Sri Lanka Navy denies the shooting of two fishermen from Nagapattinam

Sri Lanka Navy has denied of any involvement in the killing of two fishermen - Vasakan and Narayanasamy and seriously injuring Murali from Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu.

Reports revealed that those three fishermen from Nagapattinam were out on a boat in the sea on Sunday and was shot. Indian reports alleged that Indian fishermen were killed by Sri Lanka Navy.

When Asian Tribune contacted Sri Lanka Navy, sources in the Navy said that "Navy was nowhere in the Gulf of Mannar Sea yesterday, as it was a Sunday and was monitoring suspicious boat movements within Sri Lanka waters through radar located in their base in Talaimannar."

Sources further revealed that it was crystal clear that Sea Tigers of the LTTE were behind the killing of the two innocent Indian fishermen and injuring the third.

Sri Lanka Navy sources told Asian Tribune that Navy used to apprehend Indian Fishermen only those who strays into Sri Lankan territorial waters and poach in those sea area.

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British official to meet Chandrakanthan

Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan is expected to meet British Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Mark Malloch-Brown. The British official is scheduled to arrive in Colombo today (14) on a four-day official visit.

During his visit Lord Malloch-Brown is scheduled to hold discussions with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, and several other government officials.

The meeting with Chandrakanthan is expected to take place in Trincomalee. Recently, a high level EU delegation declined to meet Chandrakanthan, an ex-LTTE cadre and the leader of the breakaway LTTE faction.

This is Lord Malloch-Brown’s first visit to Sri Lanka after becoming State Minister. He has visited Sri Lanka twice before as Deputy Secretary-General of the UN.

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http://www.island.lk/2008/07/14/news2.html

TMVP accepts Karuna as Leader

Following a crucial politburo meeting and amidst conflicting reports regarding a leadership struggle the TMVP yesterday re-affirmed that Karuna Amman was their leader and present Chief Minister of East Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan was its deputy leader.

TMVP spokesman Azath Moulana told the Daily News yesterday

that the recent media frenzy about a rift within the party since the arrival of Karuna Amman was without basis and the story was the result of an LTTE attempt to create a wrong impression among the public.

TMVP leader Karuna Amman who was deported by British authorities following a short jail term for violating immigration regulations in UK returned to the island recently.

Moulana added that there was no dispute regarding the Chief Minister’s position in the East and the present Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan would continue to hold the post until the end of his term.

He said during Saturday’s meeting where all 13 members took part the politburo had discussed at length the current political trends and the TMVP’s future plans.

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