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 Sunday, 05 June 2011 07:11 PM  

Viru Daru Diriya (VDD) donations to "War Heroes" exceed A$131,340 (Rs 12.67 million).

Viru Daru Diriya (VDD) Fund was established in Melbourne, Australia to help the children and families of the Sri Lankan armed forces. We strongly believe that helping the education of the children of those who have sacrificed to protect our motherland Sri Lanka is the prime duty of all Sri Lankans (see details)

Sponsoring over 500 Children of "War Heroes"

Please help this welfare organisation in Melbourne

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http://www.virudarudiriya.com

Norway the Villain; response to Chaminda Weerawardhana - by Malin Abeyatunge -  This letter is in response to writer Chaminda Weerawardhana titled Norway the villain. Firstly , you have used your precious civil liberty in Norway to the maximum by changing my gender. Thanks for that. For my very short letter, the writer had written a thesis in a vain attempt to white wash Royal Norwegian Government (RNG) and the so called peace facilitator Eric Solheim. Of course he may be having reasons to defend his adopted country instead of his mother country Sri Lanka which I presume. Writer says quote” Such accusations are marked by a blatant misreading and misunderstanding of Norwegian politics, political culture, Norwegian foreign policy, immigration policy and the notion of civil liberties in the Norwegian context.” For his comment “Misreading and misunderstanding of Norwegian politics and notion of civil liberties, I have these questions for him (Sri Lanka Guardian: 31 May 2011).  (Re-produced in full in Sri Lanka Guardian : 31 May 2011)

Sri Lanka opposition asks former rebel leader to apologize for atrocities committed by LTTE - Sri Lanka's main opposition United national Party (UNP) has called on former LTTE international wing leader and chief arms procurer, Kumaran Pathmanatahan alias KP to apologize for the killings carried out by the LTTE in the country. UNP National Organizer and parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayaka has told the media that detained LTTE leader had apologized to India for the assassination of its political leaders during a media interview recently. Karunanayaka has maintained that while KP's move to apologize to India was appreciated, he had to apologize for the killings in Sri Lanka as well. The parliamentarians has queried as to why KP could not apologize for the killings in Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, the parliamentary select committee to probe allegations against KP requested by the UNP from the Speaker is yet to be appointed (Colombo page ; 31 May 2011).

What a joke by UNP?

He is responsible for providing weapons for killing so many thousands of civilians and then simply apologizing ?

Sri Lanka seeks new international laws to fight terrorism - Sri Lanka on Tuesday argued that the spread of terrorist groups worldwide requires a revamping of the international laws of war, which put governments at a disadvantage against foes that do not have to follow them. Sri Lanka's External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris made the observation during the opening of a three-day military seminar hosted by the government to share the lessons of its victory over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in May 2009. The conference in the capital Colombo began amid a renewed push by the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights and some Western nations for an international probe into allegations war crimes happened in the quarter-century conflict's last phase. "The entire body of international law must be revisited," Peiris, a law professor, told the conference. "It was developed during a time of war between state actors. Surely the principles have to be revamped, because it is asymmetrical now." (Reuters : 31 May 2011).

Managing India was key to victory against LTTE: Gotabaya - One key factor that assured the success of the war against the LTTE that ended in May 2009 was “the success in managing…international pressures”, particularly India, said Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa here on Tuesday.  Recalling an instance when India had interfered to reverse gains made by the Army, Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that in 1987, the enormously successful Vadamarachchi Operations had pushed the LTTE to the brink of defeat. “However, these operations could not be sustained because the Indian government intervened. The primary problem in 1987 was that the relationship between the two countries had not been managed very effectively,” he said.  But in the final phase of the war, President Mahinda Rajapaksa “went out of his way” to keep New Delhi briefed about all the developments. “He understood that while other countries could mount pressure on us through diplomatic channels or economic means, only India could influence the military campaign,” he said. India was managed by establishing “clear communications line” at the very highest level, said Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa.  The misconception among the international community on human rights excesses and related issues was because Sri Lanka “is a small country with limited resources. It was not possible for us to give the management of non-critical foreign opinion the same level of attention we gave India and other key nations”, he said. Delivering the keynote address at a seminar, “Defeating Terrorism-The Sri Lankan Experience”, organised by the Sri Lanka Army, Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa listed clarity and backing of the political leadership, stability of the government, popular support for the war, increasing the number of personnel in the armed forces and the formalising of the Civil Defence Force among the other key reasons for eradicating LTTE from Sri Lanka (Hindu : 31 May 2011).

“Tamil Sunday Schools propagating hatreds against Sinhalese” - Over 350 Tamil Sunday schools operate across the Europe by the pro LTTE Tamil diaspora are propagating hatreds against Sinhalese, a Sri Lankan counter terrorist expert revealed, today. Speaking at the semina, Defeating terrorism, Sri Lankas experience Lt. Col S. Sallay, Coordinator of Foreign Intelligence of the Defence Ministry said over 25,000 children are taught LTTE idologies in the Sunday classes which also taught Tamil culture and drama. He said only less than 40 percent of the Tamil diaspora helps the pro LTTE activities (Sunday Observer ; 31 May 2011).

Prof.G.L.Peiris says that LTTE was the only terrorist organization that took the highest number of civilians as hostages -  Minister of external Affairs Prof.G.L.Peiris says it is unfair that some western countries measure the LTTE and the Sri Lankan security forces with same criteria. LTTE was a terrorist organization that always fought without caring for human rights fo the civilians. However Sri Lankan security forces fought against the terrorists with utmost care for civilians who were in the grip of LTTE . LTTE is the only terrorist outfit in the world that detained the highest number of civilians as hostages. However the Sri Lankan security forces had managed to rescue those civilians without causing any harm to them. The minister revealed these facts at the International Conference held in Colombo today to share the experience of Sri Lankan security forces in their combat against terrorism. The minister pointed out that Sri Lankan security forces have managed to eliminate a threat which posed to the entire South Asian region by defeating the LTTE terrorism (SLBC : 31 May 2011).

Defence symposium: Political leadership key to triumph over LTTE terrorism - Gotabhaya - Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday said that the key factor in Sri Lanka’s victory over the LTTE was political leadership. He declared that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had the clear aim and commitment to eradicate terrorism once and for all.  The Defence Secretary was delivering the key note address at a three-day international defence symposium organized by the Sri Lanka Army at Galadari Hotel.  He said that over the years under four previous presidents and several governments, a range of different approaches including military campaigns, peace talks, and even international mediation had been tried but to no avail.  The aim of the seminar, he said was to share the Sri Lanka’s experience in overcoming terrorism. "At a time when so many countries the world over are facing the problems posed by domestic and international terrorism, we believe that sharing the lessons learnt from the Sri Lankan experience in combating terrorist tactics, providing humanitarian assistance and dealing with political and international factors is important. It is our earnest hope that these lessons will help our friends and allies in the international community defeat international terrorism", the Defence Secretary said.  He said that the LTTE, at its height, had more than 30,000 battle-hardened cadres, access to large stockpiles of modern armaments, ammunition and equipment, a sophisticated naval wing and a fledgling air wing. By 2005, the LTTE controlled almost a quarter of the country’s territory and approximately two thirds of its coastline. Under an internationally brokered Cease Fire Agreement, it even maintained the illusion of a state apparatus in the areas under its control (Island ; 31 May 2011).

UN’s special rapporteur and Britain’s Channel Four video clip on Sri Lanka - by Asoka Weerasinghe - The Editor; THE OTTAWA CITIZEN; Sir: You reported that Christopher Hayns, UN’s special rapporteur had said after viewing the British Channel Four video which alleged Sri Lanka troops executing Tamil Tigers, that “What is reflected in the extended video are war crimes of the highest order – definitive war crimes.” I wish that we could come to some conclusion of this controversy by the UN accepting the challenege by Mr. Siri Hewawitharana one of the world’s leading digital video systems experts and former head of Cisco’s Global Broadcast and digital video pratice and presently the Executive Director of IPTV Systems who proved that that this footage was fake and modified and made in favour of the Tamil Tigers. Do I conclude that by the UN not accepting this challege that they have much to lose and are up to some mischief and worried that they will be exposed as the world organization which is now bankrupt when dealing with Sri Lanka’s victorius Tamil Tiger terrorist war. This war ended militarily on 18 May 2009 after 27 years of battling witnessing 100,000 dead including two heads of state, Rajiv Gandhi of India and President Premadasa of Sri Lanka, both assassinated by the Tamil Tigers - Asoka Weerasinghe (LankaWeb : 31 May 2011).

Vaiko to address EU parliament on Sri Lankan Tamils - CHENNAI: Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko is in Brussels to attend a hearing aimed to discuss the way forward for Tamils in Lanka. The hearing, organised by Confederal Group of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left of the European Parliament, will see Vaiko address a session on what activities the group can take up to assist Lankan Tamils in the aftermath of the Eelam War IV. Vaiko is taking part in the hearing, scheduled for June 1, on invitation from Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Paul Murphy. The hearing will be attended by a number of MEPs and leading lights of the international human rights community. "Given your experience as general secretary, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, we would much appreciate your participation in this hearing. You will be invited to speak at the event. We want you to give an overall picture, specific examples and directions to MEPs present to enable them to work out how they can help to protect human rights in Sri Lanka," read a letter sent to Vaiko that invited him to Brussels for the hearing. The hearing is aimed at coming out with a statement on the plight of Tamils and human rights in Sri Lanka. It will also discuss the feasibility of a fact-finding team to Sri Lanka and decide on the same. Vaiko may be expected to contribute to three sessions of the hearing that deal with the genesis of Sri Lankan war, its aftermath and solutions for lasting peace in the island nation. (Indian Express) (Island : 31 May 2011).

Lankan migrant ordered deported over LTTE video - The Immigration and Refugee Board on Monday ordered the deportation of another Tamil migrant from the MV Sun Sea, after finding that his activities in Sri Lanka — including an appearance in an LTTE propaganda video — constituted membership in a terrorist organization. This is the fourth migrant from the Sun Sea to be ordered deported on such grounds since the ship carrying almost 500 asylum-seekers arrived on the West Coast last August. In a written decision, IRB adjudicator Geoff Rempel acknowledged that the migrant was never a formal member of the banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and never participated directly in the group’s armed struggle. However, Rempel found that the man was "more than a mere sympathizer and that his contributions to the LTTE were much more than minimal or marginal." He cited the man’s participation in a fictional movie portraying an attack on Sri Lankan army forces. The movie also showed LTTE fighters training and engaging in hand-to-hand combat. The migrant’s lawyer, Shepherd Moss, had argued that the movie could have been mere entertainment, perhaps even a spoof. "I have been presented with no evidence that the movie was made to generate box office profits, unlike the Hollywood films of John Wayne and Tom Cruise," he wrote. "I accept the minister (of public safety’s) view that the movie was LTTE propaganda, made to support their war aims." The LTTE engaged in a lengthy struggle for independence against the Sri Lankan forces. The civil war ended in 2009 with the Tigers’ defeat. In his decision, Rempel found that the man’s work as a karate instructor provided further support to the LTTE’s war effort. "His high-profile involvement with the LTTE went far beyond the civilian-LTTE interactions that may have been unavoidable in LTTE-controlled territories," Rempel concluded. The migrant, who is not currently in custody, did not show any emotion when informed of the decision Monday. Anyone who is ordered deported has options to appeal, including applying to the Federal Court for a judicial review of the decision, said IRB spokeswoman Melissa Anderson. A publication ban prevents the media from identifying the migrant. The IRB adjudicator redacted portions of his written decision because he felt that some details might serve to identify the migrant. Fifteen migrants from the Sun Sea remain in detention (Island : 31 May 2011).

The ‘Ethnic Issue’: Response to MP Sumanthiran - by Dr. U. Pethiyagoda - Mr Sumanthiran (MAS) is clearly one of the more "cerebral" members of our Parliament and has impressed me with the quality of his contributions. Generally, bereft of platitudes and tired cliches, what he says is worthy of audience.I therefore enthusiastically read what he had to say in the two articles in the Island (10 & 11 May, 2011) on the subject "A Lasting Political Solution Through Power-sharing". My reactions are mixed - leaning more heavily towards disappointment than acceptance. Previous debates on the subject have been preoccupied by assertions of discrimination, colonisation, failed aspirations, linguistic inequities, violence and historical rights. Sadly, MAS is also guilty! The assertions are commonly extremely general, vague and unhelpful (Island : 31 May 2011).

Countering Tiger propaganda abroad - Lobbying politicians in western nations against terrorism is clouded by huge political donations that have negated all other efforts made by Sri Lanka. Yet, we suffered the longest with this menace. The LTTE activities continue as a form of thuggery and gang warfare against their own people breaking the law with no consequences in some countries. The fear of being threatened and demands of monetary contributions continue for those living abroad although the war is over in Sri Lanka. They have no political aspirations to provide for the better good of the Tamil people ---especially those who suffered in the war financed by the diaspora. The diaspora did not know what it was like to be living in IDP camps under threat of the LTTE and being enemy suspect in a war that couldn’t distinguish between the terrorist and the villager. Some are third generation Sri Lanka haters who have never lived in Sri Lanka but believe the brainwashing they are subject to. The unrelenting hatred is dangerous and it can be unleashed not only in Sri Lanka but also in their host countries many of whom are coping with increased crime and Tamil gang warfare putting lives at risk in their communities (Island ; 31 May 2011).

Tamil migrant deported over video - The Immigration and Refugee Board on Monday ordered the deportation of another Tamil migrant from the MV Sun Sea, after finding that his activities in Sri Lanka — including an appearance in a Tamil Tiger propaganda video — constituted membership in a terrorist organization. This is the fourth migrant from the Sun Sea to be ordered deported on such grounds since the ship carrying almost 500 asylum-seekers arrived on the West Coast last August. In a written decision, IRB adjudicator Geoff Rempel acknowledged that the migrant was never a formal member of the banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and never participated directly in the group's armed struggle. However, Rempel found that the man was "more than a mere sympathizer and that his contributions to the LTTE were much more than minimal or marginal." He cited the man's participation in a fictional movie portraying an attack on Sri Lankan army forces. The movie also showed LTTE fighters training and engaging in hand-to-hand combat. The migrant's lawyer, Shepherd Moss, had argued that the movie could have been mere entertainment, perhaps even a spoof. Rempel disagreed. "I have been presented with no evidence that the movie was made to generate box office profits, unlike the Hollywood films of John Wayne and Tom Cruise," he wrote. "I accept the minister (of public safety's) view that the movie was LTTE propaganda, made to support their war aims." The LTTE engaged in a lengthy struggle for independence against the Sri Lankan forces. The civil war ended in 2009 with the Tigers' defeat. In his decision, Rempel found that the man's work as a karate instructor provided further support to the LTTE's war effort. "His high-profile involvement with the LTTE went far beyond the civilian-LTTE interactions that may have been unavoidable in LTTE-controlled territories," Rempel concluded. The migrant, who is not currently in custody, did not show any emotion when informed of the decision Monday. Anyone who is ordered deported has options to appeal, including applying to the Federal Court for a judicial review of the decision, said IRB spokeswoman Melissa Anderson. A publication ban prevents the media from identifying the migrant. The IRB adjudicator redacted portions of his written decision because he felt that some details might serve to identify the migrant. Fifteen migrants from the Sun Sea remain in detention (Daily Mirror : 31 May 2011).

Sri Lanka criticizes UN system

Colombo informed New Delhi of every step: Rajapaksa - The Sri Lanka government led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa had gone out its way to keep New Delhi informed about the developments during the last months of conflict between government troops and separatist Tamil rebels, defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said on Tuesday. Rajapaksa was delivering the keynote address during the opening session of the three-day international seminar titled `Defeating Terrorism – the Sri Lankan Experience’ organised by the Sri Lanka army (SLA). The seminar is co-sponsored by China. Rajapaksa, who is President Rajapaksa’s younger brother, said the SLA was on the verge of defeating the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 1987 when the rebels were saved by Indian intervention. India, worried by the siege of Jaffna by the SLA, had airdropped supplies over the peninsula and had also rescued LTTE leader, V Prabhakaran. Partially recalling the incident, the defence secretary said international relations including with India were not managed well at that time. But during the last phase of the conflict in 2009 and before, communication between Colombo and New Delhi was maintained well. He said two teams of senior officials, including the defence secretary himself, kept in regular contact. ``These teams had continuous discussions,’’ he said. He added that other nations could mount pressure on Sri Lanka through diplomatic channels and on economic lines. But India India could directly influence the military campaign in Sri Lanka. President Rajapaksa understood this and managed it well, he said. The SLA has claimed participants from 41 countries were expected to attend the seminar. India for one has send three colonels to take part in the proceedings. But the seminar has come under the cloud of allegations of human rights violations by the SLA and global rights agencies had given a call to ban the seminar. The US, UK, France, Australia and Japan are among the countries not attending the seminar (Hindustan Times ; 31 May 2011).

Sri Lanka claims UN probe on execution video biased - Sri Lanka sought Tuesday to discredit the findings of a UN expert who concluded that a video allegedly depicting Sri Lanka troops executing Tamil Tigers was authentic. "It is respectfully submitted that the process adopted in regard to the publication of the videos and subsequent steps taken ... is tainted with the fundamental vice of bias and partiality," said Mohan Pieris, Sri Lanka Attorney-General. "The facts that the contents of the video were not made available to the Sri Lankan government by Channel Four lends support to the suspicion that the broadcast of the videos was for a collateral purpose," he added. Christof Heyns, UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, had concluded after examining a video provided by Britain's Channel Four, that the footage was authentic. His investigation drew from findings by a forensic pathologist, two forensic video analysts, as well as a firearms expert, and came to the same conclusion as that of his predecessor Philip Alston, who had earlier looked at extracts of the video. Pieris drew attention to the experts consulted by Heyns, noting that three out of four were the same as those used by Alston. The attorney-general claimed that engaging the same experts could have led to a "general reaffirmation of the conclusions" of Alston (Expatica : 31 May 2011).

Demo in London against Darusman Report - The Sri Lankans in the United Kingdom held a demonstration against the controversial Darusman report yesterday, in front of the office of the British Prime Minister. Several hundreds of Sri Lankan patriots participated in the demonstration and shouted slogans condemning the Darusman report and demanded the British Government to rescind their support to the pro-tiger terrorist elements in Britain. At the end of the demonstration, the demonstrators submitted a petition with 10,000 signatures to the British Prime Minister David Cameron. Another significant event was handing over of five books containing records of massacres carried out by the LTTE Tiger Terrorists since 1975 up to May 19, 2009 and the colossal damage they caused to the Sri Lankan Economy during this period. The publications contained 1700 printed pages (The Official News portal of the Govt of Sri Lanka ; 31 May 2011).

Relations with India were vital to Lanka's war against LTTE - Relationship with India was vital to Sri Lanka's war against the LTTE as Colombo did not want any Indian intervention as happened in 1987, defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said here today. In his keynote address at a three day seminar titled ''defeating terrorism Sri Lankan experience'', the younger brother of the president Mahinda Rajapaksa who spearheaded the military campaign against the rebels, said "President Rajapaksa went out of his way to keep New Delhi briefed about all the new developments taking place in Sri Lanka." "He understood that while other countries could mount pressure on us through diplomatic channels or economic means, only India could influence the military campaign," he said. Gotabhaya said Colombo-New Delhi relationship was "managed through maintaining clear communications line at the very highest level". He said Sri Lanka had learnt a lesson from the 1987 experience with India. "The primary problem in 1987 was that the relationship between the two countries had not been managed very effectively," Gotabhaya claimed. The international seminar, co-sponsored by China, is being boycotted by major rights groups and the US and Japan (Money Control : 31 May 2011).

Minister tells Human Rights Council 17th Session in Geneva: Reconciliation process, govt’s priority - Ninety-five percent resettled - Ex-child combatants rehabilitated - Development programmes in N-E  - The process of reconciliation is a priority for the government as it has everything to do with the people, who have now begun to enjoy the dividends of peace, Plantation Industries Minister and Presidential nominee for Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe told the 17th Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva yesterday. He said the process needs to be sustained and gradually built upon. In addition to the comprehensive programme of socio-economic development in the former theatre of conflict, the government has commenced discussions with Tamil political parties examining constitutional, legal and democratic reform. “The government has also extended an invitation to the Tamil diaspora to harness resources and talent for the betterment of Sri Lanka especially in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. We believe that of the challenges we place in the post-conflict phase healing the wounds of the recent past is important to sustained reconciliation,” the minister said. The following is the full text of the minister’s speech: (Daily News : 31 May 2011).

Blessed are the rain-makers for they make the earth yield hope - by Malinda Seneviratne -  I was not anywhere close to the Nandikadal Lagoon during the last stages of the struggle to save the thousands upon thousands held hostage by the LTTE. In fact the ‘war’ came to me second-hand, i.e. in terms of people I knew who died, the question marks that descended like the monsoon rains and flooded household and sensibility on account of terrorism spilling over ‘contested’ territory and all wrecking everything associated with the word ‘civilization’. I believe firmly, though, that all nation and all communities are made of roughly the same proportion of crooks, tyrants, sycophants and cowards, and the same percentage, roughly, of kind, compassionate, wise, generous and heroic people. I was not anywhere close to the Nandikadal Lagoon in May 2009. I saw footage of people fleeing the LTTE. I saw them helped by soldiers who were well aware that among the escapees were thousands who were either trained terrorists, had helped them in any number of ways, identified with their objectives and/or saluted their methodologies. I saw fear and doubt in the eyes of the rescued. There was resignation on some faces, I noticed. I saw gratitude too. Relief there was in abundance. Courage and character came undisguised. And there were blank faces, blank eyes, lips that would not move to smile and brows that did not wrinkle to indicate any sentiment (Daily news : 31 May 2011).

And Civil Society (real) floors Civil Society (imagined) - by Malinda Seneviratne -  NGOs are made of workshops, seminars, project proposals, reports, double-billing and overheads that make up more than two thirds of annual budgets. They are also made of claims, chief among which is that of representational lie. ‘We are civil society,’ NGO personnel like to think and state. They are an incestuous bunch, these NGOs. They form consortiums and forums which are made of the same groups and led by the same people. They appoint each other to each other’s boards. They applaud one another and occasionally give each other awards for this and that. They quote one another. They scratch each other’s backs. NGOs frequently organize workshops, attended naturally by like-minded people, where comments are carefully recorded. These are carefully screened, and selected comments quoted and marketed as ‘the common view’. Many of the attendees are paid a ‘participation’ fee or gifted in kind. NGOs have a huge problem. For all the democracy-loving rhetoric, they are patently unable to deal with the fact that they lack transparency and accountability, and moreover that representational claims are scandalously hollow. They say they represent ‘civil society’, but don’t say ‘well, no one elected us, and to be honest, our views are marginal or less and more seriously are based on assumptions that reality rebels against’. Ask them to organize a demonstration or announce a public seminar and less than a hundred turn up. Indeed, most of their operations are of the behind-closed-doors kind. And yet, they bat on. Courtesy of friends in big-name diplomatic missions and big-name countries whose political agendas vis-à-vis Sri Lanka coincide with theirs (Daily Mirror : 31 May 2011).

India’s perceived responsibility to protect Sri Lanka - The statement released by Sri Lanka’s Ministry of External Affairs on the recent meeting of Sri Lanka and India in New Delhi unfortunately re-establishes the fact that India persists with its one dimensional and unethical policy platform on Sri Lanka in spite of the shattered, short sighted, destructively emotional legacy of many Indian prescriptive initiatives. India being a major player in Asia and the giant neighbour of sovereign Sri Lanka, geo politically is expected to play an active role and also use its strong influence on SL-India relationship based on mutually accepted principles. However, India should stand and weigh the pros and cons of her perceived priorities even at this stage as many of India’s prescriptions have been lethal to Sri Lankans. If the Indian Foreign Policy formulators are humble enough to re-visit their unenviable prescriptions including the ones thrust upon Sri Lanka without giving any considerations to democratic institutions including the Parliament of Sri Lanka, India should be able to have a more balanced approach and also to have a good, strong and stable friend at her Southern tip. Similar to the proverbial white man’s burden in guiding the destiny of the coloured in the world, India illogically has taken upon herself the role of care taker of Sri Lankan Tamils who are an integral part of Sri Lankan populace. The services provided to Sri Lankan Tamils by the Sri Lankan Government is no different to that provided to other ethnic groups such as the Sinhalese, the Muslims etc. Apart from the racist demands of the LTTE terrorists and some Tamil politicians in claiming an exclusive Eelam to fulfill their separatist dreams, the majority of Tamils have accepted that fact that their future depends on the peace and prosperity of the Sri Lankan nation. Hence, India should review its stand on post-War Sri Lanka emerging from the ruins of post-Vaddukodai Tamil politics (Daily Mirror : 31 May 2011).

Truth, Justice and Reparation - ‘Sri Lanka is deeply committed to Truth, Justice and Reparation’, Head of the Sri Lankan delegation to the 17th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said in his statement to the world forum. Indeed, Sri Lanka has committed herself to the establishment and sustenance of these values and some results of this commitment are already making themselves visible in the work of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC). It is, in fact, quite some time since Sri Lanka considered herself conscience-bound to incorporate these values in her constitution and traditions of governance, and the fundamental rights chapter of our constitution and other documents setting out the cornerstones of good governance, bear this out. The Minister has dwelt at some length on the work that the LLRC has set for itself and it is plain to see that justice to those affected by the Lankan conflict and the bestowing of reparations to the latter constitute a good part of its operations. For this purpose the LLRC has been travelling the length and breadth of Sri Lanka, and as the Minister pointed out, has been listening to the grievances of affected persons and groups and is in the process of restoring to them what is due to them. That is, restorative justice is a foundation of the work the LLRC has taken on itself (Daily News ; 31 May 2011).

Delete ‘Eelam’and ‘Puligal’ - by J. T. Mirando Negombo - We are all aware of what happened to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in this country. But still there are political parties who have got their parties registered as the Eelam People’s Democratic Party, Peoples Liberation of Tamil Eelam, Tamil Makkal Vidutalai Puligal etc. Could the names of these political parties be a clue to what their motives are? It is time that the government compelled these parties to delete the words ‘Eelam and ‘Puligal’ from their party names (Island : 30 May 2011).

Lanka slams UN rights chief for seeking probe into violations - Sri Lanka on Monday slammed UN rights watchdog chief Navi Pillay for calling for a fresh international probe into alleged war crimes committed during the final stages of the ethnic conflict in the country that ended in 2009.  Launching a scathing attack on the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Sri Lanka questioned her bona fides and said her actions were unbecoming of her high office.  "The High Commissioner unbecomingly deems it appropriate to call for action on the recommendations of the said report which are based on unverified information and also un-sourced, and would remain so for the next 20 years," said Kshenuka Senewiratne, Sri Lanka's permanent representative to the Human Rights Council (HRC).  Colombo's outburst came as Pillai in a statement to the Geneva-based HRC at its 17th session today called for a fresh international investigation into alleged war crimes during the civil war.  Pillai had referred to a UN expert panel report which collected testimony and put together what they called "credible allegations" of gross human rights abuses and other crimes against humanity committed both by Lankan troops and the LTTE during the final stages of the three-decade civil war.  Sri Lanka has been keen to avoid any reference to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's controversial report which was released in April. It called for an international probe which Colombo has consistently rejected. Her statement released in Colombo together with parts of Pillai's comments to the Council came ahead of a meeting Sri Lanka is holding tomorrow to showcase its military success in defeating the LTTE (Zee News : 30 May 2011).

Sri Lanka criticizes UN system - Samarasinghe - Responding to UNSG Ban Ki-moon’s controversial ‘Darusman Report’ on accountability issues in Sri Lanka, the government of Sri Lanka on Monday (30) strongly criticized the UN system, at the UN Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva.  Addressing the HRC, Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said that Sri Lanka regretted the procedural and substantive anomalies in the manifestly flawed report ostensibly compiled as an advisory document to the highest office of the UN, invoking a procedure outside the established intergovernmental process. Consequently in an unusual turn of events the report was made public simultaneously with a statement being issued that the report was being carefully reviewed, he said.  The Minister emphasized that this kind of irregular practice be discouraged as this might well lead to established procedure being circumvented arbitrarily. "It is also regrettable that the Panel has acted outside its jurisdiction in excess of its mandate," the Minister said.  The minister went on to say: Statements attributable to the Office of the High Commissioner having worryingly given rise to misgivings as to a lack of objectivity and contain pre-judgement of the domestic mechanism established by the Government, even before it has concluded its work. It is undeniable that the humanitarian operations in Sri Lanka resulted in the rescue of over 290,000 persons - innocent civilians - held hostage by a terrorist organization proscribed in over 30 countries (Island : 30 May 2011).

Re: Rathika Sitasabaiesan, NDP MP for Scarborough Rough River : her set priority in the House is to form an All Party Parliamentary Committee to study the unapproved Security Council UN (Darushman) Report on Sri Lanka - by Asoka Weerasinghe, Canada -  Honourable Gentlemen, permit me to congratulate all of you for winning your ridings to represent your constituents in Parliament and being appointed to the Cabinet. It is fair dinkum for me to bring to your notice how aghast I was when I read a news report of what our rookie NDP MP, the Special advisor on Tamil affairs to NDPs Jack Layton had said during an interview with BBC’s Sinhala Service Sandeshaya that “she will take the initiative to form an All Party Parliamentary Committee (APPC) to look into the alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka during the last stages of the war, and that she would get the APPC to come up with recommendations for the Canadian government over the UN expert panel report will be a priority.” As a senior I was absolutely shocked and disappointed by this rookie MP’s announcement of her set priority coming just out of the gate, which did not resonate with older Canadians like me, not prioritizing to address pension reform, caregiver support, poverty among pensioners and elder abuse. These are the pressing issues for us seniors to move quickly on rather than tying up parliament’s valuable working time with a UN unapproved report on Sri Lanka on alleged war crimes, which most of us couldn’t care two washed up capelin on the shores of Newfoundland and Labrador. I suppose this rookie couldn’t care less whether parliament would act swiftly or not to improve the quality of life for all Canadians as we age, but what she wants is to form an All Party Parliamentary Committee to look into the alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka during the last five months of the Tamil Eelam War when the Tamil Tigers were wiped out militarily on 18 May 2009. It is obvious that this is a concern for her as her Facebook pages did display the Tamil Tiger flag prominently before it was taken out a few days after she was elected to parliament on May 2 (LankaWeb : 30 June 2011).

LTTE's current leader and former chief arms procurer, KP, has been re-listed as a WANTED person by the Interpol.

For details visit the website of INTERPOL (click here).

Report not likely at HRC  - Report unsubstantiated, falsified, biased -  Govt ready to meet Diaspora challenge - by Chamikara Weerasinghe - The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is unlikely to review, or hold discussions on the controversial Darusman Report during its 17th regular session in Geneva from today to June 17. Defense Spokesman and Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella yesterday said the Government has adequately dealt with the Report and added that the Report, as unsubstantiated, falsified and biased as it is, is very unlikely to be taken for discussion at the sessions of the UNHRC. ‘However, this does not mean that pro LTTE diaspora in the West would stop its lobbying against the Sri Lankan Government,“ he pointed out. ‘It was expected that the role of the Tamil diaspora politics will be reduced to transnational political lobbying after the decimation of the LTTE,” the Minister said. ‘The Diaspora will continue to influence the United Nations, UK, US, other countries and international organizations to mobilize themselves in the light of their diminishing power and influence after the LTTE defeat.” ‘The Government is ready to meet the challenge of the Tamil Diaspora knowing their agenda well,” he said. ‘The Tamil Diaspora has been collecting funds from their foreign sympathizers in the West for decades to support the LTTE. Now they have to make efforts to hold onto their positions without the manoeuvre of the LTTE to raise funds as they used to, while having to safeguard their millions of dollars in assets, explained Rambukwella. With the United Nations holding its Human Rights Council session today, the government will start a two-day international seminar on defeating terrorism. The seminar titled, “Defeating Terrorism – The Sri Lanka Experience” will be held at the Galadari Hotel Colombo from May 31 to June 2 with the participation of military officers from 54 countries. Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya will preside. Rambukwella said the government will share its experience on how it defeated terrorism by using the force of the military on the home ground. Asked if the government would also share its military strategies applied in the process of defeating terrorism, he said the government will share every detail of the policies and strategies it applied in the process of defeating terrorism with any country seeking to remove the plague of terrorism from their soil (Daily News : 30 May 2011).

UNHRC sessions: SL to spell out NE normalization - by Disna Mudalige - Plantation Industries Minister and Presidential Nominee for Human Rights Affairs Mahinda Samarasinghe will apprise the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva today on the various steps taken by the government to alleviate the condition of the people in the war affected areas and the measures taken to help rebuild their lives, as the head of Sri Lankan delegation before the world forum. He is scheduled to address the UNHRC at 6 pm local time. During his speech Minister Samarasinghe will be paying attention to the progress of resettlement in the war affected areas and the development of infrastructure in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. The Minister will stress on the government’s commitment to preserve the rights of all ethnicities and its equal treatment of all communities while disclaiming the recent allegations of human rights violations, a Ministry spokesman told the Daily News yesterday. The spokesman also said that the ministerial delegation was ready to counter any allegation against the country based on the controversial Darusman Report noting that it was revealed that certain western countries were attempting to raise matters regarding the Darusman report during the session. “Certain forces pushed by pro LTTE elements are trying to destroy the political and social stability and the image that the country has gained. The delegation will deal with any such attempt confidently,” he said. Minister Samarasinghe will brief the member states on the positive developments taking place in the country after the elimination of terrorism. He will convince the UNHRC of the equal flow of developments to all regions of the island. The Minister will pay special attention to the national action plan on the promotion and protection of Human Rights which is on the verge of being finalized. The delegation headed by Minister Samarasinghe also includes Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva and Attorney General Mohan Peiris (Daily News : 30 May 2011).

Response to further excesses by Gordon Weiss in the Australian media - by Prof Rajiva Wijesinha, MP - I read with some disappointment the account of your interview with Gordon Weiss regarding the situation in Sri Lanka in 2009. I believe, it was published on May 16. ABC then interviewed me on May 17, but I have not been informed as yet as to when that interview will be broadcast. I am also disappointed that, contrary to assurances given, ABC will not be supplying us with a copy or a transcript of the full interview. I believe the principle of freedom of information requires this, and it is sad to see a media outfit not prepared to ensure a fair playing field.  With regard to Weiss’ comments, I believe the following annotations might be useful to your readers.  “Mark Colvin: It’s two years this week since the Sri Lankan Army finally defeated the Tamil Tigers to end a war that had lasted three decades. But the passage of time has not answered the questions that were being asked even then. In fact three weeks ago a UN expert panel said allegations of war crimes committed by the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers were credible and could lead to formal charges.” The Panel was charged to advise the Secretary General on action to be taken with regard to accountability. It was not required to investigate, and it has not done so. Repeating allegations made by others is of course acceptable if it wished to advise the Secretary General that these should be investigated, but to judge these ‘credible’ is strange, since hardly any evidence is provided for these claims. Where there is purported evidence, it is shoddy and shaky, as when an earlier report of the Secretary General is cited, whereas the particular paragraphs mentioned referred to actions of the LTTE. “The report said the government carried out large scale shelling of No Fire Zones and also systematically shelled hospitals and food distribution lines.” (Daily News ; 30 May 2011).

Army preparing report on war - By Supun Dias and Olindhi Jayasundere - The Sri Lanka Army is preparing a comprehensive report on the war with testimonies from those who fought on the frontlines, army sources said yesterday. A senior army officer who served in the war front during the final stages said the army was of the view that the report could be used by the government to counter allegations of human rights violations. The report is being prepared by a committee comprising senior army officers appointed by Army Commander Jagath Jayasuriya. The report will be based on the experience gained by army officers on the battle front and will include the rescue of civilians who were trapped in LTTE-controlled areas during the height of the fighting. Several senior army officers said they would collect statements from battle front commanders and pack leaders, and from those who led the Special Forces teams, commando sub groups and special task forces which supported the 51st, 53rd, 55th, 57th, 58th and 59th divisions. The committee has recorded statements from several top officers in the Wanni, Kilinochchi and Mullaithivu. Meanwhile a three-day seminar on the theme, ‘Defeating terrorism, the Sri Lankan experience,’ will be held from tomorrow. During the seminar the Sri Lanka Army will share its experiences in counter terrorism strategies and the humanitarian operations to rescue civilians trapped by the LTTE. The subject of reintegrating ex-combatants into society, the resettlement and rehabilitation programmes and the steps taken to mitigate the factors that may lead to a resurgence of violence and the political reforms to accommodate all ethnic communities and the development activities in the North and East will also be discussed at the seminar. Proposals will also be made on measures to manage and counter global terrorism, the role of human rights in counter insurgency operations and strategies for nation building with a Sri Lankan perspective. About 300 delegates from 42 countries are expected to participate in the three-day seminar (Daily Mirror ; 30 May 2011).

Victory Day Of Sri Lanka: A reply to Tisaranee Gunasekera - By M. D. P. Dissanayake – Australia An article written by TG (Asian Tribune 29 May) on the above caption is an absolute disgrace to Sri Lankan military personnel and all Sri Lankans. Her articles are normally supportive of Tamil Ealam concept. She is against Buddhism. She is against Mahinda Rajapakse regime much more than Ranil Wickremasinghe. But she is supportive of Tamil Eelam. She has high regard for disgraced Sarath Fonseka. There is no reason why Sri Lanka should not celebrate the end of cruel War over a period of 30 years. The new era in Sri Lanka would not have come for many more years, if Mr Mahinda Rajapakse did not become the President (Asian Tribune ; 30 May 2011).

HR groups urge US to bash SL in Geneva - By Shamindra Ferdinando - Several international organisations at the behest of the LTTE rump want the US to rap Sri Lanka at the 17th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, in Geneva, beginning today (May 30). The sessions continue till June 17.  A senior security official told The Island that among the NGOs gunning for Sri Lanka at the Geneva meet are the Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and International Crisis Group. They turned down an invitation from the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation commission (LLRC) to make representations on behalf of those affected by the war.  The 11-member collective of outfits has written to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton requesting the US to take a strong position against Sri Lanka at the Geneva meet.  In a letter dated May 27, the group, while appreciating the continued US support for their cause, particularly a statement attributed to US Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Susan Rice pushing for independent investigation with regard to accountability issues in Sri Lanka.  Sources said that the group had gone to the extent of advising the US regarding the position it should take on Sri Lanka at the Geneva meet. Their recommendations were (a) welcome the Darusman Report (b) express the US Government’s concern about the credible allegations detailed in the report, including the seriousness and scale of the crimes described, (c) express concern at the report’s findings of the failure of the Sri Lankan government to investigate and prosecute those involved in these crimes (d) note the Panel’s findings that the LLRC is "not tailored to investigating allegations of serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law," and has "not sought to investigate systematically and impartially the allegations of serious violations on both sides of the war;" and (e) call for the full implementation of the Panel’s recommendations, in particular the establishment of an independent international mechanism with a mandate to conduct investigations into alleged violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, including war crimes (Island ; 29 May 2011).

IOM in unique project to assist ex-LTTE cadres - Richard Danziger discusses on-going profiling of those who fought the Sri Lankan State - by Shamindra Ferdinando - Ex-LTTE combatants can now benefit from a unique project executed by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) with the support of international donors. The scheme launched in the aftermath of the conclusion of the war in May 2009, provides assistance to those who once fought for the LTTE. Richard Danziger, Chief of Mission, IOM Sri Lanka, told The Island that they had designed and implemented a comprehensive Information, Counselling, and Referral Services (ICRS) programme for ex-LTTE personnel. Danziger said that ICRS project would help the ex-combatants to return to civilian life in a dignified and timely manner. That would definitely contribute to the process of peace and national reconciliation, thereby building a positive environment for the resumption of economic activities in war torn areas, Danziger said. Danziger was speaking after the last week’s IOM’s 60th anniversary celebrations. Danziger revealed that as at May 16, 2011, 1,730 ex-LTTE personnel had received individual assistance, through the ICRC project. On the invitation of the government of the Government of Sri Lanka, the IOM has so far profiled about 6,800 ex-LTTE personnel. Danziger said that it was an ongoing project conducted with the blessings of the government. He said: "As of today, more than 6726 former LTTE cadres have been profiled by IOM. Each beneficiary receives individual support following their release from the government’s rehabilitation facilities. They can apply for a small grant to set up a business, find employment, start formal education or be engaged in apprenticeships and on-the-job training schemes. Similarly, through the ICRS referral mechanism, beneficiaries are put in contact with job vacancies, vocational training opportunities and some of the specialist services that they may need to access such as health, psycho-social and legal support. As at 16 May 2011, 1,730 former combatants have been given individual assistance through the ICRS mechanism." (Island : 29 May 2011).

Post-war national reconciliation:SL’s failure can cause debilitating external interference - By Shamindra Ferdinando - External Affairs Ministry veteran, Dr. John Gooneratne, says failure on the part of the government of Sri Lanka to settle differences among the communities amicably could invite external interference. Dr. Gooneratne asserts, in the wake of the armed forces’ triumph over the LTTE in May two years ago, nothing could be as important as national reconciliation. After joining the Foreign Service in 1961, Gooneratne had his first overseas appointment at the SL mission in Washington in 1965. In 1968, he moved to Myanmar before returning to Colombo as Foreign Ministry Desk Officer for India in the South Asia Division in 1970. Following a three-year stint in Colombo, Gooneratne was posted to the SL mission in Cairo where, over the next four years became proficient in Arabic. In 1977, he was shifted to the SL Permanent Mission at the UN, where he served the country for two years before returning to Colombo in 1980 as Director Middle East Division. During the following three years, Gooneratne had an opportunity to handle the newly formed Eelam Desk. In 1983, he was posted to the SL mission in Washington as Deputy Chief of Mission, where he had to handle matters pertaining to the Hill (i.e. the US Senate and House of Representatives) dealing with anti-Sri Lanka agitation on the Hill by the Tamil Diaspora (Island : 29 May 2011).

Another dastardly attack - Sri Lanka's war on terror came to an end two years ago but unfortunately the rule of law is far from restored in all parts of the country. True, people no longer have to live in fear of terrorists but the Opposition and the media continue to suffer at the hands of goons who are above the law to all intents and purposes. A journalist working with the Jaffna-based Tamil publication, the Uthayan, has come under a goon attack in Jaffna. S. Kavitharan, the victim, has said a gang set upon him near the Hindu College on Saturday. It is very likely that the police will conduct a sham probe into this incident as well and relegate it to the limbo of forgotten things after the public outcry fizzles out. The Uthayan journalists have been targeted by thugs several times during the past few years but the perpetrators have not yet been brought to justice. The North is currently under heavy security and goons obviously cannot operate with impunity unless they are members of the pro-government militia or rogue elements of the armed forces. We do not intend to conduct a media trial but the government cannot prevent the blame for attacks on the media being placed at its doorstep because none of them have been probed properly and the culprits have gone scot free. This kind of culture of impunity has caused the Sri Lankan journalists to be in the same predicament as their counterparts in Colombia, where it is said a journalist is free to write anything and anyone else is free to kill him or her for writing that! (Island ; 29 May 2011).

Aftermath of Advisory Panel Report - by Bystander - Was Ban Ki Moon duplicitous in his dealings with President Rajapakse? The evidence is damning. This matter however is best left to historians as it is of little practical consequence. The focus has to be on the issues arising from the highly partial, contentious, prescriptive 197 page report of the so-called Advisory Panel of the Secretary General of the UN. Many, notably the Minister of Foreign Affairs, have torn the form and substance of the report to shreds. No repetition is required. Did anyone expect anything different from the Panel given its membership? One member has a long history of being close to the United States authorities and has a negative attitude towards the Sri Lankan Government after a bad-tempered episode in the past. Another was close to a "human rights" body with a track record of bias and hostility to Sri Lanka. The third was financially beholden to the EU. Impartiality and independence are not words that spring to mind in respect of any of them (Island ; 29 May 2011).

Sri Lanka President to declare open the telecommunication tower in former rebel held territory on June 06 - The Director General of the Sri Lanka Telecommunication Regulatory Commission Anusha Palpita said President Mahinda Rajapaksa will declare open the newly built multipurpose communication tower at Kokawil of Mullaitivu District in the Northern Province on June 06. Telecommunication Regulatory Commission spent Rs. 330 million for the 175 meter tall tower that is considered the tallest in South Asia. The tower, which is Sri Lanka's first ever multi-channel broadcasting tower, will be allocated for the providers of services of high speed internet, radio, television, and telecommunications transmissions, as well as military communication operations. The LTTE rebels captured the original tower and used to broadcast their clandestine transmissions before blowing it up in 2009 when Sri Lankan troops were approaching. Sri Lanka Telecommunication Regulatory Commission expects to provide space for state and private media and telecommunication channels transmission through this tower (Colombo Page : 29 May 2011).

Canadian MP Rathika must show her honestly by prosecuting pro-LTTE Canadians for aiding LTTE terrorists - The controversial “Darusman report” released with war crime allegations over Sri Lanka had drawn the attention of many Sri Lankans worldwide and revealed the absurd intention of bogus Human rights elements to supply oxygen to slain LTTE terrorists. Mr. Asoka Weerasinghe, an active member of the Canadian-based Sri Lankans’ organization, writing to Canadian Prime Minister, has expressed his total displeasure over - Rathika Sitsabaiesan NDP MP for Scarborough Southwest - for her “enthusiasm” to create a mandate in Canadian Parliament from which she expects to try Sri Lankan for the alleged war crime issues mentioned as in controversial Darusman report. Mr Asoka Weerasinghe says he and his organization is willing to thwart the shameless attempt of pro-LTTE elements to tarnish Sri Lanka’s and its Security forces’ image and to create awareness of what truly happened in the Wanni Humanitarian war. According to Mr Weerasinghe, Rathika Sitsabaiesan in her interview with BBC’s Sinhala Service Sandeshaya has said that, she will take the initiative to form an All Party Parliamentary Committee (APPC) to look into alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka during the last stages of the war, and that she would get the APPC to come up with recommendations for the Canadian government over the UN expert panel report will be a priority. Mr. Weerasinghe criticizes Rathika’s being disingenuous when she focuses on the UN (Darusman) Report on Sri Lanka which only dealt with the last phases of the war with LTTE terrorists by ignoring the fact that the Canadian Liberal government for 13 years were aiding and abetting this terrorist war in Sri Lanka which criminally killed scores of thousands of innocent unarmed civilians by the Tamil Tiger terrorists for the want of their mono-ethnic, racist, Tamil separate state, Eelam. Mr. Weerasinghe reminds that 32 million Canadians, including Rathika, have a film of Sinhalese and Muslim blood on their palms as it were the Canadian Tamil Diaspora who collected two million dollars a month during the 13 long Liberal Party governing years, to pump funds to the blood thirsty LTTE terrorists to extend their killing fields in Sri Lanka (Sinhalaya.com : 29 May 2011).

Lanka wins diplomatic battle at UNHRC; UNSG’s report won’t be taken up at sessions beginning tomorrow - By Our Diplomatic Editor - The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's Panel of Experts report on Sri Lanka will not come up for discussion when the UN's Human Rights Council meets in Geneva tomorrow (May 30), diplomatic sources told the Sunday Times. Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe who was vested with the added subject of Human Rights earlier this year is leading the Sri Lanka delegation to the UNHRC's sessions. He and the rest of the Sri Lankan contingent which includes Irrigation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva and Attorney General Mohan Peiris have been in Geneva for a week lobbying representatives from other countries, especially those from the 47 member-states in the UNHRC to ward off any moves to raise the UNSG's adverse report on Sri Lanka during the sessions. The report calls for an international mechanism to investigate allegations of violations of human rights and humanitarian law during the last stages of the government's military offensive against the LTTE. The UNHRC is one of the inter-government agencies that could trigger such an investigation if its 47 member-states vote in favour of a resolution calling for such an investigation. These sources said that moves to bring forth such a resolution was being worked out by some western countries, but indications were that while there could be references to the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, past and present, a formal resolution that would be put to vote was expected to be postponed for the next session of the UNHRC sometime probably in September this year. Discussions between Sri Lanka's UN envoy Palitha Kohonna and UNSG Ban Ki-moon seeking more time for the domestic investigations to be concluded by way of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) were attributed as one of the reasons to give Sri Lanka more time. The other is that the human rights situation in West Asia and North Africa was attracting greater attention among the western countries represented in the UNHRC (Sunday Times ; 29 May 2011).

India destabilising Lanka again - The military parade to commemorate the second anniversary of our own 'V Day' was impressive, but coming as it did in the backdrop of protests by workers, university dons and a host of external compulsions, the Government is being accused of 'milking the issue' and falling back on the defeat of terrorism in May 2009 to give impetus to its political longevity. There was also an element of hollowness to it when, at Hulftsdorp Hill, not far away from the parade, the General who led the ground forces to that momentous victory was making a dock statement in his defence in a trial instituted by those taking the salute at Galle Face. Having concluded his statement he was escorted back to jail where he has been for the past year and more. That itself is also a damper on what is expected to be a glitzy conference scheduled to begin next week on the manner in which one of the world's deadliest terrorist organisations was defeated. Something is not right when you have to stage Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark. The heroic victory of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces over the LTTE is a historic fact. Whoever may claim the mileage for the victory, the men - and women, who fought the good fight, deserve the eternal gratitude of a nation. The cost was high in battling a brutish terrorist organisation to a finish. Apart from those who made the supreme sacrifice, or were permanently maimed over the three decade-long insurgency, 6,000 soldiers were killed in the final phase of the battle alone with 20,000 injured, half of them critically and for life. That was the high price paid to liberate the country from a fascist organisation. These sacrifices are slowly receding in memory. Initially, there was an internal political scrummage for political leadership among the victorious, and now there are external elements casting shadows over this now terror-free island-nation. From the West comes the exertion of pressure through the UN and the report of the so-called panel of experts appointed by the Secretary General; the threat of investigations into purported crimes against humanity. Last week came a thunderbolt, not unexpected, from neighbouring India. It refused to support Sri Lanka's moves to ward off these threats and acquiesced to wanting these allegations investigated (Sunday Times ; 29 May 2011).

Interpol puts KP back on wanted list - Tharmalingam Shanmugam Kumaran better known as Kumaran Pathmanathan (KP) has been re-listed as a wanted person by Interpol. Soon after KP was arrested in August 2009 in Malyasia, his name was taken off the wanted list of Interpol, but after KP in a media interview last week claimed that the LTTE was responsible for the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, his name has reappeared as a wanted person. KP is currently in the custody of the Sri Lankan government while opposition leaders are claiming that he is getting VIP treatment. There is an arrest warrant issued by a Chennai court in connection with the assassination of Mr. Gandhi. DIG Jayantha Kulatillake who is in charge of Interpol’s local unit declined to comment on the notice (Sunday Times : 29 May 2011).

A very good article by Prof. Nalin de Silva in Divaina http://www.divaina.com/2011/05/29/nalin.html

A very good article by Eric gamini Jinapriya http://www.divaina.com/2011/05/29/politics01.html

SPUR (NSW) Religious Ceremony in Sydney to Commemorate the Fallen Heroes in Sri Lanka

SPUR NSW conducted a religious commemoration ceremony to remember and honour the sacrifices made by fallen heroes of the defence forces towards peace in Sri Lanka on Sunday 22 May 2011 at the Argyle Community Hall in Ryde.Rev Kalawewa Gnanananda Thero of Sri Lanka Buddhist Monastry in Brisbane who flew down for the occasion from Brisbane invoked blessings on fallen heroes and their family members. He emphasised the need to appreciate and remember the enormous sacrifices made by those who fought for peace for the motherland of all Sri Lankans. Ven Gnananada further said that they sacrificed their lives even giving up their love and commitment to their own spouses and children and all for the sake of the good the motherland, and not in the pursuit of wealth and position Pastor Bernard Dissanayake stressed the importance of helping the family members of those who made ultimate sacrifice. He underscored the value of peace, harmony and unity enjoyed by all today in the island made possible by the sacrifices of service personnel. He mentioned and appreciated the historical sacrifices made by our ancestors to preserve the integrity of the island nation and for the good of all persons living in it. Lalith Attanayake, Nimal Liyanage and Wijaya Hapukotuwa of SPUR NSW also addressed the gathering. They highlighted that while we commemorate our fallen servicemen our message to all Sri Lankans, whether living in Sri Lanka or overseas, is to unite more than ever, look after our fellow countrymen irrespective of race religion, ethnicity or political differences. They further stressed that true reconciliation comes through the acceptance that these sacrifices were made for all Sri Lankans and not for any single segment of the community and stressed the process of reconciliation we can live in peace and harmony and achieve the ultimate prosperity we desire.  Malin Perera of SPUR NSW also spoke on behalf of SPUR Youth Group. Pium Attanayake thanked Rev Gnanananda Thero for finding the time to participate in this worthy cause amid a busy Vesak schedule in Brisbane and also Pastor Dissanayake for the long association with SPUR, NSW and for the support he has and his family has given to activities relate to the welfare of the servicemen.SPUR projects for the upliftment of disabled servicemen and their children were acknowledged. Several colourful presentations of the achievements were made by various presenters. Many present pledged their support for ongoing programs including the ranaviru scholarship program and other projects (Sri Lanka News Online ; 29 May 2011).

Uncertified death - After two decades, the special CBI court handling the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case has not wound up, even after the main accused have long since been convicted and sentenced. The hold up is because of the status of the LTTE chief V Prabhakaran who was dubbed the mastermind behind the conspiracy. The CBI wrote to the Sri Lankan authorities asking for a death certificate of Prabhakaran so that the case could be closed. Although the Sri Lankan authorities have proclaimed to the media that the LTTE leader died during military operations in Sri Lanka two years back, they have not forwarded any document to corroborate the information (Indian Express ; 29 May 2011).

Sri Lanka delegation in Geneva to participate in UNHRC session - The Sri Lankan delegation led by Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister for Plantation Industries and Special Envoy for Human Rights of Sri Lanka is in Geneva to participate in the 17th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, from May 30 - June 17.  Minister Samarasinghe is scheduled to address the opening session on Monday at 2:00 p.m. local time following the presentations of the annual report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General.  The Minister is expected to appraise the HRC on the progress of Sri Lanka's own Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission and the National Action Plan on the promotion and protection of the human rights.  The state-run weekend newspaper The Observer citing an official said the delegation, ahead of the session, met heads of all regional groups to brief them on the peace dividends, especially the rehabilitation, resettlement, and development initiatives in the country.  "Our objective is to brief the international community on the developments taking place within Sri Lanka so as to counter the disinformation campaign of the LTTE remnants," the official was quoted.  According to the official Sri Lanka was prepared to have a genuine dialogue with the international community and has reportedly scheduled an event on the sidelines of the council sessions to address the concerns of Member States on Wednesday.  The Expert Panel appointed by the UN Secretary-General to probe the accountability during the last phase of the armed conflict between the Sri Lankan government forces and the Tamil Tiger terrorists concluded that there are credible evidence that major violations of international human rights and humanitarian law were committed on all sides in the conflict.  The Sri Lankan government has rejected the report saying that it is fundamentally flawed and based on biased material that is presented without any verification.  However, the High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, accusing the Sri Lankan government of conducting a war under the guise of fighting terrorism and killing thousands of civilians, has called for further international investigation on the alleged war crimes. The High Commissioner has encouraged the Human Rights Council members to reflect on the new information and findings contained in the report on Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan delegation to the Geneva session also includes Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva and Attorney General Mohan Peiris and Head of Sri Lanka mission in the United Nations in Geneva, Ms. Kshenuka Seneviratne (Colombo Page : 29 May 2011).

The credibility and incredibility of India - by Malinda Seneviratne -  ‘Incredible India’ is the tagline or theme of India’s drive to attract tourism. It is a tag that has multiple uses of course. It is a call for pride in nation. It is also made for jingoistic hurrahs. What is ‘incredible’ though and what is incredible (or credible) about India, I wondered. The word is derived from ‘credible’, i.e. ‘capable of being believed’ or ‘plausible’. It refers to things that are worthy of confidence; things that are reliable. Incredible, being the antonym, means ‘so implausible as to elicit disbelief’ or ‘astonishing’. I think the impression that India is trying to create is that it is an out-of-this-world kind of nation and experience and therefore, the most alluring tourist destination for those want to see and experience something that’s sorely missing in their respective worlds. I am sure that a country as vast as India is naturally endowed with many treasures that people from different parts of the world would never have seen and as such would be duly amazed by. It is a country that has a history, has diversity of people, language, culture, literature, music and religious beliefs and attendant customs and rituals, all of which are of the ‘out of the world’ kind as far as the random visitor is concerned. There are other things ‘incredible’ about India (The Nation ; 29 May 2011).

How SL won its ‘War on Terror’ - Field commanders to share experiences with 300 delegates from over 40 countries at 3-day seminar - By Chandani Kirinde - A three-day seminar aimed at sharing Sri Lanka’s experience in defeating terrorism will begin in Colombo on Tuesday. Field commanders who took part in the humanitarian operation in the last stages of the war will share their experiences with an international audience. They will take questions from the delegates, relating to the humanitarian operations. “Everything is transparent and the media is at liberty to meet any of those contributors on the sidelines of the seminar,” Army Commander Lt. Gen. Jagath Jayasuriya told reporters at a news briefing held to announce details of the seminar. The seminar will be attended by over 300 delegates from over 40 countries. The sessions would include discussions on various aspects of terrorism such as ‘global terrorism', as well as post-conflict reconciliation and resettlement, threats to national and international security from terrorism, effective counter mechanisms as well as re-evaluation of traditional approaches. Among the speakers on the opening day of the seminar are External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal and President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga. The seminar will discuss understanding and sharing of knowledge on effective counter terrorism strategy, operational and tactical level lessons covering; intelligence, field engineering, medical and operating behind enemy lines, the role of human rights in counter insurgency operations, rehabilitation programmes to integrate ex-combatants into society and measures taken to mitigate factors that may lead to resurgence of violence, political reforms to accommodate all ethnic communities and nation building (Sunday Times ; 29 May 2011).

“Devolution must be at grassroots level” - Police powers could be misused - Build investor confidence - Abolish PTA and ER - UNP’s senior deputy leader and former minister Karu Jayasuriya says Sri Lanka lost a golden opportunity of uniting all the communities under one umbrella after crushing the LTTE in 2009. Paying tribute to the present government for taking the LTTE by their horns, the seasoned politician told The Nation that short-sighted policies with determination to suppress the opposition have divided the country that could have been very well united after the end of the conflict. However he says nothing is too late for amendments and has suggested that if the main opposition is respected by the government, then there would be absolute support to the government based on some national issues. He also said that the government has failed so far to deliver the goods to the Tamils in the north and east and added the Tamils in Sri Lanka deserved what the Tamils in Tamil Nadu enjoy Following are excerpts: (The Nation : 29 May 2011).

2 years on, marching to the beat of victory - Pix by Sanka Vidanagama - Thousands of security force personnel and police, clad in full battle gear did the March at the Galle Face Green promenade on Thursday, as part of the massive show to mark 'Victory Day' - the second anniversary of defeating the LTTE. The battle clad security force and police personnel were part of a wider show that included displays from the Air Force and Navy, while President Mahinda Rajapaksa took the salute (Sunday Times ; 29 May 2011).

I am in jail while Karuna enjoys privileges as a minister – Fonseka - 'White Flag' Trial-at-Bar By Manopriya Gunasekara Former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka told the High Court Trial-at-Bar that it was ironical that he had to spend time in jail when Karuna Amman, a former military wing leader of the Tiger guerrillas, who was responsible for the killings of civilians, was enjoying privileges as a minister without facing any charges. Mr. Fonseka was making his dock statement in the 'White Flag' case this week for the fourth consecutive day...... In 1996, Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna Amman who is currently a Minister was maintaining camps in Thoppigala in the East and was putting pressure on the Army. In 1997 the LTTE carried out an attack on the southern part of the Elephant Pass Camp and removed the heavy weapons. I was told to restore the camp which duty I carried out. In 1998, during the Jayasikuru operation our headquarters in Mankulam came under LTTE attack. The operation was planned by Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan who is currently a Minister. I was injured for the second time. A piece of shrapnel which entered my body still remains there. While I was engaged in this operation part of the Elephant Pass area was lost to the LTTE................  (Sunday Times ; 29 May 2011).

Asylum seeker children ‘self-harming’ in Australia - SYDNEY (AFP) – Asylum seeker children are attempting self-harm and even suicide in an Australian immigration detention centre, a key medical group representative said Saturday. Australia has a policy of mandatory detention for all asylum seekers who arrive by boat, and while Canberra is attempting to place all children and families in community housing, some remain locked up. The result is that some children under the age of 10 living in a detention centre in Darwin are coming to doctors after trying to hurt themselves, the Australian Medical Association’s Northern Territory chief Paul Bauert said. “We have had children under the age of 10 attempting self-harm,” he told AFP. “There’s definitely been cases of attempted suicide and even cases of some young children taking up hunger strikes. There’s been some close calls.” The government has pledged to move all children out of detention by the end of next month but Bauert said the transfer was not happening fast enough. He said children who experienced hardship and stress in their first years often carried it with them for the rest of their lives, and he urged the government to release all children from detention immediately. “We know that 95 percent of these kids are going to end up Australian citizens and what we are doing is damaging them,” he said. “It’s just not the Australian way.” Rights groups have criticised Australia’s system of mandatory detention for asylum seekers awaiting processing, with the nation’s Human Rights Commission last week warning suicide and depression were major concerns in the centres (The Nation : 29 May 2011).

Lanka’s post war efforts recognised at ESCAP - Head of Lankan delegation Dr. Amunugama unanimously elected as chairman of the Ministerial Segment of ESCAP's 67th Commission Session By Neville de Silva Sri Lanka's post-war development and the integration of war-torn areas into it were recognised in the lobbies of the United Nations Centre in Bangkok where a key session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) concluded on Wednesday afternoon, officials said. Several delegates and ESCAP officials complimented International Monetary Cooperation Senior Minister Dr Sarath Amunugama, head of the Sri Lanka delegation, for the positive steps Sri Lanka has taken in the last two years including bringing the north and east of the country into the development equation and opening up significant infrastructure projects in road, rail and shipping, they added. Sri Lanka's role as a fast emerging middle-income power in Asia and as a important multifarious hub in the south and southeast Asian region was recognised when Dr. Amunugama was unanimously elected as chairman of the Ministerial Segment of ESCAP's 67th Commission Session attended by over 50 member-states and associates and a large number of UN affiliated and other bodies.Dr Amunugama's name was proposed by the host country Thailand and seconded by Turkey which is aspiring to join the European Union, indicating perhaps Sri Lanka's widespread acceptance to steer the key sessions (Sunday Times : 29 May 2011).

Lanka to outline HR measures at UNHRC - by Manjula FERNANDO - The Sri Lankan team in Geneva ahead of the UN Human Rights Council sessions is consolidating support from friendly nations in a bid to portray the country's true image and dissuade possible attempts to discredit the country, a senior official from Geneva told Sunday Observer yesterday. The official said the team headed by Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe met heads of all regional groups; Western, Asian, African, East Europe and the Latin America to brief them on the peace dividends, especially the rehabilitation, resettlement and development initiatives in the country. "Our objective is to brief the international community on the developments taking place within Sri Lanka so as to counter the disinformation campaign of the LTTE remnants," he said. Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva and Attorney General Mohan Peiris are the other key members of the Lankan delegation. The official said Ambassador Kshenuka Seneviratne too was associated with the meetings. He said Sri Lanka was prepared to have a genuine dialogue with the international community and an event has been scheduled on the sidelines of the council sessions to take up concerns of Member States on Wednesday. The key team members and a group of resource personnel from Sri Lanka, experts on different subjects will be made available to answer or clarify any query ranging from resettlement, human rights, development, Humanitarian operation, re-integration of ex-combatants and child soldiers. The official said this will be a good opportunity to brief them on the massive economic development that has taken place in the North and the East, as well. The team also had an extensive briefing with the heads of Non Aligned Movement (NAM) last week. Minister Samarasinghe will address the inaugural session tomorrow. He will meet the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay. In the speech he is expected to appraise the Progress of the LLRC and National Action Plan on the Promotion and Protection of the Human Rights, which is before the Cabinet now, among other things. The 17th Human Rights Council regular sessions will be held from 30 May to 17 June at Palais des Nations in Geneva (Sunday Observer ; 29 May 2011).

Indo-Lanka ferry service to begin soon -  The much-delayed Colombo-Tuticorin passenger ferry service, which was to start on Friday, has been postponed at the request of Sri Lankan authorities. An official of the Ceylon Shipping Corporation (CSC) said the inaugural ceremony will be held in a week's time. However, other reports claim that the service would begin only in the first week of June. For the time being, an Indian ship would ply the route. Eventually, a Sri Lankan ship would be joining it, the official said. Indian and Lankan traders and Buddhist and Hindu pilgrims are expected to make use of the service. About 100,000 people might use the facility in a year. Executive director of the CSC, A.T. Chandradasa has been quoted as saying that initially, there would be two sailings per week, which would be increased if there was demand. The fare is yet to be fixed, but the media has quoted Deputy Minister for Shipping and Aviation Rohitha Abeygunawardene as saying that the fare for the 10 to 12-hour journey over 280 nautical miles would be 30 percent less than the air fare between Colombo and Chennai. A passenger would also be allowed to carry 80 to 100 kg as baggage, he said. Passenger terminals with Customs and security facilities had to be created afresh at both Colombo and Tuticorin, as passenger services were being revived after a long gap. The Tuticorin-Colombo ferry service was postponed before too due to technical reasons and there was diversion as well of the earmarked Indian vessel to evacuate Indians stranded in war-torn Libya. A second ferry service between Rameswaram and Talaimannar is expected to start by year-end (Sunday Observer ; 29 May 2011).

Karu wary of police power devolution - United National Party (UNP) senior Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya has expressed his personal reservations about Police powers being devolved to the peripheries. Blaming the government for not fully implementing the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, the seasoned politician told The Nation that though the UNP supported the full implementation of the amendment, devolving Police powers to the provinces was still a question. He expressed his worry about the possibility of Police powers being misused by “a politicised administration.” “I must confess here that we still have our own reservations about Police powers,” he said. He added that the police is even now under severe political pressure when exercising their duties, and that there is no guarantee that the police force would be free from such interventions, if devolved under the provisions of the constitution. He also expressed his fears of extremist elements trying to abuse Police powers if devolved to the provinces. He, however, added that the Indian model of governance is the ideal to settle the crises faced by the Tamil people. He also said Tamils in Sri Lanka deserved what the Tamils in Tamil Nadu enjoyed (The Nation ; 29 May 2011).

Yal Devi 'steams' into Omanthai

Schoolchildren see a train for the first time, in their town.

The Yal Devi in its approach run to Omanthai.

The terrorists did everything they could to divide the people in the North and the South, physically and mentally. They destroyed the Northern railroad, blasted trains and stations and the entire railway infrastructure. The Yal Devi train, which linked the North and the South, used to be a household name in Sri Lanka. But the LTTE, which wanted to keep Tamil civilians under its iron grip, did not want the trains coming in. The last train to Jaffna had to abandon its mission midway on June 23, 1990. Afterwards, all trains to the North terminated in Vavuniya/Thandikulam until recently. Back in 2009, exactly two years ago, the LTTE was defeated, ushering in a new era not only for the Northern people but also for all Sri Lankans. The Government lost no time in opening the A9 road which linked Colombo with Jaffna. However, restoring the rail track was not so easy, because there was no rail track to speak of beyond Vavuniya. It had to be built from scratch. The Sri Lankan and Indian Governments, corporate entities and private individuals contributed to this drive to re-build the Northern railway track, stations, signalling infrastructure and bridges under the Uthuru Mithuru program, a part of the Northern Resurgence project. The track is being rebuilt and opened stretch by stretch on the 'Build Back Better' principle. The Yal Devi will be running to Jaffna and KKS before long on a newly built rail track. The Omanthai station, one of the main stations beyond Vavuniya, was re-built with a generous financial contribution from Singer (Sri Lanka) Limited. It was opened to rail traffic on Friday by Minister Kumara Welgama to coincide with the second anniversary of the victory over terrorism. The Yal Devi arrived at Omanthai (10 Km from Thandikulam, the last previous stop) from Colombo in grand style after 21 long years amidst much fanfare to celebrate the occasion. The Minister was on board, with his senior officials and railway officials. The other stations too are being built in a similar manner to conform with international standards. The operations of the railway line from Omanthai to Pallai is scheduled to be constructed as the next phase of the project to operate trains from Colombo to Kankesanthurai and laying of the rail track from Pallai to Kankesanthurai will take place under the third phase. The 159 kilometre long Northern rail track consists of 85 bridges, 16 railway stations and 12 sub stations all of which need to be rebuilt. It was a treat for the schoolchildren and youngsters in the area, some of whom had never travelled in or even seen a train before. The railway officials took them on board for a memorable ride. The older residents of Omanthai too expressed happiness that the Yal Devi was back in their area. It is a train that has linked the hearts in the North and the South and would do so again. It is a symbol of hope and peace for all Lankans (Sunday Observer ; 29 May 2011).

North, East lead economic growth - The Northern Province has recorded a provincial nominal GDP growth rate of 14.2 percent, the second highest in Sri Lanka, the Central Bank said. The Eastern Province recorded the highest growth of 14.4 percent. The economic performance of the Northern Province in 2010 is expected to have improved further as peace prevailed during the entire year. The contribution to the country's GDP by the Northern Province increased to 3.3 percent in 2009 from 2.8 percent in 2006, the Central Bank said in a release. The Bank said that the high contribution to GDP from the Northern Province would be sustained, with greater contribution from the agriculture and services sectors. In the agriculture sector, the gross extent of land used for paddy cultivation in the Northern Province increased by 179 percent to 67,003 hectares in the 2010-11 Maha season from 24,051 hectares in the 2009-10 Maha season (Sunday Observer ; 29 May 2011).

Only we can solve our own problems, and none other - President at Ranaviru Day celebrations - “We have an Armed Force committed to rebuild the country” “We will not heed the demands of separatists or terrorists” - We do not hesitate to ensure the democratic and human rights of the citizens living in north and east. But we will not heed to the demands of separatists or terrorists. When people in this country do not accept their demands, they look for ways to make us bow down using foreign influence. But I must emphasise that no one can do anything in this country without the consent of our people. It is only we who can solve our own problems, and no one else, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the nation, at the 2nd Ranaviru Day celebrations at Galle Face, Colombo today (May 27). “There is a truth we have to tell the world. We did not build Armed Services to invade countries. What we have is an Armed Force committed to rebuild the country with utmost commitment to the people… Today we celebrate the victory of ensuring the right of every citizen of the country to live in harmony. It is the victory of freeing thousands of civilians in the north, who were held as hostages,” the President said (The Nation ; 29 May 2011).

Democracy flourishing in South Asia - Blake - Democratically elected leaders govern all South Asian countries since 2008, U.S. Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia Robert Blake said in recent testimony to the U.S. Congress. "This burgeoning, multi-ethnic, multi-religious region, anchored by the growing prosperity and global reach of India, plays an instrumental role in world affairs, international commerce, and global peace and security." The South Asia region consists of India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives, Afghanistan and Pakistan, and at 1.4 billion people, holds nearly a quarter of the world's population. More than 50 percent of South Asians are under 25, and nearly three-quarters of them live on less than $2 per day. "Mirroring India's economic and political dynamism, the entire region is in the midst of a positive trajectory towards prosperity and peace," Assistant Secretary Blake said. "The United States aims to bolster this regional progress by promoting greater integration, which can build ties that will reinforce democratic institutions, build economies, and enhance security." (Sunday Observer : 29 May 2011).

Big conspiracy behind Darusman Report: ‘Win the world with patience and circumspection’ - by Uditha KUMARASINGHE - Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake yesterday stressed the importance of taking steps to win the world with patience and circumspection as there is a big conspiracy behind the Darusman report against Sri Lanka. At present, the Government through its diplomatic channels is engaged in the process of winning Asians and Africans and enlisting their support to defeat this conspiracy hatched by the Darusman report, the Minister told the Sunday Observer (Sunday Observer : 29 May 2011).

Minister denounces TNA MP’s statement - by P. Krishnaswamy - Minister of Media and Information and Cabinet spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella expressed displeasure at TNA parliamentarian Suresh Premachandren’s recent media statement that they would meet Chinese and Russian ambassadors in Colombo and also visit the two countries to seek their assistance for a political solution and explain ‘other matters’. The report on Premachandran’s statement appeared in an English-language daily. Minister Rambukwella said that China and Russia are two countries that promptly expressed their solidarity with the Government in the wake of the UN panel report on purported war crimes and human rights violations and pledged their support to the Government. The TNA move is certainly detrimental to the national interest but the Government would put up with it for the sake of the democratic rights of every citizen, the Minister said. Sacrificing their life and limb Sri Lanka’s valiant soldiers restored democracy in the Northern and the Eastern provinces which were ravaged by terrorism for three decades. Taking advantage of the atmosphere of democracy and freedom, some LTTE cronies, who include sections of the Tamil diaspora, are now taking recourse to activities that are intended at bringing discredit to their own sovereign nation and this is a matter for grave concern, the Minister said (Sunday Observer : 29 May 2011).

Refugee-camp saga of Northern Tamils to end - by P. Krishnaswamy - The saga of refugee-camp life of the Northern Tamils will come to an end next month with the resettlement of the last batch of 15,000 IDPs in the Mullaitivu District. These IDPs are now housed in the Menik Farm Welfare village in Vavuniya.  Mullaitivu GA, A. Pathinathan told the Sunday Observer that the resettlement of these IDPs was being delayed due to the ongoing demining process in their original villages.  Considering the inordinate delay in the resettlement process the Government has now decided to resettle them in other nearby villages in the district where de-mining has been completed and arrangements have been made to provide them all infrastructure and livelihood facilities, the GA said.  Tenders have already been awarded to construct the Divisional Secretariat, living quarters for Government officials, renovation of the hospital in Pudukudiyiruppu and the construction of a veterinary surgeon’s office, GA Pathinathan said.  Of the 23 mine-infested divisions, mine-clearing has already been completed in 10 divisions in the Pudukudiyiruppu AGA division and the IDPs will be resettled in two villages, he said, adding that they would be moved to their original Kaiveli and Kombavil villages when de-mining is completed in those villages.  Since the villages where the families are to be resettled are very fertile with extensive state lands and abundant water resources, each family would be allotted half-an-acre to one acre of arable land with provision of all assistance to engage themselves in agricultural activities, the GA said.  Their children will be provided health and educational facilities, he said (Sunday Observer ; 29 May 2011).

President’s speech at Victory Day parade: Freeing civilians in North - the victory we celebrate - Today we celebrate the victory of ensuring the right of every citizen of the country to live in harmony. It is the victory of freeing thousands of civilians in the North, who were held as hostages,President Mahinda Rajapaksa told the nation at the second Victory Day celebrations at Galle Face, Colombo last Friday. Here is the text of the President’s address to the nation: “After uniting the country with the defeat of the most ruthless terrorism in the world, today we are able to hoist our national flag with dignity and honour. Today we celebrate the victory of ensuring the right of every citizen of the country to live in harmony. It is the victory of freeing thousands of civilians in the north, who were held as hostages. By adding Human Rights to the Constitution, it will not guarantee those rights to the people of this country. If someone robs the right to life, it is only by ensuring the right to life that we can preserve human rights. Therefore, today we also celebrate the victory of ensuring the Right to Life of thousands of citizens. We can look back with pride and much satisfaction at the last two years since we achieved freedom from terrorism. You are aware that we have been able to draw a new map of Sri Lanka through the development revolution taking place here today. The North and the East won by war heroes are fast becoming prosperous, in place of the hardships that prevailed (Sunday Observer ; 29 May 2011).

Netting LTTE's financial controller: Huge success for counter-terrorism - Shanaka Jayasekara - By Shanika SRIYANANDA - Shanaka Jayasekara, a counter-terrorism expert based in Australia said netting the LTTE's financial controller, who has access to all financial resources stashed away in secret bank accounts worldwide, by the Netherlands government was a huge success for Sri Lanka's counter-terrorism activities internationally. "He used the nom de guerre 'Saana Chandran' and operated from the Netherlands. He maintained a hub and spoke network which maintained LTTE financial assets in multiple locations. He could have been a serious threat if he aligned himself with any of the rump LTTE factions. I am hopeful that the Dutch authorities have got access to Saana Chandran's database and will pursue all LTTE secret bank accounts", he said. Jayasekara, who is an Associate Lecturer, Centre for Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism (PICT) of the Macquarie University in Sydney, was in the Netherlands three weeks ago and said the Sri Lankan government must recognise the admirable work undertaken by the Dutch intelligence unit, AIVD and the Dutch Police in preventing the outflow of LTTE financial assets. Excerpts from the interview: (Sunday Observer : 29 May 2011).

Use Lanka's expertise to crush global terrorism - Sri Lanka celebrated the second anniversary of its victory in the humanitarian operation which rescued over half a million people from the jaws of LTTE terror and eradicated terrorism. President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was the chief guest at Friday's Victory Day celebrations, emblazoned that we, as a nation, could solve our internal problems and that Sri Lanka has demonstrated this in no uncertain terms to the entire world. The manner in which Sri Lanka showed the world that terrorism could be eradicated was an eye-opener and moreover, a classic example to one and all. Sri Lanka had several friendly countries which sincerely supported its battle against terrorism and this indeed was a tower of strength for President Rajapaksa's indomitable political leadership. Had it not been for President Rajapaksa's far-sighted vision and the right military strategies of Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka would never have achieved this magnificent victory. Though some countries and a handful of international organisations attempted to project a dismal picture by labelling it as a victory against a specific ethnic group, the stark fact is that the singular victory of the Security Forces proved their might in accomplishing the world's largest human rescue mission against the most ruthless terrorist outfit in the world. This is precisely why Sri Lanka's success in eradicating terrorism takes added significance in modern world history. Nobody could deny that credit to the country's valiant Security Forces and the illustrious leader who gave the right political leadership to accomplish that task in three-and-a-half years. The world, at large, should view this victory in a broader perspective and emulate Sri Lanka's expertise in its battle against global terrorism. If those who pontificate to us ad nauseam on the importance of crushing global terrorism, are really sincere, they should grab Sri Lanka's offer with open arms to share its battlefield experience against the LTTE, a merciless terror outfit which cared a damn for human lives (Sunday Observer ; 29 May 2011).

Govt committed to ensure human rights of Tamils - By Shanika SRIYANANDA - Two years have passed since the Sri Lankan soldiers defeated the world’s most ruthless terrorists, the LTTE at the Nanthikadal lagoon in the far end of the Mullaithivu. The ghost believed that the LTTE was invincible and wanted to divide Sri Lanka is still haunting locally and internationally tarnishing the image of the country, which is the first to annihilate terrorism completely. “We can look back with pride and much satisfaction at the last two years since we achieved freedom from terrorism”, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the proudest of all leaders in the world who reduced the world’s ruthless terrorists to zero. He still remains proudest when the country celebrated its second anniversary of freedom from terrorism as he was given the leadership to restore human rights of over 300,000 people lived under the deadly shadows of the LTTE. “ We do not hesitate to ensure the democratic and human rights of the citizens living in the North and the East. We will not heed the demands of the separatists or terrorists. When people in this country do not accept their demands, they look for ways to make us bow down by using foreign influence. I must emphasize that no one can do anything in this country without the consent of our people. It is only we who can solve our own problems, and no one else”, the President in his address to the nation at the second anniversary of the Ranaviru Day celebrations at the Galle Face, Colombo said. He said that the government did not form the Security Forces to invade countries but to free thousands of civilians who were held as hostages by the LTTE and later to rebuild the country which was destroyed by the LTTE terrorists (Sunday Observer : 29 May 2011).

Sri Lanka wins diplomatic battle at UNHRC; UNSG’s report won’t be taken up at sessions beginning on Monday, 30 June.

"Follow the Dutch example," says govt. officials - Colombo urges further probes on LTTE fund raising - By Shamindra Ferdinando - In the wake of an unprecedented investigation undertaken by the Netherlands targeting LTTE financial networks in the Netherlands, Norway and the US, those who badger Sri Lanka over alleged war crimes should investigate accountability issues on the part of the Tamil diaspora, government sources say. Officials of the External Affairs and Defence Ministries and the Intelligence Services say that the Dutch, through their investigation, had pointed to the LTTE financial networks funding acquisition of arms, ammunition and equipment. They say the investigation couldn’t have come at a better time as an influential section of the international community continued to facilitate operations by the diaspora targeting post-war Sri Lanka. They said the US and 27-nation EU should take serious note of the Dutch investigation and initiate action to put an end to diaspora operations. President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Friday (May 27) lashed out at the LTTE rump/ Tamil diaspora at the second anniversary celebrations of Sri Lanka’s victory over the LTTE. He alleged that they were still trying to destroy the country in spite of his efforts to move forward in the wake of restoration of peace. Sources say due to the failure of the international community to crack down on illegal fund raising, the LTTE continued to find money even after the war ended on May 19, 2009. Responding to a query by The Sunday Island, sources pointed out that the Netherlands had received Norway’s blessings to investigate LTTE activity in the country. It would be interesting to see whether Norway initiated an inquiry of its own and take punitive action at least now. According to a recent Radio Netherlands report Dutch authorities are currently negotiating with Sri Lankan Attorney General Mohan Peiris for permission to interrogate 13 witnesses, including Prabhakaran’s successor, Kumaran Pathmanathan, or KP, now in the protective custody of the government of Sri Lanka. Radio Netherlands revealed that a combined Dutch team would travel to the US to interrogate, among others, Pratheepan Thavaraja, who managed a plea bargain deal with the US by admitting that he had purchased weapons for the LTTE (Island ; 28 May 2011)..

Blessed are those who can walk, and those on crutches too - by Malinda Seneviratne - It is now two years since the entire country was liberated from the threat of terrorism. Slowly but surely, normalcy is returning to this land. As is prudent in any society that is emerging from a 30-year long conflict the government has adopted a strategy of phasing out security mechanisms. ‘Prudent’ on account of the nature of the enemy and the fact that thousands of people associated with the terrorist outfit mingled with those who were not when the security forces finally rescued them. One by one, however, the barricades have gone, checkpoints have disappeared, and summary stops gave way to random checks which too became less and less frequent. We are not completely free of these security measures, but there is certainly reason to feel freer than we were, less on account of the downgrading of these mechanisms than the removal of principal threat (Daily News : 28 May 2011).

‘Uthayan’ journalist attacked - A Jaffna-based journalist of the ‘Uthayan’ daily newspaper was set upon and brutally attacked yesterday near the Jaffna Hindu College, reports said. The victim, S. Kavitharan was admitted to the Jaffna hospital. His assailants have not been identified so far. He had been on his way to work when he was assaulted. Reports said that the 32-year-old journalist had been critical of activities carried out by some goons in Jaffna. A police complaint was lodged and investigations are continuing (Island : 28 May 2011).

Sri Lanka celebrating Victory over Terrorism

President at Ranaviru Day celebrations: Only we can solve our own problems, and none other - ‘We have an Armed Force committed to rebuild the country’: - ‘We will not heed to the demands of separatists or terrorists’: “We do not hesitate to ensure the democratic and human rights of the citizens living in north and east. But we will not heed to the demands of separatists or terrorists. When people in this country do not accept their demands, they look for ways to make us bow down using foreign influence. But I must emphasize that no one can do anything in this country without the consent of our people. It is only we who can solve our own problems, and no one else,” said President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the nation, at the second Ranaviru Day celebrations at Galle Face, Colombo yesterday. “There is a truth we have to tell the world. We did not build Armed Services to invade countries. What we have is an Armed Force committed to rebuild the country with utmost commitment to the people. Today we celebrate the victory of ensuring the right of every citizen of the country to live in harmony. It is the victory of freeing thousands of civilians in the north, who were held as hostages,” the President said. The following is the text of the President’s address: (Daily News ; 28 May 2011).

Salute to War Heroes - by Sandasen MARASINGHE - Flags of various colours fluttered as the ocean winds blew across the Galle Face Green reminding us of what President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that people in this country will never forget the supreme sacrifice made by the War Heroes for the unity of the Motherland. The Galle Face Green was decked with national flags to celebrate the second anniversary of the elimination of the most ruthless terrorist outfit in the world and to pay the nation’s gratitude to the War Heroes. Prime Minister D M Jayaratne, Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa followed by the Chief of Defence Staff Roshan Gunatilleke and the Service Commanders were the first to arrive for the Victory Day anniversary celebrations. IGP Mahinda Balasuriya was also present. The motorcade accompanying President Mahinda Rajapaksa and First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa escorted by Mounted Police arrived at the venue at 8.45 am, amidst the blowing of trumpets. Thereafter, the President was accompanied to the main flag post by the Chief of Defence Staff, three Service Commanders and Inspector General of Police for the hoisting of the National Flag amidst the beating of Magul Bera. A group of service personnel attached to the three Forces and the Police sang the national anthem. The President was then conducted to the special dais where the fallen heroes were remembered by observing two-minutes silence. A 21 gun salute was accorded to the President who inspected the Victory Parade consisting of 760 officers and 8760 other rankers from the three forces, Police and the Civil Defence Force. The colorful parade commanded by Killinochchi Security Forces Commander Major General Nandana Udawatte followed. The parade included the service personnel of Army, Air Force, Navy, Police and Civil Security Force and the military equipment used during the humanitarian operation (Daily News : 28 May 2011).

BAN KI MOON AND HIS PANEL -  Legally disqualified from the very commencement - By Jayantha Gunasekera – President’s Counsel - The maxim, Justice must not only be done, but must also manifestly appear to be done, is an oft quoted principles in all democratic countries. It is apparent that Ban Ki- moon handpicked three panellists not for their integrity and impartiality but for their confirmed bias and partiality. Any person who is appointed by the UN to investigate any matter should honourably declare that he/she has prior knowledge and entertains pre-conceived and prejudicial views, particularly as they were paid a colossal amount of money from UN fund, and not from Ban’s private property. UN funds are the collected contributions of all member states. Each member appointed by Ban had expressed derogatory views about Sri Lanka long before they were appointed. Therefore they should never have offered themselves to sit on a panel, merely to collect millions of dollar - payments. Ban himself knowing that each of them had entertained preconceived prejudicial views amounting to hatred towards SL, and its Forces, should never have selected precisely these 3. Such persons are untrustworthy of their assignment. Ban, if he was impartial and not influenced by the LTTE Diaspora and some western politicians, should have refrained from having Darusman as a member of the panel, let alone its chairman. He was a member of the International Group of Eminent Persons in 2009 who were invited to serve as observers at the sittings at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry. Having been present, Darusman subsequently withdrew alleging unfairly (amongst other matters) that the GOSL did not have the will to improve the human rights situation. Hence he has pre-judged and is a highly biased person. Ban picked on this self same person who was well known for his partiality, as way back as 2009 (Daily Mirror ; 28 May 2011).

Blessed are the Tamil politicians for they can recover their tongues - by Malinda Seneviratne - Power imbalances make for two things: voice and echo. The degree and nature of the imbalance determines the volume of voice and the throw back compulsion of wall and the distance the echo travels and of course its clarity. Complete servility or a monumental slant in favour of one entity over another gives us a ventriloquist and a dummy. For a long time, for all rhetorical claims of them representing the future and reference in fond terms such as ‘boys’, Tamil youth were seen by the Brahmins of Tamil politics, i.e. the Anglicised, mostly Christian, Vellala politicians who either lived in or hailed from Jaffna, as means to an end. They were add-ons, the energy-givers, the ‘necessary numbers’. As often happens, though, things did not unfold according to plan. The baby that was fed with communal poison and whose nails were allowed to grow, clawed and stung the parent. The creator, by and by, was overpowered by the created. That, ladies and gentlemen, is the nutshell version of the rise and fall of the TULF and its later avatars, including the ITAK/TNA (Daily News : 27 May 2011).

Only we can solve our problems, and none other – President - The government ensured the democratic and human rights of the citizens living in North and East but on no grounds would it heed demands by separatist terrorists, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday. Addressing the nation, at the 2nd Ranaviru Day celebrations at Galle Face, he said, "When people in this country do not accept the demands of terrorist or separatists, they look for ways to make the government bow down by using foreign influence. " But I must emphasize that no one can do anything in this country without the consent of our people. It is only we who can solve our own problems, and no one else," he said. Full text of the President’s address: (Island ; 27 May 2011).

War victory celebrated with impressive military parade *Wounded officers and men receive standing ovation - By Shamindra Ferdinando - Sri Lanka yesterday celebrated its victory over the LTTE in May 2009, with a magnificent armed forces and police parade involving about 9,000 officers and men. Maj. Gen. Nandana Udawatte, the former General Officer Commanding of the 59 Division, which liberated Mullaitivu in Jan. 2009, commanded the parade. The 59 Division, which launched its offensive in January 2008, fought mostly in jungle terrain to reach Mullaitivu outskirts in the second week of Jan. 2009. In spite of the then Brigadier Udawatte’s Division suffering a huge blow in the immediate aftermath of the liberation of Mullaitivu, the fighting formation played a pivotal role in the entire Vanni campaign. In his brief speech before the commencement of the parade, President Mahinda Rajapaksa, declared that the war had ended on May 19 but LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran had been killed on May 18 on the banks of the Nanthikadal lagoon. The parade included tri-services and police contingents involved in action in the Eastern, Jaffna and Vanni theatres from June 2006 to May 2009. The army announced yesterday how 57 Division fighting on the Vanni front had faced a severe chemical attack before liberating Kilinochchi in the first week of Jan. 2009. The Sri Lanka Light Infantry, Sinha Regiment, Gemunu Watch, Gajaba Regiment, Vijayaba Infantry Regiment (credited with killing Prabhakaran), Sri Lanka National Guard, armour and artillery as well as support formations joined the parade. The elite Commandos, Special Forces, Special Task Force, Special Boat Squadron and Rapid Action Boat Squadron also took part in the parade (Island ; 27 May 2011).

National survival: Invoking the warrior spirit -  By Janaka Perera This month has been a very significant for Sri Lanka in the past four decades. May 21 is National Heroes Day. May 22 Republic Day and May 18 is the Day that the LTTE terrorists were finally crushed after nearly three decades. The event will be celebrated on May 27 on a grand scale. However in the course of commemoration of our national heroes the question arises whether Sri Lanka has forgotten her great warriors of the past, whose roles are relevant to the present situation than at any time since independence, when her enemies have still not given up their attempts to destabilise the country, despite the Tigers’ military defeat . No doubt we have to salute freedom fighters like Monarawila Keppettipola and Puran Appu for the sacrifices they made for the cause the nation’s independence. We should never ever forget them. However we also need to remember they were defeated. But today we are celebrating the greatest ever military victory in Sri Lanka’s modern history. We are saluting the heroes who won a war not lost it. (If they had lost there would have been perhaps no cries of genocide and no allegations of war crimes). So why not also remember the heroes of the past who won wars in the most critical periods of our history – similar to the 30-years of separatist terrorism. Why not put up statues for these forgotten great personalities and if possible make movies and dramas that depict their heroic feats? Let us therefore start with Vijayabahu I alias Maha Vijayabahu (1055–1110) – the first king of the Polonnaruwa period. It is after him that the Sri Lanka Army’s Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment has been named. If not for him this country would have been another ‘Chola Nadu.’ He came on the scene when the entire island was on the verge of going under South Indian domination (Asian Tribune ; 27 May 2011).

Rajitha will do maximum to assist Tamil community - By Don Asoka Wijewardena - Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Rajitha Senaratne said that though he could not speak Tamil, he would do everything possible on behalf of the Tamil community in Sri Lanka. Due to racial segregation, the country was experiencing a difficult time, but the time had come to unite all communities together to build the country. Batticoloa disrtrict had helped the fisheries industry to gradually increase fish production, after fishing activities came to a standstill during the war. Although fishermen in the district were desperate, everything that could be done to upgrade their occupation was being done, he said at a meeting of the Fisheries Federation held in Batticoloa recently. Minister Senaratne said that in Batticoloa district, there were 22,726 fisheries families, 223 fisheries villages and the total fisheries population was 82,667. There were 327 fishing trawlers, 84 canoes and 1060 boats with engines. Altogether Batticoloa had 3837 fishing trawlers along with 178 madels. He pointed out that he was unable to learn Tamil and it was a great disadvantage. Whenever he visited North and East and the Estate sector, someone had to interpret what he spoke. Every child in this country must learn Sinhala, Tamil and English to communicate (Island ; 27 May 2011).

Omanthai railway station opens - The rebuilt railway track from Thandikulam to Omanthai and the Omanthai railway station were declared open yesterday by Transport Minister Kumara Welgama. Operations of the Yal Devi train will now be extended up to the Omanthai railway station after a lapse of 21 years, the Railway Department said. Construction of the new railway station in Omanthai had been funded, for the first time, by a private company and the railway line has been restored by the Railway Department with voluntary support from the Sri Lanka Army. The Northern railway line, from Omanthai to Pallai, is scheduled to be constructed as the next phase of the project to operate trains from Colombo to Kankesanthurai (Island ; 27 May 2011).

Sri Lanka's problems and outsiders - The second anniversary of defeating terrorism was celebrated on a grand scale yesterday with a military parade. President Mahinda Rajapaksa, highlighting the benefits that had accrued to the country from the defeat of brutal terror, stressed that it was only Sri Lankans who could solve their own problems. One cannot but agree with him. Others can only play a supportive role. Most of Sri Lanka's ethno-religious problems remain unsolved and national reconciliation continues to elude us owing to the interference by external forces which have furthered their interests on the pretext of helping resolve the conflict in this country; they took successive governments and the LTTE for a ride. They only wanted the conflict to persist so that they could have a strong presence in this part of the world. Governments that naively banked on their support either to defeat the LTTE or to make peace pathetically failed. And Prabhakaran, who launched his 'final war' pinning as he did his hopes on some foreign powers which, he thought, would come to his rescue, received a rude shock, which was written all over his lifeless face at Nandikadal on May 19, 2009. If he had been wise enough to eschew terrorism and negotiate with the Sri Lankan government without relying on foreign powers and plunging the country back into a bloody war in 2006, he would still have been alive and a bloodbath could have been avoided (Island ; 27 May 2011).

Rajapaksa defends his Army - Putting up a strong and spirited defence for the armed forces of Sri Lanka, which have been accused of killing civilians in hospitals and elsewhere in the last stages of the war with the LTTE in 2009, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa told his troops: “We were with you in the battlefield. It is the same today. We will not betray you before the world.” The troops fought with due regard to international conventions and were carrying out a humanitarian operation, he maintained. “I will recall what I said in the past that our troops went to the battlefront carrying a gun in one hand, the Human Rights Charter in the other, food for the innocent displaced on their shoulders, and love of their children in their hearts. They did not target any communities or religions, and did not march ahead with hatred towards anyone,” he said, addressing the Victory Day Parade 2011, organised to celebrate “eradication of terror” in Sri Lanka. The President recalled that after the death of LTTE supreme Prabhakaran, Sri Lanka took care of his mother and father. “We still look after the families of leaders who surrendered. We were able to protect our country over the centuries from invaders because we did not hate any race, religion or person,” he added. After the war, the Armed Forces were involved in the development of the country, he said and added that this was an important task which was handed over to them. “There is a truth we have to tell the world. We did not build Armed Services to invade countries. What we have is an Armed Force committed to rebuild the country with utmost commitment to the people,” he said (Hindu : 27 May 2011).

Rajapaksa vows to shield his army from international probe - Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa today vowed to protect the country's military from possible international scrutiny over allegations of human rights violations during its prolonged conflict to end ethnic violence. "We will not betray you", Rajapaksa told his troops during a ceremonial parade to mark the second anniversary of the war victory over the LTTE. "Our forces carried firearms in one hand and a human rights charter in the other during the war", the President said adding, "We are proud of the humanness of our military campaign". He said, Sri Lanka will not give into any pressure from overseas as it is capable of solving its own problems. "Sri Lanka can solve its own problems and human rights cannot be guaranteed by only including them in the constitution", Rajapaksa said. The President's remarks come in the backdrop of a recent UN report which accused Sri Lankan Army and the Tamil rebels of serious rights violations and potential war crime and recommended setting up of an Independent International inquiry (Indian Express : 27 May 2011).

India forgets that Sri Lanka is a sovereign country

It is the 13th Amendment what LTTE tried to achieve militarily.

Read more about the 13th Amendment to the Constitution)

IPLOMATIC BLUNDERS: TENSION WITH INDIA - For Sri Lanka, last week was eventful for one reason or the other. The week began with religious observances and celebrations for Vesak, with the added significance of it being the 2,600th year of the Lord Buddha’s enlightenment. It is ironic that though the Lord Buddha is revered as the greatest son of India, Sri Lanka appears to be again having serious problems with its giant neighbour and the Southern State of Tamil Nadu. In a much delayed effort at building bridges of accommodation and understanding, External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris last week wrote to Tamil Nadu’s new Chief Minister Jayalalithaa Jeyaram congratulating her on her election victory and on her sbeing sworn-in as Chief Minister of the most populous Tamil State. The message came in the wake of Ms. Jeyaram calling for a an international probe on accountability issues during the final stages of the war in Sri Lanka. Speaking on her own channel, Jaya TV, Ms. Jeyaram said it was India's responsibility to ensure a dignified and honourable existence for the Tamils in Sri Lanka. Last week Dr. Peiris also visited New Delhi virtually on his own for crucial talks with India’s foreign policy high priests. The joint statement that came out of the meeting is seen by many political analysts as a tacit agreement committing the Rajapaksa regime to fully implement the “Made in India” 13th Amendment. This means the 13th Amendment plus which in turn means that provincial councils and especially those in the North and East will get and fully exercise police and land distribution powers. Essentially this is what the LTTE tried to achieve militarily, but now big brother India appears to be forcing it down the Rajapaksa regime’s throat diplomatically (Daily Mirror : 27 May 2011).

Thandikulam to Omanthai railway operational - Minister of Transport Kumara Welgama declared open the restored railway tracks from Thandikulam to Omanthai which was inactive for the past 21 years, a short while ago. The railway track was restored under the ‘Uthuru Wasanthaya' programme (Daily Mirror ; 27 May 2011).

Giving into India: India forgets that Sri Lanka is a sovereign country - By Garvin Karunaratne Ph.D. - The Island has reported in its Editorial that India has in a very high handed manner persuaded Sri Lanka to implement the 13 th Amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution and to grant police and land powers to the Provincial Councils, among other matters all of which smacks interference in the domestic matters of a sovereign Sri Lanka, Dr Gunadasa Amerasekera the President of the Patriotic National Movement has also questioned the high handed act of Foreign Secretary G.L.Peris’s signing an Agreement with India on his recent visit. He states” ‘, the Government of Sri Lanka has promised inter alia to remove emergency laws, implement the 13th amendment, to devolve land and police powers, to ensure that expeditious and concrete progress is made to the ongoing dialogue with the TNA, and to implement the SEEPA agreement etc. without delay. What Minister G.L Peiris has promised is highly detrimental to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of this country “. It is very clear that Foreign Secretary Peris has been taken for a ride by India. Earlier he was taken for a ride by Hilary Clinton, the US Secretary of State when questioned about the Panel appointed by Ban Ki Moon, the Secretary General of the United Nations. Gunadasa Amerasekera has questioned whether the Foreign Secretary had the power to enter into such an Agreement. It is a well known fact that the 13 th Amendment to our Constitution was forced onto us by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, who pressurized President Jayawardena to get this Amendment to the Constitution at the point of the gun. India had sent sorties of bombers over the City of Colombo, got destroyers to appear off the Port of Colombo- a show of force, did a drop of food-parippu over Jaffna and President Jayawardena caved in. President Jayawardena had by that time incarcerated all the Members of Parliament, in a Five Star Hotel, held them there under Army Guard and he would march them to Parliament to vote as he wished. That was the “democratic” practice of President Jayawardena, who held undated letters of resignation in his pocket and threatened to activate the resignation letters in case the Members of Parliament were to vote otherwise (Lankaweb : 27 March 2011).

The day SL heaved a collective sigh of relief - Today, it is two years since Sri Lanka's indefatigable Security Forces scored their historic victory over the terroristic LTTE in the wilds of the North. With the gun smoke gradually settling on the conflict-ridden region and the outcome of the Security Forces' campaign revealing itself with crystal clarity, Sri Lanka could assure itself that peace was finally at hand. Accordingly, a huge sigh of relief escaped the lips of the majority of Sri Lankans - North, South, East and West. It was a memorable day for all, For the so-called man and woman of the street, what this momentous victory translates itself into is supreme freedom to lead a normal life. For nearly 30 long years, wherever he or she was, this freedom could not have been availed of by the average Sri Lankan. Their days were full of uncertainty, fear, pain and suffering. We need hardly recall in all its gruesome detail, the murderous violence unleashed on all, irrespective of race, religion and language, by the LTTE over those 30 long years. Suffice it to say that no one could say with any degree of certainty that he or she would live to see another day as long as the LTTE was free to lurk menacingly, mark its sinister presence in the midst of civilized humans and unrelentingly visit terror on the unsuspecting (Daily News : 27 May 2011).

‘Rajiv was a modern leader’ - Continued from yesterday - VKS: "Put the hand" means what? KP: At that time I remember Narasimha Rao was the Foreign Minister. The Diaspora Tamils were invited and they met Narasimha Rao. They had talks with the Indian government. That was the first step. The talks were called Thimpu talks (held in Bhutan). The Indian government called the Sri Lankan side and all the Tamil groups. But the talks failed. Around that time the Indian government gave (military) training to Tamil youths. So we (LTTE) had a base in Tamil Nadu. We had a (military) base in India. All the four Tamil groups, very strong groups, were trained and armed by India. Like I told you, that was the Cold War period and the international environment was such. During that time it was Mrs Gandhi’s idea that she may be able to escalate LTTE’s armed struggle to a certain level and use that as negotiating leverage to settle the (Tamil) issue in a peaceful way. Unfortunately, she was gone (assassinated in 1984). After that Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi came. He was a modern leader and he was very fast (with decisions). His approach was different. By then RAW (Indian spy agency Research & Analysis Wing) was heavily involved with all the Tamil groups. At that time (SC) Chandrahasan, SAV Selvanayagan’s son, had close links to the Telo (the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation). It was at that time that a misunderstanding between Prabhakaran and RAW started. Then Sri Lankan President Jayewardene and Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi tried to sort it out. But again LTTE did not accept the proposals. But Rajiv Gandhi pushed (for it) and so LTTE reluctantly came to an agreement (referring to the India-Sri Lanka Accord). But actually LTTE rejected the agreement (internally). (Island : 26 May 2011).

Dy British HC says re-integration of ex-combatants important part in reconciliation process -  Post-war issues: Rehab project commended, laws delay flayed - By Shamindra Ferdinando - Sri Lanka has met the challenging task of rehabilitating ex-LTTE personnel, particularly child soldiers, says Rajan Asiriwathan, who once represented the government at talks with the LTTE (1994/5), He says the country could be proud of the post-war rehabilitation of ex-combatants and those held for their involvement with the LTTE. The former Chairman of the Bank of Ceylon said so in answer to a query by The Island yesterday. Since the conclusion of the war in May two years ago, the government with the support of the international community, NGOs and the local business community had been successful in rehabilitating the LTTEcadres who surrendered or were arrested on the Vanni front, Asiriwathan said. Unfortunately, the government had failed to address the contentious issue of those arrested over the years for their involvement or alleged involvement in terrorist activities, Asiriwathan said. The government could no longer ignore the plight of those who had been held without bringing charges against them, he said. Asiriwathan went on to criticise the failure on the part of the government to handle the issue in spite of the Opposition and civil society making representations on their behalf. He said that the government should either release those held in detention or file charges against them. The inordinate delay on the part of the present administration would only strengthen the hands of those critical of the government, he said. Commenting on the seizure of hundreds of child soldiers on the Vanni front, Asiriwathan said that due to the intervention of the then Justice and Law Reforms Minister Milinda Moragoda, he had an opportunity to join with several others to assist in the rehabilitation of child soldiers. "In fact, we were the first outsiders given access to child soldiers before the army moved them to Ratmalana Hindu College to recommence their studies," he said (Island : 26 May 2011).

Celebrating Victory over Terrorism - The tri-services parade today, accompanied by a fly past and a sail past by the Air Force and the navy respectively, marks the second anniversary of the Sri Lankan nation’s triumph over terrorism. The terror movement against the country which was defeated two years ago was of a much larger scale and more far-reaching significance than the Marxist insurrections of 1971 and 1989 in the south of the country, which were also decisively crushed by the state. Twenty-six years of mindless terrorism left many thousands dead, and many more thousands maimed for life. The material damage the country sustained was immense. A victory achieved at such a costly price cannot be consigned to history as just another achievement like the cricket world cup triumph in 1996. It is an event to be celebrated not only by this generation, but by many generations to come (Island : 26 May 2011).

LTTE'S Chief Arms Procurer KP revealed how The UN and a western country tried to offer a ship to the LTTE leaders, if they want to flee

(full details in ground Report)

Govt. permits Dutch authorities to question KP, others - By Susitha R. Fernando - The Sri Lankan government had allowed the Dutch authorities investigating the financial network of the LTTE in the Netherlands to interview former and current LTTE leaders in Sri Lankan government custody including former LTTE arms procurer, Kumaran Pathmanathan alias KP. A senior officer from the Attorney General’s Department confirmed that the Sri Lankan government had allowed the Investigating Judge from the Netherlands to interview witnesses who are willing to speak on the LTTE activities. “The Sri Lankan government has given them permission to interview witnesses who volunteer to give evidence,” the officer said. “However the government cannot compel them to give evidence, only those who volunteer can be questioned by the Dutch authorities,” he said.Earlier Dutch Media said that authorities from the Netherlands were negotiating with Sri Lankan Attorney General Mohan Peiris for permission to interrogate 13 witnesses in Sri Lanka including former and current LTTE leaders. When inquired whether KP would be allowed to answer questions, the AG’s Department officer said that he was unaware about who were being interviewed. However, he admitted that the government had not objected to anyone being interviewed as long as they do so voluntarily. According to the report, in addition to Sri Lanka the Dutch magistrates and lawyers were also to travel to the United States to interrogate several US-based witnesses relating to the LTTE activities in the Netherlands. In the US, the Dutch investigators plan to interrogate an LTTE leader named Pratheepan Thavaraja, who has struck a plea bargain agreement with the US authorities admitting he has purchased weapons for the LTTE. According to an FBI report Pratheepan Thavaraja was a senior procurement agent for the LTTE involved in the purchase of improvised explosive devices, missiles, machine guns, artillery, radar, and other equipment and technology from countries around the world, including the US (Daily Mirror : 26 May 2011).

UN tried to rescue LTTE leaders: KP - Former LTTE weapons procurer Kumaran Pathmanathan alias KP, who is now in the custody of Sri Lankan security forces, has told the Indian news website firstpost.com that the United Nations and a Western country had attempted to rescue some of the top Tiger leaders during the last stages of the war. When asked if what he said was true, KP reiterated his claim saying that the UN and a Western country, which he declined to name, had attempted to rescue the Tiger leaders on several different occasions but their attempts had failed. Mr. Pathmanathan said the LTTE had done its best to regain its military strength and galvanise support for its cause by addressing propaganda meetings aimed at the Diaspora. He claimed that what the LTTE said at these meetings was quite different to what it said at the negotiating table (Daily Mirror : 26 May 2011).

Sri Lanka’s humanitarian effort - The Sri Lankan state is in the process of compiling a study on the humanitarian projects carried out by the government in post-conflict times in the North. Following are some of the focuses of this study. During the period January 2008 to early May 2009, 58,393 metric tons of essential items were sent to Killinochchi and Mullaithivu districts alone. This was in addition to the excess paddy available in the districts, the buffer stocks maintained on location and 33,383 metric tons supplied to co-operative outlets during 2008 up to January 2009.  Every month, five to 600,000 litres of fuel was sent to each district, well knowing that if it falls into the hands of the LTTE. The fuel was to be used primarily for operation of hospitals and essential services such as transport. Fuel was also made available to operate vehicles of UN, ICRC and other agencies (including NGOs) engaged in humanitarian assistance. Supply of kerosene oil was ensured so that the civilians could cook, operate their farming equipment, and meet other household requirements. After the WFP and other organizations relocated to Vavuniya towards the latter part of 2008, during a four-month period from October that year, the WFP carried 12 convoys delivering 7,694 metric tons of food to the districts of Killinochchi and Mullaithivu (Daily News : 26 May 2011).

The Sri Lankan government had allowed the Dutch authorities investigating the financial network of the LTTE in the Netherlands to interview KP

Will Norway ever ban her adopted child, LTTE ? - By Malin Abeyatunga, Melbourne, Australia - May be agitation to ban LTTE in Norway would never have crossed the minds of the Sri Lankan governments or any other world-wide anti-LTTE organizations as Norway has been the adopted home of LTTE. I may be wrong as I don’t remember seeing/reading any demand to ban LTTE in Norway though there were umpteen numbers of letters/articles written against Norway and Eric Solheim for their cordial relationship with the LTTE. But it was taken for granted with Eric Solheim as a peace facilitator who has been appeasing LTTE from the very beginning, giving LTTE cadres military training, taking them around Norway’s military installations, providing them with sophisticated telecommunication equipments, millions of  Krones  to LTTE kitty and to TRO and other LTTE proxy fronts, there wouldn’t have been an iota of chance of LTTE being banned in Norway. Even during last days of the war, Eric Solheim, the Norwegian minister has been concurring with the UN officials (John Holmes and Nambiar) and KP to save LTTE and his Leader Prabhakaran and his family from being killed/captured by the Sri Lankan forces.  The latest being a Norwegian News Paper Afterposten  alleging  and revealing the involvement of the Norwegian embassy in Sri Lanka helping a group of 12 active  LTTE cadres with air tickets, visas and escorting them to the airport to escape to Norway.  The SL Governments over the years were successful in getting LTTE banned in USA, UK, Canada, EU Countries, India , Malaysia except Australia to date after numerous consultations, negotiations and requests, meeting rulers of the respective countries. Anti-LTTE organizations world wide also played a major role in getting LTTE banned in these countries. Since Norway was the safest haven for the LTTE (and still is) and had the Norwegian Governments’ protection and patronage to LTTE, it would have thought that even requesting the ban of LTTE in Norway would be a fruitless effort. Be that as may, Perinpanayagam Sivaparan aka Nediyawan, the LTTE leader in Norway had a plain and safe sailing in that country as LTTE wasn’t a banned terrorist outfit in Norway until the Dutch Police wanted him for interrogation for possible funding of the LTTE from the Netherlands for some time and he is being interrogated in Oslo District Courts (Sri Lanka News Online : 25 May 2011).

Doublespeak of ICRC? - by Kumar Moses - Credibility of ICRC officers who worked in Sri Lanka during the last phase of the war is highly dubious following their obvious doublespeak. The foregoing are examples and irrefutable proof of their manipulation of facts to suit the agenda of external interested parties who wish to see disintegration of the island nation. ICRC sources claimed Sri Lankan troops shelled the PTK hospital during the final stages of the war. These sources claim according to the Sri Lanka Panel of Experts report page 25, that even the operating theatre was hit! These allegations are contained in ICRC Press Releases No.09/26 of February 1, 2009 and No. 09/29 February 4, 2009. In the latter press release ICRC officials have stated that, “We are shocked that a medical facility has against sustained direct hits”. In addition ICRC also laments that the Sri Lankan government prevented them from evacuating people trapped in the No Fire Zone (NFZ). It has also complained that the Sri Lankan government, Basil Rajapakse in particular, refused to extend the three days allowed to ICRC to evacuate trapped civilians. Citing various reasons, the ICRC didn’t evacuate anyone during these three days and then demanded an extension! Obviously the ICRC was playing its part of LTTE cowards who wanted to extend the temporary truce as long as they could. However, on February 14, 2009 the ICRC Geneva office sent the Sri Lanka Navy Commander a letter in which Head of Delegation of ICRC, Geneva, praises the noble role played by Sri Lankan security forces. Please read the copy of the letter in this article. An excerpt of the letter is reproduced here (LankaWeb : 25 May 2011).

UN and a Western country offered a ship for LTTE leaders to leave - KP - Former LTTE arms procurer and on time leader in a revealing interview with an Indian Newspaper has claimed that around May 16 or 17, 2009 the UN and a Western government had asked if some LTTE leaders were ready to leave the country and if so they could send a ship and go somewhere. Shanmugam Kumaran Tharmalingam (alias Selvarasa Pathmanathan, Kumaran Pathmanathan, or simply KP) is head of the now decimated Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). A wanted man in several countries, including India, in connection with Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination, KP had an inside view of the organisation that was once the most-dreaded terrorist organisation in the world before Al Qaeda upstaged it after 9/11. Among other things, he was considered LTTE’s arms procurer, though he now denies it. He also had insights into the thinking of LTTE’s supremo, Velupillai Prabhakaran. VK Shashikumar, head of THL Mediagrove, interviewed KP, 56, in a safe house in Sri Lanka earlier this month. This is his first interview to anyone outside Sri Lanka, and he seems a much changed man. Having been through the experience of a no-holds-barred civil war that brought no benefits and only suffering to the Tamil people in whose name it was undertaken, KP had a good view of what was happening in the LTTE during its warring years. In his interview, KP speaks in broken phrases (See video excerpts), but Firstpost has edited his phrases and completed his half-sentences to make them read better and look coherent. Excerpts: (Island : 25 May 2011).

DNA blasts joint Indo-Lanka statement - By Saman Indrajith - DNA MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Wednesday (25) lashed out at an Indo-Lanka joint statement issued following the recent visit to New Delhi by External Affairs Minister Prof G. L. Peiris. It was nothing but a formula to achieve India’s economic, political and security needs, the DNA National List MP told Parliament. Making a special statement, the DNA Group Leader said that the joint communiqué hadn’t even referred to the controversial ‘Darusman report’, though the government declared the visit was to secure India’s support to neutralize the threat posed by the UN move. Dissanayake alleged that Prof. Peiris had arrived at a deal at the expense of the national interest. The joint communiqué issued on May 17 had revealed India’s plans to dominate all key sectors in Sri Lanka, the JVPer alleged. He went on to allege that India was eyeing Sri Lanka’s ports, airports and energy sectors, while having control over at the Palaly air base and Kankesanthurai harbour. He warned of dire consequences if the government allowed India control over these bases. Dissanayake demanded to know whether the External Affairs minister’s visit was on India’s invitation or an initiative by the Sri Lankan government and if it was initiated by the Sri Lankan government, then what were the objectives. Did this joint statement mention the ways and means to achieve those objectives? Is the government satisfied with the outcome of this visit? The MP asked whether the joint statement was issued on the basis of two MoUs signed by the President on June 9, 2010 and the MoUs signed on March 28-29 in New Delhi. "Would you table those MoUs in this House? Is there any particular time frame for the implementation of the joint statement, if so, would the government inform this house of that time frame." Chief Government Whip Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that the recent visit by Prof Peiris to India was on the Sri Lankan government’s initiative and one of the primary aims was to discuss the ‘Darusman Report’ with Indian government. Prof Peiris had achieved this aim as he had discussed the report with the Indian government. The government was not in a position to give a detailed answer regarding the issues raised by the DNA as both the External Affairs Minister and his Deputy were out of the country. But the government would make a detailed reply to the House after the arrival of the ministers, he said (Island : 25 May 2011).

Army Camps all over: Yes if needed - by Gamini Premadasa - According to media reports appearing on May 23, the TULF Leader is reported to have asked the government "not to set up army camps all over the country." His statement also suggests that the armed forces of Sri Lanka are of the same level as the LTTE, which a majority of Tamils worshipped as their ‘freedom fighters’, and other armed groups. An army camp and its soldiers do not instil fear into law-abiding citizens. On the other hand, terrorists planning to plant bombs in buses, ram explosive-laden vehicles into major economic centres or attack planes parked at Katunayake Airport, will shiver at the thought of army personnel living in their neighbourhood, lest their nefarious designs, resources and equipment get discovered. All that the TULF leader has to do is to tell his "our people" to pursue legal livelihoods as most Sri Lankans do, and all - Tamil people as well the Sinhalese, Moors and other ethnic groups - can live happily ever after. The TULF leader adds that there is absolutely no trace of anyone organising a rebellion. Can he guarantee that the situation will remain so in the future? He obviously cannot. Thus, it is the responsibility of the armed forces and the Defence Secretary do what they think is best to ensure security for all Sri Lankans. If his people are disgusted with the presence of the armed forces, "That is too bad", one may say. It is time that they at least learned to live with the armed forces personnel being around. Of course no one expects that they would be grateful to the armed forces for the liberation of 300,000 of their brethren from being used as human shields just two years back! (Island : 25 May 2011).

SL cricket tour: UK not aware of LTTE ‘protests causing serious disruption’ - SL cricket tour: UK not aware of LTTE ‘protests causing serious disruption’ - By Shamindra Ferdinando - In spite of a section of pro-LTTE groups threatening to disrupt Sri Lanka’s cricket tour of the UK, over alleged human rights violations during the war, the British High Commission is confident that there will be no serious attempt to disrupt matches. A spokesperson for the British HC said that they weren’t aware of any protests causing serious disruption. The official said, "Nor have concerns been raised with us over the security measures in place for the first Test. We wish the Sri Lankan team well on their UK tour." The HC spokesperson was on Tuesday (24) responding to a query by The Island whether the touring team had experienced protests during two warm-up matches leading to the first of three Test matches, beginning today (26) and adequate security measures were in place to thwart a possible attempt to disrupt the series. Those spearheading the campaign recently urged the UK to sever sports links with Sri Lanka over alleged atrocities committed by government troops. The Diaspora cited the controversial ‘Darusman Report’ as evidence of war crimes, a charge denied by the government of Sri Lanka. Intelligence sources told The Island that the campaign against the national cricket team was part of the LTTE’s strategy to undermine the post-war recovery process. Sources alleged that the LTTE rump had been trying to cripple the Sri Lankan garment trade in EU countries. Sri Lankan HC in the UK had, The Island learns, discussed the issue with relevant authorities to ensure an incident free Test series (Island : 25 May 2011).

SPUR (NSW) holds religious ceremony to commemorate the Fallen Heroes (Oz Lanka)

Bruce Haigh’s Mischief Making - By Prof Rajive Wijesinha -MP Sri LankaParliament I am writing, as Head of the Sri Lanka Peace Secretariat in 2009, to correct some errors in the opinion piece on ‘The Drum’, reproduced it seems from ABC News. It seems best to make annotations direct on the published text, though I hope you will also reproduce the evidence from the ICRC that suggests Mr Haigh is being his usual mischievous self as regards Sri Lanka. “Admiral Thisara Samarsinghe was recently approved by the Australian Government to become the next Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Canberra. He joined the navy in 1974 and retired in January 2011. Admiral Samarsinghe was chief of staff of the Sri Lankan Navy at a time when the navy shelled Tamil soldiers and civilians trapped in what had been declared a safe zone at the end of the civil war. The navy then blocked attempts by the International Committee of the Red Cross to evacuate the injured, women and children from the safe zone.” Mr Haigh advances no evidence at all for this bald statement. He completely ignores the evidence of the ICRC, which sent the letter below to the previous Commander of the Navy on February 14th 2009, following assistance provided by the navy to the ICRC. Sadly, in recent discussions of what took place, the support provided by the navy to the ICRC with regard to provision of food and evacuation of the wounded (under 5000, with about 2000 more sick and 7000 bystanders sent out, indicating that the number of war wounded was limited), the role of the navy is ignored. I need only refer you to the language used by the Head of the ICRC, and his references to discipline and kindness and respect for you to realize that Mr Haigh possesses none of these qualities and should not be let loose on an unsuspecting public. “From 1983 the Sri Lankan navy detained and shot Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu who ventured into Sri Lankan waters on the basis that they were likely to be helping Tamil separatists. Until 2009 400 were shot and killed, with several thousand more wounded.” (LankaWeb : 25 May 2011).

Panel report does no good - KP - Selvarasa Pathmanathan alias KP, who succeeded Prabhakaran as the LTTE leader has said that the UN Secretary General’s panel report on Sri Lanka wouldn’t help any reconciliation and rather it would disturb reconciliation. In an interview with the Indian journalist V.K. Shashikumar and published in the Firstpost website KP had said that no one would get any benefit from this report. “If you go to Vanni and (discover) 1,000 families or 100,000 families benefiting from this UN report, then it’s a different story. But the truth is that no one gets any benefit from such reports,” he had added“The past is past. War means first (many people) die. War means who dies first.Truth (also dies). War means the same everywhere. You cannot say good war and bad war. War is war,” he had been quoted as saying.He had cited three reasons for the defeat of the LTTE. Firstly, after the end of the Cold War changed the global political environment. That is the main reason why the LTTE armed struggle failed. Until the Cold War, the world was separated by ideology – capitalism and communism and that was the time when new countries were born, KP had stated. Second reason he had cited for his organization’s defeat was its conflict with India and the third one was that the LTTE lost the people’s support on the ground (Daily Mirror : 25 May 2011).

Congress defeat, KP and Nediyavan arrest - Velupillai Prabhakaran was killed on of May 18, 2009. Two years later , on May 19, 2011 , the Sri Lanka (SL) media reported that Perinbanayagam Sivaparan alias Nediyavan who emerged as the Tamil Tiger leader after K P had been arrested in Norway. The Norwegian officials told Reuter news service that ‘a man had been questioned in a Norwegian court on the request of Dutch Authorities carrying out an investigation’. But they declined to name him. The Norway foreign Ministry in a statement released through the Embassy in Colombo declined to identify the individual, but confirmed that a person of SL origin was questioned in a Norwegian court. According to a spokesman for the Dutch prosecutor’s office reporting to Reuter news agency, had said, ‘I can confirm a person was interviewed in Norway as part of an investigation into Tamil Tiger fund raising activities. We have not issued an arrest warrant for him’ Prior to this , SL media reported that a Tamil group opposed to Nediyavan attacked him at a Hindu religious festival in Norway and he was hospitalized. The Tamil net website rejected this story as false. The SL intelligence unit was hot on the trail of Nediyavan since the day Prabhakaran died. The Norway intelligence division co operated with SL intelligence towards this end, but informed the SL Govt. that if it can only be proved that he was involved in terrorist activities , then and only then it is prepared to hand over Nediyavan to the SL Govt. Moreover the Norwegian intelligence unit had assured the SL counterpart that the Norwegian intelligence unit is having him and his activities under its surveillance (Daily Mirror ; 25 May 2011).

Blessed are the children, for they will not be snatched - by Malinda Seneviratne - Someone once proposed that when the first child smiled for the very first time, the smile would have broken into a thousand pieces, gone skipping along in a thousand different directions and that this was the beginning of fairies. I am thinking today of a different ‘first child,’ a child whose first smile brought tears to the eyes of fond parents; happy tears and terrified ones too. That was a smile, which in their eyes, would soon break into a thousand pieces that would never be put together again, a smile whose owner would be forced to carry gun and grenade, ordered to maim and kill and open him/herself to the real possibility of violent death. There are all kinds of children. I know of 22 lucky children and two lucky teachers. On December 18, 2006, LTTE cadres stormed into a tuition class in Thirukkovil and took these lucky people away. They were lucky because unlike the 23rd child, they were all released because the child-snatchers had slipped up (Daily News: 25 May 2011).

UN tried 'to help Tamil Tigers flee': report (AFP) – NEW DELHI — The UN together with a Western government tried to save Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger leadership from a final offensive that eventually wiped them out, an Indian media report said Tuesday. A surviving Tiger leader, Selvarasa Pathmanathan, formerly the chief arms smuggler for the rebels, told Indian website FirstPost that the world body was trying to arrange a ship for top figures to flee in May 2009. Sri Lanka claimed an end to 37 years of ethnic bloodshed after killing the military leadership of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on the island's northeast coast in mid May 2009. Pathmanathan, in the interview conducted earlier this month at an undisclosed location in Colombo, has said that the UN and an unnamed government wanted to send a ship for the trapped Tiger leadership to escape. Asked to name the country involved, he said: "Actually, it was UN with another country. I don't like to mention the name of the country, but it's a Western country." Pathmanathan, who is better known as KP, was appointed chief international representative of the Tigers by rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran shortly before he was killed in the last days of the war. Pathmanathan was taken into custody in August 2009 following a covert operation in an unnamed southeast Asian country, but has reportedly since been cooperating with the government and has never been charged. The UN as well as several Western countries have said they were trying to arrange an orderly end to the fighting with a surrender of the trapped guerrillas. However, the attempt ended in failure when seven senior Tiger leaders were shot dead as they tried to give themselves up. The two sides have accused each other of massacring those trying to surrender (AFP : 24 May 2011).

LTTE'S Chief Arms Procurer KP Revealed How The UN And A Western Country Tried To Offer A Ship Fo - "The United Nations and a Western Country had prepared to offer a Ship to the LTTE Leaders if they wants to flee to a foreign country during the last stage of the war between Sri Lankan Armed Forces and LTTE in 2009" LTTE's Chief Arms Procurer and on time leader Kumaran Pathmanathan allias KP told an Indian News Paper THL Mediagrove. KP revealed this when he was Interviewed by the head of THL Mediagrove VK Shasikumar in a safe house in Colombo earlier this month.Answering a question raised by the interviewer Shasi Kumar KP has said. "We fought for freedom (and) it failed. It’s over. The new world order (after the Cold War) taught us that we have to…live together. We learnt from our past experience also that we should make a bridge between the two races (the Sinhalese and the Tamils)". For Video Extract of the Interview visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FK2l190VfcE (Ground Report : 24 May 2011).

Now, KP reveals LTTE-DMK links : Begs India’s forgiveness for Rajiv Gandhi assassination - Former LTTE chief arms procurer Kumaran Padmanathan (KP) has revealed links between DMK led by M. Karunanidhi and the LTTE and the conspirators behind the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. In an exclusive video interview with an Indian television network, THLMediagrove which was aired on Monday night, KP, who is now in Sri Lankan government custody, said that LTTE leader Vellupillai Prabakaran had personally ordered the assassination of Gandhi in May 1991. Asked who had plotted and was involved in the killing of Rajiv Gandhi, KP said that Prabhakran and LTTE intelligence chief Pottu Amman had planned the assassination. "Everyone knows the truth. Those who were involved in this murder were from the LTTE intelligence wing along with those who were arrested. It was well planned and actually carried out by Prabhakaran and intelligence chief Pottu Amman. Everyone knows the truth. I want to say to the Indian people and especially the Gandhi family… I want to apologise for Prabhakaran’s mistake. Please forgive us, we beg you. Our people are struggling here, please help our people to live as humans. Sorry for all this, we know the feelings of the son (Rahul) of Rajiv Gandhi. It’s human nature – how father and daughter are attached (reference to Rajiv’s daughter Priyanka). KP asked the Indian government to engage with Sri Lanka in a manner that allows for a peaceful settlement which gives a chance to Tamil to develop and forget the past. "If you look 50 years back, our people – educationally, economically – they were first. Today, we are behind them 50 years. So the point is that these people should live and work on modern technology…it’s a new era…If you go to your country you will see internet, computer facilities everywhere. If you go to Mulakanvil, they don’t have any facilities – nothing (Island ; 24 May 2011).

Tamil Tigers sneak through Schagen (part 2) - The Dutch judiciary says that Tamil Tiger leaders in the Netherlands have played a prominent role in financing the civil war in Sri Lanka. The 10,000 Tamils in the Netherlands, police say, were under the iron grip of the guerilla group - ‘Operation Koninck’ has been described by the judiciary as very complex and elaborate. Some 90 witnesses have been heard, dozens of house searches have been conducted, and numerous documents, photos, computers, CDs and DVDs have been obtained. Detectives from the Crime Investigation Department have gathered some 120 files on the case with a wren branded on them (wren in Dutch is winterkoning, the basis for the name of the operation). The judiciary now has large quantities of propaganda material such as films, books and calendars honouring Tamils who have gone on suicide missions. The digital material is particularly plentiful with the Dutch authorities possessing some 6,000 gigabytes worth of information. More material is expected to be obtained in the following weeks. At the request of the Netherlands, Norway will be carrying out house searches at the home of a Tamil with the code name Nediyavan. According to officials, he is one of the LTTE’s new leaders. On Wednesday a Dutch investigative team, along with lawyers of the suspects in the Netherlands, will travel to Oslo to interrogate Nediyavan. The Dutch magistrates and lawyers are also to travel to the US to interrogate, among others, Pratheepan T. This man has settled a plea bargain deal with the US authorities by admitting that he has purchased weapons for the Tigers. Information from Pratheepan T’s computer apparently revealed that Ramachandran from the Netherlands had cooperated with Pratheepan in the weapon purchases. Next month, the Dutch plan to interrogate 13 witnesses in Sri Lanka. The Dutch authorities are currently negotiating with Sri Lankan Attorney General Mohan Peiris to get permission to speak with former and current LTTE people. The Dutch also aim to interrogate Kumaran Pathmanabhan, or KP, who is a detained former LTTE leader (Radio Netherlands ; 24 may 2011).

DMK ‘indirectly’ responsible for Rajiv killing – Jayalalithaa - BY S VENKAT NARAYAN, Our Special Correspondent -  Kumaran Pathmanathan, or KP, has apologised to India for the LTTE killing former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi 20 years ago. In an interview broadcast on Monday by CNN-IBN, an Indian news channel, KP admitted that the conspiracy to assassinate Rajiv Gandhi was hatched by LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and his intelligence chief Pottu Amman. (LTTE activist and woman suicide-bomber Dhanu blew up Rajiv Gandhi at an election rally at Sriperumbudur on Chennai’s outskirts on the night of 21 May 1991). KP said: "It is the truth, and everybody knows it. At this point of time, I want to say to the Indian people, and especially to the Gandhi family: I want to apologise for Prabhakaran’s mistake. I say: please forgive us. Our people (Sri Lankan Tamils) are struggling here. Please help us to live as humans." He went on: "Sorry for all this. We know the feelings of Rajiv Gandhi’s son (Rahul and daughter Priyanka). KP also said that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayaram Jayalalithaa "always felt" she was on the LTTE’s hit list. "If the LTTE got a chance, they would have tried (to kill her) because she was against the LTTE." Responding to KP’s remarks, Jayalalithaa said in Chennai that she has been living under the constant threat of a possible LTTE attack on her since 1991, when she came to power in alliance with the Congress Party and cracked down on the Sri Lankan Tamil group and put an end to its activities in Tamil Nadu with an iron hand. She also endorsed KP’s view that the DMK was "indirectly" responsible for Rajiv Gandhi’s killing by the LTTE because the Sri Lankan Tamil guerrilla group was heavily influenced by the anti-Brahmin rhetoric of the late EV Ramaswami Naicker, the father of the Dravidian movement in Tamil Nadu, whose philosophy continues to guide the DMK. Prabhakaran himself and a large number of his close associates, including Pottu Amman, were killed by the Sri Lankan security forces on the banks of the Nandikadal lagoon in the Northern Province on 19 May 2009, thus ending a brutal ethnic war that raged for three decades, claimed over a hundred thousand lives and caused losses worth several billions (Island : 24 May 2011).

From Vanni to Cinnamon Grand : Ex-fighters display dancing skills at IOM reception - By Shamindra Ferdinando - An opportunity to perform at a five-star hotel would have been the last thing on their mind when the LTTE collapsed on the Vanni east front two years ago. Today, the majority of LTTE cadres taken into custody are free with those undergoing rehabilitation expected to come down to about 1,500 by end of this year. The military held about 11,700 LTTE cadres at the conclusion of the war in the third week of May, 2009. At a reception held at the Cinnamon Grand (formerly Oberoi) on Monday to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), a group of ex- LTTE cadres had a rare chance to perform for a distinguished gathering. The LTTE exploded a bomb at the Oberoi on January 21, 1984, killing one person. Trained at the Abhina Academy of Performing Arts, situated at Kalapura, Templer’s Road, Mount Lavinia, under the guidance of versatile actress Ms. Anoja Weerasinghe, the unprecedented show reflected the post-war reality. Their energetic performance enraptured the audience, including those sceptical of Sri Lanka’s rehabilitation programme, due to it being placed under the Sri Lanka Army. Under Ms. Weerasinghe’s guidance, several groups of ex-LTTE cadres and those affected due to terrorism received training at the Abhina Academy. Among the invitees were Economic Affairs Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Senior Minister Dew Gunasekera, Minister Dilan Perera, Commissioner General of Rehabilitation Maj. Gen. Sudantha Ranasinghe, Foreign Secretary Karunathilake Amunugama, Justice Secretary Suhada Gamlath and many Colombo-based foreign diplomats (island ; 24 May 2011).

Humanitarian concerns, govt’s first priority – Prof. Peiris - The first priority of the government after the war, was addressing humanitarian concerns to ensure resettlement and reconciliation, including early returns of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their homes, External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris said. Briefing diplomats, academics and officials on the current situation in Sri Lanka, said that after almost three decades, the government has been successful in restoring peace, stability and security in all parts of the country. Prof. Peiris had been invited by the Institute of South Asian Studies of the National University of Singapore to deliver an address on ‘The Current Situation in Sri Lanka and The Way Forward’. He said that 95 percent of the displaced have been resettled in their original places of domicile or in new homes. "The very small number remaining in the camps stay there willingly. They visit relatives and return to the camps of their own free will," the minister said. Another crucial part of the humanitarian efforts made by the government was the integration of ex-combatants into society. Minister Peiris said that this was more a human story, than a political story, emphasizing that 140 of those young ex-combatants have been successful at the GCE ‘A’ level examination. Referring to the political aspect of the current situation in Sri Lanka, Prof. Peiris said that the government has embarked on negotiations with the elected representatives of the Tamil community and had already completed five rounds of talks with Tamil political parties. On the Tamil Diaspora, Prof Peiris stressed that Sri Lanka was engaged in talking to some sections, inviting them to take a hand in the country’s economic and social development and help improve the livelihood of people in the North and East. "We encourage the Tamil Diaspora to involve themselves in developmental activities," he said (Island ; 24 May 2011).

Cunning LTTE leader Kumaran Pathmanathan (KP) 

has apologised to India for assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi

 (Outlook India : 23 May 2011).

Video in http://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=13353

former Prime Minister of India, Sri Rajiv Gandhi

Details in http://www.slnewsonline.net/rajiv.htm

VIDEO: Influenced by DMK ideology, LTTE killed Rajiv - Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam’s (LTTE) former international arms procurer and V Prabhakaran’s right hand man, Kumaran Pathmanathan, has revealed the reason behind former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination. Kumaran Pathmanathan spoke exclusively to VK Shashikumar of THL-Mediagrove.  Prabhakaran was deeply influenced by DMK ideology and the party’s anti-Brahmin outlook may have driven the Tamil Tiger supremo to kill Rajiv Gandhi, said Kumaran Pathmanathan. He said that he wants to apologise for killing Rajiv Gandhi but added that if the LTTE had a chance they would have killed AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa. Transcript of the interview: (Video in Ada Derana) - 

‘The war is over… We’ve one way, one chance. That’s the peaceful way, peaceful negotiation, continuous engagement’ - Shanmugam Kumaran Tharmalingam alias Selvarasa Pathmanathan alias Kumaran Pathmanathan, or simply ‘KP’, headed the ‘international secretariat’ of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and was its arms procurer. He took the leadership of the LTTE after V. Prabakaran was killed in May 2009. Arrested and taken to Sri Lanka two years ago, he is now in detention in Colombo. This is the transcript of an interview he gave V.K. Shashikumar of THL-Mediagrove on May 14. The interview was telecast over “CNN-IBN” and published by Firstpost.com. When you look back at the war which led to the end of the LTTE, what are the first reflections that come to your mind? It’s the beginning of a new era. The war is over. We fought a freedom struggle. It failed. It’s over. Now it’s the beginning of a new era. The New World Order taught us that we have to… we have to live together. We learnt from our past experience also that we should make a bridge between the two races. This country, a small island, has suffered a lot. You know of the many struggles —the JVP, again the LTTE. It’s enough. I feel this is a small country, a small population. We paid a high price. We got the pain. Enough! So we should live together, respect each other and accept each other’s dignity, enjoy the life and give a future for the new generation. Our lives are nearly at an end but the new generation should live peacefully in this country. That’s what we’re working on (Hindu : 24 May 2011).

Jaya reviews financial situation of Tamil Nadu - ..... Asked about the claim of Pathmanathan, leader of the now decimated LTTE, which had assassinated former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, that the outfit had attempted to assassinate her also, she said, "I have been living with death threats since 1991. This is nothing new." On Pathmathan's reported remarks that DMK's ideology (of anti-Brahminism) could have influenced LTTE to kill Gandhi, she said, "That has been our basic charge since a long time. We have always said DMK was behind the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in an indirect way." Ruling out revival of the Legislative Council, a DMK initiative, she said it was AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran who had first abolished it as Chief Minister and AIADMK was against it (IBN Live : 24 May 2011).

LTTE apologises for Rajiv Gandhi's killing - Pathmanathan, known to be close to Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leader V Prabhakaran has said that he wanted to apologise for Prabhakaran's mistake in getting former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassinated. He said: "Please forgive us. We beg you.... Sorry for all this." "We know the feelings of the son (Rahul) of Rajiv Gandhi.... How father and daughter are attached (reference to Rajiv's daughter Priyanka)", he added. He said Tamils in Sri Lanka should be helped to live as humans as "we have already paid a high price. "We don't have anything to lose", he added. ajiv Gandhi was assassinated on May 21, 1991 at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu during a poll campaign (Sify News : 24 May 2011).

Top LTTE leader apologizes to India for Rajiv's killing - A top LTTE leader Kumaran Pathmanathan has apologised to India for V Prabhakaran's "mistake" of killing former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi .  He said Rajiv's assassination was "well planned and done actually with Prabhakaran and (LTTE intelligence chief Pottu Amman). Everyone knows the truth".  In an interview to CNN-IBN Firstpost, Pathmanathan, who was Treasurer of LTTE and its chief arms procurer, said "I want to say to the Indian people and especially to the Gandhi family...I want to apologise for Prabhakaran's mistake. Please forgive us. We beg you....Sorry for all this. We know the feelings of the son (Rahul) of Rajiv Gandhi....How father and daughter are attached (reference to Rajiv's daughter Priyanka)".  He said Tamils in Sri Lanka should be helped to live as humans as "we have already paid a high price. We don't have anything to lose" (Economic Times : 24 May 2011).

Lessons to be learnt from the Lankan army - Preparations for the second victory day parade are in full swing in Colombo. Fast attack craft are zipping on the ocean, artillery guns are on practice parades and fighter aircraft are zooming across the sky leaving behind a trail of fleeing birds. The celebrations will be capped by a three day int ernational military seminar on `Defeating Terrorism – the Sri Lankan Experience’ in end May. Of course, the UN’s Lanka expert panel and global rights groups might feel that the `experience’ was more of an extermination; an extermination of trapped civilians thought to be of little value when caught between the military’s relentless pursuit of the equally unrelenting LTTE. Nevertheless, delegates from at least 42 countries are expected to send their forces’ representatives to listen to Lankan officers share their tales of victory; which the government takes profound pride in calling the "largest hostage rescue mission in the world". Topics will range from effective counter terrorism strategy to, rather interestingly, “…benchmark the Lankan experience” in counterinsurgency. “Sri Lanka's self-proclaimed ‘model' of counterinsurgency included repeatedly shelling civilians, targeting hospitals, and trying to prevent the world from finding out about it,” Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said, urging governments not to attend. “This conference is nothing more than a public relations exercise to whitewash abuses.” Army chief Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya dismissed all allegations. "We have nothing to hide. The officers will tell the exact story," the pudgy Jayasuriya said on Monday while asking the media to `behave’ during the event. Major military powers like the US, UK and France are not attending; Lanka’s closest and insurgency ridden neighbour India, with the third largest military in the world, has deputed three precious colonels (Hindustan Times ; 24 May 2011).

Some thugs can’t even name themselves… - by Malinda Seneviratne - It has been reported that Rajiv Gandhi, on his way to sign the Indo-Lanka Accord, had told Tamil Nadu politicians that the agreement he was to sign with the then president of Sri Lanka, J.R. Jayewardene, would bring Sri Lanka under the Indian orbit, just like Bhutan. The before and after of the Indo-Lanka Accord is well known, but considering the recent joint-statement issued by the ministers in charge of external affairs of the two countries, it is worth a recap. India, under Rajiv Gandhi and before him, under his mother, Indira Gandhi, armed, funded and trained Tamil separatists from Sri Lanka and as such has remained the principal instigator of and contributor to terrorism and all its horrendous and tragic consequences.  The ‘after’ of the Accord saw the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) engaged in wanton acts of brutality against the very people whose interests the accord was supposed to uphold. The IPKF is guilty of destruction, torture, death, displacement, rape, petty theft and other such ‘peaceful’ operations in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. Having rescued the LTTE from certain defeat via the Accord, India ended up having to deal with the wrath of the terrorists it spawned, breast-fed, spoon-fed and gun-fed. ‘Tail between legs’ was how the IPKF left Sri Lanka. By this time, natural antipathy to a regional thug had beefed up the fascist JVP of Rohana Wijeweera to launch its second and infinitely more bloody insurrection, leaving 60,000 dead in just over 2 years.  India left behind one thing. The 13th Amendment to the Constitution, whose political worth lies in the legitimacy it gives to the boundaries of the Eelam map, never mind the objections of history, geography and demography. While some say that India did help Sri Lanka in combatting the LTTE, i.e. after 2005, no one can claim that such ‘help’ did not come with a political price tag. It was not about a friendly and repentant neighbor doing the right thing. It was the neighbourhood thug engaged in extortion (LankaWeb : 24 May 2011).

Captured docs helped arrest Netherland tigers - In cooperation with Sri Lankan colleagues, the Dutch investigative team was able to inspect Tamil Tiger documents that led to the arrest of S. Ramachandran, 52, a Dutch Tamil from Schagen who was arrested in April last year, Radio Netherlands said.  The documents were seized by the Sri Lankan military in areas which had been under LTTE control until 2009 and the arrest of Ramachandran was believed to have led to the detention of Nediyavan.  Radio Netherlands said Tamil Tiger representatives in places like Schagen, The Hague, Breda, Zeist, Raalte and Ammerzoden had yet to capitulate. Their struggle for a Tamil homeland continued. The Dutch police said until their arrest in 2010, the Dutch Tamils had remained active in raising funds and organising meetings to gather support for their struggle and liberation organisation.  The radio report further said; “this came to light through digital information obtained from S. Ramachandran., 52, a Dutch Tamil from Schagen who was arrested in April last year. A new fund was supposed to be set up under Ramachandran’s supervision, according to a judicial report on the investigation.  The investigation into possible criminal activities by the Tigers in the Netherlands has been ongoing for the past two years under the code name ‘Operation Koninck.’ The criminal investigation department has so far identified 38 Tamils and five legal entities as suspects. The LTTE was placed on a European Union list of terrorist organisations.  According to the judiciary, the LTTE has been responsible for a reign of terror in northern Sri Lanka. It has carried out numerous bomb attacks and assassinations. The Tigers murdered former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 and Sri Lankan President Ranasinghe Premadasa two years later. The United Nations and UNICEF have also accused the Tigers of recruiting child soldiers (Daily Mirror ; 24 May 2011).

Under iron grip of Tigers: LTTE leaders in Netherlands played key role in funding SL war -Dutch judiciary Info obtained from Ramachandran S - Had “plans for financial activities” - The Dutch judiciary said that Tiger leaders in the Netherlands have played a prominent role in financing the war in Sri Lanka. The 10,000 Tamils in the Netherlands were under the iron grip of the guerilla group, states Radio Netherlands in a report published yesterday.  The Dutch judiciary says that Tiger leaders in the Netherlands have played a prominent role in financing the war in Sri Lanka. The 10,000 Tamils in the Netherlands, police say, were under the iron grip of the Tigers.  Meanwhile, Tiger representatives in places like Schagen, The Hague, Breda, Zeist, Raalte and Ammerzoden had yet to capitulate. The Dutch police said that until their arrest in 2010, the Dutch Tamils had remained active in raising funds and organising meetings to gather support for their struggle and liberation organisation.  This came to light through digital information obtained from Ramachandran S., 52, a Dutch Tamil from Schagen who was arrested in April last year. He had “plans for financial activities” in his possession, which called for continued fundraising to support the remaining LTTE warriors hidden in the jungles of northern Sri Lanka. For that purpose, a new fund was supposed to be set up under Ramachandran’s supervision, according to a judicial report on the investigation (Daily News : 24 May 2011).

Memoirs of a distinguished diplomat - ..... The idea was put forth by the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister who visited New Delhi soon after V.P. Singh became Prime Minister. It was suggested that Karunanidhi be prevailed upon, first, to exercise his influence over the LTTE (the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) supremo Prabakaran and get him to stop killing other Tamil groups, and, secondly, to persuade Varadharaja Perumal to dissolve the Provincial Council and hold fresh elections in which the Tigers could participate. Karunanidhi tried, but in vain. Neither the Tigers nor Perumal would budge from their entrenched positions. Soon after the withdrawal of the IPKF, the differences between Colombo and the Tigers came out into the open and the Second Eelam War commenced. More tragically, Premadasa and Ranjan Wijeratne became victims to the cult of ‘suicide terrorism'. Sadly, there are some factual mistakes in the book which could have been avoided with a little more care. To cite a few: The adviser to Karunanidhi was the IAS officer ‘Guhan', not ‘Devan'; the legislation to give citizenship to the stateless people of Indian origin was adopted in 1986, not in 1984; and the name of the political outfit of Indian Tamils was ‘Ceylon Workers Congress', not ‘Tamil National Congress' (Hindu ; 24 May 2011).

Int’l seminar, ‘Defeating terrorism - Lankan experience’- Forty-two countries confirm participation - by Sandasen Marasinghe - A total of 42 countries have confirmed their participation in the international seminar, ‘Defeating terrorism - the Sri Lankan experience’ organized to share Sri Lanka’s experiences as the first country in the 21st century to have defeated terrorism, said Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya. Addressing the media at a press conference held at the Army Headquarters yesterday, the Army Commander said that the Army also has sent invitations to the Defence Minister of Senagal and the Army Commander after they made a request for participation in the three-day seminar which is to commence on May 31. Army Commander Jayasuriya further said that preparations for the seminar under the guidance of Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa organized to share Sri Lanka’s experience on the road to military defeat of the LTTE which was identified as the world’s most ruthless terrorist organization. He added that the seminar will pay special focus on global terrorism, terrorist trends, predominance of both political and military efforts, reconciliation, threats to national and international security concerns, nation building, resettlement, effective counter mechanism, prevention of resurgence of violence, re-evaluation of traditional approaches etc. Army Commander Jagath Jayasuriya also stated that the seminar, the first of its kind to be held in Sri Lanka will be attended by delegates including several world renowned experts, professionals, academics and military officials. Although military participants of few countries such as Australia, France, Japan, Netherlands etc have regretted their non participation, delegates such as their ambassadors and researchers have confirmed their participation (Daily News ; 24 May 2011).

Sri Lanka has the fullest capability to resolve her own issues – China’s Foreign Minister - External Affairs Minister Professor G.L. Peiris was received on Tuesday by Mr. Yang Jiechi, Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China, at the Foreign Ministry in Beijing. The Foreign Ministers noted that the bilateral relationship between the two countries is extremely warm and cordial. Prof. Peiris emphasized that Sri Lanka will continue to uphold the ‘One China Policy’ which has been a consistent feature of the country’s foreign policy. He congratulated China on the heights of irreversible progress and prosperity which she had attained. The Foreign Minister of China expressed his government’s appreciation of the accomplishments of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government in eradicating terrorism in Sri Lanka and putting the country on the track of rapid economic development. He cordially invited President Rajapaksa to visit the People’s Republic of China. Minister Peiris briefed his counterpart in detail about Sri Lanka’s position on a range of issues connected with the Darusman Report, the work of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission and initiatives on the part of the Inter-Agency Advisory Committee appointed by the Government of Sri Lanka. With regard to developing circumstances generally, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi assured Prof. Peiris that China has total confidence in the capability of the government and people of Sri Lanka to resolve their own issues. He said that China will stand by Sri Lanka in achieving the tasks of reconciliation and reconstruction. Minister Peiris, referring to China’s contribution to the economic development of Sri Lanka, expressed his appreciation of the generous assistance by China in financing the Hambantota Port Development Project, the Mattala Airport, the Puttalam Coal Power Project and the Colombo-Katunayake Expressway. The two Ministers, while noting that funding for several road development and reconstruction projects in the North and South of Sri Lanka have already been finalized, discussed arrangements proposed by Sri Lanka for Hambantota Harbour Phase II and the Matara – Kataragama New Railroad Extension (Asian Tribune : 24 May 2011).

IDP resettlement almost complete - More than three decades of terrorism that engulfed Sri Lanka ended decisively with the Government security forces defeating the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in May 2009. The rise of Tamil militancy from early part of 1980s impacted on civilians creating internal displacement, particularly in the Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka. Some of the armed groups renounced violence over a period of time and entered the main stream of politics. However, the LTTE continued to use violent means to achieve its objectives. The ambush of 13 soldiers in 1983, sparked off several days of rioting in the capital, Colombo and suburbs causing harm and damage to the life and property of a number of Tamil civilians. These riots, though not repeated thereafter, resulted in further displacement. Some left Sri Lanka to establish themselves elsewhere. In the latter part of October 1990, the LTTE forcibly evicted over 75,000 Muslims displaced them from Jaffna and Mannar in 48 hours. Assasinations, targeting of civilians by shooting, suicide attacks, and bombings was part and parcel of the LTTEs strategy. Many prominent Tamil civilians with moderate views were also eliminated and every attempt was made by the LTTE to maintain a fear-psychosis, among the civilian population. This resulted in large numbers of civilians fleeing conflict affected areas as IDPs. In addition, several natural disasters including the devastating tsunami of 2004 created a further category of IDPs.It resulted in the Government of Sri Lanka developing expertise and extensive institutional frameworks in dealing with IDP issues. This report records the humanitarian efforts of the GoSL in partnership with United Nations (UN), International and Local NGOs and other organizations in responding to the welfare needs of those internally displaced due to the conflict (Daily Mirror ; 24 May 2011).

Is Sri Lanka revolving or devolving? - by Gomin Dayasiri -  In a significant Vesak declaration the Minister of External Affairs Dr G.L. Peiris changed attire to play Santa Claus to the 13th Amendment [13th] by agreeing with the Indian government for “ A devolution package building upon the 13th Amendment, would contribute towards creating conditions for such reconciliation”. No doubt, words he would have carefully chosen because he is not known, notwithstanding any other possible shortcomings, for a shortfall in his knowledge of the English vocabulary. Grapevine sources say it was approved in Colombo after his earlier draft was comprehensively rejected? It is unfair to fault Peiris; being responsible, he would have consulted the President. Did we compromise too much in New Delhi, with a feeble negotiating team that had their eyes blindfolded and hands tied at the negotiating table, with hard talk, that Colombo found it hard to structurally modify the draft beyond a limit? Previously the team to India led by Basil Rajapaksa with Lalith Weeratunga and Gothabhaya Rajapaksa were keener in mind and stronger in heart and countered India positively and won the day in the more troublesome days of the war. The mystery is why the team composition was changed? Can we send a junior team of rookies to play an Indian A team studded with pinch hitters? (Daily Mirror ; 24 May 2011).

President summons Governors, Chief Ministers for discussion on devolution

 (Details in Island : 23 May 2011).

On the day Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi killed

The bomber, Dhanu, shortly before the suicide bomb attack.

UN had offered safe exit to LTTE in the last days of war - The leadership of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) remained obstinate in its separatist demand despite the efforts of the UN and other international players to broker peace in the last days of the war. Ordinary Tamils paid the price. Long before the Sri Lankan Army crushed the LTTE’s resistance in mid-2009, leaders of the separatist outfit had enough opportunity to settle for peace. Their last chance came as late as May 2009. The international community had then offered safe passage for the leaders and even talked about arranging a ship to ferry them out of the troubled island. But the LTTE’s top leadership, primarily its leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, was adamant on staying put. The LTTE leadership remained obstinate in its separatist demand despite the efforts of the UN and other international players to broker peace in the last days of the war. Reuters Had he heeded the advice of the international community, the loss of lives to the Tamil community from the months-long assault of the army would have been far lower. Ordinary Tamils ultimately paid the price for Prabhakaran’s folly. According to Kumaran Pathmanathan (KP), the current head of the LTTE, there was hectic activity to stop the war. The UN and a Western country had intensified their involvement with both the sides, particularly the LTTE, as early as January 2009. Even a section of the outfit was prepared to accept the peace efforts. Speaking to VK Shashikumar of Mediagrove – his first recorded video interview ever – KP said the peace efforts failed because “our side (LTTE), until the last moment, was (un)willing to support that.’’ (First Post. com : 23 May 2011).

Should we give into Tamil Nadu racism? - by  S. Akurugoda, Melbourne, Australia - According to the Joint Declaration issued following the State visit of Foreign Minister Prof. G.L Peris to India, Indian Government has emphasized that a devolution package, building upon the 13th Amendment, would be the necessary conditions for a lasting political settlement. It is interesting to note that, although there are various agreements said to have been reached including the lifting of emergency and other economical political matters advantageous to India, there is not a single word about India’s stance on the infamous Ban Ki-moon’s report. The reality of the Rajiv-JR Agreement and the resulted 13th Amendment to the Constitution would have known better by Rajiv Gandhi, the Indian PM, than anyone else since it was the Indian civil servants who were instrumental when drafting the Agreement. The implementation of 13th Amendment is the beginning of implementation of the Thimpu demands (distinct nationality, traditional homelands, self-determination) as claimed in the following statement of Indian PM Rajiv Gandhi to the Indian Parliament on July 31, 1987  (Sri Lanka News Online : 23 May 2011).     (LankaWeb : 23 May 2011).

Bruce Haigh’s Mischief Making - I am writing, as Head of the Sri Lanka Peace Secretariat in 2009, to correct some errors in the opinion piece on ‘The Drum’, reproduced it seems from ABC News. It seems best to make annotations direct on the published text, though I hope you will also reproduce the evidence from the ICRC that suggests Mr Haigh is being his usual mischievous self as regards Sri Lanka. “Admiral Thisara Samarsinghe was recently approved by the Australian Government to become the next Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Canberra. He joined the navy in 1974 and retired in January 2011. Admiral Samarsinghe was chief of staff of the Sri Lankan Navy at a time when the navy shelled Tamil soldiers and civilians trapped in what had been declared a safe zone at the end of the civil war. The navy then blocked attempts by the International Committee of the Red Cross to evacuate the injured, women and children from the safe zone.” (Rajiv Wijesinghe Website : 23 May 2011).

Mr Ban ki Moon: Why have you forgotton the Chagossian Islanders?- By Garvin Karunaratne, Ph.D. - Mr. Ban Ki Moon, Please answer me. What about the Human Rights of the Chagossian Islanders? The Chagossian Islanders were the original inhabitants of the Chagos islands in the Indian Ocean. They were thrown out of the Chagossian Islands when Britain decided to have an uninhabited island to hand over to the USA to have a military base. Let me jog the memory of the United Nations, because the United Nations becomes forgetful of facts when it suits the Superpowers to aggrandize themselves and takeover a poor Third World territory, in order to establish a military base. In short, the United Nations that should stand up for all the countries in the World irrespective of size or power, gives in to the pressure of a Superpower and it sacrifices the sovereignty of the poor country! The Chagossian Islanders lived a peaceful life, in their own habitat till the USA wanted a sea base in the Indian Ocean. Britain then decided to give the Chagossian Islands including Diego Garcia to the USA. Britain then moved 2000 Chagossians by force from 1967 to 1973 first to Peros Banhos, a hundred miles away and later to Mauritius. By a Court Judgement, Justice Ousley of the High Court denied the right of the Islanders to return to the Chagos islands.. This was overturned by the High Court on May 11, 2006 and the islanders were authorized to return to the islands. At last it looked as if the islanders won to get beck to their homes. But the British Government appealed to the House of Lords against that decision and the Court of Appeal on October 22, 2008 and the Law Lords ruled that the islanders had no right to return (Lankaweb : 23 May 2011).

Indian representation in seminar on defeating terrorism - India will send three Colonels to take part in the seminar on ‘defeating terrorism’ organised by the Sri Lankan Army from May 31 to June 2, Sri Lankan Army Commander Jagath Jayasuriya said. A team headed by a Major General will represent Pakistan while a Lieutenant General will lead the Bangladesh delegation. Russia will send six officers to the seminar, hosted at a cost of about LKR 45 million. As many as 54 countries were initially invited. Of this, some, including Australia, France, Japan, Jordan, The Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Switzerland, Norway and United Kingdom, have written that they would not send delegations from their countries. There has been no response from the United States, he added. Two Chinese companies, Chinese Poly technologies and China Electrical and Technologies Corporation, have underwritten much of the cost of the seminar. “I cannot reveal how much sponsorship they have given,” said Lt. Gen. Jayasuriya, when asked about the amount of sponsorship. Both Chinese companies are into defence technologies. The international seminar, ‘Defeating Terrorism — The Sri Lanka Experience’ intends to share Sri Lanka's experience on the road to military defeat of the LTTE. The three-day seminar, a first of its kind to be held in Sri Lanka is to be attended by over 300 delegates, including defence personnel, commanders, experts, professionals, academics and senior military officials. “To date, a total of 42 countries have so far confirmed their participation. More are expected to respond within the next few days,” he added. Asked if the seminar will seek to counter the United Nations Secretary General’s Expert Panel Report on Sri Lanka, which has five findings against Sri Lanka, Lt. Gen. Jayasuriya said there was nothing to counter in the report. “I have read the report…There are no allegations in it; only hearsay,” he claimed. Commenting on calls to boycott the seminar, given by some human rights organisations, he said these calls have had no effect. The seminar is to review how the Sri Lankan approach transcended beyond the traditional approach and succeeded in defeating the LTTE with learning from years of fighting an insurgency (Hindu : 23 May 2011).

Sri Lanka - Raj Rajaratnam did fund the LTTE through TRO - This website has refuted the charge by the Sunday Island (May 15, 2011) that it had attempted to paint Raj Rajaratnam as an LTTE supporter because of his contributions to the pro-LTTE Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO). In response to the relevant editorial in the Sunday Island, we have maintained that Raj Rajaratnam -- recently found guilty of fraud and conspiracy by a federal jury in Manhattan, New York – had in fact made contributions to the TRO, the assets of which were frozen by the US Treasury Department, for making contribution to the terrorist organization – the LTTE. The US authorities found that the TRO funded the LTTE for its purchase of arms for terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka. Here is the relevant editorial in the Sunday Island of May 15th 2011: (ISRIA : 23 May 2011).

'FORGIVE OR FORGET'- Retrospect of LTTE's brutal assassinations - "As far as that event is concerned...I would say it is a great tragedy... a monumental historical tragedy... which we (LTTE terrorists) deeply regret, and we call upon the government of India and people of India to be magnanimous to put the past behind..." - Anton Balasingham( 27th June, 2006). This was the note of condolences received by the Gandhi family on the 15th death anniversary of the former Indian Premier by the LTTE terror propagandist Anton Balasinghm on behalf of his 'naughty boy' Prabakaran during an interview with the South Indian TV channel NDTV in 2006. The LTTE terrorist organization never claimed responsibility for its brutalities perpetrated against innocent civilians, politicians, clergy and children including unarmed Policemen. Surprisingly, the pledge for forgiveness on the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi (21st May, 1991), was the first and only in which LTTE claimed its direct involvement. The confession instead of smothering Indian displeasure towards the outfit resulted in a burst of revived hatred from Indian Political circles including former South Indian Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. According to defence observers this was a prime example of the evolution of a terrorist outfit through regional negligence into a transnational terror machine. Later, on 01st May, 1993 the Sri Lankan President R. Premadasa was assassinated by an LTTE suicide bomber during a May Day rally in Colombo. Yet, such brutality was just served as a mere news headline and no other seriousness by the now defiant international community and human rights practitioners (Sri Lanka Defence Ministry : 23 May 2011).

Tamil Tigers sneak through Schagen (part 1) - by Marcel Haenen (NRC Handelsblad) - The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) waged a bloody war for a quarter of a century in Sri Lanka, but on May 17th, 2009, it admitted defeat to the country’s majority Sinhalese regime. Tamil Tiger founder and chairman Velupillai Prabhakaran died the following day, killed while he attempted a desperate escape from the battlefield in an ambulance. Meanwhile, some 8,300 km north of that battleground, Tamil Tiger representatives in places like Schagen, The Hague, Breda, Zeist, Raalte and Ammerzoden had yet to capitulate. Their struggle for a Tamil homeland continued. The Dutch police said that until their arrest in 2010, the Dutch Tamils had remained active in raising funds and organising meetings to gather support for their struggle and liberation organisation. This came to light through digital information obtained from Ramachandran S., 52, a Dutch Tamil from Schagen who was arrested in April last year. He had ‘plans for financial activities’ in his possession, which called for continued fundraising to support the remaining LTTE warriors hidden in the jungles of northern Sri Lanka. For that purpose, a new fund was supposed to be set up under Ramachandran’s supervision, according to a judicial report on the investigation (Radio Netherlands ; 23 May 2011).

Attack on the Pakistan naval base mirrors LTTE strikes - The May 22 attack on the naval base PNS Mehran by suicide commandos of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) which destroyed two Pakistani navy P3-C Orion maritime patrol aircraft and damaged an unspecified number, mirrors at least two previous attacks by the erstwhile LTTE. The July 24, 2001 attack against Colombo's Kattunayaka military airbase carried out by 14 Black Tiger suicide commandos was the most lethal guerilla attack against a country's military aviation assets. It completely destroyed ten aircraft including two Airbuses, attack helicopters and fighter aircraft and damaged 15 other aircraft. The second attack by 21 Black Tigers against the fortified Anuradhapura military base in October 2007 destroyed 10 aircraft including helicopters and surveillance aircraft and damaged ten others. The attacks seem to have a common modus operandi. Over a dozen suicide terrorists are usually involved in these pre-dawn attacks as they overrun the base from multiple directions. The terrorists are armed with heavy weapons including rocket propelled grenades and improvised explosive devices to be used against the aircraft. (The ten 26/11 Mumbai attackers carried AK-47s and grenades because their primary intent was to cause mass civilian casualties and hold out against the security forces). The number of casualties in such attacks against aviation assets is comparatively low because the primary targets are aircraft. The LTTE's 2001 attack was aimed at simultaneously hitting the Sri Lankan economy and its military capability to launch air attacks to the north of the country. The 2007 attack was purely intended to degrade Sri Lankan military capability as it advanced towards the LTTE bastions (India Today ; 23 May 2011).

LTTE Leader Apologizes to India for Rajiv's Killing - A top LTTE leader Kumaran Pathmanathan has apologised to India for V Prabhakaran's "mistake" of killing former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. He said Rajiv's assassination was "well planned and done actually with Prabhakaran and (LTTE intelligence chief Pottu Amman). Everyone knows the truth". In an interview to CNN-IBN Firstpost, Pathmanathan, who was Treasurer of LTTE and its chief arms procurer, said, "I want to say to the Indian people and especially to the Gandhi family...I want to apologise for Prabhakaran's mistake. Please forgive us. We beg you....Sorry for all this. We know the feelings of the son (Rahul) of Rajiv Gandhi....How father and daughter are attached (reference to Rajiv's daughter Priyanka)". He said Tamils in Sri Lanka should be helped to live as humans as "we have already paid a high price. We don't have anything to lose" (Outlook India : 23 May 2011).

Dutch Judiciary accuses LTTE leaders of extortion - Says they funded separatist war in Sri Lanka - The Dutch judiciary says that Tamil Tiger leaders in the Netherlands have played a prominent role in financing the civil war in Sri Lanka. The 10,000 Tamils in the Netherlands, police say, were under the iron grip of the guerilla group. The investigation into possible criminal activities by the Tigers in the Netherlands has been ongoing for the past two years under the code name ‘Operation Koninck.’ The criminal investigation department has so far identified 38 Tamils and five legal entities as suspects. They are under suspicion for financially supporting or taking part in a criminal organisation. Ramachandran is one of the two Dutch Tamils detained for 13 months. According to the judiciary, he is one of the international leaders of the organisation. The Dutch officials say that he ranks high within the LTTE and has been responsible for large sums of money coming through from the Netherlands, which has subsequently been used to buy arms. It is assumed that Ramachandran has overlooked a flow of money worth some EUR136 million worldwide, according to an analysis by the fiscal investigative body Fiod, based on information obtained from a USB stick found in his home. Dutch authorities also say that Ramachandran organised the money flow. Messengers with cash are sent to countries where purchases can be made. Money was being transferred, and sometimes LTTE money in a certain country would be used to buy jewellery, which in turn would be resold elsewhere. The bookkeeping was meticulous, with even the travel costs of the suspects neatly written down, as were the salaries received by the two main suspects from the LTTE. Rent and insurance were also reimbursed (Island : 23 May 2011).

President summons Governors, CMs for discussion on devolution - By Franklin R. Satyapalan - President Mahinda Rajapaksa has summoned the eight Provincial Governors and Chief Ministers to Temple Trees today for a meeting at 3.00 p.m. to discuss devolution and allied matters. The problems to be dealt with were administrative, financial and matters related to land, government sources said yesterday.  Western Province Governor Alavi Mowlana and Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, when contacted by The Island, declined to divulge any details but confirmed that the meeting would take place.  The Provincial Governors recently requested a meeting with the President following their annual meeting. Similarly the Provincial Chief Ministers, too, requested for a meeting following a recent conference. Sources said that meeting had been called following Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, aka Pillayan, making representations to the President (Island : 23 May 2011).

How terrorism was defeated: Nothing to hide - By Harischandra Gunaratna - Army Commander Lt. Gen Jagath Jayasuriya yesterday said that the army had nothing to hide as to how it defeated terrorism and wanted to share its experience with other countries in the world. He was addressing a news conference on the forthcoming international seminar, organized by the Sri Lanka Army, under the theme ‘Defeating terrorism-the Sri Lanka Experience’ to be held in Colombo. Responding to a question from a foreign journalist whether army could counter the allegations levelled against Sri Lanka by the UN panel, the army chief said that there was nothing to counter as there were no allegations against them. "I read the whole report and there is not a single allegation against us," the Army Chief said. He said the UN panelists should attend the forthcoming seminar and if they had any doubts. He brushed aside claims by a journalist that Human Rights Organisations were carrying out a campaign urging countries interested in participating in the seminar to boycott it. The Commander said that such a campaign would be a total failure and it would have no effect on the seminar. Of the 54 countries invited, 42 had already confirmed their participation with 11 countries informing their inability to send military personnel, he said. However some of those countries, unable to send military personnel, would be sending researchers or will be represented by their ambassadors which included Australia and Norway, he said. Among the noted absentees would be the UK and the USA. The latter would be sending its Defence Attache in Sri Lanka. Senegal would be represented by its Defence Minister and the Army Commander while Russia would send a six-member military delegation, he said. Among the key speakers listed are Sri Lanka‘s Dr. Rohan Gunaratna, Dr. David Kilcullen, Advisor to Condelesa Rice, former US Secretary of State, Dr. Ahmed Hashim. Kilcullen, a former Australian Colonel, is one of the world’s most influential experts on guerilla warfare and was the senior advisor to Gen David Patraeus during the Iraq war. The seminar will be held at the Galadari Hotel from May 31- June 02 and would accommodate 300 participants. There will be live webcasting. Responding to a question, Lt. Gen. Jayasuriya said that the seminar would cost the army nearly Rs 45 million but there were sponsors (Island : 23 May 2011).

India continues broad spectrum engagement with Sri Lanka - Helping to rebuild the battered infrastructure in the north Sri Lanka and catering to the livelihood concerns of the Tamils have marked the broad spectrum Indian engagement with Sri Lanka in the past two post-war years, to ensure an early return of normalcy to the Northern Province. Sri Lankan forces defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam this month two years ago. While some longer gestation projects such as permanent houses for the people of the Northern Province are yet to gain momentum, many of the smaller India-propelled projects have ensured that the people who return to their hometowns and villages can begin rebuilding their lives. The first issue after the conclusion of the war in 2009 was to resettle the internally displaced persons (IDPs). Once the Sri Lankan government took a policy decision to resettle IDPs — with considerable inputs from India and the donor community — India provided four million sheets of roofing (roughly 12 sheets for a house) and 40,000 tonnes of cement (eight bags for a unit). The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) handled the programme (Island ; 23 May 2011).

Kadirgamar’s statue in crates for six years - by Jayatissa, Nugegoda - I refer to Dr. U. Pethiyagoda’s letter on the above subject in the `Island’ of 13th May (opinion page). I too pointed out this utterly callous treatment of Lakshman Kadirgamar’s statue by my letter published in the ‘Inland’ of 13th May 2010.1 ended up that letter as follows "Over to you sir, Hon. Minister of external Affairs Professor G.L. Peiris for immediate action. We must remember that he laid down his life for the sake of the country. Therefore if need be the President must look into this matter." The editor’s note to my letter states "We learn that the New External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris has taken steps to install the statue". I reiterate that the late Foreign Minister Kadirgamar although being a Tamil fearlessly condemned the brutal terrorist acts of the L.T.T.E and got the world to accept that the atrocities committed by the L.T.T.E were inhuman. He paid for this boldness very dearly Pat is with his life. I am surprised that the incumbent capable foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris is still turning a blind eye to this statue which should be revered and not keep it dumped in crates and that too for nearly six years. Will the Hon. Minister at least now take immediate action to install this statue in its rightful place? Looks like it will not be done till the President looks into the matter and gives an order. Now I have to end up saying "Over to you Your Excellency." (Island ; 23 May 2011).

Moon report crisis - by Jayatissa, Nugegoda - The UNP has appointed a committee headed by Bradman Weerakoon to study Banki Moon’s report targeting -Sri Lanka over unsubstantiated war crime allegations. The S.L. Government has rejected the Moon report in toto. The UNSG Banki Moon categorically states he will not launch an international investigation into possible war crimes during the final phase of Sri Lanka’s war against the separatist L.T.T.E unless the S.L. government agrees of UN member states call for it. But then why does he want a reply to his report. It is alright for the UNP to study the Moon report but it must guard against making any comments that are unfavourable to the government lest some interested parties may convey them to the UNSG who may contemplate taking some action against the S.L. Government. The wisest thing for the UNP is to study the report and help the government to get over the Banki Moon report crisis and also genuinely co-operate with the goverment to develop the country, may be then the defeat ridden UNP may stand a chance of coming to power at least at a future date. President Mahinda Rajapakse redeemed the country from the devastating clutches of one of the most ruthless terrorist groups of the world. The L.T.T.E was the first terrorist organization to use suicide bombers not only in war but also to kill innocent people at random. Crushing the L.T.T.E was the crying need for the last 30 years. We cannot even imagine what the state of the country would have been if the war was not won in May 2009 (Island : 23 May 2011).

JVP, PNM in islandwide protests against Indian interference

Are we serious about a solution based on Indo-Lanka Accord ?

Read more about the 13th Amendment to the Constitution)

SL to closely monitor Sivaparan probe - by Rasika Somarathna - Revealed as key Tiger member - LTTE fund raising still on - Sri Lanka would keep a close watch on the developments in the probe against leading LTTE activist Perimpanayagam Sivaparan alias Nediyavan who was arrested in Oslo, an External Affairs Ministry official said. He said that the officials would keep track of the case and charges leveled and make inquiries into the alleged terrorist activities of Nediyavan affecting Sri Lanka. Nediyavan, according to media reports. was arrested on charges of alleged illegal fund raising and terrorist activities. Meanwhile, Norwegian Opposition Conservation Party Defence and Security Committee Chairman Peter Gitmark has said that Norway must follow the European Union and proscribe the LTTE in the country. ‘It is wrong to allow the LTTE to operate in Norway,’ he told the BBC. Confirming the recent detention of a leading LTTE activist by the Norwegian police, the MP said Sivaparan is wanted by the Dutch police. ‘We have an investigative team coming from the Netherlands to question him. ‘I also hope the Norwegian police would be able to interrogate this man to shed information on the LTTE activities in Norway,’ said Gitmark. He also claimed that there are recent reports of LTTE illegal fund raising in Norway. “I think it is not in the interest of the people of Sri Lanka for the LTTE to raise money in Norway and other places to renew its violent struggle against the government of Sri Lanka,” the Conservative Party MP told the BBC. “There had been numerous recent reports on the LTTE raising money in Norway. I have urged the Norwegian police to take immediate action to see if this is the case and if that is the case to punish the responsible”. Dutch police however had not revealed the details of Nediyavan’s interrogation, the BBC said. In April 2010, Police in the Netherlands arrested several Tamil community leaders in the country. Computers, paperwork, phones, documents, photos, DVDs and over 40,000 Euros were seized. “Among the suspects are the leaders of various organizations of Tamils in the Netherlands, which probably play a role in the international network of the LTTE,” the Justice Ministry said in a statement (Daily News ; 23 May 2011).

‘The demon is not as terrifying as we may imagine’ - by Wasantha Priya Ramanayake Translated into English by A A M Nizam - “It was the foreign policy of India since the late 1990s to accept that the Tiger outfit as a terrorist organization and that the Sri Lankan government cannot avoid waging a war with that organization. They also held the view that moral support should be provided to Sri Lanka to find a political solution to provide powers to the Tamil people. “At the same time the Indian government explained that they proscribed the Tiger outfit and decided to oppose that organization not merely because they assassinated their Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi but because it was a terrorist organization. The Indian government believed that as long as the ethnic problem prevailed in Sri Lanka it would revive separatist sentiments in Tamil Nadu State.” (Daily News  ; 23 May 2011).

Indian book publisher cries foul -: Irked over the detention of a cargo of Tamil books headed for Canada via Sri Lanka by authorities at the Colombo Port, Chennai-based Manitham International, which published and exported the books, had appealed to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister to take action to release it, Express News Service said. It said: “About 1,400 books (on Tamil massacres in Lanka) in 45 cartons were transported in early May from Chennai through MV Hansa Stavanger, a ship on its way to Toronto. When the container carrying the books was checked at Port of Colombo en-route to Canada, the Lankan government had allegedly confiscated the container claiming that the books were LTTE propaganda material. “Speaking about the Lankan stand, executive director of “Manitham,” Agni Subramaniam, said, “Confiscating cargo in transit is illegal. If they have a problem with the cargo they should return it to the originating country. Without looking inside the container, how can they claim it was propaganda material?” “According to Indian port sources only the destination country (Canada, in this case) had the right to open the container, when it docks there (Daily Mirror ; 23 May 2011).

Train services to Omanthai to recommence from May 27 - by Irangika Range - Train services will be extended up to Omanthai railway station from May 27 with the restoration of the rail track, signal system and railway station, after 30 years. A Sri Lanka Railways spokesman told the Daily News that the newly built Omanthai railway station will be declared open by Indian High Commissioner Alok Prasad, Transport Minister Kumara Welgama and Transport Deputy Minister Rohana Kumara Dissanayake. The rail track beyond Thandikulam was destroyed by the LTTE with no trains operating for the past three decades. The government started reconstruction of the track in 2009, after liberating the country from terrorism, the spokesman said. The 10-kilometre railway line from Thandikulam to Omanthai has been restored by the labour force of the Railway Department with voluntary support from the Sri Lanka Army. The total cost for the rehabilitation of railway line from Thandikulam to Omanthai was Rs. 450 million while the new railway station in Omanthai has been constructed at a cost of Rs 8 million funded by Singer Sri Lanka. The railway station has been renovated with modern facilities available at railway stations in developed countries. It has also been constructed in an eco-friendly manner. He also said that the station has special facilities for the disabled and elders using wheel chairs and also has facilities for pregnant mothers (Daily News : 23 May 2011).

54 countries at counter-terrorism confab in SL - By Supun Dias - US, Russia, China and India would be among the 54 nations participating in ‘Defeating Terrorism: the Sri Lankan Experience’, seminar conducted by the Sri Lanka Army to be held from May 31 to June 2, sources said.The panel presenting the Sri Lankan Experience would share their knowledge of counter-insurgency measures, emphasizing the predominance of the political effort, military efficient politico military gearing and rapid resettlement as the core contributors to the success of the campaign. The foremost point is to specify the factors that contributed to militarily defeating the LTTE. Proposals were also to be made on adequate measures to be taken to manage and counter global terrorism, and discuss strategies for nation building while introducing the Sri Lankan perspective on counter terrorism. According to the Army, a comprehensive and effective counter-terrorism strategy, operational and tactical level training also covering intelligence, field engineering, medical aspects, and back room operations together with the evolution of tactical training would be discussed during the seminar (Daily Mirror ; 23 May 2011).

Does Sri Lanka have to report everything to India?

Norwegian Embassy and 'fleeing LTTE operatives - by P A Samaraeeera, Australia - The lead story in The Island of 15th May was about the Norwegian Embassy's alleged involvement in assissting a group of LTTE operatives to escape from Sri Lanka at the end of the war. The source of this news item is a Norwegian Newspaper, Aftenposten, which had revealed that the Norwegian Embassy in Colombo had helped 12 LTTE leaders to flee the country by issuing visas at short notice, purchasing their air tickects and driving them to the airport. If this allegation is true, then the Norwegian Embassy had violated Sri Lanka's sovereignity by supporting a terrorist group against whom the government was at war. The relationship between the two countries had already been dented because of the dual role of Norway during the war and before, with regard to so called peace talks. It is an open secret that the Norway peace facilitators were sympathetic to the LTTE. In October 2000, a delegation consisting of Eric Solheim, Jon Westborg and Mrs. Kjersti Tramsdal went to Wanni and had discussions on peace talks with the LTTE leadership. The only outcome of this meeting with Prabhakaran was that the LTTE was permitted to open up an office in Oslo. So it is no surprise that LTTE supporters had the courage to damage the Sri Lankan Embassy in Oslo towards the end of the war (Island ; 22 May 2011).

TIME HAS COME FOR TAMIL RACE TO WAKE UP AND FIGHT FOR AN INDEPENDENT TAMIL NADU - by anuradhini - More than 50 million Tamils live in the Tamil Homeland (Tamil Nadu).Similar to any other race, Tamils live in considerable numbers in Sri Lanka, Mauritius, South Africa, Malaysia, Singapore, Canada and in many other countries. While the Tamil Nadu politicians have been constantly engaging in racist politics to fight for Tamil independence and preservation of Tamil culture in other countries, they have foolishly neglected to fight for their rights in their own homeland. Hindianisation continue in Tamil Nadu as well as in foreign countries in great proportions. Modern Tamils are generally encouraged to speak Hindi instead of Tamil in all states of India as well as in new Indian communities in foreign countries. In Australia and Canada, it is the Sri lankan Tamils who try to preserve Tamil language and the Indians promote Hindi as the ¨Ïndian language¨ without any objection form non-Hindi speaking Indians. This makes most of the Indian Tamils to join with foreign based Tamil communities rather than with Hindi dominated Indian communities.This did not help to fight against subtle Hidianisation is taking place in Tamil Nadu, and Indian government often let the racist cries of corrupt Tamil extremist on discrimination in foreign countries to continue, as long as they did not interfere with the Hindian cultural unity (Lankaweb : 22 May 2011).

Does Sri Lanka have to report to India?- by Shenali Waduge - Based on the premise that Sri Lanka is, has been & ought to be a sovereign nation, Sri Lankan’s need to demand to what extent spokesman for the Government has any right to jeopardize that sovereign status especially in the context of joint press releases made that compromises & leaves room to crucify Sri Lanka. Given that our leaders are elected by us & only for a term, they need to first answer the question of why we need to send officials to explain status of affairs in Sri Lanka & why Sri Lanka needs to give India any assurance on any matter related to Sri Lanka’s internal affairs. India certainly will not entertain Sri Lanka’s interference in Indian affairs so why should we? As a small nation, it is true Sri Lanka cannot dictate to larger & more powerful nations. But, that does not mean Sri Lanka needs to bend over knees to please & humiliate itself either. No country gives unless that “giving” has something in it for them. It is so for all countries that is presently encircling Sri Lanka with “gifts”! The only difference with some countriesis that while they give & they do take (may be later) they do not suddenly pull up issues like human rights, IDPs, accountability, responsibility & such other present day googlies thinking that while giving they can further encircle Sri Lanka. This is where the giving aspect changes from country to country. Though a small nation, the world must not forget that we braved over three decades of terrorist activity to which legal & illegal establishments all conspired. Powerful nations, powerful leaders must all feel ashamed & guilty of their own role in allowing terrorist activity to prevail in Sri Lanka, watching silently while innocents were killed but demanding action when terrorists were about to be cornered. They speak of accountability when they could easily have used the documented violations numbering over 3000 compiled by the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (Nordic peace keepers) against the LTTE. This would have been ample reason to take action against the LTTE (LankaWeb : 22 May 2011).

Would an older, wiser Rajiv Gandhi have meant a different India? - ..... All that changed when an LTTE suicide bomber embraced Rajiv Gandhi a short distance outside Chennai. I had returned to New Delhi that very evening, exhausted and thirsty, and was squeezing a lemon into my wife’s watery Old Monk when the bureau chief called up and ordered me to haul my butt out to the ex-PM’s house at 10, Janpath, and then to office. I stopped to pick up a colleague, also recently married and returned from a reporting tour, both of us worried of a repeat of the November riots that followed Indira Gandhi’s assassination in 1984, this time directed at Tamils (fortunately, Chandrashekhar’s government allowed no nonsense) (DNA ; 22 May 2011). 

Arrest of LTTE leader in Norway - SL to assist probe - By Easwaran Rutnam - Following the arrest of Norwegian based LTTE leader Perinpanayagam Sivaparan alias Nediyawan in Oslo, Sri Lanka says it will assist the Norwegian and Dutch authorities in the investigations if a request is made.  Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Norway, Rodney Perera said he was aware of Nediyawan’s arrest and his embassy was following developments closely.  Asked if Sri Lanka would seek to obtain information from Nediyawan regarding LTTE activities in Sri Lanka and overseas, the Ambassador said that Sri Lanka would first wait for the Norwegian and Dutch authorities to contact Sri Lanka regarding the ongoing investigation.  The Ambassador said that LTTE activities on Norwegian soil had seen a drastic decrease in recent times, adding that Oslo was also now keen on cracking down on terrorism.  He said that several Tamils who had faced LTTE threats over the years and had to pay extortion money to LTTE groups in Norway were now coming out and openly speaking against the outfit.The Norway News website said that Nediyawan, a prominent figure and "new leader" of the LTTE was being questioned over LTTE activities in the Netherlands. A Dutch judge and five Dutch Defence Attorneys are in Norway to interrogate the LTTE leader Nediyavan, who is a resident of Norway (Island : 22 May 2011).

Illegal migration to Australia: Beware of human smugglers, Navy tells public - The Sri Lanka Navy yesterday warned the public against being duped by human traffickers who promised to facilitate illegal entry into Australia. According to Navy Spokesman, Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya, any attempt by human traffickers to smuggle people into Australia will make them end up in Malaysia under the Cooperative Transfer Arrangement signed by the governments of Australia and Malaysia. He said any person who tried to enter Australia illegally by sea would be transferred to Malaysia pending investigations. Commander Warnakulasuriya added that those who tried to enter Australia illegally would not be given priority in considering their suitability or the lack of it for refugee status. The Australian government recently announced this new arrangement as part of a Regional Cooperation Framework that will help put the people smugglers out of business and prevent asylum seekers making perilous journeys to Australia by boats. The Australian High Commission in a media release said that the Government of Australia had worked closely with the neighbouring countries including Sri Lanka to deliver an agreement for a Regional Cooperation Framework through the recent Bali Process Ministerial Conference attended by Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem. The High Commission said Australia was also engaged in ongoing talks with Papua New Guinea about the establishment of a refugee assessment centre as part of this framework (Island ; 22 May 2011).

JVP condemns GL’s agreement as one that consolidate Indian hegemony -  The JVP Politburo has condemned the alleged deal struck in New Delhi by External Affairs Minister G.L Peiris early this week as a sell out of Sri Lanka’s interests to India. In a statement issued in this regard the party’s supreme policy making body states: “After the visit to India by the Minister of External Affairs G.L. Peiris a joint statement has been issued on the 17 by the foreign ministers of the two countries, which vividly indicates the highly crafty manner India has taken Sri Lanka into its grip and how the shadow of Indian dominance has been spread throughout the island. “The intention of the visit to India by the Minister of Foreign Affairs had been published as an attempt to get Indian support against the report by the ‘Panel of Experts’ appointed by the UN Secretary General. However, not a word regarding this is mentioned in the joint statement. On the other hand, certain proposals found in the report have been proposed by India which is nothing but a political joke. Also, the overall content of the agreement manifests nothing but India’s requirement of manipulating Sri Lanka for its economic, political and security interests. “Through this statement, Rajapaksa regime has idiotically allowed India to manipulate, without any returns for the country, ports, railways, fishing sectors, the economy of Sri Lanka and power and energy sectors, highly sensitive security centres such as Palaly Air Port and KKS Harbour as well as politics in the country that had been already delivered to India through CIPA agreement and agreements for constitutional and other changes in laws and regulations. “The government instead of providing relief to people in the North and the East, in spite of the war had been over for two years, has allowed international pressure to overwhelm them evading its responsibility for the sovereignty of the country and as the JVP, we, condemn, with utter contempt, the agreement by the government to proposals that bring the country under the hegemony of India. “The retribution for the idiotic process of the government of agreeing to practices of completely bringing Sri Lanka’s economy, politics and security under the hegemony of India would not be only for the government but for the whole country and the people in the country. Hence, we call upon the whole Nation to rally to defeat the procedures of the government that jeopardise the sovereignty of the country and sacrifice our economy.” (The Nation : 22 May 2011).

JVP, PNM in islandwide protests against Indian interference - By Chris Kamalendran - Two separate fronts are set to launch protest campaigns against Indian pressure on the Sri Lanka government to amend the Constitution, probe human rights abuses and finalise Indian commercial projects in the country. The pro-government Patriotic National Movement (PNM) and the opposition Jathika Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) have decided to campaign against the joint agreement reached between India and Sir Lanka, following the visit of External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris early last week. President- PNM, Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara told the Sunday Times that his organisation will hold public seminars and hold islandwide protest campaigns against the demands made by India, as they considered it was a violation of the sovereignty of the country. The first campaign will be held in Colombo on May 30. Dr. Amarasekara said that Minister Peiris should not have agreed to the joint statement released after its talks, as it would lend legitimacy to the Indian demands. “We do not need to listen to a foreign country to resolve a dispute in our country”, he said. “We will be campaigning against the abolition of the 13th Amendment, though India has called for a devolution package based on the 13th Amendment”, he added. JVP Parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayake told the Sunday Times that whenever the western bloc advises the Sri Lanka government to find a solution, the government rejected such proposals. However, when India puts forward such proposals, they welcome them without opposition. “India can’t advise Sri Lanka to change its Constitution. It is an internal matter”, he said. He said the party will carry out an islandwide protest campaign against Minister Peiris’ agreeing to a series of conditions during his visit. The JVP, in a statement, said the joint statement vividly indicates the highly crafty manner India has taken Sri Lanka into its grip, and how the shadow of Indian dominance has spread throughout the island. In a related development, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) is due to meet with Colombo based Ambassadors of China, Russia and Japan to brief them on the ongoing talks with the government for a political settlement of the issues in respect of the Tamils. The TNA delegation had met with the Indian High Commissioner in Colombo, prior to Minister Peiris visit to India (Sunday Times : 22 May 2011).

India’s stand clear with new dimension in South - India urges positive response - Sonia Gandhi meets Jayalalithaa - Reservations expressed on LLRC - Govt prefers indigenous solution - The official visit of External Affairs Minister G. L. Peiris to New Delhi to solicit India’s support over the UN Expert Panel Report has apparently come a cropper. Though sounded positive in their joint statements, what India has urged is to respond positively to the UN Expert Panel Report. In other words, India had wittingly or unwittingly toed the US line in calling the Sri Lankan Government to expedite its reconciliation efforts. India’s position is clear with a new political dimension emerging in the South following the thumping victory of Jayalalithaa Jayaram, leader of the AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) who lately developed a soft corner for the LTTE after she joined hands with MDMK Leader Vaiko, somewhere in 2006. Jayalalithaa had already dumped Vaiko in the political wilderness before she romped to victory, defeating a long-time ally of the ruling Congress Party, M. Karunanidhi. Fortunately for Sri Lanka, Vaiko is no longer a political ally of the new Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, to advise or influence her to push the Centre to take drastic steps against her neighbour at the Southern end (The Nation : 22 May 2011).

A very good article in Divaina (Sunday 22 May 2011). URL http://www.divaina.com/2011/05/22/politics01.html

Nediyavan’s arrest a major step forward - Professor Rohan Gunaratna - Professor Rohan Gunaratna, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore - By Arthur Wamanan Sri Lanka should ensure the establishment of a mainstream Tamil political leadership in order to move towards permanent peace, said terrorism expert, head of the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (IC PVTR), Professor Rohan Gunaratna. In an interview with The Nation, he said the arrest of the head of the LTTE’s international network Perinpanayagam Sivaparan alias Nediyavan was a major step in helping Sri Lanka to recover from violent 30 years. He also briefed on the activities of the LTTE during the past two years. Following are the excerpts: Q Can you briefly explain the background of Nediyavan and how he became a prominent figure in the LTTE? After Velupillai Prabhakaran, Kumaran Pathmanathan (KP) was appointed as the leader of the LTTE. Nediyavan took over the leadership after the arrest of KP. Nediyavan controlled the branch offices of the LTTE in several countries. His group was a clandestine movement. In other words, his movement was very secretive when compared to the other two groups of the LTTE (The Nation : 22 May 2011).

UN: Only Lanka or inter-govt. agency can request probe - Alleged war crimes The UN Secretary General’s office has reiterated that the responsibility to probe alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka lies primarily with Sri Lanka and the UNSG will not launch its own investigation unless Sri Lanka or an inter-governmental agency makes a request. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s position was clarified by his spokesman Martin Nesirky at Friday noon’s news conference in New York. He was responding to a question from Inner City Press’ Mathew Lee who asked why Mr. Ban’s approach to war crimes in Sri Lanka was different from his approach to war crimes in the Democratic Republic of Congo. “Accountability is for the national authority in any given case. And in this case, it is no different: accountability is for the Sri Lankan authorities,” Mr. Nesirky said echoing Mr. Ban’s position which was made known after the release of a report last month by a three-member experts panel the UNSG appointed to advise him on accountability issues during the last stages of Sri Lanka’s war in 2009. “We’ve also said that, in this report on accountability that was given to the Secretary-General, it sets out that the Sri Lankan authorities should indeed be doing this. It also says that — and the Secretary-General said this in his statement with the report — that there needs to be, to take it forward, there needs to be either consent from the national Government, the national authorities — in other words the Sri Lankan authorities — or there needs to be a mandate from an intergovernmental body; and you know what they might be. And that’s the position,” the spokesman said. An intergovernmental body refers to the UN General Assembly, the Security Council or the UN Human Rights Council. Recalling that the UNSG launched its own probe on alleged war crimes committed by Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi in Congo during the civil war from 1993 to 2003, the journalist asked which intergovernmental agency approved the Congo probe. The question went unanswered, according to the Inner City Press. Mr. Nesirky also confirmed that Sri Lanka had still not sent its response regarding the panel’s report to the Secretary General (Sunday Times ; 22 May 2011).

Arrest of Nediyavan, a change of heart by West - By Arthur Wamanan - The arrest of LTTE international head Perinpanayagam Sivaparan alias Nediyavan is a major step forward by the west to assist Sri Lanka to recover from 30 years of conflict, international terrorism expert Professor Rohan Gunaratna said. Nediyavan who is said to be heading the LTTE after Velupillai Prabhakaran and Kumaran Pathmanathan (KP) was arrested in Norway last Friday. Nediyavan’s arrest came a shade over two years after the end of the conflict in Sri Lanka. Prof. Gunaratna who is also the head of the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore said the LTTE functioned as three groups with Nediyavan heading one of them. “One is the Global Tamil Forum headed by one Fr. Emmanuel. The second one is the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TNGTE). This is headed by Rudrakumaran,” he said. The group headed by Nediyavan is said to be very secretive and the most violent of the three. Prof. Gunaratna also pointed out that the western countries were not against Sri Lanka following the expert panel report and added that countries like the US had said they had faith in the Lesson Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC). According to Prof. Gunaratna, Nediyavan came into the limelight when he funded the air ticket of American Congressman Danny Davis to Sri Lanka. Nediyavan also played a key role successfully reviving the LTTE’s international network during the past two years. He added that countries like Norway were vested with the responsibility to stop the growth of terrorism. “It should not allow the LTTE to carry out fund raising activities, procurement of supplies and to poison the minds of the Tamil youth.” He added that India continues to maintain a cordial relationship with Sri Lanka despite the uproar in Tamil Nadu. He said Sri Lanka should take the initiative of changing the mindset of Tamil Nadu by inviting its Chief Minister to visit the war torn areas. “Sri Lanka should invite the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Ms. Jayalalithaa to Sri Lanka and explain the reality. I would like to say that Sri Lanka won this battle with the help of countries like India, US and Britain,” he added. Prof. Gunaratna also emphasised the importance of establishing a mainstream Tamil political leadership in the North and East to move towards a permanent solution. He said that this was an important aspect in the process since several eminent Tamil leaders were killed by the LTTE at the height of the conflict (The Nation ; 22 May 2011).

TMVP will continue to support Govt. - President promises to get report from IGP about arrest of five TMVP members in Batticaloa, says Pillayan By Chris Kamalendran Eastern Province Chief Minister and leader of Tamil Makkal Vidudhalai Pulikal (TMVP) Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan, yesterday said, his party had taken a policy decision to continue with its support for President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government. Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan “We were told by the President to continue to work with the people without creating an unpleasant situation,” he told the Sunday Times. This assurance followed a series of incidents that included a search of the office and residence of the Chief Minister. President Rajapaksa held discussions with the TMVP after they had said they would withdraw support for the government in protest over the search.Mr. Chandrakanthan also said the President had assured that he would obtain a report from the Police Chief about the arrest of five TMVP members in Batticaloa. They were arrested over the killing of the coordinating secretary of Deputy Minister Vinyagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna. Among the five arrested was Edwin Silva Krishnanandaraja alias Pradeep Master, a member of the Eastern Provincial Council. Initially two TMVP members--Golden Benjamin and Anandaraja Dilakshan, were arrested, reportedly after the victim’s family claimed they were linked to the killing. The victim, Rasamanikkam Madiyalagan, a former Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) member who worked as an army informant later joined the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) after Mr. Muralitharan was appointed a vice president of the party (Sunday Times : 22 May 2011).

Sri Lanka Govt allocates over Rs 250 Billion to develop North

Govt allocates over Rs 250 b to develop North - The Government has allocated over Rs. 251,500 million (Rs. 250 billion) to develop the Northern Province from 2011 to 2013, said Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal. Making a presentation on “Promoting Financial Inclusiveness in the North and the East’ over the weekend, Governor Cabraal said nearly Rs. 51,000 million (Rs. 50 billion) will be spent this year for Northern development. Of this amount nearly Rs. 20 billion will be allocated for road development. The Northern Railway project will incur an expenditure of Rs. 8.9 billion while electricity projects will cost Rs. 5.3 billion this year. Meanwhile, investments worth Rs. 26,611 million have been planned for the East this year apart from the Rs. 116,000 million already spent on development projects in the province from 2006 to 2010. Road development will use up to 50 percent of the funds earmarked for the East this year. “We expect the investments made in these two provinces will result in a growth rate of around 13 percent per annum in these provinces for the next five years,” Cabraal said. He said that in 2009, the year terrorism was defeated, the Northern Province recorded 14.1 percent, the highest nominal growth rate of all provinces. The contribution to the country’s GDP by the Northern Province increased to 3.3 percent in 2009 from 2.8 percent in 2006. Similarly, in 2009, the Eastern Province recorded 14 percent the second-highest nominal growth rate of all provinces. The contribution to the country’s GDP by the Eastern Province increased to 5.8 percent in 2009 from 4.9 percent in 2006. Among the major developments for both provinces are: Rehabilitation of key roads, railroads, hospitals and bridges, restoration of industries that were closed due to violence, Implementation of large scale irrigation schemes, Implementation of electricity and water projects, setting up vocational training centres and technical colleges for skills development, Upgrading of fisheries harbours and developing tourist attractions (Sunday Observer ; 22 May 2011).

Madavil salutes soldiers who ensured victory against the LTTE - A War Heroes' Day commemorating the second anniversary of the military victory over the LTTE was held yesterday at Madavil, an area close to where the final battle took place in the Mullaitivu district. The event was attended by Northern Province Governor Major General (retd) G.A. Chandrasiri, Wanni Security Forces Commander Major General Sumeda Perera, Mullaitivu Security Forces Commander Major General B. Mark and Jaffna Security Forces Commander Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe. Deputy Chairman of Committees in Parliament Murugesu Chandrakumar was among those present. Soldiers and officers who were involved in the final battle including those who sustained injures were among those present at an event that saw the participation of schoolchildren and civilians too. A cultural show added colour to the event. Maj Gen (Retd) Chandrasiri said the government has launched a development programme in the north to raise the living standards of the people. Mr. Chandrakumar said that a number of civilians were killed during the confrontations and they too should be remembered as those who sacrificed their lives to achieve victory over the LTTE (Sunday Times : 22 May 2011).

Victory over LTTE 2nd anniversary celebrations on May 27 - More than 10,000 security personnel and Police will take part in a military parade at Galle Face Green on Friday (27) to mark the second anniversary of the victory over the LTTE. President Mahinda Rajapaksa who will be the chief guest on the occasion, will be given a guard of honour and a 21-gun salute. In the rest of the country, the second anniversary will be marked with events in camps of the security forces. Meanwhile, Galle Road, between Galle Face and Bambalapitiya junction, will be closed from 6.00 am to 1.00 p.m. from today until May 27, for rehearsals for the military parade (Sunday Times ; 22 May 2011).

University VCs take Ki-moon to task - By S. Selvakumar - “The United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG) was not embarrassed by the blatant use of double standards in his conduct towards member states. While he was persistent in pursuing the report of the panel appointed by him on the allegations of human rights violations during the last stages of the war against the LTTE, he has used double subterfuge to justify non-action with regard to an official UN report on the Gaza that implicated Israel,” the Committee of Vice Chancellors and Directors (CVCD) of universities of Sri Lanka said in a statement following a recent meeting held at the Ruhuna University. UNSG Ban Ki-moon explicitly stated that it was an advisory panel that will report to him and subsequently confirmed it on April 25, 2011, the statement said. It further said US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert O. Blake reiterated the same position during his visit to Sri Lanka in June last year. “The US believes the UN panel can play an important advisory role and it does not have an investigative role,” the CVCD’s statement quoted Blake. “However, subsequent events and the controversy that has developed indicate that the UNSG has deviated from his original position by attempting to thrust his panel’s report on Sri Lanka,” the statement said. “The UNSG should not be permitted to arbitrarily appoint panels and take action on their reports on internal matters of member states without explicit sanction from either the Security Council or the General Assembly,” it added. The University Vice Chancellors and Directors also said that they were concerned that the UNSG’s initiative may extend to a subtle and ingenious ‘cold war’ which could include lobbying of governments of other UN member states and the Non-Aligned Movement, international organisations, international funding agencies, international courts with the intention of bringing economic and other sanctions against Sri Lanka. The CVCD said that these attempts will be a concerted effort by international vested interests to interfere in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka that it could culminate in a final objective of regime change that is currently being achieved by violent and military interventions in other parts of the world. “With regard to the recommendation that he should establish an international investigation mechanism, the UNSG is advised that this will require the host country’s consent or a decision from member states through an appropriate intergovernmental forum,” the statement reminded (The Nation : 22 May 2011).

Lanka launches pre-emptive strike at UNHRC - By Chandani Kirinde - Sri Lanka is to carry out a pre-emptive campaign ahead of the UN Human Rights Council sessions in Geneva next week to ward-off any moves to trigger a debate on allegations of human rights violations during the last stages of the fighting against the LTTE. Plantations Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe who has also been assigned the subject of human rights will lead the Sri Lanka delegation to the Council’s 17th session which begins in Geneva on May 30. With him is Irrigation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva. The two ministers will launch the pre-emptive campaign along with Attorney General Mohan Peiris who will join them soon. Part of this campaign will be the debunking of the video footage telecast by Britain’s Channel 4 television station. The video purportedly showed soldiers shooting LTTE cadres held in their custody. The Sri Lanka delegation will insist that the video was filmed with high quality equipment which was not available in the battle zone at the time. Those who claimed to have provided the footage say the incident was filmed by a soldier on his mobile phone camera. Several other factors will be brought up to prove that the footage was bogus. The Sri Lankan delegation is also to brief UN Human Rights High Commissioner Navi Pillay and delegates of other countries on its claim that the report of the UN Experts Panel appointed by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was baseless. Ms. Pillay has welcomed the Panel’s report on accountability in Sri Lanka and said the UNHRC "fully supports the recommendations to establish an international mechanism" to go into allegations of human rights abuses during the last stages of the war against the LTTE. The report published late last month said there were “credible allegations” of war crimes being committed during the last stages of the war by government troops and the LTTE and recommended that an “international mechanism” be put in place to monitor national investigations and undertake its own, if necessary. The Government has rejected the contents of the report and said the local mechanism, the Lesson Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), has been addressing the concerns raised in the report commissioned by the UN Secretary General. The UNHRC sessions will go on till June17. The 47 member Council comprises Thailand (Chairman), Angola, Argentina, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chile, China, Cuba, Djibouti, Ecuador, France, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Hungary, Japan, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Malaysia, the Maldives, Moldova, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Uganda, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States, Uruguay and New Zealand (Sunday Times ; 22 May 2011).

View Sri Lanka from a broader perspective - Extremist elements in the Tamil diaspora made another subtle attempt to discredit Sri Lanka and its Security Forces at the European Parliament. Nevertheless, several knowledgeable members of the European Parliament, who are deeply cognizant of the developments in Sri Lanka and its unrelenting efforts to eradicate terrorism, were quick to shoot down the moves. Thus, the European Parliament last week defeated a resolution proposed by the Socialist group "To seek the immediate establishment of an international justice mechanism" on Sri Lanka. However, the eventual resolution adopted, during an 'urgency' debate called by the Socialist and Green parties at the Strassbourg Plenary session, instead drew attention to the controversial Darusman Report. Against this backdrop, it was indeed heartening to see several ardent supporters of Sri Lanka taking steps to prevent moves by the extremist elements in the Tamil diaspora. Earlier, during the debate, the Chair of the 'Friends of Sri Lanka' group of the European Parliament Geoffrey Van Orden of European Conservatives and Reformists (UK) said that he had reason to believe that the debate was promoted by extremist elements in the Tamil diaspora. These self-same people helped the LTTE terrorists in numerous ways to campaign over many years through political activity and funding, more often than not from their ill-gotten gains. Rather than making a sincere effort to unite people in Sri Lanka, these extremist elements sought to continue a campaign of hatred and division. The LTTE ghouls spared no pains to use the controversial and biased Darusman Report as a weapon to project a gloomy picture in a desperate attempt to put the Government in the dock. EU parliamentarian Van Orden declared that such an approach was malicious and counter-productive (Sunday Observer ; 22 May 2011).

Call to ban LTTE in Norway - by Manjula FERNANDO - Following the secret interrogation of a top LTTE leader in Norway, a member of the Norwegian Parliament has called for banning the outfit within the country. Chairman of the Defence and Security committee of the opposition Conservative Party Peter Gitmark has expressed it was wrong to allow the Tigers to operate in Norway, BBCSinhala.com reported yesterday. The LTTE has been a banned terrorist organisation in the EU since June 2006. But despite criticism that the country had become a safe haven for terrorist activities Norway has refrained from endorsing the decision of the EU Parliament to date. Confirming the detention of Perinpanayagam Sivaparan aka Nediyawan, the top man of the criminal faction of LTTE according to terrorism experts, Gitmark said he hoped the Norwegian Police will also be able to interrogate the man and shed light on LTTE activities within Norway. "I think it is not in the interest of the people of Sri Lanka for the LTTE to raise money in Norway and other places to renew its violent struggle against the government of Sri Lanka," the Conservative Party MP has told the BBC. Nediyawan was interrogated by an investigative team from Netherlands. It was reported that he had given a statement before a Dutch judge in Oslo. In April last year the Dutch police arrested seven LTTE activists, after a sweeping chain of raids involving the search of sixteen houses and businesses. They were charged with extortion and fund raising for terrorist activity (Sunday Observer ; 22 May 2011).

Diplomatic war not over yet! - Sri Lanka as a nation commemorated the Sambuddhatva Jayanthiya this week and as a result, politics took a back seat. The front pages instead were devoted to the President and the Leader of the Opposition offering flowers together at the Kelaniya temple! Much closer to the land of the Buddha however, in neighbouring India there was many a political development that had significant implications for Sri Lanka and the weeks that follow may unravel the true impact of these events. Among these was a visit to India by External Affairs Minister G. L. Peiris. Minister Peiris has been at the eye of the storm involving the committee appointed by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to report on the conclusion of the offensive against terrorism in Sri Lanka. The Minister’s critics have found fault with him for at first refusing to acknowledge the UN panel, then meeting ‘secretly’ with them in New York and finally being compelled to reject the findings of that panel. It has been argued that this was not the most diplomatic of ways to handle this explosive issue. However, with growing calls for an international inquiry into the conclusion of the war and an anti-Sri Lanka lobby spearheaded by the UN, the United States and Britain, there was a need to ensure damage control. And this in effect was the Minister’s mission to New Delhi. It must be noted that when the UN report was released, several countries were quick to welcome it: the United States, Britain, Norway and South Africa among them. The European Union also joined the chorus. India’s silence however was deafening. That would have been due to several factors. India, by its policy of non-interference, tacitly supported the efforts to eliminate the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Tamil Nadu election results were yet to be declared. And finally, Delhi would have been wary of Colombo tilting too much towards Beijing. Whatever the reasons, New Delhi was, initially at least very guarded in its response to the UN report. However, with Minister Peiris’s visit to India and the talks he had there with the Indian political establishment, its stance has now become clearer and Colombo can afford to breathe a sigh of relief. India has essentially made several key observations: It wants emergency regulations in Sri Lanka lifted soon, it hopes that a ‘devolution package built on the 13th amendment’ will come into being and that ‘investigations into alleged human rights violations’ will be conducted. The observation about the 13th amendment is very timely. It was well known that this was New Delhi’s stance vis-à-vis Sri Lanka but this was perhaps the first instance when India publicly declared that this is what it hopes for ultimately (The Nation : 22 May 2011).

LTTE leader Nediyawan arrested in Norway for terror financing

A very good article in Divaina (Saturday 21 May 2011). URL http://www.divaina.com/2011/05/21/feature01.html

Nationalists unhappy about joint statement after Delhi talks - By Shamindra Ferdinando - After stoutly opposing UNSG Ban Ki-moon’s much criticized ‘Darusman Report’ on accountability issues relating to war against LTTE terrorism, the government of Sri Lanka has acknowledged the so-called unsubstantiated UN allegations, political sources say. Referring to a joint statement issued in New Delhi last Tuesday (May 17) following a three-day visit by External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, sources allege the government had acted irrationally, thereby strengthening the hands of those hell-bent on punishing Sri Lanka for not heeding international calls to stop the offensive. Prof. Peiris visited New Delhi from May 15 to 17. The former Chief Government negotiator at talks with the LTTE arranged by the Norwegians, Prof. Peiris was accompanied by MP Sajin Vas Gunawardene, a key member of the government delegation having discussions with the TNA and the EPDP. The next rounds of talks are scheduled for June 23. Sources said that bottom line was that now India had thrown its weight behind US, UK, EU and South Africa call for early withdrawal of emergency regulations, investigations into allegations of human rights violations (read as war crime allegations), restoration of normalcy in the Northern and Eastern Provinces and redress of humanitarian concerns of affected families. Interestingly, the TNA and the UNP on the day before the Indian statement agreed that the UNP would back the ongoing talks between the government and the TNA to reach agreement on devolution. Sources said that pro-devolution lobby was working overtime to build a common front to pressure the government to go beyond the 13 A, whereas the government was giving confusing signals. Senior lawyer Gomin Dayasri, who relentlessly supported the government’s war against terror campaign, said another area of concern is the agreement on the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. He lashed out at the assertion that a devolution package, building on the 13th Amendment, would contribute towards creating the necessary conditions for reconciliation (Island : 21 May 2011).

India must stop interfering in our internal affairs in her own interest - By a special correspondent - Is it that the Indians are like the French Bourbons of old do not seem to learn from their mistakes? Their interventions and interference in our internal affairs cost them over 2,000 killed and maimed and cost this country over 50,000 lives – the price we have paid as a result of them not allowing us to finish off the LTTE in 1987. India must realize that by interfering in our internal affairs and pushing this country to seek security elsewhere she is only pushing us towards her enemies, something we are not happy about. ‘The Island’ newspaper today reports that India has called for the early withdrawal of our Emergency Regulations - our government will withdraw those regulations when it is confident that they are not necessary for the security of the State - it is not a matter for India to even suggest. Rajiv Gandhi on his way to Colombo to sign the Indo-Sri Lanka agreement which they forced upon us stated in Madras (as was reported by Narendre Reddy in The Indian Express on August 1, 1987, under the caption "Expectations of Indian government", that Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi boasted before MPs from Tamil Nadu that Sri Lanka would come under the Indian Orbit like Bhutan after he signed the agreement with President Jayewardene) This was and has indeed been the agenda and the goal of the Indian hegemons, starting from KM Pannikar (Island ; 21 May 2011).

There is never going to be another civil war in Sri Lanka: GL Peiris - BY S VENKAT NARAYAN;  Our Special Correspondent - NEW DELHI, May 21: A confident External Affairs Minister Gamini Lakshman Peiris has said that there is never going to be another civil war in Sri Lanka. Speaking to a select group of New Delhi-based journalists representing the world media during his visit last week, Peiris declared: "There is never going to be another civil war in Sri Lanka. Never again." The kind of ethnic war that ravaged the island-nation in general, and its North and East in particular, for three decades and ended two years ago will never happen again, he proclaimed. Peiris said this when a reporter asked him how he could be so sure that the ethnic war has ended for good with the killing of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran on the banks of the Nanthikadal lagoon on 19 May 2009, when Osama bin Laden’s killing in Abbotabad in Pakistan on May 2 this year did not mean an end to al Qaeda? The minister conceded that there may be some remnants of the LTTE lurking at home or amongst the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora abroad. However, such elements are simply in no position to cause ethnic tensions in the island any more (Island : 21 May 2011).

The next ‘little’ of Eelamism: obtaining boundary-legitimacy - by Malinda Seneviratne - Some people have short-term plans, others have long-term plans. Some have both short and long term plans. Some try short cuts, others are wiser. There is a moron that comes to mind right now: Velupillai Prabhakaran. And then there’s a wise guy: S.J.V. Chelvanayagam. It all depends of course on how one measures time, the preferred unit based on which one opts for this or that plan of action. Confucius put it well, many centuries ago: ‘If your plan is for one year plant rice; if your plan is for ten years plant trees and if your plan is for one hundred years educate children.’ Not all plans are as benign of course, but the key idea here is time-frame. Prabhakaran thought ‘lifetime’, or perhaps less. Chelva, his ideological father, was smarter. He was into increments: ‘a little now, more later’. He knew, perhaps, what Prabhakaran did not have the intellect to know: time is longer than life. Well, perhaps there was a critical number of Tamil people who thought like Prabhakaran. Short-cut people. This-lifetime people. It is not that they didn’t know that myth does not add up to fact or that aspiration is not a synonym of grievance. Or, for that matter, that grievance plus frill is not equal to grievance. Perhaps they didn’t know (human beings are good at being ignorant and at footnoting or deleting the uncomfortable). Perhaps it was greed. Or dream. It does not matter. What matters is that someone turned into a dead-end thinking it was a short-cut and a bunch of others followed him which another bunch was dragged into a cul-de-sac (Lakbima News).

3-day confab on sharing Sri Lanka’s experience on defeating the LTTE - An international seminar to share Sri Lanka’s experience on militarily defeating the LTTE, a ruthless terrorist outfit, will be held on May 31, June 1 and 2 at the Colombo Galadari Hotel. The three-day conference will focus on counter measures against global terrorism, terrorist trends, predominance of both political and military efforts, rapid resettlement, reconciliatory moves, nation-building and threats to national and international security concerns. The inaugural session will be held on May 31 on thematic lines —invaluable roles played by security forces for the defeat of LTTE terrorism and the contributions made by the government and people, highlighting LTTE’s brutalities, conscription of children, massacres and humanitarian operations of the security forces (Island ; 21 May 2011).

Call for LTTE ban in Norway - Norway must follow the European Union and proscribe the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) in the country says a Norwegian parliamentarian. Chairman of the Defence and Security committee of the opposition Conservative Party, Peter Gitmark says that it is wrong to allow the Tamil Tigers to operate in Norway. Confirming the recent detention of a leading LTTE activist by the Norwegian police, the MP says Perimpanayagam Sivaparan, also known as Nediyawan is wanted by the police of the Netherlands. War crimes committed by LTTE - "We have an investigative team coming from the Netherlands to question him. I also hope the Norwegian police would be able to interrogate this man to shed information on the LTTE activities in the Norway", said Gitmark. "LTTE was a major player in the civil war in Sri Lanka. UN report on the civil war has condemned both the government and the LTTE in the strongest of words when it comes to war crimes". He also claimed that there are recent reports of LTTE illegal fundraising in the Norway. LTTE fund raising in Norway; "I think it is not in the interest of the people of Sri Lanka for the LTTE to raise money in Norway and other places to renew its violent struggle against the government of Sri Lanka." The Conservative Party MP told the BBC. UN report on the civil war has condemned both the government and the LTTE in the strongest of words when it comes to war crimes Peter Gitmark. "There had been numerous recent reports on the LTTE raising money in the Norway. I have urged the Norwegian police to take immediate action to see if this is the case and if that is the case to punish the responsible". Dutch police however had not revealed the details of the interrogation of Nediyawan (Island ; 21 May 2011).

Raj Rajaratnam – a response - Lucien Rajakarunanayake, Director, Policy Research & Information, Presidential Secretariat, Colombo  - Your editorial of May 15 on the conviction of Raj Rajaratnam for securities fraud and conspiracy in the biggest Wall Street insider trading case in three decades, states it is a matter for regret that the Sri Lanka government, through its official website, has attempted to paint Rajaratnam as an LTTE supporter on the basis that he was a contributor to the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO). The official website of the Government -- www. info.gov.lk -- maintained by this unit of the Presidential Secretariat, did publish two items on Raj Rajaratnam in its edition of May 12, 2011. One was the report on his being found guilty of fraud and conspiracy by a federal jury in Manhattan, New York, and the other was that he had contributed to the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) whose assets were frozen by the US Treasury Department in November 2007, for making contributions to the terrorist organization - LTTE. The website did not "attempt to paint Rajaratnam as an LTTE supporter on the basis that he was a contributor to the TRO". What it reported was the fact that Rajaratnam did provide funds to the TRO, which is now known to have been a large funding source for the LTTE, and which has been listed and banned as a terrorist organization in Sri Lanka, and many foreign countries, including Rajaratnam’s homeland the United States of America (Island : 21 May 2011).

Help India help us - ..... We have published today a thought provoking article urging that ``India must stop interfering in our affairs in her own interest’’ written by a knowledgeable analyst who chose not to be identified. Whether Prof. Pieris sought to or was able to convey such sentiments to the movers and shakers of Indian policy is not known. He has already included a line of Colombo’s wish to work with Jayalalitha Jayaram, the new chief minister of Tamil Nadu, in a congratulatory letter he wrote her. This was despite her post-election rhetoric on alleged ``war crimes’’ here. That good relations with India must be the cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s foreign policy is a given and that India in recent years provided us with invaluable intelligence and other assistance to finally end the brutal war is freely conceded. We are grateful for that, particularly in the context that the LTTE was finally overcome at a time when elections in India were looming. Yet we cannot ever forget that India played a big part in making the monster assisted, no doubt, by many failures on our part in treating our minorities fairly. We are fortunate that we enjoy an abundance of goodwill from India today but as our correspondent has said, unwelcome interference in out internal affairs may well push us to seek our security elsewhere – a course that India, as the dominant regional power, will not favour. But India is moving her pawns as recent developments signal and where the chess will end is still an imponderable (Island ; 21 May 2011).

Mr Obama! Yes you Can - By Malin Abeyatunga, Melbourne, Australia  - This is a humble appeal to you Mr. President Obama. As a Sri Lankan I congratulate you for ordering the killing of the second most deadliest terrorist in the world Osama bin Laden, the first deadliest terrorist being LTTE leader Prabhakaran killed by Sri Lankan forces despite your country and the remaining west were mollycoddling and trying to save his life. I believe the majority Sri Lankans who suffered under LTTE’s brutality would agree with me for congratulating your US special force NAVY SEALS for carrying out the assassination of Osama , the second most deadliest terrorist in the world. We have no qualms as to how Osama was killed though he was unarmed. We don’t want to analyze the different versions of the killing given by your state departments. We Sri Lankans will not want to ponder as to why unarmed Osama bin Laden was shot and killed instead of capturing. Only problem is had we done it, you and the whole of the western world would be turning against us. Unlike the Geronimo operation ( Navy Seals against one individual who was not at war at the time he was killed but in a cosy company with his wife), Sri Lanka was at war with the LTTE terrorist outfit and question of killing unarmed terrorists doesn’t arise. But my concern is why America having faulted herself conspires with UNSG insisting on war crime charges against Sri Lanka? Sri Lankans strongly believe that it was USA and Britain’s influence that forced UNSG Ban-ki-Moon to appoint the so called inexpert panel to charge Sri Lankan President and her forces for war crimes. Are not we reasonable in asking Ban-ki-Moon to appoint another expert panel to investigate into the killing of unarmed Osama and bring war criminal charges against you and the forces who killed him? Isn’t it another “Goose & Gander” story. We have never questioned why America killed an unarmed terrorist instead of capturing him. After all Osama is a terrorist. But Prabhakaran got killed in the war front when he was fighting against the Government forces. But sadly your country with your power base either directly or indirectly appeared to have influenced UNSG Ban-ki Moon so much so to the extent of getting him to appoint a panel to investigate of war crimes by the Sri Lankan Government during the last phase of the war (Sri Lanka News Online : 21 May 2011).

Sri Lanka keeping track of probe against LTTE leader in Norway - Sri Lanka is keeping an eye on a Norwegian court investigation against a LTTE leader in case related to extortion by the outfit.  Sri Lankan embassy in Oslo has been asked to keep a track of the developments in the probe against Perinbanayagam Sivaparan alias Nedivayan and inform it to Colombo, an official at External Affairs Ministry said. Sivaparan is believed to be the current leader of the LTTE, following the death of Velupillai Prabakaran two years ago at the hands of the government troops. Kumaran Pathmanathan who succeeded Prabakaran was later arrested by Sri Lankan authorities. Last week, Sivaparan was summoned by a Norwegian court for probe into allegations that LTTE extorted Tamils abroad by threatening to harm their relatives in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan forces defeated the LTTE in May 2009 and ended their three-decade armed campaign to establish a separate nation for Tamils. Norway brokered a ceasefire in 2002 between Sri Lanka and Tigers that fell apart and led to the decisive battle that destroyed the LTTE. Colombo accuses it of aiding the LTTE, but Norway denies the allegation (Deccan Herald : 21 May 2011).

Call for LTTE ban in Norway - Norway must follow the European Union and proscribe the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) in the country says a Norwegian parliamentarian. Chairman of the Defence and Security committee of the opposition Conservative Party, Peter Gitmark says that it is wrong to allow the Tamil Tigers to operate in Norway. Confirming the recent detention of a leading LTTE activist by the Norwegian police, the MP says Perimpanayagam Sivaparan, also known as Nediyawan is wanted by the police of the Netherlands. "We have an investigative team coming from the Netherlands to question him. I also hope the Norwegian police would be able to interrogate this man to shed information on the LTTE activities in the Norway", said Gitmark. "LTTE was a major player in the civil war in Sri Lanka. UN report on the civil war has condemned both the government and the LTTE in the strongest of words when it comes to war crimes". He also claimed that there are recent reports of LTTE illegal fundraising in the Norway. "I think it is not in the interest of the people of Sri Lanka for the LTTE to raise money in Norway and other places to renew its violent struggle against the government of Sri Lanka." The Conservative Party MP told the BBC. UN report on the civil war has condemned both the government and the LTTE in the strongest of words when it comes to war crimes. "There had been numerous recent reports on the LTTE raising money in the Norway. I have urged the Norwegian police to take immediate action to see if this is the case and if that is the case to punish the responsible". Dutch police however had not revealed the details of the interrogation of Nediyawan. In April 2010, Police in Netherlands arrested several Tamil community leaders in the country. Computers, paperwork, phones, documents, photos, DVDs and a sum totalling more than 40,000 Euros were seized. "Among the suspects are the leaders of various organisations of Tamils in the Netherlands, which probably play a role in the international network of the LTTE," the justice ministry said in a statement. Leaders of the Tamil Co-ordinating Committee (TCC), the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO), the Tamil Youth Organisation (TYO), the Tamil Women Organisation (TWO) and the Tamil Arts and Cultural Organization Netherlands (TKCO), are believed to be among the suspects. Norwegian parliamentarian Peter Gitmark also blamed the government of Sri Lanka for continues violation of human rights (Daily Mirror : 21 May 2011).

Norway grills Lankan Tamil over extortion - A Sri Lankan-born Tamil has been questioned in Norway as part of a Dutch probe into extortion by the Tamil Tigers and Sri Lankan media yesterday identified him as the leader of one the defeated separatist group’s most powerful remaining factions. Sri Lankan media said that Perinbanayagam Sivaparan, also known as Nedivayan, was taken for questioning before a Norwegian court at the request of a visiting Dutch judicial team looking into extortion by the remnants of the Tamil Tigers. Sri Lankan forces crushed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in May 2009, ending their three-decade armed campaign on the Indian Ocean island to establish a separate nation for Sri Lanka’s minority Tamils. The LTTE routinely extorted a “war tax” from Tamils abroad by threatening to harm their relatives in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s government says one of two remaining LTTE factions is led by Nedivayan, and accuses it of raising funds to restart the war. Norway’s foreign ministry, in a statement released through the embassy in Colombo, declined to identify the individual, but confirmed that a person of Sri Lankan origin was questioned in a Norwegian court. “The individual was interviewed as a witness at the request of Dutch authorities regarding a case currently being investigated in the Netherlands,” the statement said. Norway’s biggest private television, TV2, said an unidentified Norway-based Tamil gave evidence on Wednesday to Dutch authorities in a closed-door hearing about terrorist financing. Sri Lankan-born journalist D B S Jeyaraj, based in Canada and long considered by diplomats in Sri Lanka one of the foremost authorities on the LTTE, reported on his website www.dbsjeyaraj.com that the individual questioned was Nedivayan. Nedivayan could not be reached for comment. Colombo-Oslo ties have been fraught for years, after Norway brokered a 2002 ceasefire with the Tigers that fell apart and led to the final fight that destroyed the LTTE. Sri Lanka’s accuses it of aiding the LTTE, which Norway denies (The Peninsula : 21 May 2011).

LTTE leader in Oslo court - Norwegian based LTTE leader Perinpanayagam Sivaparan also known as Nediyawan was produced in an Oslo court yesterday, the Sri Lankan government official website said citing Norwegian media reports.  A Dutch judge and five Dutch Defence Attorneys are in Norway to interrogate the LTTE Leader Nediyavan, who is a resident of Norway. The LTTE Leader is to be interrogated over two days, and is believed to be a key leader of the Tamil Tigers (LTTE).  Norwegian police and prosecutors are following the issues closely, and I have full confidence that they will take the necessary measures, said Secretary of State Paul Lønseth to TV 2.  In Norway the LTTE can operate freely, but in the United States, Australia and the European Union, it is considered a terrorist organization and officially listed as terrorists.  The LTTE has been on EU’s terrorist list since 2006, and financial support to the organization is considered to be a criminal offence in the Netherlands.  The Police Security Service (PST) does not want to make a comment on the secret case, but confirms to TV 2 that they assisted Dutch police with the interrogation in the District Court.  The Dutch came to Norway because of an investigation of a terrorist financing case, where seven Tamil Tigers were arrested last year.In April last year, Dutch police went to 16 different addresses and made the arrests after national security police (AIVD) had been investigating possible funding of the LTTE from the Netherlands for some time. LTTE’s 52-year old “chief accountant” and the alleged leader of the LTTE in Netherlands were among the arrested.According to Dutch court documents, the LTTE in the Netherlands has an “iron-grip” on the Tamil minority in the country. Those who do not support the LTTE with money are threatened with retaliation, it says in the Dutch court documents, according to NRC Handelsblad (Daily Mirror ; 21 May 2011).

A story of a girl, a photograph and a photographer - by Malinda Seneviratne - Long years ago I was associated with an organization called ‘The National Movement Against Terrorism’ (NMAT). This was at a time when those who called for a military offensive to rid the country of the terrorist menace were called racists, chauvinists, bigots, warmongers and other such derogatory names. It was also a time when dollar-hungry, Eelam-touting, LTTE-loving academics, NGO racketeers, human rights activists who did not see victims of LTTE terrorism as ‘humans’, LTTE proxies masquerading as journalists and other such creatures had the ear of the highest in the land. It was, indeed, a time when the highest in the land were pathetically compromising themselves and the nation to the whims and fancies of the nation’s detractors. The NMAT’s effectiveness was such that people like Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu publicly stated that it was dangerous because ‘among its membership are prominent academics, professionals, politicians and Buddhist monks’, when in fact there were just two professionals (a doctor and a lawyer) and one academic (the academic was also a qualified lawyer), but no politicians or ‘Buddhist monks’ and none who could be called ‘prominent’ (Daily news ; 21 May 2011).

Striding steadily into a united future - A country on the march into a new future of promise and prosperity would need to put the past firmly behind it. It may be fatal to forget the past entirely but the future cannot be built on the ashes and the debris of the past. The future needs to be built on new and strong foundations and the material for this new basis should be found in a synthesis of all the forward-looking and positive ideals that the culture of this country has thrown-up over the centuries. Communalism and ethnicity are characteristics of modern times. They were unknown in times past when persons of numerous ethnicities served a common Head of State in the form of a monarch. A peep into those times would reveal, for instance, that persons of different so-called ethnicities served readily and unitedly under Sinhala kings in their armies, and in very high profile positions too. By making these comments we do not intend to make a case for pre-democratic and pre-modern political and socio-economic formations. Repressive structures that support social inequalities and connected anti-democratic societal features could in no way be defended, but democracy, if not qualitatively developed over the years, could breed some pernicious iniquities and communalism is one such modern-day anomaly which every civilized society would do well to contain if not uproot completely. Democracy is of numerous forms and dimensions but whichever way one may choose to define it and see it, democracy would be nothing less than an empty slogan if it does not provide for personal and collective empowerment. This is the defining essence of democracy (Daily News : 21 May 2011).

A closer look at the Darusman Panel - Jayantha Gunasekera - President’s Counsel - The maxim, Justice must not only be done, but must also manifestly appear to be done, is an oft-quoted principle in all democratic countries. It is apparent that Ban ki Moon handpicked three panellists not for their integrity and impartiality but for their confirmed bias and partiality. Any person who is appointed by the UN to investigate any matter should honourably declare that he/she has no prior knowledge and entertains no pre-conceived and prejudicial views, particularly as they were paid a colossal amount of money from UN fund, and not from Ban’s private property. UN funds are the collected contributions of all member states (Daily News  : 21 May 2011).

Follow the Dutch example - If you lie down with dogs, you will get up with fleas. So goes a popular saying. Norway did not heed this adage and chose to sleep with the Tigers. Today, it has become a haven for terrorists and finds itself in diplomatic hot water. Norway stands exposed for having helped a group of twelve persons alleged to be LTTE members out of Sri Lanka as refugees. The Norwegian Embassy (NE) in Colombo has sought to deny that those 'refugees' had any links with LTTE. But, its refusal to back its claim with hard facts such as the identities of the asylum seekers concerned has left room for suspicion that Norwegian diplomats in Colombo abused their privileges to smuggle out some prominent Tigers. The Norwegian Opposition, too, has warned that the alleged diplomatic excess, as it were, might strain the relations between the two countries. In its rebuttal of criticism, NE has said those who apply for asylum in Norway are carefully screened before being allowed into that country. This is what it says, inter alia, in a statement posted on its website: "Applications for asylum in Norway are subject to strict rules. The cases are carefully examined to see if they qualify under the United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees." If so, how is it that Norway has come to shelter tens of thousands of LTTE activists, many of them trained killers? Their presence alone is proof of laxity and/or connivance on the part of the Colombo-based Norwegian diplomats responsible for processing applications for asylum. That the LTTE had some visa officers at western embassies in its pocket is only too well known (Island : 20 May 2011).

Top Tiger arrested in Norway - by Easwaran Rutnam - A Norwegian based LTTE leader Perinpanayagam Sivaparan, known by his nom de guerre as Nediyawan, has been arrested and was produced in an Oslo court on Wednesday and Thursday, the Norwegian media reported.  The Norway News website said that Nediyawan, a prominent figure and "new leader" of the LTTE is being questioned over LTTE activities in the Netherlands.  A Dutch judge and five Dutch Defence Attorneys are in Norway to interrogate the LTTE Leader Nediyavan, who is a resident of Norway. In Norway the LTTE can operate freely, but in the USA, Australia and EU, they are considered to be a terrorist organization and are officially listed on the terrorists. The Police Security Service (PST) does not want to make a comment on the secret case, but confirms to TV 2 that they assisted the Dutch police with the interrogation in the District Court. The Dutch came to Norway because of an investigation of a terrorist financing case, where seven Tamil Tigers were arrested last year. In April last year, Dutch police went to sixteen different addresses and made comprehensive apprehensions after the national security police (AIVD) had been investigating possible funding of the LTTE from the Netherlands for some time. LTTE’s 52-year old "chief accountant" and the alleged leader of the LTTE in Netherland (46) were among those arrested. According to Dutch court documents, the LTTE in the Netherlands has an "iron-grip" on the Tamil minority in the country. Those who do not support the LTTE with money are threatened with retaliations, it says in the Dutch court documents, according to NRC Handelsblad. Secretary of State Pål Lønseth in the Ministry of Justice in Norway told TV2 that he does not believe other countries perceive Norway as a safe haven for terrorists. He confirms that he knew about the Dutch case and the interrogation in the Oslo Court District, Norway News reported (Island ; 20 May 2011).

Tiger Pandal pulls sightseers to the Vanni - We are living in very interesting days. Trafalgar Square in London is once again the venue of demonstration against Sri Lanka by those calling for an international probe on war crimes. They have chosen the upcoming England – Sri Lanka cricket series to bowl their doosras and whatever else, seeking to ensure that the ConLib Government that is cutting heavily on costs, will be forced to spend a tidy sum on policing the place and to make it safe for those who want to see the sights of London or get about their daily business, without Tiger stripes blocking them. Wonder what the International Cricket Commission – the ICC, or even the MCC, will have to say about this blatant attempt to intimidate cricketers who have gone to match their skills with the British in what is called the Gentlemen’s Game (Island : 21 May 2011).

The Mission of Truth -2 Striking the very best in humanity; LTTE's attack on World Heritage Site - In the first part of our mission, we brought our readers a true story, which was about to be buried unknown to the entire world, unless the defence.lk team had dug deep into the incidents to find ground information on crimes against humanity committed by LTTE. We confidently bring you the truth, nothing but the truth; it is said that the truth is stranger than fiction. They are perfectly grounded on evidences, but not just merely fabricated stories or allegations. This is a story of the LTTE's brutal attack on the most Sacred Temple of Tooth Relic in the ancient city Kandy in 1998. The Temple, which houses the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. At 6:10 am on 25th January 1998, suicide carders of the LTTE exploded a massive truck bomb at the entrance to the Sri Dalada Maligawa (the most Sacred Temple of Tooth Relic) killing 8 persons including 2-year old infant and injuring about 25 others, all peaceful innocent civilians, who were on their way to offer alms at the temple that morning (Sri Lanka Defence Ministry : 21 May 2011).

LTTE regrouping? - Is the LTTE regrouping outside Asia? The Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry has released a statement saying they fear that the LTTE might make a comeback with help from Tamil Diaspora in Western Europe. The Sri Lankan Government says there are attempts by Tamil diaspora in Western nations to revive the Tamil Eeelam movement. Lanka believes these groups could be getting financial support but on their part they're cautius. An official request has been sent to India to cooperate in fighting the growth of pro-LTTE groups (Times of India ; 20 May 2011).

Sri Lanka summoned Norwegian Ambassador in Colombo Hilde Haraldstad

LTTE leader Nediyawan arrested in Oslo for terror financing - A Norway-based LTTE leader Perinpanayagam Sivaparan alias Nediyawan has been arrested and was produced in an Oslo court yesterday, Norwegian TV2 news Nyhetene reported. According to the Norwegian media report Dutch authorities believe the suspect has a prominent role in the terrorist outfit Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) which is banned in 33 countries including the USA, UK, Australia, and European Union but not in Norway. The Dutch police had reportedly taken a court order to search Nediyawan's house and the material discovered had linked him to terror financing. The Dutch investigators believe he has contributed millions to the LTTE. The LTTE has been on EU?s terrorist list since 2006, and financial support to the organization is considered a criminal offence in the Netherlands. A Dutch judge and five Dutch Defence Attorneys are in Norway to interrogate the LTTE leader who has lived in Norway since 2005, the report further said. The Police Security Service (PST) did not want to make a comment on the secret case, but has confirmed to TV 2 that they assisted Dutch police with the interrogation in the District Court. A Tamil living in Norway, Nadarajah Sethurapan has told the TV2 that Tamil Tigers are engaged in racketeering in Norway to continue the struggle in Sri Lanka. He has told the TV2 that he has paid over 33,000 Krones (about 6,000 USD). According to Sethurapan he paid money to the Tamil Tigers from 2002 to 2009. Finally he had enough and reported the matter to police, he told the TV2. Norwegian police and prosecutors are following the terror financing case closely Secretary of State Paul L?nseth has told the TV 2 (Colombo Page : 20 May 2011).

Agency probing Rajiv killing conspiracy plods on - It is 20 years since Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in Sriperumbudur during an election meeting. And, it is more than two years since the prime accused in the case, LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, was killed and his outfit annihilated by the Sri Lankan armed forces. But the Multi-Disciplinary Monitoring Agency (MDMA) constituted to probe the conspiracy angle in the case still functions, both in Chennai and Delhi. "We have sent letters rogatory to more than 25 countries including Germany, Switzerland and France, seeking details about the financial transactions of various persons, including LTTE cadres and sympathisers, alleged to have been involved in the conspiracy. But all these countries refused to furnish any details. Many of our MDMA and CBI officials toured these countries, but returned empty handed with no information. The authorities in these countries just declined to cooperate with our officials," sources in MDMA told TOI. In September 2009, about a year after Prabhakaran was killed and LTTE leader Selvarasa Pathmanathan or KP was nabbed by the Sri Lankan government, the MDMA despatched a team to question the former chief arms procurer of the LTTE. The team is said to have grilled KP about the LTTE's global network and the funds flow. The court accepted the certificate furnished by MDMA, obtained from the Sri Lankan government, confirming the death of Prabakaran, the proclaimed offender in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. "The Supreme Court delivered its verdict in the case in 1999 and the MDMA has no work now," pointed out an official. But the agency still functions out of the Chennai office of the special investigation team, which initially probed the assassination. Five officials work here and get extra allowance for this posting. A few staff members have also been posted for the TADA court (Times of India : 20 May 2011).

Mr Savage, EU and Regime Change – Open Letter to Head of EU Delegation in Colombo - by Dr Bandula Kothalawala London N7 - Mr Bernard Savage Head of EU Delegation 26, Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha Colombo 7; Dear Mr Savage, Regime Change in Sri Lanka, According to a news report in the Daily Mirror of 20 May 2011, you, in your capacity as EU Ambassador in Colombo, had stated that the European Union had no intention of bringing about a regime change in Sri Lanka. No doubt, millions of Sri Lankans had a good night’s sleep yesterday, curled up snugly in bed, despite the heat, comforted by your kind, timely and reassuring intervention! Mr Savage, I should be grateful if you would kindly elaborate on your remark. I have been living in Europe for the last 32 years and am reasonably familiar with various treaties and other instruments that govern the conduct of EU institutions and guide its policies and practices. I am at a loss as to which treaty or international instrument you have in mind when you talk about regime change. Of course, in the remark attributed to you, you had categorically denied that the EU was seeking regime change in Sri Lanka. However, the inference is clear. You seem to imply that the EU is in a position to bring about a regime change, but has, for the moment at least, decided not to exercise the right! It is hard to understand whether it is ignorance, arrogance or incompetence or a mixture of all the three that prompted your remark. Maybe, you just wanted to ape some of your Colombo-based Western colleagues who strut around like viceroys of yesteryear. On the other hand, it is true that some EU members, especially, those who incessantly preach democracy, good governance, the rule of law and what not used to rule the waves and, you will no doubt want to assert that they are still wont to waive the rules when it suits them. So much for your passion for democracy and respect for international law! (LankaWeb : 20 May 2011).

Norway confirms Lankan interview - Deputy Chief of Mission, Minister Counsellor of the Norwegian Embassy in Colombo Jon O. Brødholt also confirmed today that an individual of Sri Lankan origin was interviewed by a Norwegian court. “We can confirm that an individual of Sri Lankan origin living in Norway has been interviewed by a Norwegian court with the participation of Dutch police. The individual was interviewed as a witness at the request of Dutch authorities regarding a case currently investigated in the Netherlands,” he said in response to a question by Daily Mirror (Daily Mirror : 20 May 2011).

Norwegian Ambassador summoned - The Sri Lankan foreign office summoned the Norwegian Ambassador in Colombo early this week, and expressed concern over the conduct of some diplomats of the mission during the end-stages of the war with the LTTE. “We can confirm that a meeting took place May 16th between [Foreign] Secretary [Karunathilake] Amunugama and Ambassador [Hilde] Haraldstad,” said Jon Brødholt, Deputy Chief of Mission, Norwegian Embassy, Colombo, in response to an e-mail enquiry from The Hindu. “In the meeting, the Secretary expressed concern over a story originating in the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten where it was stated that Norway had accepted refugees from Sri Lanka. The Norwegian Ambassador used the meeting to elaborate on Norway’s humanitarian tradition and Norwegian refugee policy. The Ambassador explained that all applications for asylum in Norway are processed in accordance with the UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees,” he added. The Island newspaper, quoting “authoritative sources” on Friday, said that “Amunugama had expressed concern over the alleged involvement of Colombo-based Norwegian diplomatic staff in the clandestine operation. Ambassador Haraldstad was told that a statement attributed to former Norwegian peace envoy, Minister Erik Solheim, which endorsed the actions of the embassy staff wasn’t acceptable.” (Hindu : 20 May 2011).

Osama and Prabhakaran killings compared - The reported killing by US Navy SEALS of the al Quaida leader, Osama bin Laden (confirmed later by US President, Barack Obama) with euphoria building up all over the US and the West immediately thereafter, provokes a comparison with the killing by our troops of LTTE leader Prabakaran on May 19, 2009. Similarities, differences, etc. In an address to the American people and the world, President Obama, announcing the Al Quaida leader’s death, made the following key points among others: (Island : 20 May 2011).

Controversial Darusman Report: 'Can't convince civilized nations that LTTE is disciplined' - by  Chamikara WEERASINGHE - The controversial Darusman report cannot bring President Mahinda Rajapaksa or the military officials to an international criminal court as it is a personal advisory report where allegations are raised, said the National Patriotic Movement Chairman Dr Gunadasa Amarasekera.  It is a report that had described one of the most ruthless and dangerous terrorist outfits in the world, the LTTE, as 'the most disciplined and nationalist of Tamil militant groups,' he pointed out in an interview with the Daily News. He said there is no way that key players behind the Darusman conspiracy convince any civilized nation in the world that the LTTE is disciplined due to their acts of terrorism.  "Who will accept such nonsense?" he asked. The United Nations Security Council and the United Nations Human Rights Commission had officially condemned the LTTE for its acts of terrorism committed over many years and the use of civilians as human shields in May, 2009. The Council also said that the Sri Lankan government has a legitimate right to combat terrorism in the country. "The controversial Darusman report is not even worth contradicting," he explained. The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had appointed the three-member panel to prepare the report about a year since the government declared end to war against terror in the country. "The report shows all signs of an international conspiracy to obtain what the LTTE leader could not obtain from President Mahinda Rajapaksa through acts of terrorism," he said. Some countries have been pushing the Sri Lankan government to implement the 13th Amendment and the 13th Amendment Plus with the aim of getting a foothold in the country by promoting division, he said. He said the government's stance was correct in dismissing the Darusman report, but added it will be a proactive move by the government to apprise the international community about its humanitarian procedure. "The government should disclose its story of the over 30-year fight against terror to the world. All nationalist groups in the country must rally round the President and give their fullest support to face external elements that are trying to discredit the government over allegations of war crimes and belittling a historic victory it achieved over terrorism," he added (Daily News : 20 April 2011).

Tamil Tiger faction head questioned in Norway - media - The leader of a powerful faction of Sri Lanka's separatist Tamil Tigers has been questioned in Norway as part of a probe into extortion by the group, Sri Lankan media reported on Friday. Norwegian officials confirmed a man had been questioned in a Norwegian court, on the request of Dutch authorities carrying out an investigation, but declined to name him. Sri Lankan media said the man was Perinbanayagam Sivaparan, also known as Nedivayan, who officials and diplomats say heads a faction advocating armed struggle. Sri Lankan forces crushed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LITE) in May 2009, ending their three-decade armed campaign to establish a separate nation for the Indian Ocean island's minority Tamils. The LTTE routinely extorted a "war tax" from Tamils abroad by threatening to harm their relatives in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's government says one of two remaining LTTE factions is led by Nedivayan, and accuses it of raising funds to restart the war. Norway's foreign ministry, in a statement released through the embassy in Colombo, declined to identify the individual, but confirmed that a person of Sri Lankan origin was questioned in a Norwegian court. "I can confirm a person was interviewed in Norway as part of an investigation into Tamil Tiger fundraising activities. We have not issued an arrest warrant for him," said Wim de Bruin, a spokesman for the Dutch prosecutor's office. De Bruin declined to give the name of the person interviewed, but said Dutch police arrested seven people last year suspected of raising money for the Tamil Tigers. Five were released and two were still in custody, he said (Reuters : 20 May 2011).

Rascality unlimited: re-invention of a gonibilla called ‘Enraged Tamil Citizen’ - by Malinda Seneviratne - ‘Human Shield’ as far as the LTTE was concerned was not a convenience but a necessity. That’s another story and several doctoral dissertations on crimes against humanity waiting to be written. ‘Civilian’ had many uses. They were good as shield, good as cannon fodder, good to abduct, good to assassinate, good as token, good as alibi, good to hold hostage, good as flag and good for number-fudging; in a word ‘expendable’. From Day One, one must add. There was also an interesting civilian category while the Ceasefire Agreement was officially in operation: ‘The enraged Tamil civilian’. According to the LTTE each time a political opponent was murdered or an attack carried out against the security forces, the culprit was the enraged civilian, provoked (allegedly) out of his/her mind. That’s what they wanted the world to believe. And that’s the story that their proxies in Colombo purchased happily for never did they venture to counter such claims (Daily News ; 20 May 2011).

Tigers and the Darusman Panel: Using food as a weapon - by Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha, MP - One area in which there is an element of truth in the report of the Panel is its accusation that Government underestimated the figures of IDPs in the Vanni towards the end of the conflict. This is correct, and I myself was under the impression that the figure was less than it finally turned out to be. What is wrong is the claim that the Government used these figures to ‘deny humanitarian assistance’. The fact is that, from the very beginning, there was uncertainty about the figures. At my very first meeting with UNHCR, when I was actually impressed with the commitment of Elizabeth Tan and her immediate boss, I asked why the UN still maintained a distinction between what were termed old IDPs and new ones. I could understand this in the case of those in static situations, for instance the Muslims chased out of the North by the LTTE in 1990, who had mainly stayed put in Puttalam since then. But in the Vanni it was clear that the IDP population had to be treated as a whole, and we needed to make sure that everyone there was adequately fed (Daily News ; 20 May 2011).

Wake-up call to the West - Just when some sections of the West began to believe that they could go soft on the LTTE and its operations abroad, two vital news reports have emerged to shatter this complacency. One is the news that some pro-LTTE propaganda of Chennai origin, headed for Canada, has been seized by the local authorities in Colombo. The next is the information that LTTE inspired extortion rackets are thriving in the Netherlands. These are wake-up calls which the West could ignore only at its peril and at that of the world. The West and the rest of the world cannot really fall into a slumber over the LTTE in the belief that it is over and done with. Nor can they continuously cling to the misconception that the LTTE, which in the view of some is an underdog, could be ignored as being ineffective now and as posing no dangers to law and order. To be sure, the Tigers, as a military force, are no more in Sri Lanka, although anyone in this country would be naive in the extreme to believe that Eelamism was dead and buried along with this LTTE fighting machine. The two news reports just referred to are two bits of evidence of the flourishing nature of the LTTE ideology and of its consequences for law and order here and abroad. These developments could be merely the tip of the iceberg. The fact is that Eelamism and its defenders are very much up and about, both locally and internationally, and they are, indeed, working surreptitiously but at a hectic pace to regroup and to get back into contention once again. So-called transitional governments have also been set up (Daily News : 20 May 2011).

Changing Western preceptions of the terrorist - by Palitha Senanayake - Bin Laden may have little interest in Sri Lanka but yet his actions have impacted on Sri Lanka’s position often and that too, quite favourably. When little Sri Lanka was waging a lone battle against the most deadly terror organization and while the Western ‘international community’ was prodding the government of Sri Lanka on the self emulating path to be more and more accommodative to the terrorist, bin Laden (as popularly believed) crashed in to the twin towers in America and brought the harsh realities of terror to the doorstep in the USA. And in London some Muslims, believed to be members of Al Qaeda bombed an underground rail station in London killing 41 passengers. Those two events caused a change of perception in Western countries on global terrorism making them recognize the indiscriminate and the sheer inhuman nature of terrorism. Thus the much hyped war against global terror saw the light of day and under that new world outlook Sri Lanka’s fight against terror appeared somewhat justified. Further the West could not take extreme action against Al Qaeda terror without a similar treatment to the LTTE which the US intelligence said is the most ‘ruthless and organized’ (Daily News ; 20 May 2011).

Prabhakaran is dead, but his ideology, Eelam, 13th Amendment to the Constitution etc are alive.

Are we serious about a solution based on Indo-Lanka Accord ?

Read more about the 13th Amendment to the Constitution)

Eastern Province incidents: President seeks full scale report - UPFA General Secretary and Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha in a media release yesterday said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has sought a full scale report from the IGP Mahinda Balasuriya over a series of incidents that took place in the Eastern Province during the last few days. The President had made these directives when he met Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesaturai Chandrakanthan and TMVP representatives at Temple Trees yesterday. The IGP had been ordered to implement a special mechanism to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the Eastern Province. The release said that President Rajapaksa has stressed the importance of strengthening peace in the Province. He has said that all people should give their utmost support to the police to discharge their duties. Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Central Province Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake IGP Mahinda Balasuriya and Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga participated in the meeting (Daily News ; 20 May 2011).

Batticaloa shooting: Four arrested - by Sandasen MARASINGHE - Four persons were arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Batticaloa in connection with the killing of Resettlement Deputy Minister Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan’s Coordinating Secretary. Police Spokesman SP Prishantha Jayakody told the Daily News that the suspects were residents of Batticaloa town. Resettlement Deputy Minister Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan’s Coordinating Secretary Rasamanikam Madyalahan (32) was shot dead at his residence in Batticaloa on May 12. He was shot at by two persons came riding a motorcycle (Daily News ; 20 May 2011).

North and East celebrate Vesak with unprecedented enthusiasm - by Chamikara WEERASINGHE - The public in the North and East celebrated the Vesak festival on May 17 and 18 with unprecedented enthusiasm with thousands of members of the Tamil public joining hands with the Buddhist public. Jaffna District Secretary Emilda Sukumar yesterday said she saw many Vesak lanterns and pandals along the A-9 road during a drive through the province on Vesak day. "People have turned up in great numbers to see Vesak," she said. "There were 21 large Vesak lanterns on display by the police and security forces personnel in front of Jaffna Library. These were huge lanterns. Many people came to see these items," she said. The Tamil public had a chance of listening to Buddhist Jathaka stories at the festival. The people enjoyed festivities at Jaffna Library to their heart's content with their new found freedom with no terror standing in their way against peace and harmony among the people. "Hundreds of men, women and children from resettled families were seen around the lanterns enjoying their splendour," she said (Daily News : 20 May 2011).

Ranaviru Month declared - Today is the 2nd anniversary in which the LTTE, named by the United States as the world’s ruthless terrorist organized collapsed at Nandikadal Lagoon, with the death of its leader Velupillai Prabharan. Thereby the 30 years of terrorist scourge that engulfed Sri Lanka was finally vanquished, and nearly 300,000 Tamil people who were being forcibly used as a human shield was liberated through the humanitarian operation carried out the by joint-security forces. Sri Lanka has declared the month from May 19 to June 19 as the Ranaviru month and simultaneously he first Ranaviru flag was pinned on President Mahinda Rajapaksa today at Temple Trees. It is through President Rajapaksa’s unwavering leadership and commandeering that Sri Lanka was able to achieve this great feat of eradicating terrorism a matter even the countries with the world’s most sophisticated weaponry and technology have failed to accomplish. The money from the sale of Ranaviru flags is due to be used by the war heroes’ authority for the welfare of war heroes. Last year’s proceeds from the sale of flags totaling to Rs.3.5 million was handed over to the President by the Governors of Provincial Councils (Daily Mirror ; 19 May 2011).

Helping 12 persons out of SL: Govt. summons Norwegian envoy - By Shamindra Ferdinando - In spite of Norway’s denial of a direct role in 12 LTTE personnel leaving Sri Lanka via the Bandaranaike International Airport, the government of Sri Lanka summoned Norwegian Ambassador in Colombo Hilde Haraldstad to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where Foreign Secretary Karunathilake Amunugama raised the issue.  Authoritative sources say Amunugama had expressed concern over the alleged involvement of Colombo-based Norwegian diplomatic staff in the clandestine operation. Ambassador Haraldstad was told that a statement attributed to former Norwegian peace envoy, Minister Erik Solheim, which endorsed the actions of the embassy staff wasn’t acceptable. Minister Solheim went to the extent of accusing the government of Sri Lanka of ex-judicial actions, including killings during the last phase of the conflict.  Denying any wrongdoing on its part, the Norwegian embassy said it was not at liberty to discuss individual cases but clarified its policy regarding asylum for refugees.  The Norwegian newspaper, Aftenposten, in a May 12, 2011 news item captioned, Norway to help refugees from Sri Lanka, reported that the Norwegian authorities had secretly purchased tickets and obtained political asylum for persons deemed to be at risk in Sri Lanka. The External Affairs Ministry said that further investigations would shed light on the Norwegian operation. The Norwegian Opposition and Norway-based experts have been critical of their operation here. Ambassador Haraldstad told Amunugama that she couldn’t confirm the figure given by Aftenposten with regard to the number of Sri Lankans given asylum in Norway. The Foreign Secretary met Ambassador Haraldstad in the absence of External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris, who was in New Delhi to reach consensus on a range of issues (Island ; 19 May 2011).

Dutch judge in Norway to investigate LTTE operations -  Norwegian Tamil gives evidence behind closed doors - Tamils in the Netherlands and Norway have been forced to donate money to the LTTE for its war against Sri Lanka’s government. Dutch court authorities say the Tigers held them in ‘a stranglehold’, forcing them to pay a ‘war tax’. The investigation has been going on for two years. Several people have been arrested, including the alleged leader of the Dutch branch of the Tigers. A Norwegian Tamil had to give evidence Wednesday (May 18) behind closed doors to the Dutch authorities of a judicial interrogation in the Oslo District Court, according to Norwegian press reports. A Dutch judge and five Dutch defense lawyers are in Norway to examine the Tamils, who live in Norway. Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) though declining to comment on the secret case, confirmed to TV 2 that they had assisted the Dutch police with the hearing in district court. Court documents published by Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad say that the LTTE systematically extorted large sums of money from Dutch Tamils. If they refused, they were threatened with reprisals. Tens of thousands of Tamils live in the Netherlands and Norway. The majority came to the countries after the Tamil separatist war broke out in the mid-1980. The Tamil Tigers have been listed as a terrorist organisation in EU-countries such as the Netherlands since 2006 but not in Norway. The Netherlands is not the first European country where Tamils have been arrested for money laundering and extortion. Last year, Tamils in Switzerland and the UK were arrested for the same reason. While the Dutch Tamils are still awaiting trial, in the UK and Switzerland several people have already been convicted. Norwegian Secretary of State Paul Lønseth the Justice Ministry told TV 2 that he did not think other countries perceive Norway as a haven for terrorists (Island ; 19 May 2011).

Kuwait funds to strengthen civil administration in North - By Franklin R. Satyapalan - Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs W. D. J. Seneviratne speaking from Jaffna said yesterday that the main purpose of his three-day visit to Jaffna was to ensure that the public of Jaffna were provided with an efficient public service. Additional District Secretary of Jaffna Mrs. Rubini Varathalingam said that the government had taken steps to ensure that the Jaffna district was provided with Rs. 44.97 million from the Kuwaiti Fund (SCAP) to strengthen the civil administration programme in the Northern Region. She said a series of programmes had been organised in this connection. Minister Senaviratne said, "I would be participating in a religious ceremony at the sacred Nagadeepa Vihare in the evening today, organised by the District Secretary for Jaffna Mrs. Emelda Sukumar, to coincide with the 2600 Sambuddhathva Jayanthi celebrations, which would be followed by a visit to the Nallur Kandasamy Kovil". He said in keeping with the vision of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to ensure that the civil administration in the Jaffna peninsula, especially in the Northern Region which was disrupted during the war, had been restored. Minister of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Douglas Devananda, Governor of the Northern Province Major General G. A. Chandrasiri (Retd.), Security Forces Commander Jaffna Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe and Parlimentarians of the Tamil National Alliance had been invited by Mrs. Sukumar to participate in the series of events during the next three days (Island ; 19 May 2011).

Arrest at Cochin airport: police probe LTTE links - The Crime Detachment Wing of the Aluva Rural Police has launched an investigation into the antecedents of a suspected former LTTE combatant who was arrested from the Cochin International Airport here on Tuesday according to an online Hindu report. Jeevadass Marimuthu, 30, hailing from Jaffna in Sri Lanka, was detained by immigration officials while attempting to board an Oman Air flight to Muscat. He was found possessing an Indian passport with his name as Peter Savari Muthu, Tiruchi, Tamil Nadu, the May 18 datelined report says. Jeevadas said he had been on his way to Paris seeking political asylum. He confessed to obtaining the travel documents from a passport agent in Tamil Nadu. Official sources said the investigating officials had taken him to a hotel in Kochi where he stayed on Tuesday and collected evidence. Investigation was also on to trace Guna, the Tiruchi-based agent who had given him the passport, and another person in Kochi who accompanied him to the airport. Jeevadass had worked in an artificial limb-making factory owned by the LTTE in Jaffna and left for India a couple of years later. For the last few months, he had been living with his relatives at a refugee camp in Tamil Nadu. On questioning, Jeevadas said he chose Kochi as the transit point from India on instruction from his passport agent. Meanwhile, the incident has raised suspicion among the authorities that Kochi is being used as a safe exit point to Europe by the former LTTE militants. In July last, a Sri Lankan national identified as Nandakumar of Jaffna was arrested while attempting to board an international flight with a French passport. On interrogation, he said he had been on his way to Paris to join his maternal uncle and also confessed to obtaining the document from a passport agent in Tiruchi (Island ; 19 May 2011).

Rape and the virtues of the Economist - By Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha - Apart from broadening the mind, travel also allows me to catch up on the ‘Economist’, which still remains my favourite news magazine. I used to be astonished that its entry into Sri Lanka was so often restricted since, while its headlines and some of the phrases it uses can be acid, its reporting is generally balanced. I also had a soft spot for it because a debate over something erroneous it had reported enabled me to pinpoint, so that the Norwegian head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission had to grant my case, the source of the negative leaks about the Sri Lankan government that were emanating from his office. With the offending publicity officer removed from his job, we stopped the nasty little digs for which the SLMM had been held responsible, but which its by then highly professional leadership repudiated. We got on very well thereafter, and the generally earnest personnel the Norwegians sent us told me some pretty harsh stories about the LTTE by the time they finally left. Recently, while I regret that the normally judicious ‘Economist’ ignores the palpable distortions of the Darusman Report, it does make some suggestions about how we should deal with it which are eminently sensible. I had long assumed that the policies of the Sri Lankan government were very different to those sometimes publicly espoused by Sarath Fonseka, beginning with his majoritarian outlook and his scorn for Tamilnadu politicians, and concluding with his efforts to expand the army by 100,000 men and set up massive cantonments in the Vanni. It was understandable that government, which has never corrected the excesses of individuals, since that seems alien to our political traditions, never publicly reprimanded him, though more responsible authorities did make the position clear (Island ; 19 May 2011).

Sri Lanka News Online wishes Vesak Greetings

Arrest at Cochin airport: police probe LTTE links - The Crime Detachment Wing of the Aluva Rural Police has launched an investigation into the antecedents of a suspected former LTTE combatant who was arrested from the Cochin International Airport here on Tuesday. Jeevadass Marimuthu, 30, hailing from Jaffna in Sri Lanka, was detained by immigration officials while attempting to board an Oman Air flight to Muscat. He was found possessing an Indian passport with his name as Peter Savari Muthu, Tiruchi, Tamil Nadu. Jeevadas said he had been on his way to Paris seeking political asylum. He confessed to obtaining the travel documents from a passport agent in Tamil Nadu. Official sources said the investigating officials had taken him to a hotel in Kochi where he stayed on Tuesday and collected evidence. Investigation was also on to trace Guna, the Tiruchi-based agent who had given him the passport, and another person in Kochi who accompanied him to the airport. Jeevadass had worked in an artificial limb-making factory owned by the LTTE in Jaffna and left for India a couple of years later. For the last few months, he had been living with his relatives at a refugee camp in Tamil Nadu. On questioning, Jeevadas said he chose Kochi as the transit point from India on instruction from his passport agent (Hindu : 19 May 2011).

Sri Lankan foreign Minister in India: Yes Sir, no sir, three bags full, Sir. - By Mario Perera, Kadawata - It was downright humiliating to watch the performance of Minister G.L.Peiris before the Indian rulers. There he was seated upright before Manmohan like an Abitthiya before the Mahanayake, with his head held with its habitual slant, taking in every word seemingly from the source itself of wisdom. Then he met two others who reiterated the same litany, no doubt in sugar coated diplomatic wrappings but nevertheless bitter in themselves. What was said concerned the implementation of the 13th amendment, the lifting of the state of emergency and the power sharing on quasi-federal lines. This comes directly in the wake of the saber rattling of Jayalalitha, whom many Chennai taxi drivers still refer to with disdain as ‘the keep of MGR’. The reactions of GLP made many a heart yearn for the days of Luxman Kadirgaman, whose personality and presence elicited a certain awe and much respect from his peers. GLP is of another brand. We associate academic and professional titles as lofty as those he possesses with character. With GLP we are obliged to disassociate the two. The man has changed sides like chameleons change colour. He has like the most ordinary of lawyers argued in the political forum for the defense and for the prosecution, for proponents and opponents of the same charges and claims, always with the same slanted head and facial expressions so characteristic of the man and which are normally designed to elicit faith and hope, but which now beat those yardsticks by miles. We remember him addressing the so called theoretician of the most dastardly terrorist group known to modern history as the ‘Honorable Balasingham’. We remember him arguing and expounding the Ranil W ‘Peace Treaty’ with ‘Mr.Prabhakaran’, and the benefits of ‘power sharing’. And now ‘O Tempora O Mores’ he has changed team and track, and not for the first time at that using the same words, the same posture, the same rhetoric, but for different causes (LankaWeb : 19 May 2011).

Forced to pay 'war tax': Dutch Tamils held in LTTE stranglehold - Large sums of money exhorted - Court bares details - Tamils in the Netherlands have been forced to donate money to the LTTE, sources said. Dutch court authorities say the Tigers held these people in 'a stranglehold', forcing them to pay a 'war tax'. The investigation has been going on for two years. Several people have been arrested, including the alleged leader of the Dutch branch of the Tigers. Court documents, published by Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad, say that the Tigers systematically extorted large sums of money from Dutch Tamils. If they refused, they were threatened with reprisals. Tens of thousands of Tamils live in the Netherlands. The Tigers have been listed as a terrorist organisation in EU-countries such as the Netherlands since 2006. The Netherlands is not the first European country where Tamils have been arrested for money laundering and extortion. Last year, Tamils in Switzerland and the UK were arrested for the same reason. While the Dutch Tamils are still awaiting trial, in the UK and Switzerland several people have already been convicted (Daily News ; 19 May 2011).

How Jaya's victory changes Indo-Lanka relations - ... .Speaking at her very first press conference, Jayalalithaa said "The President of Sri Lanka must be tried for war crimes and brought before the International Court of Law? India can no longer remain a silent spectator? If necessary, an economic blockade will have to be resorted to bring a recalcitrant Sri Lanka to heel." What will be the effect of Jayalalithaa first salvo against Rajapaksa? How will it impact India's Sri Lanka policy? These are some of the questions likely to be debated more frequently in the coming months. Whatever be the effect, Jayalalithaa now sworn in as the new chief minister of Tamil Nadu, has thrown a spanner in the uneasy equation New Delhi [ Images ] had built with Tamil Nadu's outgoing Chief Minister M Karunanidhi [ Images ]. And India's handling of Sri Lanka is likely to undergo a subtle change as a result of Jayalalithaa's rise to power in Tamil Nadu. Jayalalithaa's negative views on New Delhi's handling of Sri Lanka issue are nothing new; in fact in the run up to the state elections, she had needled her opponent saying, "lives of thousands of Sri Lankan Tamils could have been saved had Karunanidhi seriously considered withdrawing support to the Centre instead of threatening to withdraw support to it, as he was doing frequently." However, Jayalalithaa's focus on Sri Lanka immediately after her electoral success shows it could be one of the key issues on her agenda in dealing with the Centre. During her present tenure, Jayalalithaa appears to be determined to quickly fulfil her electoral promises; in fact she has set herself a deadline of 18 months to do so. On the very first day in office, she signed a slew of orders approving a number of freebies for the people including distribution of 20 kg of rice free to people below poverty line and an increase in old age pension (Rediff News ; 19 May 2011).

Ban Ki Moon should withdraw his Panel Report on Sri Lanka, in the face of continued “terrorism “ of USA, France and UK” against the people of Libya . - By Charles.S.Perera - While Ban Ki Moon awaits Sri Lanka Government’s reaction to his advisory Panel’s Report “Democracy” is being ridiculed under his very nose by the powers to which he has become a stooge- USA, France and UK. In the most scandalous manner in which the terrorist leader of Al Qaida Osama bin Laden was murdered, USA, France and UK managed to divert the attention of the world from the other scandal in which they are engaged in since the 19 March,2011- the attempting to murder Colonel Gaddafi the Leader of the Sovereign State of Libya. This “war” they started with Ban Ki Moon’s apparent connivance, which was the getting of the sanction of the UN Security Council to keep free the air space in Libya against air attacks in Bengazi. Ban Ki Moon seems no doubt in connivance, because the sanction of the UN Security Council was deviated to a war to murder Colonel Gaddafi. If Ban Ki Moon was genuinely unaware of the “murder plan” of the USA, France and UK , he should have called for a meeting of the Security Council the moment the USA bombed Libya, (killing many civilians and recently even killing the youngest son of Colonel Gaddafi, Saif al-Arab Gadhafi and two of his little children in an inhuman bombardment), to demand these “ murderers” to stop bombardments in Libya (LankaWeb ; 19 May 2011).

‘Serving Hands’ launched to help Vanni community; ‘Why waste money to sow hatred when Vanni community lacks even basic facilities’? - By Shamindra Ferdinando - A section of the Tamil Diaspora is ready to work with NERDO, an NGO set up by T.S. Pathmanathan, in late 2009 for the benefit of the war-affected Tamil speaking people in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.  Under the auspices of NERDO, a small group of Tamil Diaspora based in Canada recently launched ‘Serving Hands’, a charity organization dedicated to the wellbeing of the war victims. The inaugural meet had been attended by about 350 persons. A spokesperson for the group alleged that substantial amount of funds were being raised overseas by various Diaspora elements to sow hatred among the Tamil and Sinhala communities in the aftermath of the war. He regretted that money had been squandered on anti-Sri Lanka campaigns at the expense of war victims. The participants included the Chief Priest of the Sri Buvaneswari temple Baskaran, Rev.Xavier, Parameswaran, Rajithan Kamalingam, Arul Ganeshan, attorney-at-law Nethan Sritharan and Rasaratnam. Inaugurating the meet, Rajithan Kamalingam urged the Tamil Diaspora to assist those severely affected during the Vanni battle, particularly during the final phase. The LTTE collapsed in May 2009 (Island ; 18 May 2011).

SL ready to work with Jayalalithaa; Prof Peiris writes to AIADMK Chief - In spite of newly elected Tamil Nadu Chief Minister AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa Jayaram urging the Indian government to act against President Mahinda Rajapaksa for, what she called, war crimes and genocide of Sri Lankan Tamils, the government of Sri Lanka is keen to work with the new administration. A senior External Affairs Ministry official told The Island yesterday that External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris had sent the AIADMK Chief a congratulatory letter a few days back. Another official emphasized the importance of having a dialogue with the Tamil Nadu administration for the benefit of the Tamil speaking people of Sri Lanka. In the run-up to the last week’s polls, Jayalalithaa urged the Centre to take immediate steps to make the Sri Lankan leader and top military officials stand trial in the International Court of Justice for alleged war crimes. A section of the Indian media said the letter — short but crisp — was an "unprecedented" gesture on the part of Sri Lankan government and Peiris had not just wished her well but also indicated Colombo’s intention to "work with her" for the welfare of the people of both countries. The AIADMK leader called on the Indian government to take measures against the Sri Lanka president for alleged war crimes and genocide of Tamils (Island : 18 May 2011).

External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris meets Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh .... - External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris meets Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh during his recently concluded three-day visit to New Delhi (Island ; 18 May 2011).

Rejoice O’ Srilanka, for the Paradise regained on 18 May 2009 - By Lenin Benedict-Toronto It was on this day, May the 18th of 2009 which marked the end of Terrorism and Separatism in Srilanka. This was the historic day that brought Peace to all Srilankans and Democracy to Tamils in the North and East. It was May 18th guns were silenced. This May 18th is the day that unified the entire country as ‘One Sri Lanka’. This is the day we regained the lost portion of our paradise from the Vanni Regime. It is the day our beloved Motherland, the Paradise of the East crushed and thrashed out the evil forces. So Rejoice O’ Srilanka, It’s your Day. It was 18 May 2009, Sri Lankans in homeland and around the world came together to celebrate the most victories day in their life. The jubilant mood in Sri Lanka and Sri Lankans throughout the world when they heard Pirapaharan was killed is nothing less than of the jubilant mood of the people of United States of America, when Terrorist leader Osama was killed. Sri Lanka fought its war within its boundaries and enemy within. The Sri Lankan Armed forces with its limited capabilities encountered the world most ruthless Terrorist evil force and won the war, not doing a covert operation but faced the enemy with courage in the field. The death toll of Americans in September 2011 was only 3000 and if the revenge taken by Americans was celebrated in such a grand manner, how much should you rejoice and celebrate you Sri Lanka for loosing thousands and thousands of innocent civilians over three decades of Terrorist war? This was the day you’re longing for, aren’t you Sri Lanka? So Rejoice O’ Sri Lanka . It’s your day on earth (Asian Tribune ; 18 May 2011).

‘Lion cub’ won’t fly again Curtain rings down on illustrious No 10 Squadron - By Shamindra Ferdinando - The No 10 Fighter Squadron, consisting of Israeli-built Kfirs (the Hebrew term for Lion cub), considered the vanguard of the SLAF operations against the LTTE since 1996, is unlikely to fly again. The SLAF grounded Kfirs on March 1, 2011 after a mid-air collision during a rehearsal destroyed two aircraft killing one pilot, while the other ejected. SLAF Commander Air Marshal Harsha Abeywickrema ordered a high level inquiry into the accident. The SLAF headquarters is in the process of finalizing the report before it being handed over to Air Marshal Abeywickrema. The No 10 Squadron will not join the planned fly past on May 27 over Galle Face to mark the second anniversary of Sri Lanka’s military victory over the LTTE. The LTTE collapsed on the banks of the Nanthikadal lagoon on May 19 with the killing of its leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. SLAF spokesman Wing Commander Andrew Wijesuriya said since the conclusion of the war in May 2009, the role of the service had changed. Responding to a query by The Island, Wijesuriya asserted that the task of the multi-role Kfirs had diminished and the service would have to gradually phase out aircraft and equipment, which weren’t required in the post-war era (Island : 18 May 2011).

Tigers forced Dutch Tamils pay war tax - Tamils in the Netherlands have been forced to donate money to the LTTE, to pay for its war against Sri Lanka’s government. Dutch court authorities say the Tigers held those people in ‘a stranglehold’, forcing them to pay a ‘war tax’. The investigation has been going on for two years. Several people have been arrested, including the alleged leader of the Dutch branch of the Tigers. Court documents, published by Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad, say that the Tamil Tigers systematically extorted large sums of money from Dutch Tamils. If they refused, they were threatened with reprisals. Tens of thousands of Tamils live in the Netherlands. The majority came to the country after the Tamil separatist war broke out in the mid-1980’s. The Tamil Tigers have been listed as a terrorist organisation in EU-countries such as the Netherlands since 2006. The Netherlands is not the first European country where Tamils have been arrested for money laundering and extortion. Last year, Tamils in Switzerland and the UK were arrested for the same reason. While the Dutch Tamils are still awaiting trial, in the UK and Switzerland several people have already been convicted (Island ; 18 May 2011).

Message from Big Brother - India has asked Sri Lanka to devolve power, probe human rights violations and withdraw emergency regulations, among other things. This kind of diplomatic pressure amounts to interference in this country's internal affairs, but in diplomacy and war, might is right whether one likes it or not. However, unlike in the 1980s, when India harassed Sri Lanka, one may argue, during the past few years India has acted in such a manner that it has some moral right to resort to persuasive diplomacy to make her southern neighbour improve its human rights record and honour its devolution pledges. India may have blown hot and cold about eliminating the scourge of LTTE terror owing to domestic and international pressure but the fact remains that it did not go the whole hog to stop military operations in the Vanni much to the consternation of LTTE backers in Tamil Nadu including Karunanidhi and Jayalalithaa. Had it sided with the western bloc which went all out to save the LTTE leadership, albeit in vain, Sri Lanka's war effort would certainly have collapsed. India was also one of the countries instrumental in thwarting an attempt by the West to block an IMF standby facility for Sri Lanka. In the aftermath of the war, India also joined forces with Sri Lanka in Geneva to defeat a move to launch a human rights witch hunt (Island ; 18 May 2011).

Attempting to drag President Rajapaksa before ICC will undermine his efforts at reconciliation - by Kath Noble - Two years have passed since the Sri Lankan armed forces shot and killed Tamil Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and brought an end to their generation long conflict, yet the country is still struggling to move on. Allegations of war crimes have not gone away. Nor have calls for a ‘political solution’ – a package of measures to address the perceived grievances of the minority communities. And President Rajapaksa continues to deal with these problems in the same way as he always has done, converting external pressure into increased support for his government domestically. The publication last month of the report by a panel set up to advise the UN Secretary General on reconciliation in Sri Lanka reminded us of how little the international community has managed to achieve in the country. It inflamed both Sinhalese and Tamil passions while saying absolutely nothing new. At best, it will prompt the Sri Lankan government to offer some ‘sweeteners’ to get India on side – a deal for Indian companies to redevelop the port in Jaffna and build a new power plant in Trincomalee, plus the long-awaited Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. The question is – what use is that to Sri Lanka’s Tamils? Seeing the protests that are now coming up in India and around the world in response to the report by Marzuki Darusman et al – including the statement by Chief Minister Jayalalitha in her first television address after the Tamil Nadu election results were announced – it would be easy to make the mistake of thinking that their situation is as bad today as it was two years ago. That is clearly not the case. Two years ago, 300,000 Sri Lankan Tamils were being held hostage by the LTTE. They were living in tents, having been displaced multiple times from their homes. They had lost all their belongings. Their children were being forcibly recruited and sent to the frontlines with less training than a security guard at a mall. They were dying in large numbers. The Sri Lankan army’s shells were landing on them day and night. It was living hell. Today, there are no bombs. More than 280,000 IDPs have been resettled. Children are in schools. This is an achievement for which the Sri Lankan government deserves credit (Transcurrent ; 18 may 2011).

Medical specialists against UN report - More than 240 senior specialists and consultants in health care services in Sri Lanka, which include Presidents, Past Presidents, office bearers and members of the main Professional Medical Associations in the country, have signed a memorandum which was sent to the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon.In the memorandum, the medical specialists said: “We as professionals were appalled by the contents of the report to the Secretary General of the United Nations by the “Panel of Experts”. We have noted serious flaws in this report and feel that it is highly biased and prejudiced to a great extent. The panel has disregarded the fact that most violations of human rights and abductions were seen in defacto areas under the control of the LTTE rather than in areas managed by the government. The ‘shelling’ of hospitals and schools have been reported without verification”.They also said that It was obvious that the report would lead to both disruption and undermining of the prevailing peace and harmony among all ethnic groups in the country and was sad to note that this report appears at a time of peace and reconciliation when the harsh memories of the conflict are fading from the minds of people, of all communities. The memorandum also pointed various acts of terror that were carried out by the LTTE during the war period. The signatories also called on the United Nations to “disregard the report by this “Panel of Experts” and lend your fullest support for the rehabilitation and rebuilding efforts of the government to ensure the objectives of the UN charter are met” adding that they believed the report with all its flaws and biased views “will fester the healing wounds, disrupt the peace and harmony we have achieved and thereby shatter our dreams of achieving lasting unity and friendship” (Daily Mirror ; 18 May 2011).

Children and the chocolates that survived at Mullivaaikkaal - by Professor Rajiva Wijesinha, MP - In the claims and counter-claims swirling around about what happened in the last days of the conflict, logic and intelligence seem to have gone by default. There is little effort to look at evidence, and to consider the wider implications of the few facts that can be discerned. One assertion that there is no reasons to think false is the fact, as reported in Wikileaks, that the ‘Norwegian DCM told PolOff that a priest in Jaffna had called her to say that another priest in the conflict zone had called him on a satellite phone. He said he was with a group of 40 children, who were pinned down in bunkers in the conflict zone and dared not move because of intensive incoming shelling.’ Wikileaks does not tell us what happened afterwards, but the Norwegian DCM is now the ambassador and, when I asked her about this statement, she was able to tell me that the story had a happy ending. The pastor and the children were brought to safety. This happened, she said, after a message about their existence was conveyed to the Sri Lankan authorities, though it could not be affirmed that it was that information that had led to the children being kept safe (Daily News : 18 May 2011).

Call for LTTE ban in Norway - Norway must follow the European Union and proscribe the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) in the country says a Norwegian parliamentarian. Chairman of the Defence and Security committee of the opposition Conservative Party, Peter Gitmark says that it is wrong to allow the Tamil Tigers to operate in Norway. Confirming the recent detention of a leading LTTE activist by the Norwegian Police, the MP says Perimpanayagam Sivaparan, also known as Nediyawan is wanted by the Police of the Netherlands. “We have an investigative team coming from the Netherlands to question him. I also hope the Norwegian police would be able to interrogate this man to shed information on the LTTE activities in the Norway,” said Gitmark. “LTTE was a major player in the civil war in Sri Lanka. UN report on the civil war has condemned both the government and the LTTE in the strongest of words when it comes to war crimes.” He also claimed that there are recent reports of LTTE illegal fundraising in the Norway. “I think it is not in the interest of the people of Sri Lanka for the LTTE to raise money in Norway and other places to renew its violent struggle against the government of Sri Lanka.” The Conservative Party MP told the BBC. “There had been numerous recent reports on the LTTE raising money in the Norway. I have urged the Norwegian police to take immediate action to see if this is the case and if that is the case to punish the responsible.” Dutch police however had not revealed the details of the interrogation of Nediyawan. In April 2010, Police in Netherlands arrested several Tamil community leaders in the country. Computers, paperwork, phones, documents, photos, DVDs and a sum totalling more than 40,000 Euros were seized. “Among the suspects are the leaders of various organisations of Tamils in the Netherlands, which probably play a role in the international network of the LTTE,” the justice ministry said in a statement. Leaders of the Tamil Co-ordinating Committee (TCC), the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO), the Tamil Youth Organisation (TYO), the Tamil Women Organisation (TWO) and the Tamil Arts and Cultural Organization Netherlands (TKCO), are believed to be among the suspects. Norwegian parliamentarian Peter Gitmark also blamed the government of Sri Lanka for continues violation of human rights (The Nation ; 22 May 2011).

'Security Forces can make a difference' - by Ridma Dissanayake - 'Sri Lanka's three security forces and the Police are the only team in the world who can make a different in the world's history. They showed this by defeating terrorism in Sri Lanka,said Higher Education Minister S B Dissanayake addressing the inauguration ceremony of the instructors' training programme which was held at the Panagoda Army Headquarters. 'Countries such as Russia and India failed to defeat terrorism within their countries unlike Sri Lanka he added. "LTTE was the most powerful terrorist group in the world. They had a suicide force, child combatonts with international influence. 'With the guidance of our President and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and the strength of our three forces and Police, we have defeated terrorism in Sri Lanka successfully," the minister said. 'As university students are the future of Sri Lanka the Higher Education Ministry had made all arrangements to provide them leadership training by the forces. 'These students who do not have much experience in their lives need additional skills to meet challenges, the minister said. "I believe that the three forces and the Police will treat these students well. 'They will have an enjoyable period and a good training," he added (Daily News : 18 May 2011).

Were diplomats invited to watch live coverages of Bin Laden being hunted? - Minister Premajayantha - by Nadira Gunatilleke - Sri Lanka will keep the international community informed about what happened during the humanitarian operation of May 2009. This country will keep different forums informed about these developments but not respond to the controversial Darusman Report, Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha told the Daily News in an interview (Daily News : 18 May 2011).

Let us bow our heads to those who sacrificed their future to make ours better .......! - It’s been two years since we achieved total freedom over the brutal LTTE terrorism which made us suffer for nearly 3 decades. 18th May 2009 - is the day in which our valiant troops conquered brutal LTTE terrorism relieving every Sri Lankan from suffering and misery.... For nearly 3 decades, Sri Lanka had had many hardships with the ruthless actions of the LTTE terrorist group. The month of May in year 2009, every patriotic Sri Lankan was waiting to hear the news on the victory over LTTE terrorism, which was once termed as "invincible" by the shameless LTTE-proxy international elements. Having captured once LTTE strongholds Pooneryn, Elephant-Pass, Kilinochchi - the Dream Capital of yellow-belly Prabhakaran and Mulativu, Sri Lankan Armed Troops cornered the so called "powerful" LTTE terrorists in to a small strip of land in Pudumathalan. Eventually, our dedicated troops were able to rescue the innocent civilians kept as a Human Shield by the LTTE. The remaining carders and leaders of the LTTE terrorist group were also destroyed, sweeping out terrorism from the Island totally...! (Sinhalaya.Com : 18 May 2011).

Canadian Supreme Court has ordered the expulsion of a leading LTTE sea tiger - Canadian Supreme Court has ordered to expel former leading figure of LTTE sea force, Vigu Vignashvaran alias Vigu from Canada. The sea tiger leader has requested political asylum in Canada and Canadian Supreme Court has rejected his appeal. Canadian CID and emigration and immigration department have presented video tapes that show the suspect conducting military operations for the LTTE to the Supreme Court. Vigu is the second LTTE carder who has been evicted by the Canadian Supreme Court (Sinhale Hot News : 18 may 2011).

Dutch Tamils arrested for illegal Tigers fundraising

Dutch Tamils arrested for illegal Tigers fundraising - Tamils in the Netherlands have been forced to donate money to the LTTE, the Tamil separatist army, to pay for its war against Sri Lanka’s government army. Dutch court authorities say the Tigers held these people in ‘a stranglehold’, forcing them to pay a ‘war tax’. The investigation has been going on for two years. Several people have been arrested, including the alleged leader of the Dutch branch of the Tigers (Radio Netherlands Worldwide ; 17 May 2011).

Sri Lanka intercepts Canada-bound LTTE propaganda material - Sri Lankan authorities have discovered Tamil Tiger propaganda material inside a cargo container bound for Canada from the Tamil Nadu port of Chennai through Colombo. The authorities on Tuesday have asked the police to investigate the shipment from Chennai and detained the Canada-bound container with a consignment of promotional material for the terrorist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). "There were 45 cartons of LTTE books to an address in Canada," an AFP report quoting a police official said. Sri Lankan security forces vanquished the LTTE organization within the island two years ago but the rebels are active and continuing their struggle for a separate homeland overseas among the Tamil diaspora and in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu which is home to 80 million Tamils. The Sri Lankan government has repeatedly warned that although the rebels are no longer a threat in the country they are secretly trying to re-group and operating camps in Tamil Nadu. Sri Lankan Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne has said that the Tamil Tiger leaders in the United States and Norway are trying to review the separatist movement again (Colombo page : 17 May 2011).

Sri Lankan Sports Minister seeks cricketing talent in war torn regions - The Sri Lankan sports minister, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, is seeking young cricketing talent in Mullaitivu, a former stronghold of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). A talent identification camp has been set up in the zone that has little to no representation in domestic and national cricket teams of Sri Lanka. Talking to the media, Mahindananda said, “There are many talented sports persons in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. However, due to the war, these talents could not be discovered and these talented youth could not participate in the national squads.” Sri Lanka has been witnessing bitter civil war since the 1970s. The two ethnic groups, Sinhalese and Tamils, have been engaged in mutual bloodshed. In the past, Tamils occupied many key areas and zones of the country. Now, there have been effected a temporary ceasefire. However, the Tamil rebels still want to create a separate homeland. At the first day of the talent identification camp, almost 1000 persons participated. The minister was there to interact with and know about the aspirant cricketers who may play at domestic and International level. The Mullaitivu zone is packed with abundant cricket talent. There are many youngsters who have not been able to pursue their academic and professional careers due to the long war but they have the potential and passion to excel in the field of cricket. Now, they want to adopt cricket as a profession. Mahindananda said, “We will develop sports in these Provinces as well as select more sports persons to the national squads from now on.” The world’s top wicket-taker, Muttiah Muralitharan, hails from Mallaithivu. Having ruled for almost two decades with the ball, the legend has retired from international cricket (Better.com : 17 May 2011).

Pillayan loyal and two others arrested for the killing of Sri Lankan Deputy Minister's aide - Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Sri Lanka has arrested three persons under suspicion for last week's killing of coordinating secretary of Deputy Minister Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna Amman, police said. One of the arrested persons is a local government councilor identified as Edwin Krishnananda Silva alias Pradeep Master of Tamil People's Liberation Tigers (TMVP) led by Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan. Reportedly Chief Minister Chandrakanthan has lodged a strong protest over the manner of the arrest with government officials at the highest level. The police, TMVP officials say, have not given a reason for the arrest to Pradeep Master's family members. The murder is suspected to be a result of a clash between the two rival groups. Deputy Minister Muralitharan, who was the Eastern Commander of Tamil Tiger terrorists, broke away from the LTTE and formed TMVP. Later he joined the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party. Madyalahan alias Madhi , the coordinating secretary of the Minister was shot dead at his house on May 12 (Colombo Page ; 17 May 2011).

Northern healthcare, govt priority - Minister The government has begun rebuilding the conflict-affected Northern province. Over 75 new healthcare institutions have been set up in this region to provide services to the newly resettled population. A large number of healthcare personnel including specialists have been posted to these areas and the government has also supplied essential medical equipment, said Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena addressing the 64th World Health Assembly yesterday. The 64th World Health Assembly commenced at the WHO Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland yesterday under the leadership of WHO General Director Dr Margaret Chan. “We all are aware that the whole world is passing through turbulent times. Health systems are being challenged by unprecedented factors such as natural calamities, climate change, emerging and re-emerging diseases and non communicable diseases leading to growing vulnerability of the health sector,” Minister Sirisena said.  He said therefore the WHO as the leader in global health and all member states and partners, have a greater responsibility in overcoming the difficulties faced by the health sector to promote primary healthcare, improve equity, achieve universal coverage and fulfil community aspirations (Daily News ; 17 May 2011).

Nation salutes War Heroes on May 27 - by Sandasen Marasinghe - The National War Heroes' Memorial to offer the nation's salute to the valiant men who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the motherland, will be held on May 27 under President Mahinda Rajapaksa's patronage. The first National War Heroes Memorial Flag will be pinned on President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees at 11.30 am. The War Heroes Memorial Month from May 19 to June 19 will be declared by the President on the same day. Media Centre for National Security, Director General Lakshman Hulugalla told a press conference yesterday that although special attention is paid to the war heroes during the War Heroes Memorial Month, the government is dedicated to provide welfare to the families of war heroes and disabled war heroes on the President's instructions. He added that President has instructed measures to be taken uplift the mental state of war heroes' family members. Hulugalla stated that National War Heroes Memorial Flags will be handed over to the Governors by the President at Temple Trees on May 19 to make them available to the public in the respective provinces for the public to purchase. The MCNS Director General said that after the victory parade at the Galle Face Green on May 27 a salute of the nation to Army, Navy, Air Force and Police war heroes, who sacrificed their lives for the unity of the motherland, will be held in the evening opposite the War Heroes Memorial at Parliament ground, Kotte. Ranaviru Seva Authority chairperson Padma Wettewa said that War Heroes memorial ceremonies will be held at provincial level from May 20 to 26. The Central Province ceremony will be held on May 20. The Northern Province, Eastern Province and Uva Province ceremonies will be held on May 21. The North Central Province ceremony will be held on May 24 while Sabaragamuwa Province and North Western Province ceremonies will be held on May 25. The Northern Province ceremony will be held on May 26 (Daily News ; 17 May 2011).

Allow Lanka to attain stability in post war period: Vietnam - By Sandun A. Jayasekera - The international community should give priority to helping Sri Lanka attain stability and development rather than complicating the situation any further, the newly appointed Vietnam ambassador Ton Sinh Thanh said yesterday. He said the issues related to the final stage of the war against LTTE terrorist forces should be resolved in an objective, just and reliable manner and when doing so the position of the Sri Lankan government should also be taken note of. Addressing a felicitation ceremony held at the Russian Cultural Center by the Sri Lanka–Vietnam solidarity movement to felicitate and welcome him, Mr. Than said the Vietnamese government hoped that the Sri Lankan government and the United Nations would continue their close cooperation to solve the issues in accordance with the spirit of the UN Charter and international law, ensuring the respect of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka.Expressing his appreciation to Sri Lanka for what he called, ‘its great victory in the war against terrorism and for its outstanding achievements in the current process of reconciliation and reconstruction’ Mr. Than said the end of the war had not only opened a new era of peace and prosperity for Sri Lankan people but also a favourable stage for other countries, including Vietnam to develop cooperation with Sri Lanka. “That is why we believe that the re-opening of Vietnam Embassy in Colombo is a timely decision,” he stressed (Daily Mirror ; 17 May 2011).

Post-war destabilization campaign: Norway raises its ugly head again

Post-war destabilization campaign: Norway shows its hand again - Former Norwegian FM State Secretary Egeland supports fresh move by eelamists - By Shamindra Ferdinando - The Norwegian government is stepping up pressure on Sri Lanka over war crimes allegations, with the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) throwing its weight behind a call by Norway-based National Council for Eelam Tamils to initiate international criminal proceedings against Sri Lankan political and military leaders. Well informed sources told The Island that the Norwegian eelamists had been in touch with the NIIA headed by one-time State Secretary of the Norwegian Foreign Ministry Jan Egeland (1992-1997), who publicly endorsed the move recently. Sources alleged that in spite of Norway publicly assuring Sri Lanka of support for national reconciliation efforts, it was carrying out a high intensity anti-Sri Lanka campaign. Responding to a query by The Island, sources said that NIIA had been placed under the purview of Ministry of Research and Education. Egeland took over the institute on Sept 1, 2007 for a six-year term. Sources said that Egeland had from 2003 to 2006, held the post of UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and UN Emergency Relief Coordinator. Egeland represented the interests of the Norwegian government. He held several important positions in Norway and the UN system and was also involved with the Amnesty International. A section of the Norwegian press recently quoted Egeland as having said that the move by Norwegian Tamils would create new legal ground in Norway. for Eelam Tamils whether it at least once appealed to the LTTE to return to the negotiating table, stop recruitment of children or stop provoking the Sri Lankan government, External Affairs Ministry sources told The Island. Commenting on the forthcoming release of an evaluation of the Norwegian role in Sri Lanka by the Christian Michelsen Institute (CMI), funded by Norway, a senior Defence official said that Sri Lanka knows the CMI’s perspective. The CMI receives funding through Research Council of Norway (NFR), which in turn is funded by the Norwegian Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research. The official pointed out that as in the case of the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, the Ministry of Education and Research had been involved with the CMI. Gunnar M. Sorbo, who had held several positions in several Norwegian institutions, including NFR and the Agency for International Development now heads the CMI (Island : 16 May 2011).

Deputy Norwegian FM on global ‘war on terror’ - The Norwegian media recently quoted the Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide as having said the threat of terror groups taking over Pakistan was "a very big issue."  Eide called for global support to democratic forces in that country to prevent terrorists from gaining control of its nuclear weapons. Inaugurating a seminar on "Strategic Planning for a Complex World" in Norway, Eide said the real issues the West deals with in Afghanistan in the war on terror was more related to Pakistan.  "The prospects of Jihad take-over in Pakistan...the least we do is to follow a strategy to prevent that from happening. That (take over) can happen and it has to be through a strong engagement with those in Pakistan who are trying to prevent that we can re-establish some kind of decent democratic and civilian control. It is a very big issue," Eide said.  The event was organized by the Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) and the Norwegian Institute of Defence Studies (NIDS) here.  "You are very concerned and we are very concerned. Our primary military engagement in the world is in Afghanistan and it is very much related to the Pakistani dynamics. So we will support (efforts to prevent Jihad takeover of Pakistan) it very closely," he said in reply to questions from participants.  Eide noted that he need not emphasize to an Indian audience the dangers of terrorism, particularly in neighbouring Pakistan.  "The West’s focus on Afghanistan has gradually turned into what in American lingo is called the ‘Af-Pak’ (Afghanistan-Pakistan).  It then became Pak-Af (Pakistan-Afghanistan) and now it is increasingly Pak-Pak (Pakistan-Pakistan).  "I think that is recognition that the real issues we are dealing with in Afghanistan is actually more related to Pakistan. I don’t think I have to tell this to India," the Norwegian deputy minister said.  On the issue of cyber warfare, in which China was gaining strength by the day, Eide said the issue was "a fast-growing" international agenda "as a phenomenon...as a threat, we have to be deal with."  On the issue of sea piracy, Eide said much of it was taking place in the Indian Ocean, particularly the Gulf of Aden (Island : 16 May 2011).

Pro-LTTE Diaspora groups end up with egg on face - by Shamindra Ferdinando - The Government of Sri Lanka believes the European countries can play a pivotal role in helping post- war reconciliation efforts by thwarting hostile actions by a section of the Tamil Diaspora. Ambassador Ravinath Arysinha says those Diaspora elements are a grave impediment to peace and national reconciliation in spite of eradication of terrorism. In response to a query raised by The Island following last Thursday’s (12) defeat in the European Parliament of a call to set up an international war crimes investigation in Sri Lanka, Ambassador Arysinha asserted that this could be an important turning point in the EU in relation to ongoing dispute over Sri Lanka’s victory over terrorism. "We should use this opportunity to reach out to European governments, political parties, political groups and even key individuals to set the record straight. We shouldn’t allow them to be deceived and exploited by those bent on destabilizing Sri Lanka," the diplomat said. The Diaspora was engaged in a massive sordid operation to destroy the country in the guise of seeking justice for Tamil civilians, deprived of peace, justice and dignity even at the conclusion of the war in May 2009. Had the Diaspora groups been genuinely interested in peace, they would have strongly opposed to the LTTE quitting the peace process way back in April 2003. Ambassador Arysinha said that those demanding international war crimes investigation should be able to produce evidence of their attempts to save peace process managed by the Norwegians and Co-Chairs to the Peace Process comprising Norway, US, EU and Japan. The bottom line was that those shedding crocodile tears for civilians today never demanded foreign intervention as long they felt the LTTE could achieve its eelam project through military means. Ambassador Arysinha alleged that the recent attempt to move an EU Resolution against Sri Lanka had been a critical element in their destabilization campaign directed against Sri Lanka. The Ambassador said: "The objective of the Greens and the Socialists who introduced this Resolution in the first place, and later the Socialists who moved an oral amendment to seek the ‘immediate establishment of an international justice mechanism on Sri Lanka’, was largely to use the controversial Darusman Report to try to build political opinion within Europe, in a bid to set up an international mechanism." (Island ; 16 May 2011).

G.L briefs India on UN - External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris briefed his Indian counterpart S. M. Krishna on the UN panel report, during a meeting in New Delhi yesterday. The meeting took place at the Oberoi hotel in New Delhi and was attended by Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, MP Sajin Vaas Gunawardena and India’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Askok Kantha. Minister G.L. Peiris and Minister S.M Krishna also discussed various issues of bilateral and regional interest to the two nations, officials said (Island : 16 May 2011).

What the Superpowers did to Somalia & Zimbabwe:That is our fate if we are not united and not smart - By Garvin Karunaratne, Ph.D. - Somalia was once a country with a vibrant economy. That was not far away- it was all in the Sixties. Earlier it had been a nomadic country that developed its agriculture and liuvestock. There the last ruler was Said Barre. He drew enormous help-loans, from Soviet Russia to develop his county. Those were the days when the USA vyied for power with Soviet Russia. Said Barre turned to the USA, that offered more liberal loans. In that process the country got into debt that it could sustain only by getting further loans- funds from further loans enabled it to pay the debt service (interest and part payments due on the loans).  Then came the crash- the USA under President Ronald Regan took President Gorbachev for a ride. Gorbachev under the influence of the West came up with his Perestroika and Glasnost- free market, liberalization and transparency. These concepts imposed on a country so far managed by Communism resulted in the crash of the Soviet Union as a major power. Then the USA reneged on its ally, Somalia, because its strategic position was no longer important to them. Without loans the Somalian economy crashed. The Government failed to hold the country together. That was in 1991. Chiefs and brigands took control over many areas. Aided, one of the chiefs held power for a while and the country disintegrated. Today the well to do- those who were rich have scrambled their way to the UK. This was in the Nineties and I had a number of them in my Third World study classes at Westminster. They were telling of what had befallen their country. Later, many also found their way as illegal immigrants to Britain and other European countries. Within London itself there are pockets of Somalian refugees. Those who were left in Somalia had no incomes, no employment and the government itself decamped at times to Kenya and to Ethiopia. The USA stepped in, sent a force of commandoes that got smashed up and retreated There are 1.5 million people displaced and 3.5 millions on the verge of starvation today. The most lucrative employment open now is that of pirating and they pirate anything on the seas- ocean liners, luxury yachtsmen, tourists and tankers- all released on money and otherwise pilfered, even murdered. The unwritten information is that the money taken as ransom from pirating end in the homes of Somalians in Kenya who are buying up real estate (LankaWeb : 16 May 2011).

Pradeep Master arrested - Top TMVP official Pradeep Master was arrested by the police in Batticaloa yesterday evening, TMVP sources said. According to TMVP officials a reason for the arrest was not submitted to the TMVP or the family members of Pradeep Master. TMVP sources also said that Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanasethurai Chandrakanthan has lodged a strong protest over the arrest with government officials at the highest level. The arrest follows twin killings in Batticaloa last week in two separate incidents of supporters of Chandrakanthan and Minister Vinayagamurthi Muralitharan alias Karuna. Both Chandrakanthan and Minister Muralitharan have been at loggerheads over several issues and the recent killings were also believed to have been connected to the rift. Police Chief Mahinda Balasuriya had visited the East over the weekend to asses the security situation following the twin murders (Island ; 16 May 2011).

Reject UNSG’s panel report: Why? - Durand Appuhamy, Negombo  - This is an ordinary citizen’s short version of the cogent reasons for the opposition to and rejection of UNSG’s Panel’s report.  1. UN Secretary General (UNSG) is an employee of the UN. As such he cannot sit in judgment over any member of the UN. He is there to carry out the biddings of the UN and its authorized institutions. He should maintain strict neutrality among the members of the UN. This he has failed to do in this case.  2. UNSG’s terms of employment do not permit him to seek advice from outside the UN in the form of formal reports for utilization as a UN document. Such advice, if sought, should remain as personal and private advice, no more. UNSG did admit to this position when he appointed the Panel as well as subsequent to their appointment. He openly stated that this Panel was not a fact finding or an investigative commission. He deceived us all by publishing the Panel’s Report thereby he also exposed the diabolical motives behind this damaging Report, which, in reality is ultra vires the UNSG’s contract of employment.  3. Two of the Panel members have been exposed as openly anti-Sri Lankan advocates, while the third is under financial dependency on EU which stopped GSP+ on mere allegations of Human Rights violation by the government. This member is also under the direct influence of a clergyman who has spoken against Sri Lanka. Thus one cannot expect an impartial and independent Report from such persons so blatantly biased against Sri Lanka. 4. This Report is full of general allegations against the security forces. None of them is proved. In fact they admit that those allegations are all based on their subjective determination of credibility. The Panel also admits that their long narration of allegations (paras 55 to 245) "should NOT be taken as proven facts". Yet they brazenly bestow on them the status of sacrosanct facts indicative of Crimes against Humanity (paras 245to 251,259,260) by our security forces. Can you accept this contradiction? (Island ; 16 May 2011).

Jayalalitha’s dog and pony show a futile attempt at mass hysteria - By Philip Fernando -  AIADMK leader Jayalalitha is acting like Prabhakaran’s avatar beating the war drums in Tamil Nadu after becoming Chief Minister. The mass hysteria she feigns is nothing but a testament to her conflicting interests with New Delhi. So her rhetorical onslaught seemed directed at Sonia and Rahul Gandhi in order to drown Tamil Nadu’s gargantuan economic crisis. Ironically, Rajiv Gandhi took a direct hit from the psychotic Prabhakaran. Now Jayalalitha re-enacts the insipid melodrama periodically talking of a mythical Eelam. The dog and pony show reappears whenever the turf battles get hot in Tamil Nadu. At the height of the terror war in 2008, Jayalalitha espoused military intervention by India in Sri Lanka even though she knew fully well that that it would never work. Jayalalitha’s sabre rattling gambit rises in direct proportion to the impasse she faces in trying to salvage her state. She is precariously poised with plenty of domestic opposition and crippling hostility expected from the central government –uncertainties abound and she does the gig like a puppet on a string (LankaWeb : 16 May 2011).

Three (un)wise monkeys and controversial Darusman Report - Dr Tilak Fernando When bin Laden attacked Twin Towers on 9/11, America’s prestige as the most powerful nation was reduced to zero. Naturally Americans were embarrassed. Prabakaran brought mayhem to Sri Lanka for 30 long years. President Mahinda Rajapaksa, after taking over the reins of Executive Powers of the country, had one pinpointed ambition to ‘free the country’ from the terrorist grip. To his credit he successfully managed to achieve his goal in less than three years. In the eyes of big Western powers Sri Lanka was considered only as another developing nation. Her bravery and guts in annihilating the most coldblooded terrorist outfit in the world met with despondency and adversity, particularly by America and Britain, which in comparable terms appeared as a ‘slap in their face’, thus denuding their double standards. umiliated Western powers soon had to find a solution to conceal their embarrassment. Meanwhile a residue of LTTE supporters in the name of a Tamil diaspora came to Westerners rescue. Millions of LTTE dollars were poured into a well calculated modus operandi to discredit a nation which should have been acclaimed and applauded for their valour (LankaWeb : 16 May 2011).

Hemantha returns to Rome - Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Rome Hemantha Warnakulasuriya, who returned home over the weekend to attend his Mother’s funeral, takes flight today to return to his post in Rome, which he is due to relinquish soon. Ambassador Warnakulasuriya returns to his post to have everything in order for his successor, Asitha Perera to take over as Ambassador. During his stint as Ambassador, Warnakulasuriya was responsible for, causing a big dent in the LTTE funding network operating in Italy, preventing a licence being issued to an LTTE TV channel uploading from Milan and the arrest of 30 LTTE suspects with the help of the DIGOS and the Ministry of the Interior. He was also responsible for making life more easier for the Sri Lankan Diaspora in Italy by conducting mobile Consular services in various parts of the country, recommending to the Italian government that the Sri Lankan driving licence be accepted for which the agreement is to be signed tomorrow, suggesting that Sri Lankans employed in Italy be entitled to pensions on retirement and return to Sri Lanka, without having to remain in Italy for which the agreement is to be signed soon (Island : 16 May 2011).

Role of Norwegian Embassy in Sri Lanka under scanner

Darusman Report seeking to discriminate against Sri Lanka - Gomin Dayasri - by CHAMIKARA WEERASINGHE - Following are the excerpts of the interview: At a time when Sri Lanka is engaged in bringing the country’s communities together through a process of restorative justice, the controversial Darusman Report is intent on having retributive justice, to punish one party to the conflict. This is a discriminatory practice of targeting the victorious party, which is Sri Lanka. The Report has the potential of re-opening healing wounds and of gravely harming the reconciliation process, leading lawyer Gomin Dayasri told the Daily News in an interview. Question: Is it not Sri Lanka’s responsibility to take this Report on alleged human rights violations seriously? Dayasri: It is not a UN report nor does it bear the stamp of the UN. It was not initiated by the members of the UN or its prime body the Security Council, but by a paid employee of the UN and not on directions from the members of the UN. Moon is on a solo run. This appointment was made at the personal initiative of the UN Secretary General exercising his own personal discretion. The panel is his personal choice and it has no official UN sanction. He does not reveal who influenced him to take this route. Let him be transparent to say who motivated him. UN has where necessary carried out inquiries on violations of human rights. But UN has made no decision to hold such an inquiry against Sri Lanka. Q: It is assumed that human rights violations can take place during a phase of war. Is it wrong on the part of the UN Secretary General to appoint a panel of experts according to his discretion to make an accountability report on such violations? Dayasri: In this 30 year long war the LTTE carried out such atrocities that it was internationally recognized as a terrorist organization. But the SG never thought it necessary to ask for a report during the whole or part of the 30-year war when the LTTE leadership was alive and indulging in acts of terrorism. Moon was in office (Daily News : 16 May 2011).

What if not Re-merger now? - It takes a lot of courage, and both the Government and more particularly the TNA have displayed it in an abundant measure. In the midst of the controversy kicked off by the report of the panel set up by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the two sides met twice and continued with their talks – one over rehabilitation issues and the other on reconciliation. Now even as the dust is settling down over the political controversies, they have met again this week. Yet, the willingness to meet should not be confused with willingness to talk. Neither should be confused with a willingness to acknowledge each other’s positions and for finding a middle-path, in the interim. There are issues from the past, whose real nature and relevance in the changed circumstances after three decades of war and violence, cannot be – and should not be – addressed, overnight. The solution could at times be worse than the problem, as perceived in a different era. The world has come a long way, since. There is merit in the Government position that the TNA is not the ‘sole representative’. The phraseology has an unpalatable connotation, too, and the Government should stop making ‘unintended’ (?) comparisons with the LTTE. The Government should not shy away from the TNA talking to Diaspora groups, which the latter has taken pains to deny. If the TNA is able to mainstream sections of the Diaspora, which the Government cannot hope to do any time now, it should be welcome. At the end of the day, the Sri Lankan State should act with confidence that it won back in the war (Daily Mirror ; 16 May 2011).

Violate sovereignty of countries, slaughter and torture! Under whose permission USA does these? -  USA, which preaches the world about supreme democracy, has come up with a newer version of Democracy by dismissing the sovereignty of a country and being ready to evade the sovereignty of a country like they did in Pakistan the other day -killing Osama, again if necessary. Furthermore, to support with, the US State Department spokesperson Mark Toner had said “carrying out the operation to kill Osama was well within US’s legal rights and US would again carry out a similar operation if needed”. Apparently this is the latest version of America’s democracy. Precisely, it is the twofold definition of America on Democracy. One - the latest - is for them and the other is for the Asian countries, especially on which they want the control of. Even the American activists, who raised their voice demanding the right for information, were never bothered to comment on America’s “re-phrased Democracy” (Sinhalaya.Com ; 16 May 2011).

Dr. Palitha Kohona defends Sri Lanka at UN Security Council Open Debate; 10th May, 2011, New York. 

Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN Dr. Palitha Kohona

(Read full statement of Dr Kohona's statement  in Sri Lanka News Online)

Are we serious about a solution based on Indo-Lanka Accord ?

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