Sri Lanka rejects US call for international rights monitors

The Sri Lankan government Wednesday rejected a call by the United States for the United Nations to place a human rights monitoring team in the South Asian country to check on alleged abuses.

"The government has on several occasions, made its view clear that an international monitoring mission is unwarranted and unacceptable at present," Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe in a letter addressed to Robert Blake, the U.S. ambassador in Sri Lanka.

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http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/24/asia/AS-GEN-Sri-Lanka-US.php

UNP pandering to LTTE - Hemakumara

The UNP's demand calling for the resignation of Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and the Air Force Chief Roshan Gunatillake following the Anuradhapura Airbase attack by the LTTE terrorists to boost its sagging morale in the face of heavy pressure exerted by the Forces in the war front shows that the party is acting according to the whims and fancies of the LTTE, said UNP Democratic Front Parliamentarian Hemakumara Nanayakkara yesterday.

Nanayakkara at a press briefing at Sethsevana, Kirulapone said the Norwegian elements in the UNP wanted to remove the Defence Secretary, the Army, Navy and the Air Force commanders whose untiring efforts have led to many victories in the Government's endeavour of eradicating terrorism.

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http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/10/25/pol03.asp

8 aircraft lost, says Colombo

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake conceded in Parliament on Wednesday that eight aircraft of the Air Force were destroyed in Monday’s pre-dawn ground and air attack by the LTTE on the Anuradhapura airbase.

The Prime Minister’s response, in the form of a statement, came amid wild speculation on the extent of the damage and the loss of lives and charges by the opposition that the Government was attempting a cover up.

Minutes after the main opposition party United National Party (UNP) raised the matter, the Prime Minister said three helicopters, four training planes and a Beech craft surveillance plane were destroyed.

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http://www.hindu.com/2007/10/25/stories/2007102555031600.htm