A tense situation was erupted in Slave Island today in the afternoon when demolishing of unauthorized buildings was resumed by Urban Development Authority officials. UDA officials under the protection of Police commenced demolishing said unauthorized buildings on a direction issued by the Ministry of Defence, in order to strengthen the Colombo security prior to SAARC summit to be held in Colombo.

It is reported that Ministry of Defence has ordered the residents of all unauthorized buildings located by the side of rail track near Slave Island railway station on Glennie Street, Colombo 2 to vacate within seven days from their houses. Further, Ministry of Defence has offered them two options; one is to have new houses at “Thotalanga” or to have a payment of Rs.8000.00 per month as a rental instead of new houses.

However, the residents of the area rejected both options offered by the Govt. and filed a Fundamental Rights petition at Supreme Court today seeking an interim injunction against demolishing their buildings. When this FR petition came up today at Supreme Court, senior attorney - at -law Mr.Upul Jayasuriya appeared on behalf of the petitioners. After considering the submission made by him, Supreme Court issued an interim injunction on UDA to refrain from further demolishing until 22nd July 2008.

Meanwhile, demolishing works commenced by UDA officials in the afternoon saying that they have not yet received any such order in written by Supreme Court. Then the heated arguments were exchanged from both sides and therefore Police had to use teargas in order to disperse annoyed residents.

 

By Hemantha Warnakulasuriya PC

“The only way Tamils could find justice in Sri Lanka is to eliminate Prabahakaran and elect their own leaders democratically as the Tamils in the Eastern Province did. “

 

In a letter written by Hemantha Warnakulasuriya, a President’s Counsel has posed pertinent questions to Bruce Fein, the US Attorney said to be representing the Tamils For Justice. One of those questions, ‘How could Bruce Fein who has been retained to deproscribe the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in the United States can appear to deproscribe an organization if at all he is not retained by that particular organization that has been proscribed in the US?” Sri Lankan lawyer further asked, “If as you claim, the TFJ doesn’t represent the LTTE, and neither receives or sends funds to the LTTE, how could you appear on behalf of a terrorist organisation and a Mono Ethnic Dictator, and strive to remove the proscription, unless you are advised by the very organisation that is proscribed.

By  H.L.D. Mahindapala

It took the Sri Lankan expatriates by total surprise when Maj-Gen-(retd) Janaka Perera, former Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Australia, joined Ranil Wickremesinghe, more so because he kept denying that he had any plans of joining any political party.

Looking back, it seems appropriate for Perera, who was always allied to the UNP, to join Wickremesinghe - a politico who has earned the rank of a Maj-Gen in his own right by being a “major” disaster to the nation and is in a “general” mess of his own.

So the UNP now has two Maj-Generals, quite an unusual record for any political party! The official news of Perera joining Wickremesinghe was a disappointment to the Sri Lankan diaspora, particularly those in Australia, because he was presenting a different face to them when he was the High Commissioner in Canberra.

By  Daya Ananda Ranasinghe - London

This is my reply to Bandula Abeywardena -the Sinhala Kalu Sudda -  whose heart is said to have sunk when Ajantha Mendis called for a Sinhala interpreter.

In 1979 I watched Wimbledon Women’s Tennis final between US star, Chris Evert and the Czechoslovakian, Martina Navaratilova. Martina won the match. At that time she could not speak a word of English. She only spoke Czech and through an interpreter answered the questions asked by the BBC sports editor. She did not feel ashamed for not being able to converse in English language and no Czech expatriate in the UK moaned that his heart sank in disgrace.

— The Centre for Buddhist Action—–

Since April this year when an “advertisement” in the Sinhala Lankadeepa newspaper of 6th April 2008 with a photograph of the late Most Venerable Balangoda Ananda Maithriya Thero appeared to advertise the launching of a CD on 19th July 2008 by Apostolic Father Rev. Lalith Aponso of The Apostolic Media Office, Katunayake on “Life After Death and Karma” the late Venerable Monk has become a symbol & commercial tool of the Catholic Church.

Rev.Father Lalith Aponso supposedly recorded a cassette in 1994 on “Life After Death and Karma” when Ven. Ananda Maithriya Thero was still living. According to the advertisement in the newspapers, at the time Ven. Ananda Maithriya Thero had listened to the cassette and commented (English translation): “I have listened to the first speech made by Apostolic Father Rev. Lalith Aponso on ” Rebirth and Karma” which irrespective of religious bias I think is useful”-Ven. Balangoda Ananda Maithriya Thero. Although the late Venerable Monk states “………… is useful…………..” he does not state whether he endorses or agrees with what the Apostolic Rev.Father Lalith Aponso has stated in that cassette recording. Except, that it is “useful…”

The Government has appointed Senaka Walgampaya PC as the new Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Australia.

Senaka C.B. Walgampaya PC assumed duties as the new High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in Canberra, Australia, on Monday (14). He will present his credentials on July 30th, 2008.
 
He studied at Trinity College in Kandy and obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Ceylon
 
Senaka Walgampaya PC enrolled as an Advocate of the Supreme Court of Ceylon in 1968 and was thereafter in active practice in the Original and Appellate Courts of Sri Lanka. He was appointed a President’s Counsel in 2004.

He is the 18th High Commissioner to represent the Government of Sri Lanka in Australia since diplomatic ties between the two countries began in 1949.

AUSTRALIAN Federal Police have arrested, at the request of the FBI, a director of a Melbourne business college believed to be linked to the Tamil Tigers over alleged terrorism offences in the US.

Thulasitharan Santhirarajah, 34, is expected to face extradition proceedings after his arrest on Monday when AFP agents raided homes and businesses around Melbourne, including the office of his Melbourne International College.

Gallant soldiers of Army 58 Division and Commando Brigade have liberated the strategically important Vidattaltivu town this morning (July 16), said the defence sources in the Mannar warfront.

According to defence  sources, Vidattaltivu  is the biggest town situated on the North- Western coast of the Island, 20 km North of Mannar and is the main Sea-Tiger base cum the logistic hub of the LTTE in the West. This is the first time after the departure of Indian Peace Keeping Force in 1990 that troops have dominated the area , the sources added.

Defence observers are in the view that the lost of Vidattaltivu  would cast a fatal blow on LTTE as it has lost the most important Sea-Tiger base in the present context. According to them the terrorists have no other option than to shift their Sea-Tiger assets to a makeshift camp further Northwards with the lost of its well-established sea borne operation base.

 

Mr.Nimal Perera - the Investment Advisor of BOI Chairman Mr.Dhammmika Perera has said that Mr.Dhammika Perera has been appointed to the board of Hayleys Limited with immediate effect. According to the informed sources at Hayleys, this decision was taken by the Hayleys Board of Directors at a special board meeting held yesterday in the evening.

It is also reliably learnt that Mr.Perera who has now nearly 16% stake in Hayleys Limited will attend for his maiden Hayleys Board Meeting scheduled to be held on 16th July 2008 at Hayleys Head Office located at 400, Deans Road, Colombo 10.

Further media reports said recently Mr.Perera had two discussions with Mr.N.G.Wickramarathna - the present Chairman of Hayleys Limited and with Mrs.Vina Jayasundera- a company shareholder & the widow of former Hayleys  Chairman Damithlal Senakukumar Jayasundera. Details of the above two discussions were not yet released to the media. However Mr. Nimal Perera has reportedly said those two discussions were held under a “friendly atmosphere”.

 

LTTE terrorists have detonated a claymore mine today in the morning targeting Special Task Force (STF) team, engaged in a routine foot patrol near “Yalpotha Lake” at Sengamuwa on Pothuwil- Lahugala road.

However at the time of the blast, STF team was about 30 meters away from the place where the blast took place. Therefore no damages were occurred to STF personnel, military sources revealed.