| Tigers
intensify attacks on Kilaly Terrorists on Sunday mounted mortar and
artillery strikes on the navy’s Kilaly detachment , military officials said
yesterday.
(Censored)
However, navy headquarters yesterday afternoon confirmed regular artillery and mortar
attacks on the detachment but said that there had been no withdrwal from the area.
The sources said that government security forces positions along the Kandy- Jaffna road
[A9] beyond Pallai were under heavy attacks and civilians were fleeing areas threatened by
the LTTE advance.
Kilaly had been used extensively by Sea Tigers for boat movements to and from the
Jaffna peninsula before troops regained the area during operation Riviresa that brought
the peninsula under the government control.
Military sources said that attacks on Kilaly intensified soon after troops abandoned
Pallai and surrounding areas Sunday afternoon. Initial reports said that 14 soldiers and
one officer were killed and over 200 were wounded during the battle which forced the army
out of Pallai, situated 15 kms off Elephant Pass on the Kandy - Jaffna road. However, the
Pallai death toll rose yesterday as the army accepted bodies of 42 officers and men killed
during Sunday’s battle.
The LTTE on Monday offered to return these bodies through the ICRC. ICRC spokesman
Harasha Gunawardene yesterday said that bodies were handed over to ICRC at Akkarayan in
the Wanni and transported to Vavuniya.
Midweek Politics
Fall out from Jaffna
by Prasad Gunewardene
May Day celebrations in the City of Colombo were on a low key on Monday
sans the traditional heat and fury. The tragic news of the fall of another strategic camp
in the North, Pallai, marked the May Day. Veteran Trade Unionist,PA Minister Alavi Moulana
who had organised forty-two May Day rallies of the SLFP in Colombo expressed much concern
about the situation in the North. "How could we celebrate May Day when the nation is
in peril," Moulana said. He missed organising the forty-third May Day but was at
Temple Trees discussing the military situation at conferences chaired by President
Kumaratunga.
President Kumaratunga who heard about the fall of Pallai in the late hours of Sunday,
summoned a meeting of her senior ministers early on Monday to discuss the situation. She,
with her ministers, discussed the agenda for her meeting with UNP leader Ranil
Wickremesinghe and his delegation for talks last evening. The President was in constant
touch with the defence top brass till late hours on Monday. PA sources said that a
National Defence Council was on the cards at yesterday’s meeting with the UNP which
would include the Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The situation in the North appears to be deteriorating day-by-day with the LTTE using
superior fire power against the government troops. The army continues to use its terms
like ‘tactical withdrawals’ and ‘delayed defence lines’ whenever camps
fall into the hands of the enemy. While the government places the number of troop
casualties at low figures, the ICRC announces that the LTTE was handing over dead bodies
of soldiers and the ICRC number contradicts the official figures of the government.
On the political scene, the UNP is prepared to help the government to overcome the
crisis forgetting all differences. UNP Chairman Karu Jayasuriya has said that the UNP
would work together with the government as it was the need of the hour to protect the
nation. Mr.Jayasuriya’s statement has received a good response from the government
quarters.Several ministers who were at Monday’s meeting with the President were
reported to have told the President that it was time both parties buried differences and
stopped attacks on each other which would help to crush the enemy in a united effort. A
very senior minister present at this meeting had pointed out that the government must stop
talking of what happened during the Premadasa days as such attacks were not appropriate at
this time of crisis.
President Kumaratunga summoned a meeting of the Security Council yesterday morning to
review the situation in the North which was attended by the three service chiefs at Temple
Trees and Deputy Defence Minister Gen. Anuruddha Ratwatte. Authoritative sources said the
meeting was summoned to discuss plans for the week on the situation in the North.
Yesterday the President chaired a series of meetings to discuss the Northern situation
after the Security Council meeting. She was to meet the UNP in the evening followed by the
Tamil parties. An emergency cabinet meeting was also summoned late in the evening to
discuss the same subject.
Meanwhile, the Maha Sangha who was opposed to foreign troops on our soil during the
Jayewardene regime and who urged President Premadasa to send the Indian troops away have
now called for Indian troop assistance to crush the LTTE. The Maha Sangha met the Indian
High Commissioner in Colombo, Mr. Shiv Shankar Menon this week to appeal for Indian
assistance to crush the LTTE. When President J. R. Jayewardene invited the IPKF here, the
SLFP too protested against that decision of the UNP government and held demonstrations in
the city. The JVP too was a party which advocated the theory to send the IPKF away.
We should
seek SAARC assistance says Sobitha Thera
by Himangi Jayasundere
The Jathika Sangha Sabha and the National Joint Committee yesterday requested the
government to seek military assistance from the SAARC countries to crush the ongoing LTTE
offensive in the Jaffna peninsular . President of the National Joint Committee, Makuluwawe
Sobitha Thera speaking at a press conference at Abayaramaya pointed that one of the
components in the SAARC charter was that the SAARC countries would unite to fight against
terrorism. "It’s a case of implementing this" he said. He pointed out that
Sri Lanka could request assistance particularly from India with which it has a long,
established relationship and seek help in obtaining coastal protection, military advice,
military training and aircraft. In 1972 when the JVP insurrection erupted, the Prime
Minister requested assistance from Russia and China he said, pointing out that it was not
something new.
He further said that there was an urgent need to set the entire country on a war
footing and de-politicise the war. He suggested that for this purpose a special council
should be set up headed by retired military officials who will provide military planning
and advice. "Every moment we delay there is going to be more destruction"
Sobitha Thera said pointing out that it was already too late. Speaking of his meeting with
the Indian High Commissioner in Colombo last week, with whom he discussed the issue of
obtaining assistance, he said that the Indian High Commissioner had responded that it
would consider such a request if the Sri Lankan government makes one. He denied
allegations that he had requested for the Indian Peace Keeping Force to solve the problem.
The thera further said that the military was not getting the support it required from
the people. "In any other country the situation would have been different" he
said. The people must also be ready to make sacrifices in order to save the country he
said.
"Some have labelled us as anti-Tamils and Nationalists but it is not only we who
want peace, the Tamil people also want an end to the war" he said pointing out that
Tamil political parties such as the EPRLF and TELO have also shown priority towards this
cause.
Secretary of the National Joint Committee, Piyasena Dissanayake said that Norway has
been supporting the LTTE for a long time. "It would be far better to get assistance
from India than Norway" he said. He further said that in 1983 when 13 policemen were
killed there was huge an uproar, but following the Elephant pass debacle where many more
have lost their lives the people remain silent.
Dr.S.B.Hettiaratchi of the National Joint Committee said that it was appalling that
neither the government nor the opposition seem to fully understand the danger the country
is facing. "A Tamil state is waving its hand at us" he said. Quoting history and
the Chola invasions he said that there was a likelihood of the country being run over by
Tamil terrorists who will assassinate and imprison its leaders.
The Jathika Sangha Sabha will conduct religious rites for soldiers who died in the
recent Elephant Pass debacle and all other war heroes who have lost their lives in the
conflict, on May 5 at the Vihara Maha Devi Park.
Indian
HC’s New Delhi departure not linked to Sangha meeting
Indian High Commissioner Shivshankar Menon’s recent discussions with Sri
Lanka’s National Sangha Council [NSC] was nothing more than a routine meeting, High
Commission spokesman said yesterday.
"Ven. Sobitha Thera and several other leading Buddhist monks met the High
Commissioner last Saturday," he said saying that the meeting was arranged on a
request made by the NSC. The spokesman said that during the meeting, Ven. Sobitha and
other monks expressed their views of many issues including the current situation in the
Jaffna peninsula.
"They made a series of suggestions," he said adding that the High
Commissioner explained India’s desire to see a permanent solution to Sri Lanka’s
ethnic problem without dividing the country.
He said that there was no truth in speculation that High Commissioner departure to New
Delhi last Sunday was any way linked with the previous day’s meeting.
‘LTTE maintains high level
of violence’
Anti-US terrorism shifts from ME to S. Asia, says US
In 1999 the locus of terrorism directed against the United States continued to shift
from the Middle East to South Asia according to the South Asia Overview of the state
Department’s "Patterns of Global Terrorism: 1999" report.
The report says: United States made repeated requests to Islamabad to end support for
elements harboring and training terrorists in Afghanistan and urged the Government of
Pakistan to close certain Pakistani religious schools that serve as conduits for
terrorism. Credible reports also continued to indicate official Pakistani support for
Kashmiri militant groups, such as the Harakat ul-Mujahidin (HUM), that engaged in
terrorism.
The report deals with situations in Afghanistan, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The
following is the assessment of Sri Lanka’s situation:
In Sri Lanka the government continued its protracted conflict with the Liberation
Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Referring to Sri Lanka in its report South Asia Overview of the US State Department
says the separatist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which the United States
has designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization, maintained a high level of violence in
1999, conducting numerous attacks on government, police, civilian, and military targets.
President Chandrika Kumaratunga narrowly escaped an LTTE assassination attempt in
December. The group’s suicide bombers assassinated moderate Tamil politician Dr.
Neelan Tiruchelvam in July and killed 34 bystanders at election rallies in December. LTTE
gunmen murdered a Tamil Member of Parliament from Jaffna representing the Eelam
People’s Democratic Party and the leader of a Tamil military unit supporting the Sri
Lankan Army.
LTTE activity against the Sri Lankan Government centered on the continuing war in the
north. The Sri Lankan military’s offensive to open and secure a ground supply route
through LTTE-held territory suffered a major defeat when the LTTE fought a series of
intense battles in early November and regained control of nearly all land the government
had captured in the past two years. The battles resulted in thousands of casualties on
both sides.
There were no confirmed cases of LTTE or other terrorist groups targeting US citizens
or businesses in Sri Lanka in 1999. Nonetheless, the Sri Lankan Government was quick to
co-operate with US requests to enhance security for US personnel and facilities and
co-operated fully with US officials investigating possible violations of US law by
international terrorist organizations. Battlefield requirements forced Sri Lankan security
forces to cancel their participation in a senior crisis management seminar under the
Department of State’s Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program in 1999.
UNP to hand
over medical equipment to army hospital
Army Commander Lt. General Srilal Weerasooriya yesterday asked the UNP to hand over a
consignment of medical equipment worth Rs. one million to the military hospital, a party
spokesman said. Last Saturday the government blocked the hand over of the same consignment
to the hospital claiming that all items should be handed over to the Temple Trees.
The spokesman said that the army chief has asked the UNP to hand over the consignment
at the hospital today morning.
Though the equipment was originally to be handed over to the officials of the Military
Hospital at 10.00 a.m. a senior army officer had telephoned and said that they had
received orders from above not to receive this consignment of medical equipment and also
to desist from welcoming any politicians to the hospital.
If the UNP agrees, it could donate the equipment to the Presidential Secretariat, the
army officer had told the UNP.
The UNP, which has severely criticised the sudden move by the government, said that
they would never consider handing over the equipment to any other place, but the Military
Hospital.
No
moral right to increase MPs’ and Ministers’ salaries
From Cyril Wimalasurendre
KANDY: While thousands of youth are sacrifising their lives in a bid to save the
integrity of their motherland and while the working class is denied of a minute salary
increase in the wake of the rising cost of living there is no moral right for the Members
of Parliament and the Ministers to increase their salaries, said the Vice President of the
United General Employees Union (UGEU) and former Central Provincial Council Member Raja
Uswetakeiyawa addressing the only May Day rally in Kandy on Monday.
The rally organised by the United General Employees Union was held at George E. de
Silva Park. It was preceded by a procession along streets of Kandy.
The working class has been agitating for quite some time for a reasonable salary
increase to enable them to meet the ever increasing cost of living. This demand has not
been met by the state. We urge the government to pay a minimum of Rs. 5000 per month to
the workers, Mr. Uswetakeiyawa said.
He said the working class never wanted war because those of the working class never
clashed on communal grounds. There was peace and friendship in the working class. So they
detest war. The employees of factories are in constant fear of losing their jobs. The
capitalists both local and foreign are encouraged by the government to open factories
under the BOI and they are granted all types of incentives. In a year or two these
industrialists will close their projects and leave. The poor young men and women will be
out of employment.
There is the danger of closing of certain factories in Kandy area. The authorities
should move in and take necessary precautious, he said.
Ven. Mahagalkadawela Pungnasara Thera said the war has been a burden on the workers of
the country more than on any other group. The war must end. We urge the government, the
Opposition and the leadership of the LTTE to come to the negotiating table to bring about
a halt to this turmoil and restore peace in the country. Those who make money out of the
war do not wish to see an end to it.
Messrs. Ranjith Wijesinghe Secretary, UGEU, K. D. Tilakaratne, K. P. Sivam, G. Sivakura
and Ms. Anula Samarakoon also addressed the meeting.
Heritage
of Sinhala people threatened by multinational companies say Wimal Weerawansa
by Chittaranjan de Silva
The JVP politburo member Wimal Weerawansa on Monday evening said that the
heritage of the Sinhalese is not threatened as they believe, by the Tamils or Muslims, but
by capitalists and multinational companies, which are being promoted by the Sri Lankan
government. Addressing the party’s May Day rally at the BRC grounds, Weerawansa
accused the government of destroying the entire country.
The JVP supporters dressed in red, marched carrying banners and slogans to the BRC
grounds, denouncing capitalism, as their leaders cheered them on.
Speaking to a large gathering, which the organisers said was around 20,000, Weerawansa
stressed that people of all communities should be able to identify their real enemy.
He asked the people, is it the Tamil or the Muslim who is threatening your heritage at
Eppawela.
The people roared in unison to answer: "It is the capitalist American
company".
"It is not only the phosphate deposits that the government is trying to sell to
the Americans, it is the age old civilisation which surrounds the area in which the
deposits are situated, which the Sinhalese are proud of," Weerawansa said.
Similarly, multinational companies have taken over the Telecom and Gas sectors.
Medicinal plants which the ancients believe were grown by King Buddhadasa in an ancient
forest in Bibile is being sold to multinational companies with the approval of the Health
Ministry, he charged.
The tanks built by the ancient kings in Rajarata are to be sold to a multinational
company. With these tanks, the ancient civilisation, which was built around these tanks
would also be sold, he said.
Weerawansa questioned: "Is it the oppressed Tamils or Muslims who have brought
these companies and are posing a threat to the heritage of the Sinhalese, which most
people are trying to protect."
The Sinhalese would not want to be in the position the Tamils are today.
Be realistic and think he urged the people.
The North-East, even if it is separated by the LTTE, would only be a small strip of
land, rich in resources and the sea surrounding it, which is also teeming with aquatic
resources. Even if the country is divided, then the Tamils would be restricted only to the
North.
But if that could be avoided, then the Tamils also could be a part of the entire
country.
He urged the communities to unite to fight the common enemy, which is capitalism and
the multinational companies, rather than fight each other.
Multinational companies have torn into the cultures of all communities in the country
and is pillaging the heritage of the countrymen, Sinhalese ,Tamil and Muslim Weerawansa
charged.
Yet, the Sinhalese are fighting the Tamils and not these multinational companies,
Weerawansa added.
He further said that multinational companies through the guise of globalisation and
privatisation are impoverishing the poor nations and making slaves out of the poor.
Weerawansa said that it is capitalism which has divided nations and instigated them to
fight each other and the Sinhalese Tamil conflict is no exemption.
Before the country is turned to another Kosovo, he urged the people in all communities
to unite and make peace with each other.
There are two options, either make "peace’’ or long for the death to
come, he said.
He expressed grave doubts on the success of peace talks the President is holding with
UNP leader, Ranil Wickremasinghe.
Weerawansa said that capitalists who are to blame for this crisis cannot solve this
problem.
He said that it is the socialists, with its concept of equality, that can solve it.
The government is bankrupt to such an extent that it is borrowing money from local
banks to pay the salaries of government servants. And if it does not dance to the tune of
the World Bank it will not receive aid from it. According to Weerawansa, this has made the
government a tool of the capitalists, who are strangling the poor nations of the world.
He said that the JVP is today at the fore front in the protests against the capitalist
systems in the world and the party membership could be proud of this.
Several members of the ‘Communism For The Future Organisation’ in Japan also
spoke.
Plans to transfer excess
teachers
Galapitawala Divaine Corr:
Arrangements are being made to transfer excess teachers in Kegalle District to
schools in Embilipitiya, Balangoda, Nivithigala and Ratnapura.
Zonal Education Office Kegalle disclosed that there were 73 teachers in excess in
Kegalle Zone and 455 teachers in Mawanella zone respectively. It is mandatery to have
equal numbers in every zone to get World Bank Aid for the implementation of new
educational reforms.
Education officials also said the prevailing vacancies are for teachers qualified in
Science, Maths, English, Sports, Art, Dancing Music and Technology. "We have to give
serious thought to this fact in selecting teachers for transfers," they said.
NSUB programme held
Sirisoma Susewhewa Wadduwa Correspondent
The North-South Unit Bridge Programme, designed to promote peace between youth of
Jaffna and Kalutara District, was held recently in the Horana Divisional Secretary’s
division, organized by the National Youth Services Council and National Integration
Programme Unit.
This was held under the supervision of Sunil Abeywardena Horana Divisional Secretary.
Fifty youths, both girls and boys, from Jaffna came to Horana and joined the youth of
Horana area and spent time together exchanging pleasantries and promoting national
understanding thereby contributing to the North South Unity Bridge Programme.
MP complains to
Speaker of a breach of privilege
Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake has complained to Speaker K. B. Ratnayake of a breach
of privilege allegedly committed by the Director of Information, Ariya Rubesinghe.
Karunanayake in a letter addressed to the Speaker states:
"I write to complain of a serious breach of privilege committed by a senior public
servant, namely Mr. Ariya Rubesinghe, the Director of Information.
A few days ago several Members of Parliament including myself stated that the actions
of Mr. Rubesinghe were strongly suggestive of his collaboration with the Liberation Tigers
of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and announced our intention of moving a motion in Parliament for the
appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee to inquire into the actions and conduct of
Mr. Rubesinghe, more particularly whether he was guilty of treason by jeopardising the
lives our soldiers currently engaged in a war against the terrorist LTTE, or whether he
was guilty of any other offences.
Then on Friday, 28th April, 2000 I together with several other Members of Parliament
gave notice of our intention to move the said motion in Parliament.
We find now that Mr. Rubesinghe has in a Press release issued through the Department of
Information threatened to take action against us. I attach herewith a copy of the Press
release referred to above.
I am sure that you will agree that this is a grave breach of our privileges as Members
of Parliament.
In these circumstances, I request you to inquire into my complaint and take such
action, as you deem appropriate in the circumstances.
I also seek an opportunity to raise this matter in the House at the earliest
opportunity.
The other Members of Parliament who are also affected will address you separately on
this matter."
Claymore blast wounds six
soldiers
By Dinasena Rathugamage
Vavuniya - A claymore mine blast near Iranairuppukulam on Monday afternoon
wounded six soldiers, an armed forces spokesman said. He said that the ill-fated vehicle
was on its way to Iranairuppukulam from Poovarasankulam.
Later, troops conducted a cordon and search operation in the area but failed to make
any arrests.
Meanwhile terrorists on Monday put up posters at Mannar, Pesalai and Thalaimannar
urging the security forces to vacate the area immediately or face a massive attack similar
to the one that devastated the strategic Elephant Pass base, security officials said.
However, these posters were removed by security and police.
A special police team from Colombo on Monday arrested four terrorist suspects including
two women during a raid. Police said that the suspects were taken in for questioning on
information provided by a terrorist suspect arrested in the Vavuniya police division area
some time ago.
SDA
has no proper order in their work — vice chairman
Induruwa Divaina corr.
Southern Development Authority, boasts of its performances. But it is clear that
there is no proper order in what they do. They provided financial help to those who do not
possess even an inch of land but not to those who really need them. Said the Vice
Chairman, Bentota Pradeshiya Sabha, Sarath Ananda when the sabha met recently with the
Deputy Minister of Livestock Development and Estate Infrastructure in the chair.
Vice Chairman Sarath Ananda further said when boxes for bee-keeping were distributed,
two or three boxes were given to one person. It is disgusting to talk about the work done
by the authority.
Deputy Minister Noel Kariyawasam pointed out a meeting was held recently at Temple
Trees presided over by the President, to review the progress made by the Southern
Development Authority. A video tape with several activities done by them were shown there.
But the MPs in the area said that these things had not been done in their electorates. The
Southern Development Authority has only a schedule of work which has to be implemented.
Secretary Bentota Pradeshiya Sabha T. A. Gunadasa said the residents have complained
that the company which undertook telephone wiring cut branches of trees haphazardly.
Pradeshiya Sabha Member J. P. Siriwardena said telephone posts have been installed
obstructing highways.
Deputy Minister Noel Kariyawasam said residents blame us for not putting a second layer
of tar on Hipanwatta road. We should attend to this soon. We requested for houses of those
who wish to rare cattle but it has not been forwarded yet. |
