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Britain not to lift LTTE ban


Dr. Howells meets President Rajapaksa in Colombo (photo Sudath Silva)
Britain urges Sri Lanka to find a political solution to defeat terrorism
The British government has announced that it will not lift the ban on Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers.

After a two-day officials visit, State minister for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Dr. Kim Howells, said the UK will not lift the ban 'while the LTTE continues to use terrorism'.

Dr. Kim Howells has handed over a special letter by British PM, Tony Blair, to President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Human Rights violations

After his second visit to Sri Lanka in this year alone, the British minister has raised serious concerns of the island nation's human rights situation.

Reminding the critics that Human Rights are 'not a purely domestic matter,' the British minister has recalled that both countries have signed UN treaties on human rights.

President Rajapaksa paying respect to slain Red Cross workers (photo Sudath Silva)
Britain has expressed concern over the abduction and the killing of two Red Cross workers in Colombo

'If either of us (Sri Lanka and UK) is perceived to fall below those standards we can and should expect difficult questions,' a statement issued by Dr. Howells stated.

The statement has urged Sri Lanka to learn lessons from Britain's Northern Ireland experience.

Political solution

'There are some that believe the only way to address the LTTE's violence is to fight fire with fire. They are wrong,' Dr. Howells said.

'In fact a security led response to terrorism can end up strengthening the terrorist,' the statement added.


In fact a security led response to terrorism can end up strengthening the terrorist

Dr. Kim Howells

The British minister says Sri Lanka's need is the moment is a 'sustainable political solution' to resolve the national question.

'The way to defeat terrorism is not through relentless military action, but by winning the battle of ideas and with it the support of moderate Tamils,' the statement stated.

A case of mistaken identity turns ugly

By Yohan Perera and Senaka De Silva

A leading Muslim businessman?s driver, who was allegedly abducted on Friday after reportedly being mistaken for his employer by the abductors, had died under suspicious circumstances in the Kegalle Hospital yesterday.

The Daily Mirror yesterday reported that the driver had turned up in Kegalle, allegedly poisoned by his abductors. The post mortem was to be conducted later yesterday.

Both Grandpass and Mawanella police are conducting separate investigations on the incident.

Police, while confirming the death, said they do not know whether the victim was poisoned or whether he willingly took poison in a bid to commit suicide.

The police also said the victim could not have been abducted as he had told the persons close by that he is going out for a while. He had been seen near the Grandpass Mosque at the time of the abduction, after dropping his master, a leading businessman, at the mosque.

Informed sources said the abductors would have mistaken him for the businessman as he bears a close resemblance to him.

They say the abductors would have released the driver after realizing they have taken the wrong person.

The abductors have also kept the vehicle bearing number PB 1458 which belonged to the businessman.

How did i know what time Pera will be back

An armed gang had extorted 20 million rupees from the owner of a leading men?s clothing industry in Colombo, but he had not complained to the police as who threatened with death if the matter was reported, sources told The Island yesterday (11).

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