'Indian military to protect Manmohan during SAARC summit'

Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa has approved a "heavy Indian military presence" in Colombo to provide security for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the upcoming SAARC summit in Colombo, said a media report here Sunday.

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit is scheduled to take place from July 27 to August 3 in the capital city of Colombo.

"The formal request to have Indian troops, helicopter gun ships, bullet-proof vehicles and related security arrangements was made by the three-member Indian delegation that visited Sri Lanka June 20," the Sunday Leader newspaper reported, referring to the visit by a top Indian delegation led by National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan.

Claiming that the presidential approval was granted following a request made by India in view of the current security situation in the country, the media report said that Sri Lanka had also "agreed to allow the Indian Navy to patrol and carry out surveillance in Sri Lankan territorial waters during the summit to ensure there are no terrorist attacks from the sea".

Read more,
http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/World/20080629/986942.html

Wimal-Pillaiyan in ‘historic’ pow-wow

National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader Wimal Weerawansa yesterday appeared to have found a new political ally in the shape of Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillaiyan, who pledged his support to the NFF if it decided to compete in the Eastern Province.

In an event which resembled the reunion of two long-separated brothers amidst surprising ‘closeness,’ the Eastern Province Chief Minister who later addressed the media, briefly said that the discussions between the two parties had turned out successfully and that the TMVP would support the NFF if the occasion demanded.

“If the NFF decides to take part in elections in the east, we will support them. We plan to meet again in the future for further discussions because the discussions we had today were highly successful,” Pillayan said.

Similar sentiments were echoed by NFF Leader Weerawansa. “This was our first meting with TMVP Leader Pillaiyan and we hope to meet again in the future to discuss the political situation prevailing in Sri Lanka,” Weerawansa added.

Meanwhile, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) MP K.D. Lalkantha said that this new “friendship” between the two was nothing that was unexpected since Weerawansa had been acting like a TMVP member during the last few months.

“Wimal has the freedom to meet anybody he wishes to. However, this was something that was waiting to happen. Wimal has been supporting Pillaiyan and the TMVP for the last few months. He justified the armed Pillaiyan’s victory at the Eastern Provincial Council election so this we believe is a step taken by Pillaiyan to express his gratitude to Wimal,” Lalkantha added.

Extracted from,
http://www.nation.lk/2008/06/29/news7.htm
Photos,
http://www.nffsrilanka.com/news.html

‘Aba’ aims international heights

‘Aba', Jackson Anthony's latest cinematic venture aims to attract international markets for local cinema.
Director Jackson says that he has already received invitations from several countries including China, Italy, Australia and few others.

‘Out of these China has expressed greater interest with plans to dub 'Aba' into Chinese,’ said Jackson. Discussions are underway to release the film in China through Chinese Film Bureau, the government institution that handles film industry in China.

‘Having seen the trailer, the officials from China who came to Sri Lanka recently were highly impressed with the film’ Jackson said with contentment. The delegation was on a mission to share their knowledge and technology with Sri Lanka.

‘We had taken them to our ‘Sarasavi’ studio which is in dire straits and showed them the problems about the lack of facilities and technology. But having seen certain scenes of 'Aba', Chinese official complained that we were making films with international standards while complaining about the poor facilities’ said Jackson with a smile.

Read more,
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/080629/TV/tvtimes002.html
Official web site of Aba,
http://www.aba.lk/

RNCOS Releases a New Report - Srilankan ICT Market Analysis

RNCOS has recently added a new Market Research Report titled, "Srilankan ICT Market Analysis" to its report gallery. The report explains the current and future scenario of the IT and telecom sectors covering Personal Computer, Internet, mobile & fixed telephony, and broadband.

The report highlights the key success factors and challenging issues for the Sri Lankan ICT industry and provides a rational analysis on its various aspects. The research findings will help the investors, financial service providers and global IT and telecom players to evaluate their success chances in the growing ICT market in Sri Lanka.

Key Findings

- During 2001-2007, total broadband subscribers in Sri Lanka grew at a CAGR of 143.99%.
- Total Internet users in Sri Lanka expanded at a CAGR of 40.2% during 2004-2007.
- Sri Lanka witnessed a massive increase of around 20% in its IT workforce in 2006 over 2005.
- Sri Lanka’s telecom sector soared in 2007 to 10.7 Million subscribers, led by a 47.9% jump in new mobile phone subscribers due to competition and falling call rates.
- Fixed-line subscribers (including wire-line and WLL) in the country rose to 2.7 Million in 2007 from 1.88 Million a year ago. With this, fixed-line subscriber penetration too increased from 4.42 per 100 people in 2001 to 13.1 per 100 people in 2007.
- As of 2007, the western part of Sri Lanka, accounting for 44% of total fixed-line telephone subscribers, had the major fixed-line telephone subscriber base.

Read more,
http://www.pr.com/press-release/92674

Wanni operation 27 th June 2008

Sri Lankan president says action on rebels to continue

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse said Saturday that the forward march of his troops will never be curtailed despite calls from interested parties to announce a ceasefire with Tamil Tiger rebels.

"There are calls for a ceasefire when the terrorists face defeat. I will not allow anyone to curtail the forward march of the troops," Rajapakse who is also the commander-in-chief of the island's security forces told a gathering of teachers.

Rajapakse since becoming the president at the end of 2005 has gone on a military offensive against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

His troops have captured the entire Eastern Province from the rebels' control and the government now claims the rebels have been limited to just two districts in the Northern Province.

Rajapakse's statement came as the military announced the capture of a major LTTE held area in the district of Mannar Saturday.

Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara, the military spokesman said a key rebel facility in Mannar's Parappakandal area was captured by the troops.

More than 7,000 people have perished in the island's separatist war since the end of 2005.

The Norwegian backed ceasefire which lasted six years was abandoned in January this year.

Extracted from,
http://calibre.mworld.com/m/m.w?lp=GetStory&id=312078791

Army captures Parappakadanthan base of terrorist leader "Bhanu"

The Army after heavy fighting with LTTE terrorists captured the village of PARAPPAKADANTHAN, MANNAR today (28) around 12.00 noon.

The village of PARRAPPAKADANTHAN, situated NORTH of GIANT'S TANK is a developed area consisting of many buildings and a large terrorist training complex including a firing range, the hideout of the LTTE leader "BHANU" and a terrorist cemetery. The ALKADDIVELI LTTE Cemetery was located between ANDANKULAM and PARRAPPAKADANTHAN

Extracted from,
http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/fullnews.php?id=13483

Wanni operation 26 th June 2008

Source,
http://defence.lk/videos/20060626_Wanni.wmv

The Major General’s Fustian Gamble

Our Politicians are selling their souls to the Devil in droves. "To gain what for themselves?" as the Persian tent maker asked. Most of them, just for a whiff or hope of political power. The UNP Leader, Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe, when he is not smashing coconuts, or breaking pots and pans or riding buggy carts on alighting from his luxury limousine, or when he is not tooting horns or promising bangles and bracelets to village damsels, is romping round Mrs. Chandrika B, his erstwhile ‘bete noir’, promising his political soul (what’s left or it!) for a mess or pottage, that pottage being whatever CB’s contribution can now be.

And CB herself is romancing round RW, offering her now defunct political soul to another political bankrupt. We see the same soul trading by Mr. Mahanama S’weera. Not to be outdone, the President and his coterie sold their political souls to some of the erstwhile "CFA Gang" and vice versa for like pottage. Political principles have been thrown in along with their souls for good measure. Dr. Faustus is in company! But the Midnight Hour will come!

And now the Faustian gamble is tempting Army types too, but hopefully will not spread too much. Major General Janaka Perera, Hero of many battles and the man who saved Jaffna in 1999/2000 has taken that Faustian plunge in accepting the UNP’s Chief Ministerial Candidacy of the NCP from the very forces that were hostile and treacherous to the Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity of the country which he so very able defended throughout his military career. He must know what damage both politically and militarily the UNP’s and RW’s CFA did to Sri Lanka.

Read more,
http://www.island.lk/2008/06/28/opinion4.html

NFF decided to hold public rallies in Sri Lanka

National Freedom Front [NFF] plans to hold a series of public rallies to educate masses on prevailing challenges of Sri Lanka.

Its spokesman said these rallies would not criticize the JVP or its activities but educate the public on present challenges, which are before the country. Leader of the NFF Wimal Weerawansa , Nandana Gunathilaka and other leading members of the NFF will address these rallies.

According to the NFF sources its first rally will be held on 30th of this month at Nugegoda .

�This is the first rally of the NFF� , said a spokesman of the party.

He said the NFF recently made an application to the Election Commissioner and asked to obtain Commissioner�s recognition as a political party. He said the Election Commissioner�s ruling on their application would be received within next few days.

extracted from,
http://www.lankaeverything.com/vinews/srilanka/20080627134725.php

No Riot Police in future for Bhikkus’ protests

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has directed the IGP to refrain from deploying ‘Anti- Riot Squads’ in protests and demonstrations involving the Maha Sangha, university students and students in future.

President Rajapaksa disclosed this when he addressed the inauguration ceremony of the renovated and modernised Beruwala Fisheries Harbour devastated by the tsunami.

The new-look and sophisticated Beruwala Fisheries Harbour will now serve the country in its development drive, the Beruwala fishing community in particular, with a mooring yard, a vessel repairing centre and a fishing facilitating center among others.

This project comes under the Thotupola Aruna programme, which envisages to construct 100 Anchorages along the Sri Lankan coastal belt, by the Ceylon Fisheries Harbours Corporation (CFHC), as envisioned in the Mahinda Chintanaya. The project is funded by the Government of the People’s Republic of China.

Addressing a large gathering at the ceremony, the President observed that he was greatly perturbed by the recent events that took place at a protest involving the Sangha.

He was of the view that ‘Anti- Riot Squads’ should only be used on grave and imminent danger situations and conditions where there were specific ‘riots’ in its true sense and the deployment of ‘riot squads’ was the only remedy and course of action available.

read more,
http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/06/28/news02.asp
Photos,
http://www.lankatruth.com/Full_Story_Page/2008/June/26/20080626_03.htm

25 corpses of LTTE uncovered: consolidate defences in Vavauniya

Scores of LTTE terrorists were reported killed and 25 bodies recovered after fighting brokeout between troops and LTTE in general area Chiraddikulama ahead of the Vavuniya defences yesterday (June 26), since 6p.m.

According to available information LTTE terrorists have received heavy damages as LTTE battle formations were said beaten in the military push launched by the 57 Division soldiers.

Meanwhile, 25 LTTE bodies were recovered by the troops who were engaged in search and clearing operations while consolidating the newly established defences, security sources said. Troops have also uncovered 20, T-56 assault riffles, 01x 12.7mm anti-air craft machinegun , 02x RPG launchers and 01x Light machinegun, MCNS sources said.

Extracted from,
http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080627_03
Photos,
http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080627_03 and
http://www.army.lk/morenews.php?id=14179

Now, ANDANKULAM Town in Army Hands

Giving a further severe blow to the terrorists fighting for division of the country, triumphant troops of the Army wrested the complete control of the ANDANKULAM town area of about 4 sq km on UIYLANKULAM-NEDUNKANDAL Road, about 2 km north of KARUNKANDAL, MANNAR Friday (27) evening, just two hours before this report was compiled.

Friday evening’s (27) fall of ANDANKULAM town into the hands of brave soldiers came less than six hours after troops dominated CHIRADDIKULAM area (LTTE 54-Base) in MULLATTIVU district decimating scores of terrorists amidst heavy fighting that continued since Thursday (26) evening. (See Day’s Situation Report, Photos & Highlights)

The fight for supremacy in ANDANKULAM town area resulted in the death of about 11 Tiger terrorists. Three valiant soldiers sustained injuries and were admitted to hospital. It is believed at least another dozen of terrorists were injured and taken away by pockets of fleeing terrorists further towards the north. Troops have so far recovered one dead body of a terrorist as the dusk fell after the bout of fighting.

ANDANKULAM, predominately a Tamil town with several state and commercial institutes, since of late has been widely utilized by Tiger terrorists as a cross-point for distribution of terrorist logistics and illegal weapons towards VIDDATHALATHIVU, a notorious Sea Tiger base, from where many smuggling rings and seaborne attacks are launched.

Extracted from,
http://www.army.lk/morenews.php?id=14180

Air strikes on a LTTE Special Unit Headquarters and Training Camp

MULLAITTIVU: Today (27) around 6.10am Air force launched an air strike on a LTTE Special Unit Headquarters and Training Camp using Air force fighter jets. The camp was located 10km North of ODDUYADAN junction. Air force pilots confirm that the target was accurately engaged.

Extracted from,
http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/fullnews.php?id=13465