Sri Lanka denies firing team manager Hashan Tillakaratne

Sri Lanka's cricket authority denied Thursday that it had fired team manager Hashan Tillakaratne only two days after appointing him.

Local media reports earlier said Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge had refused to support Tillakaratne's appointment as manager for the test series against India because of his political allegiance.

The 41-year-old Tillakaratne, a former captain of Sri Lanka, is a member of the main opposition United National Party.

"No one has informed me that such a decision has been taken. I am working with the team and was at practice today," Tillakaratne told The Associated Press.

Sri Lanka Cricket media manager Shane Fernando also said Tillakaratne was still manager, adding that his name has been forwarded to Lokuge for approval.

Read more,
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/17/sports/AS-CRI-Sri-Lanka-Tillakaratne.php

Removing unauthorized constructions Sorrow, Tears and struggle at slave Island

Nearly Thousand families at Slave island in to a big trouble today morning. Police attempted to remove their temporary residences which were unauthorized constructions according to government, to strengthen the security in Colombo prior to SAARC conferences according to a decision taken by Ministry of defense.

Public become restless and all the people in the area faced the same problems

Where to go with their kids?

How to continue their day to day life, schooling, cooking?

The public Motivated to obstruct the police and arguments raised. Police managed to remove them by farce. Lot of people with their children were seen with sorrowful, hopeless faces with dought of their future and their children's future.

Considering this situation the court give and order to postponed the removal up to 22nd this month.

Extracted from,
http://www.lankatruth.com/New/Full_Story_Page/2008/July/18/20080718_04.htm

Photos,
www.lankatruth.com, www.dailymirror.lk and www.lankadeepa.lk

Mysterious presence of Indian in Tiger territory

A chance detection of a boat trying to move through an SLN cordon now in place in the Gulf of Mannar has revealed the presence of some Indians in the LTTE-held area in the Vanni.

An Indian holding passport (ETN/059/001/355/2001) was among seven persons attempting to cross the Indo-Lanka maritime boundary on Wednesday. Selvam Sudesh Kanan has claimed that he along with three other Indians arrived in the LTTE held area in the Vanni on January 10, 2003.

His boat would most probably have escaped if a special naval cordon had not been in place to discourage the Tamil Nadu fishing fleet from poaching in Sri Lankan waters. The SLN has placed the cordon following the detention of nearly 290 Indian trawlers poaching in Sri Lankan waters on July 2, which triggered protests in the Tamil Nadu.

After initial questioning in Mannar, the SLN had moved the Indian overland to Colombo to be handed over to the Indian High Commission.

Although the government has accepted Selvam’s claim that they were detained by the LTTE used as forced labour, the mystery surrounds the failure on the part of their families to raise the issue with the Sri Lankan mission in Chennai. The Tamil Nadu media, the Indian High Commission or the Norwegian-led truce monitoring mission deployed in the Northern and Eastern Province had not raised the issue, the sources said.

Sources pointed out that although Selvam had a valid Indian passport, he hadn’t entered Sri Lanka through the Bandaranaike International airport. "The bottom line is that he had entered the Vanni mainland clandestinely," an official said.

Read more,
http://www.island.lk/2008/07/18/news14.html
Photo,
MCNS

Wanni operation 16 th July 2008

Source,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080715_11

Hashan chooses politics

Former Test captain Hashan Tilakaratne has said that he would choose the position of UNP organizer for Avissawella over the post of manager of the Sri Lanka cricket team.

Speaking to journalists, Mr. Tilakaratne said he would not let down the people of his electorate, who had placed trust in him.

Noting that even the UNP leadership has permitted him to play a dual role, he said that he was capable of balancing the two.

Sports Minister, Gamini Lokuge has said that he wanted Mr. Tilakaratne to choose between politics and cricket.

Extracted from,
http://www.lankaeverything.com/vinews/sports/20080717081046.php

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

I am just beginning, says Mendis

Ajantha Mendis stepped into the limelight at the Asia Cup final and it seems he just can’t step out of it. For a full forty minutes Mendis was the centre of attention as he got a taste of how the Indian media treated cricketers at the launch of Travelorg Holidays as official tour operator for the upcoming Indo-Lanka series.

Ever smiling, like that other Sri Lankan spinner, Mendis whispered answers in Sinhala for Arjuna Ranatunga to translate. Mendis, whose only unaided utterance, also in Sinhala, was something to the tune of “come watch us play.”

Ranatunga, never short of words, did more than just translate, generously adding to Mendis’ short answers. “Murali is a legend. He has gone very far and I am just beginning,” said Mendis when the inevitable comparison came his way.

Ranatunga let Mendis go in quick time as the bowler had a return flight to catch. “He took a day’s break from practice and I don’t want him to miss another day,” said Ranatunga. “I’m not too comfortable calling Ajantha a freak but he is a freak bowler. He has five different deliveries and is mastering one more,” said Ranatunga. “You have to be at him all the time. To play against Mendis will be the ultimate test.”

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

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

Vidattaltivu Liberated; terrorists suffer fatal blow

Gallant soldiers of Army 58 Division and Commando Brigade have liberated the strategically important Vidattaltivu town this morning (July 16), said the defence sources in the Mannar warfront.

According to defence sources, Vidattaltivu is the biggest town situated on the North- Western coast of the Island, 20 km North of Mannar and is the main Sea-Tiger base cum the logistic hub of the LTTE in the West. This is the first time after the departure of Indian Peace Keeping Force in 1987 that troops have dominated the area , the sources added.

Defence observers are in the view that the lost of Vidattaltivu would cast a fatal blow on LTTE as it has lost the most important Sea-Tiger base in the present context. According to them the terrorists have no other option than to shift their Sea-Tiger assets to a makeshift camp further Northwards with the lost of its well-established sea borne operation base.

News and map,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080716_03

Melbourne business college chief arrested after FBI tipoff over Tamil Tiger terror offences

AUSTRALIAN Federal Police have arrested, at the request of the FBI, a director of a Melbourne business college believed to be linked to the Tamil Tigers over alleged terrorism offences in the US.

Thulasitharan Santhirarajah, 34, is expected to face extradition proceedings after his arrest on Monday when AFP agents raided homes and businesses around Melbourne, including the office of his Melbourne International College.

The raids were conducted at the request of the FBI, which has been cracking down on the fundraising activities in the US of members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

A spokesman for federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland yesterday confirmed the US had requested that Mr Santhirarajah be detained.

"The man is wanted to face prosecution for alleged terrorism offences in the United States of America," the spokesman said. "As this is an ongoing law enforcement matter, it would be inappropriate to comment on the specifics of the case."

Mr Santhirarajah appeared briefly in Melbourne Magistrates court on Monday and was remanded in custody until next month.

As well as the city office of the college, AFP agents raided five properties and businesses in Narre Warren, Dandenong and Lysterfield.

Read more,
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24027253-5013404,00.html

Fall of Sea Tiger base imminent

Fierce fighting continued yesterday south and east of Vidathalthivu as the 58 Division troops and Commando troops surrounded the biggest Sea Tiger base on the Western coast, in North Mannar as the LTTE cadres struggled to defend this tactically important Sea Tiger Base which they controlled for the last two decades.

The troops continued the military thrust on the Sea Tiger base surrounding it from the south and west directions and cutting off all supply routes leading to Vidathalthivu, ground sources told the Daily News last night.

“The LTTE had vacated some locations in Vidathalthivu by last evening as they felt the area was being surrounded by the troops,” Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka told the Daily News.

The Army Commander was confident that the entire Sea Tiger base would fall to the troops by Wednesday afternoon.

The troops attached to 58 Division engaged in a major thrust on the Vidathalthivu Sea Tiger base from the south while Commando troops supported by infantry troops attached to the 582 Brigade advanced into the area from the Eastern direction.

Ground sources also said that many Tiger cadres started fleeing further north of Vidathalthivu after loading their belongings into trucks as troops advanced into the territory.

Read more,
http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/07/16/sec02.asp

Israeli boost for SLAF surveillance capability

The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has taken delivery of an advanced type of UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) from Israel.

Authoritative sources said the acquisition of UAVs would compensate for the loss of equipment in the LTTE raid on the Anuradhapura SLAF base last October.

The recently acquired UAVs have been deployed in the northern theatre with the focus on the 12 kilometre front which runs through Kilali, Muhamalai and Nagarkovil on the Jaffna east coast. Capable of day and night operations, the latest addition would considerably improve the SLAF’s capacity to detect an LTTE build-up against the armed forces deployed in the Jaffna peninsula.

The deployment of UAVs was of critical importance to the ongoing SLAF campaign against LTTE positions in the Vanni, sources said. The SLAF action was two-fold, they said. Operations were being carried out in support of the ground offensive and to destroy conventional capability of the enemy.

The first deployment of UAVs by the SLAF took place in 1996 during Air Marshal Oliver Ranasinghe’s tenure as the Commander. The MI 24 helicopter gunships and Kfirs, a modern multi-role fighter aircraft with a formidable weapons platform, too, were first acquired that year.

Read more,
http://www.island.lk/2008/07/16/news2.html