Initial Legal Fees Paid for Filing Sri Lankan Maid Appeal

As the July 16 deadline to file an appeal in the case of Rizana Nafeek, the 19- year-old Sri Lankan maid accused of strangling a four-month-old Saudi boy, draws near, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has come forward and deposited an initial sum of SR50,000 to begin the appeals process.

The AHRC is a nongovernmental human rights organization that has been working on behalf of the young woman. The deposit was made yesterday to the firm of Kateb Fahad Al-Shammari, Attorneys at Law, in Riyadh.

“We hope that this can be the beginning of the process that allows the law firm to now proceed in filing papers before the deadline,” said Basil Fernandez, executive director of the AHRC. He added that the AHRC was doing this on behalf of various groups and individuals that have taken an active interest in the case.

Fernandez also told Arab News that this was only the first of three SR50,000 payments to be made.

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http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article
=98425&d=13&m=7&y=2007&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom

Ranil's Thoppigala statement sweet music to Prabhakaran - UNP (D-Group)

UNP Democratic Group member R. A. D. Sirisena said Ranil Wickremesinghe's statement yesterday on the capture of the LTTE stronghold Thoppigala by the Security Forces was a statement that should have ideally emanated from Velupillai Prabhakaran.

He apologised on behalf of the UNP Democratic group for the statement of the UNP Leader underestimating the achievement by the Security Forces at a press briefing held at Seth Sevana, Kirulapone yesterday.

He said that some frustrated politicians are trying to make a living by making vociferous noises about abductions but after the Government intervened to probe the matter their shouting has stopped following the disclosure that these were fabricated stories. Similarly, the story about selling 60,000 acres of land to foreigners from Wellassa is also a fabrication, he said.

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http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/07/13/pol02.asp

Govt. to develop entire East

The government yesterday said its main focus after capturing Thoppigala was to develop the entire eastern region while stressing there was no immediate move to resume peace talks.Addressing the media in Colombo Cabinet Spokesman Anura Priyadharashana Yapa said the government was in a strong position now with the LTTE losing Thoppigala – considered to be its backbone.

He said the government would pump in a large amount of money to implement major development projects that had already started in the East.

“We want to develop the East in a big way. That is why we liberated the people from Tiger clutches,” the Minister said.

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http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/07/13/front/07.asp

Etihad plane lands in Sri Lanka after bomb scare

An Etihad Airways plane en route from Indonesia to the United Arab Emirates made an emergency landing in Sri Lanka Wednesday following a bomb scare, an airport official said.

Flight EY-471 from Jakarta to Abu Dhabi was diverted to Colombo and checked by police commandos and bomb disposal units, the official said, adding that no bomb was found.

It was not immediately clear how the alarm had been raised.

An Etihad official at the airport said the plane had been given the all clear to resume its journey.

Extracted from,
http://www.lankabusinessonline.com
/fullstory.php?newsID=1898350148&no_view=1&SEARCH_TERM=7

President Pays Tribute to the Valiant Forces

His Excellency the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed forces Mahinda Rajapaksa today (11) paid tribute to the all members of the SL Security forces who liberated Thoppigala area from the terror clutches.

Statement by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on the capture of Thoppigala, the LTTE's last stronghold in the East:

"I join the people in offering tribute and all good wishes to the members of the Armed Forces, Police and Special Task Force who, through their participation in the humanitarian exercise to free the people of the East from the clutches of terrorism, captured the last stronghold of the terrorists located at Thoppigala.

I remember with honour all heroes of war and members of the families of those who sacrificed their lives or were wounded in this exercise carried out on behalf of the country and nation.

May you be Blessed by the Triple Gem!

Extracted from,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20070711_06

Ranil Belittles Security Force's victory in Thoppigala

In the midst of roaring laughter of his supporters the Leader of the Opposition and the United National Party Ranil Wickremesinghe belittled the government's claim of a great military victory at Thoppigala and said it was nothing big to crow about.

"What's all this fuss about Thoppigala. It's nothing to crow about," he told a public gathering in Galle. The meeting was broadcast by the Independent Television Network run by the state with other interviews condemning his statement.

But in a different interview Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam ( LTTE) military spokesman Rasiah Ilantheriyan admitted that the LTTE has received a defeat.

Ilantheriyan in an interview with Roland Burke of the BBC when asked whether the LTTE has received a defeat said that , "In a way yes. From a point of view it is a defeat." since the government forces have gained a greater control of the Eastern Province.

Ranil Wickremesinghe in contrast said Thoppigala is only a big jungle bigger than the Colombo District. He asked "how many times we captured that area."

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http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20070712_01

NGO life jackets found on LTTE boats

Social Services and Social Welfare Minister Lionel Premasiri has instructed relevant authorities to investigate the incident where eight life jackets belonging to an NGO were found on LTTE boats seized by the Navy recently, a Social Services and Social Welfare Ministry spokesman said.

He said that when questioned, the NGO informed the Minister that the life jackets were given during the tsunami disaster responding to a request made by the Fisheries and Water Resources Department and the NGO will shortly produce the name list of recipients.

The organisation has also informed the Deputy Minister that they regret that the humanitarian aid given to civilians did not reach them and is now being used for terrorist activities.

Deputy Minister Premasiri will follow the investigation closely, he added.

Extracted from,
http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/07/12/news26.asp

LTTE looses Baron's cap; Troops reach Thoppigala

Commandos and soldiers of the SL Army have reached the Baron's Cap (Thoppigala) few hours ago, said Defence sources in the East. With this victory, troops have captured the "nerve centre" of the LTTE terrorists' in their last stronghold in the Eastern province.

Meanwhile, the troops have also gained the full control over Narakamula, and Tharavikulama areas where, the LTTE leadership had its' Eastern headquarters and other fortifications.

The victorious soldiers are presently clearing enemy "pockets" scattered in the dense jungle and are pursuing the LTTE cadres who are on the run.

Extracted from,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20070711_03

Ambassador Brattskar to visit Kilinochchi tomorrow

Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar is to visit Kilinochchi tomorrow (11), to which the Sri Lankan Government has given its consent.

Peace Secretariat chief Professor Rajiva Wijesinghe speaking to the Government official website said that the Peace Secretariat received the request from Ambassador Brattskar yesterday afternoon (09).

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministry approved the request and the Operations Unit of the Peace Secretariat will be arranging the logistics,” Professor Wijesinghe added.

To ensure the security of the Diplomats it was brought in to an understanding that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs need to be informed and approval taken for such visits, aftermath the LTTE mortar attack targeting a group of Diplomats on an assessment visit of the rebuilding eastern sector, during late February this year at Batticaloa.

Ambassador Brattskar is expected to be holding discussions with the LTTE political section during his visit.

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http://www.news.lk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2866&Itemid=44

After Two Years, Lankan Officials Move in Rizana Case

A high-level Sri Lankan delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Bhaila will arrive here soon to make a personal appeal for clemency to the parents of an infant that died under the care of a Sri Lankan woman who came to Saudi Arabia after turning 17, allegedly with documents forged by the employment recruiter that gave a false date of birth.

“As a democratic country, we respect the laws of the host country,” Bhaila told Arab News. “However, we want to make a personal appeal to the parents to consider a pardon for this girl who had committed the murder when she was a minor.”

In May 2005, Rizana Nafeek was assigned to take care of a Saudi family’s infant child. After two weeks on the job, the child died under her care. The parents said that Rizana strangled the child to death.

Sri Lankan officials said that Rizana initially confessed to the crime while in custody, but that during the trial she explained that the confession — which was allegedly made shortly after her arrest at a police station with no translators (Rizana doesn’t speak Arabic) — was made under pressure of the moment.

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http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=
0&article=98340&d=10&m=7&y=2007&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom

Sydney man arrested in Tamil terror probe

A Sydney man is facing extradition to Melbourne after being charged with terrorism offences relating to alleged funding of the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka.

The 41-year-old man, arrested this morning, is the third Australian of Tamil origins to be charged with both being a member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and giving the groups funds.

Extracted from,
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=277667&rss=yes

Sri Lanka Telecom call charges reduced

Sri Lanka Supreme Court today approved a proposal submitted by the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC) to reduce the fixed charge of the Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) telephones.

The TRC proposal was allowed when a petition filed by the Lanka Consumers Association was taken for consideration today.

As a result, the fixed charge of the domestic telephone will be decreased from current Rs. 495 to Rs. 350 and the business telephone fixed charge will trim down to Rs. 950 from current Rs. 1250. SLT said that the reduction is 8.7%. The relevant billing is valid from January 01st this year.

Telephone call charges are also to be reduced accordingly.

Extracted from,
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_07/July9165820SL.html

Sea battle kills LTTE Intelligence leader and 9 others

The navy intercepted fleeing LTTE cadres killing a senior Sea Tiger Intelligence leader and nine others in a fierce fight which erupted in the seas off Pulmodai, defence sources said.

According to defence sources, LTTE communications intercepts revealed that senior sea Tiger Intelligence leader Neelan bearing LTTE ID card no: 0018 and nine other Sea Tigers were killed on Saturday in the sea battle between the Navy and the LTTE in Trincomalee.

Navy personnel operating north of Trincomalee on Saturday confronted a group of LTTE cadres suspected to be fleeing Thoppigala.

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Troops capture Tora Bora camp

Advancing government troops yesterday captured LTTE’s strategically important ‘Tora Bora’ camp of the Four-six base in Narakamulla west, a few miles away from Thoppigala, while the LTTE’s Eastern Mortar Leader was killed during the latest clashes in the area, a military official said.

He said the Tigers were now confined to about 50 to 60 square kilometers.

Meanwhile, the Air Force bombed three LTTE targets in the Thoppigala area yesterday afternoon.

A senior military official in the area said the ‘Tora Bora’ camp was one of the main Tiger training bases in the region.

“Commandos seized the strategically important training base, which had been in existence for several years training a large number of cadres,” the official said. The camp was captured after nearly 15 years.

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http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/07/10/front/01.asp