Occupied Eelam Tamil teritories by Sri Lanka are not available, for any foreign investments!HANDS OFF!!
ENB
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LTTE shadow over NTPC project
29 Jun, 2007 l 0127 hrs ISTlSanjay Dutta/TIMES NEWS NETWORK NEW DELHI:
State-owned NTPC has expressed apprehensions over the political fallout in India over the choice of site suggested by the Sri Lankan government for setting up a power project by a joint venture between the Indian generation utility and Ceylon Electricity Board. The proposed area, identified as Site 5 in Sampur, was wrested from the LTTE and is approachable only by boats.
NTPC had signed an MoU in December 2006 with the Sri Lankan government and Ceylon Electricity Board for setting up a 500 mw power project in that country. In January, the Sri Lankan government took a visiting NTPC team for inspection to four sites it had earmarked for the power project. These sites were in Tambalgam Bay, two in Clappenburg Bay and one in Sampur area.
The NTPC team recommended that the project be located southwest of Clappenburg Bay. It suggested Tambalgam Bay for the project township and wanted to re-examine the Sampur area as a site for setting up another power project at a later date.
NTPC’s choice of site for the power project, however, ran aground with the Sri Lankan defence ministry on technical ground. Sri Lanka is re-establishing the Air Force Flying Academy in China Bay and southwest Clappenberg Bay falls within the circuit flying area.
Thus, any major construction in the area is seen as hampering pilot training.
Besides, since the suggested project site is within 4,464 metre of the air strip, no structures higher than 45 metre can be constructed. The project site is also adjacent to a Sri Lankan naval dockyard and construction of a power project is seen as hindering naval deployment in the area.
The Sri Lankan government has suggested the Sampur area as an alternative and told NTPC that it has embarked on a project for providing infrastructure facilities such as access roads and jetties in the area. NTPC, however, feels building the power plant on this site could have political fallout in India as this was wrested from the Tamil Tigers.
Besides, the area is accessible only by boats and would require huge investments in building infrastructure such as bridges etc. NTPC has now sought external affairs ministry’s views on the issue.
NTPC had signed an MoU in December 2006 with the Sri Lankan government and Ceylon Electricity Board for setting up a 500 mw power project in that country. In January, the Sri Lankan government took a visiting NTPC team for inspection to four sites it had earmarked for the power project. These sites were in Tambalgam Bay, two in Clappenburg Bay and one in Sampur area.
The NTPC team recommended that the project be located southwest of Clappenburg Bay. It suggested Tambalgam Bay for the project township and wanted to re-examine the Sampur area as a site for setting up another power project at a later date.
NTPC’s choice of site for the power project, however, ran aground with the Sri Lankan defence ministry on technical ground. Sri Lanka is re-establishing the Air Force Flying Academy in China Bay and southwest Clappenberg Bay falls within the circuit flying area.
Thus, any major construction in the area is seen as hampering pilot training.
Besides, since the suggested project site is within 4,464 metre of the air strip, no structures higher than 45 metre can be constructed. The project site is also adjacent to a Sri Lankan naval dockyard and construction of a power project is seen as hindering naval deployment in the area.
The Sri Lankan government has suggested the Sampur area as an alternative and told NTPC that it has embarked on a project for providing infrastructure facilities such as access roads and jetties in the area. NTPC, however, feels building the power plant on this site could have political fallout in India as this was wrested from the Tamil Tigers.
Besides, the area is accessible only by boats and would require huge investments in building infrastructure such as bridges etc. NTPC has now sought external affairs ministry’s views on the issue.
BBC Sinhala.com 27 June, 2007 - Published 21:33 GMT
Remand for 'London Tigers
Remand for 'London Tigers
'The suspected Tamil Tiger supporters appeared in court today. The main accused Chrishanthakumar was denied bail and remanded to judicial custody until the 5th of July.
Golden Lambert who is only charged with one offence was granted conditional bail but later remanded to custody as the surety was not paid.
The case would be coming up for committal to the Crown Court on August 9th, said a spokesman for the Westminster Magestrate Court.
Two men, Arunachalam Chrishanthakumar, (also known as 'AC Shanthan'), 50, of Upwood Rd, Norbury, and Goldan Lambert, 29, of Bramley Hill, South Croydon, will appear at City of Westminster Magistrates Court on Thursday.
The two men were charged Wednesday afternoon under the Terrorism Act 2000 for providing support for The Liberation Tigers of the Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which is a proscribed organisation in the United Kingdom.
Five charges
The Main accused, Chrisnakumar alias Shanthan is charged for five offences including purchasing equipment that can be used in terrorist activities, fundraising and organising public events to support the Tamil Tigers.
The other suspect named as Golden Lambert, who was arrested at the Heathrow Airport on his return from Dubai last week, is only charged for managing a meeting at Hyde Park in London on 26th of July 2006.
Chrishanthakumar is charged with five counts. Apart from organising and speaking in the rally to support a proscribed organisation, he is also charged for receiving £1500, “intending that it be used or having reasonable cause to suspect that it may be used for the purposes of terrorism”.ballistic body armour
The charges against Shanthan also say that he has possessed “a quantity of literature and manuals including Underwater Warfare Systems, Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Naval Weapons Systems”.
The police also say that they have found in his possession, six trenching spades, thirty nine compasses, and a piece of ballistic body armour. Which the police charge as, “intending that they be used or having reasonable cause to suspect that they may be used for the purposes of terrorism Contrary to Section 15(2) and Section 22 of the Terrorism Act 2000”.
was close to Anton Balasingham
Shnathan who was a close associate of the late Tamil Tiger theoretician Anton Balasingham is also charged for “belonging or professed to belong to a proscribed organisation, namely the LTTE”, until the day he was arrested.
Shanthan had been seen with Balasingham and his wife Adel on their trips to Vanni on several occasions. And he was also identified by many as one of the members of the wider LTTE delegation attending the last round of peace talks in Geneva.
Members of the LTTE are also banned from travelling to EU countries.
Tamil Tiger chief peace negotiator Anton Balasingham lived in South London for many years after the proscription of the Tamil Tigers in the UK. He travelled freely in and out of the UK and attended meetings and gatherings representing the LTTE. He even gave interviews to media as the theoretician of the LTTE.
This is the first time a person has been charged by UK authorities for belonging to the LTTE.
Hard times for Lanka’s ruling coalition
The DAWN: By Frances Bulathsinghala
Golden Lambert who is only charged with one offence was granted conditional bail but later remanded to custody as the surety was not paid.
The case would be coming up for committal to the Crown Court on August 9th, said a spokesman for the Westminster Magestrate Court.
Two men, Arunachalam Chrishanthakumar, (also known as 'AC Shanthan'), 50, of Upwood Rd, Norbury, and Goldan Lambert, 29, of Bramley Hill, South Croydon, will appear at City of Westminster Magistrates Court on Thursday.
The two men were charged Wednesday afternoon under the Terrorism Act 2000 for providing support for The Liberation Tigers of the Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which is a proscribed organisation in the United Kingdom.
Five charges
The Main accused, Chrisnakumar alias Shanthan is charged for five offences including purchasing equipment that can be used in terrorist activities, fundraising and organising public events to support the Tamil Tigers.
The other suspect named as Golden Lambert, who was arrested at the Heathrow Airport on his return from Dubai last week, is only charged for managing a meeting at Hyde Park in London on 26th of July 2006.
Chrishanthakumar is charged with five counts. Apart from organising and speaking in the rally to support a proscribed organisation, he is also charged for receiving £1500, “intending that it be used or having reasonable cause to suspect that it may be used for the purposes of terrorism”.ballistic body armour
The charges against Shanthan also say that he has possessed “a quantity of literature and manuals including Underwater Warfare Systems, Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Naval Weapons Systems”.
The police also say that they have found in his possession, six trenching spades, thirty nine compasses, and a piece of ballistic body armour. Which the police charge as, “intending that they be used or having reasonable cause to suspect that they may be used for the purposes of terrorism Contrary to Section 15(2) and Section 22 of the Terrorism Act 2000”.
was close to Anton Balasingham
Shnathan who was a close associate of the late Tamil Tiger theoretician Anton Balasingham is also charged for “belonging or professed to belong to a proscribed organisation, namely the LTTE”, until the day he was arrested.
Shanthan had been seen with Balasingham and his wife Adel on their trips to Vanni on several occasions. And he was also identified by many as one of the members of the wider LTTE delegation attending the last round of peace talks in Geneva.
Members of the LTTE are also banned from travelling to EU countries.
Tamil Tiger chief peace negotiator Anton Balasingham lived in South London for many years after the proscription of the Tamil Tigers in the UK. He travelled freely in and out of the UK and attended meetings and gatherings representing the LTTE. He even gave interviews to media as the theoretician of the LTTE.
This is the first time a person has been charged by UK authorities for belonging to the LTTE.
Hard times for Lanka’s ruling coalition
The DAWN: By Frances Bulathsinghala
COLOMBO: With his military forces battling the LTTE in the north-east, President Mahinda Rajapakse and his three brothers who are all top government officials are facing a whole new battle — within their own alliance regime, one which could well culminate in another election.
Faced with the prospect of his ministers defecting to the breakaway Sri Lanka Freedom Party (Mahajana Wing) founded last week by former foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera, President Mahinda Rajapakse has said he is ready to dissolve parliament and seek a fresh mandate.
According to top political sources Rajapakse had on last Friday told a special meeting of ministers and senior members of the Sri Lanka Freedom party, the key constituent party of the government, that the situation was “worsening” daily with Samaraweera claiming that around 15-20 MPs are ready to join his party.
Adding to President Rajapakse’s worries is the return of his rival, former President Chandrika Kumaratunga to the country following an invitation by Mangala Samaraweera to head the break away SLFP group. Kumaratunga is expected to return to Sri Lanka from Britain shortly. Matters have been further complicated for Rajapakse with the main opposition party, the United National Party (UNP) publicly proposing an alliance with the SLFP(MW). Local media reports indicated that Kumaratunga has expressed willingness to help ‘resurrect’ the SLFP founded by her father, the late S. W. R. D Bandaranaike.
While Mahinda Rajapakse is clearly a perturbed man, in comparison Mangala Samaraweera who was sacked from his foreign ministerial post months ago appears confident.
In an interview with Dawn on Wednesday, Mangala Samaraweera said a change of regime was the ‘only alternative’ and claimed he was confident that over 90 per cent in the government were ready to join hands with him to free the country of what he described as a ‘vindictive and petty minded’ political leadership.
Calling upon the international community to introduce ‘some form of sanctions’ on the government for its allegedly gross violations of human rights, Samaraweera pointed out that his immediate goal is to wrest the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) from the ‘Rajapakse brothers’ whom he refers to as the ‘Rajapakse quartet’.
This could be only done by ‘rededicating the SLFP’ with the help of former President Chandrika Kumaratunge, to the ideals for which her late father set it up, he said.
Meanwhile, the Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Pramuna (JVP) which strongly campaigned for Rajapakse in the November 2005 Presidential election is now threatening to launch strikes on various issues and is likely to lean towards Samaraweera who has a good relationship with JVP members, political sources said on Wednesday.
Samaraweera acknowledged that he would shortly commence talks with the JVP to discuss among other issues, their stand on the ethnic conflict. Talks with the main opposition, the United National Party (UNP) would commence on Thursday, he said.
In the backdrop of an escalating war, the pro LTTE Tamil National Alliance has openly expressed support to Samaraweera who is said to hold ‘moderate’ views with regard to the Tamil ethnic issue.
Samaraweera has already broached the idea of a common alliance with a limited five point programme with opposition parties. Main among the five points is the restoration of democracy and the resultant re-imposition of the rule of law.
“In a time when abductions and human rights violations are more the rule than the exception, the aim is to unite all opposition forces to avert the rapidly deteriorating situation in the country and restore democracy. When we begin this process, we are confident that even those in the government who are now compelled to be silent would join us”, the former Foreign Minister said.
Dissolve Karuna Group - Richard Boucher
Thu, 2007-06-28 05:16 Oslo, 28 June, (Asiantribune.com):
Richard Boucher has insisted that Karuna Group has to be dissolved. The US Assistant Secretary, for South and Central Asian Affairs urged ‘to dissolve the Karuna group’ as they continue to recruit child soldiers.Richard Boucher : “When it comes to the Karuna group it has to be dissolved.” In an interview with Dagsavisen in Oslo Boucher said, "Both the Tamil Tigers and the Karuna group - who has defected from the Tigers and who today supports the Government forces, continues according to UNICEF to recruit child soldiers."
Boucher said that the USA is aware of Karuna recruiting underage children and involved in other illegal activities.
Richard Boucher was in Oslo to participate in the Co-Chair meeting held on 26 June. After the meeting, he was interviewed by Dagsavisen Norwegian Language news daily.
“In order to get the Tigers to abandon the use of child soldiers there must be pressure from the international community,” Boucher emphasized.
“When it comes to the Karuna group it has to be dissolved,” he emphasized.
“They have been involved in too many unacceptable actions”, says the US Assistant Secretary.
- Asian Tribune -
Boucher said that the USA is aware of Karuna recruiting underage children and involved in other illegal activities.
Richard Boucher was in Oslo to participate in the Co-Chair meeting held on 26 June. After the meeting, he was interviewed by Dagsavisen Norwegian Language news daily.
“In order to get the Tigers to abandon the use of child soldiers there must be pressure from the international community,” Boucher emphasized.
“When it comes to the Karuna group it has to be dissolved,” he emphasized.
“They have been involved in too many unacceptable actions”, says the US Assistant Secretary.
- Asian Tribune -
Vasu files FR petition against LMSL sale
By Susitha R. Fernando
President’s advisor Vasudeva Nanayakkara has filed a fundamental rights petition against the selling of 90% shares of Lanka Marine Services (Pvt) Ltd to John Keells Holdings Private Ltd and the selling of valuable land at Bloemendhal without a valuation and Cabinet approval.
Mr. Nanayakkara has cited 31 respondents, including K.N. Choksy, former Minister of Finance, Karu Jayasuriya, former Minister of Power and Energy, Ranil Wickremesinghe, former Prime Minister, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, former President of Sri Lanka, Milinda Moragoda, former Minister of Economic Reforms, Sripathy Sooriyarachchi, former Minister, Public Enterprise Reforms, Charitha Ratwatte, former Secretary to the Treasury, P.B. Jayasundera, Secretary to the Treasury and former Chairman, Public Enterprises Reform Commission (PERC), John Keels Holdings Ltd. its present Chairman Susantha Ratnayake and former chairman, V. Lintotawela.
In his petition, Mr.Nanayakkara asked court to direct the Treasury Secretary P.B. Jayasundera and other respondents to submit all documents and records pertaining to the transaction to Court, make order declaring that the sale of 90% shares of Lanka Marine Services Ltd., (LMSL) owned by Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) to
John Keels Holdings Ltd.(JKHL) had been carried out in a wrongful, unlawful and irregular manner, make an order cancelling, annulling and making void the agreement relating to the sale and purchase dated 20.8.2002 and restoring the ownership of all the shares of LMSL to Ceylon Petroleum Corporation.
The petitioner also asked court to make an order directing the Secretary to the Treasury to obtain a realistic valuation of the assets and liabilities of Lanka Marine Services Ltd. as at August 20, 2002, make order directing the Secretary to the Treasury to obtain a report from the Auditor General of all monies and assets appropriated by JKHL after August 20 2002.
In his application, supported by attorneys-at-law M. A. Sumanthiran and Viran Corea instructed by Razmara Abdeen of Abdeen Associates, Mr. Nanayakkara also asked court to order declaring that the selling of over eight acres of land at Bloemendhal road belonging to the Sri Lanka Ports Authority in the absence of specific and express Cabinet approval has caused loss and damage to the Government and the citizens of Sri Lanka, conferring unjust and unlawful benefit to a few.
Mr. Nanayakkara has complained that the alleged transaction had taken place without the approval of the Cabinet. The government had been misled and taken for a ride with a deliberate intentional pre-designed ‘fix’ causing grave loss and damage and mischief to the government, the public and thereby causing misappropriation of public property.
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