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Monday 30 April 2007

AMERICAN RAPE STATISTICS

Somewhere in America, a woman is raped every 2 minutes, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

In 1995, 354,670 women were the victims of a rape or sexual assault. (NationalCrime Victimization Survey. Bureau of Justice Statistics , U.S. Department of Justice, 1996.) Over the last two years, more than 787,000 women were the victim of a rape or sexual assault. (National Crime Victimization Survey. Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S.Department of Justice, 1996.) The FBI estimates that 72 of every 100,000 females in the United States wereraped last year. (Federal Bureau of Investigation, Uniform Crime Statistics, 1996.)

SILENT VICTIMS :

One of the most startling aspects of sex crimes is how many go unreported. The most common reasons given by women for not reporting these crimes are the belief that it is a private or personal matter and the fear of reprisal from the assailant.

Approximately 28% of victims are raped by husbands or boyfriends, 35% by acquaintances, and 5% by other relatives. (Violence against Women, Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Dept. of Justice, 1994)

The FBI estimates that only 37% of all rapes are reported to the police. U.S. Justice Department statistics are even lower, with only 26% of all rapes or attempted rapes being reported to law enforcement officials. In 1994-1995, only 251,560 rapes and sexual assaults were reported to law enforcement officials -- less than one in every three. (National Crime Victimization Survey, Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, 1996.)

An overwhelming majority of rape service agencies believe that public education about rape, and expanded counseling and advocacy services for rape victims, would be effective in increasing the willingness of victims to report rapes to the police. (Rape in America, 1992, National Victim Center with Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center.)

LIVING IN FEAR :

According to the U.S. Department of Justice: (All statistics are taken from: Violenceagainst Women, Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Dept. of Justice, 1994.)

· One of every four rapes take place in a public area or in a parking garage.

· 31% of female victims reported that the offender was a stranger.

· 68% of rapes occur between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.

· At least 45% of rapists were under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

· In 29% of rapes, the offender used a weapon.

· In 47% of rapes, the victim sustained injuries other than rape injuries.

· 75% of female rape victims require medical care after the attack.

NOT JUST A FAMILY MATTER :

Family violence and abuse are among the most prevalent forms of interpersonal violence against women and young children -- both boys and girls. The sexual abuse of a child should never be "just a family matter," but many children are afraid to report an incident to the police because the abusers are too often a family friend or relative.

Approximately one-third of all juvenile victims of sexual abuse cases are children younger than 6 years of age. (Violence and the Family, Report of the American Psychological Association Presidential Task Force on Violence and the Family, 1996.) According to the Justice Department, one in two rape victims are under age 18; one in six are under age 12. (Child Rape Victims, 1992. U.S. Department of Justice.)

FACE OF AMERICA :

About 81% of rape victims are white; 18% are black; 1% are of other races. (Violence against Women, Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Dept. of Justice, 1994.)

About half of all rape victims are in the lowest third of income distribution; half are in the upper two-thirds. (Violence against Women, Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Dept. of Justice, 1994.) There were 71 forcible rapes per 100,000 females reported to United States law enforcement agencies in 1996. 2

Data from the National Women 's Study, a longitudinal telephone survey of a national household probability sample of women at least 18 years of age, show 683,000 women forcibly raped each year and that 84% of rape victims did not report the offense to the police.3

Using Uniform Crime Report data for 1994 and 1995, the Bureau of Justice Statistics found that of rape victims who reported the offense to law enforcement, about 40% were under the age of 18, and 15% were younger than 12.4

In a national survey 27.7% of college women reported a sexual experience since the age of fourteen that met the legal definition of rape or attempted rape, and 7.7% of college men reported perpetrating aggressive behavior which met the legal definition of rape.5

The National Crime Victimization Survey indicates that for 1992-1993, 92% of rapes were committed by known assailants.1 About half of all rapes and sexual assaults against women are committed by friends and acquaintances, and 26% are by intimate partners.1

Risk factors for perpetrating sexual violence include: early sexual experience (both forced and voluntary),6 adherence by men to sex role stereotyping, 7,8 negative attitudes of men towards women,6,9,,10, 11,12, alcohol consumption, 8,13 acceptance of rape myths by men.8,9,12,14, 15

Non-forceful verbal resistance and lack of resistance are associated with rape completion.1, 6

The adult pregnancy rate associated with rape is estimated to be 4.7%. This information, in conjunction with estimates based on the U.S. Census, suggest that there may be 32,101 annual rape-related pregnancies among American women over the age of 18.17

Non-genital physical injuries occur in approximately 40% of completed rape cases.18 As many as 3% of all rape cases have non-genital injuries requiring overnight hospitalization. 19

Victims of rape often manifest long-term symptoms of chronic headaches,18, 20fatigue20, sleep disturbance20, recurrent nausea,20 decreased appetite,21 eating disorders,22 menstrual pain,18 sexual dysfunction, 23 and suicide attempts.21 In a longitudinal study, sexual assault was found to increase the odds of substance abuse by a factor of 2.5.24

Estimates of the occurrence of sexually transmitted diseases resulting from rape range from 3.6% to 30%.18,22 HIV transmission risk rate from rape is estimated at 1 in 500,22,25 although a few probable cases have been documented in Sweden and Great Britain. 26,27

Victims of marital or date rape are 11 times more likely to be clinically depressed, and 6 times more likely to experience social phobia than are non-victims. Psychological problems are still evident in cases as long as 15 years after the assault.28

Fatalities occur in about 0.1% of all rape cases.29,30

A study examining the use of health services over a five year period by female members of a health maintenance program found that the number of visits to physicians by rape victims increased 56% in the year following the crime, compared to a 2% utilization increase by non-victims. 31

The National Public Services Research Institute estimates the lifetime cost for each rape with physical injuries which occurred in 1987 to be $60, 000.32

Battling a Man-Made Tsunami in the Guise of War

With the Vakarai resettlement now completed the government is considering returning around 150 000 IDPs from Vaunativu. Exactly when these resettlement programmes will be launched is still a mystery and pipeline plans for IDPs from Mutur and Trincomalee remain as murky as the skies overhead. Without even food in their bellies it is at best difficult to predict when these people will have a place to call home and if their lives will ever be rebuilt to include hope and happiness.

Ninety five families live in neatly rowed tents in this camp, where they arrived on 20th December to live out a bleak Christmas and even more depressing New Year as things went from bad to worse. At first they were looked after by local NGO Sarvodaya who provided them with vegetables in addition to the 200g of rice, dhal, sugar and other meagre dry rations that were provided by the World Food Programme(WFP) . Sustenance that currently has all but run out, with the government doing nothing to replenish the dwindling food resources in Batticaloa.

Dealing with rough living conditions, dismal weather and an empty wallet is still a better option for these people than going home. However, because of the overcrowding in the camps the government has suggested that some families from Vinayagapuram camp be moved to the camps in Valachcheni vacated by families that have been resettled in Vakarai. Another plan is to move the IDPs from Mutur and Trincomalee to a half-way camp in Killiweddi. Both proposals have drawn the ire of these people who insist that they want to remain here until they are sent to their original homes in Mutur, Sampur and Pattalipuram.

By Uditha Jayasinghe

Burnt to the tinge of ebony by the sun, wearing a dust coated sarong and a neatly buttoned shirt surrounded by igloo like tents that comprised of the Vinayagapuram camp E, Lingeswaran looked like a typical Internally Displaced Person (IDPs) with one exception, he had lost a leg due to a landmine.

The first hint of his “uniqueness” was given by the green handled crutches he leant on. Lingeswaran like 158 000 other IDPs had fled to Batticaloa to escape the escalating fighting in the East. Hailing from Mutur he lost his leg in May 2003 while gathering firewood in Pachchanur, near his village. He was only 24 years at the time.

“We go frequently into the jungle to gather fire wood. There were no markers or other indication that it was a mined area. This clump of jungle was 5km from the nearest army camp and as far as we knew there was no LTTE in the area either,” he recalled. Duped by this seemingly innocent plain of land Lingeswaran sacrificed a leg, the insidious mines that have maimed or killed hundreds in the decade’s old war toted up another victory.

Stories such as Ligeswaran’s is far from uncommon because landmine victim statistics clearly show that there are more male victims than females. This is because men move around unprotected areas far more than women to gather fire wood and gather produce, hence they are more likely to fall victim to landmines.

Never to give up Lingeswaran rebuilt his life, eventually marrying a year later and fathering a daughter, who as her father mentioned, ran gaily up and hung on his crutches gazing up at us with mischievous curiosity. Even with an uncertain future facing them and worse living conditions, deprived of food, a livelihood and schooling for his precious daughter Lingeswaran is grateful that he at least still has his family.

A scant comfort that is denied to Thilleinayagam Pidaparam (53). He too left his home to find peace from the incessant shelling and after hundreds of miles of walking finally found his way to this camp accompanied by his wife and only daughter. Heaving a sigh of relief that they were finally safe he settled down in one of the tiny tents to await resettlement by the government once the fighting was over. However, more misery lurked in the shadows. In spite of electricity wires running around the camp and bulbs twinkling like miniature suns inside homes just yards away, along the camp boundary, officials refuse to provide electricity to any of the camps. Instead they were given candles.

On the night of March 5th after a tedious day Pidaparam lay sleeping on the sandy floor of his new “home” when the smell of something burning woke him. Glancing around with eyes stinging from bellows of smoke he saw flames licking at the canvas. Panicking he grabbed his wife and daughter and hurled out of the tent, desperately trying to smother the flames that rapidly engulfed his daughter. Sustaining deep burns on his arms, legs and back he desperately tried to put out the fire swallowing up his eight year old Darshani, but all his efforts were in vain.

When we met Pidaparam he looked like a caricature, a lost soul wondering around the camp, silent in his grief with a face that has had all its happiness beaten out. To him life is too long and has lost all meaning. These were among dozens of people we spoke to as we strolled under a glowering sky ready to empty its wrath on our heads in torrential rain. Though April is not a wet month, even the gods seem to have lost their pity for these deprived people who have litle else to take comfort in or look for help.

Ninety five families live in neatly rowed tents in this camp, where they arrived on 20th December to live out a bleak Christmas and even more depressing New Year as things went from bad to worse. At first they were looked after by local NGO Sarvodaya who provided them with vegetables in addition to the 200g of rice, dhal, sugar and other meagre dry rations that were provided by the World Food Programme(WFP) . Sustenance that currently has all but run out, with the government doing nothing to replenish the dwindling food resources in Batticaloa.

“The food is not enough. We only got food to last us two weeks. There is little work to be had and even that is not consistent. We are labourers and are prepared to work but finding jobs in Batticaloa is difficult. We have no way of feeding our children and cannot go back to our homes because of the fighting,” explained K. Sammugarajah (55) who was displaced from Pattalipuram and is living here with his wife and two children, both of whom are married.

To combat the unemployment problem the Provincial Council provides them with work in road repairs, cleaning public places and other odd jobs. In addition to help pass the time these tasks also earn them a wage of Rs.400 a day and the full amount is paid once a week. However, since there are about 100 families in the camp and limited work the jobs are rotated on a weekly basis among 42 workers. Nonetheless Rs.2 800 is a fortune for these people who are otherwise dependent on handouts.

Dealing with rough living conditions, dismal weather and an empty wallet is still a better option for these people than going home. However, because of the overcrowding in the camps the government has suggested that some families from Vinayagapuram camp be moved to the camps in Valachcheni vacated by families that have been resettled in Vakarai. Another plan is to move the IDPs from Mutur and Trincomalee to a half-way camp in Killiweddi. Both proposals have drawn the irk of these people who insist that they want to remain here until they are sent to their original homes in Mutur, Sampur and Pattalipuram.

“Killivedi is far from our homes. If we are moved there who can tell if we will ever be allowed to return home. To the best of our knowledge there are no landmines in our villages so if it is safe we want to go back. That is all we ask. If not we want to stay here. We don’t want to be herded around like cattle. We have been travelling constantly from April last year and we are afraid to leave,” said V. Kiridara (26) who is from Thalankuda and is living with his wife and child at the camp.

Indeed since 25th April 2006 around 1 500 people literally trekked hundreds of kilometers on foot, starting from Trincomalee. The first stretch of their journey covered the route from Trincomalee to Pattalipuram and then they were settled for a short time in Nallur. With the fighting getting ever closer they were forced to uproot again and continue southward passing Illpanthurai, Kadiraweli and Vakerai finally ending up in the outskirts of the Batticaloa town by the latter part of December.

Having come all this way together, neighbours were separated from each other when the government divided families at Welikanda before allocating them to camps. Some were sent to a camp in Kurukalmadam, which is 16km from Vinayagapuram camp and Ariyampadi, which is just a few kilometers away. But hospitality visits are rare and no one knows how the other families are faring.

Stunned by the hardships endured by these people, spawned by a problem they did not create but are paying for I asked if any of them had been displaced before. A resounding “no” was the answer but to my surprise a small woman clad in a torn red sari contested this verdict. Nagamma belongs to one of 125 families who were displaced when the tsunami swept through Tharamundal in Trincomalee.

A man-made tsunami in the guise of the war has made her homeless yet again and hers is one of the three families that were displaced by the tsunami and subsequent fighting living in the Vinayagapuram camp. Even though 1/3 of the Batticaloa population has been displaced by the recent fighting, which is on par with the tsunami numbers no structured aid effort is forthcoming from the South.

With the Vakarai resettlement now completed the government is considering returning around 150 000 IDPs from Vaunativu. Exactly when these resettlement programmes will be launched. It is still a mystery and pipeline plans for IDPs from Mutur and Trincomalee remain as murky as the skies overhead. Without even food in their bellies it is at best difficult to predict when these people will have a place to call home and if their lives will ever be rebuilt to include hope and happiness.

“Karuna Faction Running Its Writ in Pottuvil”

Daily Mirror editor receives serious threat from Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary News Highlights of the week

Sri Lanka`s Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa threatened the editor of a leading English daily on Tuesday, saying the paper`s coverage of actions of the Karuna Group had angered the Army-backed paramilitaries, a media watchdog said. Mr. Gothabaya, brother of President Mahinda Rajapakse, had Tuesday morning telephoned Ms. Champika Liyanarachchi, editor of the Daily Mirror to say she should not be surprised if the Karuna Group turned its violence against her and if so, she shouldn`t expect government protection, the Free Media Movement (FMM) said

In an article titled `Karuna faction running its writ in Pottuvil` on Monday, the Daily Mirror reported the paramilitary group is creating havoc in the Muslim-dominated Pottuvil town in Ampara, moving around freely with weapons in government-controll ed areas while law enforcement authorities are allegedly turning a blind eye.

The Defence Secretary had told Ms. Liyanarachchi her paper`s story had angered the Karuna faction and, furthermore, was written against the Government, the FMM said.

In the eventuality of Karuna Group violence against her, Mr. Gotabhaya had said Ms. Liyanarachchi should not expect any security from the government to protect her, the FMM said. Muslim Guardian publishes below the news items and articles appeared in various sources in this regard for its valuable readers to decide.

Government of Sri Lanka vehemently rejected the claim and published a statement on this regard. According to the statement;

Defence Secretary Denies Threatening Media Personnel
Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa vehemently denies the accusations levelled against him by certain media movements that he had threatened an editor of a local English newspaper. Speaking to defence.lk website, the Defence Secretary said that this is yet another calumniation made against him by LTTE proxies annoyed by the effective anti-terror campaign carried out by the Ministry of Defence.

While admitting that he had had a telephone conversation with the said newspaper editor yesterday, the Defence Secretary said that it was just a frank exchange of ideas on two controversial articles published on the said newspaper. He further stated that he did not make any threat to the said editor than openly expressing his views and was surprised how certain media had exaggerated the issue.

Speaking further Defence secretary said, that freedom of expression should not only be limited to media personnel, but others should also have the right express their views on the professional work of any media person.

"In my view the two articles I have highlighted during my conversation with the said editor may be detrimental to the national security. One of them aimed at promoting racial hatred between Tamil and Muslim people living in the East and the other was trying to damage the good image of the Security Forces. I do not find any reason to refrain from expressing my view to the editor of the newspaper that publishes such articles" the defence secretary said.

"I also think it is my responsibility to do so, because the racism is the greatest threat to our society and the nation's solidarity. It is the duty of the press to promote unity and cohesion in the hearts and minds of people; not to publish material tending to support such harmful ideologies, he added.

Finally, the Secretary Defence expressed his concerns over the intolerant behaviour shown by some media personnel at constructive criticism. "None can claim free from biased or prejudice unless he or she cannot stand constructive criticism" he concluded.

However pro-LTTE website Tamilnet also had given a priority on this issue and says;

SL President Pooh-Poohs Gothabaya Death Threat
Before leaving for Italy Wednesday, Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa telephoned Ms. Champika Liyanarachchi, editor of the Daily Mirror, in a bid to defuse the controversy that has erupted over the death threats she received Tuesday from Defence Secretary Gotathabaya Rajapaksa. The President had suggested to Ms. Liyanarachchi that she had overreacted to Mr. Gotabhaya’s “expressions of concern for her safety,” Presidential Secretariat sources said.

On Tuesday Gothabaya had threatened Ms. Liyanarachchi, saying the paper’s coverage of actions of the Karuna Group had angered the Army-backed paramilitaries. According to the Free Media Movement (FMM), the Defence Secretary had telephoned the editor to say she should not be surprised if the Karuna Group turned its violence against her and if so, she shouldn’t expect government protection.

Sources close to the Daily Mirror said Tuesday that Mr. Gothabaya had been explicit. Speaking in English, the incensed Defence Secretary vowed to Ms. Liyanarachchi: “I’ll exterminate you!” He had also attacked another journalist with the Daily Mirror, Uditha Jayasinha, describing her as “a prostitute whose mother has been sleeping with the Tigers.”

On Wednesday morning President Rajapakse telephoned Ms. Liyanarachchi, saying the incident had been brought his notice by ‘a journalist.’

The President said that Mr. Gothabaya had only wanted to “express his concern for [Ms. Liyanarachchi’ s] safety” after her paper published an article on violence by the Karuna Group and suggested the government was complicit. Ironically, Ms. Liyanarachchi was seen by many as having good links with President Rajapakse’s administration and political camp.

Amid widespread expectation that Mr. Mahinda’s archrival, Ranil Wickremesinghe would win the 2005 President elections, she was the first commentator to emphatically argue the opposite, a media analyst said. And in an interview to the BBC Sinhala service, Laksham Hulugalle, Director General of the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS), said of Ms Liyanarachchi: “we work closely work with her and I’m sure the Defence Secretary would never have said those things.” “He’s not there to threaten journalists but to protect the country from threats,” Mr. Hulugalle said of Mr. Gothabaya.

However the FMM noted that government leaders had criticized Daily Mirror on previous occasions as well over is coverage of the conflict.

“It is an open secret that government leaders and close allies are pressurizing independent media to toe its line on war and peace. We see … a calculated process of coercion by the Government that forces media to abandon its role watch-dog of democracy, and instead adopt the supine role of a lap dog to those in power.”

In the mean time free media movement also had condemned and issued a report. According to FMM

Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary Threatens Editor
The FMM is outraged to receive news that the brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksha and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa threatened the Editor the Daily Mirror Champika Liyanarachchi, over the telephone on the morning of 17th April 2007.

The Defence Secretary had allegedly expressed his deep displeasure over the conflict coverage by the newspaper. Referring to a front-page news item published the previous day (Armed Karuna faction running its writ in Pottuvil - http://www.dailymir ror.lk/2007/ 04/16/front/ 1.asp), the Defence Secretary had said the story had angered the Karuna faction and furthermore was written against the Government. He had gone on to say that Champika should not be surprised if the Karuna faction turned violent against her. In such an eventuality, he had said that she should not expect any security from the government to protect her. Citing another article by Daily Mirror reporter Uditha Jayasinha (Mutur IDPs: Battling a man-made tsunami in the guise of war, http://www.dailymir ror.lk/2007/ 04/17/feat/ 01.asp), the Defence Secretary had continued his vicious tirade by castigating the reporter and expressing his severe displeasure that the article carried negative remarks on the Sri Lankan
Army by IDPs.

These statements of the Defence Secretary beggar belief. This gross misconduct of a high-placed public official clearly demonstrates the challenges facing free media in Sri Lanka today. The FMM unequivocally deplores the threat made by the Defence Secretary and condemns what is tantamount to violence against the media. We strongly feel this latest assault on free media essentially ridicules this government’s promises to uphold and strengthen media freedom. Given the volatile situation in the country, the FMM also fears that this threat sends a chilling message to the media community at large in Sri Lanka.

The FMM notes that on previous occasions as well, government leaders had criticized Daily Mirror over is coverage of the conflict. It is an open secret that government leaders and close allies are pressurizing independent media to toe its line on war and peace. We see this latest development as a calculated process of coercion by the Government that forces media to abandon its role watch-dog of democracy, and instead adopt the supine role of a lap dog to those in power.

The government can no longer abdicate the responsibility to prevent a further erosion of media freedom in Sri Lanka. Accordingly, the FMM urgently and firmly requests the government to make its position public regarding this incident and also call upon the government to take remedial steps to ensure that loose tongues and wild imaginings of its Ministers and allies are kept in check by educating them on the need to secure and strengthen free media as a vital foundation of democratic governance.

Editor’s Note: Muslim Guardian does not take any responsibility over the republished articles, news, opinions or comments; hence the opinions expressed in the republished articles do not necessarily represent the views of Muslim Guardian. However, Muslim Guardian always welcomes all kinds of opinions, debates and comments through the comments form given below. (April 23, 2007)

Saturday 28 April 2007

Tea estates urged to adopt innovative projects

Tea estates urged to adopt innovative projects

Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI

COLOMBO: Tea plantations should go for innovative projects rather than sticking to traditional patterns, S. Leelaratne, Chairman of Elkaduwa Plantations said yesterday.

Leelaratne said such methods have helped reduced the company’s huge and long-standing losses by Rs. 1.7 million during the last year.

It would have reduced further and reached the breakeven point if not for the estate workers’ latest strike, he said.

This progress was made as a result of receiving a better harvest by pruning bushes and fertilising them on time and cultivating new plants, Leelaratne added.

The Bandarapola Factory, among the five factories closed down last September was opened providing employment to 108 people.

Will Lanka stop Australia's winning streak?

Will Lanka stop Australia's winning streak?

Bridgetown, April 28 (AP): Sri Lanka had better start strongly against Australia in today's World Cup final.

It could be the only chance it gets.

Australia has cruised through 10 tournament games to carry its unbeaten streak at the World Cup to 28 matches. A win in Barbados against Sri Lanka would bring an unprecedented third straight title.

No team has got close to challenging the dominant Australians. The latest to try was South Africa, which had entered the competition last month at No. 1 in one-day cricket's rankings.

Australia reduced the Proteas to 27-5 at the start of Wednesday's semifinal and eventually won by seven wickets with more than 18 overs left.

``Whenever we've got our noses in front, we haven't just sat back and waited for things to happen. We've put our foot down and really gone in for the kill and finished teams off,'' Australia captain Ricky Ponting said Friday.

``That is challenging ourselves. It doesn't matter what the opposition do.''

With that in mind, Sri Lanka needs to buck the trend at the seven-week competition and put Australia under some kind of pressure. That means either setting a big target batting first or taking early wickets if in the field.

It has done that regularly so far, losing only to South Africa and Australia _ and the latter was with an under strength team already sure of a place in the semifinals.

Sri Lanka will have front-line bowlers Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan and Lasith Malinga in the side for Saturday's final and that could make a crucial difference.

Muralitharan denied that Sri Lanka rested him and Vaas against Australia to hold a surprise element for the final.

``We are not hiding because I have been playing for the last 16 years and Vaasy has been playing for 14 years, and the Australian players have been playing for 10 or 15 years,'' Muralitharan said. ``They have seen us.''

Australia spent a while practicing Friday with bowling coach Troy Cooley sending down balls with a sideways action to replicate Malinga's peculiar slinging action.

Malinga was top of the tournament wicket-taking charts before damaging ankle ligaments and missing three Super 8s games ahead of Tuesday's semifinal against New Zealand. He dismissed Black Caps captain Stephen Fleming in his first over and regularly beat the bat in an 81-run win.

``We haven't played a lot against him, but we've all had a chance through this World Cup to have a good look,'' Ponting said. ``I watched him pretty closely against New Zealand the other day and he bowled very well with the new ball and had most of their top order batsmen in trouble.''

With both teams injury-free for the game at the 28,000-seat Kensington Oval, Malinga and Muralitharan _ the world's leading spin bowler _ will be crucial in Sri Lanka is to disturb a batting lineup that has been in imperious form.

Even if the bowlers can uproot the likes of Matthew Hayden _ who has bludgeoned 621 runs in the Caribbean competition _ and Ponting, the batsmen will then be up against a fearsome bowling lineup of Shaun Tait, Nathan Bracken and Glenn McGrath on what looks to be a hard, bouncy track.

While the chances of a repeat of Sri Lanka's surprise win over Australia in the 1996 final look slim, Muralitharan remained defiant.

``We have batsmen of the caliber of (Sanath) Jayasuriya, (Mahela) Jayawardene, (Kumar) Sangakkara, (Upul) Tharanga,'' he said. ``If our batsmen get set, we can be more dangerous than any other team in the world because we have more shots than any other players. That can happen.''

Still, the 37-year-old McGrath, test cricket's most successful ever pace bowler, is retiring after the match and determined to go out on a high. Barbados was where McGrath took five wickets in an international match for the first time.

``I've got a lot of memories here in Barbados,'' McGrath said. ``The perfect way to finish would be with another five-for, a win, walk off and happy days.''

Australia is expected to keep the same team that beat South Africa, retaining spinner Brad Hogg in case the newly laid Oval wicket starts to deteriorate later on Saturday.

Sri Lanka's Farveez Maharoof might replace Dilhara Fernando, after the struggling fast bowler was twice warned for running on the pitch against New Zealand and bowled five overs for 45 runs.

Lineups:

Australia (likely): Ricky Ponting (captain), Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Michael Hussey, Shane Watson, Brad Hogg, Nathan Bracken, Shaun Tait, Glenn McGrath.

Sri Lanka (likely): Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Chamara Silva, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Russel Arnold, Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan, Farveez Maharoof.

Umpires: Aleem Dar, Pakistan, and Steve Bucknor, West Indies.

TV umpire: Rudi Koertzen, South Africa. Match referee: Jeff Crowe, New Zealand.

Head to head showdowns in World Cup final

Today's World Cup final between Australia and Sri Lanka has the potential for some intriguing head to head duels.

Opening batsmen

Matthew Hayden, Australia, vs. Sanath Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka

Beauty and the beast? The silky strokeplay of Jayasuriya combined with his explosive hitting contrasts markedly with the brutal blows of the barrel chested Australian. Both men are in the twilight of their one-day careers and probably playing at their last World Cup. Hayden is 35 and Jayasuriya 37.

Hayden tops the World Cup batting rankings with 621 runs from nine innings while Jayasuriya has only 404 from 10 innings. However one big difference is that Jayasuriya bowls handy left arm spin. He has taken seven wickets in the Caribbean and could be called on if Saturday's wicket is a turner.

One of the most powerful batsmen in the sport, Hayden has three centuries at the tournament while Jayasuriya has two.

Captains

Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka, vs. Ricky Ponting, Australia

Two players at the peak of their careers. Both are deep thinking cricketers and stunning batsmen. Jayawardene is second in the batting table behind Hayden, with 529 from 10 innings, while Ponting has 502 from eight. Both have scored a century each. Jayawardene's patient performance against New Zealand got Sri Lanka into the final. Ponting's was against Scotland.

The 34-year-old Ponting captained Australia to victory in the last World Cup while Jayawardene was too young to taste victory when Sri Lanka won the tournament in 1996.

Ponting's approach to the captaincy is direct and unforgiving. Failure is not brooked lightly, Jayawardene is more philosophical in his approach, realizing how recently Sri Lankan cricket was an amateur game and how far it has come in a few years.

Wicketkeepers

Adam Gilchrist, Australia, vs. Kumar Sangakkara, Sri Lanka

Two of the finest exponents of the wicketkeeper/batsmen concept that has made the specialist wicketkeeper outmoded in one-day, and often, test cricket. Gilchrist opens for Australia and Sangakkara bats at three. Both men have performed moderately with the bat in the Caribbean, Sangakkara scoring 296 and Gilchrist 304.

Gilchrist is batting in the shadow of Hayden at the moment, but, once in, has a destructive ability to hit big shots.

Both men have been outstanding behind the stumps, with the Sri Lankan edging it because of the speed of his hands, which have resulted in some dramatic stumpings.

Fast bowlers

Chaminda Vaas, Sri Lanka, vs. Glenn McGrath, Australia

After carrying bowling attacks for years, both of these formidable cricketers are nearing the end of their careers. McGrath, at 37, will retire after Saturday's final, while the leftarmer Vaas, 34, plans to continue playing.

McGrath, one of the best bowlers Australia has produced, has slowed down as the years have gone by. But unerring accuracy and intelligent use of seam and the breeze has made him the top bowler at the tournament, with 25 wickets in 10 matches. Vaas, who can swing the ball extravagantly, has fewer, 13 wickets in nine matches. But he is now enjoys seeing the burden of carrying Sri Lanka's pace attack lifted by Lasith Malinga's fierce speed.

Both bowlers play on batsmen's impatience, probing outside the offstump and looking for the edge. Both will almost certainly grab at least a couple of wickets on Saturday.

Spinners

Brad Hogg, Australia, vs. Muttiah Muralitharan, Sri Lanka

No contest. It would have been a contest if Shane Warne was still playing for Australia but Muralitharan is now far and away the world's best spinner. Hogg, at 36, has taken 20 wickets at the World Cup, three fewer than Murali, but the psychological difference is huge. The Sri Lankan, with his controversial action, hypnotizes batting attacks and he and Warne battled for years for the title of King of Spin.

Hogg, playing in the shadow of Warne for years, has developed the chinaman which is proving hard to pick. While Muralitharan is a strike bowler, Hogg is living up to his duty to move in after the Australian pacemen and removing the lower order batsmen. Muralitharan's ability with the bat is poor and he doesn't field that well, while Hogg is a top fielder and can also bat usefully.

Related stories:

# We have a huge advantage over Lanka

# Sanath Jayasuriya to play his natural game

# Either way, Lanka is set for a carnival

# `Biggest moment'

Resettlement Authority established

Resettlement Authority established

COLOMBO: The Resettlement Authority was inaugurated by Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Minister Rishad Bathiudeen to assist all Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to resettle in their original homes and provide Water, Sanitation and Temporary Housing and thereafter, Livelihood Assistance and Permanent Housing, states a press release issued by the Resettlement Ministry.

After April 7, 2006 over 300,000 persons, in addition to the conflict affected IDPs displaced earlier, have been recently displaced from places of origin.

Almost all the IDPs from Vakarai numbering about 4,500 families have now been resettled and are satisfied that they are resettled in their original places of origin.

The Resettlement Authority is a brainchild of President, Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The Resettlement Authority is being established under the Act of Parliament No. 9 of 2007.

The Authority will have its own Fund obtained from monies voted by Parliament, Loans, Donations, Gifts or Grants received by the Authority from any source from within or outside Sri Lanka, provided such sums shall be accounted through the normal Budgetary process.

There will be five Departments namely Resettlement, Infrastructure, Finance, Administration and Planning. All these will be separate Units for different functions and will have separate Sub-Units.

Amadahara Vesak Zone from May 1

Amadahara Vesak Zone from May 1

Shirley WIJESINGHE

COLOMBO: The “Amadahara Vesak Zone” organised by Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited is being financially powered by main sponsor M/S OS Projects (Pvt.) Ltd. (Orange) for the forth consecutive year.

The signing of the sponsorship agreement between ANCL and Orange Electric took place at the ANCL yesterday. The sponsorship cheque of Rs.1.5 million was handed over by Orange Electric Director Sawanthi Kodithuwakku.

The Amadahara Vesak Zone will radiate from Lake House to cover several areas in the heart of Fort on May 1, 2 and 3. It will cover areas surrounding the Sambuddhaloka Temple, Fort, Lake House roundabout, D. R. Wijewardene Mawatha, Chittampalam A Gardiner Mawatha, Fort, Pettah, Presidential Secretariat, Lotus Road and Slave Island.

Roads and buildings will be decorated with pandals, lanterns, Buddhist flags and electric illuminations during this three-day period.

Leading public and private sector institutions, including the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Sri Lanka Telecom, Postal Department, National Housing Authority, Mackie and Company, Inland Revenue Department, Fort Police Station, Sri Lanka Air Force and some State and private sector bankers will assist Lake House to conduct the program.

Many voluntary organisations, Buddhist societies and Buddhist temples in Colombo have also extended their co-operation to make the event a success.

During this period, Vesak lantern competitions, Bakthi Gee programmes and stage dramas will be conducted by the Lake House Buddhist Society and several other Buddhist organisations.

In addition `Dan Salas’ will offer food, drinks and ice cream to Vesak sightseers.

The Independent Television Network and Lakhanda Radio will beam special broadcasts on the proceedings of the “Amadahara Vesak Programe”.

The ANCL will also issue the “Dinamina Vesak Magazine” in Sinhala and English and a special publication of the `Budusarana’ newspaper to coincide with “Amadahara”.

Ambalangoda Traditional Puppet shows and performances of the Tower Hall Foundation Artistes will also be staged in front of the ANCL.

SriLankan Airlines goes CUTE at BIA

SriLankan Airlines goes CUTE at BIA

INTRODUCTION: SriLankan Airlines has introduced a state-of-the-art passenger handling system at the Bandaranaike International Airport, further enhancing the level of convenience for travellers.

The National Carrier is the sole ground handler at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) and provides services for all airlines that use the country’s only international airport, which includes handling of passengers, baggage, cargo, and in-flight catering.

Nigel O’Shea, Head of Service Delivery at SriLankan, said: “This is the latest step in SriLankan Airlines’


SriLankan flight

continuous efforts to support Sri Lanka’s aviation industry. It is a momentous event for BIA, and represents a technological leap forward.

The system has an array of benefits for passengers at check-in and boarding, and several of our most important customer airlines encouraged us to install it.”

The Common User Terminal Equipment (CUTE) system was commissioned recently at BIA in the presence of the management of SriLankan Airlines, representatives of several customer airlines, and officials of SITA, a global information and telecommunication solutions provider for the air transport industry which supplied the system.

CUTE is designed for the sharing of information on a real-time basis between the airport ground handler - in this case, SriLankan - and the systems of operating carriers.

Manager Airport Service Delivery, Yohan Pathirana, said: “This project involved the efforts of SriLankan Airlines, SITA and customer airlines. Our airport staff has already been given the necessary training to handle the system.”

CUTE has enabled check-in counters at BIA to handle new innovations and advancements in air travel, such as 100% e-ticketing, providing direct connectivity to frequent flyer programmes of customer airlines, better integration for thorough check-in, facilities for on-line check-in, the use of bar-coded boarding passes, and passport swipe capabilities.

Devananda, Sangaree meetS. African leaders

Devananda, Sangaree meetS. African leaders

COLOMBO: Douglas Devananda, Minister of Social Services and Social Welfare who is on an official tour of South Africa had an extensive talk with Dr. Zola Iskweia, South African Social Development Minister concerning social services, social welfare, social development and future development including bilateral relations between the two countries, said a media release issued by the Social Services Ministry.

The discussion also centred round the contemporary political situation in Sri Lanka. Minister Devananda extended an invitation to his South African counterpart to visit Sri Lanka to see for himself the affairs of the Social Services and Social Welfare Ministry and the current political situation in Sri Lanka.

Both Ministers were of the view that the discussion proved to a complete success accompanied by Ananda Sangaree, TULF leader had a tight schedule of discussions with the South African civil organisations.

Indian court orders arrest of Gere, Shetty over kiss

Indian court orders arrest of Gere, Shetty over kiss

INDIA: An Indian judge ordered the arrest of Hollywood star Richard Gere and Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty on Thursday over a hug and kiss at an AIDS awareness event.

The arrest warrants were issued in the Rajasthan state capital of Jaipur following a public interest plea filed last week by resident Poonam Chand Bhandari accusing the pair of obscenity, court officials said.

“Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Dinesh Gupta issued the (arrest) orders,” a court official told AFP from Jaipur, 375 kilometres (232 miles) from Jodhpur.

Gere embraced the 31-year-old Shetty — winner of Britain’s Celebrity Big Brother reality show — and planted several kisses on her cheek in front of thousands of onlookers at the AIDS function in the Indian capital New Delhi earlier this month.

The incident triggered a public storm in India, known for its chaste public behaviour despite Bollywood’s sexually suggestive song-and-dance routines.

There was no immediate comment available from either of the stars on the arrest warrants.

The kissing incident triggered protests across the country with demonstrators burning effigies of Gere.

News reports have identified the Jaipur complainant as a lawyer and had said he had accused the duo of committing “an obscene act” in a public place.

Another complaint was filed in court earlier this month against the stars in in Ghaziabad, a satellite city of New Delhi. The complainants’ lawyer Ramautar Gupta said at the time, “It is all indecency and nudity, which our society cannot tolerate.”

Obscenity is punishable by a maximum of two years’ imprisonment and a fine of 2,000 rupees (45 dollars) in India.

Radical Hindus burned effigies of the 57-year-old Gere in India’s entertainment hub of Mumbai and organised street rallies in New Delhi after the actor’s affectionate display.

The opposition Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party had condemned the incident, saying “such a public display is not part of Indian tradition.”

Gere, who left India soon after the event, is a frequent visitor as a follower of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, who lives in the country in exile, besides in his capacity as an AIDS awareness campaigner.

Shetty had appealed for calm after the kissing incident, telling reporters that Gere had asked her to say he was “sorry if he has hurt the sentiments of Indian people.”

“Nothing of that sort happened about which I should feel bad or any other Indian should feel bad,” said Shetty.

Explaining what lead Gere to kiss her on the stage, she said they were discussing his recent film “Shall We Dance.”

“I was telling him that he was really good in the film and we were joking about it. In an impromptu move, he did a dance step from the film with me, kissing me on my cheek, thanking me,” Shetty said, according to the Press Trust of India.

Gere was only seeking to entertain the audience and communicate in a Bollywood style because he did not speak Hindi, she added.

Meanwhile Legal experts in India ridiculed the court’s obscenity charges against Gere and Shilpa Shetty for kissing in public, saying Friday that the case makes Indian judges seem like Taliban morality police.

“The order is unsustainable and makes us look ridiculous,” India’s former attorney general, Soli Sorabjee, told the Times of India newspaper. “Magistrates should not act like Taliban moral police,” he added.

Another senior legal expert, Dushyant Dave, told the Times of India that the charges were “an act of judicial indecency.”

“This is only for cheap publicity and the magistrate and lawyer should be restrained,” Dave was quoted as saying.

Shetty, who was on a religious pilgrimage in southern India and had not yet received a court summons, was upset by news of the charges, spokesman Dale Bhagwagar said.

“She does hurt, she does feel low,” Bhagwagar told The Associated Press. “She feels she is being constantly targeted, but anyone who knows her well knows she can’t be put down.”

“Shilpa wishes that people would focus on the real issue, AIDS awareness, and not three pecks on her cheek,” he said.

New Delhi, Friday, AFP, AP

LTTE terrorists Killed five Indian fishemen and abducted 12 others- Indian Police

LTTE terrorists Killed five Indian fishemen and abducted 12 others- Indian Police

News reports from India indicate that the Tamil Nadu police have discovered the true killers of the five Indian fishermen who were killed in the Indian waters on 29th of March 2007.

According to the news reports, the Indian Police said that it was the LTTE terrorists who had killed the five Indian fishermen. The police further added that 12 Indian fishermen who had gone on missing before the killing incident, were abducted by the LTTE terrorists. The Tamil Nadu police officials said to have obtained these facts from the confessions made by the six LTTE terrorists arrested by the Indian Coast Guards on the 11th of this month.

The LTTE along its docile political parties in the Tamil Nadu floundered hard to mislead the relatives of the murdered fishermen saying that the SL navy was responsible for the crime. SL Navy however, denied the absurd accusations stating that it had no authority to sail into the Indian waters. It is now quite clear that pro-LTTE politicians in Tamil Nadu had attempted to cover up the true killers of their own people by making such false accusation at the neighboring country.

Read below the full text of the article published on the Indian National Daily "The Hindu" about the issue:

`Sea Tigers,' the naval wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), were directly involved in the firing on a fishing boat off the Kanyakumari coast on March 29 that left five fishermen dead.

The Sea Tigers had opened fire as they suspected that the Indian fishermen were spying on their movement.

This was disclosed to the `Q' branch by the Sea Tigers, who were nabbed by the Coast Guard on April 11, according to a press release from the Director-General of Police D. Mukherjee.

Come on you Sri Lankan Lions!’ – UK

The British diplomatic mission in Colombo shed diplomatic neutrality on Friday to support Sri Lanka's cricket team in their World Cup final against Australia, AFP reported. "We're hoping for a repeat of the 1996 World Cup final result. Come on you Sri Lankan Lions. Let's hear you roar," a message from the UK High Commission said.

British High Commissioner
British High Commissioner, Dominic Chilcott
British High Commissioner Dominick Chilcott led his mission’s staff in signing greetings to skipper Mahela Jayawardene and his team-mates ahead of Saturday's game in Barbados.

"The British High Commission wish the Sri Lankan cricket team the best of luck in Saturday's cricket World Cup final," the High Commission said in a statement signed by all its staff.

"We're hoping for a repeat of the 1996 World Cup final result. Come on you Sri Lankan Lions. Let's hear you roar," the message said, referring to Sri Lanka’s surprise win in that competition.

The lion is the symbol of the Sinhala community in the island which has been torn by ethnic strif, since independence from Britain in 1948. Sri Lanka’s flag features a golden lion brandishing a sword.


The flag was amended in early 50's with two stripes to represent Tamils and Muslims. In 1972, the finials that represented Buddhism were replaced with Bo leaves to indicate that Sri Lanka is a Buddhist country as the government of the time changed the country’s name from Ceylon and introduced a majoritarian constitution, dumping the safeguards for the island’s minorities in the British-inspired Ceylonese constitution.

In an interview last year, Mr. Chilcott observed: “Britain thought that the rights of the Tamils in particular would be safeguarded by these arrangements. However history has proved otherwise that these safeguards were inadequate and not robust enough. I regret that Britain’s policies have to such an extent been the cause for the problems.”

Noting that “in over half the number of countries in the world the British colonial rulers adopted a ‘divide and rule’ policy,” he also said “In that regard this policy was not unique to the island alone.”

On Friday Mr. Chilcott, dressed in the Sri Lankan team's blue and yellow T-shirt, raised his hands in the air with 52 staff members in support of the Sri Lankan team, AFP reported.

Last week Mr. Chilcott become embroiled in controversy last week when he visited the officers of Daily Mirror editor, Ms Champika Liyanarachchi, after she received a threatening phone call from Sri Lanka’s hardline Defence Secretary, Gotathabaya Rajapaksa, over reports in her paper.

Mr. Chilcott was summoned by Mr. Rajapaksa to his offices the following day. Both men agreed to keep the contents of their discussion out of the press.

The UK High Commission subsequently denied a report in the state-owned Daily News that Mr. Chilcott had admitted he had been misled about threats to the editor.

Saturday 21 April 2007

Petrol station credit card scam LTTE

Police are investigating a scam which involves credit cards being 'skimmed' at petrol stations.

Police are investigating a scam which involves credit cards being 'skimmed' at petrol stations.

21 Apr 2007

Monday 16 April 2007

Indian sleuths interrogate captured Sea Tigers

Several areas and Sri Lankan refugee camps under the scanner

Interrogations continuing on the three LTTE Sea Tiger cardres seized by the Tamil Nadu Police on 09 April have revealed that they have been operating from various locations in Sri Lanka collecting information about the confidential plans and combat preparations of the Sri Lankan Navy to LTTE leadership, news reports from India state.

The news reports further states, quoting a Tamil Nadu Police officer, that it appears that the LTTE wanted to read the moods of the security force personnel, the preparedness and activities of the security agencies, loopholes in the existing set-up and chances of establishing new networks.

The Q branch of the LTTE of Tamil Nadu Police arrested on Monday 09 April three LTTE Sea Tiger cardres staying in as refugees at the Mandapam Transit camp in Rameshwaran in Ramanathapuram, in South India. According to reports from India the suspects were identified as Devajotheeswaran (24), Sugandan (22) and Justin Raj (23).

Interrogations revealed that they were members of the LTTE's so-called 'intelligence' wing.

These LTTE cardres were arrested by the TN police based on tips from other refugees of the camp being suspicious over the coded-language communications with their top levels in Jaffna.

The TN Police states to the press that they will not rule out the presence of some more members equal to the arrested and they are on the look out for such.

Courtesy : Government Information Department

LTTE steps up violence against Tamil civilians; a youth killed and another abducted- Vavuniya

Suspected LTTE terrorists gunned down a Tamil youth at Ganeshapuram in Vavuniya last night. According to the defence sources the victim identified as Selvaraja Gajendran had been killed by a group of armed gang believed to be LTTE pistol-men around 9.15p.m, whilst he was at his residence. Civilian sources said that the youth had turned down the LTTE's orders to join the outfit for several times.

Separately, a 21 year old Three-Wheeler driver, Jesurathnam Roshan was abducted by the LTTE terrorists at Peedarikulam in Vavuniya around 7.30 on Saturday (13th) evening. Father of the victim made a complaint to the police and said that the abduction was carried out by none other than the LTTE. Police personnel probing into the incident later found the three-wheeler abandoned in the Murunkan area.

It was also known from the civilian sources that the outfit had demanded all youths living in the Tamil villages in the government controlled areas in Wanni to join the outfit with immediate effect. However, the order rarely had any affect due to dwindling LTTE influence in the area, the sources further added.

Meanwhile, a Tamil fisherman K. Gansharaja yesterday (15th) logged a complaint to the Mannar police that his fishing boat and the engine were forcibly taken away by the LTTE terrorists.

According to the police sources a group of armed LTTE cadres had robbed the items from victim's residence at Shanthipuram road, Mannar on Saturday (14th) morning.

LTTE terrorists gun down a TMVP supporter- Chenkaladi

The LTTE terrorists gunned down a TMVP supporter at Chenkaladi in the Eravur police area last evening (Saturday the 14th of April). The victim has been identified as Dharmaraza Manoharan, a political activist of the TMVP. He was killed on the Tamil and Sinhalese new Year day while he had been visiting his relations at Chenkaladi.

On Friday (13th) suspected LTTE terrorists killed two TMVP supporters and three civilians in the same area. The TMVP is a political party lead by self-styled colonel Karuna Amman, former Eastern commander of the LTTE.

Police investigations are in progress.

Friday 13 April 2007

'Victimizing Civilians' LTTE's latest strategy

The LTTE has stepped-up into a futile but yet a well furnished terrorist strategy of ruthlessness against humanity, targeting civilians at-will in the north and east tensed zones with utter disregard to basic norms of respect to non-combatants and civilians in a context of internal disturbance.

Reports quoting officials sources said that 44 civilians were brutally killed and over 51 seriously injured in the LTTE's latest escalation of violence claimed in separate incidents in Batticaloa, Ampara, Aralaganwila and Vavuniya since the 01st of April.

Defence sources claim that the LTTE is aiming to curve a situation of uncertainty among the general public, in the north and east, while tactically smothering the raging criticism from the majority Tamils in these areas.

The SL security forces were victorious over the LTTE, flushing the terrorists from the eastern frontier, once a major platform for forcible recruitment and training of child soldiers and suicide bombers. According to reliable sources the LTTE Vanni leadership has issued orders to flame a large civilian catastrophe in the tensed areas, in desperation attempting to focus an extra propaganda mileage in the shades of its deteriorating presence in the local and international Tamil community.

Statistics show that an average of just under four civilians being brutally killed by the terrorist outfit per day, since 01st of April.

The LTTE is a ruthless terror group who fights for a mono-ethnic separate homeland for the Tamil living in Sri Lanka since 1983. It has been the outfit's strategy since its inception to flush out Singhalese and Muslim people from North and East by bloody ethnic cleansing raids. Thousands of civilians, mostly women and children were perished in the most ruthless massacres during its 20 years of terror campaign.

Omanthai Entry/Exit point re-opened - Vavuniya

The Media Center for National Security Officials stated that the Omanthai Entry/ Exit point will be re-opened for civilian and goods movement from 01.00p.m to 05.00p.m, on Friday the 13th of April.

The SL Security forces co-ordinating along with the ICRC officials in the area has made initial preparations to facilitate the flow of civilian and essential goods along the Jaffna- Kandy A-9 trunk route, the officials further added. Meanwhile, the ICRC sources said that the movement of civilians and goods would be under total supervision during the above mentioned hours.

Earlier, the SL security forces were compelled to restrict movement across the Omanthai Entry/ Exit point following a sporadic LTTE mortar attack, on 10th of April.

Civilian sources were quoted expressing their gratitude towards the security forces and the ICRC officials for boldly stepping to facilitate transportation of civilians and essential items through Omanthai, in the eve of the Sinhala and Hindu new year, despite provocative gestures from the terrorist outfit.

LTTE's latest ethnic cleansing raid kills seven - Vavuniya

LTTE terrorists in their ethnic cleansing raids killed six women and one man and injuring few others, at Paleuruwa in General area Avaranthulawa - Vavuniya this evening (Thursday the 12th of April 2007).

According to the defence sources an armed group of terrorists stormed the village around 04:30 p.m. and executed two families at two houses. Earlier, LTTE terrorists killed four civilians at Aralaganvila on 05th April 2007.

LTTE is a ruthless terror group who fights for a mono-ethnic separate homeland for the Tamil living in Sri Lanka since 1983. It has been the outfit's strategy since its inception to flush out Singhalese and Muslim people from North and East by bloody ethnic cleansing raids. Thousands of civilians, mostly women and children were perished in the most ruthless massacres during its 20 years of terror campaign.

Sri Lankans in UK urge AI to 'Play by the Rules'

Sri Lankans living in Britain will gather today(13) for a protest demonstration against the Amnesty International (AI) in response to their unaccepted campaign on Sri Lanka at the ICC Cricket World Cup.

The demonstration is will take place outside Amnesty International Secretariat at Easton Street, London. According to foreign media sources this demonstration is organized in association with many Sri Lankan organizations based in London.

Highly disputed issue of the Amnesty International- led campaign 'Play by The Rules' written on dummy cricket balls targeting the Sri Lankan cricket team, participating in the World Cup in the Caribbean boosted many local and international bodies to condemn the AI's ridiculous campaign.

Meanwhile according to a foreign ministry statement, Sri Lankan delegation have met with Amnesty International representatives on the sidelines of the fourth session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva to point out the possible repercussions of any human rights campaign on Sri Lanka during the Cricket World Cup tournament in the West Indies

Wednesday 4 April 2007

Sea Tiger HQ vanished in flames; Fighter planes score another triumph

Sea Tiger HQ vanished in flames; Fighter planes score another triumph

SL Air Force fighter pilots scored another triumph today as they successfully destroyed LTTE's sea tiger headquarters located at Puthukkudiyiruppu in Mulaithiuvu this afternoon.

Air Force sources said a large complex of buildings including a fuel storage, a vehicle maintenance yard and spare parts storage were completely destroyed in an air raid conducted around 1.10p.m. The follow-through reports of the attack indicated that the flame lasted about an hour after the attack, the sources further added.

Meanwhile, the intelligence sources revealed that the target has been accurately identified through timely ground information received form the reliable sources. Though the target was kept under surveillance since long the confirmation has not been acquired until today, the sources said. The quick responding time of the air force and the excellent coordination between the intelligence sources are the key success factors behind this operation, the sources added.

Non Violent Peace Force caught with its pants down - Trincomalee

The security Forces found a hand grenade in a vehicle carrying activist of Non Violent Peace Force, an INGO that claim itself to be promoting peace in the country. The security force personnel made this discovery when they checked the vehicle which was plying towards Uppuweli at the roadblock close to the Clock tower in the Trincomalee town this afternoon.

Two suspects who claimed themselves to be members of the Non Violent Peace Force (NVPF) are presently detained by the Trincomalee police. Police sources said that the suspects identified as Danapalasingham Sridharan and Mohomad Suwahib were having identity cards issued by the NVPF. The suspects said to have stated they were returning to Uppuweli after attending to an official matter in the Trincomalee town. The hand grenade and the vehicle are presently under police custody.

The Non Violent Peaceforce is an International NGO which is said to have over 90 member originations around the world. According to the mission statement of the organization, the NVPF is committed protect human rights and to build a trained, international civilian peace force to support for a third party non-violent intervention to the conflicts.

UNP MP complains of threat to life

Mr.Edward Gunasekara, Gampaha district parliamentarian who rejoined the main opposition United National Party (UNP) Tuesday, complained to the Speaker that his life was under threat and to take steps to provide protection to him. He spoke in parliament when it resumed Wednesday morning with the permission of the Speaker. He said the government should be held responsible if any thing happens to him, parliamentary sources said.

Mr.Gunasekara was one of the eighteen dissidents parliamentarians of the UNP who crossed over to the government and accepted cabinet, non-cabinet rank and deputy minister posts.

Mr.Gunasekara resigned the post of Deputy Minister for Railways and rejoined the UNP Tuesday and sat with opposition MPs.

Mechanic shot dead in Kalmunai

Two unidentified gunmen shot dead a motor mechanic Tuesday around 5:00 p.m at Pandiruppu, Kalmunai in Maruthamunai police division in Amparai district. The killers shot the mechanic while he was standing in front of his motor repair garage located near Maruthamunai on Kalmunai main street, sources in Maruthamunai said.

The victim was identified as Arunalsalam Jute Jeyakumar, 29, a father of one child from Manalchenai, Kalmunai.

Maruthmunai police took Jeyakumar's body to Maruthamunai hospital where inquest into the death was held and after which it was given to his relatives.

Kalmunai is situated 35 km south of Batticaloa.

Monday 2 April 2007

Sanath inspires Sri Lanka's win; West Indies in danger



(LeN-2007 April 02, 4.00am) Sanath Jayasuriya clubbed a vintage hundred and Sri Lanka all but ended the West Indies' World Cup semifinal hopes with a 113-run Super 8s win on Sunday.

Jayasuriya's 115 from 101 balls and his 183-run third-wicket partnership with skipper Mahela Jayawardene (82) set up Sri Lanka's imposing 303 for five.

"I think today was a crucial day for us," Jayasuriya said. "Somebody has to take the responsibility in the middle and after I batted for 10 overs I thought that I should take that responsibility.

"I wanted to bat for a long period and put our team in a good position to win this game."

The West Indies had never chased more than 300 to win a limited-overs international and its chances this time were scuppered when Brian Lara was stumped for two to make the total 42-3 in the 11th over.

West Indies in danger of missing semis
The hosts were dismissed for 190 in 44.3 overs, with Jayasuriya taking 3-38 in 8.3 overs.

Only Shivnarine Chanderpaul (76) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (44) offered any decent resistance, albeit at a slow run-rate.

With heavy losses to Australia, New Zealand and now Sri Lanka, West Indies' semifinal prospects rely on it winning its next three matches and results of other matches falling its way.

"We are in a crisis situation, pertaining to cricket," Lara said. "We've got to take ourselves out of that hole.

"We have a lot of time to improve (and) we've got to stay upbeat. I know everyone is disappointed around the Caribbean. But there is a little bit of light. We've got to focus on that."

After a promising start, having Sri Lanka in trouble at 35-2 in the ninth over, the West Indies' fielding deteriorated, the extras mounted up and the batting failed again.

Guyana's National Stadium, purpose-built for the first World Cup in the Caribbean, was almost full after disappointingly small crowds at previous matches.

The 12,208-strong crowd was hushed by Jayasuriya's 25th hundred in one-day internationals, and almost silenced during the West Indies' reply.

Lasith Malinga had Chris Gayle (10) out misjudging a slower ball to Dilhara Fernando at mid-on with the total at 20. Makeshift opener Dwayne Bravo scored 21 before he played on to a ball from Chaminda Vaas.

Kumar Sangakkara's sharp stumping, standing up to the left-arm seamer Vaas, caught Lara out with his back foot hovering over the crease.

The required run-rate soared above 10 with Chanderpaul and Sarwan inching along against the slow bowlers � with 102 balls between boundaries until Chanderpaul's slashing four against Fernando in the 25th over.

The 92-run fourth-wicket stand ended when Sangakkara stumped Sarwan (44) off Jayasuriya's bowling in the 33rd over.

Chanderpaul brought up his 50 from 94 balls with a six over mid-wicket off Muttiah Muralitharan during a stage when the West Indies lost its last seven wickets for 56 runs.

He hit his fifth six of the 110-ball innings, lofting Malinga behind square, before he was yorked on the next ball.

Malinga's second wicket made him the leading bowler so far in the tournament with 13.

Jayasuriya's innings was a contrast to Chanderpaul's. After a cautious start, the veteran Sri Lankan reached his 100 from 86 balls.

His 18 runs off the 18th over took him past Pakistan batsman Inzamam-ul-Haq to No. 2 in the list of most prolific batsmen in ODIs, behind only India's Sachin Tendulkar.

Jayasuriya, one of four survivors of Sri Lanka's 1996 World Cup winning team, now has 11,816 and Tendulkar has 14,847. Both have played 384 matches.

Jayasuriya was finally out when he played on to a ball from Powell in the 39th over and he was followed by Jayawardene, who only added three after he was dropped by Smith on 79.

"Sanath played a brilliant knock," Jayawardene said. "The way he went about the power play changed the whole momentum and from there onwards it was up to consolidate."

The win moved Sri Lanka to four points after two of its six Super 8s matches. It carried two points forward from the group stage and lost by one wicket to South Africa to start the second round.

The West Indies have a lengthy break until matches against South Africa, Bangladesh and England - all must-win matches.

"We've gone four games in 10 days on sandy outfields and you can see the guys were flat," Lara said. "We've still got to pick ourselves up and fight the last three games. You never know what's going to happen in this World Cup."

8 including 4 children killed in LTTE mortar attacks

(LeN-2007 March 30, 8.00pm) The media centre for national security says 8 civilians including 4 children have been killed in artillery and mortar attacks launched by the LTTE from the uncleared areas of Thoppigala last night.

The MCNS said another 18 including several children who were injured in the incident were admitted to the Batticaloa hospital.

Military spokesperson brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe says the LTTE might have deliberately carried out the attack to chase away the civilians from the relevant area.

Two air strikes in the dark

(LeN-2007 April 01, 5.00pm) The media centre for national security says air force launched an air strike at around 1 this morning on LTTE heavy arm positions that were employed on launching attacks to the Omanthai forward defense line. It added that MI 24 helicopters were used to carry out the attack.

The MCNS adds that another Ariel attack was launched by the KAfir fighter jets at around 4:30 this morning on a sea tiger base in South of Mannar.

This is the first time in the recent history that an Ariel attack was carried out in the night.

Investigations against Gotabhaya on bribery charges commences

(LeN-2007 March 30, 8.00pm) Chairman of the Bribery and Corruption commission Ameer Ismile speaking to 'LeN' said investigations have begun to the case filed by former Ministers Mangala and Sripathi regarding a fraud of 600 million rupees when performing a MIG deal by Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse and relative of President Udaya Weeratunga.

When 'LeN' questioned why a number of cases filed against several politicians are not being brought before the law the chairman said all the cases are being investigated, but if the investigators are unable to prove the charges, the relevant files will be closed after a final evaluation. He said according to the law there isn�t a need to bring all the cases before the court.

The chairman said that there are several inaccuracies in the Bribery act. He said this has been brought to the notice of the relevant parties and added that "no one cares for what we say".

He said before 1994 the commission had the right to investigate all cases filed and even the closed files, but lost that right after 1994. He said they are very careful about what they investigate as the IGP had to pay 100,000 rupees as compensation for investigating the Helping Hambantota case.

Indian fishermen were shot by LTTE-Indian navy commander

(LeN-2007 April 01, 5.00pm) Indian navy commander Suresh Mehetha has said that the LTTE has to be held fully responsible for the death of 4 fishermen when they were shot in Indian waters off Palk straight.

Earlier the Sri Lankan navy was blamed for the fire which the government totally denied. The Indian Navy Spokesperson has further said that during investigations conducted by the Indian Navy it was determined that the firing had been conducted by the LTTE.

Indian PM to visit Sri Lanka?

NEW DELHI: Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon said yesterday that Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh will visit Sri Lanka soon.


Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh

Responding to a question by the Daily News during a media briefing here in connection with the 14th SAARC summit as to why an Indian Prime Minister had not undertaken a state visit to Sri Lanka since 1987 (twenty years) the Foreign Secretary Menon, one time India’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka said “Certainly we are looking at it. It will happen soon”.

Last Thursday, the Daily News also asked Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee why an Indian Prime Minister had not made a State visit to Sri Lanka for nearly twenty years, Foreign Minister Mukherjee responded” I have noted it. I will take it up with the Prime Minister”.

Late Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was the last Indian Prime Minister to make a State visit to Sri Lanka, in July 1987 to sign the Indo-Lanka Accord.

Lanka’s SAARC thrust to cripple LTTE terrorism

NEW DELHI: In a bid to cripple LTTE’s fund raising and arms procurement machinery well active in the region, Sri Lanka will push for more emphasis on Terrorism Financing in the Counter Terrorism Declaration that is to be passed at the end of the 14th SAARC summit, proposed by host, India.

“Terrorism has afflicted all countries in the region without exception, at some point or other.


All Smiles: Foreign Secretary Dr. Palitha Kohona with other officials at the SAARC Foreign Secretaries meeting in New Delhi. Right: Security personnel being briefed by an officer at the Vigyan Bhavan, the venue of the 14th SAARC Summit in New Delhi.
Picture by Sudath Silva

There are applicable SAARC conventions as well as global conventions that can be given effect by SAARC members.

Unfortunately we have not been too proactive giving effect to existing laws,” Foreign Secretary Dr. Palitha Kohona said.

Dr. Kohona briefed his counterparts from India, Pakistan, the Maldives, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Afghanistan, at the informal sessions on Saturday, on the need for collective integration in this area and for a thrust on curbing terrorism financing, both through direct and indirect means by front organisations, through state law enforcement agencies. Afghanistan and India had been very supportive of this effort from the outset.

“Hopefully it will be passed at the main summit,” Dr. Kohona said.

Sri Lanka’s inputs will call for action to arrest fund raising, money laundering and arms procurement, by terror groups, which also includes LTTE.

Dr. Kohona told the Daily News: “It is not to be forgotten terrorism does not stand alone.

It is intimately linked to other international crimes such as human trafficking, narcotics, arms trading and money laundering. All these elements should be looked at.”

He said the idea is to make SAARC more proactive in dealing with these issues.

Asked if the latest threat posed by the LTTE’s air wing will be taken up at the main summit, Dr. Kohona said it will be discussed more on a bi- lateral platform with India rather than at the SAARC summit.

Sri Lanka’s concerns will be discussed at the Foreign Secretaries’ meeting and also at the Foreign Ministers’ meeting that will continue throughout today, before it will be finally taken up at the main state-leaders summit on Tuesday.

He said compared to other regional bodies like the European Union (EU) and ASEAN, SAARC has not delivered very much on its promises.

“Our objective is more integration, so that it will deliver tangible benefits to the people in the region so that there will be more trade, travel, cultural connectivity and some form of political connectivity,” he added.

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