Peace for the World

Peace for the World
First democratic leader of Justice the Godfather of the Sri Lankan Tamil Struggle: Honourable Samuel James Veluppillai Chelvanayakam

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Gota gets posters pasted against Mervyn in Kelaniya

Wednesday, 04 January 2012 
The Chairman and councilors of the Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha have pasted posters against Minister Mervyn Silva with the full knowledge of Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.
The Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman and councilors who are in the list of “to be abducted” persons had met with the Defence Secretary and begged for mercy and had confessed that most of the crimes were committed following orders by Minister Mervyn Silva.
Mervyn’s lackeys are displeased that the Minister failed to intervene when Loku Seeya from Ragama who carried out so many rackets for him was abducted and killed and abducted and detained his coordinating secretary Amal Rodrigo.
Amal Rodrigo had revealed a large number of corrupt acts carried out by the Minister and his lackeys to the Defence Secretary’s “white van” clan. Following the revelations made by Amal, the “white van” clan has been after the Chairman of the Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha.
Realizing that there lives were in danger, the Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman and the councilors had met the Defence Secretary and informed him of the corruption taking place n the Kelaniya area including corruption by the police officers.
The councilors had revealed details about large scale extortion of monies from businessmen and shop owners in the area adding that the Pradeshiya Sabha did not receive any monies from the shops in the weekly pola as it was collected by one of the Minister’s lackeys.
The Defence Secretary has assigned security personnel to arrest the person extorting monies from the shops in the weekly pola in Kelaniya and to ensure that the monies are sent instead to the Pradeshiya Sabha.
Mervyn Silva who was in Dubai on a vacation with his family had returned to the country two days ago after hearing about issue and had met the Defence Secretary.
The President has also asked Mervyn and the Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha councilors to meet him this evening.

Sri Lanka ‘ready’ to devolve powers to provinces

Wednesday, 04 January 2012

Perhaps because of the visit of the Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna this month, and also the upcoming meeting of the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva in March, the Lankan government has now thought it fit to soften its stand on a critical issue holding up talks with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) on finding a political solution to the Tamil problem.
In an interview with the government’s official website on Tuesday, the cabinet spokesman, Keheliya Rambukwella, said that the government was ready to discuss with the TNA the extent to which powers over land and police could be transferred to the provinces. “We are concerned about giving police and land powers to provinces. However, we are ready to consider giving those powers within a certain scope if such a proposal is made by the TNA. For that, the TNA should remain at talks with the government”, Minister Rambukwella said.
“Dealing with day to day affairs such as smaller crimes and complaints could be dealt with by Provincial authorities,” he added.
The TNA had made it clear that powers over land, and the law and order machinery, should be devolved if the talks were to be continued and a genuine reconciliation with the Tamils could be brought about. The TNA had said that powers over land and the police had to be devolved as per the 13th Amendment of the Lankan constitution enacted after the India-Sri Lankan Accord of 1987. But the TNA had also said that it was ready to discuss and find solutions to any reservations the government might have.
Earlier, President Mahinda Rajapaksa had dubbed the demand for land and police powers as the demand of the LTTE and hence, unacceptable. He said that if police powers were devolved, the Tamil-led government of the Northern Province could arrest him if it wanted to.

TNA and SLMC want Mullaitivu LG Elections postponed

 
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) yesterday requested the Elections Commissioner Mahinda Desapriya to postpone the elections to the local government bodies in the Mullaitivu district, informed sources said.

Earlier, the Commissioner announced he would conduct the elections to the Puthukuduiruppu and Maritime Pattu Pradeshiya Sabhas in the district in March.
The representatives of the political parties yesterday met with Mr. Desapriya to discuss matters related to the election. 

TNA MP Selvam Adaikkalanathan and SLMC General Secretary Hasan Ali said it would be advisable to postpone the election at least by six months. Nevertheless, Mr. Desapriya replied that he had completed the basic work for the conduction of the election in March. He said he could withhold the election only for a further period of one month in terms of the election law.

“If the election is to be delayed further, the political parties should take a decision. Or else, they should enact a new law in Parliament seeking the cancellation of nominations called for,” he said. 

UPFA Secretary Minister Susil Premajayantha was currently in the north on an observation tour to seek the possibility of conducting the election as early as possible. 

Besides, the Commissioner asked the representatives of the parties to meet him early next month to discuss the matter further. For the time being, he said, every step was in place to conduct the polls in March. (Kelum Bandara)

Regime’s New year blessings to nation : white Van killings intensified – a Puttalam social service worker killed yesterday !

 
(Lanka-e-News -03.Jan.2012, 11.55P.M.) A Puttalam social service worker was abducted by the white Van yesterday night (02) and murdered. The victim of this crime is Mohomed Nisthar , a married individual residing at Puttalam who was engaged in combating drug menace as part of his social service work.


Nisthar who owns a three wheeler had been abducted when he was heading for a filling station in the Puttalam Town in the night to pump fuel for his vehicle. A white Van had abducted him when he was on the way to the filling station. His body with gunshot injuries was found abandoned at Sankuttikulam district , Puttalam the following day. He had been shot in the chest and head.
This murder is the second killing of social service worker in Puttalam district .Previously Pattani Razik another social service worker was abducted and his body was discovered some time later.


With the dawn of the new year , two days ago , on the 1st , an individual by the name of Lilantha Dabare was abducted in the white Van at Thalawatugoda . His body was later discovered abandoned.

Tangalla tourist Hotel ghastly murder and rape- here is the true story with evidence: Russian girl raped by 8 persons –eye witnesses say


 (Lanka-e-News -03.Jan.2012, 11.55P.M.) In the recent ghastly murder and rape committed at a Tangalla tourist resort where a foreign tourist Kuram Shaik , a red cross worker was gruesomely murdered and a lady , Russian national was critically injured, it has come to light that the latter had been raped viciously by 8 persons, according to reports reaching Lanka e news.
Lanka e news is also in possession of clear , cogent and irrefutable evidence that the tourist Kuram Shaik , the British National had got killed when he obstructed the local body Chairman Sampath and his violent gang from raping the Russian tourist , and not when he tried to intervene in a quarrel between the Chairman and his violent gang , and another group, which was the distorted picture painted by the Police. Lanka e news is armed with full evidence to prove that the police is concocting a false story to protect the actual murderers.
 Full story >>

Sri Lanka ‘ready’ to devolve powers to provinces

ExpressBuzz
P K Balachandran
Last Updated : 04 Jan 2012 10:22:12 AM IST

COLOMBO: Perhaps because of the visit of the Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna this month, and also the upcoming meeting of the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva in March, the Lankan government has now thought it fit to soften its stand on a critical issue holding up talks with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) on finding a political solution to the Tamil problem.
n an interview with the government’s official website on Tuesday, the cabinet spokesman, Keheliya Rambukwella, said that the government was ready to discuss with the TNA the extent to which powers over land and police could be transferred to the provinces.  “We are concerned about giving police and land powers to provinces. However, we are ready to consider giving those powers within a certain scope if such a proposal is made by the TNA. For that, the TNA should remain at talks with the government”, Minister Rambukwella said.
“Dealing with day to day affairs such as smaller crimes and complaints could be dealt with by Provincial authorities,” he added.
The TNA had made it clear that powers over land, and the law and order machinery, should be devolved if the talks were to be continued and a genuine reconciliation with the Tamils could be brought about. The TNA had said that powers over land and the police had to be devolved as per the 13th Amendment of the Lankan constitution enacted after the India-Sri Lankan Accord of 1987. But the TNA had also said that it was ready to discuss and find solutions to any reservations the government might have.
Earlier, President Mahinda Rajapaksa had dubbed the demand for land and police powers as the demand of the LTTE and hence, unacceptable. He said that if police powers were devolved, the Tamil-led government of the Northern Province could arrest him if it wanted to.

Exam excellence defies oppression


Tamil Guardian 04 January 2012



Facing the pervasive climate of fear and militarisation with resilience and defiance, Tamil students in the North-East have exceled at recent national exams.
Topping the national GCE mathematics examination in Sri Lanka, Kamalavasan, from Uduppitti American Mission College, achieved 3 As (3.1167 z points). 
The second highest grade nationally in Science was achieved by another Tamil student - Sanjayan.
Their success has been praised by the Tamil nation the world over, from their home towns, to their peers across the diaspora.
"To have achieved these grades is simply incredible", said Sophie Sivachandran, from the TYO-UK's (Tamil Youth Organisation UK) Education Council.
"They have studied through the very real threat of disappearances, torture, and even murder when travelling too and from school everyday."
Whilst the government proclaims peace, the fear of abductions and attacks by the Sri Lankan military and paramilitary groups continues to prevent Tamil boys and girls attending school regularly.
The systematic intimidation, and use of brutal violence targeting educational figures,student groups and institutions, such as the Jaffna university, continues to instill dread in the minds of Eelam Tamils.
However, the verocious academic achievements of the Tamil youth continues, as it has done for over sixty decades.
Despite the Sinhala Only Act, nationwide discrimination against Tamil students for university places and attacks on institutes of academic excellence such as the Jaffna Library, the capacity of Tamils for academia has proved unstoppable.

Financial weaknesses key rating constraint for Sri Lanka, says Moody's

Colombo (The Island/ANN) - Sovereign ratings agency Moody's says Sri Lanka's financial weaknesses are a key rating constraint but reforms and economic growth could mitigate these risks. Last month, Fitch ratings placed Sri Lanka among the highest-risk financial systems in the Asia Pacific Regions which also highlighted structural issues in the external sector front. Central Bank Govenor Ajith Nivard Cabraal had dismissed the Fitch report as being confusing as the economy registered a growth rate of 8.3 percent in 2011 when most developing economies continued to slump.
Moody's Investors Service noted that the government of Sri Lanka's B1 rating and positive outlook for its foreign-currency obligations is based on an assessment of the country's low economic and government financial strengths, moderate institutional strengths and moderate susceptibility to event risks, the ratings agency said in a statement yesterday (Jan. 03).
"The country's economic scale and diversity, and per capita income level, are in line with most single B-rated sovereigns. However, a peace dividend in the form of a pick-up in economic growth, if sustained, should translate into greater credit strength. The pace and permanence of an improvement in credit fundamentals will also be determined by the success of ongoing structural and fiscal reforms.
"The methodological assessment was contained in Moody's latest annual report on Sri Lanka which sees financial weaknesses as a key rating constraint. This arises from the legacy of large budget deficits from the civil war years which ended in 2009, and which have contributed to a large government debt overhang.
"Sri Lanka's fiscal space and flexibility are constrained, in comparison to most other sovereigns, and could prove vulnerable to shocks, although contingent liabilities from state enterprises and the banking sector are currently remote.
"However, Moody's assessment of government financial strength would improve if the favourable trend in debt dynamics proves ongoing, the recently enacted fiscal reforms continue to perform well, and if strong economic growth is sustained and the external balance of payments strengthen over time.
"Looking ahead, in view of Sri Lanka's shallow capital markets and relatively modest level of gross domestic savings, Moody's will continue to place credit emphasis on an improvement in fiscal management.
"The report notes that the positive outlook announced in July 2011 was prompted by an increasingly evident peace dividend, as reflected in greater macroeconomic and financial stability, a policy orientation of fiscal reform and economic growth, supported by a successful IMF program, and a reduction in political event risk following the end of the civil war in 2009.
"However, a deepening current account deficit and lower-than-expected foreign exchange reserve level projected for the end of 2011 suggests that external vulnerability event risk has not yet receded to a low level and remains moderate.
"With a population of 20 million and a $50 billion economy in 2010, Sri Lanka is wealthier than all its neighbours in the Indian subcontinent by per-capita income. Yet Sri Lanka's $5,040 per capita income, on a purchasing power basis (as of 2010), is slightly lower than the Ba3- to B2-peer median of $5,152.
"Another noteworthy point is an unblemished track record of debt-servicing. Except for a voluntary relaxation of payment terms by the Paris Club in 2005 on account of the tsunami in December 2004 - which affected $227 million in principal and interest payments out of the then-external debt stock of US$13 billion - Sri Lanka has never restructured, or defaulted on sovereign debt.
"In combination with a relatively low level of per capita income overall, its political Voice and Accountability governance indicator points to a heightened susceptibility to domestic political event risk, says the Moody's report. The reintegration of the Tamil minority in the war-torn northeast region is progressing, but the process of political reconciliation is at an early stage," Moody's said.

Alleged war crimes:SL wants UN to lift embargo on evidence

January 3, 2012,

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The government expects the UN to lift an unprecedented 20-year embargo on both written and oral material in its hands pertaining to alleged war crimes committed by GoSL troops and the LTTE to help domestic investigations into complaints.

Authoritative sources told The Island that those sceptical of a domestic investigation process as recommended by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) should make available whatever evidence in their possession to facilitate inquiries.

A UN imposed embargo shouldn’t be an obstacle to Sri Lanka’s inquiry, ministerial sources said.

Responding to a query, a senior official said that those wanting to haul up Sri Lanka’s political and military leaders before an international war crimes tribunal should make use of the opportunity and make available information they claim to possess. In fact, such a move could strengthen their case against the GoSL.

The Report of the UNSG’s Panel of Experts (PoE) on Accountability in Sri Lanka declared that written and oral material wouldn’t be accessible for a 20-year period.

The PoE emphasised that nearly all of its records had been categorised as strictly confidential with additional protections regarding future use in some cases.

The PoE comprised Marzuki Darusman, Steven R. Ratner and Yasmin Sooka.

Military sources said that the UN should tell the GoSL whether the embargo on evidence applied in the event Sri Lanka faced charges before an international tribunal. Against the backdrop of the International Crisis Group (ICG) demanding the establishment of an independent international investigation in 2012, it would be pertinent to ask all those wanting to punish Sri Lanka when evidence in the hands of the UN would be made available, sources said.

The PoE is on record as having said that it has received over 4,000 submissions from 2,300 persons.

Success of a local or international inquiry would largely depend on the availability of the required evidence, both written and oral, received by those conducting a particular probe, government sources said referring to the UK’s Iraq war Inquiry. The investigation team is on record as having said that it needs time till summer this year as it had to negotiate the declassification of a significant volume of currently classified material with the government to enable this to be quoted in, or published alongside, the Inquiry’s report.


Sri Lanka to hold first post-war census in March

January 04, 2012
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka will hold its first post-war census in March which will cover the entire Indian Ocean island for the first time in over 30 years, officials said on Wednesday. 

The Department of Census and Statistics will launch the initiative on March 20, gathering information on demographics, education, computer literacy, migration and sanitation in homes. 

"It will be our first full survey since 1981," the statistics office Director General Suranjana Vidyaratne told reporters. 

"The war in the north and east had earlier stopped us from doing detail island wide census." 

The Tamil Tigers were crushed in a military offensive in May 2009 that ended 37-years of ethnic bloodshed, which the United Nations estimated claimed some 100,000 lives. 

The department had originally scheduled the census for July last year, but Vidyaratne said they needed more time to complete their work. 

Some 80,000 people will be deployed across the country to collect preliminary data in February ahead of the main census day. 
Agence France-Presse

Boycott looming if Colombo's not on track


CALGARY HERALD

  By Mansoor Ladha, Calgary Herald January 4, 2012


Canada will boycott the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), scheduled in Sri Lanka in 2013, if Colombo does not improve its human rights record. Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued this ultimatum during the last CHOGM meeting held last year in Perth, Australia.
Harper has demanded better human rights accountability and a stringent reconciliation program with the island-nation's Tamil population.
"We are looking for a number of things from Sri Lanka. We're looking for action on the events around the conflict in that country. We're looking for action on refugees and displaced persons. And we're looking for action on political reconciliation," Harper said in an interview.
Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Boycott+looming+Colombo+track/5943606/story.html#ixzz1iV26rQSV

Sri Lanka, China combine for new broadcast tower



A new 350 metre high communications tower is to grace the skyline of Colombo, following a deal signed by the Sri Lankan Government and China on 3 January.
The tower will host 50 television services providers, 50 broadcasting service providers and 10 telecommunications service providers – having a major impact on the nation's communication and information technology sectors, according to Sri Lanka's Telecommunications Regulatory Commission Director General Anusha Pelpita.
The 11 story Lotus Tower Building and its accompanying Leisure Garden is reportedly set to become the tallest tower in South Asia and the 19th tallest tower in the world.
The tower, which will feature a revolving restaurant and reception area for 1,000 people, will be built on a 3.03 hectare site, following recent approval by the Sri Lankan Cabinet.
Construction will be completed in 30 months' time at a cost of US$100 million. The project will be funded by the Exim Bank of China.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Why not sing Kolaveri Di in Jaffna Tamil?

http://a0.twimg.com/profile_images/877084884/Groundviews_bigger.jpg

*groundview journalism For citizens     3 Jan, 2012






Thumbnail

yarlmusic

Music Label & Music Promoters from Jaffna, Sri lanka.
It was less than 200 years ago that the title of “orator” or “navalar” was bestowed on Kandar Arumukam Pillai, by the grateful inhabitants of South India. Leaving his native Jaffna for a time, he had spearheaded a renaissance of the Tamil language and culture in South India preaching, printing and endowing educational institutions. Thus began a long history of Jaffna Tamil involvement in the renaissance of Tamil. Thamotharampillai, Winslow and Kanagasabai Pillai are but a few whose contribution to the Tamil renaissance that rushed through South India and Jaffna.[1]
Jaffna’s isolation from Sanskritic influence and its commitment to education has meant that it considers itself culturally superior to the natives of Tamil Nadu, it considers it language and culture purer and closer that of that Sangam ideal. Therefore it comes as no surprise that the blast of the trumpet against the now infamous  “Kolaveri” song should be so strong in Jaffna. The day before yesterday SJ Stalin released a fascinating response to the song, entitled “Yarlpanathilirunthu Kolaverida”, a rough translation would be “Dude, Bloodlust from Jaffna”.  Its essence is a celebration of Tamil language and culture, a deploration of the bastardisation of Tamil and chastisation of those who are ashamed of their Tamilness.


At first glance, the music video appears to be primarily targeted at Dhanush. His mix of English and Tamil in the Kolaveri song has proved immensely popular with over 30 million hits on Youtube. Stalin considers his song a war on the Tamil language and describes his attitude toward it as bloodlust. He wonders why Dhanush chooses to use English – he asks why Tamil is scarce in its heartland, Tamil Nadu. He seems to imply that if Tamil gave sufficient creative freedom for Kamban, Valluvar and Bharathi it should be enough for Dhanush. Stalin thinks that Dhanush doesn’t give Tamil the respect that it deserves. As an ancient language, one which Stalin describes as predating the creation of stones and sand, Tamil has a rich literature and culture and Dhanush appears to ignore this and consider Tamil lacking. This is brought out by the poignant contrast between the focus on the keyboard in Dhanush’s work as opposed to the harmonium, perceived to be a more indigenous instrument, in Stalin’s video.
From a political point of view, the vehemence with which Dhanush is attacked is notable. In India, Tamil feels more secure now that the policy of replacing English with Hindi, popular in the 1960s, is dead. In contrast, the Tamils of Ceylon, whose numbers have dwindled considerably as a result of the war and migration, now feel that their language and culture are under attack –  just as when the first missionaries arrived in Jaffna in the 1800s. The reaction, as then, is one of Tamil pride and yearning for the glory days of Dravidian power and culture – the Sangam period.
The politics does not end there. The opening scene highlights an official government signboard, at the entrance of Jaffna, which has Singhalese at the top and an indigenous signboard where Tamil is above Singhalese. This juxtaposition highlights the vulnerability of Tamil and the divergence of official and popular sentiments toward language policy in the North. The continuous flow of buses from the South into Jaffna must demonstrate a concern with the increasing settlement of people from the South (read Singhalese). The police board in the corner (again Singhalese top, Tamil bottom) takes the mind down an associative track that ends in colonisation and cantonments. Another associative track is set in motion by the constant reference to bloodlust, intermingled with references to Ahimsa (non-violence) and revolutionary zeal – we all know where it leads.
It also highlights the threat to Tamil from within. After years of persecution some Tamils have chosen to hide or disassociate from their Tamil identities – especially in the metropolis of Colombo. The victory of the Sri Lankan Army, and the present occupation of sorts constantly reminds Tamils that they are second-class citizens. Stalin’s video is an exhortation for Tamil’s to embrace their culture; hence his parting cry to the Tamil is, “keep your head high”.
Why this bloodlust toward my Tamil language?
My tamil language, my mother tongue
Beautiful tongue, poor thing dude
Tamil, before the creation of sand and stones, dude
If you are a Tamil, you need have a little self respect dude
In the Tamil heartland
Where Tamil is praised
Why is Tamil scarce?
Listen, Tamil who abandons Tamil
Who accepts medals
Kamban’s lines
Valluvar’s sayings
Bharathi’s poems, where?
From birth
To maturity singing
Where has Tamil’s pride gone?
Why this bloodlust toward my Tamil language, dude?
Tamil, my mother tongue, sublime language, poor thing dude
Jesus, Buddha, Gandhi all asked us to listen to the call of Ahimsa, listen.
Studying Tamil’s richness will abate your bloodlust, try!
In the company of the Tamil who one an Oscar [2]
Who accepted his honour in Tamil [3]
The Revoulutionary Poet
Who sang in the beautiful tongue
Mixed his life with Tamil!
Make Tamil live, no let it live
My soul still won’t support me
You who call your self Tamil, hold your head high
Only that will do
All who have toiled for Tamil
Stood amidst lost opportunities
He who left Tamil and lived
Calls himself an artist
Anyone who creates for money
Isn’t a true artist
If he’s one who relishes whatever he is given
He isn’t a connoisseur
Why this blood lust to towards my Tamil language, dude
Tamil, my mother tongue, sublime language, poor thing dude
Jaffna that place noted for its classical Tamil,
Tamil, your duty is to protect our Tamil mother-tongue

Ending the Exile and Back to Roots: Fears, Challenges and Hopes

http://a0.twimg.com/profile_images/877084884/Groundviews_bigger.jpg *groundview journalism For citizens 

[Editors note: The author was married to Dr. Rajini Thiranagama (née Rajasingham), a Tamil human rights activist and feminist murdered in 1989 by the LTTE. She was one of the founding members of the University Teachers for Human Rights, Jaffna, which during the war, published some of the most hard hitting critiques and exposes of Government as well as LTTE atrocities and human rights violations. Since 2009, Dayapala Thiranagama's insightful articles to Groundviewshave been amongst the site's most read and shared.]
###
Politics can be relatively fair in the breathing spaces of history; at its critical turning points there is no other rule possible than the old one, that the end justifies the means” (Arthur Koestler, Darkness at Noon, London, 1940, Page 81).
On 27  December 1989 I arrived in Heathrow along with my two young daughters, aged 9 and 11 years. At  the Immigration Desk the  Officer asked me how long we intended  to stay.I replied ‘a couple of weeks’. My youngest daughter still hanging on to my hand and whispered  to me ‘Thaththa, don’t tell lies we are not going back to Sri Lanka’.  She  of course  was telling the truth. Now after more than two decades I had to return to  Sri Lanka alone, leaving them behind.

TNA ‘sincerely committed’ to talks‪

 
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) today dismissed speculation that it was planning to withdraw from talks with the government and reiterated its commitment to continue the bilateral discussions.

The party also denied reports that it would launch a campaign to seek the support of the Colombo-based diplomatic community to pressure the Sri Lankan government on power devolution.

“We are sincerely committed to evolving an acceptable political solution and we will work to achieve a positive outcome that will put the country on the right track,” TNA Parliamentary Group Leader R. Sampanthan said.

Asked whether any special meetings had been sought to discuss matters pertaining to the national question with foreign missions in Colombo Mr. Sampanthan said, “We meet members of the diplomatic community regularly and there is no special reason for us to meet them now.”

TNA Parliamentarian M. A. Sumanthiran also confirmed that no specific meetings had been arranged with members of the diplomatic community to apprise them of the on-going talks with the Government.

Sumanthiran stated that his party was not swayed by comments attributed to President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Cabinet Spokesman and Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella on the TNA’s ‘war mentality’ and the non-negotiability of land and police powers, but would continue to engage in talks with a view to finding a lasting agreement. 
The next round of talks will be held on January 17, 18 and 19. (Ayesha Zuhair)

Ten suspects identified in Bharatha murder case

BBCSinhala.com


MP Duminda Silva's official bodyguards were among the ten suspects identified by witnesses of presidential advisor Bharatha Lakshman murder hearing.
  Presidential adviser Bharatha LakshmanThe suspects were identified by nine witnesses at an identification parade held on Tuesday at Colombo magistrate courts.
MP Duminda Silva with defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse
MP Duminda Silva is attached to the defence ministry

Three of the identified suspects were police constables who worked as official bodyguards for wounded MP Duminda Silva.
The legal team representing the murdered presidential advisor's family asked the court to make arrangements to arrest one of the main suspects Duminda Silva.
CID request
They said the court is unable to request for the arrest of the suspect through Interpol, as the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of Sri Lanka had not declared that it is not possible to arrest the MP.
In an earlier hearing, the CID stated in court that the suspect Duminda Silva is currently undergoing medical treatment in Singapore, and was in poor health. The CID said that it was not possible to arrest the suspect due to his medical condition.
International warrent
"Additional Magistrate told the courts that an International warrant can only be requested in a situation where the local police are unable to arrest a suspect. The CID had not declared that they are not able to arrest Duminda Silva", Lawyer Akalanka Ukwatte, member of the legal team representing the family of the victim told the BBC Sinhala Service.
The CID declared in court that the first shots were fired by police sergeant Gamini, who was on official security duty with presidential advisor Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra.

SRI LANKA: The murder of the British national and the rape of the Russian lady at Tangalla allegedly by a local politician close to the government


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The murder of Kuram Shaikah Zaman (32), a prosthetic expert who was working in the Gaza Strip for the International Committee of the Red Cross allegedly by a local politician, accompanied by a gang has led to a sharp criticism against the failure of the Sri Lankan government to maintain law and order and encouraging lawlessness and criminal behaviour. 

Zaman and an associate, a Russian lady by the name of Ms. Victoria Alexandrovna, (23) went to Sri Lanka for short vacation. A number of foreign girls, including Victoria were enjoying a party when the chairman of the Pradeshiya Sabha, Sampath Chandra Pushpa Vidanapathirana, wanted to dance with the girls; however, they refused. The infuriated chairman started a quarrel with the girls and Zaman, who was outside at the time came in and tried to stop the altercation. At this stage Zaman was assaulted and stabbed with a sharp instrument; he was also shot at, according to the reports of eyewitnesses. 
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In 2012, let us move forward on the concept of Year for International Crimes Investigation


Tuesday, 03 January 2012
Let us move forward on strengthening the struggles of our People
Fellow Citizens of Tamil Eelam, our brethren from Tamil Nadu and of Diaspora, and our well-wishers,
As the entire world is welcoming the dawn of year 2012 with much fanfare and celebration, it is with pride and pleasure that I take this joyous moment to send you the warmest greetings on behalf of TGTE, and on my behalf.
As far as the Nation of Tamil Eelam is concerned, the year 2012 will remain an important year for all our activities. Let there be no doubt in our minds about it.
This is the year that we, the people of Tamil Eelam, will have to take concerted and meaningful steps in our struggle forward to extricate ourselves from the tentacles of Sinhala Buddhist racism. In this context, I consider it appropriate to share with you, some of my thoughts regarding these steps to be taken and about the action plan that TGTE proposes. As you may already be aware of, TGTE has already declared Year 2012 as the Year of the International Crimes Investigation.
In this Year of the International Crimes Investigation, let us resolve to resort to determined action and achieve steady progress in establishing in the international arena, that those war crimes and crimes against humanity perpetrated by the Sri Lankan Government in those final days of their war of aggression against our people are indeed, a virulent manifestation of the crime of genocide; and what the Sri Lankan Government is carrying out to date on our soil against our people and against our institutions is part of the same act of genocide.
It is a matter of record that it hasn’t sunk well in the collective minds of International community that what the Sinhalam has been perpetrating against our people in our Homeland might constitute an act of genocide. They would rather prefer to view these crimes as War crimes. Be it those governments of the world, or be it some international human rights organizations, they all seem to prefer to approach this problem of ours from a war crimes perspective. In the present world order, where the overarching emphasis is on the vested interests of governments, none of these governments are in a position yet to yield to our requests and accept these acts of the Sri Lanka Government as constituting acts of genocide. The toughest challenge that lies ahead of us today is to get them to face the truth: what is being perpetrated against the Nation of Tamil Eelam today is an act of genocide. It is imperative that we implement a series carefully planned activities in order to face this challenge squarely. It also behooves us to garner the support of people of the world that stand for justice and peace; and then to operate effectively from this support base, to convince the governments of the world through a series of planned activities, that our cause is just and fair.
In this regard, TGTE has already formed a panel of experts and mandated it to engage in planning and executing a series of measures to further the genocide charges against the leadership of Sri Lanka. Simultaneously with the 3rd summit of the TGTE Assembly, the panel had sat in a brainstorming session in Buffalo to come up with strategies and tactics to bring forward the charges of genocide against Sri Lanka in the international arena. On the basis of decisions taken in that session, the panel will take some clearly defined measures beginning the year 2012.
It goes without saying, that garnering the support of the international community for an investigation on genocide charges against Sri Lankan Government is the inevitable next step in our struggle for liberation of our Homeland. It is for this reason that we have to give priority in our efforts to transform the international stance against Sri Lanka from that of war crimes to genocide.
It is about time too that we engaged in some direct struggles against the continuing structural genocide of the Sri Lankan Government in 2012. In order get these struggles going forward without a snag, the contribution and participation of the Homeland based Tamil leadership becomes indispensable. If the report of the Civil Society of our Homeland that came to the fore recently is anything, it is a fair indicator of the strong support that such a struggle could enlist from our Homeland brethren. As for our part, the TGTE commits itself to expanding the elements of such a struggle to our brethren in Diaspora and in Tamil Nadu. At present, there is every indication that the ill-fated powwow between the Homeland Tamil leadership and the Sinhala government may enter into a crisis mode any time soon and then break up. It is a certainty that the Sri Lankan Government will defeat all attempts by the Homeland Tamil leadership to bring it to its knees with the support of the international community. Under such circumstances, the need for the Nation of Tamil Eelam to engage in direct struggles in order to raise the pitch of its demand cannot be overemphasized. It is our earnest hope that 2012 will be the year to record an overwhelming number of such struggles. Any failure in direct talks will only help entrench our demand for an independent state of Tamil Eelam. That eventuality will, in turn, help to expand the international support base for the aspirations of the Eelam Tamil Nation for its own independent Homeland within the island.
From a strategic point of view, it is our hope to that TGTE will be able to take a step forward in the year 2012, in ensconcing itself as a power center to be reckoned with. From the inception onward, TGTE has been expanding its activity base gradually. At present, we are also making steady progress in expanding our ties to the nations of the world. We have established several contacts with many political entities including the Nation of South Sudan, the Government of Northern Ireland, and ANC of South Africa, many of the political leaders of international stature, and many scholars that count in the academic world; and we will certainly fortify and expand such contacts in the year 2012. These measures shall come in handy in our efforts to evolve TGTE’s status as a power center. If the TGTE is to succeed in its effort to transform itself as a power center, it is imperative that it should be seen as such in the State of Tamil Nadu. In this respect, the agenda of TGTE for the year 2012, accords a special place for its efforts to expand its activities in Tamil Nadu and other states of India.
It is our fervent hope that we shall be able to make steady progress in our march for liberation in the year 2012, by weaving in a meaningful way into our agenda such elements as:
The direct struggles in our Homeland against the continuing structural genocide of Sri Lankan Government;
Canvassing actively in the international arena for independent sovereign state of Tamil Eelam;
Taking forward our efforts to prove that the supposed war crimes of Sri Lankan leadership are indeed crimes of genocide; and
Taking concerted efforts to subject Sri Lankan regime to an independent international inquiry;
And, let me take this opportunity to assure you that for our part, we of the TGTE shall take all the necessary steps to ensure that our dear hopes blossom into a reality.
The thirst of the Nation is the Tamil Eelam Homeland!
V.Rudrakumaran   (Prime Minister)