New Commissioner for Rehabilitation .....

New Commissioner for Rehabilitation

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has appointed Major General Daya Rathnayake as the new Commissioner General of Rehabilitation, the government.

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President tells teachers........

President tells teachers:
People-centric policies to stay
IMF acknowledges Mahinda Chinthana viable

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday asserted that the Government’s people-centric policies, in line with the Mahinda Chinthana policy framework would never be sacrificed in order to gain financial or other advantages.-dailynews

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New night mail train service from Colombo to Vavuniya ......

New night mail train service from Colombo to Vavuniya


A new night mail train service was launched by the Government from Colombo to Vavuniya starting 9.45 pm yesterday (July 30).
"This is another historic move taken by the Government on President Mahinda Rajapaksa's direction," Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma told the media in Vavuniya yesterday.
The Minister said the night mail service was suspended in March, 2008 following terrorist activities. The Government has been able to re-commence the night mail train service due to moves taken by it to eradicate terrorism.
Arrangements have also been made to extend the time of the night bus service operating in Vavuniya. The present night bus service operating until 7.30pm will be extended up to 10.00pm, he said.
The Minister said the Government will re-open the A-9 road only after the demining activities are completed and the green light given by the UN.
Measures will also be taken to develop the transportation of goods via a land route from Colombo to Vavuniya.
The Government will take steps to develop Vavuniya as a key economic hub. Initiatives will also be taken to reduce the number of check points in Vavuniya in keeping with the favourable security situation, he added.
Courtesy: Daily News

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Combating threat of terrorism........

Combating threat of terrorism:
Lanka perfect example - Bahrain PM
Three MoUs signed between the two countries:

Bahrain Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al-Khalifa yesterday commended the manner in which Sri Lanka acted to defeat terrorism and said this is a perfect example to other countries which faced with the threat of terrorism.-dailynews

pix-Sudath Silva /P.D.Rangith

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openingvof the Sigiriya Museum

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda at the opening of the Sigiriya Museum. - Picture by Chandana Perera

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Haul of arms and explosives.........

Haul of arms and explosives found


Acting on a tip-off officers of the STF conducted a search operation yesterday (27) in NARAKAMAULLA, LAVENIARU, TARARIKULAM, and KURUTHTHAMBADA areas and recovered following weapons and explosives that had been buried.
T - 56 Weapons - 58

Grenade Pistol - 01

Grenade Pistol rounds - 02

9 mm Micro rounds - 2560

5.55x45 mm rounds - 3800

Land mine (11 kg 300g) - 01

Land mine (12kg) - 01

Side chargers (15kg) - 03

7.62x30 rounds - 11000

Anti Personnel mines - 111

MCNS

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Mathata Thitha taking effec...........

Mathata Thitha taking effect:
Marked drop in alcohol, tobacco use

With the anti-alcohol and anti-tobacco policies pursued by the present Government from 2005 under President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Mathata Thitha policy the consumption of tobacco among school children and adults had been reduced considerably at present, a Global Youth Tobacco Survey had found. Accordingly, tobacco consumption among schoolchildren has declined from 5 percent in 1997 to 0.9 percent at present while among adults tobacco consumption has dropped from 13 percent in 1997 to 5 percent at present.-dailynews

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Education Ministry decrees........

Education Ministry decrees:
Mobile phone taboo in schools

In move to create a well disciplined student population in the country, the Education Ministry is to issue a special circular that prevents students from bringing mobile phones to the schools.dailynews

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Former Japanese FM arrives in Sri Lanka........

Former Japanese FM arrives in Sri Lanka

Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda arrived in the country last night. He is expected to meet several top government officials during his visit -dailymirror

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SAARC Council of Ministers to declare.....

SAARC Council of Ministers to declare:
Decade of Intra-regional connectivity in SAARC


The Second Meeting of SAARC Ministers of Transport chaired by Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma was held at the Colombo Hilton on July 25 with the participation of all Member States of SAARC. dailynews

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Historic Nallur Festival to be celebrated in grand scale this year

Historic Nallur Festival to be celebrated in grand scale this year
Sri Lanka Tourism together with Sri Lanka Air force introduce direct charter flights to Jaffna


Thousands of Hindu devotees are expected to flock to the historic Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil for the annual Nallur festival, which will be held from 27th July to 19th August. The annual festival is expected to be celebrated on a grand scale this year, with the dawn of peace in the country.

Sri Lanka Tourism, as an initiative to promote religious and cultural tourism, has spearheaded the promotion of the historic Nallur Festival, particularly with the Tamil Diaspora, who was encouraged to come with their families and participate in the festivities. Hon. Minister of Tourism Promotion Faiszer Musthapha with a delegation from the Tourism Ministry and Tourism Industry visited Jaffna last week to develop and promote the tourism and hotel industry in the peninsula ahead of the festival.more-TPB

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New bridge over Mahaweli.......

New bridge over Mahaweli :

President Mahinda Rajapaksa participating at the opening of the Kandy-Katugastota new bridge by cutting a ribbon yesterday. Ministers Dr.Sarath Amunugama, T.B Ekanayake, Keheliya Rambukwelle, Central Province Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa, Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake, Highways Ministry Secretary Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda , ‘Maga Neguma’ Chairman Jaliya Kulasekara are also in the picture. Picture by Sudath Silva

source-Dailynews

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Inspector General of Police directs: ......

Inspector General of Police directs:
Three pronged attack on crime

Inspector General of Police Jayantha Wickremaratne at a special conference at his chambers on Friday assigned three Deputy Inspectors General of Police to combat three major crimes in the country. They are - gang operated organised crimes, illicit liquor and hard drug trafficking. dailynews

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Reactivation of Press Council

Reactivation of Press Council:
Not a move to suppress journalists

Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena told Parliament yesterday the moves taken by the Government to reactivate the Press Council has not been taken whatsoever to suppress journalists or impose restrictions on media personnel as highlighted by Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.dailynews

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Galle MC -PO leader shot dead.......

Galle MC opposition leaderDushantha shot dead

The Galle Municipal Council (MC) opposition leader Dushantha Seniviratna (40 year old) was shot dead by unidentified gunmen traveling on a motorbike in Galle yesterday(22)says by Police.

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Huge progress in estate schools ..........

Huge progress in estate schools
All facilities provided including 3600 teacher appointments:

President Mahinda Rajapaksa stressed that the estate sector has seen tremendous development in terms of education and that teacher shortages in the estate sector have already been solved by appointing over 3600 educated youth in the area as teachers. “We have provided adequate teachers to the Estate schools”, the President added. dailynews

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Sri lanka to have action plan......

Sri Lanka to have action plan on human rights

(Xinhua) -- The Sri Lankan government said Monday that it would soon announce an action plan to safeguard human rights and prevent torture and disappearances.
"This action plan would show our commitment and our determination to minimize, prevent or even eradicate torture and disappearances," Minister of Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe told reporters.
Samarasinghe said a committee headed by the island's attorney general has been appointed to draft the plan.
"The committee is tasked to come out with the plan as soon as possible," Samarasinghe said.
Sri Lanka's recent human rights record was called into question during the final phase of the military conflict between the government troops and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during which thousands of civilians were reportedly killed and more than 300,000 displaced.
However, the government was successful in defeating a motion against it at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in May.
UN Secretary General has called for an independent probe on allegations of human rights violations of the island.
The LTTE was defeated in May after fighting for an independent Tamil homeland in the north and east for more than two decades.

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President at Mahiyanganaya.....

President at Mahiyangana

President at Mahiyangana: President Mahinda Rajapaksa arriving at the Mahiyangana Raja Maha Viharaya for the felicitation accorded to him and the Security Forces on the second month of the liberation of the country from terrorism. With the President are the Mahanayake of the Asgiriya Chapter the Most Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkitha Thera and Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva. Picture by Kamal Jayamanne

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prices of milk.....

Prices of imported milk powder drops

The prices of imported milk powder was reduced by the Government said Minister of Consumer Affairs Bandula Gunawardena yesterday (18).
Accordingly the prices of imported milk powder will be reduced with effect from midnight Monday (20). The price of a 1 kg packet of milk powder will be reduced by Rs 37 while a 400g packet of milk powder will come down by Rs 15 stated Minister Bandula Gunawardena. lankapuwath

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All set for Sri Lanka’s biggest beach festival to set Hikkaduwa ablaze

All set for Sri Lanka’s biggest beach festival to set Hikkaduwa ablaze

The much awaited ‘Hikkaduwa Beach Fest 09’, is set to take place from the 30th of July to the 2nd August. Held in the southern coastal strip of the country, last year’s Hikkaduwa Beach Fest attracted more than 10,000 people. Organized by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, the Hikkaduwa Beach Fest is Sri Lanka’s biggest beach festival, with top international artistes and DJs flown into Sri Lanka especially for the four day mega event.

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Climate Change crisis: ..........

Climate Change crisis:
President for pragmatic policy

Human activity is causing the global climate to heat-up at an alarming rate. This will have far-reaching consequences for animal and plant life and for human civilization, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said addressing the Non Aligned Movement Summit in Egypt on Wednesday.dailynews.lk

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UK aid for Lanka displaced ......

UK aid for Lanka displaced

The British government says it has allocated nearly five million dollars to aid projects for Sri Lankan civilians displaced by recent fighting between the government and Tamil Tiger rebels.
The Department for International Development (DfID) says the money will be used to help over two hundred and eighty thousand people return home.
"Conditions in the camps are improving, but are still basic. There are reports of high levels of malnutrition, overcrowding and inadequate access to decent water and sanitation facilities," a DfID statement issued on Tuesday said.
It said the funds would help provide logistics, transport, emergency shelters and basic services.
The agency said that it would also give people cash grants so that they could buy seeds and tools.
The British government said that it is part of a nearly 20 million dollar humanitarian funding that the UK has already committed for Sri Lanka displaced.bbc Sinhala.com

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UK aid for Lanka displaced .......

UK aid for Lanka displaced

The British government says it has allocated nearly five million dollars to aid projects for Sri Lankan civilians displaced by recent fighting between the government and Tamil Tiger rebels.
The Department for International Development (DfID) says the money will be used to help over two hundred and eighty thousand people return home.
"Conditions in the camps are improving, but are still basic. There are reports of high levels of malnutrition, overcrowding and inadequate access to decent water and sanitation facilities," a DfID statement issued on Tuesday said.
It said the funds would help provide logistics, transport, emergency shelters and basic services.
The agency said that it would also give people cash grants so that they could buy seeds and tools.
The British government said that it is part of a nearly 20 million dollar humanitarian funding that the UK has already committed for Sri Lanka displaced.bbc sandesaya

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Sri Lanka looks to future with hope and enthusiasm .......

Sri Lanka looks to future with hope and enthusiasm
Calls for deferment of debt payment and creation of NAM Reserve facility:

A great sigh of relief has now swept across the entire nation being finally released from the grip of the fear of terrorism. The Sri Lankan Nation now looks to the future with renewed hope and enthusiasm, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the 15th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement being held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt todayJuly 15. dailynews-pic-Sudath Silva

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NAM summit focus on global financial crisis - President makes statement today ....

NAM summit focus on global financial crisis - President makes statement today

President Mahinda Rajapaksa will attend the 15th summit of Heads of State of the Non-Aligned Movement that opens in Sharm El-Sheikh, today (July 15) at the Maritime Congress Center, which will focus on issues facing the developing countries due to the current word economic and financial crises caused mainly by the policies of the developed countries of the West.defence.lk

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New appointments in Defence top brass ...

New appointments in Defence top brass

Lankapuvath- President Mahinda Rajapaksa has appointed Army Chief Sarath Fonseka as the Chief of Defence Staff. Maj. Gen Jagath Jayasuriya has been appointed as the new Army Commander with effect from July 15.

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doctors who served.....

Doctors who served in uncleared areas meet the media

"We thought LTTE were liberators of the Tamil people. They forcibly recruit children and youth. 3 - 4 from every family. I treated girls and boys of 14 - 15 age group who had been child recruits. It was a useless war. Their strategy was to use civilians as a human shield and to mislead the international community and obtain their support. They shouldn't have brought the war to the no war zone. Now LTTE leadership is decimated and people are liberated. We hope government will develop the area and Tamil diasphora should support." said Dr. Sivapalan at the media conference held at MCNS today(08).
As for me, I cooperate with the investigators. I want to serve people irrespective of the community under the Sri Lankan government, Dr. Sivapalan added.
"We regret very much for providing false information to foreign media while we were working in LTTE control area due to intense pressure from the LTTE" confessed Dr. Sivapalan, one of the five Doctors who answered queries by the Sri Lankan media personnel at this special media conference.
"While we were in the LTTE controlled area, we functioned as medical officers according to LTTE orders. We could not act according to our opinion. But now, there is a legal process concerning us. We are under legal custody and investigations are going on. The CID which is a government department conducts a proper legal process. In fact, we can even argue. We are aware that there is reasonable suspicion because we had to give medical treatment to LTTE cadres, during our stay with them. We are also aware that Sri Lanka is a democratic state Dr. Sivapalan stressed.
"The LTTE took the medicine supplied by the government. They had their own hospitals" Dr. Sivapalan revealed. He was able to handle maternity cases, the doctor revealed.
"I had to serve as a surgeon too in the South and the North. I see no difference between the blood of Tamils and Sinhala. Youth of both communities lose life and limb. War is over All of us unite to develop the country. I take this opportunity to thank the President and the Security Forces who rescued us. All Sri Lankan youth to unite and work selflessly" appealed Dr. Ilancheliyan.
"08 times government sent medical supplies but they didn't receive. The problem was that LTTE took medicine from us to treat their injured. They asked to tell media we don't have medicine, There was a shortage of medicine because LTTE took the whole stock said Dr. Vardharaja."
"The LTTE grabbed major part of food brought in ICRC shipments for use of their cadres. Civilians did not get them. First we opted to remain in the uncleared area for the sake of our families and other civilians. Later when the conflict intensified. we realized we were no longer be able to help the civilians said Dr. Ilancheliyan. We covered every field not only treating the injured but also maternity and pediatric fields, said Dr. Ilancheliyan.
Answering a query Dr. Sathyamoorthy revealed that the doctors themselves requested the government to organize a media conference to reveal their experience.
The LTTE used our names for their false propaganda against the Sri Lankan government. They put our names on the Internet with statements purported to have made by us. We were not a position to object. We didn't even know the LTTE used our names at the moment' said Dr. Vardharaja.
We gave exaggerated figures of civilian casualties to the media as ordered by the LTTE. Between January 15 - May 15 only 350 - 400 dead bodies of civilians were brought to hospitals revealed Dr. Sathyamoorthy.
Dr. Sivapalan served in the LTTE medical corps and four others. Dr. Shanmugaraja, Dr. Vardharaja, Dr. Sathyamoorthy and Dr. Ilancheliyan who participated at the media conference served the government hospitals before escaping.
All the doctors profusely expressed their gratitude to the H.E. the President and to the Security Forces.
They expressed the hope that they will continue to serve the people of the motherland in government hospitals in future.
Courtesy : MCNS

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Clearing operation.....

Clearing operations continued; more weapons found

Sri Lanka armed forces and police personnel are continuing their clearing operations in the former LTTE dominated areas in the northern and eastern provinces. The aim of these operations is to ensure the safety of the areas for the resettlement activities.
During yesterday's operations (Jul 7) , police acting on information found 3 night vision devices , one hand grenade and 90 T-56 ammo from the Asikulam area. Also, 300 water purification tablets were found at the same location.
Meanwhile , troops conducting clearing operations in the Kilinochchi, Mullaittivu and Puthukkuddyiruppu areas found 14 mortar bombs, 26 hand grenades, 13 claymore mines, four land mines, three T-56 rifles, one T-81 rifle, one pistol, two shotguns with ammo, 185 AP mines, 33 booby traps, 20 RPG bombs, 15 arty shells (130mm) ,195 ammo used for T-56 riffles, 300 MPMG ammo, 700 ammo used for 12.7mm machine guns, 20 kg of high explosives , 7m long detonator code and 16 detonators. Among the other items found were 2 body armours and 2 helmets .
Clearing operations are being continued. defence.lk

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Rs. 250m daily for Northern civilian upkeep ...

Rs. 250m daily for Northern civilian upkeep

The Government spends over Rs. 250 million daily for the welfare of over 300,000 displaced civilians in the Northern Province, said Agriculture and Agrarian Services Minister Maithreepala Sirisena.
dailynews

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Solution to ethnic issue after next presidential poll – President Rajapakse

Solution to ethnic issue after next presidential poll – President Rajapakse

President Mahinda Rajapakse says that any form of solution to the ethnic issue would be presented only after the next presidential election.
The President had made this comment in an interview with The Hindu newspaper.
President Rajapakse had said he was looking at devolving power at provincial level and that he did not have confidence in a solution based on a federal structure.
According to the country’s Constitution, the incumbent President could hold office till 2011. However, the President had not made any clear statement that he would call for a presidential election before the end of the present term. www.lankanewsweb.com

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Ministry to invest Rs. 869m for Northern fishermen

Ministry to invest Rs. 869m for Northern fishermen

The Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Ministry will invest Rs. 869 million to re-engage the fishermen of North who were denied fishing opportunities due to terrorist activities.
This investment will be placed in line with the 180 day accelerated program launched by the Government under the Uthuru Vasanthaya master development drive of the North.
This was revealed by Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Felix Perera addressing the media yesterday.
Minister Perera explained that the rehabilitation of the fishery industry in the North will be launched in three stages - 180 day plan, middle term and long term plan.
All the required boats, fishing gear and other implements will be provided to the fishermen after resettlement. Before their settlement, 3.7 million of fingerlings will be put into all reservoirs in the Northern Province. The Minister said the estimated cost under the middle level plan will be over Rs.1,170 million.
The Ministry hopes to obtain this money through the supplementary budget and the foreign funds coming through the FAO/CIDA.
He also said his Ministry has decided to increase fish production in the North and market the surplus in Southern parts of the country to uplift the economy of the fishermen in the North.
Courtesy : Daily News-(By : Shirley WIJESINGHE)

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Ayurvedic hospital to Trincomalee........

Ayurvedic hospital to Trincomalee

Lankapuvath -A Ayurvedic hospital will be established in Tricomallee.
The hospital is being constructed for the benefit of the locals in the area as well as for the benefit of the Medical students of the Eastern University. A media release issued by the Ministry of Indigenous Medicine said that with the establishments of the hospital the medical students will be able to get practical training in the hospital.
The Outdoor Patients Dispensary (OPD) of the hospital will be opened on the 06th of July at Koonespuri in Trincomalee with the participation of Minister of Indigenous Medicine Tissa Karalliyadda, Chief Minister of Eastern Province Shivanesathurai Chandrakanth, Health Minister of the Eastern Province A L M H Hisbulla and Minister of Nation Building Susantha Punchi Nilame.

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Suspected LTTE agent.....

Suspected LTTE agent arrested over throwing acid at Sri Lankan students - Australia

A suspected LTTE terrorist in Australia Amalathepan Srikantharajah (25) of Girraween has been arrested by the Australian detectives for an attempted murder of two Sri Lankan students by throwing acid at them. The suspect with few others allegedly attacked two Sri Lankan students, Chahunika Werasinghe (27) and housemate Jayasiri Watawala (22) while they were at their home. The attack caused severe injuries to the victims.
The unprovoked attack took place in the immediately after Sri Lankan Armed Forces defeated the LTTE terrorists in May and also confirmed the death of the LTTE leader V. Prbhakaran.
The police are looking for the other offenders, the coordinator of the effort, Strike Force Dorwood Commander Albert Joseph said. He further added by saying, "a male person has been charged with attempted murder, break and enter with intent to commit murder, and use a corrosive substance to maim another person".
Apart from the acid burns on their faces one also suffered stab wounds to the stomach and a broken ankle.
Commander Albert Joseph said in a statement:
"Extensive investigations have been conducted by the Strike Force Doorwood investigation team and as a result, the man arrested today already faces a charge of failing to disclose the identification of a passenger in his vehicle following the incident and two other men have previously been charged with concealing a serious offence.
Detective Inspector Joseph said the two victims had been informed of the latest arrest which is the first directly related to the attack. Police also said the two victims are recovering from their horrific injuries caused by the acid.
The 25 year old man is currently being transported to central local court where he will face court on Wednesday. defence.lk

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tamil govt will be formed in lanka....

Tamil govt will be formed in Lanka: MK

Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Wednesday expressed hope that a government led by Tamils would be formed soon in Sri Lanka. He also said that the ailing Tamils in the island nation could at present get respite only through the Mahinda Rajapakse government.
Replying to a special call attention motion in the Assembly over the plight of Tamils in the neighbouring country, he said the conflict in Lanka between Sinhalese and Tamils was taking place for more than five decades now.
‘I am the one who is aware of this problem since its beginning. I had even penned it in a detail way in my novel Pandaraka Vannian,’ the Chief Minister said and added: ‘Both the Union and Tamilnadu governments are keen to help the Lankan Tamils.
A Lankan delegation met me recently and asked to send a committee to take stock of the situation there. I told them that the Centre should give clearance to take further decision and a formal invite should be extended from their end.’
Stating that former Chief Minister C N Annadurai had to give up the ‘Dravida Nadu’ demand due to various reasons, Karunanidhi said there was nothing wrong in changing stands for the welfare of the people.
‘The Centre is now respecting State governments thanks to the pressure from our side on various occasions. Likewise, a Lankan government respecting the sentiments of Tamils should be formed,’ he said.
The Chief Minister further said: ‘Like how Barack Obama from the oppressed community became the President of the United States, let us hope that a government led by Tamils would be formed soon in Lanka.’
He however said that the only way to help Tamils in the present situation was through the Rajapakse government. ‘In order to help our brothers and sisters in the island nation, we should not come out with hard hitting remarks against Sinhalese. Because, in the present scenario, we could only reach Tamils through them,’ he said. -newstodaynet.com

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