Time bomb diffused which has been timed to set off within 10 minutes at Delkanda

Police found a claymore type bomb which has been timed to set off within 10 minutes at Delkanda "Pola" (market) at 1.30 this afternoon. The police made this discovery when a vigilant civilian gave information to the Mirihana Police on the presence of a suspected parcel at the Market. The Army bomb disposal team has rushed to the location and diffused the bomb averting a major bloodbath.

According to the available information the bomb is weighing 8Kgs and has been made using C4 high explosives. Police said that the LTTE terrorists have planted the bomb targeting the innocent civilians.

Meanwhile, President Mahinda Rajapaksa is also scheduled arrive the area to participate for the public meeting of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.

Extracted from,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20070722_03

Terrorist fantasy of Eelam shattered into smithereens with the liberation of the entire East by the forces – President Rajapaksa

President Mahinda Rajapaksa the liberation of the entire east from the clutches of the terrorists and announced that east would be developed under a the ‘Nagenahira Navodaya’ programme.

"It is the debunking of the myth of such an area of control, and the shattering into smithereens of the crowning terrorist fantasy of Eelam that our brave soldiers who captured Thoppigala have announced loud and clear to the entire world," he said.

President vowed to defend the independence gained by the people in the East after the province was liberated by the valiant soldiers from the cruel grip of terrorists.

Addressing the ‘Nagenahira Navodaya’ ceremony at the Independence Square this morning, he said that his government would never betray the victory achieved with much sacrifices not only by the armed forces but also the ordinary people who had face hardships in order to safeguard the rights of the people in the east.

Read more,
http://www.news.lk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2949&Itemid=44

LTTE has huge profits: report

The London-based Jane’s Intelligence Review says the LTTE has not only created one of the “most sophisticated insurgencies in the world” but also has an annual “profit margin” of $200 to $300 m illion.

A report released on Wednesday says the Tigers have succeeded in establishing one of the sophisticated insurgency networks, largely due to a complex global network of financial resources and weapons that are integral to prolonging its campaign for a separate Tamil state.

In a rare report on the LTTE’s financial operations, Jane’s reports that with financial and procurement structures well organised and strategically positioned around the globe, the group has a profit margin that would be the envy of any multinational corporation.

The report details two overarching financial and procurement bodies that provide the main source of LTTE money, manpower and weapons: the Aiyanna Group and the Office of Overseas Purchases (nicknamed the KP Department).

Read more,
http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/19/stories/2007071956371400.htm

President calls on Iran to join Govt’s efforts to develop East

Following the liberation and comprehensive victory in the East over the LTTE, President Mahinda Rajapaksa called on Iran to join his Government’s efforts of developing it.

President Rajapaksa made this request to the President of the ‘World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thoughts’ His Emminence Ayathullah Sheikh Muhammed Ali Al, when he met him at Temple Trees last Monday.

Ayatollah Sheikh Mohammad Ali Al Taskhiri sought closer understanding between Iran and Sri Lanka in the advances they have made in the field of economic development, social, educational and cultural spheres.

President Rajapaksa conveyed to the religious delegation that his Government had embarked on a massive development programme in the Eastern Province, with the participation of both the Government and the private sectors. He called upon the Iranian government to invest in those development projects.

“If I have oil like you, I can achieve great success in all spheres in the lives of our people”, President Rajapaksa added.

Read more,
http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/07/19/news20.asp

Row over “secret deal” with US

The Government’s refusal to table several annexures of the Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement (ACSA) with the United States Of America, drew flak from the main opposition UNP and the JVP in Parliament yesterday.

The JVP which raised the matter urged House Leader Nimal Siripala De Silva to table a comprehensive copy of the agreement without concealing facts from the people.

JVP Parliamentary Group Leader Wimal Weerawansa said Minister De Silva tabled only a part of the agreement when the matter was debated in the House earlier Mr. Weerawansa said that the Government avoided its responsibility by not tabling the relevant annexures containing crucial information.

“We requested the Government to reveal all the information in the ACSA to the House. But, the Government avoided the matter giving elusive answers to our questions,” he said.

Read more,
http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/07/19/front/1.asp

Army finds LTTE Multi-Barrel at Thoppigala

Troops conducting search operations in the Thoppigala jungle have found a Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) of the LTTE terrorists in the Omunugala area a short while ago, today ( July 18).

The MBRL is one of the important items of heavy armour of the LTTE terrorists, and had been used against both troops and civilians.

According to Defence sources in the East, the troops had dug up the MBRL which was found dumped at a location close Omunugala, West of Narakamula. This is part of the heavy armour the LTTE had abandoned when it fled the Thoppigala jungle as troops moved in for the final assault on Baron's Cap.

The LTTE terrorists had damaged some of heavy armour and vehicles they left behind as they fled Thoppigala. It is believed that some more heavy guns of the terrorists could be lying hidden in the jungle terrain of Thoppigala. More search operations will be under way to recover these.

Read more,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20070718_06
and
http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/6576

JHU to demand Rs. 2.5 bn from Ranil

The Jathika Hela Urumaya is planning to claim Rs. 2.5 billion as damages from Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe for what the party saw as defamation of its five Parliament members.

Dismissing Mr. Wickremesinghe’s recent accusation that JHU leaders had sold their luxury vehicle permits to outsiders, the party’s Legal Advisor Udaya Gammanpila said MPs could not sell vehicle permits given to them for five years.

He said none of the JHU members used the luxury vehicles imported. Thus, JHU Leader Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera, Ven. Omalpe Sobhita Thera, Ven. Kotapola Amarakitti Thera, Ven. Aturaliye Ratana Thera and Minister Champika Ranawaka would send letters of demand claiming Rs 500 million each.

Read more,
http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/07/18/front/07.asp

AFP DISTORTS: IT'S THE COMMANDO FLAG, NOT THE TIGER FLAG

On 16th July 2007 the AFP on its website news report has made a serious distortion in its caption given to the photograph, appearing with the news of the capture of Thoppigala.

The caption, in question, mentioned that the troops are holding the LTTE Flag, along with the National Flag. Whereas the troops are proudly hoisting the National Flag and the Sri Lanka army Commando Regiment Flag, (not the LTTE Flag.)

This is a clear case deliberate distortion of facts, done with a view to tarnish the image of Sri Lanka Army and to belittle the significance of the capture of Thoppigala, which is the culmination of the humanitarian mission of the liberation of the Eastern Province from the clutches of Tiger terrorism.

Photo and news extracted from,
http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/fullnews.php?id=6637

Sri Lanka plans national celebration to honour soldiers who liberated the Eastern Province

The national felicitation ceremony to pay tribute to the soldiers who liberated the Eastern Province from the LTTE will be held on Thursday (July 19) at the Freedom Square in Colombo under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs Karu Jayasuriya said at a press conference held today to announce the celebrations that this was the first time in the three decade war that the entire Eastern Province was liberated. He further said that the President would reveal plans to develop the Eastern Province in his address to the nation.

The Minister appealed to the public to hoist a national flag at each household to salute the heroic soldiers who liberated the Eastern Province.

Extracted from,
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_07/July16125416SL.html

LTTE guns down Eastern Province Chief Secretary - Trincomalee

The Chief Secretary to the Eastern Province, Mr Herath Abeyweera, was gunned down by an LTTE terrorist this evening, - Monday July 16.

According to available information, the LTTE gunman fired at the Chief Secretary while he was in his office located at the Inner Harbour Road in Trincomalee at 6.00 p.m.

Sources said that the LTTE gunman has forcibly entered into the chief secretary's office and shot him point-blank killing him on the spot.

Photo:
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20070716_03
Read more,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20070716_03

UNP to lose elephant symbol?

UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday hinted the possibility of forming a broad political alliance not only with the SLFP Mahajana Wing but also with other parties as well and contesting future elections under a common symbol while forgoing the Elephant symbol for the first time.

The matter was discussed at the party’s Political Affairs Committee (PAC) meeting held at Mr. Wickremesinghe’s Cambridge Terrace official residence.

Party seniors like Chief Opposition Whip Joseph Michael Perera and General Secretary Tissa Attanayake opposed the idea to change the symbol which the party had used since its inception.

They stood by their opinion that the party should never lose its traditional identity by adopting a different symbol.

Read more,
http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/07/17/front/04.asp

Sri Lanka warns Indian fishermen

The Sri Lankan government has warned Indian fishermen from crossing the international maritime border line. Media reports quoting officials said the warning, which would be effective from Monday, had been sent to the Indian High Commission in Colombo.

The fishermen, who cross international maritime border and enter Sri Lankan area would be arrested and their boats seized, Sri Lanka warned.

In the meanwhile, the Indian Navy is in a process of installing seven state-of-the-art radars along Tamil Nadu’s eastern coast to monitor movement of boats and to prevent Indian fishermen crossing into Sri Lankan territory.

Media reports quoting Commander of the Indian Naval Detachment, Rathode Mukherjee

said the radars bought from the UK were capable of detecting even a small rowing boat in the sea.

Extracted from,
http://www.app.com.pk/en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12753&Itemid=2

Delay in issuing visas to Sri Lankan team to enter Saudi a puzzle

Saudi Arabian Embassy in Sri Lanka has so far not issued the necessary visa's for the Sri Lankan team, including the Deputy Foreign Minister, to enter Saudi Arabia and make representations on behalf of the 19-year -old Sri Lankan House maid, Rizana Nafeek, sentenced to beheading.

The visa applications were made a week ago and the delay is yet to be explained. The father and mother of the condemned teenage housemaid is expected to travel to Saudi Arabia to appeal in person for clemency from Mr & Mrs Naif Jiziyan Khalaf Al Otaibi, the father and mother of the deceased 4-month-old boy who was alleged to have been killed by the Sri Lanka Housemaid.

The Sri Lankan team due to leave for Saudi Arabia is led by Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Bhaila. Others in the team are Ibrahim Sahib Ansar, director general of Middle East and North African Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Moulavi M.B.M. Zarook, representative of the Jamiyathul Ulema (Council of Islamic Theologians), Rizana's father, Mohammed Nafeek and mother Razeena.

Read more,
http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/6554

Saving Rizana Nafeek doubtful!

The government delegation to visit Saudi Arabia to save Rizana Nafeek, the Sri Lankan girl sentenced to death for the murder of a four-month-old baby has postponed their visit.

Minister Hussain Baila, the leader of the delegation, said they had to postpone the visit due to the refusal of visas by Saudi Arabian Embassy in Sri Lanka. He further said he and the other members of the delegation were waiting to fly to Saudi Arabia as soon as they receive visas to visit that country.

The four months old baby girl had died due to sickness. However, at the time of her death she had been under the care of Rizana Nafeek. As she had been threatened by the parents of the child she had admitted that the child had died due to her negligence.

Read more,
http://www.lankatruth.com/full_story/2007/July/15/20070715_04.htm

Photos,
Rizana's House and Rizana's Family
http://saverizana.blogspot.com/2007/07/save-rizana.html