Air Force bombs key terror training facility - Kilinochchi

Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets bombed a key LTTE training facility located at Kollanvillu, 4 Km South of Mulankavil in the Kilinochchi district this morning (May 14).

According to the Air Force sources, few air sorties were carried out between 7.15 - 7.30 am targeting the LTTE camp. The sources said that the target has been registered by the defence intelligence authorities after thorough ground surveillance. The target was effectively acquired, the sources added.

Extracted from,
http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080514_06

Sri Lankan PM says no more truce with Tamil rebels

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake said here Tuesday the government would never enter into any more cease-fire agreements with the Tamil Tiger rebels.

Wickramanayake said the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had exploited cease-fire agreements with the government in the past.

"I will tell you one thing for sure. There will never be anymore cease-fire agreements in the future with the LTTE", the prime minister said.

Wickramanayake's government in January this year unilaterally withdrew from the February 2002 cease-fire.

The Norwegian backed cease-fire held until the end of 2005 when violence escalated. The new wave of violence in the island's long drawn out separatist armed conflict has so far cost over 7,000 lives since December 2005.

Read more,
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-05/14/content_8164083.htm

Sacred Tears in Anuradhapura Sri Maha Bodhi Remembered

EXACTLY 23 YEARS AGO on a sunny day (14th May 1985) like this Wednesday (14), Sri Lankans as well as the Buddhist world were traumatized to hear one of their most venerated Buddhist places of worship, Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi at Anuradhapura has been desecrated by a bunch of barbaric Tiger terrorists who went on a killing spree firing on meditating devotees.

Brainwashed blood thirsty fanatics on a snatched state bus on that ill-fated day first stormed the central bus stand in the old town and splashed those present there with a rain of gunfire indiscriminately. As unarmed affected civilians in the town began running in all directions hysterically, many lay dead or bleeding with no knowledge of what was going around, as the terrorists made their way towards the sacred Bo Tree for another heinous crime.

Those armed terrorists then sprayed both the upper layer (Uda Maluwa) and the lower layer (Pahala Maluwa) with bullets, causing the entire sacred place splattered with blood, as scores of meditating and worshiping Buddhist nuns, white-clad observers of eight precepts and other devotees lay dead or unconscious after struck by terrorist bullets.

Read more,
http://www.army.lk/morenews.php?id=13220
Photo,
http://www.army.lk/editor/images/2008-01/3_4.jpg

EPDP Political Advisor Maheswary Velayutham shot and killed by LTTE gunmen

Maheswary Velayutham, Political Advisor of the Eelam People Democratic Party and an Attorney – at – Law was shot and killed at 7.45 PM this evening at her house, located at Karaveddy, in the Jaffna district, by suspected Tiger gunmen.

She joined the EPDP led by Minister Douglas Devananda in 1992. She is aged 53 years and remained a spinster.

According to available reports, she went from Colombo to her house in Karaveddy as her mother was lying on her sick bed.

According to EPDP sources, three pistol wielding Tiger gunmen arrived at her house in Army uniform, shot and killed her on point blank range and vanished from the scene.

Extracted from,
http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/11142
Photo,
http://www.epdpnews.com/Thirukethees.JPG

Pakistan back in Commonwealth; appreciates Sri Lanka's support

Pakistan has been re-admitted to the Councils of the Commonwealth with immediate effect, a decision following Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama's call at the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) meeting in London yesterday, when he made the opening statement and strongly urged the nine member body to immediately lift Pakistan's suspension.

The Minister stated that following the full restoration of democracy in the country, Pakistan has complied with all conditions and requirements set down by the CMAG, and emphasised that the issue should no longer remain on the CMAG agenda. The CMAG unanimously adopted the Foreign Minister's proposal.

Sri Lanka, spearheaded by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, had earlier opposed vigorously the decision to suspend Pakistan from Commonwealth in London and Kampala last November.

Read more,
http://www.news.lk/index.php?

LTTE’s investment business closed down - London

The massive wholesale cash & carry business of the LTTE operating from Unit 7 & 8 Commerce Park, Commerce Way, Croydon CRO 4ZS is said to have been closed down. The operators have abandoned the business and have run into hiding. A private limited company Valvai Holdings Ltd was running the business under the trading name of Valvai Cash & Carry since 2003.

Millions of pounds have been invested in the business which was run by the LTTE men. According to reliable sources, the business had obtained work permits for some of the LTTE activists to work in the cash and carry business. The company was operating a large warehouse at its registered address.

The reason for the closure of the business is not known yet. But sources in South London said that LTTE was compelled to close down due to fear of police intervention.

Read more,
http://www.srilankawatch.com/index.php?

Cyclone-hit Myanmar to supply rice to Sri Lanka

With India and Pakistan showing their reluctance to supply rice to Sri Lanka, cyclone hit Myanmar has agreed to go ahead with its contractual rice export obligations that will benefit the island nation to meet its requirements.

Myanmar had agreed to export one lakh metric tones of the food grain of which 20,000 tonnes have already arrived in Sri Lanka.

According to Sri Lankan officials, the consignment of rice of about 50,000 tons from Myanmar has not been hampered by the cyclone and will arrive in the island as committed. Myanmar, a major rice exporting country, is facing criticism on its reported decision to go ahead with exports of the food grain despite thousands of cyclone hit people in its country needing food and other assistance.

Read more,
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/

Congress calls for ban on pro-LTTE outfits

Congress, a key ally of Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK, on Monday demanded a ban on pro-LTTE organisations in the state and asked the state government to deal with "scourge of terrorism with iron hand."

"Terrorism of any kind, whether it be from Sri Lanka or within the state (Maoists) or communal, should be dealt with an iron hand," senior Congress leader D Sudarshanam told the state assembly while participating in the debate on the demand for grants to the Home Department held by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.

Without naming any organisation or political party, he demanded a ban on all outfits in the state openly supporting the proscribed LTTE.

"The Tamil Nadu Government should also urge the Centre to extend the ban on the LTTE", he said.

The Centre had first banned the LTTE in 1992 and last extended it on May 14, 2004. The organisation had been banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

Read more,
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200805121840.htm

Panel probing Rajiv's killing gets extension

The government has decided to extend the term of the high-profile Multi-Disciplinary Monitoring Agency (MDMA), set up under the CBI in 1998 to probe the conspiracy aspect of the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, by another year — till May 31, 2009.

The term of MDMA, which is probing the role of controversial godman Chandraswami and others — including some LTTE leaders in the conspiracy — was to expire on May 31, 2008. The decision for extension was taken after reviewing the demand of the CBI in this regard following the meeting of agency chief Vijay Shanker with home minister Shivraj Patil last week.

"The home ministry has agreed in principle to give MDMA another extension and a required notification in this regard will be issued shortly,” said a senior home ministry official, adding the agency has, however, been asked to speed up its probe as it has already taken a lot of time since 1998.

The MDMA, comprising officials from the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Enforcement Directorate (ED), has, on its part, asked the government to use diplomatic channels to ensure help from different countries in locating the conspirators and their financial network.

Read more,
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/

Kingfisher to fly to Lanka soon

Kingfisher Airlines, India's first and only five star airline, is planning to fly to Sri Lanka at end of the year.

Regional Manager Trade Sales, of the airline, Ritam Saha in an exclusive interview told the Daily News Business that they hope to initially operate three frequencies per week to Sri Lanka.

Business tycoon Dr. Vijay Mallya ranked among the richest businessmen in the world owns the airline and he recently acquired Air Deccan. Saha said the airline has become stronger and has been growing very fast. "We would be flying to Bangladesh, Huston and New York by end of August. Sri Lanka has been in the list of Kingfisher expansion of horizons for a long time," he said.

Asked if they would look for a partner in Sri Lanka he said "We would be going on our own when we fly Colombo," he said. "Sri Lanka has tremendous growth potential since many Indians travel to Sri Lanka," he added. Commenting on speculation that the airline was keen to purchase Emirates airline shares he said this was not something in the pipeline. "We want to consolidate our Indian operations and moving into another country is not in our agenda right now," he said.

Read more,
http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/05/12/bus01.asp

2 LTTE militants held, explosives seized

The coastal security wing of the Tamil Nadu police has seized explosives shipment meant for the LTTE and arrested two suspected militants off the coast of Rameswaram, 600 km from here (Chennai).

Additional director-general of police (coastal security) Jagan Sheshadri said, “During our operations since last night we came across a boat off the Rameswaram coast in the Palk Bay containing chemicals and detonators. Two suspected militants were arrested”. Rameswaram is the closest point in India to Jaffna, the LTTE stronghold in Sri Lanka.

The state police said following stepping up of vigil in the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar, shipment of arms, explosives and contrabands to the LTTE had been curbed and many boats carrying such materials had been seized.

However, according to intelligence sources, the Tamil Tiger rebels have received at least three shipments of military hardware in the recent months. The arms shipments reached the Tigers despite claims by the Sri Lankan Navy that it had destroyed most of the LTTE's arms ships.

The intense use of heavy artillery shells by the LTTE during the recent conflicts with the Sri Lankan army have raised fresh concern within the island nation’s military establishment about the Tigers’ ability to replenish their dwindling armoury.

Read more,
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080511/main4.htm

UPFA wins the eastern province election

The results of the eastern province election as follows,

UPFA 308886 votes and 20 seats
UNP 250732 votes and 15 seats
JVP 9360 votes and 1 seat
TDNA 7714 votes and 1 seat

For full details of the eastern province election Result,
http://www.news.lk/eastern_election-2008/Eastern_main.html

Sri Lankan Worker’s Charred Body Found in Abha Apartment

Police are investigating the case of a Sri Lankan national whose partially charred body was found in his apartment in the southern city of Abha on Friday.

Mohammed Imtisam Shamsudeen, 28, assistant manager of Home Center in Abha, has been working for Al-Bandar International House for Trading Company for the past four years.

Shamsudeen’s relatives in Sri Lanka said they suspect foul play. “When he called his wife Fathima Feroza three days ago, he told her that he had been receiving death threats from unknown sources,” his father S. Deen told Arab News, speaking from the town of Negombo.

Deen said his son had told his wife that if he were to die in the Kingdom then his last wish would be to be buried in Makkah. “If I had known that this would happen so quickly, I would have asked him to come back for good,” he said.

Shamsudeen is also survived by his one-year-old daughter, Ayesha. Deen said his son visited Sri Lanka two years ago to get married and returned four months ago to see his daughter. During his last visit, Shamsudeen had told his wife that he would take them to the Kingdom.

Read more,
http://www.arabnews.com/

Eastern Sri Lanka poll 'relatively violence-free'

The poll to elect a maiden provincial council in eastern Sri Lanka ended on a 'relatively violence-free note' with nearly 60 percent of about one million voters exercising their franchise, the election commission said Saturday.

'According to reports received at the close of the poll, the estimated voter turnout was approximately 65 percent, 55 percent and 60 percent in Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee respectively. Counting has commenced for postal votes,' the election department said.

An assistant commissioner of the election department at Rajagriya in Colombo told IANS Saturday evening that though there were reports of poll-related violence in all three districts in the eastern province, 'they were not serious in nature'.

'There were no immediate reports of 'serious poll-related violence' that could affect the overall outcome of the poll. We, however, have to wait for the zonal reports, which would be out only after the ballot boxes are opened for counting,' he said on condition of anonymity.

'Overall, I would say, the poll is relatively violence free,' he said, adding that the final result for the council would not be released if there was any re-polling due to malpractices.

However, the opposition parties such as the United National Party (UNP), the Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) have charged that the poll was largely marred by violence, including rigging, impersonation, assault and intimidation instigated by pro-government mobs.

Read more,
http://www.indiaenews.com/srilanka/20080510/117229.htm