Desmond Tutu criticised by Church of England cleric for his comments on Sri Lanka

A well-respected Church of England priest and a British citizen told Archbishop Desmond Tutu in a hard hitting letter that it was matter for utmost regret that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) described as the “the most evil terrorist organization in the world” was possible to secure the Archbishop’s apparent support to denigrate Sri Lanka.

Rev. Tony de Alwis of the Church of England Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham replying about Tutu’s alleged campaign against the re-election of Sri Lanka to the UN Human Rights Council of the UN told the Archbishop that his action has become “a matter of the utmost regret that such an organization has found it possible to secure Your Grace’s apparent support in its unrelenting propaganda campaign to denigrate Sri Lanka on the international stage.”

Rev. De Alwis, an avowed campaigner against terrorism all over the world said that it had been a significant coup for the terrorists to be enabled to proclaim support for their demented cause from someone of the Archbishop’s undoubted stature and moral authority in the world.

So, he wondered in his letter whether Archbishop Tutu received information from independent sources or his sole source is the “very active cabal of supporters of this criminal organization, the LTTE, in South Africa. He said the unbalanced and unfair nature of his purported comments point to the latter. “If that is the case,” Rev. Alwis said, “then I wonder whether Your Grace would be open to learning the truth about Sri Lanka’s terrorist problem from less biased sources.”

Read more,
http://www.sinhalaya.com/news/english/wmview.php?ArtID=15311

Nobel Prize Winners misled by LTTE sympathisers

Three Nobel prize winners, in a coordinated act, has issued a statement regarding electing Sri Lanka to the UN Human Rights Council. The timing has left the friends of Sri Lanka with very little or no time to respond. I have seen the response of some, to the views expressed by the Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu. The comments are as follows:

How can a person who fought against racism and imperialism support Tamil racism and expansion ?

Another asked the following valid questions, which are relevant to all three Nobel Nobel laureates.

* What are the grounds and facts on which you make this claim. Are your information first hand, second hand, third or otherwise?
* Who are your informers in Sri Lanka ? Or do you have your sources in distant lands ?
* Are these sources ( here or abroad) remote- controlled by hidden hands or hidden and spotted tails ? Clearly if the secondary source of data is incorrect, corrupt or deliberate lies then the receiver of this incorrect data would come to incorrect deductions.

If the citizens of Sri Lanka are worried by the manner in which GoSL deals with human rights, they have a mechanism to get rid of the government. The recent election victory showed that even in the areas controlled by LTTE until recently, the Tamil people elected the Government lead coalition party. This surely must say something. Even the Tamil people have confidence in the Government lead coalition.

The most serious threat to human rights come from terrorists who have taken away the basic human right of right life of many innocent civilians. Sri Lanka is fighting for survival, against a vicious terrorist organisation that is carrying out an undeclared war.

Read more,
http://www.spur.asn.au/BS_20080520_Noble_Prize_winners_misled_by_the_LTTE_sympathisers.htm

Two more LTTE cadres arrested in Paris

French police detained two leaders of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) who evaded arrest last year and fled the country when police closed in on them during the major round up of top Tigers operating in Paris.

The Sous-Directorate Anti-Terrorism (SDAT) of France announced that two leading LTTE activists Subramanium Muhundan and Yogarasa Sivarasan were apprehended in Paris on May 13 after investigations lasting several months.

Muhundan and Sivarasan were the head of the LTTE political and finance since the arrest of 26 LTTE cadres including top most leaders of all the divisions of the terrorist organisation in April 01, 2007. After preliminary investigations, 11 were released but the top 14 leaders were remanded without bail. The detained include LTTE's French leader Nadaraja Mathinatharan alias Parithi and the Political Leader Aravindan Thuraiswamy alias Metha.

At that time, several LTTE cadres including Muhundan and Sivarasan crossed over to neighbouring countries through open border points.

After the arrest of the top two leaders, the LTTE appointed Stalin Sarvarimuthu alias Ranjan and Ravi Manikkam alias Utha Ravi to the top two posts. But within months, the SDAT arrested them together with three others taking the total LTTE detainees to 19.

Read more,
http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/05/22/sec01.asp

JVP’s branch in Japan ceases funding, more to follow "May have to rob petrol sheds again"

The JVP yesterday received a heavy blow to its fund raising on the international front as its branch in Japan, which had poured in billions of rupees, severed all connections with the party over the ousting of Wimal Weerawansa and ten other MPs along with a large number of party members.

"Our comrades in Japan had directed all money they earned to the party fund. They were under orders to send their pay-packets home and were allowed only to keep a meager sum for subsistence. We funded all elections except for the recent polls to the Eastern Provincial Council.

Other than this the Japanese branch had loaned a large sum of money on various occasions at the request of party leader Somawansa Amarasinghe. Not a cent of the loans was repaid and we did not even request that the loans be repaid as we were clear about our priorities. Now we understand that our sacrifices had been misused," organiser of the JVP’s Japan Branch Saman Priyankara said in a letter addressed to JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva.

He said party leader Somawansa Amarasinghe had come under the grip of several top rankers acting like frogs in the well and he had mixed up the party’s priorities and had commenced to silence dissent against it.

"The leader of the party should have acted prudently and respected the opinion of the majority within the politburo and central committee. Instead he gave into several front liners. The end result was a major split in the party resulting in the loss of eleven MPs including Wimal Weerawansa, a large number of provincial and local government level representatives and full timers in almost all districts."

Read more,
http://www.island.lk/2008/05/22/news1.html

Sri Lanka to launch its own satellite

Sri Lanka will launch its own first satellite in the near future, an official told the media.

Director General of the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) Priyantha Kariyaperuma said a group of local engineers has already gone to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) based in Geneva for registration purposes. “The satellite would be named after science fiction guru, the late Sir Arthur C. Clarke,” he said.

He said the TRC is planning to launch a satellite network within the next two years, though no timeframe has been fixed for the project.

Extracted from,
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_08/May21151559JV.html

Palampiddy Falls to Army’s Hand

LTTE TERRORISTS met another humiliating defeat in their battle with the troops to defend PALAMPIDDY, one of LTTE major strongholds in MANNAR, which fell into the hands of the Army by Saturday (17) afternoon.

Army had to face severe resistance by the terrorists and inched forward nearly for six days to reach PALAMPIDDY, about 8 km north of MADHU. PALAMPIDDY junction connects VIDATTALTIVU in northwest, MADHU in south, MULLIKULAM in southeast and NEDUNKANDAL in northeast. Fall of this former LTTE stronghold cripples administrative work and supplies to the terrorists.

Troops have so far recovered thirteen LTTE dead bodies, eleven T-56 weapons, one MPMG (Multi Purpose Machine Gun) and four communication sets from the area.

Troops after consolidating their positions in and around PALAMPIDDY are now conducting search and clear operations.

Extracted from,
http://www.army.lk/morenews.php?id=13297

Lankan navy detains 19 Indian fishermen

The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 19 Indian fishermen on charges of poaching in Sri Lanka’s territorial waters.

The authorities here suspect the fishermen have also “smuggled in something” for the Tamil Tigers, a military spokesperson said.

“We have arrested 19 Indian fishermen with three dhows off Thalaimannar on Thursday. This time the issue is very serious because they were arrested while returning from the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) held territories such as Devil Point and Palaitivu,” said navy spokesperson Commander D K P Dassanayake.

Pointing out that India had banned fishing “during this breeding season”, he said the fishermen had “violated rules and regulations of their own land”.
“We strongly suspect that they might have smuggled in something for the LTTE,” Dassanayake told IANS.

Read more,
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?

17 innocent civilians injured in LTTE hand grenade attack - Vavuniya

Seventeen innocent civilians including two children suffered injuries when an LTTE terrorist exploded a hand grenade in Vavuniya town this afternoon, May 17.

An LTTE terrorist has lobbed a hand grenade targeting a STF (Special Task Force) buffle carrying security forces personnel and it dropped back missing it's target, Vavuniya police sources said. The explosion took place at 12.10 p.m in a densely populated area in Vavuniya town, sources further said.

Seventeen civilians who suffered injuries were rushed to the Vavuniya hospital immediately. Nine males, six females and two children were among the victims, hospital sources said. Four victims who received severe injuries have already been transferred to Anuradhapura hospital, sources further said.

Extracted from,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080517_05
Photo,
www.defence.lk, www.army.lk and www.nationalsecurity.lk

Take LTTE to Task Now, Anandasangaree Urges International Community

V. Anandasangaree,President of the President TULF strongly condemned the bomb attack on innocent civilians in Colombo by the terrorist LTTE. He called upon international community to take the ruthless terrorists to task for this barbaric act. Hhe pointed out that that within two days of the assassination of Ms. Maheswary Velauthan of the EPDP, the LTTE has once again shown its atrocious feat in the heart of Colombo.

As usual Prabaharan has selected an innocent family to provide a suicide bomber for the game he plays off and on and thoroughly enjoys the killings of the innocents. He added, once again it is somebody else’s brainwashed child had sacrificed himself without any known protest neither from the suicide-bomber’s parents nor from any one of the TNA Members of Parliament who are although proxies of the LTTE, in name elected by the people.

I am not asking the TNA Members to sacrifice their own children. My only worry is as to why they can’t lodge a strong protest against human sacrifices by the LTTE. That is all I am asking. I strongly condemn the LTTE for playing with human lives."

He said that Ten innocent people some of whom are police officers, have died and over eighty-five seriously injured. How many more will die will not be known for a few days and by the time the exact figure is made known, more similar incidents would have taken place.

Read more,
http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/11236

Sri Lankan president expresses condolence to China over earthquake

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has extended his deepest sympathies to the bereaved families and the victims of earthquake that struck China on May 12,the Sri Lankan government said Friday.

In his letter to the Chinese President Hu Jintao, Rajapaksa said "I was deeply saddened to hear of the death and destruction caused by the earthquake that struck western China on May 12."

"Having gone through the fury of nature ourselves in 2004 December due to the unprecedented tsunami that struck our country, the government and the people of Sri Lanka extend their sympathies to the bereaved families and the victims of this calamity.

Read more,
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-05/16/content_8189162.htm

SLAF raids Iranamadu runway - Mullaittiuvu

The Sri Lankan Air Force fighter craft made precision air sorties at the Iranamadu runway this evening in Mullaittiuvu, Air Force sources said.

According to available information the target was engaged on receiving intensified LTTE activities at the location, at around 8.p.m., sources further added.

More information will follow.

Extracted from,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080516_09

Pilleyan' sworn in as Chief Minister

Leader of the TMVP, Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pilleyan was sworn in as the Chief Minister of the Eastern Provincial Council before President Mahinda Rajapaksa today (May 16).

Chandrakantha obtained the highest number of preferential votes from the Batticaloa District in the recently concluded Provincial Council elections.

Extracted from,
http://www.news.lk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5871&Itemid=44
Photo,
http://www.dinamina.lk/2008/05/17/mainpic.asp?pic=mainpic_L.jpg

Ten Killed and over 86 injured by suicide motor cyclist

A total of ten (10) which included eight Police constables and two civilians were killed and over (86) others were reported injured, some seriously, when a suicide bomber on a motor cycle crashed into a parked Police vehicle on Lotus road around 12.00 noon today (16) near the check point barrier close to Sambuddhaloka Viharaya, in Colombo, Fort. Among these 86 injured there were 30 policemen, Six Army personals and fifty innocent civilians.

Usually the city is busy at this hour on week days. Today, the roads were busier than usual as traffic was trying to leave Colombo before the rush hour to get away for the weekend especially as Monday and Tuesday also being holidays for the Wesak festival.

At the time of the incident there had been three vehicles belonging to the Police Riot Squad. One vehicle was a Police Bus with a contingent of constables and a few officers most of whom drawn for Duty from the Peliyagoda Police Station. The two other vehicles were equipped with water cannon. The contingents of Police were on 'stand by' duties at the time to meet any emergency. Most of the casualties were Policemen from the Peliyagoda Police station.

Read more,
http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/fullnews.php?id=12500
Photos,
www.defence.lk and www.army.lk

Terrorist base west of Nayaru lagoon destroyed in air attack

An LTTE military base engaged in intensified activities located west of Nayaru lagoon came under Sri Lanka Air Force Fighter Jet attack last night, after it had been constantly observed by the air and ground surveillances for a long period, defense sources said yesterday (15).

Air Force spokesperson, Wing Commander Andrew Wijesooriya, said that the air sorties were carried out around 7.30 p.m targeting the LTTE base located in a jungle patch in Mullaittivu area.

The target was accurately hit causing maximum damage to the enemy base, he further said.

Extracted from,
http://www.news.lk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5853&Itemid=44