Muslims say TNA trying to force them out of Iqbal Nagar

Muslims in the Iqbal Nagar village in Trincomalee allege that the divisional Secretary of Kuchchaveli, backed by a leading TNA Member of Parliament, is making attempts to force them out and settle Tamils in the area by saying they were affected by Tsunami. They say that the divisional secretary is trying to disturb the ethnic proportions in the area by unlawful acts of this nature. Last week the divisional secretary had informed an NGO to clear the area to settle Tamils in the area However, when the Muslim villagers protested the NGO had backed out from the area.

Muslims in the area say that Tamils have more land available in the area for re-settlement while the Muslims have little over 100 acres in the area and that land is more important to them because most of them are fishermen and they need to live closer to the sea. Muslim villagers also say that Tamils in the area backed by the politicians had planned this encroachment long before the tsunami and they are trying to use tsunami to expedite and achieve their sinister objectives to upset the ethnic proportions in the east. .

Villagers also say that a certain politically motivated Tamil group had demarcated 250 acre area saying that it is for the development of the eastern university while only 50 acres were allocated for the eastern university and its further development. Muslim villagers say it is done with the intention of re-settling Tamils in the predominantly Muslim area. This act has deprived the Muslims the access to the beach, especially to the fisherman. The Divisional Secretary had also informed the Muslims in the area to prove their ownership within two days. Muslim villagers say they lived in the area for generations and they fled the area twice during the ethnic clashes in 1983 and 1990 and they were re-settled in the area when normalcy returned.

On Friday, SLMC leader Rauff Hakim wrote to the government agent, Trincomalee, G. Rodrigo saying that there is attempt to create communal disharmony through forcible settlement of alleged tsunami victims in the Iqbal Nagar Kuchchaveli GS division.

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It is the Avurudhu season and city pavements are the scenes of bustling activity with hawkers in a frenzied competition to sell their wares. Here young garment factory employees from the Katunayake FTZ look for a bargain during a round of last minute shopping before going to their villages for the Avurudhu.

wishes its readers a Happy Sinhala and Tamil New Year.


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Hollywood Artists launch housing project

The Chief Sanga Nayaka of America and President of Dharma Wijaya Buddhist Vihara in Los Angeles, Ven. Dr. Walpola Piyananda Thera launched a massive fund-raising campaign with the participation of Hollywood Artists and the World Trust Foundation in U.S.A., for the construction of permanent houses for the victims of tsunami catastrophe who lived along the coastal villages of Telwatta, Akurala, Godagama, Seenigama and Peraliya in the Divisional Secretariat area of Hikkaduwa.

Recently the ceremonial foundation laying was held at Galagodawatta amidst a large gathering of Hollywood Artists. Camille Cellucci Founder of Holywood Artists Alliance and Art Director of Titanic film addressing the gathering said that "in order to raise funds for the affected people who lost their houses and dear ones in your families numerous programmes were held in U.S.A. On the guidance of Ven. Piyananda Thera Hollywood Artists Alliance was formed", she said.
Referring to the clowns, she said that their role was to bring happiness and love for the affected communities and in the same manner the spiritual leaders such as the Buddhist monks present here tried to convey the universal message of the importance of love and sympathy," she said "Love is greater than suffering" she furthur said.

Fisheries nets Rs. 1.5 billion Chinese aid

The Chinese Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) will be re-constructing six fisheries harbours out of the 10 destroyed by the tsunami, at an estimated cost of approximately Rs. 1.5 billion (US $ 15m), within a period of 18 months.

The tsunami-battered fisheries industry gets a shot in the arm with the inauguration of Fisheries Harbour re-construction project in Panadura, with Chinese assistance.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony at the Panadura Fisheries Harbour yesterday, Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao said that having understood the seriousness of the damage caused by the tsunami to the fisheries industry and infrastructure and its impact on the country's economy as a whole, the Chinese Government despatched a high-level Chinese company for the re-construction of the harbours.

Premier Wen Jiabao observed, "The Chinese people were greatly perturbed by the severe losses caused to Sri Lanka by the tsunami tragedy. Sri Lanka and China have had long and traditional bilateral ties and mutual cooperation between them.
Although China is not a very rich country, it has offered its heart-felt assistance at this great hour of need, to revamp the fisheries industry, worst hit by the tsunami devastation".
He also pledged to assist Sri Lanka in setting-up 'Detection and Early-Warning' systems for disasters such as tsunamis and earthquakes, inclusive of training personnel for same.
"I wish Sri Lanka will progress to prosperity despite temporary shortcomings encountered in the process", Prime Minister Wen Jiabao added.

Fisheries and Ocean Resources Minister Chandrasena Wijesinghe speaking at the ceremony pointed out that the tsunami devastation was the worst ever disaster in Sri Lankan history killing over 40,000 people. The worst impact had been on the fisheries industry, in which over 20,000 boats and ten out of the twelve fisheries harbours around the island were destroyed. It has caused a grave threat to the economy of the country.

"We are confronted with the greatest challenge of reconstruction of the country. China's assistance in the re-construction of the fisheries harbours and the inauguration of this project today in Panadura is a great victory for us", the minister re-iterated.

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Tension between police and public in Potuvil

A tense situation is prevalent in Protuvil, Trincomalee after police had a confrontation with the public after villagers in Potuvil handed over a memorandum against illegal construction in their fishing areas. The situation intensified after last night's bomb attack by an unknown group. However, our sources confirmed that a Reserve Police Constable had been involved in this incident of a grenade being thrown. An eye witness of this incident is said to have been beaten up by the police later on.

Several Muslim villagers were reported to have been hospitalized after the confrontation between the Police and the public after the incident.
The public complained that certain elements are creating a conflict in the area with several incidents of illegal construction. After the villagers handed over the memorandum, the District Secretary had investigated the matter and he too had decided that this construction was illegal.
Rauf Hakeem , the Leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, said that the Government should hold an independent inquiry on this matter, he also said that he will bring this matter before the police officials in the area. Hakeem further stressed that various interested extremist groups in the area with vested interests are stirring clashes between the Sinhalese and Muslims. He warned that there were some outside elements who would benefit from such activities. SLMC leader urged all communities in the East to act with maximum restraint, in spite of the difficult situation.

Khalid

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President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga greets Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao before their talks at President’s House yesterday.

National Action Plan for tsunami children's welfare

WOMEN'S Empowerment and Social Welfare Minister Sumedha G. Jayasena has decided to prepare a National Action Plan recommended by the Government for the welfare of tsunami victim children. Under this plan funds will be utilised according to the plan, a ministry official said.

He said that the main intention of this plan is to ensure development and protection of the tsunami affected children.

The plan will be formulated after holding a series of discussions with all non-Governmental organisations working in tsunami affected areas.

The first discussion took place at the Galle District Secretariat on April 7 attended by Minister Jayasena. All MPs representing Galle and Hambantota districts, Provincial Council and Pradeshiya Sabha MPs, State officials and representatives of the NGOs were present.

All ongoing projects implemented by the NGOs such as pre-schools, day-care centres, vocational training centres, loan schemes, self-employment schemes, welfare programs related to the disabled will be streamlined according to the National Plan.

The Government's plan will be presented to the participants during the discussion and an investment plan will be formulated.

The program is a joint initiative of the Women's Empowerment and Social Welfare Ministry and the UNICEF. The same discussion will be held early May with the participation of NGOs, State officials and all the other parties in the North and East.

Following this another discussion will be held in Colombo with the participation of all officials in South and North-East Provinces.

Follow-up monitoring will be done during a period of two years with the participation of UNICEF and the ministry. Women's Empowerment and Social Welfare Ministry Additional Secretary W.H.W.Soysa will co-ordinate the program.

People displaced by tsunami moving into safe accommodation - UN Humanitarian Co-ordinator

THE tragically high loss of life, the number of those displaced and the sheer size of the district have presented significant challenges to all the UN agencies and NGOs working in Ampara.

But, now we can see real progress being made; people displaced by the tsunami moving into durable and safe accommodation able to look to a more hopeful future, said UN humanitarian Co-ordinator Miguel Berno.

He was speaking at the handing our 42 temporary houses to tsunami displaced families in Kalmunai and Ampara. UNHCR representative James Lynch also participated.

The whole UN country team in Sri Lanka is proud of what has been achieved during the initial relief phase and examples such as the construction of these temporary homes, augurs well for the next phases to come Bermeo added.

Built by UNHCR through its implementing partner the Rural Development Foundation (RDF), with water and sanitation facilities provided by UNICEF, the pilot project is a precursor to the construction of 2,500 more shelters in Ampara district, to be erected at a rate of 500 per month. A further 1,500 temporary houses have been pledged by UNHCR if required.

Zafira and her family were one of the first to move into their temporary houses on Thursday. Having previously lived only 30 meters from the shore, Zafira lost her seven-year-old son in the tsunami, which claimed a total of 900 lives in Marathamunai, Kalmunai Division. The tsunami took away my son, my home and all my possessions.

'My husband does not want to return to his fishing, instead he hopes to work as a local vendor and earn a living around Marathamunai," she said.

Bridging the gap between emergency shelter and reconstruction, temporary houses are becoming more urgently required with the imminent onset of monsoonal rains in the coming weeks.

The transitional shelters (measuring 12 x 16 feet) consist of two partitioned rooms built within a galvanised iron frame, and are compliant with the internationally-recognised Sphere standards for a family of five persons. The brick foundation provides a firm, impregnable base, with plywood forming the upper walls.

The roofs are made of zince aluminium. More expensive than tin, zinc aluminium has the added benefit of not conducting heat to the same extent as the cheaper option, ensuring greater comfort for those living inside.

The need to keep occupants cool is also recognised through the inclusion of a gap between the top of the outside walls and the zinc aluminium roof. However, at 6 foot in height, the walls will adequately furnish resident with privacy and security.

Lynch, said "the process of building transitional shelters is as important as the outcome. Close consultation with beneficiaries is vital to UNHCR when planning the construction of shelters", he added.

"We aim to keep communities together, and this requires careful attention in the process of identifying land on which to build.'

Designed to be mass-produced, the transitional shelters can still be tailored to suit the particular needs of beneficiaries.

UNHCR continues to work on its transitional shelter projects in Ampara and Jaffna, where the UN Refugee Agency recently completed 210 temporary houses outside Manikadu town. A future transitional shelter project is planned for Trincomalee.

Khalid

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Switzerland funds housing repair and reconstruction programme

Switzerland will assist the Government of Sri Lanka in its efforts to rebuild tsunami destroyed houses with seven million USD. Swiss Ambassador Bernardino Regazzoni today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with P.B. Jayasundera, Secretary, Ministry of Finance. Switzerland will also continue its ongoing reconstruction programme of schools in Matara and Jaffna.

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and other Swiss donors are funding the housing repair and reconstruction programme of the Government of Sri Lanka on a participatory scheme with seven million USD. These funds will cover the reconstruction and repair of approximately 4000 fully or partially damaged houses in the Trincomalee and Matara districts. All Tsunami affected households outside the restricted area (Buffer Zone) will be provided with phased cash grants to repair or rebuild their houses.

The construction process will be managed by the families, while Switzerland will provide expertise through SDC. Three experts each in Trincomalee and Matara will integrate local governmental bodies to implement the programme and exchange knowledge on the participatory reconstruction programmes. Switzerland has already started a school reconstruction programme in Matara, where SDC will reconstruct seven schools.

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Re-building the nation after Tsunami- Amunugama Says Co-operation is good at all levels

Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama said toay that there is a lot of co-operation between all parties, especially at the project implementation and ground level in re-building the nation after Tsunami. Amunugama paid a special tribute to all Sri Lankans and politicians for working together in affected areas.Responding to a question on , what steps the government had taken to get all parties on board to re-build the nation ; Amunugama said "We have set up structures at local levels, at Kachcheris and at divisional secretary level. Everyone is working well together and we don't have any problems."

Amunugama said at national level they have had consultations and the government has not received major complaints so far. "We may have differences on policy matters. But, the government is always ready to talk and engage others. We are always open for discussions" added Amunugama. Finance Minister also said that the government will stick by the 100 meter buffer zone. The Finance Minister pointed out that people who opposed the 100 meter buffer zone seem to be silent after the threat of a second tsunami recently. He considered it as an acceptance of the government's decision.

Answering a question on government's dealings with the LTTE and LTTE front Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) in the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar said "You are compelled to deal with these parties even if you don't like to, considering the monumental disaster our people faced after Tsunami. All our people will be treated equally. But, there will not be a sell out to the LTTE in this aspect. But, we have to be very practical" Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Dr P.B. Jayasundera and Mano Tittawella, Chairman of TAFREN also were associated with the two ministers, at the first media briefing held today to brief on Tsunami Rehabilitation and Reconstruction.

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This girl need an ungent help from any hospitals society

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Books within reach

Pope John Paul II, accompanied by Archbishop Nicholas Marcus Fernando, speaks to the then Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike, and President Chandrika Kumaratunga during his overnight visit to Sri Lanka on January 20, 1995. (File Photo)

Tsunami waves recorded at Kirinda and Colombo on March 28: NARA

Tide gauges operated by the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) at Kirinda and Colombo have measured tsunami waves resulting from the March 28 Sumatra earthquake.

A maximum wave height of 2.3 m was measured at Kirinda while at Colombo (Mutwal Fishery Boat Harbour) the maximum wave height was 0.5 m, NARA said in a release.

The waves were due to an earthquake measuring 8.7 on the Richter scale at 10.09.36 pm (Sri Lanka time) to the north of the Island of Nias.

The waves were recorded at both locations, approximately three hours after the earthquake. The first tsunami waves arrived at 0105 hours at Kirinda while at Colombo they were recorded 10 minutes later.

Dr. E. M. S. Wijeratne from NARA said the tsunami waves were smaller than those recorded during the December 26 tsunami.

On Boxing day a maximum tsunami wave height of 2.3 m was recorded by the NARA tide gauge in Mutwal harbour. "This time only a 0.5 m wave was recorded," Dr. Wijeratne said. "Compared to the normal tidal range of 0.6m, the observed water levels due to tsunami waves were very significant".

Prof. Charitha Pattiaratchi from the University of Western Australia said this is the third recorded instance within the past 122 years that tsunami waves have been recorded in Sri Lanka - the others being the Krakatoa volcanic eruption in 1883 and the December 26 tsunami. He added: "The effects of the March 28 earthquake on Sri Lanka was much smaller because the tsunami waves were directed away (to the south) from Sri Lanka and also the region affected by the earthquake was much smaller (200 km for the March 28 earthquake vs 1,200 km for the Boxing day earthquake).

Receding water levels were also observed at many coastal regions of Sri Lanka. Commander Y. N. Jayaratne of the Sri Lanka Navy said Naval observers, stationed at coastal regions after the tsunami warning was issued, reported receding of water levels from 0100 hours for about 15-20 minutes and has been significant in places like Tangalle (seven) m and Trincomalee (five) m, but surprisingly no observations in Batticaloa.

The Naval teams also observed notable differences from Pulmudai to Muttur and again from Kirinda to Galle, but all were very minor when compared to the previous devastating tsunami.

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Switzerland grants Rs.700 m for housing reconstruction

Switzerland has joined the Government's housing reconstruction programme in the tsunami affected areas by providing a grant of US $ 7 million (Rs. 700 million), the Finance Ministry said yesterday.

The grant funds will be used to provide cash grants to reconstruct fully or partly damaged houses located outside the coastal buffer zone.

Under the Government housing reconstruction programme household of a fully damaged house will receive a grant of Rs. 250,000 and household of a partly damaged house a grant of Rs. 100,000.

Matara and Trincomalee Districts have been identified for the cash grants provided by Switzerland. The funds will be channelled to the recipients through the Bank of Ceylon and the People's Bank.

Switzerland is the second donor to participate in the Government cash grant programme for housing reconstruction in the Tsunami affected areas. The World Bank, the first to join the Government housing reconstruction programme, provided US $ 40 million (Rs. 4 billion) under an Agreement signed on April 1, 2005.

The Agreement for the Swiss grant was signed yesterday at the Ministry of Finance and Planning. Bernardino Regazzoni, the Ambassador for Switzerland in Sri Lanka signed the Agreement on behalf of the Government of Switzerland and Dr. P.B. Jayasundera, Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Planning on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka.

Switzerland will also continue its ongoing reconstruction programme of schools in Matara and Jaffna. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and other Swiss donors such as Swiss Solidarity and the Swiss Red Cross are funding the housing repair and reconstruction programme of the Government of Sri Lanka on a participatory scheme.

The funds cover the reconstruction and repair of approximately 4,000 fully or partially damaged houses in the Trincomalee and Matara districts.

All Tsunami affected households outside the restricted area (Buffer Zone) will be provided with phased cash grants to repair or rebuild their houses. The construction process will be managed by the families, while Switzerland will provide expertise through SDC.

Three experts each in Trincomalee and Matara will integrate local governmental bodies to implement the programme and exchange knowledge on the participatory reconstruction programmes.

Additional cash projects as Cash for Host families, Cash for Rent or Cash for Livelihood will be directly implemented by the SDC experts for cash programmes in the same districts with a total budget of US$ two million.

Switzerland has already started a school reconstruction programme in Matara, where SDC will reconstruct seven schools. The post-conflict rehabilitation programme in the North of the island, which Switzerland has been running for two years, is being continued. In the Jaffna Peninsula, SDC has already rebuilt 14 schools and will reconstruct one tsunami affected school.

With its post conflict school rehabilitation programme in Jaffna and the new programmes in Matara and Trincomalee, SDC will be present in three tsunami affected areas of the country.

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President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga participating in a public function in Sevanagala yesterday. Minister Sumedha Jayasena is also in the picture

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Passengers at the Fort Railway Station yesterday morning.

Rail strike ends

A lightning strike by railway controllers from Monday night which inconvenienced thousands of train commuters including schoolchildren and office workers yesterday morning ended late afternoon after Transport Minister Felix Perera intervened.

The operation of trains on all lines was disrupted on account of the strike and the few trains which operated arrived way behind schedule. However, railway services were due to resume yesterday evening.

The strike was launched by train controllers demanding the reinstatement of rail workers interdicted following an accident in Veyangoda last year. They included the engine driver, assistant engine driver, chief controller, deputy chief controller and a station master who worked at Trains Control.

All except the station master had earlier been reinstated.Minister Perera, who considered requests for the station master's reinstatement, discussed the issue with the Public Service Commission and facilitated his reinstatement. The controllers and station masters called off the strike and reported for duty after the letter was delivered.

Commenting on the strike, the Minister said this was the 103rd train strike he faced after assuming duties as the Transport Minister. He had to intervene to solve the strikes. He urged transport unions not to strike as they affect the travelling public.

During the strike yesterday, some trains were held up for several hours near signal posts due to their non-operation. Most office workers who could not attend places of work on time were seen hopping into buses to return home. `From Kelaniya to Dematagoda, six trains were seen halted in a line one after the other for lack of signals. Among them were Vavuniya-Matara and Kandy-Colombo express trains.

Some trains were held up across level crossings causing traffic jams along some highways.

The Railway Controllers Union said the strike was launched to protest the authorities' failure to reinstate the railway controller interdicted in connection with a railway accident at Veyangoda in November last year.

Sumathipala Manawadu, Convenor, Organisation for the Protection of Railway Property said most railway workers have denounced this trade union action launched by controllers saying it demeaned the status of trade unions and their activities.

General Manager of Railways, Priyal de Silva held discussions with representatives of the Railway Controllers Union yesterday noon to seek a solution prior to their meeting with the Minister.

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LTTE attacks Naval boat off Trinco coast

A Truce Monitor on board a Navy patrol boat in the sea off Trincomalee suffered injuries, as suspected LTTE cadres, in a deliberate ceasefire violation, fired at the boat yesterday morning, Military Spokesman Brigadier Daya Ratnayake told the Daily News yesterday.

The Navy boat on routine patrol came under LTTE fire around 9.52 a.m. in the sea off Upparu, in Trincomalee.

The Truce Monitor on board the Naval boat sustained injuries while running for cover.

"It was a deliberate attempt by the LTTE to provoke the Navy since the SLMM flag was clearly visible and there was every possibility that the LTTE knew about the presence of a SLMM monitor on board," Brigadier Ratnayake added.

The LTTE cadres had fired 75 to 100 rounds at the boat from the land side in Upparu, Brigadier Ratnayake added.

SLMM monitor Alf Stoelam sustained injuries during the incident, when running for cover, the Spokesman added.

The boat, damaged in the incident was later brought to the Sri Lanka Navy camp in Trincomalee.

SLMM spokesperson Helan Olaffsdottir told the Daily News that the SLMM was yet to conclude whether yesterday's attack was a violation of the ceasefire. "We are conducting forensic investigations on the Navy boat to ascertain where the shots were fired from."

She further added that they were in contact with the LTTE ascertain as to why they fired at the Navy boat adding that they have not given any ruling on the incident. She said the presence of the truce monitor on board the Navy boat doesn't make any change towards giving their ruling.

However, she said no one was injured in the incident.

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65 tsunami victims hospitalized after eating grain in Sri Lanka

Associated Press, Mon April 4, 2005 06:39 EDT . - - COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP) At least 65 tsunami victims, including 25 children, were hospitalized in Sri Lanka - after eating uncooked grain at a refugee camp, officials said Monday.

The tsunami survivors in eastern Muttur, 230 kilometers (140 miles) northeast of the capital, Colombo, complained of dizziness and vomiting, said M. Shukri, director of the Muttur hospital.

``The patients had eaten some type of raw grain that needed to be boiled before consumption,'' he said.

They were hospitalized on Saturday. Some were discharged Sunday, while the rest were released on Monday, Shukri said.

Tens of thousands of people displaced by the Dec. 26 tsunami still remain in overcrowded camps and temporary shelters around the island. They are largely dependent on government aid.

Sri Lankan Rains Flood Tent Camps for Tsunami Survivors in East

April 4 (Bloomberg) -- Rains in Sri Lanka's eastern region caused flooding in tent camps housing thousands of people made homeless by the Dec. 26 tsunami that killed about 39,000 in the South Asian island nation.

``The tent floors are wet or flooded,'' A.K. Thavarajah, a relief official for the Batticaloa/Amparai district, said yesterday, according to a report on the TamilNet Web site. ``Mats and sheets on which refugee children sleep have got soggy with the unexpected rains.''

Hundreds of people are sheltering in buildings in Batticaloa that were used to store rice and are now in a dilapidated state with leaking roofs, TamilNet said.

Sri Lanka was the worst-hit country after Indonesia by the tsunami disaster. About 17,000 people were killed in the mainly Tamil north and eastern region. The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which has been fighting for two decades for a separate homeland in the northeast, has accused the government of President Chandrika Kumaratunga of failing to provide enough aid to rebel-held areas of the island of 19.7 million people, a charge the administration denies.

About half a million people were left homeless by the tsunami that devastated coastal towns and villages.

Sri Lanka needs $.1.5 billion in aid to recover from the disaster, the Asian Development Bank, the World bank and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation said last month. About $900 million has been committed to help Sri Lanka, the ADB said last month.

Damage from the tsunami threatens economic expansion that has benefited from a cease-fire in February 2002 that halted the civil war. Sri Lanka needs to rebuild 100,000 houses, as well as ports, hotels and roads.

Peace talks between the Liberation Tigers and the government, under the Norway brokered cease-fire, have been stalled since April 2003. The civil war has killed about 60,000 people.

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