Defeat of LTTE Big Achievement - David Miliband
THE defeat of the LTTE was a massive achievement by the Sri Lankan Government and none in the British Government would shed any tears for these terrorists, said United Kingdom's Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Secretary of State David Miliband when he met Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama who is on a two day visit to the UK. The time was now opportune to reflect on the basis for rebuilding and reconstructing of the war ravaged areas of Sri Lanka, he added.
POLICE Chief Jayantha Wickremaratne yesterday said that about 400 LTTE cadres taking refuge among civilians at welfare centres in the Vavuniya District had been taken into custody. The suspects had been identified following screening of internally displaced persons. IGP told The Island that the suspects had revealed the identities of their contacts, some of them living in the South. He said that 14 police stations would be established in Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi districts. According to him a DIG would be appointed to run police operations in the newly liberated areas.
HOLIDAY facilities for Officers and Other Ranks in the Army received a boost when the Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka on Saturday (6) morning declared open the new two-storied building complex for Army holiday-makers. The new complex consists of a fifteen-room building, meant for officers and another twelve-room one for other ranks. In the holiday calendar of the Army soldiers, Katharagama Pilgrims’ Rest is relatively popular and generally attracts many visitors at weekends.
MAJOR General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander, Security Forces, Wanni recently went to see his injured soldiers lying at Anuradhapura hospitals. During his visits to the Anuradhapura Base Hospital and the Victory Military Hospital, he met injured soldiers and spoke to them separately. Recuperating soldiers shared their views with the visiting Wanni chief and expressed their readiness to return to their jobs no sooner than they were made fit after medication.
SRI LANKA has praised China for its cooperation during its decades long conflict with the LTTE, as Beijing pledged USD one million in aid for the rehabilitation of the displaced Tamil civilians housed in the relief camps in the country. Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama conveyed Colombo's appreciation to China during his talks with Lt Gen Ma Xiaotian, Deputy Chief of General Staff, People's Liberation Army (PLA), for assisting Colombo "during the demanding times", a Sri Lankan foreign ministry release said.
THE SRI LANKA NAVY yesterday ordered the Syrian registered cargo vessel ‘MV Captain Ali’, seized last week, 160 km west of Colombo, to leave with a warning not to stray in to Sri Lankan waters.Navy Spokesman Commander Mahesh Karunaratne told ‘The Island’ that around 6.00 p.m the ship was escorted by the Navy to a distance of 100 nautical miles off Sri Lankan shores. The vessel had tried to enter Sri Lankan waters without following the proper procedures. It carried 884 metric tonnes of food and other material. The Navy confirmed there was no lethal cargo on it.
PARIS – June 8 – French voters elected 78 MEPs for the EU Parliament, including 14 each from the Green Party and the Socialists, but rejected outright the LTTE backed Tamil candidates who fielded under independent group for Ile de France district that includes Paris. EPP topped the list with 30 seats while the Liberals came fourth with 6 seats after the Greens and the Socialists. French voters of Tamil origin from Sri Lanka, Mauritius, East Africa and India cast their votes in favour of socialist and left parties.
PRESIDENT of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) and Secretary of the Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA) V. Anandasangaree says the TNA is the first and the worst enemy of the Tamil people and he will not touch the TNA even with a “pole”. Anandasangaree says the TNA should take full responsibility for the loss of several thousands of lives and for causing injuries to many more which could have been avoided if only the TNA had the foresight to advise the LTTE to release the innocent civilians from their grip, to go anywhere and do anything they liked.