Melbourne business college chief arrested after FBI tipoff over Tamil Tiger terror offences

AUSTRALIAN Federal Police have arrested, at the request of the FBI, a director of a Melbourne business college believed to be linked to the Tamil Tigers over alleged terrorism offences in the US.

Thulasitharan Santhirarajah, 34, is expected to face extradition proceedings after his arrest on Monday when AFP agents raided homes and businesses around Melbourne, including the office of his Melbourne International College.

The raids were conducted at the request of the FBI, which has been cracking down on the fundraising activities in the US of members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

A spokesman for federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland yesterday confirmed the US had requested that Mr Santhirarajah be detained.

"The man is wanted to face prosecution for alleged terrorism offences in the United States of America," the spokesman said. "As this is an ongoing law enforcement matter, it would be inappropriate to comment on the specifics of the case."

Mr Santhirarajah appeared briefly in Melbourne Magistrates court on Monday and was remanded in custody until next month.

As well as the city office of the college, AFP agents raided five properties and businesses in Narre Warren, Dandenong and Lysterfield.

Read more,
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24027253-5013404,00.html

Fall of Sea Tiger base imminent

Fierce fighting continued yesterday south and east of Vidathalthivu as the 58 Division troops and Commando troops surrounded the biggest Sea Tiger base on the Western coast, in North Mannar as the LTTE cadres struggled to defend this tactically important Sea Tiger Base which they controlled for the last two decades.

The troops continued the military thrust on the Sea Tiger base surrounding it from the south and west directions and cutting off all supply routes leading to Vidathalthivu, ground sources told the Daily News last night.

“The LTTE had vacated some locations in Vidathalthivu by last evening as they felt the area was being surrounded by the troops,” Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka told the Daily News.

The Army Commander was confident that the entire Sea Tiger base would fall to the troops by Wednesday afternoon.

The troops attached to 58 Division engaged in a major thrust on the Vidathalthivu Sea Tiger base from the south while Commando troops supported by infantry troops attached to the 582 Brigade advanced into the area from the Eastern direction.

Ground sources also said that many Tiger cadres started fleeing further north of Vidathalthivu after loading their belongings into trucks as troops advanced into the territory.

Read more,
http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/07/16/sec02.asp

Israeli boost for SLAF surveillance capability

The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has taken delivery of an advanced type of UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) from Israel.

Authoritative sources said the acquisition of UAVs would compensate for the loss of equipment in the LTTE raid on the Anuradhapura SLAF base last October.

The recently acquired UAVs have been deployed in the northern theatre with the focus on the 12 kilometre front which runs through Kilali, Muhamalai and Nagarkovil on the Jaffna east coast. Capable of day and night operations, the latest addition would considerably improve the SLAF’s capacity to detect an LTTE build-up against the armed forces deployed in the Jaffna peninsula.

The deployment of UAVs was of critical importance to the ongoing SLAF campaign against LTTE positions in the Vanni, sources said. The SLAF action was two-fold, they said. Operations were being carried out in support of the ground offensive and to destroy conventional capability of the enemy.

The first deployment of UAVs by the SLAF took place in 1996 during Air Marshal Oliver Ranasinghe’s tenure as the Commander. The MI 24 helicopter gunships and Kfirs, a modern multi-role fighter aircraft with a formidable weapons platform, too, were first acquired that year.

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http://www.island.lk/2008/07/16/news2.html

Wanni operation 15 th of July 2008

MI-24s raid LTTE gathering point - Vedithalthivu

SLAF Mi-24 helicopter gun-ships raided an LTTE gathering point Tuesday(July 15), located 1km North of Vedithalthivu, Mannar at 3p.m.

The air strikes were launched supporting advancing ground troops at the Mannar front Air Force Spokesperson Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said, adding that intensified LTTE activity was reported from the area.

Extracted from,
http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080715_05

Five Dead Tigers Recovered

MANNAR: A SEVERE ASSAULT was launched by the troops on an LTTE gathering northeast of SULATHINAKULAM on Sunday (13) at about 11.00 a.m.. Seven LTTE terrorists were killed in this surprise attack. Troops recovered five LTTE dead bodies and one T-56 weapon during the subsequent search conducted in the area.

Heavy Army fire on two Tiger bunkers at PERIYAVILANKULLI and PUTHUKAMAM Sunday (13) killed five terrorists.

The same day at about 10.45 a.m., one soldier was injured due to explosion of an LTTE booby trap in the general area of EACHALARAKKAI.

News and Photo,
http://www.army.lk/morenews.php?id=14492

Former test captain Hashan Tillakaratne made national team manager

Ex-captain Hashan Tillakaratne has been appointed Sri Lanka's national cricket team manager for the upcoming test and limited-overs home series against India.

Tillakaratne's appointment will be formally announced at a news conference later Tuesday, Sri Lanka Cricket media manager Shane Fernando said.

The 41-year-old Tillakaratne played in 83 tests and scored 4,545 runs. In 200 one-day internationals Tillakaratne compiled 3,789 runs.

He was a regular national player for 15 years from 1989 and led the team in 10 test matches from 2003.

Extracted from,
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/15/sports/AS-CRI-Sri-Lanka-Manager.php

Ex-rebels’ party to support Rajapaksa

Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikkal (TMVP), the LTTE rebel group-turned-political party, has formally joined the All-Parties Representative Committee (APRC) constituted by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to find a solution to the ethnic conflict.

The TMVP was invited to join the APRC by its chairman Tissa Vitharana, after its impressive performance during the election, held in May, in the Eastern Provincial Council (EPC).

Minister Vitharana said the TMVP had nominated Batticaloa Mayor Sivageetha Prabhakaran to represent it at the APRC. The committee is expected to meet next week.

The APRC has not been convened for a while after the Jathika Hela Urumaya and Mahajana Eksath Peramuna suspended their participation pending the accommodation of the TMVP in the committee, said Mr. Vitharana.

Read more,
http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/15/stories/2008071555551300.htm

Three day strike in the offing - Lal Kantha

Lal Kantha warned a three day strike in the near future and said that they would begin to strengthen their support in work places from next Monday. Speaking to the media this morning (July 15th), he said at previous day\'s talks with trade unions, it was also decided to continue with union action until all their demands are met.

The NTUC agreed to prepare a petition with one million signatures and hand it over to President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

From July 21st, a series of meetings, starting from the Colombo National Hospital, will prepare workplaces in the state, private and plantation sectors for the planned work stoppage, Mr. Lal Kantha said.

According to him, Jirath Gamage of the Government United Labour Union, Lienus Jayatilake of the United Workers Union and Neil Wijetilake of the Cooperative Employees Union have agreed to go for a collective action to win their common demands.

Further discussions would take place with trade unions affiliated to the Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya and the Trade Unions Federation to decide the joint course of action.

Suggestions would be sought from private bus owners, trishaw drivers, school and staff transport services as well, he added.

Extracted from,
http://www.lankaeverything.com/vinews/politics/20080715072622.php

Wanni operation 11 th and 14 th of July 2008

Source,
http://www.defence.lk/sinhala/videos/20080711-14_Wanni.wmv

Lankan Army capable of providing security to leaders during SAARC Summit

While dismissing the "untrue" reports that a large contingent of Indian security forces would be present in the island nation during the SAARC Summit next month to guard Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Sri Lanka said, "Sri Lankan Army, despite the ongoing war with the LTTE, would be able to provide adequate security to leaders during the SAARC Summit".

"It is not true that a big contingent of Indian Army would be coming to Colombo to provide security for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the SAARC summit," Nimal Siripala, a senior Sri Lankan Minister, told Parliament in Colombo Friday, PTI reported here today.

His comments follow reports in newspapers here recently that had claimed that President Mahinda Rajapakse had given approval for a heavy Indian military presence in Sri Lanka during the August 2-3 SAARC Summit.

Siripala, leader of the House and Minister of Healthcare and Nutrition, said it was normal for the heads of state to bring their own security as has been the case with other international conferences, but added that no large contingent of security forces from India would arrive here to provide security to Singh.

The issue first came up on Wednesday when the Marxist JVP party member Bimal Ratnayaka sought to know whether 1,500 Indian soldiers had already come to Sri Lanka to provide security to Singh during the SAARC Summit. At that time, the member was assured that Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake would reply to the question on Friday.

Read more,
http://www2.irna.com/en/news/view/line-17/0807128036171818.htm

Special IDs for persons, vehicles entering HSZ during SAARC

Police are implementing new security arrangements with regard to vehicles entering the High Security Zone (HSZ) in the Colombo city during the Seventh SAARC Summit. Residents and those working in the HSZ are also required to obtain a pass affixed with a photograph.

Police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekera said the public and vehicles entering the HSZ from July 25 to 30 will be subjected to checks including a body search.

A special pass will be issued to the public for vehicles entering the HSZ from July 30 to August 4. We urge the residents and people working in the HSZ to obtain a pass affixed with a photograph from the OIC Kollupitiya and Fort signed by Senior DIG Colombo Nimal Mediwake.

During this period people will not be allowed to enter the HSZ without a pass, SSP Gunasekera told the Daily News.

He asked the public to avoid entering the HSZ area during the above period and take alternative routes. SSP Ranjith Gunasekera defined the HSZ said areas as covering the Ceramic round-about, the Hilton Hotel area including the Navy and Police HQ, WTC, Intercontinental Hotel area and from Kollupitiya junction towards the Galle Face, Army HQ, old Parliament including the Elephant House area.

Extracted from,
http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/07/15/sec01.asp

Siemens to expand Colombo's distribution network

14 July 2008 - Siemens Energy will modernize and expand the medium-voltage distribution network of Sri Lanka's capital Colombo on behalf of the power supply utility, Ceylon Electricity Board.

The contract includes expanding and modernizing a 33/11-kV transformer substation, the delivery, installation and commissioning of several medium-voltage power supply installations, and the renovation of the 11-kV distribution network.

A new load dispatching center for the capital will also to be constructed complete with control center.

Siemens will also train technical personnel locally and ensure that the power supply is maintained while the network conversion project is implemented. The value of the order is approximately €31m ($49m).

Colombo's power supply system is being modernized and expanded in order to meet the increasingly high standards required for the city's power supply.

Read more,
http://pepei.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?

Iran becomes Sri Lanka's top lender

Iran has emerged as Sri Lanka's biggest donor this year, knocking Japan from the position of being the war-torn island's main benefactor, the finance ministry said on Monday.

In the five months to May this year, the war-torn island has received USD 1.05 billion in foreign aid, of which project loans accounted for 959 million and grants for 90 million, the treasury said in its mid-year fiscal report.

Western donors have been threatening to cut aid to Sri Lanka because of worsening human rights abuses and escalating violence in the civil war with separatist Tamil Tiger rebels.

The treasury said foreign aid would have almost halved if Iran had not chipped in with USD 450 million to build a hydro power project and upgrade the island's sole oil refinery.

Other key donors included Denmark (USD 155.2 million), India (USD 109.2 million), the Asian Development Bank (USD 90 million), World Bank (USD 43.1 million) and Japan (USD 42.2 million).

Japan and the Manila-based Asian Development Bank have in the past been the biggest lenders to the island.

Extracted from,
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News