No 'de facto' recognition of LTTE

THE Government could sign a deal brokered by Norway with the LTTE to provide a formula for distributing tsunami relief as long as it was not seen as giving the LTTE de facto recognition as a Government, Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar said.

Addressing the Foreign Correspondents Association (FCA) in Colombo over the weekend, Minister Kadirgamar said: "I am told that the process of a joint mechanism is moving. It is not standing still. It is not going backwards."

The Foreign Minister said the Government's main objective now was to enter into a joint mechanism with the Tigers to distribute foreign aid for tsunami victims in the North-East, some parts of which are held by the LTTE.

Nearly 31,000 people were killed in Sri Lanka by the December 26 tsunamis and two thirds of the victims were in the Northern and Eastern regions.

He ruled out an early resumption of peace talks. "A formal resumption of the peace process is very much on the backburner," Kadirgamar told the FCA meeting.

Peace talks have been stalled since April 2003. Despite the suspension of face-to-face discussions, the two parties are abiding by a ceasefire arranged by Norway and in place from February 23, 2002.

The LTTE earlier this month said they agreed to the joint mechanism proposed by Norway, but there has been no formal announcement on the exact contents of the proposed deal.

An agreement on distributing tsunami aid is needed because international donors and several Governments do not want to give aid directly to the Tigers who are designated a terrorist organisation by countries such as the United States, Britain and India.

Khalid

International community in Beijing helps Lankan tsunami orphans

PROMPT and official assistance from the Government of the People's Republic was received in cash, kind and relief services following the tsunami disaster which affected Sri Lanka.

The people of China including the Special Administration Region of Hong Kong have contributed over Rs. 165,000,000 towards relief efforts through organisations like the China Charity Federation, the China Red Cross, the China Disabled Persons Federation, World Vision as well as private donations from schoolchildren, artists and entertainers.

A special display and sale of Sri Lankan gems and jewellery was organised by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Beijing on March 04.

For the specific benefit of the Sri Lanka Foreign Ministry Seva Vanitha Project for a Children's Home in association with SOS Children's Villages.

Wives and daughters of ambassadors and diplomats of several countries and international organisations accredited to Beijing participated. They modelled jewellery designed by the Chinese company, Lordspek International made with Sri Lanka gems, as well as Sri Lankan-made traditional and contemporary jewellery.

The wives of Ambassadors of Albania, Algeria, Austria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Iceland, Morocco, Italy and the United States of America wore their own national dress with matching Sri Lankan jewellery and gems.

With their Sri Lankan jewellery, wives of Ambassadors of Bangladesh, Chile, Estonia, Malaysia, Mozambique, Singapore and Sweden wore Sri Lankan sarees. They included the "upcountry" saree, the Kandyan saree and the saree worn in Tamil style.

Wives of representatives of the World Bank, the WHO and CNN also modelled. The daughters of the UN Resident Representative in Beijing wore bridal sarees and the traditional Sri Lankan jewellery, representing both the Sinhala and Tamil communities. The wife of the Indian Ambassador was the compere.

Chinese film star Xu Jinglei who won the Best Directors Award at the San Sebastian Film Festival last year also volunteered support for the Sri Lanka project and tsunami relief. She expressed her interest in promoting Sri Lankan tourism and will visit Sri Lanka soon.

Xu has been designated Honorary Goodwill Ambassador for the Sri Lanka Tourist Board. Apart from being the lead actress in the award winning film. Letter from an Unknown Woman, she is also its producer, script writer and director.

Jewellery specially designed for her in the film is to be auctioned as a further benefit for the Seva Vanitha project. Cathy Mao of Lordspek International made a presentation with Chinese models displaying uncut Sri Lankan gems.

She explained the value and special characteristics of Sri Lankan gems, tracing the history of Sri Lanka's gem trade with China from at least the time of the Tang Dynasty.

A raffle held on the occasion netted proceeds of over Rs. 580,000. Prizes were return air tickets to Sri Lanka, Europe, ladies' wrist watches and premium quality Sri Lanka tea.

Video clips, courtesy of Rupavahini, featured children in Sri Lanka recovering from the tsunami and clips of Baby 81.

Dharmadasa Wanniarachchi, Governor, North Western Province and R.D. Wimaladasa, Provincial Minister of Agriculture were present as special guests with their delegation. They were in transit in Beijing on their way to Shangdong Province on the invitation from the Governor of Shangdong.

Among the invited audience of over 300, were senior Chinese Government and Red Cross officials, diplomats, business people and members of the media.

Khalid

Tsunami: Three months on

AT 0758 local time on December 26 last year, exactly three months ago, the Earth's crust deep under the sea off the west coast of Indonesia's Aceh province shifted violently, lifting the seabed by some 15 metres.

The seismic thrust, the world's biggest in 40 years measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale, sent shockwaves through the Indian Ocean, unleashing tsunamis speeding at up to 700 kilometres per hour in every direction. Wherever they hit they wrought devastation as never before. It was the worst natural calamity in living memory.

The death toll: The number of people believed to have perished in the disaster stands at more than 273,000. Indonesia was the worst hit country, with 126,715 dead and 93,480 listed as missing.

Sri Lanka lists 30,957 as dead, with 5,637 missing. India, Thailand, Maldives, Malaysia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Somalia, Tanzania, Kenya were among the other affected countries.

The homeless: In Sri Lanka alone, up to one million people were displaced. Around 500,000 people remain in camps or temporary shelter. There have been no major outbreaks of disease.

Relief: An unlikely coalition of more than 25 nations banded together to help stricken tsunami victims, with troops and military hardware being deployed by countries including the United States, France, Pakistan, Japan, China, Jordan, India, Brunei, Britain and Russia.

Most troops have now withdrawn. Many high profile figures also toured the tsunami-hit region.

Donations, pledges: Countries around the world pledged up to 10 billion dollars in aid.

The UN says some 90 per cent of its 977 million dollar flash appeal to cover the first six months of relief for the disaster has been covered.

It is unclear how much money will eventually reach areas in need of reconstruction and rehabilitation. Officials in Colombo say that of more than 884 million dollars in pledges to Sri Lanka, it had received US$ 95.5 million.

Economic cost: Despite the massive death toll, the economic cost of the disaster will be relatively light since major industrial zones were not touched by the disaster.

Sri Lanka has said reconstruction work and foreign aid will more than offset the economic losses and revised its economic growth forecasts for 2005 upwards to around 5.5 percent.

Khalid