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“I do not agree with a word of what you sav, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.”
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Tam
ISSN 0266 - 44 88 Vol. XXIII N0. 3 15 MARCH 2003
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Need to remove uncertainty 03 SLMM on sinking LTTE ship 04 Talking through stormy waters 06
Navy sinks LTTE ship 08 Emerging scenarios 10 An opportunity lost..... 15
People & Politics 17
Hangman and his Rope 21
Peace dividend 22
NewS Track 28
Spectrum 37
Classified 38
Needt
At the forthCOm the Governmentar to human rights an eralism. It is also e. be joined by the fo been entrusted with rights, including th Special envoy, Yas garding economic i the peace process. However, yet a and cloud the atmo recent sinking of th most Serious incide ment Came into effe ing the talks loomec as we go to press, One Can have no d slanging match of a responsible for thei in the talkS ConCerr to See that incident parties from achiev
The Ceasefire brought an end to th that preceded the C bled the Creation of construction projec been putin train. M represent not an in enabled. If these pr are to materialise yi continuing and unir Sources required to from foreign countri Asian Development coming if the prese process is not remo the Delft island on LTTE tanker not on undermine the Conf ltis in this Conte
fire Agreement bec
It is more than parties have had st meetings and discL place since then.
if the parties are proclaim, built into ment by the parties a political Solution ment by the parties meaningless any e possession. Such a the peace process prepared to finance areas of the island.
has taken an irreve
 
 
 

TAMLTMES 3
o Remove Uncertainty
ng sixth round of talks in Japan between 18 and 21 March, dLTTE are expected to take for discussion issues relating. economic matters, in addition to the fiscal aspects offed(pected that the two sides and the facilitators, Norway, will rmer head of Amnesty International, lan Martin, who has task to "formulate concrete proposals" for ensuring human manner in which these would be implemented. Tokyo's ushi Akashi, is to "be associated with the discussions ressues". These are important issues that go to the heart of
gain, another serious incident has intervened to dominate )sphere surrounding the talks. There is no doubt that the Ie LTTE's tanker by the Sri Lankan Navy constitutes the nt of violence that has occurred since the Ceasefire Agreeict in February last year. The prospect of the LTTE boycott| large in the immediate aftermath of the incident. However, thas been confirmed that the LTTE would participate. But oubt that at least most of the first day will be spent on a accusations and conter-accusations as to which party was ncident. When the people expect steady and faster progress ing the substantive issues involved in the conflict, it is sad s seem to repeatedly occur that distract the attention of the ing such progress. Agreement and the ongoing peace process have not only le daily carnage and destruction that charaterised the years :easefire. Among others, the peace process has also enaa situation in which large number of rehabilitation and rets and programmes (see pages 22-25 in this issue) have any of them are in their initial stages. Nevertheless, they considerablel peace dividend that the peace process has ojects and programmes of rehabilitation and reconstruction elding concrete and beneficial results to the people, then a terrupted period of peace is absolutely essential. The retake these projects and programmes forward have to come es and donor agencies, including the World Bank and the Bank. These much needed resources would not be forthnt uncertainty in respect of the ceasefire and the peace ved. Incidents such as the one that occurred last month off February, and the recent one involving the sinking of the ly serve to reinforce this perception of uncertainty, but also idence in the entire peace process itself. xt that the need for a review of the provisions of the Ceasepmes all the more relevant and important. a year since the Ceasefire Agreement was signed. The veral rounds of formal talks and a number of other direct issions have taken place between the parties have taken
committed to the peace process, as they so often publicly any review of the Ceasefire Agreement must be a committo renounce the use of violence and an undertaking to seek entirely through peaceful negotiations. A binding Committo the non-use of violence would render unnecessary and. fort to augment their current arsenal of weapons in their commitment would also remove the Current uncertainty in and reassure those countries and donor agencies that are the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the war-ravaged It will also give the people the confidence that the process sible path towards permanent peace.

Page 4
4 AMILMES
STOP PRESS
| SLMM on Sinki
of LTTE Shi
Feb 18 — The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), having investigated the incident in which an LTTE ship was sunk by the Sri Lankan Navy and eleven of its crew of Sea Tigers were killed on 10 March, issued the following statement:
LTTE Merchant ship sunk by Sri Lanka Navy - Course of Events - Versions of the Government and LTTE - SLMM Determination
At 10.00 on the morning of March 10th 2003 Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) received information from the Sri Lanka Government's Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process, that the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) was engaged in a sea incident around 240 nautical miles off the East coast of Sri Lanka. The SLN was said to have intercepted an unknown merchant ship believed to be a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) vessel. Major General Tryggve Tellefsen, the Head of SLMM, immediately contacted the Sri Lanka Navy Commander and requested that the Navy would keep the merchant ship under close observation, maintain a certain distance from it and avoid any confrontation until a SLMM monitor had been moved to the scene. The Navy Commander informed the Head of SLMM that a firefight had already taken place between the vessels. At 10.10 SLMM contacted the LTTE Headquarters in Kilinochchi via telephone, and asked if LTTE had information on any LTTE vessel in this area. The question was to be relayed to the LTTE leadership as soon as possible.
According to the SLN report on the incident, "the Sri Lanka Navy received credible information on 09th March that a LTTE vessel carrying warlike material was approaching the Mullaitivu coast with the objective of unloading weapons at mid sea onto small boats." According to SLMM interviews with members of the Eastern Naval
Command and the C vessel; "The suspicio ibly detected 185 mil line...... at 06.30 on and ... The suspect v formed to the intellige identified around 07.4 mately 185 miles Mullaitivu.' There w nications between the claims that the info) LTTE crew on the sh tration and crew was discrepancies. The SL the vessel did not ha or a visible name on cause it did not follo' to stop; "The SLN v ing shots over the bow at approximately 09.0 sequently receivedfi merchant ship. The S the ship using all he ... the suspect vesse became disabled arol At 12.00 the LTT tacted SLMM and c LTTE merchant ship sea incident with the stated to SLMM that ing in international w no right to interce SLMM to intervene with SILMM, LTTE "this was a merchant mately 700 tons, 8 m meters long. It had all members of the Se operated by an inde company supporting The ship had a legal c was sailing in the diri 11.30 its position w: of Trincomalee' Th been able to inform name and registratio its port of departure. The LTTE state; mately 14.00 it rec
 

15 MARCH 2003
aptain of the SLN us vessel was vises from the coastthe 10th March... essel, which conince received, was 5...... at approxiNorth East of as radio commuvessels. The SLN mation from the lip's cargo, regischaracterized by N also claims that ve a national flag the ship and bew the SLN orders 'essel fired warnI of the LTTE ship )0-09.30, and subre from the LTTE SLN fired back at r weapons... and l caught fire and und 10.30.' E leadership cononfirmed that an was engaged in a SLN. The LTTE ; "the ship is sailaters, the SLN has pt it and we ask .' In interviews later stated that; tanker of approxieters wide and 61 1 crewmembers, 'a Tigers, and was pendent shipping LTTE financially. argo ofdieseland action of India. At is 220 miles East Le LTTE has not SLMM about the n of the tanker or
that at approxieived a message
from the tanker via the LTTE Sea Tigers, that it was "under attack, on fire and sinking.” The SLN states that the LTTE merchant vessel sank 195 miles East of Mullaitivu at 15.09. The sinking of the ship can be seen from the video produced by SLN. However, it still remains unexplained what actually caused the ship to sink.
SLMM Findings
SLMM inquiry team found around 30 fresh bullet marks on the superstructure and bridge of SLNS Sayura, the SLN vessel involved in the incident. SLMM inquiry team also met and questioned three servicemen of the SLNS Sayura, that were wounded in this incident, on their return from sea early morning 11th March. The SLN video taken by a SLN vessel arriving to the scene after 11.00 cannot be considered entirely impartial evidence, as it is taken and produced by one party to the conflict. However, on that video, the front and back of the hull of the LTTE merchantship can be seen quite clearly. At the time of filming, no flag or name is visible and the same applies to the front of the bridge and the mast of the ship. On the other hand in the intelligence the SLN received on the LTTE merchant ship it is stated that the ships name is MV KOMAR. The SLN report states "the suspect vessel... ..., conformed to the intelligence received". On the SLN video it can also be seen that the LTTE merchant ship had isolated fires on the front deck, in front of the bridge and on the aft, until it sank.
Asked why SLMM was not informed and a monitor called to the scene, the Navy Commander, members of the Eastern Naval Command and the Captain of SLNS Sayura have stated that they did not know it was a LTTE vessel but were only informed about a "suspicious gun running vessel'. This is contradictory to the initial press release from the Ministry of Defence and also the SLN report on the incident, which both state "The SLN received credible information on 09th March that a LTTE vessel carrying warlike material was approaching the Mullaitivu coast'.
The Government of Sri Lanka accuses LTTE of carrying warlike material in a merchant vessel claming that

Page 5
15 ARCH 2003
the LTTE has violated paragraph 1.7 in the Ceasefire Agreement. Additionally the Government claims that LTTE has committed a breach of the United Nations Conventions on the Law of the Sea, by neither flying a flag of any state nor displaying any name on the ship. The LTTE accuses the Government of Sri Lanka of engaging in an offensive operation against its commercial ship and thus, committing a breach of paragraph 1.3 in the Ceasefire Agreement. The LTTE claims that the incident happened 220 miles off the East coast and that the Government of Sri Lanka does not have any authority in international waters according ίΟ the abovementioned UN convention.
Conclusion The Head of SLMM is the final authority to interpret the Ceasefire Agreement. However the Head of SLMM does not have authority to interpret the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. It is the assessment of SLMM that both parties had enough time to inform the SLMM and to request SLMM to take immediate actions on this matter before the situation escalated and the actual confronration took place. This is especially the case with the SLN, which has stated in their report that they had credible iniformation on a LTTE vessel approachg the Mullaitivu coast already early
on 09th March. R. the Parties informe too late to preven especially disappoi the Government of set up SLMM with ment, in order to co fication, inquiries tions and to assist ment of any disput
Both Parties Head of SLMM to incident. SLMM bases its rulings of tion of its monitors tory information g SLMM cannot say dent could have b larly, SLMM has I of the LTTE vesse rial, like the Gove has stated, or dies stated. However, if involved in this in tial monitor, it wo better position to r behaviour of the P place. Most impo of the incident mig ent if SILMIMI had lier. With all this i one of the Parties 1 this specific incide To avoid simi future, SLMM has to work out a safeg
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'grettably neither of d SLMM until it was it the clash. This is nting in the light that Sri Lanka and LTTE the Ceasefire Agreenductimpartial veriinto alleged violathem in the settlete that might arise. have requested the give a ruling on this first and foremost first hand verificas and non-contradiciven by both Parties. for sure if this incibeen avoided. Simino proof if the cargo :l was warlike maternment of Sri Lanka el, as the LTTE has the SLMM had been lcident as an imparuld no doubt be in a make a ruling on the arties and what took tantly, the outcome ght have been differbeen involved earin mind, ruling only to be responsible for ent is not possible. lar incidents in the advised the Parties guarding mechanism
and procedures to be applied under such circumstances. SLMM has already informed the Parties about its availability to facilitate such a meeting between them and assistance it, working out such procedures.
Major General Tryggve Tellefsen, Head of SLMM, states: "The Ceasefire between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam has not been without difficulties, effort and tolerance of the two Parties and the people in Sri Lanka. But it remains in force. Eleven members of LTTE lost their lives off the East coast of Sri Lanka on the 10th of March. Four servicemen of the Sri Lanka Navy were wounded. The Ceasefire is still in force. I would like to convey my deepest sympathy to families of the cadres that lost their lives. I wish the wounded SLN servicemen quick recovery. The Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE leadership have once again shown their dedication to a negotiated settlement to this conflict. For that they deserve respect. We urge the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE leadership to respect the Ceasefire Agreement, avoid confrontations and refrain from any offensive military operations. You have created SLMM to monitor the implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement and assist in solving disputes that arise. Employ it as such. You have our unlimited support.”
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Page 6
6 AMlı TTIMES
Peace process sail
through stormy wa
Many anticipate that the incident relating to the sinking of the LTTE's tanker, suspected to be engaged in smuggling of weapons, will figure prominently at the sixth round of peace talks between the Government and the LTTE scheduled to begin in Hakone in Japan on 18 March.
The LTTE has already given notice that the opportunity of the talks would be used to register their strong protest. The Government is bound to justify the action by its Navy. President Kumaratunga during her two-hour long crisis talks with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on 11 March shortly after the incident had emphasized the need to take the issue of smuggling arms at the Hakone talks with the LTTE.
The LTTE has denied that its ship was engaged in any arms smuggling, and claimed that it was only carrying fuel and asserted that the Navy's action in sinking the ship was a grave violation of the Ceasefire Agreement.
The leadership of the LTTE condemned the sinking by the Sri Lanka Navy of an LTTE's vessel in international waters. In a letter to Sri Lankan Defence Minister Tilak Marapane, the head of the LTTE's Political Wing, Mr. S. P. Thamilchelvam, condemned the attack in which eleven LTTE cadres were killed as "a grave violation of the ceasefire agreement."
Mr. Thamilchelvam’s letter stated: "We wish to express our great displeasure and dispute the feeble argument you advanced to justify and legitimize the unwarranted and impulsive action taken by the Sri Lanka Navy in attacking and destroying our merchant vessel on the international waters.
“Your proposition that the LTTE vessel was carrying 'war like material' is either imaginary or conjecture based on the false and distorted version of the report presented to you by the naval authorities. The destruction of the vessel and all its crew members have given the navy the golden opportunity to frame charges as they wish since the victims (both the sailors and ship) have no voice and are buried deep in the bottom of the sea. We wish to point out that the captain of the unfortunate ves
sel reported to us tha opened offensive fir on fire without any p part.
"We are surprise response to our pro dent failed to menti the incident. This i. since the incident to tical miles off Trinco, table discrepancy o the SLN with regara the incident.
"Finally the navy location within the 185 nautical miles. government failed to that there is a cease) that Clause 1.3 of th SLN to enter into LTTE. Furthermore failed to solicit the a Lanka Monitoring M handling this affair. cident as a grave vic agreement by the SI ing the final dete SLMM. Copies of th sent to the head of Norwegian Ambassa Defence Minist responded to Thami the action taken by gesting that the SLM a full investigation stances of the inci whether there was ceasefire agreemen Navy had credible in vessel carrying wan ing a threat to the c ritorial integrity. Ti sion of this informa vessel, which flew contravention ofint ing the Navy the rig and had no name o "When the Nav proach the suspec maneuvering in a and resorted to offe lation of established cedures of internati out the sequences Q duct clearly confirm the vessel was in fa
 

15 MARCH 2003
t the SLN gunship 2 and set the tanker rovocation on their
'd to note that your test over the incion the location of s a crucial factor ok place 220 naumalee. There is nover the version of to the location of
y has concocted the economic zone of Surprisingly your recognize the fact ire agreement and e MoU forbids the combat with the the SLN has also ssistance of the Sri fission (SLMM) in We consider the inplation of the truce LN and are awaitrmination of the e letter have been the SLMM and the ador in Colombo. ” er Tilak Marapana lchel van justifying the Navy and sugMshould carry out into the circumident to establish a violation of the t: “The Sri Lanka formation about a like material poscountry and its terhe Navy in possestion encountered a no flag, in itself a ernational law givght of interception, n the bows. y attempted to apt vessel, it began suspicious manner nsive action in vioprinciples and proional law throughfevents. Such conis the suspicion that ct carrying warlike
material in contravention of the ceasefire agreement.
"The Government is of the opinion that the circumstances should be fully inguired into by the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission in order to make a determination as to whether there was a contravention of the ceasefire agreement and to also ensue that established norms ofinternational law are not violated in the future'
Following the incident, in which eleven LTTE cadres were killed, there were those LTTE specialists' who entertained the prospect of the LTTE retaliating militarily leading to a resumption of armed hostilities. According to the ceasefire agreement, only a 72-hour notice is required if either side decides. to snap the truce and return to war if either side desired to do so. They regarded the withdrawal of the LTTE cadres from their political offices in government controlled areas of the North and the East following this incident as a possible prelude to LTTE's retaliation. But LTTE sources later said that cadres from government controlled areas were being called back to attend a seminar to be addressed by the Tiger theoretician, Anton Balasingham. Asked about reports of the recalling of LTTEsunarmed political cadres from areas controlled by the SLA, Mr. Balasingham explained that the cadres were recalled so that "we can explain the current situation to them and ensure their safety. They will return to their political work once the tensions ease.” Sensing the danger that the incident posed for the entire peace process, the Norwegians and the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission(SLMM) swung into action to save the fragile ceasefire with a flurry of meetings.
The SLMM had on 1 March asked the defence authorities for exact location of the naval engagement in the high seas. The clarifications were sought by the head of the SLMM, Tryggve Tellefsen, at a meeting with the Sri Lankan Defence Secretary, Austin Fernando, and the Navy Chief, Daya Sandagiri. The clarifications were sought as the SLMM had received varying accounts of the exact position of incident. The position of the engagement and the flag of the sunken vessel were two important issues, SLMM sources said. The Monitors also met and had discussions with Anton Balasingham, and the political wing leader, S.P. Tamilchelvam.

Page 7
SARCH 2003
It is now learnt that the SLMM on 15 March submitted their determination and judgement on the incident in which the LTTE tanker was sunk to the government and the LTTE. The determination was arrived at following inquiries and investigations conducted by the SLMM during the past few days by three of their teams reporting from Kilinochchi, Jaffna and Colombo in the wake of denials by the Tigers of a gun running charge by the Navy. One team had obtained statements from three of the four sailors injured during the incident; while another team was involved in inspecting the gunboat.
It is understood that the Monitors based their report on the Ceasefire Agreement, the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea 1982, the SLN rules of engagement, a copy of the "SLN Sayura' vessel log book, and also an 1 1-minute video clipping of the Mullaitivu incident covered from 11.30
am - 3.10 pm which showed the last
part of the incident.
The SLLM also took into account the details obtained during meetings with Anton Balasingham, Defence Secretary Austin Fernando and Navy Commander Daya Sandagiri.
Balasingham's role
It has been speculated by some commentators that the presence of Anton Balasingham in the Vanni during this time was fortunate. They think that Balasingham's presence in the Vanni may have been responsible for avoiding the over-reaction by the LTTE leadership within which there were hardline elements, particularly from the Sea Tiger wing, who would have advocated a retaliatory violent response to the loss of eleven of their cadres. Then there were those who would have urged boycott of the Tokyo talks. Balasingham himself referred to this prospect in an interview with the BBC adding that he personally did not favour that option. These commentators believe that Balasingham mighthave used his influence with Pirapaharan to overrule the "hotheads' in the leadership of the LTTE. He appears to have advised the LTTE leader that if the Tigers retaliated leading to a breakdown of the peace process and resumption of war, it would give the impression to the international community that the LTTE was responsible. Balasingham's position appeared to be that the Tigers could revert to war only if they could convince the international community that
it was the Sri Lanka was responsible for i ing the ceasefire ag
Interviewed by gham said that the ering a range of op suspension of the pe of protest, but he p favour that option, a doing something, Nc been taken. We wa the SLMM chief als Speaking at a pu to open a LTTE co on 11 March, Anton that the LTTE wo peace process to b weaken the Liberatic provocations and at determined to partici in the peace process vince the world, parti people, that we a peace.” He further sa agreement says thatt (SLN) can maintain and sovereignty of th fighting the LTTE. V rienced officers of Monday's attack. W ous exception to thi sider this as an extre ter that will have far tions in the peace pro a section of the SLN fluence of the Presid to the end of the teth anger and resentmer res over this inciden At a press briefi LTTE political sec gham denied that harden their stance a peace talks because vessel. Assuring tha be an immediate retu ed an assurance frc similar incidents wo Blasingham said of the details of the c sunken vessel. "It is sel. It is not a secret ping companies ope: Asian region,” he re ferring to the Defen that the vessel was material”, Mr. Balas said that he was not on board the vesse quickly, it could há fuel.'
Recalling that tl med for breaking the Mr. Balasingham sa

TAM TIMES 7
n government that ntentionally breakeement. he BBC, BalasinTTE was considtions, including a ace talks as a mark ersonally did not dding, "We intend final decision has nt to discuss with 0.' blic function held urt in Killinochchi Balasingham said uld not allow the become a trap to in Tigers. "Despite acks on us we are pate constructively . We Want to concularly the Sinhala re committed to aid that, "ceasefire he Sri Lanka Navy territorial integrity he country without We have lost expethe Sea Tigers in e have taken seris attack and conmely serious matreaching implicabcess. We feel that are under the inent. We have gone er. There is lot of it among our cadt.' ng in Killinochchi retariat, Balasinthe LTTE would t the next round of of sinking of their t there would not rn to war, he wantom Colombo that uld not recur.
he was not aware onsignment on the ourmerchant vesthat we have shiprating in the south portedly said. Rece Ministry claim "carrying warlike ingham reportedly aware of what was l but "as it sank .ve been carrying
le LTTE was blapast negotiations, d, "yesterday's in
cident was reason enough for us to start a major war. But we have to be patient. We will prove that we are for peace and wait till we reach the limits of patience. As people prefer peace, we will not resume war immediately. We will be as patient as possible.'
Tigers to attend talks
There is no doubt that the incident constituted the most serious threat to the entire peace process. LTTE's response to the incident threatening “serious implications for the peace process' came as an ominous sign. However, fears that the forthcoming peace talks in Tokyo on 18 to 21 March would postponed or suspended as a result of the naval incident were dispelled when LTTE Peace Secretariat Chief Kumaran Pulidevan advised in writing on 14 March the Norwegian facilitators and the Japanese government confirming LTTE's participation in the talks.
The LTTE team for the Hakone talks will comprise Anton Balasingham, Adele Balasingham, Political Leader S. P. Thamilselvan, Vinayagamoorth Paramu (Karuna), Sivaratnam Prabhagaran (Kumaran Pulidevan), Dr. J. Maheswaran, Perinbanayagam Sivaram, Meenadhi Sundaram and Media Coordinator Suthakaran who will be flying directly from London.
Addressing a press conference on 15 March, Mr.Anton Balasingham said that the LTTE delegation would leave Colombo on Sunday 16 March night to attend peace talks in Hakone, Japan. "Our leadership has taken a decision to attend Japan peace talks. The boycotting of the Japan peace talks could result in bringing undesirable consequences. Further, a boycott will likely provide Government a propaganda tool to cast doubts on our commitment to peace talks. Hence our leadership decided to participate in the Japan peace talks.''Balasingham said.
"Our leadership felt that expressing direct condemnation of the action of the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) for sinking our merchant vessel in most severe terms to the GOSL, the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) and to the international community interested in peace would be more appropriate at thisjunc
ture,” added Balasingham.
While the naval incident would no doubt cloud the atmosphere in which the talks take place, the two sides expect to take on issues relating to human rights and economic matters, in addition to the fiscal aspects of feder

Page 8
8 TAMITMES
alism. The two sides and the facilitators, Norway, would be joined by the former head of Amnesty International, Ian Martin, who was expected to “formulate concrete proposals' for ensuring human rights, including the manner in which these would be implemented. Tokyo's special envoy, Yasushi Akashi, would “be associated with the discussions regarding economic issues'. Review of Ceasefire Agreement
The frequent incidents of alleged violations of the ceasefire have raised the issue of reviewing the current Ceasefire Agreement which came into effect on 22 February last year. It is understood that Norway is proposing amendments to the CA in view of problems that were not foreseen when the agreement was signed. Norway is reported to be holding talks with the government and the LTTE as they felt the agreement should be modified in such a manner that would avoid any unnecessary confrontations between the two sides. A Norwegian official is quoted as saying, "We consider a review of the agreement is necessary in view of certain problems that cropped up during the past one year. For instance, the LTTE says that its merchant vessels should be protected under the ceasefire agreement. This factor was not taken into consideration when we drafted the agreement. New realities call for suitable changes.'
Meanwhile, Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister, Vidar Helgessen, visiting Colombo sought an assurance from the LTTE that it would respect the ruling of ceasefire monitors and ensures their safety. He was commenting on the recent standoff between the SLMM and the LTTE with regard to the release of two security forces personnel. The LTTE first agreed to release a soldier and a policeman on the request of the SLMM but delayed the release, citing legal procedures. The LTTE, however, relented with the SLMM insisting on the immediate release of the two soldiers.
Referring to the recent Delft incident where the ceasefire monitors had to jump off an LTTE boat in mid-sea just before three LTTE cadres blew themselves up, Mr. Helgessen said that the safety of the monitors was of paramount importance for the successful implementation of the ceasefire agreement.
Navy 11
Mar 11 - The S March 10 said it Su sel carrying warlike tical miles east o Eleven LTTE cadre ship were killed, wh an officer on board patrol vessel were change of fire.
The LTTE has "in international w the incident would consequences' on 1 A four-hour ext ternational watersp of a merchant vess LTTE by the SLN: dian-built offshore quired by the Sri La According to th the Navy's hunt fr began on Sunday "credible informat ship was "approa coast, with the obj weapons at mid-se: The vessel "wa of any state, nor played on the bo sources, the ship and had a tonnag 600.
The Navy's of SLNS SAYURA rebel ship "on the time communicati get "vague and sponses”.
The 1,890-ton is equipped with machine guns, the ship to stop "in o that it did not pose threat to the state' nored the comman evasive action'.
According to ship fired on the S four fast attack cra Defence Ministry took "retaliatory of the right to sel resorted to for prc of the Sri Lanka' ritorial integrity.' A Navy offi saying that the all intelligence that 1 loaded with ten boxes of ammuni 60 boxes of she

15 MARCH 2003
Sinks LTTE Tanker Sea Tigers Killed
i Lankan Navy on k “an LTTE veSmaterial” 185 nau
the Mullaittivu, on board the sunk le three sailors and a Sri Lankan Navy injured in the ex
Irotested the attack ters' and said that have "far-reaching he peace process.
hange of fire in inreceded the sinking el belonging to the
SSAYURA, an In
patrol vessel, acnkan Navy in 2000. e Defence Ministry, r the LTTE vessel 9 March, based on ion' that the rebel ching Mullaittivu ective of unloading a onto small boats'. s not flying the flag was any name disws'. According to was 60 metres long of approximately
shore patrol vessel,
"challenged' the international mari)n channel”, only to contradictory re
le SAYURA, which our 12.7 mm heavy n ordered the rebel der to satisfy itself any serious security The rebel ship "ig” and "began to take
he Navy, the LTTE YURA, after which t were called in. The said the SAYURA :tion in the exercise defence, which was ecting vital interests sovereignty and ter
al was reported as horities had credible e sunken tanker was 30 mm guns, 140 on for 130 mm guns, | for 152 mm guns,
82mm weapons 100-300 boxes of shells for 82 mm weapons and a large stock of heavy weapons.
The LTTE has disputed the details given by the Sri Lankan Navy and condemned the sinking of its tanker as a serious violation of the ceasefire agreement claiming that it was a merchant vessel. It warned that the incident in which 11 of its cadres were also killed would have serious consequences for the peace process.
It is believed that the eleven cadres who were killed in the incident be-, longed to the "Sea Tigers', the naval wing of the LTTE. However so far LTTE has not identified them.
Details
On March 8, THE Sri Lankan Navy received some vital information that a LTTE vessel laden with sophisticated military equipment was heading towards the coast of Sri Lanka. The in formation included that the vessel was first sailing through the Andaman Islands and the Nicobar Islands. The intelligence information was also conveyed promptly to the Indian Navy through diplomatic channels. Navy's SLNS Sayura was ordered to change course and proceed to the location where the suspected LTTE tanker was said to be hovering around, reportedly until trawlers arrived for mid-sea transfer of cargo.
Soon after midnight on Sunday (March 9) around 1:00 a.m. on Monday ( 10 March) the radar on the frigate Sayura registered signals on its screen. A closer scrutiny revealed that the mystery vessel was heading towards Mullaitivu. At this time Dornier aircraft from the Indian Navy's fleet air arm were flying sorties over the sky.
Men at the Command Room then switched to Channel 16 - the International Maritime Communications Channel and called upon the suspect vessel to identify itself. After a long pause, a shaky voice replied "we are motor tanker Warlos.” Captain Dias wanted to know the country in which it was registered and from which port it originated. The reply was that it was registered in Libya and its name was Warlos. The LTTE ship captain also said it was coming from Panama and the Port of Call was Calcutta.
With this information at the naval headquarters and the eastern command

Page 9
15 MARCH 2003
of the Navy, they wanted to find out the veracity of the LTTE captain's reply. They immediately contacted the Lloyds register and found out that there was no such vessel registered in Libya and the vessel concerned had not originated in Panama.
On directives issued by the naval headquarters, Captain Dias once again questioned the skipper of the mystery vessel in order to confirm whether the information provided by him earlier was correct. On this occasion, he received a contradictory message from the suspected vessel. The skipper of the vessel said while it originated from Kenya it was heading towards Bangladesh. Subsequently, Captain Dias made advances towards the mystery ship and directed that he be allowed to inspect the ship while ordering the vessel to suspend its operation. Responding to Dias, the skipper of the vessel said that they would contact their agent and would follow instructions according to his directions. Thereafter, the skipper once again contacted Captain Ruwan Dias and told him emphatically that it was a merchant vessel and that they would not stop on the orders of the Sri Lankan Navy. When questions were asked seeking further details, there was
no response.
The suspicious be a tanker. It had black with the mai was white and thes It was approxima with an estimated There was no flag ( istry or any other displayed.
Navy Headqua informed. Advice adhere to Rules of issued after the C In terms of this, t to apprehend any high seas,” if fou alia, “manoeuvrin order to rendezvo boats/any other/b tention of transf warlike materials” Sri Lanka Navy to hot pursuit into hi good reason to b{ vessel/boat has vi regulations of Sri Navy Headqu to fire across the the radio/radar ma if it defied orden move. Before the
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TAMILTIMES 9
vessel was found to its funnel painted in king "SN." The hull uper structure green. ely 70 metres long 500-ton deadweight. fowner, port of regidentification marks
rters who were kept was given to strictly Engagement (RoE) easefire Agreement. he Navy is "entitled vessel/boat on the nd engaged in, inter g of a vessel/boat in us with suspect log bats with a clear inrring/smuggling in '. It also entitles the exercise the right of gh seas, when it has elieve that a suspect olated the laws and Lanka. arters sent directions bow, the bridge and ist to stop the tanker, is and attempted to attack was launched,
Navy Commader Vice Admiral Sandagiri appraised Defence Minister Tilak Marapana on the developments in the high seas. The minister in turn advised the Navy Commander to follow the normal principles of engagement at sea.
At 9.05 a.m., the tanker began to move ignoring the radio calls from SLNS Sayura. Navy men opened fire across the bows to warn them. There was retaliatory firing from the suspect tanker with medium calibre gunfire. An officer and two sailors sustained injuries. Two "wind shields" (on the port side of the bridge) were shattered. Navy men were angered at the hostile action, which in their view, constituted an attack. They decided to exercise provisions in the RoE that allowed them "the use of force in extraordinary situations, which may pose an imminent threat to the national security and defence of Sri Lanka.'
At 10.15 a.m. SLNS Sayura positioned itself closer and opened out with volleys of 40 mm Bofors gun. Two FACs also moved in and began firing at the tanker. Within moments, it was engulfed in a huge ball offire. By 10.30 a.m. the tanker began listing from the starboard side. By 11.30 a.m. it began to sink.
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Page 10
10 TAMILTIMES
Emerging Scena in the Peace PrO
Dr. Jehan Perera
O New role for World Bank in the peace process
The exchange of letters between the World Bank and the government to establish the "North East Reconstruction Fund" last week followed the signing of a letter of intent between the World Bank and the Sub Committee on Immediate Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Needs set up jointly by the government and LTTE. The signing of these letters means that the World Bank will take on the role of custodian of funds pledged by foreign donors to reconstruct the war-torn north and east. It also means that a key follow-up to a decision taken at the peace talks between the government and LTTE is being implemented.
The participation of the LTTE in the decisions concerning the planning and implementation of reconstruction work in the north and east is a major step forward in the peace process. It is also an essential step. The government's decision to consider the LTTE as its partner in the governance and reconstruction of the north and east is a result born out of experience. Earlier governmental efforts to begin the reconstruction of the north and east failed to take off because of opposition from the LTTE. The long delay in the re-opening of the Jaffna Public Library is not only due to governmental neglect but has much to do with the LTTE's desire to monopolise politics and claim the credit for developments in that part of the country.
The North East Reconstruction Fund will finance humanitarian projects aimed at resettlement of internally displaced persons, mine clearance, income generation activities of the people and special needs of women and children. Some of the specific projects identified for funding so far are road construction, paddy storage, ice plants for fisheries, milk chilling and processing, repairing of irrigation tanks and improvement of hospitals.
The experience in other countries has shown that money meant for recon
struction can be div ing of arms and 1 World Bank is the employ internati agencies to physic dit the implementa The importanc Reconstruction Fur it sets the stage foi of donor assistance tered economy oftl to ensure growth economy.
There is a gr among people in a try that the promi has not yet materia direct material ber ever, another imp joicing at the setti East Reconstructic dicates the commi ment and LTTE to
Low ebb
The signing of the World Bank c the peace process of euphoria has e replaced with a f which is partly re. stockmarket. Ther the opposition led plunge the countr by either causing t or by dissolving ing for a snap ge1 jor justification C position is the pro tational course th to be taking on th past. Some of thes shown a dangerc late into large sci If the ceasefi there is a questio dent with the bac would seek to ex sacking the gove In particular, gard that the LT" ings made by th tors of the Sri L.

15 MARCH 2003
ios
eSS
-
irted to the purchasor corruption. The efore mandated to nally recognised lly monitor and auion of the project.
of the North East d lies in the fact that a large scale influx to rebuild the shatle north and east and in the rest of the
owing restlessness
Il parts of the counsed peace dividend lised in the form of efits to them. Howortant cause for reIng up of the North bn Fund is that it intment of the governthe peace process.
the agreement with mes at a low ebb in Much of the sense vaporated and been eling of pessimism, lected by the falling is apprehension that by the President will into sudden turmoil he government to fall Parliament and calleral election. A mah the part of the oplocative and confronut the LTTE appears ground in the recent confrontations have us potential to escae fighting.
should breakdown, mark that the Presiing of the opposition bloit the situation by
ment. he continuing disreE is showing for rulinternational moniika Monitoring Mis
sion is undermining public confidence in the peace process. The LTTE's refusal to release two government security forces personnel despite an SLMM ruling that they should be released immediately, is adding to public disquiét about the apparent impotence of the international monitors and of the government.
Such incidents are also strengthening the hand of those who oppose the peace process and criticise the government for continuously yielding ground to the LTTE. It is a pity that the LTTE does not seem to realise the difficulties its actions are putting the government into interms of sustaining popular Support for the peace process.
During its year of existence the SLMM had earned for itself a good reputation for impartiality and bravery. They have issued rulings against both the government and the LTTE. On one occasion SLMM monitors were forci. bly detained and on another occasion had to jump off an arms laden ship into the high seas just before it was blown up. Despite these genuine if unwitting heroics, the SLMM suffers from one major weakness. According to their mandate they cannot compel either of the parties to implement their rulings.
The SLMM can only hope that the sense of fairplay of the parties and their desire to sustain the peace process will prompt them to follow SLMM rulings. However, at the ground level, the LTTE has demonstrated an unwillingness to conform to the SLMM’s rulings. They have shown a penchant to simply ignore SLMM rulings even at the cost of publicly humiliating the SLMM, as they did when they hijacked a team of monitors. Given the LTTE's orientation as a highly militarised organisation, it might be necessary to devise an alternative incentive scheme to getitto conform to the fundamentals of the peace process. It may be that the entry of the World Bank into the peace process by being the mutually agreed custodian of reconstruction funds provides an opportunity for such an incentive scheme to be put into place. Equal responsibility
The World Bank is not an institution that any government or government-in-waiting that seeks to develop its economy with external. assistance can take lightly. It directly controls vast amounts of development assistance. Many donor countries and major private sector investors look to World

Page 11
15 MARCH 2003
Bank reports to judge where to put their money for the most beneficial outcome. Favourable reports from the World Bank can make a difference of hundreds of millions of dollars and tens of thousands of jobs.
Therefore, when the Sri Lankan government signed the letter of intent with the World Bank that established the North East Reconstruction Fund it was undoubtedly a decision ratified at the highest levels of government and with a sense of responsibility. The LTTE's decision, as an equal partner along with the Sri Lankan government in the Sub Committee on Immediate Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Needs, to sign the letter of intent with the World Bank needs to be seen in a similar light. It too would have been a decision ratified at its highest levels with an equal sense of responsibility.
The LTTE's top leadership would not wish to jeopardise this present opportunity, and perhaps future ones, to bring economic development to the north and east, and international credibility to itself by entering into an agreement with the World Bank unless it means to honour it.
The success of the World Bank's new mission in Sri Lanka is dependent on the ceasefire agreement remaining in place and not breaking down.
Ensuring that the peace process continues to be successful requires that the ceasefire agreement be honoured by the government and the LTTE. Therefore to ensure the success of its own mission the World Bank needsto consider making the allocation of its money conditional upon the strict adherence to the terms of the ceasefire agreement and to SLMM rulings concerning it. The World Bank has established a postconflict unit within its ranks to research on such possibilities in conflict-ridden societies such as Sri Lanka and to advise it accordingly. Members of this unit were in Sri Lanka recently to make their own assessment of the positive role that the World Bank could play in Sri Lanka's peace process.
The imposition of aid conditionalities to the disbursement of funds is not new to the World Bank and to other donor institutions.
For many years, international financial institutions, such as the World Bank and IMF have been imposing economic conditionalities as part and parcel of their aid disbursement policies.
They have forced governments to
cut down on their fare measures fort to also reduce go and bureaucracy a getting their aid. A Bank and other fi have often been se poor and powerle population.
Today, on the o fire agreement in SI government and L. tation to the World todian of funds, p Bank with a uniqu to take the side oft less sections of the Suffer most as a ri down of the ceasef Further, the W. surely see the prag ing in concert with suring that the cease not break down, an dence in the peac high, the World Ba that a strengthe economy is able to
O Bridging the North and South
When travelling lombo, Vavuniya is prior to entering th Wanni region. He grew during the we point from the gov to LTTE-controll versa. Now with t highway connecting its importance as a minishing. But the tween the north anc try was highlighted last week in Vavun the role of civil sc building and reco This event was a j non-governmental Sewalanka Founda liefand developme, and east; the Natic which advocates an of the ethnic conf Center for Conflict brings internationa sources to the confl ess in Sri Lanka.
Public opinions that more than 80 p veyed support the c which has brought the country. But

TAMILTIMES 11
subsidies and welhe poor masses and 'ernment spending
the conditions for a result the World lancial institutions n as enemies of the ss sections of the
her hand, the ceaseLanka between the TE, and their inviBank to be the cusrovides the World e opportunity. It is he poor and powerbopulation who will sult of any breakre. orld Bank will also matic side of workthe SLMM. By enfire agreement does d that public confie process remains nk will be ensuring ned Sri Lankan repay its debts.
gap between the
up north from Cothe last major town e LTTE-controlled hce its importance ir years as a transit ernment-controlled 2d areas and vice he opening of the Jaffna to Colombo transit point is dicontinuing gap besouth of the counat a conference held ya on the theme of ciety in the peace ciliation process. bint effort of three Drganisations - the ion which does re(twork in the north nal Peace Council gotiated resolution ict; and the Japan
Prevention which
expertise and rect resolution proc
urveys have shown rcent of those sur:asefire agreement n end to the war in he conference in
Vavuniya showed that this basic consensus that unites the north and south may not be sufficient to prevent a descent into renewed war. There are articulate sections of public opinion in both parts of the country that would justify a return to war, and campaign among the people to see an end to the ceasefire.
The ongoing mass campaign led by the JVP in the south of the country and which is tacitly backed by the main opposition party is one major instance of propaganda to justify a return to war and the hell that it brings with it. The opposition campaign is predicated on the argument that the ceasefire agreement is yielding too many advantages to the LTTE and is paving the way for the final division of the country. The succession of mass rallies held by the JVP in concert with the main opposition party is meant to erode public support for the ceasefire. The demand for . rapid if not immediate restoration of lost rights in the north by both the LTTE. and civic activists in the north is another that has the potential to erode public support for the peace process. Most persons living in the south of the country have, by and large, been spared the horrors of war. They have not had their relatives or neighbours perish in the war or seen their homes being either bombed or denied to them by falling within a high security zone. Therefore, they are more prepared to be patientand longtermin looking fora resolution of the problems created by the Wa.
However, the situation with regard to the north is different. The peace that has been achieved for the war-affected people is one of no-war. But the positive peace dividends have yet to come their way. A Jaffna university lecturer at the conference in Vavuniya epitomised the angry and suspicious spirit that publicly discounts the present benefits of peace as small relative to what has to be obtained. In his presentation at the conference he referred to the problems of the displaced persons, the inaccessibility of their homes in the high security zones and the lack of resources to restart their lives. What came as a bolt from the blues as it were, to those meeting in a peace conference, was his sudden threat that if these basic humanitarian issues were not speedily resolved it would be better to go back to war. A visiting foreign peace researcher opined that if the LTTE went

Page 12
12 TAMILTMES
back to war, it would be able to justify itself and mobilise the people behind it. But the reality may be more complex.
Ethnic suspicion
After a year of ceasefire, it would be accurate to say that the war-affected people of the north continue to feel a sense of strong grievance and tend to view the government's actions through the lens of ethnic suspicion. A relevant example pertains to the one year of ceasefire celebrations that took place on February 22. The Prime Minister's of fice sent out a circular to all government departments and schools requesting them to light lamps to mark the day. The Prime Minister's request was accompanied by an explanation about the significance of the ceasefire. It pointed out that the ceasefire was an outcome of a war that could not be won. Further, that foreign assistance to revive the shattered economy would only be forthcoming if the ceasefire was maintained. It is likely that the Prime Minister's office made these pragmatic arguments on behalf of the ceasefire to
make a political poir position parties in th position parties are ceasefire is damagin interest and is an unn down before the LTT principal from Vavu the situation of the go prompted such a circ But the same schi said that the teachers discussed among ther cation of the circul Prime Minister's off that they extracted f positive one. They sa that if the governn militarily resolved th it would have done so the government had the peace process bec militarily, not becau: Tamil citizenry and justice and equality to ers had also made t tiom that the former tried to change the devolve more power help resolve the eth
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: against the op* South. The oparguing that the to the national cessary kneeling . A Tamil school niya understood 'ernment that had ilar. bol principal also in the school had lselves the impliir sent from the ce. The message "om it was not a w in it a message ent could have 1e ethnic conflict This implied that only entered into ause it had failed se it cared for its
wanted to ensure.
them. The teachne valid observagovernment had Constitution and to the regions to nic conflict. But
members of the present ruling party had burnt the draft Constitution in Parliament in a most aggressive manner.
Such critical thinking when supplemented by incessant propaganda against the government being carried out by LTTE cadres at the field level add to the doubts and agitation of the people. It is ironic that the government negotiators refer to the LTTE as partners while LTTE cadre in Vavuniya, and even the LTTE chief negotiator Dr
Anton Balasingham, should publicly
denigrate the Prime Minister and his government for being weak and impotent and unable to deliver results to the Tamil people. Ostensibly they focus their attacks on the President, the opposition and the military for being the obstacles to peace. But in fact their criti
cism serves the purpose of weakening"
the faith of the Tamil people in the government's sincerity and good faith. At the same time as it negotiates with the government in foreign capitals, the LTTE appears to be preparing the ground to rally the Tamil people behind them in the eventuality that war breaks out again. The government needs to pay
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Page 13
15 MARCH 2003
heed to the warning signals and take action to speed up the delivering of positive results on the ground to the people of the north. This is no doubt a difficult task as it has to deliver results to the people of the south as well who are looking in vain for the economic peace dividend to materialise. Although the unimpressive economic performance of the former government has prevented the people from placing faith in the opposition's ability to deliver economic results, their faith in the government's ability will also surely wane the longer it takes the economy to improve. Delivering results
The participants in the peace conference in Vavuniya expressed their concern at the troubled situation in the country and the slow implementation of humanitarian measures and human rights provisions to improve the lives of the war affected people. In their conference resolution they identified the absence of a bipartisan approach between the government and main opposition party as one of the primary sources for destabilisation of the peace process. They noted that the inability of the two main political parties to work together on the issue reflected their unwillingness to make the resolution of the ethnic conflict to be their first priority.
But more importantly the conference participants identified two priority areas that the government needed to tackle to gain the confidence of the northern people. The first was the resettlement of the war-affected displaced people. They stated that forcibly evicted people, whether Tamil, Muslim or Sinhalese, should be allowed to resettle in their places of original habitation as mandated by international humanitarian principles. This is not only a question of them returning to their original places but also providing them with the necessary financial compensation and material resources to restart their lives.
Another major concern at the conference was the continuing detention of prisoners without charges and without trial. In their final resolution the conference participants noted that after signing the ceasefire agreement, the government had legalised the LTTE and permitted its members to do political work all over the north and east. Therefore the continued detention of LTTE suspects is without justifiable reason. By taking action to release these
prisoners withou back on security le ment could, in a co onstrate its commi tiations as the sol resolution. The LT ciprocate by releas oners in its custod own commitment political pluralism Undoubtedly r ability of the peac ing to strengthen i the Vavuniya col build up their link sations in the south no interest in bein renewed war. A ol celebration that ha an inter-religious Catholic Church in rupted at the last had come from th university students was not appropria occasion at a time achieved on the g achieving normalc people of the north thousand people ha ceremonies, reflect appreciation of the c whatever may be it The participan conference passed a an appropriate mec society initiatives cial process. They ganisations in the s activities to the nor have closer interac people on peace bui atory initiatives. Pe the government is to function effectiv people's humanit rights in the north, civic organisation bridge the gap.
O Human Rights
One of the it agenda for the peac government and L. man rights. The c entered into by th LTTE in February fies that the parties with international hostile acts against tion. The hostile ac intimidation, abdu harassment. It is

delay and scaling islation the governcrete manner, demment to using negomeans of conflict E would need to reng the political prisI to demonstrate its o democracy and to
alising the vulnerprocess, and wish, the participants in ference sought to | with civic organi. They clearly have g dragooned into a le year of ceasefire d been planned by group led by the Vavuniya was disminute. A message e LTTE controlled association that it te to celebrate the when little had been round in terms of y to the lives of the 1. But still, about a ad taken part in the ing the mass-based :easefire agreement, s drawbacks. ts at the Vavuniya resolution to set up hanism to take civil parallel to the officalled for civic orouth to extend their th of the country to ion with the Tamil lding and reconcilirhaps realising that Inwilling or unable ly in defense of the arian and human they are looking to s in the south to
Monitoring
ms down on the e talks between the TE in Japan is huasefire agreement government and of last year specihall, in accordance law, refrain from he civilian populas listed are torture, tion, extortion and teresting that the
TAM TIMES 13
term "human rights", so popular in international discourse on good governance does not find mention in the ceasefire agreement. The farthest that the ceasefire agreement goes, in terms of its positive aspirations for the people, is to speak of improving the living conditions for people and ensuring the security of civilians and their property.
It is indisputable that the violation of human rights has played a central role in the escalation of the ethnic conflict. Whether it was the deprivation of equal language and educational rights through deliberate legislation or the use of force to suppress political dissent, human rights issues have been at the core of the ethnic conflict. The continued violation of human rights can be a decisive factor in the eventual undermining of the ceasefire agreement. Therefore the downplaying of the human rights dimension in the ceasefire agreement is ironic. It also weakens the peace process. The fact that the government and LTTE are taking up the issue of human rights at the Japan talks is therefore welcome.
A key challenge at this time would be to change the debate about the peace process to a rights-based one, instead of being primarily justified in pragmatic terms. There is an anxiety among sections of those supportive of the peace process that the human rights is sue should not be pushed too hard at this time as it would undermine the ceasefire. However, concern that the pursuit of human rights after a year of the ceasefire will endanger the peace process cannot be a valid concern. By consenting to the peace process, both the government and LTTE consented to a new set of rules. These rules include a commitment to human rights
It is appropriate that civil society, groups representing different constituencies should do their utmost to hold the conflicting parties accountable on the basis of human rights standards. In particular, this would require that the government and southern civil society groups should accept that the ethnic conflict arose out of a violation of human rights and needs to be resolved by eliminating those violations. For its part, the LTTE and its supporters need to recognise that it is not possible to disentangle human rights from one another. It is not possible to legitimately seek to vindicate one set of human rights, such as the right to self-determination, while violating others such.

Page 14
14 TAMILTIMES
as by recruiting children and arbitrary deprivation of property.
By consenting to the peace process, both the government and LTTE consented to a new set of rules. These rules include a commitment to human rights. Human rights standards provide a basis for separating legitimate negotiating demands, such as those for equality, from illegitimate demands for domination. Because they are universal and transcend the parties to the conflict, human rights standards provide an important baseline for what is just. In situations of protracted conflict, where society is polarised, there is a need to deal with the past, establish truth, accept responsibility and be prepared to forgive, while working for structural reforms that would make a repeat of the oppressive conditions less likely.
International advisor
The protection and sustenance of human rights forms the bedrock of good governance. The invitation extended by the government and LTTE to the former head of Amnesty International, Ian Martin, to be an advisor to the peace process on human rights issues is a welcome recognition of the fundamental importance of human rights in any sustainable peace process. At a recent consultation organised by the Centre for Policy Alternatives, Mr Martin noted that the Sri Lankan peace process was relatively unique in obtaining the services of a mutually accepted international expert to advise the peace proc
CSS,
The entry of Ian Martin into the peace process as advisor to the government and LTTE at the Japan talks may be seen as a key step in ensuring its sustainability in the face of mounting challenges to human rights and to the overall peace process itself. Local human rights organisations, including the government-appointed Human Rights Commission, have only been able to play a limited role due to their relatively weak capacities and in view of concerns by one or the other side about their perceived bias. One of the tragedies of the protracted ethnic conflict is the breakdown of trust in the ability of members of other communities to understand and be fair by one's own community.
So far the Sri Lankan experience of its peace process has highlighted the important role played by international actors in supporting the peace process.
In particular the Norwegian facilita the government an the military battlef ing table has to be few months befor ceasefire agreeme! sible to overcome and prejudiced mi power in society to end. The 13 mont as much to do with and commitmento it has to do with pragmatism of the and LTTE leadersl In addition the ceasefire agreemer and near clashes LTTE forces on til supported by the Scandinavian moni Monitoring Missi from Norway, Sw Iceland. Due to the both the governm been prepared to ta to them wherever settle scores amon international moni turn the discourse ate resort to weap and legal argumen However, the LTTE cargo ship ing a large stock o tion on the high se navy, with the los an ominous signal tice. When the pr parties may wish their own hands international mon compromisesolut neither. In the ca LTTE cargo shi monitors were not If they had, the peace process ma This is the logic step by step, lead flict and eventual
Present framew
The logic of l be seen in the ma rights issues have ing the period of has been engagin and extortion fro! lim population w thority, as well as

15 MARCH 2003
ole played by the ing team in getting LTTE away from eld to the negotiatppreciated. Even a the signing of the t it seemed imposhe vested interests d-sets that wielded bring the war to an long ceasefire has he facilitation skills the Norwegians as the rationality and present government ips. sustainability of the t despite the clashes pf government and he ground has been role played by the tors of the Sri Lanka on who are drawn eden, Denmark and :ir non-partisanship, ent and LTTE have ake their complaints possible rather than gst themselves. The tors have helped to away from immedions to one of verbal tation, at least so far. destruction of the suspected of carryfarms and ammunias by the Sri Lankan s of 11 lives, can be away from this pracze is very high, the to take matters into ather than have the tors come up with a on that fully satisfies se of the destroyed ), the international brought to the scene. resent crisis in the y have been averted. funilateralism that, sto escalating cony to war.
rk
nilateralism can also ner in which human been dealt with durceasefire. The LTTE in massive taxation the Tamil and Musthin its areas of auutside of them. They
have also been recruiting children on a large scale and intimidating their political opponents. The government has been unrelenting on the right of return of displaced persons to their homes within the high security zones, which claim a large chunk of territory in the Jaffna peninsula. There must be forward movement on these issues at the Japan talks. r
Despite these ongoing violations of human rights, there is no question that the human rights situationis vastly improved due to the prevailing ceasefire. In a time of war, when bombs and mortars are exploding, and armies are on the move, the priority of those fighting becomes victory and their own survival, rather than ensuring the human rights of others. Human rights are much more likely to be protected in a time of nowar than in a time of war. Therefore the main challenge that faces both peace and human rights activists is the sustenance of the ceasefire in the interests of minimising human rights violations.
The logic of this reasoning is that any strengthening of human rights monitoring should be within the framework of the ceasefire agreement, and should be meant to further strengthen it. A mechanism that is adopted outside of the ceasefire agreement is unlikely to be viable in the case of a breakdown of the ceasefire. A separate humani rights monitoring mission that works. parallel to the ceasefire monitoring mission could end up taking opposing stances on controversial issues. This may weaken the credibility of one or both teams of monitors.
At present there is undoubtedly a problem. The international monitors of the SLMM have shown a general reluctance to go into human rights violations as they are not strictly demanded by the existing ceasefire agreement. They have preferred to focus their ef forts on maintaining peace between the government and LTTE forces on the ground. This is understandable, on the one hand, but is also a weakness that needs to be rectified by a re-negotiation of the ceasefire agreement. The international monitors of the SLMM should be further empowered by the two signatories to the ceasefire agreement and they should be obliged to identify, track down and make enforceable rulings on human rights violations as an integral part of their mission.

Page 15
15 MARCH 2003
An opportunity can never be recov
Bertram Bastiampillai
The peace process in Sri Lanka seems to be rolling along on tempestuous seas toward its avowed end. There was the incident of exchanges off Delft in the seas, followed the "Manipay belt affair, and the mysterious death of a soldier around Muhamalai. Nevertheless, it is worthy of note that the government negotiators and the negotiating team of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), under the headship of Chief Spokesman Anton Balasingham, have maintained the craft of peace on an even keel on a stormy sea. It weathered storm and stress laudably.
Apparently there is some lacuna in the ceasefire arrangements and the terms ofunderstanding forged between the negotiating parties. The conditions governing the ceasefire did not specifically ban the collection of weapons. Also, enhancing stocks of arms or the numbers of the cadres have not been prohibited in the terms of ceasefire or understanding. This may have been an oversight or omission. If there was a moratorium on both parties on carrying, or more specifically, the use of arms it would have been better. In a small island for the erstwhile rebels to pose a meaningful threat to the integrity and sovereignty of the state is neither feasible nor practicable. Security forces could be easily and speedily ferried across to stem a rebellion from the army camps, as Sri Lanka has acquired enough swift planes and highly sophisticated arms.
Another pertinent fact is that the "Manipay incident' indicates that apart from the high security zone, which is a bone of contention, there are several other checkpoints used by the security forces outside these zones. The military appears to be almost ubiquitous in the north. This alone will be a sore point. Because having been in the past at the receiving end perennially of harassment, extraction and such painful and humiliating experiences, the people of the north expected respite from the belligerent combat. The terms entered into between the negotiators should have prudently excluded the chances of armed forces intervening in the usual day-to-day activities of the harmless and helpless civilians of the Northeast. The army and the people have no confidence in one another as they got polarized and moved apart as "enemies' of one another owing to the severe con
flict. The people can army who consider c It is indeed curic police force in Sri entrusted with handl of the battle of the b lice call in the army low the belt howev police might be. Fin loving civilians suff fracas. The handling of inefficiency and m government endeavo with the estranged T suffered owing to w army had inflicted on ened the alienation. W force and the rift bein and armed men, one police had colluded v At the present tim it is a regrettable or mance of lawand ordt peninsula was not le that the army is qua even our police are i ciplined often. The commented on the police response at M vocation. Military f force is neither acci to keep order in time is unnecessary and e SLMM Stated. It is review the existing ments and the prevail derstanding and in unfortunate experie omissions. Mistakes grave damage and i immediate remedia taken. After all in the blown up in mid-se: ceedings the Indian Indian Navy had act laying the Ahat To consequences of the with which the Sri hit hard only ordina Fortunately both the chief spokesman ated that this did n peace negotiations a that the LTTE desir termination or ampl separatism. Of cours tional arrangements.

TAMITIMES 15
lost Vered
have no love for the ivilians as enemies. ous that such a large Lanka could not be ing an affair like that elts. To have the pois akin to hitting beer incompetent the ally, only the peace ared in the avoidable of the incident reeks hismanagement. The purs to mend fences amil people and has hat both police and civilians, which worsWith no emergency in gone between girls' is perturbed that the with the army. ne, owing to the truce mission that mainteer in “cleared”Jaffna ft to the police, and rtered all over. But ll trained and undismonitors adversely cowardly yet brutal [anipay without proorce or brute police aptable nor justified s of peace. Violence scalates passions the still not too late to ceasefire arrangeling conditions ofunthe light of the past nces to rectify the can occur and cause t may be too late if l measures are not past when Kittu was a, after lengthy procourt ruled that the ted illegally in wayo late. The ultimate unrequired temerity Lankan Navy acted ry folks.
the government and of the LTTE reiterot signal the end of nd it was made clear 'ed peaceful self dee autonomy and not se, until final institu, the form of govern
ment and the framework of constitutional provisions, the distribution and division of powers and allocations of authority between the Centre and the constituent regions, decommissioning of weapons and retrenchment of cadres will be unlikely. After so much reneging of agreements by governments under S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, Dudley Senanayake and the whittling down of authority and resources of the District Development Councils, plus the emasculation of the Thirteenth Amendment and Provincial Councils it is impractical and not feasible to expect a combatant of a protracted conflict to capitulate to enticement so soon. The negotiated returns expected, have to be commensurate with the sacrifices made and adequately compensate those civilians who had been promised so much and had to endure dismal suffering in a state of expectancy.
A serious barrier towards a smooth operation of the peace negotiations springs from the unfortunate lack of either goodwill or cooperation extended by the Executive President towards the Premier and his government. Though basically the Executive Head welcomes peace and had attempted to create it nevertheless from time to time, abrasive critical disparagement of the Premier's actions and judgments have become hurdles to be cleared by the government to further the advance toward peace. Cohabitation that is required to govern well and firmly is found to be wanting. Furthermore, the opposition too like the President welcomes peace obviously because they cannot be against it after so much money, and above all people, have been sacrificed in vain in a useless war. On the other had, they are critical of the initiatives displayed by the peace negotiators or the Premier in striving to make peace a reality. However, it is indeed encouraging that after all the bustle, the Japanese envoy was more pragmatic when he con cluded that, "One has to discount the quick reactions by one side or the other', and added, "Both sides are still committed despite the events that took place recently.” This is heartening indeed.
What is necessary to carry on the. peace process successfully is reassurance from both sides participating in the negotiations that their good intentions and belief in the process of negotiations are firmly founded. These characteristics can be seen among the discussants in spite of the roadblocks encountered hitherto. Political rivalry and opportunism in an opposition should not thwart the progress toward peace for it can only connote an unbearably expensive gamble. And a lost opportunity is one forfeited forever. There will be no other dividends.

Page 16
16 TAMILTIMES
Displaced People Re but ungry for Pe
JAFFNA, Feb 28 (IPS) – After decades of civil war, this year the migratory birds have returned to the wetlands along the A-9 highway to the northeastern Jaffna peninsula, every inch of which is scarred with battles fought between the Sri Lankan army and the Tamil Tiger rebels.
A colony of pelicans is back and so too are the painted storks, as the yearlong ceasefire in the conflict waged by the Tigers for a homeland in this South Asian island nation brings quiet and the promise of a lasting peace.
Every day brings the return of hundreds of internally displaced peoplethe United Nations estimates there are 800,000 of them - to the north and north-east, the region most affected by the 20-year-old conflict.
Families are busy rebuilding blasted homes with canvas sheets from the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) fluttering in the wind, a mute reminder of histories of displacement produced by a string of major offenSives from 1990 to 2000.
Ammunition boxes are being transformed into flower beds, and disused railway track serve as beams in the Tamil Rehabilitation Office (TRO).
Uniformed children follow lessons in wall-less schools. Fields of burnt stumps of Palmyra, a tall palm tree found in the north, are replanted. Bananas and eggplants are being trucked to markets in the capital, Colombo. Shops are re-opening along the roadside as it circles past the Omanthe exit checkpost ofarmy-controlled Vavuniya that leads to the Tiger-controlled Wanni and on to Jaffna town, retaken by the army in December 1995. There are now four checkpoints for travellers and goods, after the years of blockade. This means four unloadings of goods like bananas and the payment of "tax', but at the premium price the goods fetch in Colombo, evidently it is still worth the tedious process.
In Killinochchi, a region that borders Jaffna and is also a Tiger stronghold, Tiger rebels encouraged a Tamil restaurant owner who had moved to Colombo to return and open an eatery to cope with the rush of middle-class visitors en route to the Jaffna peninsula.
Meantime, as the of Tamil Eelam (LT are formally called, t tary structure, a bure fast growing in area Newsprint-paper ent for entry and exit. (T ministration has no
On either side o are endless stretchc clustering into a thi doned army camps, ings about mines.
Of the estimate 900,000 mines in th Christy of the TRO i ims that 10 percent and that the acciden come down over the The year 2003 h; as the year for reset ternally displaced 200,000, or one-four total number of in people, have come t The Sandhinat back in January aloj from a refugee can town that is the gate territory. Sandhinat stocking his old roa four other family 1 building the house land - a de-mined are now is used to prot ing along the road.
The rebuilding mony to Sri Lanka in a fragile peace, bl ple are also hoping real difference in th
According to tl Centre for Policy A there has been a ni faith in the peace ta in October to 82 pe
The centre's so of public perceptio ninsula reveals tha people believethat not committed to til ternally displaced ety issue, while 61 the LTTE is comm
The return of ( complicated by th

5 MARCH 2003
turn,
2CC
Liberation Tigers TE), as the Tigers (ransforms its miliaucratic culture is under its control. ry forms are used he Sri Lankan ad2quivalent forms). f the A9 highway 's of barbed wire cket around abandotted with warn
ld 1.5 million to
he area, Lawrence.
n Killinochchi clahave been cleared trate has radically : last three years.
as been announced tlement of the inpersons. Already, th of the estimated ternally displaced back, said Christy. han family came ng with 500 others mp in Vavuniya, a way to Tiger-held han was busy reldside shop, while members were reand replanting the a. The barbed wire ect saplings grow
process is a testins. desperate faith tactivists say peoto see this make a eir lives soon. Le Colombo-based lternatives (CPA), ne-point decline in ks from 91 percent cent in December. ial indicator study n in the Jaffna pe63 percent of the the government is Le return of the ineople as a propriIercent believe that tted to it. isplaced people is "domino effect',
said Ole Brondum, Jaffna district head for the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, which monitors the ceasefire agreement signed by Colombo and the Tamil Tigers in February last year.
"It involves along chain of re-housing,” he explained as successive waves of the internally displaced have moved into houses abandoned by people displaced before them. When the Jaffna peninsula was taken by the Sri Lankan army in May 1996, the LTTE forcibly evacuated 280,000 people to the mainland Wanni across the Jaffna lagoon.
The LTTE has set up an arbitration structure to deal with disputes. However, the long queues that formed outside its political office in Jaffna have shrunk as the leadership counselled the people to go to the Sri Lankan administration for redress of civil disputes.
Meanwhile, the Tigers are concentrating on political mobilisationthrough the commemoration of "Remembrance Days that mark key dates in the ethic conflict. The newly established peace secretariats in Kilinochchi and Colombo remain empty shells.
The one issue of displacement that the LTTE has taken up in earnest is the return of people to homes in the "highsecurity Zones', or areas held by government troops.
Ironically, there is no direct call for the withdrawal of the 40,000 Sri Lankan security forces in the areas. But it is indirectly demanded through the clamour surrounding the high-security Zones, which prevent people from returning to their homes and their livelihoods.
The Sri Lankan government has appointed a retired Indian general, Satish Nambiar, to untangle the issue of the high-security zones.
In addition, there is the delicate issue of the return of the Muslims. In October 1990, the LTTE ordered an estimated 120,000 Muslims to leave the north within 48 hours.
Father Jayakumar ofthe Jaffna diocese claims that a few of the trading community have returned but without their families. The LTTE is making no gesture of reconciliation, let alone proffering an apology. "They are being asked to come back, like everyone else,” Jayakumar added.
J Maheshwaran, part of the LTTE team at the peace table, said some 150 Muslim families have returned to live in the north-eastern coastal town of Mullaitivu, under the immediate gaze of the LTTE supremo, Velupillai Prabhakaran.

Page 17
15 MARCH 2003
OJaffna Ex-Mayor speaks out
Former Jaffna Mayor Sellan Kandian, a member of the TULF, in recent interview with the "Daily Mirror" set out the circumstances in which he and other Members of the Municipal Council and expressed regret over the forceful postponement of the Jaffna Library recently after protests by the LTTE and the Inter Jaffna University Students Union. He believed there was a great necessity to re-open the once burnt down library for the use of the general public.
Asked about the resignation, Mr Kandian said, “The Jaffna Municipal Council took a unanimous decision to resign because the LTTE political wing leader for Jaffna district Mr. Illamparathi along with the International Tamil Eelam Student's Federation and some others who came and said that they were against the re-opening. We felt that we were part of the local body elected by the masses in Jaffna and we wanted to function democratically. In a situation where we were not allowed to function freely in a democratic way, we thought the best decision to take was to resign.”
Asked as to whether he feared any threat from the LTTE, Mr Kandian said, "We maintain that it is our right to act freely and this right was not allowed. They didn't allow us to function so we thought this is the best decision. This is a democratically elected body and if it was not allowed to function democratically we had to resign. There was another key reason why we took this decision. We were told by Illamparathi and the student organisation that "if your people are going ahead with the re-opening, you will have to face a situation such as in 1974 when the International Tamil Literary Conference was held in Jaffna. There was bloodshed and people were killed so you will face the same situation. You will have to face bloodshed and you want to pass so many corpses of the Tamil people, then you can go ahead and re-open.' Naturally, this was a key reason why I took the decision to prevent another bloodshed in my own society."
Asked as to whether there was any prospect for such bloodshed, Mr Kandian said, "I feel personally that the re-opening of the library is not a problem for the LTTE. However, I think they have another issue at the back of their minds. I am a minority within the minority, castewise. They didn't want that particular
stone plaque to have caste man. Their exc brary cannot be re-o work needed to be d lie.'
Asked as to whe caste-based issue, M think so. This library 1981 and the incum power then. In 1995 cated a considerable and then the Rehabili allocated some mone allocated was Rs. 120 work for this allocatic pleted. The original p A/C plants while the brought from Colom awaiting along with and the intercom syst Now there is a Lil Committee comprisin ple from society, from chief engineer who i construction. On the said they would be cor and handing it over fo on that basis that we the library. In the m requested to get more canteen and a lift ser rehabilitation ministr Asked as to whe plained to the Sri Lanl sion, Mr Kandian said time I have gone and committee and we to pened with regard to t them the LTTE spoke ing manner and state cluding our security." Asked as to whe threat from the LTTE said, “Notat gun poin have done that. Aft| nothing has happene before the resignation know what kind of a
 

the name of a low se was that the liened yet, as more one. That is a total
her it was a totally r Kandian said, "I was burnt down in bent party was in the President alloamount of money ation Minister also 7. The total amount million. Now, the n was totally comlan was to set up 8 rest (4) have to be ıbo which we are the fire equipment Em. prary Management gindependentpeothe Council and a s in charge of the 20th February they npleting their work public use. It was lecided to re-open eantime the LMC money to set up a fice for which the
agreed.' her he had coma Monitoring Mis"Yes, in the meanhet the monitoring d them what hape library. We told ous in a threatenour concerns in
her he faced any the former Mayor but verbally they the resigration . It all happened And also I do not ion they (LTTE)
TAMILMES 17
might take after these press reports aro published.'
O Gas masks for US embassy
As the Bush administration gave the final deadline for war against Iraq, the US embassy in Colombo has brought down gas masks for its staff as a precaution against any possible chemical or biological attack.
Embassy spokesman Bruce A. Lohof said US embassies worldwide were taking special security measures and the procedure to face possible chemical or biological attack was not confined to Sri Lanka. The embassy staff in Colombo recently participated in a drill trying out the equipment.
O Hunting for Russian missiles
Attempts by Tiger guerrillas to acquire sophisticated surface-to-air missiles and other military items from Russia last month have come to light, according to "The Sunday Times”. Their efforts have been laid bare by the Russian Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Mikhail G. Karpov, in a 'Non-Paper he handed over to the Foreign Ministry in Colombo recently.
In diplomatic parlance, a "Non-Paper' is a document that does not reflect the official position of a government but is the basis for further dialogue between them and the host country.
In this Non-Paper, Ambassador Karpov has said two Sri Lankan citizens, found to be members of the LTTE in Laos had approached the representative of the Russian state organisation Rosboronoexport to procure small arms, anti-aircraft missile complex "IGLA", communication means and other types of military equipment. He has said the Russian authorities have brought this to the attention of the Interior Ministry in Laos
O Shock of Justice
Sri Lanka's chief justice and the judicial system came under scathing attack. from Dato Param Cumaraswamy, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of the Judiciary, who at a press conference in Colombo recently said he was "shocked” and "stunned" by Sri Lanka's Chief Justice Sarath Silva hearing a case against himself.
Cumaraswamy was referring to a case where the Supreme Court, on February 6, decided to jail for one year for 'contempt of court' a human rights activist,

Page 18
18 AMILTIMES
Anthony Fernando, who challenged Sarath Silva for sitting on the bench to hear a case where the Chief Justice himself had been named as a respondent.
Describing the case as being "bizarre', Cumaraswamy said that he was not interested in dealing with the merits of the case but stated, "the question here is to find out whether it is proper for the Chief Justice after having been made a party to a case to sit on the panel and adjudicate in the matter.”
Shortly after Anthony Fernando was jailed he was beaten up by prison guards and has been in hospital since then. Cumaraswamy said he visited the victim in hospital and that Fernando had been chained to his bed.
Hitting out at the Sri Lanka Bar Association, Cumaraswamy said, "I want the Bar Association of Sri Lanka to wake up, have the courage to take up the cause of this man without demanding guarantees that they will be not he hauled up for contempt of court.”
He added that people go to courts for justice, not for injustice and that his main concern was not only the independence of the judiciary but also the accountabil
ity of the judges.
O Prisoners withou The US may clai liberty and justice, an erty may hold the sca for all, it would seem the 650 or so persons Qaida or Taliban co during the time of th and detained for mc America's Guantanal in Cuba.
An American fede ruled that the prisoner outside US sovereign fore had no right to b or given access to a l. In a case that ha the families of 16 de tralia, Britain and Kul" "If the constitution d detainees to due proc they cannot invoke thi courts to test the con legality of restraints ( The ruling by the US authorities to ex discretion in how tl
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15 MARCH 2003
rights in to be the land of the Statue of Libes evenly. But not . Certainly not for
allegedly with alnnection, captured 2 Afghanistan war re than a year in no Bay naval base
ral appeal court has s were "aliens' held territory and there2 formally charged wyer. d been brought by tainees from Auswait, the court said, oes not entitle the ass, and it does not, 2 jurisdiction of our stitutionality or the on their liberty." court has freed the ercise unrestrained he prisoners were treated, how they were questioned and by whom, and how long they were held without being formally charged or brought before a court. Washington has never accepted that these detainees should be classified as "prisoners of war' to deny them the protection provided by the Geneva Convention governing prisoners of war.
The effect of the US court's ruling is that the prisoners have neither the means nor the right to contest their detention, and leave a large number ofpersons - including around a dozen Britons - in a state of legal limbo without any rights, natu
ral, civil or judicial.
O Passport for LTTE leader's son
LTTE leader Vellupillai Pirapaharan's son, Charles Anthony, has been issued with a National Identity Card and a Passport with the direct intervention of an influential minister of the government, according to a reportin A Colombo daily, “The Island'. The report said that the application for the National ID and the passport had been brought to Colombo from the North by the Minister and he had personally contacted the Department of Registration of Persons and the Department of Immigration and Emigration. The report added that it was Thamil Chelvam, LTTE's political wing leader; who had been the link between Pirapaharan and the Minister concerned. According to "The Island” report the address of the applicant was not disclosed by the two government departments. An applicant should provide a relevant document from the respective Grama Sevaka to prove his or her permanent address and the birth certificate. The Island report stated further that the necessity for Pirapaharan’s son, Charles Anthony to pursue education abroad had arisen a few years back but he was unable to get the required documents before.
O Daily death of 1400 women
A study conducted by UNICEF has revealed that around 1400 women die each day from causes related to childbirth - 99 per cent of them from developing countries.
More women die from the complications resulting from childbirth in developing countries than from any other cause, UNICEF said recently, calling the figures "a shameful record of discrimination and apathy toward women and their rights."
"On this International Women's Day, we're speaking for the girls and women who aren't alive to tell their stories, and for their orphaned children. We're speaking for the girls and women who are fighting for their lives right now, for those shut out from education, and for the millions who are exploited or discriminated against.
“We’re here to say that in this era, no woman should have to struggle for equality and respect. No woman should have to shoulder the disadvantage of being denied an education. And no girl or

Page 19
15 MARCH 2003
woman should die in the process of giving birth," the report issued by UNICEF stated.
Maternal mortality rates alone do not reveal the full scale of the tragedy. For every woman who dies from complications related to childbirth, approximately 30 more suffer injuries, infections, and disabilities which are usually untreated and not spoken of. An estimated 300 million women today - or a quarter of the women in the developing world - have sustained serious and long lasting problems during pregnancy and childbirth.
O Gender equality in citizenship
The new Citizenship (Amendment) Act passed by Parliament this week recognizes the right of a mother who is a Sri Lankan citizen to pass citizenship to her children irrespective of the nationality of the father.
Thus, the right of a mother to pass her Sri Lankan citizenship to her children is now identical to the right of a father who is a Sri Lankan citizen.
Hitherto, only a father could pass Sri Lankan citizenship to his children. Thus, where the mother was a Sri Lankan citizen but the father was not, the child had no right to Sri Lankan citizenship by right of descent. The new Act is seen as a significant step in eliminating one area of gender discrimination and it came on the eve of International Women's Day.
According to the Act, children born even before the passing of the legislation but after November 15, 1948 will have the right to Sri Lankan citizenship even if only the mother is a Sri Lankan citi
Zel.
Children over 22 years of age who have assumed citizenship of another country, can be recognized as citizens
upon application made Interior. Such persons tion of assuming dual renounce citizenship try and assume Sri Li Existing provisions an govern the grant of du continue to apply in Children under 22 wh sumed citizenship of a be governed by the exi of the Law. Children years of age and have ship are not required t steps to be recognized Lanka since such chi status by operation of Persons who wish cate of citizenship ma tion to the Controllerc Emigration. Upon beir ing the status of the a troller is required to is within 60 days.
O The flag sang
The sports meet zone scheduled for M nitely postponed by th cation in Batticalоa ovi ing the hoisting of the meet.
The sports meet w held at the Aliyar Na mises in Eravur, abou of Batticaloa. Accord Police, the LTTE cad instructed the organis the sports meet to hois the day of the cere premises. But the Mus said they would stage a flag was to be raised a Meanwhile, the S
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: to the Ministry of
will have the opcitizenship or may of the other counankan citizenship. iconditions which al citizenship will this instance, too. o have already asnother country will sting requirements who are under 22 no other citizeno take any further l as citizens of Sri ldren assume that the amending law. to obtain a certifiy make an applicafImmigration and ng satisfied regardpplicant, the ConSue the certificate
for the Batticaloa arch 7 was indefie Director of Eduer a dispute regardLTTE flag at the
vas expected to be tional School pret 12 km northwest ling to the Eravur res in the area had sing committee of t the LTTE flag on mony within the lims in the area had hartal if the LTTE at the meet. ri Lanka Monitorg Mission (SL(M) representatives the Mannar have tervened to remoe an LTTE flag bisted in the Man
ar town at a Comemorative ceremly to mark the In:rnational Womh's Day on March The LTTE which as organised a comemorative ceremoy on the Internaonal Women's Day
in Talladi south of the Mannar town had decorated the area with red and yellow stripes and hoisted an LTTE flag in the Mannartown hall premises. However, the Police in Mannar had informed the SLMM in Mannar about the hoisting of the LTTE flag. Later, the SLMM representatives had arrived at the scene and got the LTTE flag removed.
O Radio dispute goes to court
The controversy over the import of sophisticated equipment for the LTTE radio station hit a new pitch recently when the Court of Appeal issued notice on the Norwegian Ambassador and the Minister of Mass Communication among others in a writ application asking for an order to quash the licence issued to the LTTE.
Appeal Court judge K. M. Siripavan issued notice sequel to two applications filed by Piyasena Dissanayake, of the Sinhala Jathika Sangamaya and B. Ajith Shantha Kumara Jayathilake.
The petitioners said that under Sri Lankan laws and international diplomatic conventions, a diplomatic mission could import equipment for its self or its staff but in this case Ambassador Jon. Westborg had violated both by bringing down equipment for the LTTE.
The petitioners' lawyer Manoharade. Silva asked the court for an order to forfeit the equipment and cancel the radio licence given to the LTTE.
He said the LTTE was an internationally banned terrorist organization and the Norwegian Ambassador by bringing down items for such an organisation had acted unlawfully and in total contempt of the rule of law.
O The Richard de Zoysa prize
In accordance with the last wish of his mother the late Dr. Mrs. Manorani Saravanamuttu and with provision being made from her estate, a prize is to be awarded in memory of the journalist, writer and Human Rights activist, the late Richard de Zoysa.
According to Mr. Ajit Saravanamuttu, the Settlor of the Fund, the "Richard de Zoysa Prize’ will be a substantial cash award of approximately Rs. 30,000/- and is to be awarded annually from 2003 to a student of the Upper School or College Forms of S. Thomas' College (of which Richard de Zoysa was a distinguished alumnus) on the basis of a written essay

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20 TAMILTIMES
on a subject allied to Human Rights issues as determined by the Administrators of the Fund. There will, of course, be an overall emphasis on the standard of English as this was one of Richard de Zoysaʼs contributions to his alma mater after he left school when he served briefly as a teacher of English.
Guidelines for the selection of the winner etc have been laid down and a group of persons have been chosen to function as administrators among whom will be the Warden of the College as an ex-officio member.
The cash award together with a citation setting out the life and work of Richard de Zoysa and his quest for truth and justice in his short but illustrious journalistic career, will be presented at the annual college prize giving.
O Interplast in Jaffna
The British-based medical charity Interplast conducted its 20th mercy mission at the Jaffna Hospital recently. Interplast, which specialises in plastic surgery, was in Jaffna from February 17 to 28, in what was its third mercy mission in Jaffna.
The team led by Dr. Charles Viva comprised medical personnel from Britain, Germany, France, Australia and Sri Lanka. More than 100 operations were performed for cleft lips, palates, scar contracture, burns, post-traumatic injuries, skin cancers and birth deformities. The team also gave lectures to Jaffna University medical students, medical officers in the north and others.
The Ministries of Health and Refugee Rehabilitation, the Sri Lanka Medical Council together with the German Help Foundation sponsored the mission.
O A taxing problem on A9 project
Contractors working on the Asian Development Bank-funded A9 project recently emphasised that they cannot pay more than 1% of their total contract fee to the LTTE although the Tigers have requested them to make a “contribution” of between five and six per cent to their development fund.
“We don't mind paying them up to
one per cent... if at sist us considerabl their control,” said source from one of involved. “But that can go up to. Anyth is difficult.”
Seven firms, i ment’s Road Const ment Company (R( the project to rec Jaffna A9 highway split into eight por dled by a separate the project agreem signed in Decembel full steam as de-mi The entire proj lion (before Value is advancing Rs. 48 and will fund the first six segments contributing the through the Road N Project.
One per cent of would still amoun million while six than Rs. 38 millior issues a receipt fou COn tractOrS CannC component reimbi ment. The ADB há several occasions 1 tribute any money The contractor Rs. 850 million fo at this figure foll tions and after ta' various "taxes' di in a leaflet.
However, afte no funds can be gi contractors revise removing the rele During subst LTTE advised the will not charge "d Instead, they wan the main barriers, contentious, the quested to make their fund: five p opment work anc
WWW.armaSSOCiates.CO.uk - uS
 

15 MARCH 2003
ll... because they aswithin areas under senior management he seven companies is the maximum we ng over one per cent
cluding the governuction and DevelopDC), are involved in onstruct the Kandy. The road has been ions, each to be hancontractor. Although 2nt was finalised and work is still to gather ning is not complete. :ct costs Rs. 620 mildded Tax). The ADB 0 million of that sum reconstruction of the
The government is
remaining monies setwork Improvement
the total contract fee t to more than Rs. 6 per cent will be more 1. Although the LTTE money received, the it get the "taxation” ursed by the governis also emphasised on hat they will not contowards “taxes'.
had originally quoted r the project, arriving wing on-site inspecing into account the scribed by the LTTE
the ADB stressed that ven for “taxation', the their initial figure by "ant component. quent meetings, the contractors that they rect taxes” from them. ed 15% for services at etc. When this proved COntra CtOrS Were recontributions towards r cent towards develone per cent towards
administrative work.
"We have not agreed so far,” said the senior manager. "Neither have we paid anything by way of taxation. They haven't still said anything so we are car. rying on with our work.”
Meanwhile, the LTTE have told contractors "not to give too much publicity to this issue' as it is widely known that international funding organisations decry the practice.
O Vedda chief seeks voice in Parliament
Veddas (the aboriginies of Sri Lanka) are considering representation in the national Parliament. Vedda Chief Uruwarige Wanniyaleaththo has said they were interested about a community representative in the national legislature.
“Of late I have started to think that it would be good if we have a representative in Parliament,” he said.
"However, there is a drawback. Peor ple clash with each other because of politics,' he added.
The Vedda chief also said he would welcome back former Veddas resettled in the Mahaweli scheme as long as they had not brought shame to the indigenous. community in Sri Lanka.
"When the government was setting up villages under the Mahaweli scheme, we appealed to the authorities concerned not to settle our community people there. Now our people are imprisoned in these villages and they can't go hunting,” the Vedda chief said.
“We have not laid down any laws on anyone who wants to return. Anyone can leave the forest and live in villages if they wish as long as they do not bring shame upon us,” he said.
“I know that our people who went to live in villages under the Mahaweli scheme are fed up with their new lifestyles," he said.
The Vedda community recently conducted a survey which revealed that majority of Veddas resettled did not like to: leave the forests. There are l 148 Veddas still living in forests.
- Lacnet
ful links - ARM Online insurance

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15 MARCH 2003
日
Reflections: Hang
and his Rope
Anne Ranasinghe
I heard the shots, sharp in the early morning stillness, like exploding fireworks; neighbours' children, I thought, and took no notice. But then I became aware of the increasing excitement in the house across the road, the running and shouting among the people who congregated each day on the verandah of the Prime Minister’s bungalow. On that morning, 26 September 1959, my neighbour, Mr. Solomon Dias Bandaranaike, was fatally injured by the monk Talduwa Somarama, and he died soon afterwards at the General Hospital in Colombo.
In the General Election of 1956 the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna, a coalition, led by Mr. Bandaranaike, won an overwhelming victory. At the first Cabinet Meeting in 1956 Mr. Bandaranaike pressed a Cabinet decision to suspend the death penalty for a period of three years, and in April 1958 the suspension of the Capital Punishment Act was passed by both Houses of Parliament. During the Second Reading the Minister of Justice informed the Senate that the government proposed to appoint a Commission to examine the whole issue thoroughly, and this Commission was appointed in October 1958. The Chairman was Dr. Norval Morris, Dean of the Faculty of Law of the University of Adelaide, and the other members were Sir Edwin Wijeyratne, a former Minister of Home Affairs, Professor T. Naderaja, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Head of the Department of Law at the then Ceylon University; and Mr. S. Canagaraya, Secretary of the Commission.
The Commission made a careful study of every aspect of the death penalty, and it was an ironical coincidence that its report was published just two weeks before the assassination. All the more so, as Mr. Bandaranaike in a last message to the nation just before he died, had asked the people not to revenge themselves on the man who shot him, but to have compassion. The government of the day, however, restored the death penalty almost immediately, less than a week after his death. There was a storm of protest, mainly because the death penalty was to be introduced retroactively. The chief Opposition speaker was Senator Nadesan, who though originally retentionist had changed his mind after reading an essay by Tolstoy. He declared that the government was prostituting the legislature of the country and was acting in a spirit of re
venge that was unw ment.
Throughout the 1 Lanka, except for fou derer was liable to century King Ananda ished capital punishr tury King Voharika TI ning of the fourth Sangabodhi (who sec who were condemned stead exhibited men v death). King Parakra who lived in the tw. credited with abolish death penalty for the Nearer our time Senanayeke, who la Prime Minister after II ward a motion whic feated. A second attem in 1942 also failed. there were new moves Silva, M.P. for Kandy Malalasekera who wa Ceylon Buddhist Cong 2500th year of Bud Jayanthi celebrations v following year he felt ate mOment.
Then occurred the sination, in the afterma tal Punishment Act v caretaker governmen Dahanayake. Execu again fell into disuse a dent Jaeawardene sus manitarian grounds.
And now, accordi is a move to reactiva The reasons cited are t which have shocked growth of organized c scale drug-trafficking There is no doubt tha der problems face the return of the hangman life is not the answer, under any circumstan not assume the role of will only make the nati brutal than it is.
There are the usu port of the death pen horrible offences it is ishment, murderers a mit grave crimes shou
 

TAMPOLTTMÉs 21 ***
rthy of any govern
corded history of Sri briefperiods, a mur(ecution. In the first Gamini Abhaya abolent, in the third censsa, and at the begincentury King Siri etly set free criminals to death, and in their ho had died a natural na Bahu the Second, lfth century, is also ng or suspending the period of his reign.
in 1928 Mr. D. S. ter became the first dependence, put forh was however dept in 1936 and a third After Independence , first by Mr. Fred de and later by Dr. G. P. s President of the All gress; as 1956 was the dhism and Buddha vere Scheduled for the this was an appropri
Bandaranaike assasth of which the Capiwas repealed by the
headed by Mr. W. ions resumed, but er 1976, when Presipended them on hu
g to the media, there e the death penalty. e horrendous crimes he country, and the ime, including large nd contract killings. serious law and orauthorities. But the as part of our public or is this acceptable es. The state should he executioner - this nal scene even more
arguments in supty: for particularly ne only fitting punothers who combe executed to pro
tect society; and the death penalty acts as a deterrent. Actually there is a lack of convincing evidence that the death penalty has more power to deter than for instance a long period of imprisonment. This was also the conclusion drawn by the Morris Commission; and a survey on the relation between the death penalty and homicide rates conducted for the United Nations in 1988 and updated in 1996 concluded that research has failed to provide scientific proof that executions have a greater deterrent effect than life imprisonment. Secondly, executions by whatever means, are a cruel, degrading and inhuman punishment. They degrade the executioner, and the system of justice in the name of which he executes. And thirdly - and perhaps this is the most powerful of all the counter-arguments - the death penalty is irreversible. It is decided upon by fallible processes of law which are administered by fallible human beings, and can be, and has been inflicted on people who were innocent.
In this context I would like to quote Albert Camus who cited the Burton Abbott case. Burton Abbott was executed in March 1957. He had been condemned for murder of a 14 year old girl, but although he protested his innocence, no one took any heed. The night before his execution he was shifted to a new cell, as is customary in American prisons, thus letting him know what awaited him in the morning. His execution was scheduled for 10 a.m. At 9.10 a reprieve was granted to allow the defence attorney to present an appeal. At 11 a.m. the appeal was rejected. At 11.15 Abbott entered the gas chamber. At 11.18 he began to breathe in the fumes of gas. At 11.20 the secretary of the reprieve board phoned the prison warden to say that the board had reversed its decision. The governor had been called, but he had gone sailing, and they could not reach him on his boat. So they called the prison directly. Buttoo late. By the time Abbott was removed from the gas chamber he was dead. Camus points out that, had the weather been bad the governor would not have gone sailing. Abbott would not have died and might have proved his innocence. Had another kind of punishment been imposed there would have been a chance of reversal. Capital punishment does not allow for this.
The Norval Morris Commission observed, that the danger of innocent persons being sent to the gallows was much greater in Ceylon than in the U.K. or USA because of the high degree of perjury in the local courts; also because of the system by which a majority verdict of a jury was sufficient to cause conviction and capital punishment. It noted that the danger of perjury was ag. gravated by the long periods of time that (continued on next page)

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22 TAMILTIMES
WB helps families to resettle: Feb 22 - As the first phase of World Bank's Unified Assistance program for helping displaced families resettle in their own villages, World Bank's resident representative in Sri Lanka, Peter Harold, presented checks of Rs.25,000 (US $250) to forty families, at a meeting held at the Vavuniya Tamil Maha Vidyalayam.
Of the 20,000 families who have resettled in the Vavuniya district, 6000 will receive the monitary assistance through the world bank scheme this year, said K.Ganesh, Government Agent (GA), Vavuniya. Each family will receive Rs. 100,000 in phases under this program, Peter Harold said.
Vavuniya Government Agent, K. Ganesh, Director of Sub-Committee on Immediate Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Needs in the North and East (SIHRN), Selvin Erenuess, Advisor to the Prime Minister, A.S.Gunasingam, Director of the World bank funded North East Community Restoration Development (NECORD) project, T. Lankanesan, Vanni District SLA commander, Major General Susil Chandrapala, Vavuniya district Head of the political section of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), S.Elilan, Representative of the UNHCR, District co-ordinator of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization, Thirgnanasampanthamoorthy, and parlia
Rehabilitation
Many schemes of Rehabilit ing undertaken in the war-to as direct result of the Cease ernment and the LTTE and
peace process. These schem rily with financial and mata tional community.
(Continued from page 19) elapsed between the commission of a crime and the trial. It was only a very rare witness who could accurately recall events that had taken place eighteen months or more earlier.
In Sri Lanka - then Ceylon - it was perhaps the Maru Sira execution which highlighted the full horror of the Death Penalty. Maru Sira - his actual name was D. J. Siripala- took to crime and was imprisoned for various offences. He became a folk hero by the daring and skill of his escapes. While he was in hiding after his third escape from jail he was sentenced to death in absentia for the murder of a man in March 1974. Elaborate security measures were taken to ensure that he would be hanged on August 5, 1975.
The prison warders were aware of Maru Sira's history of escaping, and frightened by his threats of vengeance. So in order to forestall any untoward incident they gave him a sedative the night before the execution. The Public Trustee later said that, having been given an excessive dose of Largactil, he collapsed into unconsciousness from which he never recovered. At the time of execution he was carried on a stretcher and laid across the trapdoor of the scaffold. The noose was placed around his
neck, and upon the ti his body dropped 2 f was cause by strang caused by strangulal no judicial hanging erect he would have the noose, then woul inches. There were which added to the ther had tried to see tion; but had been 1 Menika had visited prison, but was sop her sugar ration in o the bus fare. She ha the date of executic had not gone throug marriage.
Now, nearly thi told that “The Death again”. It appears th inspected the gallow the last man to be Tissamaharama, in it transpired that thi ing had deteriorated not available in Sri imported. It was als lows “need a new lo and functional when Penalty has been tak
 
 

15 MARCH 2003
|tion and Redevelopment are be'n Northeastern areas of Sri Lanka fire Agreement between the Govhe ongoing Norwegian facilitated es are being made possible prima:rial assistance from the interna
mentarians N. Sivasakthi Anandan and Selvam Adaikalanathan participated in the
eVert.
“Politicians who can exhibit a lot of courage are required to take the peace process forward. We all have to appreciate the courage shown by the Government of Sri Lanka and
the Liberation Tigers in
agreeing to a ceasefire and committing themselves to work towards peace,” said Peter Harold. "International community is watching the
events in SriLanka very closely. World Bank is participating in helping resettle people affected by war. We expect the funds provided for these purposes to be spent wisely. Checkpoints in Omanthai and Muhamalai will be provided with electricity shortly. Once this is completed, I anticipate that authorities will allow these checkpoints to be open 24-hours," added Peter Harold.
Sweden to helpdevelopment in NE: Feb 23 - The Charge d'Affairs of the Swedish Embassy in Sri Lanka Ms Ann Marie Fallenius said in Trincomalee that the Chambers of Commerce in districts of Jaffna, Vavuniya, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara in the northeast province would be. given a boost to expand their institutional capacity and pro
apdoor being opened, eet 2 inches. His death gulation, by asphyxia ion, and so there was ... Had Siripala stood stood 9 inches above d have fallen 7 feet ll other pathetic factors public horror. His fahim before the execuefused. His wife Ran him every month in yor thatshe had to sell rder to find money for not been informed of n as she and Siripala h the legal process of
ty years later, we are Penalty is on the cards ut officials had already s at Welikada prison - anged there was from 976. During the visit noose used for hangthat the rope used was Lanka and had to be ) decided that the galk', in order to be ready a decision on the Death 2n. It appears that "cer
tain religious dignitaries' had discussed the matter with the officials, and apparently a majority are in favour of the introduction of the supreme penalty.
It is to be hoped that before we revert to the primitive barbarism of execution, a serious and careful study is undertaken of crime, the problems of investigation and of law enforcement in Sri Lanka. So, momentous a decision should not be trivialised. Real solutions to violent crime, both short and long term, should be identified and meticulously pursued.
And the ultimate conclusion should be that executions must not be resumed under any circumstances.
"Any mans death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind and therefore never send to know for whom the bell. tolls, is tolls for thee.” (John Donne)
References:
l Donovan Moldrich "Hangman -. Spare That Noose'
2 Roger Hood "The death penalty, a world-wide perspective'
3 *Miscellaneous facts and quotations' on the Death Penalty (Civil Rights Movement of Sri Lanka)
4 Albert Camus 'Reflections on the Guillotine”.

Page 23
15 MARCH 2003
fessional competence building program under an agreement the Federation Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FCCISL) signed recently in Colombo with the Swedish International Co-operation Agency (SIDA) and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Southern Sweden (CCISS).
The amabassador met the officials of the Trincomalee District Chamber of Commerce (TDCC) at the Nilaveli Beach Hotel in Trincomalee. President of the TDCC Mr.K.Thurairajah presided.
She added the economic prosperity of Sri Lanka critically depends on the success of the peace talks and finding a political solution to the conflict. The Swedish government is very much interested in assisting the parties in finding a political solution to the problem, she said. Ms Ann Marie Fallenius further said the government of Sweden was fully backing the peace process, which has created an opportunity to develop the northeast. The international community will everything possible to prevent another war in the island, she stressed.
A sum of one hundred million rupees has been allocated under the agreement with Swedish based SIDA and CCISS to implement a project with a full package of funding and technical support for rapid restructuring of the neglected industries in the five districts, Jaffna, Vavuniya, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Amparai in the northeast province.
Top-level ADB officials visit Vavuniya: Feb 24 - A committee of top-level officials of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) visited Vavuniya to hold consultations on planned projects on road reconstruction and electrical power distribution. The high level committee included Mr. Tadashi Konda, director of the Infrastructure Division for the South Asia region, Mrs. Sriwidowwathy, Project Engineer, Mr. K.M. Thilakaratne, Project Specialist, Mr. John Innigan, Consultant for the A-9 highway project.
The committee met with the Government Agent for Vavuniya, Mr. K. Ganesh, at the district secretariat and held discussions on the immediate needs, short and long term plans for projects on road reconstruction and electrical power distributiors. At the discussion, the project director of the Ceylon Electricity board and the project director and Chief Engineer of the Road Development Authority provided more information on the projects. Following the discussions, the committee inspected the conditions on the A-9 highway. The project on reconstructing the highway will start next month under World Bank funding.
WB aids Teacher-librarians to be training: Feb 25 - The School Library Development Unit of the North East Provincial Department of Education is to conduct a training program for teacher-librarians in schools under a project funded by the World Bank, Provincial Director of Education, Mr.S.Mahalingam said.
The World B has given green light to implement this project under the Educational Reforms Programme and allocated seven hundred eighty four thousand rupees to the Library Unit of the line Ministry of Education. The implementing agency will be the NE Provincial Department of Education, Mr. Mahalingam added.
As a first phase 350 teacher-librarians out of 568 would be given training in seven centres in the northeast province. The National Library Services Board and the Provincial Department of Education would hold the residential train

TAMILTIMES 23
ing jointly under the guidance of the National Institute of Library and Information Science of the Colombo Univer
sity.
NE libraries to receive Internet facilities: Feb 26 - School libraries of forty two schools in the eight districts of north. east province are to be provided with computers with Internet facilities before the end of this month, said Mr.N.Anandaraj, Co-ordinator of the School Library Development of the Provincial Ministry of Education Tuesday.
Mr.Anandaraj, who is also the Assistant Director of Education, released the list of forty schools that have been selected for getting computers with Internet facilities.
Educational sources, however, expressed doubts if the scheme will fullfil the expectations raised, as many districts under the scheme, suffer from lack of reliable telecommunication facilities required to support internet connections.
The following is the list of schools announced to be part of the scheme:
* Jaffna district: Vembadi Girls High School, Periyapulam Maha Vidiyalayam, Udupiddy American Mission College, Jaffna Hindu Ladies College, Nainativu Maha Vidiyalayam, Meesalai Veerasingham Maha Vidiyalayam, Nelliayadi Madhya Maha Vidiyalayam, Manipay Hindu College;
* Killinochchi district: Akkarayan Maha Vidiyalayam * Mullaitivu district: Mulliwalai Vithiyananda College, Udaiyarkaddu Maha Vidiyalayam, Mallavi Central College * Vavuniya district: Saivapragasa Girls Maha. Vidiyalayam, Cheddikulam Mahavidiyalayam, Puthukulam Maha Vidiyalayam, Poonthottam Government Tamil Mixed School
* Mannar district: St Xavier Girls College, Fatima Madhya Maha Vidiyalayam, Adampan Maha Vidiyalayam
* Trincomalee district: Koneswara Hindu College, Orr's Hill Vivekananda College, St.Mary’s College, Kinniya central College, Chenaiyoor Central College, Agrabodhi Maha Vidiyalayam
* Batticaloa district: Kallady Muhathuwaram Vipulananda College, Kattankudy Madhya Maha Vidiyalayam, Sivananda College, Valaichchenai Hindu College, Paddirippy Madhya Maha Vidiyalayam.
* Ampara district D.S.Senanayaka Madhya Maha Vidiyalayam, Kalmunai Zahira College Carmel Fatima College, Sammanthurai Muslim Girls Maha Vidiyalayam, Akkaraipattu Muslim Maha Vidiyalayam, R.K.M.Maha Vidiyala-' yam, Dehiatakandya Madhya Maha Vidiyalayam, Padiyatalawa Madhya Maha Vidiyalayam, Yelwate Maha Vidiyalayam, Rajakadena Vidiyalayam, Hingurana Maha Vidiyalayam.
NE development fund Established: Feb 28 - The World Bank (WB) and the Sub Committee on Immediate Humanitarian Rehabilitation Needs (SIHRN) signed a “Letter of Intent" as a prelude to establishing a North East Reconstruction Fund (NERF) in support of post conflict development efforts in the northeast province, a press release issued by the SIHRN said. The representatives of the SIHRN and the World Bank signed the Letter of Intent Friday (28 February). WB Country Director in Sri Lanka Mr. Peter Harrold, Mr. Naresha Durai Swamy and Mr. Sheng Man Zang, Managing Director of the World Bank attended the SIHRN meeting Friday held at Killinochchi.

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"This follows the invitation earlier this year where the World Bank and the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and tis partner in peace negotiations, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), to act as the custodians of the fund,” stateed the press release.
It further stated: - .
The NERF will allow the SIHRN of the Sri Lankan peace process to rapidly and flexibly apply by lateral donor resources to meet the immediate needs of the people affected by the conflict, both returnees and those who remained in the conflict areas. The World Bank will administer the grants received from bilateral donors.
The NERF will finance
1. Support for small-scale sub-projects to repair and upgrade rural infrastructure and to strengthen basic health and educational facilities. The Fund is also expected to support actions focused on women and children, especially concerning their physical and metal health and education as well as assisting with the social integration and rehabilitation of orphans from the conflict.
2. Voluntary resettlement and rehabilitation of displaced persons through certain identified livelihood schemes
3. Mine clearance activities and mine awareness and training program
4. Salaries and operating costs of SIHRN as well as the capacity building activities.
The World Bank will employ an independent firm to monitor the procurement of goods and services, review and recommend approval of withdrawal application and monitor expenditure financed by the grant fund. It will also employ an independent auditor.”
Programme for resettlement: Feb 28 - Fourth meeting of the SIHRN took place in Kilinochchi at the premises of SIHRN secretariat. Mr. Bernard Gunatillake headed the Government delegation and S.P Thamilchelvan led the LTTE delegation. Ambassador Jon Westborg facilitated the meeting on behalf of the Norwegian Government. Ambassador Seichro Otsuka of Japan participated on behalf of Mr. Yasushi Akashi, principal advisor to the Sub-Committee.
Excerpts from the press release issued by SIHRN stated: The Sub-Committee decided to initiate a programme for the resettlement of displaced persons in the Mannar District. The programme will respond to the needs and interest of all communities in the Mannar District. The Secretariat has been requested to initiate a Needs Assessment for the resettlement of internally displaced persons from the district.
Under the overall resettlement program, the Sub-Committee agreed:
* to establish a resettlement program for the Mannar District in order to meet the needs of all displaced communities;
* that the Mannar district will be assessed by five Assessment Teams comprising the following members GOSL - 02 (at least one member to represent the Muslim community) LTTE — 02 UNHCR — 01;
* that these Needs Assessment Teams should as part of their work ensure that original residents, displaced outside the district of Mannar are also consulted;
* that the reports of the Needs Assessment Teams should be submitted by 31st March 2003;
* that an implementation proposal is to be developed based on the reports of the Assessment Teams. The imple

15 MARCH 2003
mentation proposal shall be developed by a team comprising 2 members each from the GOSL and the LTTE and the UNHCR, and that the work of the Assessment Teams shall be coordinated by the UNHCR.
SIHRN, to accommodate the urgent needs of the people, gave its final approval to the following projects that will be implemented as soon as the finances has been made available by the donors through the World Bank:
* The first phase of the road between Mullaitivu - Mankulam-Vellankulam;
* Centre (located in Kilinochchi) for mentally traumatized women;
* Renovation of paddy storage facility in Mannar district;
* Construction of ice plants in Thirukovil and Saintthamaruthu in Jaffna and Ampara District respectively; * Resettlement of 8 villages, one in each of the eight districts in the North East.
In addition 10 further projects were approved subject to certain clarification from the Director of the Secretariat of SIHRN: * Emergency care unit in Kilinochchi, * improvement of Mullaitivu Hospital, * irrigation project in Kalmadu, * irrigation projects in Miyankallukulam Kiran in Batticaloa, * resettlement and rehabilitaion project in all districts, * skill and capacity development in Mullaitivu, Amparai and Mannar districts, * milk chilling and processing facility in Kilinochchi, * construction of ice plant in Mullaitivu District, * construction of ice plant in Jaffna District, and * rehabilitation of Pottuvil Hospital in Ampara District.
Japanese Development team in Jaffna:Mar 3 - A ninemember delegation of the Infrastructure Development Insti tute of Japan (IDI), led by Mr.Yoshiyo Yabe, Senior comsultant and Director of Planning Department of IDI, on 1 February held talks with civil officials in Jaffna regarding proposed development of roads, water supply, sanitation and flood control in the peninsula. The IDI team is on a factfinding mission in the northeastern province from February 26 till March 6.
The delegation attended a conference held at the Jaffna District Secretariat presided by the acting Government Agent Ms Paththiniammal Thilaganayagam Paul. Local heads of government and provincial departments also participated in the conference, said sources.
Several matters were discussed at the conference including the possibility of diverting water from Iranaimadu tank in Killinochchi district to Jaffna peninsula for farming, sources. The IDI team in this regard submitted the suggestion but Jaffna officials agreed to discuss this proposal with Killinochchi officials before providing a proper response.
The development of the Kankesanthurai harbour and the railway service to Jaffna and the importance of raising these matters at the national level were also discussed at the conference, according to district secretariat sources.
In Kilinochchi the team met Government Agent (GA), Rasanayagam, and obtained details of the proposed plans for infrastructure development including connector roads within the district, roads to interconnect agricultural centers, rebuilding destroyed railway tracks, electricity Supply, telecommunications and plans for providing urgent humanitarian needs such as safe drinking water. Director of Committee on Immediate Humanitarian Rehabilitation Needs (SIHRN), Selvin Irenuess, also participated in the discussions.

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15 MARCH 2003
In Trincomalee, the IDI team held wide ranging discussions with central and provincial level officials in the Trincomalee district at the North East Health Ministry Auditorium on 3 February.
Proposals to rebuild the Trincomalee-Pulmoddai road up to Kokulai in the north of the district and to implement a water supply scheme using Mahaweli water to meet the future demand in the Trincomalee district were also suggested to the IDI team for their study, sources said. The IDI team will submit its report regarding the urgent needs for the northeast province regarding development of roads, sanitation, infrastructure and flood control activities to the Government of Japan.
The IDI team, which comes under the Japan Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, is on a fact-finding mission in the northeastern province from February 26 till March 6.
ADB President's visits Killinochchi: Mar 7 - The President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Mr.Tadao Chino, reaffirmed ADB’s commitment to supporting the peace process with rehabilitation and reconstruction assistance, during a meeting with representatives of the LTTE in Killinochchi, northern Sri Lanka, a press release issued by the Sri Lanka Resident Mission of the ADB said.
Mr.Chino, who met with Mr.S.P.Thamilchelvan and other members of the LTTE's political wing at the Killinochchi secretariat, said he was impressed with the progress made in the peace talks since the ceasefire agreement between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE a year ago.
The following is the full text of Mr Chino's statement after his meeting with LTTE.
"I am very pleased to be in Killinochchi. Although my visit is briefit, has been very productive. Earlier this morning, I met with Mr.Thamilselvan, and other representatives of the LTTE, and had a very useful exchange of views. I told him we are impressed with the progress being made in the peace talks. We believe a lot has been done and are encouraged by the achievement so far. We realize there are challenging issues that need to be resolved and we will do what we can to continue to support and enhance our support for this purpose.
"It is important that a lasting peace be found to put an end to this conflict which has caused such devastation to the North and East, and to the country as a whole. My meeting gave us the chance to discuss the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the conflict affected areas.
"International support will be essential for the reconstruction program to be undertaken in the North and East and for Sri Lanka itself to regain what two decades of conflict have cost it.
"As you know, ADB is working with the World Bank, United Nations, the Subcommittee for Immediate Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Needs (SIHIRN) and others to prepare a needs assessment for the Tokyo donors conference in June. This will provide us, and others, with a very good basis for developing our future assistance programs. The LTTE is involved with the assessment process and this will contribute significantly to the success of the conference.
"Of course, its success will also depend on the level of commitment of the parties concerned in the peace process and how the international community perceives the process. ADB and Sri Lanka's development partners, many of whom are ADB's shareholders, need to be assured that all the peo

TAMILTIMES 25
ple of Sri Lanka can enjoy the benefits of peace. After more than 20 years of conflict, it will take more than a few years for recovery. We, at ADB, stand ready to work with our development partners and the international community in forging a bright, prosperous and peaceful future for Sri Lanka.'
ADB projects are already underway in the North and East. ADB supports the North East Community Restoration and Development Project (NECORD) with a loan of US $ 25 million. The project covers a range of complimentary activities in all eight districts in the North and East to help the people in these conflict-affected areas rebuild their lives. The activities include access to shelter, education, health, other basic services and livelihood.
Countrywide, ADB's program of assistance to Sri Lanka was nearly US$240 million in 2002. This program supports development projects throughout the country in such critical Sectors as education, energy, public sector resource management, and transport, the press release by the ADB concluded.
ADB’s Country Director Mr. John R.Cooney, Director General Mr.Yoshihiro Iwasaki, South Asia's Operations/Coordinating Secretary Mr. Haffez Rahman also participated in the discussion. LTTE's Administrative head Mr.S.Thangan, LTTE political activist Daya Master and Sinnappa master of the Thamileelam Administrative Service accompanied Mr.Thamilsevan to the meeting.
NECORD Project Director Mr.T.Lankaneson, North East Provincial Council Chief Secretary Mr.S.Rangarajah, Government Agents of Killinochchi, Vavuniya, Mannar and Jaffna districts Messrs T. Rasanayagam, K. Ganesh, V. Visuvalingam and S. Pathmanathan respectively also participated in the discussion.
Before leaving toColombo, the ADB President and his team visited the Elephant Pass area. Later they paid a visit to the Killinochchi Maha Vidiyalayam and conversed with students and teachers.
Gender issues committee meet: Mar 8 - The Sub-Committee on Gender Issues (SGI), established by agreement between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE during the third round of negotiations in December 2002, held its first stage of meetings on 5 and 6 March in Kilinochchi.
A press release issued after the meeting stated as follows:
The first meeting of the Sub-Committee on Gender Issues (SGI) was held in Kilinochchi 5-6 March 2003. The establishment of the SGI was agreed upon by the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam during the third session of negotiations in Oslo 2-5 December 2002. During the meeting in Oslo both parties expressed their willingness to set up this Committee in order to secure the active participation of women and the effective inclusion of gender issues in the peace process.
The deliberations between the delegates were positive and constructive and included a wide range of issues of concern to women in this stage of the peace process. The Committee members acknowledged the widespread and profound suffering of women as a consequence of war, especially in the most affected areas. In their determination to include the gender perspective in the peace process they decided to focus their efforts on the following issues in the immediate and long term:

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26 TAMILTIMES
Sustaining the peace process Resettlement Personal security and safety Infrastructure and services Livelihood and employment Political represenatation and decision-making o Reconciliation The SGI will report directly to the plenary session of the peace talks and work closely with the other Sub-Committees and other mechanisms associated with the peace process. It will identify issues of concern to women that need to be addressed and bring those concerns into the agenda of the peace process.
The SGI will immediately get involved with SIHRN in the process of Accelerated Resettlement Programme for the Jaffna District (ARP-J) and the Fast-track Resettlement Programme for the Mannar District (FTRP-M) and other ongoing resettlement programmes in the north and east.
The SGI supports SIHRN's project for traumatized women in Kilinochchi and strongly encourages. SIHRN to set up similar centres in the east and in other districts affected by the conflict.
The SGI will formulate Gender Guidelines for the SubCommittees and other mechanisms associated with the peace process. The SGI decided to establish a Secretariat in Kilinochchi. An office of the SGI shall be established in Colombo. The two entities will co-operate closely in serving all members of the SGI in their work.
The SGI discussed fundamental elements of the Terms of Reference that will be presented to the plenary session of the peace talks in April 2003.
The Committee members visited several projects concerning the welfare of women in the Kilinochchi area.
The next meeting of the SGI will take place in Kilinochchi 4-5 April 2003. Future meetings of the SGI will be organised in different areas.
The Sub-Committee on Gender Issues consists of the following five members from each of the parties.
GOSL: Dr. Kumari Jayawardena, Dr. Deepika Udagama, Dr. Fazeela M. Riyaz, Ms. Kumuduni Samuel and Ms. Faizun Zackariya.
LTTE: Ms. Thamilini Subramaniam, Ms. Kaaya Somasyndram, Ms. Premila Somasyndram, Ms. Suthamathy Sanmugarajah, and Ms. Yalisai Balasingham
The parties have requested Norway to appoint a resource person as a facilitator to the SGI. The Norwegian government assigned Dr. Astrid N. Heiberg, a professor of psychiatry to the University of Oslo, and past president of the International Red Cross Federation.'
Resettlement in Omanthai-Thandikulam HSZ: Mar 8 - In a meeting at the Government Secretariat presided by the Vavuniya Government Agent (GA), K. Ganesh, it was decided to resettle former residents of selected areas within the High Security Zone (HSZ) between Thandikulam and Omanthai centered around the A9 highway in Vavuniya district, starting from 10 March.
Major General Susil Chandrapala, Sri Lanka Army (SLA) commander of Vanni region, LTTE Vavuniya district Head of the political section, S. Elilan, Regional secretaries, Commanders of different districts participated in the meeting.
GA Ganesh informed that former residents are to be settled in 38 villages. The officers in charge of the project will

15 MARCH 2003
confirm if the villages are cleared of mines and are safe for resettlement. SLA has agreed to allow HSZ residents identified for resettlement to travel through the Thandikulam SLA checkpoint. Non-governmental organizations working on mine clearing operations in army controlled regions confirmed that villages of Thandikulam, Neiveli, Pannikar Puliyankulam and Chithambaram have been cleared of mines and are fit for resettlement.
Meanwhile, the Vavuniya District Committee responsible for urgent humanitarian and rehabilitation needs met in the Government secretariat to determine the urgent material needs for resettlement. GA Mr. Ganesh, Vavuniya South District Secretary, M. Tillekaratne, LTTE's S. Elilan, LTTE's member of the women's wing, Alai, member of LTTE's administrative division, Swarnan participated in this meeting.
Decision was taken in this meeting to urgently undetake rehabilitation efforts in the spheres of health, water supply, transportation infrastructure and education in the areas earmarked for resettlement. A report containing the above matters is to be sent to the Kilimochchi branch of the Sub-committee on Immediate Humanitarian Rehabilitation Needs (SIHRN), sources who attended the meeting said.
New hospital in Kilinochchi: Mar 9 - Mr. Tadoa Chino, President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), laid the foundation stone for a new hospital building in Kilinochchi on 7 March during a ceremony organized by the Government Agent (GA) of Kilinochchi, T. Rasanayagam and the Sub-Committee on Immediate Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Needs in the North and East (SIHRN).
ADB’s Country Director Mr. John R. Cooney, Director General Mr.Yoshihiro Iwasaki, South Asia's Operations/Coordinating Secretary Mr. Haffez Rahman, Dr.Canton, Representative of WHO, Mr.S.Rangarajan the Chief Secretary of the NEPC, Mr.Selvyn Iranius the Director General of SIHRN, Mr.K.Ganesh GA Vavuniya, Mr.C.Pathmanathan GAJaffna, Mr.V. Visvalingam GA Mannar, Mr.S.Thangan, LTTE's Deputy Head of the Political wing, Daya Master, LTTE political activist, and Mr. Sinnappa master of theThamilleelam Administrative Service, officials of the Health sector and other Heads of Departments in Kilinochchi participated in the function.
Mr. Selvin Eraneuss, Director of SIHRN outlined the responsibility of his directorate in contributing to ensuring development in all regions of North east.
He said that sometimes the existing state structures such as Provincial Councils have limitations in their operations as they come under the central government. But SIHRN has, a mandate to look after every corner of the north and east and the needs of the people.
Mr. S.Rangarajan the Chief Secretary of the North and East Provincial Council said, "we are endeavouring to bring back and establishing a stability in uncertainties. That is our present motto and to a great extent whatever that happens outside the administration, but administration will be more stable and we will create a very good conducive environment for the people and the development process to succeed. With this assurance, we look forward for more helping hand from the ADB.
"It is unique that in a conflict area particularly in a war tone area the international banks like the ADB are willing to invest in spite of significant risks involved. World Bank is

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15 MARCH 2003
also engaging itself in a similar fashion. This experience and results can be shared globally, and other countries in similar situations can benefit from the experience gained in North East of Sri Lanka," added Mr. Rangarajan.
Mr. T. Lankanesan, the project director of North East Community Restoration (NECORD) described the role the ADB in the development of the north east in his speech.
Lankanesan further said, "Asian Development Bank is one of the few partners who are helping to reconstruct the war ravaged north and east. The A9 highway, Rs.40 m. NECORD project, electrification of Jaffna district are a few projects that are receiving support from ADB.
The water supply project for Batticaloa district, Muthur water supply project and east coastal conservation and development projects are some of the projects of the ADB that are in the planning stage.
I wish to thank Mr.John Cooney, the country director of the ADB, for his contribution to the restoration of the communities in the north and east. Mr. President I thank you very much for accepting our invitation to lay the foundation stone for the hospital in Kilinochchi district.
Kilinochchi was the theatre of conflict where human sufferings reached high levels. The total population of the Kilinochchi district migrated to other districts. Kilinochchi district used to be an exporter of agriculture produces and fish to other parts of Sri Lanka. The people who fled depended on their friends and relatives for their survival. The affluent farming and the fishing population of Kilinochchi became victims of the war and lost their homes, their livlihoods and all their material possessions.
Kilinochchi district is emerging from the ashes. Majority of the displaced people have returned. During the war even the hospital of Kilinochchi was not spared. The hospital was totally damaged. The skeleton staff shifted the hospital to Mallavi and it functioned in without adequate physical infrastructure, medical personnel, medicine and laboratory facilities.
Disasters provide opportunities for development. Here is an opportunity to build a state of the art hospital for the people of Kilinochchi. It is their top priority. Under NECORD Rs.70 million is available for the first phase of the construction. We whole heartedly thank Mr.John Cooney the country director and the ADB for their invaluable contribution. I am confident that through this project Kilinochchi will have a modern hospital and the people will be ever grateful to you. Generations of tamils will remember you for this help.”
Accelerated de-mining: Mar 9 - The Swiss Demining Federation (FSD) is currently clearing mines in Thallaimannar and in LTTE controlled areas surrounding villages of Pallamadu, Paapamoddai, and Periya Madhu, with a view of preparing these areas ready for resettlement, said a spokesperson for FSD, a Switzerland-based organization currently involved in demining operations in different war affected areas of NorthEast.
He added that modern mine-detecting equipments are being used for the first time with the cooperation of the local mine-clearing section of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO). Within three days, the FSD team has located and removed 60 lethal mines, the spokesperson added. The

TAM TIMES 27
clearing activities are being expedited in the areas earlier occupied by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Thalaimannar region according to FSD. FSD is also working in several areas of Vavuniya, Mannar and Jaffna and claims to be the only organization that is heavily using modern mine detection equipment, sources in Vavuniya said.
Computer Training Center in Trinco: Mar 15- North East Provincial Council Chief Secretary Mr.S.Rangarajah declared open a new computer-training centre at the Provincial Management Development and Training Department (MDTD). The Integrated Food Security Programme (IFSP) in Trincomalee donated twelve computers and accessories worth 1.6 million rupees to the centre. The IFSP Trincomalee is sponsored by the Federal German Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development, BMZ through the German Technical Co-operation, GTZ and the Government of Sri Lanka through the Eastern Development Ministry and the North East Provincial Council.
The IFSP-GTZ Trincomalee team leader Dr. Dedo Geinitz said that the IFSP Trincomalee supports the computer-training centre. Advanced equipments have been provided to encourage information technology education for the north and east under a broader agreement between the IFSP-GTZ and the NEPC.
“IFSP Trincomalee encourages partner institutions to improve their capacities. This includes training for human resources development. Provincial and district government departments and also non-government organizations have been supported with facilities and equipment to increase their services capacity,” Dr. Dedo Geinitz said.
Dr. Dedo Geinitz further said that the MDTD plays a key role in uplifting the standard of information technology know-how and knowledge of government officers. The aim is to improve services and contribute to good governance in relation to the anticipated accelerated reconstruction and development tasks for the northeast.
Mr. Rangarajah said the Management Development and Training Department of the NEPC has already trained about 2000 officers in computer literacy. Now the time has come to upgrade the computer-training programme.
He thanked the IFSP of the Federal German Government for helping the NEPC in a big way to develop an information system to the council.
Provincial Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration Ms Kamala Sivasithambaram said northeast provincial council officers in past were unable to obtain computer knowledge as some districts in the province did not have electricity. The peace process has created an environment allowing the opening of the computer-training centre, she added.
"We have to educate at least 34 thousand employees of the 54 thousand in the northeast provincial council in the use of and developing applications for computers,” said Ms Kamala Sivasithambaram. Project Director of the IFSPMs Rohini Singarayer said, "IT training is expected to not only contribute to better understanding about the potential of computer software for development but to enable planners and administrators to better apply advanced technology. Training in the application of information technology contributes to post war and post conflict development.”

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SLA soldier killed: Feb 16 | - Around 2.15pm on 15 February, near the Forward Defense Line (FDL) of the LTTE in Kilal in Jaffna district, a Sri Lanka Army
(SLA) soldier, L. Dharmadasa (24) of Matale, who allegedly trespassed into LTTE controlled area was killed in gunfire, according to LTTE sources. The LTTE has communicated the information to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) members in Kilinochchi and Jaffna district.
SLMM officials visited the scene of the incident and according to their request the LTTE transfer the body of the soldier through International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) to the officials of Government of Sri Lanka.
LTTE cadres released: Feb 17 - Two LTTE women cadres, Sivalingam Nanthini alias Navani and Maheswaran Thiagalledchumi alias Suganthi accused of having been engaged in forcibly recruiting young persons to the LTTE were releasedon bail by the Trincomalee Magistrate Mr. S.Thiagendran. Following the arrest of the two female cadres, the LTTE organized a hartal (a general shutdown) resulting in shops, banks, provicincial council offices, schools and other business establishments remaing shut and the Trincomalee town being deserted.
Protest against cost of living: Feb 17 - Party members and parliamentarians of the main opposition party of Sri Lanka Parliament, People's Alliance (PA) held a protest demonstration against high of cost of living under United National Front Government (UNF), on 17 February in Colombo. Hundreds of protesters carrying traditional and home-made musical instruments participated in what was describe as "Jana Gosha' (Peoples agitation) held in several places in Colombo. The demonstrators carried placards with slogans condemning the high price for bread, oil, gas, telephone and electricity bills, and generally food items that adversely affected the living conditions of the poor.
101 Villages selected for development: Feb 18 - The World Bank assisted North East Irrigation and Agriculture Project (NIAP) officials said that under the 2003 program for renovating irrigation tanks in NorthEast, 10 l villages have been selected in districts of Vavuniya, Mannar, Trincomalee and Batticaloa where implementation activities will begin in March. Officials said that the focus villages for NIAP projects were selected on recom
mendations by the G (GAs) of the respecti NIAP has signec non-Governmental (NGOs) FORUT, Se Development Organiz which will impleme NIAP. Officials of Mr.S.Rangarajan, the North East Province participated in the sig
Il entS.
FORUT, Camp ment and Solidarity, a has been engaged in eration in Sri Lanka a South Asian countrie fice is situated in the l in the southeastern FORUT receives a cc money from the Norw and from Norwegian ners, according FOR
No confidence motio - The no confidence the opposition agains ister Mr.Tilak Marapa a majority of 42 votes liamentarians from th and the JVP voted for parliamentarians aga
Of the 126 parli against the no confi were from the rulin Front. 1:2 were fron t ist Alliance (TNA) : Eelam Peoples Demo led by its leader Mr. I and People Liberati Tamil Eelam (PLOT
Employment/Techn ned: Feb 20 - Open an Information and TI Center and Womens ing Center, establi Center for Commu were held in Kilino ary. .
Head of the Arts of Liberation Tige (LTTE), Puthuvai Kilinochchi Commis Mr. Sinnathurai lit th
LTTE military hoisted the Tamil E District secretary unveiled the name
 

15 MARCH 2003
of political section, S.P..Thamil-chelvan, declared open the Technology training center and later Kilinochchi Director of Heroes Cemetaries,
vernment Agents e districts.
agreements with Organizations a Lanka, Village tion and Sareeram it the projects for these NGOs and Primary Secretary n behalf of NIAP ning of the agree
ign for Develop
Norwegian NGO, levelopment coopnd in several other s and its main of ttle town of Gjøvik part of Norway. onsiderable sum of egian Government
and foreign partUT.
n defeated: Feb 18 motion moved by t the Defence Minne was defeated by .84 opposition pare Peoples Alliance the motion and 126 inst the motion. amentarians voting lence motion, l 12 g United National he Tamil Nationalnd two were from cratic Party (EPDP) Douglas Devananda bn Organization of E).
ology Centers opeing ceremonies for echnology Training Employment Trainhed by the Vanni ity Advancement, hchi on 20 Febru
und Cultural section s of Tamil Eelam Ratnathurai, and sioner of Education, 2 ceremonial lamps. commander Jerry elam national flag. on. Nithyanan-than oard. LTTE’s head
Sasi, declared open the Women's Training center Hall. Head of the Center for Community Advancement, V. Poongunran, presided over the morning events. Kilinochchi district Government Agent (GA), Rasana-yagam, and Puthuvai Ratnathurai also spoke.
JVP protest march: Feb 20 - Sri Lankan Police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse thousands of anti-government demonstrators in Colombo this, afternoon. The protest was organised by the Janata Vimukthi Peramuna, against the ceasefire agreement signed between with the Liberation Tigers and the Government of Sri Lanka.
JVP parliamentarian Mr. Wimal Weerawanse and JVP General Secretary Mr.Tilvin Silva led the procession. They carried a big banner with the text "One Year For The Ranil, Prabha, Norway Pseudo Agreement Which Betrayed The Country."
Sources in Colombo said about. 50,000 people, including a large number of Buddhist monks took part in the prov test.
The protesters gathered at Paliyagoda and began to march towards Temple. trees, the Prime Minister's official resi dence. Hundreds of Special Task Force soldiers and Police who were guarding the Prime Minister's residence, however, stopped the protestors near James Peiris Mawatte by using water cannon and tear gas, sources in Colombo said.
Several media personnel who were at the scene to cover the event were also attacked. Mr. Eranga Jayawardena, photojournalist with the Island, was injured and was admitted at the Colombo General Hospital. Sources said his Nikon digital camera, with an estimated value of Rs. 400,000, was completely damaged. Propaganda Secretary of the JVP, Mr. Wimal Weerawanse, addressing a press conference said very shortly his party would organize a mammoth rally against the implementation of the Ceasefire agreement and the LTTE.
Pandemonium in parliament: Feb. 21 - Pandemonium reigned in the Sri Lankan parliament as MPs from Janata Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) held a sit in protest holding placards and shouting slogans against the United National Front (UNF) government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The parliamentarians were pro

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testing against the violent way in which the police who dispersed their earlier demonstration on the previous day. The police had used tear gas and water cannons to break up the JVP march against the ceasefire agreement between the Lib- eration Tigers and the Sri Lanka govern
ment. The JVP parliamentarians sat in the centre of the house and started shouting slogans, alleging that the government has betrayed the country to the LTTE by signing the ceasefire agreement.
The situation in the house took a boisterous turn when a government MP threw a book at the protesting JVP MPs.
Parliamentary officials evacuated school children who were in the gallery viewing the proceedings, sources said.
As the situation was going out of control the Deputy Chairman of the Committees, Mr. Sri Andhrahenedi, who was presiding promptly adjourned the house. Parliament resumed sittings after about 30 minutes.
FMM condemns attack on journalists: Feb 21 - The Free Media Movement (FMM) strongly condemned the attack on the journalists who were covering the protest march of the Janata Vimukthi Peramuna on the previous day.
The FMM said a journalist who was injured in the attack has been warded in the government hospital and the digital photographic equipment ofanother journalist valued nearly four hundred thousand rupees had been damaged in the attack. Two weeks earlier police unleashed violence against civilians and journalists at Manipay in Jaffna district, the FMM pointed out in its statement. In Manipay incident two regional Tamil journalists were assaulted by the security forces and a digital camera of one of the journalists was also damaged.
In both instances the security forces have violated the professional rights of journalists. It is the bounden duty of a democratic government to prevent such incidents in the future, the FMM said in its statement.
Hartal cripples Jaffna: Feb. 22-A fourhour hartal (general shutdown) was observed in the Jaffna peninsula from six to ten in the morning disrupting the normallife. The hartal was organized by the Consortium of NGOs in Jaffna district as a protest to government’s failure to implement the ceasefire agreement effectively to ease the sufferings of thousands of displaced Tamils in the northeast. Shops and private sector establishments were closed down. Roads were deserted and transportation came to a standstill.
Poor performance i More than sixty perc sit for the G.C.E. ordi. amination from the fail in mathematics. T shortage of Mathem availability of neces delay in supplying re time, said the North E cation Ministry Sec galingam addressing in Trincomalee. The ganized by the Provi Education and attend tion officials related in the northeast provi rector of Education presided.
The main aim of to provide details oft velopment programm Provincial Departmer implemented in the said.
Mr.S.Mahalingar rural schools in the no a single student has Mathematics at the ( examination. "Future is adversely impacte obtain a credit or an GCE Ordinary level sue their higher edu should not be allowed
Prayer Meeting for prayer meeting for Jaffna in which many ers from South of the peninsula participate from South Sri Lanka ampage Assaji Thera Peiris and Moulavi A received at Sri Lan checkpoint at Muhar ing, by representative of Jaffna Human Ag then taken to the Ho dren at Kaithady.
The religious grou toric Nallur Kandasv evening carrying the take forward the pea The religious le Thera, Moulavi Cas Mahesvarakurrukal Jaffna District Hindu and Re Fr. B.J. Berna in front of the temp ceeded to the Thirl Atheenam with oil la where a prayer meeti
Youth remanded i Feb 25 - The Chavak Mr. Kandiah Ariyan

TAMTIMES 29
In Maths: Feb 22ent of students who nary level (O.L) exnortheast province his is due to severe tics teachers, nonsary resources and quired textbooks in ast Provincial Eduretary Mr.R.Thiafive-day workshop workshop was orcial Department of ed by Zonal educato maths education nce. Provincial DiMr.S.Mahalingam
the workshop was he mathematics deeformulated by the it of Education to be province, Sources
n said that in some rtheast province not obtained a pass in GCE ordinary level of several students d when they fail to ordinary pass in the examination to purIcation. This trend any more,' he said.
Peace: Feb 24 - A peace was held in inter-religious leadisland and from the d. A religious group 1 led by Ven. Math, Rev. Fr. Oswald de .M.M.Cassim were ka Army’s (SLA) naalai in the morns of the Consortium encies. They were me for Saiva Chil
up arrived at the hisvamy temple in the banner, "We should ce process.” aders Ven. Assaji sim and Bramasiri President of the Priests Association rd lit the oil lamps le. They then prognanasampanthar mps in their hands, ng was held.
abduction case: achcheri Magistrate ayagam ordered a
youth to be remanded who was produced in court by the Kodikamam Police on a complaint of allegedly abducting three girls aged between 18 and 21 in a three wheeler through Muhamalai checkpoint. Representatives of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) and the International Committee of Red Cross were present Tuesday in coturt when the case against the youth was taken up for inquiry. Already three youths are in remand for allegedly abducting a twenty-one year old male. They were also produced in Chavakchcheri Magistrate's Court by the police. Reports in Colombo newspapers have alleged that these abductions form part of the LTTE's drive to recruit more cadres toits ranks.
Truce monitors avert showdown: Mar 25 - Swift mediation by the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) monitoring the fragile truce between the government and the Tamil Tigers may have averted a clash in the eastern port city of Trincomalee, according to officials.
The incident occurred late Sunday 24 February when the Sri Lankan navy attempted to detain seven LTTE armed cadres who walked into government-held territory. Under the cease-fire agreement, brokered by Norway last February, government soldiers and rebel fighters bearing arms are prohibited from entering each other's territory.
Tension gripped Trincomalee as the Tigers resisted arrest, threatening to commit suicide on the spot by Swallowing cyanide. According to defense officials, soldiers were put on alert, while a message came from the nearby LTTE camp that they were prepared to send in 500 fighters as reinforcements if its cadres were not released. Following contact by the government side, three members of the SLLMrushed to the scene and convinced both sides to go their separate ways. The rebels were released. “We ruled that the parties withdraw from the area mmediately,” said Haugrup Haukland, deputy head of the monitoring mission, adding "The situation was turning out to be very dangerous, we are lucky to have defused it.'
No state lands for tourism: Feb 26 - The Trincomalee District Co-ordinating Committee (DCC) has decided not to encourage foreign investment in the development of tourism in the east port town by granting state land. The decision was taken at the DCC meeting held at the district secretariat on a suggestion by the Trincomalee district parliamentarian Mr.R.Sampanthan who said that foreign investors could purchase lands in the dis

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trict instead of expecting state lands.
Mr.Sampanthan said state lands in the Trincomalee district should be preserved for the future development projects of the district. Furthermore landless people in the district and the second generation of the families who got lands in the new settlements in the district more than a decade ago should be provided with lands for living.
Mr.Sampanthan expressed his stand when it was brought to the notice of the DCC that twenty five acres of state lands with coconut trees belonging to the Coconut Cultivation Board is to be released for a foreign investor for a tourist development project in the Nilaveli area.
New Head of SLMM meets LTTE: Feb 27 - Tryggve Tellefsen, the new head of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission(SLMM), a group of Nordic monitors overseeing the year-old truce between Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL), met with officials of the LTTE at the Vavuniya SLMM office.
InVvuniya, Tellefsen met K. Ganesh, the Government Agent (GA), S. Elilan, Head of Vavuniya district Political section of LTTE, Kathiravan, Vavuniya LTTE head of administration and Vavuniya district Secretary Moorthy. Later he visited the head quarters of the Security forces and met with the Sri Lanka military commanders.
Tellefsen expressed satisfaction at the cooperation extended by LTTE and GOSL to the SLMM for proper implementation of the ceasefire and to maintain peace.
During his career in the Royal Norwegian Army, Tellefsen commanded a multinational peacekeeping and observer force monitoring Egypt and Israel in 1997-2001, commanded U.N peacekeeping forces in Macedonia in 1994-1995, and was responsible for recruiting and training Norwegian peacekeepers in 1989-1994.
Muslim MPs meet PMI: Feb 27 - A delegation of Muslim parliamentarians requested Prime Minister (PM), Ranil Wickremasinghe, for an opportunity for the Muslims to participate as an independent group in the peace talks now being held between the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
The leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Cc.gress (SLMC) and the Minister in the Ur, ited National Front government Mr Rauff Hakim led the Muslim delegatior. The discussion between the Prime Minister and the Muslim delegation was
held at the PM's off ple Tress. It was d sion to hold furthel on the return of Mr. Ranill Wickrem;
The National dent and former Ashraff, Mr. M.L Noordeen Mashoo. frath participated i Prime Minister.
PTA detainees fre ern High Court Jud discharged seven ac the Prevention of and Emergency Re the State Counsel
ments served on thi
HRC special com HSZ: Mar 1 - The the Human Rights C Sri Lanka, which complaints in regar of more than six hu. between 1996 and 1 trict arrived to cond tion.
The special co1 former Governme nesan Nesiah vis ZonesPalaly, Kee Kankesanthurai, ar in the north of the afternoon the com Security Zones in areas such as Ko kilappu and Marav part of its investigat ance of several Tai Jaffna Senior Sup Mr. Harold Anthol mander Major ger and the resident rel ternational Comm Jaffna.
The HRC spe record further evid close relatives of r A spokesman committee told pri mittee members h rity Zones as a par He did not want ti the subject.
Thai delegation I 02 - Aspecial dele government, lead of the Economics ministry of Foreig Head of the LTTE Thamilselvan and sire of the Thaig help and to particip

15 MARCH 2003
cial residence, Temcided at the discustalks on the subject he Prime Minister singhe from India. nity Alliance PresiMinister Ms Ferial A.M. Hisbullah, Mr and Dr.A.L.M.Hathe talks with the
d: Feb 28 - The Eastge Mr.S.Paramarajah cused indicted under errorism Act (PTA) gulation (ER) when withdrew the indict
m.
mittee visits Jaffna special committee of ommission (HRC) of
is inquiring into the
to the disappearance hdred Tamil civilians 997 in the Jaffna disuct further investiga
mmittee headed by a nt Agent Mr. Devaited High Security rimalai, Tellipallai, di Punnalaikadduvan district. Later in the mittee visited High the Thenmaradchchi vilakandy, Thanananpolo villages. As a ion into the disappearnil youths, it met the rintendent of Police ly, Jaffna army comeral Sarath Fonseka, presentative of the Inttee of Red Cross in
xial committee is to ence from parents and issing persons.
of the HRC special 'ss persons that comd visited High secuof their official visit. elaborate further on
leets Thamilselvam: gation of the Thailand by the Commissioner ction of the Thailand Affairs met with the political section, S.P. :ommunicated the devernment to provide te in the development
of the war affected North East region. The discussions that took place at the Political head quarters of the LTTE in Kilinochchi lasted several hours and centered on the urgent rehabilitation efforts required in the North east region. The delegation is preparing a report on the needs of the North east development to be submitted to the Thailand government, sources said.
25% students need special education: Mar 4 - About twenty percent of students in the North-East province have been identified as children with special needs as majority of them have been mentally and physically affected by the twentyyear-old war, and about seventy five percent of these students have not received any specialized medical attention, education officials said at a two-day workshop on non-formal education and special education held in Trincomalee at the management centre of the North East Provincial Education Ministry.
Officials involved in non-formal and special education in the twenty-four education zones in the North-East province participated in the workshop organized by the Provincial Ministry of Education, Cultural Affairs and Sports. NE Provincial Secretary for Education, Mr.R.Thia-. galingam, in his inaugural address said that about forty five thousand children are not attending schools in the province. A considerable number of students leave schools midway as they are unable to continue their studies due to poverty and other social factors. Twenty percent of students find it difficult to compete with others in classes as they are severely af. fected by the war. These children need special education, he said.
Provincial Director of Education, Mr.S.Mahalingam, said shortage of resource personnel and necessary equipment hamper the special education for handicapped students in the war torn province. Students in difficult areas in the North-East are deprived of the benefits of free education, which are enjoyed by their counterparts in other areas, he said.
Army offer to deserters: Mar 4 - The Sri Lanka Army today offered over 51,000 deserters the option of a legal discharge or reinstatement in the forces. The Army, which has been plagued by the problem of desertions, today said it would issue certificates of discharge for those who abandoned their ranks and reinstate those "aspiring to rejoin the Army' only if they were free from any criminal involvement and whose period of absence did not exceed three years.
An overwhelming portion of the de

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15 MARCH 2003
serters have left the forces during the past 20 years, at an average annual rate of about 4,000 during the past few years. Annual amnesties were a regular feature during the past decade, for the deserters to rejoin the ranks, but there were not many takers.
Apart from depleting the combat units, desertions have become a major law and order problem, with trained soldiers often ending up as mercenaries. The move is aimed at checking the trend of deserters taking to organised crime and offering them the possibility of reintegration into society.
MSF to wind up operations: Mar 4 - MEDICINS SANS FRONTIERS (MSF), an international non-governmental medical and humanitarian organisation which has been providing medical assistance to people in the northeast province during several years of war has announced that it is to wind up its operations in Sri Lanka while expressing confidence that the ceasefire agreement between the Government and the LTTE) will lead to permanent peace in the island and that their permanent presence is not required beyond 2003, according to the head of the MSF in Sri Lanka, Mr Yves Chartier.
17 Indian fishermen in custody: Mar 4 - Seventeen Indian fishermen who tresspassed into Sri Lankan waters on 3 March were injured during clashes with fishermen from Pesalai, Mannar district when the local fisherfolks rounded up Indian fishermen and brought them to Pesalai shores, sources in Mannar said. Seventy five Indian fishermen and twenty-three boats were held by the Pesalai fishermen when the Police rushed to the scene and took over custody.
The details of the incident has been communicated to the Indian Embassy in Colombo by the Mannar Government Agent and sources say that the Embassy has been in contact with Mannar Police related to on ensuring safety to the fishermen in custody.
SLMM Head meets LTTE’s Col. Karuna: Mar 4 - The head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Tryggve Tellefsen, officially met with LTTE's senior commander, Col. Karuna, at Karadiyanaru in the LTTE controlled area in Batticaloa on.
The special commander of the LTTE for Batticaloa-Ampara, Mr. T. Ramesh, and the head of the LTTE's medical division, Mr. Vaman, also participated at the meeting held at the "Tea House” Guest House in Karadiyanaru. .
The details of the Ceasefire agree
ment and its implem with extensively at lasted about two ho meeting, the SLMM 3 brigade of the Sri L extensive discussio) commanding officer, Sources said.
The head of the caloa district, Mr. He two advisers to the ated with Maj. Gen. " ings.
UNICEF-LTT children: Mar 4 - UNICEF agreed to ment of an action fected by war in the ing children involve vilian or military.
The agreement cussions between M Head of the LTTE's Mr. Ted Chaiban, U tive in Sri Lanka, i LTTE will share a d the UNICEF on Mc working group of Rehabilitation Orga the UNICEF will m 15 to review the tech aspects of the action A planning work the end of March. nalize the action pla sentatives from the ment of Sri Lanka, th and other internation tion plan workshop district level worksh plementation in eac Training for me and Heads of distri on Children's rights ing the second we agreed that the transi affected by war will the best interests of centers will be co-n tional and national ag TRO and the UNIC) provide an opportun and make ppropriat ture, the sources ado
LTTE releases sold Mar 5 - Sri Lanka A Lance Corporal Nin serve Police Consta sekara who were in released today in K Lanka Monitoring M lowing a meeting wi and the members of LTTE leader Ve

TAM TIMES 31
hentation were dealt the meeting, which ours. Following the head visited the 53anka Army and held ns with the brigade Rajitha de Silva, the
SLMM for the Battiikki Hulkkonen, and SLMM were associTelefsen at the meet
E action plan on The LTTE and the lay on the developblan on children afNorth-East, included in child labor, ci
was reached in disr. S.P. Tamilselvan, Political Section, and INICEF Representain Killinochchi. The raft of the plan with onday, March 10. A the LTTE, Tamills” nization (TRO) and eet on March 14 and nical and operational
plan. (shop will be held at The workshop to fin will include repreLTTE, the Governe TRO, the UNICEF lal agencies. Theacwill be followed by ops to work out imn district. mbers of the LTTE ct Political Sections wil take place durek of April. It was t centers for children be temporary and in the children. These managed by internagencies, including the EF. The centers will ity to assess children e plans for their fuled.
lier and policeman: \rmy (SLA) soldier, mal Kumara and Reble Philip AnandaLTTE custody were illinochchi to the Sri Mission(SLMM) folth the LTTE leaders the SLMM.
lupilai Pirapaharan
agreed to the release following a 2-hour meeting with Major General (Retd.) Tryggve Tellefsen and Major General (retd) Trond Furuhovde at the Kilinochchi LTTE Secretariat. LTTE's political advisor, Anton Balasingham, and LTTE political head S.P..Thamilchelvan also participated in the meeting.
Nimal Kumara was taken into custody by the LTTE on 24 December when he tresspassed into LTTE controlled region in Manal Aaru while being armed. LTTE took Anandasekara into custody 20 February when he entered into LTTE checkpoint in Muhamalai in police uniform. The continued detention of these men by the LTTE and the refusal to release them had been source of dispute between the government and the LTTE.
In a press release, the SLMM said that a release mechanism to prevent prolonged detainment of members of the LTTE or the Government security forces was also discussed at the meeting and that the LTTE leadership reacted positively to the implementation of such a mechanism, with the involvement of SLMM.
According to the SLMM, the balance of power of the two parties to the Ceasefire Agreement was also discussed and the LTTE leadership accepted it in principle. However, the SLMM said that the LTTE leadership raised concerns about the buildup of the Sri Lanka Military.
Court releases Indian fishermen: Mar 5-The Mannar Magistrate, Mr.M.P.Mohideen, released 80 Indian fishermen from remand when the Police made an application to release them.
Fishermen from Mannar were reported to have taken l 18 Indian fishermen into custody and handed them over to the Police following a clash between them on 3 and 4 March. Of those 118, 17 were admitted to the hospital with injuries sustained in the clash. The clash took place when Indian fishermen trespassed into the territorial waters of Sri Lanka. The quick and efficient manner in which such a large number Indian fishermen with their boats were rounded led some Colombo newspaper to speculate a LTTE involvement in the whole affair.
Appearing before the Mannar Magistrate the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr. H.Premaratne, with Headquarters Inspector, Premasiri, made an application seeking the release of the remanded Indian fishermen.
In their application, the Police said that the arrest of Indian fishermen had created turmoil in South India and the safety of the Sri Lankan refugees residing in welfare camps in South India was at stake. The release of the Indian fisher

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32 TAMILTIMES
men from remand was sought to ease tension, he is reported to have said.
The Magistrate allowed the application and ordered that the 80 Indian fishermen be handed over to the Mannar Additional Government Agent, Mr.V.Visuvalingam, to be sent to India with maximum protection. The Magistrate ordered further remand for 12 Indian crew and 9 trawler owners till March 20. The Magistrate instructed the Police to hand over the 27 Indian fishing boats captured in the clash to the Sri Lanka Navy detachment.
Judge returns homicide verdict: Mar 7 - The Trincomalee Magistrate and Additional District Judge Mr.S.Thiagendran returned a verdict of homicide at the conclusion of the inquest held into the deaths of three Tamil civilians who were killed in a grenade attack on a protest demonstration. The Judge ordered police personnel who were on duty at the scene on the day of the incident to appear in an identification parade.
Mr. Thiagendran directed the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) to make arrangement to hold the identification parade. The Judge further directed the Registrar to send copies of evidence witnesses with Sinhala translation to the SSP for taking further action.
Three Tamil civilians S.Konalingam, K.Sasikumar and S.Mayooran of Anpuvallipuram and Gandhi Nagar were killed in a grenade attack at Abeyapura on October 11 last year when Trincomalee Tamils observed a hartal condemning the killing of seven Tamil civilians by security forces when a crowd attempted to storm the Special Task Force (STF) at Kanchirankuda in the Batticaloa district. When two groups clashed at Abeyapura a bomb was thrown on the Tamil crowd from the opposite side where police personnel were standing with the opposing
group.
Film on Women's sacrifice: Mar 9 - In commemoration of the International Women Day, the Nitharsanam women film unit of the LTTE released a film named “Uppil Uraintha Uthirangal" (Blood stained sea) in all the districts of northeast province from 6 March evening Ms Kuyili who produced the film released the first copy at the event held at Trincomalee Koneswara Hindu College. The film was released in Jaffnain a ceremony at Jaffna University Kailasapathy auditorium.
“Uppil Niraintha Uthirangal' tells the story of a woman cadre in the freedom struggle. Head of the LTTE women wing Ms Thamilini said in her speech that this
particular film has be on the experiences of in our freedom strugg South Indian film pr few films based on E gle. However these f the true spirit of our
Vavuniya Hospital Mar 9 - Vavuniya Gc is to be upgraded to Hospital by the Gover (GOSL) said H.A.P. Health Services Com mugam Ketheleswarar trict assistant Comm services, confirmed th additional medical e for the upgrade will b mediately, said healt niya.
Lobbying efforts the hospital which has sands of outpatients d ried out by the Gover ofVavuniya and othe The Hospital has with severe shortage medical facilities an the urgent medical ne districts of Vavuniya hchi, Mullaitivu and chchi. Dr. Ketheesw: everyone concerned tioning of the hospita to deliver the health si the public using fac added to the Hospita and name change.
IGP orders probe il ture: Mar 9 - The In Police (IGP) has orde the complaint of tortu Tamil journalist Mr. lvam when he was un Terrorist Prevention lice during the year 2 of Point Pedro Pol Arachchi conveyed ! IGP to Mr. Thiruche The IGPS order ( a notification by the F mission (HRC) of Sr should be taken agail who have subjected M torture and assault w at a detention centre year 2001.
Mr. Thiruchelva 02.01.2001 when he lombo to attend a w tive. The Terrorist D. at Wellawatte in Col. custody under the Pr ism Act (PTA) on the

15 MARCH2O3
en produced based the fighting cadres le. She added some oducers had taken elam armed struglms had maligned reedom struggle.
to be upgraded: vernment Hospital
a General Public nment of Sri Lanka Gajantha Liyanage missioner. Dr. Arul, the Vavuniya disissioner of Health at the facilities and quipment required e implemented imn sources in Vavu
towards upgrading been serving thou
aily have been car-.
nment Agent (GA) crs for a long time.
been functioning of personnel and d has been serving :eds of people from , Mannar, Kilinocparts of Madawaaran cautioned that with effective func1 has to work harder ervices expected by ilites that will be l with the upgrade
Into journalist torspector General of red an inquiry into reby a Jaffna based A. N .S. Thirucheder detention at the Division of the po001. The Inspector ice Mr.K. Sihappu the decision of the
Va. came in the wake of Iuman Rights Comi Lanka that action nst police personnel Ar. Thiruchelvam to hile being detained in Colombo in the
m was arrested on was staying in Coedding of his relavision of the Police ombo took him into evention of Terror; pretext that he was
engaged in collecting funds for a militant group. While in detention Mr. Thiruchelvam was severely assaulted and tortured and kept for 12 days in solitary confinement, according to a complaint lodged with the HRC in Sri Lanka.
Later the Colombo Fort Magistrate Mr.S. Priyantha Fernando 30.3.2001 discharged Mr. Thiruchelvam on an application made by the Attorney General that there was no evidence against him to charge under the PTA.
Several international and local media associations urged the then government to take immediate steps to inquire into the alleged torture of journalist Mr. Thiruchelvam. Mr. Thiruchelvam was the secretary of the Northern Sri Lânka Journalists Association for a considerable period, sources said. Probe into attacks on Tamil journalists: Mar 10 – Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has ordered to form a Commission consisting of retired judges to investigate into incidents in the NorthEast of attacks against Tamil journalists by the police and security forces, Government Information Department said in Colombo.
Recently Jaffna Journalists Association conducted a black band demonstration protesting against the attacks on Tamil journalists in Nelliady and Manipay in Jaffna district and in Valaichennai Battica;oa district. The JJ A also sent a memorandum to the Prime Minister requesting him to conduct an investigation into these violations on the freedom of
press.
Government Information Department also said in letter to the JJA that the Commission of Investigation will travel to Jaffna and Batticaloa to conduct detailed interviews and will determine compensation to be paid to the affected journalists, sources close to JJA said. This letter has also been sent to the Secretary of the Prime Minister, Secretary to the Media Ministry, Jaffna Government Agent, and to the President of the JJA.
Opposition demonstration: Mar 10 - The joint opposition demonstration with hundreds of thousands of people wearing red caps, buddhist monks, and front line leaders of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) and the National Unity Alliance (NUA) participating, commenced around two p.m. from Campbell place in Colombo and arrived at the Town Hall by five p.m. without any incidents to hold a public meeting. The Police provided tight security along the route of the demonstration.

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15 MARCH 2003
The two other constituent parties in the main opposition Peoples Alliance (PA), the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) and the Communist Party did not participate in the joint opposition demonstration. The LSSP leader Mr. Batty Weerakone said his party was not participating as the demonstration opposed the present peace process between the government GOSL and the LTTE.
The Leader of the Opposition Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse, Mr. Anura Bandaranaike of the SLFP, Mr. Wimal Weerawanse and Mr.Tilvin Silva of JVP and Mr.Dinesh Gunawardene of the MEP were seen among those opposition leaders who led the demonstration.
Protestors shouted slogans appealing to masses to join hands with the opposition to defeat the UNF government that is presently engaged in peace talks with the LTTE to divide the country.
The city of Colombo was put on red alert from the previous day and more than two thousand armed police personnel have been deployed at strategic junctions and near key buildings to thwart any disturbances that may result from the opposition demonstration. Interior Minister Mr.John Amaratunge ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to take all possible steps to maintain law and order in the city following the President's warning that she had received reports of a conspiracy to cause damage to business properties belonging to minority communities during the demonstration and put the blame on the opposition.
LTTE vessel sunk: Mar 10 - The Sri Lankan Navy today said it sunk "an LTTE vessel carrying warlike material” 185 nautical miles east of the Mullaittivu. Eleven LTTE cadres on board the sunk ship were killed, while three sailors and an officer on board a Sri Lankan Navy patrol vessel were injured in the exchange of fire. The LTTE has protested the attack "on international waters” and said that the incident would have "far-reaching consequences" on the peace process.
LTTE condemns sinking of merchant vessel: Mar 10 - The leadership of the LTTE condemned the sinking by the Sri Lanka Navy of an LTTE merchant vessel in international waters, 220 nautical miles off Trincomalee, today. In a letter to Sri Lankan Defence Minister Tilak Marapane, the head of the LTTE's Political Wing, Mr. S. P. Thamilchelvan, condemned the attack in which eleven LTTE cadres were killed as "a grave violation of the ceasefire agreement.”
Mr. Thamilchelvan further said "We wish to emphasize that this grave inci
dent will have far r for the peace proc Defence Minister to "deep displeasure” CIIlIIlent.
Extracts of the “We consider t violation of the ce. our vessel was not gal action. Furthern curred in internation jurisdiction of the S merchant vessel wa tacked without prc tacted the Sri Lanka (SLMM) when the registered a compla SLMM, Maj. Gen. observed that the a Lanka Navy does no ternational waters w taking place and assu use his good offices frontation.'
"Eleven of our c ship's captain, were sel caught fire and tacked by the Sri La to emphasize that thi have far reaching i. peace process. We a that, despite the ceas Sri Lanka Navy has b eral deliberate anc against the LTTE fo convey our deep dis matters to your gove
Mannar fishermen Tamil Nationalist A Parliament Selvam
Sivasakthi Anandan neswaran joined mer tion of Mannar fish protest march today fishermen poaching said sources from Adaikalanathan had blame at the Sri Lar indirectly aiding Sol by allowing them t Lankan waters to sources, especially gi ing the livlihood of Increasing number o ermen, with repleate waters Tamil Nadu,
restrictions imposed ermen on deep-sea fi tage. Now as the rest there have been inci tween fishermen fro
LTTE cadres relea - The Court of App judges Rajah Ferna

TA'MALTIMES 33
aching implications ss,' and asked the convey the LTTE's ) the Sri Lanka gov
tter follow: le incident a grave sefire agreement as involved in any illeore, the incident ocall waters beyond the ri Lanka Navy. Our intercepted and atvocation. We conMonitoring Mission incident began and nt. The head of the Tryggve Tellefsen, uthority of the Sri t extend into the inhere the incident was redus that he would to prevent any con
adres, including the killed when the vessank after being atnka Navy. We wish sgrave incident will mplications for the so wish to point out efire agreement, the een involved in sevprovocative acts r some time. Please pleasure over these rnment.'
protest: Mar 10 - tliance Members of Adaikalanathan, N. and K. Rajakuganbers of the Federang coopertive in a gainst South Indian in SriLankan seas, Mannar. Selvam previously pointed ka Navy (SLN) for th Indian fishermen o trespass into Sri eplete marine reintshrimps, impactMannar fishermen. South Indian fishresources along the lave been using the on Sri Lankan fishhingto theiradvanictions are released ents of friction be
both countries.
ed om bail: Mar 10 als comprising of io (President) and
E.W. Edusuriya today ordered bail for the six cadres of the LTTE who have been in remand in connection with the alleged transporting of landmines by sea.
The Sri Lanka Navy intercepted a boat between Trincomalee and Sampoor and arrested the LTTE cadres with landmines in November last year and charged under the Offensive Weapons Act the Trincomalee Magistrate remanded them.
It was stated in the bail application that the LTTE cadres were arrested by the Sri Lanka Navy when they were on their way to Sampoor with a number of landmines to move them to Kumburupiddy area to de-activate them.
The Court of Appeal issued the order releasing them on bail for a sum of Rupees 25,000.
US Ambassador visits Jaffna: Mar 11 - The Ambassador for United States of America in Colombo, Mr.Ashely Wills, paid a one-day visit to Jaffna and held discussions with representatives of Jaffna civil groups and Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians.
The president of the Jaffna NGOs Consortium, Mr. S.Paramanathan, Ms Saroja Sivachchandran of Women Development Centre, Rev. Fr. J.Bernard of Goodwill Committee for Justice and Peace, and the Jaffna regional coordinator of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, Mr. Ruwan Chandrasekara participated at the discussion held at Jaffna Beach Hotel.
Representatives of Jaffna civil groups brought to the notice of the US Ambassador Mr.Ashely Wills that although one year has passed since the signing of the ceasefire agreement by the government and the LTTE, normalcy has not yet returned to the lives of the Jaffna people.
The US envoy said he would discuss the high security zone issue with the Jaffna area Sri Lanka Army (SLA) commander Major General Sarath Fonseka. Mr.Ashely Wills expressed confidence that in the near future people could expect more improvement in their livelihood through the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the government and the LTTE.
Committee to study federalism: Mar 11 - Almost 50 leading Sinhala nationalist organisations have set up a Committee comprising eminent legal personalities to study on federalism and report back to Mahanayakes (leading Buddhist prelates). The National Joint Committee (NJC) representing these organisations has appointed a committee of five jurists headed by former Supreme Court Judge

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34 TAMILTIMES
S.W. Walpita to examine and report on the feasibility of introducing a federal system as agreed by the government and the LTTE at the ongoing peace talks.
The Committee was appointed on the request of Most Ven. Rambukwelle Sri Vipassi Thera, the Mahanayake of the Malwatte Chapter of the Siam Nikaya.
The committee includes former Attorney General and Acting Chief Justice R.S. Wanasundara, former Supreme Court Judge Lusian de Alwis, former Solicitor General Presidents Counsel Douglas Premaratne and lawyer M.Z. Akbar. Dr. Dissanayake will function as the secretary to the committee.
The committee will inquire into the background to the demand for a federal system of government, study on whether Sri Lanka already has a federal system of government and availability of any viable alternative to a federal system. The committee will also investigate the political, social and economic implications arising from an application of federal principles on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka. The Committee is expected to present their report to the Mahanayakes in three months.
Earlier, NJC set up the Sinhala Commission headed by Justice Walpita to inquire into the grievances and discriminations suffered by Sinhala people. The commission has already released several volumes in this regard. The move came following the Peoples Allaince government introduced the constitutional reforms claiming that the Tamils had being discriminated by Sinhala people.
LTTE committed to peace - Balasingham: Mar 11 - The LTTE declared open the main court complex of their judiciary in Killinochchi. The head of the LTTE judiciary Mr.E.Pararajasingham, LTTE political advisor, Mr.Anton Balasingham, Head of the Thamileelam Police Service, Mr.P.Nadesan, Head of the LTTE Education Unit, Mr.V. Ilankumaran, Tamil National Alliance parliamentarians Messrs Selvam Adaikalanathan, G.G.Gajendrakumar, Mavai Senathirajah and N.Raviraj were present. A large gathering including lawyers from Jaffna and Vanni attended the function
The political advisor of the LTTE Mr.Anton Balasingham said that the LTTE would not allow the peace process to become a trap to weaken the Liberation Tigers. "Despite provocations and attacks onus we are determined to participate constructively in the peace process. We want to convince the world, par
ticularly the Sinhala committed to peac ngham addressing a lowed the opening of plex of the Thamil Killinochchi on 11 N Balasingham add ing in Killinochchi retariat after the op complex, said “We ing the annullment c Terrorism Act (PTA ment of Sri Lanka (C do so. Minister Peir GOSL wants to mo ever, we will contin be repealed.”
Answering anoth the LTTE would ha the next round of pe sinking of their Mr.Balasingham rep He further saidt ment says that the Sr can maintain territor ereignty of the coun the LTTE. We have ficers of the Sea Tig tack. We have taken this attack and con tremely serious mat reaching implicatio ess. We feel that a se under the influence have gone to the enc is lot of anger and re cadres over this inci Referring to the (HSZ) issue Mr.Bal are not asking the forces to withdrawf we are saying is tha ple are unable to go we cannot achieve promised under the dent and the Sri Lan sible for the difficu malcy in the north today without norm To a question w continue with the p change of govern Mr. Anton Balasin won't pull out oft there is a change ir might be difficult forces like the JVP to peace, come top
Independent Com nt's delay: March ternational Sri Lank President Chandrik

15 MARCH 2003
people, that we are “,” said Mir.Balasiathering, which folthe main court comeelam judiciary in March.
ressing a press briefLTTE political secning of main court have been demandif the Prevention of ), but the GoverniOSL) is reluctant to is has indicated that lify the PTA. Howue to insist that PTA
her question whether
rden their stance at .
ace talks because of merchant vessel, lied in the negative. hat,'ceasefire agreei Lanka Navy (SLN) ial integrity and sovtry without fighting lost experienced of gers in Monday’s atserious exception to sider this as an exter that will have far hs in the peace proc:ction of the SLN are of the President. We of the tether. There sentment among our dent.” High Security Zone asingham said, "We
Sri Lankan armed rom northeast. What t as long as our peoback to their homes normalcy that was ceasefire. The Presika Army are responlty in restoring norast. There is peace alcy.” hether the LTTE will eace talks if there is ment in Colombo, gham replied, "We he ceasefire even if Government. But it or us to continue if , which are opposed ower.'
missions - Preside2 - Transparency Ina (TISL) today urged Kumaratunga to ap
point members to the election and finance commissions and the Secretary General to Parliament.
TISL Executive Director J.C. Welliamuna that there was a considerable delay and an apparent reluctance on the part of the President to appoint these nominees recommended and nominated by the Constitution Council. "Failure to appoint these nominees effectively nullifies the intended purpose of the 17th Amendment to the Constitution,” Mr.Weliamuna said.
“TISI firmly believes that to ensure accountable and transparent system of government, the President should urgently make these appointments, namely, chairman and the members of the Election Commission, and the Secretary General to Parliament,” he said. "Therefore, we urge the President and the government to fully implement the 17th Amendment by appointing all independent commissions without any further delay,” he said. Mr. Welliamuna also said that the 17th Amendment was intended to establishing transparent and accountable system of government and to ensure strong and independent key public institutions. Since October 2002, Police and the Pubic Service Commission have been appointed by the President, following due recommendation by the Constitutional Council as required by the Amendment. TISLjoined the public in welcoming the establishment of these Commissions.
However, almost three months ago, the council nominated the chairpersons and members of the Election and National Finance Commissions as well as the Secretary General, from amongst eminent persons. These nominations have been forwarded to the President who is the filnal appointing authority. TISL strongly believes that establishing independent commissions set out by the Constitution and appointing persons with integrity is a prerequisite to establishing good governance in Sri Lanka. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure all required financial and other resources is provided to enable these Commissions to function effectively, Mr. Welliamuna said.
Death of eleven LTTE cadres morned: Mar 12 - Black flags were hoisted on public buildings, business houses and educational institutions and a day of mourning was observed in Jaffna district for the death of eleven senior cadres of the LTTE. Eleven LTTE cadres were killed on 10 March when their merchant vessel was sunk in the international wa

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5 MARCA 2003
ters off northeast coast following an attack by the Sri Lanka Navy.
The offices of LTTE in the peninsula were also decorated with coconut leaves and black flags. Thamileelam national flag was flown at half-mast at Ellankulam war memorial and other war cemeteries in Vadamarachchi and other divisions. SLMM head talks with LTTE leaders: Mar 12 - The new head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Mr.Triggve Telefsen arrived in Killinochchi to hold discussions with senior leaders of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) regarding the attack by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) on a LTTE merchant vessel off Mullaitivu on March 10. The LTTE had earlier condemned the attack as "a grave violation of the ceasefire agreement,” and warned that "this grave incident will have far reaching implications for the peace process.'
Mr.Triggve Teleffsen held discussions with the Defence Minister Mr. Tilak Marapane, Defence Ministry Secretary Mr. Austin Fernando and the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy over the Mullaitivu incident before leaving to Killinochchi, sources in Colombo said.
Woman LTTEer escapes: Mar 12 - A 25 year-old woman LTTE cadre, attached to the LTTE's Sea Unit has escaped from the organization due to tough rules and has surrendered to the Pettah police.
Pettah police OIC A. Liayanapathirana told the press that the LTTE cadre had escaped from a Mullaitivu LTTE camp and arrived in Colombo a few days ago. He also said that the woman cadre of Jaffna was forced to join the LTTE in 1990 after failing to give Rs. 10,000 for the LTTE. She told the police that as her family could not give such a big amount of money to the LTTE she was forced to join the LTTE.
Destruction of LTTE ship, a grave ceasefire violation- Balasingham: Mar 12 - The interception and destruction of the LTTE's merchant cargo vessel in international waters by the Sri Lankan Navy is a grave violation of the ceasefire agreement and contravenes international law, Mr. Anton Balasingham, the LTTE's political advisor and chief negotiator, told a delegation of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in Kilinochchi, according to Mr. Balasingham, who spoke to journalists after the meeting.
A five-member delegation of the SLMM, led by its head, Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Tryggve Tellefsen, and including the
SLMM’s legal expert meeting with the Kilinochchi, which la On Tuesday ev cargo vessel of the I and destroyed by the nautical miles off the in international wate received the Defense of the incident in Co Kilinochchi to hear t "Though there i confidence at the co reality of the situatio different. The Sri Lar have taken an uncomp said Mr. Balasinghar fusing to leave the p cupies. The issue of F remains unresolved. absence of war, nor turned. The Sri Lanka the reason for this.'
“The SL Navy is ing the peace talks by gaged in admitting an fishermen into Sri La the nets and destroy Tamil fishermen so livelihood. We are a are saddened when from Tamil Nadu fal ous scheme,” Mr. Ba Asked about repo of LTTE's unarmed p areas controlled by t singham explained til recalled so that "we ( rent situation to the safety. They will retu work once the tensio
Rights expert meets 3 - The former Secr Amnesty Internation visited Kilinochchio a meeting with Mr. and S.P. Thamilsel where the discussion rights and the righ
WOC
Later, Mr. Martir of the LTTE's judici vision, including Mr. the head of the divi advisors and the chic tin learnt from the adv human rights are ens judicial administratic hearing of a case in a by the LTTE.
The judicial ac former judge Mr. Ek

TAMITMES 35
participated in the LTTE leaders in sted for two hours. cning, a merchant TTE was attacked Sri Lanka Navy 220 Trincomalee coast, rs. The SLMM had Ministry's version olombo and visited he LTTE's version. s mutual trust and nference table, the n in the field is very ka Army and Navy bromising position,' n. "The army is reeople’s lands it ocligh Security Zones Though there is an malcy has not ren security forces are
hell-bent on derailf all means. It is end infiltrating Indian ankan waters to cut
the boats of local as to deprive their ware of it, but we innocent fishermen Il prey to this devi.lasingham said. drts of the recalling political cadres from he SLA, Mr. Balanat the cadres were can explain the curm and ensure their urn to their political ns ease.”
LTTE judges: Mar etary General of the al, Mr. Ian Martin, in 12 March and had Anton Balasingham van of the LTTE, S focused on human ts of children and
1 met with members aladministrative diR. Pararajasingham, sion, other judicial :f justice. Mr. Marvisors about the way ured in the LTTE'S on and observed the , court administered
lvisors, including anathan and former
lawyer Mr. Kodeeswaran, explained the reasons why the LTTE leader, Mr. V. Pirapaharan, had to start the judicial administrative division, and told Mr. Martin that, in the last decade, of the 24,000 cases brought before the courts, 18,000 cases have been decided.
Mr. Martin conducted a training workshop on human rights for the LTTE's 22 judges in Kilinochchi, and will meet with the LTTE's police service today.
Helgessen talks with LTTE leaders: Mar 13 - Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Vidar Helgesen met with LTTE Political head, S.P. Thamilchelvan, and Anton Balasingham, leader of LTTE peace delegation, in the afternoon of 13 March at Killinochchi. The talks centred on the recent attack on a LTTE merchant vessel 220 km off northeast coast in the international waters, which resulted in the death of eleven senior cadres of the LTTE, and the proposed sixth round of peace talks scheduled to begin on March 18 at Tokyo in Japan, sources said.
Mr. Vidar Helgessen on his return from Killinochchi evening met with President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge and held discussions regarding the next round of peace talks scheduled to be held in Tokyo in Japan. Former foreign minister Mr. Lakshman Kadirgamar, MP, also participated in the discussion. He met Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe at Kandy in the central province where the PM was attending the first public meeting under a programme formulated to create awareness among the people stressing the urgent need for permanent peace in the island instead of war.
Peace talks to go on despite challenges: Mar 13 - “The ethnic problem in this country can be solved only by talks, and there is no other way; hence, whatever the challenges and roadblocks the peace talks will face, we cannot abandon the talks,' said Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe, addressing the general meeting of the United National Party (UNP) held in Kandy on 12 March.
Mr. Wickremasinghe said that the war that went for a few decades had caused many challenges to the country. "That is why we have been talking with the LTTE. But the opposition parties are trying to prevent the talks. If the peace talks end, the country will again face serious challenges. The people should identify the designs of the opposition parties

Page 36
36 TAMITIMES
and continue to support the peace process,” he said.
“During the current ceasefire, it is unavoidable that there will be some problems and disturbances, but we have been solving such problems through talks. No one should think that the peace talks would be stopped by such disturbances.
"The SLMM is currently conducting its inquiry into the incident off the Mullaitivu coast on Tuesday (11 March) where an LTTE ship was attacked and sunk by the Navy. Once the SLMM completes its inquiry, both parties will have talks regarding the incident.
"Some people are saying that we have to restart the war. Some of the opposition parties want this. But if the war restarts, the people most affected by it will be the sons and daughters of the poor. The economy of the country will fall even further. It is for these reasons that we are conducting the peace talks and trying to develop the economy.
"As a result of the war, nearly 100,000 people in the North have perished. Several have lost their limbs. More than 200,000 land mines have been buried and there are attempts to remove them.
"Through the current peace talks, we planto find solutions to the political problems of not only the Tamil people but also the Muslim people as well."
Youth escape from LTTE cam: Feb 13 - Six youths, who had been forcibly taken away by the LTTE, have managed to escape and sought protection from the troops at Nidanwala Police post, in Polonnaruwa. Military sources said these youths who were cheated and taken away by unidentified persons, have been detained in an LTTE camp off Nidanwala, Aralaganwilla.
According to the victims they have been deployed for work in the paddy fields while being detained in the camp. However, they had managed to escape after 12 days of detention.
These youngsters have further revealed to the Security Forces that they had seen another 25-30 teenagers being detained in the said camp.
President meets Muslim delegation: Mar 14 - The President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge held a two-hour discussion Thursday afternoon at presidential Secretariat with a delegation of Muslim parliamentarians on representation to Muslims in the peace talks now in progress between the Government and the LTTE.
The talks were condu mosphere, Muslim so
Minister Noordee the President of the N Parliamentarian Unio: President seeking he demand for an indepe egation and that the P her support for such c said.
Minister in the Un government and the Congress leader Mr.R Development Minist Mashoor and Nation leader and parliame Ashraff participated with President Ms C tunge.
Hartal cripples Trin Normal life in Trincc disrupted due to the (hartal) and the resul Tamil medium school cial and local institu governmental organi private sector banks, transportservices wer mum and almost all t port town were deser The hartal was ca immediate release of detainees in several p to condemn the Sri I for sinking the LTTE ceasefire agreement deaths of the LTTE the SLN attack, LTT
SLN gets coastguar Mar 14 - Cabinet Min addressing a semina national schools in Co United States of A1 gifted a coast guard Lanka Navy (SLN).
The SLNSources frigate "Courageous' million and was obta ernment grant. SLN : the ship is 210 feet helipad. It is offerec Defence Articles Pro government and has b US Congress.
The refurbishme sel are to be borne by ernment. A team of visit USA shortly to The ship can condu three weeks without
ment.

15 MARCH 2003
ted in a cordial aturces said.
Mashoor, who is forth East Muslim 1 said they met the r support to their ndent Muslim delresident expressed elegation, sources
ited National Front Sri Lanka Muslim auff Hakim, Vanni er Mr. Noordeen al Unity Alliance ntarian Ms Ferial in the discussion handrika Kumara
comalee: Mar 14malee district was general shut down. ting closure of all s, offices of provintions, shops, nonzations, state and sources said. The e curtailed to minihe roads in the east ed. lled demanding the all Tamil political risons in the south, anka Navy (SLN) vessel violating the and to mourn the cadres who died in E sources said.
d frigate from US: ister Mr. G.L.Peiris r for principals of lombo said that the merica (USA) has
frigate to the Sri
said the coastguard is worth USS 150 ned with a US govsources further said in length and has a under the Excess gramme of the US een approved by the
nt costs of the vesthe Sri Lanka govSLN officials is to inspect the vessel. ct patrols of up to equiring replenish
Tamil Eelam Bank in Pallai: Mar l4 - LTTE declared open a branch of Bank of Tamil Eelam today in Pallai, a town that lies between Elephant Pass and Jaffna on A9. LTTE Political head, Mr. S.P. Thamilchelvan hoisted the Thamileelam national flag. LTTE's political advisor Mr.Anton Balasingham opened the Bank. Mr. P. Nadesan, Head of Thamileelam Police, hoisted the flag of the Bank of Tamil Eelam. Kilinochchi District Government Agent, Mr. T. Rasanayagam, unveiled the name board. Head of LTTE finance, Mr. Thamilenthi, organised the opening ceremony.
Ian Martin meets LTTE Police Chief: Mar 15 - Ian Martin, the former Secretary General of Amnesty International, and special envoy to monitor Human rights dimension in Sri Lanka, met with the members of the Thamileelam police force for discussions on human rights issues. Head of Thamileelam police force, P. Nadesan and Legal advisor to the Thamil eelam judiciary, Professor Somaskandan met with the special envoy. The discussions centered on maintaining the rights of individuals in custody, police officers respecting human rightsduring crime investigations and the corresponding practices in other countries known for their exemplary human rights record, sources close to the meeting said.
Police Inspector of Kilinochchi Police, Ranjith Kumar, welcomed Ian Martin at the Police station and took him around the office premises. Ranjith Kumar also briefed the special envoy on the operational procedures at the Kilinochchi police station.
Ian Martin also was shown the skeletons and other human remains recovered from areas of Vanni of individuals killed by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) during their occupation. Police officers responsible for preserving the human remains provided details of discovery and possible identification of the human remains to the special envoy.
New VC for Jaffna University: Mar 15 - The President has appointed Prof. S. Mohandas, Rector Vavuniya Campus, Jaffna University, as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jaffna, under section 34 (1)(a) of Universities Act No. 16 of 1978 as amended by Act No. 07 of 1985 and Act No. 01 of 1995 on the recommendation of the University Grants Commission for a period of three (03) years with effect from 12th March, 2003.

Page 37
15. MARCH 2003
Law to Prevent Trial by Media
UK: The press is to be subjected to tighter controls because of growing concerns about trial by media.
Sensationalist coverage of cases such as the deaths last year of 10-yearolds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman has persuaded the Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith QC, to clamp down on contempt of court abuses.
Restrictions already exist on material that can be published once a suspect has been arrested, but the rules are not rigorously applied in England and Wales. In Scotland, the media abides more closely to the contempt of court laws.
Delivering the annual Mary Ward lecture in London, Lord Goldsmith warned editors to fall in line or risk greater statutory controls.
“A free and active media is essential to democracy,” he said. "But freedom of speech - while of vital importance - is not always paramount. Like other freedoms, it may be subject to certain legitimate restrictions. In order to secure justice it is on occasion necessary to curtail the rights to report and comment on matters before the courts.'
He said there was a "real human cost', as well as financial implications, when a trial had to be abandoned because of prejudicial coverage. Witnesses had to suffer the ordeal of retrials, when victims of Serious assaults or sexual abuse could be forced to talk about their experiences again.
Some cases have caused concern about the application of contempt laws. An article in the Sunday Mirror led to the collapse of the £1m-plus trial of Leeds footballers Lee Bowyer and Jonathan Woodgate in January 2000. The paper was later fined £75,000, af. ter a retrial.
More recently, the media has been accused of sensationalism when report.ng the arrest of high-profile child abuse suspects such as Matthew Kelly, who suffered weeks of damaging coverage refore police decided there was no evidence to charge him.
Lord Goldsmith, the government's nost senior law officer, said: "If a trial cannot take place because of prejudical publicity then justice is denied to
victims and the p real human cost
victims of seriou abuse, including c asked to give ev time caused by th or wait for a seco
Imam of Hate
A self-styled victed of inciting der Jews, Americ 'non-believers' w a Court in Lond "fanning the flan He was found gu of soliciting mur of inciting racial
Even after the
attacks, the 39 ye el-Faisal
sold recordin with titles includi with the Jews, in kuffars (non-belie for young Muslin abroad - in Islam In jailing the c said, “You had a young (Muslim) c conflict abroad a stead of calming flames hostility.' ommended that th Britain in 1991 b of his jail term to he came.
Israeli "Refusen
11 March : Ben-Artzi facing rael has attracted attention because Netanyahu, the h minister and curr His “crime” is th; ing number of I serve in the arm the Palestinians.
Mr Ben-Artz 214 days in milita
WWSria
 
 

, TAM TIMES 37
ublic. There is also a o witnesses such as s sexual or physical hildren when they are idence for a second 2 need to move a trial nd trial.'
Islamic cleric conhis followers to murins, Hindus and other as recently jailed by n for nine years for les' of racial hatred. ilty of three charges der and three counts hatred.
2001 September 11
ar old cleric, Abdulla
gs of his speeches - ng Jihad and No Peace which he called for vers) to be killed, and hs to wage a holy war lic bookshops. leric Judge Beaumont responsibility to the :ommunity at times of und tension here. Infears, you fanned the The judge also reche cleric, who entered e deported at the end Jamaica from where
ik”
he case of Jonathan a court martial in Isan unusual degree of his uncle is Binyamin ardline former prime ent Finance Minister. at he is one of a growsraelis who refuse to engaged in fighting
i has already served ry prison and has been
declared a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International.
In truth, he is not typical of the "refuseniks”, whose refusal to continue to serve in the occupied territories is tying the Israeli military in knots. Mr Ben-Artzi says he is a pacifist, and refuses to serve in the army at all. Most of the “refuseniks' are experienced reservists, some of them combat veterans with distinguished records, who refuse to serve in the occupied territories because they oppose the actions of their army there.
But Mr Ben-Artzi has become a potent symbol of the refusal to serve which is polarising Israeli society. The 20-year-old is refusing to enlist for his compulsory military service. Conscription is at the heart of Israeli society. Everybody has to serve. Men complete three years' service, and then have to do reserve duty for an average of one month a year for about two decades. The only exemptions are for ultra-Orthodox Jews, Arabs with Israeli citizenship and those with specific health problems.
In Israel's early days, compulsory military service was seen as a vital part of forging a national identity in a populations of immigrants from across the world. But increasingly, the idea of army service is being challenged.
The army has sought to obscure the number of refuseniks by punishing a select few and turning a blind eye to the rest, but they are now believed to number in their hundreds. Mr Ben-Artzi is one of few to take on the system so directly.
Young Israelis who do not want to serve tend to feign mental illness. Mr Ben-Artzi appeared before an army board as a conscientious objector, but it rejected his claim. Since then he has been repeatedly sentenced to onemonth stints in prison for refusing to report for duty, and now faces a court martial for his persistence.
In a statement to the Israel Defence Forces, he said: "Because of my beliefs, my own country is going to imprison me, in defiance of international laws and fundamental human rights. I will go to prison proudly, knowing that this is the least I can do to improve this country, and the cause of pacifism.”
O) RVM (AAVZ N (GO)N S) ( YEo ss
nkans.co.uk

Page 38
38 TAM TIMES
CASSFED ADS
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- Tami Times Ltd. PO Box 121,
Surrey SM1 3TD, United Kingdom
Phone: 020 - 8644 O972
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Fax (020) - 8241 45.57 E-Mail: adminG2tanilitimes.org
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Jaffna Hindu parents in London seek professionally qualified bride for accountant Son, 35, UK permanent resident running his own business. Please send horoscope, details. M 1336 C/o Tanni Tirnes.
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£15 per night.
Telephone 020-8689 0236 or O7931.587 168 (UK)
Jafna Property For Sale
Prime property in the heart of Jaffna Town Suitable for business or domestic venture - 5 LMs. E 88 clo Tamil Times.
About People and Events
OBITUARY
Dr. N. Sahathevarajan, formerly of Batticaloa and latterly of Hemsworth, Yorkshire, beloved husband of Thabonithy, loving father of Rajkumar, Niranjala and Girija, father-inlaw of Dr. Jane Rajan (Thirsk), Dr. Ravindran (Wolverhampton) and Dr, Kesavan (Houston, USA); grandfather of Dr. Vanaja, Roshan, Catriona, Duncan, Tamara and Devan, son of late Navaratnam (Manipay Hindu College); brother of Manimalihadevi, Pathmasanadevi, Selvarajan and the late Patkunarajan and Puyapalarajan passed away on 14/03/03 in London. Funeral took place On 22.03.2003 at Goldersgreen crematorium, London.
All family members wish to thank all who attended the funeral, Sent floral tributes/rnessages and supported them in everyway -- 59 Lady Aylesford Avenua, Stanmore, Middlesex HA74FG. Tel 02084160724.
75047
EMERGENCY TRA
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

15 MARCH 2003
IN MEMORAMS
Second Anniversary Remembrance Dr. Nagalingam Kandasamy passed away on 16 March 2001
Thinking of you always, For ever in our thoughts A devoted husband, father, grandfather and father-in-law. Affectionately remembered by all his family. - 10 Penarth Court, 2 Devonshire Avenue, Sutton, Surrey SM25LA.
Sixth Death Anniversary
Dr. C. Perumalpilai (16.02.1920 - 02.03.1997)
站 '4'
Арра %ඹී
Six years have gone by, since you left our midst.
Your loving care and inspiration are strongly missed. In your peace we find solace.
Your ever loving children Ravi, Usha, Jeeva, Ranjit and families.
MI&J Dental Surgery
Experienced Srilankan Dentists Fellowship in Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of England Periodontal, Restorative, Orthodontic and Cosmetic Treatment. NHS, Private Patients Welcome.
Contact: 356 Preston Road, Harrow, HA30OJ PhOle O2O - S39O4 · 267S
/EL oNLY) )-SRI LANKA
-SOUTH INDIA 676 360 U .sNGAPÖRE

Page 39
15 MARCH 2003
Birth: 26.01.1916
First Anniversary Mrs Someswary Kanagasabai
Sadly missed and lovingly remembered by children Chandra, lindra, Logendra, Yogendra, Ambi, Gowri and Jayanthi; daughters-in-law Sakunthala, Kamalasani, Rathy and Yoga; son-in-law Ragu. - 34 Woodcote Valley Road, Purley, Surrey CR33AJ.
Rest:17.03.2001
Forthcoming Events
Apr 1 Ammavasai; Feast of St. Francis of Paola 4 Feast of St. Isidore 5 Chathurthi; Karthigai 6 6. 15 p.m. Bharatha Natyam recital by Aarani Sivapathasundaram in aid of Medical Development in Vanni, Sri Lanka. For defailS Tel: 01689 852494 Shashti; Feast of St. John Baptist 11 Sri Rama Navami; Feast of St. StanislauS. 12 11 a.m. Colombuthurai Yoga Swamigal Abhisekham and Guru Pooja followed by Prasatham at Sree Ganapathy Temple, 123 Effra Road, London SW19. All welcome. 13 Sukkla Eekathasi 14 Subanu Hindu New Year 16 Chithraa Full Moon 18 Good Friday 19 Sankadakara Chathuirthi 20 2.30 to 9.30 p.m. London Sivan Temple, Lewisham presents a Tamil Isai Vilza to Celebrate the New Year with Several talented young musicians participating. All Welcome, Tel 0206318 2108 23 Feast of St. George 25 Feast of St. Mark 26 Eekathasi; Saint Thirunavukkarasar Guru Pooja
28 Pirathosam 30 Amma vasai At Bhavan Centre, 4A Castletown Road, London MV149HQ. Tel: 0207381 308.6/4608 WebSite: Www.bhavan.net. Apr 5 12 noon Vedanta Discourse by Poojya Srila B.S.Tirtha Maharaj. All Welcome 6.30 p.m. Karmatic Vocal Concert by Prof. T.V.Gopalakrishnan from India. Apr 11 7.30 p.m. Shri Rams Navami Celebrations. Traditional Pooja, Bhajans and Prasad. All Welcome. Apr 227.30 p.m. Vedanta Discourse by Mahamandaleswar Swami Veda Bharati. All Welcome.
WEDDING BELLS
We congratulate the following on the recent wedding
Rathika daughter of Mr. & Mrs C. Balasingam of 2/10/4, Arihant Majestic Towers, Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Koyambedu, Chennai 600107 and Rajaloganathan son of Mr. & Mrs. V.N. Kandasamy of 514/ 5, 9 Cross Street, Lake View Road, lyyappan Nagar, Madipakkam, Chennai 600091 on 20 February 2003 at New Woodlands Hotel, Mylapore, Chennai.
 

| AMLTIMES 39
Second Year Remembrance Emeritus Professor Christie Jayaratnam Eliezer
Born Joined the 12.06.1918 Stars
0.03.2001
Emeritus Professor Christie Jayaratnam Eliezer Order of Australia & Maamanithar of Tamil Eelam (PhD Camb, DSc Lond., F.I.R.M.A. Bar at Law, Middle Temple) Treasured by Ranee, Dhamayanthi, Bala Karalapillai, Ratna, Nesa, Anandhi, Sharmini, Renuka, Tamara,Kirk, Sumanthiran, Dharshi, Anjali, AE; Tanya, Stewart,
David, Shelley, Ranjan, Anthea, Yashoda, Anand, Ruben, Chandlar, Jordan, Ahila, Narendran, Freya and Beau
“யாதும் ஊரே Every Country is Our Homeland
o , Every Child, Man, Woman, Our Kinsfolk
யாவரும் கேளிர் (Tamil Puranam, 102BC) If I am not for myself
Ο 8ΙΙ), I If I am for myself alone Who am I? If not now, when? (Helier the Elder, AD) Some people come into our lives and quickly go Some people move our souls to dance They awaken us to new understanding With the whisper of their wisdom. Some people make the sky more beautiful to gaze upon They stay in our lives for awhile Leave footprints on our hearts And we are never ever the same.
(Author unknown)
The Tenth Year Remembrance Mr. Murugesapilai Maheswaran
Born: 18 January 1937 in Jaffna, Sri Lanka Died: 14h March 1993 in London
Sadly missed and remembered by; Brothers: Dr. M. Sri Ranganathan (UK) Dr. M. Koneswaran (USA) Sisters: Mrs. Gunawathyammal Ketheeswaranathan (Australia) Mrs. Pathmaneswary Velauthapillai (Sri Lanka) and families -2John's Lane, Morden, Surrey SM46EU

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40 TAMILTIMES
SriLankan Airlines Presents
Appreciation Awards to its UK Agents
SriLankan Airlines Chairman Daya Pelpola made an impassioned appealto its agents in UK to restore the national carrier to its pristine glory, which had been dented by the attack on the Bandaranalike Airport some years ago. While thanking them profusely for all that they had done, he pointed out the vital importance of passenger loads from Europe and promised them all that they wanted to achieve their targets. He was speaking at the Awards Night at an extravaganza to en
tertain then at the Mount Lavinia Hotel. The travel group - Taprobane/Sri Lank Tours/ Kuoni of which Mr. Gamit Ameresekere is the Managing Director WOn the Premier PaSsetiger Sales Award. Appreciation awards were also received by Sky Wings Travel, Link Air Travel, Glen Carriers, Time Travel, Dukes Court Travel, Transil Travel, Skylord Travel, Air Travel Guide, Travel Pack, Travel Bagand Tradewinds Holidays. Some of the pictures taken on that occasion appear below,
Award to Skywings Travel received by Dr. (Mrs) S. Pathnabaskaran, Mr. B. Pathma-baskaran on the right.
Ashvath Shines in Mathematics
Eight year old Ashvath passed W Credit in Mathematics at the Win 2002 G.C.S.E. examination follow the footsteps of his two elder siste The parents Mr. & Mrs The do anamoorthy of Woolmead Aven West Hendon, London are proud the achievements of their children Ashvarth is a pupil of Oliver Gold-st Primary School, Kingsbury and enjo reading and swimming. We wish continued success in all his efforts
 
 
 
 
 
 

15 MARCH 2003
in Memoriam
First Anniversary Mrs. Annalukshmy Ambalavanar (01.02.1922-24.02.2002)
Your love for all and selfless service brightened our lives and the lives of many With cherished loving memories you are forever enshrined in our hearts Children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, in-laws and their families Mrs Srinivasan, 4 Lee Grove, Chigwell, Essex, IG76AF, UK
From Left to Right Mr. Manoj GunaWardene, Manager SriLankan Airlines - UK & Eire, Mr. Gamit Amaresekere - Managing Director, Taprobane Travel, Ms Kanini Rodrigo- General Manager, Taprobane Travel, Mr. Jeremy
جسسجنسنسسسسسسسسسسسسسا -Soertsz-Marker
Award to Linkair received
by Mr S. Sivasubramaniam.
ing Manager, Sri
Lankan Airlines.
Meenakshi Adjudged Brightest A Level Candidate
* %-, v* ° X. X ? %;’’ меетакshi Parameshwaran has been voted the brightest fe
th male, A Level, compuer ter Candidate in the 1ց UK. The picture above S. is that of her receiving - the 'A' Startrophy from e, Mr. Ivan Lewis, the Of Under Secretary of
State for Education. th She beat 13 others MS after scoring the highn est marks in the 2002
(continued on next page)

Page 41
15 MARCH 2003
DR. RANJUT RA
AN APPRECATION
Dr Ranjit Raja, born on 8 April 1954, departed from this world on 22 November 2002. He was the eldest son of the late Saravanamuthu Rajah and his wife Sivanesam of Chunnakam in Jaffna. Ranjit's father himself was a distinguished science graduate of the University of Ceylon who entered the teaching profession teaching in many schools in the south of the island and later became Education Officer and Inspector of Schools.
Even from his younger days, Ranjit displayed a keen interest in his education. He distinguished himself during his school days and completed his higher education from Jaffna Hindu College entering the Ceylon Medical College in 1974. His performance at the Medical College earned him the Status of an honourS Student. He was well respected by fellow Sinhalese and Tanil Students and took a very keen interest in all student activities. Upon successful completion of his studies at the Medical College, Ranjit becane a House Officer and later to beCOInc a Senior House Officer at the Colombo General Hospital.
Ranjit married Bharathi, the only daughter of late Mr and Mrs. T Chelvadurai. Mr Chelvadurai was a leading civil law practitioner in Colombo for a period of over three decades with a large clientele. I was privileged to have worked with him in my early days as a lawyer, and to have been closely associated with members of his family, particularly Dr Narendran, the eldest brother of Bharathi.
In 1981, Ranjit, along with his family, went to the United Kingdom to undertake postgraduate studies in surgery. He trained and qualified in radiology at some keading teaching hospitals including the Middlesex Hospital in London and Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. He worked in some of the leading hospitals in the UK, for a number of years. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Radiology in 1985 at the young age of 31.
(Continued from page 40)
A Level examination. Not only does she win the Trophy, she also gets £500, a Laptop Computer, game cube and a trip for two to the US.
The competition, organised by Edinburgh-based international computer firm Axios Systems, is aimed at encouraging more women to take up careers in IT. She studied at Forest Girls School, Snaresbrook in East London and is due to take a place at Keble College, Oxford University. Meenakshi's parents are Mr. & Dr (Mrs) Parameshwaran of Lord Avenue, C hall, Ilford, Essex.
In 1992 Ranjit we advance his medical C cured an appointme Professor at the Me South Carolina. He by his fellow medical cal colleges for his hal knowledge of muscul His hard Work and e. Sen field Soon earned of being Associate F ogy at the Medical Carolina.
Ranjit has publis, papers iт тату јоит British Journal Of Rad diology and Radiogre it was Some tin news of the diagnosi neSS of Cancer cam cording to Ranjit, the he was suffering fron an advanced Stage, treatment possible a cided to go on a pilgri places of Hindu wor However, on Second appear that with his age and determinatio With his doctors to S treatment regime an Survive five more val which proved invalua, ily and also to the wi Though physical tinued with his work v dedication and earne miration and affectio it is worthy of note th mentS at the Medica Carolina Were obtain he was being subject continuous treatmen
Ranjit has left a tinguished legacy. h. testified to Ranjitos rol emician, researcher,
 

TATES 41
JA
nt over to the US to arreer, There he Sent as an ASSistant dical University of was well respected colleagues and clinidwork and in-depth oskeletal radiology. xpertise in his choif him the promotion Professor of RadioUniversity of South
hed many research nals including The fiology, Skeletal Raaphics. e in 1997, the bad is of his dreadful ille to be known. Acillness With which n had reached Such that there was no ind that he had deimage to all the holy ship in south India. d thoughts it would CharacteriStic Courin, he decided along subject himself to a d fought his way to luable years. Years, ble to his young famder community. y debilitated, he conwith enthusiastin and d the everlasting adn of his colleagues. at his later achieveUniversity of South ned during the time ed to a rigorous and t regime. remarkable and dislis colleagues have eas a teacher, acadphysician, and his
caring and compassionate disposition.
In this connection, Mr Bayne Selby, MD of the Medical University of Carolina states, "Ranjit was an outstanding radiologist and an outstanding person, During his time at the Medical University of South Carolina, he served as a role model to those he rained, those who worked with, and those with whom he Consulted. He was the definition of a caring and Compassionate physician. ... During the time with us, he fulfilled three classic aspects of an academic physician: teaching research and patient care. His lectures were always appreciated by medical students and residentsalike. This Was further demonstrated by the fact that the residents voted him the recipient of the Golden Apple Award in 1997-1998. This award goes to the one that the residents feel is the best teacher."
Again, Professor William F Convey, MD, Ph.D states, "it is well known that many academicians have over-inflated egos. Raj was not one of these. He always was the team player. The Department of Radiology at MUSC has a radiology resident award called the "Sixth Man Award". This voted on by residents and given to the resident who goes above and beyond the call of duty in helping fellow residents. From now on this award Will be named the "Ranjit Rajah 6 Man Award" in memory of Dr Rajah's unequalled contribution to the Department of Radiology." The most redeeming quality of Ranjit was his simplicity, humility and unassuming character. Despite his great achievements and stature, Ranjit was a simple man with the common touch not forgetting his roots. Always, Ranjit had time for others.
Ranjit's untimely and premature departure represents an unbearable blow to his surviving family members, especially to his wife and children. It also represents an inreplaceable loss to the medical world. Although his life has been cut down long before it would have been due in the natural course of events, his wife and children, his close kith and kin and all his friends can only be proud of what Ranjit did and achieved during is life time.
lin remembering Ranjit, ourhearts and thoughts go out to his wife Bharathi, and their children Hary Nireshan and VibuShan.
I will end my remarks by echoing the remarks by Prof. William F Convey, MD, Ph.D of the Medical University of South Carolina: "Academicians frequently pride themselves on their ability to teach. Rajah was an exemplary teacher, not just in radiology, but in life itself. He taught all people with whom he came in Contact how to face life and eventually death with a quiet, dignified equanimity. I can only hope that when mytime comes, I can face my death with the same strength Raj faced his."
- Excerpts from a speech by PRajanayagam on the "anthiyeshti' day on 22 Dec. 2002

Page 42
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