President calls on LTTE to give up terrorism

Wednesday, 13 September 2006
At the grand opening ceremony of this year Commonwealth Finance Ministers’ Annual Meeting yesterday (12), President Mahinda Rajapaksa reiterated his call to LTTE to renounce terrorism and entre in to negotiations in order to promote peace and development for the benefit of all segments of Sri Lankans. He emphasized the significance of peace and security and added that it is of paramount importance and the world is united on the need to combat terrorism.

“Apart from their (terrorism) adverse humanitarian, social and economic consequences, they undermine the prospects of a meaningful globalization and regional economic cooperation,” Mr. Rajapaksa said. “We need to guard ourselves against the adverse fall-out of these clusters of challenges and risks. And in order to do so, there is an urgent need to further consolidate the on-going efforts of the international community with effective policies and activities, within a framework of medium and long-term strategies,” he further stated.

Commenting on the theme of this year meeting – Agenda for Growth and Livelihoods, President Rajapaksa explained that growth, sustainable livelihoods and poverty reductions are closely linked and stand on one another. Hence, a considerable weight to pro-poor growth approach covering all segments of poor is essential.

“We are living in a world that gripped by many serious challenges. To respond to these, we need to take effective action at all levels. And in doing so, the presence of the Commonwealth and other regional organizations provides us with strength, as they can act as the catalysts of change and provide support to our efforts to promote sustainable economic development,” said the President conveying his best wishes for the success of deliberations in the coming two days.

Highlighting the significance of the discussion themes the Secretary General Mr. Don McKinnon of the Commonwealth Secretariat stated, “ …… The first is representing the interest of small states. We now have the final version of the review of the conclusion of the 2000 task force. The second is in promoting changes to increase the voice and representation of developing countries at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank. …..”

He stressed the regional countries will be more and more strong if we have Commonwealth consensus around such matters as these two.

Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of St. Kitts and Nevis Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas and Minister of Finance and Development Planning of Botswana Hon. Mr. Baledzi Goalathe delivered very delighting speeches at this ceremony.

The delegates will discuss the need to give their countries the opportunity to develop their own policies for economic progress rather than having prescriptive solutions imposed upon them.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa officially declare the opening of the meeting sessions yesterday evening at the exclusive ceremony held at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel, Colombo.

The full speeches of H.E. the President and Hon. Secretary General of Commonwealth Secretariat are below.

Speech of His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka At the Opening of the 2006 Commonwealth Finance Ministers’ Meeting on 12th September 2006 in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Distinguished Heads of Delegation and delegates, Your Excellencies, Members of Public and Private Sector Organizations and of Civil Society, and dear School Children. I thank you for your presence here today, at the opening of the 2006 Commonwealth Finance Ministers’ Meeting. I extend a warm welcome to you all.

The Annual Commonwealth Finance Ministers’ Meeting is a platform for pushing forward the development policies conceived by the Commonwealth. I thank all Heads of Government and Finance Ministers of the Commonwealth countries for selecting Sri Lanka for this year’s meeting.

The theme of our meeting this year, - “An Agenda for Growth and Livelihood” – is of special significance for us all. This meeting is preceded, as you know, by a meeting of senior officials on an equally important theme – “The Reform of the Aid Architecture”.

Let us recall the Commonwealth Principles set out in the 1971 Summit in Singapore. They emphasized “the need to foster international peace and security, democracy, liberty of the individual and equal rights for all; the significance of eradicating poverty, ignorance and disease; and the need to oppose all forms of racial discrimination”.

We are proud to be members of an organization that upholds these principles and tries to promote democracy and good governance, human rights, the rule of law, gender equality, and sustainable economic and social development.

We the commonwealth countries account for a large share of the world’s output and trade. As such, the group of commonwealth countries plays a significant role in shaping the process of economic and social development in the world. The Secretary General of the Commonwealth and his staff in the Commonwealth Secretariat, have worked hard to contribute effectively to this process.

Our Commonwealth is a community of 53 sovereign, independent states which range from the wealthy industrialized countries to some of the ‘Least Developed’ countries of the world. We represent about 30% of the world’s population.

Our membership is rich in its diversity. It is composed of many cultures, races and traditions. It also shares certain common features, such as the widespread use of English as a common language. Our countries have similar administrative and legal systems, and we share a common interest in certain sports activities. These all flow out of our sharing of a common historical experience.

Our meetings in Colombo this year are held against a back-drop of several major risks and challenges which affect us all in common.

The first of these is the escalation of oil prices. This has resulted in severe adjustment burdens in oil importing countries such as Sri Lanka. Added to this is the uncertainty about the future of oil prices in general.

The second is the difficulty of economic planning in the environment of large economic imbalances among the major players in the world, and developments in the world financial markets especially in regard to interest rates and rates of exchange.

The third of these is the fact that the failure to stabilize the increasing interest rates will have an adverse impact on growth prospects, while adding to the cost of servicing commercial debts.

The fourth is the need to ensure adequate and reliable resource flows to developing countries to ensure sustainable economic growth and help achieve the Millennium Development Goals. We note that the delivery of aid has unfortunately been below expectation.

And the fifth is that in addition to these economic issues, the world is also faced with increased threats of terrorism. Apart from their adverse humanitarian, social and economic consequences, they undermine the prospects of a meaningful globalization and regional economic cooperation.

In this regard, peace and security is of paramount importance, and as the world is united on the need to combating terrorism, I reiterate my call to LTTE to renounce terrorism and enter into negotiations to promote peace and development for the benefit of all segments of our citizens.

We need to guard ourselves against the adverse fall-out of these clusters of challenges and risks. And in order to do so, there is an urgent need to further consolidate the on-going efforts of the international community with effective policies and activities, within a framework of medium and long term strategies.

It is precisely against this background that the theme of this year’s meeting, - “Agenda for Growth and Livelihoods” assumes significance. And, as developing countries represent a large constituency of the Commonwealth, it is appropriate to comment on the theme of the meeting from the perspective of these countries.

Growth, sustainable livelihoods and poverty reduction are closely linked, one to the other. Our development strategies, whether developed in consultation with external development partners or otherwise, must therefore give considerable weight to a pro-poor growth approach, covering all segments of the poor.

Agriculture is the backbone of many developing countries and the main source of income generation in the rural economy. Any agenda for development and growth should focus on the improvement of the agricultural sector, and aggressively pursue measures and methods to optimize its productivity. Poor farmers need help, as they have to encounter difficult challenges.

Farming is a dignified profession, and its dignity needs to be protected. In this regard let me quote from Robert Knox the 17th century British traveler. Referring to the Sri Lankan paddy farmer of his time, this is what he says in his book “Historical Relations of the Island of Ceylon”: “Take a Plough-man from the Plough and wash off his mud and he is fit to rule a Kingdom”. We say in our own Sinhala language – “Mada Soda Gath Kala, Goviya Rajakamatada Sahe”.

Public investment is a vital factor for rural development. For, it is the lack of infrastructure facilities such as better roads, transport, irrigation, communication and electrification that has stood in the way of growth in the rural economy. Though the many issues affecting the development of remote areas have been identified and discussed, such areas have continued to remain poor. In Sri Lanka’s current development strategy, therefore, we have launched a programme of action to speed up the process of rural economic growth in our country.

Urbanization is also a challenge faced by many countries. It has impacted on urban – rural disparities, and resulted in problems relating to the living conditions of the urban poor. In the set of recommendations we will be making at the end of our deliberations, I will propose the establishment of a Commonwealth Fund to address the human settlement issues of the urban poor.

I re-iterate once more that the timely delivery of aid in support of home-grown policies and strategies is essential, for countries to make progress towards reaching the millennium development goals.

Sri Lanka as a nation has enjoyed independence for more than 50 years. Many have been the challenges that we have faced successfully. For example, the tsunami of December 2004 put our country through a massive test of resilience and commitment. We came out of it, stronger than we were before.

Our vision now is to re-engineer our economy to create economic opportunities for the people to move out of poverty. We do so through a policy framework that aims to build a new economy with social justice.

There is no one single answer to the problems of economic growth and development. At the same time, sound macro economic policies, sectoral reforms, institutional strengthening, infrastructure development, better access to information, and investment in research and development, are the essential pre-requisites of growth and sustainable livelihood.

We also need to promote a partnership between the public and private sectors where necessary and appropriate, as a driving factor for economic growth. An effective and positive role for civil society, also adds significant value to the development effort.

As I said before, we are living today in a world that is gripped by many serious challenges. To respond to these, we need to take effective action at all levels. And in doing so, the presence of the Commonwealth and other regional organizations provides us with strength, as they can act as the catalysts of change and provide support to our efforts to promote sustainable economic development.

I wish the Commonwealth Finance Ministers’ meeting and the Senior Officials’ Meeting all success. And in a context in which we are also preparing for the Annual Meetings of the World Bank / IMF in Singapore, I know that the discussions in Colombo will also contribute to more constructive cooperation between North and South.

I now declare the Annual Meetings open. Thank youPresident calls on LTTE to give up terrorism

At the grand opening ceremony of this year Commonwealth Finance Ministers’ Annual Meeting yesterday (12), President Mahinda Rajapaksa reiterated his call to LTTE to renounce terrorism and entre in to negotiations in order to promote peace and development for the benefit of all segments of Sri Lankans.

He emphasized the significance of peace and security and added that it is of paramount importance and the world is united on the need to combat terrorism.

“Apart from their (terrorism) adverse humanitarian, social and economic consequences, they undermine the prospects of a meaningful globalization and regional economic cooperation,” Mr. Rajapaksa said. “We need to guard ourselves against the adverse fall-out of these clusters of challenges and risks. And in order to do so, there is an urgent need to further consolidate the on-going efforts of the international community with effective policies and activities, within a framework of medium and long-term strategies,” he further stated.

Commenting on the theme of this year meeting – Agenda for Growth and Livelihoods, President Rajapaksa explained that growth, sustainable livelihoods and poverty reductions are closely linked and stand on one another. Hence, a considerable weight to pro-poor growth approach covering all segments of poor is essential.

“We are living in a world that gripped by many serious challenges. To respond to these, we need to take effective action at all levels. And in doing so, the presence of the Commonwealth and other regional organizations provides us with strength, as they can act as the catalysts of change and provide support to our efforts to promote sustainable economic development,” said the President conveying his best wishes for the success of deliberations in the coming two days.

Highlighting the significance of the discussion themes the Secretary General Mr. Don McKinnon of the Commonwealth Secretariat stated, “ …… The first is representing the interest of small states. We now have the final version of the review of the conclusion of the 2000 task force. The second is in promoting changes to increase the voice and representation of developing countries at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank. …..”

He stressed the regional countries will be more and more strong if we have Commonwealth consensus around such matters as these two.

Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of St. Kitts and Nevis Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas and Minister of Finance and Development Planning of Botswana Hon. Mr. Baledzi Goalathe delivered very delighting speeches at this ceremony.

The delegates will discuss the need to give their countries the opportunity to develop their own policies for economic progress rather than having prescriptive solutions imposed upon them.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa officially declare the opening of the meeting sessions yesterday evening at the exclusive ceremony held at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel, Colombo.

The full speeches of H.E. the President and Hon. Secretary General of Commonwealth Secretariat are below.

Official Opening Statement by theCommonwealth Secretary-General Rt Hon Don McKinnonat theCommonwealth Finance Ministers’MeetingColombo, Sri Lanka5.30pm,Tuesday, 12 September 2006

President Rajapaksa; Prime Minister Douglas; Commonwealth Ministers;other distinguished Heads of Delegation and guests; Ladies and Gentlemen.Let me first express my thanks for thewarm and generous welcome we havereceived from President Rajapaksa, the government and people of Sri Lanka.A little less than two years ago, through TV and Radio, I was calling on

Commonwealth governments everywhere to come to the aid of Sri Lanka andseveral others of our members in this region which had been struck by that dreadful tsunami.

The response was swift and generous.The Commonwealth has since turned its attention to improving natural disaster warning and responses. And I was very pleased to see some of this in the field not far from Colombo this morning. It reminded me – coming from the Pacific where we have more than a fair share of cyclones – that rebuilding shattered communities is extremely difficult and time-consuming andexpensive. It can also become politicised.That led me to think about my own two decades in politics including a decadeas a Minister. So often, politicians are criticised for taking decisions with an eye only to the short term.

But even if our decisions could be short-term in their scope and impact, we were always conscious of the long term. We would try to recognise the early trends and warning signs, calculate their consequences in the distant future, and think how best to act accordingly. If “long term view, short term decision-making” is a fair description of local and even national political life, it certainly does not characterise Commonwealth Ministerial meetings.

And as we know, Sri Lanka’s long-term decision-making of taking younger and new players into your national cricket eleven is leaving the rest of us shaking at the crease.So, occasions like the one on which we are embarking in the next few daysare a chance to take a long term view; to improve our vision by seeing issues through the lenses of others from all over the world; and to arrive at decisions with long term and far-reaching impact. Some of you, like me, will have arrived here on SriLankan Airlines. And some of you may also have seen the in-flight magazine in which I contributed an article. It conveys the essence of the message I want to make today. Your meeting here this week has the potential to change people’s lives fundamentally.

Commonwealth Finance Ministers have an impressive pedigree.When your predecessors met in Barbados in 1987, they were the first to consider seriously the possibility of cancelling debts that hung like millstones around the necks of low income countries. The idea seemed outlandish at the time – but the Commonwealth pushed it, far beyond its own circles. Our proposals led to the Heavily Indebted Poor Country Initiative in 1996. 10 years later,

about $120 billion of debt has been cancelled for 30 countries. Commonwealth Finance Ministers broke further ground in the ‘90s when they were the first to give full voice to the concerns of small states. With 32 of our 53 member countries having populations of less than 1.5 million people, our work with the World Bank on tackling the vulnerabilities and development challenges facing small states is ground-breaking. When 53 nations come together freely and equally, representing 30% of humanity, 25% of all countries, 20% of global trade, and 80% of all those on this planet living in poverty, then we have tremendous potential, and an obligation to speak up. Ladies and Gentlemen, the Finance Ministers’ meeting last year took place just a few days after the UN review of the Millennium Development Goals. It is also about one year since that landmark Gleneagles G8 Summit, with its breakthrough on debt and aid. This is a good time to take stock on what I termed at that time the need for, “delivery, delivery, delivery.” In the last few years, developing countries as a group have enjoyed a period of strong growth. This will be the fifth consecutive year. And over the period, virtually every developing region, including Africa, has performed well.

But despite per capita growth in Sub-Saharan Africa having turned positive over the past decade, most countries in the region are unlikely to meet the majority of MDGs, especially in health.

On debt, there has been progress as I said, including the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative. But there are a number of implementation challenges. I am particularly concerned to avoid what I see as, “paying once and claiming credit twice” where donors’ debt reduction payments are claimed as part of aid flows when they should be additional to them. We also need to ensure that countries never again incur excessive debt.

The picture on aid is not as favourable. Although the headline aid figures for2005 will show a sharp rise, this is due to exceptional amounts of debt relief for a few countries. The underlying trend is falling well short of what is needed to meet the Gleneagles pledge. Yet we know – and our own country studies of Tanzania, Ghana, Malawi and Bangladesh confirm this – that there are many poor countries that could absorb and make excellent use of really substantial increases.

SLMC TO LAUNCH VO.II, III OF “ASHRAFF IN PARLIAMENT" ON SEP 16

Volumes III and IV of the book "Ashraff in Parliament" containing Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) founder leader Marhoom M.H.M.Ashraff's speeches delivered in parliament in the years 1991-1992 would be launched at a function at the BMICH on September 16. Volumes I and II of the book containing his parliamentary speeches in the years 1989-90 were released by the SLMC last year at a grand function at the Hotel Ranmuthu in Colombo.

SLMC national leader Rauff Hakeem MP said that the party would continue this process of publishing the late leader's parliamentary speeches in the coming years at the rate of 02 volumes every year.

Speaker W.J.M.Loku Bandara, former speaker M.H.Mohamed and widow of the late leader and Minister Ferial Ashraff attended the launching of Volumes I & II last year as chief guests while party leader Rauff Hakeem launched the books.

The decision to publish late leader Ashraff's parliamentary speeches in several volumes was taken by party leader Rauff Hakeem in the context of the significance of the speeches and the necessity to preserve them as valuables documentaries. The release of Volumes I & II wide appreciation from the public and political circles.

Sri Lanka gov't warns Tamil rebels over peace talks

Associated Press, Wed September 13, 2006 08:29 EDT . COLOMBO, Sept. 13 (Kyodo) _ The Sri Lanka government warned Wednesday that Tamil rebels should not abuse forthcoming peace talks with government representatives to prepare for war.

A statement issued by the government's peace secretariat, welcoming the efforts of the international community to kick-start the stalled peace process, noted that the rebels of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have always abused such talks.

''It has been the experience in the past that the LTTE has always used peace talks as a period to enhance its military capabilities,'' the statement said.

''The government hopes that the co-chairs (the United States, the European Union, Japan and Norway) and the facilitator (Norway) do the utmost to ensure that the past practices of the LTTE are not repeated in this instance.''

There was no serious fighting following the announcement of peace talks Tuesday and the Colombo Stock Exchange responded positively to the prospects of peace Wednesday, with two key indices each moving up more than 2 percent from the day before.

The announcement in Brussels said that the two sides have agreed to ''unconditional'' peace talks which will begin in Oslo in the first week of October.

Colombo expressed ''great concern'' about ''certain elements'' of the co-chairs statement, saying that commitments to dates and venues had been made without prior consultations with the Sri Lanka government and categorized this as ''procedural irregularities.''

It also alleged that there were ''factual inaccuracies'' in the statement, particularly specifying a reference to an alleged bombing of a school in rebel-held Mullaitivu in the northeast as ''grossly misleading.''

The statement appreciated the efforts of the co-chairs -- the key financial backers of Sri Lanka's peace process -- who have committed to pour in $4.5 billion for reconstruction and rehabilitation if the country moves forward toward peace.

It reaffirmed President Mahinda Rajapaksa's declaration last month at a meeting with the ambassadors of the co-chairs in Colombo, in which the president said the government was ready to engage in talks with the LTTE ''following a clear commitment by the LTTE leader to a comprehensive and verifiable cessation of hostilities.''

Colombo, expressing its full commitment to participate in peace talks with the LTTE, said that specific modalities relating to dates and venue must be discussed and agreed between the government and Norway, which is facilitating the peace process.

Fighting between government forces and the LTTE since last December has cost at least 1,500 lives and displaced over 200,000 people.

Increasing number of civilians disappearing in Sri Lanka , rights group says

Associated Press, Wed September 13, 2006 09:57 EDT . COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) _ Sri Lanka is entering a ``period of terror'' with an increasing number of people reported missing, many of them after being taken away by men believed to be government military personnel, a human rights group said on Wednesday.

With the cease-fire between the Sri Lankan government and separatist Tamil Tiger rebels nearly collapsed, ``the country is entering into a further period of terror in the name of counterinsurgency,'' the Asian Human Rights Commission said in a statement.

Earlier, Sri Lanka's Human Rights Commission had said more than 400 ethnic Tamil youth were reported missing since December and 50 of those happened in August.

The AHRC said many such disappearances were caused by masked men traveling in ``white vans without a number plate,'' which it said means government military.

``In Sri Lanka causing of forced disappearances has been treated by the state as a legitimate means by which to deal with 'terrorism.' The failure to investigate and to take appropriate legal action is also evidence of the state's involvement in such matters,'' the commission said.

15 wounded in grenade explosion in butcher's shop in northern Sri Lanka , police says

Associated Press, Wed September 13, 2006 06:06 EDT . BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press Writer - COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP) A grenade exploded in a busy market area in northern Sri Lanka - on Wednesday, injuring 15 people, police said, as doubts loomed over the prospects of peace talks between the government and Tamil Tiger rebels. Speaking on behalf of the EU, Japan, the United States and Norway, overseers of Sri Lanka - 's peace process, Ferrero-Waldner said the meeting could take place in October in Oslo.

But Sri Lanka - 's government denied it had agreed to unconditional talks.

``We will put forward our conditions,'' government spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said on Tuesday.

He also criticized peace broker Norway for announcing a date and a venue without having first consulted with the government.

``We will take it up very seriously, we are a sovereign state, they (Norway) are only facilitators. We have not delegated any of our powers to them,'' Rambukwella said.

In a statement Wednesday, the government said it needed a personal commitment from the reclusive Tiger leader for a ``comprehensive and verifiable'' cessation of hostilities before talks could be held. The government is ready for talks ``following a clear commitment by the LTTE Leader to a comprehensive and verifiable cessation of hostilities,'' the government said in a statement referring to Velupillai Prabhakaran, leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

Palitha Kohona, head of the government's peace secretariat, told The Associated Press that the rebels have in the past used cease-fire periods to rearm and regroup and such action could not be allowed in future.

``It's important that a peace process be a genuine peace process,'' Kohona said.

Government troops and rebels have traded artillery fire across their front lines in Jaffna peninsula for nearly a week, but no fighting was reported from the region on Wednesday.

The fighting has killed 35 soldiers and 150 Tamil Tigers, according to the defense ministry. But, rebel official Seevanatnam Puleedevan said only 12 of the group's fighters had been killed, and said the military's toll was 78.

Both sides are known to exaggerate each other's death tolls and independent confirmation of casualty claims is not possible.

Jaffna has long been a flash point for violence in Sri Lanka - 's 19-year war between the Sinhalese-dominated state and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, who claim it as the cultural heart of the country's 3.2 million ethnic Tamil minority.

The rebels want to carve out a separate state for the country's predominantly Hindu Tamils, citing decades of discrimination by the mostly Buddhist Sinhalese majority.

The conflict cost the lives of about 65,000 people before the truce. Hundreds more combatants and civilians have been killed and about 220,000 displaced since April in heavy fighting following an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate Sri Lanka - 's top general.

Sri Lanka gov't warns Tamil rebels over peace talks

Associated Press, Wed September 13, 2006 08:29 EDT . COLOMBO, Sept. 13 (Kyodo) _ The Sri Lanka government warned Wednesday that Tamil rebels should not abuse forthcoming peace talks with government representatives to prepare for war.

A statement issued by the government's peace secretariat, welcoming the efforts of the international community to kick-start the stalled peace process, noted that the rebels of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have always abused such talks.

''It has been the experience in the past that the LTTE has always used peace talks as a period to enhance its military capabilities,'' the statement said.

''The government hopes that the co-chairs (the United States, the European Union, Japan and Norway) and the facilitator (Norway) do the utmost to ensure that the past practices of the LTTE are not repeated in this instance.''

There was no serious fighting following the announcement of peace talks Tuesday and the Colombo Stock Exchange responded positively to the prospects of peace Wednesday, with two key indices each moving up more than 2 percent from the day before.

The announcement in Brussels said that the two sides have agreed to ''unconditional'' peace talks which will begin in Oslo in the first week of October.

Colombo expressed ''great concern'' about ''certain elements'' of the co-chairs statement, saying that commitments to dates and venues had been made without prior consultations with the Sri Lanka government and categorized this as ''procedural irregularities.''

It also alleged that there were ''factual inaccuracies'' in the statement, particularly specifying a reference to an alleged bombing of a school in rebel-held Mullaitivu in the northeast as ''grossly misleading.''

The statement appreciated the efforts of the co-chairs -- the key financial backers of Sri Lanka's peace process -- who have committed to pour in $4.5 billion for reconstruction and rehabilitation if the country moves forward toward peace.

It reaffirmed President Mahinda Rajapaksa's declaration last month at a meeting with the ambassadors of the co-chairs in Colombo, in which the president said the government was ready to engage in talks with the LTTE ''following a clear commitment by the LTTE leader to a comprehensive and verifiable cessation of hostilities.''

Colombo, expressing its full commitment to participate in peace talks with the LTTE, said that specific modalities relating to dates and venue must be discussed and agreed between the government and Norway, which is facilitating the peace process.

Fighting between government forces and the LTTE since last December has cost at least 1,500 lives and displaced over 200,000 people.

Increasing number of civilians disappearing in Sri Lanka , rights group says

Associated Press, Wed September 13, 2006 09:57 EDT . COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) _ Sri Lanka is entering a ``period of terror'' with an increasing number of people reported missing, many of them after being taken away by men believed to be government military personnel, a human rights group said on Wednesday.

With the cease-fire between the Sri Lankan government and separatist Tamil Tiger rebels nearly collapsed, ``the country is entering into a further period of terror in the name of counterinsurgency,'' the Asian Human Rights Commission said in a statement.

Earlier, Sri Lanka's Human Rights Commission had said more than 400 ethnic Tamil youth were reported missing since December and 50 of those happened in August.

The AHRC said many such disappearances were caused by masked men traveling in ``white vans without a number plate,'' which it said means government military.

``In Sri Lanka causing of forced disappearances has been treated by the state as a legitimate means by which to deal with 'terrorism.' The failure to investigate and to take appropriate legal action is also evidence of the state's involvement in such matters,'' the commission said.

15 wounded in grenade explosion in butcher's shop in northern Sri Lanka , police says

Associated Press, Wed September 13, 2006 06:06 EDT . BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press Writer - COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP) A grenade exploded in a busy market area in northern Sri Lanka - on Wednesday, injuring 15 people, police said, as doubts loomed over the prospects of peace talks between the government and Tamil Tiger rebels. Speaking on behalf of the EU, Japan, the United States and Norway, overseers of Sri Lanka - 's peace process, Ferrero-Waldner said the meeting could take place in October in Oslo.

But Sri Lanka - 's government denied it had agreed to unconditional talks.

``We will put forward our conditions,'' government spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said on Tuesday.

He also criticized peace broker Norway for announcing a date and a venue without having first consulted with the government.

``We will take it up very seriously, we are a sovereign state, they (Norway) are only facilitators. We have not delegated any of our powers to them,'' Rambukwella said.

In a statement Wednesday, the government said it needed a personal commitment from the reclusive Tiger leader for a ``comprehensive and verifiable'' cessation of hostilities before talks could be held. The government is ready for talks ``following a clear commitment by the LTTE Leader to a comprehensive and verifiable cessation of hostilities,'' the government said in a statement referring to Velupillai Prabhakaran, leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

Palitha Kohona, head of the government's peace secretariat, told The Associated Press that the rebels have in the past used cease-fire periods to rearm and regroup and such action could not be allowed in future.

``It's important that a peace process be a genuine peace process,'' Kohona said.

Government troops and rebels have traded artillery fire across their front lines in Jaffna peninsula for nearly a week, but no fighting was reported from the region on Wednesday.

The fighting has killed 35 soldiers and 150 Tamil Tigers, according to the defense ministry. But, rebel official Seevanatnam Puleedevan said only 12 of the group's fighters had been killed, and said the military's toll was 78.

Both sides are known to exaggerate each other's death tolls and independent confirmation of casualty claims is not possible.

Jaffna has long been a flash point for violence in Sri Lanka - 's 19-year war between the Sinhalese-dominated state and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, who claim it as the cultural heart of the country's 3.2 million ethnic Tamil minority.

The rebels want to carve out a separate state for the country's predominantly Hindu Tamils, citing decades of discrimination by the mostly Buddhist Sinhalese majority.

The conflict cost the lives of about 65,000 people before the truce. Hundreds more combatants and civilians have been killed and about 220,000 displaced since April in heavy fighting following an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate Sri Lanka - 's top general.

Eleven Sri Lankan soldiers killed in battle with Tamil rebels, military says

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) _ Sri Lankan soldiers backed by air strikes and artillery fire launched a fresh attack on ethnic Tamil rebels in the country's embattled north, leaving 11 troops dead and 53 wounded, a defense official said Saturday, as the country edged closer to all-out war.

The fighting in northern Jaffna comes less than a week after the army claimed to have routed Tamil Tigers from Sampur, a rebel-held village in the northeast, and despite a 2002 cease-fire.

While neither side has withdrawn from the truce, weeks of escalating battles along borders separating rebel- and government-held territory in the northeast have left it in tatters.

The Tigers have threatened retaliation and a resumption of war unless the army withdraws from Sampur.

The military pounded rebel-held territory in the north with air strikes and artillery after Tamil Tigers stepped up their attacks on government troops, military spokesman Brig. Prasad Samarasinghe said Saturday.

``The (rebels) began attacking us with artillery fire on Thursday. We have been retaliating since then. This is a limited operation to neutralize their artillery bases,'' Samarasinghe said.

He said 11 soldiers had been killed and at least 53 wounded. He had no details about rebel casualties.

The government's Media Center for National Security said air strikes and multi-barreled rocket fire took out the rebels' heavy artillery bases before ground troops moved in early Saturday.

The pro-rebel TamilNet Web site said the military has been shelling rebel bunkers in Muhamalai, at the base of the army-controlled Jaffna peninsula for two days. It said there were no rebel casualties.

Jaffna has long been a flash point for violence in Sri Lanka's 19-year war between the Sinhalese-dominated state and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, who claim it as the cultural homeland of the country's 3.2 million ethnic Tamil minority.

The Tigers want to carve out a separate state for predominantly Hindu Tamils, citing decades of discrimination by the mostly Buddhist Sinhalese majority.

The conflict _ one of Asia's longest running _ cost the lives of about 65,000 people before the truce, which most here now say exists on paper only.

Hundreds of combatants and civilians have been killed and about 220,000 displaced since April, when the military launched air strikes on rebel territory in northeast Trincomalee in retaliation for a failed suicide attempt on the life of a top-ranking general.

Clashes broke out again in late July in Trincomalee over a water source blocked by the rebels, sparking three weeks of fierce fighting and an army ground offensive.

Then, on Aug. 11, the Tigers made a major push to retake Jaffna.

Although the government claimed to have beaten back the rebels in 11-days, sporadic artillery fire across the northern border and government airstrikes on rebel bases have continued.

Transport to and from the peninsula also remains cut, stranding thousands of people, including foreign aid workers, students and businesspeople, and leaving the region short of food, medicine and other basic goods.

A naval ship carrying 795 civilians from Jaffna reached the northeastern port of Trincomalee late Saturday, the military said.

The ship was not flying the flag of the International Committee of the Red Cross, as a previous ferry evacuating foreign nationals had, and TamilNet accused the government of using civilians as ``human shields'' to move military goods to Trincomalee.

Four fast attack navy craft escorted the ship as it traveled from Jaffna down the northeastern coast of Sri Lanka, the Web site said.

The Tamil Tigers have said they cannot guarantee the safety of sea or air transport to and from Jaffna in light of the military's ongoing operations.

EU for stringent enforcement of ban on LTTE

PK Balachandran

Colombo, September 9, 2006

Stung by the LTTE's refusal to accept truce monitors from the European Union (EU) countries, the EU parliament on Thursday called upon member states to enforce the ban on the Tamil militant organisation in a stringent manner.

The LTTE was banned by the EU at the end of May this year. Subsequently, with effect from September 1, the LTTE refused to accept truce monitors from the EU countries on the plea that they had lost their neutrality as a result of the ban.

The EU Parliament's resolution on the current situation in Sri Lanka asked member states to take "robust and determined" action to investigate the agents of the LTTE; properly enforce the travel ban on its officials; inhibit the movement of agents and couriers; arrest and repatriate those involved in terrorist support activities; confiscate assets associated with the LTTE, including its commercial shipping fleet; freeze suspect bank accounts and close companies and undertakings associated with the LTTE.

The resolution urged member states to take effective measures to "prevent the indoctrination and intimidation of Tamils resident in their countries and the extortion of money to fund LTTE activities."

The EU came down heavily on recruitment of children by the two factions of the LTTE (one led by Prabhakaran and the other by the renegade Karuna).

It described the recruitment of child soldiers as an "appalling abuse of children".

Calling upon the government of Sri Lanka to safeguard human rights, the resolution welcomed Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's offer to invite an international independent group of eminent persons as observers of investigations into the recent abductions and disappearances and extra judicial killings in the island.

It asked Rajapaksa to seek the advice of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, in establishing the independent commission "so as to ensure its independence and effectiveness."

For the maintenance of better law and order and render ethnic justice, the EU parliament asked the government of Sri Lanka to appoint the members of the National Police Commission and recruit more Tamil and Tamil-speaking police officers.

The EU parliament called upon the government of Sri Lanka and the opposition United National Party to work in close cooperation to take "robust" action against terrorism and to address the legitimate grievances of the Tamil minority through a "bold gesture of reconciliation."

Sri Lankan rebels warn Sinhalese will pay the price for army action

Wed September 6, 2006 08:43 EDT . COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP) Sri Lanka's ethnic Tamil rebels said Wednesday that weeks of military airstrikes and shelling has made the lives of Tamil civilians ``misery,'' and that the ethnic Sinhalese would pay the price.

S. P. Tamilselvan, the Tiger's political head, in a meeting with the Norwegian ambassador, said Tamils were suffering ``absolute misery,'' and criticized the international community's lack of action, the rebels' peace Web site said.

He warned that the majority Sinhalese would have to ``face the consequences soon.''

Sri Lanka rules out attempts for military gains, wants peace

Sri Lankan government says there will not be anymore military action to gain territory, and wants to pursue peace negotiations with the Tamil Tiger rebels.

The government statement came a day after the military had recorded a major triumph in the eastern province in the military clashes with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels.

The government troops annexed from the LTTE control the key Sampur area located south of the Trincomalee harbor on the ninth day of an offensive on Monday.

"The operation was not to gain territory or record victories it was just an operation in the need to ensure national security," Keheliya Rambukwella, the government's defense spokesman and the Minister of Policy Planning told reporters.

The Minister said the troops when moved forward towards the rebel held Sampur were aiming to neutralize the rebel artillery capability and the forces had achieved that objective.

Rambukwella said it was important for the government to destroy the LTTE's artillery power in order to ensure the safety of the Trincomalee harbor as the LTTE had twice attacked the port, which provides the main supply route to the troops stationed in the northern Jaffna peninsula.

"There are other international investments in Trinco which we have to guarantee safety," Rambukwella stressed adding that the government was still committed to the Norwegian backed peace process and expressed hope that the LTTE too would not move away from the process.

Reacting to the military advance the LTTE's official website said that they had lodged a complaint with the international truce monitors on the military's advance in violation of the February 2002 cease-fire agreement.

"The government started the war of occupation of Sampur with no concern of the cease-fire agreement", the rebel statement said.

The military advance into Sampur was coming out into open the shadow war between the two sides since the end of December 2005 with more than 1,700 deaths.

The LTTE since end of July have been maintaining its belligerence towards the troops but both sides claimed they were still upholding the truce agreement. The escalation of violence endangered efforts by the Norwegian facilitators to kick start the stalled negotiations process.

Terrorists Pound Artillery Hiding In Kadiravely (Army website)

TRINCOMALEE : LTTE TERRORISTS, now hiding in jungles, further south of MAVIL ARU in KADIRAVELY this evening (06) repeated their terror tactics after firing a spate of artillery towards troops, now deployed in MAVIL ARU area after troops had forced open the sluice gates a few weeks back.

Troops on duty in the area opened retaliatory fire and countered LTTE threat presumably causing damages to the terrorists.

Two soldiers fell victim to the enemy’s artillery fire and 16 more soldiers were injured in the incident. Injured soldiers were evacuated to hospital.

Both slain soldiers are to be accorded funerals with full military honours.

Terrorists on Tuesday (05) also fired towards troops in the same area injuring one soldier.(See earlier Situation Report 06 September 2006)

Terrorists Direct Mortar & Artillery fire

VAVUNIYA : LTTE TERRORISTS ON Wednesday (06) noon fired mortars and several artillery rounds towards the ETHAWETUNUWEWA Security Forces Forward Defence Line (FDL) area in WELIOYA between 11.30 a.m. and 12.45 p.m..

No injuries were reported in the incident.

Sri Lankan rebels warn Sinhalese will pay the price for army action

Wed September 6, 2006 08:43 EDT . COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP) Sri Lanka's ethnic Tamil rebels said Wednesday that weeks of military airstrikes and shelling has made the lives of Tamil civilians ``misery,'' and that the ethnic Sinhalese would pay the price.

S. P. Tamilselvan, the Tiger's political head, in a meeting with the Norwegian ambassador, said Tamils were suffering ``absolute misery,'' and criticized the international community's lack of action, the rebels' peace Web site said.

He warned that the majority Sinhalese would have to ``face the consequences soon.''

Sri Lanka rules out attempts for military gains, wants peace

Sri Lankan government says there will not be anymore military action to gain territory, and wants to pursue peace negotiations with the Tamil Tiger rebels.

The government statement came a day after the military had recorded a major triumph in the eastern province in the military clashes with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels.

The government troops annexed from the LTTE control the key Sampur area located south of the Trincomalee harbor on the ninth day of an offensive on Monday.

"The operation was not to gain territory or record victories it was just an operation in the need to ensure national security," Keheliya Rambukwella, the government's defense spokesman and the Minister of Policy Planning told reporters.

The Minister said the troops when moved forward towards the rebel held Sampur were aiming to neutralize the rebel artillery capability and the forces had achieved that objective.

Rambukwella said it was important for the government to destroy the LTTE's artillery power in order to ensure the safety of the Trincomalee harbor as the LTTE had twice attacked the port, which provides the main supply route to the troops stationed in the northern Jaffna peninsula.

"There are other international investments in Trinco which we have to guarantee safety," Rambukwella stressed adding that the government was still committed to the Norwegian backed peace process and expressed hope that the LTTE too would not move away from the process.

Reacting to the military advance the LTTE's official website said that they had lodged a complaint with the international truce monitors on the military's advance in violation of the February 2002 cease-fire agreement.

"The government started the war of occupation of Sampur with no concern of the cease-fire agreement", the rebel statement said.

The military advance into Sampur was coming out into open the shadow war between the two sides since the end of December 2005 with more than 1,700 deaths.

The LTTE since end of July have been maintaining its belligerence towards the troops but both sides claimed they were still upholding the truce agreement. The escalation of violence endangered efforts by the Norwegian facilitators to kick start the stalled negotiations process.

Terrorists Pound Artillery Hiding In Kadiravely (Army website)

TRINCOMALEE : LTTE TERRORISTS, now hiding in jungles, further south of MAVIL ARU in KADIRAVELY this evening (06) repeated their terror tactics after firing a spate of artillery towards troops, now deployed in MAVIL ARU area after troops had forced open the sluice gates a few weeks back.

Troops on duty in the area opened retaliatory fire and countered LTTE threat presumably causing damages to the terrorists.

Two soldiers fell victim to the enemy’s artillery fire and 16 more soldiers were injured in the incident. Injured soldiers were evacuated to hospital.

Both slain soldiers are to be accorded funerals with full military honours.

Terrorists on Tuesday (05) also fired towards troops in the same area injuring one soldier.(See earlier Situation Report 06 September 2006)

Terrorists Direct Mortar & Artillery fire

VAVUNIYA : LTTE TERRORISTS ON Wednesday (06) noon fired mortars and several artillery rounds towards the ETHAWETUNUWEWA Security Forces Forward Defence Line (FDL) area in WELIOYA between 11.30 a.m. and 12.45 p.m..

No injuries were reported in the incident.

SCOPP says SLMM head shot his mouth off on aid workers

“The Head of SLMM has based his ruling on 'speculation' and 'innuendo' in an unfortunate attempt to bring disrepute to the Sri Lankan Security Forces, said members of the legal fraternity commenting in the media on the recent ruling by SLMM on the killing of 17 Aid Workers attached to Action Against Hunger (ACF) in Muttur ’’ a Sri Lanka Peace Secretariat release states.

The further text of the statement is as follows: Given the international engagements of the President at the time, the selective timing of the SLMM ruling and its motives are extremely questionable.

In their comments the Lawyers have established clearly the facts relating to the incident, which in their view have been grossly distorted by Major General (Retd) Henricsson. The Lawyers have highlighted the following factual circumstances that have been ignored in the SLMM ruling.

a) The Judicial Medical Officer who performed the post-mortem examinations on the deceased has indicated the probable time of death to be between the night of 3 August and 4 August 2006. According to the ACF office in Trincomalee which had maintained radio contact with the ACF Muttur Office every 30 minutes from 1 August, the last contact was at 06:10 hrs on the morning of Friday 4 August. ACF had stated that after 06:10 hrs on the morning of Friday 4 August all attempts to contact the Muttur Office by radio, mobile phone and satellite phone failed. Thereby the estimated time of the incident can be placed between 06:10 a.m. and 06:40 a.m. on Friday 4 August.

b) According to TamilNet, the LTTE had infiltrated areas of Muttur Town from around 02:35 GMT (i.e. about 9.00 p.m.) on 1 August until midnight on Friday 4 August (see TamilNet news item of 02:35 GMT on 2.8.06; 19:18 hrs on 2.8.06 and 11:04 GMT on 5.8.06). Indeed TamilNet (August 5, 2006 11:04 GMT) states "the Military Spokesman of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Irasaiah Ilanthiayan, told TamilNet that the LTTE troops by midnight Friday, returned to their original positions as per February 22, 2002 Ceasefire Agreement”. The Security Forces were able to completely secure Muttur Town only in the course of 5 August 2006. This shows that the LTTE had infiltrated Muttur Town and had access to the ACF office between 06:10 hrs and 06:40 hrs on the morning of Friday 4 August when most likely the incident took place.

c) TamilNet in its bulletin datelined 14:28 GMT on Saturday 5 August states that the Sri Lanka Army had killed 15 Tamil Aid Workers. However, the bulletin datelined 07:26 GMT on 8 August 2006 states that the bodies of these unfortunate people were found by the Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies (CHA) on Sunday, namely 6 August 2006. How could the LTTE have been aware of these murders more than one day before the discovery of the bodies.

d) Regarding the contention that the SLMM was denied access to Muttur by the Armed Forces on both 5 and 6 August 2006 while journalists were taken to Muttur.

It is a manifest and undeniable fact that journalists reporting armed conflicts willingly take risks of their own accord as a part of their professional duties to report such conflicts. The fact that journalists were permitted to travel to Muttur clearly establishes that the Security Forces were positively disposed to such a situation. The Government however, by the Ceasefire Agreement, undertook responsibility for the safety and security of members of the SLMM. In accordance with that duty the Government could not possibly have taken members of the SLMM to this scene of fierce fighting on the day its forces completely secured Muttur or on the following day.

Moreover Muttur was at that time, approachable only by sea. The Navy was then stretched to the maximum and its vessels sailing to Muttur were always at risk of being attacked from Sampur. The advisory by the Security Forces regarding travel to Muttur was to ensure the safety of the SLMM members.

It is extremely irresponsible that a pre-emptive ruling of this nature was issued while a judicial inquiry with international assistance was in progress. This action has significantly undermined the proper judicial process.

The Lawyers point out that when considering the above facts the ruling given by Maj. Gen. (Retd) Ulf Henricsson is baseless and lacks any real evidence to apportion responsibility to the Security Forces for these killings.

LTTE attackers routed in Point Pedro battle

The Sri Lankan navy successfully repulsed a twilight to dawn attack on its craft by the LTTE yesterday, using suicide boats off the seas of Point Pedro, in a bid to infiltrate Jaffna via the sea route.

Thirty LTTE boats were involved in the attack, but at the end of the pitched sea battle, eight including five carrying suicide cadres exploded.

Five LTTE vessels were sunk and the rest were seen retreating, some in heavily damaged condition.

The defending Navy had two of its boats slightly damaged. Three naval personnel were injured.

The motive for the attack was to open a sea route -- and it was launched in three separate pincher movements.

This was the second time that the Navy repulsed aggressive attacks on its craft since the LTTE decided to dishonour the ceasefire. In earlier attacks aimed at vessels carrying over 800 naval personnel, the LTTE retreated similarly with very heavy casualties.

Wounded girl confirms Sencholai was LTTE training camp

Three escapees have now confessed to the security forces that Sencholai was a LTTE military training camp, in a dramatic turn of events over the controversy on the so called LTTE orphanage at Sencholai.

Sripathi Kasthuri (18) and two of her friends now in security forces custody after they were wounded following the air strikes on this camp on August 14 had told the police that they were trained in the use of AK 47 rifles and military tactics in that camp.

Contrary to these views, the SLMM and UNICEF earlier claimed that the Air Force bombed a school in Sencholai where 61 students were reportedly killed and another 152 wounded. Confirming it was the location, they were trained, the 18 year old girl accompanied by her mother Ms Sripathi Kumudu told the media that the LTTE forcibly took them to this camp on August 10.

“In the first week of the August, Mayuran of the LTTE and Ivan of the Mullaitivu Education office came to our school and instructed us to participated in a training program at their Sencholai camp,” Kasturi said.

“They also threatened us saying that if we did not turn up it would be the end of our school career,” she added.

Three girls, Kasturi, Thambimuttu Dayalini (20), Balasingham Sunethra (19) who were wounded in the air strikes were brought to the Vavuniya Hospital by the ICRC. They were later transferred to the Kandy Hospital. They had been given military training in the Sencholai camp by the LTTE female cadre named Venthila akka.

“She also taught us first aid and on how to evade security forces during an encounter,” she added.

Kasturi said two LTTE members working in the Mullaitivu Educational Divisional Office named Arul Master and Mayuran, Venthila Akka and Kalai Aral Akka were the course supervisors. She said they were in their fourth day of training when the Air Force fighter jets bombed the camp in the morning of August 14.

Following air strikes, Kasturi was rushed to the Kilinochchi Hospital, from where she was transferred to the Vavuniya Hospital.

ABDUCTED JOURNALIST RELEASED UNSCATHED

The widely condemned abduction yesterday, August 29, morning of Sooriyan FM Tamil radio station News Manager Nadarajah Kurubaran ended this morning with his unscathed release by the abductors. He was abducted by unidentified armed men yesterday morning at around 4:15 a.m. near his residence at Pintaliya Road, Mount Lavania while he was driving towards the radio station located in Colombo Fort, according to reports. A roadside beggar is said have witnessed the scene of gunmen intercepting his vehicle and bundling him into their white van. The wife of the abducted journalist lodged a complaint with the Mt.Lavania police about the abduction at about 6:00 a.m. after seeing his abandoned vehicle about 200 yards from the residence.

Journalists' organizations including the Free Media Movement led by Sunanda Deshapraya were quick to stage a protest demonstration at about 11 a.m. in front of the Fort railway station while the abduction came under strong criticism from President Mahinda Rajapakse and many Tamil political leaders.

The journalist was blindfolded and his hands were tied behind his back by the abductors but he was not treated harshly, according to reports. The abductors who kept him blindfolded all throughout had questioned him mainly about his family background, the reports said.

Lankan air force bombs outskirts of LTTE HQ town

PK Balachandran - Hindustan Times

Colombo, August 31, 2006

The Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) bombed the outskirts of Kilinochchi, the northern town which houses the headquarters of the LTTE, as ground troops, supported by artillery and the air force, moved two kilometers into Sampur in Trincomalee district.

The LTTE's spokesman, Thaya Master, told Hindustan Times over the phone from Kilinochchi, that the Air Force had bombed a jungle area east of the town at about 9.45 am.

There were no reports of casualties, he added.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan ground troops had moved one kilometer into Sampur, Thaya Master said.

While the army website said that troops had gone two kilometers into Sampur, the military spokesman Brig Prasad Samarasinghe told Hindustan Times that there was no ground movement as there was no intention on the part of the army to take over Sampur.

"Our intention is to neutralize the artillery pieces and mortars in Sampur to ensure the safety of the Trincomalee harbour.

For this we have deployed the artillery and the air force. Ground troops might move in if necessary," he said.

"Within the next few days, the LTTE's guns in Sampur will be silent," he added.

Army chief Lt Gen Sarath Fonseka had told Daily Mirror on Thursday that ground troops had captured Kattaiparichchan and would take over Sampur "100%" in the next few days.

The Mahinda Rajapaksa government has made no secret of its intention to seize Sampur or at least put the LTTE's gun and mortars there out of commission.

As the President told the Norwegian peace brokers, there could be no cessation of hostilities till the LTTE's chief, Velupillai Prabhakaran, gave a "personal and credible assurance" that Sampur would not be used to stage attacks on the Trimcomalee harbour.

However, independent military observers feel that taking Sampur may not be that easy because the LTTE had apparently dug in at Sampur since 2003, given its strategic position of being at the mouth of the Trincomalee harbour.

The Tamilnet website said that on Wednesday, there was aerial bombardment of Iyakkachchi, just north of Elephant Pass.

Many other areas in Thenmarachchi, including Palai, were also bombed.

The LTTE's military spokesman Rasaiah Ilanthirayan has been saying that the Sri Lankan forces are on an offensive to take over Elephant Pass, which lies between Thenmarachchi and Wanni, where Kilinochchi is.

Elephant Pass was with the Sri Lankan Army till April 2000, when it was captured by the LTTE in a land and sea operation.

Sri Lanka government, opposition to discuss common approach to solving separatist conflict

Associated Press, Thu August 31, 2006 11:32 EDT COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) _ Sri Lanka's main opposition party said Thursday it is prepared to work together with the government to try to solve the country's violent separatist conflict, but analysts warned that a combined effort won't be easy to implement.

United National Party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said in a letter to President Mahinda Rajapakse that his party was ready to discuss ways to cooperate with the government to try to resolve the island nation's ethnic conflict which has killed over 65,000 people since 1983.

His letter was sent in response to an invitation by Rajapakse for a discussion, as government troops and separatist Tamil Tiger rebels engaged in heavy artillery and mortar battles in the volatile northeast.

``It is desirable and even necessary for a lasting solution that the main opposition parties and the government should collaborate in peace making. However the challenge will be for them to agree on a common approach,'' said Jehan Perera, an analyst at the independent National Peace Council, a Colombo-based think tank.

``At present the government is utilizing the military to soften up the LTTE. But the UNP's approach is to deal with the LTTE only through international mediated political negotiations,'' Perera said referring to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, the formal name for the Tamil Tiger rebel group.

``The past experience suggests that a common approach will be difficult to obtain.''

Sri Lanka's top-ranking general on Thursday vowed that within a few days the military would take control of an eastern, Tamil rebel-held enclave where fierce fighting since the weekend has killed scores of combatants and forced hundreds from their homes.

Analysts, however, said that even if the military did seize Sampur, it would not end the state's more than two-decade conflict with ethnic Tamil separatists.

UNP spokesman Tissa Attanayake said the two parties will soon decide on a start date for the talks.

Cooperation between Sri Lanka's government and the main opposition party would be required to push through any Parliamentary proposals to devolve areas where ethnic Tamils form the majority of the population.

A two-thirds majority is required in the 225-member Parliament to implement any amendments to Sri Lanka's constitution.

However, combined efforts between the country's main parties have been rare.

In 2000, former President Chandrika Kumaratunga's attempt to implement constitutional reforms failed after a last-minute refusal by the UNP to support the move.

Hundreds of combatants and civilians have died since Aug.11 when fresh clashes broke out between government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels in Sri Lanka's north and east.

The fighting had brought a 2002 Norway-brokered cease-fire to virtual collapse.

Sri Lanka 's top general says rebel territory in east will fall within days

Associated Press, Thu August 31, 2006 08:19 EDT . KRISHAN FRANCIS Associated Press Writer COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) _ Sri Lanka's top-ranking general on Thursday vowed that within a few days the military would take control of an eastern, Tamil rebel-held enclave where fierce fighting since the weekend has killed scores of combatants and forced hundreds from their homes.

Analysts, however, said that even if the military did seize Sampur, it would not end the state's more than two-decade conflict with ethnic Tamil separatists.

The military launched a major assault to recapture the Sampur region on Sunday, saying that in the hands of Tamil Tiger rebels it posed a threat to the strategic Trincomalee naval base.

Government troops are only two kilometers (1.24 miles) outside of Sampur, Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka told The Associated Press on Thursday, predicting that the separatist rebels would be flushed out within a few days.

In recent months, Sri Lanka has returned to the brink of full-scale war, with both sides launching major military offensives in the north and east, although neither side appears to have gained much ground, observers say.

``It is a war of shifting territory, an endless seesaw war. Sometimes the (rebels) gain territory, and sometimes the government does,'' M.R. Narayan Swamy, who has written extensively about the Tamil Tigers and Sri Lanka, said by telephone from New Delhi.

``In the past, we see that the Sri Lankan army has taken many offensives against the Tamil Tigers. It gives the outside world the impression that they have the upper hand and that the Tigers are on the run.

``But the Tigers bounce back in other areas. If that happens this time, we should not be surprised.''

The international community has expressed concerns about the growing humanitarian crisis in the north and east, where about 220,000 people have been made homeless by near-daily shelling, airstrikes and artillery fire since April.

It has also urged the government to provide greater security for aid workers, who are facing ever-increasing threats in their attempts to help the displaced, many of whom are ethnic Tamils and living in rebel-held territory.

On Wednesday, the country's Nordic cease-fire monitors blamed security forces for the killings of 17 Sri Lankans who worked for the international aid agency, Action Against Hunger, in eastern Muttur.

The government has vehemently rejected the allegations.

The ruling by the outgoing head of the monitoring mission, Ulf Henricsson, was ``unprofessional'' as it was not based on scientific facts, government spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said Thursday.

The ruling, however, prompted the U.N.'s humanitarian coordinator in New York, Jan Egeland, to warn that unless the government could protect aid workers, the U.N. would pull out of Sri Lanka.

The U.N's top envoy in Sri Lanka, however, indicated the agency was committed to its work in the tropical island south of India.

``Of course we are terribly concerned and we expect the government to do right thing, but right now we are in a major effort to support 200,000 displaced people, and we have a job to do,'' Miguel Bermeo told The Associated Press on Thursday.

The government said it had already sent 55 trucks of emergency food and other humanitarian goods to the Wanni, a vast swath of territory in the north held by the Tigers.

Another 155 trucks were waiting at the checkpoint in Vavuniya for the rebels to allow it to pass into their territory, Essential Services Commissioner S.B. Divaratne said at a Cabinet press briefing Thursday. A cargo ship also was being loaded in Colombo with 3,800 metric tons of food and other goods for northern Jaffna Peninsula, which has been virtually cut off since the rebels made a major push to recapture the region considered the heart of the Tamil culture on Aug. 11.

The 11-day battle caused heavy losses to both sides, with estimates ranging between 800 and 1,000 combatants killed, according to military figures and humanitarian groups.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam took up arms in 1983, claiming that the country's 3.2 million Tamils needed a separate homeland to escape the discrimination of the majority Sinhalese.

The resulting conflict cost the lives of at least 65,000 people before a 2002 cease-fire halted large-scale fighting. Peace talks however broke down in February, and the two sides have since returned to a war footing.

Earlier this week, the United Nations said some 217,457 people have displaced in the last few months of fighting.

Another 10,000 have fled by boat to the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, which has close historical ties to Sri Lanka's Tamils, it said.

The navy arrested 18 ethnic Tamils overnight who were trying to flee to India from northwest Sri Lanka, navy spokesman Commander D.K.P. Dassanayake said Thursday.