Sri Lanka Latest News: 05/16/07

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Intelsat Continues LTTE Broadcasts

THE SRI LANKAN EMBASSY in Washington has complained to the US Justice Department, State Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) against Washington based Intelsat Ltd., for reneging its promise of removing the National Television of Tamil Eelam (NTT) channel and Pulikalin Kural radio from the Intelsat 12 satellite transponder and for continuing to facilitate and broadcast terrorist propaganda.

Before lodging the complaint, the Sri Lankan Embassy brought to the communication satellite company's notice that despite its assurance that it has removed both channels from its transponder, it continues to broadcast National Television of Tamil Eelam, and Pulikalin Kural (Voice of Tigers radio) the official television and radio of the LTTE.

Indian Minister says LTTE is involved with Indian Naxalites

The government informed the Indian parliament, Lok Sabha that the Tamil separatist terrorist group the Liberation Tigers were working very closely with the Indian Naxalite terrorist groups.

“We have enough information suggesting that there is coordination between them,” said India’s Home Minister Shivraj Patil addressing the Lok Sabha, May 15.

New Delhi’s leading daily, The Times of India, reported that the government is of the opinion that the Naxalites were working in close coordination with some terrorist outfits operating in Jammu and Kashmir and were also in touch with the LTTE of Sri Lanka.

Intelligence reports indicate the LTTE was engaged in arms and ammunition procurement activities in Andra Pradesh.

MIG 29 - No knee jerk reaction - President Rajapaksa

The decision to purchase MIG 29 fighter jets for the Sri Lanka Air Force is part of the plans to modernize the Air Force and have a good Air Defense System (ADS). It was not a knee-jerk reaction to the LTTE's recent air
attacks, President Mahinda Rajapaksa, told Editors and Media Heads at Temple Trees today.

President Rajapaksa said that only after the present government was elected that new radar equipment was obtained and work begun on establishing a proper ADS. "We are now continuing with the work of improving and
strengthening the ADS", he said.

Read more,
http://www.priu.gov.lk/news_update/Current_Affairs
/ca200705/20070516mig29_no_knee_jerk_reaction.htm

Sri Lanka appoints new minister for ports and aviation

Sri Lanka Wednesday appointed Chamal Rajapakse, brother of President Mahinda Rajapakse, as the new minister of ports and aviation filling a post held by sacked minister Mangala Samaraweera, officials said.

President Rajapakse had sworn in the new minister early Wednesday, prior to meeting the heads of newspaper editors at his heavily guarded 'Temple Trees' office in Colombo.

Read more,
http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/fullstory.php?newsID=
1217154637&no_view=1&SEARCH_TERM=33
Photo,
http://www.dailynews.lk/2006/06/17/fea01.asp

90,000 Refugees Will Return Home in Sri Lanka's Eastern Province

The United Nations refugee agency, the UNHCR, said that the return of tens of thousands of West Batticaloa refugees to their original homes by the Sri Lanka

“Our staff monitoring the situation on the ground say the majority of people are eager to return home, the returns are voluntary and in line with international protection standards,” UNHCR spokesperson Jennifer Pagonis said.

More than 90,000 people who were displaced in Batticaloa District after heavy fighting between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Sri Lanka security forces last February were started being moved back to their original homes, Monday May 14. The areas were under the LTTE until the Sri Lanka security forces pushed them out of the area.
government is done according to the international safety standards and voluntarily.

Read more,
http://tothecenter.com/news.php?readmore=1853

We will not be dependent on aid - President Rajapaksa

"If we are offered genuine aid we will take it; if not we will forget about aid and do our job. We will not be dependent on aid", said President Mahinda Rajapaksa commenting on the reported suspending of aid by the UK, addressing editors and media heads from the Sri Lankan media, at Temple Trees today.

When asked for his views on the reported stopping of aid by the UK Government, President Rajapaksa said this could be a reference to post-tsunami aid offered to Sri Lanka.

"We will use our own money. We cannot wait for assistance from any sources to carry out our responsibilities", the President added.

Read more,
http://www.lankaenews.com/English/news.php?id=4130

Associated Press wire service going down the drain

The Associated Press (AP) boasts of being the oldest, trusted, fastest and unbiased delivery service of global news. It has 243 bureaus in 97 countries and one of them is in Sri Lanka. It has a worldwide staff of 4,1000 journalists and two of them are Ruwan Weerakoon and Bharatha Mallawarachi, AP's Colombo-based correspondents.

First consider the two reports of Ruwan Weerakoon on the same incident. Readers are requested to notice the difference between the two opening paragraphs filed by the same AP writer on the same incident..

Associated Press, Mon April 23, 2007 16:58 EDT . RUWAN WEERAKOON - Associated Press Writer - COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP) ...............
The government has already ousted the insurgents from bases in eastern Sri Lanka - , and .......

Associated Press, Mon April 23, 2007 18:23 EDT . RUWAN WEERAKOON - Associated Press Writer - COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP)................
The government, which is dominated by ethnic Sinhalese, has already ousted the Tamil Tiger insu............

Read more,
http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/5730

President briefs Mahanayakes on situation

President Mahinda Rajapaksa paid homage to the sacred Tooth Relic yesterday and later called on the Mahanayake Theras of the Asgiriya and Malwatte chapters to brief them on the political and security situation in the country.

The Mahanayakes agreed to a proposal by the President to conduct an all night pirith chanting ceremony to invoke blessings on the country, the government and the armed forces.

Central Province Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa, Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake and Diyawadana Nilame Nilanga Dela Bandara were associated with the President during his visit to Kandy.

Extracted from,

http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/05/16/front/04.asp

Thera's demise an irreparable loss - President

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday lauded the services rendered to the Buddha Sasana and the people by Ven. Handungamuwe Nandarathana Thera, who was brutally gunned by the LTTE.

In a condolence message, President Rajapaksa condemned the assassination and called for all patriotic forces to get together to end such acts of terror.

The President said the Ven. Thera, Viharadhipathi of the Sri Pabbathramaya, Trincomalee, rendered a yeoman service to the Sasana, society and to the nation. But terrorists have cruelly ended his mission to serve the people.

He noted that the Ven. Thera could deliver sermons with equal fluency in Sinhala and Tamil, which was the need of the hour for the North-East. Thus his demise is an irreparable loss to the people in the area and to the country as a whole.

Extracted from,
http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/05/16/news13.asp