Thursday, January 2, 2014

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MR – Wiggie Talks Today; Decides Immediate Action On Urgent Issues

January 2, 2014

The Chief Minister of the Northern Province Justice C.V.Wigneswaran, together with TNA National List MPM.A.Sumanthiran met the President, on the President’s invitation today afternoon, at 12.30 p.m. at Temple Trees. The Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, the Secretary to the Cabinet Sumith Abeysinghe and the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Dr. P.B. Jayasundara also attended the meeting.

Wigneswaran, together with Sumanthiran met the President | Photo Nalin Hewapathirana

The Chief Minister raised several urgent issues which are impediments to the effective functioning of the Northern Provincial Council, namely, the appointment of key officials, the provision of required finances and enabling the Provincial Council to exercise the powers currently devolved under the Constitution and moving beyond to make devolution meaningful.

It was decided at the meeting to take immediate action on several overdue urgent issues to enable the Northern Provincial Council to commence functioning smoothly to address the needs of the war affected people of the North and especially of its war widows, the displaced, the war orphans, the long term PTA detainees, women headed households and other vulnerable sections of the Northern society.

Of MR’s swipe

Editorial-January 1, 2014,

Critics of Sri Lanka’s human rights situation are either uninformed of the ground situation here or sympathetic to the LTTE, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said in a newspaper interview. With a little over two months to go for the next UNHRC session in Geneva, where Sri Lanka is expected to face another condemnatory resolution moved by the US, his swipe is obviously aimed at undermining the credibility of his detractors.

President Rajapaksa never misses any opportunity to tear into those who have embarked on a war crimes campaign against his government. His indignation is understandable, but their hostility stems from anything but ignorance, we reckon.

India has been quite au fait with the situation here. If not for its blessings, the LTTE couldn’t have been eliminated. True, there were times when New Delhi succumbed to pressure from Tamil Nadu and wanted the military operations in the Vanni suspended, but, overall, it was supportive of Sri Lanka’s war which effectively neutralised a threat to India’s national security as well. India had even been compelled to tighten security at nuclear power stations in its southern regions in view of the LTTE’s crude air wing. It must have been relieved to see Prabhakaran dead. But, today, it is one of the most vociferous critics of Sri Lanka’s war owing to some domestic political imperatives. It has also been left with no alternative but to join forces with western governments campaigning for a war crimes probe against Sri Lanka because it aspires to a seat in the UN Security Council and, therefore, wants to be in the good books of the global powers. Thus, it may be seen that India is on a campaign against Sri Lanka not because it is either uninformed/misguided or pro-LTTE.

In the UK, too, there are some constituencies where LTTE sympathisers claim to be able to determine the outcome of any election by voting for a party of their choice. David Miliband has admitted in a diplomatic cable disclosed by WikiLeaks that he, as the British Foreign Secretary, focused on this country and even rushed here during the final phases of the war in 2009 because of the pro-LTTE votes in Labour constituencies with slim majorities.

Politicians, the world over, hunger for votes and thirst for power, and it is only natural that most British politicians, especially the ruling party ones, are falling over themselves to woo pro-LTTE activists and have taken to Sri Lanka bashing in return for votes. But, by no stretch of the imagination, could they be described as uninformed about Sri Lanka. It’s just that they don’t give two hoots about facts, which they unflinchingly distort to suit their own agendas. The same goes for most of the Scandinavian countries where the LTTE is still strong. The US is a different kettle of fish in that its governments are not dependent on pro-LTTE voters for survival, but it also uses the Sri Lankan issue to further its geo-political interests.

The Rajapaksa government is in the current predicament mainly because it is perceived to be anti-western. It has so far launched expensive campaigns spearheaded by foreign PR firms to counter hostile propaganda overseas. But, such measures are of little use as regards the UNHRC, where, as External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris has pointed out, voting is determined not by the merits of a particular issue but by ‘strategic alliances and domestic political issues in other countries which had nothing to do with the subject matter of a resolution or the best interests of the country to which the resolution relates’. If the Sri Lankan government switches its allegiance to the West, the US and its allies will not give a tinker’s cuss about what is alleged to have happened during the Vanni war and/or other human rights issues they have made a big issue of; in such an eventuality they may even back it to the hilt in Geneva the way they have been protecting Bahrain.

TNA likely to support Mano at PC polls

Thursday, 02 January 2014

The TNA it is learnt is likely to

support Mano Ganeshan’s Democratic People’s Front (DPF) in the upcoming Provincial Council elections.

TNA Spokesperson, parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran has told the media that the party was likely to support the DPF.

The DPF supported the TNA at the Northern Provincial Council elections last September.

Ganeshan has told the media that the DPF expects the TNA’s support in the Western and Southern Provincial Council elections in the same manner as the DPF supported the TNA in the North.

He has added that estate workers in the Matara and Galle Districts have requested the DPF to contest in the Southern Province.

The Story Of Forecasting Snow In Jaffna

By Mahesan Niranjan -January 2, 2014

Prof. Mahesan Niranjan

Have you been in situations of embarrassment from which you wanted a quick exit? You might do it by suddenly changing the subject of conversation to get out of the difficulty, weather forecast being a popular trick. The South Indian Tamil author Jeyakanthan beautifully captures a variant of this in one of his short stories about a middle class family switching their conversation from Tamil to English: “the foreignness of the language masks the embarrassment of the topic being discussed,” he explains. My story today is about a young boy who found himself in such a situation and had to be rescued by his father’s wits.

The boy lived in Nallur, a fairly affluent suburb Jaffna town. If Jaffna had a system of postcodes, Nallur probably would have been allocated the number seven. It was a historic place, because in the 16^th century, the Portugese took several attempts to defeat its king. There is a famous temple and an equally famous ice cream parlour in Nallur. Many political discussions among Tamils end with reference to the temple occupant in despair: “If that is what you say, even NallurMurugan cannot save the Tamil people!” Recent history of the Tamil people has shown that saving them has never been high on the list of priorities for Murugan, yet he serves as a convenient source of hope. Apart from that, the temple offers a much cherished opportunity for middle class Tamil women to display their collection of gold jewels.

Thursday, January 02, 2014

Following the recent expression of interest to assist in a reconciliation process in Sri Lanka by South Africa, New Delhi based SA High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Geoff Doidge told The Sunday Leader that while Sri Lanka already had a good base with which to take the country forward in the LLRC where ‘excellent work was done’, there also was the need for another process. “I don’t have a magic answer for Sri Lanka what that process should be but there needs to be one that precedes the TRC,” he added.

Q: The idea of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission as a first step towards reconciliation has been mooted in the Sri Lankan context. What in your opinion is the relevance of such a mechanism here?

Stop Shooting the Messenger High Commissioner for South Africa by nelvely

May 2014 be a bountiful new year for the Global Tamil Family - From the Tamil Conservatives

Thursday, 02 January 2014

The British Tamils are an affiliate of the Conservative Party and the driving force behind David Cameron's visit to Jaffna.

Tamils were recognised by the Conservative Party as being a separate group, and, it is the first time in its history an ethnic grouping has been granted affiliation. All other groupings are associated countries including Sri Lanka.

In addition to our message, we are focusing our attention on policy actions post the March '14 UNHRC session. It is apparent that the Sri Lankan government will not commence a credible independent inquiry of its own ahead of this. Nor is it likely to comply with any resolution passed at this session.

Hence we are working towards urging Her Majesty's government to put forward a policy mix, which involves travel bans and foreign asset seizures of those alleged to have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity.

With respect the mooted Truth and Reconciliation commission, the diaspora reject it in its entirety. It is an invidious attempt to circumvent future war crimes prosecutions in the International Criminal Court. As you may appreciate, there is no amnesty for such crimes in international law under any circumstance.

WikiLeaks: Exchanging Arms With Human Rights; ‘Sri Lanka Totally Committed To Devolution’ – Gota And FM To US

January 2, 2014

“The government of Sri Lanka (GSL) is committed to the political agenda of devolution, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama and Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa told Deputy Secretary Negroponte in a July 31 meeting on the sidelines of ASEAN.” US Embassy Manila (Philippines) informed Washington.

Secretary to the Ministry of Defence

A classified diplomatic cable which details a meeting the US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte had with Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama on July 31, 2007. The Colombo Telegraph found the related US diplomatic cable from the WikiLeaks database.

The US Embassy wrote; “The FM emphasized Sri Lanka’s intention to encourage a pluralist democratic government in the North, reviewed the military’s recent successes in the East, and committed to reducing civilian casualties in the conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The FM expressed hope that the joint U.S.-Sri Lankan military exercises that were postponed last year would proceed this year, and raised concerns about the delay in the delivery of Bushmaster guns and ammunition. He also asked the Deputy Secretary to look into the possibility of another assessment of Sri Lanka’s eligibility for Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) funds. Finally, the FM emphasized that money collected by the LTTE from the Tamil Diaspora in the U.S. is allowing LTTE-sponsored violence to continue, and highlighted Sri Lanka’s commitment to human rights.”

Transcend SA model, SL State and West’s mechanisms in seeking justice: Fr Rajan

[TamilNet, Thursday, 02 January 2014, 07:04 GMT]

[TamilNet, Thursday, 02 January 2014, 07:04 GMT]
The South African model that betrayed its people is now taken up by Colombo just to save war criminals. It is futile for Tamils to expect justice from any future government of SL State. Tamils also have to reconsider approaching their struggle once again through West’s mechanisms of justice. The current TNA failed to combine moderate politics with the politics of struggle. Steering Tamil national polity for crumps can’t be justified as ‘diplomacy.’ Tamil intellectuals have to think beyond the trap of ‘Transitional Justice’ and investigate potentialities of the concept Post-Transitional Justice, which is non-state, multi-sited, multi-actor and multi-referential, said Fr Elil Rajan, advocating Chile model, at a gathering in the East last week that remembered slain TNA parliamentarian Mr Joseph Pararajasingham.

Excerpts of the address translated into English follow. Full text in Tamil appears as pdf:

[Tamil] Full text of the memorial

lecture by Fr Elil Rajan

After Mu’l’livaaykkaal, the guns (of Tamils) have been silenced. But structural genocide is pushed forward in an accelerated way. Another Mu’l’livaaykkaal is being staged silently.

Fr. Elil Rajan

Transcend SA model, SL State and West’s mechanisms in seeking justice Fr Rajan by nelvely

‘I was subject to political intimidation’ - Rathika Sitsabaiesan

02 January 2014

Canadian MP Rathika Sitsabaiesan has stated that she was subjected to “political intimidation”, and warned she could be arrested and deported, whilst visiting Jaffna earlier this week.

In a statement released on the New Democrat Party website, Sitsabaiesan said,

“I recently arrived in Sri Lanka to visit my extended family and visit the places that were once home for me, during the earlier stages of my life and the civil war in Sri Lanka; but was subject to political intimidation”.

Sitsabaiesan went on to refer to the Australian senator Lee Rhiannon and New Zealand MP Jan Logie who were detained by Sri Lankan authorities after visiting the Tamil North-East of the island, stating,

“I was warned I could be subject to arrest and deportation, as several commonwealth MPs from New Zealand and Australia recently faced”.

Earlier reports had emerged that the Canadian MP was being held under a house arrest, prompting messages of concern from Canadian politicians and the Canadian High Commissioner in Colombo to press the case with Sri Lanka. Sitsabaiesan visited the militarised zone in Valikaamam North and the Sababathipillai ICP camp, before meeting informally with the Provincial Councillor Ananthi Sasitharan, and the TNA MP Sreetharan in Kilinochchi.

The statement went on to add,

“For New Democrats, standing in solidarity with Canadians of Tamil heritage on matters of human rights is part of our shared values as Canadians.”
“New Democrats, like millions of Canadians, will continue to staunchly defend human rights and freedom of speech, in Canada and around the world.”

The statement has been reproduced in full below.

For New Democrats, standing in solidarity with Canadians of Tamil heritage on matters of human rights is part of our shared values as Canadians.
I recently arrived in Sri Lanka to visit my extended family and visit the places that were once home for me, during the earlier stages of my life and the civil war in Sri Lanka; but was subject to political intimidation. I was warned I could be subject to arrest and deportation, as several commonwealth MPs from New Zealand and Australia recently faced.
I have received word from the Canadian High Commission in Colombo that the Sri Lankan authorities have confirmed that their previous claims of an arrest warrant in my name does not exist and I now look forward to exploring and learning more about the country of my birth.
My experiences since arriving in Sri Lanka are a reminder that defending principles of human rights is not easy, but I continue to believe that it is only through open dialogue and freedom of expression that people can ultimately achieve healing and reconciliation.
New Democrats, like millions of Canadians, will continue to staunchly defend human rights and freedom of speech, in Canada and around the world.

Statement from NDP MP Rathika Sitsabaiesan on her stay in Sri Lanka

2014 01 01

For New Democrats, standing in solidarity with Canadians of Tamil heritage on matters of human rights is part of our shared values as Canadians.

I recently arrived in Sri Lanka to visit my extended family and visit the places that were once home for me, during the earlier stages of my life and the civil war in Sri Lanka; but was subject to political intimidation. I was warned I could be subject to arrest and deportation, as several commonwealth MPs from New Zealand and Australia recently faced.

I have received word from the Canadian High Commission in Colombo that the Sri Lankan authorities have confirmed that their previous claims of an arrest warrant in my name does not exist and I now look forward to exploring and learning more about the country of my birth.

My experiences since arriving in Sri Lanka are a reminder that defending principles of human rights is not easy, but I continue to believe that it is only through open dialogue and freedom of expression that people can ultimately achieve healing and reconciliation.

New Democrats, like millions of Canadians, will continue to staunchly defend human rights and freedom of speech, in Canada and around the world.

Statement by Minister of State Yelich Concerning MP Rathika Sitsabaiesan

Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada

January 1, 2014 - The Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State (Foreign Affairs and Consular), today issued the following statement:

“Officials at the High Commission of Canada to Sri Lanka in Colombo and my staff have been in direct contact with Rathika Sitsabaiesan, Member of Parliament for Scarborough–Rouge River; she has confirmed her well-being and that she is at her hotel.

“Officials at the high commission spoke with relevant Sri Lankan police and immigration authorities, who said they have issued no arrest warrant for Ms. Sitsabaiesan.

“Canadian officials have also been in contact with Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Canada and confirm that media reports of a ‘house arrest’ are false.

“Ms. Sitsabaiesan’s visit to Sri Lanka is a private one. Canadian officials from the high commission remain in touch with her and will ensure she receives any assistance required.

“We will continue to monitor the situation until Ms. Sitsabaiesan returns home.”

- 30 -

For further information, media representatives may contact:

Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
613-995-1874
media@international.gc.ca
Follow us on Twitter: @DFATDCanada

Let us Triumph this Year in Further Isolating Sri Lanka and March Forwards to Our Freedom! TGTE

Thursday, 02 January 2014

On this New Year Day TGTE appeal to all Tamils spread across the world to join hands with us in the task of moving our Tamil Eelam freedom struggle forward.

HIGHLIGHTS IN 2013:

1) 2013 can be denoted as the year when the people of Tamil Nadu, and particularly the student population, rose up in strength as a formidable force and giving new hope and confidence to the search for justice by the Eelam Tamil Nation.

2) It was the year when the historic Tamil Eelam Freedom Charter was promulgated as a restatement of the nationhood of the Tamil people while emphasizing their inherent right of self determination and sovereignty.

3) It was also the year when the our brethren in the Tamil homeland drew worldwide attention in the manner they took part in the Northern Provincial Council elections and utilized their democratic franchise to express their rejection of rule by the Sri Lankan state.

4) Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) elected its parliament for the second term and convened its inaugural sessions in December 2013.

January 1, 2014: On this momentous occasion when the world is engaged in the delight of welcoming a New Year full of hope, I bring warm and sincere New Year greetings of the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) to all Tamil brethren.

The New Year dawning on January 1 and the Tamil New Year that follows two weeks later marked by ‘thai ponkal’ are important moments in the lives of all Tamils. As the first month in the Tamil calendar, ‘thai’ ushers in the Tamil New Year and the time for renewing hopes.

Let us welcome 2014 as the year that will bring a life of freedom and prosperity to the people of Tamil Eelam and indeed to all Tamils living around the world!

On this day we can also look back on 2013 as the year when the Tamil Eelam freedom struggle made some significant strides.

The Sri Lankan state remains further isolated in the international political arena through the efforts at the UN Human Rights Council and the events coinciding with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting concluded in Colombo in November 2013.

All the genocidal acts committed on innocent Tamils by the Sinhala regime have been exposed to the world last year with even more dramatic evidence.

2013 can be denoted as the year when the people of Tamil Nadu, and particularly the student population, rose up in strength as a formidable force and giving new hope and confidence to the search for justice by the Eelam Tamil Nation.

It was the year when the historic Tamil Eelam Freedom Charter was promulgated as a restatement of the nationhood of the Tamil people while emphasizing their inherent right of self determination and sovereignty.

It was also the year when the our brethren in the Tamil homeland drew worldwide attention in the manner they took part in the Northern Provincial Council elections and utilized their democratic franchise to express their rejection of rule by the Sri Lankan state.

Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE)elected its parliament for the second term and convened its inaugural sessions in December 2013.

While the Sinhala regime dreams of a state of permanent subjugation of the Tamil people and a total cover up of all of its War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity and Genocide, we are witnessing that the deceit and duplicity of the Sinhala State are being revealed as each year passes since the 2009 massacre of Mullivaaikkal. Therefore, it behooves us all to take the necessary steps in 2004 to further isolate the Sri Lankan state in the world arena and to march forward towards freedom of the Tamil Nation.

I wish to reiterate the three-pronged strategy of the TGTE for the year ahead as outlined in my 2013 Maavirar naal message. We shall work resolutely in harnessing the support of the international community for the establishment of an independent state of Tamil Eelam, we shall undertake all necessary measures to obtain justice for the genocide committed by the Sinhala state against the Tamil people, and we shall rebuild a state of prosperity among the people of our homeland.

Furthermore, during 2014, the TGTE intends to take steps towards building the Tamil Diaspora into a vibrant and strong community.

During the inaugural sitting of the TGTE Assembly in December 2013, a series of working sessions were held in order to prepare our work plan for 2014. Based on the outcome of these sessions and the input of several resource personnel, we have been discussing a number of creative and structural changes within the TGTE.

We intend to release to the public on ‘thai pongal’ day several aspects of TGTE’s plans for 2014, including its Cabinet and other structures related to thematic, country-wise and policy formulating working programs.

On this New Year Day we appeal to all Tamils spread across the world to join hands with us in the task of moving our Tamil Eelam freedom struggle forward.

The thirst of all Tamils is Tamil Eelam!

Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran
Prime Minister

Contact: pmo@tgte.org

Disasters hit 1.6 mn people, but Met equipment remains outdated – UNP

by Zacki Jabbar-January 1, 2014,

Billions of rupees had been wasted on government propaganda exercises but the Meteorological Department was not properly equipped and the Disaster Management Website, too, remained outdated due to lack of funds, an Opposition legislator charged yesterday.

Eran Wickremeratne MP told The Island it was shocking that despite a total of over 1.6 million people being affected by disasters in the last two years, the Rajapaksa regime could not find just one billion rupees to update equipment at the Meteorological Department.

How much it would cost to upload the latest data on to the Disaster Management Department’s Website, he queried, pointing out that the fearful and sad memories of the 2004 December tsunami which destroyed 41,000 lives were still very much alive, but the authorities could not find the small sum of money to provide the public with information of critical importance.

The Disaster Management Act of 2005 required that the National Plan to deal with calamities be made known widely. If the Disaster Management Ministry could not even disseminate timely information one could imagine how it would respond in a crisis situation, the MP observed.

When one looked at the billions of rupees expended on ego boosting exercises, not to mention the unprecedented corruption which had resulted in the National Debt zooming from nearly Rs. 2 trillion in 2005 to Rs. 6.6 trillion in just eight years, Wickremeratne said, the failure to provide the required finances to buy equipment and provide updated information crucial for the peoples very existence, could be described as a national crime.

MP Wickremeratne recalled that when the Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera was questioned recently in Parliament why the vacancies at the Meteorological Department had not been filled, his reply had been that he expected the Ministry of Public Administration to do it.

While there were pending natural disasters in the Matale and Ratnapura Districts due to haphazard mining and soil erosion, the Geological Survey Department had indicated that there were plate movements and other geological factors that may cause calamities, he noted urging the government to heed the warnings given by scientists.

Five arrested for throwing stones at mosque

By Premalal Wijeratne-January 2, 2014

Five youths who had pelted stones at a mosque in Ambathenna, Akurana, on New Year eve and had fled the area, were nabbed by two Buddhist monks and handed over to the senior DIG, Gamini Ellepola.

Sources said they had been performing the suvisi dance on 31st night at Welekade, Katugastota, and on the way back to their homes, had thrown stones at the mosque. The incident had led to a tense situation in the area, the police said.

Ven. Rajanganaye Soratha Thera, the Chief Incumbent of the Divanavatta Purana Vihara and Ven. Batugoda Sankinnayaka Thera of the Hapugoda Vihara, who had been informed of the incident, had summoned the five suspects to the temple, and had warned them of the gravity of their actions. Subsequently, they had been taken to the senior DIG, Kandy.

Speaking to our sister newspaper, Mawbima, in this regard, Ven. Batugoda Sankinnayaka Thera said, no sooner he had heard about the attack on the mosque, he had conducted an investigation, and had summoned the youths to the temple, and had advised them against engaging in such anti-social acts, as well as how seriously such incidents are looked at. He said thereafter, he had taken them to the senior DIG Ellepola, who in turn had handed them over to the police through an ASP.

A police officer conducting investigations said that when these youths were returning after the suvisi dance recital, a youth who was close to the mosque had hurled stones at them, whereupon they had retaliated by throwing stones at the mosque. As a result of the attack, some glass panes of the mosque had been damaged.
The suspects were to be produced before the Kandy Magistrate's Court yesterday.

VIDEO: OVER 100 HOSPITALISED DUE TO FOOD POISONING

January 2, 2014

Over 100 female workers of an apparel factory in Horana have been hospitalized due to food poisoning, Police spokesman said. He added that the workers had fallen ill after consuming dinner yesterday and was admitted to the Horana Base Hospital today.

UPFA constituent alleges escalation of robberies, violence in Jaffna Jaffna police deny claim

By Shamindra Ferdinando-January 1, 2014

The Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) is pushing for additional police presence in the Jaffna peninsula claiming an escalation of robberies, violence and what the UPFA constituent calls anti-social activities.

Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda, who is also the leader of the EPDP, emphasised the need for new police stations and posts in the Jaffna electoral district.

The minister was addressing the Jaffna District Civil Security Committee held at the Jaffna District Secretariat on Dec 26, 2013. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, Jaffna, Rohan Dias was among the officers present at the meeting. Minister Devananda suggested that additional night police patrols would help curb the situation.

The meeting convened by Jaffna Government Agent Sundaram Arumainayagam, was chaired by Minister Devananda.

Minister Devananda also requested the police to shift the police station located at Keerimalai Hindu Kovil to prevent disturbances to the devotees. The Minister urged the police to set up a police station closer to Mathagal beach to tackle those engaged in smuggling ‘Kerala’ ganja and round up those cutting down palmyrah palms and transporting trunks without permits.

Asked whether the Jaffna police were under pressure due to escalation of robberies, violence and anti-social activities, authoritative law enforcement officers said that the EPDP had misrepresented facts. There was absolutely no basis for special deployment in support of law enforcement operations in the Jaffna peninsula, they said. However, the police realised the urgent need for setting up new police stations and upgrade some police posts for the convenience of the public, they said. In some instances, people had been forced to travel over 20 kms to lodge a complaint, therefore new police stations would give swift access to the public, the police said.

Responding to another query, the police said that the police had the wherewithal to handle cases in Tamil. Contrary to reports even court cases were handled in Tamil, the police.

Asked whether the police intended to establish new stations, a senior official said that they were in a dilemma due to dearth of state land in the peninsula. The official said: "In fact, most of the police stations in the peninsula are housed at privately owned buildings. We are facing a crisis due to some owners requesting their buildings back. Urgent action plan is needed to find alternative land and we may have to acquire land at current market prices."

Minister Devananda has told Jaffna GA to find state land or rent out private property for the police.

Sylvestri Allantin, Member of Parliament for Jaffna District; Kugenthran, a former Member of Parliament; Mrs. Rubani Varathalingam, Additional Government Agent, Jaffna; all the Divisional Secretaries; Professor Balasundarampillai, Senior Superintendent of Police; Jaffna District, Assistant superintendents of police Jaffna District and relevant Senior Government Officials participated at this meeting.