Make use of the cowardly attacks to take measures to proscribe tiger organization!

In a brutal attack carried out by tiger terrorists at Sripura area at Kebethigollawa on the 5th of this month, targeting a passenger bus, 16 innocent civilians were killed and more than 20 were injured. The JVP extends its sympathies to the relatives and friends of those who were killed in the brutal and cowardly attack and wishes speedy recovery for those who were injured in the incident.

When considering the manner the separatist tiger terrorists had carried out the cowardly attack it is obvious that it had been intentionally targeted civilians.

Such attacks targeting civilians carried out by tiger terrorists again emphasize that the government needs to take more decisive and serious measures. If the government still lingers on a mentality of retaliation measures only, it would not be adequate. It is important that the government vigorously approach offensive measures to defeat and finally eradicate tiger terrorism. We believe that this offensive should lead not only to defeat tiger organization militarily but also it should be broadened to defeat tigers politically. For this, measures should be taken to abrogate tiger organization making use of the cowardly brutal attacks carried out by it.

Read the full statement here,
http://www.jvpsrilanka.com/pb_release/pb_2007/07122007%20-%20English.htm

Rajiv Gandhi gave no instructions to eliminate LTTE chief, say ex-diplomat and former army commander

New Delhi,Reports suggesting that former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi gave orders for the elimination of the LTTE chief, V. Prabhakaran, at the height of the IPKF operations in Sri Lanka in 1987, have been rubbished by a former diplomat and army commander.

Reacting to former commander of IPKF operations in Sri Lanka, Major General (retired) Harkirat Singh’s charge that he was ordered by the then Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, J.N. Dixit, to kill Prabhakaran during a `white flag’ meeting on September 16, 1987, former Ambassador and noted commentator, G. Parthasarthy, said this was a baseless allegation.

Talking to ANI over the phone, Ambassador Parthasarthy said: “I was dealing with affairs relating to Sri Lanka in the Prime Minister’s Office and flew on several occasions to Jaffna to meet with army commanders and officials. What I was told was that Major General Harkirat Singh was removed from his command because of ineptitude.”

Commenting specifically on Major General Harkirat Singh’s charge that he got a call from High Commissioner Dixit at midnight on September 14 and was given the order to kill Prabhakaran, Mr. Parthasarthy said: “I spoke with the army commanders and officials and they told me that instructions of this nature were not given at all.”

Read the full article here,
http://www.indiavision.in/article/National/7042/

Commander Takes Stock of Security in Welioya & Wanni

Commander of The Army Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka during his Friday (7) visit to Welioya and Wanni discussed security measures at length when he met senior military officers.

His visit to the Welioya sector, in the north east of Vavuniya comes on the heels of Kebithigollewa bus blast and a series of successful flush-out operations that eliminated scores of Tiger terrorists.

On his arrival Commander Security Forces Wanni Major General Jagath Jayasuriya received the visiting chief and conducted him to address Commanders of Divisions and Brigades that come under Vavuniya Security Forces Headquarters.

Read more,
http://army.lk/morenewsfet.php?id=3086

LTTE Terrorism in its Final Role in History-Wimal Weerawansa

Terrorism on last legs: Colombo

A day after the bus explosion in Anuradhapura district in the North Central Province in which 16 civilians were killed and 23 others injured, Sri Lanka Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake told Parliament that the country is at a critical juncture now that “terrorism is on its last legs and, therefore, the LTTE is showing increasing signs of desperation”.

Introducing a motion to extend the Emergency, Mr. Wickramanayake urged everyone to join hands with the government “at this important moment to wipe out terrorism” from the island.

The island nation has been in a state of Emergency since the assassination of the then Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar in August 2005 and under the Constitution of Sri Lanka, it comes up for review every month.

Read more,
http://www.hindu.com/2007/12/07/stories/2007120754191700.htm

Malaysia's ethnic Indian activists accused of terror links

Malaysian authorities have accused ethnic Indian activists of having links with Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers, a charge the campaigners said could see them detained under internal security laws.

Leaders of ethnic rights group Hindraf, which last month organised mass anti-discrimination protests that were broken up with tear gas and water cannons, have already been slapped with sedition charges.

Police Inspector-General Musa Hassan accused them of seeking support from terrorists, smearing Malaysia's reputation, and inciting racial hatred -- a serious charge in the multicultural country dominated by Muslim Malays.

"Of late there have been indications that Hindraf is trying to seek support and help from terrorist groups," Musa said in a statement carried by the official Bernama news agency late Thursday, without giving any details.

However, Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail said Hindraf was suspected of involvement with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) whose campaign for an independent homeland has left tens of thousands dead since 1972.

Read more,
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jZzIoyl_pZcoVOMd8tDCIR8Y_nVw

UNICEF armour plating vehicles a violation of local laws - FM

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama yesterday stated in Parliament that the Ministry informed the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in Sri Lanka that fixing bullet proof plates to a vehicle without approval from the Ministry and Motor Traffic Department is a breach of relevant regulations.

He made this statement in response to the statement made by JVP Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa on the activities of the UNICEF in Sri Lanka.

He also said it constitutes a significant alteration to the vehicle permissible under the Motor Traffic laws of the country. Bogollagama further said: "I have given due consideration to the statements made by Wimal Weerawansa, M.P. in this House over the past few weeks concerning activities of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Sri Lanka.

"I wish to inform this House that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already brought these allegations to the attention of the UN and taken necessary action."

Read more,
http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/12/07/pol03.asp

Tharanga to open for Sri Lanka in second test

Sri Lanka have not called up an extra batsman following the retirement of Sanath Jayasuriya for the second test against England starting on Sunday.

"We have not added any additional players and Upul (Tharanga) will now open the batting with Michael Vandort," captain Mahela Jayawardene told Reuters on Friday.

There had been speculation that Jehan Mubarak's place in the middle order was under threat after he contributed only nine runs to Sri Lanka's victory in the first test.

"The middle order is a bit of concern but we have to be fair to the youngsters we have identified and give them a decent run," Jayawardene added.

Sri Lanka are unlikely to make changes to their bowling attack.

Read more,
http://uk.reuters.com/article/cricketNews/

S.Lanka Mobitel invests $200 mln in network upgrade

The wireless arm of leading fixed-line telephone operator Sri Lanka Telecom SLTL.CM said on Wednesday it hopes to hike its subscriber base by 17 percent by early next year after investing $200 million to upgrade networks.

Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sri Lanka Telecom, said the investment would enable it to provide superfast 3.5G data services, and China's Huawei Technologies [HWT.UL] had been awarded a contract.

"Our funding came partly from a Sri Lanka Telecom bond issue, partly self-generated investment and two loans," said Suren Amarasekera, chief executive officer of Mobitel.

Read more,
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssTechMediaTelecomNews/