Ukrainian troops clash with pro-Russia militia in gun battles around Slavyansk

• Insurgents 'deploying large-calibre weapons and mortars'
• Pro-Russia fighters report number of fatalities
• Fighting in several sites around eastern city

Pro-Russia gunmen on armoured personal carriers passing by barricades on a road leading into Slavyansk. Photograph: Darko Vojinovic/AP

Monday 5 May 2014

Ukrainian troops have fought pitched gun battles with a pro-Russia militia occupying an eastern city – an apparent escalation of their efforts to bring the region back under government control.

Associated Press reporters heard gunfire and multiple explosions in and around Slavyansk, a city of 125,000 people that has become the focus of the armed insurgency against the interim government in Kiev.

The Ukrainian interior minister, Arsen Avakov, said on his agency's website that pro-Russia forces were deploying large-calibre weapons and mortars in the region and that there were casualties on both sides.

Government troops were facing about 800 insurgents, he said.

A pro-Russia militia spokesman in Slavyansk said an unspecified number of people had been killed and wounded during the clashes, including a 20-year-old woman who died after being hit by a stray bullet.

Both sides indicated fighting was taking place across the city. An AP crew reported they saw at least four ambulances rushing injured people to a city hospital. At least one militiaman was seen being carried in for medical treatment.

Ukraine is facing its worst crisis in decades as the polarised nation of 46 million tries to decide whether to look towards Europe, as its western regions want to do, or improve ties with Russia, which is favoured by the many Russian-speakers in the east.

Map showing location of Slavyansk. Graphic: Christine Oliver

In the past few weeks, anti-government forces have stormed government buildings and police stations in a dozen eastern Ukrainian cities. Authorities in Kiev – who blame Russia for backing the insurgents – have up to now been largely powerless to react.

And since Russia has kept tens of thousands of troops along Ukraine's eastern border – and annexed its key Black Sea peninsula of Crimea last month – Ukraine's central government fears Russia could try to invade and grab more territory.

Since the government began trying to take back the buildings late last week, Slavyansk has been under a tight security cordon. Movement in and out of the city has ground almost to a halt, causing shortages in basic supplies. Lines have been seen at grocery stores.

The goals of the insurgency are ostensibly geared towards pushing for broader powers of autonomy for the region, but some insurgents favour separatism, and the annexation of Crimea looms over the entire political and military discussion.

Russia, which the international community has accused of promoting the unrest, has vociferously condemned Ukraine's security operations in the east.

Kiev to send special forces into Odessa against pro-Russians

MONDAY 05 MAY 2014

A new special forces unit will go into the Ukrainian city of Odessa following the police's failure to stop a wave of violence over the weekend that killed dozens, the country's interior minister says.

Kiev to Send Special Forces Into Odessa Against Pro-Russians by Thavam Ratna

Colombo’s glitter and gutter, casino politics and toilet tax economics, and May Day Honours to Bala Tampoe 

May 3, 2014, 5:43 pm

Bala Tampoe (Phillips) was a brilliant "Upper Second" (either top of the list or close second) in Botany Honours, a pioneer recruit to the then fledgling Department of Agriculture in Peradeniya, and a founder Member of the Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) Association for the Advancement of Science. He then took to revolutionary politics and to the independence of law practice, and never looked back. True to his manner of being born with a melodramatic spoon in his mouth he went on become a leading criminal and jury lawyer this country has seen.

　Rajan Philips

Colombo’s Glitter and Gutter, Casino Politics and Toilet Tax Economics, And May Day Honours to Bala Tampoe by Thavam Ratna

TNA pledges to call for political solution that ensures self-rule

04 May 2014
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) pledged to call for a political solution that ensures self-rule for Tamils and Muslims living in the North-East, and called for action regarding the socio-economic, educational and cultural needs of the Tamil people, in 32 declarations made at the party’s May Day event on Monday.

"While chauvinist forces are working within the state’s agenda to erase a nation’s identity, we will mobilise and strongly call for the international community to recognise a political solution that establishes self-rule for Tamils and Muslims living in their lands in the North and East of the island of Sri Lanka, using diplomatic and strategic approaches with regards to the support and opportunities that are arising within the international community to investigate war crimes and find a solution to the ethnic conflict which remains unresolved," the TNA pledged.

Below is a translation of key resolutions published by the Uthayan: 

"Jobs opportunities should be given to those who are unemployed, as well as guaranteeing employment appropriate to university qualifications.

Land belonging to Tamils and Muslims in the Northern and Eastern provinces, including temples, schools, public buildings, properties, should be freed from the military’s possession.

In total, 2 lakhs people across the country and 2 lakhs people in camps in India remain as refugees, in particular, people in Valikaamam North [have been refugees] for 25 years and people in Sampur, for over 5 years. Until they resettled they should be given sufficient [aid] relief.

The military passes system that bans fishing in the seas off the Northern and Eastern regions, should be stopped.

The exploitation of fish stocks by fisherpeople from India, China, and the south of the island should be stopped immediately.

The syllabus at higher education colleges and universities has not been changed to reflect the growing international developments in science, technology, economics of globalisation and market economics. Educational policy plans divided into regions, based on scientific research and employment opportunities, should be included. The enforcement of national policies, inappropriate to the regions and the world, should be stopped.

The military should stop intruding into schools and universities.

Military involvement in students’ education should be stopped.

In Northern and Eastern provinces there are thousands of mothers, babies and children, living under the poverty line, suffering from malnutrition due to the lack of food. They should be given nutritional food in schools and in public places.

Farmers affected by the droughts whose production has fallen should be given relief and compensation until the next rainfall.

Prisoners, including women, who have been imprisoned in jail for over ten years citing political reasons, without being released or being sentenced, should be either be released or have a case filed in court.

Business people and farmers, who were affected by the war and are below the poverty lines, are unable to pay the interest on loans from banks. The bank employees are also under pressure. Similarly, farmers are greatly affected by drought and flooding. The government should take action to clear these debts under a public scheme.

Cooperatives have done a good service, particularly regarding the needs of the people in the North, through economic developments and community participation. However, the cooperatives have collapsed due to new economic policies, privatisation and investments by top bosses [of big corporations]. They are not even able to pay their employees. The government should provide assistance to the cooperatives to enable them to compete with the private companies.

The use of drugs and alcohol from the West of increased concentrations has grown in Tamil regions. The youth should be safeguarded from the disintegration of culture.

Sexual assaults against women, and sexual abuse against children, should be stopped. In addition to raising awareness of this amongst the people, action should be taken to safeguard young women and children. The provinces should have legal powers for this.

In addition to the full repletion of the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) that is used in Sri Lanka, the impact of this should be investigated by a trusted commission, and those affected should be given relief.

On May Day, we will unite with those here and internationally, to give a voice and fight for the benefit of labourers, farmers, scientists, technicians and consumers.

While chauvinist forces are working within the state’s agenda to erase a nation’s identity, we will mobilise and strongly call for the international community to recognise a political solution that establishes self-rule for Tamils and Muslims living in their lands in the North and East of the island of Sri Lanka, using diplomatic and strategic approaches with regards to the support and opportunities that are arising within the international community to investigate war crimes and find a solution to the ethnic conflict which remains unresolved.”

“Square Pegs In Round Holes” – Idiots Exercising People’s Sovereignty

By Elmore Perera -May 4, 2014 

Elmore Perera

Not a day too early! The Island Editorial of 11^th April 2014 says it all!

Money has taken precedence over everything else in politics. Time was, when the super rich became paupers because of their politics. But now, we have rogues in the garb of representatives. Some politicians who wore flip-flops, rode rickety bicycles or snatched gold chains before entering politics, have become billionaires owning palatial houses, both here and abroad and fleets of super-luxury vehicles. Cattle-rustlers, boot-leggers, killers, rapists, racketeers and dregs of all sorts, drug dealers and their beneficiaries, and even those not fit to be labourers in a government institution have become law makers and placed themselves above even top-bureaucrats and are going places in politics.

The Legislative, Executive and Judicial powers of the Sovereign People are currently all vested in one single individual. The elected representatives of the people are solely responsible for this sad state of affairs. By the18^th Amendment these representatives divested the Sovereign People of their “Inalienable Sovereignty” and vested same in the Executive President. Some of them belatedly admit their folly and even shed crocodile tears, but, without exception, they all continue unashamedly to reap the benefits of their treachery and continue to exercise people’s power as their representatives.

Those in the highest echelons of governance are blatantly violating the law in the full glare of public scrutiny. Privileged persons have no law to obey. The wrongs of headless anarchic attitudes and the ruin of a nation are on the cards – and on the heads of the Sovereign People.

Bleak indeed, is the future of a country where people’s Sovereignty is exercised by a bunch of idiots at the levers of power. The country cannot aspire to development so long as it trusts semi-literate, intellectually retarded, corrupt elements with the management of public finance                                     Read More

Kanamayilnathan – Tamil Voice Which Rose Against Media Oppression

| by Pearl Thevanayagam

(May 04, 2014, Bradford UK, Sri Lanka Guardian) It was reported that Uthayan editor Kanamayilnathan lived in the office of Uthayan so he could bring out the edition on time when all hell was breaking loose. He is a true journalist who was ready to sacrifice his own life in pursuit of honest and fearless journalism. Jaffna should be celebrating this veteran journalist but sadly Tamil media just gave him a cursory one paragraph at the most while RSF (Reporters sans Frontieres) accorded him the title of super hero of journalism among the 100 on its list. 

It is not clear whether he received any monetary awards from RSF but it would not be too much to ask the NPC to felicitate him in a manner fitting for a journalist who sprang from the soil of Jaffna and who took journalism to the highest norms and ethics which is now almost obsolete among journalists. 

He is on par with Tarzie Vitachchi, Mervyn Silva, Gamini Navaratne et al who did not bow down to powers and who wrote honestly and with gusto.

If journalism in the North were to flourish, these journalists such as Kanamayilnathan should be cherished and provided necessary funds to further the cause of journalism highlighting the goals of Tamils and their grievances. Unfortunately Tamils are hell-bent on putting down a fellow Tamil.

As CM C.V. Wigneswaran said in his May Day message that TNA is in danger of splitting hairs instead of solving NE problems. The ego of TNA members would be stumbling block towards unifying the various factions among Tamils.

Some Tamil media are spitting venom on the chief minister and deliberately trying to cause cracks in the TNA. It was a bold and righteous move on the part of CM to mend fences with Douglas Devananda and engage with the government. This should not be seen as bowing under pressure. After all he is erudite and most respected. But he is no coward.

A case in point is the ongoing spat between Ananthi Sasitharan and M.A.Sumanthiran over UNHRC in Geneva. Oor iradupattal koothadikku kondaddam ( if the town splits the joker celebrates) was never uttered in vain and it applies to our Northern Tamils who cannot see ahead the steps which need to be taken in a constructive and meaningful manner which he has made so far on behalf of the Tamils.

Were this journalist living in a Western country he would not only be revered but allowed to carry on his profession unhindered by economic constraints. He would have been provided adequately with funds to further the cause of just journalism.

To the credit of Uthayan owner A.E.Saravanapavan MP, he was wise and of right judgement in retaining the services of Mr Kanamayilnathan. 

Jaffna needs a media institute badly and Tamil diaspora instead of staging demos and supporting various Tamil NGOs should do well to bolster journalism for future generation by diverting their funds towards developing media and IT towards gearing up for 21st century media challenges.

This writer challenges Tamils to accord a fitting ceremony for Mr Kanamayilnathan and award him a considerable sum of money as prize for all the sacrifice he made on our behalf. This is the least we can do for a brave journalist.

(The writer has been a journalist for 25 years and worked in national newspapers as sub-editor, news reporter and news editor. She was Colombo Correspondent for Times of India and has contributed to Wall Street Journal where she was on work experience from The Graduate School of Journalism, UC Berkeley, California. Currently residing in UK she is also co-founder of EJN (Exiled Journalists Network) UK in 2005 the membership of which is 200 from 40 countries. She can be reached at thevanayagampearl@yahoo.co.uk)

Sri Lankan daily holds a mirror, to the press

MEERA SRINIVASAN- May 3, 2014‘Gains in standards could be undermined by a culture of self-censorship’

An English newspaper here on Saturday tried to hold a mirror to the state of press freedom in the country by printing a mirror image of its front page contents.

Readers were in for a surprise on World Press Freedom Day.  The printing of indecipherable words by Daily Mirror, an English newspaper here, seemed to be aimed at sparking questions about the state of media freedom in the country, and what it spawns — self-censorship.Freedom of pressThe sole legible sentence on the front page read: “Only true freedom of the press can turn things the right way around. Celebrating World Press Freedom Day 2014!”  

The message rang a bell as Sri Lanka, for long, has been grappling with the issue of media freedom. There have been many instances of media persons being attacked, and even murdered.

The country has lost some of its senior journalists, including Lasantha Wickrematunge, editor of the Sunday Leader.  

“The fact that none of the perpetrators has been brought to justice is rather worrying,” V. Thanapalabalasingham, Editor of Thinakural, a Tamil daily. Such a situation only breeds more fear and consequently, self-censorship, said media professionals. The culture of self-censorship, in turn, negatively impacted the quality of journalism, they observed.

“Gains in professional standards could be undermined by a culture of self-censorship which could be due to a multitude of reasons, ” said Amal Jayasinghe, bureau chief of Agence France-Presse (AFP), adding that risk aversion and a lack of resources threatened to bring down the credibility of Sri Lanka’s press.

Observing that there was a threat to the freedom of expression, Saman Wagaarachchi, editor of Sinhala paper Lakbima said: “Today, most media organisations are wary of being critical of the government and therefore, self-censorship is a major issue.”

Over the last few years, media freedom in Sri Lanka has drawn increased international attention. The U.S.-backed resolution, adopted by the Human Rights Council (HRC) in March this year, has urged the Government of Sri Lanka to investigate all alleged attacks by individuals and groups on various sections, including journalists.

While mainstream media was faced with challenges, Mr. Jayasinghe observed that it was heartening to see social media take on issues which may be taboo or too sensitive for the established news outlets. 

Henchmen to superior courts

The President’s actions towards filling the vacancies available in Supreme Court have gained serious attention of the legal and judicial circles, reports 'Ravaya' newspaper.

According to the 18th amendment the power to appoint judges of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal is solely vested upon the President and the appointment can be confirmed after the nominations are submitted to the Parliamentary Council.

There is no mention in any part of the constitution at least on the minimum qualification of being appointed to such an honorary position.

3 vacancies in the Supreme Court bench

There are 3 vacancies available in Supreme Court and last to retire was Supreme Court justice Shiranee Tilakawardane.

It has been reported that President's Counsel Priyantha Jayawardena has been nominated by the President and the nomination has been submitted to the Parliamentary Council for reference.

It is well known within the legal profession that Priyantha Jayawardena is a close acquaintance of the government and specially Minister Basil Rajapaksa. He who served in the Attorney General's Department made a great contribution in the previous impeachment proceedings towards formulating the Parliamentary Select Committee report within a night confirming the impeachment charges under the jungle law.

It has been reported that he has contributed to the formulation of the heavily debated Divi Nwguma Bill. He, who was granted the title of President's Counsel- which is lavishly offered to government henchmen - was seen in an out of trials held at Supreme Courts in rural areas such as Kantale and Agunakolapelessa. The President is to appoint such an individual to the apex court of the country.

Now the Bar Association of Sri Lanka has also directed their utmost attention towards such appointments. The Bar Association has already informed its local bar associations to immediately report their opinions and observations regarding the particular appointment. Following the collection of their opinions future measures are to be taken.

(Ravaya- K.W. Janaranjana)

5 years today - HRW, TAG urge international intervention, ethnic conflict not 'war on terror' says UK Foreign Office minister
 04 May 2014

4 May 2009 - Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Tamils Against Genocide (TAG) urge international action, Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict is not 'war on terror' says UK Foreign Office ministerThe International Criminal Court Chief prosecutor, Moreno-Ocampo, was urged by an advocacy group to open investigations into war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by four high-ranking officials in the Sri Lankan government, reports TamilNet.

Tamil Against Genocide (TAG), in a letter to Moreno, urged the ICC to open investigations against Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa, Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, MP Basil Rajapaksa and Army Commander Sarath Fonseka.

“The quartet should be investigated for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide of Sri Lankan civilian Tamils unconnected with the conflict between the government and the LTTE,” the letter read.

In an opinion piece on Sri Lanka and the need to address Tamil grievances, the Human Rights Watch Legal and Policy Director, James Ross, wrote, 

“The current government is unlikely to take up these initiatives on its own. The United States and other concerned states have an important role to play in Sri Lanka's future. Otherwise the bloody fighting on the sandy strip will not be marking the end of the current war, but sowing the seeds of the next one.”

Speaking on the conflict between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE at the House of Commons, the Foreign Office Minister, Lord Malloch-Brown, said, 

“I share the view that ‘the war on terror is a much abused and overused phrase. Obviously, this is a quarrel that has ancient roots. It is also an extremely violent quarrel, with appalling things being done by both sides.”

5 Years Today - HRW, TAG Urge International Intervention, Ethnic Conflict Not 'War on Terror' Says UK Forei... by Thavam Ratna

Uprooted Champoor Tamils in Trincomalee: ‘Tell the world our story’

[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 May 2014, 23:34 GMT]
The occupying military of genocidal Sri Lanka and its Colombo-centric investment board are jointly opposing the resettlement of Champoor people and even the name of the village has been officially deleted. The area constitutes more than 9,000 acres. But, the SL government has appropriated, through Gazette notifications, only 1,458 acres including the 500 acres that has been demarcated for the construction of a coal power plant. However, the occupying SL Navy is not allowing the people to resettle. The main problem is the policy of genocidal militarisation, the people say. The real problem of Champoor people in Moothoor East in Trincomalee district has not reached the outside world, the uprooted people and their representatives told TamilNet after they marked 9th year of their uprooted life with a prayer for resettlement at Paththirakaa’li-amman temple in Champoor on 26 April 2014. 

Uprooted Champoor Tamils in Trincomalee ‘Tell the World Our Story’ by Thavam Ratna

When Gnanassara gets arms training from regime to terrorize, Muslim youths get training in Middle east

(Lanka-e-News -04.May.2014, 10.45PM) While the ruling regime is giving unlawful arms training to the leader of the Bodhu Bala Sena (BBS) organization which has been condemned internationally as a terrorist organization, a group of Muslim youths of Sri Lanka (SL) is being given training in Guerilla warfare by the Palestine ‘Hamas’ organization and Lebanon’s ‘Hisbullah,’ according to reports reaching Lanka e news. Already a group of 30 youths are in Lebanon and some Muslim businessmen have gone to Lebanon and Palestine to co ordinate the activities , it is learnt. 

During the period of the LTTE war , when an uncle of a Muslim Minister was the SL Ambassador in Lebanon , a group of youths of the Eastern province was given arms training by the Hisbullah organization in Lebanon . At that time they fought against the LTTE .

In recent times , the hate campaign , violent attacks and relentless intimidation launched against the Muslim community in SL by the extremist organizations, the BBS , Sihala Ravaya and Ravana Balakaya under the patronage of the ruling regime attracted the attention of the extremist organizations of the Middle east .

A former officer of Mossad , Israel , Victor Osthrevisk in the book written by him entitled ‘ By way of deception’ he had mentioned , in the past , the Tamil organizations of the north of SL were given training by the Palestine liberation organization (PLO).

There are a number of Muslim extremist organizations in the Middle east countries. Among them the most leading are Al Qaeda, Hisbullah and Palestine’s ‘Hamas’ organizations. There are a number of other organizations too and their sole aim and objective is to capture power by harassment , fight against western countries and the US who they consider as enemies.

The prime objective of Hisbullah organization that originated in Lebanon is to fight against Israel’s zionism.

Many of these extremist organizations are operating in close liaison with extremist Muslim groups in most countries in Asia. In SL , reportedly there are Muslim extremist organizations , and many of the members of it are receiving education in religious Institutions called ’Madrasas’ and in the Universities in the Middle east.

According to reports reaching us , there is no doubt that a Muslim extremist organization is being created under the circumstances as this seems inevitable vis a vis the creation of Buddhist extremist organizations sponsored by the ruling regime whose sole and whole gaze is on self centered propulsion and cheap political gains . Now , after creating the terrorist monk organizations , the regime itself is in a muddle , having bungled the peace in the country , in addition to destroying the racial and religious amity that existed among the communities . The regime is now in a grave predicament having created a Frankenstein monster . This situation is fraught with grave danger and holds out most ominous portents , the report adds.

Today , like in Syria where the Jihad organization is sending its members , Jihad organization members of Afghanistan are being sent to Soviet Russia.To support the Muslim groups in Philippines too , the Jihad organization had sent its members.

In SL owing to the folly and selfish self centered policies followed by moronic rulers and due to terrorist activities of demonic monks backed by the rulers , if the BBS is to continue venting its venoms and vengeances based on its religious fanaticism and extremism targeting the Muslims , and if that escalates , it would become impossible to avert a holocaust in this country in line with those faced by other countries , analysts say.

Lanka e news is also in receipt of a most deplorable, detestable , despicable and depraved report (while the ruling regime is doing nothing about this spreading BBS terrorism ) that a group affiliated to the BBS is collecting huge commissions by threatening Muslim business establishments on the ground that the BBS is preparing to attack them , and if that is to be averted , this group must be paid ‘kappam’ (extortion money ).

This illicit commission is being organized by an individual whose name is Sugathadasa, a bosom friend of BBS leader Gnanassara . Sources say , this Sugathadasa who starts with demanding massive commissions finally settles to a smaller sum ( shows compassion to the victim based on Gnanassara ‘s Buddhist philosophy ?). It is also reported that many Muslim businessmen in order to protect themselves from the evil attacks and barbarism of BBS , the paramilitary force backed by the regime and as law enforcement is not duly taking place under the regime, are forced to pay kappam to Sugathadasa as they have no choice .

If the ruling regime is to continue its exploitation of the Buddhist – Muslim conflict which the regime itself is stoking in order to achieve only its selfish self centered goal of power perpetuation at any cost , it is likely that even those Sri Lankans seeking jobs and doing jobs in the Middle east could be placed in grave jeopardy.

Based on history , it is an absolute unassailable truth posterity is cursing SL politics for the creation of the LTTE monster in the past. It is the hope of law abiding peaceful citizens of the country that the present rulers will at least learn a lesson from the past ,and strive hard to avert another holocaust instead of striving hard to precipitate it . It is the duty of the regime to guard against being enslaved by selfish self centered political ambitions in their power drunkenness sacrificing national interests.

Chinese Loans To Sri Lanka Exceed US$ 3,836 Bn

 Sunday, May 04, 2014

Total value of concessionary loans, aid, and the grants offered by China during the past four years have exceeded US$3,836 billion payable between 14 to 20 year period;subjected to different interest rates agreed between 1.53% and 6.5%.

According to the Government of Sri Lanka, the Chinese financed the key development programs here including the road construction, port construction, power generation, water supply, irrigation, other infrastructure development, and supply of equipment, machinery, and vehicles necessary for these projects.

However, this assistance was not limited to financing but it also includes Sri Lanka to provide employment opportunities for over 1,700 Chinese personnel now engaged in 42 projects throughout the island.
Most of these credit facilities came with much stiffer than employing Chinese personnel but also to buy everything from raw materials to machinery from China and also to contract the Chinese firms to execute and manage. In certain cases the sub-contractors are also from China.

Any country embarking on massive infrastructure depends on low interest rates for long repayment periods, known as the soft loans prefers the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and similar multilateral lenders or from any other bilateral state donors.

The Chinese rates stand well above these agencies, but of course, lesser than the average commercial lending rates.

The ulterior goal of a soft loan is to complete the respective project on time and to use it for propelling the economic development in both macro and micro levels.

India complies with Sri Lanka's terrorist list: Report

COLOMBO: India has complied with Sri Lanka's ban on 16 Tamil diaspora groups and 424 of their supporters on grounds that they are allegedly involved in terror activities while the US ignored the list, a media report said on Sunday. 

Some of the designated organizations had met the US assistant secretary of state for Central and South Asia, Nisha Biswal last Thursday in Washington, the Sunday Times reported. 

A US embassy spokesman in Colombo confirmed the meeting. Sri Lanka had designated 16 Tamil diaspora groups and 424 individuals as terrorists late March. 

They are based in many countries including India. Sri Lanka was planning to ask the foreign governments to crackdown on them, the government sources earlier said. 

Canada became the first country to publicly state that Sri Lankan order would be ignored. 

"Sri Lanka's action has no legal effect in Canada," a joint statement from the Canadian foreign minister John Baird and his deputy Lynne Yelich had said. 

India has acted on the information contained in the order. One of the 424 persons named, who was returning to India from the UK for medical treatment for his mother was turned away. 

A similar course of action has also been taken by immigration officials in Tehran, Iran when one of them visited the country. 

Sri Lanka said that they are in possession of information on substantial amounts of money remitted from overseas for planned terrorist activity.

US joins Canada in rejecting Govt's list of terrorists

Sunday, May 04, 2014

Assistant Secretary Biswal holds extensive talks with Tamil groups affiliated to banned groups, while PR firm carries media ads supporting domestic war crimes inquiry

Geoff Doidge - South Africa’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka

South Africa's envoy here tells blatant lie about meeting with Colombo-based diplomats amid secrecy and delay in Ramaphosa mission

TNA to register as a political party, while Anandasangaree bitterly attacks leadership and urges action against ITAK

US Joins Canada in Rejecting Govt's List of Terrorists by Thavam Ratna

Uyangoda revisited on Tamil nationhood, self-determination

[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 May 2014, 13:42 GMT]
In a pioneering and incisive article published 35 years ago in a Colombo-based monthly journal Lanka Guardian, Jayadeva Uyangoda, currently a professor at the Department of Political Science and Public Policy at the University of Colombo, articulated the Tamil Nationhood and corroborated Tamils right to self-determination based on the Marxists-Leninist principle. His article, condemning the Sinhala Left’s failure to grasp the National question in the island is remarkably applicable in the present context of protracted genocide and military occupation, and displays the resilience of Sinhala chauvinism, which is endemic to the Sri Lankan left, opines a Tamil diaspora student of Anthropology, reproducing the article authored by Professor Jayadeva Uyangoda in the Lanka Guardian of 15 March 1979. 

Prof Jayadeva Uyangoda [Library Photo]

Professor Uyangoda, in his 1979 article wrote: “It is a matter of regret that almost all the leftist political parties and groups in this country have been committing the fundamental error of considering the Tamil people in Sri Lanka only as a national minority. This failure betrays not only their residual traces of social chauvinism... but also their inability to grasp the Marxist-Leninist fundamentals on the national question.”

Uyangoda Revisited on Tamil Nationhood, Self-Determination by Thavam Ratna

A new phase of mediation to get from post-war to post-conflict Sri Lanka

by Jehan Perera 

- on 05/05/2014 

Five years after the end of the war, Sri Lanka remains a post-war society that has yet to make the transition to a post-conflict society. While the violence has ceased, the political roots of the conflict that gave rise to war remain to be addressed. There continues to be extreme political polarization between the government and the Tamil and, more recently, the Muslim polity. In recent months, a new front has opened up with the renewed targeting of the Muslim minority, which shows that the build-up of extremist Sinhalese animosity against them, has not stopped. The attacks against the Muslims have not enjoyed popular support, but they are becoming regular enough to sow seeds of fear and apprehension within the Muslim community. The government has also started talking in terms of the revival of the LTTE and Tamil separatism.

A New Phase of Mediation to Get From Post-war to Post-conflict Sri Lanka by Thavam Ratna

Sexual harassment by troops triggers surge in Murippu school dropouts

05 May 2014

Sexual harassment by military personnel has led to a surge in girls dropping out of school in Murippu, Kilinochchi, local sources said this weekend. Murippu is a small village on the Akkarayalkulam-Kilinochchi road.

Girls attending Murippu Mahavidiyalayam and Akkarayankulam School are subject to persistent sexual harassment from troops based at Murippu Army camp and adjacent cantonments, they said.

Girls walking or cycling to school, and even those using private vehicles, are being subject to lewd comments and soldiers exposing themselves, the sources told Tamil Guardian.

Military personnel, clad only in their underwear or sometimes naked, were calling out girls’ names, and girls were also being stopped by troops making sexual suggestions, the sources said.

The incidents have left the girls and their parents distressed and fearful of sexual violence, and increasing numbers of families pulling their daughters out of school and many girls are refusing to travel down the single access road to the schools.

The parents have unsuccessfully petitioned local NGOs to organise buses for their children’s safe travel. Moreover, a female NGO worker also reported being stopped by an officer who exposed his genitals, as girls in school uniform were cycling by, the sources said.

The sudden surge in drop outs had at first baffled school staff. Although sexual harassment became clear as the cause, parents and local residents are hesitant to lodge complaint with the military or police for fear of reprisals, the sources said.