12/5/2014 9:16:38 AM

Massive demo against Shashidaran in Mullaitivu 'You kidnapper' They said that hundreds of children were abducted by the LTTE Hundreds of people living in the Mullaitivu area staged a massive protest yesterday against Northern Provincial Councillor Anandi Shashidaran, the wife of slain LTTEer Elilan, asking to know about the whereabouts of their children, abducted by her husband, when the area was under the control of terrorists. The protest took place at Co-op City junction in Mullaitivu. They said that hundreds of children were abducted by the LTTE while they were at school, on the directive of LTTE leader Elilan, and Shashidaran being his wife is fully aware of what happened to their children. The protestors carrying placards demanded information about their children abducted from schools on the instructions of Elilan. They said the children of Shashidaran are being educated in foreign countries while the children of the average citizens of the Mullaitivu district were suffering at the hands of LTTE terrorists. It is unfair for Shashidaran to talk about her husband who should take responsibility for killing thousands of innocent Tamil, Sinhalese and Muslim people in the country, they submitted. They added that this woman is silent about the relatives and children whom they lost due to LTTE conscription. The protesters also demanded that Anandi Shashidaran gives back their children whom the LTTE forcibly recruited as child soldiers. Courtesy : Daily News

12/5/2014 7:03:32 PM

Country precious more than gold - President President Mahinda Rajapaksa requested the Tamil community in the Northern Province to keep faith in the motherland as the gold they owned that was returned to them yesterday (04th December). He made this observation at a ceremony to handover jewellery which were deposited in LTTE banks to about 2,000 people from the North. They arrived in four special trains from Jaffna to attend the ceremony held at Temple Trees yesterday. President Rajapaksa said he instructed the authorities to find the genuine owners of the jewellery and hand the items back to the owners as he believed that they be given to the owners since the jewellery was purchased with great difficulty. President Rajapaksa said the military operation was launched only to defeat terrorism and not against the Tamil people. The President said within four years after the eradication of terrorism, roads, schools, hospitals, railway lines, electricity, 96 Mahindodaya laboratories to schools etc were provided investing two or three fold funds to one province in the North as the government believed that all provinces should be equally developed. He said the development programs are being carried out for the people of the North and their children. President Rajapaksa said members of the security forces are friends of the people in the North. He said if security forces personnel did not render their service the Northern and Eastern Provinces, services in the province would not have been developed so soon. The President said members of demining groups that arrived in the country after the elimination of terrorism predicted it would take to 10 to 15 years to complete the demining program. "As it would take such a long period to commence the development programs in the North and East, the government decided to deploy security forces in the demining program. The program was completed within a short period. Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda Secretary Defence and Urban Development Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa Commander of the Army and large gathering of jewellery owners were present at the event.

12/5/2014 10:50:49 AM

'We must not stray from the transformative path'- Secretary Defence "Sri Lanka today is a very different nation from what it was not so long ago". "National security is essential for the survival of the state, and it is the foundation of peace, freedom and prosperity of any country", said Secretary, Ministry of Defence and Urban Development Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa making the keynote address at the gathering of professionals organized at the Organisation of Professional Associations (OPA) in Colombo 07 on 4th December. Mr. Rajapaksa addressed the gathering of professionals on the theme of 'National Security in Sri Lanka'. The Organisation of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka (OPA) was established in 1974, with several professional bodies mooting the idea of a joint professional body, to cater to the country's growing need of professional opinion.Over the years the OPA has grown into a powerful civil society body consisting of an impressive list of member associations, currently standing at 44, with a total membership of approximately 50,000 professionals in various fields, whose outreach could extensive in numbers.The OPA holds regular seminars and lectures for members and the public, creating awareness on good governance and for the development of the country. Recalling on the ruthless acts of LTTE during the past he said that, when President Rajapaksa was first elected to office in 2005, the country and its people had suffered from the brutal terrorism of the LTTE for almost three decades. Moreover, a range of other issues stemming from the conflict also affected the country and halted its economic and socio-political progress, he said. Further elaborating on the criminal activities and the conduct of underworldgangsters that he mentioned that, democracy was threatened,routine law and order activities were affectedand hence, Emergency Regulations were constantly in force.The development of strong democratic institutions and the establishment of good governance were merely farfetched dreams then, he noted. He reiterated that the President inherited such a legacy of issuesand threats of terrorism from the previous administrations. But, within a short period of time lasting peace was brought as pledged, he added. Emphasising on the dynamic efforts made in demining,resettlement, rehabilitation, rebuilding of war torn areas,reviving of democracy, re-establishing elections in the North and East, disarming of armed groups and the liftingof emergency regulations,he said that, many actions had to be taken to ensure national reconciliation and to create a conducive platformconducive for rapid economic growth.The separatist international enterprise of LTTE and non-rehabilitated cadresare posing a significant threat to our national securityand itremains with the possible re-emergence of terrorism, he also emphasised. Further stating on active LTTE elements in operation with the hidden agendas of the 'Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam' and 'Global Tamils Forum' he said that, propaganda campaign against Sri Lanka is progressing targeting Tamil expatriates, foreign governments and international organisations. Moreover, explaining on the reduction of troops in the former theatre of warhe said that, the military has constructed houses, developed infrastructure, provided material assistance for livelihood enhancement, helped to conduct religious ceremonies and observances, and provided many other forms of support for the people in the North and East. Elaborating on several elements acting upon vested interests to destabilize the country he reiterated that, journey we have come on together as a nation over the past five years needs to continue uninterrupted if our nation is to achieve its aspirations and regain its rightful place in the world. We must not stray from the transformative path we have been on for the last several years. Instead, we must continue on this journey together as a nation he stated. A panel discussion was also held during the session. Chairperson of the OPA Mr. Athauda Jayawardena, President -Elect Prof. Rohan Kuruppu, General Secretary OPA Mr. Ruwan Gallage, distinguished OPA members including a large gathering of eminent professionals were present at the event. Full Text of the Speech delivered by Secretary Defence >>