http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=No_proof_of_Bala_murder_Congress_MP_20130402_05

No proof of Bala's murder: Congress MP

Cuddalore MP K S Azhagiri raised doubts over Prabhakaran's son Balachandran's death and claimed that there was no video evidence on the killing by the Sri Lankan armed forces.

The Congress MP made the statement while addressing a public meeting arranged by the youth Congress at Cuddalore Old Town on Sunday night.

"Some parties were playing politics by taking up the issue of 12-year-old Balachandran's death. However, there was no video evidence available on how Balachandran was killed. It was a practice among the terrorists that in order to avoid being caught by the enemy they either consume cyanide or shoot each other. It was an unlawful act to kill a child," he said.

On the ongoing Sri Lankan issue, he said that the Sri Lankan Tamils and the LTTE objectives were completely different.

He said, "Independent Tamil Eelam is the demand of the LTTE alone, but that not of the Sri Lankan Tamils. Elected Tamil leaders in Sri Lanka are not asking for an independent Eelam.

Only the LTTE and its supporters in Tamil Nadu are repeatedly raising this demand."

Explaining the Congress' move to pass a resolution in Parliament on the Sri Lankan issue, he said, "When an all-party meeting was held in New Delhi to discuss the draft resolution, no other national or regional parties except the AIADMK, the DMK and the Congress supported the resolution."

"The CPI in Tamil Nadu had been demanding that an anti-Lanka resolution be passed in Parliament, but the party's MP Gurudas Dasgupta categorically opposed the move during the all-party meeting. This shows the gravity of matter at the all-India level," he added.

"Political parties in Tamil Nadu had failed to garner the support of those at the national level on the Lankan issue. Instead, they were blaming Congress party in this matter," the Congress MP added.

Courtesy : The New Indian Express

 

http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=Common_Differences_Screened_20130403_07

'Common Differences'- Screened

Secretary Defence attends as Chief Guest

Secretary Defence and Urban Development Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa was the Chief Guest at the screening of the documentary film 'Common Differences' at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies in Colombo this evening (03 April).

'Common Differences', attempts to provide a balanced insight to the Sri Lankan ethnic conflict by exploring into the reasons for and the development of the conflict in Sri Lanka. Director Daniel Ridicki has used interviews of a number of eminent personalities including Secretary Defence, Deputy Minister V. Muralidaran, opposition Member of Parliament Eran Wickramaratne, senior journalists, religious personalities, NGO activists and academics to give the viewers a balanced view of the conflict that lasted for almost three decades. Produced by Suren De Silva the documentary opens up the question as to where and how the country should proceed.

A large number of invitees including members of the diplomatic corps, Commanders of the Army and Navy, experts, think tanks, and media personnel were present at the event.

The conflict that claimed thousands of lives and maimed many more came to an end with the defeat of the LTTE terrorist in May 2009. Now the nation has embarked on a journey to rebuild and reconcile. It is a time where people from all socio-religious backgrounds have come together in unity to regain the lost glory that the country once commanded. Sri Lanka has achieved tremendous results in its Reconciliation programme. The country has seen unprecedented socio-economic development especially in the former conflict zone, within a relatively short span of time. Even though there is much to be done the people are happy as they now can live in a land that has ceased to hear the sound of gun fire, death and destruction once and for all.

Army to Build New School in Keppapilavu Resettled Village
[Updated :: 2013-04-01 16:30:21 Hours || Home]
	The newly-resettled village, Keppapulavu in the 59 Division area under the Security Force Headquarters-Mullaittivu (SFHQ-MLT), is to receive a new school after the Army took an initiative for its construction. With the intention of directing children in those families for learning in a school of their own, Army troops are to build this school with kind sponsorships of various donors and philanthropists. A brief ceremony on Friday (15) laid the corner-stone for construction of this school building. Mullittivu Zonal Director of Education Mr Raj Kumar and 592 Brigade Commander laid the foundation-stones for the construction. Villagers, community leaders and several teachers from the area attended the inaugural ceremony.    http://www.army.lk/detailed.php?NewsId=6048

http://www.army.lk/detailed.php?NewsId=6050 19 Former LTTE Combatants Given Loans for Self-employment
[Updated :: 2013-04-01 16:33:09 Hours || Home]
	A brief ceremony for award of interest-free loans to some 19 rehabilitated former combatants, enabling them to commence their own self-employment projects, took place on Saturday (30) at 62 Division Headquarters in Vavuniya. Each rehabilitee under this loan scheme, initiated with sponsorship, provided by Mr Chutta Ratnasingham of Canada-based ‘Namasthe’ organization received an interest-free loan of Rs 50,000/= each during the occasion. Presidential Task Force, Colombo Rotary Club and Bank of Ceylon have coordinated the project that would help find self-employment for those former combatants. Colombo Rotary Club officials, Major General Boniface Perera, Commander, Security Force Headquarters-Wanni (SFHQ-W), 62 Division General Officer Commanding, 622 Brigade Commander and a large gathering of officers were present during the brief ceremony. Those 19 former combatants together with their family members attended the award ceremony.

http://www.dailynews.lk/2013/04/03/fea02.asp

 

 

LOOK IN THE MIRROR, Y.S:

Response to BJP Lok Sabha speech on Sri Lanka:

Shenali Waduge

The speech by former Foreign Minister Yashwant Singh recently to the members of the Lok Sabha was moving and drew attention to genocide of Tamils by Sri Lanka with a seven point plan proposed by the BJP. The validity of these accusations needs to be analyzed. http://www.youtube.com/embed/y1y412wIsUc

Let us take Yaswant Singh’s recommendations first.

1. Urge Sri Lanka to withdraw its army from the North – war ended four years ago. Sri Lanka should already have had law and order. Let them not run the north on a daily basis.

Sri Lanka’s response

a. Sri Lanka is a sovereign nation. India cannot ask Sri Lanka where to remove or move its forces. We don’t urge India to withdraw its army from Kashmir!

b. Sri Lanka would first urge India to remove all factors that continue to carry the LTTE slogans locally, overseas and in India in order to remove the “risk” factor that these elements will again start fresh insurgencies. India may well recall how it transported school dropouts including Prabhakaran and trained them in India. We can’t afford a similar situation to be repeated.

Former Foreign Minister Yashwant Singh

2.“Let them sincerely implement the recommendations of the LLRC – Sri Lanka government is not implementing those recommendations”

Sri Lanka’s response

a. LLRC is an internal set of recommendations which the government is not duty bound to implement in toto just because a foreign nation requests Sri Lanka to.

b. LLRC cannot be implemented simply because it is recommended if it violates any clauses of the constitution of the country.

3. “Let Sri Lanka implement the provisions of the 13th a plus – Sri Lanka government in its discussions has always promised”

Sri Lanka’s response

a. The 13th amendment to the Constitution along with the Provincial Council system was forced upon Sri Lanka by India. It does not have the consent of the people of Sri Lanka.

b. The President of the country who is himself elected by the people of Sri Lanka is mandated to seek approval of the people of Sri Lanka. The people’s will is what must prevail.

c. The Provincial Council system should be abolished completely given that it provides no relief or services to the people of the provinces and the large scale of crimes committed by provincial councilors serves as proof. If foreign nations are concerned about the welfare of the people of Sri Lanka they should exert pressures to abolish these provincial councils to adapt to a more practical area of district level governance where it is easier to devolve day-to-day administrative needs.

4. “Impartial inquiry be held into charges of genocide of civilian Tamils by Sri Lanka Forces during Eelam war – an inquiry with people from outside Sri Lanka.”

Sri Lanka’s response

a. We agree with Yaswant Singh wholeheartedly on this suggestion. The world certainly needs to know the “crimes” and the crimes cannot cover a selected period only because a crime is a crime and the guilty must be exposed.

b. A Presidential Commission of Inquiry is thus recommended. International inquiry members should comprise a representative from China, Russia and Pakistan – nations that have openly shown solidarity to Sri Lanka without succumbing to Western pressure. Nations that Sri Lanka can rely on.

c. A Presidential COI should rightfully cover the entire conflict from the very first crime committed as those victims cannot be over looked which would be a violation of Sri Lanka’s constitution giving “equality” before the law.

d. A Presidential COI cannot include India into the international observer team for India is a key player in the conflict having trained LTTE and other school dropouts and turned them into professional killers and giving arms and financial support for the purpose of destabilizing Sri Lanka.

Lok Sabha

5. Clear commitment on the part of Sri Lanka government after inquiry guilty shall be punished.

Sri Lanka’s response

a. The Sri Lankan people will accept an apology in the least by India and acknowledgement of training the LTTE and helping them financially and with weapons as well as other militant groups.

6. Let India not merely vote in UNHRC take a lead in drafting a resolution in UNHRC - with the language of the resolution

Sri Lanka’s response

a. It is India’s prerogative whether it takes a leading role or plays a role behind the scenes that India is normally used to doing. Being stabbed in the back is nothing we are not surprised in view of India’s past records. Therefore, it makes little relevance to us what language used because the UN and the UNHRC is in the eyes of the people just a puppet of the West.

7. Finally – let India convey in no uncertain terms to the other nations in our neighbourhood and the world at large any undue inference with Sri Lanka will not be tolerated.

Sri Lanka’s response

a. This looks more of a threat to other nations that are engaging Sri Lanka. Not only should Sri Lanka engage with these nations but also build greater ties with the States of India for the likelihood that these states would end up “autonomous” is something that Sri Lanka should keep in mind.

There are no permanent friends in politics – only permanent interests. Therefore Sri Lanka’s new foreign policy strategy should be to first realign with our natural historical allies and to next align with the geopolitical realities.

The BJP Government ruled India from 1996 to 2004 taking over from the Narasimha Rao Government that ruled India from 1991 to 1996. It was in 1991 that Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on Indian soil, in Tamil Nadu by the very organization that his mother created to destabilize Sri Lanka – exactly a decade after India trained the very group in India. The Jain Commission found the LTTE guilty of Rajiv’s murder, Prabhakaran and Pottu Amman was incriminated for the crime and the Commission also named former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister as having links to the LTTE.

Where was Justice for Rajiv?

Justice for Rajiv Gandhi meant India did nothing against the LTTE, nothing against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, nothing against Tamil Nadu-LTTE ties and the greater damage was filing action in the Supreme Court to demand the Jain Commission expunge the period 1981-1987 because it revealed India’s role in training LTTE and many other Sri Lankan militant groups in India by Indian army and Indian intelligence. The Indian government also sought to remove reference to the LTTE for the crime. These actions post-Rajiv death indicated Rajiv’s death was insignificant for the greater Indian objective. We see that continue as his widow bows down to every demand made by the very state that assassinated Rajiv and has been planning to break away from India since early 1930s.

The BJP that ruled from 1996 to 2004 was also part of the 2002 Cease Fire Agreement shadow-managed and supervised by Vajpayee’s Advisor Brajesh Mishra. The Agreement all but ceded territory and power to the LTTE and is regarded by Sri Lanka as one of the most treacherous agreements.

When Mr. Singh says “the tragedy of the Sri Lankan Tamils is one of the greatest tragedies of our times” – we demand to know in what ways he is qualified to claim so. Yes, the Sri Lankan Armed Forces have been in the North for four years now. What is the genocide that has taken place? How many Tamils have been shot dead since 2009 to the present? Mr. Singh with an Indian soldier for every seven Kashmiri’s in Kashmir you cannot afford to be speaking on the subject of militarization.

Indian language policies

The Sri Lankan Tamils in Sri Lanka have far more freedoms than the Tamils do in India. With 72m Tamils, a state named after its ethnic race why did India’s Tamils demand a separate state since early 1930s, angered by the Indian language policies, Hindi domination and other discriminations? Instead of alleging let us know by point form what these discriminations are. Discriminations must be those in the present context and those which Tamils exclusively suffer from that are denied to them legally and constitutionally which the other ethnic groups enjoys. We would very much like to see this list.

Possibly Mr. Singh has not seen LTTE crimes over 30 years. If Mr. Singh has not seen pictures or videos of the LTTE crimes upon babies, children, pregnant mothers, the old and scores of other civilians asleep or in their homes someone from Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry must immediately send a copy of the last 30 years of LTTE crimes because Mr. Singh used his allocated time to speak of a “young child, eating a biscuit and next found lying on the ground” to come to the conclusion that the Sri Lankan Armed Forces murdered him when there was not a speck of blood found on the body leave alone evidence that the Sri Lankan army shot him. Mr. Singh this is what we call playing to the gallery and we would have sent you tissues in advance.

The reference to the IPKF is certainly noteworthy given that for the first time we are told that the Indian military casualties in the IPKF operation was 2900 and not 1200. While, Mr. Singh laments in 2013 that the IPKF soldiers has no memorial in India he may like to ask why BJP did not put a memorial given that they ruled from 1996 to 2004 and IPKF left Sri Lanka in March 1990. There was plenty of time for a memorial to be put up for the IPKF.

Peace negotiations

We would like to know what “untold atrocities” were committed by the Sri Lankan Armed Forces. Give instances, dates and names of victims. All we are quoted are preposterous figures that get inflated whenever an international event is being held. We want to know who their families are, what their names are where they lived. Do not simply throw allegations without proof. The Sri Lankan state has every right to feel “triumphalism” – we suffered 30 years of terror for which India stands also culpable in training the LTTE. India cannot clean its blood-soaked hands from this fact – Lady Macbeth did a better job trying. Did the Americans not celebrate when the US President announced that Osama bin Laden was killed. Osama’s role in 9/11 has yet to be even proven. LTTE crimes last 30 years and they have accepted their atrocities.

Mr. Singh also claims that the centre piece of India’s policy is “no military solution to a conflict” – that may be India’s policy but India cannot grudge Sri Lanka for adapting a Just War solution having weathered countless ceasefires, peace negotiations and agreements all nothing but failures giving no solution except to give VIP treatment to terrorists and allow them to fly overseas and forge greater links and purchase weapons.

The COI should reveal all these sins and the names of the people associated with it. Even if they lead to the exposure of public officials currently holding portfolios we would like to have their sins revealed in public.

If the President of Sri Lanka organized a “troika” to keep India informed of all that was happening upon Sri Lanka’s decision to apply Just War theory the primary reason was that in 1987 when Prabhakaran was cornered in Vadaramachchi and would have been caught India not only intervened but threatened to invade Sri Lanka. This was India threatening a sovereign nation to save a terrorist India had trained. So what is India talking about and who is India trying to fool.

Mr. Singh himself says on behalf of the BJP “We are not in favour of a separate nation created out of Sri Lanka”.

The Tamils need to realize that everyone is riding on the “discrimination of Tamil” slogan to simply push their agendas and that is why Mr. Singh himself “sheds tears on their plight”. Otherwise, they should openly invite Tamils to live in India if they were unhappy in Sri Lanka.

Now that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister is calling for Tamil Eelam – which rightly has to be in Tamil Nadu the onus is on India to facilitate that because obviously Tamils do not wish to live in a multi-cultural society and are all the time claiming to want a separate state to solve their problems on their own. India should give this in a state that already is named Tamil State and Tamil is its official language and led by Tamils too. It is already a State run by Tamils without autonomy.

A Presidential Commission of Inquiry with international presence of China, Russia and Pakistan investigating into all of the crimes committed since the inception of terror in Sri Lanka will enable real reconciliation in Sri Lanka. India’s role in Sri Lanka’s conflict cannot be suppressed or kept hidden. “Facts of history are facts of history” and cannot be denied – we agree with these words of Jashwant Singh.

http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=North_glows_under_new_power_project_20130331_02

 

North glows under new power project

Electricity Schemes completed under ‘Northern Spring’

More and more people are returning to their townships in the Northern Province. People are settled, towns, shops, banks and schools started functioning properly. Hospitals are back into action. And all these create a never ending demand for one of the most important component in proper functioning - electricity.

The development needs to be rapid to the Northern parts of the country as these areas were long torn apart. The target is to provide 100 percent electricity to Jaffna, Vavuniya and Mannar by the end of year 2013. As of today the Northern Electricity Development Project conducted under the Ministry of Power and Energy and the Ceylon Electricity Board is providing electricity power even to the most rural villages of the Northern Province. "The reconstruction of electricity facilities and electrification is considered one among the major priorities to commence resettlement and commercial activities," said M. A.D. N. Gratian the Project Director (Uthuru Wasanthaya) of the Ministry of Power and Energy.

As of today the Ministry of Power and Energy has provided 45,000 power connections to the resettling areas of the Northern Province as free service connections. On a special circular issued by the Ministry of Power and Energy, free energy is given to the people until they build up their economy. Under this project, 12 million units of free energy has been supplied to the resettling communities at a cost of Rs. 900 million.

Medium Voltage line from Paranthan to Puthukudiyeryppu Mullaithivu

Under the directive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa the Ministry of Power and Energy formulated an electricity development project for "Vadakkin Wasantham" (the Northern Spring) - the mega development project for the emerging North. As per a Cabinet Paper dated June 01, 2009 the project is initiated and is operated under the Ceylon Electricity Board. The target of the project is to achieve 100 percent electrification in the Northern Province by end of 2013, said Gratian.

Accordingly there are two main projects under the 'Northern Spring' - i.e. the Transmission Project and the Rural Electrification Project. Under the Transmission Project a 132 kilo volt transmission line and grid are laid from Vavuniya to Kilinochchi. The second part of the Transmission project is from Kilinochchi to Jaffna where a 132 kilo volt transmission line and grid is constructed with substations at Chunnakam. Accordingly the entire cost of the Transmission Project is just over Rs. 7,432 Million. The Northern Spring rural electrification project is also implemented in the Northern Province at a cost of Rs. 5,297 million. This will be a complete plant brought from China and the Ceylon Electricity Board separately bears the engineering cost of the project.

Electricity Supply to Malavi Scheme in Mullaithivu District

A 15 km high tension line was rehabilitated to restore the Madu Church and electricity was supplied in December 2008. The first electricity supply to Kilinochchi and Mullaithivu was on July 15, 2009. Construction of a 49 kilometre medium voltage line from Puliyankulam Junction to Murukkandy Temple along the A9 road started in February 2009 and was completed in June the same year. Electricity supply to Malavi Scheme in Mullaithivu District in started in April 2010. National Grid Supply to Mullaithivu District started in July 2010. A 34 kilometre long Medium Voltage line from Paranthan to Puthukudiyirippu and Mullaithivu was constructed in April 2012. In Kilinochchi the Vishvamadu Substation Constructed in April 2012

Under the Northern Spring national development drive the Ceylon Electricity Board has completed 13 medium voltage power supply projects with power lines extending to 392 kilometres at a cost of Rs. 940 million. Under this project a 92 kilometre power line is laid from Puliyankulam to Muhumalai along A9 road. Under this, medium voltage power lines are extending from Mankulam to Mullaithivu, Paranthan to Pudukuduyiripu, Wedithalathivu to Mullankavil, Murukandy to Vaeruvil, from Mankulam to Thenniyankulam through Thunukkai and many other areas such as Oddusudan, Nedunkerny, Ramanathapuram, Killinochchi, Elephant pass, and Adampil.

In addition the Ministry has completed rural electrification projects under Conflict Affected Area Rehabilitation Project (CAARP) and the North East Community Restoration and Development Project (NECORD).

As per the 'Northern Spring' power supply project, the Ministry has planned to establish 2,000 kilometres of new three phase low voltage lines and so far 1498 kilometres are completed. Out of the 975 kilometres of Medium Voltage lines more than 530 kilometres are completed.

Courtesy: Sunday Observer

 

http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=North_and_East_fully_electrified_by_end_2014_20130329_03

North and East fully electrified by end 2014

The government is to spend Rs.5,900 million to supply electricity to the Northern Province and all arrangements are in place to fulfill the total electricity requirement in the Mannar, Vavuniya and Jaffna districts by the end of this year. All electricity projects launched in the Northern and Eastern province are to be completed by the end of year 2014, Power and Energy Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said. Wanniarachchi was addressing a special discussion held with Commerce and Industrial Minister Rishard Badiudeen, Economic Development Deputy Minister M.L.A.M.Hisbullah and Wanni District Parliamentarian Hunaiz Farook at the ministry.

"The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) launched the "Uthuru Wasanthaya" programme in 2009 in two stages to provide electricity to the Northern Province who suffered over 30 years due to terrorism, 'she added.

"One hundred and eighty electricity transformers have already been installed under the first phase of "Uthuru Wasanthaya" and it has extended the electricity transmission lines up to 2028 kilometers at a cost of Rs.3,800 million," he said. "President Mahinda Rajapaksa has given instructions to complete this project by year's end and the Power and Energy Ministry has made arrangements to complete the "Uthuru Wasanthaya" programme which will cost Rs.2,100 million," the minister explained.

"The "Uthuru Wasanthaya" programme was commenced with the end of the humanitarian operation under the instructions of President Rajapaksa and guidance of Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa. We have already completed 70 percent out of the whole electricity project in the Northern Province while granting electricity to 45,000 families in Jaffna."

"At present, the electrification of the Mullaitivu district has reached 35 percent and electrification of the Kilinochchi district 40 percent," the Minister said.

The Minister also gave instructions to the relevant officers to take immediate measures to provide electricity to the re-settled families in the former war affected areas, according to the proposals made by Minister Badiudeen. She advised officials to complete these projects by the middle of May.

Courtesy : Daily News