Powerful earthquake in Sumatra

A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6, struck off the western coast of Sumatra island close to Simeulue Island this morning. An immediate tsunami warning has been issued in the area, possibly because the quake was deep under the sea bed.

Department of Meteorology stats the earthquake has no effect on Sri Lanka.

Extracted from,
http://www.lankatruth.com/index.htm
bulletin issued by PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER,
http://www.prh.noaa.gov/ptwc/messages/indian/2008/indian.2008.02.20.094708.txt

Three soldiers die in terrorist attack

Three soldiers who were on route picket duties died when terrorists attacked them in near Galge on Buttala - Kataragama road today (20) around 11.00 a.m.

In a confrontation terrorists have fled with their injured and the soldiers who rushed from the nearby Camp are pursuing them.

Extracted from,
http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/fullnews.php?id=10737

Sri Lanka Navy Participated in the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium

The inaugural event of a newly launched cooperative, consultative and inclusive regional initiative titled the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) which started on the 14th of February came to a conclusion yesterday (18) in New Delhi. The IONS can be seen as a closer model of the Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS).

Sri Lanka Navy Commander Vice Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda was invited to participate in this inaugural INOS which seek to provide a regional conversation among the Naval Chiefs of all the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

Twenty eight countries including Sri Lanka took part in initial discussions which aims at drafting a Charter to enhance the Maritime Security in the Indian Ocean which is considered as a vital sea area to the protection of Sea Lines of Communication around the world. The drafted Charter would be ratified after a period of six months following amendments if necessary.

Read more,
http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/9681

Three arrested for threatening candidates in E Sri Lanka

At least three people have been arrested for issuing threats to candidates ahead of local elections in eastern Sri Lanka, police said Tuesday.

A police spokesman in the Batticaloa district told Xinhua by phone that three people, all Muslims from the Kathankudy area were arrested alongside printed material which had been used to issue death threats on candidates.

The Batticaloa district is scheduled to hold elections on March10 to appoint local councilors to nine local councils.

The candidates from the TMVP (Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal) party had complained of death threats received allegedly from Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels.

The three people arrested will be investigated for their links with the LTTE, the police said.

The election in the east will be the first since the government in July 2007 claimed that the entire Eastern Province had been cleared of Tamil Tiger rebels.

Read more,
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/19/content_7632700.htm

Foreign Ministers of Sri Lanka and Singapore discuss ties, progress in Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama today apprised Singapore's Foreign Minister George Yeo of the current political situation in Sri Lanka and outlined developments relating to the termination of the Ceasefire Agreement with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

He also briefed his counterpart on the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) proposals and the upcoming elections in the Eastern Province. The Minister reiterated that the Sri Lankan government remains committed to a peaceful solution of the present conflict.

Noting that air connectivity between Singapore and Sri Lanka had increased to 44 flights per week, the Minister asked Singapore to consider Sri Lanka as a “source country” for recruiting foreign staff for the planned integrated resorts in Singapore.

Read more,
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_08/February18143637JR.html

Sri Lanka to report on child soldiers

A report from the Sri Lanka government on the recruitment of child soldiers in the country is expected to be presented to the United Nations.

Government officials announced plans to present the report on forced military indoctrination of children at the U.N. Security Council meeting on Thursday. The U.N. recently singled out the terrorist organization Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam operating in Sri Lanka as among the top human-rights violators in the world, Sri Lanka's Daily News reported.

Sri Lanka Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe say a delegation from the country is traveling to U.N. headquarters in New York to apprise the world body on what he called progress that has been made by a committee appointed to inquire into abductions and recruitment of children for armed conflict.

Read more,
http://www.metimes.com/Security/2008/02/18/