the resettlement will finish in 15 days, Karunanidhi said. He expressed satisfaction on the response shown to the delegation of MP’s by the Sri Lanka government. Earlier, the Chief Minister received the delegation led T.R.Balu who returned after a five day fact finding tour of the Sri Lankan camps and up country plantation areas. Karunanidhi was further quoted having said, “There are 253,000 Tamils living in the camps and they will be sent back to their original places in phases – that is the assurance the MPs team got from Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa,” Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi told reporters that theirs was not a guided tour. “There were no restrictions on us about the places to be visited and not to be visited,” she said. Karunanidhi further said that the delegation has submitted elaborate reports of alleged assaults by the Sri Lanka Navy on Tamil Nadu fishermen and Colombo has assured such incidents would not recur. The Hindu newspaper said, “In a statement, the Chief Minister said efforts were being made for the welfare of Tamils and cited Mr. Rajapaksa’s assurance to the MPs that a settlement, acceptable to all sections. would be found.” (EOM).

Ashoka Collage felicitates war Heroes - Old Boys Association of Ashoka College Colombo collaborating with College staff, present students and school development society organized a felicitation ceremony for the college Past Pupil made contribution to defend motherland saving in three Forces and Police. The felicitation ceremony was held under the patronage of Chairperson of Defence Ministry Seva Vanitha Unit Mrs. Ioma Rajapakse at the college premises this morning (15 Oct ). Addressing the gathering Principle of the Ashoka College Mr Prasanna Upashantha said that the felicitation ceremony was organize to express gratitude to brave soldiers who served in the battle front to make historic victory over the LTTE terrorist organization ending three decade long terrorist conflict in Sri Lanka. Chief Guest, Mrs . Ioma Rajapakse presented special mementos, which were designed to honor the war heroes, to the College Past Pupils serving in the three Forces and Police. A special plaque was handed over to Mrs. Ioma Rajapakse. by the college Principle. Members of the Collage staff, Past and Present Pupils and Parents attended at the ceremony (sri Lanka Defence Ministry: 15 Oct 2009).

Four bridges to boost Eastern economy - The Government has embarked on a massive development project of reconstructing four main bridges at a cost of nearly Rs.2,800 million to boost the economic activities among easterners under the Eastern Province Resurgence project. A Road Development Authority ADB Division's spokesman told the Daily News that four bridges in Irrakkandi, Yan Oya, Pudavaikattu and Oddamavadi will be reconstructed under Spanish assistance. The project is being implemented on a special request made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to spur economic growth in Sri Lanka. It will also assist local communities in the Eastern Province to build their economies and recover from the devastating tsunami and the long-term conflict. He said that the four bridges would overcome the difficulties faced by the people of the area who earlier used to cross the lagoons by ferry. The people living in the Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts have thanked President Rajapaksa as their dream had become a reality because of these new bridges (Sri Lanka Defence Ministry: 15 Oct 2009).

More LTTE Grenades & APMs Found - WANNI: CONTINUING follow-up search and clear operations conducted by the troops in the general areas of PUDIYASINNAKULAM, VISHUAMADU, AKKARAYANKULAM and PUTHUKUDIYIRUPPU, recovered one pistol holster, eleven rounds of 9 mm ammunition, one Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG), five hand grenades, twenty-two anti personnel mines (APM), three 60 mm mortar bombs, nine-hundred and twenty-five non-electric detonators, one claymore mine, five rounds of Multi Purpose Machine Gun (MPMG) ammunition, one 130 mm artillery shell and six LTTE uniforms on Wednesday (14 (Sri Lanka Army : 15 Oct 2009).

British army abuses in Iraq covered up while Miliband question Sri Lanka on the process for IDP screening for LTTE terrorists - Former member of the Royal Military Police has claimed that British army commanders in Iraq covered up hundreds of cases of abuse against Iraqi civilians that led to serious injury or even death according to The Times in the UK. (Lanka Times)

58,000 IDPs will be sent back home in 15 days: Sri Lanka - CHENNAI: The Sri Lankan government has assured a 10-member delegation of MPs from Tamil Nadu that 58,000 internally-displaced Sri Lankan Tamils in camps will be sent back to their native places in 15 days. (The Hindu : 15 Oct 2009)

Thousands of LTTE Ammo Still Found - NORTH: DURING search and clear operations conducted by the troops in the general areas of PUTHUKKUDIYIRUPPU, SUGANDHIPURAM, GURUNAGAR, VISUAMADU, AMPAKAMAM and KANAGARAYANKULAM, troops recovered one thousand and five hundred rounds of Multi Purpose Machine Gun (MPMG) ammunition, five thousand and thirty-eight rounds of T-56 ammunition, seven hundred and fifty rounds of .50 ammunition, three T-56 weapons, fifteen Arul bombs, fifty-six hand grenades, ten 60 mm mortar bombs, one 81 mm mortar bomb, three 130 mm mortar bombs, eighteen Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG), one hundred and twenty-five capsules filled with TNT explosives, seven T-56 magazines, two Light Machine Gun (LMG) drums, one suicide jacket, one Self Loading Rifle (SLR) magazine, twenty-five T-81 grenade attachments, one radio set, two exploders, three radars, one 9 mm pistol, five 9 mm pistol magazines, forty-nine rounds of 9 mm pistol ammunition, thirty-five 12 bore cartridges, one 60 mm mortar sight, one I-com set, one Yesu set, one battery charger, two LTTE uniform kits, two LTTE caps, eight video cassettes, eight CDs, two passports, five National Identity Cards (NIC), one LTTE Identity Card (ID), one cheque issued by LTTE and one claymore mine on Tuesday (13). Meanwhile, TRINCOMALEE Police in UPPAWELI recovered six hand grenades. The same day, Army troops in VANDARAMOOLAI, BATTICOLOA recovered one 8 kg claymore mine (Sri Lanka Army : 15 Oct 2009).

Hillary Clinto’s problem - Mrs. Hillary Clinton, the Secretary of State of the US has finally met her Waterloo. It is a pity that none, not even a colleague in the White House, has come to her rescue over her baseless allegation that in Sri Lanka rape is used as a weapon of war (Island : 15 Oct 2009).

Elimination of poverty should not be held ransom – Cautions Sri Lanka President - The pressing issue that confronts Asia today is poverty. A significant portion of Asian Peoples are under-privileged, both economically and socially. Inaugurating the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Ministerial Meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka President said that one of the critical objectives of the ACD is to reduce poverty and improve the quality of life. It is the responsibility of the Asian countries to tackle this issue, having carefully studied those models that have demonstrated their success at the grass-roots level. “We would do well to learn from our own experiences within our Continent. Let us, keep in mind that for instance, the Samurdhi Programme of Sri Lanka is one such example from which we can learn much.” Sri Lanka President further said, “I also want to emphasize in this regard that the understanding and cooperation of the international financial institutions would be critical (Asian Tribune : 15 Oct 2009).

De-mining needs to be done carefully: Rajapaksa - Describing as challenging the task of removing mines for speedy resettlement of Tamil refugees, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Thursday said these explosives would have to be cleared from the North, which was once held by the LTTE, without leaving any margin for error. “The speedy resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) once affected by (LTTE) terrorism is engaging our utmost attention. It is a significantly more difficult task than most would imagine,” Mr. Rajapaksa said, addressing the 8th Ministerial Meeting of Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) here. Mr. Rajapaksa had also assured an Indian MPs’ delegation, which left the Island nation on Wednesday after a five-day visit, that 58,000 of the 2.53 lakh internally displaced Tamils would be sent home from the camps in the next fortnight and the rest in a phased manner. He told the ACD meeting that the process of de-mining would have to be carried out with “great care and attention.” (Hindu : 15 Oct 2009).

More LTTE supporters arrested in Sri Lanka capital - Sri Lanka police have arrested another two suspects from Kochchikade area who have allegedly supported the LTTE in the past. Police spokesman Senior Deputy Inspector General Nimal Mediwaka said that the two suspects were arrested on information given by another LTTE suspect already in the custody. The two suspects have provided information to the LTTE cadres and supported to transport illegal weapons. Interrogations of the suspects are continuing, the police said (Colombo page : 15 Oct 2009).

Visiting Indian parliamentarians commends Sri Lanka’s resettlement arrangements

At the Media Conference in Colombo – (From Left to Right) Kanimozhi M.P., T.R.Baalu MP, and Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama

The visiting Parliamentarians from Tamil Nadu told the Sri Lankan media yesterday (October 14) that they visited several IDP camps and they are fully happy about the conditions prevailing in the welfare centers and facilities which the inmates have been provided by the Sri Lankan government. (Asian Tribune).

Tamil Nadu MPs’ delegation meets Mahinda Rajapaksa - B. Muralidhar Reddy President emphasises that de-mining must be done before any resettlement: report .Crowding in centres will ease soon with increased resettlement: Basil Rajapaksa. COLOMBO: The 10-member parliamentary delegation from Tamil Nadu on Tuesday called on Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and exchanged views on the rehabilitation of the 2.5-lakh war displaced housed in government-run camps and the contours of a political solution to the ethnic conflict. (The Hindu : 14 Oct 2009).

Tamil Nadu MPs expressed satisfaction over measures taken by Sri Lanka to resettle IDPs - Tamil Nadu MPs expressed satisfaction over the measures taken by Sri Lanka to resettle the IDPs in the Northern province. The Tamil Nadu Parliamentarians, a total of 10 of them, who came to Sri Lanka on a fact finding mission, mostly about the Internally Displaced Persons, presently quartered in the welfare centres in Vavuniya, met yesterday Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa and urged for the speedy resettlement of the IDPs, but they were also appreciative of the actions taken by the government so far, in this direction. Sri Lanka President emphasized that de-mining must be done first before any resettlement. The Tamil Nadu delegation thanked the Sri Lankan President for the invitation extended to them to visit Sri Lanka and appreciated the arrangements made for their visit and also the meeting with the President. With regard to discussions on a political settlement to the ethnic question, the President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that any settlement must be one that is accepted by all communities and by Sri Lanka's neighbor. This was the first time Sri Lankan President has openly said that the political solution has also to be satisfactory to ‘Sri Lanka's neighbor’ – which means India (Asian Tribune: 14 Oct 2009).

SECOND OPEN LETTER TO SARATH FONSEKA DO NOT BE FOOLED BY THE POLITICIANS - By Stanley Perera from Melbourne - My dear General Fonseka, There is so much of speculation that 1. You are being offered a position as the Secretary to the Ministry of Sports. 2. You are contemplating to contest the forthcoming Presidential Election. Firstly Secretary to the Ministry of Sports is an insult to you and it is demeaning your status of General of the Sri Lanka Army. In the event you accept the position not only you have to Sir the ignorant and uneducated minister you will have to get up from your seat as an when the minister go past your seat. That chap will go past your seat hundred times a day to make you get up from your seat. In my first open letter to you, I said, that position is good enough to a sergeant of Army. After evaluating the position now I lower it to a Lance Corpral of Army. My dear General, I believe you will not go down to the lower level in accepting a petty position subordinate to the minister of sports who has not played any sports in his life time. The man can’t say cricket. Instead he says ciricket. That man is not loyal to Rajapakse government. The man crossed over to the government to avoid bribery and corruption charges. So, do you wish to serve under such a minister? You are subordinate to the President only after you won the war. People love you as the brave soldier who liberated the north and east from the terrorists. My dear General, the people know you have been through an enormous amount of stress and pressure during the times of war. Certainly you deserve to be respected and rewarded of the highest award. Now that the war is over you must retire and enjoy your life with the family (LankaWeb : 14 Oct 2009).

OPEN LETTER TO Ms.Hillary Clinton – U.S. Trinity on Terrorism - by Asoka Weerasinghe - Ms.Hillary Clinton U.S. Secretary of State Washington D.C., US, Dear Ms. Hillary Clinton: The report from Belfast, Ireland, announced your statement, “To me terrorism is terrorism. Those who try to disrupt the peace of people going about their daily lives are out of step and out of time,” confirms your country’s bizarre policy on the ‘Trinity on Terrorism’. What’s going on in Obama administration? When it comes to dealing with Terrorism, you are out their flying around the world, throwing your weight around, not only with your double-speak, but now with your triple-speak. Strange and I am confused. Here is my confusion. Your US ‘Trinity on Terrorism’ has clear geographic boundaries. One for the US, another for the Western hemisphere and the third for the Eastern hemisphere. Correct? Bizarre, strange, wacko, farce, buffoonery, ridiculous, preposterous, joke, you name it, and that’s what your policy reminds me of. I just cannot figure this one out (Lanka web : 14 Oct 2009).

SRI LANKAN BOAT PEOPLE THREATEN TO BLOW UP THE SHIP IF FORCED TO STOP GOING TO AUSTRALIA - By Walter Jayawardhana The 260 Sri Lankan boat people’s incident took a dramatic turn when they threatened to blow up their cargo ship and jump into the sea if Indonesian authorities force them to disembark at the Indonesian port Merak. The boat people said they are from Jaffna but vouched that they were not Tamil Tigers fleeing from Sri Lanka. Reports from Indonesia said Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd had personally appealed to the Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to stop them from entering Australia. (Full Report)

Sri Lanka expresses deep concern to Norway - (October 14, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama has conveyed the deep concern and condemnation of the Government of Sri Lanka to the Norwegian Government over a meeting held by the Advisory Committee for the formation of the Provisional Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (PTGTE) in Oslo, Norway this month (Sri Lankan Guardian).

Sri Lanka expresses deep concern to Norway Foreign Minister - Rohitha Bogollagama has conveyed deep concern and condemnation of the Government of Sri Lanka to the Norwegian Government over a meeting held by the Advisory Committee for the formation of the Provisional Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (PTGTE) in Oslo, Norway this month. Foreign Minister Bogollagama summoned the Norwegian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Tore Hattrem yesterday and informed him that the Government had learnt of a meeting in Oslo, Norway by LTTE front organisations where an action plan for the establishment of a PTGTE had been formulated. He said that, that it was a matter of serious concern to note that the LTTE and its proxies were meeting and operating in Norway. The Minister pointed out that the bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Norway being strong, such activities and meetings should not be permitted by Norway to take place on her soil. The Foreign Minister also maintained that such meetings would only lead to what the LTTE had been seeking all these years, of a separate state, and that Norway should not allow activities which are a threat to Sri Lanka's sovereignty (Sri Lanka Defence Ministry : 14 Oct 2009).

Bogollagama’s faux pas - It was reported on Sunday that Minister Bogollagama had let the side down once again (the amazing thing is that he is able to do so with absolute impunity). The Chinese government is said to have invited the official in the Foreign Ministry in charge of Treaties to participate in a Work Shop, the subject of which is said to be "Treaties, practice and the domestic implementation of Treaty obligations", and was intended in the words of the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Note "to provide participants with a better opportunity of furthering their understanding of international law especially the law of Treaties so as to strengthen the capacity of states concerned in conclusion and implementation of Treaties and Conventions". (Island : 14 Oct 2009)

Tiger suspects on trial in Paris -PARIS - TWENTY-TWO suspected Tamil Tiger rebels went on trial on Monday for running an extortion racket among Paris's ethnic Tamil diaspora to fund their separatist struggle in Sri Lanka. The defendants include Nadaraja Matinthiran, the alleged leader in France of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which is accused of extorting some five million euros (S$10 million) from the country's 75,000 Tamils. (Straits Times: 13 Oct 2009)

LTTE WITH THEIR FRONT ORGANIZATION MEMBERS ON TRIAL FOR EXTORTING FIVE MILLION EUROS FROM EXPATRIATE TAMILS - By Walter Jayawardhana - Twenty two Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) suspects including their leader Nadaraja Matintiran charged with the offense that they extorted money from the country’s Tamils were brought before a French court in Paris on October 12. In addition to the LTTE group, their front working in France called the Tamil Coordination Committee was also included in the case. The LTTE and their front went on trial for the operation of an extortion racket among the expatriate Sri Lankan Tamils living in France to fund their separatist struggle in Sri Lanka. The LTTE was banned in the European Union, in which France is a member , in 2006 and the group allegedly operated under the name the Tamil Coordination Committee. The court was told that the groups extorted five million Euros (7.4 million dollars) from the country’s Tamils. There are 75,000 estimated Sri Lankan Tamils living in France. The court was told that the LTTE or Tamil Tigers exert a controlling influence on the Tamils by imposing a revolutionary tax on the 1.5 million world Tamil diaspora based on their household income and size. Most of the Paris suspects were arrested in April 2007 and charged with criminal conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism, financing of terrorism or racketeering to finance terrorism (EOM).

"Move to change ethnic ratio in Vanni": Govt. rejects TNA charge - by Shamindra Ferdinando  - Government sources yesterday said that there was absolutely no truth in the allegation that it planned to settle Sinhalese in the post-war Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts. Tthe allegation had been made by the TNA at a meeting with a visiting delegation of Tamil Nadu MPs at India House in Colombo. This was nothing but a barefaced lie, ministerial sources told The Island adding that the TNA had recently pledged to work with the government to resettle the war displaced. This understanding had been reached at a meeting chaired by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Basil Rajapaksa, the senior official in charge of resettlement and rehabilitation.  (The Island : 13 Oct 20009)

NGO funding environmentalists to block garbage disposal project - Ranawaka - by Ifham Nizam Non Government Organizations had funded so called environmentalists to the tune of Rs. 3.7 million to block the proposed compost plant and final disposal facility in Dompe, Environment and Natural Resources Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said at a media conference yesterday. (Island : 13 Oct 2009)

Construction of 240 m new bridge across Malwatu Oya expedited - Under the "Uthuru Wasanthaya" development drive, construction work on the 240 m long new bridge across Malwatu Oya on the B-403 Arippu Marichchikadai-Mannar Highway has been accelerated. The Senior Presidential Advisor and Parliamentarian and Chief of "Uthuru Wasanthaya" Task Force Basil Rajapaksa has supervised the construction works of the bridge on the instructions of the President. The estimated cost of the project is Rs.400 million. The bridge is 240 meters long and 7.35 meters wide. Mr. Basil Rajapaksa instructed the relevant authorities to expedite the work since the bridge will be of immense benefit to the public travelling to Jaffna on the A-32 Highway. Meanwhile, Mr. Rajapaksa looked into the construction works of the Andankulam School. It is being built with the aim of ensuring education of children of families who will be resettled in their native lands. Minister Risath Bathiyudeen, Highways Secretary Wasantha Karannagoda and Northern Governor G.A. Chandrasiri were present (Sri Lanka Defence Ministry : 13 Oct 2009).

Hillary Clinton’s irresponsible statement - According to the Foreign Minister’s statement in Parliament on the 8th October, the US State Department has responded to his query by a letter addressed to him which contains the statement: "We have not received reports that sexual abuses were used as tools of war, as they clearly have in other conflict areas around the world. We hope that this clarification puts the issue in its proper context". We are unaware of the exact contents of the Foreign Minister’s letter, but the reply given by the State Department is funny. It is only a shameless attempt to sidestep the real issue. (Island : 13 Oct 2009)

The South has spoken - The southerners' message to the government, the UNP and the JVP is loud and clear. While being grateful to the President and his government for services rendered, the most outstanding being the defeat of the LTTE  (Island : 12 Oct 2009).

National Action Plan to develop human rights GSP Plus, other commitments will be met -  Guarantees to protect civil, political rights of all - The government is formulating an action plan on Human Rights aimed at protecting the rights of every citizen irrespective of caste, race, religion and political preference, which is also expected to help Sri Lanka meet its international commitments such as those required by the European Union to be eligible for GSP Plus trade concessions. Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights, last Friday addressing the Annual Sessions of the Organisation of Professional Associations (OPA) said the government was committed to guaranteeing human rights with the same commitment and purposes it defeated the LTTE rebels (Island: 12 Oct 2009).

It's not a govt-sponsored visit, says Karunanidhi - Desiya Murpokku Dravidar Kazhagam leader Vijayakanth has called it a stunt, while Tamil Nationalist Movement leader and staunch LTTE supporter P Nedumaran has asked why the opposition has been excluded and CPM State secretary N Varadarajan has wondered why no representative of the Foreign Ministry is in the delegation.  (Asian Tribune: 12 Oct 2009).

SOUTHERN ELECTION A DECISIVE MESSAGE AGAINST FOREIGN ELEMENTS TRYING TO BUILD AN INCORRECT VISION OF SRILANKA SAYS PRESIDENT - By Walter Jayawardhana - The decision of the people of the Southern Province given by an overwhelming majority has given a decisive message to the international community and other elements “attempting to build an incorrect vision of the government” said President Mahinda Rajapaksa issuing a message immediately after the final election results were issued. The President simply called the overwhelming majority is a “victory of the people who love the motherland.” President Rajapaksa has said that the overwhelming majority received by the Freedom Alliance from the South is a victory of the people who love the motherland. In a message, the President invited the entire nation to join in the supreme task of building a noble motherland. He reminisced how the people of the South extended a vital contribution for his victory at the 2005 Presidential polls. A victory of more than a two thirds majority handed down to the Freedom Alliance clearly consolidates the confidence the people have placed in the Government. It is also a clear re-endorsement of the Mahinda Chintana, the manifesto endorsed by the people at the last Presidential election. The result has given a decisive message to the international community and other elements attempting to build an incorrect vision of the Government. He was confident that this mandate will give strength to carry forward the Government’s plans to reawaken the lives of the people, protecting the motherland (EOM).

MASTERMIND ON SRI LANKA CRICKET TEAM ATTACK IN MARCH IS CAUGHT BEING THE SOLE TERRORIST SURVIVOR OF THE HOSTAGE DRAMA - By Walter Jayawardhana - Pakistan sources said the sole survivor among terrorists who staged a hostage drama at the country’s military headquarters last Saturday (October 10) was also involved in the attack against the Sri Lanka cricket team in Lahore early this year. Aqeel alias Dr. Usman , so nicknamed since he was a former army sepoy of the medical stores, was captured alive when military commandos stormed a building in the military base of the army in Rawalpindi where he and his colleagues were holding more than 40 soldiers and civilians as hostages. An agency report quoted a Pakistani intelligence officer as saying : “He (Aqeel) is one of the most dangerous terrorists and has links with al-Qaeda. He was long wanted by law enforcement agencies for masterminding the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team early this year." Seven Sri Lankan cricket players and their British coach-two by bullets and the others by glass shrapnel were injured when allegedly Aqeel and at least 11 gun men started shooting at their coach transporting them to the Al Gadaffi Stadium for a cricket match. According to the same sources the same man was involved in an assassination bid on the former Pakistan President Pervez Musharaff. Aqeel, a former soldier, put up tough resistance during the pre-dawn rescue operation at the military headquarters Sunday (October 11). The 22-hour onslaught by the commandos resulted in the death of eight soldiers, three hostages and nine militant friends of Aqeel. Geo TV said, “Coming from Tehsil Kahota of Rawalpindi, Muhammad Aqeel alias Dr. Usman is the former sepoy of Army Medical Store. He was the mastermind and leader of the gang of terrorists, who had attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team and, thereafter, Aqeel alias Usman along with the accomplices avoiding arrest had fled to Waziristan. Aqeel accused of planning attack on the former President Pervez Musharraf was also wanted in the case. “Lahore police said that Aqeel alias Dr. Usman belonged to Punjabi Tahrik-e-Taliban, which was set up three/four years ago and it had close ties with Baitullah Mehsud. The police had arrested a member of Punjabi Tahrik-e-Taliban, Zubair alias Nek Muhammad involved in June 18 attack on Sri Lankan cricket team, who had made starling disclosures about Aqeel alias Dr. Usman.” (EOM).

The end of the War, the beginning of Peace - By Prof Sunil J. Wimalawansa, USA - Sri Lanka is one of Asia’s oldest democracies. Over the past 2,000 years, there had been multiple invasions into Sri Lanka from neighboring India. As with the current reign of Tamil Tigers (LTTE) terror, these prior invasions were all successfully overcome by brave Sri Lankans. The LTTE was one of the world's most violent and disruptive terrorist outfits. With careful, meticulous planning and innovative counter-insurgency tactics, the Sri Lankan armed forces systematically destroyed the LTTE infrastructure and terrorism. The thirty-year spell of carnage created by the LTTE is finally over (Sri Lanka News Online : 16 May 2009).

Elections to Provincial Councils in Southern Province, Sri Lanka

•  Department of Government Information, Sri Lanka

• Department of Elections, Sri Lanka

• Listen to City FM Southern Provincial Elections (Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation)

Mega development drive in North - By : Dhaneshi Yatawara - Much of today's talk is on the mega development drive launched by the government to develop the Northern province. No one disagrees with the fact that the Northern province deserves all attention after a lapse of thirty years. In its effort to rise from the debris, left over by the devastating terrorism, the government has launched a mega plan to rebuild the Northern province parallel to the resettling of people. Thus, came a massive plan making the five districts of the North to be the most developed parts of the country. "In fact the government did have plans even during 2004 to develop the Northern province, but unfortunately terrorists' activities totally sabotaged the plans. But now, at last, we are free to do our work," said Director, Information Systems and GIS of the Urban Development Authority (UDA), L. H. Indrasiri (sri Lanka Defence Ministry; 11 Oct 2009).

Minister Bathiudeen refutes JVP allegations: No food scarcity in IDP welfare villages - Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Minister Rishad Bathiudeen has refuted recent JVP allegations that IDPs at the Vavuniya and Chettiklulam welfare villages were facing a food scarcity and were buying food items from traders at exorbitant prices, including infant milk food at Rs. 2,000 per packet. Adequate quantities of dry rations and infant milk food are being distributed among the IDPs in addition to supplies from INGOs and NGOs. The issue of congestion in some welfare villages was also being handled systematically and with the phased removal of IDPs from welfare villages for resettlement, the problem would be resolved before long, he said. A spokesman for the Vavuniya District Secretariat said that every member of an IDP family is issued 400 grams of rice or wheat flour per day in addition to sugar, lentils and vitaminized vegetable oil. The infant milk food distributed was quite adequate and there was no need for the IDPs to buy essential food items or milk food from traders outside (Sunday Observer: 11 Oct 2009).

Smuggling Lankan Tamils to EU; German Police bust int’l human trafficking ring - By Gagani Weerakoon - Following more than a year-long investigation, the German Federal Police have busted an international ring involved in smuggling Sri Lankan Tamil people into European countries, with the connivance of certain French and British authorities. Police, during simultaneous raids on 37 places from early morning last Wednesday in Germany and elsewhere abroad, arrested 16 suspected German, French and British nationals of Sri Lankan origin, diplomatic sources said. According to these sources, a special team from the German Federal Police has been investigating the activity of a German-based Sri Lankan Tamils smuggling ring under cover since August 2008, on the orders of the public prosecutor in Osnabrück (The Nation: 11 Oct 2009).

SL Army, an elite fighting force now - By: Shanika Sriyananda - "From the 4th of next month", he said in his gruff voice, " we shall be responsible for our own defence". His teeth showed white beneath the iron grey walrus moustache. The sides of his eyes crinkled but he was not smiling. "Actually as a matter of fact, we may have help against foreign aggressions, but we will have to handle any enemy within the country". His eyes became penetrating. "Have you ever thought what could happen to us". "Communism ad Marxist terrorism as a prelude to a general uprising to seize power by force, such as occurred in Singapore and Malaya", I readily replied (sri Lanka Defence Ministry: 11 Oct 2009).

The Nationalist Papers:A ‘mild’ take on mellow ‘Anti-Americanism’ (sic) - By Malinda Seneviratne - “What is the ‘progressive’ aspect of Obama, I wonder. Accepting money from LTTE front organizations and being down-in-the-mouth when the world’s most ruthless terrorist outfit was vanquished? What’s the world systems ‘understanding’ of all that? What kind of policy alternative has Obama proposed to the ‘status quo’ which includes maintaining over 190,000 troops and 115,000 civilian employees in 909 military facilities in 46 countries and territories (I won’t even go into the crimes they’ve committed)?” (Sinhale Hot News: 11 Oct 2009).

Rise and Downward Slide of Hillary Clinton - Prof. Hudson McLean - Frustration must be an understatement when the Presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton lost out to Barack Obama. Despite the strongest possible but gentle support of the popular President Bill Clinton, without overwhelming the egostic pride of Hillary, the first Afro-American charmed his way to the Hot Seat. Then Obama kept Hillary guessing whether the position of VP might be thrown in her direction. Having now seen the character of the woman, the world must be grateful that Hillary missed out on the possibility of getting into the Hot Seat by a sudden demise of Obama. The position of Secretary of State is as good as becoming the VP although, its miles away from the potential opportunity to become the President by Default. The perks of the Secretary of State are substantial, as the Spokesman in Chief for USA on all major Foreign Policy matters (LankaWeb : 11 Oct 2009).

Work hard to live in peaceful co-existence - Army Commander - Army Commander Lt.Gen. Jagath Jayasuriya called upon his officers and men to give priority for humanitarian tasks and be part of the Government’s development activities. The Army Chief was addressing his men and officers to mark the 60th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Army at the Army Headquarters in Colombo yesterday (Sunday Observer: 11 Oct 2009).

More LTTE military items uncovered in clearing operations - Sri Lanka Army troops continued clearing operations uncovered more LTTE military hardware from Mullaittivu and Batticaloa districts yesterday (10 October), military sources said. Troops of Task force 8 (TF-8) conducted search and clear operations in general area Puthukudduiruppu east in Mullaittivu district recovered 01 x Micro pistol, 03 x Shot gun Barrels and 250 x 7.62mm x 39mm (T-56 Ammo) ammunitions during the day. Meanwhile, Army 23 division troops found 01 x fiber boat (14 Feet long) during a search and clear operation conducted at general area Kaluwankerni in Batticaloa district and same troops recovered 01 x fiber boat (14 Feet long) and 02 x Outboard motors (OBMs) while conducting a clearing operation at general area Punnakudah in Batticaloa district. Clearing operations are being continued (Sri Lanka Defence Ministry: 11 Oct 2009).

Song for David Miliband & Channel 4 TV - By Asoka weerasinghe, Canada - "Hunger striker's UK$7m Big Mac: Tamil who cost a fortune in policing was sneaking infast-food. He was the hunger striker at the centre of one of the longest running demonstrations ever mounted in Britain. For weeks Parameswaran Subramanian lay in a tent outside the Houses of Parliament as Tamils protested about the plight of relatives under attack in Sri Lanka" (Sri Lanka News Online ; 11 Oct 2009).

Mankulam a regional capital soon - A centrally located northern rural town, Mankulam, 30 kilometres from Vavuniya on the A 9 highway would be developed as a Regional Administrative Capital along with the resettlement and rehabilitation of over 250,000 IDPs now in the Vavuniya and Chettikulam welfare villages. With the French GIS satellite mapping system, the Government has identified Mankulam to be developed as a provincial administrative capital. Accordingly, the Ministry of Urban Development and Sacred Area Development would launch the program within one year, Ministry Secretary Dr. P. Ramanujam said. As Mankulam is close to Jaffna, Mannar, Mullaitivu and Anuradhapura, the rural village could be developed as an administrative capital. The availability of space, water and electricity facilities are other advantages. Development work will be implemented on a phase wise program in relation to project packages on a priority basis with the Government’s resettlement program, Ramanujam said (Sunday Observer ; 11 Oct 2009).

Tamil Nadu politicos here to visit IDP villages - The 10-member Tamil Nadu delegation that arrived in Colombo yesterday afternoon would visit IDP welfare villages in Chettikulam this afternoon, following a visit to Jaffna in the morning. They will assess conditions of the IDPs, relief and welfare facilities being provided to them and other issues that had raised concerns in Tamil Nadu since the defeat of LTTE terrorism in May this year and the consequent internal displacement of over 300,000 families from Vanni areas where the Security Forces carried out operations against the LTTE. The delegation headed by Union Minister T.R.Balu and five other MPs from Tamil Nadu's ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), including Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi's daughter M.K.Kanimozhi, his son K.S.Azhagiri, three MPs from the Congress Party and the leader of the Viduthalai Chruthaigal Katchy (VCK) Thol.Thirumavalavan will also visit plantations towns Kotagala, Hatton and Nuwara Eliya, Government sources said (Sunday Observer : 11 Oct 2009).

Liberation Thoppigala - The LTTE was defeated in the Eastern theatre one after the other when they lost control of the Chenkaladi-Maha Oya Road to the Security Forces on April 11, 2007. The only hope they had in the East was Baron’s cap area or famously known Thoppigala jungle. Although many military strategists and experts considered Thoppigala jungle as an area without any tactical importance, for the LTTE it was the main hub for their terror activities in the Eastern theatre. For them, it was an income generating source, a jungle hideout, training base and also a tactically important location to show their force to few administrative districts including Batticaloa, Ampara and Polonnaruwa. Having captured the A-5 Road and the Batticaloa West and South from the clutches of the LTTE, the Sri Lanka Army designed its plan to capture the Thoppigala jungle from the clutches of the LTTE. Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka wanted each and every Tiger operations in the East to be ended to focus his attention towards the Wanni liberation operation (Sunday Observer: 11 Oct 2009).

Army Day : Involved with development drive - They eradicated terrorism to let us live in peace. They sacrificed their lives and lost their limbs to save us and our future generation. What have they gained? It is the ultimate happiness of saving the motherland. They are the most precious Sri Lanka Army - true sons of the nation. October 10 is their day - Army Day. Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, the Army Commander, being proud to be in his seat at their 60th anniversary said the Army will continue to be the strength in developing the country. Speaking to the ‘Sunday Observer’ on Army Day Lt. Gen. Jayasuriya stressed it is the duty with great importance to take care of their comrades - those who gave their youth to the country expecting only victory and freedom. Following are excerpts of the discussion: (Sunday Observer: 11 Oct 2009).

Controversy over Norwegian Peace Prize for Obama - Was it for his role in the Sri Lankan Conflict? - Dr.P.A.Samaraweera, Australia - Barack ObamaPresident Obama created history by becoming the first black-American President of the USA. He was also the first black-American to edit the Harvard Law Journal. Now according to critics, he has made history by winning the Norwegian Nobel Peace Prize for having not done anything. This stunning choice has shocked Nobel observers. President Obama himself had been surprised and his comment was, " To be honest, I do not feel that I derserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who have been honoured by this prize". According to some as this most prestigious award has not been given on any of his accomplishments there is a debate on this controversial issue (Asian Tribune: 11 Oct 2009).

To resettle IDPs Samaposha initiates agri-schemes in Vavuniya - In an Endeavour to rehabilitate and uplift the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North and East, Plenty Foods (Pvt) Ltd., a subsidiary of the group CBL (Ceylon Biscuits Ltd), will train the re-settled IDP farmers in Vavuniya, where they would be initiated to grow corn and subsequently soya and green-gram on a backward integration policy on a buy-back agreement at a minimum guaranteed price. These products will be processed for the manufacture of Samaposha. The Company’s CSR aim is to ensure a steady income to the farmers and elevate their living conditions (Sunday Island : 11 Oct 2009).

Mutual bailing out game over Hilary Clinton’s Rape story in Sri Lanka - By Bandu de Silva - Hillary ClintonTo get away after making that statement in the UN Security Council session on September 30, 2009 presided by her would not have been easy for Hilary Rodham Clinton. The media present in New York saw the weakness of her position when she placed Sri Lanka in the short list of countries where she said rape was used as a tactic of war (Asian Tribune : 11 Oct 2009).

Pak team on Tiger trail - A top level team from Pakistan is now in Colombo to obtain details of Tiger guerrilla links in the attack on the Sri Lanka cricket team in Lahore on March 3. The four-member team led by Malik Mohamed Iqbal, Additional Inspector General of Police (Punjab Province) had a lengthy discussion with Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, on Friday. However, no details of the discussions were immediately available. Reported links by the LTTE in the attack on the Sri Lanka cricketers surfaced during talks between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in Libya. There have been conflicting reports on who made the revelation of guerrilla links in the Lahore attack. Most media reports in Pakistan said President Rajapaksa had told Premier Gilani of the Tiger guerrilla links (Sunday Times : 11 Oct 2009).

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