Latest News from Sri Lanka

Current Significant Issues

Saturday, 06 February 2010 06:20 AM 

After defeating 3-decades long civil war waged by the LTTE Tamil Tiger terrorists, day-to-day life of civilians has come back to normal.

Part of the large variety of animal and bird life awaiting to dazzle tourists and visitors to the Kumana National Park.

Kumana National Park which is now re-opened for tourists after a lapse of several years due to LTTE Tamil Tiger terrorism.

India-Jaffna Consulate to be launched - Foreign affairs minister Rohitha Bogollagama stated that India will shortly open its Consulate in Jaffna to promote and participate more freely in the reconstruction and rehabilitation process in the region. He affirmed the finalization of the consensus at his official visit to Jaffna Today. He also pledged an open request to all Sri Lankan expatriates and the Sri Lankan Diaspora abroad to join hands with the President in developing and constructing the country towards prosperity. The Consulate is a further step to cultivate people-to-people contact between India and the Tamil population in Jaffna and also to boost the economy in the Northern region of Sri Lanka. Reconstruction in agriculture and fisheries in the northern territorial is another of the supreme areas to be achieved via the Consulate between Sri Lanka and India (Sri Lanka Watch : 31 January 2010).

Sri Lanka Presidential elections : What's your problem? - By Asoka Weerasinghe, Canada - Board of Directors Asian Human Rights Commission, 19/F Go-Up Commercial Building, 998 Canton Road Kowloon, Hong Kong - Ladies and Gentlemen: You people continue to amaze me, not for your moral decency in your genuine concerns about Rights violations in Sri Lanka, but for your constant invective stupidity in shadow boxing with Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his governing administrators. What is wrong with you guys and gals to go into this constant bellyaching stupor? Today’s Yahoo News says: “A regional rights group raised serious questions Friday over the handling of Sri Lanka’s Presidential election…The Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission cited counting irregularities…”. Aren’t you all a bunch of cry babies? Elsewhere I read: “Issuing a preliminary report the five-member Commonwealth team which was in the country since January 18 to observe the election process said the overall administrative arrangements for voting and counting have been well conducted.” Assuming all you members of the Board of Directors have studied up top Grade 5 English, what is it that you do not understand in the above statement? If you all do not understand simple English then all of you should vacate your chairs and stop being babies in diapers sucking your thumbs and complaining to your Mummies saying, “Mummy, this Sri Lanka man Mahinda Rajapaka with a red sash dropping from around his neck gives me the belly-ache!” And if you listen to your Mummies carefully, you might hear them say, “Leave that man alone, he is a good man to his people. What is your problem child? Take that thumb off your mouth, go to the washroom and take off your diaper and put on some decent clothes and act like a sensible, mature man and a woman as I brought you up no other way.” Listen carefully, and that is what you will hear. And today I read that the : “Sri Lanka Election Secretariat has dismissed the allegations by the opposition parties that computer manipulation of votes took place during counting process of last Tuesday’s presidential election, the Island newspaper reported”. Well what is it that you all do not understand in that statement? Drrrrr….! Stop being a bunch of thumb sucking cry babies. Get your Mummy to put you to bed and ask her to sing her favourite Cradle Song: “Rock-a-bye stupid AHRC babies/in SF’s tree top/when MR’s wind blows/your cradle will rock/when the bough brakes your cradle will fall/down will come you cry babies your cradle and all.” Let’s hope that a good sleep will help you and when you wake up that all your cobwebs in your mind about Sri Lanka’s Presidential election will be cleared and that you will not have to suck your thumbs and cry anymore. Good luck, my dear Ladies and Gentlemen and have a good sleep. Good Night! Sincerely. Asoka Weerasinghe, Canada.

Rehabilitated LTTE cadres handed over to their parents - Sri Lankan authorities have handed over a batch of 56 rehabilitated LTTE cadres to their parents recently.  Former Commissioner General of Rehabilitation, Major General Daya Ratnayake released the former rebel soldiers, who underwent the rehabilitation program for a year at the Nawasenapura Rehabilitation Centre at Welikande, to their parents.  Many of them abandoned the rebel outfit and surrendered to the government forces at the height of the war. The government launched a programme to rehabilitate them so they have better prospects for their future.  The one-year rehabilitation program provides vocational training to the former rebels in areas such as information technology, sewing, plumbing, electric work, carpentry, mason work, welding, metal work, etc. with the expectation that they can earn a living once they are integrated into the society.  Last Wednesday (Jan 27) 25 LTTE cadres in Jaffna who received the one-year rehabilitation reunited with their next of kin (Colombo Page ; 31 January 2010).

Lahugala and Kumana re-open to the public - The Lahugala National Park and the Kumana Birds Sanctuary are being reopened for the public following the end of the war and return to normalcy. Local as well as foreign tourists who had been deprived of visiting place of religious and historic interest in the past are now able to visit every corner of the country. These parks were shut down in the past due to terrorist activities and totally barred for the public. However, with the elimination of terrorism, the government has decided to reopen these National Parks for local as well as foreign tourists. All necessary facilities will be accorded to the visitors (Sri Lanka Defence Ministry : 31 January 2010).

Govt reiterates pledge to develop N-E - The Government has reiterated that it will continue its efforts to develop the North and the East. Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake told the Sunday Observer that the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government, which saved those in the North and the East from LTTE terror, will continue to give priority and pump more money to develop the North and the East though they had voted for the Opposition. “Just because they were misled for political gains, we can’t overlook their development. There are many development projects on the cards under the Mahinda Chinthana Idiri Dakma to develop the North and the East”, he said. Prime Minister Wickramanayake said that the voting pattern in the former LTTE held areas, where the majority of Tamils voted for the Opposition candidate, clearly indicated there was a secret pact between the Opposition and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA). “No doubt, the main cause for the Northern and Eastern people to vote for the Opposition was the pact they had signed with the TNA,” he said. He said that as a responsible Government under the leadership of President Rajapaksa, people of the North and the East would benefit equally by the development programs. Referring to the national problem, he said that the President will soon present a solution that would be agreed upon by all political parties (Sunday Observer : 31 January 2010).

Health Ministry hands over IDP healthcare to northern officials - The Health Ministry will hand over the task of providing healthcare services to internally displaced camps in the Vanni to health officials of the Northern Province with effect from tomorrow (01). "We will be pulling out", Health Ministry spokesman said. "Health officials of the region will take over".  He said the Cabinet had only given approval to the Ministry to maintain services at the camp for six months following the arrival of the internal displaced to camps in Vanni last May.  The spokesman said there were only around 95,000 internally displaced persons still remaining in the camps. The Ministry spends over one million rupees per day on sustaining the services in these camps. The health workers have to be paid their overtime, batta and transport allowances as well as funds for their food.  The spokesman said the medical equipment in the camps would be handed over to NPC Governor, Maj. Gen. (Retd) G. A. Chandrasiri to be used at the Chettikulam Base Hospital. Nurses will not be a problem as they were from the Vavuniya Nurses Training school. Government nurses arrived to assist at the camp as soon as the displaced started coming into Chetticulam during the humanitarian operations last May. Since then nurses from the training school in Vavuniya took over. There are approximately 105 doctors serving at the camps. Forty Five of them would be left to serve the remaining IDPs while the others would be transferred to hospitals in the North and the South of the country according to the merit list, the spokesman said. The Ministry would discuss the transfers of these doctors with the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) before coming up with this year’s transfer list (Sunday Island : 31 January 2010).

Maj. Gen. Daya Ratnayake new Army Chief of Staff - Major General Daya Ratnayake has been appointed Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army. He replaces Maj. Gen. Mendaka Samarasinghe who has been transferred to the Joint Operations Headquarters. Maj. Gen. Ratnayaka earlier served as Director General of Rehabilitation (Sunday Island : 31 January 2010).

Plans for Northern Provincial Council - With the democratic process expected to gather pace in the North, government is intending to hold elections to a Provincial Council for the North presently and to make it operational, APRC chairman and Science and Technology Minister Prof. Tissa Vitarana said. He said that the APRC process awaited fresh inputs from the new crop of Northern and Eastern political leaders who would be thrown-up by the parliamentary polls expected to be held soon. This will ensure ‘a better outcome’ from the APRC deliberations, the APRC chief said. The cooptation of new Tamil political leaders into the search for a political solution was envisaged in the election manifesto put out by President Rajapaksa in his re-election bid, it was explained (Sunday Island : 31 January 2010).

Southern Buddhist pilgrims throng Nagadeepa - The Jaffna peninsula is attracting a large number of local tourists from Southern areas and the historic Nagadeepa Vihara in the Nagadeepa isle. Jaffna, witnessed a record number of Buddhist pilgrims on Friday, Full Moon Day, informed sources said. The visitors from the Southern parts of the country are flocking to the Nallur Kanthaswamy Kovil, the Holy Keerimalai Tank and the historic Buddhist Holy Shrines in Kankesanthurai and Kantharodai, the sources said. According to sources, palmyrah products, plantains, grapes and vegetables in Jaffna are also having brisk sales along with the popular palmyrah toddy. A trader in Jaffna said that with the flow of Southerners into the peninsula, they need not send their products to the South, as they were enjoying brisk sales in the North (Sunday Observer : 31 January 2010).

Tamil diaspora invited to develop North - Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama called upon the Tamil diaspora to help the government to develop Jaffna into a commercial hub. He was speaking at a ceremony held at the Jaffna Public Library yesterday. He said that Tamils living abroad should contribute to develop Jaffna. "Normalcy has been restored in the North and this message should be conveyed to the world", he said. He said his ministry would make foreign investors aware of the peaceful situation in Jaffna and encourage them to invest in development projects. Minister of Social Services Douglas Devananda and Jaffna Government Agent K. Ghanesh were also present. Bogollagama who addressed the district secretaries said that a consulate centre would be set up in Jaffna to provide northerners information on foreign employment and education. He said that the first priority is to help those who seek foreign employment. The minister visited the Nallur Kanthaswamy Kovil and Nagadeepa Vihara. He also spoke to the fisher folk in Kayts (Sunday Observer : 31 January 2010).

Tamil expatriates welcome President's re-election - Praising Sri Lankans for re-electing President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the second time, the Diaspora Dialogue for Peace and Development, an organisation comprising Tamil expatriate professionals, has urged all political parties to put behind their differences and join hands with the President to rebuild the North and the East. On behalf of the Diaspora Dialogue for Peace and Development, its coordinator Dr. Noel Nadesan from Australia made a statement that the doors in the North and East are now wide open for development and rehabilitation with the victory of President Mahinda Rajapaksa (Sunday Observer : 31 January 2010).

Development plans for North and East, hill country - The Government will go ahead unhindered with all its development plans for the war-torn North and the East and the hill country plantation areas as envisaged under ‘Mahinda Chinthana’, following the resounding victory of President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the January 26 Presidential Poll, said Susil Premajayantha, UPFA General Secretary and Minister of Education. These include plans for the resettlement and comprehensive rehabilitation of the IDPs, provision of infrastructure, livelihood and educational facilities, employment opportunities, avenues for doing their traditional professions and long - term plans for their social welfare and economic prosperity, he said. The plans will also encompass the rehabilitation of ex-LTTE combatants and their return to mainstream life, the Minister said (Sunday Observer : 31 January 2010).

PC authorities to monitor IDP supplies Camps closure deadline extended - The government has decided to set a new deadline to close down camps for the internally displaced people in Vavuniya while provision of facilities such as nutritious food and sanitary items are to be stopped. Resettlement Ministry Secretary U.L.M. Halaldeen said yesterday that they would launch a rapid resettlement process from Tuesday but the date for the new deadline had not yet been fixed. Earlier the government had set a deadline of December 31 last year but the process was delayed mainly due to the presidential election campaign. The Secretary said some IDPs would be resettled in Kilinochchi on Tuesday and the ministry was awaiting mine-clearance certificates to resettle people in Mullaitivu East. However, he said the government had decided to stop the supply of nutritious food and sanitary facilities to the IDPs at camps in Vavuniya. The responsibility of looking after the IDPs would now be handed over to provincial health authorities in the north. Earlier, the supply of nutritious food for malnourished children and expectant mothers was carried out under the direct supervision of the Health Ministry (Sunday Times : 31 January 2010).

It is the time for expatriate Sri Lankans to be grateful to those who saved Sri Lanka. We have more than 125 remaining children to be sponsored.

Sri Lankan authorities arrest overseas LTTE leader, Subramaniam Sivakumar aka Rajan

Sri Lanka: Request from HRW - OPEN LETTER to Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary of the United Nations, United Nations Headquarters New York, US. ATTENTION: Human Rights Watch; Sir: I have made two observations this morning; one is that you expressed relief on the relatively peaceful conclusion to Sri Lanka’s first post-war national election. I am glad you did as Sri Lanka is generally a very peaceful nation, and I am sure you have noted by now. Sri Lankans are a group of people who refuses even slap a mosquito to death when this pesky fly keeps sucking blood off the person as well as injecting poison into the body. The second observation was that Human Rights Watch (HRW) has requested you to seek accountability from the re-elected President Mahinda Rajapaksa on human rights violations by Sri Lanka during the latter stages of the Tamil Tiger War. You have gone through this nonsense umpteen number of times before haven’t you? Here’s my advice to you Sir. These HRW personnel obviously need help to relieve their mental constipation on Sri Lanka. Prescribe them a Sri Lankan laxative which might relieve them of this troubling affliction. Ask them to request their Sri Lankan partner Sunila Abesekera to provide them with the root of a much branched legume tree, Senna auriculata, commonly known in Sri Lanka as ranawara. To boil it and drink the water that would certainly help them to gush out their precarious Sri Lanka afflicting constipation. And also ask them not to indulge too much on foods that would “stop them up” for breakfast as an excessive intake of cheeses, especially gorgonzola, and not to drink too much of milk as it produces too much of mucous which solidifies inside the body. Tell the HRW women folk that ranawara not only cleans mental constipation but also will clear their complexion as it contains Auksemeethial Anthorokvinon and rich in Tannin. This prescription will certainly help you not to be bothered by these Human Rights types as well as help Sri Lanka’s new progressive administration not to dissipate their valuable time to deal with these characters and devote their time to provide stability, reconciliation and reach greater heights after the 27 years of haemorrhaging of that sovereign island democratic nation by that bunch of ruthless Tamil Tiger terrorists, who also happens to be friends of HRW. Sincerely, Asoka Weerasinghe. cc.HRW, New York; P.Kohona, Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative at the UN.

Eighth accused pleads guilty in Rajaratnam case - A former executive of New Castle hedge fund has pleaded guilty to an insider trading scam, one of the the largest in US history, in which Sri Lankan billionaire Raj Rajaratnam is alleged to be the ringleader. Mark Kurland has pleaded guilty to conspiracy and securities fraud and faces a maximum possible prison sentence of 20 years in a New York federal court. Kurland admitted to trading on confidential information with Akami Technologies, Sun Microsystems and AMD, making him the eighth person to plead guilty in the case. Another accused from New Castle, Danielle Cheisi, however, has maintained her innocence. Multi-billionaire and Galleon Group founder Rajaratnam, 52, was charged in the case in October. He received 13 charges, four counts of conspiracy and eight counts of security fraud. Galleon Group is a hedge fund with up to USD seven billion in assets under management. Out of illegal profits, Rajaratnam alone made USD 36 million from inside information, which is double the amount originally calculated (Business Standard : 30 January 2010).

The Importance of Jehan Pereira - By Nalin Swaris Jehan Perera remains an unrepentant advocate of the LTTE’s cause - even of LTTE post mortem. Perera seems to have undergone a make-over and become an unbiased political commentator. Consider his painless, noiseless move to The Island newspaper from The Daily Mirror. However, a discerning reader will be quick to see that though his writings have become subtler, his heart is still in the den. Many have not forgotten that until sometime in 2002, he was an Island columnist. It is not known whether this peace pigeon was shooed off or not, but it found a perch in The Daily Mirror where it was given a free hand until it apparently had fallen from grace (Asian Tribune : 30 January 2010).

Ingratitude or Idiocy - Prof. P.A. de Silva - It was on 11th January that I wrote about the Ingratitude of Man. At that time I never thought that I will be compelled to write on the same theme again. But some election results have compelled me to write.  It is well known that every time a Sinhala politician tried to give some help to the Tamils or the Christians there was wide spread animosity and riots. But when President Rajapakse made many concessions to the Tamils and the Christians we could not locate a single Sinhala Buddhist including the clergy, who challenged him saying that he is helping the minorities at the expense of the Sinhalese. When the country had severe financial restraints in 1965 during the Dudley Senanayake Government he went all out to make a dis-proportional expenditure on the Tamil people. When this was challenged by some groups he accepted the fact the expenditure was out of proportion, but to give similar benefits to the Sinhala people would cost heavily. I think it was the wording of the letter rather than the actual expenditure that brought about a crisis and the resignation of one Member of Parliament. The crisis dragged on and Dudley lost badly in 1970 (Daily News : 30 January 2010).

Opportunity to make Sri Lanka-EU relations more stable - Sri Lankan Ambassador to the EU Ravinatha Aryasinha has said the conclusion of the Presidential Election and the re-election of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, enables the EU to re-calibrate its strategy, and find the best way possible to get together and work with Sri Lanka over the coming years, in making Sri Lanka - EU relations more stable. He said it has a real opportunity to do so, through the manner in which it chooses to handle the GSP+ issue. Ambassador Aryasinha made this observation on Wednesday at the European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with the Countries of South Asia, during a discussion on the Sri Lankan Presidential Elections. He also said: “At a time when the EU has shown a considerable understanding and willingness to accommodate the practical difficulties faced by some current GSP+ recipient countries at variance from the norm with respect to the 27 UN conventions, and are willing to review the rules of the scheme to accommodate others, it is hard to understand why the same rubric is not being applied in the case of Sri Lanka”. “Sri Lanka remains hopeful that better sense will prevail upon member countries of the EU, who themselves have faced similar situations in their long history and are acutely conscious of the complexity of ‘democracies fighting terrorism’ - a phenomenon Sri Lanka, thankfully, has been able to overcome” (Daily News : 30 January 2010).

TNA misguided Tamils - Sritharan - Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (Padmanaba) Party General Secretary Thirunavukkarasu Sritharan said that the Tamil National Alliance had misguided the Tamils. He added that as a matter of policy his party supported President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Election held on January 26. Sritharan warmly welcomed the results which showed a massive victory for President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He added that President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s political leadership led to the defeat of terrorism that ruined the country for three decades. The EPRLF General Secretary said that he was sure that the President would not be biased. He further said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had made historical contribution to the country without submitting to the pressure of external forces. The President had ensured democracy in the North and the East. It was because of his wise leadership Tamils were able to exercise their democratic rights after many years, Sritharan said. President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s hands should be strengthened by the Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims to develop the country, he pointed out. Sritharan added that all progressive forces should be united in defeating reactionaries which retarded the economic uplift of the nation (Daily News : 30 January 2010).

Tony Blair faces grilling on Iraq war - LONDON (AP) - Former Prime Minister Tony Blair faced tough questioning Friday on his controversial decision to back the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq - a pledge that led to widespread protests in Britain and weakened his standing as leader. Blair’s testimony is expected to provide the highlight of the Iraq Inquiry, a wide-ranging investigation commissioned by the government to scrutinize the behind-the-scenes machinations that brought Britain into a costly and unpopular war. An audience gathered in a central London convention center for the session included family members of soldiers and civilians killed or missing in Iraq (Island : 30 January 2010).

NPC assigned to provide health facilities for IDPs - The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry has assigned the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) to provide Internally Displaced Persons in Welfare Villages in Vavuniya with health facilities, Ministry sources said. The Northern Provincial Council will take the responsibility from February 1 to provide health facilities which have so far been carried out by the Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry. When the humanitarian mission came to the last stage, around 360,000 IDPs were reported in Welfare Villages. The Government appointed the Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry by Cabinet approval to provide health services. Cabinet approval was granted only for six months. The Health and Nutrition Services Ministry has deployed a considerable number of medical staff including 410 doctors, vehicles including 25 ambulances and much resources such as medical equipment and drugs. The Ministry has spent Rs one million daily on this health service. "The six month period is now over and health services will be carried out by the Northern Provincial Council from the beginning of next month. As a result of the Government's resettlement program, the number of IDPs has reduced to 90,000 from 360,000. The Ministry has planned to deploy only 45 doctors out of 110 doctors who are serving in Vavuniya," the sources said. Medical equipment, drugs, vehicles and ambulances will also be handed over to the Northern Provincial Council to use for the betterment of the remaining IDPs in Vavuniya. On the advice of the Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, the remaining doctors will be employed in Government hospitals throughout the country. After discussing with the GMOA, the Ministry will come to a conclusion regarding the appointing hospitals, the sources added (Daily News ; 30 January 2010).

Health of Vanni IDPs to be placed in Governor’s hands - The Health Ministry said it would withdraw services provided to IDPs in Vanni camps from Monday (01) after handing over responsibilities to the Governor of the North, Major General G. A. Chandrasiri. A spokesman for the Health Ministry said yesterday (29) that Cabinet approval to provide health care at IDP camps had been obtained only for a period of six months. He said that several decisions had been taken regarding health services at welfare camps during a review meeting held at the Health Ministry on Thursday (28). At present there are around 95,000 internally displaced persons in the welfare centres. The Ministry spends over one million rupees a day on health services in IDP camps. Health workers are paid overtime, food and transport allowances. The spokesman said the medical equipment in the camp would be handed over to NPC Governor, Maj. Gen. G. A. Chandrasiri, to be used at the Chettikulam Base Hospital. There were 105 doctors serving at these Camps at present. Forty five of them would stay back to serve the remaining IDPs while the others were transferred to hospitals in the North and the South according to the doctors’ merit list, he said. The Ministry would discuss the transfers of these doctors with the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) before implementing them (Island : 30 January 2010).

Arms, equipment seized from LTTE on display - The armed forces and the police, including its para military wing, the STF will display arms and equipment captured from the LTTE at Deyata Kirula exhibition at Pallekele, Kandy, for seven days, beginning February 4. Government sources said that of the 51-acre exhibition site, about nine would be utilised by the police and security forces. Sources said that this would be the first Deyata Kirula exhibition since the end of the war last May (Island ; 30 January 2010).

The people expressed their gratitude - By K. Godage - Congratulation go out to President Mahinda Rajapaksa for his absolutely fantastic victory. Perhaps because we were not tuned in to the thinking in the countryside, the margin of victory came as quite a surprise. Many have asked the question how we ‘read’ his victory. Those to whom I have spoken, who came from the ‘country’, never failed to mention that they attributed the victory over the LTTE to him. A school master from Kebettigollawa in the Anuradhapura District recalled how the Vadamaarachchi operation had been called off because of intimidation by India and stated that they had to be grateful to President Rajapaksa for having stood up to those who wanted the war stopped. He said repeatedly that he was voting for President Rajapaksa because he he ended this war, which had brought huge suffering to them in the NCP (Island : 30 January 2010).

Sri Lanka: President re-elected - The Editor (Letters) THE OTTAWA CITIZEN - Sir: Cest la vie! You said, “Sri Lanka: President re-elected; rival rejects results”. But the rival who is the retired Army Commander Sarath Fonseka who was one of the team that spearheaded the wiping out of the Tamil Tigers after 27 years of warring can cry foul as much a he wants to, but Sri Lankans with a spirited participation in the democratic process with a 74 percent voter turn out have spoken and have re-elected Mahinda Rajapaksa to be their President, to the chagrin of the Western powers who provided no help to eradicate Tamil Tiger terrorism in Sri Lanka. This was the most ruthless terrorists group in the world that perfected the use of suicide bombers, invented the suicide bomb body pack and pioneered the use of women in suicide attacks. The winner may not be as popular among the western nations either who were denied a “ceasefire” by President Rajapaksa at the latter stages of the Tamil Tiger war to save the leadership of this terrorist outfit. Notwithstanding, however, the real winner of this Presidential election was Sri Lankan democracy when the voters were free to exercise their franchise after thirty years without fear of terrorism. It has been reported from Sri Lanka by the independent election monitoring bodies that the election was free of violence and malpractices. In light of these reports, I hope that candidate Sarath Fonseka and the international community who supported his candidacy will respect the democratic mandate of the people of Sri Lanka and not interfere with their choice of candidate to be their President for the next six years. I say this in view of the fact that the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Report said, “A regime change is considered imperative; Rajapaksa must go.” And Canada had difficulty to acknowledge President Rajapaksa’s armed forces defeating Tamil Tiger terrorists as most other countries congratulated Sri Lanka for doing just that. It is time that the Western Nations learn not to meddle with Sri Lanka’s internal affairs, and this also goes to Canada and let President elect Mahinda Rajapaksa and his progressive forces have their space to lead that little island nation to stability, reconciliation and greater heights.

Presidential Elections - 2010

Victory for incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake at the Elections Secretariat, Rajagiriya yesterday. (Pic. Kamal Wanniarachchi).

Presidential Election 2005

Top LTTEer arrested [Kumar Rajan] -  Travelling under forged passport -  Wanted by TID and Interpol -  Trained LTTE cadre - The terrorist Investigation Division (TID) yesterday apprehended in Colombo a very important LTTE activist who was at large for a couple of years. He was a close associate of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and LTTE deputy leader Castro. He was involved in procurements for the LTTE for the last 10 years and was a trained LTTE cadre, DIG TID N. Wakishta said yesterday. Addressing a press conference at the Media Centre for National Security, he said the operative was Subramainiam Sivakumar, also known as Shantha Kumar Rajan and was active in procurement for the LTTE travelling under a forged passport. He was wanted by the TID and Interpol. Sivakumar was also connected with the explosive laden vehicle found at the Sama Viharaya, Kotahena in 1996. The search for LTTE operatives and important cadres overseas has not been stopped as they were active in other countries. The TID and the Defence Ministry is continuing the search for them and we have not stopped our operations, the DIG said. Meanwhile, the security personnel and vehicles provided to Presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka was withdrawn yesterday as these were provided to him on the request made to the Election Commissioner by Fonseka, military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said at a press conference at the Media Centre for National Security (Daily News : 29 January 2010).

No Mercy to the Traitors! - by Vajiragnana Warnakulasuriya, Melbourne, Australia - Mr.President, at the outset let me extend my heartiest congratulations at your resounding Presidential victory! That was the Wish & Hope of those grateful masses to the show the gratitude from the bottom of their hearts for eradicating the evil LTTE menace from the face of Sri Lanka and making a sincere effort to usher an ever-lasting Peace among all citizens in the country! My kith & kin of Maha-Ambalangoda emphatically rejected Rtd General while the North & East and the “Kulthur” Colombians wasted their Universal franchise (LankaWeb : 28 January 2010).

TID arrests 'Rajan' senior LTTE leader - The Terrorist Investigation Division has arrested one of the most wanted senior members of LTTE named 'Rajan' recently, said DIG Nimal Wakishta, head of TID in Colombo Division. He made this comment at a press briefing held at MCNS yesterday 28 Jan. He further said that Rajan was a main supporter of LTTE and engaged in supplying of weaponry, military hardware, vehicles and other necessities to the LTTE, locally and internationally. The coordinated and clandestine operations conducted by the Ministry of Defence and intelligent agencies were vital to arrest him, he added. He further said Rajan involved in taking a bomb lorry to "Sama Viharaya" Kotahena in 1996. During the peace negotiations he had visited to Vanni and met Prabakaran and exchanged information with Tamil exiles who actively supported the LTTE. He went on to say that "though the LTTE had been wiped out from the country its activists like Rajan may still have the hope of restoring lost Elam in this country". Therefore he requested the public to be vigilant of such people (Sri Lanka Defence Ministry : 28 January 2010).

Australia snubs asylum protest - Australian Federal Immigration Minister Chris Evans says a peaceful protest by Sri Lankan detainees on Christmas Island will do little to help their cause. Senator Evans says he has been told that 133 detainees are protesting against the time it is taking to process their claims, but activist groups put the number at more than 350. They have gathered on an oval and in the recreational area and are refusing to go back to their compounds. But Senator Evans says the peaceful protest will not speed up the process. "I want to make it very clear to them and to the community ... we're not going to be responding to this," he said. "What we are going to do is ensure proper process is followed - that is people have to have had their health, identity and security checks and then they have to have been successful in their application for protection." (Daily Mirror : 29 January 2010).

India on LTTE threat alert - A security alert has been sounded in India following the seizure of ammunition on the Tamil Nadu coast and the arrest of four Indian men who allegedly helped former Tamil Tiger (LTTE) guerrillas fleeing Sri Lanka take shelter in India. Also unearthed from prime accused Selvakumar alias Jeeva's property in Rameshwaram were Rs.800,000 in Indian currency and half a kilo of heroin valued at 100,000 dollars in the global market, official sources here said. Jeeva, who has a criminal past, told his interrogators that he transferred to his boat a man and a woman from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) from the mid sea Dec 24 and brought them to Tamil Nadu. They were quietly transported inland in a car, whose driver too has been arrested. According to the 39-year-old Jeeva, a fisherman by profession, he has no idea about the present whereabouts of the pair who he says brought all that was buried in his hideout. These included 22 live rounds of 9mm ammunition and a Thuraya satellite telephone the like of which the LTTE used in large numbers as it went down fighting last year. Jeeva denied all knowledge of the heroin find. He went on to admit that he had helped bring in many former LTTE guerrillas into India since the Tigers were defeated and its top leader, Velupilllai Prabhakaran, was killed. The admission stunned police and intelligence officials who are wondering why former LTTE fighters, if they were fleeing only for safety, would like to carry live ammunition and a satellite telephone with them. Since the ammunition would be of no use without a weapon, the authorities are looking at the case - cracked following inputs from a central intelligence agency - seriously. The others who have been taken into custody include Khaleel Rahman, 39, Pazhani Kumar, Jeeva's 35-year-old cousin brother, and Raju, the car driver who is 25-years-old. The arrests took place Tuesday (Daily Mirror : 29 January 2010).

No Indian HC in Jaffna - Counsellor for Press, Information and Culture at the Indian High Commission Dinkar Asthana stated yesterday that there is no plan to set up a consulate in Jaffna. “India is assisting Sri Lanka with steady rehabilitation and reconstruction taking place but there is no plan of setting up a consulate at Jaffna anytime soon.” confirmed Asthana whilst speaking to Daily Mirror yesterday. Reports from Indian media speculated the setting up of a consulate in Jaffna with President Mahinda Rajapaksa being elected for a second term. The setting up of a consulate was supposed to allay apprehensions faced in Tamil Nadu that not enough is being done for Tamils in Sri Lanka. At present, India has a high commission in Colombo and an assistant high commission in Kandy whilst Sri Lanka has a high commission in New Delhi, a deputy high commission in Chennai, a consulate general in Mumbai and an honorary consul in Kolkata (Daily Mirror : 29 January 2010).

India to open Consulate in Jaffna soon - With the civil war in northern Sri Lanka over, India will shortly open its Consulate in Jaffna, a significant step that will enable it to participate better in the reconstruction and rehabilitation process in the Tamil-dominated region. All issues related to opening of the Consulate have been finalised and it will be inaugurated soon, sources said here. It got a bit delayed as Sri Lanka was going through the electoral process which is now over. Now, the process to open the Consulate will gather pace, they said. The step will bring about closer contact between India and the Tamil population in northern Sri Lanka, which was freed from LTTE control last year. India has announced a Rs 500 crore package for reconstruction and rehabilitation of about three lakh Tamils displaced by the war between LTTE and government forces (PTI : 28 January 2010).

LTTE operative arrested in Colombo - A foreign LTTE operative identified as Subramanium Sivakumar was arrested by the Terrorism Investigations Department (TID) in Colombo, the Director of the Terrorism Investigations Department told reporters in Colombo this evening. The LTTE operative reportedly had direct contacts with LTTE leader Vellupillai Prabakaran (Daily Mirror : 28 January 2010).

Security alert in India over LTTE landings, ammunition seizure - A security alert has been sounded following the seizure of ammunition on the Tamil Nadu coast and the arrest of four Indian men who allegedly helped former Tamil Tiger guerrillas fleeing Sri Lanka take shelter in India. Also unearthed from prime accused Selvakumar alias Jeeva's property in Rameshwaram were Rs.800,000 in Indian currency and half a kilo of heroin valued at 100,000 dollars in the global market, official sources here said. Jeeva, who has a criminal past, told his interrogators that he transferred to his boat a man and a woman from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) from the mid sea Dec 24 and brought them to Tamil Nadu. They were quietly transported inland in a car, whose driver too has been arrested. According to the 39-year-old Jeeva, a fisherman by profession, he has no idea about the present whereabouts of the pair who he says brought all that was buried in his hideout. These included 22 live rounds of 9mm ammunition and a Thuraya satellite telephone the like of which the LTTE used in large numbers as it went down fighting last year (Sify News : 28 January 2010).

My victory, people’s victory - President - Shortly after being declared the winner President Mahinda Rajapaksa speaking to the media gathered at the Elections Secretariat in Rajagiriya declared that his victory was victory of the people. From now on, he would be the President of all those who voted for him and those who didn’t. He said it was a great victory especially after the war adding that all should get together to build the country (Daily News : 28 January 2010).

Winners and losers - President Mahinda Rajapaksa has scored a magnificent victory giving the lie to claims made in some quarters that Tuesday's presidential election would have a photo finish. The President romped home winning 58 per cent of votes, the highest an incumbent has ever polled in this country and bagging 16 out of 22 electoral districts. He has surpassed himself in style! In 2005, he managed to get a meagre 50.29 per cent of votes to win the presidency (Editorial Island : 28 January 2010).

Mahinda magic works -  MR gets huge majority of 1.8 million - SF a distant 2nd, loses home base -  MR takes 16 districts, SF only six - A’galle defies CBK, gives MR majority -  SF wins North and East -  JVP-UNP marriage fails to deliver - President Mahinda Rajapaksa scored a historic victory over Opposition presidential candidate, General (retd) Sarath Fonseka at the first national poll since the collapse of the LTTE last May. The incumbent President polled a staggering 6,015,934 (57.88%) to set the stage for parliamentary elections before end of April. Fonseka polled 4,173,185 (40.15%) while the rest polled a total of 204,494 (1.9%). Fonseka lost his home base, the Ambalangoda electorate by a majority of 12,297 votes. The President polled 33,488 (62.79%) against 19,191 (35.98%) obtained by Fonseka, who vowed to win the area though the government targeted the former Army Chief’s home town. The President secured Kandy and Matale while Fonseka took Nuwara Eliya with a 30,000 vote majority though Wickremesinghe secured the entire Central Province with over 250,000 vote majority at the last presidential polls. The President also comfortably secured Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Colombo, Kalutara, Gampaha, Kurunegala, Puttalam, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Badulla, Moneragala, Ratnapura and Kegalle (Island : 28 January 2010).

Expats tells international community : Sri Lankans have spoken - Sri Lanka should be provided with space to strengthen its economy and develop the country. The concerned aggrieved western nations, NGOs, and a section of the media should refrain from taking any action to undermine the resolve of the Sri Lankan people to stand together and march ahead, Sri Lankan Expatriates for National Integration said in a release. The Association have members in USA, Canada, UK, EU, UAE, Australia, New Zealand Singapore and Japan. It said the Presidential Election has concluded in a peaceful manner except for a few minor incidents (Daily News : 28 January 2010).

CONGRATULATIONS! PRESIDENT MAHINDA RAJAPAKSA - by Malin Abeyatunge Tears of joy came into my eyes when I heard that Mahinda Rajapaksa has won with convincing majority for a second term. I guess the joy and the emotions would have been the same with voters who loved the country. We congratulate Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa for his unique victory and winning the second term as President of Sri Lanka. We salute the Sri Lankan voters who took the right decision in electing him for a second term. THESE ARE THE VERY VOTERS WHO ELECTED HIM IN 2005 AND GAVE HIM THE MANADATE TO DEFEAT THE LTTE WHICH HE ACCOMPLISHED WITH HIS RIGHT, CORRECT AND BOLD LEADERSHIP. The people in Sri Lanka do not live in fear any more and grateful to him forever (LankaWeb : 27 January 2010).

National issues of Sri Lanka should be the No. 1 priority in the forthcoming presidential election

We do not want

Presidential Polls: 14 million voters, 22 candidates, 11,000 polling centres ; Final result expected tomorrow afternoon - Nearly 250,000 government servants will be on duty for today’s 6th Presidential Election to be conducted for the first time islandwide, including the Northern and Eastern Provinces, after the conclusion of war on terrorism ended in May last year. There are 22 candidates in the fray, including incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Army Chief, General (Retd.) Sarath Fonseka, the two main contenders. Two candidates withdrew earlier. A spokesman for the Election Commissioner’s Department told The Island that 14,088,500 persons were eligible to vote at the presidential election today. Ballot boxes were sent to Kachcheries islandwide yesterday under heavy security escorts. Among the voters eligible to vote are 45,732 internally displaced persons (IDP’s) in the North and East. The Menik Farm Welfare Village in Vavuniya has 16,000 persons who have registered to cast their votes today (Island : 26 January 2010).

Canada, let the Haitians in - By Asoka weerasinghe, Canada - The Editor (Letters) The Ottawa Citizen; Sir: Minister Jason Kenney, let us not be so ridiculous to say that Canada will be "totally irresponsible" that it would be unfair to other countries to expand our immigration policies to expand sponsorship eligibility to include, in particular orphaned children from Haiti. According to the United Nation the devastation in Haiti is so complete and so catastrophic that it is the worst they have ever seen. Didn't we bring in 250,000 Tamil convention refugees just because just over 300 Tamils were killed in the heart of Colombo after the July 1983 riots, and they, Tamil Tiger terrorists and all are still being let in who are coming in boats even though the the war ended with the Tamil Tigers being decimated in May 18, 2009, and the North of the island is normalized. And these refugees are only too happy to return to Sri Lanka for their holidays now that they have got their Canadian passports. If the formula to get into Canada is to come in boats as the Tamils are doing and ask for refugee status, I am afraid the Haitians may not have a pretty penny to pay the human trafficker-agents to sail them over to our shores. Haiti has an immense task to rebuild their lives along a geo-lethal fault zone and that would take ages. Let's have a heart Canada. If you could do it for the Tamils, surely you could do it for the Haitians.

Mullaitivu booms with rapid development - Sri Lanka is on the threshold of a new beginning. The ruthless terrorism that hindered the country’ s development for almost three decades has been eradicated completely from its soil and the country is in the process of a renaissance. Despite a number of obstacles and allegations, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has been able to proclaim a new epoch in the country by liberating motherland from the clutches of terrorism. Today new aspirations and hopes have come up in minds of innocent civilians living in the North for a prosperous future. A large number of reconstruction activities have already been initiated by the Government. Simultaneously relief operations are under-way to restore the lost opportunities in the regions. Relief and resettlement operations have been expedited under directives of President Mahinda Rajapaksa by the Presidential Special Task Force on Rehabilitation and Resettlement for those people displaced from their regular places of living due to the situation that prevailed in the country (Daily News : 26 January 2010).

Indian embassy in Italy gets IED by post - In an intriguing incident, Indian embassy in Italy received an IED in the form of a postage packet a few days back prompting stepping up of security at the mission The packet which had the sender’s name as LTTE from Italy, was received at the Embassy on January 20, Ambassador Arif Khan told PTI. The envelope addressed to the Embassy of India in Italy contained two fuse wires which aroused suspicion. The police was immediately informed and a report was filed, he said. Police is investigating the incident, Khan said, adding that the security at the Embassy has been stepped up in view of this incident (Island : 26 January 2010).

Kumana re-opens on Saturday - The Kumana National Park known as Kumana Bird Sanctuary will be reopened on Saturday, after nearly ten years. It was closed in 2000 due to terrorist activities. The Park, located in the Ampara District, was 18,149 hectares in extent but now it had been increased by a further 3564.74 hectares, Wildlife Department officials said. The Park, where a large number of bird species, including migrant breed and roost, has been a well-known attraction for eco-tourists. According to ornithologists, one of the most significant features of the park is the Kumana Villu - a 200 hectare natural swamp lake, fed by the Kumbukkan Oya through a half mile long narrow channel. It is at this mangrove swamp that many water birds nest in May and June. Regular sightings include such species as pelicans, painted stork, spoonbills, white ibis, herons, egrets and little cormorants. The very rare black-necked stork has also been spotted at the swamp. Besides the prolific birdlife, Kumana is also home to some of the mammals found in the Yala National Park. The vegetation in Kumana consists mainly of mangroves, Kumbuk trees and the Karan fern (Island ; 26 January 2010).

Toronto duo jailed 25 years for attempted Tamil Tigers missile purchase - By Stewart Bell, National Post - Two Toronto men were sentenced to 25 years in prison today for attempting to buy heat-seeking missiles and military assault rifles for Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tigers rebels. Thiruthanikan Thanigasalam and Sahilal Sabaratnam were sentenced in U.S. District Court in New York, where they were caught in 2006 trying to buy Russian SA-18 missiles and AK-47s. They pleaded guilty last January. The missiles were to be used to shoot down Sri Lankan military aircraft that were then bombing the rebels’ enclave. The plot was directed by the senior leadership of the Tamil Tigers. Thanigasalam, 41, was the “big guy” of the Toronto-based arms procurement operation. He met personally with the rebels in Sri Lanka to secure their approval for the purchases. Sabaratnam, 30, a former associate at TD Waterhouse in Toronto, was the group’s financial expert and helped arranged for the $1-million payment for the illicit weapons. A third Canadian, Satha Sarachandran, 30, the group’s administrator, was sentenced to 26 years on Friday, while Nadarasa Yogarasa, a Sri Lankan living in the United States, got 14 years. The convictions were the result of a joint FBI-RCMP counter-terrorism operation called Project ONeedle, which investigated a group of Tamil Tigers supporters who shopped for equipment for the rebels. Three more Canadians, Piratheepan Nadarajah, Ramanan Mylvaganam and “Waterloo” Suresh Sriskandarajah, are still awaiting extradition to the United States. U.S. prosecutors filed a new indictment against Mr. Mylvaganam and Mr. Sriskandarajah on Dec. 28, alleging they had conspired to provide weapons to the Tamil Tigers (National Post : 25 January 2010).

Canadian-Tamils sentenced in U.S. terror case - A pair of Canadian-Tamils each received 25 years in prison on terrorism charges in a New York courtroom Monday. Suhil Sabaratnam and Thiruthanikan Thanigasalam pleaded guilty last year to conspiring and attempting to provide material support to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). In 2006, according to the FBI, the men left Toronto to meet a supposed arms dealer in Long Island, NY. There, an undercover FBI agent posing as the arms dealer showed them a crate containing a stinger missile and its firing tube. After making a cellphone call to the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka, they ordered 10 SA-18 heat-seeking anti-aircraft missiles and launchers, 500 AK-47 assault rifles and other military equipment, the FBI said. The two pleaded guilty in 2009 to charges of conspiring and attempting to provide material support to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). On Friday, Sathajhan Sarachandran, another Canadian who plead guilty of the charges, was sentenced to 26 years in prison. Co-conspirator Nadarasa Yogarasa was given a 14-year sentence (Full report in Toronto Sun : 25 January 2010).

Defendants Sentenced For Conspiring to Provide Arms To Terrorist Organization - WASHINGTON (RPRN) 01/25/10 — TWO DEFENDANTS SENTENCED TO 26 AND 14 YEARS IN PRISON FOR CONSPIRING TO PROVIDE MATERIAL SUPPORT TO THE LTTE, A FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION. Defendants Were Caught in an FBI Undercover Sting Operation Attempting to Purchase Surface-to-Air Missiles, Missile Launchers, and Hundreds of AK-47 Automatic Rifles. Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, defendants Sathajhan Sarachandran and Nadarasa Yogarasa were sentenced to 26 and 14 years in prison, respectively, in connection with their efforts to purchase $1 million worth of high-powered weaponry for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a designated foreign terrorist organization. The sentences were imposed by Chief United States District Judge Raymond J. Dearie. In January 2009, Sarachandran pled guilty to providing, conspiring to provide, and attempting to provide material support to the LTTE and conspiring and attempting to acquire guided surface-to-air missiles and missile launchers, and Yogarasa pled guilty to attempting to provide material support to the LTTE and conspiring to do so. On August 19, 2006, Sarachandran, Yogarasa and two co-defendants1 were arrested on Long Island after engaging in negotiations with an undercover FBI agent to purchase and export 20 SA-18 heat-seeking missiles, ten missile launchers, 500 AK-47s, and other military equipment for the LTTE. The defendants were acting at the direction of senior LTTE leadership in Sri Lanka, including Pottu Amman, the LTTE’s chief of intelligence and procurement and the right-hand man to LTTE leader Velupillai Prabakharan. The LTTE intended to use the SA-18 missiles to shoot down Kfir aircraft used by the Sri Lankan military (RushperNews ; 25 January 2010).

LTTE threat to Indian mission - The Indian embassy in Italy received an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in a postage packet prompting stepping up of security at the mission, PTI reported. The packet which had the sender’s name as LTTE from Italy, was received at the embassy on January 20, ambassador Arif Khan said. Indian external affairs minister S M Krishna described the incident as “a very serious development” (Daily Mirror : 25 January 2010).

Presidential polls: 80pc turnout expected First ever countrywide election after defeat of LTTE - About 80 percent of the voters are expected to cast their votes tomorrow as Sri Lanka holds its first islandwide election after the defeat of the LTTE. An estimated number of 14,088,500 voters will cast their votes at 11,098 polling centres at the Presidential election. The final result could be announced on Wednesday morning if any candidate has obtained more than 50 percent of the total number of votes polled, Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake said. He predicted that about 80 percent of the voters would cast their votes. Dissanayake said more than 90 percent of the voters have their identity cards and the applications of those who had applied for temporary identity cards had been sent to the relevant polling booths to prevent any impersonation. The Commissioner also said more than 1,000 buses have been deployed to transport internally displaced persons (IDPs) to polling booths. He, however, said their interest in casting their votes would depend on their mental state as they had been living in camps away from their homes and native villages. The votes would be counted in 888 centres. An estimated number of 45,732 displaced people in the North and East will cast their votes at the respective polling stations in seven districts, he said (Island : 25 January 2010).

Kerala airports to ‘watch out for Lanka Tamils’KOCHI: The emigration wing at international airports in the southern Indian state of Kerala has been directed to maintain strict vigil as the enforcement agencies have warned of the possibility of Sri Lankan Tamils boarding international flights with fake passports. Senior emigration officials said the department had been specifically asked to closely monitor passengers speaking a Tamil dialect in the wake of detention of two Lankan nationals at the Cochin international airport while trying to leave the country on forged passports. "The latest incident involving Sri Lankans has taken place after a long gap. Usually, Lankan Tamils use airports in Tamil Nadu to board flights to European countries and other Asian countries," they said. They started shifting focus to Kerala airports after the emigration wing in Tamil Nadu intensified checks on them. Emigration Superintendent Alex M Varkey said the Tamil Nadu officials could easily identify the Lankan Tamil dialect and it might be one of the main reasons for these Tamils to switch to airports in Kerala for fleeing the country. "The officials in Kerala cannot obviously tell the difference in dialect. We’ve been monitoring each passenger and thorough checks are being done on those found suspicious," Varkey said. The emigration wing at the Cochin airport arrested 108 persons in 2009 for trying to board international flights, using forged documents. "Most are caught for changing the photograph in the passport and forging travel documents," he added (Island : 25 January 2010).

Rehabilitated LTTE cadres released - Nearly 56 LTTE members who had surrendered to the Security Forces and were undergoing training at Senapura Rehabilitation Camp, Welikanda were released yesterday. These former LTTE suspects were earlier attached to LTTE camps at Mullaitivu, Jaffna, Vavuniya, Trincomalee, Mannar and Batticaloa areas. They were made to undergo training at the rehabilitation centres where they learnt the art of welding, woodwork, plumbing and computer technology for one year. They were handed over to their relatives and parents yesterday at the Senapura Rehabilitation Centre at a ceremony presided over by officer- in-charge of the centre Major P.B.J. Suraweera (Daily News : 25 January 2010).

Terrorist horrors faded away on May 19, 2009 - The Sri Lankan nation which rose up brushing aside the dust of war within the past six to seven months after the death of that megalomaniac terrorist Velupillai Prabhakaran on May 19,2009 in the banks of Nanthikadal lagoon, still cannot erase the memories of those brutal massacres, which are still haunting their minds. They can remember the way the entire nation wept and moaned when the innocent children who were to take over this country were brutally massacred by those ruthless terrorists. The massacre in Kebithigollewa on June 15, 2006 and the suicide blast on February 3, 2008 at the Fort railway station were added to the history of this nation as the bloodiest days since they were not mere bomb blasts that devastated the country but events that put this nation in a deep sorrow for generations. The ruthless terrorists had no bounds for their terror acts. The rural folk, the urban middle class, the Sinhalese, Muslims and even Tamils became victims to their brutal terror. Those brutal terrorists who now lie peacefully in their graves put the country in sorrow on June 15, 2006. It was just and usual news for the people of this country which was marred by terrorism when they heard a passenger bus was caught in a bomb blast. But it did not become simple news for the country when the story unfolded in detail by the media. When villagers of Yakavewa, Halmillewa, Kanugahavewa an Thalgahavewa in the far end of the Anuradhapura district moaned, the entire nation joined them. But the most tragic instance came very late and people could not bear up when they saw a row of rosy faced little kids laid on the floor of the Kebithigollewa hospital. They had closed their eyes for ever not to see the world which had been cruel to them (Sunday Observer : 24 January 2010).

India wants to open Consulate in Jaffna - Our Special Correspondent NEW DELHI, India wants to open a consulate in Jaffna, The Sunday Island has learnt from top sources here. A request to this effect was conveyed to the Sri Lankan Government shortly after the end of the so-called Eelam War IV, which concluded with the killing of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran in May last year. India appears prepared and willing to render whatever assistance Sri Lanka needs and wants to rebuild the infrastructure and undertake development activities and projects in the Northern Province, currently in a shambles in the wake of the three-decade-long civil war. New Delhi is awaiting Colombo’s response to its request for opening a consulate in Jaffna. In view of India’s likely involvement in various reconstruction and development projects in the civil war-ravaged Jaffna peninsula in the coming months, diplomatic sources here say Colombo may have no objection to New Delhi setting up a consulate in Jaffna. Such a consulate may help the Indian government monitor the work being done by several of its agencies across the Northern Province, and also help promote greater people-to-people contacts across the Palk Straits (Sunday Island : 24 January 2010).

Two jailed in New York for aiding Sri Lanka Tigers - WASHINGTON, January 23, 2010 (AFP) - A New York court sentenced two men to 14 and 26 years in prison Friday for providing support to the Tamil Tigers separatist group, the Justice Department said Friday. "Defendants Sathajhan Sarachandran and Nadarasa Yogarasa were sentenced to 26 and 14 years in prison, respectively," the department said in a statement. The pair were convicted "in connection with their efforts to purchase one million dollars worth of high-powered weaponry for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam," the statement added, using the formal name for the separatist group. Sarachandran, 30, pleaded guilty earlier this month to providing "material support to terrorism" by "conspiring and attempting to acquire guided surface-to-air missiles and missile launchers." Yogarasa also pleaded guilty to providing material support. The pair were arrested in 2006, after engaging in negotiations with an undercover FBI agent to purchase and export heat-seeking missiles, ten missile launchers, 500 AK-47s, and other military equipment (Island : 24 January 2010).

Nalini’s premature release kicks up dust storm again - Following the government-constituted Advisory Board meeting the prisoner Nalini Sriharan on Wednesday to consider her plea for premature release from the life sentence she has been serving in Vellore prison for her role in Rajiv Gandhi assassination, her release seems to be certain. While Nalini’s counsel S. Doraisamy is hopeful that she will be released at least this time, there has been a lot of objections from political parties. But Nalini has to cross many hurdles before she finds her release, it seems. The government constituted board, headed by District Collector C Rajendran, had met for over three hours and heard Nalini on her plea at Vellore women’s prison, where she is lodged for nearly 19 years now. Mr. Rajendran told media persons that board members have to sit and prepare the report and would send in a few days. However, it was for the State government to decide on its recommendations, he said (Sunday Island : 24 January 2010).

Wadakkin Wasantham: Northern development drive coming to fruition

Spring is the time where everything starts blooming in vibrant colours. It is the time when fresh leaves start budding. It is a beautiful season that captivates the senses. Spring is not just an environmental change above. Spring is what every human being adores to be his prime! So does ‘Northern Spring’ (Wadakkin Wasantham or Uthuru Wasanthaya). ‘Wadakkin Wasantham’ is designed to bring back spring to the lives of Northerners of this island nation. ‘Wadakkin Wasantham’ or the ‘Uthuru Wasanthaya’ was the first well planned mega development drive the Government launched, on the directive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa after the mass exodus of the Internally Displaced Civilians, following the liberation of the entire Northern Province by our valiant forces (Sunday Observer : 24 January 2010).

Sarachandran jailed for 26 years for trying to aid Tamil Tigers - Unlikely arms dealer

By Stewart Bell, National Post - Satha Sarachandran was an unlikely international arms dealer. Quiet and studious, he was a software engineer who volunteered at a Toronto youth group. He had no criminal record. But in 2006, FBI agents caught the 30-year-old Canadian shopping for surface-to-air missiles in Long Island, N.Y., and yesterday afternoon he was sentenced to 26 years in prison. Prosecutors are seeking 25-to 40-year sentences for two more Canadians, Sahilal Sabaratnam and Thiruthanikan Thanigasalam, when they appear in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn on Monday. All admitted they tried to buy $1-million worth of Russian shoulder-fired missiles and AK-47 assault rifles for a South Asian rebel group. "The defendants attempted to use this district as a terrorist arms depot," Benton Campbell, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said in a press release announcing the sentencing of Sarachandran and accomplice Nadarasa Yogarasa, who received 14 years (Canada Com : 23 January 2010).

Two Canadians jailed for aiding Tamil Tigers - Sathajhan Sarachandran apologized to the court for attempting to buy military equipment for the Tamil Tigers in 2006, before a U.S. judge sentenced him to 15 years in prison for the crime. "I apologize. I take full responsibility for my actions," Sarachandran said. Sarachandran is one of two Tamil-Canadians sentenced on Friday for their role in attempting to buy military equipment in the U.S. for the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka. Sarachandran, 30, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, and his co-conspirator, Nadarasa Yogarasa, 55, was sentenced to 14 years in prison. In 2006, according to the FBI, the two men left Toronto to meet a supposed arms dealer in Long Island, NY. There, an undercover FBI agent posing as the arms dealer showed them a crate containing a stinger missile and its firing tube. After making a cellphone call to the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka, they ordered 10 SA-18 heat-seeking anti-aircraft missiles and launchers, 500 AK-47 assault rifles and other military equipment, the FBI said. The two pleaded guilty in 2009 to charges of conspiring and attempting to provide material support to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Prosecutors argued that Sarachandran had been taking orders and passing information back to high level people in the LTTE for more than a year before his arrest, and that he had a long term commitment to the terrorist organization. His defence countered, however, that he was a well-educated Canadian from a humble background who became involved with Canada's Tamil communities long before the LTTE was banned in 2006 (Toronto Sun : 22 January 2010).

Two jailed in New York for aiding Tamil Tigers - WASHINGTON — A New York court sentenced two men to 14 and 26 years in prison Friday for providing support to the Tamil Tigers separatist group, the Justice Department said Friday. "Defendants Sathajhan Sarachandran and Nadarasa Yogarasa were sentenced to 26 and 14 years in prison, respectively," the department said in a statement. The pair were convicted "in connection with their efforts to purchase one million dollars worth of high-powered weaponry for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam," the statement added, using the formal name for the separatist group. Sarachandran, 30, pleaded guilty earlier this month to providing "material support to terrorism" by "conspiring and attempting to acquire guided surface-to-air missiles and missile launchers." Yogarasa also pleaded guilty to providing material support. The pair were arrested in 2006, after engaging in negotiations with an undercover FBI agent to purchase and export heat-seeking missiles, ten missile launchers, 500 AK-47s, and other military equipment. "The defendants were acting at the direction of senior LTTE leadership in Sri Lanka," the Justice Department said, adding the group intended to use the missiles to shoot down Sri Lankan military planes. The Tamil Tigers have fought for an independent homeland in Sri Lanka since 1972, but were dealt a deathblow in a war last year in which thousands of civilians were killed, according to United Nations estimates. Government troops killed the LTTE leadership and declared the total annihilation of the separatist guerrillas on May 18, ending Asia's longest running ethnic conflict (AFP : 23 January 2010).

Kohona accuses West of attempting to thwart victory over terror - Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative at the UN Dr. Palitha Kohona on Thursday (Jan 21) accused Western countries of making an abortive bid to thwart the security forces’ victory over the LTTE. He said that a last minute attempt was made to throw a lifeline to the sinking Tigers last year. The security forces had eliminated terrorism when the whole country was under a blanket of terror, he said. "They made a concerted effort via devious means to achieve their sinister goal when terrorism was a scourge in many countries and the affected countries were seeking their cooperation to get rid of this menace," he said. Kohona pointed a finger at US Secretary of State and former First Lady Hilary Clinton, who he said launched a severe campaign in the Western block, spearheaded by the US government, to influence the UN Security Council to impose sanctions against Sri Lanka. "But our leadership stood firm without relenting to the pressure exerted by them and the security forces fought gallantly without taking into consideration the risk they had to undertake in fighting the Tigers who had terrorised the nation for 27 long years," Kohona said. The diplomat was addressing a seminar titled "Past present and future" organised by the Young Engineers Association of Sri Lanka at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute (Island : 23 January 2010).

LTTE expected to be rescued - The LTTE was in contact with western countries and were sure that western leaders would step in to rescue them during the final hours of the war, according to a statement made by the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN Dr. Palitha Kohona (Daily Mirror Hot Seat)

‘Overseas rump of the LTTE is still active’ - In the back drop of opposition claims that the Rajapaksa government messed up the foreign policy of the country, Dr Palitha Kohona foreign secretary and permanent representative to the UN, speaks to C.A.Chandraprema about the foreign policy of the Rajapaksa regime. He also touches on the current tensions with the European Commission regarding the extension of GSP+ (Island : 23 January 2010).

German NGO implements Punkuditivu Island resettlement project in Jaffna - German Ambassador Jens Ploetner, who visited the first Resettlement site in Jaffna on the Punkuditivu island, which was coordinated by the German Organisation Weltthungerhilfe (Agro-Mart), said people had suffered incredible hardships and losses in the past and giving them a home and a perspective for their future must therefore be a top priority. He said Germany was pleased to be able to participate in a Resettlement Programme in Jaffna. Former IDPs were relieved to be home at last but they now urgently needed help in rebuilding their livelihood. Weltthungerhilfe is the first INGO to implement a resettlement project in the North where 300 families have been settled in their former abodes on the Punkuditivu island in the last six months. Around 230 families have been given assistance to construct their houses and toilets while 70 families have been given a helping hand to renovate theirs. Cleaning and rehabilitating wells and training in the proper use of water were priotarised. The INGO had organised thirty self-help groups on this project with the goal to create awareness and strengthen self-confidence among the selected target groups (Island : 23 January 2010).

Crocodile tears - ..... We smell a rat! Some of the foreign governments that are making a song and dance about election violence here did not utter a whimper of protest when people in most parts of the North and the East were deprived of their franchise by the LTTE under successive governments. Nor did they protest against LTTE terrorism which made life hell for millions of people. Instead, they sponsored the LTTE, which suppressed democracy and destroyed life and property. And when the LTTE finally fought its way into a cul-de-sac and was about to be decapitated, the foreign governments and the UN chief expressing concern over political violence here, let out a howl of protest in unison and some of them even sent their foreign ministers to Colombo in a desperate bid to take the cornered terrorists off the hook but in vain. It was while the LTTE was unleashing violence that the seats of the western Sakras should have got as hot as the kottu plates in wayside eateries. But, their rockers surprisingly remained as cool as the floor of an igloo. Their strange silence and unspeakable leniency towards the bloodthirsty LTTE terrorists cost them their moral right to condemn violence from other sources. Why is it that those who emulated the three proverbial monkeys, refusing to see, hear and speak, while people were being killed in their hundreds in bomb attacks and massacres by the LTTE, are now crying blue murder about a few people perishing owing to political violence? Loss of human life must surely be condemned irrespective of the number of people killed but how can those who take thousands of killings at the hands of terrorists for granted be considered genuinely worried about a few deaths due to political violence? (Island : 23 January 2010).

Nalini’s premature release kicks up dust storm again - Following the government-constituted Advisory Board meeting the prisoner Nalini Sriharan on Wednesday to consider her plea for premature release from the life sentence she has been serving in Vellore prison for her role in Rajiv Gandhi assassination, her release seems to be certain. While Nalini’s counsel S. Doraisamy is hopeful that she will be released at least this time, there has been a lot of objections from political parties. But Nalini has to cross many hurdles before she finds her release, it seems. The government constituted board, headed by District Collector C Rajendran, had met for over three hours and heard Nalini on her plea at Vellore women’s prison, where she is lodged for nearly 19 years now. Mr. Rajendran told media persons that board members have to sit and prepare the report and would send in a few days. However, it was for the State government to decide on its recommendations, he said (Asian Tribune : 23 January 2010).

2 Canadians sentenced for attempting to arm Tamil Tigers - Canadian supporter of the Tamil Tigers was sentenced Friday to a prison term of 26 years for plotting to supply arms to the terrorist group. Sathajhan Sarachandran, who was living in Toronto and Nadarasa Yogarasa, a German-born Sri Lankan, each pleaded guilty last year to providing material support to terrorists. Yogarasa, Sarachandran's accomplice, was handed a 14-year term Friday in the U.S. federal courtroom in Brooklyn, N.Y. Sarachandran, is seen as an unlikely international arms dealer — he was a software engineer who volunteered at a Toronto youth group. He had no criminal record. But in 2006, FBI agents caught the 30-year-old Canadian shopping for surface-to-air missiles in Long Island, N.Y. Prosecutors are seeking 25 to 40 year sentences for two more Canadians, Sahilal Sabaratnam and Thiruthanikan Thanigasalam, when they appear in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn on Monday (The Windsor Star : 22 January 2010).

Sharing secrets with bad guys - Late last week, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced that it would not oppose the release of 25 Tamil refugee claimants who were in detention. It was a modest announcement that did not attract much media attention but there is a story behind it that should cause us to consider the role of Canada’s security agencies when dealing with refugee claimants. The issue is how to ensure that measures taken to protect Canada’s legitimate security interests do not put refugee claimants at risk of death or torture. On Oct. 17, 2009, a ship was seized off the coast of Vancouver Island and its 76 male passengers, all believed to be Tamils from Sri Lanka, were arrested and detained. In the aftermath of the arrests, there was considerable media speculation that some of the detainees were members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (“the Tamil Tigers”), who had opposed the Sri Lankan government in a long civil war and were considered to be a terrorist organization by the Canadian government. Indeed the Tamil Tigers do have a long history of flagrant human rights abuses and attacks against government supporters and against Tamils who resisted recruitment. Unfortunately the Sri Lankan government also has an undeniable record of human rights violations including the torture and execution of suspected Tamil Tiger supporters (Ottawa Citizen : 22 January 2010).

Act wisely to prevent another wave of death and destruction - by S. Akurugoda - We, the ordinary citizens of this country, remember the days around May 18th last year. While all those who love the country were jubilant, Ranil Wickramasinghe, the leader of the UNP was hiding in Europe. Although the official statement of the Leader of the Opposition, congratulating the President and his security forces for defeating the LTTE, had mentioned names of the commanders of the Navy and the Air Force, it had failed to mention the name of the Commander of the Army, Sarath Fonseka (SF). This is an indication of the extent of his gratitude towards the services rendered by SF at that time. Ranil had to find an alternative route to reach home from the Katunayake Airport , via Minuwangoda, due to obvious reasons. Mangala Samaraweera, on the other hand, had failed to appear in the Parliament, when the President delivered his historical address to the Nation after winning the war against terrorism. TNA parliamentarians including Sambandan were not to be seen in the parliament. I am not sure where the other people like Ravi Karunanayake, Laksman Seneviratne, Mono Ganeson, Rauff Hakeem were hiding, but the environment was certainly not supportive for them to appear before the general public due to their own past acts (or Pera Karma). (Lankaweb ; 22 January 2010).

Over 100 LTTE suspects released - At least 118 people allegedly detained over their suspected LTTE involvement were released from prison today. They were released on the submission by the Attorney Genera’s Department that the suspects did not have charges against them. Another 70 youths who were also in detention were referred to rehabilitation since they had been allegedly involved in minor incidents connected with the LTTE (Daily Mirror : 22 January 2010).

President withstood international pressure - President Mahinda Rajapaksa's unique leadership and firm stand against foreign pressure to stop the final battle against the LTTE led to the defeat of terrorism and to protect the country from division, former Foreign Secretary and Sri Lanka's permanent representative to the UN Dr Palitha Kohona said. He added that this helped keep the moral of the three Armed Forces as well as the Police at a high level until the operation to eradicate the LTTE ended. He was addressing a workshop organized by the young members' section of the Institute of Engineers to share their experiences during the war period, at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute yesterday. Dr Kohona said a majority of the western countries objected to the final humanitarian operation to release innocent Tamils who were under the grip of the LTTE. "There was more pressure on the Government with warnings of economic sanctions. Funds were suspended by some donor countries to Sri Lanka. Amidst this international pressure, the Foreign Ministry had to strengthen the close relationship with friendly countries such as China, Pakistan and Russia. India was always with us," he said. Recalling the Government's efforts in 2005 to come to a negotiated solution to the terrorist problem in the country, he said President Rajapaksa had decided to conduct the humanitarian operation to liberate the innocent civilians after those peaceful efforts failed. "We cannot forget Erik Solheim's two visits to India during the military operations in the North. But India never listened to him." (Daily News : 22 January 2010).

Arms cache in Kumana National Park - The Security Forces continuing search and mopping up operations in the North and East recovered a cache of arms and ammunition on Wednesday. Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said troops of the 68 Division conducting a search operation found arms in the Kumana National Park on Wednesday. They recovered 15 of 100 detonator chord rolls, two of 2T oil cans, a 9.9 HP outboard motor OBM and two RPG rounds. Meanwhile, troops launched an extensive search operation and have recovered arms and weapons in Adampan, Alampil, Vishavamadu and Oddusudan areas. He said troops uncovered 126 MPMG ammunition, six RPG weapons, three 81mm bombs, a hand grenade, two detonators and an LMG drum (Daily News : 22 January 2010).

Sri Lankan envoy balances dialogue - By Asoka Weerasinghe, Canada - The Editor, EMBASSY Ottawa; Sir: Sri Lanka’s new envoy to Canada, Ms. Chitranganee Wagiswara is correct when she reminds Canada that the Tamil separatist war ended on May 18 last year and there is a new reality that Sri Lanka is facing right now – to find sustained stability, reconciliation, development and peace after the country was haemorrhaged for 27 long years with guns, bullets, landmines and bombs by the most ruthless terrorists in the world, the Tamil Tigers. They were the terrorists who perfected the suicide human-bomber body pack which has helped the Taliban to down our brave soldiers in Afghanistan. While Canada was a participant in that nasty separatist war among the separatist Tamils and the Government forces allowing the Tamil Diaspora to fill the Tamil Tiger warchest at the rate of two million dollar a month for 13 Liberal party governing years to buy arms and prolong the war, it is really up to Canada now to help Sri Lanka along her path of peace, reconciliation and development and regain its lost friendship which we enjoyed so much for many, many years after Sri Lanka’s independence in 1948. CIDA delisting Sri Lanka as a bilateral partner after decades of a close working relationship is no help to regain and continue such a friendship. Canada did show her disappointment with the end of this war as the press statement by Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon, refused to acknowledge the defeat of terrorism in Sri Lanka while most other western countries congratulated Sri Lanka. I am sure that was well noted by Sri Lanka as well as all Sri Lankans living in Canada. The key statement in Ms. Wagiswara’s interview was when asked about the Sinhalese and Tamil communities in Canada, “They are all Sri Lankan. What is the point being polarized? We need to work together and not have problems, or let what happened in the past affect your working life, your personal life.” I hope Canada was listening and do absolutely nothing to polarize these two communities as we did in the past, especially during Question Period during the House of Parliament proceedings. And most importantly, guard against efforts to rekindle a Tamil extremism in Canada which eventually would filter over the borders of Sri Lanka to break the country asunder.

LTTE expected to be rescued - The LTTE was in contact with western countries and were sure that western leaders would step in to rescue them during the final hours of the war, according to a statement made by the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN Dr. Palitha Kohona at an event in Colombo a short while ago. “The LTTE during the final stages of the war were in constant contact with western leaders. They were sure that the western powers would jump in and rescue them,” Dr.Kohona said while addressing a forum of the Institute of Engineers of Sri Lanka. Dr. Kohona also noted that the President during his term considered all options to bring peace to the country. However all attempts at peaceful negotiations were rebuffed and thus the President had to take an alternate route. “We were rebuffed, laughed at and ridiculed by the LTTE every time we tried peaceful means,” he said. He also described how Sri Lanka was ostracized by the majority of the western countries yet was able to overcome this by good foreign relations. “When we were trying to bring down arms from the Czech Republic western powers influenced those countries around them and did not allow for the artillery to be taken to a port. Thereby the train carrying these items was crisscrossing across Europe. Finally we convinced Poland to allow us to use their port,” he said (Daily Mirror : 21 January 2010).

Jaffna returns to normalcy - Jaffna Bishop - Rt. Rev. Dr. Thomas Saundranayagam, Bishop of Jaffna said "Jaffna is returning to normal. The A-9 road has been re-opened and civilians can now use the road. Lorries are daily bringing goods to Jaffna and also agricultural and fishing products are being sent to Colombo and other parts of the country." The Bishop expressed the status quo in Jaffna to Minister Pandu Banraranaike when the Minisrer paid a courtesy call on the Bishop at the Bishop's House in Jaffna, recently. There is an improvement in the livelihood of the civilians of the Jaffna Peninsula, as the President has eliminated terrorism and also re-opened the A-9 Highway linking the North and the South. Moreover the Bishop said "Commercial activities are taking place and the civilians are also very happy. They can now easily visit Colombo and other areas. People from the South also come to Jaffna. During the Thaipongal and New Year they witnessed a lot of people from South, visiting Jaffna; some of them were visiting the area for the first time." (Sri Lanka Defence Ministry : 21 January 2010).

Grand Education Fair in Jaffna - A grand education fair will be held in Jaffna in September this year to enhance the interest taken by students, teachers and the general public in quality education. Educationists had pointed out that there was a necessity to inculcate students in the Jaffna peninsula, on the need for higher education after three decades of war. Jaffna is the hub of education, business and social activities in the northern part of the country, academics say. Education exhibitions held in Jaffna have always attracted large crowds and international presence too had been a significant feature. Jaffna produced a large number of professionals before the LTTE rebellion broke out three decades ago.The government claims it is keen to bring back the lost glory of the education system in the North (Island : 21 January 2010).

Adults responsible for future of children - Northern Governor - The future of all children is in the hands of adults including teachers and officers. We have to devote ourselves to make them working citizens, said Northern Provincial Governor Maj. Gen GA Chandrasiri at the opening ceremony of Hindu Maha Vidyalaya, Kilinochchi. He said President Mahinda Rajapaksa had given preference to uplift education in the North and special Presidential Advisor and Presidential Task Force Chairman Basil Rajapaksa, MP has taken special interest in the process. The Government has declared this year as the year of upgrading technical and english knowledge. Accordingly, as Government officers we have to see that the level of the education of resettled children in the North is improved during next six months. We have to fulfill our responsibility. Every assistance will be provided by the Government, he said. "Students who face transport difficulties in Jaffna and Kilinochchi will be provided with a bicycle" the Governor said. In parallel to the opening of Hindu Maha Vidyalaya, 60 schools that had been closed for more than two decades and two other new schools were opened in the North at the beginning of new school session. The Governor distributed school uniforms, school bags and water bottles among the students of these schools and bicycles were distributed among teachers. In addition sports items for schools in North also were distributed. The Governor also took steps to provide special bus services from Vavuniya to Jaffna and Kilinochchi for students and teachers. Five schools in Kilinochchi, three in Pooneryn, seven in Madhu, seven in Thunukkai and seven in Mullaitivu were opened (Daily News : 21 January 2010).

Philip Alston’s ‘UN Kangaroo Court’ justice

• UN Philip Alston has acted on his own -UN Ban Ki Moon (Sri Lanka Watch : 13 January 2010).

• Statement on Channel 4 Video – January 7,2010 - by Ira de Silva London, Canada (LankaWeb ; 12 January 2010).

• The Nutty Professor (Island ; 12 January 2010).

• Prof. Philip Alston is on a slippery slope - By Asoka Weerasinghe (Sri Lanka News Online ; 11 January 2010).

• Philip Alston and his mission exposed - By Ben Silva (LankaWeb : 11 January 2010).

• Philip Alston’s ‘kangaroo court’ justice stinks to High heavens - by Ajit Randeniya (LankaWeb : 11 January 2010).

• The Return of Mr. Philip Alston and Petty Desires for Vengeance - By Robert Stevens (LankaWeb : 11 January 2010).

• Phillip Alston, a man in an indecent hurry - By Ranjith Soysa (Island ; 11 January 2010).

• Prof. Philip Alston on Sri Lanka and the Chanel 4 video clip - By Asoka Weerasinghe (LankaWeb : 11 January 2010).

• Philippics, Bias and Videos - by Bandula Kothalawala London N7 (LankaWeb : 9 January 2010).

• Alston’s charge smacks of bias – Govt ‘UN statement on C-4 timed for presidential polls’ (Island : 9 January 2010).

• Sri Lanka Rejects U.N. Execution Video Report (New York Times : 8 January 2010).

• UN and the probing of the video of Tamil executions - by Asoka Weerasinghe, Canada (Sri Lanka News Online)

• The findings of the latest analysis of this video by so called independent experts by Philip Alston - by By Vajiragnana Warnakulasooriya (Sinhale Hot News : 8 January 2010).

• UN renews war crimes charges against Sri Lanka (Island : 8 January 2010).

• Foreign Ministry writes to Alston over war allegations (Daily Mirror : 5 January 2010).

UNP is responsible for;

• The decimation of our intelligence gathering network in 2002 . This ghastly episode can have no parallel in the annals of Treachery to date. Don Juan Dharmapala’s treachery in favour of the Portuguese can equal the UNP’s diabolic of the cream of our intelligence unit, LRRO (Millennium City), to the LTTE.
• Signing an illegal agreement with the LTTE leader Prabhakaran, the so-called CFA, loaded heavily in favour of the LTTE bypassing the country’s President.
• Having given the LTTE a claim over a large extent of territory, the UNP thereafter wilfully and deliberately turned a blind eye to almost every LTTE violation of the CFA, genuflecting to almost every LTTE demand, ignoring the smuggling of 11arms shipments and helping the LTTE to bring in through the Customs, several items of military use, which reportedly included aeroplane parts.
• Ranils group condemned and humiliated the security forces when they captured, Mavil Oya, Thoppigala, Killinochchi, Elephant pass etc.
• Made statements to the effect that attempt to defeat LTTE would never be a winnable war.

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