'Karuna' given 9 month sentence in UK

Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan, better known as Colonel Karuna, was sentenced Friday morning (25) at Isleworth Crown Court in West London. Muralitharan, who broke away from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2004, taking with him what has been described as the best fighters in the terrorist outfit, was arrested recently in London on charges of holding false identity documents.

The British Foreign Office said in December that it had told the Sri Lankan government of its "concern" at how Col Karuna had acquired a diplomatic passport under a false name.

Extracted from,
http://www.news.lk/index.php?option=com_content&

Lanka should remove defence system in Palk strait: MDMK

MDMK leader Vaiko on Friday demanded that the Centre ask the Sri Lanka government to remove the underwater defence system set up across the Palk strait on the International Maritime Boundary Line.

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, a copy of which was made available to the media, Vaiko said the system would damage and destroy the fishing boats of Indian fishermen.

He said the Sri Lankan navy had communicated to the Indian Navy to inform Tamil Nadu fishermen not to venture out for fishing between Kachatheevu and Neduntheeve in the Palk strait, as mines had been placed.

Read more,
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Lanka

Lankan trade team to visit Qatar next month

A Sri lankan trade delegation comprising representatives from the construction sector will visit Doha early next month.

Speaking to Gulf Times yesterday, Sri Lankan Ambassador S B Atugoda said at least 25 members, representing various sectors of the Lankan construction industry, will accompany the delegation. The visit is at the initiative of the Chamber of the Construction Industry (CCI), Sri Lanka.

The CCI comprises at least nine organisations representing sectors and professionals such as architects, consultants, quantity surveyors, valuers, town planners, transport, economy, banking and insurance.

In recent times CCI has sent delegations to a number of Middle East countries including Qatar. The visit is the fourth by a Sri Lankan trade delegation in recent months, according to a Lankan embassy official.
The delegation will hold talks with representatives of the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI) besides officials of companies engaged in the construction industry in Qatar.

Read more,
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no

APRC proposals an important step, says Rajapaksa

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has described the “proposals” submitted to him by the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) on measures for the full implementation of the provisions of the Constitution for a political solution to the ethnic question as an “auspicious and important initial step.”

Receiving the proposals from APRC Chairman Thissa Vitharana on Wednesday, Mr. Rajapaksa said the government and the political parties that supported it undertook the responsibility to fully implement the proposals. He said they all had a responsibility to ensure the rights of all people to enjoy freedom without fear irrespective of race, religious, political and other differences.

He called on all parties to shed narrow differences and come together with due consideration for the people, to provide a suitable political solution to the political issue, while looking at a different solution to the problem of terrorism.

Read more,
http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/25/stories/2008012555991600.htm

SLC offers to host Asia Cup

Sri Lanka has approached Pakistan with an offer to host the upcoming Asia Cup cricket tournament as violence continues to wrack the country, the island's cricket chief said today.

The six-nation limited-overs tournament is scheduled to be played in Pakistan in June, but instability following last month's murder of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto has put sporting fixtures under threat.

“We have written and asked Pakistan if we can host the Asia Cup,” Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) chief Arjuna Ranatunga said on the sidelines of a news conference to promote tourism.
“It's a sensitive issue, but we will understand if Pakistan refuse us,” said Ranatunga, who led Sri Lanka to victory in the 1996 World Cup.

Defending champions Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates and Oman are due to take part in the tournament, the continent's premier One-Day International event.

Read more,
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=5&theme=&u

8 countries ban poultry imports from India

The bird flu outbreak in West Bengal is now taking a toll on the country's poultry exports. Till January 24, eight countries had officially stopped import of poultry products from India.

While UAE, one of India's largest clients, continued its ban on Indian poultry products, imposed following the outbreak in Manipur in July 2007, the countries to have imposed a fresh ban after the West Bengal outbreak are: Oman, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Qatar, Bhutan, Kuwait and Bahrain.

It was just after November 8 when India informed the world organisation for animal health, OIE, that the country was free of H5N1 virus after the Manipur outbreak, that most of these countries had lifted their previous ban.

Read more,
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/

LTTE silent after the X-ray Base attack

Army Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara says that the LTTE areas were in deep silence and no incidents were reported after the Air Force attack on the clandestine X-ray Base.

In response to a question posed by Lanka-e-News, the Army Spokesman said that the LTTE radio communication too were silent today.

The shops in Kilinochchi were closed today since two more air attacks were launched to Kilinochchi after the major attack on 11.15 AM.

However, Air Force Spokesman Wing Commander Andrew Wijesuriya said that information so far had not proved Prabakaran was in the attacked X-ray Base.

Read more,
http://www.lankaenews.com/English/news.php?id=5275

Group of youth hacked to death by LTTE terrorists

Police have found several bodies of youth dumped in a swamp at Hijrapura on the Horoupathana - Kebithigollawa road by suspected LTTE terrorists this evening, January 24.

Police said the victims are believed to be a group of civilians who had gone searching for their cattle.

The victims were apparently hacked to death, the sources added.

Extracted from,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080124_06

Ban parties openly supporting LTTE: Congress

Expressing concern over reported rise in LTTE activities in Tamil Nadu,the Congress on Thursday asked the State Government to ban political parties and organisations which were openly supporting the proscribed outfit.

Participating in a discussion on the motion of thanks to the Governor for his address to the assembly, C Gnanasekaran (Cong) cited reports that 102 LTTE cadre had infiltrated into the state during the last two years and cases had been filed against 40 of them under the National Security Act.

Recalling the recent arrest of LTTE intelligence wing leader Thambidurai Parameswaran and others, who allegedly attempted to procure arms and material for the LTTE, he questioned the "inaction" of the state's intelligence.

He said the LTTE should be viewed in two phases -- before and after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The scar over Rajiv Gandhi's assassination still remained among Congressmen, he said and urged the Chief Minister to take steps to extradite LTTE chief V Prabhakaran, the prime accused in the case, against whom a non-bailable warrant was pending.

Stating that the LTTE had also killed several Tamils, Gnanasekaran wondered how some parties and organisations in the state were openly supporting the outfit.

Read more,
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200801241750.htm

Lankan maid commits suicide at Dubai airport

A Sri Lankan woman committed suicide at the Dubai International Airport recently by hanging herself.

Her young children, who are in shock, are now waiting anxiously for the remains of their mother to reach them.

Kala Sangarapillai, 30, who was working as a housemaid in Kuwait and was on her way to Sri Lanka via Dubai to see her family when she allegedly hanged herself in the ladies restroom at the Dubai airport three weeks back.

An official from the General Department of Forensic Science of Dubai Police said, “The Sri Lankan woman hanged herself from the ceiling of the airport’s ladies restroom and was found by the cleaners. The body of the victim is still in the police mortuary.”

He added that the body would be handed over to the authorities concerned after getting approval from the Dubai Public Prosecution on completion of all legal and administrative procedures.

Read more,
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/

Heavy LTTE casualties in air strike

It was only yesterday (24th) when Sri Lanka Air Force used 6 of its fighter jets to raid a major LTTE military facility deep inside the jungles east of Iranamadu. More details are now surfacing regarding the aftermath of one of the most devastating air strikes in the Eelam War 4.

According to military intelligence reports, hospitals in Kilinochchi are being filled with wounded LTTE cadres. Intel reports suggest that a significant number of cadres from Prabhakaran's elite guard unit, the Imran-Pandiyan regiment, are among the wounded.

However there is still no confirmation on any injuries caused to LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran. The pilots who took part in the raid could not confirm if anti aircraft fire was directed at their planes or not. LTTE usually places its truck mounted 14.5mm AA batteries in close proximity to LTTE leader's hideouts in fear of air strikes. If AA fire was absent when the attack occurred it may be an indication of LTTE leader having just left the scene prior to bombing. This however is a wild guess as of this moment.

SLAF used 24 bunker buster bombs to attack the X-Ray base, razing its buildings to dust in a matter of minutes.

Extracted from,
http://defencenet.blogspot.com/2008/01/heavy-ltte-casualties-in-air-strike.html

Prabhakaran's base hit; boosts Colombo stock exchange

he news of attack on LTTE supremo V Prabhakaran's base in rebel-held Wanni has brought cheers to the Colombo Stock Exchange index, which rose 65 points on Wednesday.

The Sri Lankan Sir Force jets on Wednesday attacked the LTTE base in Kilinochchi.

Despite a lack of information on the severity of the attack on the 'x-ray base' and the fate of the elusive rebel leader, brokers said the news resulted in a positive investor sentiment yesterday.

The Colombo bourse rocketed on Wednesday, with the All Share Price Index surging 64.46 points (2.70 per cent) and the Milanka indices gaining 80.42 points (2.62 per cent) on a turnover of Sri Lankan Rs 232.2 million, up from Monday's dismal Sri Lankan Rs 67.3 million.

Read more,
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200801241222.htm

Patriotic people in this country are prepared to teach what Arbour and her kind have not learnt from any other country! – JVP

The patriotic people in this country are prepared to teach a lesson that Louise Arbour and her kind have never learnt from anywhere else in the world says Information secretary of the JVP Wimal Weerawansa.

Mr. Weerawansa said this addressing a protest campaign held by the JVP opposite main office of the UNO in Sri Lanka. The campaign was held to protest against the statement made by Ms. Louise Arbour, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights that "Violations by any party could entail individual criminal responsibility under international criminal law, including by those in positions of command.”

Read more,
http://www.lankatruth.com/full_story/2008/January/23/20080123_08.htm

LTTE refutes SLAF claims of air strike on Tiger leadership

Liberation Tigers Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan Wednesday evening refuted the claims by the Sri Lanka Air Force that it had hit a location of the leader of the LTTE Velupillai Pirapaharan Wednesday morning. Stating that Colombo was spreading false propaganda, Mr. Ilanthirayan said the SLAF attack targeted civilian settlements at Vaddakkachchi twice between 11:10 a.m. and 11:35 a.m. and in the evening between 5:15 and 6:00 p.m.

Mr. Ilanthirayan was responding to questions raised by media in Colombo.

Earlier in the day, the SLAF had claimed that it had hit a key LTTE base describing the target as LTTE's nerve centre and stating it was awaiting confirmation on whether the LTTE leader was residing in the target, which it named as "X-ray base".

Colombo was engaged in such false propaganda, also during the Tsunami catastrophe and on many occasions earlier, he said.

Extracted from,
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=24389