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Tuesday, 24 August 2010 07:35 AM 

Indo-Canadian MP rejects soft corner to Tamil Tigers

STOP! Trying to Stop Tamil Boats & Tamil People! - by Prof. Hudson McLean - What Paranoia! STOP! Trying to Stop Tamil Boats & Tamil People leaving Sri Lanka! Let the Tamil People flee in their Trains & Boats & Planes, to where ever they wish to head. Australia and Canada have adequate resources to prevent immigration or facilities and funds to adopt new immigrants. The US$50,000 Factor. It is now comfortably established that the near 500 Tamils on MV Sun Sea paid US$ 50,000 given a few thousand or two less, for the “ride”. It is assumed that the funds came from Tamil expats, Diaspora or indeed from the coffers of LTTE. Most certainly, the funds awarded to the Tamil passengers were not “gratis”. Most likely, each passenger would have to pay-back the “loan” for the rest of his/her life. How will they “earn” the repayment during a ten year period with compound interest? The loan sharks will write the “hymn sheet”, and the passengers, whether they get the rights to refugee status or not, will be forced to payback. Drug running, prostitution, and other illegal activities will be the Agenda. Happy are those Canadian businessmen who will get slave labour into their oil, fisheries and other high-labour intensive industries, through Tamil middlemen and pimps. A few parliamentarians will benefit and get the additional vote, arranged by the middlemen and their legal counsel. And after a few years like Tamil-Canadian lawyer Luxmi Vasan who arrived as a refugee at Toronto’s airport in 1991 with her year-old son, those Tamil “refugees” will return to Jaffna, as prosperous tourists with their newly acquired wealth. I fail to comprehend why certail contributors in LankaWeb are hell-bent on getting back all these Tamils who are so desperate to leave Sri Lanka. Why have the additional financial burden of another 1000 Tamils who hate the Sinhala people and their government, bring them back and water-down current resources to re-habilitate them? Australians and Canadians are fully aware of the existence of Tamil Nadu. Furthermore, Australians and Canadians know the differences between their European based culture and civilisation, and that of Tamil Nadu. The last country the Sri Lankan Tamils wish to emigrate to, is Tamil Nadu. And we all know why! As a small island, the Sri Lankan population is growing. The country is far from giving a decent standard of living to the low-end, or boast full-employment. Under these conditions why create additional problems of moaning, groaning ex-LTTE Tamils? These so called ex-LTTE Tamils should be allowed to take all their excess baggage, suicide-jackets, rocket launchers and Dosai pans, and settle down in any country on earth (LankaWeb ; 23 Aug 2010).

Dan Mathson: Your interview with Manjula Selvarajah - Asoka Weerasinghe Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario . Canada August 20, 2010 - Dan Matheson CTV News: Dear Dan Matheson: Here’s my response to the Canadian Tamil Congress spokesperson Manjula Selvaraja’s defence of the Sea Sun illegal Tamil migrants during your interview. You asked, why had these Tamils paid so much of money to get on that ship when they could have easily got on a plane to come over to Canada. Her response was that these people were so desperate to get out of Sri Lanka and that is why and that they had no option. My response is : Of course they had an option. Without flying out of Sri Lanka to get on that people smuggling ship in Thailand, they could have easily gone to their Mother India just 22 miles away from the shores of Jaffna where 66 million of their brethren Tamils live in Tamil Nadu in South India. Why didn’t they? Did they find that Tamil Nadu wasn’t green enough than the greener pastures that they were seeking in Canada which is almost 20 thousand miles away. What was their motive? Are they indeed economic refugees and had n patience to stay in line with the rest of the 4,000 applicants to immigrate from Sri Lanka? Or did they know that they would not have a chance in hell to get into Canada legally on a point system basis? But the question that is going begging is, how did these 492 illegal Tamil migrants find millions of rupees to fork out for that passage. They had paid $45 thousand each which when converted into Sri Lankan rupees are in the millions four times over. If indeed they say they were poor, how come they became millionaires over night. If they admit that they are not millionaires, not gem merchants, not owners of tea estates, not share holders of multi-national companies, not bank robbers, not drug traffickers, nor credit card fraudsters, then who was it that paid for their passage to Canada? The above is a good question which the RCMP should probe to choke this global human trafficking million dollar net work and the RCMP should start probing by questioning Manjula for starters who may or may not have some answers (Lankaweb : 22 Aug 2010).

Baseless attack on the LLRC by low-life at the Sunday Leader - by Ajit Randeniya - As far as double-barrel names go, the name of Mandana Ismail-Abeywickrema (MIA), one of the self-described ‘investigative’ reporters at The Sunday Leader is a ‘corker’, as an Australian would say. This MIA has probably been more fortunate with her naming than her other inheritance, the mantle of that erstwhile ‘investigative reporter’ and current editor of the rag, Frederica Jansz; now that is a real ‘dog’.  Before we get to MIA’s work at the Sunday leader, it needs to be put on record that the first name Mandana is a name made famous in the UK in the 1990s by a British actress named Mandana ‘Jones ‘. Research shows that the name Mandana in fact has Persian origins, coming from queen Mandana of Media, the mother of the Persian emperor Cyrus the Great: the name apparently means ‘wise mother’ or ‘female seer’!  To digress for a moment, Mandana Jones played the role of prisoner Nikki Wade on the British television series ‘Bad Girls’: a lesbian who finds herself in jail after killing a police officer for assaulting her lover, and falls in love with prison governor (played by Simone Lahbib of ‘Monarch of the Glen’ fame). According to audience research, the ‘collective’ performances of these two characters have transported many a viewer, dare I say predominantly the middle-aged demographic, to ‘bliss’.  Now, before the morally upright types start rushing to conclusions about a middle-aged Sri Lankan man’s interest in such debauchery portrayed in a teen-oriented TV show such as ‘Bad Girls’, the writer wishes to stress that his keen interest in the lengthy, complex story line involving these two characters was purely bookish, with his devoted viewing of the show leading to the valid criticism that the scenes involving ‘key moments’ were wanting in the area of anatomical detail: such detail could have greatly enriched the plot! (LankaWeb : 22 Aug 2010).

Interview with M.Selvaraja of Canadian Tamil Congress - Ira de Silva London, Ontario, Canada - Mr. Dan Matheson. CTV; Dear Sir: I am writing regarding your interview with the spokesperson for the Canadian Tamil Congress. Are you aware that this organization prides itself as the front organization of the Tamil Tiger terrorist organization and is now the chief component of the Trans National Government of Tamil Eelam which was formed to further the goal of the Tamil Tigers after the defeat of the Tamil terrorists militarily? If you do not, I would suggest that you read their announcements regarding their role in these organizations and question their affiliation with these latest arrivals. Regarding your question as to why these Tamils paid so much to get on that ship when they could easlty have got on a plane indicates that you are somewhat confused. Selvarajah’s response was that it was because they were desperate. What were they desperate about? Is it because the UN has declared that Sri Lanka is no longer a refugee producing country or because they had been an integral part of the LTTE in Sri Lanka? Giving the lie to Selvarajah, I refer you to a report filed by the Toronto Star reporter Raveena Aulakh on Aug. 14,2010. In an interview with one of the arrivals on the ship in October, 2010 one of the men had stated that he was a 33 year old farmer, had bribed a soldier at a camp and got a fake ID, left the camp and within three days FLEW out of Colombo to Malaysia and paid $45,000 to join the ‘Ocean Lady’. Since you seem to have little knowledge of Sri Lanka, I would like you to know that the average farmer in Sri Lanka is not the same as farmers in Canada with thousands of acres. They have small plots and are just able to make a living. They do not have $45,000 in their bank accounts – that kind of money has to given to them by an organization to which they belong (LankaWeb ; 22 Aug 2010).

International community should take Sri Lanka as an example - Defence secretary tells LLRC - During the first few days of the hearings of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), several key personalities came up with the shortcomings of the truce between the UNP Government and the LTTE, the human rights violations committed by the LTTE and measures taken by the present government to maintain zero casualty rates in the humanitarian operation that was launched to rescue over 290,000 civilians during the final battle. The Sri Lankan Commission on Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa commenced sittings at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies, Colombo from August 11. The Commission was appointed by the President under Section 2 of the Commission of Inquiry Act to inquire and report on several areas between the period of February 21, 2002 and May 19, 2009. It completed six sittings in Colombo and two sittings in Vavuniya. The Commission is tasked with inquiring into matters and circumstances that led to the failure of the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) which came in to effect from February 21, 2002 and the sequence of events that followed thereafter up to May 19, 2009. It will investigate whether any person, group or institution directly or indirectly bears responsibility for any failure, the lessons which could be learnt from such failures and measures that need to be taken to ensure that there is no recurrence of a similar conflict in future (Sunday Observer ; 22 Aug 2010).

Branch of British Council to be opened in Jaffna - Ms. Gill Westway Country Director, British Council said the Council would be opening a branch office in Jaffna early next year, She said discussions had been held with the External Affairs Ministry in Colombo and added the Council had carried out a survey in Jaffna regarding the feasibility of opening a branch in the city. The survey result showed a massive 83% of the people awaiting the opening of a branch of the British Council in Jaffna. Ms. Westway said for the past 30 years Jaffna had been cut off from the rest of the country and this was one of the reasons the Council had given priority to opening a branch in the city. She added the opening of the new branch would help students in Jaffna sit for London Exams and in addition would help them witness cultural programmes sponsored by the organization (Sunday Times : 22 Aug 2010).

IPKF sacrifices recognised at last - The monument built in the vicinity of the Parliamentary complex in Kotte in honour of the Indian troops killed in the north and east of Sri Lanka between 1987 and 1990, was to have been formally unveiled by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh more than two years ago, but it turned out to be a non-event. However, the monument has now received official sanction from India.  Indian High Commissioner Ashok K. Kantha laid a wreath at the monument on Indian Independence Day which fell last Sunday. Earlier Indian Navy Commander Nirmal Verma who visited Sri Lanka in June this year too visited the monument to pay his respects to the fallen men. However the Indian approval for the monument has been slow in coming. Prime Minister Singh was to unveil it when he visited Sri Lanka in May 2008 for the Heads of State Summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) but the visit was abandoned due to rising anti-Sri Lankan sentiments at the time in South India  (Sunday Times : 22 Aug 2010).

Change the slogan from Stop Boats to Stop Tamils - by Sunil Vijayapala, Australia - Both leading Australian parties have agreed on one agenda and that is to stop boats with bogus asylum seekers or now they coin the phrase ‘illegal emigrants’ an accurate refreshing phrase. Australia, unlike Canada, is certainly not ready for SHIPS full of illegal immigrants as they will have no capacity to accommodate them. Who ever who comes to power must stop these Tamils jumping the queue on legal immigration to Australia and Canada which may affect Tamils themselves who aspire for a better life though legal means. These latest Tamils have spent around $22 million or approximately Rs.2200 million to travel from Thailand to BC and one wonders where in the world they get this kind of money. We certainly are not in position to make any statements on other asylum seekers as we are not aware of the ‘ground situation’ in those countries but can categorically state Sri Lanka is a safe place to live for all minorities including Tamils while the majority of Tamils live in Colombo and other parts of Sri Lanka, leading normal lives and are represented in Parliament and other state bodies adequately, unlike in Australia. Tamils play the usual trump card of ‘persecution by Sinhala government’ to get the sympathy of Australians and Canadians while they prepare themselves to suffer in detention for long periods in Thailand or Indonesia to creep into these two countries. No Australian or Canadian would ask the simple question why don’t they go to Tamil Nadu in India, the safest place for Tamils, if they are under persecution in Sri Lanka? The simple answer is that Tigers finance these operations as no one would not expect a group of simple Jaffna Tamils to acquire Rs.2200 million a colossal amount by Sri Lanka standards. These people are quite aware that they will have no chance with the legal immigration and hence resort to ‘Asylum’ card (LankaWeb ; 22 Aug 2010).

Australian Federal Election 2010

Please read following parliamentary debates.

• http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/genpdf/chamber/hansardr/2010-03-17/0061/hansard_frag.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf

• http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/genpdf/chamber/hansardr/2009-06-01/0201/hansard_frag.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf

• http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/genpdf/chamber/hansardr/2006-06-13/0120/hansard_frag.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf

• http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/genpdf/chamber/hansardr/2006-06-01/0144/hansard_frag.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf

• http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/genpdf/chamber/hansardr/2006-05-22/0141/hansard_frag.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf

• http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/genpdf/chamber/hansards/2008-10-16/0018/hansard_frag.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf

• http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/genpdf/chamber/hansards/2006-06-16/0037/hansard_frag.pdf

• http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/genpdf/chamber/hansardr/2009-06-01/0199/hansard_frag.pdf

• http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/genpdf/chamber/hansardr/2009-06-01/0200/hansard_frag.pdf

Did we fail to market the atrocities of the LTTE? - Last week when I saw my former colleague from the Government Peace Secretariat appearing before the "Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC)’ and later that evening we saw the adverse publicity on BBC and CNN, it was very evident that global perception were very sympathetic towards the LTTE. It was then that I decided that it is my duty to write these thoughts, given that we were part of the larger team that fought the war with the LTTE. What the world repeatedly forgets is that the LTTE has brutally killed over 70,000 Sri Lankans which includes presidents, leading Tamil intellectuals, foreign ministers, clergy, school children, mercantile employees and civilians and is a banned organization in over twenty five countries around the world. Whilst this is the reality, the question is why the world is yet sympathetic to the LTTE and this is an issue we have to resolve if we are serious about making Sri Lanka the Wonder of Asia (Island ; 22 Aug 2010).

Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission: Sandagiri can challenge Austin’s evidence — Chairman - Chairman of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) C. R. de Silva says retired Navy Chief Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri can challenge former Defence Secretary Austin Fernando’s recent statement before the commission. Responding to a query by The Island yesterday, de Silva said that Sandagiri would have to testify before the commission as his recent statement to the media could not be considered official. Rejecting former Defence Secretary Fernando’s claim before the LLRC that the CFA was first brought to his attention by the then Navy Commander Sandagiri, an irate Sandagiri told The Island that the armed forces commanders had not been consulted before the UNF government signed the agreement with the LTTE. The retired navy chief accused ex-Defence Secretary Fernando of trying to deceive the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission. Testifying before the commission last Wednesday, Fernando said that he had had nothing to do with the CFA. Secretary to LLRC S.M. Samarakoon yesterday told The Island that the commission would meet shortly to decide on the second set of witnesses to be summoned in September. Samarakoon declined to comment on possible witnesses, though he recently told The Island that UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, External Affairs Minister G.L Peiris and former minister Milinda Moragoda could be summoned. Sandagiri on Saturday told The Island that he was ready to appear before the commission to set the record straight. According to him, service commanders had first received an indication of the CFA at a meeting in December 2001 or January 2002 at Visumpaya addressed by the then Defence Minister Tilak Marapone and Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris (Island ; 22 Aug 2010).

Chinese aid for Northern hospitals - The Chinese government has provided a 65-million-dollar soft loan for upgrading health facilities in the war affected Northern and Eastern provinces.  Health Ministry sources said that the MoU had been signed for providing urgently required medical equipment and constructing and refurbishing hospital buildings under the Chinese assistance, at the ministry recently.  Secretary to the Health Ministry Dr. Raveendra Ruberu and President of CETC International Corporation signed the MoU.  He said that the government had already launched a programme to upgrade facilities in hospitals in the North and the East since the defeat of the LTTE last year. The Chinese financial assistance would help accelerate the programme.  According to the agreement, the medical needs of resettled people are also to be looked into besides the provision of modern intensive and surgical care units, laboratories and equipment (Island ; 22 Aug 2010).

Economic refugees - Despite public opinion in Canada, by and large, supporting the point of view that the Sri Lankan boat people who docked in that country on board a Thai-flagged cargo freighter, MV Sun Sea, be sent packing regardless of whether any of the ship’s nearly 500 passenger had legitimate asylum claims or not, a section of the Canadian public and press has been sympathetic to these boat people. The Toronto Star, in a recent editorial commented that ``Canada does not have a Tamil `problem’ whatever critics of our refuges system may say about the arrival here of the cargo freighter………We processed 34,000 refugee claims last year; these arrivals won’t overtax the system.’’ These sentiments, no doubt, are a reflection of Canada’s traditional liberal immigration policies and the view that wherever possible, genuine refugees and asylum-seekers must be accommodated. Nobody would, or should, quarrel with such generosity which is a diminishing commodity in a world in which material values gain precedence by the day. But the question is how genuine are these asylum seekers? They would certainly be economic refugees in the sense that they can validly aspire to a more prosperous lifestyle in Canada than would be possible for them in Sri Lanka. Or for that matter, as suggested in a news report published in yesterday’s issue of The Island, they could be hardcore LTTEers who had already fled Sri Lanka and were living in some South East Asian countries like Malaysia and Thailand who, believing that conditions following KP’s arrest in Malaysia would be less hospitable, decided to try and get into Canada (Island : 21 Aug 2010).

NGOs to be removed - The government is prepared to order NGO’s who are linked with funding the LTTE, to shut down and have their officials deported, Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratna told Daily Mirror online. Prime Minister Jayaratna said that the government has identified NGOs who have provided finance, fire arms and advice to the LTTE and have taken measures to cancel their licenses. With regard to accusations that the government was not permitting NGOs to visit mined and resettled areas in the North, the Prime Minister stated that if an NGO official is injured while visiting mined areas, the government would have to take the responsibility. Therefore the Government has decided to permit visits only after de-mining is completed and will not succumb to pressure from the international community, Prime Minister Jayaratna added. (Daily Mirror online : 22 Aug 2010).

Second foreign mediated ceasefire was in the air: Sandagiri - A retired security forces commander says the then UNP-led UNF government had indicated the possibility of another foreign mediated ceasefire at a meeting held at Visumpaya shortly after the December 2001 general election, where Defence Minister Tilak Marapone faulted the armed forces for failing in their job. Among the present at the meeting were leader of the government peace delegation Minister G. L. Peiris, Peace Secretariat Chief Ambassador Bernard Goonetilike, Lt. General Lionel Balagalle and Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri. Sources told The Sunday Island that Minister Marapone had said that the country could not continue with war and a way out of the mess was necessary. Sources said that the meeting could have taken place in late December 2001 or January 2002 to brief the security forces chiefs. Sandagiri told The Sunday Island that the LTTE had made an attempt to smuggle in armaments hours before the signing of the agreement on February 22, 2002. He said that they had not received any official intimation until he along with Lt.General Balagalle visited Parliament on February 21 to meet the then Defence Secretary Austin Fernando, who had been with chief Norwegian peace facilitator Erik Solheim. He emphasized that there had not absolutely been consultations with the military top brass before the signing of the CFA. Testifying before the Lessons Learnt Commission, Austin Fernando squarely blamed the then Jaffna Security Forces Commander Major General Sarath Fonseka for obstructing the peace process. The ongoing Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission is probing the circumstances in which Sri Lanka entered into CFA with the LTTE, its failure due to shortcomings on the part of those responsible for the Norwegian-led negotiating process. Political and security sources told The Sunday Island that then President Chandrika Kumaratunga had supported the peace process, though she subsequently gave in to JVP pressure and dissolved Parliament in February 2004. Sources said Norwegians had been involved in a previous bid (1994-1995) to negotiate a deal with the LTTE on the invitation of Kumaratunga. The commission is expected to conclude its proceedings within six months. Its sittings began on August 11 at the Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations (Island : 21 Aug 2010).

Tamil Tigers Smuggle Illegal Migrants aboard ‘Ocean Lady’ and ‘MV Sun Sea’ - by SRI LANKA UNITED NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CANADA (SLUNA) - Canada has admitted 76 Tamil men who arrived aboard the ‘Ocean Lady’ in October 2009, and is presently dealing with a further batch of 492 Tamils who arrived on board the ‘MV Sun Sea’ which reached the BC shores on August 13, 2010. These two vessels have been identified as part of the Tamil Tiger’s merchant marine fleet previously used in transporting weapons, explosives and smuggling of narcotics, now refitted to smuggle human cargo. The Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) has been in the forefront organizing teams of highly paid lawyers to assist the asylum seekers with their refugee applications. The CTC which was formed in 2001 following the listing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) by the UN as a terrorist group has taken over the torch from the better known front organizations called the World Tamil Movement (WTM) and the umbrella group known as FACT which have moved their operations underground. The human smugglers involved in the operation are obviously those leaders of the pro-Tamil Tiger diaspora in Canada who seek to profit immensely from the ridiculously high passage fee of $45,000 – 50,000 levied from each illegal migrant, and the opportunity to keep the myth of the supposed persecution of Tamils in Sri Lanka alive through media attention. The other objective is to gather the remnants of the Tamil Tiger fighting cadres in an asylum granting liberal democracy such as Canada, and pursue the objective of carving out a separate state of “Eelam” for Tamils in Sri Lanka as envisioned by the newly formed Trans-National Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) of which the Canadian pro-LTTE diaspora is the largest and active segment (Lankaweb : 21 Aug 2010).

Indo-Canadian MP rejects soft corner to Tamil Tigers - An Indo-Canadian MP who stood in a sea of LTTE flags and listened as protesters chanted “Tamil Tiger, freedom fighter” has denied that he supports Tamil Tigers.  Liberal MP Gurbax Singh Malhi said that a column that ran in QMI Agency newspapers earlier this week by Levant “misrepresented the facts in suggesting that I support the Tamil Tigers, when my allegiance is to the protection of human rights of individuals around the world.”  “I have spoken out against violations of human rights wherever they have occurred around the world,” Toronto Sun reported quoting a letter to the Editor written by Malhi.  “Also note that the event at which I was present and that is mentioned in the column was actually a Tamil-Canadian community rally,” Malhi wrote (Indian Express : 21 Aug 2010).

Vaiko thwarted Indian bid for ceasefire: KP - Kumaran Pathmanathan,alias KP, who was the LTTE’s international plenipotentiary in the last stages of Eelam War IV, has said that MDMK leader Vaiko thwarted India’s bid to bring about a ceasefire ahead of the May 2009 parliamentary elections in Tamil Nadu. KP, who is currently under detention in Sri Lanka, told Daily Mirror on Saturday, that the LTTE’s political commissar, B.Nadesan, had asked some “sympathisers” in the ruling DMK like Chief Minister Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi, and Catholic priest Fr.Jegath Gaspar Raj, to persuade New Delhi to help bring about a ceasefire and prevent the annihilation of the LTTE and its leader, V.Prabhakaran. New Delhi, KP said, was open to discussion on the idea because the DMK-Congress combine in Tamil Nadu was getting worried about losing the elections with opposition AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa taking a strident pro-LTTE stance (Express Buzz : 21 Aug 2010).

Resettlement of remaining 10% IDPs to end soon - Sri Lankan government has completed the resettlement of over 235000 IDPs in the north and eastern provinces. During the final stage of the war with LTTE over 260,000 people had fled the LTTE and came to no fire zones created by the government at that time. Mr. Chandra Fernando, a presidential advisor on north and east development has said that all efforts would be made to complete the resettlement of remaining 10 percent of IDPs before end of September. "We hope to be able to complete the resettlement before end of September. There are only 28,000 people left to be resettled in Mullaithivu and Kilinochchi (the former rebel strongholds in the north)," Fernando said. He said the resettlement in Mannar and Vavuniya districts in the north have been 95 percent completed. Sri Lanka has made a significant progress in resettling the IDPs within the time frame of one year when compared with most other conflict affected countries where large numbers of people had been displaced (Sri Lanka Defence Ministry : 21 Aug 2010).

The ‘impossible’ voyage of a Tamil ghost ship - Whispers about a boat headed to Canada began long ago in Thailand’s small and closely knit Tamil community. Among the regulars at the New Madras Café – a Tamil restaurant in the bustling commercial heart of Bangkok that serves roti, curry and lassis under photographs of the beaches of the Tamil heartland in northern Sri Lanka – there was frequent talk that the infamous Tamil Tigers, or at least some of their ex-operatives, were planning something: A money-raising operation that would also help the organization regroup after its devastating defeat ended Sri Lanka's three-decade civil war. “The talk started a long time ago. But it wasn’t just talk,” one of the café’s regulars says. What eventually emerged out of that idle chatter – the saga of the Sun Sea and its 492 bedraggled passengers – is the stuff of spy thrillers. A ship purchased by a man who was rich on paper, but lived in apparent poverty in a cheap apartment. Hundreds of people loaded onto small fishing boats and taken out to sea to rendezvous in international waters. A mid-sea clash with a Thai warship, the chase abandoned only when the so-called ghost ship reached Vietnamese waters.  The plan to take Tamils fleeing the aftermath of Sri Lanka’s civil war to Canada appears to have been hatched almost two years ago. But though authorities tracked the Sun Sea for months before its arrival off the coast of British Columbia, those operating the boat were always a step ahead, adept not only at moving people across borders and oceans, but also at keeping their operation quiet and covering their tracks. But there is a trail. The ship that came to be known as the Sun Sea arrived in Songkhla on April 1 at the end of what was expected to be its final journey. Barely seaworthy, the ship’s previous owners had agreed to sell it for scrap after it made one last delivery of animal feed from Bangkok to this southern port city, which is known as much as a hub for human trafficking and sex tourism from nearby Malaysia as for its white-sand beaches and the offshore-oil platform that drives its economy during daylight hours (Gloobe & Mail : 21 Aug 2010).

Indian commitment to rebuild the Northern Province reiterated - The government of India has agreed to continue its assistance in the field of de-mining requirements in Northern Sri Lanka, for another one year. High Commissioner Ashok K. Kantha has informed the Ministry of Economic Development that his government has agreed to extend the terms of 7 Indian de-mining agencies from the Horizon and Sarvatra organizations who have been working in Sri Lanka for several years. The extension of the contracts of these organizations for another one year amounts to Rs. 410 Million. It is expected that in addition to contributing to the critical task of resettling IDPs, these teams will be deployed for the de-miningwork required for the reconstruction of the Northern Railway Network as well. The Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Mr. Ashok K. Khanta informing about the aforementioned extension facilities in a letter sent to the Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Development, has reiterated India's continued commitment to assist the Government of Sri Lanka in the task of reconstruction and rehabilitation in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka Defence Ministry : 21 Aug 2010).

Sri Lanka-India ferry deal draft ready: envoy India and Sri Lanka have prepared the draft of an agreement to resume ferry services across the narrow strip of water separating the two countries, the Indian envoy in Colombo said.  "We've finalised the draft of the agreement," Indian high commissioner Ashok Kantha said.  "The two countries have in principle agreed on starting the ferry services."  The proposal is to revive a ferry service disrupted by the island's ethnic war and start new services.  The ethnic war, which ended in May 2009, disrupted the ferry service between Talaimannar, on Sri Lanka's north-west, and Rameshwaram, in south India.  India is giving a loan to Sri Lanka to rebuild a rail track to Talaimannar with the contract being awarded to IRCON, an Indian government-owned firm.  The two countries also plan to start ferry services between Colombo port and the southern Indian ports of Cochin and Tuticorin, Kantha said (Sri Lanka Defence Ministry : 21 Aug 2010).

HOW PRABHAKARAN MET HIS DEATH :KP SPEAKS OUT-3 - (CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK) Q: What happened finally to your plan of rescuing Prabhakaran and his family by helicopter? Why did the plan not take off? It’s a very sad story After Prabhakaran’s son Charles Anthony asked me to rescue his family members by air I devised a plan and made preliminary arrangements. I arranged for a ship to be kept waiting at a far –off port beyond the reach of the Sri Lanka navy. I also made arrangements to buy a second-hand helicopter from an Ukrainian contact. The idea was for one or two trained pilots from the LTTE’s airwing “Vaan Puligal” to fly into the Wanni. If Prabhakaran was willing ,the family except for Charles Anthony were to be flown out. If the leader was unwilling then he and a few other of his bodyguards and senior leaders were to be flown by the copter and dropped off in a jungle location in Lanka. Afterwards the heli would fly out to the ship with Prabhakaran’s wife Madhivadhani, daughter Thuwaraga and younger son Balachandran and perhaps a few others. I would be waiting for them at the ship. Thereafter I planned to keep the family safely in one of three countries. Perhaps in rotation. Q: Were these countries ready to accept the family? Were they western nations? No, they were not countries in the west. Two were in Africa and one in Asia. I had been in touch with senior govt officials of these countries through my representatives. When I had sounded them out on this matter they were willing. Q: The plan itself was rather risky? Were you confident of it succeeding? Yes, it was risky but I was ready to carry it out. We had no choice. If we didn’t risk it, the alternative was certain death. I also had a secret hope that Prabhakaran may agree at the last minute and opt to fly out. So I devised the plan. The key element was surprise. If the first stage was successful we may have tried further flights too to rescue others. Q: But then what went wrong? It never worked out. It required about 1.5 million US dollars to implement the plan. I did not have that kind of money. The LTTE overseas structure had to give me the money. Castro had promised Charles Anthony that Nediyavan in Norway will transfer the necessary funds to me. But he never did it. I made repeated requests that it was urgent and time was running out. I would be told, “the money is coming, money is coming”. But sadly it never came. Also Nediyavan was in touch with Atchuthan the Air wing chief living abroad. Earlier he had agreed to provide the required LTTE pilots for the operation. But then suddenly acting perhaps under Nediyavan’s orders he stopped communicating with me. I was really frantic. I approached mercenary pilots to fly the helicopter but nothing further could be done without necessary funds (Daily Mirror : 21 Aug 2010).

Demand for LTTE land - The civilians who have been recently resettled in the north have complained to the Government Agent (GA) in Kilinochchi that the land which was forcefully taken away from them by the LTTE is not being returned by the army, Military sources told Daily Mirror online. However according army sources the land owners had sold the land to the LTTE and had used the funds to send their children aboard. Some of the significant plots of land include the land used to house the LTTE administration office and LTTE head quarters as well as the land previously used by slain LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. Discussions regarding these land issues are scheduled to take place between the GA and the army next week (Daily Mirror online : 21 Aug 2010).

Further assistance from Germany for IDPs - Germany has granted Euro 135,000 to support ongoing emergency assistance project accommodated at Menik Farm, Vavuniya implemented by Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB.). A spokesperson for the embassy told The Island that this would bring relief to IDPs still at Menik Farm. She quoted the German Ambassador Jens Ploetner as saying Germany was concerned about those unable to return to their villages over one year after the conclusion of the war in May last year. The project launched on August 1st, 2010 with funds provided by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will provide hygienic kits, toilet cleaning kits, material and labour necessary for the repair of shelters and toilets. Additionally, the funds will ensure that ASB continues to provide water for a large number of people. The spokesperson said that ASB had been providing over 120,000 litres of water per day to about 12,000 IDPs throughout. Over 28,000 IDPs in Menik Farm will benefit from this Emergency Assistance Project (Sri Lanka Defence Ministry : 21 Aug 2010).

Captain of Sun Sea has links to LTTE Tamil Tigers

Austin misleads lessons learnt Comm. – Sandagiri - Rejecting former Defence Secretary Austin Fernando’s claim that the CFA was first brought to his attention by the then Navy Commander Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri, an irate Sandagiri told The Island that the armed forces commanders had not been consulted before the UNF government signed the agreement with the LTTE. The retired navy chief accused ex-Defence Secretary Fernando of trying to deceive the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission. Testifying before the commission on Wednesday, Fernando said that he had nothing to do with the CFA. Sandagiri said that the government had summoned the military top brass to parliament on February 21, 2002, the day before the signing of the CFA to inform them of its decision. Sandagiri said that there was absolutely no truth in the ex-Defence Secretary’s claim that he got to know about the CFA from the then Commanders of the Navy and Army (Lt. General Lionel Balagalle). Responding to a query by The Island, Sandagiri said that when service chiefs visited parliament on February 21, Fernando had been in the company of chief Norwegian facilitator Erik Solheim, who left for Kilinochchi shortly afterwards with the CFA in an SLAF chopper from the parliamentary grounds. Sandagiri alleged that Fernando had directed him to provide an area off Trincomalee for Sea Tigers to conduct exercises. He said that he had no option but to reject Fernando’s directive and even offer to step down if he was forced to give in to the LTTE demand. The former navy chief said that he would go before the Lessons Learnt Commission to reveal the truth (Island : 20 Aug 2010).

Tamil Tigers Smuggle Illegal Migrants aboard ‘Ocean Lady’ and ‘MV Sun Sea’- by SRI LANKA UNITED NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CANADA - Canada has admitted 76 Tamil men who arrived aboard the ‘Ocean Lady’ in October 2009, and is presently dealing with a further batch of 492 Tamils who arrived on board the ‘MV Sun Sea’ which reached the BC shores on August 13, 2010. These two vessels have been identified as part of the Tamil Tiger’s merchant marine fleet previously used in transporting weapons, explosives and smuggling of narcotics, now refitted to smuggle human cargo. The Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) has been in the forefront organizing teams of highly paid lawyers to assist the asylum seekers with their refugee applications. The CTC which was formed in 2001 following the listing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) by the UN as a terrorist group has taken over the torch from the better known front organizations called the World Tamil Movement (WTM) and the umbrella group known as FACT which have moved their operations underground. The human smugglers involved in the operation are obviously those leaders of the pro-Tamil Tiger diaspora in Canada who seek to profit immensely from the ridiculously high passage fee of $45,000 – 50,000 levied from each illegal migrant, and the opportunity to keep the myth of the supposed persecution of Tamils in Sri Lanka alive through media attention. The other objective is to gather the remnants of the Tamil Tiger fighting cadres in an asylum granting liberal democracy such as Canada, and pursue the objective of carving out a separate state of “Eelam” for Tamils in Sri Lanka as envisioned by the newly formed Trans-National Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) of which the Canadian pro-LTTE diaspora is the largest and active segment (LankaWeb ; 20 Aug 2010).

Peter Showler: Getting Tough on Refugees - by Asoka weerasinghe, Canada - The Editor (Letters) THE OTTAWA CITIZEN, Sir: O me Gawd, here comes another joker making his two cents worth of insinuations of how bad the Sri Lankan government is towards the minority Tamils, thus supporting the cause of the 492 illegal Tamil migrants of the Sun Sea to be allowed in as refugees. I was disappointed to read Peter Showler’s essay on “Getting Tough on Refugees”.  I am prepared to dismiss his whole essay as biased piffle when he says, “Three hundred thousand Tamil civilians were displaced and interred in camps where rights violations have been alleged. International observers were denied access to the camps.  The Tamil region is still under military control. Many of the people on the boat may well have suffered physical injuries, arbitrary arrests and imprisonment…” and he drags on with his piffle.  What Showler failed to acknowledge was that the Government of Sri Lanka rescued nearly 300,000 Tamils who were held hostage by the Tamil Tigers as a human shield for 35 months and hoarded them from the west of the island to the east like cattle while in retreat from the assault by the armed forces.  They were placed in welfare camps to process their identity, like what the Canadians are doing with the 492 illegal Tamil migrants. Sure, the camps were not five-star hotels, but at least they had beds to sleep on, fed three meals a day, provided medical attention in temporary medical clinics and had temporary schools with qualified teachers for the children, until the terrain was demined, houses rebuilt and infrastructures reconstructed to let the people leave to safety . That was the humane thing to do, and the Sri Lankan government did it (LankaWeb ; 21 Aug 2010).

ABC National Radio-360 Documentary ‘Whatever happened to OV78?’ - by Vajeera Warnakulasuriya, Melbourne - .... A chap who had fled from a country of twenty odd million people and who had lived in a remote area in the North or East expects that another Sri Lankan would recognize him? Surely this chap has to be a very famous, popular figure such as right or left hand man of the dead LTTE leader, still such a man is not known to a casual Sri Lankan who may see him. However, only Sri Lankans that would recognize him would be Tamils who have come from the same area he has been living. Surely, his own people would not let him down, after all they helped him to get to this point even if he happened to be a hard core LTTE cadre. Would a refugee from any other country who resides in Australia behave like that? So then, this is all hype to dress you as a fool to get your sympathy which will naturally flow to the gullible public! In any case how would you know that this chap was a refugee from the boat? Then you spoke to a chap in America and one in Rumania, you wouldn’t know who you were speaking to, couldn’t it be a well orchestrated scenario to spellbind you? This man is incapable of creating this atmosphere, it is those who arranged this meeting directed the scenario, knowing you would not least suspect their cunning scheme, and hence your well concocted sob story would go to air, so that they could pressure the government of the day to allow them to be settled in Australia. Perhaps this documentary will qualify you to receive the famous Walkley Award for media journalism in Australia. Is that why you made this intriguing? (LankaWeb : 20 Aug 2010).

Sri Lanka Ambassador in U.S. refutes AmnestyInternational Claims - STATEMENT FROM SRI LANKA’S AMBASSADOR TO THE USA WASHINGTON, Aug. 19, 2010 — On Aug. 9, 2010 the Washington Post published a letter from James McDonald of Amnesty International suggesting that a shipload of Sri Lankans arriving illegally in Canada should be given asylum because they faced persecution if they returned to Sri Lanka. I am compelled to respond to this letter because Mr. McDonald misstates so many facts and makes so many blind allegations that he must be corrected. First, Mr. McDonald states that during Sri Lanka’s “civil war, both the government and Tigers committed human rights abuses including war crimes.” Sri Lanka’s long fight against a terrorist army, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, was not a civil war. That’s a convenient Western characterization. The LTTE ruthlessly took over parts of Sri Lanka and killed any person – many of them Tamil – who stood in their way. Secondly, it is outrageous to suggest that the government of Sri Lanka committed human rights abuses and war crimes as it defeated the LTTE in May 2009. In fact, the government rescued nearly 300,000 people who were held hostage as human shields by the LTTE. Furthermore, Sri Lankan forces are trained in human rights. Mr. McDonald of course cites no evidence for his allegations; in fact there is none. Sri Lanka has established a Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission to examine the most intense years of the conflict (LankaWeb ; 21 Aug 2010).

Move to shift LTTE base to Canada prompted by KP’s arrest - A top LTTE operative, deeply involved in the LTTE arms smuggling operations throughout the war, is believed to have taken MV ‘Sun Sea’ from Thailand to Canada. The voyage took three months while several navies in the region watched allowing the 59-metre vessel, modified for the purpose, make its way to Canadian waters.  Military sources identified the LTTEer as Vinod, widely considered to be among an elite group of cadres responsible for perhaps one of the biggest clandestine arms smuggling operations in the past few decades.  Sources say Vinod and two of his colleagues, identified as Kamal and Gaya, played a pivotal role in the arms smuggling operation, which facilitated transfer of weapons of Chinese origin and other armaments to north-east Sri Lanka.  The infamous North Korean route remained a key mode of clandestine movement before the Sri Lanka navy took the war to the high seas during Eelam War IV.  While Gaya is believed to have been killed in a confrontation with the navy on the high seas, Kamal is now in Canada.  Sources say Kamal, one of the most experienced LTTE operatives involved with arms smuggling operations took MV Ocean Lady from Mundra (an Indian port) to Canada last October. MV Ocean Lady carried 76 persons.  Canada declined to give Sri Lanka access to any of the 76 passengers.  ‘Harin Panich 19’, now renamed the MV ‘Sun Sea’ carried 492 Sri Lankan Tamils to Canada. Sources say Canada is yet to share information regarding the illegal immigrants with Sri Lankan intelligence services, though there is irrefutable evidence of LTTE involvement in the operation.  Although ordinary LTTE fighting cadres are unlikely to be among the passengers of MV Sun Sea, there can be some key LTTE intelligence operatives, including some of those who escaped from military detention after the end of war in May last year.  Responding to a query by The Island, an authoritative official said that the vast majority of passengers could be those who had supported the LTTE over the years. ‘They’re not ordinary fighting cadres, but the elite, who spearheaded operations in South East Asia," he said (Island : 20 Aug 2010).

KP s Plan to save Prabha & Family backfired - For the first time Kumaran Pathmanathan alias KP has explained to the Norwegian LTTE web site that the plan he made to save Prabhakaran, his wife Madhiwadani, daughter Dwaraka and youngest son Balachandran was thwarted by Norway Tiger leader Nediyawan and his stooges. He has also said that Prabhakaran’s son Charles Anthony rang him up and said “Uncle KP the situation is very dangerous. Please save our group”. He also said that his plan to send a Tiger air craft to Wanni and take Prabhakaran and his family to a Tiger ship could not be carried out because Nediyawan did not support it. KP also revealed that another plan was also under way to get a cease-fire imposed and get Prabhakaran and his team out of Wanni. For which America was willing to help (Sri Lanka Watch : 20 Aug 2010).

Service commanders expressed concern about CFA - Former Defence Secretary - Former Defence Secretary Austin Fernando said Wednesday that he got to know about the CFA from the service commanders who had expressed concern about some of its conditions.However the powers that be brushed aside these concerns. Testifying Wednesday before the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission headed by former Attorney General C.R.De Silva he however said that the UNP Government was compelled to enter into a CFA with the LTTE due to the perilous economic situation of the country at the time. Asked as Defence Secretary if he had been satisfied with the CFA Fernando said that he too had been perturbed by certain of the provisions in it. He also said he would not say whether the CFA was fully favourable to the LTTE for if that was so the Government would not have participated in peace talks.The former Defence Secretary said CFA was to a certain extent favourable to the LTTE due to certain clauses in it. While saying that he had not been involved in the drafting of the CFA the former Defence Secretary said the LTTE would have not come for talks had the CFA favoured the Government.  He said lack of proper interpretation of certain terms in the CFA provided leeway for the LTTE to commit certain acts which had a negative impact. He said political jealousy on the part of then President Chandrika Kumaratunga was one of the key elements for the failure of the CFA. He admitted though that the CFA to a certain extent was favourable to the LTTE. He also attacked Peace facilitator Norway and the SLMM for their failure to ensure the proper implementation of the CFA. He said both facilitator and monitor had failed to take any action leading to the undermining of the peace process. The former Defence Secretary also said the bid by LTTE political wing leader S.P. Thamilselvan to use Karuna as a mole failed completely after the latter decided that Prabhakaran was waging a useless war (Daily News : 20 Aug 2010).

Canada probes who paid for Tamil refugees' travel

Captain of Sun Sea has links to Tigers: Newspaper - Although Canadian authorities are concerned some of the recently arrived migrants might be members of the Tamil Tigers, a terrorist group outlawed in Canada, Ottawa has been tight-lipped about any evidence it might have for this claim.  Nor have this week's detention hearings shed any light on whether the MV Sun Sea was a human-smuggling ship or whether any Tamil Tigers were aboard.  Public Safety Minister Vic Toews has said the Thai cargo ship was part of a "broader criminal enterprise" and a "test boat" intended to gauge Ottawa's attitude toward refugees arriving by ship.  Prime Minister Stephen Harper echoed those words Tuesday by stating that Ottawa "will not hesitate to strengthen the laws" in order to tackle the "trend" of would-be refugees arriving via human-smuggling ships.  A more forthcoming source has been the Malay Mail newspaper, which reported this week that the commander of the Sun Sea is a man known as Capt. Vinod, who studied at the Malaysian Maritime Academy in Malacca during its early days.  While in Malaysia, Vinod stayed in close contact with local financiers of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), or Tamil Tigers, Singapore-based terrorism expert Prof. Rohan Gunaratna told the newspaper.  He said Vinod had from the 1990s to 2009 worked with another Tamil Tiger cadre, Capt. Kamalraj Kandasamy, alias Capt. Kamal, to ship several tons of arms, ammunition and explosives from North Korea to Sri Lanka for the outlawed group to wage and sustain its terrorist campaign.  Gunaratna told the paper that Kamal skippered the first Tamil refugee ship, Ocean Lady, which arrived in Canada last October.  He added that while Kamal captained Ocean Lady, Vinod stayed in Thailand to buy the Sun Sea from a Thai company, on behalf of LTTE, to take advantage of Canada's weak response to the Ocean Lady (The Province : 19 Aug 2010).

Tamil illegal migrants test limits of legal aid system Posted on August 19th, 2010 - By Asoka Weerasinghe, Canada - The Editor (Letters); THE OTTAWA CITIZEN; Sir: ”Tamil migrants test limits of legal aid system’” be mourns the Executive Director of B.C.’s Legal Services Society. This is not the only sin that the 492 illegal Tamil migrants on MV Sun Sea have committed. The most criminal sin is allowing the global criminal human-trafficking network to take advantage of Canada’s generosity. If these 492 illegal Tamil migrants say that they are indeed not millionaires in Sri Lanka to pay $45,000 to get a ride on that ship to Canada, then lets find out who funded them and choke them before they try this harrowing trick one more time bringing in another boat load of illegal Tamil migrants to Canada. Let’s get the RCMP on the money trail and for starters they should interrogate the Canadian Tamil Congress and the Tamil lawyers who had been tracking the progress of Sun Sea and flew into Victoria to welcome these migrants and defend their fairy tales of being persecuted when over a million Tamils have decided to stay put in Sri Lanka and live happily ever after with the majority Sinhalese and some marrying them. It is important to note that 10 members of their Tamil community are representing them in parliament and in cabinet holding important portfolios like, Junior Minister of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation. Let make an effort to find these culprits and choke them legally (LankaWeb : 19 Aug 2010).

More military items uncovered in clearing operations - Sri Lanka Army troops and De-mining groups continued clearing and de-mining operations have uncovered more LTTE military hardware hidden in Vavuniya,Mannar and Batticaloa districts yesterday (18 August), military sources said. Troops of 56 Division, while conducting a search and clear operation in general area Periyamadu in Vavuniya district recovered 640 x ammunitions (7.62 x 39 caliber). Same troops recovered following military items during clearing operations conducted at general areas Mahilankulam and Maruthankulam (Sri Lanka Defence Ministry : 19 Aug 2010).

“Majority of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees reluctant to go back” - A majority of the Sri Lankan Tamil refugees, who have been in India for a decade or more, are reluctant to go back to their nation, according to M. Mutia Kalaivanan, Director of Rehabilitation. Talking to The Hindu here on Wednesday on the sidelines of a national seminar on ‘Refugee situation in India today,' he said that many of the refugees had become part of the local community and some even married locals. They had taken up jobs as masons or carpenters. The government was providing them all facilities available to voters in the State, including subsidised rice and other material. Even free television sets were given to them (20,039 sets have already been distributed). As many as 52,373 individual identity cards had been issued to refugees aged above 12 years to ensure their welfare and security. Enrolment of refugees in schools and colleges had gone up compared to the previous year. In 2008-09, the total number of students enrolled in schools and colleges was 21,023. In 2009-10, this rose to 21,742. But the nursery level enrolment dropped from 3452 (2008-09) to 3076 in 2009-10. A Rs.55-crore housing scheme would be implemented for their benefit. The Rural Development Department would be in charge of the scheme. Land identification process was on. Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had written to the Centre asking it to consider conferring citizenship on refugees who had lived here for long (Hindu : 19 Aug 2010).

Canada takes a tough position against Tamil asylum seekers - Agency Reports state that the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has taken a tough position about the group of 492 Tamil Asylum seekers who arrived in Vancouver last week, jammed in the cargo vessel MV Sun Sea. He has blamed on the increasing human smuggling for financial gain and has said that the authorities will screen each of the 492 asylum seekers individusally. He has told reporters, “It’s a fundamental exercise of sovereignty and we’re responsible for the security of our borders and the ability to welcome people or not welcome people when they come,” The Tamil migrants reached Canada last Friday after a 90-day journey aboard the MV Sun Sea, a shabby cargo ship. A male migrant died at sea from an undisclosed illness. The passengers are reported to have paid up to 50,000 Canadian dollars for the trip. Officials of the Canada Border Services have said all 380 men and 63 women are detained, and 49 children are either with their families or in the care of local social services. There are some 200,000 Tamils living in Toronto, Canada’s most populous city, which is the home to the world’s largest Tamil diaspora. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka has urged Canada to share more of its intelligence if it is serious about tackling what both countries have warned could be a human smuggling operation with ties to the LTTE. Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Canada Mrs. Chitranganee Wagiswara has said that there have been “unofficial discussions” with Canadian authorities in recent weeks on the subject, but that more could be done between the two countries, and exchange of information and intelligence could be key (Media Centre for National security: 19 Aug 2010).

Six LTTE sympathizers convicted in India - The assistant sessions court in Tambaram on Tuesday (17) convicted six LTTE sympathizers and sentenced them to a year’s imprisonment in a case registered against them by the Q Branch police in 2007. Q Branch personnel arrested five persons thought to be LTTE sympathizers, Thambianna, Senjames, Jayakumar, Pushpadanraj, Bominathan and Ravikumar, for allegedly trying to smuggle a boat to be sent to Sri Lanka to be used by members of the LTTE. Q Branch officials alleged that the accused connived and purchased a boat from the south of Tamil Nadu and were trying to send it to Sri Lanka from Ramnad. Police said Senjames and the others purchased the boat on the direction of Thambianna. Police arrested them from Chennai in 2007 and had seized R. 4.5 lakhs from them. Assistant sessions court judge Sivakumar held that all six accused were guilty and sentence was passed (Daily Mirror ; 19 Aug 2010).

Tamil polity should drop 'liberation' & focus on economic prosperity - The Hindu review - "Tamil polity should drop 'liberation' to focus on securing economic rights for the people", states Indian journalist Nirupama Subramanian reviewing a book in The Hindu on 17th August. Nirupama Subramanian was reviewing the book 'From Winning the War to Winning Peace', edited by V. R. Raghavan and published by Centre for Security Analysis in Chennai. Nodding Nirupama Subramanian's opinion, Tamil intellect circles points out that "the development Tamil politicos meant was not even real adding that the mistakes made have resulted in distancing prosperity in the North and East. Reviewing the book, Nirupama wrote, "President Rajapaksa appears more focused, at the moment, on economic development, including that of the Tamil-dominated North and East regions, prompting the view that he is chasing Sri Lanka's long cherished "Singaporemodel" dream - one in which the country's development and prosperity, rather than sweeping constitutional reform, will be the key to co-existence and reconciliation between ethnic communities". In her review, Nirupama was favourably highlighting a paper by a development economist, Muttukrishnan Sarvananthan: "Unlike other Tamil academics, he places the responsibility for the economic rebirth of the North and the East squarely on Tamil politicians, whose leadership he blames for having been obsessed with language, land, and political rights, to the exclusion of economic rights," Nirupama reviewed (Sri Lanka Defence Ministry : 19 Aug 2010).

Canada will not hesitate to change asylum laws - Ottawa “will not hesitate to strengthen the laws” in order to tackle the trend of would-be refugees arriving in Canada via people-smuggling ships, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Tuesday “Let me be clear. We are a land of refuge, but at the same time, I think Canadians are pretty concerned when a whole boat of people come — not through any normal application process, not through any normal arrival channel — and just simply land,” Harper said at an event in Mississauga, Ont. “We will not hesitate to strengthen the laws if we have to, because ultimately — as a government, as a fundamental exercise of our sovereignty — we are responsible for the security of our borders.” It was the first time the prime minister has spoken on the issue of human-smuggling and seaborne asylum-seekers since their arrival in British Columbia last week of the Sun Sea — a modified cargo ship that carried 492 Tamils from Sri Lanka who are seeking refugee status in Canada. Federal authorities are concerned that some of the migrants might be members of the LTTE, a terrorist group outlawed in Canada. The possible connection of the cargo ship to organized crime is also under investigation. Passengers reportedly paid between $40,000 to $50,000 each to make the three-and-a-half month journey from Thailand. Meanwhile, the first migrants to appear before immigration authorities in Vancouver were ordered to remain in detention until the government confirms they are who they say they are. Preliminary interviews with members of the group began Monday. The adults must also be fingerprinted and any identification documents they came with catalogued and examined for authenticity. One woman arrived in Canada with an original copy of her national identity card and a birth certificate. Her father, mother and brother were also on-board the ship. She was ushered into Tuesday’s proceedings in handcuffs. Dressed in a dark green sweatshirt and dark pants, her hair pulled into a ponytail, the woman said little as lawyers discussed her case with Immigration and Refugee Board adjudicator Leeann King, who ultimately denied her release (Daily Mirror : 19 Aug 2010).

During humanitarian operation: CCHA played major role - Defence Secretary - Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa testifying before the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission Tuesday said since the beginning of the humanitarian operation the Government had a plan on humanitarian assistance and protection that ran parallel to its military push. “Over the years we had a practice of naming operations with various titles. But under the President’s advice we called it the Humanitarian Operation. Some might think it’s a minor incident, but it’s an important fact, he added.  The President said we have to include the concept of zero civilian casualties. All possible steps must be taken to avoid civilian casualty and we laid our plans accordingly, he observed.  He noted that the Consultative Commission on Humanitarian Assistance (CCHA) initiated according to a concept by the President following a meeting with the Co-Chairs had played a major role in defining the contours of the kind of assistance needed and related decision making as it brought all major stakeholders, both the Government and non-Government Sector under one roof.  Since October 14, 2006 meetings were held on a regular basis chaired by Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe and attended by the Defence Secretary, Essential Services Commissioner, representatives from Foreign Affairs and all the heads of UN agencies in Sri Lanka, Head of the Delegation of the European Commission and Ambassadors etc. The committee had discussed matters relating to humanitarian assistance, access and the mandate of the agencies (Daily News : 19 Aug 2010).

Canada will not hesitate to change asylum laws

Your Sunday Star Editorial: Sri Lanka’s telling exodus - by Martin Walker, P.Eng (Ontario) Thornhill, ON Canada - Re: Your Editorial: “Sri Lanka’s telling exodus” – Sunday Star, Aug 15, 2010; Dear Editor, It is with great interest I read your coverage of the newest arrival of the Tamil migrant ship, for the past few days. Your editorial above clearly shows that the Toronto Star has gone to great lengths to justify the flight of these boat people, while ignoring a very important matter that majority of us Canadians, are concerned about – the international human smuggling operation by the Tamil Tigers, and potential security threat to Canada, and to the Sri Lankan-Canadians. What Sri Lanka has (or had..), was not a Tamil problem, but a genuine terrorist problem created by the Tamil Tigers. On the other hand, Canada definitely has a Tamil problem - in spite of your denial - when thousands of Tamils are parading the street of Toronto, carrying the flags of a vicious terrorist group that banned in Canada and else where, while blocking busy Gardener Express Way using small children and women. As an Anglo-Canadian married to a Sri Lankan-Canadian, I have a very good understanding of the Sri Lankan conflict. Besides, I had the privilege of spending past four years in Sri Lanka, as a senior engineer/consultant for a development project, funded by the Asian Development Bank(ADB). During that period, I also had the unenviable opportunity of witnessing some of the unspeakable human horrors of terrorism, such as blowing up innocent Tamils, Sinhalese, and Muslims, by the LTTE suicide bombers at railway stations, on busy streets in Colombo, and at various army checkpoints in many part of this beautiful island, killing hundreds of innocent men, women and children (LankaWeb : 18 Aug 2010).

Tigers targeted CCHA to thwart relief operations - Former Human Rights and Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe says the international community had an opportunity to maintain a regular dialogue with the government and the top military leadership through the Consultative Committee on Humanitarian Assistance (CCHA) during the eelam war IV.  In a brief interview with The Island in the wake of Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’s presentation to Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission on Tuesday, Minister Samarasinghe said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had appointed the CCHA in response to concerns raised by a section of the international community, particularly Co-chairs of the Sri Lankan peace process, namely the US, EU, Japan and Norway.  Samarasinghe headed CCHA throughout the military campaign until the army finished off the LTTE on the banks of the Nanthikadal lagoon in May 2009. Beginning October 14, 2006, CCHA met every month even at the height of the Vanni war.  Defence Secretary Rajapaksa, Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Commissioner General of Essential Services represented the government while the then US Ambassador in Colombo Robert Blake represented the Co-chairs. The CCHA also accommodated Japanese and EU Ambassadors and UN Resident Coordinator, the ICRC and heads of all UN agencies active in Sri Lanka to make sure they had a forum to raise any humanitarian issue (Island : 18 Aug 2010).

The struggle for survival of a sovereign, unitary and independent nation - By Lt Col (Retd) Anil Amarasekera - At one point of time the country now identified as Sri Lanka was known as Heladiva or Sivhela as there were four clans living in this country. They were the Devas, the Yakkas, the Rakshas and the Nagas. Prince Vijaya and his Sinha clan that migrated to this country from north India integrated with the above mentioned four indigenous Hela clans and were together identified henceforth as Sinhalese and their country was known as Sinhale. It was later subdivided to Ruhunu, Pehiti and Maya, which together were referred to as Thunsinhale. The integration practiced by western nations when they migrated and settled in America and Australia and integrated with the Red Indians and the Aborigines respectively to form the American nation and the Australian nation was practiced in the nation of Sinhale over 2500 years ago (LankaWeb : 18 Aug 2010).

Canada’s Prime Minister talks tough on the Tamil illegal migrants - By Asoka Weerasinghe, Canada - Prime Minister Stephen Harper said at a Mississauga event on Tuesday,The federal government “will not hesitate to strengthen the laws” in order to tackle the “trend” of would be refugees arriving in Canada via people-smuggling ships.  Sorry Mr. Prime Minister, now that we have lost the grip on the refugee determination system, what I had expected you to say was, “The federal government will strengthen the laws to tackle the trend of would be refugees arriving in Canada in human-smugglers boats.” Let us not be iffy about our decision. Let us be strong and decisive.  I hope the Prime Minister, the Parliamentarians and the whole of Canada who blasted Sri Lanka for taking 11 months to process 260,000 of the 300,000 Tamils who were kept in welfare village camps last year after having been liberated from the clutches of the Tamil Tigers who hoarded them as human shields, took notice that Canada took three months to process the 76 Tamils who arrived on Ocean Lady last October, and now reckon that it will take about six months to process the 492 Tamils who arrived on Sun Sea.  Little wonder why puny Sri Lanka who came out of a nasty 27-year war which saw over 100,000 dead told Canada when we were bashing her to let go of the Tamils immediately, to go to the prairies and fly a kite where the sky is bigger than the land. That is how unfair and perverse we Canadians were towards Sri Lanka.  Sri Lanka had a problem. They had to guard its sovereignty and sieve out the terrorists from the innocent civilians, and register them , and clear the million land mines that were planted by the Tamil Tigers who were running for their lives, and reconstruct and build new home for the Tamils to go to and reconstruct the infrastructures which had been destroyed by the war. That was sensible. That was an intelligent thing to do and not cave into the call of stupidity of the bleeding hearts of Canada and those around the world (LankaWeb : 18 Aug 2010).

Medawachchiya-Talaimannar railwayline construction agreement signed - The Medawatchchiya– Talaimannar railway line construction Agreement was signed at the Transport Ministry’s auditorium on Tuesday. Transport Minister Kumara Welgama on Tuesday said that the construction of Medawachchiya– Thalaimannar railway line commenced on August 17 and the first phase would cost Rs. 7,350 million (US $ 81.3 million). It would be 110 km in length and six bridges would also be built. The government expected to complete the first phase at the end of 2011 and the second phase would cost Rs. 17,220 million (US $ 149.7 million), he said. Minister Welgama said that several development projects related to the railway were being implemented in the North and the South. The construction of Matara–Kataragama railway line too, was progressing up to Beliatta. The Matara–Colombo railway line renovation too had commenced. All trains operating in the coastal line would also be refurbished to cater to the needs of the large number of public servants, the minister said. He pointed out that as the speed limits of coastal train services were low, CGR engineers would take action to raise the speed limits. Minister Welgama assured that the government was making every effort to improve the transport services to provide better service for people. All construction work undertaken by the Indian and Sri Lankan companies would be completed as scheduled, he said. Railway line from Medawachchiya to Talaimannar will be constructed by the Indian Earcorn International Company (Island ; 18 Aug 2010).

Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission Now ex-Defence Secy slams CFA - Former Defence Secretary Austin Fernando claims there had not been proper consultations with the military before the then Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe’s government signed the CFA with the LTTE. Testifying before the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission headed by former Attorney General C. R. de Silva, Fernando said that he had had absolutely no authority to intervene though the CFA extensively dealt with national security issues. A mere Secretary could not interfere when government took decisions, he said. Responding to a query by the commission, former Defence Secretary Fernando said that he had not been involved in preparing the CFA. Asked whether he as the Defence Secretary had been satisfied with the CFA, former Defence Secretary said that he got to know about the CFA through the then Army and Navy Commanders. Acknowledging that the service commanders had been troubled by the CFA and some its conditions relating to security, Fernando said he had discussed the issue with Ministers Tilak Marapone and Professor G. L. Peiris. Although the military had expressed serious concerns, those in power had turned a blind eye to them thus allowing the Norwegians to finalise the CFA. Asked whether he as the Defence Secretary had been aware that the Norwegians drafted the CFA in consultation with the LTTE making it favourable to the LTTE, Fernando admitted that haphazard and hasty vacation of government buildings and private property occupied by the military particularly in the Jaffna peninsula had been detrimental to national security. When Fernando said that he had not been involved in drafting the CFA, Chairman of the commission de Silva shot back saying no Sri Lankan was involved in the process. Fernando said that the LTTE would not have come for talks had the CFA favoured the government (Island ; 18 Aug 2010).

Gota before Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission Top ground commanders to speak on ‘Final Battle’ -  Senior armed forces officers involved in air-sea-land operations in Eelam War IV will appear before the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission shortly.  Chief of Defence Staff SLAF Commander Air Marshal Roshan Goonetilike, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe, Army Chief Jagath Jayasuriya, Major General Kamal Gunaratne and Major General Shavindra Silva are expected to testify before the commission headed by former Attorney General C. R. de Silva.  Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa on Tuesday (Aug. 17) told the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission that the military could clarify the ground situation leading to the conclusion of the war in May last year.  Majors General Gunaratne and Silva spearheaded the 53 and 58 Divisions during the final phase of the offensive leading to the killing of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran on the banks of the Nanthikadal lagoon. They will respond to war crimes allegations propagated by a section of the international community on the basis of former Army Chief General Sarath Fonseka’s pre-presidential election claim that Defence Secretary Rajapaksa had ordered the then General Officer Commanding (GOC) 58 Division Major General Silva not to take prisoners.  Asked by C. R. de Silva at the outset of the sittings whether the Defence Secretary would like to testify in camera, a smiling Rajapaksa said that he didn’t have anything to hide. Defence Secretary Rajapaksa said that Prabhakaran had made a desperate attempt to breach the army frontlines on the Vanni east front to take refuge in the jungles.  Responding to queries by the commission, Defence Secretary Rajapaksa said that since the liberation of Kilinochchi in January 2009, the LTTE had gradually retreated towards the north-eastern coast taking the civilian population at gun point. The Gajaba veteran said that the LTTE went to the extent of carrying out a suicide attack on civilians seeking refuge in the government-held area east of the Kandy-Jaffna A9 road.  Responding to criticism of indiscriminate offensive action on the Vanni east front, Defence Secretary Rajapaksa said that the armed forces had carefully studied targets before neutralising them. He cited the successful air strike on LTTE Political Wing leader S. P. Thamilselvan as an example of accuracy of ‘real time’ intelligence and direct hit on the target (Island ; 18 Aug 2010).

No fresh military set up in resettled areas – Gotabhaya - Asserting that the presence of the military would be maintained to a certain extent as a precautionary measure, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said yesterday that no fresh military settlements or establishments would be set up in the resettled areas of the North. Speaking before the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Committee (LLRC) yesterday, Mr. Rajapaksa said that the presence of the military would be maintained as a measure to curb the possibility of the LTTE re-grouping once again. “The international network of the LTTE is still intact. Therefore, we will be taking the necessary security measures so as not to provide room for the LTTE to re-group once more,” he said. However, he also said plans were being made to gradually reduce the military presence in the North and hand over the responsibility for maintaining law and order to the Police. “The first batch of 500 policemen is being currently trained to be deployed to the police stations that are due to be established in the North,” he said. Moreover, he added, that the policemen deployed in the police stations that would be established in the North would be trained in Tamil so that the language barrier would be overcome. “We are currently on the process of surveying the land in the Jaffna peninsula. We will be making use of the land which was used by the LTTE to set up the military establishments,” Mr. Rajapaksa said. Expressing his opinion regarding the accusations by the international community regarding war crimes Mr. Rajapaksa said that, during the military action, they adopted a ‘zero civilian casualties’ policy and that the safety and welfare of the civilians were always given priority. “The military risked being attacked by the LTTE when they halted their operations to provide safe passage for the food convoys which transported provisions and medical supplies for the civilians residing in areas controlled by the LTTE. But we still took these steps to continue those operations to ensure the welfare of the civilians,” he added (Daily Mirror : 18 Aug 2010).

Jaffna peninsula security: Govt to return civilian land Police to take over security: Essential Security Forces to remain: The civilian lands acquired for security purposes in the Jaffna peninsula would be reduced and would be given to owners while others whose lands have to be kept to maintain certain essential security establishments would be provided either compensation or alternative land, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said testifying before the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission yesterday. He said that the Government aims for a gradual reduction of its military presence in the former conflict affected North to be replaced by the Police. However a certain amount of military presence in the area would be required, specially naval deployment, he added. The Defence Secretary also said that in the Vanni region all civilian land had been released and the Security Forces had redeployed certain military establishment. The Government property occupied by the military too have been released to relevant local civilian administrative authorities, he added. Commenting on increasing the Police presence Secretary Rajapaksa noted that the Government had taken steps to recruit 500 new personnel from the North who were now undergoing training at the Kalutara Police Training School. In addition to increased recruitment Police personnel in the area are being provided with training in spoken Tamil, he added. Giving a lengthy statement before the commission the Defence Secretary stated that most people today had forgotten that the Government had defeated the most ruthless terrorist organization ever (Daily News ; 18 Aug 2010).

We always considered the battle as a humanitarian operation, says Defence Secretary

LTTE medical cadres trained at Jaffna University - Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa told the Lessons Learnt Commission that the LTTE had used the Jaffna University Medical Faculty to train some its cadres to treat the war wounded. He said that he had got the opportunity to meet three ‘LTTE doctors’ now undergoing rehabilitation at Senapura rehabilitation centre. According to him, as Sinhala and Muslim medical students had not been willing to join the Jaffna medical faculty due to terrorism, the LTTE had made use of some of those slots to have its cadres trained (Island : 17 Aug 2010).

We always considered the battle as a humanitarian operation, says Defence Secretary - Though most critics talked about the war in Sri Lanka no one spoke of the hardships the armed forces had to undergo to defeat the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), said Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa during his submissions to the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Committee (LL&RC) in Colombo today.  The government had to study the strengths and weaknesses of the LTTE prior to engaging them. The President always maintained that the armed forces should consider the final battle against the Tigers as only a humanitarian operation and not as an all out war, the Defence Secretary further added during the fourth day of the LL&RC session.  Suicide missions were introduced to the world by the West Asian terrorist groups. But the LTTE was the outfit that introduced suicide carders as human bombs, said Mr. Rajapaksa. The Tiger outfit grew to its strongest position somewhere in 2005.  There are video and other visual evidence of the atrocities against civilians which could be shown, he added.  But today areas like Kilinochchi are returning to normal. They are calm and most of the displaced have been resettled and development is proceeding apace, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said.  Some criticize the government over certain detained Tiger leaders. Top rung LTTE leader like Kumaran Pathmanadan or KP was arrested in Malaysia and brought into the country.  Likewise Karuna, Pillayan and persons like them though members of the LTTE had later helped the Security Forces to fight the Tiger terrorists. They helped us to eradicate terror from the island, said Mr. Rajapaksa.  Making special mention on the medical capabilities of the Tiger cadres, Mr. Gotabhaya said the Northern youth had availed themselves of the university facilities to further their studies and most of those medical students had assisted the LTTE in its medical care of the injured cadres.  One time Parliamentarian and former Sri Lankan High Commissioner in the UK and India Mangala Moonesinghe and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa made submissions before the LL&RC in Colombo today (Daily News : 17 Aug 2010).

Egg a day to Jaffna children - A project to ensure at least an egg to a child of families in Jaffna affected by malnutrition will be implemented, Kumudu Wadugedara of the Civil Affairs and Public Relations office of the Jaffna peninsula said yesterday.  He said malnutrition among the students in the peninsula is acute. He added that the Government has given complete access to the people in the Peninsula to have contact with the outside world. State and private telecom companies are operating in the Jaffna district.  The Sri Lanka Telecom has provided more than 27,000 land connections and 150,000 mobile connections to customers in the Jaffna district.  Waduge was of the opinion that the agriculture sector in the peninsula will see an unprecedented development in the coming years with the removal of the ban on fertilizers.  He said the buffer zone has been cleared of mines to enable early resettlement. According to Wadugedara, Security Forces in the Jaffna peninsular have taken an enormous effort to ensure their early resettlement.  The buffer zone which was heavily dotted with landmines and booby traps have been cleared by the Army. He said the Security Forces have initiated a number of measures to uplift the living standards of the people and a backyard poultry project is in progress to eradicate malnutrition among the children in the peninsula.  He is of the opinion that the reintegration of ex LTTE combatants to society following rehabilitation is continuing and the rehabilitation drive will end by end of this year. Over 132 out of 213 ex-male LTTE cadres underwent extensive rehabilitation and they were released to their parents while 49 out of 67 ex-female combatants were also released by the Security Forces after rehabilitation. He is hopeful that those remaining would be rehabilitated and handed over to their parents by the end of the year (Daily News ; 17 Aug 2010).

Canada probes who paid for Tamil refugees' travel - OTTAWA — Canadian authorities are investigating if Sri Lankan rebels financed the passage of some 500 Tamil refugees to Canada last week, officials said Monday before the start of detention hearings. Public Safety Minister Vic Toews, speaking to The Globe and Mail daily in an article Monday, said passengers were charged up to 50,000 Canadian dollars (48,000 US dollars) for travel aboard the cargo ship MV Sun Sea. Members of Canada's 300,000 Tamil community may have helped fund their passage and the outlawed Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels -- regarded by Canada as a terrorist group -- could have financed it, he said. "Obviously (the Royal Canadian Mounted Police) will follow every connection between the payment of money and those who received it," Toews told The Globe and Mail. RCMP Constable Michael McLaughlin told AFP: "We're investigating a variety of offenses. "The human smuggling aspect is an obvious avenue that we have to pursue. Financing would be a sidebar of this investigation," he explained. Toews' spokesman Christopher McCluskey commented: "Human smuggling is a despicable crime and any attempts to abuse Canada's generosity for financial gain are utterly unacceptable." All those aboard the MV Sun Sea had claimed for asylum since arriving in westernmost Canada on Friday, Toews also said. Hearings to decide whether the Tamils will be detained or released pending their eventual asylum decision will be held later Monday. The Immigration and Refugee Board must then decide whether to allow the refugee claimants to remain in Canada or to order their deportation. The process could take several years. On Saturday, Canadian authorities said the estimated 490 migrants were in good condition, despite a three-month journey aboard the rusty 59-meter (194-foot) Thai-registered ship. Canadian Tamils have urged their adopted country to accept the asylum seekers, saying that the minority group faces continued difficulties in Sinhalese-majority Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's government has described the ship as a people-smuggling operation by the defeated Tamil Tigers. Sri Lanka government forces last year ended decades of civil war by crushing the rebels in a bloody finale in which the United Nations says at least 7,000 civilians were killed. Despite concerns about Sri Lanka's human rights record, Western nations ban the Tamil Tigers as a terrorist organization. The group was known for suicide bombings and use of child soldiers during its nearly four-decade fight for a separate Tamil homeland (Yahoo / AFP).

Northerners to benefit from fruit cultivation - The Government will use 400 acres of fertile land formerly occupied by the LTTE for cashew nut and other fruit cultivation in the Manthai Divisional Secretariat area in Mannar. More than 1,500 persons will get employment opportunities. Northern Province Governor Major General G A Chandrasiri said the 400 acres of land liberated from the LTTE in Wellankulam are fertile and very much suitable for plantation. The LTTE cadres used these lands for growing cashew nut, mango, orange and lemon. “Around 14,000 cashew nut trees were found in the grove. The NPC has planned to develop cashew in the area”, Chandrasiri told the Daily News. He said Industrial Development and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiyudeen had visited the area last week and decided to provide assistance to develop the cashew cultivation in the Wellankulam area. Chandrasiri noted that Minister Bathiyudeen will take the matter over to the Export Development Board to provide assistance to implement the project. He also said this project will provide more than 1,500 job opportunity for the resettled people in the area. It will help to lift their livelihood and also provide them with self employment. The resettled people are in the urgent need of finding jobs and develop their livelihood, he added (Daily News : 17 Aug 2010).

Canada to choke off Tamil diaspora, LTTE financial connections - The Canadian Government has indicated financial links between the country's Tamil diaspora and the alleged human traffickers (LTTE) who helped the Tamil illegals in sailing through the waters to enter the country, and would reportedly choke off any such connection if proven guilty. The Globe and Mail News quoted Public Safety Minister Vic Toews as saying that the organizers of the voyage of the MV Sun Sea, which reached Canadian waters on Friday with 490 men, women and children on board, charged up to 50,000 dollars a passenger, a potential total haul of more than 20-million dollars. Questions have been raised inside the Harper government as to whether Canadian residents helped pay the amount to the organisers. Toews said he is worried by reports from his officials that the journey could have been organized by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). "It is a criminal offence to give money to a banned terrorist organization or to participate in human smuggling," Toews added. On Sunday, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has confirmed that its investigation of the Sun Sea could include human smuggling. The Harper government has also expressed its satisfaction with the way its officials handled the boat 'MV Sun Sea', and said that the RCMP would be allowed to prosecute any organizers on board (Sify News : 17 Aug 2010).

KP reveals; 'I made several attempts to rescue Prabhakaran'

'I made several attempts to rescue Prabhakaran' - LTTE’s ace arms smuggler Kumaran Pathmanathan alias KP had made several attempts to rescue Tiger chieftain Velupillai Prabhakaran during the last bitter phase of Eelam War IV in 2009. But all of them failed. KP, who is now under detention in Sri Lanka, told Daily Mirror that at first he lobbied hard to get the international community to save at least the innocent Tamil civilians who were caught in the fighting. The US had even offered to send ships to ferry the 280,000 Tamil civilians caught in the fighting to safety in Trincomalee. But the plan to save the civilians was not accepted by Prabhakaran for understandable reasons, KP said. “The LTTE leadership had no choice. If they released the people first, then only the Tigers would be left there. Thereafter, all of them could have been wiped out,” he said. KP then tried for a ceasefire, which would save all, civilians and the LTTE leadership. The LTTE leadership was ready for it but it was too late, KP said. He felt that if Prabhakaran had gone for a ceasefire and talks in 2008, when the fighting was taking place only in the Western Wanni region, the LTTE would have been a strong military position to talk with greater assurance and get an honourable peace. But when Prabhakaran sought a ceasefire in 2009, after Pooneryn, Paranthan, Elephant Pass and Kilinochchi had fallen to the Lankan forces, it was too late. “From the government’s point of view, victory was in view, with outright victory in sight.It would have been stupid to go in for a ceasefire,” KP said. Then in March 2009, KP again tried to get a ceasefire and save Prabhakaran. According to this plan, the LTTE was to “lock off” or confine its weapons in particular places and hand them over to the UN. The civilians would be confined to specified No Fire Zones and LTTE leaders (25 to 50 of them) would be taken to another country to conduct talks with the Lankan government with Norwegian facilitation. This scheme was to be underwritten by the US, the EU and Norway. According to KP, the US was ready to evacuate the LTTE leaders by sea in their naval vessels. But the plan did not take off for two reasons. Firstly, it was not concretised and officially communicated to the Lankan government for their response. And secondly, Prabhakaran spiked it by saying: “Ithai Ettrukkolla Mudiyaathu” (This cannot be accepted). KP blames the hardline LTTE leaders in Europe led by Nediyavan of Norway, for this decision. KP’s next proposal was to send a ship-based helicopter to rescue Prabhakaran and his family. This was initiated at the instance of Prabhakaran’s eldest son Charles Anthony. Charles Anthony, who was commanding LTTE troops at that time, wanted his father, mother Mathivathani, sister Thuwaraka and younger brother Balachandran to be rescued. He himself would stay put and fight. Prabhakaran refused to accept this proposal as he too wanted to stay and fight. KP then suggested that a helicopter pick the LTTE leader from the battle zone and drop in a safe place behind the Lankan army lines in the Wanni jungle, from where he could carry on the fight. The rest of the family could be taken by a chopper and put in a ship waiting for them in international waters. But this plan too failed (Express Buzz : 16 Aug 2010).

Canada’s acceptance of the terrorists hidden bogus refugee ship could be an encouragement to international terrorist groups and will set up a dangerous precedent towards the global security!

Latest Tamil Boat People - by Ira de Silva London, Ontario - Hon. V. Toews Minister for Public Safety House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario; Dear Sir: News reports indicate that it is your government’s goal to “ensure that our refugee system is not hijacked by criminals or terrorists” and that changes may be required to Canada’s refugee system. Unfortunately, these “opinions” have been expressed by your government in the past but nothing was done. When the last boatload of so-called Tamil refugees landed in Canada last October, there was much song and dance by your government about Canada’s flawed refugee system. The Tamils were kept in detention centres etc. to pacify the outcry from most Canadians and after a short time they were all quietly released. Would you not agree that your government’s action last October sent a message to these Tamils that they could easily get into Canada because they would know that your government is just talking and not likely to do anything positive to stop them from getting into the country where they will be supported by the Canadian taxpayer to file refugee claims, provided with free medical care, living costs etc. possibly for the rest of their lives? Recent polls indicate that 85% of Canadians want their government, that means your government, to send these people back. Previous Liberal governments encouraged Tamils to come to Canada as they believed that the more Tamils they got in the more votes they would garner especially in the Toronto area. They ignored the fact that known Tamil terrorists were among those they were admitting into the country. Security of other Canadians was ignored by them in their quest for votes. Are you hoping that by letting these people in they will vote for the Conservatives? (LankaWeb : 16 Aug 2010).

Sri Lanka’s Telling Exodus – August 15,2010 - by Ira de Silva London, Canada;  The Editor Toronto Star One Yonge Street, Toronto, Ont. Dear Sir: Contrary to the bald opening statement that Canada does not have a “Tamil problem”, it does. Is it not a Tamil problem when supporters of the Tamil Tiger terrorists or LTTE are living in large numbers in Toronto as demonstrated vividly when they took to the streets of Toronto and Ottawa in their thousands last year waiving their LTTE flags flouting the laws of Canada? It is a proven fact that they have been funding terrorism in Sri Lanka for decades collecting and sending millions of dollars from Canada for bombings, suicide and otherwise, massacres of civilians and destroying the livelihoods of millions of Sri Lankans. It could be argued that in that case the problem was for Sri Lankans because it was they who were killed but they knew that it was a “Tamil problem” originating from the Tamils in Canada. The media continuously refers to the “triumphalist government” – it sounds good but that statement has no substance. The only “triumph” was that Sri Lanka was rescued from extreme terrorism by the LTTE and since May 2009 there has not been a single instance of busses and trains being blown up or any other act of terrorist violence so that the population is now free of terror and is able to move around without fear. It was a “triumph” for all Sri Lankans who prefer their life without terrorist fears which it appears the writer does not want them to have. Too bad (LankaWeb : 16 Aug 2010).

The Conservative Government & the Sun Sea Fiasco - by Asoka Weerasinghe, Canada - Re: MV Sun Sea and 490 illegal Tamil Migrants – Canada has created a monster and it is slowly eating Canada up; Permit me to introduce myself. I am a card carrying Conservative (C11255047) and a Sustaining Donor of your party. Prior to that I was a card carrying Reformist and then a member of the Canadian Alliance having dumped the Liberal Party of which I was a member for decades for the very reason that they were proxy killers of my Sinhalese people in Sri Lanka by letting the Canadian Tamils collect two million dollars a month for 11 years to buy weapons to fight their separatist Eelam war in Sri Lanka. The way the Conservative Government has handled like a wimp the above issue, I have decided not to fork out any more dollars as donations from now on until I am satisfied with a creative and a gutsy remedy that you all will come up with to stem the future flood of Tamil boat people without unjust attacks on Sri Lanka. I have also decided not to vote Conservative at the next federal election as a protest on this issue which is close to my heart as a Sinhalese Sri Lankan-Canadian. These decisions are purely on principle as I believe that my party does not deserve my valuable vote when they support rogue Tamil refugee claimants and let Tamil Tiger terrorists into the country. If you are feeling the wind of a back-lash on this very issue, then count me in. The deafening silence by all other Conservative parliamentarians speaks volumes, that your caucus colleagues are now scared of intimidation by the 250,000 resident Tamils. What is going through their minds, I am sure are, will we lose the Tamil votes at the next elections or will 50,000 of them walk the streets in protest in Ottawa and Toronto carrying Tamil Tiger flags harassing other Canadians and blocking streets as well as block the Gardiner Express Highway once again during rush hours by sending their grey-haired seniors, infants in strollers and pregnant mothers to lead such demonstrations to dissuade baton charges or water cannons being used to disperse these Tamil demonstrators (LankaWeb : 16 Aug 2010).

Tamil migrants paid up to $50,000 each for passage, minister says - The human-smugglers behind the Sun Sea may have pocketed more than $20 million for ferrying a shipload of Sri Lankan migrants to the B.C. The passengers each paid $40,000 to $50,000 for the three-month journey from Thailand, Minister of Public Safety Vic Toews said in a weekend interview. He said his officials had advised him the Tamil Tigers rebel organization was behind the operation, which he said was driven by profit motives. While he said he did not know if children or families got discounts, he said that considering an old small tramp freighter such as the Sun Sea costs about $1 million, the profit margin was significant. “There’s a tremendous amount of money to be made,” the minister said. The smugglers had refitted the 59-metre cargo ship to maximize their profits, he said. “All I can say is that the debriefing that I received was that it is clear that this is the product of the efforts of an organized criminal enterprise,” said Toews. “The Sun Sea itself was modified in order to make this trip and maximize the number of persons and the resulting profits.” For example, he said a sanitation system had been installed to accommodate a large number of people. “The evidence that I’ve been provided with at this point shows that it’s a sophisticated operation that has deliberately taken advantage of our system.” He said this was not a case of “people jumping on the first cargo ship that happened to come by.” Rather, it was a deliberate attempt to make money by cramming as many people as possible onto a small ship, he said. Asked who was behind it, he said, “The evidence presented to me suggests that it’s elements of the Tamil Tigers.” The Tamil Tigers are guerrillas who fought a lengthy war for independence from Sri Lanka until they were decisively defeated by government forces in May 2009 (Canada.com : 16 Aug 2010).

Tigers get Rs. 4 Mil. In Canada – Kerala arrest Tiger leader - The Canada secret police has discovered that the 490 Sri Lankan Tamils who were in the “Sun Sea” ship arrested while entering Canada, has promised to pay US $ 40,000/= each to the Canadian Tiger network. The Canadian secret police has also arrested Sea Tiger chief Vinothan, who acted as the captain of this ship. During questioning of these people, the Canadian police has found out that all Tamil refugees brought in to Canada by Tiger ships must pay US $ 40,000/= within a year to the Canadian Tiger network. It was also found out that this ship has come to Canada on 17th of October 2009 as well.  In separate incident Kerala police has arrested Sunder Raj Sivakumar alias Siva, who is known to be the main transport coordinator of the Tigers responsible for sending ship loads of former LTTE cadres to four countries, with the intention to revive the LTTE. He has already admitted to sending 35 trawlers of former cadres that managed to run off to India, to various countries and also admitted that he did so with the intention of reviving the LTTE again. He also confessed to sending more than 1,500 ex cadres abroad in this manner (Sri Lanka Watch : 16 Aug 2010).

Canada should follow the Australian example says Lanka - Newest economic refugees exploit Canada’s lax immigration laws - Contrary to reports, none of the Sri Lankan Tamils who paid $ 40,000 to $ 50,000 each for passage to Canada are ex-LTTE combatants involved in Eelam war IV.  Authoritative military officials say the LTTEers had no way of escaping the advancing army on the Vanni (east) front early last year by taking a boat due to heavy naval presence backed by 24-hour monitoring by the SLAF and navy technical sources.  The navy had over a hundred craft ranging from small boats and Fast Attack Craft to Offshore Patrol Craft deployed off Mullaithivu to thwart attempts by the LTTE to flee, a senior official said.  Responding to a query by The Island, the official who had been involved in naval operations on the Mullaithivu seas, said had there been the slightest chance, the LTTE leadership would have escaped. "We captured Sea Tiger leader Soosai’s wife as she was trying to reach the Indian waters less than four days before the final battle on the banks of the Nanthikadal lagoon," he said, urging the Canadian government not to be deceived by human smugglers.  Since the conclusion of the war in May last year several ship/boatloads of Sri Lankan Tamils have reached Australia, Indonesia and Canada.Sri Lankan sources said that even if LTTE cadres had managed to leave Sri Lanka through the Bandaranaike International Airport using forged travel documents, they could not have raised $ 40,000 to $ 50,000 each for their passage. Sources emphasised that almost all the passengers of MV ‘Sun Sea’, now seeking political asylum in Canada had left Sri Lanka years ago and most probably were not involved in LTTE terrorism.  Intelligence sources told The Island that the 59-metre cargo ship MV ‘Sun Sea’, which had been especially modified to accommodate about 500 persons left Thailand three months ago. "The vessel came from the Gulf of Thailand, between the Philippines and Japan and then straight across the ocean and following a similar, but not exactly the same, route as the ‘Ocean Lady’," a senior official said (Island : 16 Aug 2010).

CFA: Created by LTTE, presented by Solheim, accepted by UNF Will Lessons Learnt Commission make a bid to establish real authors of failed CFA? - Now that former Peace Secretariat Chief, Ambassador Bernard Gunatilleke has said that the LTTE was directly involved in the drafting of the Norwegian-arranged CFA, the Lessons Learnt Commission, headed by former Attorney General C. R. de Silva, could make an attempt to ascertain the extent of the LTTE’s involvement, sources close to the failed peace process said.  Sources said that it would reveal the collusion on the part of the Norwegian facilitators, particularly Erik Solheim in an LTTE plan aimed at tightening its grip in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. Sources alleged that LTTE Chief negotiator Anton Balasingham in consultation with LTTE ‘field commanders’ had prepared the CFA and presented it through the Norwegians to the then Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe and his team of negotiators led by Prof. G.L. Peiris. Milinda Moragoda and SLMC leader Rauf Hakeem, too, had been deeply involved in the negotiations and they would be able to shed light on the deal if summoned by the Lessons Learnt Commission, sources said.  Responding to a query by The Island, sources said that the Sri Lankan government had not been consulted before preparing the CFA text, though it was given an opportunity to propose amendments. But, Sri Lanka’s amendments, including one relating to child/human rights had not been accepted, the sources said.  Sources said that Defence Secretary Gotabhaya’s predecessor, Austin Fernando would be able to comment on the issue with authority when he appeared before the commission on Aug.1 8. Defence Secretary Rajapaksa would appear before the commission today (Aug. 17).  Sources said that the authors of both the CFA and ISGA (Interim Self Governing Authority) presented by the LTTE in October 2003 could be the same.  Secretary to the commission S. M. Samarakoon told The Island that former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, the current External Affairs Minister G. L. Peiris and former Minister Milinda Moragoda could be summoned by the Lessons Learnt Commission investigating the collapse of the Norway–arranged CFA which led to the Eelam War IV in August 2006 (Island ; 16 Aug 2010).

Smuggled Tamils worth up to $10M for ‘snakeheads’ - Each of the 490 Sri Lankans dumped on the B.C. coast by MV ‘Sun Sea’ is worth up to $20,000 — totalling almost $10 million — for smugglers or ‘snakeheads’, a Liberal MP says. ‘Snakeheads’ routinely charge from $15,000 to $20,000 for the sea trip to Canada, said Liberal MP Jim Karygiannis, who is a member of an immigration standing committee. "I am concerned about the women and the children," he said Saturday. "The women can be forced to work in the sex trade to repay their passage," Karygiannis said. There were 90 women and 45 children on the boat. "In many cases their families here pay for the trip," he said, adding others work in harsh conditions for low pay to give to the smugglers. "We know there are human smugglers preying on these people in refugee camps," said Manjula Selvarajah, of the Canadian Tamil Congress, adding living conditions on the ship were terrible. "This is awful and we have taken a strong stand against human smuggling," she said. More than 90 Toronto Tamils have called their office with the names of 150 relatives who may be on the ship. The migrants, who are expected to file refugee claims, are now undergoing health and background security checks at CFB Esquimalt. Officers are screening for Tamil Tiger terrorists who may be hiding among the refugees. Toronto immigration lawyers estimate it to cost about $22 million in legal fees for refugee hearings and appeals for the claimants. About 91 per cent of Sri Lankan refugees are accepted by immigration and refugee boards (IRB) to stay in Canada, Lawyer Richard Kurland said. "Most of this group will end up living in Canada legally," he said. "The majority are accepted by the IRB as legitimate refugees." Public Security Minister Vic Toews has said the government "must ensure that our refugee system is not hijacked by criminals or terrorists." (Island : 16 Aug 2010).

Tamil asylum-seekers identified as Tiger terrorists -  ASYLUM-SEEKERS travelling to Australia have been identified by Sri Lanka as members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam.  The identification of the terrorist group members was based on photographs of new arrivals published in the Australian media.  As authorities in Canada confirmed that a people-smuggling ship, MV Sun Sea, intercepted late last week with nearly 500 people aboard, was organised by the LTTE, security experts warned that former Tiger fighters were known to have sailed to Australia on refugee boats.  Shanaka Jayasekara, who served as an adviser to the Sri Lankan government during peace talks with the LTTE, said the fighters had been identified based on the photographs of arrivals. "Several have identified by photographic pictures that were made available in the media, and the Sri Lankan authorities identified them," Mr Jayasekara told The Australian.  He said most Tamil asylum-seekers were not members of the Tigers, and the number of fighters identified was small. Of these, most were mid-level members and Mr Jayasekara was not sure if they had completed their journeys to Australia or Indonesia.  The development casts fresh light on the relationship between people-smuggling and the LTTE, which was beaten in May last year after a decades-long war with the Sri Lankan government.  Canadian authorities boarded the Sun Sea off the coast of British Columbia on Thursday. It arrived under escort on Friday at the Esquimalt navy base on Vancouver Island near the provincial capital, Victoria. Aboard were 493 men, women and children. Sources told The Australian the ship was believed to have been crewed by members of the LTTE.  The existence of the ship was first reported by The Australian in May, following claims the boat was bound for Australia.  Canadian Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said the Sun Sea, which was moored off the Thai and Vietnamese coasts for months as it loaded its passengers, had been organised by the LTTE.  "The evidence . . . suggests that it is the work of the Tamil Tigers, or LTTE," Mr Toews told Canada's Globe and Mail.  Australian government sources confirmed there were concerns the LTTE might use its defunct merchant fleet to smuggle people, although it is not known if any Australian trips have been linked to the Tigers.  But ASIO is understood to have concerns about a number of Tamils who arrived by boat in the middle of last year. Five Tamils deemed threats to national security have had adverse security assessments issued against them (Australian National Affairs: 16 Aug 2010).

Suspected”Tigers” in garb of refugees enter Canada by cargo ship - At sea for three crowded and grueling months, hundreds of Tamil asylum seekers from Sri Lanka sought refuge in Canada when their rusty, ramshackle cargo ship finally edged into the shelter of a Canadian naval base. Some passengers stood on the deck, shaded by striped lengths of cloth, after the ship, the ‘MV Sun Sea’, pulled in on Aug 13. Paramedics wearing surgical masks tended to them. A few were taken away on stretchers and placed into ambulances at dockside; all were shielded from view by black umbrellas. "This is a new beginning," said a spokesman for the Canadian Tamil Congress, Gary Anandasangare, who watched the freighter slide into port. The arrival of the cargo ship and its 490 refugees, however, raised concerns among Canadian officials that the rebel Tamil Tigers, who fought and lost a bloody 25-year war for independence in Sri Lanka that ended last year, were smuggling people into Canada, which is home to the largest Tamil community outside Sri Lanka and India (Asian Tribune: 16 Aug 2010).

Jaffna red onions in demand - There is an increase in the demand for Jaffna red onions. The number of Jaffna farmers involved in red onion cultivation has increased, Agriculture Extension Deputy Director, Jaffna, S. Sivakumar said.  Around 1,250 hectares have been cultivated with red onions in the Jaffna district. This is increasing gradually. Over 6000 farmers are cultivating red onion in Jaffna, he said.  Sivakumar said with the opening of the A-9 road, Jaffna's red onion harvest is reaching the South. There is a big demand for Jaffna red onions in the South," he said.  Farmers cultivate red onion during two seasons. Government provides assistance to red onion cultivators by providing land and irrigation facilities, the Deputy Director said. He said the local annual demand for red onion is 75,000 tons. The Agriculture Ministry will also produce red onion seeds in Jaffna and Vavuniya and encourage farmers to cultivate them (Daily News : 16 Aug 2010).

Lankan migrants in ‘good condition’ – only 6 admitted to hospital - Asylum-seekers aboard the MV Sun Sea had arrived in surprisingly good health aboard a well-organized but extremely cramped ship, Canadian officials said at a press conference Saturday. "The migrants appeared to be in good condition after being at sea for several months," said Insp. Tracey Rook of the RCMP. Only 27 of the almost 500 people on board were taken to the reopened emergency ward at Victoria General Hospital, said Richard Crow, chief medical officer for Vancouver Island Health Authority. Of those, only six people were admitted to hospital, including two pregnant women, and none were in serious condition. Nausea and dehydration were the most common complaints (Island : 15 Aug 2010).

UK Exporting terror- An Open Letter - By Ben Silva - I am glad that Hon David Cameron, PM, is taking terrorism seriously and credit should be given to him for recognizing that terrorism could be exported. As decent humans we should take all practical measures to eliminate terrorism from the world and concentrate on solving problems, to help all humankind. The present UK government is bravely tackling problems facing UK. In contrast, Mr Milliband of the previous labour government, actually made a shameful attempt to give a lifeline to the terrorists and have been exporting terror. If Mr Milliband had his way, there would still be killings in Sri Lanka. Since the defeat of terrorism, there has not been a single bomb or killing by terrorists and this alone justifies GOSL action. In fact Mr Milliband attempted to lead Sri Lanka into a death trap. There is clear evidence that UK, Canada and EU have been exporting terror. Although UK has put an anti terror front and an unenforced ban on terror organizations, all the evidence is that, in reality, and for all practical purposes, UK, EU and Canada have been exporting terror [1],[2],[5]. Further UK has been heavily favoring Tamils and discriminating against the Sinhalese, again not enforcing equal opportunities laws. Both Hon Simon Hughs and Hon Keith Vaz have been accused of sympathizing with the terrorists and doing their propaganda in exchange for votes. There is a very simple scheme, and a sure fire method used by the terrorists, to generate funds , given below: (LankaWeb : 15 Aug 2010).

Inaccurate Claims by Rev Desmond Tutu and Kofi Annan - by Dilrook Kannangara - Desmond Tutu and Kofi Annan have made several unverified claims about Sri Lanka. In addition, based on these inaccurate claims, they have made ridiculous recommendations. Little that these gentlemen realize, there are two sides to the same story. Often information reaching them could be polluted by Tamil racist elements that habitually monger racism, hatred, suicide bombings and child soldiers. From 1983 to 2009, the war killed 100,000 people. That is on average 3,850 persons dying every year or 10 to 11 dying everyday. However, the war is over and people are not dying from it anymore. In other words, for the past 15 months of no-war, 4,800 lives have been saved so far! Aren’t you going to appreciate this enormous good deed by the government of Sri Lanka? No other good deed can match this and it speaks volumes about what real peace is when thousands of people get to live. The best cause of action is to undertake a trip to Sri Lanka so that they can see for themselves what the ground realities are. Until then, here are factual revelations in relation to inaccurate claims made by the duo and The Elders (LankaWeb : 15 Aug 2010).

Lessons to be learnt from the CFA - by Ajit Randeniya - The report last week of former head of the Peace Secretariat, Bernard Gunatilleke’s evidence before the Lessons Learnt Commission on the processes relating to the signing of the so-called 2002 Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) was ‘enlightening’, unfortunately in a frighteningly negative way.  While Bernard Gunatilleke’s evidence brings to light the usual, deceptive tricks employed by neocolonialists (US, UK, Canada and Australia supported by sundry other ‘white’ nations, Norway in this case,) in their attempts at influencing the national political and economic affairs of developing countries, the apparent lack of sophistication in advising the government by advisors such as Mr Gunatilleke on suitable responses to such conspiracies is disturbing.  Mr Gunatilleke’s evidence reveals an appalling level of naivety of the (then) government regarding its alertness to the mechanics of the conspiracy the CPA represented, and the Government’s assessments of the conditions that led to their succumbing to the deal; the almost ‘detached’, oblivious, narration of these deficiencies by a senior diplomat such as Mr Gunatilleke who bore the responsibility for providing sound advice to the Government should be chillingly concerning to all Sri Lankans.  Mr Gunatilleke deserves credit for his decision to forgo the opportunity to give evidence in camera, and the offer to reveal to the Sri Lankan public the anatomy of the unmitigated disaster the CFA constituted; without his revelations, Sri Lankans would have been none the wiser. However, his decision also shows that he is still oblivious to the enormity of the problem he is partly responsible for creating! (LankaWeb : 15 Aug 2010).

Tamil Migrant Story- Some Facts for your Consideration - by Dr. Bandu Madanayake President – Canadian Association for United Sri lanka - Dear Hon.Vic Toews; Minister of Public Safety’ Canada; We like to thank you for sending a strong message to the world. Canada is now known as a haven for terrorist activities particularly Toronto. Words alone will not convince anyone. We think Toronto is fast becoming well-known to be a city that attracts terrorists. As Sri Lankan born Canadians who belong to the Sinhalese community we feel any reference to Sri Lankan migrants is painting all Sri Lankans with the same brush. Sri Lankan- Sinhalese community is not involved in terrorist activities and are law abiding citizens. Could we please be clear in your communications to say the Migrants are Sri Lankan Tamils. Sri Lankan -Sinhalese community are reluctant to speak up as they fear for their personal safety, particularly in Toronto as they do not want to get entangled with the Tamil Tiger movement who are known to be ruthless. Here are some facts for your consideration. The Tamil migrants have started their journey most likely from Indonesia, Malaysia or India and NOT from Sri Lanka. They suffer no threat in Sri Lanka and travel in and out of it without any problems. In fact they collected enough money and flew or sailed to the Malaysian area and then joined these people-smuggling ex-LTTE ships to attempt to immigrate to an affluent western country. They are not “fleeing persecution and genocide” – they are economic immigrants sponsored by ex-LTTE Tamil groups catering only to Tamils, and abusing the humanitarian laws of Canada. Some of them may be wanted by the SriLankan government for previous Terrorist activities, and if so, Canada too should be very careful of admitting such people via the “refugee” ploy. A majority of Tamils ( over 1 million) live in Sinhala-majority areas, and all citizens, irrespective of their ethnicity have exactly the same political and civic rights, including parity of status for Sinhala and Tamil language. Here note that according to the CIA-fact book only about 5% of the population are Sri Lankan Tamils. Yet there are more than 10% Tamil-speaking MPs in the Sri Lankan parliament (LankaWeb : 15 Aug 2010).

Ottawa vows to stop illegal migrants before they depart for Canada - As hundreds of asylum seekers are being processed in B.C., Public Safety Minister Vic Toews says officials shouldn’t be dealing with such cases ‘after the fact’.  Ottawa is vowing to curb illegal immigration by stopping asylum seekers before they set sail for Canada, as border officials in B.C. scramble to process hundreds of migrants who arrived aboard the MV Sun Sea. Canadian intelligence should identify these ships before they leave their ports of origin, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said in an interview Saturday, about 36 hours after nearly 500 illegal migrants were intercepted off the B.C. coast and brought to CFB Esquimalt. “That, I believe, should be the real focus, rather than trying to deal with them after the fact.” Hours after the Thai-registered Sun Sea arrived on Friday, Mr. Toews said Canadian officials suspect the vessel is part of a human-smuggling operation run by the the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, though he offered no evidence to support this claim. Mr. Toews, who contends other human smugglers are watching Canada’s response closely, reiterated his concern on Saturday. “The evidence ... suggests that it is the work of the Tamil Tigers, or LTTE,” Mr. Toews said, though he didn’t cite the source of the information. The LTTE, known as the Tamil Tigers, is a banned terrorist organization and separatist group that lost a 26-year civil war in Sri Lanka last year. Minority Tamils, however, say they are persecuted by the Sri Lankan government. The Canada Border Service Agency, whose team continues to inspect the MV Sun Sea with the RCMP, said the vessel was outfitted with sleeping quarters and a sanitation system. It was also stocked with food, including rice, dried fish and juice containers. “It was relatively clean and organized. A system had been developed to dispose of waste and garbage. There were sleeping quarters onboard with hammocks,” spokesman Rob Johnston said at a news conference. Mr. Toews said the system was further evidence of a smuggling operation. “The Sun Sea was modified in order to make this trip and maximize the number of persons, and of course the resulting profit,” he told the Globe (Globe & Mail : 15 Aug 2010).

LTTE smuggling Tamils into Canada? - At sea for three crowded and grueling months, hundreds of Tamil asylum seekers from war-ravaged Sri Lanka sought refuge in Canada when their rusty, ramshackle cargo ship finally edged just after sunrise into the shelter of a Canadian naval base. Some passengers stood on the deck, shaded by striped lengths of cloth, after the ship, the ‘MV Sun Sea’, pulled in on Friday. Paramedics wearing surgical masks tended to them. A few were taken away on stretchers and placed into ambulances at dockside; all were shielded from view by black umbrellas. "This is a new beginning," said a spokesman for the Canadian Tamil Congress, Gary Anandasangare, who watched the freighter slide into port. The arrival of the cargo ship and its 490 refugees, however, raised concerns among Canadian officials that the rebel Tamil Tigers, who fought and lost a bloody 25-year war for independence that ended last year, were smuggling people into Canada, which is home to the largest Tamil community outside Sri Lanka and India. "Our goal is to ensure that our refugee system is not hijacked by criminals or terrorists," said the public safety minister, Vic Toews, whose government labeled the LTTE a terrorist group in 2006. Last October, a ship carrying 76 Sri Lankans was intercepted in Canadian waters. All are free while their cases are being processed (Times of India : 15 Aug 2010).

MV Sun Sea migrants screened for Tiger suspects: Canada shuts out human traffickers, terrorists - As Canadian authorities began screening the 490 migrants on board the MV Sun Sea for suspected LTTE terrorists, a Canadian Minister said Canada should close its doors to terrorists and human traffickers. “We are very concerned that there are elements of the LTTE on board this vessel, and indeed may be co-coordinating this activity as part of a larger enterprise,” Canada’s Public Safety Minister Vic Toews told reporters. “We believe it is essential that our border and law enforcement agencies have the physical and legal means to prevent illegal migration and human smuggling and to identify those individuals coming to Canada who have been involved in terrorist activities or are members of a terrorist group,” Minister Toews was quoted as saying by Canadian media. At CFB Esquimalt, where the MV Sun Sea was docked after being intercepted by the Canadian Navy on Thursday, the Minister said the ship was part of a larger operation that was closely watching Canada’s response. “We must ensure our refugee system is not hijacked by criminals,” he told reporters in Victoria. He also added that this is not an isolated case, but the product of a sophisticated ring of criminals. “I don’t view this as an isolated, independent act,” he said, responding to a question about whether more migrant ships are coming. “We believe that there are others who are watching this particular situation to determine the reaction of Canadian authorities,” Toews said. “Human smuggling is a despicable crime and any attempted abuses of our nation’s generosity for financial gain are utterly unacceptable. As officials move forward with this investigation, the government will consider whether further improvements are needed to disrupt and deter criminal organisations and enterprises such as smuggling,” he added. “Any individuals who endanger national security or who have engaged in the criminal enterprise of human smuggling will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.” In addition to re-examining whether Canadian law was “sufficiently strong,” he said the government would look at improving international co-operation and intelligence sharing (Sunday Observer : 15 Aug 2010).

LTTE human smugglers may have made more than $20-million from bogus refugee ship

'Shocking' number on vessel - As Canadian officials began examining the estimated 490 Sri Lankan migrants smuggled to the B.C. coast in a cargo ship, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said changes may be needed to stop human traffickers. At CFB Esquimalt, where the MV Sun Sea was docked after being intercepted by the Navy on Thursday, the Minister said the ship was part of a larger operation that was closely watching Canada's response. "As officials move forward with this investigation, the government will consider whether further improvements are needed to disrupt and deter criminal organizations and enterprises such as smuggling," he said. "We believe it is essential that our border and law enforcement agencies have the physical and legal means to prevent illegal migration and human smuggling and to identify those individuals coming to Canada who have been involved in terrorist activities or are members of a terrorist group." In addition to re-examining whether Canadian law was "sufficiently strong," he said the government would look at improving international co-operation and intelligence sharing. "What this case demonstrated is the need to work on an international basis with our allies, rather than viewing this as a problem that Canadians can solve on their own." The Sun Sea arrived at CFB Esquimalt yesterday morning under Navy and RCMP escort. The vessel is 59-metres long and does not appear capable of transporting close to 500 people across the Pacific Ocean, although a Navy official said it was deemed mechanically sound. "It'sabsolutelyshocking," said Gary Anandasangaree, legal advisor for the Canadian Tamil Congress, as he stood on an Indian reserve opposite the ship. "It's astounding that so many people could be on a boat like that this long. It really shows the desperation that people have in fleeing Sri Lanka." The migrants are believed to be members of Sri Lanka's ethnic Tamil minority, which has long complained of government discrimination. A civil war for Tamil independence ended in May 2009, with the defeat of the Tamil Tigers rebel group, also known as the LTTE. A Canada Border Services Agency official, Rob Johnston, said the B.C. Ministry of Children and Families was involved in yesterday's operation. Should any of the migrants turn out to be unaccompanied minors, the ministry could step in. He said it was too early to provide accurate information on the ages or genders of the migrants. While some appeared quite young, Mr. Toews said human smugglers and terrorists were also aboard. "We are very concerned that there are elements of the LTTE and the Tamil Tigers on board this vessel, and indeed may be co-ordinating this activity as part of a larger enterprise," the Minister told reporters (National Post : 14 Aug 2010).

Smugglers may have made more than $20-million from Tamil ship - The human smugglers behind the MV Sun Sea may have pocketed more than $20-million for ferrying a shipload of Sri Lankan migrants to the British Columbia coast last week.  The passengers each paid $40,000 to $50,000 for the three-month journey from Thailand, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews told the National Post in an interview this weekend.  He said his officials had advised him the Tamil Tigers rebel organization was behind the operation, which he said was driven by profit motives.  While he said he did not know whether children or families got discounts, he said that considering a ship like the Sun Sea costs about $1-million, the profit margin was significant.  “There’s a tremendous amount of money to be made,” the minister said.  The smugglers had refitted the 59-metre cargo ship to maximize their profits, he said.  “All I can say is that the debriefing that I received was that it is clear that this is the product of the efforts of an organized criminal enterprise.  “In fact, the Sun Sea itself was modified in order to make this trip and maximize the number of persons and the resulting profits.  For example, he said a sanitation system had been installed to accommodate a large number of people for a lengthy voyage.  “So the evidence that I’ve been provided with at this point shows that it’s a sophisticated operation that has deliberately taken advantage of our system.”  He said this was not a case of “people jumping on the first cargo ship that happened to come by.”  Rather, it was a deliberate attempt to make money by cramming as many people as possible onto a small ship, he said.  Asked who was behind it, he said, “The evidence presented to me suggests that it’s elements of the Tamil Tigers or LTTE.”  The Tamil Tigers are guerrillas who fought a lengthy war for independence from Sri Lanka until they were decisively defeated by government forces in May 2009.  Since then, there have been allegations the rebels are trying to rebuild and the profits earned from human smuggling are part of a strategy to prepare for another round of fighting.  The minister said there was no truth to reports the ship had originally intended to travel to Australia but had changed course after Canberra made it clear they were not welcome. He said the ship’s destination was always Canada. He also confirmed the ship had sailed from the relative safety of Thailand, not Sri Lanka, which is recovering from protracted civil war and where there remain widespread concerns about the human rights of the ethnic Tamil minority. “The boat came from the Gulf of Thailand, between the Philippines and Japan and then straight across the ocean and following a similar, but not exactly the same, route as the Ocean Lady,” he said. The Ocean Lady was a migrant smuggling vessel that arrived off the West Coast last October with 76 aboard, all Sri Lankans. He said the fact they had sailed from Thailand would be a factor considered at their refugee hearings (National Post : 14 Aug 2010).

Commission to summon Ranil, GL, Milinda? - Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and several other politicians, including External Affairs Minister G.L.Peiris and Milinda Moragoda, are expected to be summoned by the Lessons Learnt Commission investigating the collapse of the Norway–arranged CFA which led to the Eelam War IV in August 2006.  None of them are listed to appear before the commission in August, though Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa (Aug. 17) and his predecessor Austin Fernando (Aug. 18) will testify.  Secretary to the Commission S. M. Samarakoon Friday acknowledged the possibility of calling them in the wake of former Peace Secretariat Chief Bernard Goonatilleke’s revelation that Norwegian facilitators had pushed the then Premier Wickremesinghe’s government to finalize the CFA hastily.  Samarakoon was responding to a question soon after eminent lawyer, S.L. Gunasekera, and TULF leader, V. Anandasangaree, appeared before the Commission headed by former Attorney General C.R. de Silva.  In his statement on Wednesday, Ambassador Goonatilleke said that Norwegian facilitators had discussed the CFA text with the then Premier Wickremesinghe and a few members of his cabinet before concluding the agreement. Although Goonatilleke had not named the ministers nor had the Commission asked him who was directly involved in the negotiations, it is widely believed that Messrs Peiris and Moragoda had been deeply involved in the process. Wickremesinghe appointed both to his negotiating team with Peiris leading the government delegation which had six rounds of talks before the LTTE quit the process in April 2003. C. R. de Silva in his opening remarks last Wednesday (Aug. 11) said that they were expected to complete their work in six months. He assured that those appearing before the commission could give their evidence in camera. Responding to a question from this paper, Commission Secretary Samarakoon said that the possibility of Norwegian facilitators being called before the commission would be considered (Island : 14 Aug 2010).

Human smuggling suspected aboard seized ship - Almost 500 Sri Lankan migrants are in Canadian custody after officials Thursday boarded a small ship suspected of human smuggling off the coast of British Columbia, according to Canadian Public Safety Minister Vic Toews. Canadian officials had been monitoring the vessel, MV Sun Sea, after its departure from Sri Lanka nearly three months ago, according to Toews. The ship first stopped in Thailand before crossing the Pacific and moving up the west coast of North America, Toews said. Toews indicated that officials believe the ship is "part of a larger human smuggling and human trafficking enterprise," and there are concerns "that there are elements of the LTTE and Tamil Tigers on board this vessel." The Tamil Tigers, also known as the Liberation Tigers of Eelam, are a militant separatist group who have been accused of war crimes and played a significant and controversial role in the Sri Lankan civil war. Krisna Saravanamuttu, a spokesman for the National Council of Canadian Tamils, said similar fears were expressed in May when 76 Tamils arrived aboard the Ocean Lady. But, he said, no evidence has been uncovered to support those fears. Saravanamuttu said the Sun Sea is believed to be carrying primarily Tamils, Sri Lanka's largest minority population. Tamils, he said, have been seeking asylum in Canada since the 1980s because of Sri Lanka's lengthy and bloody civil war. Now, he said, Canada's 300,000 Tamils is the largest grouping outside Sri Lanka (CNN : 14 Aug 2010).

Tamils: Most will be jailed - by Asoka Weerasinghe, Canada - The Editor (Letters) THE OTTAWA CITIZEN; Sir: ‘Tamils: Most will be jailed’, you reported this morning, referring to the 490 illegal Tamil migrants on the ship Sun Sea according to reports also have Tamil Tiger terrorists among them, that arrived on the B.C. coast. Dream on Canada, and I won’t hold my breath to see that eventuality, as the Charter of Rights and Freedoms will not allow us that luxury as we are still been waiting for 20 years for some Tamils to be removed from Canada after being ruled by court to be deported. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms was on their side and they have been appealing ever since, and there are enough human rights and immigration lawyers to fight their cause in court. The Canadian in me says, “The party is over chaps, we are taking you back home to Sri Lanka in comfort in one of our ships and here are the application forms for immigration, fill them out and hand them to Canada’s High Commissioner in Colombo to have them processed, and get to the back of the queue with the rest of the applicants until your applications are processed.” The Sri Lankan in me says, “Good riddance. If Canada is that foolish to take in Tamil Tiger terrorists whom they banned that bled Sri Lanka for 27 years with suicide bombings, sending child soldiers to the front line to fight an adult war and get killed and ethnic cleansing, send over your immigrations officers to do the paper work and take every Tamil Tiger terrorist home with you who wants to come to Canada. But see that they will not try to re-group in Canada and collect funds to buy weapons to start another separatist war, as we will not tolerate it. Good luck and Hallelujah, Canada.” (LankaWeb : 14 Aug 2010).

Tamil politics post-LTTE: serious business or serial stories? - by Rajan Philips - Last week I highlighted three episodes as evidence of the dystopian state of Sri Lankan politics. There are many more but one in particular deserves dishonourable mention: the KP interviews. The serialized media interviews of T.S. Pathmanathan (KP) should raise the concern whether Tamil politics in Sri Lanka is being reduced to the status of serial stories published in Tamil Nadu magazines like Kalki, Kumudham and Ananda Vihadan. All three were staple reading among Sri Lankan Tamil middle class families in better times. In hard times now, people have no time for stories but story telling is becoming the pastime in Tamil politics. But the KP story is neither edifying nor inspirational. It is totally unremarkable. KP was introduced to Prabhakaran – both 20 + years, by Amirthalingam when he was out of parliament (1970-77) and in with the grassroots as well as the violent upstarts. The meeting could not have been anything more than innocuous, but some weasel story teller might one day describe it as a momentous meeting in the history of Ilankai Tamils. KP was also in the frame at Prabhakaran’s wedding. The photographic evidence is part of the same history. Then he took to the seas literally making fortunes and procuring arms for the LTTE through fair means and foul. He like many others lived as if the LTTE sun would never set. But the sun did set. In fact, it crashed. KP’s story, not Tamil history, took a U-turn last year when he was arrested in Kuala Lumpur. He saw the light to his new path as he crossed the threshold to the Defence Secretary’s official bungalow in Colombo. So much for the KP story; I cannot justify more than a paragraph on it even if I were to write at length (Island : 14 Aug 2010).

Best to stop human cargo at home ports - Whether the hundreds of sick and desperate Tamils crowded onto the MV Sun Sea that sailed across the Pacific for the last number of months are terrorists, legitimate refugees or economic opportunists shouldn't be Canada's primary concern. The fact is their very presence in a country that routinely accepts queue jumpers with barely a bump at the border puts at risk not only the lives of other desperate Tamils who will emulate them, but of countless other legitimate refugees who have followed the rules in a hope for freedom and opportunity in Canada. Certainly there is much to worry about if some of these passengers are connected to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, a terror group banned not only in Canada but in most of the developed world. The FBI reports the Tigers are "among the most dangerous and deadly extremists in the world," crediting the organization with inventing the suicide belt, pioneering the use of women in suicide attacks, and killing two world leaders -- something no other terrorist group has done. And there has been a history of LTTE agents soliciting and extorting funds and fighters from the Tamil expatriate population in Canada -- the largest in the world. The long and bloody war this group fomented in Sri Lanka is over and, while that country's government is still far from living up to its international obligations in dealing with the minority Tamils, allowing the Tigers to re-establish and rebuild in Canada would be a catastrophe. There is already concern that Canada's refugee system is so full of holes that groups such as the Tigers see it as an easy mark when it comes to finding refuge for their fighters and as a place to regroup. In October, 76 Tamils showed up on the B.C. coast on the rusted-out freighter Ocean Lady. In spite of testimony from Singapore-based terrorism expert Rohan Gunaratna that the captain of the ship was a well-known Tiger who used to deliver arms, ammunitions and explosives from North Korea to Sri Lanka, every one aboard that ship has since been released into Toronto's vast Tamil community. And there has been evidence that at least some of the more than 200 Tamils on the MV Sun Sea also have links to the terrorist group. In fact, some of the passengers from the first ship told the Toronto Star that they paid $45,000 for their voyage, an amount that would be out-of-reach for a typical legitimate refugee (The Star Phonenix : 14 Aug 2010).

How can we tell if terrorists are among migrants? - In the past, the Canadian government has recognized the refugee claims of 90 per cent of Tamils who have arrived in this country.  But uncertainty surrounds the arrival yesterday of 490 Sri Lankans aboard the MV Sun Sea.  The biggest question is how the RCMP and Canada Border Services Agency will be able to tell the difference between human smugglers, terrorists and people legitimately leaving a desperate situation in Sri Lanka.  Yesterday, Rob Johnston, border services director of inland enforcement, said the agency will exercise due diligence in screening individuals for security and criminal threats.  "All the individuals will be processed in accordance with Canadian law. This involves a full examination, taking of fingerprints and photographs and security and criminal checks," said Johnston.  The initial examination will take 48 to 72 hours, he said. But the entire refugee eligibility process will take a fair amount of time.  "In situations like this, we've run into large difficulties with identification and we need to be able to confirm who the individuals are we're dealing with," said Johnston.  The agency will detain individuals believed to be a security risk or a danger to the public. They will also detain people they can't identify and those they believe will not appear for refugee hearings, he said.  Border services will work with the RCMP "to rummage the vessel" and collect evidence of violations of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act or Customs Act, he said.  Victoria immigration lawyer Peter Golden, who represented Chinese migrants who arrived on the shores of Vancouver Island in 1999, said the law allows people to be detained while officials try to determine identities and evaluate the risk to public safety (Times colonist : 14 Aug 2010).

KP SPEAKS OUT -2: AN INTERVIEW WITH THE FORMER LTTE CHIEF - Q:So how did the return occur? How and why did you re-join the movement?What was your role during the last days of the war? That’s another long story. I was now out of the movement and leading a quiet life in Thailand with my family. I had no idea of returning to the movement though my wife felt that I would always go back if asked by Prabhakaran himself. As for me I did not think that I would re-join because it is extremely rare for anyone being recalled by the LTTE after his or her services were discontinued. Also I knew the extent to which some senior LTTE leaders had worked against me and poisoned Prabhakaran’s mind against me. But even though I was out of the LTTE I was always following the news about what was happening. Though I was out of the LTTE, I was getting worried as events unfolded because I could see from the news that the LTTE was not faring well. The Tiger ships were getting knocked out at sea by the Sri Lankan navy. As the man who had kept the LTTE supplied, I knew how important it was for the LTTE to maintain supplies throughout by the sea. So I realized that the ships getting destroyed was a bad thing Q: How did that happen? How did the Sri Lankan navy become so efficient in taking out so many Tiger vessels? I think various Colombo governments over the years had gradually built up and modernized the Navy. They were also getting additional intelligence inputs from different countries. So the Navy at the time of the ceasefire had reached high levels of efficiency. The ceasefire conditions and rules were not clear about movement in the sea. So the Navy was able to move about freely and monitor LTTE ships Q: Did not the LTTE anticipate this? (Daily Mirror : 14 Aug 2010).

LTTE beauticians released today - Thirty seven former LTTE members who were trained in beauty culture would be released this evening, Commissioner General of Rehabilitation Brigadier Sudantha Ranasinghe said. “All these members who are above 45 years have mostly done administrative work for the LTTE at that time. However, during the final years of the war, the organization had given them weapons training and sent to the battle field,” he said. Brigadier Ranasinghe said that this would be the last batch of that age-category to be released from rehabilitation camps. They are expected to be re-united with their family members at a function to mark the event in Vavuniya. “We have trained them in bridal and hair dressing,” he said. Besides, he said that some other ex-combatants were given training in coconut cultivation (Daily Mirror : 14 Aug 2010).

Questions on KP - The treatment and forgiveness shown by the government towards former LTTE leader Kumaran Padmanadan, alias "KP" is unacceptable when ex- LTTE combatants and IDP’s are still detained, TULF leader V.Anandasangaree said while making his presentation at the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Committee (LLRC) today.  He added that the there were more than 10,500 youth held as detainees in rehabilitation camps and that it was crime to label these children as ex-combatants as they were our children.  Mr. Anadasangaree warned the government to beware about depending on KP and his followers. “The money which he is now claiming to invest in Sri Lanka’s development activities was earned through illegal or sinful means. I don’t think the country should be made part of these sins by using the money for development,” he added.  Mr. Anandasangaree said even though the living conditions of civilians in Jaffna were improving the plight of those in Vavuniya and Kilinochchi was sad.  “The government must do more to upgrade the living standards of these people as well,” he said.  Mr. Anandasangaree said maintaining a high military presence in the North and plans to establish Army camps be reviewed by the government.  “What is the meaning of liberalization if the civilians are there continue to remain under a military presence? It is a case of people being tossed from the frying pan into the fire,” he said. “Most of the homes are still occupied by the military. They are not asking for much, they only want to be released from camps and for their homes to be returned,” he said (Daily Mirror : 14 Aug 2010).

War crimes allegations based on lies - Attorney-at-law - Senior Attorney-at-law S L Gunasekera yesterday said the allegations of war crimes in the final days of the war on terrorism are completely based on lies. He said that being a soldier does not have lesser rights than civilians. Gunasekera added that the Government risked soldiers’ lives by allowing them to enter small pockets of land where civilians and LTTE leaders were trapped in the final stages of the war on terrorism.  He added that the Government had been left with three options at the later stage of war where the civilians and the LTTE cadres were trapped to small areas on the banks of Nandikadal lagoon. Gunasekera said the Government could have bombarded and destroyed civilians and the terrorists and the war at large would have been ended within few days. He said the Government never adopted such an option. Gunasekera was of the view that the Government would have come to an agreement with the LTTE in the form of a CFA and given them a chance to regroup and strengthen them militarily. He said that the Government did not do that too. He said the Government adopted the final option to enter the narrow strip of land where the LTTE and the civilians were trapped through landmines and booby traps. Gunasekera was of the opinion that the video clip telecast by Channel 04 is a canard. This video clip depicts two men in military attire shooting naked men. He added that there is no evidence to prove the victims’ identity. Gunasekera opined that the LTTE had a very comprehensive propaganda campaign against the government and the country. He opined that the Government’s propaganda campaign was weak and the State policy on the LTTE was mainly dependent on the Government in power. He said Governments tagged the LTTE as terrorists during the time the Government is engaged in military offensives against the Organisation. “The LTTE terrorists were branded as friends when they are in talks with the Government,” he added. Gunasekera scoffed at the views of Bernard Gunatilake who gave evidence to the effect that the CFA caused factions in the foundation of the LTTE. Gunasekera added that the LTTE continued kidnapping children from the East. He opined that these were several reasons that led to the fraction of the LTTE breaking away. Gunasekera stressed that every inch of land in the country belongs to the people of the country equally and there cannot be “Sinhalese” lands and “Tamil” lands. He stressed that the PR system does not represent the wishes of the people at large. Gunasekera proposed an administrative system based on village committees. He was of the view that people in the villages should be given pride of place (Daily News : 14 Aug 2010).

Anandasangaree praises Forces - TULF Leader V Anandasangaree yesterday said that Sri Lankan military forces are excellent in terms of humanitarian assistance. He said they are the best humanitarianwise and the civilians displaced by terrorist atrocities in the North are well looked after by them. He stressed the need of setting up civil administration in the areas affected by the conflict. He was of the view that the assistance of Government servants who know the area well should be sought by the Government. Anandasangaree was giving evidence before the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute yesterday. He was of the view that there are thousands of expatriates who are capable and ready to help reconstruction activities in the North and their assistance should necessarily be obtained rather than relying on a single person or a handful. He added that the people in the north are still in fear and they do not like to see even a toy pistol. He said the possibility of re-emergence of the LTTE or LTTE type organisations is minimal and not a single shot was heard after the LTTE leader’s death. Anandasangaree was of the opinion that the majority of combatants detained by the troops are not criminals and they were forcibly recruited by the LTTE. He stressed the need of having a viable mechanism that can inquire case by case and ensure their early release. He added that the Tamil Diaspora did not take any action when the LTTE was recruiting innocent children of Tamils in the North. “The Sinhalese and Tamils can accommodate each other. The problem is with the leaderships not the people. My best friends are Sinhalese and Muslims,” he said and added that reconciliation is made easier when each learn the language of the other. He added that language and ethnic problems go hand in hand (Daily News : 14 Aug 2010).

Message for Delhi in Canada Tamil influx - The rumbling volcano of displaced Tamils in Sri Lanka abruptly erupted half way across the globe in British Columbia yesterday when a shipload of asylum seekers tumbled out of a cargo vessel on to the province’s quaint Victoria Island, triggering an intense debate about Canada’s refugee laws which has the potential to shake up Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s minority government. The row also considerably complicates the task of an Indian envoy to Sri Lanka to assess Tamil rehabilitation, whose visit was announced by Union home minister P. Chidambaram a few days ago. The MV Sun Sea, a Thai ship merely 59m long, carried a human cargo of 500 Tamils in its cramped hold for over two months in the high seas. Among the asylum seekers were several recent mothers with babies in arms and children.  The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) intercepted MV Sun Sea with a flotilla of naval frigates and boarded the refugee ship without incident before being led into port.  In October last year, a cargo vessel carrying 76 Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers arrived in Canada in what is now feared to have been a trial run for a possible influx of boat people from areas once controlled by the recently vanquished Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) (Culcutta Telegraph : 14 Aug 2010).

Lakshman Kadirgamar, five years on:a personal reminiscence - Dr Dayan Jayatilleka - It was the laugh, he said. He’d turned his head sharply at the sound of Mervyn’s laugh at a sit down dinner at the Grand Oriental Hotel, only to recall that Mervyn had died earlier that year. My laugh reminded him of my father’s and took him back to the University tuck shop at Thurstan Road in the early ’50s, he said. That was the beginning of my sustained encounter with Lakshman Kadirgamar, which lasted from 1999/2000 to 2005. My father was dead, I had written a piece in defence of Kadirgamar in my new column in the Virakesari group’s Weekend Express when he was attacked by Anura Bandaranaike, come out in support of President Kumaratunga in her re-election campaign in late 1999 when the LTTE, Ranil Wickremesinghe and her erstwhile allies, the ‘peace lobby’ had banded together. I was in close contact with Kadirgamar and in touch with several Ministers during the Tiger offensive on Jaffna in 2000. He soon inducted me onto the council of management of the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies under his Chairmanship (Island : 14 Aug 2010).

Canada’s Acceptance Of Refugee Ship Could Set Up A Dangerous Precedent Towards Global Security! - Insight By Sunil Kumar For Lanka Web - It must be the aspiration as well as expectation of all sensible discerning Canadians that this time around the refugee ship headed for Canada with over 300 people which is getting so much publicity on world Newsw will not be granted safe haven in their beautiful country by its administration on simplistic albeit passionate grounds of sympathy and various excuses pointing to humanitarian needs, as research and investigations by the Government of Sri Lanka as well as other reliable sources qualified to the task indicate that this is a shipload of terrorists and terrorist supportives. Sadly there are women and children on board but they will simply have to be deemed victims of circumstance where some compassion will be needed to deal with them and something for the Canadian Government to decide on. A very interesting features item captioned Canada-Bound Refugee Boat Carry Terrorists by Mr.Alastair Reynard also attests to this likelihood where he addresses those against the ship entering Canada saying “Thanks for the eye-opening reports on the Canada-Bound ship full of Tamil Terrorists. It has been known for some time that this is not a ship full of refugees but a ship of escaping terrorists.” In an almost advisory tone it is suggested by him that Ship-bound Tamil refugees if there is such a category acceptable to the Canadian Government anymore that is~ need help to read about this bogus refugee ship that’s full of terrorists. A small excerpt: ‘Perhaps in the media, especially he Toronto Star, probably would have paid much more attention to any bone fide refugees~ once again said hypothetically ~ if they had money to pay the smugglers to come to Canada, or owned laptops with access to Skype and the Internet, like the bogus Tamil refugees stuck in a boat…. It is a shame those poor refugees in Iraq and Afghanistan lack the media support, or the backing of a global criminal network like the LTTE, which had been involved in smuggling Tamils to countries like Canada, with the help of the liberal politicians, and bleeding-heart newspaper columnists ” and well said Mr Reynard where hopefully the Canadian Govermnet based on such astute observations will take the sensible option of not permitting them safe haven in Canada and stick to the no nonsense policies of nations such as Australia, the USA, the UK and others which do not accept refugees at random! (LankaWeb : 14 Aug 2010).

IDB assists Kilinochchi industrial development - The Industrial Development Board (IDB) will uplift the living standard of unemployed youth and low income people in the Kilinochchi district and encourage them to enter into the small and medium scale industries on the instruction of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda. Industrial Development Board Chairman Udayasiri Kariyavasam, said the board will fulfil the requirement of sharing knowledge in entrepreneurship as well as technology transfer by conducting training programs on selected demandable fields. The Jaffna unemployed graduate association will assist the IDB to select the target group. The chairman said technology transfer programs will be on milk production, fruits and vegetables cultivation, leather and footwear, rexine, grains and sweets (Daily News : 14 Aug 2010).

LTTE recruited child soldiers in large number during CFA period - Dr. Wijemanna - Due to the failure on the part of the international community to make child rights a condition for financial support to rebuild the war devastated areas, the LTTE threw a large number of child combatants into the battle during Eelam war IV, Dr. Hiranthi Wijemanna said. Testifying before the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission headed by former Attorney General C. R. de Silva at the Kadirgamar Institute, Dr. Wijemanne said unfortunately demobilisation of children was not even an issue at the tripartite discussions between the government, LTTE and the UNICEF. According to Dr. Wijemanna by 2002, 60 to 70 per cent of LTTE cadres were children below the age of 18. "Had they been genuinely interested in a negotiated settlement, they would not have needed fresh recruits", she said. Dr. Wijemann, the former Chairperson of the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), who had the opportunity to visit the LTTE-held area during the CFA, said the despicable practice of child recruitment continued until the conclusion of the war in May last year. Since then not a single child had been abducted or forcibly recruited. The LTTE had continued child recruitment until the final battle, she said. Responding to a query by the Commission, Dr. Wijemanne said that the international community had simply pumped massive amounts of funds for various projects through the LTTE, though there was no evidence that either children or the ordinary people really benefited. She said that the LTTE had been the major beneficiary of the funds made available by international donors, though the CFA was expected to bring relief to the ordinary people. Dr. Wijemanne said that the Norwegian-led Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) had not been trained or equipped to rein in the LTTE (Daily News : 14 Aug 2010).

Western countries encouraging bogus LTTE asylum seekers.

LTTE uses refugee system to lure supporters - Former Canadian HC 'Around 8000 trained terrorists in Toronto' - Tamil Tigers have made "particular use of the refugee system to get in their supporters, they have operated a lot of the people-smuggling that got people in over the last 20 years", Ottawa's former High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Martin Collacott, said.  "And at one point, the Toronto Police task force estimated there were 8,000 trained Tamil terrorists in Toronto alone, so, it's been used both for just getting people in who wouldn't qualify normally by international standards, but also for getting terrorists into Canada. And it's expected, it's believed that there are quite a few Tamil Tigers, or their supporters, on this ship" he said in an interview with CTV.  He said Tamil migrants are making the choice to come to Canada because it is seen as "the easiest mark in the world" for prospective refugees of any background.  "And even if you're turned down, the chances are we won't be able to remove you. We remove a few, but we've had people who have been turned down 20 years ago, but are still appealing," he said Refugees are given state-funded lawyers, welfare and health care, which leaves the Canadian system as "the Rolls Royce of claiming refugee status," Collacott said.  For Tamil people, Canada is an especially desirable destination because of its large Tamil population and the high-rate of success for Tamil migrants over the years.  "Once they are in Canadian waters, they can't be turned back. Legally, we cannot turn them away, and it would be a very bad precedent for Canada to do so."  There have been reports suggesting that the MV Sun Sea could be carrying some members of the Tamil Tigers -- a banned terrorist organization in Canada -- who could be travelling alongside legitimate refugees.  In June 2000, the National Post reported that Toronto police believed up to 8,000 Tamils living in the city held links to Tamil terror groups, including the Tamil Tigers.  The MV Sun Sea is the second-such ship to make its way to Canadian soil since May last year.  The first ship to arrive was the Ocean Lady which landed in Victoria last October, carrying 76 Tamil men who applied for refugee status.  Courtesy: Policy Research & Information Unit of the Presidential Secretariat of Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka Defence Ministry : 13 Aug 2010).

Re: How we should deal with the Tamil boat people - by Jaliya Wickremarachchi Canadian Sri Lankans Against Terrorism - Editor The Toronto Star One, Young St Toronto, ON Dear Editor, It is quite interesting how Mr. Lorne Waldman, a well-known immigration lawyer in Toronto, is trying his utmost to justify the arrival of another boat load of Tamil Tiger suspects, less than a year after the first boat that brought 76 of so-called “Tamil refugees.” None of us are surprised of Mr. Waldman’s all out effort to justify the newest arrival, since he has a vested interest in this matter, as he is one of the immigration lawyers who will be defending many of these Tamil migrants. He already represents almost 25 members from the previous boat that arrived last year. I must also point out that Mr. Waldman is one of the four-member panel hastily assembled by the pro-LTTE, Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC), along with Mr. David Ross -the head of the Canadian Human Rights Voices (CHRV – http://www.chrv.ca/committee.php), another LTTE front association, run by a group of Tamil-Canadians to lobby the Canadian authorities, and the media to garner public sympathy and support for the bogus refugees. It also does not surprise us, the Sri Lankan-Canadians, who know the ground reality in Sri Lanka well and the history of the LTTE activities in Canada, that immigration lawyers, such as Mr. Waldman, have been defending many LTTE members and their criminal activities in Canada, as it is an extremely lucrative business for the immigration lawyers like him (LankaWeb : 15 Aug 2010).

Were terrorists on the Tamil ship? - It could be months before each of the 490 Tamils aboard the MV Sun Sea is identified, but the Conservative government and Sri Lankan officials have already said they include terrorists and suspected human-smugglers. In fact, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews even says their arrival Friday in British Columbia "may well be co-ordinating this activity as part of a larger enterprise." The evidence to back that concern was not readily available Friday. Public Safety officials did not return a call requesting statistics on how many Tamil migrants have been found to have terrorist links in the past 30 years. Canada Border Service Agency was unable to provide figures Friday. But the ship was believed to be captained by a man called "Vinod," described by some experts as a well-known member of the Tamil Tigers who has links to last year's Ocean Lady, a rusting cargo ship carrying 76 passengers that docked in Victoria (Vancouver Sun : 13 Aug 2010).

Canada is ripe for exploitation - A Thai vessel packed with Tamils which arrived in British Columbia on Friday demonstrates that Canadian immigration law is in dire need of improvement. Without a fix, our country risks becoming the refuge of choice for queue-jumpers and shady characters with ulterior motives, to the detriment of both Canadians and honest asylum seekers.  There can be little doubt that some of the passengers aboard may have legitimate refugee claims. The terrorist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who waged a three decade struggle against Sri Lanka's Sinhalese majority to establish an autonomous Tamil homeland, were decisively defeated last spring. Since then, the victorious government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa has not behaved as decently as it could have to the country's Tamils. Still, this does not give the latter leave to flout Canadian law.  Worse, there are plenty of allegations that the Sun Sea is trafficking refugees to raise money for the Tigers' remnants and may even be transporting diehard members of the LTTE looking to rebuild their group abroad.  Canada's immigration apparatus is too sluggish to deal with this situation as it should. It can take up to eight years to process an individual refugee claim, giving dubious claimants ample time to put down roots here and making it harder to find and deport them if they are rejected.  This latest batch -- a previous group arrived in similar fashion last October and have been allowed to stay --needs to be processed as swiftly as possible so that the genuine refugees can be sorted out and the rest deported as quickly as possible.  To prevent a repeat, future vessels could be turned back short of Canadian waters. Authorities knew the Sun Sea was approaching long in advance but did not directly intervene until the ship was well within our maritime borders.  But this alone will not deter people. Immigration policy must be tightened to send a clear message about what Canada will and will not tolerate, and Australia's example provides a model to be examined for adaptation in some form here. The Liberal government of former Aussie prime minister John Howard was hugely successful in reducing the number of illegal arrivals by establishing offshore processing centres on Pacific islands in which people were interned until their claims were established. Canada is not so blessed with convenient offshore real estate, but coastal military bases could suffice (Calgary Herald : 13 Aug 2010).

Tamil migrant ship docks in Canada - A rusting cargo ship crammed with hundreds of Tamil asylum seekers from Sri Lanka docked at a Canadian navy base on Friday after a grueling three-month journey. The government confirmed that there were 490 people aboard the ship, the MV Sun Sea, and that the ship had declared them to be refugees. But Canada forced them to dock at a military base, saying there were concerns that Tamil extremists could be on board. Gary Anandasangaree, a lawyer with the Canadian Tamil Congress, was on the scene as the boat arrived and said he couldn't believe how a ship just 194 feet long (59 meters) could be carrying so many people. "It clearly gives us an idea of the type of conditions that could have been inside. Very cramped, given the size," Anandasangaree said. Initial images of the vessel showed women and children, some smiling, aboard the tarp-draped freighter. Anandasangaree said the tarps may be used to shield the identities of those on board. He suggested there could be reprisals against family members still in Sri Lanka if the identities of the refugees were revealed. People began to leave the ship several hours after it docked. The first two men were followed by a woman who had to be helped ashore by officials. Children followed her. Some were taken away on a stretcher. All were shielded from the view of cameras by black umbrellas. Ambulances were seen coming and going from the dockside and buses are also standing by. Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said again Friday that the government has concerns that there may be members of the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, or Tamil Tigers, on board and that they're coordinating a human smuggling operation. Canada has labeled the Tamil Tigers as a terrorist group since 2006 (WOKV).

Suspected human smugglers and terrorists on MV Sun Sea, minister saysSome would-be refugees taken to hospital - Canada's Public Safety Minister Vic Toews announced this morning that the 490 Tamil migrants aboard the MV Sun Sea include suspected human smugglers and terrorists. "We are very concerned that there are elements of the LTTE and the Tamil Tigers on board this vessel," Toews said. In a press conference at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt where the migrant ship is presently docked, Toews said that the "suspected human smugglers and terrorists did not come to Canada by accident," but rather chose this country because of its reputation for leniency in accepting foreign migrants and refugees. All criminals on-board, he said, "will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law." "We want to send a very clear message not only to individuals currently involved but to those watching this situation that this is an act Canada does not encourage," Toews said. The best way to deal with the arrival of the MV Sun Sea was for Canadian authorities to board the vessel in Canadian waters, he said, which is what members of the RCMP, Department of Defense and Canadian Border Services Agency did Thursday evening, Toews confirmed. He said Canadian authorities could not have turned back the vessel on the high seas because of the obvious difficulties of proving a crime will occur under Candian law outside of Canada's jurisdiction. "This particular situation we believe to be a part of a larger human smuggling and human trafficking enterprise. I don't view this as an isolated independent act." Asked to confirm reports that more Tamil migrant boats were already headed for Canada from Sri Lanka, Toews replied: "This particular situation is being observed by others." (Vancour Sun : 13 Aug 2010).

Question G.L, Karuna - The opposition United National Party (UNP) has called on the Lessons Learns and Reconciliation Commission appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, to question External Affairs Minister G.L Peiris and Karuna Amman as they played a key role in the peace talks during the UNP regime. G.L Peiris was part of the then UNP government delegation at the peace talks while Karuna Amman represented the LTTE (Daily Mirror : 13 Aug 2010).

Criminals likely planned migrant ship: expert Very few could have planned such a sophisticated operation, says UBC prof - A criminal mastermind must be behind the Thai freighter carrying up to 500 Tamil migrants to the British Columbia shores, according to a human-trafficking expert. UBC professor Benjamin Perrin said Thursday only a small number of organizations could manage such a sophisticated and large-scale migrant smuggling operation that would be able to collect debts ranging in the tens of thousands of dollars for passage owed by those aboard the MV Sun Sea. “This is not some sort of humanitarian flotilla run by the Red Cross,” said Perrin who in 2009 was honoured by the U.S. Department of State as one of nine international heroes working to end human trafficking. “This is likely a criminal enterprise operated by current or former terrorists.” He acknowledged a strong possibility the ship, reportedly carrying men, women and children, is under control of terrorist organization Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which the Sri Lankan government defeated in 2009 after a three decade civil war. “Nevertheless, there are still assets in terms of these sorts of vessels,” Perrin said. “LTTE is unique among terrorist organizations worldwide because it is the only terrorist organization, during its long-term conflict in Sri Lanka, able to ship in and assemble aircraft which it’s used for bombing. This is a very sophisticated organization and these organizations don’t vanish.” Canadian Tamil Congress spokesman David Poopalapillai said smugglers taking advantage of human misery were responsible for the voyage, but stopped short of naming LTTE as those manning the ship (Toronto Sun : 13 Aug 2010).

LESSONS TO BE LEARNT BY CANADA, NORWAY ET AL BY FOLLWING THE LESSONS LEARNT COMMISSION IN SRI LANKA - Breaking news early morning - " A ship suspected to be carrying over 200 Lankan refugees has entered Canadian waters and is being escorted by the Navy to British Columbia" - says it all! This is not the first time this has happened. Last October, a ship carrying 76 migrants was intercepted in Canadian waters after crossing the Pacific from Sri Lanka. This group on board the ship called the Ocean Lady claimed to be fleeing persecution in Sri Lanka. And even though there were concerns that some on board were LTTE Tigers, all 76 of them have since been released and their refugee claims are being processed. And now this second ship is on its merry way, with even more so-called 'refugees'! This is happening whilst some Canadians are voicing their concerns of 'preventing terrorists abusing Canada's refugee system'. Vic Toews, Canadian Public Safety Minister has recently gone on record that "It's important to send a message that Canada should not be viewed as an easy entry into North America and that we are very concerned about security issues. The problem of human smuggling and illegal migration is a serious one, and the abuse of our immigration system is something that our government will not tolerate." He also stated that there was reason to believe that on board the Thai cargo ship, MV Sun Sea, there were members of the LTTE. Does this mean, that Canada, home to about 300,000 Tamils, one of the largest such contingents of Tamils outside of Sri Lanka, finally seeing the light? Is that why, finally a public official has made a statement about 'illegal migration' and 'human smuggling' whilst a ship carrying 'asylum seekers' who could be terrorists, is about to enter its territory? Whilst this is taking place in Canada, the BBC reported that in Oslo, the capital of Norway - another Tiger haven, three Sri Lankan Tamil men from rival factions supporting the Tamil Tigers, have been arrested after a clash at a Hindu religious festival. Among those injured are members of the Norwegian Council of Tamil Eelam, a pro Tamil Tiger group led by Nediyavan (a very senior LTTE member, who opposed the appointment of KP as the successor to lead the LTTE) and the Norwegian Tamil Economical Unit, further proof that post-LTTE, there is much disunity among the Tamil Diaspora (Daily Mirror : 13 Aug 2010).

Canada hospitals, jails prepare for Sri Lanka refugees - VANCOUVER — A cargo ship thought to be carrying hundreds of Sri Lankan asylum seekers neared Canada's western coast Thursday, as advocates for the Tamil community pressed Ottawa to let them in. Hospitals rushed to prepare beds and jails readied cells hours ahead of the expected arrival of the MV Sun Sea, which has thrown a new spotlight on the plight of Sri Lanka's Tamil minority a year after the island's civil war ended. Between 200 and 500 refugees, including women and children, are believed to be aboard the MV Sun Sea, a cargo ship flying a Thai flag that reportedly headed to Canada after being deterred from Australia. Canada has among the world's most welcoming asylum policies and has a politically active Tamil community, which urged their adopted country to grant asylum to the boat people. In a similar incident in October 2009, 76 Tamil refugees arrived on a ship to Canada where they were held but eventually released after none were determined to belong to the separatist Tamil Tigers, considered a terrorist group by most Western nations (Reuters).

5th Death Anniversary of Hon. Lakshman Kadirgamar, the true Patriot

Special Web-Edition of 5th Death Anniversary of Sri Lanka's former Foreign Minister, Hon Lakshman Kadirgamer (a well respected Sri Lankan Tamil Leader who fought against the Tamil Tiger Terrorism).

Read details in Sri Lanka News Online

IT WAS FIRST THE WHITE CHRISTIANS AGAINST BUDDHIST SRI LANKA AND NOW “THE BLACK CHRISTIANS” - by Malin Abeyatunge, Melbourne, Australia - ..... It is quite obvious that the members of THE ELDERS or the none of the above mentioned people have an iota of knowledge of the situation before the LTTE was defeated and aftermath of the war in Sri Lanka. Their statement appears to be based on hearsay and what the western media and the LTTE Tamil Net websites reports. Except, Koffi Annan I doubt others have ever visited Sri Lanka during the terrorist conflict and after the conflict. The Black Christians are in a vain attempt to compare the apartheid in South Africa with that of Sri Lanka’s terrorist conflict, the difference of which is polls apart. But yet one thing is clear and that is when the Anglo Saxons failed to destroy Sri Lanka morally, the Black Christians have now teamed up together in a subtle move to humiliate this small Buddhist democratic country. We urge the “THE ELDERS” led by three black Christians to mind their own business. Anglo-Saxons tried to destroy Sri Lanka with their coup d’etat during the final operations against LTTE. Now the Black Christians have teamed up to give oxygen to the Tamil Diaspora in their attempt to carve a separate monolithic state for the Tamils in Sri Lanka in other possible ways. EU thought that they could strangle Sri Lanka’s economy by not granting the GSP plus concession but Sri Lanka’s economy continues to grow despite all the global financial turmoil. Lastly may I request the members of “ THE ELDERS” to focus their energy and resources to find the truth of the 91000 classified documents relating to human rights violations by USA in Iraq and Afghanistan. This will help them to keep themselves occupied for the rest of their lives (LankaWeb : 12 Aug 2010).

Victoria RCMP on way to intercept migrant ship, reports say - There have been reports that five vessels left Esquimalt Harbour early this morning, presumably to encounter a cargo ship carrying migrants from Thailand. The MV Sun Sea left Thailand three months ago and Canadian officials were expecting it was bound for this country's west coast. The vessel, under its former name M.V. Harin Panich, is shown on a ship tracking website west of Ucluelet at 7 a.m. There were reports that several RCMP boats including three cataramans ad two rigid-hull Zodiacs with armed men left Esquimalt Harbour this morning. As many as 500 illegal migrants, including women and children are on the MV Sun Sea and there are concerns that some could be suffering health problems. Three RCMP vessels were in the Inner Harbour yesterday as part of preparationsfor the ship. Victoria General Hospital is reopening a ward on its seventh floor to care for patients from the ship, if necessary (The Province : 12 Aug 2010).

Refugee ship enters Canadian waters - By Asoka Weerasinghe - ... You report that ‘A ship believed to be carrying as many as 500 Tamil refugees is being escorted by the Canadian navy into British Columbia…” With our Government’s whimpish response to the earlier ship ‘Ocean Lady’s’ 76 illegal Tamil migrants among which according to the Canadian Border Agency Report were 25 hardcore Tamil Tiger terrorists. None of the 76 Tamils on that ship have been deported so far nor a single member of the crew of the ship have been arrested and charged by the Canadian authorities. It is pertinent to note that since Australia suspended processing Tamil refugee applicants under pressure from the Sri Lankan government, no boats have headed towards Australia and instead have been sailing towards the Canadian shores, by-passing India’s Tamil Nadu where 65 million of their Tamil brethren live. Unless Canada takes a firm decision on these illegal Tamil migrants dotted with hardcore Tamil Tigers, there will be a string of other ships carrying Tamils heading towards Canada, as this is part of a global criminal network and a million dollar business. And as reported in Asian Tribune (August 11) the key accomplice in this global scam was arrested by the police in Kerala, India. According to the news report, Sundara Raja Sivakumar, a Tamil with links to the Tamil Tigers was operating a travel business based in Chennai, the capital of the Indian state Tamil Nadu in South India. This human trafficking operations have been accomplished with funds supplied by the pro-Tamil Tiger Diaspora living in Canada and other Western countries (LankaWeb : 12 Aug 2010).

Tamil ship due to hit Canada on Thursday - A ship believed to be carrying up to 500 Tamil migrants has arrived in Canada's "exclusive economic zone" and could enter territorial waters as early as Thursday, when it is expected to be intercepted by authorities amid concerns there may be Tamil Tigers on board. The MV Sun Sea — a 59-metre Thai cargo ship that Canada and the United States have been monitoring throughout the summer and which may be carrying members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, a terrorist group outlawed in Canada — was on Wednesday night being tracked by a Canadian navy warship, officials said. The ship arrived within the 200-nautical-mile zone that extends beyond Canada's territorial waters in the wake of unconfirmed reports that one voyager had died en route. A government official said authorities are "expecting [the MV Sun Sea] in the Straits of Juan de Fuca early Friday morning." It is anticipated the Canadian Border Services Agency will at some point board the ship before it is directed to Victoria harbour. Security experts in the United States are also keeping a watchful eye: James Clad, the former U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defence for South and Southeast Asia, told The Washington Post he thought the MV Sun Sea was part of a bid by the Tamil Tigers to "create a network again and play the trans national terrorist game." "I'm not an advocate for sending people back to their deaths, but that is just not happening in Sri Lanka," he said. "I've helped a lot of migrants before, but I know a scam when I see one." Also anticipating the ship's arrival, although with an entirely different view, is a Tamil migrant who journeyed to Canada in much the same way as those aboard the MV Sun Sea. The man, who can't be identified because his immigration proceedings are ongoing, said Tamils are "fleeing because we can't survive" and that "the Canadian government looked into evidence and then freed us." (Financial Post).

Boatload of Tamils getting closer to Canada - It’s not a welcome mat, but Canada has rolled out an organized reception for a suspected Tamil migrant ship that is moving closer to our shores. And while there are concerns of dangerous criminals hidden among refugees onboard, one expert warns the voyage was likely marked down in a ledger as a complete success for terrorist elements as soon as the boat started the journey. The Canadian Navy has sent out vessels to meet the 188-foot Thai registered cargo ship, the MV Sun Sea, which may hold as many as 500 Tamil refugees. It’s expected to land, under the watchful eye of RCMP officers, either late Thursday night or early Friday morning. Officials have set up large white processing tents at CFB Esquimalt, near this B.C. city, but some passengers onboard the rouge ship may be shipped to an area hospital. Doctors and staff at Victoria General Hospital have been put on alert, following reports that — after months at sea — some onboard the Sun Sea could be sick. Tuberculosis is just one possibility and at least one death may have taken place on the ship. A memo from Norma Jones, emergency management corporate director points out to hospital workers: “Any passenger who requires medical services will be kept completely separate from the ‘regular’ patient population and we do not anticipate any significant impact on our normal provision of services at VGH.” But the looming arrival of the battered and hulking ship has caused unease in federal political circles, as well as among many Canadians, due to fears the vessel may be carrying — among innocent women and children — hardened criminals and members of the outlawed Tamil Tigers terrorist group. Benjamin Perrin, an assistant professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of B.C. and an expert on human trafficking, told QMI Agency that Canadians need to be clear on what ultimately fuelled the dark voyage. “This is not some sort of UN humanitarian flotilla,” he said, adding the trip could only have been taken on by a sophisticated criminal organization, such as the Tamil Tigers — also known as the LTTE (Toronto Sun : 12 Aug 2010).

Govt. responds to US report - The Sri Lankan Government today responded to the US State Department report released on August 11, 2010, showing that Sri Lanka has not yet conducted an effective investigation into laws-of-war violations by government forces and the LTTE in the final stages of war (Daily News : 12 Aug 2010).

Tigers missed mega development opportunity – Amb. Gunatilleke - Former head of the Peace Secretariat Ambassador Bernard Gunatilleke on Wednesday (Aug 11) said the LTTE had missed an opportunity to share the credit with the government for a mega development drive in the Northern and Eastern Provinces during the Norwegian-arranged CFA. Ambassador Gunatilleke said that a few weeks before the LTTE quit negotiations in April 2003, the government and the LTTE had agreed on some 480 foreign funded projects in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. The World Bank had been ready to facilitate the projects, he said, adding that some countries pledged funds even before they finalized the arrangements. But, shortly thereafter, they pulled out of the entire process, he said, blaming the LTTE for walking away from the peace process. The veteran diplomat alleged that the LTTE quit the negotiating process on flimsy grounds. Commenting on the ISGA (Interim Self Governing Authority) demanded by the LTTE in October 2003 as a prerequisite for a return to the negotiating table, Ambassador Gunatilleke emphasized the ISGA could not have been granted by the government. He was appearing before the Lessons Learnt Commission headed by former Attorney General C. R. de Silva meeting at the Kadirgamar Institute. Responding to a query by the commission, Ambassador Gunatilleke said that the LTTE had engineered the defeat of Ranil Wickremesinghe at the November, 2005 presidential election as a victory for Mahinda Rajapaksa would have justified their decision to resume an all out war. The diplomat asserted the LTTE had felt that the perception that Rajapaksa had been a hardliner would help their cause.  Gunatilleke said that had the LTTE succeeded in their bid to cripple Trincomalee harbour in August 2006, Jaffna defences would have collapsed (Island : 12 Aug 2010).

Sri Lanka rejects US claim it failed to probe war crimes - The government yesterday rejected US assertion that it had failed to probe alleged war crimes during the eelam war IV. A senior government spokesman told The Island that a report by the US State Department, presented to Congress, which evaluated the effectiveness of measures taken by Sri Lanka to investigate incidents during the recent conflict, had no basis. The following is the full text of a statement issued by the Information Department in response to US report: "The Government of Sri Lanka has received the text of the report by Ambassador Rapp of the US State Department to Congress titled "Report to Congress on measures taken by the Government of Sri Lanka and international bodies to investigate incidents during the recent conflict in Sri Lanka, and evaluating the effectiveness of such efforts." The Government wishes in this regard to observe that in May 2009, Sri Lanka defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), recognized globally as a brutal terrorist organization. The conflict situation had a devastating effect on the people of Sri Lanka and the Government has set a vigorous goal of rebuilding the nation to move forward into a new era of peace and prosperity. The Government of Sri Lanka acknowledges that the lessons which may be drawn from the past could contribute to true reconciliation, and is committed to a rapid process to achieve this. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has appointed an independent Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission. The work of the Commission is now underway and is dedicated to fairness and impartiality. Furthermore, the Government has almost completed the resettlement of all displaced persons and continues to support their livelihood. Also, in the past few months, the Government has repealed most of the emergency regulations that were necessary during the conflict situation." (Island : 12 Aug 2010).

Tamil Tigers' entry into Canada feared - A ship carrying over 250 Sri Lankan Tamils, reportedly including members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE), is set to enter Vancouver, authorities said on Wednesday. Since the LTTE - which was destroyed last year by the Sri Lankan forces - is a banned organisation in both Canada and the US, the impending arrival of the ship has raised alarms bells here since members of banned terror organisations are not allowed to enter Canada. The LTTE was banned in Canada in 2006. Canadian Public Safety MinisterVic Toews said, "I don't want to comment on the operational details, but I can assure you that we are concerned about who is on that ship and why they might be coming to Canada. "There is reason to believe that a listed terrorist entity, the LTTE, may be involved in organizing and carrying out this activity. The LTTE, I remind you, is an organization that has engaged in the widespread use of suicide bombings against civilian targets in Sri Lanka, and used extortion and intimidation to raise funds within the Canadian Tamil community." The Thai cargo ship MV Sun Sea carrying the Sri Lankan Tamils was within 200 nautical miles of Canadian territorial waters Wednesday, authorities said. Two jails in the Vancouver area are being readied to accommodate the asylum seekers. This will the second ship to enter Canada bringing Sri Lankan Tamils since the defeat of the LTTE. Last October, 76 Tamil asylum-seekers landed here on board the ship called Ocean Lady. Most of them are now living in Toronto, pending their asylum case. Canadian Tamil CongressspokesmanDavid Poopalapillai said Wednesday that "as a compassionate country" Canada should treat new asylum seekers sympathetically because of the dire situation in Sri Lanka. Even as Canada - which has been accused of being soft on terrorism - grapples with the problem, well-know terrorism expert Rohan Gunaratna, who heads the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism in Singapore, says there are many Tamil Tigers among those on board the MV Sun Sea (Times of India : 12 Aug 2010).

Memories of Lakshman Kadirgamar – The Quintessential Sri Lankan - Life is not without its tragedies and almost all of us, in the course of our human sojourn on earth, are called upon to endure our share of these tragedies. Just as much as we individually suffer indignities and ordeals, so do the countries of the world. And I am now absolutely convinced that it is Sri Lanka’s enormous tragedy and misfortune that Lakshman Kadirgamar was compelled to take leave of us before he could help put Sri Lanka right after the end of the brutal reign of Velupillai Prabhakaran and his band of ‘Liberation’ Tigers! I recall vividly the last hours of 12 August, 2005, the day Lakshman Kadirgamar died at the hands of a suspected LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) assassin. Amidst his crowded life as Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister and Senior Advisor to the President on International Affairs (the latter post he held in the brief period of his political career when he did not hold the portfolio of foreign affairs), Kadirgamar found the time to give exemplary leadership to the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS) by serving as Chairman of the Centre’s Council of Management. In the latter capacity, the late Minister added immeasurable value to the BCIS’s traditional offerings and initiated several new ones. Among the noteworthy fresh offerings were two that were especially dear to his heart and by means of the completion of which he anticipated giving to Sri Lanka and the world something all of us could be proud of: the first of these was the establishment of a quality new journal under BCIS auspices and the other the commissioning of a classic study of the art of Stanley Kirinde, Kadirgamar’s contemporary at Trinity College, Kandy and at the University of Ceylon (Island : 12 Aug 2010).

Ship suspected with illegal immigrants: Lanka, Canada on alert - The Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa and Security Agencies in Colombo have been in close contact with authorities in Canada following reports in the media about M/V Sun Sea which is reportedly heading towards the East Coast of Canada carrying over 200 illegal immigrants from Sri Lanka. The High Commissioner in Ottawa Chitranganee Wagiswara met Canadian Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Jason Kenney yesterday and discussed mutual concerns on illegal immigration and human smuggling from Sri Lanka which are linked to LTTE operations outside the country. The High Commission also had extensive discussions with officials of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Department, Citizenship and Immigration Ministry Canadian Boarder Services Agency Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Canadian Security and Intelligence Service. The Canadian authorities were briefed on the activities of the LTTE elements resorting to criminal activities through front organizations. Their attention has been drawn to the threats to international and national security arising from transnational crime which includes terrorism, drug trafficking and human smuggling and the need for greater international cooperation at the diplomatic as well as operational level to combat these threats to national security (Daily News ; 12 Aug 2010).

A Man Who Loved his Motherland - Today marks the fifth death anniversary of a Sri Lankan Hero, a great son of mother Lanka, Lakshman Kadirgamar. The service he rendered to Sri Lanka is written for ever in the books of history. The peace Sri lanka has achieved today would have been not possible without his dedicated contribution in the international arena. After a distinguished career as a lawyer and international humanitarian, he served Sri Lanka as the Foreign Minister until he was assassinated by a LTTE sniper on the 12th of August 2005. As a Tribute to this great Sri Lankan, we the editors at Sri lanka Watch wishes to re-publish an article about Lakshman Kadirgamar written by Bandula Jayasekara in The Island newspaper on15th August 2005 (Sri Lanka Watch : 12 Aug 2010).

Two more shiploads of LTTE bogus asylum seekers may set sail for Canada

The MV Sun Sea, a suspected migrant smuggling vessel, is on its way to Canada. On Monday, August 9, 2010, a terrorism expert warned there could be Tamil Tigers aboard (The Star : 10 Aug 2010).

Ship carrying Tamils headed for B.C.coast - by Asoka Weerasinghe, Canada - The Editor (Letters) THE OTTAWA CITIZEN; Sir: The ship ‘Sun Sea’ with a cargo of 500 Tamils and among them are suspect Tamil Tigers that is heading for the B.C. coast was predictable as night follows day, after we let in the 76 Tamils smuggled into Canada on ‘Ocean Lady’ last October, of which according to the Canadian Border Services Agency Report, 25 were hardcore Tamil Tiger terrorists. What is also predictable is that there will be tough Rambo talk by the Minister of Public Safety and the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration that they will not allow the vanquished Tamil Tiger terrorists to abuse the Canadian immigration system. And what is also predictable is that all the 500 illegal migrant Tamils on ‘Sun Sea’ will be allowed to apply for refugee status, as did the 76 who came on ‘Ocean Lady’. They know that to enter Canada is easy as eating a Maple syrup dipped doughnut from Tim Horton. This is not an isolated incident of Tamil Tigers being brought into Canada illegally, as this is part of a global criminal network, a million dollar business thriving out of the remnants of the Tamil Tigers who were defeated militarily on May 18, 2009, who had accumulated funds up to a billion dollars in cash and assets around the world. The ship ‘Sun Sea’ is owned and operated by the Tamil Tigers, a group of terrorists who were banned in Canada in April 2006 and captained by Capt.Vinod, who was one of the two captains that transported several thousand tons of sophisticated arms and explosives to the north of Sri Lanka from North Korea in that very ship for the Tamil Tigers during the warring days (LankaWeb : 11 Aug 2010).

Tamil migrants sick with TB - A closed ward at a Victoria hospital is being prepared for dozens of Tamils on a migrant ship heading to the British Columbia coast. They are believed to have contracted tuberculosis during the voyage across the Pacific Ocean. Two sources have told the Toronto Star that it’s unclear how many of the migrants on board the MV Sun Sea are sick with TB. An estimated 300 to 500 Tamils are believed to be on board the cargo ship which has been at sea since at least April. There were reports late Wednesday evening that the Coast Guard and the Canadian Navy boarded the vessel after it entered Canadian waters, but officials would not confirm. On Wednesday afternoon, cleanup crews on a previously closed ward on the 7th floor of the Victoria General Hospital were hauling away bags of towels and linens and sanitizing rooms. One of the sources said a number of migrants on board are very sick and will need to be hospitalized and quarantined as soon as they land on Canadian shores. The ward can be accessed through a separate entrance at the hospital. Another source said at least 100 beds have been readied for the most sick. All of the migrants, who officials are expecting to make refugee claims, will undergo a rigorous health examination in an isolated area as they disembark (The Star : 11 Aug 2010).

Suspected people-smuggling ship now in Canada’s “exclusive economic zone” - A suspected people-smuggling ship carrying upwards of 250 male and female Tamil migrants has arrived in Canada’s “exclusive economic zone,” and will likely enter territorial waters later this week where it is expected to be intercepted by authorities. The MV Sun Sea — a 59-metre Thai cargo ship which Canada and the U.S. have been monitoring throughout the summer and which is potentially carrying members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, a terrorist group outlawed in Canada since 2006 — entered within 200 nautical miles of Canadian territorial waters on Wednesday afternoon, amid unconfirmed reports that one person aboard the ship passed away during the voyage. “This is a deadly, risky journey,” said David Poopalapillai, spokesperson for the Canadian Tamil Congress. “And we, as a compassionate country, should reserve judgment on these people until we know more.” Two correctional facilities in northeast Metro Vancouver — the Fraser Regional Correctional Centre and the Alouette Correctional Centre for Women — are preparing to house “somewhere in the order of 80 females and 100 males,” John Leeburn, a spokesperson for the District of Maple Ridge, told the National Post earlier this week. Mr. Leeburn said the district was told the prospective asylum seekers would likely be housed at the two facilities for somewhere between two and four months. There are also reports that children are aboard the vessel, but it was unclear where they would be housed. Earlier this week, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews singled out marine human smuggling as an “emerging” concern and said the government is particularly worried about who is aboard the MV Sun Sea. “I don’t want to comment on the operational details, but I can assure you that we are concerned about who is on that ship and why they might be coming to Canada,” Mr. Toews told guests at the Economic Club of Toronto on Monday. “There is reason to believe that a listed terrorist entity, the LTTE, may be involved in organizing and carrying out this activity. The LTTE, I remind you, is an organization that has engaged in the widespread use of suicide bombings against civilian targets in Sri Lanka, and used extortion and intimidation to raise funds within the Canadian Tamil community.” (National Post : 11 Aug 2010).

Lakshman Kadirgamar 5th Death Anniversary - Lakshman Kadirgamar the Patriot - By K. Godage, Former Ambassador - Five years have gone by since the murderous LTTE assassinated this great son of Sri Lanka, who was indeed a colossus. I was fortunate to have had the privilege of both working closely with him and also of travelling with him extensively when this great advocate countered the biased image of our country that was being projected to the world through adverse propaganda by our enemies. LK, as those of us in the Ministry referred to him in private, was indeed one of a kind. He was a superb sportsman, a brilliant lawyer, an intellectual and above all a principled humanist. He felt deeply for people and above all for the Tamil people of our land who were suffering under the jackboot of a dictator, he was steadfastly opposed to the use of violence to achieve political ends. He always stood for dialogue and compromise. He yearned for an end to confrontational politics and in many conversations I had with him he always hoped that the two principal political parties of our country would work together to solve the national problem. He always described himself as a Sri Lankan and was four square opposed to any division of our country. There were many Tamils who described him as a Colombo Tamil and a traitor. He was a Jaffna Tamil from Manipay and in the mould of Ponnambalam Ramanathan a true patriot. If at all CBK did anything right it was to bring LK into politics and appoint him as Foreign Minister, no role fitted him more than that. He was not only an intellectual but also an able administrator and a visionary. Whether it was with our foreign policy or achieving peace at home, he looked beyond the horizon. He was of the view that the causes of the rebellion at home had to be addressed, this did not mean that he was opposed to the crushing of the LTTE, he was totally committed to the crushing of the LTTE, he was also of the view that International Human Rights Conventions had to be respected. On many occasions I did hear him tell western counterparts that our government would never act like terrorists and that the government would at all times maintain the highest ethical and legal standards, to him respect for the observance of Human Rights and the Rule of Law had a sanctity of its own (Island ; 11 Aug 2010).

Lanka war panel begins work - An internal panel set up to look into the temporary ceasefire and the last years of civil war between government troops and the separatist Tamil Tigers began work on Wednesday amid questions targeting its credibility. The eight-member Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LRRC) panel is headed by a former attorney general. It will begin by recording testimonies from witnesses on five days in Colombo and for two days in Vavuniya, a town near the final theatre of battle. President Mahinda Rajapaksa set up the LRRC in May following intense international pressure to probe human rights abuses during the war. But the international community, including the UN, US and the EU, continue to urge an independent, international probe. Wednesday’s session began even as a group of 57 Congressmen in the US wrote a letter to Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, pushing for an independent international probe into alleged abuse of human rights and civilian deaths as the civil war ended in May, 2009. Colombo has already rejected calls for an international probe and expressed deep displeasure at the three-member panel set up by UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon to look into human rights accountability issues during the end of the war. The terms of reference for the government panel focus on the Norway-brokered ceasefire between the government and the LTTE, which lasted between February, 2002 and 2008, January. The breakdown of the ceasefire led to the resumption of an all-out war, which finally ended in a crushing military defeat for the Tigers. The LRRC has to report back to Rajapaksa in the next six months on why the ceasefire broke down and suggest ways of reconciliation so that a civil war doesn’t erupt again (Hindustan Times : 11 Aug 2010).

UNP felt Tigers could have been appeased by soft approach: Ambassador Gunatilleke - Ambassador Bernard Gunatilleke said that the then UNP-led UNF government felt that Tigers could be gradually won over by somehow keeping them in the negotiating process. Responding to a query by Rohan Perera, a member of the Lessons Learnt Commission at the Kadirgamar Institute yesterday, Ambassador Gunatilleke said that in line with the now disputed strategy the government did not confront the LTTE. Ambassador Gunatilleke said that their strategy contributed to the weakening of the group and finally led to a split in the organisation. The government had felt that longer their involvement in the negotiating process, weaker they would become, the former negotiator said, while pointing out their strategy had created the Karuna factor which brought their downfall. Asked whether Norwegian facilitators had imposed the CFA on Sri Lanka, Ambassador Gunatilleke emphasised that there had not been widespread protests against the agreement. Commenting on the post-war era, Ambassador Gunatilleke said that a hardcore section of the LTTE would continue to pose a threat and was unlikely to give up their strategy, though the LTTE no longer retained a conventional military capability. The veteran career foreign service officer emphasised the importance in working with the international community to thwart LTTE plans. Ambassador Gunatilleke alleged that the LTTE rump was still lobbying politicians and officials in various countries. He also accused them of targeting various international agencies, such as the IMF to deny international support to Sri Lanka (Island ; 11 Aug 2010).

Norway blamed for unwarranted haste in finalising CFA - Ambassador Gunatilleke says UNP leader Wickremesinghe finalized what had been initiated by President Kumaratunga - Former head of the Peace Secretariat Ambassador Bernard Gunatilleke yesterday alleged that there had been a sense of urgency on the part of the Norwegian government to finalize a Ceasefire Agreement between then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s government and the LTTE. The veteran diplomat asserted that the Norwegian facilitators had pushed for the speedy finalization of a written agreement regardless of Sri Lanka’s concerns. Testifying before the Lessons Learnt Commission, at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies, Ambassador Gunatilleke said that the Norwegian facilitators had discussed the text of the CFA with Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and some members of his cabinet. It is widely believed that the then UNF heavyweights, Milinda Moragoda, G. L. Peiris and Rauf Hakeem were those involved in the deliberations. Although none of them are listed to appear before the Commission at the moment, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa will testify on Tuesday (Aug. 17). Although he was given an opportunity to give evidence in camera, Ambassador Gunatilleke chose to publicly go on record on the Norwegian-led peace process. There were representatives from the US, Canadian and Japanese missions to monitor the proceedings. Responding to a query by the Commission, Ambassador Gunatilleke said that the Norwegian facilitators had wanted the government to keep amendments to a minimum. Although the facilitators had accepted a proposal regarding the Kandy-Jaffna A9, two key suggestions in relation to child soldiers and freedom to engage in political activity in LTTE-held territory were rejected. Ambassador Gunatilleke said that the government felt that political parties hitherto not allowed to operate in the LTTE-held area, too, should be given access to coincide with the LTTE launching their political activity in the government-held area (Island : 11 Aug 2010).

Prevent terrorists from abusing Canada's refugee system - Canadian Minister - It is imperative that Canada prevent terrorist organizations from abusing the country's refugee system', said Canadian Public Safety Minister Vic Toews. He said the Tigers have used suicide bombings against civilians in Sri Lanka, as well as extortion and intimidation to raise funds within Canada's Tamil community. "It's important to send a message that Canada should not be viewed as an easy entry into North America and that we are very concerned about security issues," Toews said. "The problem of human smuggling and illegal migration is a serious one, and the abuse of our immigration system is something that our government will not tolerate," he added. Canada is home to about 300,000 Tamils, one of the largest such populations outside Sri Lanka and India, Sun Herald reported. Canada's top security official said Monday he was getting regular briefings on a ship of asylum seekers from Sri Lanka that could be carrying terrorists. Canadian Public Safety Minister said there was reason to believe members of the LTTE are on the Thai cargo ship headed for Canada, reported Sun Herald. The MV Sun Sea is expected to reach the Pacific coast province of British Columbia this week. The US Coast Guard also was monitoring the ship. "I can assure you that we are concerned about who is on that ship and why they might be coming," Toews said at a luncheon hosted by the Economic Club of Toronto, where he singled out marine human smuggling as a top national security concern. The Tamil Tigers have been outlawed in Canada as a terrorist group since 2006.John Leeburn, a spokesman for the District of Maple Ridge outside Vancouver, said two local prisons - one for men and one for women - were preparing to make room for the refugees. Corrections officers and sheriffs at the prisons have been told to be ready for up to 500 Tamil migrants or refugees in the coming days, most of them men. A local corrections union official, Dean Purdy, said the group would include about 60 women and 40 children. Last October, a ship carrying 76 Sri Lankan migrants was intercepted in Canadian waters after crossing the Pacific from Sri Lanka. The group on board the Ocean Lady claimed to be fleeing persecution. But there were concerns some had links to the Tamil Tigers. The 76 Sri Lankan migrants from that ship have since been released and their refugee claims will be being processed over the next two years (Daily News ; 11 Aug 2010).

HFC Jaffna, a national school - The Holy Family Convent Jaffna has been upgraded as a National school with effect from August 5. This convent functioned separately as a Tamil and English convent and has now been amalgamated as Jaffna Holy Family Convent and upgraded as a National School at the request of the parents and the Bishop of Jaffna Mgr. Dr. Thomas Saundranayagam. The School Development society and the parents organized a function at the school to celebrate the occasion. This is the only Catholic girls school in the peninsula to be upgraded as a National school (Daily News ; 11 Aug 2010).

LTTE did not develop single school in 30 years - Namal Rajapaksa, MP - Tharunyata Hetak Organization President and Hambantota Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa stated that the LTTE had not developed a single school in the Kilinochchi District although they dominated the area for 30 years.  He made this observation on Monday at Bharathi Maha Vidyalaya in Kilinochchi at a ceremony to distribute 120,000 exercise books among the children of 82 schools reopened in the Kilinochchi District.  The books were donated with the funds of Tharunyata Hetak organization.  He also granted a token package of books at the ceremony held at Bharathi Maha Vidyalaya in Kilinochchi.  MP Namal Rajapaksa and MP Uditha Lokubandara visited 13 schools in Kilinochchi on Monday to find out their requirements and planned to visit more schools in the Kilinochchi District during this week.  Parliamentarian Rajapaksa stated that the LTTE had used the schools for military training and it was a clear indication of its leaders barbarianism. As the LTTE destroyed a large number of educated Tamil people who loved the country it also retarted the progress of the educated Tamil people by ruining their education (Daily News : 11 Aug 2010).

SL-Canada talks over illegal immigration - While claiming that both Sri Lanka and Canada were on alert about a ship ‘MV Sun Sea’ suspected to be carrying illegal immigrants from Sri Lanka, the government yesterday said Sri Lanka held discussions on illegal immigration and human smuggling from Sri Lanka which were linked to LTTE operations outside the country.  The High Commissioner in Ottawa met Mr. Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism of Canada and discussed mutual concerns on illegal immigration and human smuggling from Sri Lanka which are linked to LTTE operations outside the country, the Sri Lankan High Commission in Canada said..  Media reports recently said that ‘M/V Sun Sea’ which was reportedly heading towards the East Coast of Canada carrying over 200 illegal immigrants from Sri Lanka.  The Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa and the relevant Security Agencies in Colombo have been in close contact with the relevant authorities in Canada on this issue.  The High Commission also had extensive discussions with the officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs & International Trade, Ministry of Citizenship & Immigration, the Canadian Boarder Services Agency, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service (CSIS).  The Canadian authorities have been briefed on the activities of the LTTE elements who are resorting to criminal activities through front organizations (Daily Mirror : 11 Aug 2010).

Please help the flood victims of Pakistan instead of harassing Sri Lanka - by Ben silva - Attention of Mr Ban Ki Moon Secretary General, UN - Please help the flood victims of Pakistan instead of harassing Sri Lanka - It is generally thought that the proposed investigative panel on Sri Lanka is to harass Sri Lanka and its leaders for having close ties with China, Pakistan and Iran. As Mahinda Gunasekera [6] pointed out, the proposed panel is unlikely to find any thing significant. Why on earth would Mr Moon investigate Sri Lanka when there are more prominent human rights violators [3]. Wikileaks have given all the evidence of human rights violations of USA and UK and over one million civilians have been unlawfully and illegally killed in Iraq due to the adventure of USA and UK to control Iraqi oil assets. The plot and harassment against Sri Lanka is complex and some issues are discussed below. When dealing with Sri Lanka, it appears that Western nations have a hidden agenda [1],[2],[4],[5]. Western nations exported terrorism, for example by allowing LTTE to have its headquarters in UK and then turning a blind eye to fundraising by LTTE. Further, the export of terrorism was fueled by Western countries giving bogus refugees citizenship of their countries and at the same time discriminating against the Sinhalese. It is hypocritical of UK to ask Pakistan to stop exporting terror when Western nations including UK were exporting terror by turning a blind eye to LTTE fund raising and propaganda (LankaWeb : 11 Aug 2010).

Tamil Tigers pair fly in to have baby

Tories set sights on Tamil ship bound for B.C. - The Canadian government made clear on Monday it is worried about who is aboard the cargo ship reportedly smuggling 200 Tamil migrants bound for British Columbia, and pronounced that it is "important to send a message that Canada should not be viewed as an easy entry into North America." Speaking at the Economic Club of Toronto, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews singled out marine human smuggling as an "emerging" concern and vowed that the government is working to equip officials with the "physical and legal means to prevent illegal migration and human smuggling." His comments come amid reports that human smugglers are monitoring how Canada deals with the arrival of the 59-metre Thai vessel known as the MV Sun Sea, which is slated to enter Canadian waters within weeks, if not days. "I don't want to comment on the operational details, but I can assure you that we are concerned about who is on that ship and why they might be coming to Canada," Mr. Toews told guests at the luncheon on Monday. "The problem of human smuggling and illegal migration is a serious one, and the abuse of our immigration system is something that our government will not tolerate." The MV Sun Sea, which authorities have been monitoring all summer, is potentially carrying members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, a terrorist group outlawed in Canada. "There is reason to believe that a listed terrorist entity, the LTTE, may be involved in organizing and carrying out this activity," Mr. Toews said. "The LTTE, I remind you, is an organization that has engaged in the widespread use of suicide bombings against civilian targets in Sri Lanka, and used extortion and intimidation to raise funds within the Canadian Tamil community." Although he said it is important that Ottawa send a clear message about its concern for people-smuggling, John Thompson, a security expert and president of the Toronto-based Mackenzie Institute, said it will be difficult for the government to broadcast any such signal (National Post ; 10 Aug 2010).

Is suspected migrant ship carrying terrorists or refugees? - Weeks after it was turned away from Australia, a Thai cargo ship believed to be carrying about 200 illegal migrants from Sri Lanka is now expected to reach Canada any day. The question is: Are those aboard terrorists or genuine refugees? That’s the same question that was raised in October when a ship with 76 migrants on board arrived off Vancouver Island. Most of them are now living in Toronto. As Canada monitors the arrival of the MV Sun Sea, a shrill propaganda war has broken out between the Sri Lankan government and Toronto’s large Tamil community. “Most of them are hardcore LTTE people (Tamil Tigers),” Sumith Dassanayake of the Sri Lankan High Commission in Ottawa said in an interview with the Star, adding that women and children are also aboard the ship. “The Tigers are trying to regroup here to keep the movement alive.” He called them a grave security threat to Canada. But David Poopalapillai of the Canadian Tamil Congress dismissed those accusations, calling it fear-mongering among ordinary Canadians. “This is exactly what the Sri Lankan government had said for the 76 men who came to Canada in October. They all proved they weren’t terrorists.” (The Star ; 10 Aug 2010).

Two more Lankan asylum ships may set sail for Canada – Rohan - As a cargo ship with 200 Tamils on board approaches British Columbia’s coastline, two other shiploads of would-be asylum seekers are planning to conduct a similar voyage, a terrorism expert Rohan Gunaratna says.  Gunaratna, head of a research center in Singapore and an expert on Sri Lanka’s Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, says the potential asylum seekers are waiting to see what kind of reception those aboard the ‘MV Sun Sea’ receive before deciding whether they, too, will set sail for Canada.  "Because of Canada’s response to ‘Ocean Lady’ last year, the Tamil Tigers decided to dispatch ‘Sun Sea’ to Canada, and depending on Canadian response to this vessel, the two other ships will arrive," Gunaratna told the Globe and Mail newspaper.  The ‘Ocean Lady’, a migrant ship with 76 Tamil asylum seekers on board, arrived on Canada’s west coast last October. Intercepted by the Emergency Response Team of the RCMP, Canada’s national police, with support from the Canadian forces and Canada Border Services Agency, the rusty freighter was boarded and detained at Ogden Point in Victoria, British Columbia.  The vessel’s passengers, all of whom claimed refugee status, were taken to a correctional facility in Vancouver for processing, detained for three months and then released, despite information that at least 25 were connected to the Tamil Tigers, a terrorist group outlawed in Canada.  Many of the migrants’ refugee applications are still pending. The process, which can cost the government up to $48,680 per applicant, could take several years.  The freighter, formerly ‘Harin Panich 19’, was originally bound for Australia before changing en route to head for Canada.  Canadian Defense Minister Peter MacKay verified last week that Canada, along with the US Coast Guard and Homeland Security, has been monitoring the ship’s advance for a while (Island : 10 Aug 2010).

The International “Statesmen” Kofi Annan, Mandela, Tutu and Jimmy Carter, the latest hirelings of the LTTE Diaspora - By Dr Garvin Karunaratne, formerly of the SLAS - Kofi Annan the former Secretary General of the United Nations, Nelson Mandela the Noble Prize Winner and former President of South Africa, Desmond Tutu, also a Nobel Prize Winner and the Archibishop of South Africa and former US President of the USA, Jimmy Carter have raised their voice in support of the United Nations’ investigation into the supposed atrocities committed by the Sri Lankan Government in annihilating the terrorist LTTE from Sri Lanka. They have together accused the Sri Lankan Government of “marginalizing the ethnic minority Tamils”. They do not know that it was the Government of Sri Lanka that liberated the Tamils that the LTTE had incarcerated in the North and the East for close upon three decades. They fail to understand that the vast majority of the Tamils living in Sri Lanka were living happily amongst the Sinhala people, enjoying all the priviledges that the entire population enjoyed. All this while the Tamils that lived in the LTTE areas were actually incarcerated by Prabhakaran at the point of the gun to do his bidding (LankaWeb ; 10 Aug 2010).

Tamil Tigers pair fly in to have baby - FEDERAL authorities will allow a couple ASIO deemed a threat to national security to have their baby on the Australian mainland. And Australian taxpayers will foot the bill. The impending birth of the Tamil couple's third child forced the Department of Immigration and Citizenship to concede last night that the pair would be flown to Perth within 12 weeks because the hospital on Christmas Island, which is excised from Australia for migration purposes, is not equipped or staffed for births. No child has been born on the island for about 15 years; residents and asylum-seekers are sent to the West Australian capital when they reach the 34th week of their pregnancies, usually with their immediate families. The woman, who is six months pregnant, is among Tamil asylum-seekers rescued by the Oceanic Viking and offered a special deal by the Rudd government last October. She was on the Australian Customs boat with the couple's two children, now aged six and three. Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar. End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar. On December 29 last year, the woman, her children and three Sri Lankan men from the Oceanic Viking flew via charter aircraft from Indonesia directly to Christmas Island. There, she and the children were reunited with her husband. He had arrived by boat a few months earlier and has also been issued an adverse security finding by ASIO. The family now lives under guard in a converted construction camp on Christmas Island and are indefinitely detained. Though ASIO's finding makes it legally impossible for Australia to accept the woman, Australia would be in breach of its human rights obligations if it returned her to Sri Lanka. This is because, like the 77 others aboard the Oceanic Viking during the standoff, she is a legal refugee designated by the UNHCR. In March, The Australian reported that the woman lived and worked in the Vanni district in Sri Lanka's north, which was controlled by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The woman's brother told The Australian that his sister had been employed in the de facto justice system set up by the LTTE, which was described by the US State Department as "agents" of the Tamil Tigers. There are three other Sri Lankans from the Oceanic Viking -- all men -- who are in limbo too, having also received adverse security assessments from ASIO (The Australian : 10 August 2010).

More Jaffna farmers take to grape cultivation - A better market have been created for grape farmers in Jaffna, with the opening of the A-9 road, Agriculture (Extension) Deputy Director Jaffna, S.Sivakumar said. He said there were 52 hectares cultivated with grapes in Jaffna in 2009 and farmers have now cultivated 56 hectares and the cultivated area increases gradually. Though there are other grapes growing districts in Sri Lanka, Jaffna is the only district growing the fruit on a commercial basis, he said. There are 400 farmers cultivating grapes in Jaffna and because of the big demand farmers who gave up cultivation have resumed cultivation of grapes, Sivakumar said. "Farmers cultivate grapes during two seasons. The main season is August-September and the other is January-February. Consumers expect the same quality as grapes imported from Australia. Australian grapes are more sweeter and seedless. We have introduced more sweeter grape varieties namely Cardinal and Israel Blue for farmers engaged in grape cultivation in Jaffna," the Deputy Director said (Daily News ; 10 Aug 2010).

Pot calling the kettle black - In 1985, Britain accommodated the LTTE Headquarters in London and continued to adopt a sterile attitude towards all the crimes committed against hapless civilians in Sri Lanka by the LTTE. London continued to be the centre of LTTE propaganda and fund collections allowing the organization to grow in stature to become the world’s most organized and ruthless terror organization in 2006 (FBI). Even though Britain had passed legislation after 9/11, banning the LTTE, that ban petered out to be a ‘paper ban’ with LTTE and their front organizations doing business as usual (Daily News : 10 Aug 2010).

Ottawa City Council is to bear the cost of nearly USD 10 million spent to provide extra security during pro- LTTE demonstrations.

KP launches an NGO - It is reported that the NGO named NERDO launched by Kumaran Pathmanathan to collect funds for the development of the north and east will be opening nine branches in this country. The web site of NERDO says that this organization was created for the purpose of brightening the future prospects of Tamil youth who were caught in the LTTE grasp and suffered the consequences of war and to uplift the public life of the north and east provinces (Sri Lanka Watch : 9 Aug 2010).

Sri Lanka - by Ira de Silva London, Canada - Mr. Matthew Russell Lee Inner City Press New York, N.Y. Dear Mr. Lee: I was sent a copy of your recent ranting about Sri Lanka dated August 3,2010 and some of the other reports that had taken place before August 3, 2010. You seem to be impatient that the panel set up by Ban to advise him on Sri Lanka is dragging it’s feet and not producing an immediate report. It seems you have no other subject to deal with other than Sri Lanka, so it is understandable that you are irritated by the delays but on the other hand, if you have been retained to keep the issue of Sri Lanka front and centre at UN press briefings, you must be happy that there is a delay as every time you ask questions about Sri Lanka or report about Sri Lanka you must be receiving some satisfaction. Is it to keep the attention of your backers focussed that you state ” after Sri Lanka’s May 2009 “bloodbath on the beach” which killed thousands of civilians”? After one year of repeating this canard, has it not occurred to you that there is no evidence of thousands of civilians killed on the beach? With the UN and other western paid NGO’s operating throughout the island surely they could have come up with evidence during the past year? Where are the bodies of the thousands killed? As you must be aware your supporters have been inflating the numbers from seven thousand initially claimed to over forty thousand as time went on. Did the INGO’s, the UN, Red Cross take these bodies out of the island? Why is it that unsubstantiated statements issued by LTTE supporters are accepted by you as “gospel”?If you were not so biased and followed even the basics of reputable journalism you would have taken note of the thousands of civilians who broke loose of their LTTE captors and streamed out of the beach area at the first opportunity. Did you note that the so called international community immediately changed their focus and began condemning the Sri Lankan Government because these people were not immediately resettled into their homes – the homes they were driven from by none other than the LTTE to make them a human shield? One year on and the task of resettlement is almost complete while your government’s actions have created millions of refugees in Afghanistan and Pakistan but the western press just ignores them and the fact that they will not be resettled any time soon. Also, what about the thousands of civilians that have been killed in Afghanistan and passed off as collateral damage? It seems that while the US and it’s allies have licence to claim an unlimited number as collateral damage during war and has been exposed by the latest publications in Wikileaks, you are harping on an incident in Sri Lanka that did not take place. Perhaps if you need more work you should focus on Afghanistan, Pakistan and also Iraq. There is plenty of evidence to keep UN investigative panels working for decades (LankaWeb : 9 Aug 2010).

Canada concerned that migrant ship could be carrying Tamil Tigers - Canada's top security official says he's concerned a ship carrying asylum seekers from Sri Lanka could be carrying members of a terrorist organization. Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said Monday they have concerns the ship could be carrying members of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, a terrorist group outlawed in Canada since 2006. The Thai cargo ship — the MV Sun Sea — is expected to reach Canada as soon as this week. Toews is being briefed regularly but declined to provide further details. He says it is imperative that Canada prevent terrorist organizations from abusing the refugee system. Sri Lanka's civil war ended in May 2009 after a massive government operation against the Tigers (Fox News : 9 Aug 2010).

Tamil groups clash in Oslo - Police in the Norwegian capital, Oslo, have arrested three Sri Lankan Tamil men thought to be from rival factions supporting the Tamil Tigers, after a clash in a Hindu religious festival, the BBC reported yesterday. The BBC report said: "Six men are wounded and three of them are arrested after dispute that evolved into the fight, "operations manager Find Belle of the Oslo Police was quoted in Norwegian media. A fight has erupted at a Hindu temple festival in Oslo on late Saturday night, it said. The injured have been admitted to Ullevål hospital in Oslo. Member of the Norwegian Council of Eelam Tamil, a pro-Tamil Tiger group led by Nediyavan, and the Norwegian Tamil Economical Unit, Sivaganesh Vadivelu is among the wounded. He is currently being treated in the Intensive Care Unit. Nediyavan was reported to be the most senior LTTE leader who opposed the appointment of Kumaran Pathmanathan (KP) as the successor to Velupillai Prabhakaran (Island : 9 Aug 2010).

Three Member Advisory Panel On Sri Lanka - Further to our media release of July 5, 2010 titled ‘UN Secretary General’s Panel on Sri Lanka is a Blunder of Serious Proportions’ wherein we discussed your having over-stepped your powers in appointing a Panel of Outside Nominees to investigate alleged human rights violations by Sri Lanka during the latter stages of the military action taken against the internationally designated terrorist group called the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) without the prior sanction of either the General Assembly or the Security Council and in contravention of the decision taken by the UNHRC in June 2009, we are now writing to raise some pertinent questions for you and your panel which is attempting to function in violation of the UN Charter. You are no doubt aware that Tamil civilians of the Vanni had been forcibly removed from their villages and herded to form a human shield for the retreating Tamil Tiger terrorist forces. The Sri Lankan authorities declared cease fires for the express purpose of having the trapped civilians move out of the battlefront to safety and care, but this was denied to them by the LTTE which turned their guns and suicide bombers on the civilians that sought to move out of the latter’s area of control. In the circumstances, the government had to unilaterally demarcate safe zones for the civilians whilst they battled the armed cadres of the Tamil Tiger terrorist group (LankaWeb : 9 Aug 2010).

Tiger clash in Norway - Norwegian Police have arrested three Sri Lankan Tamil men in Oslo thought to be from rival factions supporting the Tamil Tigers, after a clash in a Hindu religious festival. According to Oslo Police 6 men are wounded and three of them are arrested aged between 20 and 40 years after dispute that evolved into the fight. A fight has erupted during the Chariot Festival at the Murugan Hindu temple Water cutting festival in Oslo on late Saturday night. The injured have been admitted to Ullevål hospital in Oslo. A Member of the Pro Tamil Tiger Group Norwegian Council of Eezham Tamils (NCET), led by Nediyavan, and Sivaganesh Vadivelu of Norwegian Tamil Economical Unit, are among the wounded. Unconfirmed reports say that they are currently being treated in the Intensive Care Unit. Nediyavan is one of the most senior LTTE leaders who opposed the appointment of Kumaran Pathmanathan (KP) as the successor to Velupillai Prabhakaran and still also advocates a violent solution to the ethnic issue in Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka Watch : 9 Aug 2010).

Colombo-Jaffna buses plying on the sly - National Transport Commission (NTC) Transport Director Vipula Hewawalimuni yesterday said they will take legal action against unauthorized passenger buses that are plying between Colombo and Jaffna.  The buses are run by private operators without route permits. We will have solved the matter within the next few weeks, said Hewawalimuni.  Asked how many buses are plying without route permits between Colombo and Jaffna , he said the NTC will identify them with the assistance of the police. The National Transport Authority is responsible for the issue of route permits.  There are 68 buses that are plying illegally between Jaffna and Colombo, and this stands to cause a loss of Rs.10 billion to the government , according to sources at Lanka Private Bus Owners' Association.  As pointed out by Lanka Private Bus Owners Association(LPBOA) Chairman Gemunu Wijeratne, most buses that are being run illegally, are owned by politicians from both parties and several mudalalis.  "We have apprised the National Transport Commission regarding the matter as it is their responsibility to control the situation. These buses have been plying illegally for many months now, he said.  "There have also been irregularities in the tender procedure for the bus service between Jaffna and Colombo, he said.  "The Association has decided to take legal action against the situation," said Wijeratna (Daily News : 9 Aug 2010).

Tiger weapons for army - The army is using some of the functional weapons recovered during search operation in the North and East, the military said today. Colonel Duminda Gamage of the Army Media Directorate said the Ministry of Defence would decide on whether the rest of the weapons would be sold or handed to the army.  “With Ministry of Defence (MOD) approval, weapons which are functional were handed over to the army,” Colonel Gamage said.  He said there were three types of weapons recovered by the security forces - weapons with extensive and minimum damages, and those that were outdated. “We send the recovered weapons to the Central Armory. They decide what should be kept in reserve and what should be dismantled,” he said.  So far the military has recovered hundreds of thousands of weapons hidden by the LTTE from the North and East. Meanwhile, security forces recovered a massive haul of weapons including eighty 60 mm mortar bombs during a search operation carried out at Iranamadu in Killinochchi and Mulliyaweli on Sunday evening.  The weapons included six 60 mm mortar cartridges, fifteen 60 mm mortar fuses, 14 Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG), one RPG launcher, one RPG body part, twenty-eight 81 mm mortar bombs, two claymore mines, two T-56 weapon body parts, one 120 mm mortar bomb and two T-56 assault rifles were also recovered during the search operation (Daily Mirror : 9 Aug 2010).

Canada concerned - The Canadian government is concerned about the anticipated arrival of a ship carrying 200 migrants from Sri Lanka, Canada’s Public Safety Minister, told guests at a luncheon at the Economic Club of Toronto this afternoon, the Canadian media reported. The 59-metre ship, which Canadian authorities have been monitoring throughout the summer and which is expected to arrive along the British Columbia coast sometime this week, is reportedly a people-smuggling vessel and may be carrying members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, a terrorist group outlawed in Canada. “I don’t want to comment on the operational details, but I can assure you that we are concerned about who is on that ship and why they might be coming to Canada,” Vic Toews, Canada’s Public Safety Minister, told about 50 guests at a luncheon at the Economic Club of Toronto this afternoon (Daily Mirror ; 9 Aug 2010).

Northern youth to study Indian culture - Northern Province Governor Major General G A Chandrasiri said 15 selected youths from the Northern Province went India with two officers to learn the Indian cultural dance and arts. The youth will study arts and culture at a University in Chennai. The left for India Saturday. 'They will receive training for three months at the University. The youths will learn latest dancing, Baratha dance etc during this period', he added. Chandrasiri told the Daily News that the aim of sending Northern youths to India to give them opportunity to obtain the cultural knowledge after three decades of war. The Northern Province youths can learn arts and culture as well as improve cultural knowledge and values. He noted that the Northern Provincial Council sponsoring the training program has spent Rs.1.2 million. The youths were selected from all five districts in the Northern Province (Daily News ; 9 Aug 2010).

Heroic Sons of Sri Lanka who laid their lives to preserve the Unity of Mother Lanka 18 years ago

Special Supplement in Sri Lanka News Online

Lt. Gen. Denzil Kobbekaduwa & veteran war heroes remembered - One of the finest War Heroes in our contemporary history, Lieutenant General Denzil Kobbekaduwa is remembered on 8th August by grateful fellow-military personnel and people of Sri Lanka as eighteen years have passed since his untimely death. Lieutenant General Denzil Kobbekaduwa whose leadership and command brought about many victories to Sri Lanka Army during early battles of the Eelam wars fell silent on 8th August 1992 along with fellow-military veterans, Major General Wijaya Wimalarathne, Rear Admiral Mohan Jayamaha, Lieutenant Colonel H.R Stephen, Lieutenant Colonel G. H. Ariyarathne, Lieutenant Colonel Y N Palipana, Commander Asanga Lankathilaka, Lieutenant Colonel Nalin de Alwis, Lieutenant Commander C. B. Wijepura and the soldier, Private W J Wickremasinghe while they were on a military assignment in Araly Point in Kayts, Jaffna (Sri Lanka Defence Ministry : 8 Aug 2010).

Denzil-Officer and a Gentleman - The late Denzil Kobbekaduwa will be remembered for years as an officer and gentleman, attached to the Sri Lanka Army for many years, not only as a Solder but also as a sportsman. Denzil Kobbekaduwa Denzil departed in 1992 (Aug 8), 18 years back through a bomb blast by LTTE. Denzil played for Trinity College 1957-59 and won his “Rugby Lion” in the last year. Further to rugby he also won School colors in Cricket and Hockey. After leaving Trinity he joined Kandy SC and later Army SC. After his playing career was over he took up coaching in rugby and did a yeoman service for both Kandy SC and Army. Denzil after his coaching career took up refereeing and ended up as Division 1 referee. A foundation was set up by his wife Lali and his daughters to look after the needy soldiers - those who are injured and disabled through the 30-year-old war (Sunday Times : 8 Aug 2010).

A great warrior and gentleman - Eighteen years have passed since that fateful day, August 8, 1992, when a LTTE laid landmine explosion at Araly point in Jaffna peninsula, took the lives of Maj. Gen. Vijaya Wimalaratne, Lieutenant General Denzil Kobbekaduwa, Northern Naval Commander Vice Admiral Mohan Jayamaha and six other gallant officers with the only survivor being Major General Vijaya Wimalaratne’s buddy Sergeant Major Upali who lost both his legs. He is presently a Provincial Councillor of the North Central Provincial Council. The war against the LTTE terrorist took 17 long years, until the determined President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his able and capable brother Defence Secretary, Col. Gotabaya Rajapaksa guided and directed Commanders of the Army, Navy and the Air Force who fearlessly led their officers and soldiers to wipe out the LTTE terrorists and liberate the motherland from the claws of terrorism. During nearly three years long period from the year 2006 to May 2009, in which the Sri Lankan Security Forces unleashed its relentless battle against the LTTE saw the void created by the untimely death of Major General Vijaya Wimalaratne but they were fortune enough to have the guidance of valiant military leaders in the calibre of Colonel Gotabaya Rajapaksa who was groomed as military officials under Major General Wimalaratne (Sunday Observer : 8 August 2010).

Why is Moon blind to West exporting terrorism? Part II. - H. L. D. Mahindapala - Part I published yesterday focused on US State Department’s latest report on terrorism which said categorically that Tamil Tiger terrorists continue to raise funds in North America, Europe and Australia either through coercion or bogus charity funds – all of which lead to violations of human rights in Sri Lanka destabilized by terrorism. This means that these terrorist activities are continued despite the domestic laws of these Western nations prohibiting terrorist activities on their soil. The report is quite emphatic in saying: “In spite of losing the war on the ground in Sri Lanka, the LTTE’s international network of financial support was suspected to have survived largely intact.” The conclusion that can be drawn from this statement is that though the terrorist war in Sri Lanka is over, ending violations of human rights arising from it, the Western bases of the banned Tamil Tiger outfit remain intact and open for its terrorist network to carry on their illegal activities under the very noses of the Western champions of human rights. It is the international dimensions of Tamil Tiger terrorism that is a concern to Sri Lanka and the international community. The State Department has quite correctly rung the alarm bells to signal the current threats from the agents of Tamil Tiger terrorists operating in Western bases, This places a heavy responsibility on Ban Ki-Moon to raise the issue of the terrorist bases of the banned Tamil Tigers with the big powers in the West who are sheltering selected terrorists groups like the Tamil Tigers while the agents of Al Qua’ida are hunted ruthlessly day and night. It is mandatory for him to root out terrorism in all its manifestations – particularly fund raising and propagandizing — because the UN Security Council resolutions specifically identify these as primary causes of global terrorism (LankaWeb : 8 Aug 2010).

US report on terrorism points a finger at the West - Part 1 - by H. L. D. Mahindapala - In its latest Country Report on Terrorism, 2009, (August 5, 2010), the US State Department pin-points the international network of Tamil Tigers (LTTE) even after they were defeated on My 18, 2009. The report highlights four main aspects of the current Tamil Tiger activities: 1) in spite of losing the war and the serious blow to it by the capture of Selvarajah Pathmanathan (aka KP), the LTTE’s principal financier and arms supplier, “ the LTTE’s international network of financial support have survived largely intact” 2) this network continues to collect contributions from the Tamil diaspora in North America, Europe, and Australia 3) some of these contributions were coerced by locally-based LTTE sympathizers and 4) the LTTE also used Tamil charitable organizations as fronts for fundraising. All this is common knowledge to the Sri Lankan government, Tamil and non-Tamil expatriates who have been involved in Tiger manipulated events abroad, and to the international intelligence communities monitoring terrorist activities. However, what is significant is that the US has identified these activities which have serious consequences to Sri Lankan peace, stability and democracy, not to mention the global war on terrorism which continues to dominate the international agenda (LankaWeb : 8 Aug 2010).

Elders voice on Sri Lanka - by Ben Silva - OPEN LETTER to Former Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, Desmond Tutu, The Leader of THE ELDERS COUNCIL - Dear Desmond Tutu, Tutu gone ku ku Sri Lankans have suffered massively and a lot of blood spilt due to Tamil, racist terrorist violence that produced orphans, regular blowing to pieces of innocent civilians, smashing the heads of Sinhala babies, ripping the guts of Sinhala poor pregnant women and so on. Media reports indicate that LTTE treated captured Soldiers badly. They were savagely beaten and sometimes electrocuted. They crushed their genitals, also used to put chillie powder in to their foreskin Ref: http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2010/08/08/pows-of-the-eelam-war/ . Whilst Tamil terrorism was in full swing Tutu did not open his mouth and kept his mouth shut. Tutu also appear to ignore natural justice as he only appear to listen to the Tamil terrorist version of events. It is shocking and disgraceful that Tutu wants to be the spoke person for the Tamils that have carried out evil acts mentioned above. Tutu is shamefully hounding GOSL that defeated terrorism and brought law and order to the country. Shame on you Tutu. If we allow Tamils to run any part of Sri Lanka, the above indicates the type of treatment to expect. After all, the Tamils are credited with the destruction of the Sinhala civilization. It is shocking, disgusting and pathetic to see Tutu who fought a bitter war against white racism now supporting Tamil racism and Tamil imperialism. The Sinhalese fought for survival and the Tamils to expand and sustain the Chola empire. This comedian Tutu ought to read up on Tamil Nadu and the Cholas to get a better understanding of the situation in Sri Lanlka. Sri Lankans wanted the terrorists to be eliminated in what ever method to stop future loss of life .Many believe the action of GLSL is fully justified and there is precedence. Tutu ought to study history to get a better understanding of wars and conflicts. Election results show that majority approved the method used by GOSL. It is utter hypocrisy for some one who did not suffer from terrorist violence to preach human rights to GOSL.Tutu is preaching LTTE propaganda in a coded language (LankaWeb : 8 Aug 2010).

Canada, US to take action on refugee ship - The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Canadian authorities continue to monitor the ship believed to be carrying Tamil migrants sailing towards Canada. At the State Department media briefing held yesterday (5 August), Assistant Secretary Philip J. Crowley said the Thai ship MV Sun Sea is being monitored by the U.S. Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security and appropriate action will be taken depending on the destination of the ship. "As a practical matter, we monitor, through the Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security, all ships that are moving in waters and moving towards the United States. We don't know about this particular ship, what its final destination is. As I think DHS has said in the past 24 hours, it will take appropriate action depending on the course of that ship", he said. He added there was information that there may be some individuals on board the ship and the DHS is the agency that deals with such matters. "We are tracking this ship and we're prepared to take appropriate action if need be," Crowley stated. Canadian authorities too said on Sunday they are preparing to handle any situation that may arise from the arrival of the migrant ship carrying Sri Lankan Tamil refugees some time in the second week of August. "We are watching very closely. We are preparing for any inevitability and we are working closely with the international community, most notably with the United States of America," Canada's Defence Minister Peter MacKay told Canadian media (ISRIA : 8 Aug 2010).

Ottawa to bear USD 10mn cost on pro-LTTE protests - Ottawa City Council is to bear the cost of nearly USD 10 million spent to provide extra security during pro- LTTE demonstrations last year. The Ottawa Citizen reported yesterday (4 August) that the Federal Government in Cananda has not responded to the request made by the Ottawa City Councillor, Eli El-Chantiry to reimburse the USD 10 million. The City Councillor agreed that the USD 10 million the federal government gave the city was "never meant to go to things like the Tamil protests, but for on-going and continuous challenges in the nation's capital." "I would love to be able to at least get an acknowledgement," El-Chantiry said. "To ignore it like it never existed, it's not fair." A spokeswoman with Public Safety said in an e-mail to the Ottawa Citizen that "this matter is being reviewed." The City Councillor does not believe it's fair for local taxpayers to pick up the costs of keeping the peace, Ottawa Citizen said. "Would Ottawa residents appreciate paying for the costs in Toronto, is a question I ask," the City Councillor stated. Recently, the City of Ottawa did receive USD 10 million -- or USD 2 million a year to cover a five-year period -- to help pay for costs associated with national events or issues, such as policing for Canada Day or extra security when a foreign dignitary visits the capital, the report further added (ISRIA : 8 Aug 2010).

Strategy pays dividends, says expert on terrorism: Govt commended for KP’s transformation - An international expert on terrorism, Prof. Rohan Gunaratne commended the Government on its success with KPs complete transformation from an ex-terrorist to a key stakeholder in the post conflict humanitarian activities. “I must congratulate the Sri Lankan Government, first of all for capturing KP and bringing him to Sri Lanka and secondly, for ensuring that he was not put in prison. If he was (jailed), he would have been just another prisoner,” said Professor of Security Studies Rohan Gunaratna at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies of the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Delivering the Prof. Nandadasa Kodagoda memorial oration at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute (SLFI) last week, he said the Government’s decision to treat KP differently and engage him to harness his support to win the Tamil Diaspora has paid dividends. “Rehabilitation has worked for him and today he plays a key role in engaging the Tamil Diaspora towards humanitarian activities. If KP can be transformed, a very large number of people who worked against Sri Lanka can also be transformed,” he said and added that he was making this statement after meeting KP twice, once last year, shortly after the arrest and then again this year. Prof. Gunaratna said although enforcement is the best strategy to fight terrorism, engagement is the best strategy to dissuade support for terrorism and ensure genuine transformation. “To disband the LTTE’s highly destructive ideology, the Government must create platforms for former militant leaders such as KP who repent to articulate their point of view publicly.” (Sunday Observer: 8 August 2010).

Jaffna red onion farmers penetrate Dambulla market - Red onion farmers from Jaffna now bring their harvest directly to the Dambulla Economic Centre. Due to this they are up on the deal and have greater satisfaction too, said Dambulla Economic Development Society Chairman U.R. Dayanandasiri.More than 100,000 kilos of onion are brought to the Dambulla Economic Centre daily from Jaffna. Due to the prevailing peaceful situation, the Jaffna red onion farmers are able to market their products directly in the Dambulla Economic Centre without the mediation of a third person. A kilo of red onion is purchased from farmers in Jaffna at a price between Rs. 20 and Rs. 30, but is sold at a price between Rs. 40 and Rs. 55 directly by the farmers at the Dambulla Economic Centre (Sunday Observer : 8 August 2010).

Muhamalai, the prelude to Nanthikadal victory - Memories that unfold in our mind about Sri Lanka’s struggle to achieve permanent peace give an important place for the month of August which goes down in history as the one in which the LTTE started digging its own grave. It was in 2006 that the country reached a critical situation when the LTTE fired the first bullet into the air in closing the sluice gates of Mavil Aru. The LTTE started digging its own grave by giving up negotiations with the Government. Although the LTTE launched its battle against the Security Forces from Muttur and Kattaparichchan on August 1, their real intention was to capture the Jaffna peninsula, their prime focus. According to the analysts all LTTE operations in the East were a preparation for the major battle waged on August 10, 2006 in the Forward Defence Line in Jaffna, the National Front which is considered the most decisive for the LTTE. The rigid terrain from Kilali lagoon to Muhamalai and Nagar Kovil, soaked with the blood of our gallant war heroes bears testimony to the tact that the battle was so decisive for the Security forces that the country could hardly entertain hopes for dawn of peace (Sunday Observer ; 8 Aug 2010).

National security will not be compromised - Keheliya Rambukwella - Minister of Media and Mass Communication Keheliya Rambukwella said the national security would not be compromised although some persons were trying to bring up issues to tarnish the image of the Government. In an interview with the Sunday Observer he said that though the Government was accused of treating Kumaran Pathmanathan (KP) well, they have forgotten the past where LTTE frontliners were brought to the country giving VVIP facilities. “Some went to the extent of calling the LTTE leaders as ‘machan’”, he said. “Like we recorded the war victory, if we can win the hearts and minds of the Tamil Diaspora we can be victors”, he said adding that the Tamil Diaspora had completely dropped the LTTE’s ideology of a separate homeland for Tamils - and had pledged its support to develop post war Sri Lanka. He said that instead of a separate homeland they now want to support the Government to develop the country to ensure a future for the Tamils. Excerpts of the interview: (Sunday Observer : 8 Aug 2010).

Memories of Lakshman Kadirgamar, the quintessential Sri Lankan - Life is not without its tragedies and almost all of us, in the course of our human sojourn on earth, are called upon to endure our share of these tragedies. Just as much as we individually suffer indignities and ordeals, so do the countries of the world. And I am now absolutely convinced that it is Sri Lanka’s enormous tragedy and misfortune that Lakshman Kadirgamar was compelled to take leave of us before he could help put Sri Lanka right after the end of the brutal reign of Velupillai Prabhakaran and his band of ‘Liberation’ Tigers!I recall vividly the last hours of August 12, 2005, the day Lakshman Kadirgamar died at the hands of a suspected LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) assassin. Amidst his crowded life as Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister and Senior Advisor to the President on International Affairs (the latter post he held in the brief period of his political career when he did not hold the portfolio of foreign affairs), Kadirgamar found the time to give exemplary leadership to the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS) by serving as Chairman of the Centre’s Council of Management. In the latter capacity, the late Minister added immeasurable value to the BCIS’s traditional offerings and initiated several new ones. Among the noteworthy fresh offerings were two that were especially dear to his heart and by means of the completion of which he anticipated giving to Sri Lanka and the world something all of us could be proud of: the first of these was the establishment of a quality new journal under BCIS auspices and the other the commissioning of a classic study of the art of Stanley Kirinde, Kadirgamar’s contemporary at Trinity College, Kandy and at the University of Ceylon (Sunday Times : 8 Aug 2010).

Tamils have faith in President - Prabha Ganesan - Parliamentarian Prabha Ganesan who pledged to support the government on Thursday to help reach a two-third majority, said the weak Opposition could not address the grievances of the Tamils and the only leader that could solve the national problem was President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his government, which would be in power for the next 15 years. A businessman and an electronic engineer by profession, Ganesan in an interview with the Sunday Observer said his crossover was supported by all the organisers of the Democratic People's Front (DPF) and the President has pledged to look into the grievances of Tamils. "Tamils are happy and have placed trust in President Rajapaksa as he wants all ethnic groups to be Sri Lankans. President Rajapaksa has a special affection for Sri Lanka and as he was determined to free the country from terror he will develop this country to a world class destination. I don't think that there would be any other who can solve the national problem." Excerpts of the interview: (Sunday Observer : 8 Aug 2010).

Watch out for Tigers in asylum clothing

Lankan Ship With Refugees Heading To Canadian Port? - Sri Lankan Tamils in the U.S. are denying any knowledge of a ship allegedly carrying Sri Lankan refugees to a Canadian port in the West.  One source, on condition of anonymity, told AHN Media in Washington, D.C., “We know what we read on Canadian websites and have no news of any relatives or others on this ship,” adding, “If there are LTTE [Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam] rebels on board, do you expect anyone to confirm that?”  The U.S. State Department on Thursday confirmed that it was monitoring a ship carrying Sri Lankan migrants and that it might be heading for Canadian ports.  "We're not aware that the Sun Sea, which is the name of the ship, has contacted the U.S. government. We're aware that it may be moving toward Vancouver, Canada," State Department spokesman Philip J. Crowley told journalists.  Asked to comment on what kind of individuals – other than the crew presumably, are on board, Crowley said, “We are tracking this ship and we’re prepared to take appropriate action if need be.”  According to Canadian reports, the cargo ship is traveling under the Thai flag, and reports from Sri Lanka say that members of the Tamil Tiger rebel group LTTE may be on board (All Headlines News : 7 Aug 2010).

How legitimate are the recommendations of the “Elders” - by Shenali Waduge - A former presidential spokesman has forwarded a list of recommendations given in a statement issued on 3rd August 2010 by “The Elders” calling upon the Governments of India, Japan, China & US to impress upon GOSL to implement 7 remedial steps that 14 members of the retired “elders” club have drawn up. The Elders was founded in 2007 by Nelson Mandela. Its membership has 10 active leaders & 2 honorary members with Desmond Tutu functioning as its Chairman. Aung San Suu Kyi, Martti Ahtisaari, Kofi Annan, Ela Bhatt, Lakhdar Brahimi, Gro Harlem Brundtland, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Jimmy Carter, Graca Machel and Mary Robinson make up the rest of the membership. For these 14 members to spend time, gathering info, analyzing & rationalizing & to come up with practically the duplicate of allegations & recommendations been demanded of the GOSL (by the West & INGOs/NGOs) seems a little too coincidental (LankaWeb : 7 Aug 2010).

Trinco comes alive with ADB projects gradually taking shape - Scars of war, ominous though they were, did not curtail or inhibit progress; quickly reshaping the Eastern port city of Trincomalee. Funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) through the North East Coastal Community Development Project (NECCDEP), wide cross section improvement projects are on-going. Cod Bay Fisheries Harbour, re-establishing mangroves to enhance prawn, crab, and lobster stock and community development projects to promote self- improvement through home based minor industries. All such projects enthusiastically initiated are on-going. Benefits accruing although applicable to individuals are generally community-based and eventually expected strengthen each village. Drained of previous support, NECCDEP interventions were well received. Cod Bay fisheries harbour in China Bay is one. Objectives envisaged are to enhance existing berthing capacity for ocean going vessels venturing into fringe waters bordering Sri Lankan nautical limits. These sea going boats have at present out-reach limits approximately 75 nautical miles out to sea, particularly because of limited radio limits. Project Director, NECCDEP, and former Government Agent, (GA) Jaffna, S. Mariadason Croos said all ADB projects were ongoing and completion could be expected on schedule. Latest end September this year (Island : 7 Aug 2010).

Watch out for Tigers in asylum clothing: Gota - The government yesterday warned the international community to be mindful of the LTTE, though militarily defeated, was involved in human smuggling and could enter those countries posing as asylum seekers. Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa told visiting overseas delegates at the ‘Galle Dialogue 2010’ on maritime security that the international community should share intelligence to help crackdown on human smuggling. He warned that trained LTTE cadres were entering foreign countries in the guise of asylum seekers and could pose a security threat to those countries. Defence Secretary Rajapaksa also stressed out that even the LTTE has been militarily defeated in Sri Lanka, its international network remains largely intact. “In May this year, a vessel named the MV SUN SEA was reported to be off Thailand waters. The general cargo ship believed to be carrying more than 200 immigrants including a considerable number of LTTE cadres, and is heading towards Canadian waters. This voyage is part of the LTTE activists human smuggling operation that began after the military defeat of the LTTE in Sri Lanka”, the Defence Secretary said (Daily Mirror : 7 Aug 2010).

“KP”SPEAKS OUT: AN INTERVIEW WITH THE FORMER TIGER CHIEF - It was one year ago on August 5, 2009 that Thambiaiya Selvarasa Pathmanathan alias “KP” was taken into custody in Kuala Lumpur at First Tune Hotel on 316 Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman road.The former chief arms procurer of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) was brought to Colombo the following day.  KP’s capture was hailed as a significant breakthrough because the senior Tiger operative was at that time the nominal chief of the re-structured LTTE. In the aftermath of the Mullivaaikkaal debacle resulting in the demise of LTTE supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran and senior Tiger commanders, KP assumed leadership of the movement abroad. The LTTE was re-structured with KP being appointed “Thalaimai Seyalar” or chief secretary.  With KP’s capture punitive action against him by Colombo was anticipated. However in an unexpected turn of events there evolved a remarkable relationship between captor and captive where the Sri Lankan government extended its hand of friendship towards KP in a magnanimous gesture. KP in turn reciprocated pragmatically by responding in a conciliatory and co-operative spirit.  Though under detention, KP has been afforded great autonomy of action by the Government to play a constructive role in uplifting the Tamil people and achieving ethnic reconciliation.. The ex-LTTE chief has set up a new non –governmental organization known as the North – East Rehabilitation and Development Organization (NERDO).  The NERDO is focusing on the release, rehabilitation and re-settlement of ex –LTTE cadres and IDP’s of the North – East. KP himself is concentrating on garnering aid and assistance from sections of the Tamil Diaspora for the NERDO to formulate and implement projects (Daily Mirror ; 7 Aug 2010).

US COUNTRY REPORT AND LTTE TERRORISM - By H.L.D Mahindapala - The latest US Country Report on Terrorism, 2009, issued on August 5, 2010, refers to the international Tamil Tiger (LTTE) activities in Sri Lanka even after they were defeated on My 18, 2009. The report states: This (international Tiger) network continued to collect contributions from the Tamil diaspora in North America, Europe, and Australia, where there were reports that some of these contributions were coerced by locally-based LTTE sympathizers. The LTTE also used Tamil charitable organizations as fronts for fundraising. Fund raising abroad is the standard practice of the Tamil Tiger terrorists to wage their war in Sri Lanka. It is the money raised in Australia (among other countries) that fired the bullets and bombs that killed innocent civilians. Raising funds is also against international law as defined in UN Security Council Resolution 1373 and other related resolutions. Placed against this background of the global war against terrorism, it is rather comical to hear the Australian expert on terrorism, Prof. Clive Williams of the ANU saying: “They (agents of the Tamil Tiger terrorists) never done anything here except collects money and they never posed a threat to Australia. It is always been very much a support activity for the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka. “Organisations should only be on the list if they post a particular danger to Australia. I don’t know anything (the Tigers) have done that would warranted it.” (The Australian -A Plus — July 16, 2010 (Sinhale Hot News : 7 Aug 2010).

Kumaran Pathmanathan did not surrender to the Government. He was arrested.

Defence Secy. defends KP’s role in post-war plans - GR says some of those who question the legality of having a dialogue with ‘KP’ had no qualms about accepting his predecessor Prabhakaran as the sole representative of Tamils. Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa says KP could play a vital role in Sri Lanka’s efforts to patch up differences with the Tamil Diaspora. In a post-war era, nothing could be as important as reaching an understanding with the Tamil speaking people, both here and abroad, he asserts. KP, he says, can play a pivotal role in the ongoing reconciliation process. Strongly defending his decision to bring the former LTTE heavyweight to the mainstream of society, Defence Secretary Rajapaksa, in an exclusive interview with The Island, discussed what he called confidence-building-measures. "The Tamil Diaspora should be given an opportunity to join the on-going rehabilitation, reconstruction and resettlement efforts. KP and his associates are free to help us," he said. Responding to Opposition criticism of his strategy, an irate Defence Secretary said that those who raised such issues did not even know the meaning of the word strategy. The former Gajaba veteran said that only a fool would have ignored a chance to secure the support of those who had once fought for a separate state to rebuild the country and bring about national reconciliation (Island : 7 Aug 2010).

KP seen in rare video - Former LTTE chief arms procurer Kumaran Padmanathan (KP) who is now working with the government has been shown in a rare video at a program in Vavuniya with actress Anoja Weerasingha (Daily Mirror : 6 Aug 2010).

Open letter to Rev. Desmond Tutu, Leader of The Elders - By Ira De Silva, Canada - Dear Sir: To give credibility to this statement on Sri Lanka by these "Elders" it is necessary to review your statements, actions and attitudes towards Sri Lanka in the past. Collectively you have shown a deplorable lack of knowledge and balance and based your "judgements" on minimal, biased information without any attempt at verification or consideration of the possibility that what you have been told is only one side of the story. Let us review the "Elders". Desmond Tutu looks at the world from his South African experiences, namely black vs .white, oppressed vs. oppressor, and most importantly apartheid where blacks were underpriviledged, had their own "areas" namely slums and ghettos and the whites had the rest of the country and led affluent "European" life styles. He translates this to Sri Lanka and sees the Tamils who are a minority as equivalent to the blacks, the oppressed and living in their own areas. He does not seem to be aware that Tamils live everywhere in Sri Lanka, that the LTTE carried out ethnic cleansing of areas in the north and east of the country to attempt to create Tamil only areas while they lived anywhere they chose in the island as well as the fact that they are educated, very prosperous, own businesses and live on par with the rest of the population (Island : 6 Aug 2010).

Ex- LTTEers taught traditional dancing - One hundred ex-LTTE cadres were recently brought to Colombo, where they received training in traditional dancing as a part of national integration programme conducted by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. This was revealed by Chief Government Whip Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, in response to a question raised by UPFA national list MP Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha. Minister Gunawardena said that ex-LTTE cadres had displayed their newly acquired skills at national level cultural events. Opportunities have been provided for artistes to excel in Kandyan dancing and drumming through 155 cultural centres which are under the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and 2120 Art Institutes (Kalayathana) functioning under the Department of Cultural Affairs. Asked to state the action that had been taken to record the best examples of these dance forms for television and in films, the Minister said measures have been taken to record and conserve best performances of Up-country, Low-country and Sabaragamuwa dance traditions. Performing under all these traditions have also been conserved by recording them on CDs. Action has been taken to introduce and popularise these dancing forms among the public by means of television while such items are performed at State ceremonies to ensure the conservation of these items, the minister said. The Ministry had initiated several other programmes to expedite the process of national integration through cultural harmony, he added (Island : 6 Aug 2010).

US suspects LTTE's global financial network still intact - Over a year after Sri Lanka won the war against LTTE, the US still suspects that the international financial support network of the Tamil Tigers remains largely intact. However, the State Department, noted that the network likely suffered a serious blow with the arrest of Kumaran Padmanathan, who is alleged to have controlled the arms network of the now vanquished terror outfit. In its Congressionally-mandated 'Country Reports on Terrorism for the year 2009', the State Department said: "In spite of losing the war on the ground in Sri Lanka, the LTTE's international network of financial support was suspected to have survived largely intact." "However, the international network likely suffered a serious blow by the August arrest in Southeast Asia and rendition to Sri Lanka of Selvarajah Patmanathan (aka KP), the LTTE's principle financier and arms supplier," it said. The international network continued to collect contributions from the Tamil diaspora in North America, Europe, and Australia, where there were reports that some of these contributions were coerced by locally-based LTTE sympathisers. "The LTTE also used Tamil charitable organizations as fronts for fundraising," the State Department said in the report. The report noted that the Sri Lankan government was criticised for using former LTTE paramilitary organisations that relied on abduction, extra-judicial killings and other illegal tactics to combat the LTTE and their suspected sympathisers. "As the military recaptured the remainder of the LTTE-held territory, the LTTE reverted increasingly to more asymmetrical tactics, including suicide bombers and other terrorist attacks, some of which caused serious civilian casualties," it said. The report said the Sri Lankan government effectively dismantled much of the LTTE, after cornering remaining LTTE fighters and several hundred thousand civilians in the northeast of the island (Economic Times ; 6 Aug 2010).

Kumarigama, Ampara: 1988 and 2010 - This was ‘LTTE time’. This was a time of unexpected attacks at night and even during the day. LTTE ‘freedom fighters’ setting up booby traps, stopping buses, shooting passengers, storming into villages murdering children, pregnant women, the sick and the elderly in cold blood. It was a time of butchery. I was at the back of the bus. We were approaching Arantalawa, where the LTTE had killed some 30 odd Buddhist monks traveling in a bus. A fellow passenger, a student from the University of Sri Jayawardenapura, seated at the left end of the back seat of the bus, i.e. next to me, told me (in jest): ‘This is a dangerous stretch; the LTTE can come out from the shrub jungles over there (pointing towards the East) and shoot. We are used to it. We have our palms to protects us (he lifted his left hand, finger outstretched and together, indicating that this was how a bullet that might otherwise hit the head would be stopped).’ I saw the humour but couldn’t really laugh. Humour. That’s all they had. That night, seated outside his house, Premasiri told me how the LTTE had attacked a village close to his: ‘They came in the night. Everyone was asleep. Before anyone could do anything, they had killed dozens of people.’ (Daily News : 6 Aug 2010).

Govt refuses to answer question on KP Says this will endanger national security: The Government yesterday refused to answer several questions raised by an Opposition MP regarding senior LTTE member Kumaran Padmanathan alias KP on the grounds that revealing these details would put National Security in jeopardy. information is sensitive in nature and will compromise National Security if made public, Leader of the House, Irrigation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva told the House in reply to questions raised by DNA MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Among the questions, the MP raised were about the KP’s whereabouts if he to be given special pardon or if he is going to be charged in Court. Minister de Silva said investigations were still underway and details would be revealed on a later day. “National Security is of utmost importance,” he said (Daily News : 6 Aug 2010).

AYUBOWAN KP! AYUBOWAN RUDRAKUMARAN! A MATURE APPROACH TO RECONCILIATION - On the eve of the anniversary of his being captured last year in August, the infamous T.S. Pathmanathan, alias KP, known to us all as the man who succeeded the erstwhile leader of the LTTE, gave an unprecedented interview to a daily newspaper, citing his support to the Government of Sri Lanka in helping to rebuild the war devastated regions in the North and the East of the country. Reading the three day interview, the first impression one gets is as to how, a man vastly responsible for the devastation during the past thirty years, could change his views to such a degree. He was after all, the man who procured all those weapons of destruction by the shipload! Therefore, should he, according to many Sri Lankans, not be punished and prosecuted the way a terrorist should be? Or do we undertake a more mature approach? Won't KP in jail be just another prisoner? Or do we realize that KP out of jail, is of far more value to Sri Lanka's efforts at reconciliation? (Daily Mirror : 6 Aug 2010).

LTTE attempting to play transnational terrorist game

Kumaran Pathmanathan, alias Tharmalingam, alias Shanmugam Kumaran, alias KP- Arms smuggler, money launderer, the heir to the terrorism of Prabhakaran - by Charles.S.Perera - There is a recurring news item about Kumaran Pathmanathan . He was the man who was named by Prabhakaran the terrorist to take over the terrorist activities after him. A person to be considered reliable by the worlds most ruthless terrorist Velupillai Prabhakaran to carry on his terrorist activities after him , must be one who is as equal to him to carry on terrorism from where he had stopped. Robert Blake is said to have had direct contact with the LTTE terrorist leadership through Kumaran Pathmanathan- a known arms smuggler and money launderer. He was also identified as Tharmalingham, Shanmugam Kumaran or KP . He was placed on Interpol red notice, which seeks the arrest or provisional arrest of wanted persons with a view to extradition, at India’s request following the murder of Rajiv Ghandi by the Tamil Tigers. Operating the Tiger’s procurement network clandestinely from Thailand and Malaysia, KP managed to evade arrest and was appointed as the LTTE head of International relations. And subsequently named as the leader of the LTTE after him, by the thalaivar Prabhakaran himself. This is how he was identified before his arrest by the Government of Sri Lanka. Kumaran Pathmanathan did neither surrender to the Government nor did he after his arrest decline to continue terrorism as a means to set up an Eelam State for the Tamils in Sri Lanka (LankaWeb : 5 Aug 2010).

US suspects LTTE's global financial network still intact - Over a year after Sri Lanka won the war against the LTTE, the US still suspects that the international financial support network of the Tamil Tigers remains largely intact. However, the state department, noted that the network likely suffered a serious blow with the arrest of Kumaran Padmanathan, who is alleged to have controlled the arms network of the now vanquished terror outfit. In its congressionally-mandated 'Country Reports on Terrorism for the year 2009', the state department said, "In spite of losing the war on the ground in Sri Lanka, the LTTE's international network of financial support was suspected to have survived largely intact." "However, the international network likely suffered a serious blow by the August arrest in Southeast Asia and rendition to Sri Lanka of Selvarajah Patmanathan (aka KP), the LTTE's principle financier and arms supplier," it said. The international network continued to collect contributions from the Tamil diaspora in North America, Europe, and Australia, where there were reports that some of these contributions were coerced by locally-based LTTE sympathisers (DNA : 5 Aug 2010).

More Tamil vessels may be headed for Canada - As the MV Sun Sea approaches the B.C. coast, two more ships of potential asylum seekers are preparing to set sail, terrorism expert says.  Two shiploads of potential asylum seekers are waiting to see how Canada deals with a vessel expected to arrive in B.C. next week with 200 Tamils on board before deciding if they, too, will head for Canada’s shores, a top terrorism expert says.  “There are two other vessels that are planning to conduct a similar voyage to Canada,” said Rohan Gunaratna, who heads a research centre in Singapore. Dr. Gunaratna, whose area of expertise is Sri Lanka’s Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, declined to disclose his sources but was one of the first people to warn Canada about the MV Sun Sea – which reports say is in the eastern Pacific Ocean bound for British Columbia – when the ship was initially travelling to Australia.  In a telephone interview, Dr. Gunaratna said the MV Sun Sea will likely arrive in B.C. some time next week, less than a year after the migrant ship Ocean Lady arrived off Canada’s west coast with 76 Tamil asylum seekers on board (Globe and Mail : 5 Aug 2010).

LTTE attempting to play transnational terrorist game - Ex US Assistant Secretary - The boat carrying around 200 asylum seekers from Sri Lanka heading towards North America was part of an attempt by the Tigers to “create a network again and play the transnational terrorist game,” the Washington Post quoting former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for South and Southeast Asia James Clad, reported yesterday. “I’m not an advocate for sending people back to their deaths, but that is just not happening in Sri Lanka,” he said. “I’ve helped a lot of migrants before, but I know a scam when I see one,” he added. Excerpts from the Washington Post article: An estimated 200 asylum seekers from Sri Lanka, including some believed to be members of a group the United States has labelled a terrorist organization, are aboard a ship in the Pacific Ocean heading towards North America, according to U S Government officials and other sources. The MV Sun Sea had been destined for Australia but changed course after its captain determined that Australia’s navy and coastguard would prevent it from landing. Its current destination is believed to be the west coast of Canada, and it is expected to make landfall mid-month. “We are aware of the vessel and are monitoring its progress,” Homeland Security Department Spokesman Matthew Chandler said. “Should an emergency arise, the United States will respond appropriately.” The passengers are believed to include members of the LTTE as well as women and children. Sri Lankan newspaper reports said the ship had passed through the Straits of Malacca and was monitored by the Thai navy before heading east toward North America (Daily News : 5 Aug 2010).

A post – war challenge for Sri Lanka: Dismantling the LTTE overseas and rebuilding a Sri Lankan identity - “Sri Lanka defeated the world’s first insurgency of the 21st century.1 On May 19, 2009, the country achieved a great strategic and moral triumph by militarily defeating the LTTE,” said Professor Rohan Gunaratna. In a keynote address delivered at the Auditorium of the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute on the invitation of the Nandadasa Kodagoda Memorial Trust Professor Gunaratna further said, “The theory that a political solution is a prelude to defeating an insurgency articulated by Western theorists and scholars was shattered. After three decades of fighting a cruel and costly insurgency, peace finally returned to Sri Lanka. He observed that whether peace will endure and future prosperity will be achieved will depend on the ability and willingness of the political leaders of the country to work together across the party divide to build a new Sri Lanka. “ Given below the full text of the address by Rohan Gunaratna, Professor of Security Studies at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore: (Asian Tribune ; 5 Aug 2010).

Sri Lanka Government confiscating LTTE assets

Desmond Tutu rebukes Sri Lanka - By Asoka Weerasinghe, Canada - OPEN LETTER to Former Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, Desmond Tutu, The Leader of THE ELDERS COUNCIL, Dear Desmond Tutu: I just read a news item by-lined by Robert Mackey which said “Desmond Tutu Rebukes Sri Lanka”. “Oh, No, not you again Desmond!” I thought. A few lines down the news item, it said, “The Elders, a council of retired global leaders led by Desmond Tutu, issues statement on Tuesday rebuking the government of Sri Lanka….” Ha! Well… I thought, Desmond. Trying to find who these great world leaders were I found out that they included Kofi Annan and Jimmy Carter and of course, the inimitable you leading the pack. “The Elders” you called yourself, and I expected you all to be a bunch like The Elders of the First Nations communities, who have been a group of greatly respected members of the communities of the North American Native peoples. They were the primary source of all the knowledge that has been accumulated by their communities as they are teachers, philosophers, historians, healers, judges and counsellors. These are the elders who have been the keepers of spiritual ceremonies and traditional laws and have sustained First Nations through thousands of years (LankaWeb : 4 Aug 2010).

Eelam War IV, writing in the public interest and DRW Award II - Journalism Awards for Excellence: A different perspective - The Colombo-based pro-LTTE lobby had control over key decision makers in the then UNP-led UNF government, which ousted President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s PA at the December 5, 2001 parliamentary elections. The grouping brazenly promoted separatist sentiments at the expense of the military establishment. The state-run media turned a blind eye to the rapidly deteriorating situation as the LTTE exploited the CFA to strengthen its political and military hold of the Northern and Eastern Provinces. Until President Kumaratunga stepped in early 2004 to take over three key ministries, including media and defence, the government and its media gurus had had a field day. The then Eastern Naval Commander Rear Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda had been at the receiving end of a hostile propaganda campaign for publicly warning of an LTTE build-up in the East. A section of the state media, which now boasts of spearheading a media blitz against the LTTE during Eelam War IV, went to the extent of ridiculing the officer at the behest of the UNP leaders. The Island provided him with space to explain his position (Island : 4 Aug 2010).

Ex-LTTE cadres receiving vocational training – Dew - Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Minister Dew Gunasekera yesterday told parliament that 133,848 persons had been accommodated in 237 welfare facilities in the Northern and Eastern provinces. Of them, former LTTE cadres had been given an opportunity to receive vocational training in masonry, plumbing, carpentry, computer technology, apparel industry and agriculture, he said. Minister Gunasekera said that some of the ex-combatants had been provided with residential training facilities at the Hindu College in Ratmalana. According to him, steps had been taken to provide educational facilities to those studying for the GCE (Ordinary Level) and GCE (Advanced Level) examinations. The government had set up two special education centres in Vavuniya for this purpose, he said. The Minister was responding to a query from UNP Kurunegala District MP Dayasiri Jayasekera (Island : 4 Aug 2010).

Government confiscating LTTE assets - Prime Minister DM Jayaratne yesterday stated that the Government is in the process to confiscating the assets including houses, plots of land and business establishments that were run by the LTTE in Colombo and the suburbs.  The Prime Minister moving the Motion to extend the Emergency Regulations by another one month, in Parliament further stated that information about the assets of the LTTE in Colombo and the suburbs are being divulged by LTTE cadres who have been arrested.  The Premier further said that 723 LTTE cadres were arrested by the Security Forces from IDP centres during the last month. Altogether 765 have been arrested under the Public Security Ordinance and another 74 under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. He further stated that with the information received from LTTE cadres in custody large quantities of weapons hidden by the LTTE are still being recovered. The Prime Minister also stated it is obvious that the pro-LTTE International Organizations are attempting to reinvigorate the LTTE. The Government of Canada very recently banned an NGO that supported the LTTE. Another person in South India was also imprisoned for one year after continuing to support the LTTE. The Premier said that on these grounds, the extension of Emergency Regulations was essential and requested the members of the House to vote for the Emergency Regulations and unite to develop the country's economy (Daily News : 4 Aug 2010).

Tamil Migrant Ship M/V Sun Sea will arrive Canada by Aug 14th - By Gamage Bandulahewa - The 59-metre Thailand registered 767 Ton Macgregor type cargo ship "Harin Panich 19", now renamed as MV Sun Sea with over 200 Tamil migrants on board, destined for Canada from Maldives is expected to arrive the Canadian Coast close to Victoria in Province of British Columbia by August 14th but depending on the conditions of high seas of Pacific Ocean it may arrive few days early or few days late. The vessel was spotted in the Gulf of Thailand by the Philippine Coast Guard in May. The Asian Tribune reported in July that MV Sun Sea was seen near Guatemala heading north towards Canada 10 days ago. The U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Division based out of San Francisco confirmed a sighting of the MV Sun Sea. “All I can say is that it is carrying the Thai flag and it is believed to be travelling towards British Columbia,” Adam Stanton of the Coast Guard’s Pacific area public affairs office said, but would not comment on its exact whereabouts. Many aboard the ship are members of the terrorist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Movement of a large number of high-value combatants and intelligence officers aboard MV Sun Sea may be part of an effort by surviving members of the LTTE to reconstitute from a base of operations in Canada. The ship is captained by Kamalraj Kandasamy a.k.a Vinod, a senior member of the LTTE who conducted North Korean arms procurement voyages for the LTTE and manned by a 24-member crew. The LTTE’s shipping and procurement staffers are highly skilled. They are masters in clandestine and compartmentalized operations. Today, they want to survive and people smuggling is one of their most lucrative businesses (Asian Tribune : 4 Aug 2010).

The Australian Navy have arrested 81 Sri Lankan Tamils for illegally trying to enter Australia

UN panel prepares list - The Panel appointed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to advise him on matters relating to Sri Lanka is compiling a list of Sri Lankan officials who will be approached in order to gather information to compile a report, UN sources told Daily Mirror online. When asked if detained former Army Chief General Sarath Fonseka is among those likely to be approached, the UN source refused to commit to a response but added that his name ‘may be’ included after the General himself publicly announced that he is prepared to meet the Expert Panel. The panel is yet to name the Sri Lankan officials who are likely to be approached and although the Sri Lankan government has already said that visas will not be given to the panel members to visit Sri Lanka to carry out their work, there is a possibility that the information will be collected over the telephone. Ban Ki Moon appointed his three member panel in June to advise him on implementing the commitment on human rights accountability made in the Joint Statement issued by the Secretary-General and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa after the UN chief visited the island in May 2009. Meanwhile speaking to Daily Mirror online from New York, the UN’s Associate Spokesperson Farhan Haqq said that the three member panel had already held its first meeting in New York and are expected to meet again early this month. However Haqq said that while an exact date could not be given for the panel’s second meeting, it was during this meeting that the panel would formally begin its work and start the four month deadline. “Although the panel already met once, it will begin its formal work when they meet for the second time in the early weeks of August,” Haqq said. When questioned if the panel was an investigative body since most of its staff was from the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights, Haqq reiterated that the three member panel was not an investigative body and was only an advisory panel. “Although some of their staff is from Navi Pillai’s office, this is not an investigative body and will not be conducting investigations in any way. This is clearly an advisory body,” Haqq said. When further questioned if any Sri Lankan officials would be approached to gather information by the panel Haqq said, “We will allow the panel to decide how exactly their work is going to be conducted and will not make comments on behalf of the panel.” (Daily Mirror online : 3 Aug 2010)

Sri Lanka - New look for Colombo with LTTE’s demise – Dr. Kohona - Today, with the demise of the Tamil Tigers, Galle Face is thronged with people. Children flying kites, ice cream and kadala vendors competing with each other to attract their attention, balloons bobbing up joyously in children’s hands, lovers cuddling under black umbrellas – this is peace indeed after the end of the dreaded Tamil Tigers, the Sri Lankan Ambassador to UN, Dr. Palitha Kohona states in the Jim Luce Stewardship Report dated July 25, 2010. He adds that this is a different situation to what was witnessed earlier during ‘the reign of terror unleashed by the Tamil Tigers …with road side bombs being exploded regularly and civilians being targeted indiscriminately’. ‘The Galle Face Green emptied and remained abandoned by the public during this long period. There were no childish squeals or coy giggles of young lovers’, Dr. Kohona states. Following is the article on the Jim Luce Stewardship report by Dr. Palitha Kohona: (ISRIA : 3 Aug 2010).

PM says 723 LTTE cadres arrested from welfare camps in July - Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne yesterday told Parliament that in July security authorities had arrested 723 LTTE cadres from welfare camps. Moving a motion, seeking the extension of the state of emergency by one month, PM Jayaratne said that altogether 765 persons had been arrested under emergency regulations and out of them, 74 were detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Emphasising on the need to continue with emergency regulations, Jayaratne said emergency regulations were needed to ensure the LTTE would not make a fresh attempt to destabilize the country. Although the LTTE had been crushed militarily, Jayaratne said that there were some elements still trying to revive the separatist cause. He said: "We need emergency regulations to curb such attempts. The international community has realized its folly in allowing the LTTE to operate abroad. But they are now taking action against them." (Island : 3 Aug 2010).

Wanted in Rajiv case, KP now heading NGO in Lanka - "LTTE's self proclaimed leader in exile… Kumaran Patmanathan alias KP was the key arms smuggler who conspired to assassinate several VVIPs including the former Indian Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi." That was Sri Lanka government’s portal news.lk’s description of KP on August 7, 2009, two days after his arrest in Kuala Lumpur.  A year later, the smuggler and conspirator has become a VVIP himself. Seldom does a prisoner – he’s yet to be produced in court after a year – get to invite business delegates from abroad, fly to other parts of the country with them and even issue a statement inviting foreign investments.  But KP, a terrorist by the government’s own admission, is no ordinary prisoner. He had two dozen aliases during his career of buying arms and gathering money for the LTTE but the government now sees him under a new softer light, almost a halo – a critical bridge between Colombo and a section of the reluctant but rich Tamil diaspora; also someone who would have the lucrative key to LTTE’s international assets including bank accounts and financial assets.  Probably as a small measure of gratitude, the happy, expectant government has bestowed upon him the secretary-ship of a new NGO, the `North-East Rehabilitation and Development Organisation’ (NERDO). Which is not too bad for government patronage for someone in Interpol’s most wanted list and wanted in a neighbouring country for his role in murdering a former PM.  "We need your help. We need it now. We need your physical, intellectual and financial contribution. We need your advice and plans,’’ KP recently wrote to Tamil diaspora businessmen with all the enthusiasm of a broker.  The perennially suspicious and Marxist party, Janatha Vimukti Peramuna (JVP) found all this new found cosiness and exchange of letters a bit jarring. It pointed out that while KP gets to wear a new cap and give leisurely newspaper interviews, Sri Lanka has another high-profile prisoner, former army chief, Sarath Fonseka, who was actually on the winning side in the civil war but is now charged with corruption and conspiracy (Hindustan Times : 3 Aug 2010).

I confess! - By Malinda Seneviratne - On the 28th day of December in the year 2008, I stated in a weekly column I wrote to a national newspaper that the outcome of the war was a toss up, that it was impossible to tell if the Sri Lankan security forces would defeat the LTTE or whether the LTTE would rout the troops and secure a decisive victory, I confess.  Considering the fact that the Army liberated Kilinochchi 5 days later, i.e. the second day of January, 2009, I confess I could offer one of two explanations for my inability as defence correspondent. I could explain my inability in terms of outcome-preference, i.e. I wanted the LTTE to win or that I wanted the Government to lose, which is and is not the same thing. I confess that I do understand that my statement looks silly in light of what happened on January 2, 2009 and that I opened myself to the charge of journalistic/analytical incompetence.  I confess that I have been selective in my reportage, highlighting certain irregularities in the security forces while playing down or even ignoring others. I confess that this selectivity could be interpreted as mischievous. Indeed, I confess that it opens me to the charge of using whatever information I got my hands on to blackmail people.  I confess that my behaviour and selectivity can very well make people believe that information I once unearthed regarding procurement irregularities was used to arm-twist a senior minister into securing for myself some real estate (Sinhale Hot News : 3 Aug 2010).

Lankan boat people arrested - The Australian Navy have arrested 81 Sri Lankan Tamils for illegally trying to enter Australia on the maritime boarder near Christmas Island yesterday. According to the External Affairs Ministry’s spokesman here, the boat was spotted close to Christmas Island and on the verge of sinking when the Australian Navy rescued it.  He said that the rescued boat people were brought a shore along with the boat. They have sent to hospital for treatment.  The Australian Navy arrested the boat owners and are conducting further investigations (Daily News : 2 Aug 2010).

Tamil Diaspora is making a fresh attempt to undermine Sri Lanka by organising large scale human smuggling operations targeting developed countries, particularly Australia and Canada. Here below are some related previous news items .....

• Tamil asylum seekers sent back (The AGE, 13 March 2010).
• Asylum seeker spokesman ‘Alex’ disappears (Ada Derana ; 2 March 2010)
• Tamil Tigers `identified on asylum-seeker boat' (The Australian : 23 Dec 2009).
• LTTE cadres identified on Aussie asylum-seeker boat (Daily Mirror: 22 Dec 2009).
• Refugees pay $40,000 to come by plane (The Australian : 24 Nov 2009).
• Former Aussie FM disputes ‘refugee’ claims by boat people (Sunday Observer : 22 Nov 2009).
• Lankan boat people sent back (Daily News ; 17 Nov 2009).
• Sri Lanka's UN representative, Dr Palitha Kohona,  joins ABC Lateline (ABC Lateline ; 11 Nov 2009).
• Ban Tamil Tigers, Sri Lanka urges (The Australian : 11 Nov 2009).
• Sri Lankan deal to stop asylum boats (The Australian : 10 Nov 2009).
• Notorious Toronto gangster re-emerges as Sri Lankan asylum seeker (National Post : 9 Nov 2009).
• Dilemma of the Boat People and Mighty Australian Prime Minister Mr.Rudd! (LankaWeb : 6 Nov 2009).
• Sri Lankan group pushes for resolution of Oceanic Viking stand off (ABC Radio News : 6 Nov 2009).
• Explosive residue found on Lankan migrants' clothing (Daily News ; 4 Nov 2009).
• Asylum-seekers admit living in Indonesia (The AGE ; 1 Nov 2009).
• Asylum-seekers admit living in Indonesia(Sydney Morning Herald : 1 Nov 2009).
• Asylum-seekers admit living in Indonesia (Sydney Morning Herald ; 1 Nov 2009).
• Asylum seekers living in Indonesia for years (ABC News: 1 Nov 2009).
• Asylum seekers admit living in Indonesia (Bigpond News : 1 Nov 2009).
• Sri Lanka seeks access to suspected LTTE cadres held in Canada (Sunday Island ; 1 Nov 2009).
• Terror promotion by humanitarian means (Island ; 31 Oct 2009). (Re-produced in Sri Lanka News Online)
• Bogus Tamil asylum seekers and ‘people-smugglers’(LankaWeb: 31 Oct 2009).
• Indonesia gives Australia a week to remove asylum seekers (Daily Mirror: 31 Oct 2009).
• Tamil Tiger cadres among asylum-seekers must not be allowed to set foot on Australian Soils by Asoka Subhawickrama, Sydney, Australia (Letters to the Editor published in "the Australian", Friday, 30 Oct 2009)
• RE-NAME THE ASYLUM SEEKERS - An open letter to Rt. Hon. Kevin Rudd M.P.- Prime Minister of Australia (Sinhale Hot News : 30 Oct 2009).
• ABC Radio Interview by Asoka Subhawickrama, Sydney, Australia (ABC Net ; 28 Oct 2009). Listen to the Radio Interview (Sri Lanka News Online)
• Bogus Refugees (LankaWeb : 27 Oct 2009).
• Tamil Tigers in detention, says terrorism expert (The Australian : 28 Oct 2009).
• Indian link in LTTE ‘refugee’ ship exposed (Island ; 26 Oct 2009).
• Re: Ottawa Citizen Editorial – October 23,2009 (LankaWeb ; 25 Oct 2009).
• Boat people: country of origin in doubt (Sunday Observer: 25 Oct 2009).
• Mystery ship belongs to Tamil Tigers: experts (National Post in Canada : 24 Oct 2009).
• Police confirm LTTE suspect among boat people in Canada (Daily Mirror : 24 Oct 2009).
• The Cycle of Tamil Boat People (LankaWeb: 24 Oct 2009).
• Canada's refugee challenge (Ottawa Sun : 23 Oct 2009).
• Ship of Tamils stir fears of hidden Tigers (Globe and Mail ; 23 Oct 2009).
• ‘Boats carrying asylum seekers did not originate here’ Wants possible link between three groups detained in Indonesia and Australia probed (Island : 23 Oct 2009).
• ‘War criminals’ in Tamil asylum seekers’ guise worry Canada (The Indian News ; 23 Oct 2009).
• "Human Smuggling" is a business (Island : 23 Oct 2009)
• Refugees, IDPs and Peaceful Sri Lanka (Sinhale Hot news ; 23 Oct 2009).
• Switzerland pledges action against “illegal activities” of LTTE new Secretariat (Sinhale Hot News ; 23 Oct 2009).
• PRESS RELEASE – By Hasaka Ratnamalala,Noor Nizam & Asoka Perera – Sri Lankan Canadians Against Terrorism (SLCAT) (Sinhale Hot Bews ; 22 Oct 2009).
• Cargo ship passenger wanted in Sri Lanka for terrorism (National Post : 21 Oct 2009).
• People smuggling kingpin found among Lankan asylum seekers (Daily Mirror ; 19 Oct 2009).
• Hardcore LTTE among boat load of Lankans arrested in Indonesia? (Island ; 18 Oct 2009)
• Australian PM not swayed by Lankan refugees’ hunger strike (Island ; 17 Oct 2009).
• Sri Lankan Govt attacks Tamils' asylum claim (ABC Net : 16 Oct 2009)
• Hunger strike continues (ABC TV lateline ; 16 Oct 2009).

Govt. must engage with world community to stop LTTE from reorganizing - Prof. Rohan Gunaratne -- Head of the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore -- told HARD TALK that the government must not lose any time in engaging the Western nations that are the safe havens of the LTTE international network, to curb what he believed was a serious threat to Sri Lanka. He was also of the view that the government must meet the concerns of the international community to fight the growing threat against the country by the LTTE. Prof. Gunaratne is the author of several books on the Sri Lankan conflict and is in Sri Lanka to deliver the Prof. Nandadasa Kodagoda memorial lecture at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute today. He said it was important for the government to appraise the Tamil Diaspora on the work it is doing for the welfare of the Tamil civilians in the North and the East (Daily Mirror ; 2 Aug 2010).

Legal action against LTTE members - Legal action would soon be taken against 1,350 frontline LTTE members now in custody, a Police source said.  A senior police officer stated that when they were in the LTTE they had been identified as having been involved in serious crimes.  Out of them 650 are in a detention camp in Vavuniya while 700 are in the Boossa detention camp in Galle. Legal action would be instituted against those who had attacked villages, killed ordinary citizens and assassinated prominent people and officers of the Security forces.  Police said that among those against whom legal action would be instituted were those who gathered information for assassinations, transporting weapons and frontline operation against the forces.  These suspects had been identified after a lengthy investigation and were taken into custody and from those who surrendered to the security forces during the last stages of the war (Daily Mirror : 2 Aug 2010).

Explosives recovered in Killinochchi - A special team from the Trincomalee police recovered 50 kilograms of C4 explosives during a search operation carried out in Periyakulam, Vettikachchi and Killinochchi on Saturday. Ninety Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG) ammunition, ten ammunition rounds used for 60 mm mortar bombs, 29 RPG chargers, forty five hand grenades, 750 grams of TNT explosives and three pressure mines were also recovered during a search operation carried out on the same day in Killinochchi. The operations were conducted following information gathered from a former LTTE regional leader in police custody. Meanwhile in Serunuwara, a special team deployed by the Serunuwara police recovered a T56 assault rifle, one T56 magazine and 216 ammunition rounds used for T56 assault rifles during a search operation carried out in Echchalanpaththu in Punagar. A large quantity of arms and ammunition hidden underground by the LTTE in the Northern and Eastern Provinces was recovered by the Armed Forces and the Special Task Force (STF) since the conflict ended in May last year. Security Forces are continuing their search operations especially in the two provinces which were once strong foot holds of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and large quantities of buried weapons exist as a result of it (Daily Mirror : 2 Aug 2010).

Oluvil harbour work over before year end - Construction work of the Oluvil harbour will be completed before the end of the year, Ports and Aviation Deputy Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena said. The first phase of the Oluvil harbour that comprises 52 percent of the total construction has already been completed.  The second phase has started.  Work is underway to rapidly complete the project before the expected time, he said.  By the first quarter of 2011, it is intended to vest the harbour to the public. The main objective of the harbour is to lobby all commercial activities in the Eastern region, Abeygunawardena said.  The construction of a harbour in the Eastern Province was decided in the Government as part of a broader infrastructural development drive undertaken to improve the quality of life and ensure economic growth, he said.  Work on the Oluvil Harbour began on May 2008. It consists of a trade complex and fisheries port.The trade complex is 330 metres in length and has an eight metre deep jetty. The Fisheries port consists of a fish stall, a freezing facility centre, nets and other equipments. The Danish Government has given Rs 6,634 million to construct the harbour (Daily News : 2 Aug 2010).

US sleuths bribed suspect to limit wikileaks expose: Report - US investigators probing leaks of defence secrets by whistleblowing website WikiLeaks tried to bribe a suspect to "infiltrate" its data and prevent further revelations, a media report said on Sunday.  Investigators interviewed Boston-area acquaintances of Bradley E. Manning, a military analyst charged with providing documents related to Afghanistan war to the website, in an effort to prevent additional leaks, The Washington Post reported citing a person questioned in the probe.  The investigators from the Army and the state department seemed to be "looking for classified documents that they thought to be in the Boston area", the acquaintance said on condition of anonymity. "I got the impression that we're still in the process of containing a leak."  The man, a computer expert who met Manning in January, said he told the investigators in mid-June that he knew of no such documents. The computer expert also said the army offered him cash to "infiltrate" WikiLeaks.  "I turned them down. I don't want anything to do with this cloak-and-dagger stuff," he was quoted as saying.  The interview was among at least two investigations conducted in the Boston area after Manning was accused of giving WikiLeaks state department cables and a video of a helicopter attack in which unarmed civilians were killed in Baghdad, The Post said. Officials said they were investigating whether Manning leaked the Afghanistan documents made public last week, a disclosure that prompted condemnation from the Obama administration (Sri Lanka Defence Ministry : 2 Aug 2010).

GO TO CANADA? MEET NIKULUS FROM MARKHAM, ONTARIO - By Hasaka Ratnamalala – Mississauga, Ontario - Another ship load of Tamil so called refugees, heading towards Canadian coast; this time more than a year after the end of Sri Lanka’s conflict. After more than 250,000 IDPs resettled, more than million land mines were cleared, hundreds of child soldiers and LTTE carders were rehabilitated, eastern province elections and general election were held and when a time the country is rapidly going into normalcy, this ship load of Tamils coming to claim refuge in Canada. According to pro LTTE media in Canada their representative in Toronto David Poopalapillai and members of Canadian Council for Refugees and Amnesty International met high ranking ministers in Canadian conservative government in order to facilitate the Sun & Sea an another ship with Tamils looking for good time in Canada. Canadian conservative government seems to be more accommodating and welcoming the people smugglers this time. The defence minister Mr. Peter MacKay says he is arranging medical treatments for incoming Tamils, this is a quite a “U” turn comparing to the last ship load of 76 Tamils which, the minister first ordered to arrest and investigate. Also, this time Canadian Defence minister avoiding using his power under Marine transportation security act. Where, he could order to turn the ship away, before the ship enters into Canadian territory (LankaWeb : 2 Aug 2010).

Red Cross houses for IDPs - The Sri Lanka Red Cross has started its recovery assistance program to returnee Internally Displaced People (IDPs). First instalments (Rs 50,000) of housing grant (Rs 325,000) were transferred to families in Vivegananthanagar, Ananthapuram and Kanesapuram in Kilinochchi District to rebuild their own homes. The Sri Lanka Red Cross with the support of German Red Cross is assisting 400 families to rebuild their homes. Ground operations are implemented by Col Sudath Madugalle and his team at Sri Lanka Red Cross Society. The Sri Lanka Red Cross is working in collaboration with the Presidential Task Force for Resettlement, Development and Security in the Northern Province, in implementing this program. Among the identified issues which would deter the implementation, non-availability of Land Ownership Deeds has been the major concern. Abeywickrama said “considering the plight the most vulnerable people are going through being displaced, due to the war and some of whom even due to the tsunami disaster, when they have gone back, we should be deliberating assistance to them urgently. During the first phase of this program the Sri Lanka Red Cross together with International Federation (IFRC) and its Partner National Societies (PNSs) intend to assist 2000 families to rebuild 800 totally damaged houses and repair 1200 partially damaged houses, extending financial and technical assistance for house rebuilding, livelihood improvement and included with Community Based Health (CBH), Water & Sanitation and Disaster Management (CBDM) components which will reach red cross assistance to at least 5000 IPD families (25,000 people) in the returned communities (Daily News : 2 Aug 2010).

“Official to visit Sri Lanka to assess rehabilitation work” - senior official of the External Affairs Ministry will visit Sri Lanka in a week to assess the progress of rehabilitation in Tamil areas, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram said on Sunday.  Speaking to reporters after meeting the Chief Minister, Mr. Chidambaram said he had conveyed the “good news” to him. “When we met last time we discussed the rehabilitation. Now, I informed him about the decisions taken on the issue,” he said.  Besides collecting information about the progress of the housing scheme and the guidelines adopted by the Sri Lankan government for allocation of houses, the official would also find out how many Tamils had returned to their homes.  Mr Chidambaram said the official would also assess the various works sponsored by the Indian government, including the renovation of Palali Airport and Kankesanthurai Port. “He will find out what is needed in the future,” he said (Hindu : 2 Aug 2010).

LTTE ship, carrying at least 200 LTTE cadres and hardcore leaders on the way to Canada

Lankan migrants nabbed - Eighty five Sri Lankans who attempted to migrate to Australia illegally through the maritime border were arrested by the Australian navy. These arrests were made when the migrants were sited in a small boat close to Christmas Island. The migrants were mostly Tamil nationals. The boatman was also arrested by the Australian navy (Daily Mirror : 2 Aug 2010).

Outfit did not negotiate honestly: LTTE’s withdrawal from talks, a severe blunder - Dr. Joy Maheswaran - Dr. Joy Maheswaran, one of the key negotiators of the LTTE when the outfit engaged in talks with the Government from 2002 to 2005, said that the LTTE made a severe blunder by withdrawing from the peace talks and had dug its own grave. Dr. Maheswaran who is currently domiciled in Melbourne, Australia was delivering the Professor Eliazer memorial lecture at the University of Monash last week. Elaborating on the blunders that the LTTE had committed, Dr. Maheswaran said that the outfit did not negotiate honestly to reach a durable settlement to the national question in Sri Lanka and did not conduct themselves in a reliable manner. Commenting on the LTTE, he said that the LTTE had been defeated completely and there was no way the outfit could regroup again. “The LTTE could have exploited the opportunity it gained in winning the rights of the Tamils and establishing peace in the island. However, the outfit had blundered in everything and toppled the apple cart,” Dr. Maheswaran said. The Government is now in a strong position and the Tamils should talk to the Government to win their rights. Dr. Maheswaran also called upon the Tamil diaspora to support the rehabilitation and the reconstruction process in the North and the East by coordinating with the Government (Sunday Observer ; 1 Aug 2010)..

Canadian authorities monitoring the arrival of Sri Lankan migrant ship - Canadian authorities are preparing to handle any situation that may be arising from the arrival of a migrant ship carrying Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in Vancouver island some time in the second week of August.  The Canadian Defence Ministry says it is prepared to intercept the ship, reportedly carrying about 200 suspected asylum seekers including women and children from Sri Lanka. The authorities expect the ship, the second in eight months, to arrive some time between August 8th and 20th at the British Columbia's coast.  "We are watching very closely. We are preparing for any inevitability and we are working closely with the international community, most notably with the United States of America," Canada's Defence Minister Peter MacKay told Canadian media.  Sri Lankan media earlier reported that the Thai ship MV Sun Sea is approaching Canada with more than 200 Sri Lankan migrants believed to be Tamil Tigers aboard.  According to reports the ship is captained by a man named Vinod, a senior member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a terrorist group banned in Canada.  "We'll have ships in Canadian waters as they approach, and then an assessment will be done with information we currently hold and anything we'll be able to garner from direct contact," the Defence Minister said.  According to the authorities, when intercepted, the ship would be brought to Vancouver Island, where the Immigration and Refugee Board would process those on board (Colombo Page : 1 Aug 2010).

Saluting a true leader in battle as we enjoy the fruits of the end of war - Colonel Azlam Fazly Laphir - At the end of a war it is not unusual for disputes to emerge among the victors on the military and political ingredients that contributed to their final success and, even more specifically, on who deserves credit for the victory. Such disputes have been much in evidence in Sri Lanka since the military defeated the LTTE about 14 months ago. Moreover, it is invariably the leaders of the successful operations against the enemy – especially, the coup de grace – who are accorded recognition as heroes of the war. Past failures and setbacks tend to be forgotten in the post-war euphoria. Perhaps the most “forgettable” among the episodes of failure in the course of the ‘Eelam Wars’ were the debacles at Mullaitivu (July 1996) and Elephant Pass (April 2000) at which the losses suffered by Sri Lanka included many thousands of men-in- arms and large hauls of battle-field hardware (Sunday Times ; 1 Aug 2010).

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