UNICEF terminates official in Sri Lanka after drug offense

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) today terminated the service of Lisa Woods, a communication consultant, who was fined by the local courts for being in possession of 80 mg of heroin.

The Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the UNICEF country office has informed it of the termination. Ms. Woods left the country today.

Ms. Woods, a United States national, had arrived in Sri Lanka on March 5 this year to work with UNICEF on a 4-month assignment to assist in updating the UNICEF website and to write donor reports.

Ms. Wood was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of a private hospital in Colombo on March 12 after being found unconscious in her hotel. She was placed under arrest by the police for the possession of heroin and produced before the Colombo Magistrate on March 25.

“The Government appreciates the cooperation extended by UNICEF to the law enforcement authorities and for the immediate administrative measures taken against the officer,” the Foreign Ministry said.

Extracted from,
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_08/March28170054JV.html

Sri Lanka scraps bid for $400m terminal at Colombo port

Sri Lanka, aiming to increase cargo capacity at Colombo port by half, scrapped bids for a $400 million terminal, a ministry official said.

New terms will be added and fresh bids will be called in three months, Tilak Collure, a ports ministry secretary, said in a phone interview from capital Colombo. He declined to elaborate.

Hutchison Port Holdings and PSA International, which were among five companies that bid for the 2.4 million-containers-a-year facility at Colombo's south harbour, will have to resubmit their offers, Collure said.

The companies are known to be the world's biggest port operators.

Read more,
http://www.gulfnews.com/business/Shipping/10201264.html

Sri Lanka's wounded Tigers growl at Delhi

India's hosting of Sri Lankan Army chief Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka in Delhi this month has evoked an angry growl from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Castigating India for giving the Lankan army chief a "state welcome", the LTTE has warned India against committing "the historic blunder" of propping up "the Sinhala war machine".

India would be responsible for "the ethnic genocide of the Tamils [in Sri Lanka]" that a Lankan army, "re-invigorated" by Indian support, would carry out, an LTTE statement said. "While pronouncing that a solution to the Tamil problem must be found through peaceful means, it [India] is giving encouragement to the military approach" of the Sri Lankan government, the LTTE said. "By this historic blunder it will continue to subject the Eelam Tamils to misery."

Close on the heels of that strident statement came another, this
one critical of India's treatment of its Tamils. "Tamils are slaves in India," Thamilendhi, the head of the LTTE's financial unit, is reported to have said at a public function in Kilinochchi in Sri Lanka's Northern Province.

The LTTE's strident statements against India over the past fortnight are reminiscent of the statements it issued in the late 1980s and early 1990s when relations between India and the LTTE deteriorated substantially.

Read more,
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/JC28Df01.html

LTTE agents booked under NSA

Two suspected LTTE agents were booked under the National Security Act (NSA) here (Madurai) today.

Police said Muthuramalingam of Ramanathapuram District and Raja of Madurai were recently arrested by the State Police when they attempted to smuggle explosive materials meant for LTTE from Rameswaram.

On the orders from the State Government, they were booked under NSA today and lodged at the Madurai Central Prison, the sources added.

Extracted from,
http://www.chennaionline.com/colnews/newsitem.asp?

"Prabakaran" film director FASTs unto death demanding back his film copies

Sri Lankan film director Thushara Peiris, who has been brutally attacked by pro-Tamil Tiger elements at Chennai's Gemini Colour Laboratories and stripped of copies of his new film "Prabhakaran" which he processed at the studios said from a hospital bed in Colombo that he is starting a "fast unto death" sathayagraha from his sick bed demanding the Indian and Sri Lankan governments to intervene in getting back his robbed copies of the film.

"I have stopped taking food, water and medicine until the Indian and Sri Lanka governments intervenes and get back my copies of the film," he said from a bed of Colombo's Nawaloka Hospital where he was admitted for treatment caused in the mob attack in Chennai.

It is believed an LTTE instigated mob attack took place in Chennai where they believed that his maiden full length feature film entitled "Prabhakaran" depicted the character of the ruthless terrorist leader Velupillai Prabhakaran in very bad light and anti-Tamil flavour".

Many in the mob belonged to the Chennai Film Technician's Union and a leading newspaper in India, the Times of India, has also identified leaders of an extremist pro LTTE political party among the attackers.

The 39 year old talented film director , who has had his training in Italy , said he passed out for about 45 minutes after the brutal attack , and when he was conscious discovered that he was profusely bleeding and the film copies have been robbed.

Read more,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080328_03

Sri Lanka probes poster campaign

The Sri Lankan government has launched a probe into a mysterious poster campaign that is asking would-be Tamil Tiger suicide bombers to turn themselves in to government hands in return for cash.

The campaign, run by an unknown pro-peace organisation, promises a new life overseas and $US93,000 each to extremists who change their minds

Those contemplating taking up the offer are asked to call a government operated telephone line.

The government has denied having any hand in the poster.

A military spokesman, who tried calling the number several time without any success, says the government thinks the poster campaign is a hoax to create mischief.

Extracted from,
http://www.abc.net.au/ra/news/stories/

Construction of Sampoor Coal Power Plant to commence in three months

Sri Lanka Ministry of Power and Energy says that the construction of the coal power plant in Sampoor will begin in June. According to the Ministry, the project that is a joint venture of India and Sri Lanka is aimed at providing 500MW to the national grid by 2012.

Indian based company NPTC under the supervision of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) undertakes the project. The cost of the first phase of the project intended to be completed by 2012, is 500 million US dollars. The government is to find 70% of the funds through foreign aid and the rest is to be provided by the CEB and the Indian company.

A land of 700 acres has been allocated from the area that was under Tamil Tiger hold until recently and the surveys are underway at present. The surveys will be completed by April and the construction will be commenced afterwards.

Read more,
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_08/March27114804JR.html

Air Force warplanes destroy LTTE training facility and Radar post in Wanni

Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets successfully carried out two bombing missions targeting two identified camps of LTTE terrorists located in Wanni region this morning (March 27). According to the defence sources the targets were a training facility and a Radar command post both located in Kilinochchi district.

Air Force Spokesman Wing Commander Andrew Wijesooriya speaking to defence.lk said that the first mission was launched around 6.25.a.m. targeting a training facility located inside a jungle patch at Kalmadhu, in Iranamadhu. According to the defence intelligence, the terrorists have also used the location as a marshalling point for the conscripts.

The second mission was launched at 6.35.a.m. targeting a Radar Command post located in the Vallaipadhu area, South of Poonaryn, said the Air Force spokesman. Meanwhile, defence intelligence revealed that the terrorists have been using the location to coordinate boat operations across the Gulf of Mannar. The location was a recently established one by the terrorists due to frequent air raids on the strategically important coastal belt in the Northwest of the Island, the sources further said.

According to Wing Commander Wijesooriya the targets have been positively identified through human intelligence and verified by air surveillance. The Kfir and F-7 fighter jets carried out the missions jointly and the targets were accurately hit the added citing the fighter pilots.

Extracted from,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080327_01

Be firm, Israel tells Colombo

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has reportedly told his Sri Lankan counterpart Rathnasiri Wickramanayake, presently on a four-day visit to Israel, not to “give in to terrorism because it will only bring destruction to your country,” a statement said.

It quoted Mr. Wickramanayake, Sri Lanka’s first Prime Minister to visit Israel, as saying in Jerusalem that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was maintaining strong relations with terrorist groups such as PKK and some affiliates of the dreaded Al-Qaeda. On the current situation in Sri Lanka, Mr. Wickramanayake said: “The black Tigers are responsible for suicide operations and have perfected suicide bombings and assassinations.

It is generally believed that they learnt it from some Palestinian groups.” Mr. Wickremanayake has held talks with Israeli President Shimon Peres, Defence Minister Ehud Barak, and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. He will also meet Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank.

Read more,
http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/27/stories/2008032755091800.htm

Pro-LTTE activists assault Lankan director in Chennai

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam supporters attacked a Sri Lankan film director in Chennai and prevented him from taking back prints of his film from a laboratory for allegedly portraying the banned outfit chief, V Prabhakaran, in a poor light.

The incident took place on Tuesday at Gemini Lab in Chennai where Lankan director Thushara Peiris had come to take prints of his film Prabhakaran , which shows the miseries of the people due to the civil war through the eyes of an escaped LTTE cadre.

S P Veerapandian, general secretary of Tamil nationalist party Dravida Iyakka Tamilar Peravai, S Vanniarasu Viduthalai Chiruthaikal and film director Seeman were among those who assaulted Peiris.

Extracted from,
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

Pro LTTE Ram Doss wants Chennai SL office to be closed down

For re-publishing a collection of items that appeared in the Tamil Nadu media a Tamil Nadu based “human rights organization” called Manitham wants India ’s federal government in New Delhi to close down the Consul General office of Sri Lanka immediately.

The Executive Director of the “Manitham” (Man) Agni Subramaniam in an interview with the popular Tamil weekly magazine Kumudam said, the book issued by the Consul General’s office consisting of media reports from Tamil Nadu , “has created a stir among the supporters of Tamil Eelam in Tamil Nadu.”

Bringing it to the notice of Pattali Makkalai Katchi leader Dr. Ram Doss, who is an extremist leader of the Tamils, Agni, literally meaning Fire, told the magazine that the media reports carried in the book made the impression that Tamil people in Tamil Nadu are opposed to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Read more,
http://www.sinhalaya.com/news/english/wmview.php?ArtID=15030

PNM against disarming Pillayan group

The Patriotic National Movement yesterday said disarming the Pillayan faction at this moment would make them targets of the LTTE and prevent the group from entering the democratic process.

Wimal Weerawansa told a press conference at the Library Services and Documentation Board Auditorium that the recent call to disarm them at this moment without helping them enter the democratic mainstream was a move against Tamils' aspirations.

He said certain elements are calling for the disarming of the group which would definitely result in them falling prey to LTTE.

The Government should encourage them to enter mainstream politics by giving the necessary impetus and gradually instilling in them faith in the democratic process. "We cannot disregard the fact that the Pillayan group is under the threat of LTTE. No other party engaged in democratic politics has faced a threat of such magnitude as the Pillayan group," Weerawansa said.

Referring to the forthcoming Provincial Councils Election, he said the Government has failed to conduct a census in the province which consisted of territories forcefully held by LTTE terrorists over a decade, before the Election was announced.

Read more,
http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/03/27/pol04.asp

SL create history in the Caribbean

Chaminda Vaas' double-strike just after lunch, sandwiched between the key scalps of half-centurions Dwayne Bravo and Ramnaresh Sarwan, and another from Muttiah Muralitharan on the stroke of tea left Sri Lanka needing four wickets to win their first Test in the Caribbean.

Bravo relished his first time opening the innings by scoring a fluent 83 and Sarwan's obdurate 72 gave West Indies hope of salvaging a draw but Sri Lanka came back hard to set up a tense final session. At 229 for 6 the hosts were battling the odds to pull off a great escape at the Providence Stadium.

West Indies began the final day facing a mountain to climb and Bravo and Sarwan took to it step by step. From the go it was evident they were playing for a draw; the first 15 overs yielded just 25 runs. Sarwan didn't score a boundary all session, reluctant to take any risks, and puttered along with tucks to the on side.

Read more,
http://content-sl.cricinfo.com/wivsl/content/

LTTE Ordeal at Omanthai with Escaped Fishermen; Three Dead & Five Rescued

A STRING OF INDISCRIMINATE Tiger terrorist fire attacks on a group of fleeing LTTE abducted and detained fisherfolk Wednesday (26) mid-noon in a jungle location, about 2 km to the east of OMANTHAI Entry/Exit point, claimed the lives of three of them and injured three more.

Troops stationed surrounding this Entry/Exit point managed to rescue five more, effectively responding to the enemy fire while that group of eleven Sinhalese detainees were on the flee, amidst a rain of Tiger bullets that were directed towards those escapees.

The story behind the tragedy records back to 10th February and 2nd March 2007 when LTTE Sea Tigers caught and abducted fourteen fishermen of KALPITIYA, NEGOMBO and TANGALLE areas while they were fishing some 20 nautical miles off KALPITIYA, PUTTALAM.

Tiger terrorists have at first taken those fishermen to ARIPPU by force. Later, terrorists have forced those abductees to undergo rigorous hard work as labourers after confining them to VISHWAMADU area in MULLAITIVU, but their determination to run away from the grip of LTTE terrorists never wavered, according to an escapee.

Read more,
http://www.army.lk/morenews.php?id=11898