Sri Lankan links

Friday 30 March 2007

Sri Lanka President inaugurates a program to uplift 12,000 villages in the country

Sri Lanka::

* Sri Lanka President inaugurates a program to uplift 12,000 villages in the country
Thursday, March 29, 2007, 13:26 GMT, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Mar 29, Colombo: Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa today inaugurated a massive development project to uplift 12,000 villages island-wide in 4000 Grama Niladari Divisions under the ‘Jathika Saviya - Gama Neguma’ program at Hindiyawala in Meerigama in the Gampaha district.

Addressing the ceremony the President said that the development should not be based on politics and up to this date Sri Lanka has not received any benefit from development programmes which did not involve its population in it.

“My life has been blessed by the winds of purity and fragrance that sweeps across the fields of kurakkan (millet) in our villages. The village life has also created a deep sense of love, affection, environmental consciousness and a spirit of innovation that had helped nurture the dream such that I have for all village communities of Sri Lanka. I am very keen to realize such a dream through the implementation of the “Gama Neguma”, the village upliftment program,” President said. Under the Jathika Saviya-Gama Neguma programme all villages in the island are scheduled to be developed in three stages. Within three years is a total number of 14,000 Grama Niladari Divisions will be developed.

The program aims to free the poor from the mentality of dependence on subsidies in the course of economic development and involve them actively in the process by convincing them that they are an essential component in development activities of the area.

Five ceremonies organized in connection with the main launching of the programme were held in five provinces. All development projects were launched in 4,000 Grama Niladari Divisions simultaneously.

Five Army soldiers killed in LTTE claymore explosion - Vavuniya

LTTE terrorists detonated a claymore mine targeting a tractor which carrying meals for the security forces personnel at Parayanakulam in Vavuniya this afternoon, Friday the 30th of March.

The tractor was moving along the Vavuniya - Mannar main road when it was targeted by the LTTE terrorists at 12.20 p.m, defence sources said.

Five army personnel who were on board were killed and another received injuries due to the explosion, sources further said.

A lorry carrying 15Mill steel balls and 800 Saline bottles to LTTE apprehended - Mannar

Security forces personnel duty at a road block at Pulleady Erakkam on the Madawachchiya - Mannar main road apprehended a lorry which was carrying steel balls and pharmaceutical items to the LTTE yesterday, Thursday the 29th of March.

The driver of the lorry, Subramanium Raveendran, and his subordinate, Gopal Panneer Selwam, were also arrested by the Police, Murunkan Police sources said.

Over 15million steel balls, 800 seline bottles, 25 Acid barrels (20L each), 06 Iron acid barrels (35L each), 90 Sugar bags (50Kg each), 10 dhal bags (25Kg each), 42 roles of Barbed wire and other pharmaceutical items were inside the lorry which was apprehended last evening.

"The lorry was loaded with the items in Colombo fort area and I was asked to deliver those items to Mannar", the driver stated. "The person who loaded items did not mention any name of a person whom to handover these items and he told me that I will be informed a person to handover once I reach to Mannar", the driver further stated.

The lorry and items were under Police custody along with the two suspects, police sources said.

SL Govt rejects UNP request to summon parliament

The Sri Lanka government has rejected the request made by Ranil Wickremasinghe, leader of the main opposition United National Party (UNP), to summon the parliament to debate the current security situation of the islan in the wake of the air strike carried out by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on the Katunayake air base, parliamentary sources said.

The Speaker two weeks go had put off the next sitting of the parliament for April 4.

Minister Nimal Sripala de Silva, Leader of the House, said the parliament would meet on April 4 and not before that date.

He said there is no need for an immediate debate the current security situation, sources said.

Tension mounts as LTTE attacks kill 14, raising over 50 civilian casualties

Recent static's showed an alarming rise of violence perpetrated against unarmed civilian targets by the reckless LTTE terrorists in the North and East areas since 21st March, with an estimated number of fourteen arbitrary killings while 53 civilians sustained serious injuries.

The latest escalation of LTTE violence were most prominent in the districts in Mannar, Jaffna and Batticaloa. Apart from LTTE gunmen attacks, the newest trend has been the continuous mortar shell fire towards areas populated with civilian settlements.

The civilian deaths reached 14, while the death figures resulted by the LTTE mortar attack at civilians settlements at Sittandikudi area, yesterday (29) increased to eight.

A seven year old child was amongst the victims of the latest spree of violence against civilians by the terrorist outfit.

Meantime, it is believed that over 8,000 IDPs temporarily settled around the Madu Church were forcibly marched into the un-cleared Vanni region, loaded into tractors of the LTTE to be used as 'Human shields' against a potential offensive stride by the security forces.

The Madu Church Priest, Fr. Emilius Pillai who recently critized the terrorist outfit for its 'Inhuman mode' of activities, against the IDPs and their hideous plot of abducting children between 12 to 17, is said to receive direct threats from the Vanni Tigers who are obsessed in fulfilling an individual's need

Thursday 29 March 2007

Sri Lankan airline's emergency response plan pays dividends

March 29 (LBO) – SriLankan airlines says its emergency procedures allowed it and Sri Lanka's main international airport to swing back into action within hours of a temporary closure earlier this week.

"I doubt that any other major airport in the world could have recovered as quickly as we did," Peter Hill, CEO of SriLankan said in a statement.

"I am very proud of the manner in which our staff coped with the challenges of the situation, first assisting in the safe evacuation of passengers, and then working smoothly and efficiently to resume normal operations.”

The airline said within three hours of the incident, its staff was ready to reopen all services at the airport for both inbound and outbound flights.

SriLankan is the sole ground handler at BIA and provides services which include handling of passengers, baggage and cargo, in-flight catering for all airlines.

The airline said its Emergency Response Plan was activated, within minutes of the incidend with key members of the management and staff working to ensure the safety of passengers, assisting stranded passengers, helping relatives searching for passengers, and resuming normal services at the airport and throughout the airline’s global route network.

“SriLankan Airlines staff undergo continuous training in facing just such a crisis, and we were able to minimize the level of disruption to our customers,” Yohan Pathirana, manager of SriLankan's airport service delivery, said.

Srilankan says all passengers were successfully evacuated from the Terminal Building during the Airport closure without any incident.

SriLankan Airlines staff had supported a Singapore Airlines flight, which had been on ground at the time of the attack, to make a delayed departure for Singapore as early as 3.30am.

“Not a single SriLankan Airlines flight was cancelled," Captain Milinda Ratnayake, Senior Manager Flight Operations, said.

"Aircraft that were in the air at the time of the incident were diverted to regional airports, and brought in to Colombo as soon as BIA opened. Departing flights were initially delayed for several hours, but we were getting back on schedule within 24 hours.”

The first SriLankan flight in to BIA, UL192 from New Delhi, landed at 5:53 a.m.

The first departing SriLankan flight, UL155 to Goa, was deliberately held back to wait for transit passengers arriving on delayed incoming flights, and took off at 7:30 a.m.

SriLankan had also launched its new service to Jeddah as scheduled, the airline’s 51st global destination, with the flight taking off from BIA at 3:45 p.m. on March 27.

The airline quoted Sri Lanka's tourism minister Milinda Moragoda, as saying: “I would like to acknowledge the important contribution of SriLankan Airlines, which supported the nation once again during its time of need.”

The airline’s Passenger Assistance Centre at the Airport Garden Hotel, and Crisis Communications Centre at the World Trade Centre, which are activated only during emergencies, were fully operational by 2:30 a.m.

Emergency telephone lines allowed passengers and others to establish the correct situation. Information was supplied to all local radio stations, giving regular updates, and also through e-mail and faxes to other media worldwide regarding the status of BIA and SriLankan flights.

“It was indeed impressive to witness a group of Sri Lankans working together for their country, carrying out countless tasks in the background with amazing attention to detail, according to a set plan," says Hill. Sri Lankan News

"In addition, calculated decisions were taken by the management of the airline on resuming normal operations, in consultation with other authorities, reopening the airport, bringing back our flights at the earliest opportunity so that passengers would not be stranded overseas.”

Sri Lanka Navy destroys three Tiger boats

Mar 29, Colombo: Sri Lanka naval fast attack crafts attacked and destroyed three Tiger boats off Alampil in the eastern coast on Wednesday night, the Navy said.

Sri Lanka Navy Fast Attack Crafts patrolling along the coast last night have detected a suspicious LTTE flotilla of about 10 boats moving southward and intercepted the Tiger boats after positive identification. The Tiger boats fired upon the naval vessels and the Navy retaliated, a Navy spokesman said.

The sea battle, which lasted for four hours completely destroyed three Tiger boats and damaged another. At least 12 Tigers are believed to be killed during the battle. One sailor received minor injuries and admitted to the Naval Hospital in Trincomalee.

The remaining LTTE boats have managed to escape moving further towards the coastal waters.

Karuna Group and LTTE Continue Abducting and Recruiting Children

HRW via BBSNews - New York, March 29, 2007 -- Despite promises to investigate abductions of children by the pro-government Karuna group, Sri Lankan authorities have taken no effective action and abductions continue, Human Rights Watch said today. The armed opposition Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) also continue to recruit children in Sri Lanka and use them as soldiers.

In Sri Lanka's eastern Batticaloa district, Human Rights Watch in February witnessed children clearly under the age of 17, some armed with assault rifles, performing guard duty at various offices of the Karuna group's political party, the Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP). Sri Lankan soldiers and police routinely walked and drove by the children without taking any visible action.

Human Rights Watch saw a child with an assault rifle guarding the TMVP office in Kiran, home town of the group's leader, V. Muralitharan, also known as Colonel Karuna. Other children, some of them armed, were seen in and around TMVP offices in the district, including in Valaichchenai and Morakkottanchenai, where the office is across the road from a Sri Lankan army base.

"When government troops at a military base look across the street at children standing guard at a Karuna office and do nothing, it's hard to believe the government is taking any meaningful steps to end this abuse," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "The Karuna group's use of child soldiers with state complicity is more blatant today than ever before."

President Mahinda Rajapakse and other Sri Lankan officials have repeatedly said that the government would investigate the allegations of state complicity in Karuna abductions and hold accountable any member of the security forces found to have violated the law. To date, however, the government has taken no effective steps.

According to UNICEF, there were 45 reported cases of Karuna child abductions in three months – 10 in December, 24 in January, and 11 in February. Among these were three children abducted by Karuna cadre from camps for internally displaced persons in Batticaloa district. The actual number is likely to be higher because many parents are afraid to report cases, and these numbers do not reflect the forced recruitment by the Karuna group of young men over 17.

The Karuna group has released at least a dozen children since December. According to UNICEF, however, at least three of the released children were subsequently re-recruited.

In February, parents of one abducted child and two abducted young men told Human Rights Watch how Karuna cadre had abducted their sons in recent weeks. In the first case, Karuna group members first abducted the child in July, allowed him home for a family visit, and about one week later came and took him back. In the second, Karuna cadre abducted two young men on the A11 road between Welikanda and Valaichchenai. When relatives of the two complained at the nearby Karuna camp in Karapola, Karuna cadre told them not to report the case – or to say the LTTE took their sons.

At the same time, the LTTE has continued to abduct and forcibly recruit children and young adults, including women and girls, Human Rights Watch said. UNICEF documented 19 cases of LTTE child recruitment in January and nine in February. The LTTE has also abducted at least four people from camps for the internally displaced.

Access to LTTE-controlled areas remains difficult, but credible reports indicate that the group is increasingly recruiting and deploying girls as frontline soldiers in the East. In the recent fighting in the Thoppigala region of Batticaloa district, at least three girls fighting with the LTTE were reportedly killed.

Human Rights Watch has repeatedly documented and condemned the use of child soldiers by the LTTE, and it has called on the United Nations to impose targeted sanctions on the LTTE because of its long history of recruiting children in violation of international law.

"The LTTE is a notorious repeat offender of child recruitment," Adams said. "It's a shame that government forces complicit with the Karuna group are now involved in the same ugly practice."

There is strong evidence that government forces are now openly cooperating with the Karuna group despite its illegal activities, Human Rights Watch said. Armed Karuna members regularly walk or ride throughout Batticaloa district in plain view of government forces.

In February, Human Rights Watch saw a Karuna commander named Jeyam riding atop a Sri Lankan armored personnel vehicle outside Valaichchenai. In Batticaloa town, residents have seen Karuna cadre patrolling jointly with the police.

The Karuna group maintains at least five camps in the jungle about 10 kilometers northwest of Welikanda town in the Polonnaruwa district, about 50 kilometers northwest of Batticaloa town. Welikanda is where the Sri Lankan Army's 23rd division has its base. The area is firmly under government control, as is the main A11 road from the eastern districts to the Welikanda area. The Karuna camp at Mutugalla village is near a Sri Lankan army post.

Independent sources have provided detailed information on abductions and recruitment of children by the Karuna group and the LTTE. In February the UN special advisor on children and armed conflict, Allan Rock, reported to the Security Council on Karuna abductions of children with state complicity and on child recruitment by the LTTE, based on his visit to Sri Lanka in November. Human Rights Watch has provided the government with its 100-page report on Karuna abductions, "Complicit in Crime: State Collusion in Abductions and Child Recruitment by the Karuna Group," published in January. With case studies, maps and photographs, the report shows how Karuna cadres operate with impunity in government-controlled areas, abducting boys and young men, training them in camps, and deploying them for combat.

"The government says it needs evidence to start an investigation, but it already has ample information," Adams said. "In addition to UN documentation and testimonies in our report, many families have made formal complaints to the police."

Last year President Rajapakse created a one-man commission to look at abductions and enforced disappearances across the country. The commissioner came to Batticaloa in January, two months after canceling his first scheduled visit without warning. Families with abducted children were informed in a haphazard manner and then could not find the meeting place, which was changed at the last minute. Some of them did meet the commissioner, but his staff prevented others from providing information.

In December the military summoned the mothers of some children abducted by the Karuna group to an army base and asked them to provide information about their cases. The military pressured the mothers to say that their children were taken by "an unidentified group."

Karuna has denied allegations that his forces are abducting or recruiting children. He told Human Rights Watch in a telephone communication on February 9 that his forces had no members under age 18, and that they would discipline any commander who tried to recruit a person under that age.

In January the TMVP released regulations for its military wing, stating that 18 was the minimum age for recruitment, and specifying penalties for members who conscript children. Karuna said he was willing to discuss ways that the regulations could be improved, but said that unscheduled visits to his camps were not possible due to security concerns.

On March 19, Human Rights Watch wrote to the TMVP, requesting a response to the recent allegations of continued child abductions in Batticaloa district. As of March 28, the TMVP had not replied.

"The Karuna group is doing the government's dirty work," Adams said. "It's time for authorities in Colombo to stop this group from using children in its forces."

The January 2007 Human Rights Watch report, "Complicit in Crime: State Collusion in Abductions and Child Recruitment by the Karuna Group," is available online.

Audio commentary and a photo essay that accompanied the report is available online.

Background on the LTTE's use of child soldiers, please see the February 2004 Human Rights Watch report, "Living in Fear: Child Soldiers and the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka".

SLA MBRL fire paralyses Batticaloa district

The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Batticaloa launched Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) fire from their camps towards Liberation Tigers Tamil Eelam (LTTE) held territories in Baticaloa district, Wednesday from 6:00 a.m til 10:30 a.m, sources in Batticaloa said. Government offices and schools were closed.

SLA launched MBRL fire from 233rd Brigade in Batticaloa, Sathurukondan, Mylambaveli, Kommanthurai, Murakottanchenai, Kumburumoolai and Valaichenai brigade camps.

The casualty figures and damages in LTTE held areas are not available at the moment.

The public and the students in Batticaloa kept indoors, scared to venture out.

More than 80% of residents in LTTE areas have already been displaced by the unrelenting artillery and mortar fire launched by the SLA. Their properties too have been badly damaged by the shelling.

LTTE works with other terror groups in South Asia

Former Ambassador and Professor S.D. Muni, an Expert on South Asia says that the LTTE has been working with other South Asian terrorist groups which he does not see it as a good sign for the region.

Muni, the Editor of the Indian Foreign Affairs journal, told the Daily News: "It is clear that the LTTE shares its knowledge with other South Asian terror groups. They have supplied arms to the terrorist groups in North East of India.

"They have links with the Maoists in Nepal, Naxalites and the Veerappan group in India. They share all kinds of material and exchange terror tactics with other terrorist outfits.

"It is bad news for Delhi if the LTTE gets stronger."

"We have to find out how the LTTE gets all those funds to buy aircraft and for other terrorist activities," Muni pointed out.

Quoting a senior Indian Defence Official, the Times of India said the LTTE's air attack on Monday has added a new dimension to the potential threat it could pose to India.

"India has not figured on the LTTE's terror radar since Rajiv Gandhi's assassination in 1991.

"We have been monitoring the LTTE's air capabilities for sometime.

"While not particularly alarming for us we cannot let our guard down," the Defence official told the newspaper.

The official also added that the LTTE network in Tamil Nadu remains quite intact and it is in fact making some inroads into a few other states to source supplies for its bomb making factories.

The report said that most of India's surveillance systems were tasked to monitor the borders with Pakistan and China and a low flying aircraft laden with explosives can manage to penetrate the far from impregnable airspace over south India.

Courtesy: Daily News

Navy attacks LTTE sea movement; Three LTTE boats destroyed -Alampil

SL Navy Fast Attack Craft (FACs) last night, attacked an LTTE sea movement off Alampil, in the eastern coast of the Island. Naval sources said that three LTTE boats were completely destroyed and another was damaged in the attack. One navy sailor sustained minor injuries and admitted to Naval Hospital Trincomalee.

The FACs patrolling in the north-eastern coast detected a suspicious boat move consisting of 10 boats around 8.30p.m. (Wednesday the 28th of March) . The The boats were moving southward hugging the coast. The FACs using their night surveillance equipment positively identified the targets as the LTTE and intercepted the move. As the LTTE boats started firing towards the Naval vessels, the navy too has retaliated.

According to the naval sources the battle lasted for four hours in which three of the LTTE boats were completely destroyed and another was damaged. At least 12 LTTE cadres believed to be killed and many others injured in the attack, the sources further said. The remaining LTTE boats have managed to escape moving further towards the coastal waters where the FACs could not navigate safely.

Wednesday 28 March 2007

Kokkadicholai LTTE base falls to SL Army

Advancing SL army infantry liberated the Kokkadicholai area in south of Batticaloa from LTTE hold yesterday (Tuesday the 27th of March).

The Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) says the 7th Infantry Regiment of SLA has captured the Kokkadicholai LTTE headquarters which was located at Kadukkaimunai, South of Kokkadicholai. The base is consisted of fully air-conditioned buildings with all modern equipment, the MCNS further says.

A large haul weapons consisting of T-56 riffles, land mines, anti-personnel mines, and claymore mines have also been seized.

An illegal distillery maintained by the LTTE was also found.

More information will follow.

India to monitor Sri Lankan skies


The Indian Air Force (IAF) has set up eight radars, as a precautionary measure, to monitor the skies after Tamil Tiger rebels launched their first aerial strike in Sri Lanka.

A senior IAF official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the radars are located near the Seeniappa Darga Casurina jungle, Press Trust of India reported.

A team of 50 Air Force personnel have been deployed to the location, under supervision of a commander, to monitor the skies.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse warned that air strike capability of the Tigers is a threat to the entire South Asian region, particularly India.

Sri Lankan military sources said that the Rebels used two Czech-built Zlin-143 single-engine aircraft from an airfield in the island's north to carry out the attack which killed 3 people and injured 16.

Faulty radar helped Tigers?

COLOMBO: Speculation is that LTTE aircraft which carried out Monday’s attack on the Katunayake airbase survived some 400 km of flying distance and that too at night due to deficiencies in the SLAF radar. Initial investigations revealed that the first generation radar installed by India failed to detect the incoming aircraft until the radar at the adjacent Bandaranaike International Airport identified them.
"The detection was made as the aircraft were about 3 kms off the airbase," a senior defence official said.
Had the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) radar spotted the intruders, the outcome of Monday’s encounter would have been different, he said.
Before the detection by BIA radar, the SLAF had received information about the LTTE aircraft crossing the northern-line-of-control through ground based sources. But the intended target was not specified until the BIA radar picked the enemy craft approaching the airbase.
The government on Monday discussed ways and means of meeting the new threat. Officials said that the government raised the issue with the Indian High Commission on Monday. Sri Lankan officials are believed to have explained the urgent need to fully activate the existing system.
Although three of the four radars promised by India are in place, there are believed to be operational problems. The fourth is likely to be installed in the northern theatre. Sri Lanka wants India to fully activate the system on a priority basis.
India stepped in with an offer to establish a radar network after President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s government initiated talks with China to acquire a 3D radar system. Former Indian High Commissioner Nirupama Rao, currently New Delhi’s top envoy is believed to have initiated the move on behalf of her government as India had national security concerns.
Officials said President Mahinda Rajapaksa is likely to seek a meeting with Rao’s successor Alok Prasad in this regard. The unprecedented attack has prompted the government to review the existing counter measures on a priority basis.
President Rajapaksa called an urgent meeting with political party leaders to brief them of the current situation.
Although the LTTE scored a huge propaganda victory, LTTE aircraft failed to hit the intended targets-Israeli built Kfirs and Ukrainian MIG 27s. SLAF headquarters said that two of the three bombs dropped by the LTTE exploded causing damages to three buildings.
Pro-LTTE TamilNet quoted unnamed airmen as saying that several SLAF jet bombers were put out of action by fierce fires which broke out in the hangars struck by the LTTE aircraft. Up to 40% of the SLAF’s strike capability has been knocked out, the website reported.
SLAF headquarters yesterday emphasised that the LTTE attack did not dent its strike capability. "All Kfirs and the newly acquired MIG 27s are safe," an official said. "They missed their targets," he said, adding, "We would continue to take targets depending on the requirement."
Kfirs and MIG 27s launched from Katunayake engaged five LTTE targets on Monday afternoon and Tuesday.
Aircraft targeted LTTE positions north of Mannar, Mullaitivu, Kanagarayankulam and South of Thoppigala. The SLAF said that an LTTE intelligence base and a Sea Tiger facility were among the targets taken.
A senior government official Tuesday contradicted B. Raman, former head of Research and Analysis Wing who claimed that the LTTE air wing had been in existence for nine years without the Sri Lankan intelligence having the least idea about its location and capability.
Raman, a former Additional Secretary of the Cabinet of India made the declaration hours after the terrorist attack. Sri Lankan sources pointed out the absurdity in Raman’s assertion. He conveniently ignored that India installed radars after Sri Lanka sought to deploy an advanced Chinese early warning system.
The sources emphasised that Sri Lanka sought the Chinese help after obtaining credible information about the existence of the LTTE air wing. The sources revealed that Sri Lanka also briefed permanent members of the UN Security Council plus India of the growing threat posed by the LTTE air wing in early 2005. In fact, a comprehensive dossier which included even a short footage obtained by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) of the ‘LTTE assets’ was made available to the big five-US, Russia, China, UK and France and India. The sources said that this was done at the highest level as Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar correctly assessed the threat. According to a senior official Sri Lanka’s action was in line with US Security Council Resolution 1373.
In the wake of the 11 September 2001 Al Qaeda attack in the US, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 1373, which, among its provisions, obliges all States to criminalize assistance for terrorist activities, deny financial support and safe haven to terrorists and share information about groups planning terrorist attacks.
The 15-member Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) was established at the same time to monitor implementation of the resolution. While the ultimate aim of the Committee is to increase the ability of States to fight terrorism, it is not a sanctions body nor does it maintain a list of terrorist organizations or individuals.
Sri Lanka believes that LTTE is in possession of a few aircraft possibly Pilatus PC-7, Pilatus PC-21 and Zlin Z 143. The sources said that India was the first to receive the dossier on the LTTE attempts to build an air wing.

Sri Lanka economy grew at its fastest last year, ADB says

Mar 28, Colombo: Sri Lanka’s economy grew at its fastest in 2006 amid rising oil prices despite the escalated ethnic conflict and the devastating 2004 tsunami, a report released by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said.

In its report on 'Asian Development Outlook 2007' ADB said the Sri Lankan economy grew at 7.2% in 2006 due to the unexpectedly high outturn in agriculture sector spurred by post-tsunami recovery of the fisheries sub-sector and strong performance of the services sector.

Tourism, in contrast, failed to do well in 2006 with profit margins falling by up to 50% as hoteliers dropped prices to attract tourists.

Budget deficit rose to 8.7% of GDP as the government spending increased partly due to post-tsunami reconstruction. Demand pressures and rising food and fuel prices pushed the Colombo consumer price inflation rate up to 13.7% in 2006.

ADB predicts a growth of 6.1% and 6.0%, for for 2007 and 2008 respectively, given the conflict, slow pace of structural reform, and need to cool the economy. ADB outlook assumes that tighter fiscal and monetary policies gradually curtail aggregate demand by 2008, and that the conflict will continue to curtail tourism growth.

In the long term ADB says significantly higher public investment planned by the government will increase economic growth. The current policy focus of the government on infrastructure development to improve electricity supply and roads will achieve higher economic growth in the long run.

ADB stressed that to achieve the desired growth, Sri Lanka needs to achieve income equality by employing a well-educated labor force and providing better access for the underprivileged to high-quality education.

Ready for talks with LTTE anytime: Sri Lankan govt.

Colombo, March 28 (AP): Sri Lanka's Government said it was ready to hold peace talks anytime with the Tamil Tigers, following two days of dramatic attacks by the rebels, including their first airstrike and a suicide bombing outside a military camp.

The attacks Monday and Tuesday killed 11 people and wounded 36.

``We must try to bring a comprehensive and substantial peace,'' Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogolagama told reporters Tuesday. ``Our government believes that we need to talk, we need to explore all avenues,'' he said, adding that if the rebels agreed to negotiation, ``we can have it tomorrow.''

The rebels did not immediately respond to the Sri Lankan offer, and violence continued despite the overture.

A military's foot patrol shot and killed two rebels after they were attacked by the insurgents in northwestern Mannar late Tuesday, the Defense Ministry said in a statement Wednesday.

Earlier Tuesday, a rebel drove an explosive-laden tractor to the Chinkaladi military camp in the eastern district of Batticaloa, drawing fire from guards and triggering a blast. The insurgent, three soldiers guarding the gate and five civilians were killed in the blast, military spokesman Brig. Prasad Samarasinghe said. Twenty people were wounded in the attack.

The attacks came a day after at least one rebel propeller plane bombed a Sri Lankan air force base outside the capital, Colombo, in the separatists' first airstrike since they started their campaign for a homeland for the country's Tamil minority in 1983. Three airmen were killed in that attack and 16 were wounded, but no aircraft on the ground were damaged.

Apart from Tiger suicide bombings, almost all the fighting in the conflict has taken place in predominantly Tamil regions in northern and eastern Sri Lanka, and the airstrike showed the rebels can now strike deep inside the southern heartland of Sri Lanka's Sinhalese majority.

Also Tuesday, air force fighter planes bombed three Tamil Tiger guerrilla positions in the northeast, but there was no information on damage or casualties, said air force spokesman Group Captain Ajantha Silva.

The Tigers launched their fight in 1983 to create an independent homeland for the country's 3.1 million Tamils after decades of discrimination by Sinhalese. In the years since, they have pioneered the use of suicide bomb belts and slowly built up a navy of small gunboats.

Hopes for peace that followed a 2002 ceasefire have been dashed in the past 18 months as sporadic shootings and bombings have grown into all-out war in eastern and northern Sri Lanka.

An estimated 65,000 people were killed in fighting before the ceasefire, and an estimated 4,000 fighters and civilians have died in the last 18 months.

A PTI report says:

Ban disturbed by escalating violence

The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said he is "disturbed" by the escalating violence in Sri Lanka and urged the island Government and Tamil rebels to return to the negotiating table.

A spokesperson for Ban said "he deeply regrets that air raids, military confrontations on the ground, and suicide bombings have become a daily occurrence, prompting massive displacement and suffering for civilians".

He is "disturbed" by the intensifying violence, which include an air attack by the LTTE, the spokesperson said.

Ban appeals to the parties to the conflict to break this vicious cycle of attack and retaliation, which only leads to more bloodshed and victims and urges the two, which have been engaged in a two-decade-long conflict, to "return to the negotiating table as soon as possible, without preconditions."

In a related development, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has launched a new media campaign to raise awareness about Sri Lankan citizenship.

Over the next five days, Tamil-language radio spots and newspaper advertisements will alert the public on the country's citizenship laws. The campaign targets ethnic Tamils because most of Sri Lanka's Stateless people are descendants of Indian Tamils brought to work in tea estates between 1820 and 1840 when the country was a British colony.

The 1988 and 2003 Citizenship Acts were passed to resolve the problem of stateless people in the country, but some of the so-called "Hill Tamils" have not been able to get the documents necessary to become Sri Lankan citizens.

Tuesday 27 March 2007

JVP "Kumar Mahaththaya" flees to Australia while CID launches invetigations

(LeN-2007 March 25, 6.15pm) It is being reported that there is a huge secret behind the sudden Migration of JVP internal leader K. Gunarathnam alias "Kumar Mahaththaya" and his family.

It is being said that Kumar who played a massive role in decision and making of the JVP from behind the scene and had fled to Australia recently as the CID had launched investigations to arrest him on orders made by Ghotabhaya Rajapakse. Kumara who never appeared to the forum but got heavily involved in the political scene in the island and his wife who was a doctor by profession was attached to the Ragama hospital.

It is being said that he and his family was sent to Australia as one of the own members of the JVP had leaked some information regarding Kumar to a high ranking official of the government. Kumar�s father is a Tamil but his mother is a Sinhalese and was born and bred in Kegalle. He however cannot speak, read or write Tamil. During the 89 rioting period he had apparently been involved with several law breechings, and the CID and Intelligence units conducted several investigations during that period to arrest him but failed.

Speaking at a public gathering recently propaganda secretary of the JVP Wimal Weerawanse said that Kumar left the island he was faced with death threats.

All About Sri Lanka

Mangala and Sripathi assisted the Katunayake attack- Govt

Mangala and Sripathi assisted the Katunayake attack- Govt

(LeN-2007 March 26, 7.45pm) The government charges that carelessness of the UNP and revealing information about MIG air craft by Sripahti and Mangala assisted the LTTE to launch this mornings attack on the Katunayake Air Force base.

Addressing the media at the media centre for national security this evening minister of media Anura Priyadharshana Yapa and Minister Jeyeraj Fernandopulle made the above charges.

The ministers say that they suspect of a conspiracy or a connection between Sripathi and Mangala disclosing information and the attack carried out by the LTTE.

The duo did not answer any questions raised by the media such as; weren�t the air force able to track the air craft on their radar system and why wasn�t the air craft attacked even when it was carrying out aerial attacks. They said that a special committee has been appointed regarding the attack and that if any information is revealed it could hinder the investigations. They say that once the investigations are over all information pertaining to the attack would be disclosed to the media adding that the government has nothing to hide.

The minister of media said the MIG fighter jets was the target of the light air craft that laid bombs to the Katunayake air base this morning adding that 2 of the 3 bombs had blasted. He also thanked the air force for being able to foil a possible massive devastation by acting bravely during the attack.

The minister also said that they suspect whether those in South wanted to disclose any information to the LTTE as they were shouting openly about various things that were important to the National Security. He also charged that the previous UNP government should be held responsible for their negligence in allowing the LTTE to build the air strip in Iranamadu and for allowing to smuggle parts of the air craft to the country. The media minister also says that several parties are now attempting sling mud on the government based on the attack.

He said that the air force has appointed a five member committee to investigate the attack while the CID has also launched a separate investigation into the bombing.

Monday 26 March 2007

6 LTTE bodies handed over to the ICRC - Ampara

The Sri Lanka Security Forces handed over six bodies of LTTE cadres to the ICRC at Ampara hospital at 10.30 a.m this morning, Monday the 26th of March.

Defence sources said that LTTE bodies were found on Saturday the 24th of March in a search operation conducted following the confrontation took place at Unnichchi, South-West of Valachchenai in Batticaloa.

Meanwhile, the STF personnel who retaliated to the LTTE's small arms attack killed two LTTE cadres at Sangamankanda in Ampara last night, Sunday the 25th of March. The STF night foot patrol was attacked by the terrorists at 7.00 p.m yesterday and no damages reported for the security forces personnel, sources said.

Two dead bodies of LTTE cadres, a T-56 weapon and two magazines were found by the troops who conducted a search operation in the area following the attack.

Air-Tigers attack Katunayake military airbase

Two attack air-crafts belonging to Liberation Tigers carried out bombing raids at the Sri Lanka Air Force airbase at Katunayake at 12:45 a.m. early morning Monday and returned safely to Vanni, military spokesperson of the LTTE, Rasaiah Ilanthiraiyan told TamilNet. The targets for the air attack were the SLAF's Kfir and MiG-27 hangers at the military base located adjoining the Katunayake International Airport (KIA), Ilanthiraiyan said.

Two SLAF personnel were killed and 17 wounded in the attacks according to SLAF spokesperson in Colombo. The injured have been rushed to Negombo hospital from the military airbase, medical sources said.

Katunayake International Airport (KIA) did not suffer any damages, according to military sources.

Sandana de Silva, Communication's Director for Sri Lankan, Sri Lanka's flagship passenger air-liner, said that the International Airport is shut and all Sri Lankan flights have been diverted to an air-port in a South Indian state.

Immediate areas surrounding the air-port and the adjoining SLAF airbase have been cordoned off, according to local residents.

Ilanthiraiyan further said following the first major aerial attack by the Tigers, other Sri Lanka military installations will also be targets of future attacks.

Unconfirmed reports from Colombo said Air-port taxi drivers have seen at least two men on parachutes above the airbase.

The attack occurs amid speculations of an imminent offensive of Sri Lankan military into the northern theatre.

In a similar predawn attack on the Katunayake air base, about 35 km. north of Colombo on 24 July 2001, Tigers destroyed thirteen air crafts including two Kfir jet fighters, one MI-24 Helicopter gun ship and one MIG-27- jet fighter.

No civilians were injured or killed in the 2001 attack.

Military offensives by Sri Lanka Security Forces in the NorthEast in Eelam War-IV have been dominated by air-attacks by SLAF. Attack air-crafts carrying unguided ammunition have been inflicting heavy civilian casualties and damages to civilian property.

Sunday 25 March 2007

Sri Lankan Troops Move Into Rebel Area

COLOMBO, March 25 - A new theater opened over the weekend in Sri Lanka’s escalating ethnic conflict, as government troops advanced into rebel-controlled territory in the island’s northwest over the last three days in a drive that they described as “neutralizing” guerrilla positions.

The latest clashes, in which the military and rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam traded mortar and artillery fire, took place in the Mannar district, about 186 miles north of the capital. Rebels accused the troops of advancing Thursday into an area they controlled, taking with them some 120 villagers as a human shield, a claim the military denied. The military for its part said it retaliated after rebels fired at its positions.

The trading of blame is commonplace in this conflict. And casualties were, as usual, impossible to verify. According to an Agence France-Presse report today, the government claimed that it lost 10 soldiers and killed nearly 50 rebels. The Tamil Tigers claimed it killed 60 soldiers and lost 13 of its troops. Both sides routinely downplay their own casualties.

The Sri Lankan military has steadily gained ground on rebel positions in the east, driving an estimated 100,000 people from their homes in the last two months alone. The latest fighting signaled that the fighting had spread to a different part of the island. A 2002 cease-fire agreement, which demarcates forward defense lines of government and rebel forces, has been shattered.

The rebels today also accused the government of planting a roadside bomb that killed an aid worker with the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization, a charity sympathetic to the Tamil Tigers.

Civilians fled their homes, but the scope of displacement was contested: The government estimated their numbers at about 300, while the rebel group said the fighting prompted an exodus of 2,000 people.

Tamil Tigers gun down 3 civilians and a social worker as fighting escalates in Northern Sri Lanka

Mar 25, Colombo: Three Tamil civilians were shot dead by a suspected Tiger pistol gang today in broad day light near the Hatton National Bank in Jaffna, the military said. The men were in a tea boutique when two suspected LTTE cadres on a motorcycle fired at them.

The three men were identified as Soosaithaas Thanaraaj (19), Arulraaj Jeyantharoopan (26) and Yoakalingkam Chaarangkan (23). Jaffna Police is conducting investigations into the triple murder.

Meanwhile in the Eastern town of Batticaloa, a prominent social worker and a People Alliance organizer was shot dead by suspected Tiger pistol gang members.

Kandapudi Subharathnam (77) was gunned down opposite his residence at Eruvil, Kalawanchikudi by assailants who came on bicycles. Kalawanchikudi Police is investigating the murder.

A soldier was killed and three others were injured when LTTE launched mortar fire at Sri Lankan Army troops at Periyakulam in Mannar last night, the military said. Retaliatory fire from the troops inflicted heavy casualties to the attackers, the military added.

In another incident Army troops manning the Northern Forward Defence Line (FDL) at Muhamalai gunned down three LTTE terrorists yesterday.

Troops fired small arms in the morning at an LTTE cadre who had attempted to infiltrate into the Muhamalai FDL. The inflitrator was killed and his body was observed lying on the no man's land, the military said.

On the same day noon another two LTTE cadres believed to be on a reconnaissance mission were gunned down by the troops at a separate location on the Muhamalai FDL. Escalalted fighting in Sri Lanka's north and east since Thursday killed more than 50 fighters from both sides.

Friday 23 March 2007

LTTE Mortar attack injures seven civilians - Welioya

A Sporadic mortar attack was launched by the LTTE terrorists on Sunday the 18th of March targeting the civilians in a Sinhalese village at Athawatunuwewa in Welioya.

The hapless civilians panicked and ran helter-skelter with their beloved children as the first mortar barrage hit the village at 1.00 p.m on Sunday. Three civilians including a sixty nine (69) year-old elderly female and nine (9) year-old child who were in their residents received injuries due to the incident.

On the same day the LTTE terrorists attacked this Sinhalese village at 7.15 p.m again with mortar bombs. Four civilians sustained injuries and few houses were destroyed in the second attack too. Four year-old infant and fifteen year-old chid were among the victims who received injuries.

Thursday 22 March 2007

Sri Lanka: "The 'Sinhala terrorist' leader is a national treasure of the intelligence unit"- Kadawatha OIC

It is being disclosed that "Shyamal" who is the main suspect of the Sinhala Terrorist group, which is said to have had connections with the LTTE, have undergone LTTE training and were involved in triggering bombs in the South, is said to be kept in a location which belongs to the Military with maximum security.

It is being reported that Shyamal is involved with the Military intelligence sources and that he visits his home in Kdawatha with full security once in every two or three weeks. This information is being disclosed when a close friend of Shyamal called Iroshan Withanarachchi who has lodged a complaint at the Kadawatha police based on a discussion he had with Shyamal via phone. On the 12th of this month Iroshan WIthanarachchi had lodged a complaint in the Kadawatha police saying that he has known Shyamal since 1996 and that he was an active member of the JVP but later worked for the victory of the SLFP together with him.

Iroshan has further said that he organized the 'Jana Sahana' mobile service on the 19th of October 2006 on a request made by former Minister Sripathi Suriarachchi, with the support of area residents. He adds that Shyamal even prepared the milk rice for the function but the function could not proceed as a bomb was found from the area. On the statement made by Iroshan he says that he was the articles which papers carried lately that the bomb had been fixed to kill the former minister and that Shyamal told him during a telephone conversation that he was involved with the fixing of the bomb when Shyamal called on his mobile carrying the number 0785-330381. Shyamal had also said that high ranking officials of the government were aware of this.

He has also stated that Shyamal spoke to him on several occasions and asked him about the details about the village and politics and that Shyamal called him on the 10th of March while he was at a rally which was held under the patronage of Sripathi Suriarachchi in Kiribathgoda, but he cut the line as he could not talk at that moment. The complaint also states that Shyamal questioned him what Sripathi and Mangala were planning to do in April to which he replied saying that he was unaware of the high ranking officers were up to.

But Iroshan has said in his statement that he spoke to Sripathi Suriarachchi regarding the matter on the following day as he suspected of some thing. In his statement Iroshan has also said that he is doubtful whether Shyamal was in military custody or in the hands of the LTTE, as reports are being published in the papers constantly that he was yet to be arrested. Nitharsanam looked deeply into the matter to find out who was behind this and what they were up to. So we decided to unfold our findings. It was the officers of the 112th regiment of the Army that named a Sinhalese organisation called the Revolutionist Sinhala Organisation to be an anti LTTE movement.

On a complaint lodged by the regiment the crimes investigation division of the police launched their investigations into it. The so called the leader of the organisation Mohammed Lalith Senevirathne, Suduwahewage Nihal Senasinghe, Sisira Priyankaar and Sunera Priyankara was arrested by the police accordingly. The investigators also identified a person called Shyamal to be one of the leaders of the grou who is a resident of Kadawatha. As Shyamal was labeled as a Sinhala terrorist villagers had attempted to create an unrest several times and had even pasted posters saying to chase him from the village. Since the OIC of the Kadawatha police A. Gunarathne was informed that some rioters were attempting to set the house in which Shyamal lived on fire they rushed to the location and later held a meeting at the village temple. Around 300 villagers had attended the meeting which was scheduled to begin at 6 but instead actually began at 7.00 in the evening.

The reason behind this meeting being organized was actually to stop the riots which were rising against Shyamal's family and the Kadawatha OIC who spoke here had asked the villagers not to take the law into their hands since the country had very strong laws to punish terrorists despite their race. He had also made a special request not to label anyone as a Sinhala terrorist before he is being convicted at the court. The OIC had then left the gathering saying he had to take part in another religious gathering. These information was revealed by the Chief Incumbent of the Oushpara, which is the temple that the meeting was held, Venerable Halmillawe Dharmarathna thera.

A businessman in the area D.S. Kalarachchi has also attended the meeting which was held at the temple. He says that while the OIC was at the meeting he had received a call from a captain in the Intelligence unit and that the OIC during his speech said that Shyamal was not a Sinhala terrorist but an officer of the Intelligence and therefore needs to be protected since he was valuable for the country.

Kalarachchi had then risen and questioned during the meeting how Shyamal who was suspected to be a member of the JVP during 89/90 and was suspected for many crimes which took place in the village be an Officer of the Intelligence unit. At this moment the OIC had got another called and he had walked outside the hall to answer it and when he returned the OIC had said that Shyamal will arrive at the location with officers of the Intelligence Unit.

Another person who said was from the Intelligence unit, wearing a red colour T-shirt had also spoken during the meeting and said that Shyamal needed to be protected as he was a national treasure.

At the time when the meeting was ending Shyamal had arrived at the temple with officers of the Intelligence unit. Therefore the attempts made by the villagers to set Shyamal�s house on fire ended through the briefing of the OIC and the explanation of the Intelligence officers.

Meanwhile several days after the meeting was held Shyamal who arrived in a motor cycle when Kaluarachchi was purchasing some fish from a stall in the 9th mile post had said "you are talking too big. Be careful I'm in the intelligence unit" to which Kaluarachchi replied saying "our forces should be mad to get people like you involved with such work."

Tigers raid SLA camp, checkposts on A-15 road in Batticaloa

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam launched heavy artillery shelling on Sri Lanka Army camps located in Morakkoddanchenai and Mavadivembu, and on the checkposts along Trincomalee Batticaloa A-15 road in a pre-dawn attack inflicting damage to the SLA positions in the area north of Batticaloa. LTTE fighters raided at least one SLA camp, located at Mavadivembu, according to initial reports. SLA sources claimed to have located 8 bodies of LTTE fighters after the raid which lasted for more than 2 hours. At least 4 SLA troopers were killed and 8 SLA troopers were seriously wounded in LTTE shelling that started around 12:45 a.m. The LTTE is yet to release details about the attack.
Two civilians, Kathamuthu Marimuthu, 54, Soudararajah Saraswathy, 42, were killed in retaliatory fire by the Sri Lanka Army.

A SLA mini camp in Mavadivembu was almost destroyed in the raid and the Morakkoddanchenai SLA base sustained significant damage due to heavy artillery firing.

LTTE artillery fire also targeted Kommathurai and Chenkalady Black Brdige SLA camps, south of Mavadivembu and Murakkoddanchenai and Kumpurumoolai in the north along the A15 road Main Supply Route (MSR) of the Sri Lanka Army.

SLA troopers fired mortars and artillery shells into SLA controlled areas infiltrated by the LTTE fighters who came in small groups, according to Sri Lankan military sources.

28 civilians, sustained wounds in shelling, were admitted at Batticaloa hospital, according to M. Muruganantham medical officer at the hospital.

All traffic between Valaichenai and Chenkalady has been stopped.

Misinterpretations on resettlement is highly regrettable- Defence Spokesman

"Resettling over 100,000 IDPs is not a bed of roses, but misinterpretation on the government's genuine effort to bring back normalcy to the Vakarai civilians is certainly regrettable" said the government Defence Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella today (Wednesday the 21st of March).

Speaking at a media briefing held at MCNS, Colombo, the minister said that government has liberated the Vakarai from tiger clutches and made the areas fully safe. He also pointed out that it is a basic right of all humans to live where they are born and only very few would complain on going back to home.

However, the Minister accepted that the process is not without problems but the government has established mechanisms such as "Jathika Saviya" to deal with them then and there. He requested media to empathize with the situation and make the public aware on the reality.

Referring to the human right council presently going on Geneva, Minster told that the government has nothing to hide or to be afraid since it had already taken all possible measures against human rights violation. He revealed that a special unit, the Victim and Witness Assistance and Protection unit has been established to ensure the safety of those who make complaints on human rights violations. However, the Minster emphasized that the government would not agree with any outside intervention to the internal affairs since it is a violation of democratic rights of the SL citizens.

Finally, the Minister revealed the latest government initiative to enhance the protection minority rights. The Minster told the government in near future will appoint retired officials to each police station as Tamil translators to ensure the right of Tamil speaking people to the protection of law. He said that such officials will be available for 24 hours in each police station and therefore the language barrier would not be a problem in future for the equal access to the law.

Two traders who refused to give ransoms killed - Vavuniya

LTTE pistol men, the ransoms collectors for the LTTE outfit, who operate in the Vavuniya area gunned down two traders who refused to pay ransoms last night, Wednesday the 22nd of March.

Suspicious LTTE pistol men who approached by mortar cycles shot the two shop owners at 8.45 p.m while they were in there business places.

It is also revealed that these victims have paid Rs 375,000.00 amount of money to the LTTE's ransom collectors two times earlier, before couple of months ago.

Since the two victims refused to pay further, the LTTE terrorists took their final steps to kill the two innocent traders who ignored the LTTE orders.

LTTE extortion ring in Colombo bared

R. Srikanthan in London

The LTTE is reported to be carrying out a very effective extortion campaign within Colombo targeting the relatives of the expatriate Tamils.

An elderly couple residing in the City were approached by the LTTE's collectors recently demanding Rs 5 million for its war effort. The children of the couple are living in Britain, the Daily News learns.

These men who without hesitation declared their affiliations with the LTTE have produced extensive details of the family's income connections and their property before demanding for money for the LTTE funds.

The couple left for India immediately afterwards and are planning to migrate to Europe for the fear of their life.

It is alleged that the children of this couple, known to be LTTE sympathisers have palmed off large sums of money to LTTE agents in London every time they were approached.

The Daily News learns that the LTTE has earmarked households with rich relatives abroad and extort them to fatten their diminishing reserves.

It is suspected that the LTTE had used the details filled in a fund raising questionnaire circulated last year among the Tamil diaspora to intimidate the families and extort money.

The questionnaire sought particulars of their property and relatives in Sri Lanka.

Courtesy - Daily News

Wednesday 21 March 2007

Karuna spoils Sri Lankan ploy

CHENNAI: A tactical retreat from a proposed joint patrolling of the International Marine Boundary Line (IMBL) by the Sri Lankan and the Indian Navy came as a major blow for Tamil Nadu fishermen.

The move, mooted to end the plight of Indian fishermen in the hands of the Sri Lankan Navy, fell flat after Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi backtracked from his idea of the joint operation. He had organised a protest rally last Monday highlighting the need for such an operation.

According to Karunanidhi, the joint operation would mean involving India in Sri Lanka’s fight against the LTTE. And this he feels would be foolish, and thus the change of idea.

Though the joint patrolling might sound a good proposition, there are more cons than pros, he said. “It would be like tying a rat and a frog together. The frog would try to drag and drown the rat, while the rat would try to run inland and kill the frog,” he added.

The decision came after state Intelligence officers informed Karunanidhi of the island nation's long-hatched ploy to draw India in its fight against the LTTE, said sources. “In the event of joint patrolling, Sri Lanka is sure that the Indian Navy would come face-to-face with Sea Tigers (the LTTE’s naval wing). A direct confrontation between the Indian forces and the LTTE is just what Sri Lanka wants. Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) realised this and hence the volte face,” a DMK functionary said.

According to Intelligence sources, the LTTE boats sometimes enter the Indian waters while moving between the northern and eastern landing points in Sri Lanka. But the LTTE has instructed its Sea Tigers not to confront the Indian authorities. This is why they did not attempt to retaliate or blow themselves up when the Indian Coast Guard seized an LTTE boat laden with explosives on February 14, sources said. Sri Lanka is, however, not happy with the unofficial truce, they added.

Karunanidhi will intimate PM Manmohan Singh of his concerns and ask him to convey the same to Sri Lanka.



ADB grants a $300 million loan for Sri Lanka Port expansion

The project will be implemented as a public private partnership project.

Mar 20, Colombo: Asian Development Bank today granted a $ 300 million loan to support the expansion of the Colombo Port. The funds will be used to substantially upgrade the facility.

Senior Transport Specialist with ADB’s South Asia Department, Prodyut Dutt said that Colombo Port, a natural transshipment hub for South Asia has lost market share in transshipment in recent years as the Port does not have the operating capacity or depth required to berth the latest generation container ships.

A statement issued by the ADB said the project will be implemented as a public private partnership project. The public sector will implement the common user harbor infrastructure works, such as dredging and breakwater construction sufficient to accommodate three new container terminals.

The private sector will develop and operate the container terminals which will be built sequentially. The Project will also help establish a new marine operations center, relocate an underwater oil pipeline and provide navigational aids, it added.

The John Keells Holdings Group, a major firm in Sri Lanka, is contributing $ 500 million to the Port expansion project.

The project when completed will increase the container-handling capacity from 3.3 million 20-foot containers in 2006 to 5.7 million by 2010 and eventually to 10.5 million.

ADB said the security measures have been incorporated into the project considering the current conflict situation. The project will promote Sri Lanka’s overall economic growth by improving its international competitiveness with lower transport costs and faster delivery times, ADB stated.

The $300 million loan for the project will come from ADB’s ordinary capital resources and be provided under the conditions of the London interbank offered rate-based lending facility. The loan, which will have a 25-year term and include a 5-year grace period, will be administered by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority under the supervision of the Ministry of Ports and Aviation.

Batticaloa mobile communications cut off

Mobile communications in the Batticaloa district have been cut off as part of routine security measures for the ongoing military operations in Thoppigala and adjoining areas.However aid groups operating in the district have raised concerns over the move as they believed it might hamper communications between their staff operating on the ground.Although most UN operation heads in the North and East are equipped with satellite phones for communication purposes and most of the foreign and local ground staff depend on ordinary mobile phones to communicate with each other.

Aid groups and NGOs operating in Batticaloa said the timing of the breakdown in communication would severely hamper ongoing assistance programs for thousands of displaced people who are facing a serious food crisis.

“UN agencies including the World Food Program are now assessing the food and shelter situation for the war displaced and the lack of mobile communications is hampering the activities,” a UN official said.

However a military official told the Daily Mirror the move to curtail mobile communications was a procedure followed recently even in Jaffna when operations were launched to resist an LTTE attempt to infiltrate the peninsula.

Heavy fighting kills twelve in Sri Lanka East

Mar 21, Colombo: Latest fighting between the Army and LTTE rebels in Sri Lanka killed four soldiers and eight Tigers on Wednesday, early morning in Batticaloa, the military said.

An attempt by about 300 Tigers backed by mortar fire to infiltrate the forward defences in Mavadiwembu, Chenkaladi, Sittandi and Kumburumulla areas in Batticaloa was prevented by the security forces, defence officials said.

Four soldiers were killed and 14 others sustained injuries in the attack, the military reported. Eight Tiger bodies were recovered by the troops who are engaged in search and clearing operations in the area. The military believes about 30 Tigers were killed in the battle.

The military says the rebels stranded in Thoppigala area which remains one of the major hideouts for the LTTE in the east have made a last ditch attempt for a final offensive.

Tuesday 20 March 2007

None can help Prabhakaran now -Karuna

"Neither God not man can help Prabhakaran now. He is a mental patient. He can never be reformed, although some people hope in vain that he will change.''

TMVP Leader Vinayagamoorthy Muralidaran alias Karuna Amman made this observation during an interview with the Derana television channel last week (Thursday, Jan. 25). The interview was conducted in Tamil and translated into Sinhala.

According to Karuna not one in the Eastern Province today supported the Tigers and soon they would be isolated in the North too, since people there are waiting to escape from Prabhakaran's clutches. LTTE is on the decline, he emphasized.

The TMVP leader said that within five years the LTTE had fallen from the much publicized Tamil people's sole representative status to the level of no representative of the Tamils. He stressed that the Tigers today had absolutely no right to represent Tamils.

The TMVP leader said that Ranil Wickremesinghe had a misplaced faith in Prabhakaran and tried to reach an understanding with him in the hope of securing the support of the Tamil people. However, said Karuna, Prabhakaran hated Wickremesinghe since the LTTE Chief believed that the UNP leader was planning to trap the Tigers in an international net. This perhaps was the reason why the Tamil people in the Wanni were not allowed to cast their vote, since Prabhakaran feared that Tamil votes would tilt the Presidential election results in Ranil's favour.

Karuna accused the Prabhakaran's Intelligence Chief Pottu Amman for engineering the horrifying atrocities that the LTTE committed during the past several decades. Prabhakaran and Pottu Amman derived a morbid pleasure from discussing the civilian massacres, according to Karuna, who has expressed his strong displeasure over such brutalities. But if he had persisted in his opposition to the crimes, he would have met the same tragic fate that Prabhakaran's one-time close associate `Mahattaya' met. The only alternative was to severe all ties with the Tiger Chief.

Asked whether he preferred federalism to a unitary system as a solution to the current problems, Karuna said that he could not care less whether the country was going to be federal or unitary as long as the socio-economic, health and educational and other needs of his people are adequately met. His primary concern was the development of the Eastern Province where the quality of life had suffered very much since the conflict began. The East was a multi-ethnic and multi-religious region and consequently the concept of a Tamil Eelam there was totally out of the question.

He assured that his combat units will be disbanded as soon as the Wanni Tigers are completely defeated. He further said that neither he nor the Sri Lanka Army needed child soldiers since both had sufficient military strength to meet the LTTE threat. He invited those who accuse him of abducting children for combat purposes to visit his camps. He had already clarified this matter to the relevant United Nations authorities.

I can play in the next Cup: Murali

PORT-OF-SPAIN, March 20: Sri Lanka's magical off-spinner Muthiah Muralitharan doesn't think there would ever come a day when he would pick up 1000 wickets in Tests.

"It's very difficult because you need another 300 wickets. It will take another 4-5 years or 40-45 Tests. I can only take it match by match," remarked Murali as he knuckled down to face Bangladesh and India in Group B this week.

Murali has picked up 674 wickets in 110 Tests with a phenomenal strike rate of 54.46 highlighted 57 5-wicket hauls.

Experts tip him to set a record which others would only dream about in future.

"Having said so, I must also say that I am still going up the ladder. Last year was my best as I took 96 wickets in 11 or 12 Tests.

"For all you know, I can go on to 40 years. I am 34 and in another four years I will be 38 so I could also play in the next World Cup.

"It's just how my mind thinks, how fit I am. I would love to play the next World Cup because it's on home soil."

Sri Lanka is seen as one of the red hot favourites for the cup with many viewing them as having the best attack in the competition.

"It's media which put favourites. Game in the middle is little different. Any team can beat anyone in One-day cricket. In this game of 50 overs, a matter of 15 overs can change everything.

"As for having the best attack, it depends on how you play in the park. Form on paper doesn't matter at all.

Alleged LTTE terrorists kill a Tamil youth - Vavuniya

The body of a Tamil youth found yesterday alleged killed by LTTE terrorists was identified as Mailawahanam Sivalingam Wimalakumar(26), a resident at Kovilpuddukulam, Sidambaram Road- Vavuniya, on Tuesday, the 20th of March.

The body of the victim was found in a joint search, conducted by the civilians and the security personnel in the area, which was lying around 200 m away from his house at 11.30p.m yesterday(19). The search initiated immediately on information received from a Tamil woman who had heard several gunshots in close proximity.

The body was recovered with several cut wounds indicating the killing was done in execution style. Relatives of the Tamil youth said that he had gone missing since two days and they have logged a complaint in the Vavuniya Police.

According to civilian sources they believed the youth had been abducted by the LTTE, who said to have intimidated the youth earlier, with death threats for collaborating with the SL security personnel in the area.

Meanwhile, the Vavuniya Hospital sources said the victim's body was seriously mutilated with deeply penetrated cut wounds.

The body of the Tamil youth is to be handed over to his parents following the postmortem, the Vavuniya Hospital sources further added.

Meanwhile, military sources said that they recovered two claymore mines weighing around 08 Kgs to 10 Kgs today at 09.00a.m, in a random search surrounding the area. The mines were believed to be trapped, targeting the security personnel while recovering the body of the youth. Luckily the vigilant eyes have caught the presence of a wire roll which lead, to the recovery of the claymore mines averting a possible tragedy.

LTTE faces critical shortage of ‘ammo’

Efforts of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to replenish its depleted arsenal suffered a serious setback when the SLN intercepted and destroyed two of its large vessels carrying huge stocks of armaments in separate engagements yesterday (March 18).

Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) tracked them down on the high seas, a senior military official said. The Island learns that four OPVs were deployed to carry out the latest operation which resulted in the first-ever destruction of two LTTE vessels during a confrontation with the navy.

Speculation is that LTTE vessels carried aircraft spares and artillery shells. The possibility of fixed wing aircraft being brought in knocked down condition could not be ruled out. The latest success came in the backdrop of the destruction of large vessel off the southern coast on Feb 28.

The LTTE suffers the latest setback amidst what an authoritative navy official described as a critical shortage of ammunition experienced by the LTTE. The official pointed out that the SLN also denied the LTTE the opportunity to introduce any new weapons which would have given them the upper hand.

Navy headquarters said that yesterday’s action was the most difficult operation ever undertaken by the SLN.

A Fast Missile Vessel (FMV) acquired from Israel, joined SLNS Samudura (Ex-US Coast Guard Cutter P 621), SLNS Sayura (formerly of the Indian Navy) and another Indian OPV now in service with the SLN were deployed to successfully hunt the vessels.

Yesterday's action was FMV’s first since the SLN restored it recently. The SLN is in the process of restoring the second FMV thereby enhancing its offshore capability. SLNS Jayasagara, launched in May 1983 is the oldest OPV in service with the SLN.

The SLN targeted the first LTTE vessel in the morning and the second in the afternoon. The first vessel is bigger than the second. The SLN said there were no survivors. The SLN swung into action several days before the ill-fated vessels made contact with large fishing trawlers on the high seas. The SLN believes that armaments are transferred to fishing trawlers before they reached Sri Lanka via the Gulf of Mannar.

Sri Lanka wants coordinated naval patrols with India to block trawlers bringing in armaments and other supplies originating from South India. Since the capture of an Indian Dhow carrying over 60,000 electrical detonators on Jan 26 last year, the SLN carried out several successful operations. Fast Attack Craft (FACs) intercepted trawlers northeast of Talaimannar (Feb 11 last year) east of Point Pedro (March 21 last year), west of Kudiramalai Point (March 25 last year), West of Arippu (Oct 15 last year), fifth Sand Bank (Oct 31 last year), west of Kuriramalai Point (Nov 14 last year), West of Udappuwa (Nov 27 last year, and North West of Battalangunduwa (Feb 16 this year).

Monday 19 March 2007

Heavy battles after Sri Lanka claims sinking Tiger ships

COLOMBO (AFP) - Sri Lankan troops and Tamil Tiger rebels have fought fierce land battles after government forces said they sunk two ships carrying weapons for the guerrillas, officials said Monday.


An intense battle broke out in the eastern district of Batticaloa Sunday leaving at least two soldiers dead and 13 wounded, military officials said.

The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said they killed three soldiers and captured the bodies, which were to be returned to military authorities through the Red Cross.

"A team of Sri Lankan army troopers tried to advance from Unnichai jungles towards LTTE positions (in Batticaloa)," Tiger spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiriyan said in a statement.

"Following a confrontation, the army troopers retreated leaving behind three dead bodies and several weapons and military materials."

The defence ministry in a statement said troops had caused "heavy damages" to the Tigers.

In another confrontation in the same district, troops killed four Tiger rebels, a military official said.

The clashes came after the navy said it sank two cargo vessels believed to be smuggling weapons and explosives for Tigers. There was no immediate word from the Tamil Tigers about the ships.

The navy carried out a similar attack on February 28 and sank an identical craft off the island's southern coast, according to defence authorities here.

There have been stepped up clashes between suspected Tamil Tiger ships and the Sri Lankan navy in recent months amid heavy fighting in the island's northern and eastern regions.

More than 4,000 people have been killed in a new wave of fighting since December 2005 between government troops and rebels fighting for an independent homeland for the Tamil minority.

The fighting comes despite a truce that has been in place, at least on paper, since February 2002.

Heavy battles after Sri Lanka claims sinking Tiger ships

COLOMBO (AFP) - Sri Lankan troops and Tamil Tiger rebels have fought fierce land battles after government forces said they sunk two ships carrying weapons for the guerrillas, officials said Monday.


An intense battle broke out in the eastern district of Batticaloa Sunday leaving at least two soldiers dead and 13 wounded, military officials said.

The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said they killed three soldiers and captured the bodies, which were to be returned to military authorities through the Red Cross.

"A team of Sri Lankan army troopers tried to advance from Unnichai jungles towards LTTE positions (in Batticaloa)," Tiger spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiriyan said in a statement.

"Following a confrontation, the army troopers retreated leaving behind three dead bodies and several weapons and military materials."

The defence ministry in a statement said troops had caused "heavy damages" to the Tigers.

In another confrontation in the same district, troops killed four Tiger rebels, a military official said.

The clashes came after the navy said it sank two cargo vessels believed to be smuggling weapons and explosives for Tigers. There was no immediate word from the Tamil Tigers about the ships.

The navy carried out a similar attack on February 28 and sank an identical craft off the island's southern coast, according to defence authorities here.

There have been stepped up clashes between suspected Tamil Tiger ships and the Sri Lankan navy in recent months amid heavy fighting in the island's northern and eastern regions.

More than 4,000 people have been killed in a new wave of fighting since December 2005 between government troops and rebels fighting for an independent homeland for the Tamil minority.

The fighting comes despite a truce that has been in place, at least on paper, since February 2002.

Mahinda - Ranil in "secret pact"


President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the main opposition is in a secret pact to bring in foreign military to Sri Lanka, Rajapaksa's election alleged.

JVP says Rajapaksa administration id the most corrupt government

The Peoples Liberation Front (JVP) parliamentarian Lal Kantha said Rajapaksa and Ranil Wickramasinghe are expoliting the human rights abuses to bring in international envoys and security forces.

International human rights watchdogs have called for a UN monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to monitor and prevent widespread abductions and disappearances.

Addressing a rally in Ampara, the former Minister said due to "stupid acts" of the Rajapaksa government foreign countries are intervening in Sri Lanka's internal affairs.

Most corrupt government

He described the Rajapaksa-led coalition as the "most corrupt government in post-independent Sri Lanka".

"Now everybody is a minister. Together they all are involved in corruption: nobody is punished," Lal Kantha, MP, added.


Instead of Ranil's unpatriotic opposition or Mahinda's treacherous government, the need of the moment is a patriotic opposition


JVP parliamentarian Lal Kantha

However, the JVP pledged their support to the government in its military strategy against Tamil Tigers.

President Rajapaksa's younger brothers, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and his advisor, Basil Rajapaksa, are accused of corruption and secret deals with the LTTE by two former ministers.

Support to war

Rajapaksa's former Foreign Minister, Mangala Samaraweera, and Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi accused the government of entering into a secret electoral deal with the LTTE just before November 2005 presidential elections.

In a letter to the President, Samaraweera alleged that every five hours a person disappeares in the island nation.


Two rivals are in a secret pact to bring in foreign forces, says the JVP

The JVP, who oppose federal solution for the national question, strongly campaigned for Rajapaksa presidency against the leader of the United National Party (UNP), Ranil Wickramasinghe.

The JVP Anuradhapura district legislator said the police, army, navy and air force leaders are carrying out a "correct" campaign against the LTTE hence deserve the support of the JVP.

Sri Lanka currently needs a "patriotic" opposition to fight corruption and moves to bring in foreign forces, according to MP Lal Kantha.

"Instead of Ranil's unpatriotic opposition or Mahinda's treacherous government, the need of the moment is a patriotic opposition," Lal Kantha said.

Sri Lanka commandos kill four Tigers, recover weapons

Mar 19, Colombo: Sri Lanka elite Police Special Task Force commandos on a foot patrol killed four LTTE cadres in a confrontation and recovered weapons and explosives from Wellaweli, Batticaloa around 5.30 a.m. this morning, the Media Centre for National Security said.

Following the successful counter attack which has forced the LTTE cadres to flee the area, a search operation by the STF has recovered four bodies of Tigers along with a cache of weapons including a T-56 rifle, a claymore mine and detonators, hand grenades and a communication set.

Meanwhile, another 1091 people belonging to 257 families have entered the government controlled areas yesterday from the LTTE controlled areas of Kaththankuda, Periyaporathivu and Kanthimale swelling the total number of people arrived in cleared areas in Batticaloa to 60,287.

Government officials said over 155,000 people had been displaced in the district of Batticaloa in the past month. Security Forces are assisting the government in providing basic necessities to the IDPs upon their arrival.

Silent Warriors sink another LTTE Ship - Off Arugam Bay


Sri Lanka Naval ships operating in the Eastern waters destroyed an LTTE arms carrying vessel around 9 this morning (Sunday, the 18th of March). Naval sources said that the vessel sank with huge explosions onboard, at a location approximately 190 NM east of Arugam bay in the eastern sea of the Island. The sources said that the vessel is about 70m in length and displayed no ensign.

The sources further said that the suspected ship speeding towards the island was detected around 2:30 a.m. this morning by the naval units patrolling in the Eastern waters. When intercepted and challenged via international Maritime Radio Channel (Channel 16) the vessel gave false details on its identification and started evading the area.

The naval units after a hot pursuit approached the vessel and ordered it to be stopped for checking purpose. Since the vessel did not comply the orders the navy had fired several warning shots, the sources further added.

Since, the suspected vessel started attacking at the approaching naval units with gun fire; the navy too retaliated and destroyed the vessel around 7:30 a.m. The vessel caught fire and with huge explosions being taken place onboard sank around 9:30 a.m. A search operation is presently under way in the area.

Thursday 15 March 2007

3 youths seek safety with Jaffna Rights Body

Three youths, from Kodikamam, Columbuthurai and Manipay, were accompanied by officials of the Jaffna Human Rights Commission (HRC) to safer areas Tuesday and Wednesday from their hiding places, after they called for help to the HRC office fearing danger to their lives. The officials are making arrangements for the three youths to be produced at Jaffna courts through Jaffna police, HRC sources said.

The youths went underground fearing death at the hands of Sri Lanka Army (SLA), after their names were called out during the cordon off and search conducted by the SLA in their respective areas earlier.

The number of persons seeking safety with the HRC Jaffna office to escape being killed by the Sri Lanka armed forces and their collaborating paramilitary members has been rising again, civil sources in Jaffna said.

Since August 2006, through the HRC, more than 65 youths have been placed in the protective custody of Jaffna prison on the orders of Jaffna district courts.

8 Tamil Tigers Killed in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- The air force bombed a strategic Tamil Tiger jungle base in eastern Sri Lanka, killing at least eight rebels, including two senior guerrillas, a military spokesman said Tuesday.

The air raid comes as relief agencies warned of an impending humanitarian crisis in the east, where tens of thousands of people have fled their homes in recent weeks due to an escalation of fighting.

Kfir and MiG-27 jets carried out the airstrikes on the base in Thoppigala on Monday, said air force Group Captain Ajantha Silva. The air force declined to say why it withheld the news of the raid for 24 hours.

The rebels, formally known as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, confirmed the air raid, but denied there were any casualties.

"Yes, there was some air movement and some sort of bombing, but we suffered no casualties. The report is negative," spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan said from Kilinochchi, the de-facto rebel capital in the north.

The Thoppigala camp serves as a major training base for the rebels. It is considered one of the last major LTTE redoubts in the east as Sri Lankan forces have carried out several ground and air attacks over the past year and captured territory.

"As fighting continues, we are also worried for the safety and protection of all civilians, as reports indicate that shelling is occurring from and to highly populated areas," the Inter Agency Standing Committee, a group of U.N. and private relief agencies, said Monday in a statement.

More than 40,000 people have fled their homes in eastern Batticaloa over the past few weeks seeking shelter in nearby government-controlled areas where an estimated 60,000 people are already packed into refugee camps, the International Committee of the Red Cross has said.

Separately, security forces discovered two roadside bombs each weighing 10 kilograms (22.05 pounds) in the northern Jaffna peninsula, the military said in a statement. The bombs which can be triggered by remote control, are a favored weapons of the Tamil Tigers.

The military also recovered a suicide belt from the abandoned house on Monday, the statement said.

The rebels have been fighting since 1983 to create a separate state for the ethnic Tamil minority in the north and northeast, following decades of discrimination by the Sinhalese majority.

About 65,000 people died in the conflict before the government and rebels signed a Norwegian-brokered cease-fire in 2002.

Renewed fighting has killed about 4,000 people since the truce faltered in late 2005, European cease-fire monitors say.

Mannar man Rahulan alias Anthony produced in a Tiruchi court - Tamil Nadu

A criminal court in the South Indian city of Tiruchi ordered a Sri Lankan Tamil named Rahulan alias Anthony to be kept in the custody of the Q Branch of the Tamil Nadu Police for further question him on the ongoing investigation into supplying explosive and other warlike material to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

The man produced in the court on March 13 is considered to be an important link in the investigations and most probably a member of the terrorist group the LTTE from Mannar. He will be kept for a further period of ten days by the Q Branch of the Tamil Nadu Police.

According to prior information released by the Tamil Nadu police in the case it was after questioning Rahulan alias Anthony they were able to trace 4.5 metric tons of iron balls at a place called Perambalur locked up in a house where soap was being manufactured.

The Q branch of the Tamil Nadu police, which investigates into terrorist activities in the state, initially took Rahulan into custody after questioning another man connected with the LTTE, from Sri Lanka, named Arulseelan, resident in the city of Tiruchi and on the information divulged by him.

Based on the information released by Rahulan alias Anthony, the Q branch, raided the house where soap was being manufactured, locked inside a room. The house is owned by a LTTE sympathizer named Ramesh Kumar and he is believed to be on the run after the seizure of the iron balls. The police said they still looking out for Ramesh kumar.

Meanwhile the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee has said that it would not allow a situation where a culture of violence to be developed in the state of Tamil Nadu.

In a recent press conference the Congress Committee said it would not tolerate a culture of arms in the state and oppose any room for violence in the state.

Welcoming the State's steps to crack down on the supporters of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in Tamil Nadu, TNCC president M. Krishnasswamy said the peace prevailing in the State should not be disturbed by the "unlawful activities" of LTTE supporters. He congratulated the State police for arresting 12 LTTE supporters and detaining them under the Goondas Act.

Why the world should rally round Sri Lanka ?

Redeveloping the Eastern Province is, indeed, one of our highest priorities. Considering the importance attached to the 'hearts and minds' component of quelling disaffection and terror, the State could not do better than ensure the well being of the Eastern Province, now that the State is re-asserting its authority almost in full in the region.

Concurrently, the world community would be acting with foresight by responding positively to Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogallagama's call to siphon all the material and moral support they can muster, to bring prosperity and well being to the East.

Minister Bogollagama has voiced this pronouncement to no less a person than UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and we hope the international community would rally round this highly worthy cause.

We need hardly say that the task of rejuvenating the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka has just begun. The fine military victories scored by the Security Forces in the province have only brought to completion the military component of defeating terror.

From now on, the 'hearts and minds' battle must begin and this involves meeting the material and developmental needs of the Eastern populace on a sustained and systematic basis.

This is insightful thinking on the part of the State because an armed separatist rebellion could not be considered as having been quelled completely as long the material and other urgent needs of the population groups in question go unmet by the State.

Therefore, no one could question the wisdom of emphasising the need for more and more development. Accordingly, the world would do well to cooperate with Sri Lanka.

It should be plain to see that any hesitation on the part of the world community to meet Sri Lanka's request would only ultimately benefit the LTTE which is all out to exploit public disaffection to the maximum.

For, if the East remains in the economic doldrums, the ravenous Tigers would make most out of it by exploiting public grievances. So, development is indeed the path to conflict resolution and we are certain that the world too would see it this way.

Wednesday 14 March 2007

Secret of attraction? It's all due to the wiggle

It is not simply how you look but how you flaunt it that is the secret of attraction, says a study published today.

Jennifer Lopez, Study reveals secret of attraction
Jennifer Lopez: knows how to flaunt it

A body of evidence has built up suggesting that a simple measurement, such as the waist-to-hip ratio, can predict how attractive a woman is. But a US team reports that an hourglass figure is not enough.

A curvaceous figure has to wiggle in the right way too - or swagger in the case of men - according to a series of experiments that show the science of romance is much more complicated than researchers had thought.

Dr Kerri Johnson, of New York University, and Dr Louis Tassinary, of Texas A & M University, asked people to rate the attractiveness of animations and videos of people as they walked.

Because they used shadow figures and animations where at first glance the sex was not obvious, the 370 people who assessed the figures had to make assumptions about the person's sex and masculinity or femininity. The researchers found that a person perceived as female was rated more attractive when moving in a feminine way, such as with a hip sway, or had feminine characteristics, such as a small waist-to-hip ratio.

A perceived male's attractiveness was rated higher when moving in a masculine way or had masculine characteristics such as a large waist-to-hip ratio.

Notable examples of curvaceous women with that seductive sway include Marilyn Monroe and the singers Beyoncé Knowles and Jennifer Lopez. The shoulders of rugged males can be seen swaggering in the case of any actor who has played an action hero, from Mel Gibson and Arnold Schwarzenegger to Daniel Craig.

Earlier work by Prof Devendra Singh and his daughter Adrian, from the University of Texas, suggested that lovestruck men had only a woman's waist-hip ratio in mind. But today's study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that attraction is more complex than curvy figures and lantern jaws alone.

"For centuries, people have tried to identify a magical cue that inspires the perception of beauty," said Dr Johnson.

"We might be better off understanding how a range of cues affects our basic social judgments."

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