59100 people from 13969 families in several districts have been displaced due to floods states National Disaster Relief Centre of the Ministry of Disaster Relief Services.
According to the National Disaster Relief Centre displaced are reported from Kalutara, Gampaha, Puttalam, Matara and Galle districts. Most of the displaced has been reported from Gampaha district.
226 people from 61families in Kalutara District, 46123 from 10669 families in Gampaha District, 1360 from 389 families in Matara District, 2790 persons from 690 families in Galle District and 8601 persons from 2160 families from Puttalam District have been displaced according to statistics of the National Disaster Relief Centre.(News-Lankatruth)
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Thursday, October 23, 2008
JVP in island wide poster campaign against Indian intervention
The JVP has launched an island wide poster campaign against the malicious mediation by Indian Central government together with the government of Tamil Nadu against Sri Lanka and demanding the government of Sri Lanka not to give into Indian pressure and halt the war against terrorism. (News-Lankatruth)
Dear President! Do you really think LTTE will lay down arms?
The present President is no different to his predecessors. His comments: ‘I wish to once again very clearly call on the LTTE to lay down their arms and surrender. They should act in this manner and enter the democratic political process. Our aim should be to ensure the democratic political rights of our Tamil brethren’… must be considered as opportunistic statements to satisfy his extremist bandwagon – JHU likes in the south.Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga Bandaranayake branded the LTTE leader Pirabakaran as a megalomaniac wanting him to be eliminated to find a solution to the conflict. Her euphoric uncle General Anurudha Ratwatte went further after taking control of Jaffna following his Jayasikuru military operations by stating that the army had driven the Tigers from Jaffna and the remaining Tiger terrorists only have a choice of jumping into the sea. The latest LTTE’s suicide mission (22/10/2008) in Kankesanthurai targeting two Sri Lankan ships bear testimony to the unrealistic and over exuberant statements of Anurudha, and LTTE is still live and kicking in the so-called liberated Jaffna peninsula after twelve long years of the so called liberation by the government forces.The LTTE is an embodiment that evolved from the deep rooted frustration of the Tamil people against the Sri Lankan government. Though the LTTE is an abhorring force which acts against its own people, the arrogance of the extremist in the political establishment of Colombo is preventing it to become a spent force. Though the Tamil people on the whole detest the LTTE, they are unable to fully disown it due to the intransigence and failures of the successive governments to seriously find a political resolution to deal with the root causes of the Tamil problem.Mahinda Rajapakse appointed the All Party Parliamentary Committee (APRC) headed by Dr Tissa Vitharane two years ago. The APRC process has proved that it is only providing lip services to the President by playing panthus (balls) to make it a wasted exercise. The President’s insincerity was visible as he made every effort to deny the APRC from considering far reaching options to achieve consensus on many issues to resolve the conflict.The President’s determined effort to undermine a bipartisan agreement with the opposition UNP; his deep involvement with the extremist JHU and the likes and his party’s inability to present a proposal beyond the unacceptable district level devolution confirmed his insincerity and his indifference to resolve the conflict peacefully.Having engaged in processes to undermine the peaceful resolution to the conflict, the President under compulsion now says that: ‘I am firmly committed to a just enduring political solution’ to the Tamil question in Sri Lanka and further stress that ‘am clear that there are no military solutions to political questions’.A President who was against durable peace emerging through empowerment of the aggrieved minorities have become a self made dove overnight by these insincere overtures to appease the international community and in particular India. Heavy words such as ‘firmly’, ‘committed’, ‘just’ and ‘enduring’ have been used to convince them and whether these have any real meaning in his real practical approach to resolve the conflict is a laughable matter.He has also created an entrenched situation by his heavy manipulative, covert and military agenda to project that he is a beacon of hope to resolve the conflict. Unless there are compulsions in an international level, he is only there to appease his political bedfellows like Champika Ranawake’s of the JHU and Douglas Devananda’s like on the Tamils side. JHU national organizer Patali Champika Ranawaka reflected this very clearly (at the same time the President made his blank utterances) when he said ‘he strongly believes the president will never betray the country and will not stop the war until the north is saved from terrorism.’In his interview with N Ram the President further states: ‘all hardships faced temporarily by our brothers and sisters in the North will be brought to an end in a short time.’ One would ask what moral right the President has to call the Tamils ‘brothers and sisters’. The so called brothers and sisters know very well, they can release themselves from the LTTE if they are embraced politically as brothers and sisters by the President and not by military dictates. They are sick and tired of listening to overtures of the Presidents and Prime Ministers for many years now, and these have never brought peace for them.The President’s demand for the LTTE to surrender its arms is another prelude to prolong this war and punish the Tamil society as a whole. According to the army commander Lt Gen Sarath Fonseka, the LTTE should be wiped out before end of this year as he does not want his successor to carry the burden of terrorism after his retirement. If that is the determination the government has, why should the President now appeal to the LTTE to surrender its arms? Sarath Fonseka will be saying goodbye with his retirement at the end of this year and the President will remain for another three years waiting to see LTTE disarming, whilst the Tamil civilian population will be stampeded by both the government and the so-called inhuman liberators-LTTE.The Generals like Anurudha and Sarath will leave their offices after making euphoric statements but Tamil suffering under both the government forces and the LTTE will continue indefinitely. Before his exit Lt Gen Sarath Fonseka has to accomplish one more important task like his predecessor General Anurudha Ratwatte to handover the Kilinochchi Pattuna stroll amidst the blasting magul berra’s (wedding drums) and Kandyan dance like what happened after Jayasekuru Operations of the government forces during Chandrika Kumaratunga’s regime. - (News-Sri Lanka Guardian )
Hartal in Jaffna to protest against LTTE attack at the cargo vessels
The Jaffna community alongwith business, administration and sections of educational institutions, on Thursday(Oct 23) have organised a hartal to protest against the cowardly LTTE suicide attack at two vessels with essential food supplies to the peninsula yesterday.
The peninsula is virtually connected with the south via sea route, which remains to be the sole lifeline providing daily bread to thousands and any means to disrupt the normalcy is to be condemned in all quarters, an organizer who wanted to remain anonymous was quoted saying with our Jaffna defence correspondent.
According to our sources, the hartal organised with the participation of diverse sections in the peninsula is clearly showing signs of success.
All the services in the Jaffna with its relative normalcy came to a standstill as there was no transport or any other service operating. All government and private institutions also put up shutters and kept away from their respective services.
However, Jaffna Teaching Hospital remained functional, defence sources confirmed.
LTTE an international banned terrorist outfit on Wednesday(22), attempted to ram into two MV with essential cargo, following its deliberate attack at the UN food convoy on 16th September.
The peninsula is virtually connected with the south via sea route, which remains to be the sole lifeline providing daily bread to thousands and any means to disrupt the normalcy is to be condemned in all quarters, an organizer who wanted to remain anonymous was quoted saying with our Jaffna defence correspondent.
According to our sources, the hartal organised with the participation of diverse sections in the peninsula is clearly showing signs of success.
All the services in the Jaffna with its relative normalcy came to a standstill as there was no transport or any other service operating. All government and private institutions also put up shutters and kept away from their respective services.
However, Jaffna Teaching Hospital remained functional, defence sources confirmed.
LTTE an international banned terrorist outfit on Wednesday(22), attempted to ram into two MV with essential cargo, following its deliberate attack at the UN food convoy on 16th September.
Welfare of Tamil people furthest from LTTE policies - Government
The LTTE, by launching an attack on merchant vessels carrying food and other essential items to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North, has once again demonstrated that the well-being of Tamil people it claims to represent is furthest from their concern, the Government said yesterday.
A Government communique said: "This morning the LTTE mounted a premeditated attack using suicide craft on two merchant ships, "Ruhuna" and "Nimalawa" in the seas off the Northern coast. This is the second attack targeting a food convoy reaching the Wanni civilians in recent times.
On the 16th of this month the LTTE launched an attack targeting a convoy of fifty lorries carrying food and essential items, including medicine plying, under the UN banner. The items had been dispatched to be distributed among the IDPs in Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi districts. The terrorists fired artillery and heavy mortar attacks targeting the convoy.
The Government notes that the LTTE has continuously done everything possible to subvert all relief measures to these people, the most pernicious strategy being that of forcibly deploying them to act as a human shield in the face of advancing security forces, blocking their movement to safe areas wherever possible.
The Government of Sri Lanka has been using air and sea routes as means of transporting essential food items and ferrying civilians. Focusing on the plight of civilians in North, the Government has taken swift measures to dispatch food and essential items as an immediate relief measure. Accordingly, the Government has organised a regular flow of humanitarian supplies to the entire North, ensuring there are no shortages.
Further, the Government is confident that the international community, and especially those who have expressed concerns about the plight of civilians in the Wanni, will be further convinced as to the logical necessity of employing all means necessary to eliminate the terrorist threat and secure the release of people trapped in the open prison that the LTTE has turned the Wanni into.
The Government also emphasizes that this act of the LTTE is a crime against humanity and it should put to rest any illusions that anyone may have entertained that the LTTE represents the concerns of civilians.
Indeed, it puts into perspective recent concerns that have been expressed regarding the Government's efforts to ensure that essential items are sent to the Wanni.
The Government reiterates the sentiments expressed recently by the President that its primary responsibility is to look after all citizens. The President, on that occasion said, "I carry out this responsibility to the fullest, especially with regard to the people who are temporarily displaced in the North, due to the ongoing military operations to defeat terrorism. There is a wrong impression created in Tamil Nadu that this not being done. This is furthest from the truth."
The Government notes with grave concern that the ships that came under attack are also used by NGOs and private sector suppliers to transport goods. By attacking these ships the LTTE terrorists are trying to disrupt the smooth flow of essential items to Jaffna and thereby create a humanitarian crisis in the region, that would not exist but for its acts of terror.
It is patently clear that the LTTE is trying to get the attention of the international community by these indiscriminate activities and the Government calls on the international community to condemn without reservation such despicable acts that seek to obtain political mileage at the cost of innocent civilians.
The Government remains undeterred by all acts of terrorism and is fully conscious of the objectives of the terrorists.
The Government will continue to take all possible measures to ensure the safety and well-being of all civilians in the North.
Courtesy: Daily News
A Government communique said: "This morning the LTTE mounted a premeditated attack using suicide craft on two merchant ships, "Ruhuna" and "Nimalawa" in the seas off the Northern coast. This is the second attack targeting a food convoy reaching the Wanni civilians in recent times.
On the 16th of this month the LTTE launched an attack targeting a convoy of fifty lorries carrying food and essential items, including medicine plying, under the UN banner. The items had been dispatched to be distributed among the IDPs in Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi districts. The terrorists fired artillery and heavy mortar attacks targeting the convoy.
The Government notes that the LTTE has continuously done everything possible to subvert all relief measures to these people, the most pernicious strategy being that of forcibly deploying them to act as a human shield in the face of advancing security forces, blocking their movement to safe areas wherever possible.
The Government of Sri Lanka has been using air and sea routes as means of transporting essential food items and ferrying civilians. Focusing on the plight of civilians in North, the Government has taken swift measures to dispatch food and essential items as an immediate relief measure. Accordingly, the Government has organised a regular flow of humanitarian supplies to the entire North, ensuring there are no shortages.
Further, the Government is confident that the international community, and especially those who have expressed concerns about the plight of civilians in the Wanni, will be further convinced as to the logical necessity of employing all means necessary to eliminate the terrorist threat and secure the release of people trapped in the open prison that the LTTE has turned the Wanni into.
The Government also emphasizes that this act of the LTTE is a crime against humanity and it should put to rest any illusions that anyone may have entertained that the LTTE represents the concerns of civilians.
Indeed, it puts into perspective recent concerns that have been expressed regarding the Government's efforts to ensure that essential items are sent to the Wanni.
The Government reiterates the sentiments expressed recently by the President that its primary responsibility is to look after all citizens. The President, on that occasion said, "I carry out this responsibility to the fullest, especially with regard to the people who are temporarily displaced in the North, due to the ongoing military operations to defeat terrorism. There is a wrong impression created in Tamil Nadu that this not being done. This is furthest from the truth."
The Government notes with grave concern that the ships that came under attack are also used by NGOs and private sector suppliers to transport goods. By attacking these ships the LTTE terrorists are trying to disrupt the smooth flow of essential items to Jaffna and thereby create a humanitarian crisis in the region, that would not exist but for its acts of terror.
It is patently clear that the LTTE is trying to get the attention of the international community by these indiscriminate activities and the Government calls on the international community to condemn without reservation such despicable acts that seek to obtain political mileage at the cost of innocent civilians.
The Government remains undeterred by all acts of terrorism and is fully conscious of the objectives of the terrorists.
The Government will continue to take all possible measures to ensure the safety and well-being of all civilians in the North.
Courtesy: Daily News
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