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Senior Sri Lanka rebel says truce void, war back on
Monday, 31 July 2006 - 11:36 AM SL Time
Sri Lanka`s four-year cease-fire is now void and the island`s two-decade civil war is back on, a top Tamil Tiger rebel told Reuters on Monday as the guerrillas and the military entered a sixth straight day of fighting.
S. Elilan, head of the Tigers` political wing in the restive eastern district of Trincomalee, said army troops had resumed a bid to advance towards land they control in the east and had fired artillery shells at their territory in the north.
`The cease-fire agreement has become null and void at the moment,` Elilan said by telephone from Trincomalee, adding government troops were continuing an advance towards their forward defence line in the east in a water supply dispute.
`The war is on and we are ready,` added Elilan. `The war has begun. It is the government which has started the war... Militarily we have decided to fight back if the Sri Lankan army enters our area.
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We closed Mavil Aru to protest against EU ban - LTTE
Monday, 31 July 2006 - 6:53 AM SL Time
The LTTE yesterday defended their closure of the Mavil Arau anicut saying they had done so to show their disapproval of the ban imposed on them by the European Union.
`We closed the Mavil Aru anicut to show our disapproval of the European Union ban,` Illanchelian, described as the new LTTE spokesman, said when contacted by The Island yesterday (30).
When asked about the damage caused to the LTTE by Sri Lanka Air Force and Army after the closure of the irrigation channel, he said eight LTTE cadres in the east had died in the attacks but refused to give any more details.
Following repeated air strikes on LTTE positions surrounding Mavil Aru anicut, the Government sent in ground troops to smash the blockade by the terrorists.
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Lankan troops capture key reservoir, a least 40 Tigers killed
Monday, 31 July 2006 - 1:08 AM SL Time
Sri Lankan troops today captured a key reservoir in the North-east after an intense air and artillery raid that killed up to 40 Tamil Tigers, who asked Nordic monitors to officially declare that the faltering truce in the island nation was over.
Ground troops moved to Maavilaru irrigation tank and were close to opening the sluice gates that had been closed by Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Defence ministry spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella told PTI. `We are now moving very slowly because there could be booby-trapped devices and the area could be heavily mined,` Rambukwella said.
He said Israel-built Kfir jets flew over the area today but did not carry out any bombings unlike between Wednesday and Saturday when they heavily raided the surrounding regions. `Kfir jets flew over the area today, but they did not drop any bombs.` Local media reported that at least 40 rebels were killed in the air attacks carried out against a Tamil Tiger conference centre yesterday.
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Politics
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I will do what Ranil says: Rajendran
Tuesday, 1 August 2006 - 4:32 AM SL Time
Colombo Municipal Council Independent Group 3 Leader S. Rajendran said yesterday he would not heed the UNP`s request to resign from the CMC to make way for the UNP members, if he lost the case against him filed by group member Stanley Jansz.
A case was filed by Mr. Janz when Mr, Rajendran decided to change his mind, following objections by other members of the group, not to appoint Mr. Janz as Deputy Mayor and Mr. Rajendran nominated himself for the post.
Mr. Rajendran had sent a letter to UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe stating that Independent Group 3 member Anthonypille Harischandran was ready to resign from the council to make way for a UNP member but not received any response from the UNP Leader.
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Tiger action deplorable but govt. elevated their status - UNP
Tuesday, 1 August 2006 - 4:25 AM SL Time
The UNP on Sunday said it condemned the LTTE action of depriving civilians of water but at the same time it considered it unfortunate that SCOPP had thought it fit to categorise the LTTE action as a violation of international humanitarian law. In so doing, the government had elevated the status of the LTTE.
A statement issued by the UNPsaid:
`The United National Party has already condemned the action of the LTTE depriving the civilian population of their water.
The problems pertaining to (a) providing drinking water facilities (b) the supply of agricultural implements and food to the villages of Muttur East and Eachchilampathu, cannot be resolved by depriving Seruwila farmers of the water to cultivate their paddy fields. Neither can this be resolved through armed conflict or bombing by the armed forces of the LTTE. This may finally result in the destruction of the Mawilaru Anicut. The UNP calls on all Parties to adhere to the Ceasefire Agreement.
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Jathika Saviya begins in Batticaloa
Monday, 31 July 2006 - 9:29 AM SL Time
The `Jathika Saviya` accelerated development programme initiated by President Mahinda Rajapaksa with the twin objectives to uplift the living standards and provide adequate security to the villagers affected by the North-East conflict is set to debut in the Batticaloa district.
The programme is expected to critically analyse the issues relevant to the affected villagers with the intention of finding viable solutions to their problems. To address this purpose a forum was held with the participation of politicians, security and Government officials at the Divisional secretary`s office in Batticaloa yesterday.
Issues pertaining to electricity, health, development of infrastructure, education, transport and housing for the displaced were discussed as priority issues. In addition shortcomings related to potable water, irrigation systems and problems relevant to the fishing community in the area were discussed.
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Let`s face it!
Wednesday, 2 August 2006 - 2:13 AM SL Time
The government has refused to respond to the LTTE Trincomalee political wing leader S. Elilan`s statement to the foreign media that the LTTE has pulled out of the CFA. The LTTE headquarters has struck a different note. It has not withdrawn from the CFA, it says. The SLMM insists the CFA holds. Those who yearn for peace may want to believe that it was a slip of the tongue on the part of Elilan. But the LTTE is not known for lapsus linguae.
According to the CFA, the party that wishes to withdraw has to give two weeks` notice. The LTTE has not just given two weeks notice: It has given several months` notice. It was last November that Prabhakaran gave notice of a CFA pull out in his birthday speech, immediately after the election of President Mahinda Rajapakse. He, it should be recalled, promised war `next year` [2006] without specifying the exact date. He honoured his promise a few months later by starting claymore mine attacks on the armed forces personnel and resuming high profile assassinations. The LTTE attempt on the Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka`s life marked the end of the outfit`s commitment to the CFA.
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That elephantine advice
Tuesday, 1 August 2006 - 4:26 AM SL Time
The UNP has, while condemning the LTTE blockade at Mavil Aru, lashed out at the government for invoking of Protocol 1 of the Geneva Convention. In so doing, the UNP claims, the government has elevated the conflict to the level of a dispute between two states. `Previous governments have been careful to make the distinction between our internal armed conflict and a war between two equal parties,` the UNP says.
The UNP has made a valid point. But it is only a half truth that pervious governments were `careful to make a distinction between our internal armed conflict and a war between two equal parties.` The blame for having created a situation where the LTTE is behaving as if it had parity of status vis-`E0-vis the government in power should be apportioned to all successive governments. The process of the LTTE being placed on par with a legitimate government commenced a long time ago. It got a turbo boost under the Kumaratunga government, which out of naivete, embarked on a course of action which led to the internationalisation of the conflict as never before. Chandrika brought in Norwegians who had been trying to gain a foothold in Sri Lanka`s conflict for years, but in vain. The red carpet was rolled out for them in 1994. However, they failed to deliver and disappeared through the back door when the LTTE torpedoed the peace process in 1995. And they surfaced under the UNF government of Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe and established themselves in the country.
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Tamil grievances, aspirations, demands and solutions
Monday, 31 July 2006 - 9:36 AM SL Time
By Dr. Mahinda de Silva
CONFLICT RESOLUTION: Though I have contributed to diverse national newspapers on diverse subjects (including coconut oil, beautiful skin, Homelands and Tiger rides), I have not introduced myself to readers, and would appreciate the opportunity to do so very briefly.
For most of my life I have been involved in the practice and teaching of Western Medicine, 20 of which have been abroad from 1968. From my school days I have had a keen interest in the history of Sri Lanka, (Ceylon History), a time when history was still taught in school.
My father was a long standing `upcountry `politician and a founder of the SLFP. I was thus very familiar with the events and personalities associated with the early days of this `Tamil problem`.
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| Security
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Teenage motherhood in Lanka at 8.6 per cent
Wednesday, 2 August 2006 - 2:11 AM SL Time
Teenagers give birth to 8.6 per cent of the total annual births in Sri Lanka. In rural areas the figure stands at a staggering 12 to 14 per cent, a study conducted by Reproductive Health Initiative for Youth in Asia (RHIYA) an UNFPA project has revealed.
Similar projects were conducted in six other Asian countries and it was found that awareness among youth on sexually transmitted infections is comparatively low in Sri Lanka, said Eshani Ruwanpura Sri Lanka`s representative of RHIYA.
The European Commission has allocated a sum of Rs 132 million to cover the period from September 2003 to December 2006. But Ruwanpura said that even after December the project would be continued in areas identified as necessary.
In areas like Mannar and Vavuniya, awareness in sexually transmitted infections and reproductive health is less than 20 per cent but there is a steady improvement, Ruwanpura said.
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Sweden too decides to withdraw its truce monitors
Tuesday, 1 August 2006 - 4:42 AM SL Time
'We will gradually pull out our monitors before 1st of September,' Swedish Ministry spokeswoman told 'Asia Tribune.' She said that they regret it very much but helpless the issue of safety of their monitoring mission personnel would be questionable.
In the meantime, Swedish diplomat Anders Oljelund, Ambassador at Large told 'Asian Tribune,' 'We were in Sri Lanka to make the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam know that they have to change the decisions they have taken about the three Nordic countries, who are members of the European Union. '
He said 'Tamil Tigers should not mix up the European Union clamping down ban on them with the activities of the Monitors belonging to Sweden, Denmark and Finland.'
Anders Oljelund who is back in Sweden told 'Asian Tribune' that he went to Sri Lanka to demonstrate the interest Sweden has in the Sri Lankan peace process.
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No full-scale war, assures SLMM Chief
Tuesday, 1 August 2006 - 4:30 AM SL Time
Heavy fighting between Sri Lankan forces and Tamil Tiger rebels that killed at least 44 combatants yesterday, was unlikely to lead to full-scale war, the top Scandinavian truce monitor Ulf Henricsson said.
The retired Swedish army general who leads the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) said a return to full-scale conflict would be disastrous for both the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers.
`I still don`t believe in a full-scale war,` Henricsson told the Foreign Correspondents` Association here. `None of the parties are prepared to face a full-scale war that would be disastrous for both sides.`
He said the spike in fighting since Wednesday could also lead to a possible negotiation between the two sides.
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Business / Economy News
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CEB Amendment Bills: No alterations
Wednesday, 2 August 2006 - 2:13 AM SL Time
There will be no alterations to the CEB Amendment Bills to be presented before parliament despite objections by the JVP backed Lanka Viduli Sovaka Sangamaya (LVSS) CEB sources said on Monday.
LVSS President H. A. Ranjan Yayalal told the island that Power and Energy Minister W. D. J. Seneviratne had failed on numerous occasions `if he tries the same method he would fail once again`.
`This time it is going to be different because we will come out as a joint force, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation workers, Railways and Ports. We have teamed up.`
`In future if any of the group faces problems, all others will come to the forefront,` he added.
Jayalal also said that the Minister and CEB directors should action and punish culprits.
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LTTE damages roads, prevents water supply
Wednesday, 2 August 2006 - 2:11 AM SL Time
Attempts, by the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, to supply water to Seruwila were hampered by a crater, caused by a claymore mine, on the road taken by the water carrying bowsers.
However, emergency water supplies were provided by pumping water from two wells, situated in the premises of a temple, but soon these wells, too, went dry. Nearby wells had dried up due to the closure of the Mavil Aru sluice, which in turn had dried up the irrigation canals.
Limited supplies were provided from about 90,000 litres presently available in Seruwila water tank. However, damaged road is repaired, the bowsers could move and supplies could be made available to the villagers, according to working Director of the Water Board Lakshan Abeygunasekera.
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Govt. constrained to borrow US $ 150 million this month
Tuesday, 1 August 2006 - 4:29 AM SL Time
The Government is currently looking at the possibilities in issuing US $ 150 million worth of development bonds this month.
According to industry sources, the Government is trying to avoid the cash crunch as it is threatening the country created by the excessive deficit spending and due to increasing budget deficit these bonds will be issued.
Ceylinco Stock Brokers Head of Research and Economist, Inti Mohamed told The Island Financial Review that the Government issued US $ 300 million worth of bonds at around 130 basis points above 6 months LIBOR (London Inter Bank Offered Rate) in June and is to continue this month.
`The continuous deficit spending higher than the expected budget spending coupled with the current account deficit are causing short term cash management problems for the government. In this scenario it is likely the Government may resort to further borrowing from foreign sources. It does not cause excessive demand on the rupee which in turn may push the rupee rate higher which is not in the best interest of the monetary policy,` Mohamed said.
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He is a genius -Mahela
Wednesday, 2 August 2006 - 2:14 AM SL Time
After Sri Lanka went one up in the two match Janashakthi Test series, captain Mahela Jayawardene paid tribute to Muttiah Muralitharan, who finished with a ten wicket match bag on a flat track.
Jayawardene called Muralitharan a genius and applauded his efforts in taking ten wickets on a batsman friendly track.
When Sri Lanka opted for the second new ball on day four, Jayawardene called upon Muralitharan to bowl the second over to the surprise of many, but off the second ball he bowled he got a wicket. `It was a bit of a freak, Murali getting a wicket off the first ball. When I took the new ball I didn`t have a plan to bowl him, but Murali came and said that it might go low and skid through and asked for one or two overs to see how it goes,` Jayawardene explained.
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Muralitharan ends South African defiance
Tuesday, 1 August 2006 - 4:28 AM SL Time
South Africa batted for almost two days and 157 overs but still couldn`t prevent their worst Test defeat against Sri Lanka as the hosts won the series opener by a massive margin of an innings and 153 runs. After a disappointing effort with the bat in the first innings where they were bowled out for 169, the tourists came up with an improved performance yesterday.
On a flat SSC track that got slower and slower, Muttiah Muralitharan bowled brilliantly picking up his 54th five-wicket haul in Test cricket and Sri Lanka won the Test after lunch on the final day. Muralitharan picked up six wickets in all in the second innings and ended the game with ten for 172 -- 17th time he has taken ten wickets in a match.
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Sri Lankans stretched with no-ball syndrome
Monday, 31 July 2006 - 9:25 AM SL Time
South Africa`s top order batsmen put behind their batting debacle of the first innings and dug in defiantly to check Sri Lanka`s record-breaking victory march as the first cricket test was poised for an interesting finish at the end of the fourth day at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground in Colombo yesterday.Openers Andrew Hall and Jacques Rudolph set up the resistance with a record-breaking first wicket partnership of 165 runs surpassing a previous best 137 between Andrew Hudson and Kepler Wessels at the same venue in 1993, followed by skipper Ashwell Prince and Mark Boucher shutting the door for the day with an unbroken partnership of 126 runs in a second innings total of 311 for 4 as the Sri Lankan bowlers unexpectedly laboured for wickets.
But Sri Lanka coach Tom Moody lamented his team were shut out from an early finish because of a flat track and slammed the character of the pitch saying it was not up to expectations for a five-day game.
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