Sri Lanka Latest News

Monday, May 14, 2007

SRI LANKAN MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO CONSPIRACY TO PROVIDE MATERIAL SUPPORT TO A FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION AND ATTEMPTED EXPORT OF ARMS

Thirunavukarasu Varatharasa, age 37, a citizen of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and attempted exportation of arms and munitions, announced U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.

U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein said, “Mr. Varatharasa is the last defendant to be convicted in this plot to attempt to obtain military weapons in violation of American law. We are committed to using all available legal tools to prevent terrorism.”

“Today’s case reflects ICE’s commitment to keeping U.S. weapons and technology out of the hands of terrorists,” said Julie Myers, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Assistant Secretary. “Every day our Arms and Strategic Technology Investigations are targeting profiteers who jeopardize national and international security by selling critical weapons and technologies. Those engaged in these illicit activities share a significant burden of responsibility for the instability and violence that can come from the sale of these items.”

Read more,
http://media-newswire.com/release_1049516.html

Moody leaves Sri Lanka to coach Western Australia

Tom Moody has quit as coach of Sri Lanka's cricket squad to take over at Western Australia next season, the WA Cricket Association said here Monday...

In Colombo, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) confirmed that Moody was leaving at the end of his contract this month, for "personal and family commitments".

"Sri Lanka Cricket regrets that Tom Moody has to leave our services and (we) respect his decision," SLC said in a statement.

Moody was quoted in the cricket board release saying that parting company was a "difficult decision given the strong relationships built between Sri Lanka Cricket and myself."

"However, I would be more than happy to assist in whichever way I possibly can for the continuous success of Sri Lanka Cricket."

The buddhist monk killed by LTTE -Government

The Chief Monk of the Thabbatharama Vihare has been shot dead yesterday morning by two unidentified LTTE gunmen.

Venerable Hadungamuwe Nandarathna Thero of Mahadivulwewa, in Morawewa, approximately 40kilometers north east of Anuradhapura, was the Head Priest of the 'Sri Pabbattharamaya' Buddhist temple in Mahadivulwewa.

Eyewitnesses in the area have stated that two LTTE gunmen who came on two motor cycles had shot dead the Monk. The motive of the killing was not known.

The monk, who spoke fluent Tamil could deliver sermons in that language. He was very popular among the Tamil community in the area.

This is yet another incident where LTTE carried out their brutal mission targeting the clergy. Earlier, the LTTE terrorists brutally killed the Head priest of the Pulliar Hindu Temple at Sandiveli in Batticaloa, on 07th February.

Indian Navy Increases Surveillance of Palk Straits; To Deploy Extra UAVs

In the wake of "spillover of ongoing skirmishes between the Sri Lankan Navy and the Sea Tigers of the LTTE into Indian waters," the Indian Navy has increased surveillance in the Palk Strait, a top Naval official said today.

Vice-Admiral Raman Prem Suthan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, told reporters here that the number of Naval ships patrolling the area had been increased from two to four while an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was also keeping vigil. "Two more UAVs will be pressed into service soon," he said.

Read more,
http://www.india-defence.com/reports-3190

Rally round Defence Secretary - MNA

The Secretary-General of the Muslim National Alliance (MNA) Nazeer Ahmed castigated the action of the United National Party (UNP) leader as being terribly unpatriotic when he criticised Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’s performance of duties.

“At a time like this all true patriotic Sri Lankans must rally round the Defence Secretary and give him all the moral support to save the country from anarchy,” he said.

Issuing a media statement, he said that at a time where all forces must support the government one cannot appreciate the action of the UNP and making complaints to foreign heads.

“I find it hard to fathom this campaign of the opposition leader when the country is on fire and UNP leader’s action is very much like Nero fiddling while Rome was burning,” he added.

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Unknown Gunmen Assassinate Chief Monk

THE CHIEF MONK OF THABBATHARAMA Vihare, MORAWEWA, MAHADIULWEWA, the Venerable HADUNGAMUWE NANDARATHNA THERO was assassinated this morning by two unknown gunmen today (13) at 9.15 a.m.

MORAWEWA Police are conducting investigations.

Extracted from,
http://www.rnhit.com/mcns/fullnews.php?id=5733

Read more,
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L13395509.htm
and
http://www.lankaenews.com/English/news.php?id=4124
and
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=22150

'Deepam TV' in London has become voice of LTTE

The Tamil television service Deepam operating from London has become a mouthpiece of the LTTE following closure of the LTTE's official Tamil Television Network (TTN) by the French authorities.

Extensive coverage of pro-LTTE news and views involving the LTTE apologists confirm Deepam television station has come under LTTE dictates.

The television is selective in its news broadcasts and LTTE and LTTE supporting news are only given weight. The terminologies used to call the Tamil democratic voices and the anti-LTTE Tamil groups operating in Sri Lanka confirm Deepam is towing the LTTE dictates.

Unlike before Deepam's programme co-ordinator and news broadcaster Anas is taking a pro-LTTE stance and has become a mouth piece of the LTTE.

Sri Lanka in 60 mln dlr train deal with China

Sri Lanka plans to buy 60 million US dollars worth of locomotives and passenger coaches from China to modernise its Victorian-era network.

The state-owned railway says it'll buy 100 carriages and 15 diesel-powered locomotives.

China's Exxim Bank will fund the purchases with a lending agreement due to be signed between Colombo and Beijing.

A railway official says the nation's rolling stock is in desperate need of modernisation.
Delivery of the locomotives and coaches is expected to start in August.

Extracted from,
http://www.mulpituwa.com/?viewnews=5468

“I know nothing about politics” – Maj. Gen. Janaka Perera

My fellow officers in the army, navy, air force and the police, who fought valiantly in the battle field, deserve the honour of my popularity. I was able to command recognition among the armed forces by fighting with a sense of responsibility for the lives of the soldiers who were our assets and achieving many victories in the battlefield. We were victorious at Weli Oya, without the support of the Special Forces.

On July 22, I received a letter from the Headquarters removing me from operational duties and appointing me as Chief of Staff. I lost only a post but the country lost many things with that. However, I command respect among the police and security personnel, who were in the operational areas with me and the people of the country. I consider it the position bestowed on me.

In 2001, a friend of UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe telephoned me and invited me to contest the elections. A friend of Mangala Samaraweera also made the same request. However, I refused their proposals. I was offered the post of Deputy Minister of Defence, but I preferred to serve as Ambassador in Australia.

The LTTE says Janaka Perera is a dangerous man. They published it in their websites as well. I am not a politician. I was in the army for 34 years and in the Diplomatic missions for six years. However, I never forget the soldiers who were with me and their families.

Read more,
http://www.nation.lk/2007/05/13/inter1.htm
Photo,
http://www.nation.lk/2007/05/13/inter1.htm

Saturday, May 12, 2007

Sri Lanka govt to show free local movies once a month

Sri Lanka's Minister of Information and Media Anura Priyadharshana Yapa says the government will show local movies in cinemas free of charge once a month to promote Sinhala cinema and attract moviegoers.

The Minister said he would discuss the matter with cinema owners and distributors. The Minister, who was participating in the ceremonial start of a cinema production, lamented about empty halls when local movies are shown.

Meanwhile, industry sources welcomed the Minister’s attempt to solve the problems of the local cinema industry.

Extracted from,
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_07/May12133217SL.html

Polls after LTTE flushed out: Eastern Army Commander

Eastern Army Commander Major General Parakrama Pannipitiya was optimistic that people in the east would get a chance to elect their public representatives shortly after flushing out the LTTE within the next few days.

The Major General told journalists on Thursday they would clear the east of Tiger terrorists now confined only to the Thoppigala area.

He made these comments amidst widespread speculation about some political parties laying ground work for a provincial council election in the east soon.

The government had completed the resettlement of internally displaced persons in the recently captured Vakarai area situated north of Batticaloa.

fuel prices have been raised

Sri Lanka has raised fuel prices from midnight Friday to keep up with diesel going up by two rupees, petrol by one rupee and furnace oil by three rupee a litre, a Ceylon Petroleum Corporation official said.

This would push 90-Octane petrol to 106 rupees and 95-Octane petrol to109 rupees with standard auto-diesel going up to 67 rupees and super diesel 71.30 rupees.

Friday, May 11, 2007

Ranil falls from raja yoga to paraja yoga

More than before Ranil Wickremesinghe’s actions tend to border on antics and histrionics. Increasingly he is veering away from pursuing any credible or pragmatic moves to stage a comeback. Last week, for instance, he resigned from a post which he never held. He thought he was a member of the Gangaramaya Dayaka Sabha only to find, after he resigned, that he had never been a member of it.

His successive defeats have not taught him that he has lost every card he played because he is way out of the central forces on which he has to depend for his political survival. April has proved that even his horoscope is not going to save him. He can be saved only if he joins the rest of the nation. And right now the nation, according to the polls, is with Mahinda Rajapakse.

Read more,
http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/5673

LTTE Hand Grenade Attack at IDP Centre Injures Two Children & Six Others

A GROUP OF SUSPECTED LTTE TERRORISTS threw a hand grenade towards the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) centre at SARATHA school in KATTANKUDY, BATTICALAOA Thursday at about 10.35 p.m.. Eight IDPs including two children of 12 and 15 years of age sustained injuries in the explosion.

Read more,
http://www.army.lk/fulsit.php?idx=564