An Indian national escapes from LTTE custody and rescued by SL Navy

An Indian national (aged 28) who had been incarcerated by LTTE keeping under their arrest had managed to escape and was rescued by the navy, while he was making attempt to flee to India on a boat with seven other Sri Lankans, in the morning today (16thJuly)

He had come to Sri Lanka on 19th January 2003 with three other Indian nationals holding Indian passports and had travelled to Kiliochchi with the hope of visiting some of his relatives. But, denying their access to relatives, they had been arrested and questioned by LTTE cadres inflicting serious physical torture, and thereafter the had been made to shed physical labour.

He is said to be a resident in Madras, sources further say.

However, about three months before, he had been assigned to work in a garage belonging to LTTE which paved way for him to escape.

Extracted from,
http://www.navy.lk/index.php?id=897

Indian warships to shield PM during SAARC meet in Lanka

NEW DELHI: India is not taking any chances with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's security during his visit to Colombo for the SAARC summit early next month.

The Centre is planning to despatch three warships, including two frontline guided-missile destroyers, to Sri Lankan waters as security cover for the PM and his entourage from the much-feared LTTE.

With national security adviser M K Narayanan personally looking into the issue due to the "high threat perception" from the LTTE, hectic consultations are on between India and Sri Lanka to ensure fool-proof security arrangements. As the Tamil Tigers are known to use suicide bombers, there can be no room for mistakes.

With the LTTE having both air and naval wings, and even using trained deep-sea divers for underwater suicide missions, Indian experts obviously do not want to take any chances. What must also be weighing on the minds of the Indian agencies is the LTTE's success in using light aircraft to bomb a military airfield near Colombo without the radar detecting it.

Sources said the contingent of the Special Protection Group (SPG)—which provides "proximate security" to the PM—would be much larger this time as compared to the PM's other foreign visits. While the eight-day summit will begin on July 27, the PM will attend it only on the last two days.

Read more,
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India

Somawansa et al throw book at Wimal, demand Rs. 20 mn Neththa Venuvata Eththa

National Freedom Front leader Wimal Weerawansa has been served letters of demand for Rs. 10 million each by the lawyers of JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe and General Secretary Tilvin Silva for an alleged breach of copyright due to the publication of his book ‘Nettha Venuvata Aththa.’

The separate letters of demand sent by the lawyers for Amerasinghe and Silva state:

"We are instructed by our client that you have authored and/or claimed to have authored and published and/or caused to publish a book titled ‘Naththa Wenuwata Attha’ and have marketed the said book for a sum of Rs. 250/- per copy.

You have further said that such book had been re-printed and published within a week of its 1st publication and thus admitted the fact that you have economically benefited out of such publication.

We have instruction from our client to write to you stating that you have included several un-published letters authored by our client which are his original work in the said book into and/or in a substantial re-production of the said works of our client without his consent and/or approval and/or authorization.

Read more,
http://www.island.lk/2008/07/17/news15.html