Sri Lankans in 'catastrophic' situation: Red Cross

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka: Tens of thousands of civilians trapped in Sri Lanka's northern war zone face a "catastrophic" situation, the Red Cross said, amid fears a final assault against the Tamil Tiger rebels would lead to a dramatic rise in casualties.

The United Nations and others have called for a negotiated truce to allow civilians to leave the rebel-held coastal strip and the government says more than 52,000 had escaped since Monday.

But it has refused to heed the international pleas to halt the fighting, saying Tuesday that it is on the verge of crushing the separatists and putting an end to the 25-year-old war.

The UN estimated more than 4,500 civilians have been killed in the past three months.

The rebels said more than 1,000 civilians died Monday in a government raid, while the government said it rescued thousands after they broke through a barrier built by the insurgents that protects their last stronghold.

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Thousands flee Sri Lanka as deadline passes

COLOMBO, SRI LANKA: Tens of thousands of civilians fled Sri Lanka's northern war zone in a record exodus ahead of the government 's deadline on Tuesday for separatist Tamil rebels to surrender, officials said.

More than 39,000 civilians arrived at military checkpoints, within hours of a military operation that saw Sri Lankan soldiers break through a barrier that the Tamil Tiger rebels had erected to defend their ever-shrinking slice of territory along the northern coast.

The number of fleeing civilians on Monday was the largest in a single day, and that figure was expected to increase Tuesday as more people made their way out, said military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara.

The government issued a 24-hour deadline on Monday for the cornered LTTE rebels to surrender or face a final assault- a signal that the insurgents may be on the verge of total defeat after 25 years of rebellion.

The noon Tuesday (0630 GMT) deadline passed with no response from the guerrillas. Rights groups reiterated their concern for civilians still stranded with the rebels.

Human Rights Watch, which said 50,000-100,000 remained stranded, warned that the government might launch a major attack following its warning to the rebels.

``Both sides need to show far greater concern for civilians, or many more civilians will die,'' said Brad Adams, the New York-based group's Asia director.

The International Crisis Group called the situation ``a humanitarian tragedy'' and urged the government to stop any fighting. The group also said the rebels need to allow civilians to leave, and that the government should establish ``a humanitarian corridor'' to let them out.

The number of fleeing civilians made it clear that the government had vastly underestimated how many people were caught in the fighting. While aid groups had estimated that about 100,000 civilians were trapped ahead of this week's exodus, the government had cited about 40,000, roughly the number that crossed over on Monday alone.

More than 4,500 civilians have been killed in the past three months, according to UN estimates. The UN Children's Fund said it fears for the safety of children still trapped in the war zone if fighting continues and the rebels refuse to allow people to leave.

The government and human rights groups have accused the rebels of forcing civilians to stay in their territory to use as human shields, while the rebels have said remaining citizens are there by choice.

``With this latest surge in fighting, our greatest fear is that the worst is yet to come,'' said Daniel Toole, the agency's South Asia director.

The UN and others have called for a negotiated truce to allow civilians to leave the dwindling, rebel-held enclave.

But the government has rejected such calls, saying it is on the verge of crushing the rebels and putting an end to the Asia's longest-running civil war.

The rebels have fought for an independent homeland for ethnic minority Tamils. More than 70,000 people have been killed in the violence.

Source : Times Of India

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Pranab Mukherjee likely to visit Sri Lanka

NEW DELHI: As Tamil parties continue to build pressure on the government over the Sri Lankan issue, external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee is
likely to travel to the island nation to assess the situation and discuss the matter with the country's leadership.

Official sources here on Sunday said the visit is being considered in view of the prevailing situation in Sri Lanka.

Mukherjee is expected to meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa and foreign minister Rohitha Bogollagama.

However, no date has been fixed for the visit so far and it is being worked out, they said.

After a telephonic conversation between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Rajapaksa on Saturday, Bogollagama extended a formal invitation to Mukherjee to visit Sri Lanka to assess the situation.

The government's key ally DMK has been demanding India's intervention to stop Sri Lankan military offensive in north Sri Lanka. To build pressure, its ministers in the Union Cabinet and MPs have tendered their resignations to the party chief.

Mukherjee's visit is intended to enable India to get first-hand account of the situation, particularly the condition of ethnic Tamils there.

During the telephonic talk with Rajapaksa, Singh said the Sri Lankan government should ensure that the rights and safety of Tamils are protected and that they don't get "enmeshed" in the conflict with LTTE.

The Sri Lankan president, on his part, assured Singh that his government is ensuring safety and security of the Tamils.

Singh has also asked Rajapaksa to look for a political settlement to the ethnic problem, insisting that there could be no military solution to it.

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Sri Lanka Government decides to hold other Provincial Council elections according to the original schedule

Colombo: Government of Sri Lanka has decided to hold the elections of the rest of the Provincial Councils as scheduled once their terms end as per the schedule prepared by the Election Commissioner.

However, it is also reported that a Presidential Election will be held soon prior to the general elections which is scheduled for 2010 April to secure the Government’s position in the local political arena.

Next Presidential election is supposed to be held at the end of 2011. With the war against terrorism becoming a success with an anticipated conclusion by 2009 May, the Government plans to conduct Provincial Council Elections for the Northern Province in December 2009.

Source : Colombo Page

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Jaffna mc polls to be held soon

In the wake of the Eastern, North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council elections, the government is now planning to hold elections to the Jaffna Municipal Council to gauge public opinion in the northern capital, a Minister said yesterday.

EPDP leader and Social Services Minister Douglas Devananda told Daily Mirror the election would be conducted soon and the government was holding a series of discussions to work out the preliminaries. “We will be able to conduct it before the end of this year.

This is to test the waters in the peninsula,” Mr. Devananda who represents the Jaffna district as an MP said and added that this would be followed by elections to the Urban Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas in the district.

He said in lighter vein that this election would be a battle between him and TULF leader V. Anandasangaree.

The elections to the Jaffna Municipal Council were last held in 1998 after the peninsula was liberated from the LTTE. The TULF won the elections at the time and took over the administration of the council.

TULF member Sarojani Yogeswaran was elected Mayor but she was gunned down allegedly by the LTTE soon after her election to office.

Her successor K. Sivapalan also died in a bomb blast in September 1998 that targeted a Jaffna meeting between the councilors and security officials. He was succeeded by parliamentarian N. Raviraj.

Meanwhile, EPRLF leader P. Sritharan said that he too had heard about government plans to hold elections.

“We will definitely contest if there is an election,” he said.

Source : Daily Mirror

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No snap polls, next elections in 2010, Sri Lanka President says

Aug 27, Colombo: Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday (26) said that there is no hurry to hold a snap poll and the mandate given by the people for the ruling party is valid until 2010.

Addressing a ceremony sponsored by the Finance and Planning Ministry to hand over appointment letters to 246 accountants recruited into the government services at Temple Trees yesterday, the President said although winning a general election at this stage is not a challenge to the United People's Freedom Alliance he would not go for it as it would be a waste of public money.

President said the Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe is calling for a general election only because his leadership in the party is challenged and a snap poll would only benefit him to survive and retain his post.

"The post of Opposition Leader is in doubt. He wants to keep his supporters and party members in suspense, He wants to keep his supporters and party members in suspense and save his position as long as he is agitating for a general election," President Rajapaksa said.

President also highlighted the importance of strengthening the public sector service with an object-oriented vision and a mission to build and develop the nation.

“This government considers the public service as an important part of the country’s development process. Around 150,000 had been recruited to the public service in the past two and half years,” President Rajapaksa said. President pointed out that the policy of the present administration is to unite the country, defeat terrorism, and achieve economic progress by encouraging local farmers and local industry.

Source : Colombo Page

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UPFA victory ensures country’s prosperity - Minister Gunawardane

Urban and Sacred Areas Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardane yesterday appealed to the voters in Kegalle, Ratnapura, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa to vote for the UPFA so that the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government’s efforts to safeguard the Motherland and create a prosperous Sri Lanka could be ensured.

“Within two years the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government could reverse the terrorists’ advance, as conceded by everybody.”

The Minister in a statement yesterday said the East has been liberated and parts of the North are being retrieved from the terrorists.

The local and international reactionary forces are at work to cripple the efforts to build a country under one flag, he said.

The operation headed by the UNP represents these anti-patriotic interests and your vote ought to be used to overthrow such reactionary forces.

Priority should be given to vote the UPFA to power to enable the Government to successfully implement its self-sufficiency programmes through completion of electricity, highways, drinkable water supply, education, health development project in Kegalle, Anuradhapura, Ratnapura and Polonnaruwa districts and defeat of terrorism in the country.

“I appeal to the voters of NCP and Sabaragamuwa to vote the UPFA to power in the NCP and Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council elections in order to ensure the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government’s efforts to defeat the efforts to bifurcate the Motherland and build the country, he said.

Source : Daily News

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JHU wants further debates on National issue

COLOMBO: Jathika Hela Urumaya will not participate in the All Party Representative Committee proceedings until the Committee puts before the public the dynamics of conflicting opinions, which have held back the APRC from reaching a consensus to provide a political solution to the national issue.

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) has informed President Mahinda Rajajpaksa in writing that it will not participate in APRC meetings unti the conflicting opinion concerned are put before the public for their analysis and concern.

JHU General Secretary Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera said, he has sent a letter to the President stating the JHU believes that it will be futile to drag discussions on the opinions concerned.

The Committee’s efforts to reach a consensus on them have proved unsuccessful in spite of prolonged and earnest discussions the committee had in this connection for over two years.

” Hence, we believe it will be futile to have further discussions in this regard. Accordingly, we have taken the stance that the dynamics of these conflicting opinions be brought before the public so that they will come out with their own opinion about the nature of these opinions, said the Thera.

He said they have also requested President Rajapaksa to summon the APRC.

The APRC was set up by President Mahinda Rajapaksa fulfilling an election pledge in the Mahinda Chinthana to reach a consensus among all political parties in Parliament to provide a political solution to the country’s North and East.

Source : The Daily News

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Sri Lanka's controversial government minister organizes an anti-media protest and calls for ban on TV station

Colombo: The Free Media Movement (FMM) says that the rogue government Minister Mervyn Silva organized a protest against the MBC network's Sirasa television station in Colombo on 11th August 2008.

Around one hundred men, women and children were bussed in to the city centre from the Minister's constituency of Kelaniya. The protest was given wide publicity by all state media justifying the allegations made by the Minister against the private media station in their commentary and reportage.

Amongst the Minister's demands was a ban on the private Sirasa TV station. Sirasa TV coverage has consistently covered the Minister's violence against the media, most notably the attack against the director of the State-owned TV Rupavahini in December 2007. For this, the Sirasa station has borne the brunt of the Minister's wrath, with journalists who covered the incident repeatedly abused and violently attacked at public functions.

Supporters of the Minister at the orchestrated rally in Colombo shouted slogans that said they were the indomitable force of the President and alleged that the Sirasa television station is pro-LTTE.

Political observers say the minister is emboldened by the support of President Rajapaksa and his government turning a blind eye to his roguish behavior. They say the minister brings the party to disgrace by his thuggish actions.

Source : Colombo Page

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