Sri Lanka supports Iran's peaceful use of nuclear energy

Sri Lanka said Tuesday that it supports the peaceful use of nuclear energy by Iran within the framework of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

In a joint statement issued at the conclusion of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's two-day state visit to Sri Lanka, "the two sides confirmed the full and non-discriminatory implementation of Article IV of the NPT on peaceful nuclear co-operation."

They also stressed the importance of global nuclear disarmament, particularly the need for the nuclear powers to destroy their nuclear weapons, based on the decisions of the relevant international meetings.

The two countries "recognized the inalienable rights and the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people at the highest level, and will continue to express their solidarity with the Palestinian people."

The two countries also expressed the hope that the differences among the different groups in Palestine will be resolved amicably.

Read more,
http://rss.xinhuanet.com/newsc/english/2008-04/30/content_8076902.htm

Mervin in car accident

It has been reported that Minister of Labour Dr. Mervin Silva has been involved in a car accident at Dehiaththakandiya a few moments ago.

The Chairman of Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha has died in the accident and Dr. Mervin Silva has been injured in the accident say reports reaching us.
Dr. Mervin Silva is being brought to Colombo at the moment.

Read more,
http://www.lankatruth.com/
Photos,
http://www.lankadeepa.lk/2008/05/01/front_news/tem.html

Three arrested in Britain over Tamil Tiger probe: police

Three men were arrested in London and Wales Tuesday as part of a long-term police investigation into the Tamil Tigers guerrillas in Sri Lanka, Scotland Yard said.

The trio were arrested following dawn raids on homes and business addresses in Newtown in Wales, in Mitcham, southwest London as well as raids elsewhere in Surrey.

Two men aged 39 and 46 were arrested at separate addresses in Newtown. A third, aged 33, was held in Mitcham. All three men were arrested on suspicion of the "commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism".

"It is not linked to Al-Qaeda-type activity or inspired terrorism. It is in relation to support, procurement and fundraising for a proscribed organisation, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (Tamil Tigers)," a police spokesman said of the arrests.

"This is part of a long-term investigation into alleged funding and procurement activity in support of terrorism overseas and two people have already been charged in connection with this investigation," he added.

Read more,
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gQZP1kwk5u23VQ2V4WJijiLyspAA

Sri Lanka, Iran sign six agreements

The visiting Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa witnessed the signing of six agreements between the two countries and vowed to push the relations to a new level, officials said on Tuesday.

The officials from the Sri Lankan presidential secretariat said among the major agreements were financial assistance for the expansion of the Sapugaskanda oil refinery and the Uma Oya project, Iran's development assistance to Sri Lanka, and the establishment of a political consultation mechanism.

Addressing journalists after bilateral talks and the agreements signing ceremony, Ahmadinejad pointed out that comprehensive cooperation between the two countries would provide security for both.

"We are seeking justice and fair play in the world. Sri Lanka and Iran have agreed to cooperate in all spheres for the mutual benefit of each other," said the Iranian president.

He said there had been a constructive dialogue for the betterment and economic prosperity of the two countries whose cooperation has been increasing, and has the capacity to increase further.

Rajapaksa thanked his Iranian counterpart for the economic aid.

Read more,
http://finance.indiainfo.com/2008/04/29/0804291127_iran_lanka.html

LTTE used youth as `cannon fodder`: Rajapaksa

Sri Lanka has slammed the LTTE on the question of recruiting child soldiers, saying the rebel group had used the nation's youth as "pawns and cannon fodder" in its "brutal operations" against the state.

"Sri Lanka has, for the past three decades, been faced with a threat by the most brutal terrorist organisation in the world -- a terror outfit that does not hesitate to use our youth as pawns and cannon fodder in its brutal operations to attack the sovereignty and territorial integrity of this country", Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.

The President, who was addressing the seventh meeting of the Commonwealth Youth Ministers here yesterday, said the government realised the danger warfare posed to children and youth.

the Lasting consequences of the brain-washing of child soldiers is such that even in adult life, many of them remain committed to violence and terror, he said.

Read more,
http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=439581&sid=SAS

Turning tables on terrorism

We, the ordinary Sri Lankans, knew without an iota of doubt who assassinated Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle and why they did so. But a small minority of individuals - certain discredited politicians and biased journalists among them - in the immediate aftermath of the attack which was carried out by a suicide bomber (the suicide bomber is the hallmark of LTTE terror) tried to obfuscate the real state of affairs by diverting public attention elsewhere.

While the majority grieved over the death of Mr Fernandopulle and fourteen others with him in a terrorist suicide bombing at the start of a sports event at Welisara that fateful morning on Sunday 6th April, these malicious people seemed to gloat over the mayhem (with a self-congratulatory sense of being vindicated no doubt).

In order to play down the gruesome carnage they depicted it as yet another incident in what they claim to be a pattern of tit for tat violence between the Government and the LTTE; and by refusing to unequivocally blame the terrorist organization for the crime they insinuated that the government could have some complicity in it.

Browsing different websites on the Internet only a few hours after the bus bombing at Piliyandala today (25th April) I saw hints of the same sort of response from covert champions of terror shedding crocodile tears.

Read more,
http://www.island.lk/2008/04/28/opinion2.html

Iranian president arrives in Colombo

The President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Monday evening arrived in Colombo on a two-day official visit.

He was welcomed at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka and Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama. The Navy accorded a Guard of Honour by offering 21 gun salute to the visiting President.

Behnam Behrooz, ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Sri Lanka was also present at the airport to receive the visiting president.

Heading a high-ranking delegation, the president would hold talks with his counterpart, Mahinda Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Ratnasiri and Foreign Minister Bogollagama.

Read more,
http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-234/0804287728174308.htm
photo,
http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-234/0804287728174308.htm

Soldiers guarding Madhu church fear LTTE mines

Soldiers guarding the historic church of Madhu, which was liberated by Sri Lankan army recently, still fear attacks from LTTE militants, who have reportedly planted mines around the vandalised complex.

The Sri Lankan army, which took a media team from Colombo, did not allow the journalists to stay for long in the Church as they feared attack from the Tamil Tiger rebels.

The media team was asked by a brigade commander to cut short the queries and leave the place to avoid any problems.

"They (the LTTE) must have got aware of the presence of this meeting. We should not take any chances. Let us leave the place," the official said.

Though the LTTE fighters have abandoned the place and have moved way ahead, the military says it is taking no chance due to the guerrilla instinct of the tiger rebels.

Read more,
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200804281655.htm

Save innocent civilians from LTTE - Anandasangaree

I strongly condemn the explosion in a C.T.B bus at Piliyandala that took the lives of 26 innocent civilians and left over 60 seriously injured. This is undoubtedly another savage act of the blood thirsty LTTE, TULF leader V. Anandasangaree stated yesterday.

Is it with these barbarians that the International Community wants the Government to start talks with? In all seriousness I wish to pose a question to the International Community as to what it intends to do with the people who had fled their traditional places of residence for fear of the LTTE and are living with the Sinhalese and the Muslims peacefully in the South, he said a news release.

Also I wish to know what the fate is going be of those in the Eastern Province, just liberated and of those who fled the country out of fear for the LTTE and wanting to return when peace is restored.

Read more,
http://www.mulpituwa.com/?viewnews=12921

Sri Lanka ready to welcome Iranian president

The Sri Lankan government said Monday that it is ready to welcome Iranian President Mahmoud Ahamadinejad who will arrive at Colombo for a two-day official visit Monday afternoon and unveil several Iran-funded projects.

Sri Lanka's Department of Government Information said in a statement that Ahamadinejad will be welcomed at the airport by SriLankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, followed by meetings with President Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka and Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama.

On Tuesday, the Iranian president will inaugurate the Iranian funded 450-million-U.S. dollar Uma Oya irrigation project in Wellawaya in central Sri Lanka which will add 100 megawatts of power to the national grid.

The other major project due to be inaugurated on Tuesday by the Iranian president is the expansion of the Sapugaskanda refinery near Colombo which will make Sri Lanka self-sufficient in aviation fuel and bitumen.

The project envisages increasing the daily output capacity of 50,000 barrels to 150,000 barrels of refined oil.

Read more,
http://rss.xinhuanet.com/newsc/english/2008-04/28/content_8066465.htm

Air Force fighter jets target building close to Iranamadu LTTE runway

Air Force fighter jet aircraft targeted a building close to the IRANAMADU LTTE runway in the morning today (28) at 9.45.

Air Force Pilots confirm that the target was engaged successfully.

Extracted from,
http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/fullnews.php?id=12083

Vigilant civilians avert terrorists attack - Galgamuwa

A cowardly bloodbath planned by LTTE terrorists was foiled as vigilant civilians in the Galgamuwa town, found a bomb inside a crowded bus stand this morning. According to the police sources in the area two T-81mm mortar bombs were found trapped with a timer around 6 am. The timer had been fixed to explode the bombs around 7.30 am when some 7000 schoolchildren throng into the area, said the sources.

According to the police, "the bombs were wrapped in a brown paper sheets and placed inside a cardboard box as to show it as a gift pack. Unless for the vigilant civilians and for the efficient police officers in the area, hundreds of civilians including schoolchildren would have been killed, the sources added.

LTTE is a ruthless terrorist organization fighting for a mono ethnic separate homeland for Tamils in Sri Lanka since 1983. The outfit's most favoured target in it s cowardly attacks has been civilians, particularly the women and children. The outfit has murdered tens and thousands of innocent civilians in village massacres, bus bombings, train bombings, and suicide bomb attacks.

Extracted from,
http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080428_01

WFP to cut down food to Sri Lanka, say reports

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has announced that it is forced to cut down its rations to about one million Sri Lankans who are currently being fed in the North and East, as prices of essential grain are hitting record levels around the world.

WFP Country Director Mohamed Saleheen told local media that it would “suspend their food-for-work programme to about 175,000 people in the war-affected regions from May 1 and reduce rations of others from 1,900 kilocalories to 1,665 kilocalories per day per person.”

However he said that they would continue to assist the priority targets such as internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, the economically displaced, pregnant women, nursing mothers, children under five, and school feeding, which he termed as “absolutely imperative”.

Extracted from,
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_08/April27125242JV.html

LTTE drops 3 bombs in Welioya: no damages caused

Despite heightened ground confrontations between troops and LTTE at the Wanni battle theatre, it was reported that 3 bombs were dropped by LTTE today (April 27) at the military forward defence lines in Welioya at around 1.45 a.m.

According to military Spokesperson Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara, no damages were caused to own troops in the aerial bombing.

"During the wee hours the SLAF air defence network radars detected 2 light aircraft of LTTE which were airborne and heading towards Welioya. In accordance with standard operating procedures, SLAF interceptor aircraft were made airborne in the direction of the intruding enemy craft. However, enroute to the area it was observed that the LTTE air craft were fleeing and heading back", air force sources were quoted as saying in a press release issued.

Earlier, on Saturday LTTE suffered heavy beating by SLA infantrymen when troops successfully thwarted two pronged LTTE offensive attempts to breach the military defences at Welioya.

Read more,
http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080427_01