You forgot something, Mr. Blake!

There is hardly any difference between an aid-dependent country and a house of ill fame. Both have to leave their doors ajar so that the rich and powerful could enter at will. They have to shut up and entertain the unspeakable moneybags so that they will be paid for the services rendered, whether they like it or not. Else, they run the risk of losing the easy dosh of shame and being branded sinners and stoned in public.

When States are reduced to the level of women of easy virtue, the first thing they lose is their sovereignty and dignity. They end up being, as a local saying goes, bananas without the skin pecked by every crow––ambassadorial or otherwise. They have no alternative but to grin and bear it.

It is reported that US Ambassador Robert Blake met the Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake on Wednesday. What they discussed has not been made public but it is said that the former stressed the importance of conducting free and fair elections in the North Central and Sabaragamuwa provinces. The Foreign Ministry tells us that their meeting has led to no breach of protocol. So be it! After all, this is not the first time such an unusual meeting has taken place.

In 2005, we had President Mahinda Rajapaksa visiting the then Indian High Commissioner Nirupama Rao at her residence for a meeting! Earlier, an Indian High Commissioner had kept the late President J. R. Jayewardene under his diplomatic thumb. J. N. Dixit was his name. A vice president of the World Bank once treated President Chandrika Kumaratunga to a long lecture on good governance at an aid meeting which the latter attended by throwing protocol to the wind.

Read more,
http://www.island.lk/2008/08/22/editorial.html

Lankan Prez declares war will continue until last Tiger is killed

Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa has declared that the military campaign against Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) will continue 'until the last rebel is killed or every inch of land is captured'.

President Rajapaksa made these remarks while addressing an election rally of his United People Freedom Alliance (UPFA) at Ruwanwella in Sabaragamuwa province.

'We liberated the eastern province and will liberate the north too very shortly. There is no turning back under any circumstances or influence now, until every inch of land is recaptured and each and every terrorist is killed or captured,' the state-run Daily News quoted the president as saying at the rally.

Pointing out that it was by no means an easy task and that the troops have to face 'daunting challenges and obstacles as they proceed', the president however, expressed hope that 'they would end up victoriously'.

Remarks by President Rajapaksa, who is also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, has come at a time when advancing troops are locked in fierce fighting with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the north.

Meanwhile, the defence ministry said in a report Tuesday that the LTTE launched heavy artillery attacks, targeting troops manning the defences at Muhamalai and Nagarkovil areas in Jaffna peninsula, leaving three soldiers dead and two wounded Monday.

'The troops responded with artillery and rocket fire and brought the situation under control. Three soldiers were killed in the attack,' the ministry said Tuesday.

Read more,
http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-234/0808204370180037.htm

Nepal, Sri Lanka to co-develop Buddha's birthplace

Sri Lanka and Nepal agreed on Friday to develop Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, as the most attractive and sacred tourist destination in the South Asia region during talks between the leaders of the two countries.

Sri Lanka's Department of Government Information said in a statement that this was decided when Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa met Nepal's Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala.

Koirala arrived in the island on Friday to take part in the 15th SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) summit to be held on Saturday and Sunday in Colombo.

"President Mahinda Rajapaksa pointed out that he had made this proposal many years ago when he was only a member of parliament," said the statement.

Koirala briefed Rajapaksa on the development of the Lumbini Airport and its importance in developing tourism in the area.

Read more,
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/01/content_8903529.htm

Sri Lanka Assumes SAARC Chair

Sri Lanka assumed the presidency of the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), made up of eight countries, which are preparing projects for the 15th Regional Summit to be held from August 2-3.

The 25th session of that panel discussed the agenda of the important event that will gather Head of States from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Falkland Islands, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan, which entered as full member.

It was also announced that they finished an agreement that was ready to be signed, devoted to establish the Developmemnt Fund of SAARC, which will allocate resources for this economic, social, and infrastructural phenomenon of the organization member countries.

The eight heads of States and Governments will arrive in Sri Lanka Thursday and Friday, under an unprecedented security mechanism in Colombo.

The Summit will be attended by Prime Ministers from Bhutan, Jigme Thinley, India and Pakistan Manmohan Singh and Yousuf Raza Gilani, and Presidentes of the Falklands, Afghanistan and the host country, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Hamid Karzai, and Mahinda Rajapaksa, respectively.

Top level delegations from China, the European Union, Iran, Mauricio, Japan, South Korea and the United States will participate as observers.

Extracted from,
http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?

Sri Lanka plans foolproof security for SAARC summit

The Tamil Tigers may have announced a unilateral 10-day truce but the Sri Lankan government is leaving nothing to chance for the upcoming SAARC summit. It has deployed 19,000 additional security personnel to provide foolproof protection for the visiting leaders.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam's (LTTE) truce between July 26 and Aug 4 was rejected by the government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa as "a trap".

The 15th summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) starts at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall here Aug 2. It will be attended by leaders of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

All these leaders will bring their own personnel to personally look after their security but media reports in Colombo and India indicate that Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will come with scores of elite Black Cats. India is also sending helicopters and bulletproof cars.

Military spokesperson Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said the Sri Lankan police and security forces would be in charge of the security cover for the summit.

"About 19,000 additional troops, including police personnel, will be deployed for the summit. It is a well coordinated security plan to ensure the best security cover for the summit," Nanayakkara told IANS.

Read more,
http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?

Lanka's 'Outstanding Sportsman of the Year'

Just days ahead of the home Test series against India, spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan got the confidence booster as he was chosen for Sri Lanka's 'Most Outstanding Sportsman of the Year award'.

President Mahinda Rajapakse honoured Muralitharan the award at a glittering function here on Wednesday night. A beaming Muralitharan thanked the President after receiving the award.

Averaging more than six wickets per Test in his 16 years of international cricket, Muralitharan is one of the most successful bowlers in the history of the game.

He surpassed long time Australian rival Shane Warne's record 708 wickets in December last year on his home turf of Kandy to become the highest Test wicket-taker and has 735 scalps to his name now from 120 matches.

Extracted from,
http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14718517

Ready for talks if LTTE down weapons first - President

He was not aware as yet of Indian diplomats arriving in Colombo for the SAARC Summit bringing their own security, however he saw nothing wrong in leaders of countries having their own security when they travel abroad, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the Indian media yesterday. (July 12).

He was answering questions regarding security for Indian delegates to the SAARC Summit in Colombo, at a press conference at Thirupathy in Andhra Pradesh, prior to his departure for Sri Lanka.

“I have my own security here. It is natural. Any leader who comes to another country will not just walk in there. They will bring their own security. We consider it our duty to look after their security while in Sri Lanka, but they also bring their own security. Every leader does that”, the President said.

Answering a question about a statement by the LTTE’s Political Wing leader, Nadesan, that the Government was not willing to reopen negotiations, President Rajapaksa said the government was ready even today.

“I am ready today. Let them keep their weapons down, because whenever they are weak they are ready for talks.”

Asked about possible deadline for talks with the LTTE, President Rajapaksa said there was no deadline as it was up to the LTTE. “From my side, we are ready. Only, they must give up arms, and give up terrorism. You know the problems you have in your own country with terrorists and terrorist organisations.”

“See what happened in Kabul. Terrorism strikes in Kabul, New York, London and Colombo. It is all the same. You cannot achieve anything through terrorism,” he said. Asked whether he was interested in mediation, he said it should be possible to settle this matter by direct discussions: “We are all Sri Lankans, we are all brothers, whether we are from the North, East or South. Surely we can settle this by talking to each other”.

Read more,
http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2008/07/13/pol05.asp
Video source,
http://www.itn.lk/news_01_20080712.html

Delhi accused of pressuring Colombo to end offensive against LTTE

It is three weeks since a high-level Indian delegation arrived in the island for closed-door discussions with Sri Lanka’s leaders, but the reverberations from the visit still continue with Sri Lanka’s Marxist-cum-Nationalist party, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) slamming India for ‘its invasive dictatorial foreign policy’. Indian diplomatic sources in Colombo have stated that the meeting focused ‘mainly’ on the security considerations of the upcoming Saarc summit to be held in Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, the government has staunchly denied that India’s three top most bureaucrats, National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan, Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon and Defence Secretary Vijay Singh who met President Rajapakse, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse and Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunge had applied pressure to stop the war against the Tamil Tiger rebels.

The government denial of Indian pressure came as the JVP accused the Indian government of wanting the military campaign against the LTTE stopped at a time when the Tiger rebels were weakened and many key guerilla camps in the north taken over by government troops.

Sri Lankan officials have dismissed the unprecedented heights to which media speculations reached regarding the recent visit of the Indian delegates, with some reports stating that thousands of Indian troops will arrive in the country.

Read more,
http://www.dawn.com/2008/07/12/int11.htm

Rajapaksa worships Balaji at Tirumala

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa prayed in the temple of Lord Venkateswara on Tirumala tonight, seeking peace and prosperity for his country and the world.

Accompanied by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Executive Officer KV Ramanachary, Rajapaksa entered Srivari temple through the Vaikuntam Queue Complex-I around 8 pm.

He worshipped Venkateswara in the sanctum sanctorum, where priests gave ‘Harathi’ and offered ‘theertha prasadams’ to him and also narrated the temple’s legend in brief.

He also prayed in the sub-temples of Vakula Devi and Yogi Narasimha Swamy, had darshan of Vimana Venkateswara Swamy and deposited his offering in Hundi.

Later, he was given ‘Vedashirwadam’ at Ranganaykula Mandapam by the temple priests led by Chief Priest AV Ramana Deekshithulu. TTD Executive Officer KV Ramanachary presented him with Srivari Prasadam. He spent about 35 minutes in the temple.

Read more,
http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?

Govt. challenges Janaka to reveal his stand on the war

Reiterating President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s pledge to defeat the LTTE militarily, the government yesterday challenged retired Major General Janaka Perera, the UNP’s Chief Ministerial candidate for the North Central Province to reveal his stand on the ongoing war against terrorism.

SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena and SLFP Treasurer Dallas Alahapperuma said the retired Army Chief of Staff and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe were sharply divided over the security strategy.

Agriculture Development Minister Sirisena said the UNP leader had repeatedly said the war against the LTTE couldn’t be won. "We’ll prove him wrong," he said, assuring the government’s commitment to a negotiated settlement to the conflict. But he ruled out the possibility of a fresh round of talks which would be advantageous to the LTTE.

Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene dismissed assertion that New Delhi had demanded an immediate halt to the ongoing offensive. The recent visit by a high level Indian delegation which comprised Foreign and Defence secretaries and the National Security Advisor was depicted as an Indian demand to call off the military action.

Read more,
http://www.island.lk/2008/07/09/news1.html

Historic oil exploration deal signed with India

The epoch-making Petroleum Resources Agreement was inked between Sri Lanka and India for the exploration and production of oil in Northern Sri Lankan waters in the Mannar basin, at Temple Trees yesterday with President Mahinda Rajapaksa presiding.

This historic agreement signed between Sri Lanka and India will now pave the way for the exploration and production of natural gas and hydrocarbon resources yet untapped by the nation.

The agreement was signed by Petroleum and Petroleum Resources Minister A..H.M. Fowzie for Sri Lanka and Indrajit Benerijee, the Chief Financial Officer of Cairn (Pvt) Limited of India.

A ‘Bonus Cheque’ of US $ one million was also handed over to President Rajapaksa, following the inking of the agreement.

Minister Fowzie addressing the participants at the signing ceremony, asserted that it was a ‘ray of hope’ in relieving all Sri Lankans from the ongoing global fuel crisis which has also plunged the whole world into a ‘coma’.

He thanked President Rajapaksa for his unstinted and concerted effort and his foresight in making this milestone venture a successful reality.

The Chief Financial Officer Cairn (Pvt) Limited Indrajit Benerijee noted that they were delighted to participate in this great venture as the first ‘Licencee’, to make Sri Lanka less dependant on oil imports.

Benerijee said the best practices and technology available in the sphere would be deployed in the process.

Read more,
http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/07/08/news01.asp
Photo,
http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/07/08/z_new350.jpg

Out going Police Chief to become Governor of Sri Lanka’s Northern Province

Informed sources say that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had appointed outgoing Inspector General of Police Victor Perera as the Governor of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka.

He is to take over duties at his new position from July 03, the sources added.

Currently the governor of the Eastern Province, Rear Admiral Mohan Wijewickrema has been performing as the acting government of the Northern Province.

Extracted from,
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_08/June30170312JV.html

'Indian military to protect Manmohan during SAARC summit'

Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa has approved a "heavy Indian military presence" in Colombo to provide security for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the upcoming SAARC summit in Colombo, said a media report here Sunday.

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit is scheduled to take place from July 27 to August 3 in the capital city of Colombo.

"The formal request to have Indian troops, helicopter gun ships, bullet-proof vehicles and related security arrangements was made by the three-member Indian delegation that visited Sri Lanka June 20," the Sunday Leader newspaper reported, referring to the visit by a top Indian delegation led by National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan.

Claiming that the presidential approval was granted following a request made by India in view of the current security situation in the country, the media report said that Sri Lanka had also "agreed to allow the Indian Navy to patrol and carry out surveillance in Sri Lankan territorial waters during the summit to ensure there are no terrorist attacks from the sea".

Read more,
http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/World/20080629/986942.html

Sri Lankan president says action on rebels to continue

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse said Saturday that the forward march of his troops will never be curtailed despite calls from interested parties to announce a ceasefire with Tamil Tiger rebels.

"There are calls for a ceasefire when the terrorists face defeat. I will not allow anyone to curtail the forward march of the troops," Rajapakse who is also the commander-in-chief of the island's security forces told a gathering of teachers.

Rajapakse since becoming the president at the end of 2005 has gone on a military offensive against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

His troops have captured the entire Eastern Province from the rebels' control and the government now claims the rebels have been limited to just two districts in the Northern Province.

Rajapakse's statement came as the military announced the capture of a major LTTE held area in the district of Mannar Saturday.

Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara, the military spokesman said a key rebel facility in Mannar's Parappakandal area was captured by the troops.

More than 7,000 people have perished in the island's separatist war since the end of 2005.

The Norwegian backed ceasefire which lasted six years was abandoned in January this year.

Extracted from,
http://calibre.mworld.com/m/m.w?lp=GetStory&id=312078791

“LTTE must lay down arms”

Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa said on Tuesday his government would not “hesitate to work” with the LTTE if the Tigers were ready to lay down arms.

At a meeting with “religious dignitaries” who called on him, Mr. Rajapaksa has been quoted by his Secretariat as saying it was not his intention to go to war with the people of the country.

“The President assured that he was not at all prepared to compromise the security of the country and people and was not ready to hand over the country to a terrorist organisation,” said a statement by his Secretariat.

It said the gathering “commended the efforts” by the President to bring a lasting solution to the ethnic issue by setting up an All Party Representative Conference. It requested him to include religious and political leaders too in the conference.

The statement said the religious dignitaries told the President that certain groups were propagating “baseless allegations locally and internationally against the government and bringing disgrace” to the country.

Extracted from,
http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/25/stories/2008062556101600.htm

Sri Lanka to establish a council to prevent LTTE attacks on civilians

Sri Lanka is planning to establish an all party security council under the directions of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, to prevent LTTE attacks on the civilians in the country, the government said today.

The council is based on a proposal put forward by the by the members of the newly formed breakaway Marxist party National Freedom Front (NFF).

NFF leader MP Wimal Weerawansa handed over its proposals for setting up of an All Party Defence Council to President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday at the Temple Trees.

MP Weerawansa offering his party’s support to reach an all party consensus to establish the council pointed out that the party could play a pivotal role in empowering the civilian masses to protect themselves from the LTTE threats.

Preliminary talks pertaining to the establishment of this Council will commence in next week, government announced.

Extracted from,
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_08/June17114536CH.html

President Gayoom thanks the President of Sri Lanka

The President has thanked the President of Sri Lanka Mr. Mahindha Rajapaksa following his recent visit to Sri Lanka to attend the final match of the 5th SAFF Championship.

In a telephone conversation last night with the Sri Lankan President, President Gayoom expressed his profound gratitude to President Rajapaksa and the government of Sri Lanka for the warm welcome and generous hospitality that was extended to him and his wife and to the members of his delegation during his visit to the country.

He also noted the full co-operation and support provided by the Sri Lankan government to the Maldives National Football Team during their stay in Sri Lanka. The President further briefed the Sri Lankan President on the festive welcome given to the team by the Government and people of the Maldives on their return to home.

President Rajapaksa expressed his happiness on the President and the First Lady’s visit to Sri Lanka and congratulated the Maldives National Football Team and conveyed his sincere greetings to the team.

Extracted from,
http://www.presidencymaldives.gov.mv/pages/eng_news.php?news:4787:1

LTTE must disarm before peace talks - President

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that supporters of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were able to raise millions of pounds each year from the Tamil community in Britain, some of whom were coerced into donating the money.

"You can't have two different attitudes towards terrorism," he told The Times in an interview this week during a visit to London for a Commonwealth meeting, where he raised the issue with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

"I don't agree that there are good terrorists and bad terrorists. There is only one kind of terrorist." There are about 150,000 Tamils living in Britain, mostly in North London. The Sri Lankans estimate that o70 million is sent home every year.

"These are not voluntary contributions, the money is taken by force, usually a percentage of their income," said President Rajapaksa. "The money is sent back to buy weapons. London is not the only place; money is also sent from Europe, Canada and other places."

President Rajapaksa said that he was taking steps to protect human rights. He blamed his Government's poor international reputation on "clever propaganda" by the Tigers. "We have failed in the propaganda fight," he said.

President Rajapaksa insisted yesterday that in spite of the cost in lives and damage inflicted to Sri Lanka's tourist trade he would not resume peace talks with the Tamil Tigers until the organisation agreed to disarm.

Read more,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080614_03

APRC to include TMVP JHU, MEP to continue with proceedings

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has responded positively to the inclusion of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) to the All Party Representative Committee (APRC).

With this new development the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna and the Jathika Hela Urumaya, the parties which insisted on the participation of the TMVP at the APRC have withdrawn their boycott and decided to continue with the APRC proceedings from this week, Minister of Science and Technology and Chairman of the All Party Representative Committee Prof. Tissa Vitharana said.

Prof. Vitharana told the Sunday Observer that one-and-a-half months ago the Jathika Hela Urumaya and Mahajana Eksath Peramuna kept away from the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) proceedings for not including the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP), the breakaway party from the LTTE to the APRC.

“However, I brought this matter to the attention of the President who decides on the parties that represent the APRC.

Following the performance of the TMVP at the local government polls and thereafter at the Provincial Council polls in the eastern province the President took a positive stance with regard to the participation of the TMVP at the APRC sessions.

Read more,
http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2008/06/01/pol01.asp

Rajapaksa assures full security for SAARC summit

In the backdrop of the spurt in attacks by the LTTE, Sri Lanka has said it will take all necessary security measures during the SAARC summit here from July 27 that is scheduled to be attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The assurance was given to SAARC Secretary General Sheel Kanta Sarma who called on Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday evening.

"The President Mahinda Rajapaksa told the SAARC Secretary General that all security will be available during the holding of the SAARC summit," an official said.

Security drills for the Indian premier are also being taken up with the Sri Lankan security officials.

Sri Lanka has witnessed a spurt in violence after the government scrapped a tattered 2002 ceasefire with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam thsi January. At least nine persons including five women, were killed and 71 others injured on Monday when a bomb, planted by suspected LTTE rebels, ripped through a packed train near here.

Read more,
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200805271421.htm