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UN puts Tigers on notice over child soldiers
Friday, 11 February 2005 - 12:02 AM SL Time
COLOMBO, Feb 10 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's Tiger rebels have been reported to the UN Security Council for recruiting thousands of child soldiers and could face an international travel ban, a report received here showed Thursday.
Secretary General Kofi Annan in his latest report on `Children and Armed Conflict,` a copy of which was seen by AFP here, said Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers had recruited more than 4,700 children, some as young as 11, since 2001.
`The LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) has often carried out recruitment by force, abducting children while on their way to school or during religious festivities, and beating families and teachers who resisted the seizure of the children,` Annan said.
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Free houses for those displaced by buffer zones
Thursday, 10 February 2005 - 1:17 AM SL Time
The government will implement a programme to provide newly built houses free of charge to all persons who are likely to be deprived of their houses due to the introduction of the 100 metre coastal buffer zone, the Presidential Secretariat said yesterday.
It said,` The government has now taken action to implement programmes to provide with newly built houses free of charge to all persons who will be deprived of the opportunity to construct their own houses on land belonging to them as a result of setting this limit of 100 metres from the coastline. The government which draws the attention of the general public to the massive damage of life and property caused by the recent Tsunami Tidal Waves, earnestly request the people to refrain from any attempts to construct dswelling on land belonging to them coming within this limit of 100 metres of the coastal belt.
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Anticipatory Bail: Stresses the need to protect the rights of accused
Thursday, 10 February 2005 - 1:11 AM SL Time
Former Minister of Justice and UNP MP Prof. G. L. Peiris and eminent lawyer Kalinga Indatissa said yesterday that granting of Anticipatory Bail to former Minister Ravi Karunanayake is an important juncture in interpreting the Bail Act of Sri Lanka.
They made this points at a lecture organized by the Secretariat of National Alliance for Peace at the Mahaweli Centre yesterday.
Professor G. L. Peiris who claimed that he was the architect of the Anticipatory Bail which, was brought about under the Bail Act of 1997 said there is no uniformity in interpreting the law within the country. He stressed the need for protecting the rights of the accused.
Professor Peiris also referred to the S. B. Disssanayake case as he stated that Mr. Dissanayake`s right of remaining silent during cross examination was violated during the hearing by firing of questions and forcing him to answer.
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Politics
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JHU demands Govt. response on TRO arms smuggling
Friday, 11 February 2005 - 12:51 AM SL Time
The JHU yesterday requested the government to make a statement on alleged arms smuggling by the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) and to take a decision on the organisation if the evidence proved to be true.
In a wide-ranging speech in parliament, JHU MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera said the TRO, a front organisation of the LTTE, was banned in several countries. He asked what the government would do regarding media reports on TRO arms smuggling.
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Ratwatte tells court his life story
Friday, 11 February 2005 - 12:51 AM SL Time
Former Deputy Defence Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte in his evidence before the Trial-at-Bar High Court Judges Sunil Rajapakse (President) and Deepali Wijesundera said that he had decided not to contest the General Elections in 2001 because of the unhealthy atmosphere that reigned. He subsequently relented when members of the People`s Alliance requested and pleaded with him.
He handed in his nomination papers at the `eleventh hour` and returned to Colombo leaving campaign managers and secretaries in charge. He said that these people had been trusted supporters over the years and he had plenty of confidence in them.
Gen Ratwatte is the first accused in the case where his sons Lohan and Chanuka and he are charged with conspiracy aiding and abetting ten soldiers to commit the murder of ten young Muslim men at Pallethalawinna in the Kandy District on December 5, 2001, the day General Elections were held.
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Fire over water: No, no, no, says minister
Friday, 11 February 2005 - 12:40 AM SL Time
The Government said yesterday that a `Water Management Bill` was never presented to the Cabinet, or approved and denied media reports which said the government was to introduce it.
The government response was given in parliament yesterday morning by Leader of the House and senior minister Maithreepala Sirisena, who said that the Bill on `Water Management` was not presented to Cabinet. He repeated it thrice.
`So far, the Cabinet has not been presented with any Bill, or any draft,` he said. Mr. Sirisena`s statement came in response to a strongly worded speech by the JHU parliamentarian Ven. Athuraliya Rathana Thera who quoted media reports as saying that the Cabinet had approved a `Water Management` Bill, despite the UPFA`s promise that water resources would not be privatised.
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Editorial News
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Deafening silence
Friday, 11 February 2005 - 12:52 AM SL Time
Silence on some occasions could be deafening: particularly when a voluble politician chooses to check his verbal outpourings allowing others to gauge the gravity of things left unsaid, it arouses special interest.
JVP Parliamentary Group Leader Wimal Weerawansa said in parliament this Wednesday that silence is more powerful than a 1000 words spoken. He added that his silence could even be a prologue to a long story that would be related later.
He nevertheless, spoke making a special statement. He said that the government had failed to grasp the golden opportunity it got to rebuild the nation on a common national programme. He regretted that the constructive role played by the JVP in delivering relief to thousands of tsunami victims, was not appreciated.
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Present killing should hasten peace process
Thursday, 10 February 2005 - 1:16 AM SL Time
It is not surprising that the TNA has hastened to place the entire blame on the government for the killing of LTTE`s Eastern Province Political Commissar E. Kaushalyan and four others in an ambush at Punnai. It was also expected that security forces would disown responsibility for this tragedy.
The incident has taken place in government controlled area between two army camps, and the Kaushalyan party had reportedly been unarmed. The security forces, therefore, have to take some share of the responsibility for this incident. The security forces, of course, have a plausible explanation in their defence. Although, the LTTE is aware of the risks its members face travelling outside areas under its control and had been advised to keep the security authorities informed to provide necessary protection. The LTTE has not complied with this request.
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Double blow to the LTTE in the East within weeks
Wednesday, 9 February 2005 - 11:20 PM SL Time
Eliyathamby Kaushalyan, the slain Tiger political division chief for Batticaloa-Ampara was Velupillai Prabhakaran`s most trusted strongman in the region after the March 2004 split in the LTTE.
Born on March 25, 1972 in Pandianveli, Batticaloa, Kaushalyan joined the LTTE on June 28, 1989, at the age of 17 and, in a way, was much junior to most of the LTTE senior leaders today.
After initial training in the Wanni he took part in two major operations - Elephant Pass (July 1996) and Mullaitivu (April 2000).
However, it was his administrative capabilities and ability to coordinate with civilians that came to be recognized and LTTE leader Prabhakaran assigned him to work under Karuna Amman, the then Eastern Commander.
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| Security |
Sri Lanka tells India to expedite defence pact
Friday, 11 February 2005 - 12:50 AM SL Time
Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar has called on India to expedite the signing of the Indo-Sri Lanka Defence Cooperation Pact.
The agreement provides in the main for intelligence sharing, and training of Sri Lankan defence personnel in Indian academies.
It does not envisage military intervention on the island should hostilities break out between the Tamil Tigers and the government.
`It has been under discussion for months. Among other things, it envisages the reconstruction of Palaly airport [in Jaffna], which has deteriorated in recent years,` Mr. Kadirgamar said, adding the pact topped the agenda during President Chandrika Kumaratunga`s visit to Delhi last year.
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Double murder case: Witness further remanded
Thursday, 10 February 2005 - 1:12 AM SL Time
The trial against the wife of Christian and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Milroy Fernando and two other accused in connection with the abduction and murder of a woman who was said to be the mistress of the minister and the domestic aid resumed before a jury in Colombo High Court yesterday.
The accused, minister`s wife N.Mary Juliet Monica, P. Ajith Priyankara Perera and T.M.D Neville Rohan Peiris were produced from remand when the case was taken before High Court Judge Upali Abeyratne.
The prosecution witness K.M Chandrapala who was remanded in connection with perjury was produced from remand and Senior State Counsel Sarath Jayamanna continued cross-examination. The witness said that he told the truth to the police. The Counsel suggested that the witness was giving biased evidence for the accused to be free which the witness denied.
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Canadian PM urged to get Tigers end recruitment of children
Thursday, 10 February 2005 - 12:19 AM SL Time
The New York-based watchdog Human Rights Watch and former Canadian foreign minister Lloyd Axworthy have urged Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin `to publicly call on the LTTE to end all recruitment of children in Sri Lanka and to release the children currently in their ranks.`
The Human Rights Watch also urged the Canadian premier to call on the Tigers and their rehabilitation front body, the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization, to end attempts to control relief efforts in Tamil speaking areas and to allow unhindered operation and access by impartial local and international operations.
Children's Rights Advocacy Director of the HRW, Jo Becker in a letter addressed to the Canadian premier Paul Martin said that Canada had provided refuge to thousands of Tamils fleeing alleged human rights abuses by the Sri Lankan government during the war. `It should also address the Tigers' on-going recruitment and use of Tamil children as soldiers,` Becker said.
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Business / Economy News
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CBK hauls Ranaviraja on aid comment
Friday, 11 February 2005 - 12:41 AM SL Time
The President has called for an explanation from the Commissioner General of Essential Services, Tilak Ranaviraja on a statement he allegedly made to the media that the government had failed to distribute tsunami relief properly.
President`s House sources said the letter had been sent before the President`s departure to Pakistan.
It had been reported to the President that Mr. Ranaviraja had made this controversial statement during a media briefing in Colombo on February 2.
Mr. Ranaviraja had allegedly stated that the government had failed to provide relief to more than 30 percent of the deserving tsunami victims although five weeks had passed since the disaster.
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Striking SLCTB workers given ultimatum
Friday, 11 February 2005 - 12:40 AM SL Time
The Transport Ministry warned yesterday that striking SLCTB employees of the Ambalangoda, Kalutara and Horana cluster bus companies would be sacked if they did not report for work by noon today.
In a statement the SLCTB said that all leave has been cancelled for employees who struck work on Tuesday demanding the payment of the Rs. 2,500 salary increase.
The JVP-led SLCTB unions have disassociated themselves from the strike claiming it was launched by SLFP unions to destabilise the state transport service and clear the road for privatisation.
Tens of thousands of commuters have been put to severe inconvenience because of the strike.
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Applications surpass Rs.2 bn
Friday, 11 February 2005 - 12:09 AM SL Time
From Left: Mr. Asoka De Silva - General Manager, People's Bank, Mrs. M. A. R. C. Corray - Asst. Governor, Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Mr. Anil Amarasuriya - Senior Vice Chairman, Sri Lanka Banks' Association, Mr. A. L. Goonerathne - Chairman, Sri Lanka Bank's Association, Mr. Upali De Silva - Secretary General, Sri Lanka Banks Association, Mr. S. N. P. Palihena - Director, Sri Lanka Banks' Association, Mr. R. Theagarajah - Directory. C. E. O. Hatton National Bank Limited. Pix D. Banduwardena
There is a tremendous response for the `Susahana` Relief Loan Scheme implemented by the Central Bank. Over 1585 loan applications valued at Rs. 2 billion have been forwarded by the Tsunami affected businessmen, Assistant Governor, Central Bank, Rose Cooray said.
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| Sports News
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Warne touched by tsunami children
Friday, 11 February 2005 - 12:11 AM SL Time
Many people in cricket-crazy Sri Lanka had a grudge against Australian cricketer Shane Warne but the leg-spinner's reputation in the Indian Ocean island is changing fast.
As he walked out on to the field at a sun-drenched cricket stadium in suburban Colombo to conduct a spinners' coaching camp with Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan on Thursday, the Australian was mobbed by hundreds of teenagers.
Over 200 children from schools hit by the tsunami on December 26 took part in the coaching camp conducted by the game's top two spinners.
`I hope you kids will learn something from him, he is one of the greatest bowlers I have seen, you will be lucky if you end up bowling like him,` Muralitharan told the children.
The two bowlers have vied for the world record for most test wickets over the past 12 months.
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Warne brings smiles to Galle
Friday, 11 February 2005 - 12:10 AM SL Time
Australian cricket great Shane Warne spent the entire day (Wednesday), in the tsunami ravaged towns of Galle and Seenigama along with spin rival Muttiah Muralitharan and was moved by the devastation caused to the southern coastal belt of the country on Boxing Day. The 35-year-old, who's on a four-day visit to the island, travelled to Galle in a SriLankan air taxi and soon after landing in Koggola, hurried to the Galle International Cricket Stadium, a venue that holds plenty of fond memories for the world record holder for the highest number of wickets.
`Anyone who's been here before knows what the Galle Stadium looked like. I was here last year and if you see it today, it's a complete contrast from 2004. To think what happened here on the Boxing Day is quite upsetting. There's been a massive loss of life and massive loss of infrastructure. It's pretty heart-breaking,` Warne said addressing the media after seeing the destruction.
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MCA over 40 sixes on Feb. 13
Thursday, 10 February 2005 - 1:16 AM SL Time
The senior citizens of the Mercantile Cricket Association are enthusiastically keeping their fitness levels up these days in view of the annual IDL/MCA over 40 cricket sixes to be held on Sunday, February 13 at the MCA ground. Play will commence at 8.30 a.m.
Thirteen teams will participate on a knock-out format. The teams being - Singer (defending champions), Nawaloka Group (2004 runner`s-up), John Keells, Airport and Aviation, HNB, SriLankan Airlines, Janashakthi Group, Trelleborg Lanka, Seylan Bank, Arpico, Ceylinco Group and new comers, Aiken Spence and Access International.
Janashankthi Group will create history when they play the first Sri Lankan president of the MCA (1965) Chandra Schaffter who though he has seen 75 moons and has winter in his hair, should not be underestimated as he has plenty of summer in his face, autumn in his belly and a little bit of spring further down.
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