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Threat to Mahinda's chances comes from Chandrika not Ranil

Hindustan Times, September 21. By sewing up alliances with extremist Sinhala nationalist parties like the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), Sri Lankan Presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapaksa has shown that he knows his political arithmetic.

But his calculation may go awfully wrong if the angry President of his party, and the President of his country, Chandrika Kumaratunga, carries out her threat to change the party's candidate, or dissolve parliament. In both cases, Rajapaksa's election machine will be a wreck.

Kumaratunga is very angry that Rajapaksa should strikes deals with the JVP and JHU without consulting her or the authorized decision making bodies of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). The deals, she told Rajapaksa from her camp in New York, had compromised the basic principles of the SLFP on the ethnic issue.

While the SLFP favoured federalism, Rajapaksa had gone and committed himself to the continuance of the unitary system and a hard line approach to the ethnic conflict. The alliances have seriously jeopardized the prospects of peace, national reconciliation and economic development, according to her loyalists.

Sri Lanka peace process faces 'most serious challenge' ever

The main international players supporting Sri Lanka's peace process have warned that it faces ''its most serious challenge'' since a 2002 cease-fire brought a halt to fighting between the government and the Tamil Tiger rebels.

The warning was issued in a joint statement from the European Union, Japan, the United States, Britain and Norway released Tuesday by the Norwegian Embassy in Colombo.

The statement, following a meeting in New York of the co-chairs of the Tokyo Donor Conference of June 2003 that financially underwrote the peace process, rapped both the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Sri Lanka government by implication for the current situation.

While it stopped short of directly accusing the Tigers of killing of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar last month, it strongly hinted that the LTTE was responsible in the view of the co-chairs.

The assassination was branded an ''unconscionable act of terrorism'' that casts ''profound doubts on the commitment of those responsible to a peaceful and political resolution of the conflict.''

Immediately following this, the co-chairs demanded that the LTTE take ''immediate public steps to demonstrate their commitment to the peace process and their willingness to change.'' They also called for ''an immediate end to political assassinations by the LTTE and an end to LTTE recruitment of child soldiers'' as ''two such steps.''

The Sri Lanka government has also not come unscathed, with the co-chairs underscoring Colombo's responsibility under the cease-fire agreement to disarm and relocate paramilitary groups active in the north and east of the country.

The reference is to a breakaway faction of the LTTE led by the Tiger's former eastern commander best known by his nom-de-guerre, Colonel Karuna.

The Karuna group has been harassing the LTTE particularly in the east and the Tigers accuse the Sri Lanka military of facilitating their activity, a charge that Colombo vehemently denies.

The statement, one of the most comprehensive issued in recent times, said that the forthcoming presidential election would naturally promote vigorous debate on the best way to advance the peace process and in this context called on all parties to refrain from violence and from making statements that could undermine the peace process.

The co-chairs strongly advocated a solution based on a ''federal model within a united Sri Lanka'' ensuring democracy, human rights and the legitimate rights of all ethnic groups.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse, in agreements he has entered with the Marxist People's Liberation Front and the National Heritage Party of Buddhist monks, is committed to a ''unitary state'' as opposed to a federal state.

Babys today 

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga greeted by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan during the 60th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday at the UN Headquarters in New York. AFP 

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Sri Lanka presidential elections to be held Nov. 17

Sri Lanka's presidential election will be held Nov. 17, election officials said Monday.

Nominations will be accepted on Oct. 7, said Rasika Peiris, assistant election commissioner. Last month, the Supreme Court ruled that the presidential election must be held this year - ending months of controversy over when President Chandrika Kumaratunga's second term ends. She is limited by the constitution to two terms, and had argued that she should be able to serve until next year because the previous elections were called early. Ruling party candidate Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe are locked in a tightly contested race for the presidency.

The election is largely seen as a referendum on how to handle a fragile peace process with the Tamil Tiger rebels, who have demanded greater autonomy in their northeastern stronghold as a condition for resuming talks on ending the island's two-decade civil war. Rajapakse has already secured support from a hardline Marxist party and another led by Sri Lanka's influential Buddhist monks after he pledged not to share power with the guerrillas and to review the Norwegian-brokered peace process. The move has angered Kumaratunga, who has long pushed for a power-sharing deal and agreed to the Tigers' demand for joint distribution of aid for victims of the Dec. 26 tsunami, hoping to achieve peace with the rebels. Wickremesinghe, who signed a cease-fire with the rebels in February 2002 when he was prime minister, has promised to resume the peace talks and create a federal system of government that would give the separatists more autonomy.

Stop propaganda and prove your commitment for Muslims- Hakeem

SLMC Rauff Hakeem told media in Kandy yesterday, just after the conclusion of the Workshop for party seniors out side North and East "although we are in a position to announce our decision prior to nominations are closed, the discussions with candidates might delay the announcement. We need to discuss and enter into a written agreement with a candidate before we could announce our final decision". "The candidate who will be supported by the SLMC will win, it is our crucial decision that will decide who is the next president. The candidate who will agree to our key demands that would be put forward by us in the better interest of the community will get our support" he noted. "It is disheartening to see the two major contenders for the presidency are continuously stating that the Muslim community is not united and that prevents them doing any betterment to the community, by keeping all sections satisfied. I urge both of them to stop this injurious propaganda immediately and prove their commitment and concern for the Muslim community" Hakeem added. "Today, lot of dissidents who are prominent politicians, negotiating to re-join the SLMC, they are not waiting to see which candidate the party is going to support, but because they are aware that the majority of the community will adhere to the party's decision, they seek to join prior to our decision is announced, this shows the SLMC's credibility. Divisions and splits are everywhere today; there isn't a single community or party without these. Singling out the Muslim community is very injurious to them. I urge both of them to speak of what they could do this community instead, if they were to seek the support of Muslims during the polls" Hakeem added.

The last of a series of workshops by SLMC to obtain the views of the party's district, village level organisers and people's representatives out side North East, on the presidential election was held at the Digana Village resort in Kandy. The party men unanimously adopted a resolution and empowered Hakeem to make the final decision on the forth coming presidential election.

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga speaks during the 2005 World Summit at the 60th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. More than 160 Presidents, Prime Ministers and monarchs are attending the three-day summit. 

Sri Lankan govt says no agreement with Tigers on talks venue

The Sri Lankan government said Friday that no agreement had been reached with the Tamil Tigers on the venue for the proposed talks to review the truce agreement between the two former warring parties.

Nimal Siripala De Silva, minister of health and government spokesman, told reporters that two sides have not yet agreed on the venue for the talks.

The talks were aimed at analyzing the present status of the February 2002 accord seriously threatened by the alleged Tigers hand in the Aug. 12 assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.

On Friday, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels appealed to the international community to recognize their struggle and to "exercise balance in pressurizing parties to the conflict."

In a statement issued from their headquarters in Kilinochchi in the northern province, the Tigers said, "No move of the international community should push the Tamil people to the fringe of frustration and it is all the more important to keep a people, the stakeholders intact with the peace process."

The statement accused the government of "expecting the international community to exert indiscriminate pressure on the LTTE."

Minister De Silva also said that the Norwegian peace facilitators would send Trond Furuhovde, a former head of the international truce monitors to Colombo to facilitate the proposed talks between the two parties.

New Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt of Sri Lanka H.E. Jehan Amin called on SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem at his residence in Colombo Today morning(Pic by Saman Kariyawasam) 

NEWS TODAY

SLMC Observes Party Founder Marhoom Ashraff’s Commemoration

The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) is commemorating today ( September 16) the fifth death anniversary of its founding father Mr.M.H.M.Ashraff in the Eastern cities of Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Ampara . A commemoration meeting at the hill country capital Kandy will be held tomorrow. The death anniversary is also being observed in other Muslim pre-dominant areas throughout the country. A well-attended commemoration meeting held this forenoon in Batticaloa was chaired by SLMC chairman Basheer Segu Dawood MP. In Trincomalee the commemoration meeting was chaired by party national leader Rauff Hakeem MP and a large gathering attended. The Ampara meeting organized by party's local leaders was also attended by a large number of people. The Kandy meeting which will be participated by party delegates and organizers from areas outside the North and East will be held at the Digana Village Hotel, Kandy tomorrow evening. The following day a consultative process with party delegates and organizers on the SLMC's with regard to the upcoming elections would be held.

JVP Learnt Democratic Politics from SLMC – Hasan Ali Reacts

The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Secretary General ,M.T.Hasan Ali MP, challenged the JVP to prove that it has the same support as during the last general election by fielding its own candidate in the upcoming presidential election. Reacting strongly to a cynical remark of the JVP against the SLMC at its press conference at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute , Hasan Ali said that the JVP vote bank had diminished and the party would not poll even the 9.1 percent it polled at the last general elections if it fielded its own independent candidate in the presidential election.

In a press release issued on this, Ali has stated that JVP Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa had cast malicious remarks against the SLMC because they were unable to stomach the political strength of the SLMC as a deciding factor in election results. "Until the JVP made these remarks, we never believed that the JVP had acted in connivance with its ally UPFA in its efforts to destabilize the SLMC. The malicious nature of the JVP and its political bankruptcy have now come to light, Hasan Ali has stated in the press release.

He has further stated that:

" Founding leader of the SLMC, late Mr.M.H.M.Ashraff took advantage of SLMC's bargaining power during talks in 1988 with the then President R.Premadasa and got the cut off point in election results of political parties reduced from 12 percent to 05 percent, thus paving the way for the recognition of their rights of and political status. If not for that the JVP could not have even imagined of its present parliamentary representation and ministry portfolios.

"It was SLMC founder Mr.M.H.M.Ashraff who set the precedent to the political strategy of election alliance between minor and major political parties for the explicit purpose of augmenting parliamentary representation as well as consolidating the bargaining power of the minor parties. The JVP took recourse to this strategy through its alliance with the SLFP in the last general election, thus increasing its parliamentary representation and bargaining power.

"When the present leader of the SLMC, Mr.Rauff Hakeem quit the UPFA government in 2000 , the JVP took advantage of that situation to join hands with them to form a probationary government. That again was a privilege given to the JVP by the SLMC.

" Following Mao's dogma ‘ power comes from the barrel of the gun', the JVP resorted to man slaughter, pillage and cheap politics. When they failed miserably to achieve anything through such barbarous political ideologies, they took recourse to parliamentary politics following the example of Mr.Ashraff and, as such, they have no moral right to criticize the SLMC. "JVP Propaganda Secretary who claims that the SLMC is splintered should first of all prove their strength by contesting the upcoming presidential election."

Minister Ferial Ashraff back to SLMC?

Leading Tamil daily "Sudar Oli" reported today quoting SLMC sources that the Leader of the National Unity Alliance and Cabinet Minister of the ruling coalition Ferial Ashraff will join the SLMC again. Ashraff is disappointed with the Premier's entering into agreements with the JVP and the JHU to seek support for the Presidential elections, totally ignoring the Muslims' aspirations the report says. The report also claims that various other Muslim members of the government are also un-happy over the Prime Minister's move. According to Sudar Oli, a senior SLMCer has confirmed that the first round of talks to accommodate Ferial Ashraff has been accelerated. It also says that Foreign Minister also had recently stated that Minister Ashraff is un-happy over the Presidential candidate and Prime Minister aligning with the Sinhalese hardliners. The SLMC source has said that if Ashraff is re-joining the SLMC she will enter into an agreement with the party. When contacted by Lankamuslims.com, leader of the SLMC Rauf Hakeem simply said "No Comments".

Nation Mourns for Kadirgamar

FOREIGN MINISTER Lakshman Kadirgamar, was assassinated by a sniper bullet fired by an unidentified gunman in Colombo last night around 11.35.

The government today declared a period of mourning as a mark of respect for the slain Foreign Minister. The mourning period is to be continued until the funeral is over.

Meanwhile Police have arrested two people in connection with the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar. "We took into custody two people from the nearby area," a police source said. No details of their identities were available.

Meanwhile Police have arrested two people in connection with the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar. "We took into custody two people from the nearby area," a police source said. No details of their identities were available.

Kadirgamar, a close confidante of President Kumaratunga, was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit of the National Hospital Colombo critically wounded with head and chest injuries. Three doctors had carried out emergency surgery to save Kadirgamar's life, but he succumbed to his injuries, sources told. Police indicate that the gunman had shot the Minister from higher elevation close to his heavily guarded private residence at Bullers Lane, where he used to go for his daily swim. He has just got out of the swimming pool, when he was shot.

According to informed sources, the shots had been fired from a neighbouring house of a Tamil resident where the sniper was allegedly mounted.

Kadirgamar was a man highly respected by foreign leaders and Governments. One of the top class orators especially in English, next to President Ranasinghe Premadasa, he was the most high profile figure assassinated.

Kadirgamar, President's Counsel, entered Parliament for the first time in 1994 when the People's Alliance Government was formed under the leadership of President Kumaratunga.

Born in April 12, 1932, he was educated at Trinity College, Kandy where he won the Ryde Gold Medal for the Best All Round Student. He passed out from the University of Ceylon in 1953 and was placed First Class in the Advocates Intermediate Examination the same year.

He was admitted to the Bar in 1955 winning First Class at the Advocate Final Examination of the Ceylon Law College. He was admitted to the United Kingdom Bar as a Barrister at Law, Inner Temple.

He was awarded B. Lit by the University of Oxford where he served as the President of the Oxford Union.

He was honoured by the Oxford Union by unveiling his portrait at the Union Hall. He practised at the Ceylon Bar from 1960 to 1971 and before the Privy Council, London. He was also a consultant to the International Labour Organisation in Geneva in 1974.

He was a world authority on Intellectual Property Law and was the Director of the Intellectual Property Organisation from 1976 to 1988.

Kadirgamar was 72 years old and father of two. He entered Parliament as a National List MP served as the Foreign Minister in the United People's Freedom Alliance Government at the time of his demise. (FS)

First Muslim Girl Form the East To Become Engineer

Miss A.R.Nihimiya passed as Engineering Graduate in first class from the Peradeniya campus at the recently held final exam. She is the first Muslim girl who has passed as Engineer from the Eastern province. Now serving as Assistant Lecturer in the Peradeniya campus, she received her primary education at the Al-Hira School in Kathankudy and her secondary and higher education at the Bandarawela Tamil Maha Vidyalam.

Hot News Today

"Assist us apprehend Kadirgamar's killers" Police Chief urges Public

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandra Silva today urged the public to assist the police in apprehending the killers of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar. The IGP noted that the police have already received several leads, with regard to the killers, including their fingerprints. "We have also recovered some ammunition, a pair of slippers and some food items, we believe belong to the killers," he said. Adding that the assassins had fled towards the South of Colombo after firing at Minister Kadirgamar. He also called upon the public to be 'extra vigilant', and immediately inform the police if they spot any suspicious persons.

Lakshman Kadirgamar - Larger than Life even in death-

Bandula Jayasekara in Colombo, State funeral on Monday. The State funeral of the late Minister of Foreign Affairs Lakshman Kadirgamar will be held on Monday 15th August 2005 at 3 pm at the Independence Square, Colombo 7. Monday 15th August has been declared a Day of National Mourning. Today at 2 p.m his remains were brought to his official residence 117 Wijerama Mawatha Colombo 7. His remains were taken over by the Sri Lanka Army guard at the residence in the presence of Mrs. Kadirgamar, close relations, foreign ministry staff, Kadirgamar cabinet colleagues and friends.

It was a very somber mood today at the usually active and lively Kadirgamar residence today. His Army Commandoes were speechless, His much loved office staff and the foreign ministry officials and his personal staff were tearful. Many of them couldn't hide their tears. One young ministry official said how the minister had inquired about his exam results recently. He said they would never get a person like Kadirgamar. He said "He is one in a million" Sadness was written all over their faces. Mrs. Kadirgamar stood in silence with Minister Ferial Ashraff who lost her husband.

Many ordinary people, soldiers, monks and others came to pay their tribute to a man larger than life. Prime Minister, Indian High Commissioner, cabinet colleagues were also there to pay their respects. A senior Army Colonel could not hide his tears. The man they respected, the man they looked up to Lakshman Kadirgamar was silent today. A Senior Police officer and a former bodyguard said "We learned a lot from him. About life and even English" The burly officer turned away from me to hide the teardrops. Lakshman Kadirgamar affectionaly known as LK, Kadir is truly larger than life, even in his death.

Truly a vicious terrorist attack- EU

EU Commissioner Ferrero- Waldner says assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was a truly a vicious terrorist act and its perpetrators must be brought to justice. He says " I am particularly saddened because I see the clear intention of the killers is to restart conflict and to rob the worthy people of Sri Lanka of the peace". The Commissioner also says that this senseless murder robs Sri Lanka of a man of great stature and dignity who had dedicated himself to finding a peaceful and democratic solution to his country's ills. He will be greatly missed. He says "We must all honour the passing of Foreign Minister Kadirgamar by continuing his work for peace and maintaining the ceasefire.

Meanwhile the Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew said "I am shocked and saddened to learn of the assassination of Foreign Minister Kadirgamar. This is an unconscionable act committed against a member of the Sri Lankan government. On behalf of all Canadians, I extend my deepest sympathy to his family and all Sri Lankans."

Governments worldwide condemn slaying of Sri Lankan foreign minister

Governments worldwide on Saturday condemned the assassination of Sri Lanka's foreign minister as an act of terror, but urged the country to keep calm and not let the slaying drag the nation back into civil war. Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, 73, was fatally shot in the chest and head Friday night after a swim at his house in the capital, Colombo. Sri Lanka's military blamed the killing on the Tamil Tiger rebels, who denied any involvement. The killing threatened to derail a fragile peace process between the government and the Tigers, who fought for two decades for an independent homeland for ethnic minority Tamils in the country's northeast.

Both sides have maintained a cease-fire, brokered by Norway in 2002.

``The murder puts the peace process in Sri Lanka to a serious test,'' said Norway's foreign minister, Jan Peterson.

``It's a big, big blow to the cease-fire and the whole peace process, irrespective of who is behind this,'' said Hagrup Haukland, who heads a group of European cease-fire monitors.

Governments across the world condemned the killing.

``This senseless murder was a vicious act of terror,'' said U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice. Neighboring India, which supplies most of Sri Lanka's military and development aid, called it a ``terrorist crime'' and promised any help Colombo might need in tackling the crisis.

European Union Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero Waldner said the slaying was an attempt to deprive Sri Lankans of peace and prosperity. ``I see the clear intention of the killers is to restart the conflict,'' he said.

There were many appeals to keep the peace process on track.

``This heinous act of terrorism must not be allowed to derail efforts to bring peace,'' said Australia's Foreign Minister Alexander Downer. Rice said she knew Kadirgamar as a man who had worked hard for peace. ``Together, we must honor his memory by rededicating ourselves to peace and ensuring that the cease-fire remains in force,'' she said in statement released in Washington. Sri Lanka's President Chandrika Kumaratunga declared a state of emergency Saturday, but the government said it would not unilaterally violate the cease-fire with the Tigers.

However, some expressed doubts. ``The fact that the president imposed an emergency shows the pressure the government has come under to respond to the killings,'' said Nirupama Subramaniam, an India-based analyst tracking Sri Lanka's peace process. ``Any strong military response could actually upset the cease-fire.'' The neighboring Maldives said it was ``concerned that the peace process might suffer.'' Government-rebel tensions have been rising after a surge of clashes in Sri Lanka's volatile east. Many fear that any further escalation could not only threaten the peace process but also derail reconstruction in tsunami-ravaged areas. The Dec. 26 tsunami killed at least 31,000 people in Sri Lanka.

Condolences also poured in from the governments of Britain, Austria, South Korea, Bangladesh, South Africa and Switzerland. The soft-spoken, Oxford-educated Kadirgamar was a personal friend of many leaders in those countries.

``His death also comes as a great personal loss,'' said M. Morshed Khan, foreign minister Bangladesh.

State of Emergency and a Period of National Mourning

The President has declared a state of emergency to safeguard the national security and declared a period of national mourning in Sri Lanka, after the assassination of respected Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar Presidential Spokesman Harm Pieris told The Lanka Academic.

Pieris said after declaring the state of emergency the security forces have been put on high alert. He also said the forces have and would carry out cordon and search operations and they are already pursuing some suspects.

Late Laxman Kadirgamar Foriegn Minister of Sri Lanka 

Lankan housewife found murdered in Saudi Arabia

A Sri Lankan housewife was found murdered Wednesday in her apartment in Malaz, in Riyadh when her husband was at work. The Sri Lankan embassy here which confirmed the death said that it could not give further details since the case was under police investigation.

Dilruskshi, 22, was stabbed to death on the second birthday of her only daughter Oshara Dilyanjali. On suspicion, the Police arrested her husband , Susil Priyantha who works as a private employee in a canteen at a commercial bank in Riyadh.

The killing was detected when the deceased's nephew, Indika had gone home and found no response from Dilrukshi who was the only inmate in the house. He had rung the doorbell several times.

Subsequently, he had informed the husband who rushed to the spot from his office on a call from Indika saying that Dilrukshi was not answering the calls from her doorbell. On the day of the incident, while going to his office in the morning, it was alleged that the husband had left his daughter, Oshara, with his sister who was living in a separate house in the neighborhood.

On hearing the death of her daughter-in-law, W.M.Premawathie, from Gorakapitiya, Pilyandala, 10 kms from Colombo, returned to the capital this week cutting short her vacation. She had gone to Colombo only one week before the homicide.

According to Premawathie, the couple was happily married four years ago and she was responsible in bringing his son and his daughter-in-law to the Kingdom under the sponsorship of her Saudi employer. " It was really shocking to hear this sad news," Premawathie said, adding that her son was a quiet boy who thinks of no harm to others.

Premawathie has been working for her sponsor, Khalid Al Ali, as a nanny for the past 25 years. Baby Oshara would continue to stay under the care of her father's sister till the investigations are over.

Dilrukshi's body lies in the mortuary at the city hospital in the capital.

A.Z. Omardeen, former Director of Education being honored by SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem with a Golden Shawl  

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Former village guard fatally shot in Sri Lanka 's volatile east

Unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle fatally shot a former village guard on Tuesday as he waited for a bus with his wife and child in Sri Lanka's volatile east, the military said. Nalaka Sampath Kumara, 23, was at a bus stop with his family when the gunmen opened fire in Welikanda village, 215 kilometers (135 miles) northeast of the capital, Colombo, said military spokesman Brig. Daya Ratnayake.

The attackers sped away on the motorcycle, Ratnayake said. He said Kumara was rushed to a hospital and later died from six bullet wounds to the chest. Kumara's wife and child were not hurt, Ratnayake said.Violence has surged in eastern Sri Lanka since a faction of the Tamil Tiger rebels broke away from the main group more than a year ago. Clashes have since killed scores of people, including security personnel and rebels from both factions.

The mainstream rebels accuse the army of supporting the breakaway faction, a charge the military denies. Ratnayake said it was not immediately known if the latest attack was linked to the growing factional fighting. Police were investigating, he said.

During the meeting some unkowners buried tyres on road and police cleared  

Crowd of the SLMC metting in Kattankudy 

New Look of Skynet, Sri Lanka 

News Today

If CFA Cease To Function International Support Would Be Eroded Warns Co-Chairs

BThe Co-Chairs of the Sri Lanka peace process say If the Ceasefire Agreement ceases to function, the wider peace process would be gravely jeopardized and international support for that process would be deeply eroded. In a statment issued today the Co-Chairs, the European Union, United States, Japan and Norway, say they are alarmed by the deteriorating security situation in Sri Lanka.

It says "Since February 2005 there has been an escalation of violence resulting in the killing and injuring of persons associated with the Government of Sri Lanka, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and other political groups. Unless security is guaranteed, a central pillar of the Ceasefire Agreement will be undermined. If the Ceasefire Agreement ceases to function, the wider peace process would be gravely jeopardized and international support for that process would be deeply eroded.

The Co-chairs call on the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE each to take immediate action to prevent killings. The LTTE must stop all killings by their forces. The Sri Lankan government, in accordance with the Ceasefire Agreement, must ensure that all paramilitary groups are disarmed and prevented from any activity that might lead to acts of violence. The government must also guarantee the security of unarmed LTTE cadres in government-controlled areas.

Maintenance of the Ceasefire Agreement is the responsibility of the two parties alone. In this effort, they have had the excellent assistance of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission and the full support of the international community. The Co-chairs believe that it is time the parties demonstrate the seriousness of their commitment to the Ceasefire Agreement by coming together to resolve outstanding issues and renew their cooperation. The SLMM can only fulfill its functions under the Ceasefire Agreement if the parties actively demonstrate the will to uphold the agreement.

Final draft on CEB reforms soon

The Ministry of Power and Energy will present its final draft on the proposed CEB reforms within the next few days.

Private Secretary to Power and Energy Minister Susil Premajayanth, A. T. K. Chandradasa said that the ministry had completed its final draft on reforms to restructure the Ceylon Electricity Board.

The draft will be presented before the Cabinet for approval within the next few days, he said.

He also said that the Power and Energy Ministry decided to bring in reforms after trade unions hitherto opposing such reforms now agreeing to them . "We had several discussions with CEB trade unions on the matter, almost all the trade unions agreed to bring in the reforms except one trade union, which is of the JVP", he said.

Asked how they would face countrywide trade union action which the JVP had been saying they would launch against the reforms, Chandradasa said that massive trade union action was unlikely since most of the trade unions who had earlier opposed them had agreed to support the reforms.

Meanwhile, JVP MP Chandrasiri Wijesinghe commenting on the proposed reforms said that they had opposed these reforms when they were first introduced by the UNF together with PA. "I'm not too sure whether the present reforms are the same. However, if they were going to be the same, the JVP would stand against them," he said.

"We would like to ask the Power and Energy Minister Susil Premajayanth if he could guarantee that present propsals could help uplift the CEB and convert its present position of bankruptcy to profitability," he said.

"But the JVP would not oppose any constructive measure that is envisioned to better manage the CEB," he said.

Hot News -

More Muslim Harthals In Kathankudy.

Muslim in Kathankudy organized a massive harthal and a protest campaign today against marginalizing Muslim aspirations in the PTOMS.

"We are not against our Tamil brothers or peace process, we are against marginalizing our community and its interests. We are the most affected community by the Tsunami and we have a right to demand equal representation in the Joint Mechanism" said a participant to our correspondent in Kathankudy.

The protestors hoisted black flags and burnt tires on roads paralyzing the normalcy in the area, according to our correspondent.

" Government Muslim ministers betrayed our community interests for their ministerial portfolios, we support the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress's non cooperative stance against the PTOMS with LTTE" said another protestor.

Rauff Hakeem, the leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress will be addressing the crowd tonight.

In the 1990's, over hundred Muslims were massacred by the LTTE in their systematic ethnic cleansing campaign in Kathankudy. LTTE cadres surrounded the mosque during the evening prayers and shot and hacked Muslims to death.

"The President and her Government are like a bunch of pick pocketers”,

In what was claimed to be the biggest mass rally ever to hit Colombo, the main Opposition United National Party (UNP) today alleged that President Chandrika Kumaratunga and her Government were acting like a bunch of 'pick pocketers' merely to stay in power.

"She is trying to steal another year, even though her term as President ends this year. They are acting like pick pocketers," a sun burnt UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe declared this evening to many thousands of party supporters at Lipton Circus in Colombo at the end of the Jana Bala Meheyuma, which began at Devinuwara on the 2nd of this month.

Wickremesinghe insisted that the people should not allow this to happen. "We as citizens of Sri Lanka and not as political party affiliates should not let her take advantage, and violate our legal rights as citizens of this country," he mentioned.

He declared that it was the peoples right to elect a new President this year. "If moves are made to violate the masses rights, then 'people power' should get into action," the UNP leader requested. "Neither the Government nor the Chief Justice nor the Election Commissioner has any right to violate the rights of the people," he noted.

He also insisted that the Government was not paying attention to the public woes because of their own political bickering within the Alliance. "Because of the power struggle, one wing of the Alliance' has already been clipped," he said and added that his party was ready for an election even tomorrow.

Next Presidential Election in November 2006

THE next Presidential Election will be held only in November 2006 and the Elections Commissioner cannot call for a Presidential poll arbitrarily, new Government Spokesman Nimal Siripala de Silva announced yesterday. Minister de Silva described the UNP's Jana Bala Meheyuma launched to call for a Presidential Election this year as an unconstitutional demand. "The Government has no power whatsoever to meet this UNP's illegal demand," the Minister stressed. Constitutional Affairs Minister D.E.W.Gunasekera quoting 31 (3) of the Constitution said the Election Commissioner should act based on this clause. One month before the term of the President ends, the Elections Commissioner should call a Presidential Election.

The Minister explained that there is no connection between the swearing of the President and the Constitution. "According to the Constitution, her term of office will end in November 2006. Then the Election Commissioner should call a Presidential Election." Minister Gunasekera said that if UNP is unsatisfied with this constitutional interpretation, it can seek legal recourse.

Minister de Silva said UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has completely forgotten the constitution introduced by his uncle late President J.R. Jayewardene. In the first term of the President, if the President wants she has the right to call a Presidential Election four years later. During the second term of the President she has no power to call a Presidential Election, he said. According to the Constitution, the next Presidential Election should be held in November 2006. The Elections Commissioner should also call the Presidential Election subjected to the terms and conditions of the Constitution. Therefore, the Elections Commissioner has no right to violate the Constitution.

"Therefore the major slogan of the UNP's Jana Bala Meheyuma is entirely unconstitutional. "It makes undue pressure on the Elections Commissioner to take an illegal decision. Even though the UNP conducts a Jana Bala Meheyuma, the President or the Government has no constitutional power to call a Presidential Election," he said. "The UNP's Jana Bala Meheyuma is a camouflage. This is an attempt made to destabilise the Government," he charged. The Minister noted that the Opposition has the right to go on a march. This would be a good opportunity to some UNP politicians who have never walked on a road to touch the soil and identify the hopes and aspiration of the people. Mahaweli and River Basin Development Minister Maithreepala Sirisena said the UNP's Jana Bala Meheyuma uses tsunami victims as political pawns making an unconstitutional demand to hold the Presidential Election during this year.

The UNP, giving various false pledges to Tsunami victims is now making an unsuccessful attempt to gain power. Sirisena said that as a democratic Government we are fully committed to safeguard the democratic rights and act fully within the Constitution. "Therefore we condemn these UNP attempts which only shows their greediness for power." The Minister also requested all political parties to extend their cooperation towards the development activities of the Government and rebuild the country devastated by the recent tsunami catastrophe. He said as mentioned in the Constitution, elections will be held on time. The next election to be held will be the Local Government Election. The Presidential Election will be held in November 2006.

"The UNP has a bad reputation with regard to July and this is a familiar month to the UNP. People are well aware how the UNP acted in 1983 Black July. There is a doubt as to whether the UNP is getting ready to re-enact this old experience," he said. UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe who cannot face the internal crisis within the UNP and also mounting pressure levelled against him is seeking this Presidential Election, the Minister said.

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Four killed by unidentified gunmen in Sri Lankan capital, police say

The bound and gagged bodies of a tea trader and his three colleagues were found shot dead in the Sri Lankan capital on Saturday, with police saying they could have been killed over a business dispute. The men belonged to Sri Lanka's Muslim minority, and were believed to have been killed elsewhere and then dumped in a luxury jeep along a quiet but plush street in the city, said Sarath Kumara, a senior police official at the scene.``Initial investigations reveal that the victims were a tea-trading businessman and his three colleagues,'' Kumara said. He said the killings may be linked to a business dispute but didn't rule out Tamil Tiger rebel involvement. The police anti-crime unit spotted the abandoned vehicle while patrolling the area, he said, as he inspected the jeep's blood-soaked back seats. Armed police and soldiers cordoned off the scene and investigations are continuing.

Kumara said there was a possible link between one of the victims and a complaint lodged Friday about the abduction of a person from Sri Lanka's central city of Kandy.``It's dreadful how these killings can take place under your very nose,'' said Malcolm de Silva, a resident in the area. He said he was unaware of the murders until he stepped outside to pickup the morning newspapers. Violence has increased in Sri Lanka in recent months, mostly connected to a split in the Tiger rebel group last year and underworld gang violence.

"We failed in our duty," Government's main Muslim ally admits"

The Government's main Muslim ally, National Unity Alliance (NUA), yesterday admitted that it had failed in its duty of securing the Muslim aspirations in the controversial Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure deal. NUA Vice President and Spokesman Abul Kalaam told the Lanka Academic that, "We admit that we have failed in our task. But it is not only us, but all other Muslim political parties including the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress which received the mandate have failed in this endeavour." He however noted that his party had still not taken an official decision of leaving the United Peoples Freedom Alliance Government. The NUA has been having a series of meetings in Ampara with its supporters, since the P-TOMS agreement was signed. Many issues including the party's future course of action was taken up at these meetings, sources said. The NUA member announced late last month soon after the P-TOMS was sealed that it will not make 'hasty decisions like the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna', but instead will try to reach an amicable settlement with President Chandrika Kumaratunga in giving due place to the Muslim aspirations in the tsunami aid deal.

"Pulling out of the Government is not going to solve all the problems. But, in the event nothing positive works out, we will most likely pull out of the Government. Yet we are trying to work out things while staying within the Government," A NUA member reportedly said. The Muslim community was the worst affected (41%) due to the December 26th catastrophe. The community has expressed their anxiety with regard to the impartiality of aid distribution among the tsunami victims. The Muslims demanded that they be accommodated as equal partners to the P-TOMS deal, and be a signatory to it, a request not accommodated by those concerned.

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Tigers Kill Three In Major Truce Violation

Udara Soysa (LM), Thu 30th June 14:05GMT. The LTTE committed a major ceasefire violation killing three Army intelligence operatives on the spot in a hail of T-56 gunfire this morning at the Urani junction in Batticaloa, putting pressure on the credibility of the Truce Monitoring Mission to investigate the crime and report accurately.

Today's triple killings were in the very heart of the Army controlled area at the Urani junction. The killers had surprisingly dropped their T56 assault rifle and fled the scene on the motorcycle used in the killing.

All three operatives were from the Batticaloa Brigade Headquarters.

The victims, Sergeant S.Kularatne, Lance Corpral Saman Kumara and Trooper Chaminda Kumara were in a three-wheeler when they were shot at close range.

Military sources said that all three soldiers died on the spot.

Army investigations have revealed that the LTTE gunmen fired indiscriminately at the victims while riding abreast of the three-wheeler. Troops were sent to the scene to conduct a search and clear operation in the area.

The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission has been briefed on the killing.

Australia welcomes P-TOMS

AUSTRALIAN Minster of Foreign Affairs Alexander Downer, MP in a press release states: "I welcome the signing of an agreement between the Sri Lankan Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to establish a Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-TOMS).

"The P-TOMS has the potential to facilitate the equitable and transparent distribution of tsunami assistance in the North and East and to build confidence between the Government and the LTTE.

Moreover, I recognise the importance of the Muslim community in the functioning of the P-TOMS. I encourage the rapid implementation of the structure.

"The Australian Government supports Sri Lanka's peace process, and calls on both sides to recommence formal peace talks, which were suspended in April 2003.

"Australia is concerned at persistent violence in Sri Lanka, including ongoing assassinations.

I urge all parties to take necessary steps to enforce the provisions of the ceasefire agreement. I call on the LTTE to stop the recruitment of child soldiers and release all child soldiers in its ranks.

"The Australian Government provides practical support to peace building, humanitarian efforts and development in Sri Lanka through the aid program, which amounted to $ 39.8 million this year. This included over $10 million for vital tsunami assistance.

Australia is committed to continue to assist tsunami reconstruction efforts in Sri Lanka."

A smiling girl selling flowers to pilgrims at Kirivehera, Kataragama, venerated by Buddhists all over the island.

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Positive response to Muslims demands

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has reassured the Muslim community that the Government would take steps to ensure that their concerns and aspirations are addressed in the implementation of the Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-TOMS).

During an extensive discussion with Muslim Ministers and Deputy Ministers, President Kumaratunga responded positively to the Ministers' suggestions and undertook to give them every consideration and explore how their proposals could be implemented.

The President held a fresh round of discussions on the Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-TOMS) or Tsunami Relief Council (TRC) with Muslim Ministers and Deputy Ministers.

At Monday's discussions at the President's House, the Muslim legislators expressed their concerns regarding certain aspects of the P-TOMS, a Presidential Media Unit release said. "Their concerns were discussed in depth with the President. They proposed some options with the objective of resolving the issues causing their community apprehension," it said.

UPFA General Secretary Minister Susil Premajayantha was associated with the President at the discussions.

Following the discussion, the National Unity Alliance has withdrawn an ultimatum to the Government that the P-TOMS be withdrawn by Tuesday. The party has since decided to stick with the Government.

"Following talks with the President, the NUA will not rock the boat," a party official told reporters.

NUA spokesman and Condominium Management Authority (CMA) Chairman Abul Kalam said their party will continue to remain in the UPFA alliance since they strongly believed in President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga's commitment of justice and fairplay by the minorities and were confident of the resolution of Muslims' concerns with regard to the P-TOMS. The President held several rounds of talks with Muslim theologians and legislators over the last few weeks prior to the signing of the P-TOMS last Friday. In a recent discussion with Muslim theologians in the East, the President assured them that the rights and security of the Muslim community would be safeguarded and respected and that they will be given their rightful share in the proposed P-TOMS.

President Kumaratunga met with Minister Ferial Ashraff and a delegation of her party on June 21. The President assured Minister Ashraff that she was fully conscious of the fears, anxieties and concerns of the Muslim people in the context of the suffering the Muslim community has endured during for more than two decades of armed violence and the recent tsunami natural disaster.

On that occasion, she assured Minister Ashraff that the Tsunami Relief Council takes into consideration and accommodates many of the interests of the Muslim community and has clauses for addressing their concerns.

During the long negotiations between the GoSL and the LTTE on the Tsunami Relief Council, the GoSL negotiated hard to accommodate Muslim concerns, persuading the LTTE to agree to some significant practical measures. Specifically the Muslim parties have equal representation at the national level, sufficient representation to prevent decisions that may adversely affect them at the regional level, and dominant representation in the areas where they live.

She assured Minister Ashraff and other Muslim leaders that her government would in the future as in the past take all necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of the Muslim people living in the East and the North.

Further, the President strongly recommended that Muslim leaders consider the proposed Tsunami Relief Council in its totality and the gains that may be made by the Muslim community as a whole, through full participation in it. The President also met MP Rauff Hakeem to discuss Muslim concerns regarding the P-TOMS.

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Muslim Council Meets Ranil

Bandula Jayasekara in Colombo, SLT 10.00 P.M Tuesday 28 June 2005. An eight member delegation from the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka met opposition leader Ranil Wickramasinge at the opposition leader's office at Cambridge Terrace at 4 PM today. During the meeting, the Muslim Council presented its concerns with regard to the P-TOMS signed by the Government and the LTTE. The Muslim Council pointed out the serious flaws in the agreement, with special emphasis on the need for the Government of Sri Lanka to maintain the chairmanship at all levels of administration and equal representation for the Muslim, Tamil and Sinhala community in the regional and district committees.

The opposition leader also commented on the injustice to the Sinhala and Muslim Community in the P-TOMS agreement and assured his support and consideration in a future government under him. The opposition leader also agreed to meet a delegation of Muslim Youth from the Eastern province on Friday at his office. Wickremasinghe wants to assure the youth that he will find a solution to their grievances under a UNP government and urged them to avoid violence, and conduct any opposition through peaceful means.

The Muslim council of Sri Lanka has also requested a meeting with President Chandirika Bandaranayke Kumaranatunga. They will also meet the Tamil National Alliance, The Prime Minister, other Political parties and Co-chairs of the Tokyo agreement to discuss their concerns.

Muslims Take Anti-JM Harthals To Mutur.

Udara Soysa(LM), June 28. Following the string of Harthals imposed by angry Muslims in the Ampara / Batticaloa districts yesterday, the mass anti P-TOMS agitations by the Muslim community will be extended to Trincomalee tomorrow , according to a member of the organizing committee in Mutur.

It was not immediately clear whether the Harthals will grip Trincomalee town but will certainly be launched in Mutur early morning, the sources said.

The organizing committee was in conference finalizing Harthal plans at the time of writing.
In yesterday's decisive Harthal action by the Muslims in Ampara and Batticaloa, traders of all communities were compelled to put up shutters while transport and other services were also shut down completely.

It is learnt that the Harthal, if staged in Trincomalee could generate adverse repercussions and might hence not be staged in Trincomalee town, where the controversial Buddha statue issue remains an explosive powder-keg issueand could give rise to unwarranted complications right now if a hartal is staged there.

Yesterday's Harthals in Ampara and Batticaloa was a historic first as an agitational exercise by the Muslim community in Sri Lanka, that spread with surprising rapidity through more than ten commercial areas in the district, bringing life to a grinding halt everywhere.

Our reporters in the province said scanty pro-PTOMS canvassing by other Muslim interests was drawing no response from an angry eastern province Muslim community.

Political sources said that a break up of another mushroom Muslim party in the government was expected within the next week.

Meanwhile, unprecedented responses from Muslims in the Ampara district has resulted in the SLMC leadership being compelled to extend its eastern province tour by another two days.

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JM puts Muslim devolution rights in grave jeopardy – Rauff Hakeem
Although the Government touts the Joint Mechanism as a mere operational arrangement to distribute Tsunami aid, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Leader Rauff Hakeem told the media today that the "Manner in which the document was finalised had very serious implications in the context of substantive devolution arrangements in a future resumption of peace talks.

Speaking at Party headquarters Dar-us-Salaam in Colombo,Mr.Hakeem said there were implicational clauses in the JM which "cause very serious concern to our future when these implications are considered seriously."

He drove home the point repeatedly that these were the very aspects he sought to secure safeguards against in the formulation stage of the JM and in its implementation stage.". But with Parliament being adjourned, even then we were not able to place on record our position vis—a-vis the JM.

We very categorically insisted that the Muslim community can not be overlooked being a principal party in determining what should be in the document. This has been consistently denied to the Muslim community despite our demands and requests to the government, facilitators, and our complaints to the donor community. Now we find that the way in which the document has been finalised, it has serious implication for the future peace process as well for the Muslim community, he added.

He said the SLMC will immediately launch an awareness campaign among the Muslim people, the affected people in the areas and thereafter decide what its response would be.

Right now I must say the party is of the position that extending our cooperation to this mechanism would be quite difficult given the present composition of the document. Therefore, there may have to be some opportunity for us to raise these issues with the parties concerned, the government and the LTTE. When I met with the President, I did emphasise to her that unless we are able to see in black and white what the document contains.

"We find that some details which have been revealed to us have serious implication for the future of the Muslim community in the peace process. Therefore, we are exercising maximum restraint in taking a total rejection stance because, it also involves the rebuilding of infrastructure and the damaged private properties of the affected people, we would give due consideration to all of that," Mr.Hakeem said, adding that however, "in the mean time we can not compromise the community's basic rights to be consulted, to be involved in the process.

And that has been denied to us and that major blow will also have serious repercussions for the co-existence among communities and therefore as a responsible party we will start our awareness campaigns since the details are only now made available to us, and this has been hatched in total secrecy for so long.

We have been asking our colleagues, who for a variety of reasons had gone and joined the government, to re-unite with us and bring substantial pressure so that at least we would be able to prevent this happening in this manner.

Once again I must reiterate that we are not in league with some of the parties which are totally rejecting any arrangement with the LTTE. We feel that we should have some kind of a mechanism, but this is not the way to go about it, and therefore, I must say that we can not cooperate with this arrangement as it is, that's our position, and we want to make it very clear.

"What we are trying to say here is that by basic denial of our rights to participate in this document as a party, we have not been able to make our input into it and now we find the implications of some of these provisions are going to visit us in a future peace process as well. Therefore, if we did participate without any protest about these matters, without reserving our rights to or without getting the parties who have already signed it to acknowledge that these matters are not going to be taken as a given" it would be a gross abuse of our peoples trust in us.

Forces not consulted on JM

Bandula Jayasekara in Colombo, SLT 7.45 A.M Monday 27 June 2005. Members of the Security Forces expressed anger and displeasure that the government did not consult them before signing the joint mechanism with the LTTE. Senior officers say that there was no professional input from the forces and they are surprised by what the government has done. One officer said "The international community and the LTTE have taken it by force. They attacked our people, killed them violated the CFA and now they have got what they wanted."

Another officer said even the CFA had many gaps and the security forces were never consulted on it even then. He said "The politicians have put us into an embarrassing situation. Even the Trinco harbour area could be now controlled by the LTTE in Killinochchi. The LTTE could use most places along the 2 km coastal area as landing places and the LTTE would make demands saying that they have a legal right after the document was signed." He also wanted to know what the government would do then.

Navy officers say that many Navy camps are covered and come under the joint mechanism agreement. They accuse the government for not consulting the Navy, custodian of the Sri Lankan seas. "The LTTE could control from the South of Yang Oya now and they could do whatever they want. There could be many repercussions due to this. We are in serious doubt. What happens if they come and open a so called Tsunami relief camp 10 yards from a Navy camp? What do we do then? Questioned the officers.

Several Security Forces members said they have decided to ignore the charges levelled by President Kumaratunga that security forces were corrupt. "They are baseless. She is also a politician. We know what most politicians are up to. Don't we', said A war veteran

Ferial under pressure, Hisbullah quits

Chairman Airport Authority M. L. A. M. Hisbullah resigned from his post yesterday (Sunday) protesting against the joint mechanism signed between the government and the LTTE. Hisbullah, who is also the Deputy Chairman of the National Unity Alliance (NUA), gave his leader, minister Ferial Ashroff, forty eight (48) hours to quit the government. Hisbullah told Ashroff that he would also quit from NUA if she would not leave the government.

Hisbullah says by signing the joint mechanism, Kumaratunga has betrayed the Muslims, who were most affected by the tsunami. He was also a former deputy minister for Telecommunications and a close confidante of Minister Mangala Samaraweera. SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem welcomed the resignation and the stand taken by Hisbullah. He said " Even though its late he has taken a courageous stand. we hope others also would follow him"

Ashroff is coming under tremendous pressure to quit the government by her people. Several Muslim organizations have called for a Hartal in the Ampara district today to protest against the joint mechanism. They have asked that the shops and other institutions be closed today.

JVP protestors who tried to storm Parliament yesterday morning disperse after police fired tear gas.

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JM puts Muslim devolution rights in grave jeopardy – Rauff Hakeem

Although the Government touts the Joint Mechanism as a mere operational arrangement to distribute Tsunami aid, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Leader Rauff Hakeem told the media today that the "Manner in which the document was finalised had very serious implications in the context of substantive devolution arrangements in a future resumption of peace talks.

Speaking at Party headquarters Dar-us-Salaam in Colombo,Mr.Hakeem said there were implicational clauses in the JM which "cause very serious concern to our future when these implications are considered seriously."

He drove home the point repeatedly that these were the very aspects he sought to secure safeguards against in the formulation stage of the JM and in its implementation stage.". But with Parliament being adjourned, even then we were not able to place on record our position vis—a-vis the JM.

We very categorically insisted that the Muslim community can not be overlooked being a principal party in determining what should be in the document. This has been consistently denied to the Muslim community despite our demands and requests to the government, facilitators, and our complaints to the donor community. Now we find that the way in which the document has been finalised, it has serious implication for the future peace process as well for the Muslim community, he added.

He said the SLMC will immediately launch an awareness campaign among the Muslim people, the affected people in the areas and thereafter decide what its response would be.

Right now I must say the party is of the position that extending our cooperation to this mechanism would be quite difficult given the present composition of the document. Therefore, there may have to be some opportunity for us to raise these issues with the parties concerned, the government and the LTTE. When I met with the President, I did emphasise to her that unless we are able to see in black and white what the document contains.

"We find that some details which have been revealed to us have serious implication for the future of the Muslim community in the peace process. Therefore, we are exercising maximum restraint in taking a total rejection stance because, it also involves the rebuilding of infrastructure and the damaged private properties of the affected people, we would give due consideration to all of that," Mr.Hakeem said, adding that however, "in the mean time we can not compromise the community's basic rights to be consulted, to be involved in the process.

And that has been denied to us and that major blow will also have serious repercussions for the co-existence among communities and therefore as a responsible party we will start our awareness campaigns since the details are only now made available to us, and this has been hatched in total secrecy for so long.

We have been asking our colleagues, who for a variety of reasons had gone and joined the government, to re-unite with us and bring substantial pressure so that at least we would be able to prevent this happening in this manner.

Once again I must reiterate that we are not in league with some of the parties which are totally rejecting any arrangement with the LTTE. We feel that we should have some kind of a mechanism, but this is not the way to go about it, and therefore, I must say that we can not cooperate with this arrangement as it is, that's our position, and we want to make it very clear.

"What we are trying to say here is that by basic denial of our rights to participate in this document as a party, we have not been able to make our input into it and now we find the implications of some of these provisions are going to visit us in a future peace process as well. Therefore, if we did participate without any protest about these matters, without reserving our rights to or without getting the parties who have already signed it to acknowledge that these matters are not going to be taken as a given" it would be a gross abuse of our peoples trust in us.

Sri Lanka's main Muslim party rejects deal to share tsunami aid

Sri Lanka's main Muslim party said Saturday it will boycott a deal signed between the government and the Tamil Tiger rebels to share international tsunami aid because it doesn't include Muslims as equal partners.

``They are looking at us as bystanders and this is not acceptable. We cannot participate in it,'' Rauff Hakeem of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress told a news conference, a day after the deal was signed.

The Dec. 26 tsunami hit the eastern coast where most Muslims live. Hakeem said his party will appeal for an amendment to the deal to include Muslims, the country's second-largest minority after the Tamils.

Sri Lanka's economically powerful Muslims comprise 1.3 million of the island's 19 million people, and like the Tamils, they want autonomy in areas where they are the majority. Hakeem's party has six seats in the 225-member Parliament.

Hakeem said the tsunami aid sharing deal may set a precedent and reduce Muslim chances for autonomy when a final deal is agreed upon between the rebels and the government to end the country's civil war.

The Tiger rebels generally don't trust the Muslims, because they see them as siding with the government.

During the two decades of war, the rebels carried out systematic killings of Muslims, including an August 1990 massacre of 130 people at two mosques on the same day. The rebels have driven out tens of thousands of Muslims from the northern Jaffna Peninsula, and many continue to live in camps.

The aid-sharing deal has already been rejected by the Marxists and the powerful Buddhist monks.

The pact paves the way for the government and rebels to share US$3 billion (euro2.4 billion) in foreign tsunami aid, ensuring that the Tamil-dominated north and east - parts of which are under rebel control - get a fair share of funds.

Critics say the deal raises the rebels' legitimacy in the international community, boosting their separatist agenda and undermining the country's sovereignty. The Marxists pulled their lawmakers out of President Chandrika Kumaratunga's ruling coalition over the issue, reducing her formerly majority coalition to a minority in Parliament. The government could collapse if other parties side with the Marxists in a no-confidence vote.

A 2002 Norway-brokered cease-fire halted the two-decade civil war between the Tigers and the government that left nearly 65,000 people dead. Subsequent peace talks have been deadlocked over rebel demands for wide autonomy.

The waves killed more than 31,000 people in Sri Lanka and made 1 million homeless.

Yesterday�s panorama of Mihintale lit up by ANCL.

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