LTTE will not be allowed to operate from Indian soil

In the backdrop of the recent LTTE air strikes in Sri Lanka, Defence Minister, A K Antony, today said the LTTE would not be allowed to operate from Tamil Nadu and that surveillance and security had been stepped up in the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

India was watching the situation in Sri Lanka closely, especially in the wake of recent air strikes by LTTE, he said.

"We are giving high priority to coastal security. This will be done in three levels with the involvement of the Navy, the Coast Guard and the coastal police of the States concerned," he said.

Read more,
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200705012001.htm

Tamil Tigers dismantle seized Jordanian ship

The chairman of the Salam International Transport and Trading Company, Saeed Suleiman, said earlier this week that it was no longer possible to recover the Jordanian ship, Farah 3, which was seized by Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers in December 2006.

"The Salam Company will not incur any losses because the vessel was fully insured at $5 million," he said.

In a statement to Al Rai newspaper, Suleiman said Tamil Tigers had actually dismantled the vessel and stolen its cargo of 14,000 tonnes of Indian rice bound for South Africa.

Tamil Tiger pirates boarded the vessel firing four warning shots and forced the ship's 25 crew members to board rebel boats.

Read more,
http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story_s.asp?StoryId=1093151573

View in YouTube,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBxJSYePql4

Sri Lanka university non-academic staff strike to be solved on 3rd?

Sri Lanka’s university Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Prof. Gamini Samaranayaka said that the discussion held with the trade unions of the university non-academic staff was fruitful and he was positive that the strike would be settled soon.

Inter University Trade Union Joint Committee held discussions with the Minister of Higher Education, Prof. Vishwa Warnapala and the UGC officials. The delegates of the trade unions said that their decision would be announced on 3rd March after discussions with the membership.

The Treasury has granted Rs. 154 million to the UGC to pay the arrears and to remove the salary anomalies.

Extracted from,
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_07/April30141602CH.html

Read new,
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_07/May2144111SL.html

Kfir Shot Over Iranamadu: Dreams in Desperation

TAMIL TIGERS HAD DREAMT OF A SRI LANKAN AIR FORCE Kfir jet being shot over Iranamadu in which they had viewed an Israel built attack air craft crashing with a large cloud of smoke being spewed between 2:45 and 3:00 p.m. today (30). A pro –tiger website was too quick to carry the details of the dream with information added to say that a Kfir aircraft as had not returned to the base quoting unconfirmed reports from Colombo.

When inquired from the Air Force of any Air craft not returning to the base during the day it was confirmed by senior Air Force officials that all Aircraft of the Sri Lanka Air Force are reported entered in the bases and hangers today subsequent to their routine reconnaissance and other strike missions over the tiger held areas.

It will not be long before the tigers fall in to the laughing stock.
Read more,
http://www.rnhit.com/mcns/fullnews.php?id=5539
and
http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20070430_05
Photo,
http://www.lankalibrary.com/images/kafir.jpg

Sripathi Sooriyarachchi released on bail

Avissawella High Court allowed the bail application filed by Sripathi Sooriyarachchi, sacked minister of the ruling party and instructed the Kaduwela Magistrate to release him on cash and surety bail.

Sooriayarachi was arrested on a charge that he had misused a state vehicle after being dismissed from the minister post.

Since then he was being kept in remand and Kaduwela Magistrate refused his bail application on the ground that his court has no jurisdiction to release the suspect charged under the State Properties Act.

Read more,
http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/5515

Photo,
http://www.priu.gov.lk/Ministries/Min_Skills_dev_pub_enterprise.html

10 May Day rallies in Colombo!

Ten rallies and seven demonstrations will be held in Colombo to celebrate International Workers’ Day.
The rally of the PA will be held at town Hall Grounds under the chairmanship
of President Mahinda Rajapakse. SLFP will not hold any demonstration.

The JVP will hold its May Day rally at Parliament Grounds at Jayewardenepura. The colourful demonstration will commence from Campbell Park at Borella and march to Parliamentary Grounds.

The UNP has decided not to hold any May Day celebration this year. However, a few trade unions of the party have arranged to celebrate the workers’ day.

The International Workers’ Day celebrated on the 1^st May is celebrated in Sri Lanka on the 30^th this year on account of Wesak Full Moon Poya Day, the most important day for Buddhists too is celebrated on the same day.

Extracted from,

http://www.lankatruth.com/full_story/2007/April/30/20070430_1.htm

Photo,

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b3/Kolkhoznitsa.jpg

Sri Lanka government to take measures to destroy LTTE air capability

Sri Lanka government said today that its security forces are ascertaining the new threat of air attacks by LTTE and would take short term and long term measures to detect and destroy the LTTE air capability and to ensure the safety and security of the military, economic and civil establishments.

Shortly after the LTTE air attack, Air Force struck the targets near the airstrip of the LTTE at Iranamadu in the rebel controlled northern Wanni district, the military said.

`The Air force has established that two light aircraft landed at Iranamadu area and launched an aerial attack on several identified targets at Iranamadu in Kilinochchi at 5.30 a.m. today. The damages caused to enemy establishments are yet to be confirmed,` the Minister Yapa said.

Read more,
http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2007/4/14438.html

Suspected LTTE gunman kills a Journalist -Jaffna

A reporter attached to the Uthayan newspaper in Jaffna was shot dead by unidentified gunmen early yesterday, sources in the North said.

The sources said the police believe that the 24-year-old Selvaraja Rajivarmanhad been killed by the LTTE, who were not happy with what he wrote for the newspaper.

Extracted from,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20070430_04

Congress Party demands Vaiko should be arrested in a meeting with Karunanidhi

As an immediate repercussion to the revelation of the Tamil Nadu police that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had killed five fishermen in cold blood suspecting them as spies watching their gun running , Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) President met Chief Minister of the state M. Karunanidhi to demand that all politicians supporting the terrorist group should be arrested.

On March 10 Vaiko met Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh and told him that the Indian Navy was merely watching as spectators while the Sri Lankan Navy was killing Indian citizens. For along period of time Vaiko has been openly supporting the LTTE even after the terrorist group killed the Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Once he traveled to Sri Lanka and lived many months in a bunker with LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.

Read more,
http://srilankanews.wordpress.com/2007/04/30/
congress-party-demands-vaiko-should-be-arrested-in-a-meeting-with-karunanidhi/

British government issues travel warnings to Sri Lanka

British Government issued travel warning to British citizens traveling to Sri Lanka in general and the North and East of the country in particular, in the light of the latest incident in which LTTE used aircrafts ob 29 April to drops bombs in targets in Colombo.

“We strongly recommend that all British nationals who are resident and/or working in Sri Lanka, or visiting for over one month, should register with the British High Commission in Colombo."

"We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake."

Read more,
http://srilankanews.wordpress.com/
2007/04/30/british-government-issues-travel-warnings-to-sri-lanka/

ICC chief admits finish was most farcical

Cricket's top official apologized for the blunder that ruined the end of the World Cup final and admitted it was the most farcical end to a game he had ever seen.

The four umpires and match referee mistakenly told the Australia and Sri Lanka players that with three overs to go in the fading light at Kensington Oval on Saturday, the final might have to be completed the next day.

Asked if it had been the most farcical end to a game he had ever seen, Speed replied: ``Yes, I think it is.

``I think it's very unfortunate. It was a very sad way to finish the World Cup. I hope that we can recall the great day's cricket we had before that very unfortunate ending.

Read more,
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/007200704300923.htm

President congratulates Mahela, cricket team

President Mahinda Rajapaksa salutes Mahela Jayawardena and the Sri Lanka cricket team which emerged Runners up at the 2007 Cricket World Cup which concluded in Barbados last Saturday.

“I and my government greatly appreciate the contribution and the heart-felt service rendered by the Coach and the Officials of the Sri Lanka team for their victories achieved.”

It is my fervent wish that likewise the Cricket team has triumphed in cricket, we Sri Lankans will together triumph the world.

Read more,
http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/04/30/spo02.asp

It's a part of the A 9 that LTTE is using for the air strip -Shan Wickremesinghe

An engineer who conducted several investigations regarding the air strip of the, Shan Wickremesinghe says the LTTE is using a part of the A 9 highway as their air strip. He said that those responsible in the Air force have been informed of the air paths used by the LTTE to hide away from the radar systems and about the findings from his investigations.

Meanwhile it is also being reported that a civilian air craft that was flying during last night's incidents, was fired with 5 zero guns but no damages were caused to the air craft because it was flying over the heights which a 5 zero would reach.

Read more,
http://www.lankaenews.com/English/news.php?id=4077

Match referee accepts responsibility for farcical end

Match referee Jeff Crowe has taken full responsibility for the chaotic end to the final match of the World Cup at the Kensington Oval Saturday...

"It's a human error I guess, at the end of the day ... the match referee should have known and basically said that's not right, the game should be completed now," Crowe told reporters in a post-match media conference...

After long discussions involving match officials and with the captains and with the possibility of completing the match Sunday being raised, the match was finally restarted with Sri Lanka batting out the remaining three overs to finish at 215 for eight.

"The real confusion though occurred when it was suggested that the remaining overs would be completed tomorrow. I guess that's what put the teams in confusion [along with] the umpires and I guess the rest of you and everybody else at the ground and obviously [those] watching on television," Crowe said.

Read more,
http://www.newkerala.com/news.php?action=fullnews&id=23727
Photo,
www.cricinfo.com