Archive for September 2009
Fresh tsunami warning for Samoa as toll reaches 63
The death toll from a massive South Pacific earthquake and tsunami has risen to 63, officials say. Samoan police have confirmed the new toll and expect it will rise further. Meanwhile, Samoan authorities have issued a fresh tsunami warning to residents, eyewitnesses say.
“The sirens have gone off and police are warning us to go uphill, away from water, as there’s a new tsunami alert,” local resident Cherelle Jackson told AFP.
“Its starting all over again.”
Despite the local warning in the nervous Samoan capital of Apia, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre did not issue a fresh alert and the US Geological Survey did not record any new major earthquake in the area.
The tsunami has devastated parts of American Samoa and Samoa, including popular resort areas, and has wiped out villages.
The victims include an Australian and a New Zealander. (Brisbane Times)
CMC says 450,000 in the city don’t pay taxes
Former Mayor Omar Kamil
The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) is struggling to finance itself as 450 000 people within the Colombo city limits fail to pay their taxes according to Former Mayor Omar Kamil.
Speaking at a media conference to launch a Colombo city beautifying project in the next 100 days CMC Chief City Administrator Omar Kamil pointed out that out of the total of 650,000 residents living in Colombo, 450,000 do not pay tax to the CMC which makes it harder for the development of the city. He also noted that there is Rs.3 billion of outstanding tax which is “owed by the government, semi government sectors as well as by the private sector for a period of a decade,”
He emphasised that with the garbage problem being literally cleaned up, following his taking of office the next task on the agenda was to look at turning Colombo into one of the most beautiful cities in South Asia.
“I took over duties at the CMC on July 15 where just after 50 days there was a huge change in the city of Colombo. At present we have made arrangements to remove garbage in the city between 7.00 a.m. and 9.00 a.m. each day,” he said adding that they are looking forward to making a new culture in keeping Colombo city clean. “There are 400,000 people who are living in less developed areas in the Colombo city and 250,000 more residing in developed areas,” said Kamil calling on all of them to involve themselves in the city beautifying project.
The Chief City Administrator stated that they are hoping to deliver printed leaflets to every household by the middle of next month where if anyone seeks any kind of assistance by the CMC they could directly contact the necessary body who is in charge of it.
The new renewing programme includes a new synchronised traffic control system for the first time in the city. “We have already started this system at the Ayurvedic junction in Rajagiriya and we are looking forward to expanding it to the D.S. Senanayake junction, the drive way from Kynsey Road to Horton Place, Wijerama Mawatha to Horton Place, along with many others.”
By Sarashi Samarasinghe
thebottomline
Abandoned Muslim Property in the Northern Province:
The legal consequences- Concerns and Recommendations
By M.H.M. Salman
The process of expulsion of Muslims from the Northern Province commenced as early as 1985. Muslims from Mullativu were the first victims. In the latter part of year 1990 a full scale expulsion of Muslims took place. According to a survey conducted by Dr. S.H. Hisbullah Muslim families were expelled from about 70 villages.
According to the national census conducted in 1981 a total of 54,205 Muslims lived in the North. In the absence of official population statistics it is assumed that on the basis of calculation of 2% annual growth of population (from 1982 to 1990) there would have been around 63,000 Muslims in the North at the time of expulsion.
The expulsion was successful in the Jaffna, Mullaitivu, and Kilinochchi Districts. In the Mannar District it was a partial success. About 6,000 Muslims braved threats and intimidation and continued to live there. Records show in Mannar the Muslim population dropped (From 26.81% to 5.14%) drastically to less than 6,000 after the expulsion. In the Vavuniya District the entire Muslim population remained intact. (Statistically)
According to available statistics a total of 20,583 Muslims currently live in the North. The Secretariat for the Northern Muslims estimates that there are 19,314 displaced families living outside the North at present. Another category of the displaced Muslims live outside Sri Lanka. Accurate figures and where they currently live are not available.
According to a survey carried out by the Muslim Rights Organisation an extent in excess of 30,000 acres of land belonging to 11,058 Muslim individuals have been abandoned in the North. Abandoned land is either occupied by third parties or remains unoccupied.
Even after the lapse of nineteen long years and the defeat of the LTTE displaced Muslims are not in a position to take a full stock of the status of their property. Reasons are, inaccessibility due to security, hostile environment and the presence of mines etc. Those who had managed with difficulty to visit and inspect the properties had witnessed that in certain cases third parties are in possession. Abandoned lands have undergone considerable physical changes. Land is either overgrown or the surface has undergone changes rendering identification difficult.
According to surveys 12% houses in the Jaffna district are subject to secondary occupation. Secondary occupation of property is very much prevalent in the other districts in the North too though accurate details are not available. The true extent of the secondary occupation of property will only be known when normalcy is restored and the displaced individuals are permitted to visit the areas without restriction.
Several studies have been conducted to assess the impact of secondary occupation in Sri Lanka by a number of international organisations and policy institutes. However the State policy or the law reforms have not been very responsive to the outcomes or to the actual needs that have been identified. The studies have found that secondary occupation of land and houses raises the following social issues-
Potential to create fresh disputes
Competing claims and protracted legal/administrative procedures
Hindrance to orderly re-settlement of the displaced
The subject of secondary occupation of property has been subjected to extensive discussion and research in other parts of the world. Countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, and Guatemala have successfully implemented restitution plans.
According to laws of Sri Lanka encroachment or forcible occupation of land and houses are per se unlawful. An aggrieved individual can seek redress through courts of law to have the trespasser or the illegal occupant ejected from the property and gain possession through legal remedies such as possessory action or under section 66 of the Primary Courts Procedure Act.
As much as laws enable individuals to acquire property and assert ownership the laws also provide for the legal basis for loss of ownership to property. The law is found in the Prescription Ordinance which the British enacted more than 100 years ago. Prescription Ordinance governs both acquisitive and extinctive prescription. In layman’s language a person can acquire or lose ownership to property by operation of the law of Prescription.
The basis of extinctive prescription is founded on the principle of negligence on the part of the owner of property. In terms of the law an owner of property is under a legal obligation to assert the legal right of ownership within a stipulated period of time to re-possess property. Should the owner fail or neglect to institute legal action within the stipulated time the secondary occupant acquires ownership provided certain conditions are fulfilled.
Courts of law apply provisions of prescription law in terms of procedures laid down in Statutes. In ordinary circumstances where parties are equally placed application of the law is reasonable and justified. However in conflict environments the parties to a dispute may at times not be equally placed in many respects.
For instance in a lawsuit where a displaced Muslim from the North is challenging a secondary occupant of property in the North, he is at a definite disadvantage vis-a- vis the secondary occupier. a) Northern Muslim lives elseware b) properties are inaccessible c) the environment is hostile d) inability to have access to documents or witnesses etc. on the other hand the secondary occupant is placed in an advantageous position by virtue of his possession and the unrestricted access to witnesses, documents and the friendly environment.
One of the incidental issues arising out of secondary occupation of property is the impact of restitution will have on the secondary occupant. Although the occupation of property belonging to others is an unlawful act, there are other circumstances necessitating a more flexible approach to the resolution of this complex issue.
If a secondary occupant is ejected from the property, more often than not it will give rise to fresh problems. That is because in the North most of the secondary occupants are poor landless and belongs to the Tamil community. In such circumstances the ejectment of a secondary occupier will also lead to more tension in the society.
Successful military operations have paved the way for re-settlement of Muslims of the North. The Government has also taken several positive steps in this regard. However no attention is paid to resolve the issues arising out of secondary occupation of private property in the North. In order to complement the efforts of the government the following broader issues are identified in respect of issues relating to secondary occupation in conflict areas-
-Total inadequacy of laws and policies deal with secondary occupation
-Absence of cost effective and enforceable alternative dispute resolution mechanisms
-Inability of the authorities and the non-state actors to resolve these issues in a just and peaceful manner;
-Potential for future tension between individuals and communities
-Sensitivities and genuine concerns of secondary occupants
Instead of strategies, successive governments were keen to set up multitude of ministries, departments institutions and ad hoc mechanisms creating fresh problems. Issues of co-ordination, overlapping of functions and responsibilities have often created delays, confusion if not conflict among the institutions themselves to the detriment of the displaced people.
Recommendations
In order to address issues arising out of abandonment of property and secondary occupation all parties must think innovatively and also act fast. Following are some thoughts for policy and law reform. For purpose of clarity the envisaged policy and law reforms are set out in three stages, but all stages are interconnected.
Immediate
1.Initiation of a dialogue involving all parties
The government must initiate a dialogue with all stakeholders.
2. Vesting of abandoned land and properties of displaced (Northern) in the State
Enactment of a new legislation or regulations to grant legal protection to abandoned private property in the North and East. Such law or regulation should have the effect of vesting the properties of the displaced automatically (by operation of law) in the State without any encumbrances.
Laws can be enacted through an act of Parliament or under regulations under Public Security Ordinance. Soon after July 1983 riots REPIA was created through regulation and all affected properties were vested in the State by operation of law. Land and properties vested as such were divested to legal owners after inquiry.
3. Preservation of documents of title to property
Immediate action must be taken by the authorities to preserve and protect documents of title to property such as deeds, permits issued by government and also survey plans, agreements, licences and other document relating to approvals issued by local authorities or government institutions. Issue of copies of documents destroyed or lost too should be expedited.
4. Conducting of land survey and photographing of property
Due to abandonment of property for long periods of time all identity marks and other evidence have been lost or destroyed. The original owners will not be able to identify their properties due to lack or non existence of surface marks or signs. Therefore the Government must facilitate displaced persons to obtain ruling on boundaries of their property under relevant law or practice.
A comprehensive report of property of the northern Muslims is available using new and advanced technologies. A survey too should be carried out to obtain details of land ownership of individuals.
5. Creation of awareness among the displaced population
Lack of awareness and ignorance has affected most of the displaced persons. They are not very much aware of their legal rights and entitlements. Most of them have hopes of returning to their homes in unsafe neighbourhoods. Most of them are also unaware of legal consequences arising out of abandonment of property
Intermediate
Law and policy reform
1)Enactment of new laws and amendment to existing legislation
A serious danger is likely that the legal owners losing ownership due to the operations prescription. If a displaced person loses title to property in such circumstance it will be a travesty of justice and will also reflect poorly on all stakeholders.
Therefore the Government must seriously consider introducing necessary amendments to the Prescription Ordinance and other relevant law without further delay.
2. Setting up of special tribunals/courts to inquire in to property claims
The Government should give serious consideration to set up special courts or tribunals to hear and determine applications in areas where the displaced live, on matters relating to land disputes. These courts or tribunals could be set up under special law. The special courts or tribunals must have jurisdiction to hear applications on a wider range of subjects and should also have powers to expeditiously settle disputes relating to property.
Such courts or tribunals must be given jurisdiction to inquire into testamentary cases and disputes relating to land between persons (displaced persons or one party is a displaced person) that were pending at the time of displacement. Similarly pending cases with regard to tenancy rights, servitudes or any right or obligation arising out of land too should be transferred to these special courts or tribunals for determination.
3. Laws to nullify land transfers under questionable circumstances
Several instances have been reported that Muslims of the North had been compelled under coercion or force to dispose land and property at a far lower price than the prevailing market value.
The Government should appoint a committee to investigate such instances and to recommend necessary law and policy changes to grant relief to affected individuals.
Policy reform and executive & administrative action
Sri Lanka Cricket promoting religious discrimination?
Let me first declare my interests. I am a Colombo Tamil with nothing to do with LTTE. My parents and grandparents made Colombo their home long ago during the time of the British.
I am an old boy of St. Thomas’, a prestigious school in Colombo. I always supported the SL cricket team. I now live in South Harrow. I am here on holiday to see my parents who live in Colombo. I shall post this letter on my way to the airport so that I shall be safely in the plane in case you publish the verifiable contents of this letter.
As you may know the Sri Lanka cricket team consists of majority Buddhists, a Hindu, a couple of Muslims and a couple of Christians. In short it is a multi-religious and a multi-racial team and on that score alone it should be admired. Over the last few years the ugly head of religious discrimination has started to emerge from the woodworks of the HQ of the SL Cricket Board. It first appeared positively when Chaminda Vaas, a Catholic, was about to be appointed as Captain of the team. He declined the post due to malicious criticism by some fellow cricketers and a virulent religious press.
Before the above incident the SL Cricket Board has introduced a wholly irrelevant Buddhist religious ceremony before the departure of the team for any international match. If you look at the SL’s national TV footage of 15 Sept.09 you will find a Buddhist monk conducting a Buddhist ceremony for the team, where the non-Buddhists team-mates were forced to partake. According to the Constitution and the President all are supposed to be equal and no minority exists. Yet this blatant disregard to respect the religious beliefs of non- Buddhists in the team is sheer arrogance and chauvinism on the part of the SL Cricket Board and the Minister in Charge.
I have previously written to the authorities concerned. Therefore they cannot pretend ignorance. This is religious discrimination requiring as much publicity as other atrocities you have given current publicity. You know how Britain treated the South African cricket team in the days of apartheid. Sri Lanka by its own arrogance is now a strong candidate for boycott by the ICC and the English Cricket Board.
I hope you will realize the gravity of the situation after having seen the SL state TV (Rupavahini and ITN). At a minimum the ICC and ECB should let the SL Cricket Board know that they are aware of the religious discrimination and the future consequences of such a course of action if persisted by Sri Lanka.
Buddhism has nothing to do with the British invented game of cricket. Further Buddhism has no God or gods to plead for divine intervention in their favour. The Gods in Buddhism are all from the Hindhu pantheon and therefore a Hindhu priest should conduct this ceremony and not a Buddhist monk.
I am for secular cricket with no trappings of any religion. On the other hand if one wants to have religion then they can have it on their own the day previous to their departure in their own temples, kovils, mosques and churches. If religious ceremony is a necessity then all religions should be allowed to conduct their short ceremony in public NOT just one religion (Buddhism) at the deliberate neglect of other religions.
I hope you will give publicity to this matter as just now cricket is still a force that unites the people in this country. If Sinhala Buddhist chauvinists and fanatics are allowed their way, soon there will only be Buddhists in the SL team and division in the country on religious lines. I hope you will kindly consider this earnest request. My home address in South Harrow will be revealed to you once I get home.
V. Seneviratnam
dailymirror
Preparations to arrest Chandrika on war crime charges
‘Lanka-e-news’
The International Human rights Organization is preparing to arrest former President Chandrika Bandaranaike in a foreign country on international war crime charges, according to reports received by ‘Lanka-e-news’.
The main reason for this is the obstacle militating against the arrest of the President in power for international war crime charges, and the absence of such immunity protecting an Ex President.
‘Lanka-e-news’ is informed that this Human rights Organization has prepared an affidavit comprising 231 charges based on the war crimes and violations committed during the period of the former President Chandrika which can be taken before the International law.
Upon inquiries made by the ‘Lanka-e-news’ from an International law expert Attorney at law Asanga Welikala on the actions available for war crime charges under the International law against a an Ex leader or the current leader of a country, he stated, the chances are slim against the leader in power. But, Such actions are possible only when based on the UN security Council decisions
He cited as an example the arrest of the leader of Liberia for war crimes committed during his period based on the decision of the UN human rights security Council., adding that under the laws of some countries these actions can only be taken against leaders remaining in those countries. Actions by Belgium against leaders of Yugoslavia, Serbia and Sierra Leone were unsuccessful. However, the leader of Spain who was outside was arrested.
He also stated that no such action can be taken against the Leaders who have arrived in America to attend the UN assembly. The authority of the US does not extend to the UN Organization.
In any case, Sri Lanka has not been signatories to agreements on International war crime charges, and therefore if the arrests are to be made of the Ex President or the present President on these war crime charges, they must be a result of the admixture of international politics and laws, he pointed out.
Teacher transfer barrier finally comes down
In a ground breaking move the Ministry of Education has removed the barriers that existed for teacher transfers making it possible for even a teacher serving in a provincial school to get a transfer to a national school in future, the Ceylon Teachers Union said yesterday.
Previously, teachers who received their appointments after December 12, 1989 had been prohibited from getting a transfer from a provincial school to a national school. The Ministry informed governors, provincial education secretaries and the Public Service Commission of the decision in writing on August 21, 2009.
There are 9662 schools in the country and only 330 are National Schools. Ceylon Teachers Union Secretary Joseph Stalin explained that there were 212,683 teachers in the country and 31,741 of them serve in National Schools. “National Schools are considered the elite schools and therefore teachers who served in those schools are considered the privileged ones. So, the remaining 180,836 teachers may now all try to get transfers to these schools. It can lead to an administrative nightmare if this happens. We urge the education authorities to work out a proper transfer policy under these circumstances,” he said.
He also cautioned that there could be increased pressure put on the education authorities by politicians as a result of this to get teachers in their electorates transferred to these schools, creating an even bigger problem.
dailymirror
Lack of proficiency hinders language policy implementation
By Sandun A. Jayasekera
Constitutional Affairs and National Integration Minister D.E.W. Gunasekara lamented yesterday that there was a shortage of 300,000 officers in the public service with proficiency in a second language to implement the official language policy.
In the public service – excluding the armed forces – the percentage proficient in a second language in the Central Government is on average 6 and the level of Provincial Councils and Local Government is on average 16% which is a serious drawback to implement the official language policy enshrined in the statute book. Secondly it is of utmost importance to be proficient in a second language to create understanding and communal harmony among the communities, Minister Gunasekara said yesterday.
“A series of steps have been taken for the speedy and effective implementation of the Official Language Policy in the public service by my Ministry by way of lump sum payments and salary increments, making the second language compulsory for new recruits; classes at every state institution to teach a second language and the establishment of a National Institute of Language Education and Training at Agalawatte are some of them,” he told the Daily Mirror.
“We have also taken a decision to appoint ‘Official Languages Implementation Officers’ (OLIO) at each and every public institution to ensure the full implementation of the official language policy. The OLIO is responsible for the proper implementation of the official language policy at Public, Provincial Councils and Local Government institutions,” Minister Gunasekara stressed.
dailymirror
One Thousand Sri Lankans to be deported
The Kuwait Ministry Of Interior is preparing to deport 1,000 Sri Lankans who are among 17,000 illegal expatriates belonging to 22 nationalities by the end of the year. It said the ministry has applied to the Central Tenders Committee (CTC) to purchase air tickets for the deportees as requested by the deportation department.
According to the memo made by the ministry’s correctional facilities directorate, the tickets requested for deportees included 4,000 to Bangladesh, 3,500 to India, 1,000 to the Philippines, 1,000 to Indonesia, 1,000 to Sri Lanka, 1,200 to Egypt, 1,050 to Pakistan, 50 to Thailand, 50 to Malaysia, 500 to Iran, 500 to China, 100 to Yemen, 50 to Lebanon, 50 to Jordan, 750 to Syria, 500 to Nepal, 50 to South Korea, 50 to Somalia, 500 to Ethiopia, 1,000 to Afghanistan, 50 to Sudan and 50 to Turkey.
Official sources at the Ministry of Interior noted that this would be the largest deportation process in any year since the liberation of Kuwait in 1991. He added that the previous record was in 2006 when 16,000 were deported from Kuwait. The sources also explained that once the tender was ready, regular flights would carry those arrested for residency law violations or other legal claims to the aforementioned destinations.
In addition, the ministry has requested special conditions to be observed in the tender, such as excluding fare differences for rebooking during different seasons, the availability of the carrier’s representative or liaison officer at the deportation centre on a 24/7 basis and giving top priority to Kuwait Airways. (Kuwait Times)
No-confidence motion against Hisbullah tomorrow
Reacting to allegations made against him and the no-confidence motion mooted against him by the UNP being taken up tomorrow, Eastern Province Health Minister M.L.M Hisbullah says the claims are unfounded and created with the intention of defaming him.
“The allegations are baseless and I have the evidence to prove that I did not tamper with the appointments of the volunteers for the health service from the Eastern Province,” he said. “The appointments were decided and made in the year 2005, at a time when none of us were present at the Eastern Provincial Council (EPC) – it wasn’t implemented until later this year.”
Minister Hisbullah said that ministers, including him, follow the Governor’s directives and those included the appointments as well. “These appointments were directives by the honourable Governor,” he said. “It was to be made in 2005, when the people first applied. Those seeking jobs registered themselves as volunteers; I had no hand in it.”
A fight between the Muslims traders and the Police
There was a fight between the Muslims traders and the Police at the Thambala – Galwela junction in Polannaruwa of the North Central Province yesterday
This incident had occurred when the Pradeshiya Sabah with the assistance of the Police tried to remove the business places belonging to the mosque which according to the Pradeshiya Sabah was built on its land.
However, the Muslims say they have a court order to prevent the removal of these business places and the Police used tear gas when they objected to the removal. Tight security has been increased now causing tension in these areas.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Pradeshiya Sabah Mancha Sri Aluthwatte said that the Pradeshiya Sabha had obtained a court order to remove these places and the Muslims attacked the officers and damaged their vehicles when they went to remove the business places belonging to the Muslims.
Minister Faiz ‘s vehicle driver shot
Unidentified gunmen shot at of K.A. Faiz ‘s vehicle driver at Noor road near the Puttalam railway station last night. It is said the driver of the vehicle was injured in this incident and admitted at the Puttalam hospital.
The Malaysian High Commission today hosted an Eid Mubarak reception
The Malaysian High Commission today hosted an Eid Mubarak reception at Rumah Malaysia in Colombo 7. Pictured above are Colombo Municipal Council Special Commissioner Omer Kamil, Western Province Governor Alawi Maulana and Rosli Ismail the Malaysian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka.
Abducted President of Eastern Province Mosques Federation Released
Moulavi S.L.M. Haneefa the President of Eastern Province Mosque Federation, the secretary of Ampara district Muslim Peace Secretariat and the President of Muslim Assembly for National Unity was abducted from his business establishment by an armed gang in a van last week and later released by them.
The armed gang after threatening and beating up one of his employees, who camp to rescue the moulalvi, abducted him in a white van without a number plate. The abducted moulavi said that an armed gang went to his business establishment told ‘sir wanted to meet him’ and asked him to accompany the gang in the van.
The moulavi refused to go with them as he did not know who their ‘sir’ was, later forced into the van by the gang that took him away. He said he was taken to the circuit bungalow of the ministry of water supply and drainage in Akkaraipattu where Minister Athaullah was and the moulavi could guess who the gang was referring to as ‘sir’ after seeing the minister there. According to moulavi Haneefa, minister Athulla had questioned about various things not relevant to him in a manner threatening for which he replied that he did not know. The moulavi said on hearing the news of his abduction by the gang of minister Athullah, his family members led by his son rushed to the circuit bungalow to rescue him. He had lodged a complaint at the Akkaraipattu Police with regard to this occurrence.Many organisations like Akkaraipattu Jamiethul Ulema and Ulema party vehemently opposed to this and condemned this as an act against democracy. Meanwhile minister Athullah had said those who had close links with the terrorists were releasing stories against him.
Muslim guardian
Secretary unseated over Presidential Chair
By Manjula Pradeep Weerasuriya
Secretary of the Cultural Affairs Ministry, Wimaladasa Samarasingha has been removed from his post by President Mahinda Rajapaksa last week. He was removed following several complaints regarding shortcomings that had taken place at the National Literary Arts Festival held at Polonnaruwa, Royal College. It is alleged that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had almost fallen from his chair when he was seated.
Meanwhile, many artistes have informed the president that although the festival was a national event, no arrangements had been made to hoist the national flag or sing the national anthem. The inauguration ceremony began around 4 pm with the participation of less than 25 people and had ended by 5.30 pm. But the cultural peagent had started even before the inauguration ceremony.
When contacted, Wimaladasa Samarasingha denied the allegations and said that an organised group of artistes were responsible for making an issue of the shortcomings.
He said that the ministry took a decision regarding ‘adults only’ films and other subsequent decisions which blocked certain artistes from making money, and this had angered them and they were in an all out bid to get him removed. “It was they who instigated the president against me without any reason”, he said.
Lakbimanews
Failure to eradicate smoking will result in 1 billion deaths in next century
By Don Asoka Wijewardena
The World Health Organization (WHO) says that unless the smoking habit is eradicated, tobacco will kill one billion people in the 21st century.
Of one billion smokers 80 per cent are found in the developing countries, including Asia, which includes Sri Lanka, the Health Education Bureau revealed at a media conference held on World Heart Day.
Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Gamini Galappaththi said, in Sri Lanka around 20,000 people died each year due to smoking and smoking-related diseases. Those who indulged in the habit of smoking would release smoke from their lungs into the environment and others too, would inhale the smoke.
He pointed out that the deadly poison that tobacco smoke contained passes from the lungs into the blood stream of those who inhaled it.
If a pregnant mother inhaled this secondhand smoke some of the poisons in the smoke she inhales would reach her unborn baby through her blood stream.
There were more than 4000 chemicals in tobacco smoke and of these around 50 had been proved to be carcinogenic. It meant that the chemicals were capable of causing cancer in various organs of the body.
He added that tobacco smoke contained nicotine, DDT, Arsenic, Carbon Monoxide, Hydrogen, Cyanide, Cadmium and Formaldehyde and these substances were commercially used to make a substance to kill cockroachers.
There was evidence that cadmium might be the poison that was causing serious kidney disease in the North Central Province.
The Island
JHU to force UN probe HR violations by US-
by Ifham Nizam
The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) will shortly launch a campaign to collect one million signatures to petition United Nations General Secretary Ban Ki Moon to establish a commission to inquire into human rights violations committed by the United States.
“The United States had violated the human rights of the entire world without challenge from anybody. We should expose the US,” JHU Legal Advisor and Western Province Minister Udaya Gammanpila told a press conference yesterday.
He said that plans are afoot to launch similar campaigns in South Korea, North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Cambodia and other countries that also suffered due to the US policies affecting human rights.
Gammanpila said that US President Barack Obama would face the same fate of former US President Jimmy Carter.
He said Carter listened to the advice of William Shelly on Iran and lost his position in the first term and if Obama goes on with the allegations of former US Ambassador in Sri Lanka Robert O Blake saying that there were human rights and war related issues in Sri Lanka that needs to be investigated, he too would lose his position.
He also said that they were suspicious about the conduct of Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe despite losing elections a record number of times, he still remains the leader.
“Like in several parts in the world, the US comes out with human right issues and sets up a puppet regimes. Similarly, they may be planning to set up a puppet government in Sri Lanka, too, making Wickremesinghe the leader,” he said.
JHU Parliamentary Group leader Ven. Athureliya Rathna Thera said there many moves by the US and some western European countries during the war against the LTTE, to discredit the government. “This is very clear now, how these countries tried to save Vellupillai Prabhakaran,” he said.
The Island
The Supreme Court yesterday granted relief to Dr. P. B. Jayasundera thereby permitting him to resume duties as Secretary to the Treasury
Six of the seven-Judge bench agreed to the granting of relief while, Justice Shirani Tilakawardene dissented.
The reasons for the order are to be given shortly.
Jayasundera sought to withdrew his affidavit given to Court on its order last October, subsequent to the judgement on the Lanka Marine Services Ltd case. He promised not to hold public office.
Counsel Faiz Mustapha PC supported the motion by Jayasundera.
Faiz Mustapha PC said that the Court had not made a final order on the affidavit submitted on October 8, 2008. The final order had been scheduled for October 20, 2008. On December 15, 2008, the proceedings were terminated. Since no order had been made, Jayasundera sought to withdraw his affidavit. Counsel said that the Court had imposed a penalty of Rs. 500,000 on Jayasundera, for violation of fundamental rights of petitioner Vasudeva Nanayakkara, therefore Jayasundera should not be punished thereafter for a second time.
He said the affidavit, through which Jayasundera pledged not to hold public office, consequent to the judgement in the Lanka Marine Services case had been submitted on a directive of the Court. But the judgement had not prohibited him from holding office. The direction for the affidavit to state that Jayasundera would not hold public office had been a restriction on the appointing authority. He could not even seek to hold a ministerial job. That had violated the right to franchise.
Justice Saleem Marsoof to Faiz Mustapha: “Did your client feel that if he had not sworn by affidavit that he would not hold office, he could have been dealt with for contempt of Court.
Faiz Mustapha: “Yes, I was summoned, after the judgement was delivered. The matter was on holding public office.
M. A. Sumanthiran: “A senior public officer who violated the Constitution should not hold public office. Jayasundera was among the respondents who had illegally procured benefits to a private party. He was found guilty of violating Article 12 (1) of the Constitution of Sri Lanka. He tendered an unconditional apology to Court for holding office after the judgement.
Faiz Mustapha: “Compensation payment was imposed in Rs. 500,000 for the rights violation. The money was payable by Jayasundera. The President had wanted him to stay on. But, a week after the judgement, he resigned.
The petitioner had subsequently disputed that Jayasundera held office. The Court directed the submission of an affidavit on October 8, 2008. But, a final order on that as to whether it was accepted or not, was not made. Hence the petitioner may withdrew the affidavit.
“The petitioner seeks to withdraw the portion in the affidavit, which will restrain him from holding public office for life. This is an embargo for life. The Court on October 20, 2008 or even thereafter did not make an operative final order on that affidavit.”
M. A. Sumanthiran, Counsel for Vasudeva Nanayakkara told the Supreme Court that Dr. P. B. Jayasundera should be charged for contempt of the Supreme Court for making baseless allegation, challenging the integrity of the former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva and two sitting judges of the Supreme Court. Sarath N. Silva should be made a respondent and allowed to defend himself. Jayasundera could not make allegations and attempt to withdraw without going through the investigation procedure.
Sumanthiran said that serious findings had been made against Jayasundera in the judgement on the Lanka Marine Service Ltd case. He had not acted in public interest, according to the judgement. He had procured benefit to a private company in privatisation of land at Bloemendhal Road. It had been a loss to the public running into a colossal loss of public fund, Sumanthiran added.
M. A. Sumanthiran appeared with Viran Corea for the original petitioner, in the fundamental rights, violation application of Vasudeva Nanayakkara, who had challenged the privatisation of land belonging to the Sri Lanka Ports Authority at Bloemendhal, Colombo 13. The Supreme Court by Judgement revested the land in the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.
The Attorney General Mohan Peiris PC appeared with Additional Solicitor General Uanjan Wijayatillaka PC Deputy Solicitor General Sanjay Rajaratnam and Senior State Counsel, N. G. Pulle for the State.
The seven judge bench comprised Chief Justice Asoka de Silva, Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake, Justice Shirani Tilakawardene, Justice Saleem Marsoof, Justice J. Balapatabendi, Justice K. Sripavan and Justice P. A. Ratnayake.
The Court at the outset overruled an objection by M. A. Sumanthiran to the effect that the motion by Jayasundera should have been referred to the three judge bench that ordered the affidavit on October 8, 2008. If that bench felt it was a public interest matter, it might recommend to the Chief Justice the appointment a fuller bench to hear the motion.
Nihal Sri Amerasekera supported the objections filed against the motion by Jayasundera.
The Island
Treatment of Tamil IDPs and Muslim Refugees: Double Standard on Human Suffering
(Part of this article, dealing up to the Indian involvement, was published in the Ceylon Daily Mirror on Tuesday 22 September 2009)
By Latheef Farook
It is heartening to note the swift international response to the misery of Internally Displaced Tamils. There is no doubt that every country ,every organization and every individual should make every effort to ameliorate the conditions of about 280,000 unfortunate Tamil IDPs who were herded and used as human shields by the LTTE against advancing Sri Lankan forces.
Moved by their sufferings, milk of human kindness began flowing like rivers as many countries in the world starting from India, United, States, United Kingdom ,Japan ,Malaysia, Australia and many more generously donated billions of rupees and offered aid packages to meet with the urgent needs of these unfortunate Tamil IDPs.
Their sufferings, began only few months ago, attracted such great attention that on the eve of the crushing defeat of LTTE one after the other top political leaders from the west ,from British Foreign Secretary David Miliband and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon ,rushed to the island to show their humanitarian concern.
In fact, Tamil IDPs melted the heart of Ban Ki Moon so much that four months later on September 3, 2009 while in Geneva for a climate conference he lamented that ССconditions at Tamil IDP camps have not improved and it may deteriorate further when the monsoon season arrives. Therefore civilians should be allowed out of the camps to stay with host families.
Few days later Ban Ki moon even dispatched his deputy, United Nation Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe, on 16 September 2009 to visit the Tamil IDPs and to press the government to speed up their release .Lyn Pascoe visited the Tamil IDPS in Menik farm and other places and warned theФ situation in camps is putting reconciliation at riskФ. He said the UN was devoting special energy to the displaced Tamils because the issue was critical for the country’s future.
Further more Head of the United Nations Refugee Agency Antonio Gutteres promised further help for caring and resettling Tamil IDPs while Walter Kalin ,Special Representative of Ban Ki moon , is due to arrive in Colombo next week to visit IDP welfare centres.
What a great humanitarian gesture? One should admire their compassion and humanitarian concern for the Tamil IDPs.
However, all these Western politicians” human kindness dry up completely when it comes to the sufferings of Northern Muslims, driven out at gunpoints, Jaffna Muslims within two hours notice, by the LTTE, and have been languishing in refugee camps in and around Puttalam for 20 long years in appalling conditions. No UN official or Western leader came to see their plight and there were no generous aid packages to them. Perhaps, in their eyes, these Muslim refugees were not human beings?
Indian Government, for example, set aside Rs 500 crore for Tamil IDPs.It would have been nice if India, in the same spirit, had allocated at least Rs 500 for the around 130,000 Northern Muslims refugees during the past 20 years. After all their misery was caused by the LTTE which ,together with other Tamil militants ,were armed, trained and financed by India in its effort to prick the pride of Late President Jayewardene and turned this paradise island into AsiaТs worst killing field,India stated that a “broad-based political settlement” of the ethnic conflict would enable the Rs.500-crore relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation package for Tamil IDPs to be utilized in a more effective and efficient manner. Reiterating this in his 63rd Independence Day message, the Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Alok Prasad said New Delhi looked forward to working with Colombo for quick and effective disbursement of the package.
Then India asked Sri Lanka to take “effective measures” to address the concerns of displaced Tamils, stating that relations between the two neighbors hinge on the issue. Recalling his meeting with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told the Rajya Sabha that “bulk” of his meeting was focused on the plight of Sri Lankan Tamils.
“We are deeply concerned. I explained to President Rajapakse that we have legitimate concern about the welfare of Sri Lankan Tamils. It has a bearing on Sri Lanka’s relations with India. I spent considerable amount of my time discussing the Tamil problem with him and expressed our concern,Ф said Singh who also informed President Rajapaksa that Colombo need to create conditions for meeting “legitimate political aspirations” of the Tamils under the devolution package.
Two days later, senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu said in Chennai that Sri Lanka should take immediate steps to rehabilitate the Tamil IDPs and ensure they were resettled in their original place of inhabitations. He also urged the Sri Lankan government to accord equal rights to the Tamils as enjoyed by the Sinhalese.
Then Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna discussed the question of Tamil IDPs with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Summit. This was followed by External Affairs Minster S.M Krishna who told the Indian Parliament that Prime Minster Manmohan Singh was willing to give more than the pledged five billion Indian rupees for the resettlement of Tamil IDPs.
Meanwhile Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi called for speeding up the rehabilitation of displaced Tamils stating that his government had dispatched four consignments of relief material worth Rs 15 crore to Sri Lanka, apart from what the Indian government sends on its own.
However, none of them spoke a word about the plight of the Muslim IDPs. Where was Indian humanitarian concern when the LTTE ethnic cleansed the entire Muslim population in the north? The question is whether this is the extension of the general Indian policy of indifference and hostility towards the more than 150 million Indian Muslims who have been systematically marginalized, attacked, killed and pauperized besides being treated as outcasts.
In the midst the emerging Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi told in Chennai on 12 September 209 that the rights of Sri Lankan Tamils are very important and should be protected adding that India is applying massive pressure on Sri Lanka to protect rights of Tamils.
United Kingdom
The UKТs International Development Minister Mike Foster allocated г3 million to prepare displaced civilians to return home from the camps. The funds provide tools, vocational training, cash grants and seeds to restart their lives. Mike Foster said: Сwe also encourage Sri Lanka to allow humanitarian agencies to operate effectively by making sure relief workers can access visas and lifting the restrictions imposed on entering the camps and the Medevachchi checkpoint.
Yet not a word or penny for the Northern Muslims in Puttalam refugee camps.
United States
The United States that provided $56 million in humanitarian assistance in 2009 urged safe and speedy return of Tamil IDPs, continued access for international humanitarian organizations and the registration and provision of national identification cards to IDPs to help promote freedom of movement.
The US State Department said that the US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake and U.S. Chargщ dТAffaires in Sri Lanka James Moore met 16 representatives of U.S.-based organizations representing members of the Tamil Diaspora to discuss the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka and prospects for political reconciliation.
Underscoring the importance of political reconciliation both Blake and Moore stressed the government of the need to achieve a lasting peace, promote justice and political reconciliation and dialogue with all parties, including Tamils inside and outside Sri Lanka on new mechanisms for devolving power and improve human rights. The two also recommended that the Government of Sri Lanka and the American Tamil diaspora community seek opportunities to engage on political reconciliation and the reconstruction of Sri Lanka.
Added to this, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced a new donation of $15 million of food aid consisting of wheat, lentils and vegetable oil to fulfill the urgent needs of Tamil IDPs for four months and to support their early return .With this USAID, the development agency of the U.S. Government has provided nearly $59 million (Rs 6.78 billion) of food aid in 2008 and 2009.
Later the US called for Sri Lanka to release the Tamil IDPs warning of the potential for disease. Involuntary confinement is especially a source of concern given the recent rains and the coming of the monsoon season, said Eric Schwartz, the US assistant secretary of state for population, refugees and migration. УIt makes it all the more important that release from confinement be an issue that friends of Sri Lanka continue to raise,Ф he told reporters.
Yet not a word mentioned about helping Muslims refugees sufferings and their desire to return to their homes and lands in the north of the island.
France
Asking the Sri Lankan government to allow the Tamil IDPs to return home the French foreign ministry said the recently approved $2.6 billion dollar IMF loan to Sri Lanka should be used to improve the plight of civilians severely affected by the conflict. France reiterated that displaced people should be allowed to return to their homes and humanitarian agencies should have unhindered access to them.
Knowing the open hostility of French President Nicolas Sarkozy to Islam and Muslims one cannot expect any sympathy from France for the IslandТs Muslims refugees.
Meanwhile, according to local dailies, the government promised the IMF to resettle 70 to 80 percent of the displaced civilians by the end of this year in the letter of intent signed by Deputy Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya.The immediate priority is addressing humanitarian needs of 280,000 idp.the government said in the Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies attached with the letter.
No such condition was attached to deal with the plight of Muslim refugees?
Canada
Canadian International Cooperation Minister Beverley Oda who visited the Manik Farm Welfare village in Vavuniya said her Government had provided Canadian $ 22.5 million this year to resettle the internally displaced persons.
No such visit was made by a Canadian minister to Muslim refugee camps.
This is the plight of Northern Muslims in refugees who once lived in comforts in their own homes and lands in Jaffna and other areas in the north These pictures speak volume for their sufferings in appalling conditions.
Japan
The Japanese government and the people of Japan provided Rs. 117 million to be utilized to improve the sanitary and health conditions of the Tamil IDPs. The Japanese Ambassador Kunio Takahashi saidФ the aid package will provide much needed equipment for transportation of garbage, water and waste water and will include 26 tractors, four tipper lorries, two loaders, a backhoe loader and two pick up trucks. Funds will also be used to improve roadside drains in the IDP camp sites. It is to be implemented soon by the Local Government and Provincial Council Ministry.
Unfortunately, this humanitarian concern was not extended to the Muslim refugee camps.
Australia
Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith announced on 16 September that the Australian government, which earlier provided $ 5.25 million for emergency water, sanitation and support services to Tamil IDPs, would provide five more million dollars to help them resettle.
Vatican’s Compassion?
The tragedy is even religious people, supposed to be preaching GodТs message of peace and compassion, were selective when it comes to expressing their concerns over human sufferings. For example, three foreign Bishops, representing Catholic ChurchТs social service arm, Caritas International, visited the Tamil IDPs in Menik Farm and Settkulam. They included ItalyТs Bishop Monsvlovnni Battista and UKТs Bishop John Stanley Arnold and Bishop John Anthony Rawsthrone. Caritas International provides cooked meals to 100,000 displaced persons.
However, their human kindness was not extended to the Muslim refugees in Puttalam.Perhaps they have forgotten that Muslim IDPs too are human beings and they too eat food?
Unfortunate Muslim victims of Tamil militancy cannot expect any such gesture from the Catholic Church headed by Pope Benedict who openly expressed his animosity towards Islam and Muslims when he said that Prophet Muhammad brought nothing but evil.
Added to all these, addressing a press conference organized by the Platform for Freedom on Thursday 3 September 2009, the opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe said the government should fulfill the assurances given to the UN Secretary General that 80 percent of the Tamil IDPs would be settled within 180 days. Addressing the same press meeting, Mangala Samaraweera threatened to get the international community to punish the rulers of this country if they fail to fulfill their duty towards Tamil IDPs.
The irony is that both of them failed to mention a word about the plight of Muslim IDPТs and their sufferings. Perhaps they were not aware or forgotten?
Why didn’t the United Nations and the so-called champions of human rights, rushing to protect the Tamil IDPs, turn blind to the plight of the sufferings of around 130,000 Muslim refugees for 20 long years?
Did the United Nations or any of these countries ever demand the LTTE to resettle Muslims refugees in the way they now demand and pressurize the government to resettle Tamil IDPs? After all, it is with the money raised in these countries, especially UK, US, Canada, France, Switzerland, Scandinavia, Australia and other countries that the LTTE killer machine flourished. They could have pressurized the LTTE to allow the Muslim refugees to return home.
What do we call this? Ignorance? Indifference? Discrimination? Racism? Mindset? Double Standard or whatever it may be. This is the reality in today’s world where the Jewish dominated West led by the US and UK demonize and kill Muslims all over and destroy Muslim countries under the pretext of fighting a so-called war on terrorism. Perhaps the general attitude towards Sri Lankan Muslim IDPs is an extension of this campaign?
LTTE to function under its new Name PTGTE
With the LTTE being banned in leading western countries, its US leader has announced that their proposed Provisional Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (PTGTE) will function as an organisation of the Tamil Diaspora.
In the United States, UK, and Canada where there are large communities of Sri Lankan Tamils, and where the LTTE is banned as a terrorist organisation, the so called PTGTE will function as a front of the old LTTE still carrying on activities aimed at breaking up Sri Lanka.
The LTTE leader based in New York, USA Vishuanadan Rudrakumaran has made this announcement in their website www.puthinam.com.
China bans foreign tourists from Tibet
BEIJING (AP) - China has banned foreign tourists from traveling to Tibet ahead of a parade in the capital to mark 60 years of Communist rule, an official said Tuesday, amid stepped-up security across the country to ensure nothing mars the celebrations.
Tan Lin, an official with the business administration office at the Tourism Bureau of Tibet, said foreign tourists would be banned from Tuesday onwards, but those who have already arrived would be allowed to stay.
China has tightened security in recent weeks ahead of the Oct. 1 holiday that will see a military parade through the heart of Beijing, a speech by President Hu Jintao and a huge fireworks display.
Sales of knives have been banned at some stores including large retailers such as Wal-Mart and Carrefour after two separate knife attacks near Tiananmen Square last week, according to store officials and state media.
A female staffer who gave her last name Lazhen at the sales department of the International Grand Hotel in Lhasa – 2,500 miles (4,023 kilometers) from Beijing – said the ban was in effect until Oct. 8.
No foreigners came to her hotel on Monday and business has now down 20 to 30 percent, she said.
Fu Jun, an official with the publicity department of the Communist Party in Tibet, said he still had not heard about the ban.
China requires foreigners to obtain special permission to visit Tibet and routinely bars them from all Tibetan minority areas of the country during sensitive periods.
Vakarai Maha Vidyalayam the most modern and technically advanced in the Batticaloa district.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa during his second visit to Vakarai since its liberation yesterday assured the people who had undergone many challenges and hardships due to terrorism, that they had a bright future ahead.
The President who received a rousing welcome from the people of the area during his visit, declared open the new Vakarai Maha Vidyalayam built on the rubble of its former tsunami/terrorist devastated structures. The school is now considered as the most modern and technically advanced in the Batticaloa district.
The European Union which contributed Rs. 300 million for the effort said that the school stands as a monument to triumph over adversity for the people of Vakarai and next generation Sri Lankans.
“This reconstruction work on one of the largest schools in the Eastern Province is a commendable example of international cooperation, together with the participation of the Government, non-government and community organizations irrespective of ethnic or religious differences,” the EU quoting the President in their message said.
Budget to be presented to Parliament on November 7
The 2010 budget will be presented to Parliament on November 7, Non Cabinet Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said. He said the third reading vote on the budget will take place on December 4. There were speculations earlier that a budget will not be presented this year.
Muslim schools reopen tomorrow
It was earlier decided to reopen the schools today with the belief that Ramazan festival would be celebrated on Sunday.
Tallest tower of 70 floors in Sri Lanka to come up soon
 Construction on what will be the tallest twin tower in Sri Lanka will commence shortly. As first step of presenting the concept, design and drawings relating to the proposed structure for the Urban Development Authority a ceremony was held in Colombo.The project will comprise of a 40 floor commercial complex and a 70 floor Residential Tower at Battaramulla, near the UDA building. Under the dynamic and progressive leadership of the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the challenging face of the Government is represented by this significant measure of creating and redefining in place the Government infrastructures as the proposed commercial complex is being buidt up to house entirely the UDA requirements.
Speaking at the occasion Dr. Y. Kiron Kumar, CEO of Suchirindia said ‘Working in close association with Sri Lanka, its various Government representative bodies and officials has been a pleasure in view of their unending willingness to support and help on all counts.
“We hope to foot print into Colombo, Sri Lanka with this project and hope to extend it further and further into new areas,” Mr. Kumar added. Suchirindia, a Hyderabad based business group roots in real estate, has ventured into construction of this twin towers in collaboration with NEB Rapid Infrastructure and the Government of Sri Lanka is being developed at a cost of US$ 250 million. The 1.2 million sq.ft foot structure will be completed in a time span of 30 month and renowned Architects CPG Construction India Pvt. Ltd a subsidiary of the Singapore CPG outfit, have been appointed as the Architects of the Project. |
Top LTTEer nabbed was fake Muslim
Top LTTE activist who was arrested recently in Colombo by well designed militiary intelligence operation was pausing as a leading Muslim businessman. ”Attired in Muslim garb, he had arrived and set up residence in Colombo. He had made it a point to always carry a copy of the Muslim holy book or the Quran and had even attended prayers in mosques. He had also undergone circumcision, to ward off the ultimate suspicion”, The Nation’s defence columnist Ruwan Weerakoon has disclosed today.
What was significant about this arrest was that it was the first post war arrest of a high profile Tiger operative in Colombo. This operative, with access to the highest rung of the Tiger leadership, had been responsible for the attempts to assassinate the President and the Defense Secretary and also other high ranking military officials. He had been the mastermind behind attempts to revive the remaining Tiger cadres dormant in and around the city.
Sivam (not his real or faked Muslim name), a high profile LTTE leader who conducted his mission covertly, had been a Tiger operative, carrier of weapons and ammunition, transporter of suicide cadres and kits and also the mastermind behind the planning of several attacks on certain key figures in the security establishment. He also cultivated several security personnel and had access to most of the important economic places because he spent million to corrupt and bribe officers manning them.
Sivam, had arrived in Colombo in March 2002, soon after the implementation of the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) between the LTTE and the then government. The details of his arrival will not be discussed by this column as it had been similar to other Tiger arrivals into the city, as described earlier. Suffice it to say that Sivam too had gained access to Colombo by posing as a Muslim. Taking on the identity of a Muslim is probably easier as the two ethnic groups use Tamil as their mother tongue, albeit there are differences in dialect and accent according to the regions of habitation. It is easier for a Tamil to impersonate a Moor than a Sinhalese.
Sivam too was a well trained cadre and had access to the highest in the organisation. A high profile Tiger, he is the only one in the city to have directly reported to LTTE intelligence wing leader Pottu Amman. Sivam had been responsible for operating the Tigers’ intelligence network in and around Colombo. Though he was a native of Kilinochchi in the North, he had been mostly based in Colombo and was very familiar with the area.
