Todays Cartoon 

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse speaks to a child during a campaign rally. 

Turbulent weather continues

The turbulent weather experienced in most parts of the island will continue in the next 24 hours, the Meteorological Department said. Meteorologist Meryl Mendis told the Daily News that since the atmospheric disturbance in southern parts of the Bay of Bengal has not receded, heavy showers could be expected in a number of areas today. He also warned of gusty winds especially in the Western and Southern coastal areas which might result in sea waves coming into the country. "However, there is no possibility of these winds causing a typhoon condition or causing serious damage," he said. Seven coastal houses in Katuneriya, Wennappuwa area were damaged yesterday owing to sea waves that came into the country as a result of strong winds. According to the Irrigation Department, water levels of most rivers including the Kalu Ganga had recorded a sharp increase following heavy showers in the last few days. "If rainy weather continues we might have to face floods," a Department spokesman said. Yesterday's highest rainfall of 67.6 mm was reported from Boralesgamuwa while ColomboGalle also recorded heavy rainfalls of 54.4 mm and 57.7 mm respectively.

This is a battle between the SLMC and its Traitors in the NE – Rauff Hakeem

"Ranil-Hakeem agreements have replaced the then Ranil Wickremsinghe with a new Ranil Wickeremasinghe, the victory that we will get for Ranil Wickremasinghe will be a victory which will straighten the back bone of the Muslim community" said SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem when he was addressing an election campaign rally held in Ninthavur on Wednesday night (12/10).

Hakeem also said that the forthcoming presidential election was not a simple election nor it was an election between Mahinda Rajapakse and Ranil Wickremasinghe, but it is a battle between the North-East SLMCers and their traitors, ‘the Muslim congress activists and the well-wishers must bear this in their minds' he insisted.

"It is by strengthening this organization the SLMC, that we would be able to win our right and aspirations. If we are to reap fruitful harvest through the agreement that was entered into with Ranil Wickremasinghe, we should mobiles our fullest strength to get the highest number of votes for him, a number even greater than that would be polled by people in the LTTE controlled areas" he said.

"We have done and agreement with the UNP leader to ensure that the security and prosperity of Muslims remain in the hand of Muslims with self autonomy. We must not weaken ourselves and we should not be a barrier to the Tamil community in achieving their rights and aspirations for which they have been struggling for a long period of time, that we should win our rights". Hakeem said. While the Secretary General of the SLMC M.T. Hassan Ali read the salient points of the MOU between the SLMC and UNP presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesainghe for the massive crowd, former Parliamentarian M.L.A.M. Hisbullah, party Chairman Basheer Shegudawood also addressed the gathering.

Tamil Tiger rebels defer commitment to joint human rights declaration in Sri Lanka

The Tamil Tiger rebels have delayed a decision on whether to commit to a joint human rights declaration with the Sri Lankan government amid continuing violence that threatens to derail a fragile cease-fire, a rights expert advising both sides said.

The government has pledged its commitment to a joint human rights proclamation, as well as training for rebel cadres, government and prison officials and the police.

But the insurgents' political leader S.P. Thamilselvan ``indicated that a joint declaration might indeed be possible but should follow from political discussions'' on salvaging the cease-fire, former Amnesty International head Ian Martin told reporters after their meeting in the rebel-held north.

The two sides agreed to talks on how to bolster the truce after the government blamed the insurgents for an increasing number of attacks, including the Aug. 12 assassination of Sri Lanka's foreign minister. However, the negotiations have been held up by a disagreement over the venue. Efforts by Norwegian peace brokers to break the deadlock have so far failed.

The Tamil Tigers ``feel it should await the cease-fire agreement review,'' Martin said.

He said there was no indication when the parties would be able to commit to a joint declaration.

Sri Lanka's 2002 cease-fire has been increasingly threatened by sporadic violence in the Tamil-majority northeast. Scores have been killed in almost daily attacks that the government and the rebels blame on each other.

``The political killings are one the most serious human rights issues,'' Martin said, adding that ``human rights violations are a serious threat to the peace process.''

He said he suggested that both sides accept international human rights monitors.

Human rights groups have blamed the government and the rebels for the deaths and disappearances of hundreds of civilians during their ethnic conflict, while the Tigers have been criticized for recruiting children as combatants.

While he welcomed the rebels discharge of 24 child soldiers to their parents on Thursday, Martin said ``the most important thing is that the LTTE should fulfill its commitment to stop recruitment.''

The rebels took up arms in 1983, saying the island's minority Tamils faced discrimination by the Sinhalese majority. The fighting killed nearly 65,000 people before the cease-fire.

Subsequent peace talks broke down in 2003 over rebel demands for greater autonomy.