Tamils are slaves in India: LTTE leader

A leader of the Tamil Tigers has alleged that Tamils in India are not a free people but are slaves of the Indian state, according to a media report Tuesday.

“In ancient times the whole of India was a Tamil land. And the Chola kings (from Tamil Nadu) ruled over Sri Lanka for 70 years. Today, the Tamils are slaves in India and are fighting for their liberation in Sri Lanka,” Tamil daily ‘Sudar Oli’ quoted Thamilendhi as saying.

Thamilendhi is the ‘finance commissar’ of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

He was speaking in Kilinochchi at the launch of a Tamil book ‘Let us Move Towards the Frontiers of Tamil Eelam’ written by Anbuselvan.

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Man arrested for aiding Tamil terrorist group

For the first time in Canadian history, a man has been charged with terrorist financing for allegedly raising money for the Tamil Tigers, police said Monday.

"The funds were allegedly raised for the LTTE [Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam], which is a listed terrorist organization in Canada," said RCMP Supt. Lloyde Plante of B.C.'s Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET).

"This is the first charge of this nature in Canada."

Prapaharan (Prapa) Thambithurai, 45, who lives in Toronto but was arrested on the weekend in Metro Vancouver, is charged with providing or making available property or services for terrorist purposes.

Asked to elaborate on the charge, Plante said: "He was soliciting funding that was to be utilized to support the LTTE, that was the allegation."

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MTNL seeking partner for Sri Lanka Suntel buyout: Indian regulator

India's Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) is looking for a joint venture partner to take up a 50 percent stake in Sri Lanka's Suntel which it is negotiating to buy, India's telecom regulator has said.

The Department of Telecom (DOT) said in its annual report that MTNL wanted a joint venture partner to retain the independence of the profitable Sri Lankan firm.

"As the target company is being run by highly-skilled professionals, to maintain its existing structure with regards to human resources and other policies, MTNL has in principle decided to limit its stake to 50 percent and is in talks to find suitable partners," the department said of MTNL in its annual report for 2007-08.

MTNL said it has been short-listed as the preferred bidder to acquire Sri Lanka's Suntel, which has some 300,000 customers.

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Pak, Sri Lanka to boost gem industry

The governments of Pakistan and Sri Lanka on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop Pakistan gem industry.

Pakistan High commission in Sri Lanka with the co-ordination of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Recourse of Pakistan and Ministry of Enterprises Development and Investment Promotion of Sri Lanka organised a preliminary study visit of the Pakistan gem industry in 2007, an official announcement said.

Extracted from,
http://thepost.com.pk/BizNews.aspx?dtlid=150412&catid=7

President moves to stop strike action, pledges security to Rupavahini employees

Fruitful discussions between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and trade unions of the State Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) yesterday (17th) resulted in averting disruptive strike action.

During the meeting held yesterday between the President and the SLRC employees, President pointed out that police inquiries would determine whether Minister Mervyn Silva was involved or not in the spate of attacks on Rupavahini employees and everyone should ensure that no violence be used on any media personnel again. IGP Victor Perera confirmed that full investigations into the attacks are being conducted.

Attending the meeting, Minister of Mass Media and Information, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa commenting on the incidents that took place earlier during the day stated that the armed forces were called to prevent a plan to disrupt work at SLRC.

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