News in brief

Fire destroys 20 line rooms
TWENTY line rooms were destroyed in a fire which broke out in New Peacock Estate N.P. division in the Pussellawa Police area on Wednesday night.
An electrical short circuit is believed to have caused the fire, said Inspector T.S. Meedin, OIC Pussellawa Police station.
Nearly 100 persons belonging to 20 families were occupying the line rooms but there were no casualties among them. Pussellawa Police is investigating.

Fathima needs help
FATHIMA Rikasha, three and a half-year-old daughter of A. S. Gafoor, a resident of 64/4, St. Joseph's Street, Grandpass, Colombo 14 is suffering from Leukaemia and has been treated at the Meenakshi Hospital, Madurai, India. She needs to undergo further treatment at the same hospital. Dr. V. W. Rajasekaran has recommended further treatment to save the child's life and the cost is estimated at Rs. 200,000. The child's parents have requested public donations for this purpose saying they are unable to bear the total cost. Those wishing to help could remit their contributions to Account No. 046-040661-7 S/A at the Hatton national Bank, Grandpass Branch, Colombo 14.

She needs help
WALGAMPALAGE Julanji Dithmi Perera, two years and eight months, has a cavity in the heart which has to be treated immediately. The heart surgery to cure her is estimated to cost Rs. 235,000, according to a medical report certified by Dr. Aruna Kapuruge, Consultant Cardio Thoracic Surgeon of Sri Jayewardenapura General Hospital, Nugegoda.
The child's parents are unable to meet this expenditure. Financial contributions to meet the medical expenses can be remitted to the child's mother D. Mallika, C/o W. Aloysius Wickremasinghe Perera, No. 3/F/2, Jayatilaka Watta, Melegama, Wadduwa.

Best Tamil Journalist of the year
Wisu Karunanidhi of the Thinakaran has won the award for best journalist of the year (Tamil) in the journalism award for excellence 2004 organised by Editors Guild of Sri Lanka.
Karunanidhi from Ratnapura and old boy of Ratnapura St. Luke's and Ratnapura Tamil Maha Vidyalaya is also interested in radio play writing, poem and short story writing.
A recipient of Diploma in Journalism from the Colombo University Karunanidhi underwent a training program at The Hindu Newspaper at Chennai last year which was organise by the High Commission of India.

News Today

TNA to lead a hartal in the East today

The Tamil National Alliance is to lead a hartal in the eastern province tomorrow. TNA sources said they would lead the hartal today led by some of their parliamentarians from the eastern province. However, TNA leader R. Sambandan will be in Colombo today.

International donors cancel aid meeting with Tamil Tigers after top military officer slain
International donors have called off a key meeting with Tamil Tiger rebels to protest the assassination of a senior military officer, officials said Thursday.
Chief representatives of the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, U.N. Development Program and the International Monetary Fund in Colombo, were to fly Friday to the rebel-held town of Kilinochchi to meet with the head of the Tigers' political wing, S.P. Thamilselvan.
The meeting has been put off indefinitely as the murder this week of Maj. Nizam Muthalif made it inappropriate to hold the talks, senior officials said on condition of anonymity.
Muthalif was killed by gunmen as he sat in his car in Colombo. The government suspects rebels in the attack.
Residents in Tamil-majority areas controlled by the Tigers have complained that international aid has been slow to reach them since the devastating earthquake and tsunami of Dec. 26 killed more than 31,000 people in the country and affected 1 million others.
International donors, who pledged nearly US$3 billion (euro2.37 billion) to Sri Lanka, have been reluctant to give any funds directly to the guerrillas, who are listed as terrorists by the United States, Britain and India.
But the talks Friday were to discuss a proposed deal between the government and the rebels that will make them partners in distributing aid to the Tamil-dominated north and east.
The Tamil Tigers began fighting in 1983 for a separate homeland for ethnic Tamils in the north and east of the country, claiming discrimination by the majority Sinhalese.
The conflict killed nearly 65,000 people before the cease-fire, which has largely held despite sporadic violations and a breakdown in peace talks in 2003.
Muthalif was the highest ranking intelligence officer to be killed in the 20-year-civil war. His body was riddled with bullets and he died before doctors could operate on him.

News Today

Tigers Snarl At Muslim Business

The LTTE today prevented two Muslim Businessmen entering un-cleared areas at Poonagar, army sources said. Though the LTTE prevents Muslims from entering LTTE controlled areas, businessmen from LTTE areas are allowed to enter Muslim villages for trade and other visits.
Meanwhile, two LTTE cadres assaulted and injured a Muslim fisherman last week while the victim was on his way to Gennai beach area in Muttur. The victim, K Lareef was on his way for fishing with three others when he was obstructed by LTTE cadres who demanded them to vacate the area.

We Will Never Agree to the Joint Mechanism - JVP

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna stated today that they will never agree to the proposed joint mechanism between the LTTE and the government. The JVP is reported to have submitted proposals to President Kumaratunga on how to provide assistance to everyone affected by the Tsunami, covering 659 Grama Sevaka divisions. According to the JVP there is room for all democratic representatives in their proposals. JVP also stated that "The challenge before us is not to use the tsunami to give power to separatist terrorists and give them recognition but, for all democratic forces to unite, How could we let a group of separatists rebuild the north when they are already using tsunami aid to strengthen their defence capabilities." The JVP further more urged the government to withdraw the proposal immediately.

Four die in van-container collision

Four persons were killed on the spot when the van they were travelling in collided with a container lorry in Periyamulla, Negombo in the early hours of yesterday. Five others in critical condition were admitted to Negombo Hospital. A 7-year-old boy who was among the injured was transferred to the ICU of the Colombo National Hospital.
Negombo ASP Mahanama Karunaratne told the Daily News yesterday that the accident occurred around 3.30am along the Colombo-Chilaw highway when a passenger van travelling at high speed collided head on with the container moving towards Chilaw. The van had turned turtle following the accident, the ASP said.
Preliminary Police investigations had revealed that the victims in the van were returning from a funeral in Rajanganaya.
The lorry driver was taken into custody and was produced before the Negombo Magistrate. Negombo Police Traffic Branch is conducting further investigations.

Int'l community has endorsed Govt's tsunami reconstruction program - President

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga yesterday reiterated that she was ready to take forward the process regarding the Joint Aid Distribution Mechanism 'carefully' without making any 'mistake' if the people's blessings are for the process.
The President said there was no time to hear the voice of the 'extremists' against the move as it represents only five per cent of the population.
Addressing a public rally at Polonnaruwa Royal Central College Ground of the concluding ceremony of 'Pulathisi Daruwo' Educational Exhibition, the President said that the strongest ever foundation to take the country towards a bright future has been laid through this move.
"We have already constructed the first storey of the building of a developed country. We need to construct 10 more storeys of the building, no one should obstruct this path by dragging their feet, the President added.
President Kumaratunga pointed out that the People's Alliance Government laid the first and permanent foundation towards solving the North East problem with a clear vision.
"We have taken this process forward step by step to develop the trust between the Sinhalese and Tamils", she pointed out adding it may take a long time for this to happen.
She said the international community and world leaders have already endorsed the Government's programme for tsunami reconstruction at the Kandy Development Forum.
President Kumaratunga pointed out that her Government has laid a strong foundation to develop the country, first through developing the infrastructure and education in the country.
She said it was useless to have all these development programmes if a country has no permanent peace.
She said the Tamil people too have the right to fight for their rights in the same manner that the doctors and nurses demand for their rights.
"This situation has been created as the J.R. Jayewardene regime tried to respond to the Tamil people's demands through killings and violence", she added.
The President admitted that the Tamil people were deprived of their rights for the past five decades.
"No major development programmes have been implemented in the North and East," she added.
The President said more than ninety per cent of population are against dragging the country back to war though some extremists are making a huge hue and cry against the move based on their ideologies.
"They should take decisions practically without basing them on their ideologies," the President pointed out.
"We have no time to hear the extremists voice against the move as country has got its best chance to progress towards a bright future," the President added.
The President said her Government has given topmost priority to education.
River Basin Development and Rajarata Development Minister Maitripala Sirisena, Health and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva and North Central Province Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake also spoke.

Today Top Story

Former US President Bill Clinton on arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport yesterday.

Clinton arrives, visits Kalmunai today

FORMER US President Bill Clinton who arrived here last night, making his first trip to Sri Lanka as the UN Special envoy for tsunami reconstruction, was received by Finance Minister Dr Sarath Amunugama at the Bandaranaike International Airport.

He will travel to Kalmunai this morning to inspect the reconstruction activities in progress there.

He will meet Eastern Muslim leaders during his tour of this worst affected part of the Eastern Province, in the December 26 tsunami which devastated one third of the country's coastline killing nearly 40,000.

The visit made as part of a lightening tour of four tsunami affected countries in the Indian Ocean rim, the Special Envoy will also meet representatives of the donor community based in Colombo and civil society leaders this afternoon.

He will be hosted to lunch by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga at her residence today prior to which she will brief him on the post tsunami reconstruction program of the Government.

After hosting a media conference in Colombo at 4.30 pm, Clinton will leave for the Maldives. He started his tour from Chennai and will end it visiting Aceh province.

News Today

Security tight as Clinton visits Sri Lanka to review tsunami reconstruction Anti-terrorist commandoes in armored vehicles joined policemen to ring the perimeter of a soccer field where Bill Clinton's helicopter was set to land in a Muslim-majority Sri Lankan town, as the former U.S. president toured tsunami-hit areas to make sure aid is being distributed properly. Clinton arrived in Sri Lanka - Friday evening on his second visit to this Indian Ocean island since Dec. 26, when massive waves smashed one-third of the country's coast, killing at least 31,000 people and displacing another 1 million.

Kalmunai is in one of the hardest-hit areas.

During his tour, Clinton hopes to promote ``transparency and accountability'' measures to ensure aid resources are used fairly, ``while retaining the engagement of the millions of investors in this operation,'' according to a statement released before his arrival.

``He is committed to keeping the world's attention focused on the tsunami recovery,'' said Jehane Sedky-Lavandero, the press officer for the Office of the Special Envoy of Tsunami Recovery.

Sri Lanka - says it has received more than US$3 billion (euro2.39 billion) in pledges and commitments for post-tsunami rehabilitation and reconstruction. But the government is far behind schedule in providing permanent homes for the displaced.

The government-run Tsunami Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency says the number of homeless has fallen from 900,000 immediately after the disaster to 40,000 now but that is mainly because people have moved in with relatives to escape miserable conditions at relief centers.

The government says it has signed agreements with donor agencies to build 27,000 houses, and has pledges for 90,000 in total. But only 119 have been completed, and work to build 5,000 more has just begun.

Clinton traveled to Sri Lanka - from southern India, where he met with tsunami survivors in the hard-hit district of Nagapattinam.

After his Sri Lanka - tour, he will head to the Indian Ocean archipelago of the Maldives, where the tsunami killed 82 people. He will end his trip with a visit to Indonesia, the worst-hit country.

Clinton last visited Sri Lanka - in February with another former U.S. president, George H.W. Bush.

Singapore ex-convicts to help tsunami victims in Sri Lanka , report says

A group ex-convicts from Singapore left for Sri Lanka - to provide humanitarian support to tsunami victims, news reports said Saturday. ``This program is proving to be effective,'' said the leaders of one of the two teams to Sri Lanka - , Assistant-Superintendent Mark Galistan. The first team left on Friday while the other is due to depart on June 6. Calls to prison officials rang unanswered Saturday.

LTTE Uses Terrorism to achieve its Political Goals - President Bush

U.S. President George W. Bush says the United States and Sri Lanka have enjoyed close relations based on common support for the values of democracy, the rule of law, human rights and free trade. Sri Lanka has faced great challenges since its independence in 1948, most significantly a separatist conflict with Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which uses terrorism to achieve its political goals. He said " No political objectives can justify the use of terror against innocent civilians. A solution to the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka can only be achieved through a negotiated settlement. He said ". The United States supports Sri Lanka's peace process and a solution that respects Sri Lanka's unity and sovereignty. The cease-fire

signed in 2002 opened the possibility of peaceful settlement of Sri Lanka's conflict. Unfortunately that process has stalled. The United States urges all parties in Sri Lanka to reengage with the peace process and reach a final settlement."

He made this observation in remarks exchanged at the formal ceremony where Sri Lanka's newly appointed Ambassador to the US, Bernard A.B. Goonetilleke, presented his Letter of Credence at the Oval Office of the White House, on Thursday. The President also said "Sri Lanka over the years has achieved commendable success in quality of life despite terrorism and the challenges of development" and that " if peace is achieved, Sri Lanka has the potential to end poverty and expand economic opportunity. Sri Lanka's highly educated

population, if mobilized, could expand trade and create new industries in the technology sector. Sri Lanka's highly educated population, if mobilized, could expand trade and create new industries in the technology sector. Completing the task of economic reform has the potential to turn Sri Lanka into a regional trade hub, one that could transform Sri Lanka and provide for all Sri Lankans a secure and prosperous future. Sri Lanka had only begun the long road of recovery from decades of warfare and terrorism when it was struck by the tsunami of December 26, 2004. Americans are a caring people, and all Americans were touched by this tragedy. The United States has joined the international community in a commitment to help rebuild after this disaster. I recently signed into law legislation providing funds for this recovery effort. However, beyond the United States Government contribution to reconstruction are contributions from thousands of private Americans."

Thanking the US President Ambassador Goonetilleke said "For nearly two decades, Sri Lanka had to endure the devastating effects of terrorism silently and alone. In recent years, terrorism has become a global phenomenon compelling the attention of the entire international community. Whether terrorism strikes in Colombo, New York, Madrid or Beslan, as we have witnessed in the recent past, victims of terrorism are by and large innocent civilians and perpetrators are ruthless individuals or groups, who wish to impose their will on others with no regard for human life and democratic

rights of people. We remain steadfast in our support in the battle against global terrorism and are confident that the strong support the United States is giving to bring an end to terrorism in Sri Lanka will be continued." He also said "Sri Lanka is happy to be recognized as a "good partner of the

United States", on the basis of the policies followed in promoting good governance, investing in people, promoting economic freedom and democracy. These attributes have enabled Sri Lanka to be among the first 16 countries selected for funding under the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) for FY

2004. We are further encouraged by our subsequent eligibility for MCA assistance in FY 2005." "The close relations we enjoy are also reflected in the development assistance we receive from the USA, which has contributed considerably in improving the lives of our people. Similarly, we are appreciative of the ongoing cooperation in the defence field." added Goonetillke

The ANCL building lit up with Vesak illuminations. and One of the exhibits for the ANCL Vesak lantern contest.

Posted by Hello

Tension grips Trinco again as TNA predicts repercussions..

The atmosphere of tension deepened earlier today in a sequel to a magisterial order to the UDA stipulating that action against all unauthorized religious and other constructions be dealt with under the provisions of the law. The decision came shortly after North-East Governor sped off to Trincomalee for last minute reconciliatory attempts to douse the rising tension in the area which has made Trincomalee a potential catalyst for a religious /political clash of huge proportions.

The law provides for the demolition of all unauthorised constructions. Hitherto, unauthorized commercial structures and domestic dwellings in other part of the country have been bulldozed with out notice by the urban development authorities of other provinces.

TNA Parliamentarian Kanagendran Eelaventhan warned of "severe repercussions" if the controversial Buddha statue in Trincomalee town was "not removed by tonight."

The spokesman for the TNA which is the Colombo political arm of the LTTE, said " we view the erection of the new Buddha statue as an act symbolising state sponsored colonization of Trincomalee".

Meanwhile, DIG Eastern Province, Neville Wijesinghe told lankamuslims.com that the court today ordered the town council to take legal action against all illegal constructions in the Trincomalee area.

He said that there were no immediate signs of antagonistic actions in the area "though in the last 72 hours tension has been high in the area."

The new replacement statue erected by the North East Sinhala Organization.(NESO) a few days ago, triggered the LTTE sponsored harthal that had crippled Trincomalee town for several days before Vesak Celebrations

News Today

Trinco Tension - Government Express Concern Without Naming the LTTE - Forces Say LTTE Behind Unrest

The government has expressed its concern on the continuing tension in Trincomalee without directly naming the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for the unrest in the port city. However the Security Forces have gone on record placing the blame on the LTTE for the unrest created in the city. A member of the Security Forces said they had complained to the SLMM before Vesak that it was the LTTE that was inciting violence in the area.

A statement from the government states that it's concerned about the situation caused by a small group of residents in Trincomalee with the assistance of several outside forces. The statement said that the security of the residents of Trincomalee has been strengthened and the President held discussions with the leader of the Tamil National Alliance R. Sampanthan to seek ways of resolving the problem in a durable manner and a Citizens committee was formed for the district of Trincomalee. The President also had sent a team of representatives to Trinco led by Minister Maithripala Sirisena and Defence Secretary Asoka Jayawardane.

108 families in Galle occupy World Vision-built transitional shelters

A total of 108 families, once resident along the southern coast of the tsunami-devastated district of Galle moved out of displaced camps and into new transitional shelters built for them by World Vision Lanka.

The occupation of houses took place at three points in Galle District - 50 families in Rejjupura, 34 in Nagaragalawatte and another 24 families in Janandanaramaya. Each cluster of houses was situated in the Hikkaduwa division of Galle and benefited families whose homes had been completely destroyed by the tsunami December last year.

Each cluster of transitional houses occupied by displaced people has been built well within the Government stipulated boundaries away from the beach.

The Commissioner General of Essential Services, Tilak Ranaviraja, present at the occasion said that the Government of Sri Lanka would take the responsibility of providing water and electricity to the new residents of the 108 transitional shelters. He also promised the residents that the Government would pay their water and electricity bills at this time of difficulty.

Many of the new residents said that transitional shelters provided by World Vision was timely. The rain season has set in, in most parts of the country.

It is hoped that the more permanent nature of transitional shelter and the organized placement of units will allow for more privacy to families and protect children from health hazards during the rainy season like dengue and malaria.

Skynet News

Skynet News

Over 200 Tamils slain in apparent political attacks in Sri Lanka since 2002

Up to 200 Tamils have been slain in apparent political violence that has undermined Sri Lanka's peace since the 2002 halt in its civil war, and the government hasn't done enough to investigate the attacks, a human rights monitor said Tuesday.

The New York-based Human Rights Watch suggested most of the killings were the result of a split in the ranks of the Tamil Tigers in 2004, and called for an independent commission to investigate the violence and recommend ways to end it.

``In a country where Tamil grievances have been the primary cause of a protracted and complicated civil war, the failure by the government to pursue these killings is particularly troubling and raises serious questions about its stated commitment to take Tamil human rights concerns seriously,'' the group said.

Sri Lankan police denied that they were closing their eyes to the killings.

``When a killing takes place in areas under (the rebels') control, we cannot investigate,'' police spokesman Rienzie Perera said of large swathe of land in the northeast where the Tamil Tigers run a parallel administration.

And sometimes, when killings occur in areas under government control, witnesses have refused to give evidence out of fear of retribution, Perera said.

Since the 2002 cease-fire, ``an estimated 200 Tamils have been killed for apparently political reasons,'' Human Rights Watch said in its statement.

The April 28 slaying of well-known Tamil journalist Dharmeratnam Sivaram by ``unknown assailants is only one of a long line of assassinations of outspoken members of the Tamil community,'' the group said.

Sivaram, a founding member of the pro-rebel TamilNet Web site and a columnist for the English language Daily Mirror, was killed after being abducted in Colombo.

``We have yet to see the government seriously investigate, prosecute and punish those responsible for politically motivated killings of Tamils,'' said Brad Adams, Asia director of Human Rights Watch.

The rights group linked much of the violence to a split in the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam in March 2004, when a commander broke off from the mainstream rebel organization. ``A number of the victims were persons deemed to be supporters of one faction or the other,'' it said.

``The evidence available places responsibility for many of the killings on the Tamil Tigers,'' the group said. ``In many cases there is circumstantial evidence of LTTE involvement, such as threats from LTTE members or agents prior to a killing.''

Other killings have been linked to the breakaway faction, the group said.

Adams said that the cease-fire has been a welcome development for Sri Lanka ``but some are using it as an opportunity to kill their opponents.''

A Bhakthi Gee recital was held at the President’s House on Sunday as a prelude to Vesak celebrations on Full Moon Vesak Poya Day. Here President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga along with Ministers watch students and artistes singing Bhakthi Gee.

News in Brief

Trinco quiet after deadly violence but still simmering The Trincomalee vicinity was relatively calm today while tension still prevailed between the North East Sinhalese Organization and the LTTE sponsored Tamil People’s Organization, according to sources from the East.

Meanwhile, senior military officials held a meeting at the Trincomalee Naval Base yesterday with the presence of Secretary Defence, Three Forces Commanders, Inspector General of Police and senior government officials to curb the spread of violence, according to army sources.

Army Spokesman Brigadier Daya Ratnayake told lankamuslims.com that the army is providing maximum security to prevent clashes. He added that the Sinhalese and Muslim shops remain opened today while some of the Tamil shops were closed.

Meanwhile, three LTTE cadres who entered the Kumara Business centre and exploded a grenade inside the shop were cornered and attacked by anngered public. LTTE cadres Sakthivel Yasotharan, Tharmalingam Pirabaharan and Nathan were injured during this incident and have been admitted to the Trincomalee Hospital, sources claim.

Trincomalee Magistrate and Additional District Judge M.Ganesharaja last Wednesday instructed police to initiate a dialogue between all concerned parties to find a peaceful resolution to the Buddha statue crisis in Trincomalee. However, no amicable resolution was reached between the parties. No further news was available on the other unauthorized religious places of worship erected in UDA territory

LTTE cadres allegedly shot the former Mayor of Trincomalee, Periya Adi Sooriyamoorthi while he was standing in front of his house last Wednesday night. The former Mayor had played a prominent role to reconcile differences between ethnic groups in Trincomalee in the past few weeks after LTTE called for protest campaigns that led to a chain of violent acts. His conditions remain critical according to hospital sources.

The new replacement statue erected by the North East Sinhala Organization.(NESO) a few days ago, triggered the LTTE sponsored harthal that crippled Trincomalee town for the last several days.

The Trincomalee vicinity is relatively calm today while the tension still prevails between the North East Sinhalese Organization and the LTTE sponsored Tamil People's Organization, according to sources from the East.

Meanwhile, senior military officials held a meeting at the Trincomalee Naval Base yesterday with the presence of Secretary Defence, Three Forces Commanders, Inspector General of Police and senior government officials to curb the spread of violence, according to army sources.

Army Spokesman Brigadier Daya Ratnayake told lankamuslims.com that the army is providing maximum security to prevent clashes. He also added that the Sinhalese and Muslim shops remain open today while some of the Tamil shops were closed.

Meanwhile, three LTTE cadres who entered the Kumara Business centre and exploded a grenade inside the shop were cornered and attacked by an angered public. LTTE cadres Sakthivel Yasotharan, Tharmalingam Pirabaharan and Nathan were injured during this incident and have been admitted to the Trincomalee Hospital, sources claim.

Trincomalee Magistrate and Additional District Judge M.Ganesharaja last Wednesday instructed the Police to initiate a dialogue between all concerned parties to find a peaceful resolution to the Buddha statue crisis in Trincomalee.

However, no amicable resolution is reached between the parties so far and the controversial Buddha statue still remains No further news is heard about the other unauthorized religious places of worship erected in UDA territory.

Alleged LTTE cadres shot the former Mayor of Trincomalee, Periya Adi Sooriyamoorthi
while he was standing in front of his house last Wednesday night.

The former Mayor had played a prominent role to reconcile differences between ethnic groups in Trincomalee during past several days after LTTE called for protest campaigns that led to a chain of violent acts. His conditions remain critical according to hospital sources.

The new replacement statue erected by the North East Sinhala Organization.(NESO) a few days ago, triggered the LTTE sponsored harthal that had crippled Trincomalee town for the last several days.

LTTE office in Batticaloa attacked.

The LTTE office in Periyakallaru, Batticaloa was attacked last Saturday evening by unidentified men causing death to an elderly lady who was residing in a neighbourhood house. No LTTE cadres were present at the time of the attack, according to sources.

Army Spokesman Brigadier Daya Ratnayake said that this attack may have been carried out by the Karuna faction at the same time he said that it maybe a way of the LTTE putting the blame on the Karuna faction.

The LTTE political office in Samapanthurai, Amparai was also attacked by an unknown group last Friday causing injuries to three LTTE cadres. The person in charge of the office, Yarlavan was slightly injured while the other two were badly injured, according to sources from Batticaloa.

Eastern Sri Lanka had turned into a hotbed of violence after the Eastern LTTE command broke away from the mainstream group demanding regional autonomy. The factional war for supremacy in the East had destroyed hundreds of lives inboth factions.

Minor tidal waves today and tomorrow likely in Galle – but no need for panic.

Geological and Met Department Chiefs positively ruled out any cause for panic or anxiety following the very minor tidal wave that swept a little inward in Galle early yesterday morning. But inordinately strong winds could whip up very minor tidal waves such as yesterday's" he said, ruling out any cause for fear or panic.

Geological and Mines Bureau Chairman Professor P.G.R. Dharmaratne said after the coastline being cleared of all wind-breakers ( buildings etc) strong winds such as yesterday's abnormal 40kmph force wind could whip up a minor though not threatening tidal wave. Normal winds are not more than 14 kmph, he said.

Director-General of the Geological Department Dr. G.H.T.Dharmaratne said the occurrence was not due to any specific geological activity. "It was combination of a very slightly higher water level that's normal during a full moon , vast acres of beachfront swept flat by last year's Tsunami and an extremely powerful wind of slightly over 40 kmph blowing inward." He said.

Continuing winds also had sea levels about a half of a meter higher than normal mid-morning today with signs of it remaining at normally high full-moon day levels today as well as tomorrow.. Powerful winds today and tomorrow can see a repetition of small tidal waves but they will not be powerful enough to drive further inland or cause any damage, he said.

The tidal wave monitoring unit at the Met.Department predicted sea levels to rise over .65 meters this evening and tomorrow evening - slightly higher than normal predictions. It is believed that in general there has been a slightly higher post-tsunami sea level caused by a significant change in ocean depths and topography caused by the December 26^th. Sea bed earthquakes that rocked the entire Indian ocean and abutting sea and land areas.

Professor Dharmaratne said they had been also monitoring yesterday's Sumatra 6.2 earthquake and ruled out any connection between that quake and the mild tidal wave at Galle yesterday.

Khalid

News Today

Vesak lull in Trinco turmoil

Defence Secretary Major Asoka Jayawardena said yesterday that a speedy solution would be found to bring normalcy in Trincomalee town. He led a high level team to assess the ground situation on the instructions of President Chandrika Kumaratunga.

Major Asoka Jayawardena, Chief of Defence Staff Daya Sandagiri, Army Chief Major General Shantha Kottegoda, Air Chief Air Marshall G.D. Perera, IGP Chandra Fernando and Eastern Province DIG Neville Wijesinghe had separate meetings with the Tamil People's Alliance and Buddhist monks yesterday. They said that they would submit a report to the President on the situation.

Trincomalee remained a ghost town for the fifth day yesterday as the hartal called by the Tamil People's Alliance (TPA) protesting the erection of a Buddha statue at Trincomalee junction and calling for its removal continued. Although several shops had been opened in the morning, they were later closed on the orders of the TPA.

TPA President V. Vigneswaran said that they had decided to suspend the hartal for three days from today to honour the Vesak festival.

Vigneswaran said Vesak holidays could be used to bring an understanding between the sides. If no solution was found before Wednesday the hartal would be observed in the entire North East, he said.

Another meeting with Buddhist monks, arranged by the Police, was held at Jayasumanaramaya yesterday. Ven. Dehiowita Piyatissa Thera requested the high level team to take necessary steps to protect Sinhala villages and temples. According to police only two minor incidents were reported yesterday and security had been beefed up in several areas.

The Buddha statue jointly erected by Buddhist monks and Trincomalee Three-wheeler Drivers' Association was unveiled on May 15. An unidentified group threw a hand grenade at the Buddha statue on Monday night.

The TPA organised a hartal on Tuesday protesting the erection of the statue and one youth was killed and four of the same family were injured on Tuesday at the Marathaddi junction. Since then there were sporadic acts of violence causing tension.

readers a happy Vesak

Hopes rise as the moon waxes: The scene on Friday night when the illumined pinnacle of the Ruwanmeliseya in Anuradhapura, a beacon aglow, drawing vast crowds to ponder on the Dhamma this Vesak season.

News in brief

Apology to Minister Mangala Samaraweera

WE sincerely apologise to Ports, Aviation and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera for the publication of a Letter to the Editor on page 3 of yesterday's Daily News under his name.

The letter was in fact sent by Mr. Mangala Samarasekara of Colombo. We are inquiring into this mischievous act.

Amunugama to deliver lecture

FINANCE Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama will deliver the Sarath Muttetuwegama commemoration lecture at the Ratnapura Town Hall on Sunday at 3 p.m.

The subject of his lecture will be 'The Way Forward for the People's Alliance - The Theory and Practice'. This lecture commemorates Communist Party MP Muttetuwegama who died in a motor accident about 19 years ago.

Dr. Amunugama is expected to align the economic theories guiding the People's Alliance with the successful experiments made in the economies of India, China and Vietnam.

He will argue that the true inheritors of these innovative economic models are the constituent parties of the People's Alliance and not free marketers or closed economy advocates.

Proposed amendments to Teachers Service Act approved

THE proposed amendments to the Teachers Service Act to streamline promotions in the service and fresh absorptions to the cadre was approved by the Public Service Commission (PSC).

The Education Ministry will in the future be able to effect all promotions satisfactorily without a delay, an Education Ministry spokesperson said.

Due to shortcomings in the Act, introduced in 1994 hoping to elevate the standard of teachers' service with a 50 per cent immediate salary increase, teachers have not been able to enjoy its full benefits.

The President who proposed amendments to the Act following irregularities and heeding to the voices of Teacher Trade Unions presented it before the Cabinet in January this year.

Following Cabinet approval, it was submitted to the PSC in February and the green light was given on Wednesday. The spokesperson said the ministry has issued a corresponding circular to provincial education authorities with the amendments to promotion and absorption clauses that would assure their effective implementation.

Khalid

Today Top Story

Vesak is always a special time for children. Amazing pandals, beautiful lanterns and colourful illuminations, Vesak is a time of wonderment for young minds. These two children lend a hand to put the finishing touches to a couple of lanterns which will adorn their home on Vesak Day.

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President Clinton to visit Sri Lanka on the 27th.

Former US President Bill Clinton will be in Sri Lanka from 27 to 28 of this month. President Clinton will be visiting Sri Lanka primarily in his capacity as the United Nations Secretary General's Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery. His deputy and former chief of staff Erskine Bowles was here as his representative attending the Development Forum in Kandy. A special taped video message from Clinton was screened at the conference. Clinton's first visit to Sri Lanka along with George Bush (snr) was as a Special Representative of US President George Bush early this year.

Tamil Tiger rebels have recruited 137 children since the December tsunami; nine from relief camps, UNICEF says

Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels have recruited 137 children into their ranks since the Indian Ocean tsunami, nine of whom were taken directly from relief camps, the U.N. children's agency said Friday.

Geoffrey Keel, UNICEF spokesman in Colombo, said however the rate of child recruitment by the rebels, accused of enlisting youngsters throughout their two-decade insurgency, appeared to be falling.

``But any recruit is one too many,'' he said, adding the children who have joined Tiger ranks in recent weeks were between 14 and 18 years of age.

``There have been 137 cases of child recruitment since the December tsunami,'' he said, adding that nine of the youths had been taken from tsunami relief camps in Sri Lanka's Tamil-majority north and east, parts of which are under guerrilla control.

There was no immediate response from the rebels, though the Tigers have repeatedly denied actively recruiting children to bolster their ranks. They say any minors who volunteer to join them because of poverty or the loss of parents are sent back home.

Sri Lanka's civil war has killed 65,000 people since 1983, but government troops and the rebels have been observing a cease-fire since February 2002.

In 2003, the rebels agreed with both UNICEF and the Sri Lankan government to discharge all child fighters to rehabilitation centers, where they could receive care and counseling to help them rejoin society.

But the U.N. agency has accused the insurgents of reneging on their promise and says that since the agreement the rebels have recruited more than 1,500 children.

Keel said the latest figures indicate recruitment of children is waning.

``It's a positive sign,'' he said. ``We are happy to see the downward trend and hope it will continue.''

Children accounted for a staggering 40 percent, or 12,000, of Sri Lanka's tsunami death toll of at least 31,000. Nearly 1 million people have been left homeless.

Hambantota Port project to start soon

THE Government is determined to go ahead with the Hambantota Port project despite tangible pressure from various international forces that oppose the setting up of a port at this strategic location, Ports and Aviation Minister Mangala Samaraweera declared yesterday.

"We are determined to complete this all-new port regardless of whoever opposes it," Minister Samaraweera told the media at a special briefing in Colombo.

The Minister observed that there were forces within and outside Sri Lanka who did not want to see a port at Hambantota, which will facilitate shipping lines using one of the busiest sea lanes in the world.

Construction is due to begin soon on the port, which many experts have contended would affect a number of regional ports.

"There are international forces who don't want that to happen. There are forces within our institutions who don't want to see a port at Hambantota," the Minister alleged.

The first phase of the project will be a bunkering system (four pipelines ) and a 10-tank farm, estimated to cost US$ 80 million. An agreement in this regard was signed in April with China's Huanqiu Contracting and Engineering Corporation and funding for the project will be on a Government to Government basis. The construction of the tank farm is scheduled for next month.

The Hambantota Port will eventually evolve from a ship bunkering port to a fully-fledged container port.

The Minister also disclosed that plans were underway to start the Colombo South Port Project soon. "The Colombo Port in its present form will reach saturation point in 2008. A new port is thus urgently required. We must begin construction of the new port in 2006," he said.

The proposed port will house four terminals (12 berths) and will handle the new generation of mega ships. The breakwater of the port will be developed at a cost of US$ 300 million. The Asian Development bank will contribute US$ 200 million, while the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) will contribute the rest.

It has also been suggested that the Port be managed on a Private Public Partnership basis, with a private company managing the venture under the ownership of the SLPA.

The Minister also disclosed plans for the development of the Galle Port from 2006 at a cost of US$ 200 million. The port, placed farther out from the present location, is estimated to cost US$ 140 million.

Construction will be funded by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). The existing port at Galle will be converted to a yacht marina.

The Trincomalee Port will also be developed, as part of an overall plan to upgrade the city's tourist facilities. The Oluvil Port will be constructed with Danish help.

The Dutch Government has agreed to grant US$ 33 million for urgent repairs of the KKS harbour.

Several mega shipping lines have confirmed that they would start new services to Colombo, officials said.

Khalid

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Tsunami relief idling at Colombo Port

While the International Community continues to send essential items and other necessities for the tsunami victims, our own Colombo Port authorities and Finance Ministry allegedly treat essential relief consignments sent by foreign Governments, organizations, etc, with callous indifference, informed sources claimed.

In one such incident, the Saudi Government and other Saudi officials reportedly at their own expense dispatched 46 container loads of essential items to Sri Lankan tsunami victims during the first week of April, had suffered neglect at the hands of Port authorities.

The clearance of this consignment of humanitarian relief was inordinate by delay when certain officials of the Colombo Port and the e Ministry refused to release them. So far only some 15 of these containers have been released, and this too after the Saudi benefactors offered to pay customs clearing charges. Meanwhile, the consignee had to pay demurrage charges brought about by the roadblocks erected by the Air Force personnel who are deployed by authorities to ensure 100% percent checking of all relief containers

According to the sources, delaying tactics were employed by the authorities although the Saudi Embassy Officials in Colombo completed the stipulated procedures for clearance of the shipment. The Embassy had also made repeated requests for clearance from the Finance Ministry. But on April 22, a letter from the by the Director General, Fiscal Policy of the Finance Ministry notified that the shipment concerned was not DPL Cargo, and would hence was subject to routine clearance procedure.

“It’s a tragic situation. Still 30 containers are at the Port awaiting clearance, even after many weeks, since the consignment arrived,” sources pointed out.

Trinco still tense as Buddha statue crisis simmers - partial Harthal continues

Trincomalee town remained tense, though eased in comparison with yesterday's crisis level, with the LTTE sponsored Harthal only partially in force. The controversial Buddha statue remained in place while Sinhalese shops re-opened with heavy armed patrols visible on the streets.

Trincomalee Magistrate and Additional District Judge M.Ganesharaja yesterday instructed the Police to initiate a dialogue between all concerned parties to find a peaceful resolution to the Buddha statue crisis in Trincomalee , a court official said.

In court for the hearing were UC Special Commissioner S.Arumainayagam, UC Secretary S.Vipulanandan ,TDTPF President V.Vigneswaran, Trincomalee Head Quarters Inspector and ASP Priyantha.The Secretary of the Three Wheelers' Association was absent during the hearing.

ASP Priyantha submitted to the court that if Buddha statues were to be removed then the question regarding two unauthorized Kovils in the same vicinity would arise. However, there had not been any complaints so far against Kovils or other unauthorized religious monuments and statues. The Magistrate directed the Police to work in co-operation with the UDA and Urban Council to deal with such matters towards a peaceful resolution, should any complaints against the Kovils be received.

The situation was far from normalcy with Tamil shops keeping shutters closed for the third consecutive day, Army spokesman Brigadier Daya Ratnayake said.

In Colombo, officials in both the Buddha Sasana Ministry and the Hindu Religious and Cultural Affairs, had no comment when contacted.

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Mother and daughter fall into cesspit, both dead

A mother and a daughter who were bathing from a pipe that was fixed on the concrete slab of the cess-pit of their house, fell into the cess-pit when the concrete slab broke all of a sudden.

The incident occurred on May 11 at Athanapitiya in Pindeniya police division in Kegalle district.

The mother Priyanthi Manel de Silva (39 years) and her daughter Shanika Madhusani (9 years) cried for help and the people from neighbouring houses were drawn in no time to the spot.

But none of them could help them as they felt a poisonous gas emanating from the cesspit to which the two have fallen into.

Some people on informing the authorities of Bogala Graphite Mines, about five miles away from the place where the incident occurred. Some workers from graphite mines descended into the cesspit wearing gas masks and took out the woman and the girl and rushed to Kegalle General Hospital but on admission both of them were found to be dead. On the instructions of Kegalle Asst. Supt. of Police Kithsiri Jayalath, Pindeniya police OIC Lionel Samarasinghe and a police party is conducting investigations.

Impartial probe into Trincomalee violence

by Rodney Martinesz

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse yesterday directed the IGP to hold a comprehensive and impartial inquiry into Tuesday's grenade attack in Trincomalee which left one person dead and sparked tension in the area.

The Premier told Parliament that the Government would ensure the tension in Trincomalee did not escalate.

The Government would also see to it that there is no religious friction in the area and guarantee every citizen the right to practise his or her faith without hindrance, he added. He was responding to statements by MPs Ven. Athuriliye Rathana (JHU) and Wimal Weerawansa (JVP) on the floor of the House .

Weerawansa detailing the incidents in Trincomalee which he saidwas sparked when a Buddha statue was to be erected in the Trincomalee town, asked the Prime Minister if he could guarantee that the Sinhala community in the area will be permitted to practise their religion without let or hindrance.

He also said there were widespread charges that the Police in Trincomalee had remained inactive and allowed the incident to snowball.

The Premier told the House that he had just at that moment been in touch with the IGP. "I have ordered an impartial inquiry. An investigation is already on," the Premier said.

A Police curfew was clamped following a hand grenade attack at Madathadi junction in Trincomalee on Tuesday where a Buddha statue is being erected. One person was killed and four others seriously injured.

A clash ensued between Tamil and Sinhala factions following the attack at around 2.45 pm. The attackers had targeted the new statue under construction near the three wheeler stand next to the CTB bus stop.

***####

Security tightened

by Trincomalee Corr.

Security in Trincomalee town was tightened yesterday with additional Navy troops called into prevent any eruption of violence. The LTTE front Tamil People’s Organisation-backed hartal which continued for the second day paralysed day-to-day activities in the area. Although a few explosions were heard, no casualties were reported, Police said.

Trincomalee Magistrate M. Ganesheraja yesterday directed the Police to hold an inquiry into the incident and discuss with the parties involved to come to peaceful settlement.

Meanwhile the President of the TPO told the Daily News that they were yet to decide on continuing the hartal for the third day. It will depend on the Police action to settle the dispute, he said.

No quorum - House sittings adjourned

Parliament was adjourned abruptly yesterday for want of a quorum. The House was debating an Order under the Export Development Board Act when MP Ravi Karunanayake rose to inform Presiding MP Mano Wijeratne that there was no quorum.

At the time Deputy Minister Hussein Bhaila was on his feet. The quorum bell was sounded but apart from a bare trickle there were no sufficient numbers to make up the quorum of 20 Members. The presiding MP then adjourned the House around 11.10 am.

Joint Mechanism will work within a democratic framework –Dhanapala

Jayantha Dhanapala , Secretary General of the Peace Secretariat said in his presentation to the International Development Forum in Kandy , the structure of the proposed joint mechanism will work within a democratic framework. He said “ It will make key policy decisions over the optimum utilization of resources and address there construction requirements of the tsunami-hit areas of the six districts. All the finances will be handled by Government agencies. The structure will be called the 'Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure'.

Explaining the structure of the mechanism he said “This ‘mechanism’ would comprise three tiers: national, regional and district level. The high level committee will have equal representation from the Government, the Muslim community and the LTTE. The regional committees will have five representatives from the LTTE, three from the Muslim community and two from the Government. The District Committees are already in place.”

“There would be water-tight safeguards in place to protect the interests of the minorities, whoever they may be in each of the Districts” assured Dhanapala

Dhanapala also said “With Norwegian facilitation we have reached some finality to establish a structure to address the post-tsunami needs of the six districts in the North and East. This administrative mechanism will see to the infrastructure needs of the area within two kilometers of the coastline based on needs assessments without any discrimination whatsoever.”

One of the donor representatives addressing the gathering

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VIP guests at the aid summit (left to right) Central Province Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake, Kandy Mayor Kesara Senanayake, Ministers A. H. M. Fowzie, Ferial Ashraff and Tissa Karalliyadde.

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President Kumaratunga lighting the traditional oil lamp.

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One person killed and four injured in explosion in volatile eastern Sri Lanka ; curfew imposed

Protesters lobbed a grenade at a shop in eastern Sri Lanka - , killing one person and wounding four others, the military said.
A curfew was imposed following the attack in the town of Trincomalee, where police had already been put on alert after another grenade blast late Monday damaged a Buddhist statue and slightly injured one person. The town is 230 kilometers (140 miles) northeast of the capital, Colombo.
The protesters had gathered to demand that the statue be removed from the market square in the heart of the town, said S. Bandara of the Trincomalee police.
``Initial reports indicate that one person was killed and another four were injured'' in Tuesday's explosion, said military spokesman Brig. Daya Ratnayake. He said no other details were immediately available.
The attacks occurred less than a week before the Vesak festival marking the birth of Buddha the most sacred day for people in this South Asian country, where 70 percent of the 19 million people are Buddhist.
Most shops, offices and schools were closed and public transport ground to a halt Tuesday in Trincomalee, home to equal numbers of Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims.

Joint panel with rebels could firm Sri Lanka's peace, but analyst warns plan could fail

A top Sri Lankan official said Tuesday that the president's pledge to create a joint panel with Tamil rebels within weeks to distribute tsunami aid would help bring the two sides closer. But an analyst warned that opposition within the ruling coalition could derail the plan.
The comments came as delegates from 125 donor countries and aid agencies met for a second day to discuss ways of ensuring that some of the US$2.2 billion (euro1.74 billion) in aid pledged reaches areas inhabited by minority Tamils, who have long accused the Sinhalese-dominated government of neglecting them.
On Monday, President Chandrika Kumaratunga told the delegates that a joint agency between the government and Tamil Tiger rebels would be set up within weeks to distribute aid to the guerrilla-held north and east, meeting a key rebel demand.
``The proposed agreement will not only help people on the ground, but will go a long way to take the two sides closer,'' Jayantha Dhanapala, head of the government's Peace Secretariat, which handles negotiations with the Tamil Tigers, said Tuesday.
Kumaratunga's main coalition partner, however, has opposed the plan, saying it would help the rebels achieve their goal of establishing a separate Tamil state. The Marxist People's Liberation Front has threatened to withdraw from the coalition if the plan goes ahead, a move that could cause the government to collapse.
Jehan Perera, an analyst with Sri Lanka's National Peace Council, a think-tank, cautioned against too much optimism.
``The issue remains open whether the government can both sign and implement the joint mechanism,'' if it's opposed by her coalition, Perera said.
Kumaratunga also faces opposition from a political party of Buddhist monks that has nine seats in the 225-member Parliament. Most Sri Lankans are Buddhist, and monks are influential in state affairs.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam began fighting in 1983 for a homeland for the island's 3.2 million Tamils. A cease-fire halted the conflict in 2002 but subsequent peace talks collapsed in April 2003 over the rebels' demand for greater autonomy in the north and east.
The fragile truce still holds despite allegations of attacks on both sides.
``We have a large number of violations, but the cease-fire is holding because neither of the sides wants to go back to full scale conflict,'' Dhanapala said.
Decades of war and the Dec. 26 tsunami - which killed some 31,000 people and affected about 1 million more - have thrown 5 million of the island's 19 million people into poverty, the government has said.

Sri Lanka receives record US$ 2.2 b grants from donors

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, World Bank Vice President Praful Patel and other dignitaries at the Sri Lanka Development Forum at the Earl’s Regency, Kandy yesterday.Pictures by Dudley Wickramasinghe
The Government recorded an unprecedented response from the donor community yesterday for its post tsunami reconstruction plan, on the first date of the Sri Lanka Development Forum held in Kandy with donors making commitments worth US$ 2.2 billion yesterday itself, Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama announced last evening here in Kandy.
Addressing the media at the conclusion of the first day sessions of the Development Forum, which focused on post tsunami reconstruction plans, Dr. Amunugama said the commitments by the donors topped the entire tsunami reconstruction requirements presented by the Government at yesterday's sessions.
"More than ninety per cent of the commitments pledged were in the form of grants", Dr. Amunugama added.
A confident Finance Minister said donors were impressed with the presentations made on the post tsunami reconstruction plans of the government.
The estimated post tsunami reconstruction requirement was put at US$ 2 billion. Minister Amunugama said the donors were impressed by the 'excellent' speech made by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga at the inauguration of the Development Forum. "The President's speech has had a tremendous impact on the donor community today", the Minister added.
Deputy Finance Minister Tilak Siyambalapitiya said the bilateral agencies made a commitment worth US$ 745 million at the Forum while multilateral agencies and Non government Organisations making commitments worth US$ 631 million and US$ 853 million respectively.
"Ninety per cent of the commitments were in the form of grants", the Deputy Minister said.
Finance Ministry Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundera said the special feature of the Development Forum was that it had not made any impact on the country's debts or to the country's budgetary provision since these commitments were made in the form of grants.
"This is the first time Sri Lanka receiving aids in the form of grants", he pointed out. He also said the Government has also received US$ 300 million debt relief from donors.
"Italy and China has written off the debts", Dr. Jayasundera added.

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Govt launches Rs. 7.5 b housing project for war hit North-East

The Government will launch a massive Rs. 7.5 billion project to construct 31,500 war affected houses in the North and East parallel to the permanent housing projects for the tsunami affected in the province, Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Reconciliation Ministry Secretary M. S. Jayasinghe told the Daily News.

The project to be completed over four years commencing this year will be launched on May 19. The project launch follows the successful completion of the pilot project to construct 860 houses in the North and East last year, he said.

The construction process is scheduled to commence on June 1."The World Bank has agreed to increase the money from Rs. 150,000 per house to Rs. 250,000 following the Government decision to grant Rs.250,000 to construct tsunami affected houses," Jayasinghe added.

RRR Ministry Senior Advisor S. Sivadasan said Rs. 250,000 will be provided for the construction of 500 square feet houses fully damaged during the conflict.

Rs. 100,000 will be issued to reconstruct partly damaged houses.

The project will cover Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar, Vavuniya, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara districts and will be implemented under the supervision of the Chief Secretary of the North East Provincial Council with the Project Management Unit in Trincomalee.

The RRR Ministry, on the special instruction of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has also released Rs.45 million each for Jaffna, Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi districts to construct 100 houses for tsunami affected people in each of these districts.

"This will be released for the most deserving tsunami affected people in Jaffna, Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi districts," he said.

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Chandrika throws down the gauntlet at the Donor Conference

Udara Soysa (LM), Mon 16th May 08:55GMT. President Chandrika Kumaratunga assured the international community attending the Donor Conference that the majority in the government was fully behind her in supporting the joint mechanism for tsunami aid distribution. She made her statement as the conference began in Kandy this morning and added that the large majority of people were already in support of the JM. "We believe that the Joint Mechanism would help establish trust between the government and Liberation Tamil Tigers of Eelam as well as between the Tamil people and the government" she added.

She said it was significant that the LTTE had agreed to work along with the government and the Muslim community in the Joint Mechanism for Tsunami relief and reconstruction.

In what was seen as a clear and unambiguous signal to the constituent Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) she said " Governments are elected to take decisions, difficult and dangerous ones and the lives of many of us are now in extreme danger. But we need the courage to face up to challenges - challenges from terrorists from the North-east and the extremists of the South". Her reference to Southern extremists was clearly a reference to the constituent party the JVP which has threatened strong reprisals if the JM was constituted with the LTTE. The President made an appeal to "the brave and the strong" to push through her decision on the JM.

"We can go beyond power and think of what is best for the nation. What happens in the next few weeks will show what the future holds for us" she added in a clear expression of fear about the threatened reprisals of the JVP.

In what was seen as one of the most impulsive, naive and politically suicidal statements made by a head of state, the President said the JM was a measure that "merely formalized what has been existing in the north and east provinces for the past six years."

The President was also seen as openly castigating the JVP with the observation that "there are those who need a theoretical and conceptual restructuring of political minds, visions and strategies."

She expressed confidence in successfully concluding the JM.

The government is seeking an amalgamated Rs.3 billion for tsunami aid as well as for reconstruction and development strategy finance.

Sri Lanka says coordinating tsunami aid with rebels could bridge country's ethnic divide

Associated Press, Mon May 16, 2005 04:58 EDT . KANDY, Sri Lanka (AP) - Sri Lanka's plan to jointly coordinate tsunami aid with Tamil Tiger rebels in Tamil-majority areas could be a golden opportunity to resolve the country's two-decade ethnic conflict, the president told the opening of a donors conference Monday.

President Chandrika Kumaratunga said she would go forward with the plan within weeks despite opposition within her own ruling coalition, in comments aimed as much at domestic politics as the delegates of 125 governments and aid agencies gathered to address post-tsunami reconstruction.

``The government, at least the major part of it, believes that this is a good opportunity'' to bridge gaps between the Tigers and the government, Kumaratunga said. ``It will open many doors for a final solution to the ethnic problem of Sri Lanka.''

Kumaratunga said she was aware of the risks involved in signing the deal, including the possibility of her being killed by Sinhalese radicals who are opposed.

``We are fully aware that the lives of some of us are in great danger ... perhaps from within,'' said Kumaratunga, the victim of a 1999 Tiger assassination attempt, referring to hardline elements who oppose any cooperation with the Tamils.

Kumaratunga has backed a joint body, but the Marxist People's Liberation Front, her main ally in the coalition government, has threatened to withdraw if the plan goes ahead, saying it would help the rebels attain their goal of a separate Tamil state.

The front controls 39 seats in the country's 225-member Parliament, and Kumaratunga's government could collapse without its support.

Residents in Tamil-majority areas controlled by the Tigers have complained that aid has been slow to reach them since the devastating earthquake and tsunami of Dec. 26 killed more than 31,000 people in the country and affected 1 million others.

International donors have been reluctant to give any funds directly to the guerrillas, listed as terrorists by the United States, but most of them are willing to give to a joint body comprised of representatives of both the government and the rebels.

Kumaratunga indicated that the cooperation with the rebels would go forward within weeks, saying it could be ``one ray of hope'' from the tsunami disaster, helping to resolve a civil war that killed 65,000 people since 1983.

Meanwhile, the World Bank said there would be no shortage of funds to carry out reconstruction and rehabilitation.

``It now appears to be the case that funding the recovery will not be difficult,'' the bank's Vice President Praful Patel said.

The Finance Ministry says it has received commitments from foreign donors for US$1.5 billion (euro1.15 billion) over the next three to four years _ enough to rebuild coasts devastated by the tsunami.

Khalid

Dispelling shadows of darkness: Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa addresses the meeting on CEB reforms at the Temple Trees on Friday. (From Left) Power and Energy Minister Susil Premjayantha, Treasury Secretary P. B. Jayasundera, the Prime Minister, ADB Country Director Alessandros Pio and other ADB officials. CEB trade union representatives were also present.

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Donor forum tomorrow

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga will inaugurate the Sri Lanka Development Forum at the Earl's Regency Hotel Kandy tomorrow Monday 16.
This is the first time this important international donor forum is meeting in Sri Lanka, thus providing an opportunity for the international donor representatives to acquaint themselves with Sri Lanka's economic performance at close range. The forum will also provide the people with an opportunity to have a better insight into its nature and proceedings.
Around 200 delegates from the international donor agencies such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Japan Bank of International Cooperation and other funding agencies are expected to participate in this two-day forum.
The welcome address will be made by Finance and Planning Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama. World Bank's Vice President Praful Patel will make a speech on development partners. Sessions 1 and 2 on May 16 will be on post-tsunami. The venue for the conference will be at Mahaweli Reach Hotel in Kandy.
Registration of delegates for the Sri Lanka Development Forum -2005 will take place at the Mahaweli Reach Hotel, Kandy at 4.30.p.m. today, followed by a reception and a cultural show organised by the Sri Lanka Tourist Board at 6.30 p.m. The opening ceremony at the Earl's Regency Hotel Kandy will be from 9 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. tomorrow, Monday.
Task Force for Rebuilding the Nation, (TAFREN) Chairman Mano Tittawella will speak on needs, assessment and the reconstruction strategy. TAFREN Director Mahesh Amalean on implementation, monitoring and district capacity issues.
Ministry of Finance and Planning, External Resources Department Director General Sujatha Cooray, representatives from TAFREN and Government Agents in Matara, Trincomalee and Mullaitivu will address the forum.
Among speakers listed to address the third session on May 17, are Central Bank's Governor Sunil Mendis, Treasury Secretary and National Council for Economic Development (NCED) Chairman Dr. P.B. Jayasundera.
Senior DIG Ranges III, Jayantha Wickramaratne who is in charge of the overall security operations said that a joint security operation has been launched with assistance from the Special Task Force (STF), the Ministerial Security Division (MSD), Presidential Security Division (PSD) and the Kandy Police to ensure the safety of the delegates.
Around 800-1000 policemen from all ranks have been detailed for duties connected with the conference. The Army too will be in readiness to assist the Police in case of an emergency. During the conference most roads in Kandy will be kept open.
However the movement of traffic will be restricted due to road blocks and traffic diversions to enable delegates to travel about without hinderance. Several mobile patrols too will be deployed for security work. DIG Central Province Nimal Mediwake and SSP Kandy Guneratna Banda will be in charge of the security arrangements.

Disciplining bus crews

The private bus transport sector in Sri Lanka is not regulated and managed well. For example owners of private buses are mostly individual businessmen and others engaged in full time employment. Often they lease buses and run them as an additional source of income to them. On the other hand route permits to operate on specific bus routes are issued on a political basis by politicians to their supporters.
Bus conductors and drivers do not receive any training at all, and specially the job of being a bus conductor is open to any person without skills training as there are no training requirements.
On the other hand bus crews are paid daily wages as per the income they generate on a particular day. If the bus crew brings in Rs. 3,000 (after settling diesel bills etc.) for the owner at the end of the day the driver and the conductor would be paid around Rs. 300. If they bring more than that they will earn more. If they collect lesser amounts no wages will be paid in order to motivate them to bring more income to the owner.
Sri Lanka's bus conductors and drivers do not have a dress code and they wear any thing acceptable to them. Usually they wear sarongs, shorts, trousers, t-shirts, shirts etc. Sometimes they wear slippers and often are bare footed. Bus crews do not think seriously about pleasant appearance thus hardly can you see a bus conductor who is neatly shaven with a good haircut. Thus sometimes it is an eyesore.
It is time that the government of Sri Lanka take steps to administer and regulate private bus transport sector in a professional way. For an example it is important to give on the job training to both bus conductors and bus drivers. For private bus conductors a "Diploma" may be organized and conducted in Sinhala and Tamil mediums.
This diploma may cover areas like, ethics and communications with commuters, commuter relations, cash management, basic skills in English, Sinhala and Tamil languages, social responsibility, soft skills scheme, etc. Bus drivers may also be given additional training in same areas. Also it is important that either a dress code or a uniform is introduced for them.
The present wage compensation for them results in fierce competition to earn a bigger collection at the end of the day. The bus accident in Alawwa was caused due to competition and trying to overtake another bus.
A wage system linked to the income earned per day will work for sectors like marketing of tangible goods, manufacturing sector (to encourage high out put) etc. But when this is introduced in a service industry like the transport service it results in disregard to the quality of the service offered to the commuters. Also commuter safety and pedestrian safety are risked. Thus the service standards will be lowered.
It is time for the government to constitute a "Wages Board" for private bus crews, under the Wages Boards Ordinance. Wages boards are tripartite bodies. They are constituted for sectors where employees do not have bargaining power to demand higher wages/salaries from their employers. The state can intervene through a negotiating mechanism. Such wages boards are presently constituted for private security guards, plantation workers etc.
Bus crews should be paid a fixed salary, and also they should be made members of the ETF, EPF and other social security schemes for which they are not covered at present. The Government of Sri Lanka should put an end to the practice of issuing route permits on a politicized basis.
Instead route permits should be given after careful analysis of the number of commuters in a specific area and also the population. Other wise too many route permits for one route as it happens now will result in fierce competitions among the bus crews to grab the commuters. This will do more harm than any good.
The Government must also make gazetted laws requiring bus owning individuals to form limited liability companies for their transport business rather than own buses on an individual basis.
This will ensure that the individuals concerned operate their transport business in a systematic way with more focus than the present way of individual ownership of buses. Government must strengthen regulatory powers and functions of the National Transport Commission.

Love ends up in murder

Nerosha was a vivacious sixteen year old girl when she first met her boy friend in their native village of Mabola Wattala sometime ago. It was love at first sight for the man despite their age differences. He was a 26 years old without employment living at his parents residence. Despite being unemployed he was hell bent on pressing Nerosha for an affair.
He was attracted to her like a moth being attracted to a flame. The girl however was bit cautious and wondered how he was going to look after her after marriage. While these thoughts crossed her mind, the man constantly made amorous overtures with the idea of trapping her down.
The affair dragged on for a couple of years but the girl still was reluctant to marry him. How was he going to support her without a job she thought. They met very often in Wattala town and went about on errands together. They also quarrelled often on marriage as nothing seemed to work for him. He was frightened to loose her for someone else and was terribly a frustrated man. He often discussed his personnel matters with his buddies. They often advised him to elope with his beloved one.
The man took their advise seriously and decided to elope with her one fine day. He told his parents about the idea of bringing home his sweet heart. The parents vehemently opposed the idea but were helpless as theywere scared of him. So the man schemed and plotted to abduct her while she is out home.
The girl was unemployed and was confined to her home. He kept a constant vigil on her movements. Some where in January this year when Nerosha was on her way to Wattala town she was bundled into her a three wheeler taxi and whisked away to an annex which he had rented a week earlier.
She was kept in the annex but was not free to to go about as she pleased. He even threatened to kill her if she walked out of the annex to complain to her parents. Meanwhile the Wattala police launched an investigation four months ago into a complaint of abduction made by the girl's parents.
According to Wattala OIC Inspector Dharmasiri Fernando there was a case of abduction pending before in courts. While the couple continued to live in the annex at Wattala, the land lord allegedly raped the girl while her paramour was away from home.
The girl complained to Wattala police about the rape and the couple shifted to her man's parental house. The parents however left the house in disgust as they could not tolerate her presence. However when things became difficult for them to eke out a living, the girl found a job in a garment factory close by. But things changed quickly when he suspected the woman to have tryst with a three wheeler driver. One fine day he saw her talking to her in an intimate manner.
That evening when she came home after work he insisted her to reveal every thing about her affair with the three wheeler driver. This eventually led to a heated argument and the man stabbed his girl with a kitchen knife. The knife cut a deep wound on her back and blood was oozing off her body.
The man having grabbed her then put her in three wheeler and rushed her to Ragama hospital with the help of two friends. On the way to Ragama hospital the suspect alighted from the three wheeler and instructed his friends to admit her to hospital.
Meanwhile the two friends took her to hospital and the doctor who examined the patient told then that she was dead already. The two friends later told Wattala police what took place and the suspect was subsequently arrested hidding in a house at Dematagoda.
Further inquiries are being made by OIC Wattala IP, Dharmasiri Fernando.

Khalid

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Sri Lanka draws plan to uplift 5 million poor affected by civil war, tsunami

Sri Lanka - has drawn up plans to helps millions of people plunged into poverty by the country's two decade civil war and the December tsunami, with a first-time study identifying the country's critical development needs. ``There are about 5 million people living in poverty in Sri Lanka - , perhaps more,'' the UNDP said quoting the report, noting that if statistics from districts affected by the two decade separatist war were available, poverty figures would be much higher.
The tsunami killed at least 31,000 people and displaced 1 million from their homes. The ethnic conflict, which began in 1983, killed 65,000 people and displaced 1.6 million most of them minority Tamils before a cease-fire was signed in 2002. Until the cease-fire there had been no development in the northeast, home to most of the country's 3.2 million Tamils.
The government study, the first of its kind, assesses the United Nations' target of halving poverty in Sri Lanka - by 2015 and will be the yardstick by which the country measures the success of long and short-term strategies.
The survey covers broad areas of development goals with focuses on the economy, aid flows, health and education, water, sanitation and the environment and infrastructure growth.
``Sri Lanka - has long been at the forefront of human development among developing countries. Access to health and education is widespread and the results have been impressive,'' said Miguel Bermeo, the UNDP's resident representative in Sri Lanka - .
``But the tsunami disaster and the two-decade internal conflict have raised tremendous challenges,'' Bermeo said.
Fast-track projects funded by foreign aid are expected to alleviate the impact of the tsunami on people who were affected.
The government's focus is on developing housing, roads, railways and other infrastructure and on generating job opportunities. But there has been criticism of the slow pace of building new housing in tsunami-affected areas, and the government and Tigers have yet to sign a deal allowing the guerrillas to receive foreign funding to speed up development.
``Persistent problems dogging the crucial plantation sector, the embattled regions of the north and east and other rural areas are set against a backdrop of steady progress in lowering infant and maternal mortality and achieving significant education goals for children,'' the UNDP said referring to some of the achievements of Sri Lanka - , home to 19 million people.
Despite the slow pace of development on some fronts, the island boasts high literacy rates with some 85 percent of youngsters between 6 and 10 years enrolled in school and high numbers of both girls and boys having access to free primary and secondary education.

Khalid