political solustion.....

Political solution, a Sri Lankan affair- Shiv Shanker Menon

(Colombo Lankapuvath June 10) A political solution for the National Question is a Sri Lankan affair and it is not the task of India, Norway or the United Nations to push Sri Lanka towards a political solution, Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shanker Menon told a group of Sri Lankan editors visiting India at the invitation of Indian Government. It is only Sri Lanka that would decide whether to provide a solution on the lines of 13th Amendment or go beyond it emphasized Mr Menon. Liberating the Tamil people from the clutches of terrorism is highly commendable and we should work together to build a peaceful and prosperous Sri Lanka he said.Menon also said that India has already provided Indian Rs. 5 billion for relief and rehabilitation in the North.

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Sri Lanka should devolve powers ........

Sri Lanka should devolve powers to Tamils: Chidambaram

Chennai (PTI) Sri Lanka should devolve powers to Tamils in line with the Indo-Sri Lankan Accord and "if possible go even beyond that", Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said on Sunday.
"The Sri Lankan government should implement the 13th amendment of the Indo-Lankan Accord on devolution of powers.... if possible go beyond that," he told reporters after meeting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi here to discuss the Sri Lankan Tamils issue.
Mr. Chidambaram said the Sri Lankan government should strictly proceed towards rehabilitating the Tamils. India, he said, too was working for the internally displaced Tamils and had donated large sums of money.
Mr. Chidambaram, who called on Mr. Karunanidhi for the first time after taking charge as Home Minister in the new UPA government, said he met the DMK chief to get "inputs on what he was thinking and what has to be done for Lankan Tamils and how to rehabilitate them as well as how we should be proceed in this regard".
He said he would present Mr. Karunanidhi's "thoughts" at the union cabinet meeting. (PTI)

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Yal devi.....

Yal Devi to reunite North and South

A thirty -year conflict comes to an end, and we bid farewell to an age of separation and usher in a new era of togetherness.
The "Yal Devi" track, which united the Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim and Burgher communities of the North and the South in times gone by, fell into ruin, and the trains ran only to Vavuniya, thereby making the division between the North and the South larger, said Project Director of the Yal Devi Louzanne Perera.
The track is now being rebuilt and the "Yal Devi" is poised to bring together the people of the North and the South again.
On the directive of President, Mahinda Rajapaksa the Ministry of Transport has dedicated itself to rebuild the railway track, which will cost an estimated Rs. 15 billion.
After the 4 Km track from Vavuniya to Thandikulam has been completed as the first stage, the track is to be further extended up to Kankesanthurai. An Uthuru Mithuru campaign has been launched islandwide to raise funds for this endeavour.
Yesterday, the Yal Devi made its maiden journey with religious observances at the Colombo Fort Railway Station.
The train went beyond Vavuniya after twenty-years on the Northern line up to Thandikulam, which was refurbished recently. Plans are under way by the Railway Department to extend the Yal Devi service up to Kankesanthurai, the final destination on the Northern line. -defence.lk

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SL Navy seize LTTE cargo vessel off Colombo ..

SL Navy seize LTTE cargo vessel off Colombo

SRI LANKA-An LTTE cargo vessel 'Captain Ali', was seized by Sri Lankan Navy patrol craft 160 Nm off the Colombo seas this morning (June 4). According to Naval sources, the Syriyan vessel 'Captain Ali' had set off from United Kingdom on 20th April, 2009 under the pretext of a 'mercy mission' towards Puthumathalan, Sri Lanka, intended to provide essential logistic supply for the diminishing terrorists.
The vessel is now being towed towards the Colombo harbour with a crew of 15 including its captain Christia Goomesta, an Icelander and a former SLMM member. The vessel is carrying 884T of cargo which is yet to be cleared the sources further said.-defence.lk

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India for political solution in Sri Lanka .....

India for political solution in Sri Lanka

New Delhi, June 4 (IANS) With the Tamil Tigers decimated, India Thursday pledged to support initiatives aimed at finding a permanent political solution in Sri Lanka to ensure equal rights to the Tamil minority.
"We will support initiatives in Sri Lanka which can lead to a permanent political solution of the conflict there, and ensure that all Sri Lankan communities, especially the Tamils, feel secure and enjoy equal rights so that they can lead a life of dignity and self-respect," President Pratibha Patil told a joint session of the Indian parliament.
"India will make appropriate contribution to rehabilitate those affected in the conflict," Patil said.
After Sri Lanka crushed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) last month, New Delhi asked Colombo to address the "root cause of the conflict" with suitable power sharing formula.
India’s main focus now is to work with the government of Sri Lanka to provide relief and rehabilitate over 200,000 Tamil civilians displaced by the conflict.

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Future of greatness, distinction .....

Future of greatness, distinction

SRI LANKA-The great humanitarian operation that unified our motherland under a single national standard has opened the path to our nation that is eager to step forward to a future of greatness and distinction, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the Nation from Galle Face Green after receiving the scrolls from the Three Forces’ Commanders and the Inspector General of Police informing him about the victorious conclusion of the humanitarian mission of defeating terrorism.-dailynews

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Yasushi Akashi visit Sri Lanka

Yasusi visit Sri lanka again

SRI LANKA-Yasushi Akashi, Special peace envoy of Japan, will be in Sri Lanka and India from on the 8th to 12th of this month.
Mr. Akashi will meet government officials and representatives of the government and opposition parties.

He will have discussions on resettlement of internally-displaced persons as well as a political solution for the national question in Sri Lanka.

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"I am the proudest Head of State in the world"- Says President in his Victory Day speech

"I am the proudest Head of State in the world"- Says President in his Victory Day speech

SRI LANKA-His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces today (June 3) hailed the valiant forces who wiped out terrorism from the country, saying that they have made him the proudest head of the state in the World. defence.lk

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Poddala Jayantha, secretary SLWJA abducted and severely assaulted

Poddala Jayantha, secretary SLWJA abducted and severely assaulted

SRI LANKA-Poddala Jayantha, General Secretary of Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association was abducted by an unknown group late afternoon today. He was on his way back home form work and abducted some close to Nugagoda town. Some people who have seen him pushed in to a white van alerted the journalists on the abduction. source-Lankanewsweb

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