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Sri Lanka govt, rebels reaffirm truce
Friday, 24 February 2006 - 12:00 PM SL Time
GENEVA (Reuters) - Sri Lanka`s government and Tamil Tiger rebels renewed a commitment to a four-year cease-fire on Thursday and agreed to meet again in an effort to ensure the country did not return to civil war.
After two days of talks, their first meeting since 2003, the two sides said they would return to Geneva on April 19-21 to discuss a more lasting peace.
`Both sides committed to respecting and upholding the cease-fire agreement and are committed to taking all necessary means to ensure that there will be no intimidation (and) acts of violence,` said a statement issued after the talks.
Norwegian peace envoy Erik Solheim, who mediated in the talks, said what he called the clear commitment to put a stop to increasing violence was the most important result to emerge from the sessions held at a chateau outside Geneva.
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LTTE blames Karuna for child recruitment
Friday, 24 February 2006 - 3:25 AM SL Time
The mainstream LTTE has blamed the renegade commander, Karuna, for the recruitment of children for its combat units.
Making a presentation at the on-going talks with the Sri Lankan government in Geneva, the LTTE`s political leader, SP Tamilselvan, said that Karuna had recruited more than 2000 underage youths `against the orders of our leadership` before he was discharged from the organization for misconduct.
After Karuna was discharged (in March 2004), these recruits were released to their parents, Tamilselvan said.
`This shows that our organisation respects the international standards in this regard,` he added.
The LTTE`s political leader charged that the Karuna group was continuing to recruit children and getting them trained by the Sri Lankan armed forces.
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Avoid politicizing child rights issues - Thamilchelvan
Friday, 24 February 2006 - 2:45 AM SL Time
Speaking in the second session of the first day of the talks in Geneva between the Liberation Tigers and the Government of Sri Lanka on 22 February 2006 S P thamilchelvan.jsp' class=black>Thamilchelvan the political head of the LTTE said that the accusations directed at the Liberation Tigers on Under-age recruitment although directly irrelevant to the Cease Fire Agreement needs to be viewed in the context of two decades of war and the continued violation of the rights of children during this period.
Excerpts from Thamilchelvan`s statement posted in LTTE Peace Secretariat website follows:
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Politics
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Mahinda clips Chandrika`s wings
Sunday, 26 February 2006 - 2:31 AM SL Time
Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga`s staff has been pruned down to 27 and the treasury has notified that funds could not be allocated to pay allowances for her staff.
The treasury comes under the purview of the Finance Ministry and the current Finance Minister is President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Earlier 61 employees were recruited for the ex-President`s staff and after being informed that such a large number could not be allocated she agreed to reduce the number to 38. But that request was no granted and the staff was brought down to 34 and by this week it has been further reduced to 27.
Former President Kumaratunga has adopted a tough stand in the face of the tussle for the party leadership between her and President Rajapaksa and she recently stated to the media that she had never thought of relinquishing the party leadership even in her dreams.
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Geneva aftermath: Peace lovers urge give and take policy
Sunday, 26 February 2006 - 1:42 AM SL Time
A cross section of the society and politicians speaking to the Sunday Observer commended the Government and the LTTE for ironing out differences to ensure that the Ceasefire Agreement was effective at the Geneva Talks.
They urged both sides to continue talks with a view to bringing permanent peace to the nation within a stipulated time period and adopt a `give and take` policy.
They said the people, economy and development had suffered badly as a result of petty politics played to checkmate each other in the past and the time has now come to end bickering.
Tamil National Alliance Parliamentarian N. Raviraj said the benefit of peace should reach the people. High Security Zones are sensitive issues. They affect the normal life of the people. There are 25,000 people in temporary camps in Jaffna and other areas. The President should take meaningful steps to resolve this issue.
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Geneva negotiations implementing the electoral mandate
Saturday, 25 February 2006 - 2:37 AM SL Time
`The present Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) has failed on self-evident and empirical evidence, former DIG and Master in Public Administration, John F. Kennedy School of government, Harvard University, USA Gamini Gunawardene said at the World Alliance for Peace in Sri Lanka (WAPS), in association with the National Joint Committee and Sansadaya held an international conference in Colombo recently.
`Though it was intended to be a cessation of hostilities, it continued violence under cover and sometimes openly, resulting in the death of noncombatant service personnel, police officers, government servants, intelligence personnel and LTTE cadres and the illegal capture and detention of service and police personnel.
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Editorial News
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The bottom line
Sunday, 26 February 2006 - 2:26 AM SL Time
The eight-paragraph agreed statement that Norway`s International Development Minister, Erik Solheim, read out at the 18th century Chateu de Bossey overlooking Lake Geneva at the end of last week`s talks between delegations of the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the LTTE summed up what are hopefully the areas of agreement between the two sides. Obviously much remained unsaid. From all accounts Anton Balasingham, if we may borrow the language of AFP, the French news agency, threatened to ``storm out` of the discussion. His actual words to an AFP interviewer on that exchange with the government side were: ``If you are questioning the validity of the ceasefire agreement, then we will walk out.`
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Outcome satisfactory
Saturday, 25 February 2006 - 1:29 AM SL Time
It is probably with a sigh of relief that most of the people in this country received the news about the success achieved at the Geneva talks. Anxiety was expressed by those following the talks at the conclusion of the first day`s proceedings because of the contentious statements made by the leaders of both negotiating teams.
Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva referred to the numerous LTTE violations of the ceasefire agreement including the assassination of former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar and to the government`s contention that the CFA does not conform to the provisions of the constitution and other laws of the country. Head of LTTE`s delegation Anton Balasingham contended that instances of LTTE violations were highly exaggerated and that the CFA was a well-crafted valid instrument of peace devised for the purpose of bringing an end to hostilities and to create a positive environment conducive to negotiations. He stressed that it was not formulated in haste to the advantage of one party.
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CFA amendments called for
Friday, 24 February 2006 - 12:58 AM SL Time
Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, at the inauguration of the truce talks in Geneva, minced no words when he said that the CFA was not consistent with the Constitution but the government had to continue with it in trying to make peace as certain benefits had accrued to the people from the truce. The Norwegian-crafted CFA, which the then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe signed on the dotted line, without the concurrence of President Kumaratunga, the Head of State and Government and the Commander-in-chief-of-armed forces, is a fait accompli. JVP Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa once in an interview with this newspaper described the truce as a trap in which Sir Lanka was caught like an animal. It had to extricate itself very carefully, he said.
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| Security |
Norwegian police ignore LTTE atrocities - Sivaraja
Sunday, 26 February 2006 - 2:24 AM SL Time
LTTE members in Norway are threatening to kill ordinary Tamils who oppose their terrorist activities, says Sivaraja Rajasingham.
Rajasigham, who was a member of Tamil Eelam Student Organisation (TESO) migrated to Norway in 1987. He escaped an attempt on his life by the LTTE.
`I was approached by two LTTE members who pointed a pistol and threatened to kill me if I don`t stop the campaign against LTTE terrorists,` he told the Sunday Island.
At present, Rajasingham is in the forefront of a campaign for human rights of the Tamils and against the recruitment of children by the Tamil Tigers.
He said it that LTTE members continue to harass ordinary Tamils living in Norway and force them to contribute large amounts of money towards the LTTE funds.
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President to meet talks team today
Sunday, 26 February 2006 - 2:22 AM SL Time
The government`s ministerial delegation to the Geneva round will meet President Mahinda Rajapakse for a full debriefing today before addressing the media on the results of this much-awaited confab, official sources said.
Meanwhile, a delegation source reveals that the atmosphere on the first day of deliberations had been strained and almost hostile. `The first day was a little tough and strained,` he said. `Nevertheless, it worked out well.`
The two sides did not meet at common receptions but were regularly `bumping into each other`. This had helped improve relations. `We met in corridors and all that,` the source noted. `There was mixing around. Some people know the LTTE delegation from before. Later, Anton Balasingham and Adele presented copies of their books to members of the government team.`
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London terrorist cadre arrested in Geneva
Saturday, 25 February 2006 - 2:36 AM SL Time
An anti-peace talks protest held in Geneva was disrupted and the chief organiser was arrested by the Swiss police for several criminal offences, including that of being in the country `illegally`. Virajah Ramaraj, (ENDLF Office, 131 Pinner Road, Harrow, HA1 4EU UK) a former member of the PLOTE the current head of international operations for the ENDLF paramilitary group was arrested outside the United Nations offices in Geneva on Wednesday, 22 February 2006. The ENDLF operates under the Karuna banner and has carried out several attacks against civilians in eastern Sri Lanka. Sources from Geneva reported that as only a handful of paramilitary supporters and sympathisers had took part in the `sideshow`, frustrated organisers resorted to ranting filth in order to get attention. They seem to have received their due from the Swiss police who were on high alert.
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Business / Economy News
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Microsoft launches `evolutionary application platforms`` here
Sunday, 26 February 2006 - 2:29 AM SL Time
Microsoft has launched three new products described as its `evolutionary application platforms`` here reiterating its commitment to Sri Lanka with the expanded products line catering to enterprise, students and hobbyists.
The products launched at a BMICH rock fest earlier this month are the SQL Server 2005, Visual Studio 2005 and BizTalk Server 2006.
Microsoft said that the launch signified `the delivery of a broad family of developer tools and server software that enables businesses to better connect their people, business processes and information, giving customers the ability to develop and deploy vision critical application.``
The company called the new products offered `superstars`` and a gathering of over 1,000 top IT professionals, industry stalwarts, government officials, Microsoft partners and customers present at the launch watched Microsoft`s Country Manager here, Mr. Srian de Silva Wijeyeratne unveil the product.
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Poultry consumption plunge amidst growing Avian Flu fears
Sunday, 26 February 2006 - 2:24 AM SL Time
The consumption of chicken and eggs slumped last week triggering a price nose-dive as reports of the Avian flu spreading to India made jittery consumers turn to other sources of protein.
`There is absolutely no reason to panic, but prices are taking a beating as people feel comfortable avoiding chicken and eggs because Avian flu is now closer home`, an industry official said referring to the outbreak in neighbouring India.
`Sales have dropped by about 10%-15% because of fears, but we are confident they will pick up again as people begin to realise that poultry is safe to consume`, says Yakooth Naleem, Managing Director, Bairaha Farms Ltd.
With poultry consumption plummeting, fish mudalalis were in for an unexpected bonanza as the growing demand for an easily-accessible protein substitute has pushed up prices, market sources said.
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Minister short circuits CEB unions
Saturday, 25 February 2006 - 2:32 AM SL Time
The battle between the Lanka Viduli Sevaka Sangamaya (LVSS) and the Power and Energy Ministry deepened further yesterday when Power and Energy Minister W. D. J. Seneviratne told union leaders that he will not issue a circular with regard to monies that would be released before March 15.
LVSS President H. A. Ranjan Jayalal told The Island yesterday that Minister Seneviratne goes on with his assurance that the salary arrears and other dues amounting to nearly rupees 750 million would be paid by March 15.
`The puzzle is why he can`t just put out circular that the said monies would be released before March 15. I believe it is a must to put out a circular before releasing monies to a government department,` Jayalal added.
Jayala said that they had received information that the monies deposited at the People`s Bank to settle the salary arrears and other dues had been used to settle mini hydro bills.
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| Sports News
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Sangakkara ton boosts Sri Lanka in deciding one-dayer
Sunday, 26 February 2006 - 2:27 AM SL Time
Vice captain Kumar Sangakkara struck a superb century as Sri Lanka scored an imposing 309-7 in the final one-day international against Bangladesh here on Saturday.
Sangakkara`s 109 put Sri Lanka in a strong position to wrap up the three-match series which is level 1-1 after their shock four-wicket defeat to Bangladesh in Bogra on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old left-hander struck 11 fours in his fifth one-day ton and was associated in two important partnerships with captain Mahela Jayawardene (51) and Kaushal Lokuarachchi (69).
After Bangladesh paceman Mashrafe Mortaza had removed openers Upul Tharanga (zero) and Sanath Jayasuriya (four) early on, Sangakkara and Jayawardene added 75 runs to steady the innings from 17-2.
Jayawardene struck eight fours during a brisk knock before giving a return catch to left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique, who also dismissed a dangerous Lokuarachchi and Sangakkara to finish with 3-61.
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Sri Lanka meet Bangladesh in series decider today
Saturday, 25 February 2006 - 2:38 AM SL Time
The visiting Sri Lanka and Bangladesh teams arrived here in the port city yesterday to play the deciding one-day international of a three-match series and the first Test.
Both the matches will be hosted at the Chittagong Divisional Stadium, the new venue on the outskirts of the city. The one-day is scheduled for tomorrow while the five-day game starts on February 28 at the venue recently approved by the ICC.
Unlike the previous occasions, the two teams will be accommodated at the Peninsula Chittagong -- a newly opened four-star hotel in the heart of the city.
With one-day series level at 1-1, the fans of Chittagong were eagerly waiting for tomorrow`s series decider following the Tigers` historic win in Bogra and crowded the ticket counters in great numbers.
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District court hits cricket election petition for a six
Saturday, 25 February 2006 - 1:30 AM SL Time
A move by the president of the Baduraliya Cricket Club Sumith Perera to block an election of office bearers to the Kalutara District Cricket Association backfired when the Panadura District Court on Wednesday rejected a request for an enjoining order to stop the election of office bearers.
Perera`s petition for a stay order on the election of office bearers to the Kalutara District Cricket Association was dismissed by the judge of the Panadura District Court Devika Abeyratne.
The election of officer bearers will now be held as scheduled on Monday February 27.
The setback suffered by Perera is believed to be a blow on the current chairman of the Interim Committee running the affairs of Sri Lanka Cricket Jayantha Dharmadasa who is reported to be contemplating contesting an expected election of officer bearers to Sri Lanka Cricket next month.
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