Moon’s loon report – A fatal blow on UN’s credibility

http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20110427_03

Moon’s loon report – A fatal blow on UN’s credibility
by Sanjaya Somasiri
We, ordinary citizens of Sri Lanka have heard about United Nations Organization to be the world’s greatest organization committed for the world peace. The Secretary General of that Organization is also given an equal importance. The schools in this country taught us so, and it is still being taught to their current students. We all have tried to memories the name of the UN Secretary General at least once in our school days, and we did it with a great respect. But, the name Ban Ki-moon is quite an exception.
We have heard Mr. Moon’s name only twice in relation to our country. Once he wanted to send some of his “experts” to Sri Lanka to dig some graves it seemed. Now, he says he has a report with some loony allegations against our country. Why do you hate us so much? - is the question that runs in my mind and in many others’ here as well. The question prompts us to contemplate over the recent role of Mr. Moon and the organization he heads have been playing in the current international scene.
Let us turn back and see the sequence of events that took place in the last couple of years in our country. We, Sri Lankans were under the clutches of the most brutal kind of terrorism that the world has ever witnessed. There were regular village massacres, bomb blasts in busses and trains, suicide blasts … for about 25 years. Almost all our economic nerve centres were attacked the by the terrorists. We were simply the pray waiting for the predator. Where were those Ban Ki-moons, his Experts and all other worthies talking about human rights during that time? We did not see even a shadow of those human rights experts wanting to conduct an investigation over crimes committed against our nation.
Yes, we occasionally heard very brief texts of condemnation from Moon and his paymasters following major attacks on civilians, but not without the usual advice for the government to give into the demands of the terrorist outfit ASAP. The western media “heroes” here, were happily reporting all such bloodsheds, but were always careful to omit the word “terrorists” in their stories. For them, all attacks on us were something we deserve and justifiable. There were all sorts of Human Right watches, Amnesties, and similar puppets who thrive in “human rights industry” here. They were always silent about terrorist attacks, but burst feverishly against Sri Lanka, if ever the government hit hard on the terrorist outfit.
On the other hand, the terrorist outfit that we were fighting with was given all the freedom they need in the western world. They raised money even through extortions and intimidation and bought weapons, even aircraft, did propaganda and built a multi million dollar business network that can be envied by any multi national. They broke all the norms of humanity in their operations. They were the first to introduce suicide bombers to the world. They maintained a “baby brigade”, with child solders aging even 10 years. Other international terrorist organizations just had to follow what LTTE developed to the world of terrorism. After 30 years of its creation the LTTE became the world’s most sophisticated terrorist organization with its own ground, sea and air wings.
On our part, we almost tried everything to come into terms with this insane organization. We had number of ceasefires and peace talks but always suffered grave losses as the terrorists turned their backs showing their true colours. The last one we had in 2002, with Norwegians fully taking side with the terrorists, was too much for our nerves as a nation. For three years we had tried to talk peace with LTTE keeping our forces to barracks while the terrorists continued with their killing spree. We lost hundreds of soldiers and civilians. We even had our foreign minister assassinated by the terrorists. No Moon was there to shine over us during that time.
It should be understood by Mr. Moon and others who are upset with us for winning a war against terrorists that it was not our President that made the decision to go for war. We are a sovereign nation and that sovereignty lies with us, the people of Sri Lanka. At the 2005 presidential election people exercised this sovereignty and chose between two distinct alternatives for their gravest problem. They chose boldness instead of pusillanimity. President Mahinda Rajapaksa clearly articulated his stance over terrorism and how he would end the decade old suffering of our nation. People chose him, and he simply lived up to his promise. Hence, it was the public of this country that chose to end the terrorism for good.
This is what we want Mr. Moon and his Western paymasters to understand about our country. It is not just government propaganda that the people in this country come to street protesting your moves against our nation. We know by heart that you are wrong and we are pretty sure that you know that too. It is out of sheer hypocrisy on your part that you point finger at our nation for committing “war crimes”. Just go in front of a mirror Mr. Moon, you will know what a sorry figure you have become.
In your official web page, you say that you are resolved to set the highest ethical standards under your leadership. Also, you say that you are so inspired by the visions of the founders of UNO and will try to achieve them. Just be honest to yourself and look at what is going on in the world around you, Mr. Moon. See what has happened to Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Libya. Your paymasters want those countries to be killing fields and they ensured that it happened. What could you do about it? Did you ever wanted to appoint a panel why the US could not found weapons of mass destructions in Iraq after causing havoc in the poor country? It is clear to anyone in the whole world that no other time in the history UNO has been so helpless and defunct than the present.
Today, we are living in a world where world’s greatest war criminals try to preach the value of human rights to the world. We know Mr. Moon that your pay masters are rather happy to see a Sri Lanka in war than in peace. Or else, why on earth you wanted to publish a report with some crazy allegation against our country? How would you expect to help our reconciliation process by hurting healing wounds of a nation? We do not want to comment on the content on your report much, because, you can find the same trite allegations on pro LTTE websites. They have been there even before the so called “final stage of the war” started. You have wasted your time by appointing a panel “expert” to re write them for you.
Being ordinary citizens of this country, we are not experts in international affairs, but we have heard that you have violated all UN norms by making this report against us. We thank our friends Russia and China for taking a bold stance against this blunt hypocrisy shown against a small but sovereign member of the UNO. Their presence in UNO signals lesser privileged nations like us that there is still meaning for being a member in this once respectful organization.
But, for you, Mr. Ban-ki Moon, we are sure that you will accompany your report to the history as the UN’s greatest embarrassment. Or else, you will be known to the world as the person who killed the UNO’s credibility.
-The Ministry of Defence bears no responsibility for the ideas and opinion expressed by the numerous

UN panel opts for selective amnesia - Manila Times

http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20110426_06


UN panel opts for selective amnesia - Manila Times
"What hurts me is that the panel has failed to recognize the immense steps the government has taken to bring peace and reconciliation, matched with development, to the north and north-east of the country that not too long ago was controlled with an armed fist by the LTTE states Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.
Within the first 12 months of the war ending we even re-settled over 350,00 displaced Tamils, an achievement that was applauded by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon himself and several international humanitarian organizations. But instead of acknowledging any of this the panel has painted a wrong picture that there is an enduring legacy of bitterness still prevailing in these areas", the Defence Secretary in an interview with the Manila Times on April 26, 2011
The Secretary went on to say "Sri Lanka has always been a responsible and accommodating member of the United Nations. We have never failed to respond to UN requests for Sri Lankan troops to participate in peace keeping missions or humanitarian missions such as in Haiti. On some occasions we agreed to the request even when we were stretched to the limit during the various stages of our own conflict. So for the Secretary General to pick on Sri Lanka for this sort of arbitrary treatment is very unfair.
Here is the text of the Manila Times report:
AS the man universally credited with having played a key role in marshalling the Sri Lankan military into a disciplined, focused and well-equipped fighting force to deliver the final crushing blow to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)-the world's most brutal and feared terrorist outfit-and end three decades of bloody conflict, Sri Lankan Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa had more interest than most in the report submitted early last week to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon by his ad hoc (considering it had no mandate from the Security Council or any other UN body for that matter) panel made up of a Canadian, a South African and an Indonesian tasked with examining and advising him on any alleged violations of human rights during the final stages of battle.
So as he sits at his desk thumbing through the weighty tome, pausing every now and then to study some particular paragraph, Rajapaksa's tone shifts from exasperation to hurt to controlled fury. He throws his head back in utter bewilderment when noting that in the opening pages of the report the panel refers to the murderous Tamil Tigers (who, lest we forget, invented and perfected the genre of the suicide bomber and thought nothing of butchering innocent school children, young Buddhist monks and even members of the Tamil community who refused to give up their children to serve as child soldiers in its killing machine) as a "disciplined organization"-that very description giving one an early hint as to where the sentiments of the panel are heading.
Reading aloud another section where the panel spends several sentences agonizing over "wide spread shelling" Rajapaksa explodes: "Of course, there was shelling. Didn't the panel realise that there was a fierce war going on?"
After scanning a few more pages he closes the document and calmly says: "What hurts me is that the panel has failed to recognize the immense steps the government has taken to bring peace and reconciliation, matched with development, to the north and north-east of the country that not too long ago was controlled with an armed fist by the LTTE. Within the first 12 months of the war ending we even re-settled over 350,00 displaced Tamils, an achievement that was applauded by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon himself and several international humanitarian organizations. But instead of acknowledging any of this the panel has painted a wrong picture that there is an enduring legacy of bitterness still prevailing in these areas".
He goes on: "Sri Lanka has always been a responsible and accommodating member of the United Nations. We have never failed to respond to UN requests for Sri Lankan troops to participate in peace keeping missions or humanitarian missions such as in Haiti. On some occasions we agreed to the request even when we were stretched to the limit during the various stages of our own conflict. So for the Secretary General to pick on Sri Lanka for this sort of arbitrary treatment is very unfair. In fact appointing the panel, which in turn comes out with a report that goes far beyond its original mandate, is a brazen violation of our country's sovereignty. The Secretary General is needlessly pushing us against the wall and forcing us to seek the help of our friends in the UN Security Council like Russia and China".
Indeed, Russia-a veto-weilding permanent member of the Security Council-was not waiting for any formal request for help from the Sri Lankan government. Within two days of the report coming out, Russian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Vladmir Mikhaylov pointed out in Colombo that " Sri Lanka had every right and obligation to do everything within its means to protect its people from terrorism. Unfortunately it seems the panel of experts went beyond its task as had been made known to our representative in New York."
Ambassador Mikhaylov added: "The Secretary General should have asked the opinion of the Security Council or the General Assembly on this matter. However, rather than doing so, a panel was appointed.
This makes us cautious since the decision to appoint this panel was a personal initiative of the Secretary General and taken without regarding the position of Sri Lanka as a sovereign state and a member of the UN."
The Manila Times had the opportunity to review excerpts from the report and by our reckoning it seems that rather than contributing to the on-going climate of peace and reconciliation the panel has opened up old wounds. And instead of offering sound advice it has put forward band aid remedies. For sure this report will give sustenance to the dwindling, but vocal, elements of the Tamil diaspora still reeling from the realization that with the LTTE defeated their hopes for Eelam (a separate state) have been shattered beyond recall.
In. perhaps, the most glaring indictment of its submissions, the panel appears to have opted for selective amnesia when it came to discussing the actrocities committed by the Tamil Tigers, while going into lengthy anguish mode over the perceived sins of the Sri Lankan military. In effect, rather than acting as a trio of advisers offering sound counsel to Ban Ki-moon, the panel comes across like three stooges offering succor to remnants of the LTTE scattered across western capitals.
The panel has steered so recklessly from its original brief that one can't help thinking somewhat cynically that had the feared leader of the Tamil Tigers, Velupillai Prabhakaran, who was killed while fleeing the battlefield in the closing stages of the war, lived on in defeat to fight another day some of the contents of this report might well have provided the sort of deluded scenario he would have come up with for a post-war Sri Lanka.
In the past week we have had the opportunity to travel to the former strife-ridden areas in the north of Sri Lanka, and the clear impression in inter-acting with the citizenry there is that the people have moved on. One is greeted with smiling happy faces and, unlike before, there is no indication of tension in the air. Small and medium enterprises can be seen springing up everywhere as the resourceful Tamil community strives to catch up on the lost and wasted years. In an interesting fact of how fast things have changed, much of the fish, fruit and vegeatbles to sustain the whole country now come from the north-a clear indication that peace and securityhave returned to Sri Lanka.
That salient point has even been picked up on the global front. Just as the panel's report was making its awkward journey fron New York to Colombo, Sri Lanka Tourism welcomed a Dutch citizen and his family as the 250,000 tourist arrival in just over the first three months of 2011-a record that many other countries in the Asia-Pacific region would envy.
There is, of course, a significant piece to the advisory panel jigsaw.
Going against better judgement, Ban Ki-moon went ahead and appointed this panel to appease (as is suspected in some corridors of the UN headquarters) certain western countries whose help and undoubted clout he would need in the coming months to secure a second five year term as Secretary General.
But in playing his cards every which way in order to be all things to some people, Ban Ki- moon may have seriously miscalculated on this one.

Sri Lankan Tamils condemn Moon's report

http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20110426_03


Sri Lankan Tamils condemn Moon's report
Tamil people in the Northern and the Eastern Provinces including the academics vehemently condemn Ban Ki Moon's advisory panel report. Sources from the North and the East state that University Academics and the Social Organisations in the two provinces have made arrangements to hold mammoth protest demonstrations in Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Vavuniya within the next few days to condemn the so-called report.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the International Hindu Religious Faculty Desha Bandu Siva Sri Baala Ravishankar Kurukkal has stated that they strongly reject the report presented at a time when the Tamil people are living in freedom and in peace after 30 years of life endured under death threats. He has said that all people in Sri Lanka are contributing towards the development of the country giving prominence to national unity.
He has said that when the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim people of this country were subjected to cruelties of the tiger terrorists, President Mahinda Rajapakse and the present government took brave steps to vanquish the scourge of terrorism from this country on behalf of all the people and it is after that the whole country is enjoying peace and freedom. The Kurukkal has further said that it is sad to note that the UN Secretary General failed to submit a report by studying properly all these facts.
Courtesy : Government Information Department

Art exhibition by ex-LTTE combatants at National Art Gallery

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Art exhibition by ex-LTTE combatants at National Art Gallery
www.defence.lk">Exhibition of paintings by former LTTE combatants, presently undergoing comprehensive rehabilitation program, was commenced yesterday (25th April) at the National Art Gallery in Colombo.
A wide range of creations by these ex-combatants including arts, paintings, handicrafts, sculpture, embroidery and needlework, were on display at the exhibition, bringing out their hidden talents that lied dormant all these years.
Around 400 paintings by ex-combatants are on display while the public is able to purchase the artworks as well. The exhibition will be ended today.
"On 23rd April over 400 ex-LTTE combatants who completed their comprehensive rehabilitation program, were reintegrated into the society. Only 4500 ex-LTTE combatants are being rehabilitated in 9 centers in Jaffna, Vavuniya and Welioya", official from the commissioner General of Rehabilitation said.
Senior Minister of Human Resources D.E.W. Gunasekara declared open the exhibition. Minister of Rehabilitation and Prisons Reforms Chandrasiri Gajadeera, American Ambassador to Sri Lanka Her Excellency Patrcia Butenes also present at the occasion.

Foreign minister of the Sultanate of Oman pledges support for Sri Lanka

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Foreign minister of the Sultanate of Oman pledges support for Sri Lanka

External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peirs had bilateral discussion with His Excellency Yosuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman, on Sunday 24 April 2011.
Minister of External Affairs Professor G.L. Peiris was received by His Excellency Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Muscat, Oman, on Sunday, 24 April 2011.
Prof. Peiris briefed his counterpart in detail about the developments connected with the report of the experts appointed by the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban-ki Moon with regard to Sri Lanka.
Minister Peiris explained that publication of this report, which is not an official U.N. document, will inflict great damage on the reconciliation process in Sri Lanka, especially at a time when the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission of Sri Lanka is continuing with its work and has not yet submitted its report.
Prof. Peiris also informed Oman's Minister of Foreign Affairs, of the reasons why any action based on the panel report, which was described as being entirely advisory, is demonstrably contrary to principle, and therefore unacceptable.
Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, responding to his Sri Lankan counterpart, expressed the view that it is inappropriate to embark on any course of action which would have the effect of impeding the healing of wounds and the forging of a national consciousness of unity and solidarity, soon after Sri Lanka had emerged from a painful conflict. He said that it is important to await the report of the local mechanism which Sri Lanka had set up, and consider the report objectively. He told Minister Peiris that the Sultanate of Oman would request the U.N Secretariat not to proceed to publication of the panel report at this time.
Prof. Peiris, referring to the recent deliberations in the United Arab Emirates on the subject of piracy, stated that the Government of Sri Lanka had succeeded not only in bringing peace and stability to our own country, but had also ensured that the sea lanes in the region remained safe for international navigation. Sri Lanka had also handled difficult issues in such a manner as to prevent problems arising in respect of such matters as the proliferation of small arms, refugee issues and collaboration among terrorist groups in the region.
The Foreign Minister of Oman agreed that this had resulted in considerable benefits not only for Sri Lanka but for peace and stability in the region, as a whole.
Prof. Peiris requested Minister Alawi bin Abdullah to bring Sri Lanka's views to the attention of the other countries comprising the Gulf Co-operation Council.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Muscat
24th April 2011

Pro-Tiger hidden hand behind Moon's Committee report - Minister Keheliya

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Pro-Tiger hidden hand behind Moon's Committee report - Minister Keheliya
Minister of Mass Media and Information Mr. Keheliya Rambukwella has said there is a hidden hand behind the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon's advisory committee report. The Minister has pointed out that this baseless report has been prepared completely ignoring the massacres carried out by the tiger terrorists for over 30 years, the properties they destroyed, abductions and other cruelties including mass murders of Buddhist priests, murder of innocent worshippers of other religious places, murder of school children etc., inflicted by them.
The Minister has said that during the three decades of war due to the LTTE atrocities even the word of human rights became something disgusted. The LTTE atrocities, he has pointed out, were carried out over a period of 1572 weeks and this baseless report speaks only about the last two weeks completely ignoring the period covered by 1570 weeks.
Therefore, he has said that there is a clear proof that the LTTE elements were behind this report. The Minister has said that the groups that were backing the tiger terrorists during that period have joined together to agitate within Sri Lanka and in foreign countries to demand implementation of the baseless report. He has urged everyone to unite to counter all these attempts being made to discredit Sri Lanka. The Minister has said that steps have been taken locally and on international level to register the governments total rejection of this report. (niz)
Courtesy : Department of Government Information

The TNA reiterates complicity with terrorism

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The TNA reiterates complicity with terrorism
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has issued a statement welcoming the report submitted by an advisory panel appointed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. The TNA statement was predictable. To begin with there's no questioning of the legality of the panel or its status within UN operations. There's no contextualization of the process, i.e. no mention of the fact that Ki-moon appointed this advisory body after Sri Lanka won an appreciative vote for defeating terrorism and after moves to condemn Sri Lanka at the Human Rights Council were resoundingly squashed. And they've not bothered to wonder why Ki-moon has not appointed investigative (not advisory) panels on Gaza, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and of course Bahrain! The TNA, predictably, failed to acknowledge the mal-intent of the panelists and does not bother to take account of the fact that sources cited are prejudiced and unreliable.
The TNA cannot raise these questions. The TNA statement mentions the fact that the report has accused both the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE. Now that was predictable too. The LTTE had to be mentioned for purposes of showing 'balance'. Those who have hurrahed the report (like the TNA and Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu) show a predictable reluctance to point out that the heirs to Prabhakaran, i.e. the so-called Government in Exile led by Fr. Emmanuel (who has not earned the censure of the Catholic Church despite his clear complicity in the terrorist project of the LTTE), are up and about making noises, purchasing support among big name politicians and cooking tall tales into 'dishable' facts. Given that the TNA and the likes of Saravanamuttu are the first to be sought out by pernicious meddlers masquerading as fact-seeking neutrals concerned about human rights, it is quite possible that these are indeed the 'fact-suppliers' who make it possible to turn fantasy into fact.
What is interesting is that the TNA, after that cursory mention of the LTTE, has then proceeded to reiterate the allegations of the report, making it out that the LTTE has been totally blameless. The report itself is high on conjecture and low on substantiation. Indeed it betrays a certain self-doubt, for there's wording such as 'if proven', meaning, proof is lacking. Even the TNA's response is just a collection of charges which, while being quite serious, that party has not been able to substantiate over the last 2 years.
Now why is all this not surprising? The answer lies in the TNA's manifesto published in the run up to the 2004 election. It's available (still) at http://www.tamilsydney.com/content/view/1210/37/ and probably elsewhere as well. That document reads like a The Final Word on Sycophancy. It is full of abject salaams to the world's most ruthless terrorist organization.
The TNA, in this manifesto has not only accepted the LTTE's leadership and implied that it represents the LTTE interest. Here's the relevant quote: 'Accepting LTTE's leadership as the national leadership of the Tamil Eelam Tamils and the Liberation Tigers as the sole and authentic representatives of the Tamil people, let us devote our full cooperation for the ideals of the Liberation Tigers' struggle with honesty and steadfastness. Let us endeavor determinedly, collectively as one group, one nation, one country, transcending race and religious differences, under the leadership of the LTTE for a life of liberty, honor and justice for the Tamil people.'
Unlike in the case of the Government of Sri Lanka, the charges against the LTTE can be and have been substantiated, although the panel is careful not to venture in that direction for obvious reasons (it would then have been forced to buttress charges against the Government in similar manner).
The TNA, in that manifesto, pledged '[to] devote [their] full cooperation for the ideals of the LTTE'. Well, that would amount to a guilty-plea. There is, understandably, no mention whatsoever in that manifesto about the forcible recruitment of children for combat purposes, the numerous acts of terrorism and crimes against humanity perpetrated by the LTTE, the assassination of journalists, intellectuals including academics, political opponents, heads of state (Rajiv Gandhi and Ranasinghe Premadasa) etc. This was before the LTTE used some 300,000 Tamils civilians into a human shield, by deliberately moving with them into a designated no-fire zone and jeopardizing their safety. This was before the LTTE shot in cold blood hundreds of such innocent civilians who tried to escape into the Government controlled areas. This was before those 300,000 plus Tamils were rescued at great risk and cost by the Sri Lankan security forces. Up to the end, the TNA supported the LTTE and pleaded its case to anyone who was ready to listen. It all adds up to one thing: CULPABILITY.
Today the TNA, in stark contrast to the demand for legitimating land theft and terrorism, wants to move ahead. There's only one question that the TNA needs to answer: 'Would it be possible to think of "moving ahead" in May 2011 had the conflict not ended as it did?'
Today, the Tamil people, held to ransom by a gang of thugs whose feet the likes of R. Sambandan touched with great reverence just 7 years ago, are free to breathe. The people of Sri Lanka walked the 'peace path' to its end, cut through a mine-laden jungle several more miles and walked at great risk. The LTTE didn't leave the people of Sri Lanka any other choice.
People died, yes. Not in the manner mentioned nor in the numbers claimed, but people did perish. That was a tragedy that could have been avoided had the LTTE opted to fight it out to the end or surrender en masse, say when Kilinochchi was liberated by the security forces in January 2009. It was too late in May 2009. The faces of the hundreds of thousands of civilians who rushed towards their true liberators, the Sri Lankan security forces, told the entire story.
The TNA can breathe now. The TNA leadership doesn't have to wash a wet-behind-the-ears terrorist's feet when passing Omanthai anymore. The TNA, more than any other party, must be glad at the demise of the LTTE. Sambandan knows very well that there was no other way his party could enjoy the freedom from fear that is its privilege right now.
If there are any doubts, Sambandan can revisit the election manifesto of the TNA (2004). If he has any integrity, Sambandan will thank the Sri Lankan Government for giving his party the opportunity to write a manifesto that does not have to salaam a two-bit thug.
Courtesy : adaderana

UN principles violated:

http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20110425_01

UN principles violated:
Panel report only for Ban's info - External Affairs Minister
The government believes that the attempted publication of the panel report on Sri Lanka, which was authorized by the United Nations Secretary General, for the purpose of gathering "insights for his own views," "is basically wrong and contrary to the principles underpinning the United Nations Charter."
"The panel has clearly acted in ways beyond its mandate by refusing to confine itself to offering advice to the United Nations Secretary General and assuming for itself, a function which involves adjudication of a kind, suggestive of a quasi-judicial role.
"This was never contemplated as a part of its mandate," External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peiris told this newspaper in an exclusive interview.
He expressed his surprise and that of the government on conclusions made in the panel report released April 12.
"It is in need astonishing that the panel thought that it was deemed fit and proper to reach conclusions on a wide range of matters currently being examined by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) appointed under the provisions of Sri Lankan Statute law," Prof Peiris told the Daily News yesterday. Earlier, Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that the government would tread with extreme caution and gradually map out a strategy, both locally and internationally, to counter the allegations in the panel report.
He said the report has ingredients of the LTTE rump and those of the Tamil diaspora.
"The appointment of the LLRC was universally acclaimed," the External Affairs Minister said.
"Foreign governments expressed confidence in the Commission and conferred their good wishes and felicitations on the Commission's good work. The Commission had held its sittings in not only Colombo, but in the Northern and the Eastern Provinces and has already submitted a series of interim recommendations of the LLRC," he said.
This committee is headed by the Attorney General and comprises secretaries to seven ministries which are actively involved in the implementation of the recommendations.
"In these circumstances, it is quite bizarre that the panel should take upon itself to treat the Sri Lankan statutory body as though it did not exist, to dismiss it in the most cavalier fashion imaginable and to formulate its own recommendations while the LLRC is continuing its work, Prof Peiris noted.
"Representatives of western governments have had no difficulty in accepting the position of the Sri Lankan government that they should await the publication of the report of the Sri Lankan Commission and assess it objectively and dispassionately.
Prof Peiris said that when he recently visited a western capital, the representatives of the government in question, clearly articulated this position and that no prejudgment was permissible.
However, the minister said, that the attitude of the panel has been the opposite. There has been absolutely no justification for the insensitivity and arrogance with which the Sri Lankan commission has been ignored, he remarked.
Commenting on the reaction of the panel on Sri Lanka vis-a-vis a probable backdrop of similar situations that could arise in other parts of the world, he said: "What is sought to be done in respect of Sri Lanka, on this occasion will have to be done in future in other situations as well.
Sri Lanka cannot be singled out for discriminatory treatment because this would tantamount to cynical violation of the doctrine of sovereign quality of states which is one of the core values embedded in the United Nations Charter".
"If this is allowed to happen, it would have distressing implications for the United Nations as well," he added.
Courtesy : Daily News

Some countries angry for defeating LTTE –CP Governor

http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=23558

Some countries angry for defeating LTTE –CP GovernorApril 21, 2011, 9:53 pm
By Cyril Wimalasurendre
KANDY – The report on Sri Lanka by the Advisory Panel of UN General Secretary, Ban Ki Moon reflects the displeasure shown by a few Western Powers over the defeat of the LTTE military power that destroyed thousands of innocent lives, said Central Provincial Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa addressing a meeting at the governor’s secretariat on Tuesday 19.
"It appears that some sections of the western powers do not like to see peace and harmony in this little island of Sri Lanka, a home for the multi-ethnic population," Governor Kobbekaduwa noted.
There were no advisory panels appointed similar to the one set up by UN General Secretary when the LTTE unleashed a chain of mass killings of Buddhist monks and devotees of other faiths inside their shrines. They killed un-armed civilians in their homes, in buses and trains, farmers in their paddy fields and gardens and bombed several public places including government offices and hotels, the governor noted.
He further said that fear among the people in all parts of Sri Lanka including the north and the east disappeared after the routing out of the LTTE terrorism due to the determination of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the armed forces and the police.
This situation that prevails in country is not appreciated by some western powers, he added.

SL has all the right to protect people - Envoy

http://www.dailynews.lk/2011/04/21/news03.asp

SL has all the right to protect people - Envoy
Dharma SRI ABEYRATNE
When Sri Lanka is healing its wounds after the 30 decade conflict, the United Nation may render its assistance, if needed and not to complicate the reconciliation process, Russian Federation Ambassador to Sri Lanka Vladimir P Mikhaylov said.
Vladimir P Mikhaylov
The ambassador addressing the media in Colombo yesterday regarding the report of the panel of experts established by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, said the Sri Lankan government as an independent and sovereign country has every right and obligation to protect its people from terrorism.
Speaking about the report, he pointed out that the report is not “a UN report” since it was prepared neither by a UN body nor even by its request.
It was just a personal initiative of the UN Secretary General, he said.
“As follows from UN sources, this panel is not a fact finding or investigation mechanism, but is designed solely to advise the UN General Secretary on accountability issues relating to alleged violations of international human rights and humanitarian law,” Ambassador Mikhaylov said noting the Russian position regarding the panel report while quoting a press statement on June 24, 2010 issued by the Russian Federation Foreign Ministry.
The Ambassador pointed out that the UN Secretary General as the chief administrative officer of the United Nations should apparently have asked the opinion of the Security Council or the General Assembly on this mater. However, rather than acting so, a panel had been appointed.
“This makes us cautious is the fact that this decision was taken without regarding the position of Sri Lanka as a sovereign state and a member of the UN,” the Ambassador added.
He added that the primary responsibility for investigating the events that occurred in the past in Sri Lanka lies with its government and that the newly appointed panel of experts will not take any step that would complicate the investigation being conducted by the authorities of Colombo.
“Unfortunately it seems that the panel of experts went beyond its task, at least as it had been made known to our representative in New York,” Ambassador Mikhaylov noted.

http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/MCNS/defence-security/index.php

LTTE biased TV channels publish false stories
22 Apr 2011 - 08:30
Even after two years of eradicating the LTTE terrorism from the motherland some LTTE biased TV channels are attempting to tarnish the image of our valiant forces and defame the great name of the sovereign country. A series of fake allegations brought against the Sri Lankan Forces are being published by some LTTE biased TV Channels through their news telecasts these days. Though these TV channels say that the abandoned vehicles by the civilians have been stolen by the Sri Lankan Forces, it is crystal clear and obvious that the valiant Sri Lankan Forces always dedicated to serve all the civilians alike in the country. The vehicles and the motor bicycles deserted by the civilians were safely collected by the forces and they took necessary steps to handover back to the rightful owners in several stages. There are sufficient evidences for the exemplary behavior of the valiant Sri Lankan Forces and their generous services extended towards all the citizens without any segregation. As a beginning 780 motor cycles and 12 heavy vehicles were handed over to the rightful owners on August 21st and 22nd in 2010 by the governor of the North Major General (rtd) G.A. Chandrasiri at the Kilinochchi district secretariat. The District Secretary Rupavathi Ketheeswaran also participated in this occasion. Another 6,700 motor cycles and 100 heavy vehicles were also released to the correct owners after few weeks at the Vavuniya District Secretariat. The Commissioner General of Motor Traffic Lalith Dharmasiri dispatch 22 motor traffic examiners from Colombo, Jaffna and Batticoloa to assist in the handing over of these abandoned vehicles. The officials assisted in examining the ownership papers, the registration and chassis numbers of the vehicles to ensure that they were not claim by the wrong party. Not only that the Government with the assistance of NAITA is repairing these vehicles and making necessary arrangements to give them back to their right owners. Though the Diaspora who could not bear up the defeat of the LTTE organization, attempt to tarnish the image of valiant Sri Lankan forces and defame the name of the country among the international community that would never be succeeded and it will only be a sheer dream of them, since the truth never be buried by any force.

http://www.news.lk/home/17948-sri-lanka-says-un-panel-report-has-ingredients-of-ltte-remnants-

Sri Lanka says UN panel report has ingredients of LTTE remnants
Saturday, 23 April 2011 07:05

Sri Lanka says the UN panel of Expert report on Sri Lanka has the ingredients of the LTTE remnants and the Tamil Diaspora. Sri Lanka Government spokesman Media minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that skeletons of various statements and utterances made by the LTTE rumps and the Diaspora during the last stages of the war against the LTTE has found its way in the UN panel of expert report.Mr Rambukwella said that the government would not be commenting on bits and pieces of the report of the three member panel of United Nations experts on accountability issues during the latter stages of the humanitarian operation in Sri Lanka, but, instead, would map out a systematic strategy- locally and globally to counter it.
The government of Sri Lanka has already taken up the matter with Non-Aligned movement and the countries such as Russia and China"The majority of the statements which have been made within the commission report, are remarkably the same as the statements which were made by the LTTE rump and the Tamil Diaspora in the final stages of the war,” the minister has told the Daily News.
The government once it received the copy of Banki Moon's panel report rejected it as fundamentally flawed and patently biased
The three -member Commission, chaired by Indonesia’s Marzuki Dharusman and comprising South Africa’s Yasmin Sooka and Stephen Ratner of the United States and appointed in May 2010, handed over the report to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon on April 12 and the United Nations has shared a copy of the report with the government of Sri Lanka.

http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20110423_02

Sri Lanka to recruit more Tamils to Police service
More Tamil youths are to be recruited to Sri Lanka Police service. Interviews are being held these days in many Districts in the North and the East. Police department yesterday held interviews in the Vavuniya, Mannar, Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi Districts.
The Tamil youth seem to display a keen enthusiasm in joining the Police Service. The prime intention of this effort is to deploy officers who can perform their duties in Tamil language in the districts in North and the east,
The Government has already recruited over 300 Tamil speaking officers to the Police service.They will be recruited as Inspectors, Sub Inspectors of Police and constables. Long queues were witnessed at the locations where the interviews were held on Thursday
Courtesy : President's media unit

Wrong to publish Moon panel report

http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20110421_06

Wrong to publish Moon panel report

Advisory panel not a UN body - Minister of External Affairs
It is fundamentally wrong for the UN to publish the report or take action based on the recommendations by the UN panel of advisors, Minister of External Affairs Prof. G. L. Peiris said.
Speaking to media today (21) at the Ministry of External Affairs, Prof. Peiris said the report was not complied by the UN or a mandated UN body.
The panel was appointed by the Secretary General of the United Nations only to advise him on Sri Lanka. "It is not a fact finding or an investigative body," he said.
The UN panel has overstepped its mandate by investigating alleged war crimes when they have no authority to do so, Prof. Peiris said.
'When Sri Lankan is making efforts to leave behind the past, the UN should consider whether the content of the report is going to contribute positively to the national unity of Sri Lanka or instead encourage divisions between the communities", Prof. Peiris added.
The UN should refrain from taking any steps that can restrain the reconciliation process in the country, the Minister further said.
Minister Peiris said it is unacceptable for the panel to release a report even before the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) submits its report. "How can the UN panel come to a conclusion even without looking at the LLRC report," the Minister questioned.
"What we say to the UN system is let us work together. The UN should reach out to Sri Lanka at a time it is coming out of one of its darkest periods", he emphasized.
Minister Peiris also firmly rejected the assumption that the report was leaked to the press in Sri Lanka by the Sri Lankan government.
He also said the government has not appointed a committee to study the UN panel report.
Courtesy : President's media unit

http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20110421_05

Tamil migrant accused shooting of detained soldiers at the end of battle

The Immigration and Refugee Board in Canada is probing whether a Tamil migrant who arrived in Canada last summer on the MV Sun Sea may have had a role in the shooting of dozens of detained Sri Lankan army soldiers at the end of a battle.
The Vancouver Sun reported that the migrant testified that he had not taken part in the shooting; a key question arose about whether he may have directed subordinates to do so.
The migrant's lawyer has admitted that he was a member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, a group that was engaged in a lengthy civil war with Sri Lanka until 2009. The group is considered a terrorist organization and banned in Canada.
According to a report in the Globe & Mail, the man has told the IRB through a translator that the LTTE called for any Tigers carrying weapons to come forward when they brought the soldiers but he ignored the call and walked away because he feared the soldiers were about to be killed.
But Kevin Hatch, CBSA's hearing representative, has questioned his version of events and pointed out that in an interview the man had with Canadian officials he has said that he told people behind him "to go," suggesting he ordered others to heed the call, the report said.
During questioning by his lawyer, the migrant has denied that he ordered anyone to shoot the soldiers.
The man is one of two Sun Sea migrants who have been accused of engaging in war crimes and who face possible deportation if the allegations are found to be true.
Board adjudicator Geoff Rempel described the war crimes allegation as "one of the most serious."
The hearing is to be resumed on Thursday Morning.

Tigers killed 600 Tamils - Ex-TNA MP

http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20110421_01

Tigers killed 600 Tamils - Ex-TNA MP


Innocent civilians killed like stray dogs:
Over 600 innocent Tamil civilians were shot and killed like stray dogs from October 1, 2008 to May 18, 2009 in the Vanni region by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), said former Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP S. Kanagaratnam.
Not a single innocent civilian was killed by the Sri Lankan Armed Forces in the hostility campaign against the LTTE, he said.
Kanagaratnam told the Asian Tribune that he was with the people throughout in the Vanni.
He said he represented the Vanni electoral district and as the hostility campaign started he was with the people looking after their interests.
He said he has seen the horrors of the war and seen innocent Tamils, who were treated as stray dogs, shot and killed mercilessly by LTTE gunmen. Kanagaratnam said that United Nations and Western countries are not privy to any firsthand information about horrors, killings, destruction and human tragedies that occurred during the final days of the battle and rubbished the UN Experts Panel's report. He said the UN document was based on third of fourth person's reports and on biased material prepared by the rump LTTE campaigners and vested interest groups.
Kanagratnam challenged whether the three UN Experts could authenticate any of those allegations they have raised and included in their so called report?
The revelation exposes the vindictive nature and the revengeful mentality of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the flawed and distorted version of his so called Experts' Panel Report and the vested interest of the Western leaders and the Human Rights Organizations in the West, who were parroting the rump LTTE's allegations to bifurcate Sri Lanka, said Kanagaratnam, who represented the Vanni electoral district from April 2004 to April 2010.
"I learnt when I was in the government controlled area on May 18, 2009 that Nadesan and few others tried to cross into government controlled area but they were shot and killed.
"According to my information, they were shot and killed by the LTTE gunmen. This is what I learnt", said Kanagaratnam.
Kanagaratnam told the Asian Tribune that it was the LTTE which shot at civilians.
"They shot innocent civilians to frighten them not to leave for government controlled areas," he said.
Asked if the LTTE killed many civilians, Kanagaratnam replied. "In fact countless. I lost count of it. LTTE cadres were deployed all over and civilians were shot at to frightened them and to prevent them from leaving the area.
Asked if 50 to 100 people would have been shot and killed by the LTTE he said." It will be many times more than that".
Kanagaratnam said when the Sri Lankan Army was accepting displaced persons arriving into their controlled areas, the LTTE was shooting at fleeing civilians to prevent them from leaving. "I have seen many bodies littered all over the places, who were victims to the brutal killing of the LTTE," he said.
Asian Tribune: But there is a general allegation that innocent civilians were killed by government security forces. So you mean to say that mostly civilians were killed by the LTTE? You were the only person who was with the people till the last moment in Vanni. Furthermore, you were an elected representative of the people also.
S. Kanagaratnam: OK. I have seen with my own eyes, the tragic and horrendous scenarios unfolding those days and seen people being ruthlessly killed by the LTTE - Rule of the gun prevailed.
The Asian Tribute also asked Kanagaratnam if he had seen any Sri Lankan Army personnel entering the civilian area and shooting and killing them, whether he had seen any civilians fleeing to the government controlled area being shot and killed by the Sri Lankan Army personnel and if he had seen any women been raped by the Sri Lankan army? Kanagaratnam replied: No, not at all. I haven't seen any civilians being killed by the Sri Lankan Army. I haven't heard any women being raped by the Army men. But I have seen the Army personnel collecting the injured persons while receiving the fleeing civilians and taking them and treating them and actually saving the lives of a few hundred civilians."
Kanagaratnam: The innocent Tamil civilians who were caught up in the fighting were provided treatment. "As the Army advanced to the LTTE controlled areas, those civilians were hiding in many places. Those are the people who were picked by the Army and transported to the Army controlled areas and treated. I was later told that those who were severely injured and in critical conditions were air-dashed to Trincomalee, Anuradhapura and other hospitals in the South for treatment."
Asked if the majority of them were civilians, Kanagaratnam said. In fact majority of them, more than 75 percent of them were LTTE cadres. The Army was able to identify them as they were from the armed group of the LTTE. But still they took them and treated them.
Asian Tribune: How do you know the Sri Lankan Army personnel safeguarded the injured LTTE cadres as well as the injured civilians? Kanagaratnam: It was a known piece of information for those who were living inside the Vanni those days. People used to talk that injured persons were normally taken by the Army men for treatment. But I saw that with my own eyes, when I was in the Army controlled territory on May 17 to 18, 2009.
Asked if he did not see any top level LTTE leaders, Kanagaratnam said:" There was lot of middle level leaders who were trying to convince the disheartened and disillusioned civilians that they would overcome the Army and win the war.
But when anyone questioned them, that person was always shot and killed at pointblank range. This was done to instill fear in the minds of the people."
"I wish to say with certainty that Prabhakaran has never endorsed the plan of surrendering to the Sri Lanka Army. I know for certain that the LTTE leader has not approved Nadesan and Pulidevan surrendering by carrying any flag. I was told Prabhakaran sent his elite group to stop the duo fleeing the LTTE controlled area. Thus the duo must have, I am sure received the fatal blow by the very LTTE gunmen who were loyal to Prabhakaran," Kanagaratnam said.
Asian Tribune: So you deny that Sri Lankan Army has not shot and killed innocent civilians. Tell whether you are denying this allegation? S.Kanagaratnam: Yes, I deny such frivolous allegations. I must be truthful in the name of the God. I am also answerable to Almighty the God.
I know these are propaganda ploy of the rump LTTEers in the West.
Asked by Asian Tribune if it was possible to give a rough figure of civilians shot and killed by the LTTE gunmen, Kanagaratnam said:" Indeed many hundreds were killed, but at present I am unable to give you an exact figure, as I have lost all my documents when I left Mullivaikkal to the government controlled area. Innocent Tamils were shot and killed indiscriminately by the LTTE."
Courtesy : Daily news

Panel report is not a "UN report" says Russia

http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20110420_01

Panel report is not a "UN report" says Russia

The report prepared by the panel of experts, appointed by the UN Secretary General on accountability issues relating to alleged violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in Sri Lanka during the last phase of the humanitarian operations is not a UN report, said Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Sri Lanka H.E. Valdimir P.Mikhaylov.
The Ambassador said "we speak not about a 'UN report', since it was prepared neither by a UN body or nor even by its request. It was just a personal initiative of the UN Secretary General". He further said that, we should be more precise in definitions not to mislead public.
The Ambassador gave these remarks when speaking at a press briefing held at the Ministry of Defence, today (20 April).
He went on to say that the Russia's position on the matter was made public by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation in its press statement on June 24, 2010.
The Ambassador quoted some of the important points of the press release.
Moreover, the Ambassador said "Unfortunately it seems that the panel of experts went beyond its task, at least as it had been made known to our representatives of New York".
Finally, the Ambassador concluded saying "we believe that now, when Sri Lanka healing its wounds after long armed conflict, the UN may render its assistance, if needed, and not to complicate the process of reconciliation. Our representative to the UN in New York recently reconfirmed this position".

LLRC final report by May 15

http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20110420_02

LLRC final report by May 15

The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) is targeting the completion of its report to be handed over to President Mahinda Rajapaksa by May 15.
The Commission has commenced preparing the first draft, LLRC Media Spokesperson Lakshman Wickremasinghe said.
The draft, according to Wickremasinghe, is being prepared on the evidence received and analyzed by the LLRC.
According to him, expert knowledge had been required in processing certain evidence.
The LLRC has held public sittings in the districts of Jaffna, Batticaloa, Mannar, Trincomalee, Vavuniya, Matara, Ampara, Monaragala, Galle, Matara, Puttalam, and Anuradhapura. The Commission concluded its public sittings last month.
President Rajapaksa in May 2010 appointed the eight-member Commission to report on the lessons to be learnt from the events during the period from 21st February 2002 to 19th May 2009. The Commission is chaired by the former Attorney General Chitta Ranjan de Silva.
From the evidence the Commission gathered so far, the LLRC has suggested immediate administrative measures to ease the lives of resettled Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and all people living in the former conflict areas and shrink High Security Zones (HSZs).
Implementing reconciliation measures suggested by the Inter-Agency Advisory Committee (IIAC) the government is gradually releasing lands occupied by the military as High Security Zones (HSZs) in the country, especially in the North.
The Sri Lanka Army officially handed over Subash Hotel on Victoria Road in Jaffna town in which the 52 Division Headquarters was established since December 1995, to its owner in March this year.
256 houses surrounding the Palaly HSZ have already been returned to civilians and another 2392 houses have been identified for civilian occupation in more than 2500 hectares of the land that was set apart for HSZs.
Courtesy : President's media unit

UN Panel of Experts' report Russia opposes

http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20110420_03

UN Panel of Experts' report Russia opposes

Russia yesterday opposed any discussion of Sri Lanka on the UN Panel report at the Security Council briefing, Inner City Press reported.
Sri Lanka and the UN Panel of Experts' report were listed in advance as topics of the Security Council briefing by UN Department of Political Affairs Chief Lynn Pascoe said yesterday.
At the Security Council meeting Russia had raised a number of 'procedural' objections with regard to discussing about Sri Lanka, the Inner City Press said quoting sources.
Courtesy : President's media unit

http://www.dailynews.lk/2011/04/20/news20.asp

Lanka's victory over terrorism, example to world - Bangladesh Finance Minister

Bangladesh Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith has described President Mahinda Rajapaksa as a distinguished leader who saved his country from terrorism.
He said that the President's war victory over terrorism was a clear example to all other countries fighting against the threats of terrorism.
The Bangladesh Minister was addressing a group of leading Bangladeshi businessmen who met President Rajapaksa at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel yesterday.
The meeting had been arranged by the Bangladesh Commerce and Industrial Board.
The Minister also said that Sri Lanka had achieved much progress after defeating terrorism in the North and East.
He said that his aim was to develop the Bangladeshi economy by adopting the principles adopted by Sri Lanka.
Addressing the Business community, External Affairs Minister Prof G.L. Peiris said that the Mahinda Chinthana concept was a concept of broad meaning to develop the country and the people.
He said the assassination of Bangladesh Leader Shiek Mujibur Rahman was a clear example of the danger of terrorism.
The Minister pointed out that Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, have similar cultures with equal regards for religion, economy and cultural values.
The Bangladesh businessmen who participated in the talks showed a keen interest in investing in Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni also had a meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka yesterday.
His talks with President Rajapaksa centred on further strengthening of bilateral relations. The Foreign Minister who was grateful for the President's visit to Bangladesh also congratulated Sri Lanka for defeating terrorism.
The Bangladeshi Foreign Minister recalled that Sri Lanka has been a good friend of Bangladesh for a long time.
Several books on Buddhist Philosophy written by Bangladeshi authors were presented to President Mahinda Rajapaksa on the occasion.

http://www.dailynews.lk/2011/04/20/news11.asp

'Lanka ready to face all hostile elements'

Nadira GUNATILLEKE
'As one nation living in one country, Sri Lankans are ready to face all pro LTTE foreign elements and defeat them. Sri Lankans faced many similar challenges during its history and defeated them, Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena said.
Addressing Health Ministry officials during the New Year celebrations held at the Ministry yesterday, Minister Sirisena expressed these views while commenting on the report on Sri Lanka by the Ban-Ki-Moon Advisory Panel.
Minister Sirisena pointed out that the Sri Lankan Government rejects all allegations contained in the report.
Sri Lanka has an unblemished and victorious history which runs in to centuries. Sri Lankans lived as one nation without any difference from the beginning.
According to Minister Sirisena these elements are trying to push Sri Lanka backwards when the country defeated terrorism and is now heading towards a rapid development with permanent peace. The country needs to face this conspiracy and defeat it as one nation. The country saved its territorial integrity many times in the past by facing and defeating similar conspiracies, he said.
Now the LTTE is in a different mask and posing a threat to Sri Lanka from foreign lands. Sri Lanka will reply to the conspiracy launched by those LTTE-friendly foreign elements with patience and intelligence, the Minister added.

http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20110419_01

Government rejects illegal Moon's Committee report

The government has strongly rejected the report of the illegal advisory committee appointed by the United Nations General Secretary, on Sri Lanka. The government has said that it is a biased, baseless and unilateral report. The government has issued an announcement deploring the report saying that the committee which was appointed to advise on incidents that are considered to have occurred during the last stages of the humanitarian operation has been prepared without any knowledge about the period of observation or about the humanitarian operation.
The announcement also states that the Sri Lankan government is prepared to provide appropriate response on this report in the future.
Meanwhile, Minister of External Affairs Professor G.L Peiris has said that a special session will be held on the 21st of this month to enlighten all Ambassadors and High Commissioners in Sri Lanka about the UNSG's advisory committee report. The minister said that this report which damages the sovereignty of this country cannot be accepted in any manner.(niz)
Courtesy : Department of Government Information

http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20110419_05

N-E archaeological places to be declared World Heritage Sites

Important ancient archaeological sites in the Northern and Eastern Provinces will be declared World Heritage Sites in the near future on the initiative of National Heritage Minister Dr Jagath Balasuriya and with the support of the German government. Ancient harbours which had been important ports along the trade route between China and Rome, Kurundugoda temple in Jaffna which belongs to the pre historic period and ancient settlements Jaffna Fort, Girihandu Seya which is considered the first Stupa built in the world and Thirukethishwaram kovil will be proclaimed world heritage sites.
The National Heritage Ministry has taken steps to present the project proposal to the UNESCO National Committee regarding this.
A discussion between Dr Balasuriya and German Deputy Ambassador in Sri Lanka Stefan Weak Bark was held at the Ministry to prepare the proposal recently. The ministry will also take action to discover all archaeological sites in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.
Minister Balasuriya said that he has paid full attention to proclaim other important archaeological sites in these two provinces as world heritage sites with immediate effect.
Dr Balasuriya thanked the German government, the German Embassy and the Sri Lankan UNESCO National Commission for their assistance in this regard.
Courtesy : Daily news

Last modified on: 4/18/2011 11:50:22 AM
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http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20110418_01

Democracy for Tamils after defeat of LTTE – President

Tamil people in North and Eastern Provinces are now engaged in democratic politics after thee decades thanks to Sri Lanka's successful war on terror, concluded nearly two years ago, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.
President Rajapaksa said in an interview with The Island on Sunday that Sri Lanka's rehabilitation project could be the most successful programme carried out by a government in any part of the world in spite of criticism by those bent on destabilizing the government and tarnishing the image of the country.
"We even brought a section of child combatants to a leading Colombo school, where they were given an opportunity to sit for GCE Ordinary Level and GCE Advanced Level examinations. Others were given an opportunity to join vocational training facilities. We found them jobs at various sectors, including the garment trade. Some returned to Universities, while others continue training at various institutions. We are grateful to foreign governments and institutions, including UN agencies for supporting ongoing rehabilitation efforts. Our critics had conveniently forgotten we are rehabilitating a group of people trained to kill and carry out suicide attacks," the President said.
Claiming that 'unsubstantiated charges against Sri Lanka' were part of a sinister campaign to undermine post-war national reconciliation, the President said that all civilians and over 60 per cent of the total number of LTTE combatants who had either surrendered or been captured had been freed. "What we have achieved in just two years is astonishing. Unfortunately, those who felt the LTTE could achieve its conventional military objectives remain committed to its cause in spite of annihilation of the fighting cadres," the President said.
Since the conclusion of the war in May 2009, there had been no child abductions in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, the President said.
"The world should appreciate our successful anti-terrorist effort. But today we are being hounded by those who turned a blind eye to LTTE atrocities over the years, particularly its widespread use of child combatants in war against the security forces. Children are no longer at the risk of being abducted on their way to school or back. Girls are no longer forced to wear suicide jackets and throw themselves at military and civilian targets," the President said.
The following are excerpts of The Island interview with President Rajapaksa:
The Island : Sri Lanka’s political and military leaderships are accused of war crimes or excesses during eelam war IV and retaining Emergency Regulations after the war. According to recent Wiki Leaks revelations, you and your younger brother, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa hadn’t been even aware of the ground situation on the Vanni front at the last stage of the offensive. Could you defend the conduct of Sri Lankan forces during the battle?
The President : Before responding to your query, it would be pertinent to discuss the circumstances leading to all out war in Aug. 2006. Those who criticize me and my government for eradicating terrorism, had conveniently forgotten the LTTE quit the peace process way back in April 2003. In spite of repeated attempts by those spearheading the peace process, the LTTE steadfastly declined to return to the negotiating process. Basically, the LTTE under the very noses of the Scandinavian truce monitors brought in ship loads of arms, ammunition and equipment during the CFA. Had those responsible for the infamous CFA convinced the LTTE to return to the negotiating table, war could have been avoided.
When major ground battles erupted in Aug 2006, I didn’t have any option but to respond to the LTTE’s military challenge. The armed forces gradually cleared the East by mid 2007 and then stepped up action on the Vanni front. We never targeted civilians and during the final phase of operations on the Vanni east front, ground troops faced the enemy without aerial and artillery support. The bottom line is we protected civilians even at the expense of the ground forces. The government prohibited the use of artillery fire and air strikes to ensure safety and security of people held at gun point by the LTTE."
The Island : In the run up to Nov. 2005 presidential polls, you were called a hardliner and a hawk. Basically you were depicted as a war-monger, particularly due to appointment of Gotabhaya Rajapaksa as Secretary to the Ministry of Defence. Some of the NGOs and Xan influential section of the business community went to the extent of carrying a well funded propaganda campaign against you. Would you comment on allegations that you never made a genuine effort to initiate a dialogue with the LTTE following the Nov. 2005 presidential polls?
The President : In the run-up to the Nov. 2005 presidential polls, the LTTE assassinated the then Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar at his residence. Any other country would have immediately called off the CFA and declared war on the enemy. In spite of that provocation, the then government reiterated its commitment to the peace process.
After assuming the presidency, I twice sent high level delegations to Geneva to meet the LTTE under the auspices of Norwegian peace facilitators. The LTTE ignored my gesture. In fact, a couple of weeks after my election, the LTTE triggered a spate of claymore mine attacks targeting the Army and the Navy. In a separate suicide attack, the LTTE blew up a Fast Attack Craft off Trincomalee in early Jan. 2006. But still I agreed to meet them in Geneva, though a section of the administration felt nothing would come out of the talks. Those who shed tears for the LTTE today never bothered at least to issue a press release condemning a wave of serious provocations, including target killings. Had they forced the LTTE to shun violence, thousands of lives could have been saved. As long as they felt the LTTE could achieve its objectives through military means, they simply allowed the situation to deteriorate.
The Island : In fact I’m surprised that you went to the extent of meeting the LTTE in Geneva knowing well the LTTE wasn’t genuine and only waited for an opportunity to go on the offensive.
The President : Let me remind you of a series of protests engineered by the LTTE in the immediate aftermath of the Feb. 2002 CFA exposed their strategy. When the LTTE threw students, some of them as little as 10-years-old at selected police stations and army camps, I knew they weren’t interested in peace. If they genuinely believed in a negotiated settlement, they wouldn’t have forced students to launch protests outside military installations. What they expected was retaliatory attacks by our troops. They believed bodies of students shot up by the military could give their bloody cause a boost. Fortunately our troops didn’t fall for their trap. The so-called civil society didn’t utter a word. Those who invested millions of rupees in local NGOs remained silent. In fact, those supportive of the LTTE, turned a blind eye to what was going on in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. It was no secret the then government suspended the release of daily situation reports by Army headquarters and also unceremoniously closed down the Vanni Radio, which served the armed forces and police deployed in that region. Those who now demand the freedom of the press didn’t even ask why the Army was being prevented from issuing daily situation reports. The answer is simple. The then government didnwant the public to know what was going on in areas under LTTE control and also in areas under government control. The CFA gave the LTTE an opportunity to conduct ‘operations’ in areas under security forces control with impunity."
The Island : Your predecessors failed in their efforts to contain the LTTE. The LTTE had a well-built military machine, including an ‘air wing’ at the time, you took over the presidency. Were you confident of your capacity to meet the LTTE challenge?
The President : The LTTE never stopped its build-up though Sri Lanka suspended modernization of armed forces after signing the Oslo-arranged CFA in Feb. 2002. By the time, I took over in Nov. 2005, the LTTE was obviously prepared for a lightning war. But still my government offered to continue the peace process regardless of severe shortcomings in the agreement. Hope you remember the then PA MP Lakshman Kadirgamar called the CFA a flawed document. When the LTTE refused to meet us in Geneva, we knew an all out war was imminent. The LTTE made an attempt on the life of the then Army Commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka in late April 2006. This was followed by an abortive bid to blast a troop ship carrying about 700 personnel returning to their bases in Jaffna in May. Then they succeeded in forcing us to launch a limited military operation by seizing Mavilaru in July. Although we regained Mavilaru swiftly, we didn’t pursue a military campaign. We still believed in a negotiated settlement. All out war erupted in early Aug. 2006 with simultaneous attacks on Trincomalee, Palaly and Muhamalai forward defence line. We worked as a team with the National Security Council meeting every week throughout the war for the next three years as our heroic fighting forces gradually rolled back enemy fighting formations across what some military expert believed were impregnable fortifications, particularly in the Vanni east region.
The Island : The majority of LTTE combatants are now with their families. Among the released are those deprived of their education due to them being forcibly recruited to the LTTE fighting cadre. Could you briefly discuss the status of the rehabilitation programme implemented by the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation?
The President : Our rehabilitation programme is a 100 per cent success. Contrary to allegations, we even brought a section of child combatants to a leading Colombo school, where they were given an opportunity to sit for GCE Ordinary Level and GCE Advanced Level examinations. Others were given an opportunity to join vocational training facilities. We found them jobs at various sectors, including the garment trade. Some returned to Universities, while others continue training at various institutions. We are grateful to foreign governments and institutions, including UN agencies for supporting ongoing rehabilitation efforts. The Commissioner General of Rehabilitation went to the extent of arranging marriages between ex-LTTE combatants. Our critics had conveniently forgotten we are rehabilitating a group of people trained to kill and carry out suicide attacks. Don’t forget the LTTE targeted public transport, isolated villages and even places of religious worship regardless of consequences. How many people died in bomb attacks directed at buses?
The Island : Since the eruption of protests in Tunisia and Egypt and subsequent attacks on Libya, some have compared the current situation in the Middle East with post-war situation here. Do you see any similarities?
The President : Had we failed to defeat the LTTE, those hell bent on destabilizing Sri Lanka could have resorted to various strategies to undermine us. What they have failed to realize was that Sri Lankans since the conclusion of the conflict in May 2009, thrice voted overwhelmingly for the UPFA. We won the Jan. 2010 presidential polls by a massive majority of over 1.8 million votes, followed by Apr. 2010 parliamentary elections and the recently concluded LG polls. There are interested parties seeking to create chaos in the country to pave the way for foreign intervention. But as long as the people remained with the government, trouble makers couldn’t exploit the situation to their advantage. Had our troops failed on their humanitarian mission, the LTTE and its supporters could have engineered a major conspiracy against the country with the help of disgruntled political elements. The LTTE is no longer a factor in any future election. The Tamil Diaspora, in spite of causing some trouble cannot offset total destruction of their conventional military power through other means. The media shouldn’t allow destructive elements to take advantage of them to undermine the post-war recovery process.
The Island : Finally what is your message to the Tamil speaking people?
The President: Just think about the future. The country is free at last from 30 years of terrorism and is in the process of implementing an accelerated development programme. Don’t allow the politically bankrupt to deceive you again. You have suffered for years without even the basic facilities, though your children now have a golden opportunity to be part of a great country. So please don’t miss this opportunity. Tourism is booming with the country recording a significant increase in the number of tourist arrivals. Visitors are free to visit any part of the country. Sri Lankans are free to roam the provinces. There are absolutely no restrictions. Even in Colombo, we have lifted restrictions to facilitate free movement.
President Rajapaksa urged the international community to review the situation in Sri Lanka and take a fresh and genuine assessment.
Courtesy : President Media Unit

http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20110418_02

Progress on demining operations in war-torn North and East commendable - BHC


British High Commissioner John Rankin on the occasion of the 'International Day for Mine Awareness' said that Sri Lanka had achieved commendable results in its demining activities.
"We welcome the fact that displaced Sri Lankans will be able to return to their homes and rebuild their lives and communities", he said.
This year theme was "A landmine-free world within reach".
According to the Country Manager of The Halo Trust (a leading UK-based demining agency working in Sri Lanka), there are approximately 4,000 demining personnel currently working in Sri Lanka - probably the second largest number globally.
Since September 2008, the UK has allocated £13.5 million for humanitarian assistance in Sri Lanka thorough its development agency DFID. Over œ 1 million out of the total allocation has been spent on demining activities. In February 2011, visiting UK Minister Alistair Burt announced further œ3 million funding towards demining operations in Sri Lanka

Rajapaksa heads influential national leaders in TIME poll

http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20110416_01

Rajapaksa heads influential national leaders in TIME poll

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has been voted the most influential among political leaders worldwide by readers of TIME, in voting for inclusion in the TIME 100 list. The Sri Lankan President came sixth in the list among 203 personalities voted, which included leaders, artists, innovators, icons, and heroes who TIME readers considered the most influential persons. He topped the voting for the most influential among national leaders, receiving 68,464 votes from TIME readers worldwide. The most influential personality, according to TIME readers was Rain, the South Korean singing sensation who has huge popularity in South East Asia, and wins the honour of being included in the TIME 100 - 2011. Among political leaders who trailed far behind President Rajapaksa were: President Hu Jintao of China (6,845 votes), Myanmar's Aung Sang Suu Kyi (3,384), US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (4,420), President Barack Obama (5,547), Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (1,496), India's Congress leader Sonia Gandhi (1,107), UK Prime Minister David Cameron (796) and US Vice President Joe Biden ((247). The official online voting by TIME readers for the TIME 2011 closed at midnight USA on April 14. However readers voting can continue to vote for their favourites until the list is revealed on Thursday, April 21. Courtesy: President's Media

Sri Lanka: UN Panel Report fundamentally flawed and Patently biased

http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20110415_01 Sri Lanka: UN Panel Report fundamentally flawed and Patently biased Sri Lanka says that the UN panel of Expert report on Sri Lanka is fundamentally flawed and patently biased presented without any verification. Sri Lanka External Affairs Ministry said that the Government of Sri Lanka has received a copy of the report of the Secretary General's Panel of Experts on accountability in Sri Lanka and it would reply in detail shortly. "The Government finds this report fundamentally flawed in many respects." Said the statement issued by the External affairs ministry Wednesday evening. "Among other deficiencies, the report is based on patently biased material which is presented without any verification." It added. Sri Lankan Government at the outset had rejected the appointment of a UN Panel of Expert to advise the UNSG on Sri Lankan accountability issue. Sri Lanka described the panel as unwarranted and uncalled for The Government said it would comment on the contents of the report in detail in due course Courtesy : The Island

http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/MCNS/defence-security/index.php

Highest annual rate of growth in three decades: Trend suggests fast recovery from 2009 setback: The Central Bank yesterday said that the country’s economy recorded an impressive growth of eight percent, the highest annual rate of growth reported in three decades. This remarkable achievement reflects a fast recovery from the setback suffered in 2009 and a move to a high and sustainable growth path. According to the 2010 Central Bank report which was released yesterday all key sectors of the economy reflected a commendable performance in 2010, underpinned by the peaceful domestic environment, improved investor confidence, favourable macroeconomic conditions and gradual recovery of the global economy from one of the deepest recession in history. Inflation continues to remain low at around mid-single digit levels and the benign outlook for inflation enabled the Central Bank to ease its monetary policy stance further in 2010. While significant demand pressures were absent, improved domestic supply conditions, downward adjustments of certain administered prices and the reduction of import duties on several consumer items had a favourable impact on prices. An encouraging improvement in the overall fiscal situation was witnessed in 2010 with the recovery in Government revenue supported by the expansion of economic activity, the addressing of certain persistent structural issues in the tax system, as well as the containment of recurrent expenditure. The overall deficit was reduced to 7.9 percent of GDP in 2010 from 9.9 percent in 2009. The external sector, which made a remarkable turnaround since the second quarter of 2009, continues to improve in 2010. Both exports and imports recovered strongly, while increased earnings from the tourism industry and higher inward remittances offset the widening trade deficit to a great extent, reducing the external current account deficit. Increased capital and financial flows resulted in the balance of payments (BOP) recording a surplus in 2010, further strengthening external reserves of the country. With favourable macroeconomic conditions and the recovery in economic activity and also with the supportive regulatory and supervisory framework, the performance and stability of the financial sector strengthened in 2010. The improved performance in all key sectors of the economy contributed towards the high economic growth in 2010. The agriculture sector, which contributed around 11.9 percent of the GDP in 2010, grew by 7.0 percent, compared to 3.2 percent in 2009, mainly driven by the increased production of paddy, tea, rubber and minor export crops along with significant improvements in the fisheries sector output. The industry sector grew by 8.4 percent supported by increased domestic and external demand with enhanced investor and consumer confidence. Improved performance in industries, such as food and beverages, rubber based products, textiles and garments coupled with increased performance in the construction sector and increased hydropower generation contributed to this growth. The share of the Industry sector in total GDP increased marginally to 28.7 percent in 2010. Factory industry, which contributed approximately 54.6 percent to the total industry output, recorded a 7.5 percent growth during 2010. The services sector grew by 8.0 percent in 2010. The wholesale and retail sub sector, which accounts for the largest share in the services sector, grew by 7.5 percent with increased external trade with the gradual recovery of the global economy and domestic trade with the restoration of peace. The hotels and restaurants sub sector grew sharply by about 39.8 percent underpinned by the strong performance in tourism. Other major sub sectors such as transport and communications, and banking, insurance and real estate also recorded significantly higher growth rates compared to 2009. Reflecting the recovery in economic activity, consumption expenditure increased by 14.9 percent in 2010, while savings and investment of the country also recovered. As a percentage of GDP, private consumption increased from 64.4 percent in 2009 to 65.8 percent in 2010, while government consumption declined from a high level of 17.6 percent to 15.6 percent. Both domestic savings and national savings increased, from 17.9 percent of GDP and 23.7 percent of GDP, respectively, in 2009, to 18.7 percent and 24.7 percent, respectively. Private investment recovered from 17.9 percent of GDP in 2009 to 21.6 percent in 2010, while public investment declined marginally from 6.6 percent of GDP in 2009 to 6.2 percent in 2010, and as a result, total investment as a percentage of GDP in 2010 increased to 27.8 percent. The recovery in total investment resulted in widening the national savings and investment gap to 3.1 percent of GDP, which was reflected in a higher deficit in the external current account. Courtesy:daily news.lk Print E-Mail Article

http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20110412_02 Human smuggling bill still part of Tory governing plan - Canadian PM The Conservatives will not abandon their proposed human-smuggling legislation, even if they govern with another minority after the May 2 vote, the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said. Opposition parties have rejected the proposed legislation - and have said they'll continue to oppose it, the Vancouver Sun reported. "We will absolutely pursue this legislation," Harper said during a campaign stop in Markham, Ont., insisting that many Canadians are on his side. The Conservatives have argued the proposed legislation is needed to control the increasing number of migrants who have landed in Canada, aided by human-smuggling operations. Harper has said these "queue jumpers" threaten the integrity of the "large and generous" Canadian immigration and refugee systems. "It is not acceptable when there are organized operations to smuggle boatloads of people into the country to bypass all of the legitimate channels that the vast majority of immigrants to this country are willing to go through," Harper said. "That is unfair to the country, it's not fair to those hundreds of thousands of immigrants who respect the rules, and it's important we have laws to deal with that problem." The Public Safety Minister Vic Toews introduced Bill C-49 in the House of Commons in October 2010. The bill sought to toughen jail terms and fines for people found guilty of human smuggling - provisions with which all parties agreed. According to the Conservative bill, migrants could be detained for a year or more without review, and barred from becoming permanent residents for five years, regardless of whether their refugee claim is accepted. The legislation was written after the MV Sun Sea, a boat carrying nearly 500 Sri Lankan refugee claimants landed on the coast of British Columbia in August 2010. In October 2009, a ship carrying 76 Sri Lankan Tamils arrived on the same coast. Courtesy : Vancouver Sun

http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20110411_02 Over 95 percent of N-E displaced resettled With over 95 percent of a quarter million displaced people in the North-East having been resettled in their places of origin, the government has reached the final stages of officially ending the internal displacement crisis in the country. Resettlement Ministry Secretary B M U D Basnayake yesterday( April 10), told that his Ministry has initiated action with the support of the Housing Ministry to repair and reconstruct those partially damaged houses of the displaced who have been settled in their places of origin in Kilinochchi, Vavuniya, Mullativu, Mannar and Jaffna districts. The Resettlement Ministry has called for identification of lands for the reconstruction of houses in these districts from Government Agents and District Secretaries, said Basnayake. Housing Minister Wimal Weerawansa consented to implement a housing project to phase out IDP camps in the Northeast which is envisioned to build 1,000 houses in the five districts with 200 houses in each district, he said. Meanwhile, the Indian Government has declared its willingness to give support to build 50,000 housing units to be given to the IDPs. The process is being worked out by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, he said. Asked about the progress of the Ministry's resettlement efforts , Basnayake said, out of 280,000 internally displaced persons, 252,000 were returned home since May, 2008 under the government's National Resettlement Strategy in keeping with Mahinda Chinthana. 'We are prepared to resettle them no sooner than the Defence Ministry declares that the areas they are supposed to return are cleared of land mines. 'The Defence Ministry has been able to complete clearance of land mines in the Northeast except in the Mullativu and Kilinochchi districts. 'They have almost finished clearing Mullativu of land mines. The process of clearing land mines can be over any time. Once the Defence Ministry gives us the go ahead, we will resettle the remaining displaced families," he explained. The Resettlement Ministry is also planning to introduce housing projects to those living in border villages in Monaragala, Anuradhapura, Ampara Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura districts. Moves are underway to put up 100 housing units for Nelliyadda, Keramatiyawa border village, that was attacked by the LTTE in the early 90s. "The Ministry has called on local authorities to identify locations to build houses in these villages . Altogether we expect to construct 1,000 houses for the displaced in border villages," he said. Asked how they support the resettlers at present, he said, the government is providing them with dry rations, things such as plastic sheets, medicine, towels and food items. 'An allocation of Rs 10,000 is also given monthly through the People's Bank besides provisions of livelihood facilities provided by the Resettlement Ministry," he added. Courtesy: Daily News

New Year messages Renewal in spirit, new expectations From ancient days the great cultural festival of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year has brought satisfaction and joy to the vast majority of our people. It is a festival that pays homage to the sun for the strength given to the land and people and is also the annual harvest festival that echoes the achievements of the rural people, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said in a New Year message. President Rajapaksa The message: “We celebrate this New Year at a time when production is progressing rapidly in agriculture and all other areas of development. It is also a time when all enjoy the freedom achieved in our Motherland. Therefore, this New Year will help bring a renewal in spirit and new expectations to the people about future progress. ”The New Year traditions coming down through centuries add to the joy of celebration. We can give this joy to future generations by making our children aware of its importance in our way of life. ”We must create every opportunity for our children who cherish the New Year festivities to join in observing the many rituals and traditions that they are associated with it. Therefore, to ensure the safety and joy of our children in celebrating this event, I appeal to you all to keep away from all intoxicants during this festive season. I trust this will contribute to bringing its joy closer the children and women of our country. ”I extend my deep gratitude to the members of the Armed Forces, Police and Civil Defence Corps, as well as a ll employees of the State and Private Sector who have made a commitment to be at their posts during the festive season. I wish you all Happy and Prosperous New Year!” Let us achieve all development goals It is as an elder and a friend that I extend my sincere greetings to all citizens of a free country on the occasion of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year which marks the movement of sun god from Pisce to Aries in the Zodiac Prime Minister DM Jayaratne said in a New Year message. Prime Minister DM Jayaratne “The dawn of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year or the sun festival has taught Sri Lankans many lessons,” the Prime Minister said. We should remember that no other country or nation has a noble custom such as the new year customs of homes in all parts of the country from North to South rally round at a single auspicious time to light the hearth, boil milk, commence work and partake of food”, the Prime Minister said. The message: “That friendship and relationship which was subdued by Prabhakaran by the power of the gun has blossomed once again. We are enjoying this renewal, new link and joy thanks to a patriotic son who has rendered his duty and service to the motherland without hesitation. He is none other than President Mahinda Rajapaksa. We have to gratefully remember that he occupies a special place in the hearts of the people of all community in this country. ”We would never have enjoyed this new found freedom to perform our new year customs if not for him. He has crowned the people with happiness after their sorrowful past. ”Let us heartily wish the North and South a happy New Year. Let us wish strength and courage to one and all to achieve all individual hopes and aspirations as well as create a righteous nation by achieving all development goals as a nation”. Country enjoying fruits of freedom The much aspired peace has been established and the whole country is enjoying the fruits of freedom, Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said in a New Year message. Minister Keheliya Rambukwella The Sinhala and Tamil New Year is the foremost cultural event of the Sri Lankan society. The New Year festival which gives prominence to religious observances is an event that with the combination of human compassion, unity and respect for the elders symbolises the national identity and is being held uninterruptedly from the ancient past and an event that has deep rooted cultural significance, the Minister said. The message: “Although even in the recent past Sri Lankans who were devoid of a part of the country, and were uncertain about a tomorrow, and were forced to live as losers and were unable to celebrate the New Year on a grand scale due to terrorist fears, they did not refrain from observing the rites and rituals connected to the New Year. “During that time the aspiration and the desire of everyone were peace and freedom for the country. This much aspired peace has been established. The whole country is now enjoying the fruits of freedom. ”The aspiration and hope of this New Year should be acquiring prosperity and happiness for the whole country. For Sri Lanakns who have accomplished the challenges that were thrown to us as non achievable, making Sri Lanka a prosperous nation is not a task that is difficult to attain. ”While enjoying the grandeurs of the New Year, let us firmly resolve to assist for strengthening the development process of the Nation. All of you who enjoy this New Year should not forget to commemorate our war heroes who sacrificed their life and limb to create the atmosphere for us to enjoy the New Year peacefully. ”May this New Year of 2011, be a year full of affluence, prosperity and happiness to all Sri Lankans.”