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AUGUST 2005
“I do not agree with a word of what you say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it”
- Joltaire
Tanil
ISSN 0266 - 44 88 Vol. XXV No. 8 AUGUST 2005
Published by: TAMIL TIMES LTD PO Box 121, Sutton, Surrey SM13TD United Kingdom Phone: 020 - 8644 0972 Fax: 020 - 824 14557
Email: adminG)tamiltimes.org editor(a)tamiltimes.org p.rajanayagamG)btconnect.com Website: http://www.tamiltimes.org
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CONTENTS
Assassination and after 03
GOct-LTTE talks 04 Kadirgamar Assassinated 06 Diplomatic offensive 09 War is no option - LTTE 10 Hero of Our Times 11 Woman broadcaster killed 12 A tearful farewell 16 Kadirgamar - A profile 17 Reactions to the murder 18 Focus on Rights 23
Barber and the policeman 25 Reading of religious texts 28
Random Thoughts 29 News Track 30 Classified 36
AS
Sri Lanka has expel in existence since Febru on 12 August has been came into being. Thoug elimination, there was u The Governmental but the LTTE has denie having characterized proscription of the LTTE with him in the way the
Therehas beenwic internationally and withi "heinous act". The Unite and the UN Secretary ( Secretary of State, Dr. While the European U Monitoring Mission Ha Gemany it “was a sens In the immediateaf about to breakdownar Many felt that the murde and amed hostilities we Even before the Mi fire being routinely viola was to provoke another Scores of deliberat cadres, Karunaloyalists ing common place partic and its suburbs. A weel hacked to death when civilian after a soldier's same day the Foreign N broadcasterand presen point blank range.
Quite unexpectedly ofwartowards talksbel Kumaratunga had writte meeting between the G to review the practical other violations. Many she herself had believe Ministerandtrusted COI Following the Pre: Petersonand Deputy F. Colombo, flew toLOndc President's proposal. F with the Governmentar fire Agreement.
That the LTTE ha another unexpectedd similar request from the time it pulled out of the to get back to the nego agenda being to discus proposal.
Though the counti forces and the LTTE Sir half-years during which tions, child recruitment rights of the people ha process is to have any
these parties must be a
 

TAMIL TIMES 3
ssassination and after
ienced hundreds of killings inspite of a so-called ceasefire which has been ary 2002. However, Foreign Minister Kadirgamar who was gunned down the most prominent political figure to be assassinated since the ceasefire h he was reputed to have been on top of the LTTE's hit-listeamarked for niversal shock and revulsion when it really happened.
dits investigators have blamed the LTTE for Kadirgamar's assassination, i any involvement. However, many analysts take the view that the LTTE, Kadirgamar as a "traitor" for the role he played in campaigning for the in westem countries, including the USAand UK, most probably has deat LTTE always deal with those whom it deems "traitors" to its cause. lespread condemnation of the assassination of the Foreign Minister both Sri Lanka. India expressed its "deep shock and profound grief" calling it a d Nations Scurity Council condemned it as a "senseless act oftemorism", General Kofi Annan termed it a "criminal and senseless act". To the US Condoleezza Rice, this "senseless murder was a vicious act of terror". nion described it as "a vicious terrist act", the Head of the Sri Lanka grup Haukland said “the brutal assassination" was "a babaric act". To eless and cowardly act of terrorists". temath of the Minister's murder, there was the fear that the ceasefire was ld that Sri Lanka was inexorably moving fast towards resumption of war. rofthe country's Foreign Minister was tantamount to a declaration of war bre inevitable. nister's murder, the situation was becoming out of control with the Ceaseted as violent incidents were being deliberately orchestrated as if the aim War. eand targeted killings andgrenade attackson a daily basis involving LTTE other non-LTTETamil groups and security service personnel were becom:ularly in the northeast of the country, and some occurring even in Colombo (earlier, a Superintendent of Police in northern Jaffna was abducted and he went to defuse a tense situation that had arisen following the death of a gun went of accidentally. In the heart of Colombo in the afternoon of the linisterwas killed, gunmenwalked into the residence of a popular Tamil TV ter, Mrs RelangiSelvarajahand her husband and shot both of them dead at
, the situation appears to have been reversed from the brinkofan outbreak ween the Government and the LTTE. It is learnt that President Chandrika ento Norway's Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik requestingan urgent overnmentand the LTTE, in the presence of the facilitator and the SLMM, functioning of the ceasefire with a view to preventing further killings and were surprised that the President sought talks with the LTTE so soon after d and accused that the LTTE was guilty of assassinating hermost capable nfidant.
sident's request, it emerged that both Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan breign Minister Vidar Helgessen, after attending the Kadirgamar's funeral in in and met with LTTE's chief negotiator Anton Balasingham to discuss the ollowing this meeting it was announced that the LTTE had agreed to meet hd to haveface-to-face talks on the practical implementation of the Cease
d consented to the Sri Lankan President's request for direct talks was avelopment, given that just two weeks earlier the LTTE had dismissed a President made to the LTTE through the Norwegian facilitators. From the peace talks in April 2003, the LTTE has been uncompromising in its refusal tiating table until some of its preconditions have been satisfied and the sthe government's response to its interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA)
y has been spared of the horrors of open warfare between Govemment ce the ceasefire in February 2002, it has been an intolerable three-and-a- many thousands of blatant ceasefire violations, including killings, abduc, restrictions on civil society activities and gross abuses of basic human fe occurred and which must be ended if the Norwegian-facilitated peace meaningful chance of success in the future. Any proposed talks between timed at guaranteeing that these violations and abuses do not recur.

Page 4
4 TAMIL TIMES
On cease
August 19 - Direct talks between the government and the LTTE to review the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement between the two parties will be held soon. Norway said it was arranging a face-to-face meeting between Sri Lanka’s warring parties in a bid to save a truce that was threatened following the assassination of the foreign minister.
The LTTE had told Norway's peace envoys it agreed to a request from the Sri Lankan government to review the faltering ceasefire, Norwegian embassy spokesman Tom Knappskog said. "This is going to be a discussion on the implementation of the ceasefire,' Mr. Knappskog said. "It is not the resumption of peace talks, only a review of the ceasefire. When and where and the other details are yet to be worked out."
Mr. Knappskog said the Norwegians were in contact with the government and the Tamil Tigers to arrange the meeting "as soon as possible.”
President Chandrika Kumaratunga had written to Norway's Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik calling for talks with the LTTE to review the truce after Friday's assassination of Lakshman Kadirgamar and to prevent further political killings, her of fice said in a statement on Thursday (18).
While the LTTE's chief negotiator Anton Balalsingham said that LTTE had "agreed to send a high level delegation to participate in the talks with the Sri Lanka government' and expected that the talks "would be held in Oslo within the next couple of weeks', it is learnt that the Government would prefer the talks to be at "officer ad technical level' and that they should take place in Colombo.
In the aftermath of the assassination of her Foreign Minister, President Chandrika Kumaratunga wrote to the
Norwegian Prime Magne Bondevik “ gent meeting betwee of Sri Lanka and the ence of the facilitat to review the Cease She emphasized the to prevent "further violations.'
The President's as her immediate r assassination of th ter, Lakshman Kad Government has LTTE.
The President gent meeting betweg and the LTTE...to re functioning of the view to preventing f other violations,' Secretariat said.
It has been po Cease Fire Agreem lated 3126 timse by was signed in Fet Presidential Secret the direction of P tunga, the Governm assassination of Kadirgamar, reques arrange a meetingb tary personnel and res in order to devis ofending the politic taking place recen tion of the CFA.
Cabinet Spok Nimal Siripala de Government did n the CFA but insist cedure should be a enforcement. Add at the weekly Cab Minister noted tha
necessary was an ine commitment to "As far as the C cerned, we are ho we abide by the CF
 

AUGUST 2005
Minister, Kjell requesting an urin the Government LTTE, in the presr and the SLMM, Fire Agreement.” need for a review killings and other
request was seen esponse of to the e Foreign MinisIrgamar which the attributed to the
requested “an ur2n the Government cview the practical ceasefire with a urther killings and the Presidential
inted out that the ent has been viothe LTTE since it bruary 2002. The ariat said that on resident Kumaraent had, before the the Minister ted the SLMM to etween senior milisenior LTTE cade ways and means :al killings that had tly, in contraven
esman Minister Silva said that the ot want to amend ed that some progreed upon for its ressing the media inet briefing, the t what was really honest and genupreserve the CFA. jovernment is connest, genuine and A,” he said. "If the
LTTE engages in Ceasefire violations anymore, it could pose a severe danger to the peace process,” the Minister said. “The Government is acting under a lot of constraints. We have categorically stated that we don’t want war and respect the CFA. The LTTE while saying that they don't want go to war is engaged in a killing spree and also puts forward conditions. The LTTE should refrain from creating conditions against the Peace Process. This is the Government's appeal even at this moment.”
When the Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan Petersen called on the President early this week, the President expressed her great concern over ceasefire violations by the LTTE. The President categorically stressed the reciprocal obligations of both parties.
Both parties should comply with the
CFA. It was the President's view that the enforcement mechanism in the CFA should be revived. "The enforcement mechanism of the CFA seems to be very weak now,” the Minister said. "The Government is committed to continuing with the CFA and it has no intention of going back to war. But the LTTE should not drag any party to war. At the same time our concerns have to be addressed and strongly taken note of and complied in terms of the CFA.”
The Government categorically states that the LTTE should be honest in their intentions not only merely by word when they say they don't want to go to war. They must not create conditions where the Government will be forced to pursue another direction. The Government is acting with lot of restraint, he said.
The Government expects the situation to improve. "It is keeping in touch with the international community. We hope they will exert pressure on the LTTE. If the international community is really interested in genuine peace for Sri Lanka, they should take note on this present situation. They should act firmly. There can be many forms of actions the international community can take. It is up to them. Because they closely observe the situation in Sri Lanka they know for themselves the best thing they could do."

Page 5
AUGUST 2005
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LTTE agrees for direct talks
The Tamil Tigers have announced their consent to hold direct talks with the Government on a review of the current Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) which has been under threat of breaking down.
If talks place, they will be the first high-level meeting between the parties in two-and-a-half years. The Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister, Vidar Helgesen, described move as a significant step forward for the peace process against the backdrop of the killing of Mr Kadirgamar.
He said the Tigers had agreed to discuss the implementation of the ceasefire agreement after what has been a serious downward slide in the truce. The announcement followed a meeting between the Norwegians and the LTTE's chief political negotiator, Anton Balasingham, in London on Wednesday, 17 August.
Mr. Jan Petersen, the Norwegian Foreign Minister, along with his
deputy Mr. Vidar Balasingham in I over proposals to Pirapaharan callin, problems relating tion of the truce. The LTTE;s quoting Mr Balasi LTTE leadership Norwegian invita in a review of the the Ceasefire Agı find practical wa compliance by bo ther revealed that by the Norwegian Oslo within the ne The discussions v the escalating vio east and other rel The proposed pected to revolve violations of the ( which it is imple The Government issue of continu government persc
 

TAMIL TIMES 5
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• Helgesen met Mr ondon and handed the LTTE leader Mr. g for urgent talks on to the implementa
Tamil Net website ngham said that the
had accepted the tion to "participate : implementation of 'eement in order to ys of ensuring full th parties.” He furthe talks, facilitated s, would be held in 2xt couple of weeks. sould also focus on lence in the Northited issues, he said. direct talks are ex: around continued cFA and the way in mented in practice. is likely to raise the :d assassination of nnel and other po
litical killings allegedly carried out by the LTTE. The LTTE will probably raise the alleged government support for Karuna, the LTTE renegade, who is reportedly engaged the killing LTTE cadres in Eastern Sri Lanka. The Tigers are also likely to raise a long standing dispute between the parties - the provision of military security for LTTE leaders and cadres being transported through government controlled areas between northern Vanni and eastern Batticaloa. The Government is also likely raise the reported continued forcible recruitment of child soldiers by the Tigers.
Opposition for the proposed talks so soon after the assassination of the Foreign Minister is already evident. The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), has described the LTTE's willingness to talk as a "trap' into which the government should not get caught. The Buddhist monks' party, Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), has opposed the talks. O

Page 6
6 TAMILTMES
Lakshman Kadirg Assassinate
Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was assassinated on Friday 12 August by a gunman after emerging from the swimming pool at his private residence in Bullers Lane in Colombo 7. Kadirgamar was fatally wounded as the assassin, having positioned himself in the room in an upper floor of house located opposite the Minister's residence, struck firing several shots from a rifle with night-vision capability at about l l pm.
The Government and the police have accused the Tamil Tigers for the Minister's murder. The Tamil Tigers, who have been waging a three-decade campaign for a separate Tamil state, have denied any involvement in the killing.
President in an address to the nation after the assassination said, "Initial indications of the investigations seem to reveal the responsibility of the LTTE in his brutal murder. It is unacceptable that a group that talks endlessly about being committed to a ceasefire would so blatantly violate it. This violation of the ceasefire is the latest in a continuous series of violations by the LTTE. The LTTE has denied involvement in the murder. Their denial contradicts the facts and our knowledge of their long held desire and repeated attempts to murder both my Tamil Cabinet Colleagues."
Lakshman Kadirgamar, who was reputed to have been on top of the LTTE's hit-list for targeted killing was the most tightly guarded Minister in the cabinet after President Chandrika Kumaratunga. The Minister had over 100 bodyguards assigned from the military as well as the elite Ministerial Security Division. They were backed up by intelligence units of the police and the army.
It was no secret that Minister Kadirgamar by pursuing a relentless campaign to get the LTTE banned as a terrorist organisation had earned the wrath of Tamil Tigers. Many supporters of the LTTE in the Tamil community had branded him "traitor' for his role in securing the proscription of the LTTE in some western countries including the UK and the USA. "His acts were considered to be treacherous towards the Tamils
from the very beg Sivajilingam, a MP Tamil National Alli ter's assassination.
President breaks d As doctors batt eign Minister Laksh ter he was shot, P Kumaratunga whorl ward of the National to have wept uncor ing his lifeless body The President is counted the yeoman rendered the gove streaking down het hoped the people appreciate the imp solution to the ethn peaceful negotiatior Rajapakse who too tal appeared visibly
Minister's prophe
Soon after he m at Bullers Lane Lakshman Kadirgam had a small get tog friends. While they the pool, Kadirgan house close by and wanted to shoot hir from the second floc did he know that the same location to
Foreign Mi Kadirgamar was aw under serious threat. this just the day pr tion to Chief Oppos Samarasinghe whe signature on the o Parliamentary Cor Preparedness. Kadi member of the said it with much intere
When invited to port, Kadirgama Samarasinghe that gence had warned threats explaining parliament on Thu before was murder

AUGUST 2005
|amar
inning," said M.K. for the Tiger-backed ince after the Minis
lown
led to save her Forman Kadirgamar afresident Chandrika ushed to the accident Hospital is reported trollably upon see
reported to have re
service Kadirgamar :rnment with tears r face and said she would at least now ortance of a lasting nic problem through ns. Premier Mahinda arrived at the hospi
shaken.
су hoved into the house a few weeks ago, harisreported to have ather for a few close were moving close to har had pointed at a said that anyone who m could easily do so or of the house. Little assassins would use ) shoot him dead. hister Lakshman vare that his life was In fact, he mentioned
ior to his assassina
ition Whip, Mahinda h invited to place his fficial report of the mmittee on Disaster rgamar was an active committee and served
St.
endorse the final rer had confided in government intellinim ofgrave security his inability to attend arsday (11), the day ed. He requested that
the report be sent to his residence for his signature which was promptly done.
Kadirgamar, a former athlete, a champion hurdler in his day who captained Trinity College at cricket and had won his rugby colours, reportedly had told a journalist that despite his 73 years, he liked to swim 1,000 meters every day. There had been intelligence that there would be an attempton Kadirgamar's life in August. A fortnight earlier three persons with suspected LTTE links were arrested by police when they were caught videoing Minister Kadirgamar's official residence at Wijerama Mawatha. They were arrested by the Ministerial Security Division while videoing the residence and the surrounding area. His advisors had tried to stop him from going to his Bullers Lane residence because of its vulnerability. It was felt that it was easier to protect him at the highly fortified government bungalow that was his official residence at Wijerama Mawatha. But reportedly he had been adamant about his swim even at that late hour of the night.
Emergency declared
Soon after the shooting of the Foreign Minister, President Kumaratunga, who narrowly escaped assassination in a suicide bombing blamed on the Tamil Tigers in December 1999, declared a state of emergency giving sweeping powers to security forcesto arrest and detain suspects and calling upon the people to remain calm. In Colombo, soldiers started door-to-door searches for the snipers, while police set up road blocks and air force helicopters circled the night sky.
Following the assassination of the Foreign Minister, Sri Lankan security authorities admitted a security lapse. The Inspector General of Police, Chandra Fernando, said the killers, believed to be two, shot the Minister at his home from the upstairs bathroom of a neighbouring house which had not been adequately checked out by the authorities.
“We are notable to cover all angles,' Fernando said adding that Kadirgamar had rejected police advice that he should leave his home for security reasons. He said he had surveyed the area recently and felt it was unsafe and also had received intelligence information that it was insecure. Kadirgamar had told the police not to search the neighbouring properties as that would annoy the occupants. “We also had the problem with this VVIP (Very, Very Important Person) because

Page 7
AUGUST 2005
he did not want us to search his neighbours,' the IGP said.
"I myself told him a few days ago it wasn't safe for him to stay in this house, but he insisted because he wanted to go there for a swim and he had his library there,” Fernando said.
Earlier, a senior police officer said the shooting raised questions about intelligence gathering and the screening of the ministers' neighbours as the snipers were said to have shot Kadirgamar from a house located opposite the Minister's residence.
"Security was mainly focused on protecting the minister when he was travelling," said the police officer, who asked to remain anonymous. "Three days ago there was a move to increase the number of vehicles in his motorcade."
Details of the attack
On Friday (12) a few hours before he was shot, Mr. Kadirgamar participated in a public function to launch the first journal of the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies, titled "International Relations in a Globalised World' which he edited. The event was attended by many dignitaries including the Indian High Commissioner Ms Nerupama Rao. Mr. Kadirgamar had returned to his private residence for a swim.
The gunman had struck as the Minister finished his swim and emerged out of the water to change clothes. The bullets pierced his chest and struck his head and leg. He was rushed to the National Hospital shortly past 11.15pm. Specialists includingacardiologist, neurologist, orthopaedic surgeon and anaesthetist were called in for the emergency operation. Top surgeons had battled for more than one hour to save the Minister's life, but he was pronounced dead around 12.15 am.
The autopsy later carried out attributed the cause of Kadirgamar's death to hemorrhagic shock following necessarily fatal bulletinjuries of the heart lacerating the aorta. There were multiple bullet injuries on Minister Kadirgamar's chest and abdomen. A penetrating gun shot wound to the right side of the chest was the fatal injury, according to doctors.
It would seem that the assassins had carried out a meticulous surveillance operation on the Minister's movements for days and weeks. At least two of them had taken up position on the top floor of a neighbouring house owned by a Tamil couple later identified as Mr Lakshman
Thalayasingham an The assassins co a better spot. The c spot from which th shots and the s Kadirgamar’s hou (25meters)
"They had a cl perfect spot and th whole neighbourho have hid and seen pound," said Fadhi whose family lives a Kadirgamar's house Sixteen feet (5.0 topped by steel-me steel doors enclosed dence located at a relatively wealth Kadirgamar's house at the intersection guarded by scores forces.
An alleyway ruI from the approach or rate Kadirgamar' Thalayasinghams” h two assassins andre servants had planne A branch ofa tre the view of the s Kadirgamar's house dow in the top flo singhams” house ha The window itse with cardboard lea opening in the glas enough for a Chines to be aimed in th Kadirgamar’s swimr It was a team of personnel - the cor Police - who broke site from which th When they entered, large bags normall cricket gear, one b{ Lailith Athulaithm: Ratmalana and the w cricketer, Russel speculated that the a used the sports bag the ammunition.
They also founc pod stand with a sea a built in arm rest Three empty .450s ings, a pack of 40 mr several chocolate ba packets of “murrukl in the room. There w the assassins had us

his wife.
uld not have chosen istance between the e gunmen fired the wimming pool in te was just 82 feet
ear shot. It was the e only place in the bd where they could nim inside the com" Bakeermarkar, 20, cross the street from
) meters) stone walls sh fence and heavy | Kadirgamar’s resistreet junction in a y neighbourhood. on Buller Crescent of Buller Lane was of special security
is along the left side Buller Lane to sepas house from the ouse from where the portedly at least two d the killing. e that had obstructed wimming pool in : from the toilet winor of the Thalayad been cut down. clf had been covered ving uncovered an s fanlight sufficient e-built sniper's rifle e direction of the ning pool.
Special Task Force mmando arm of the into the house oppoe assassins struck. they first found two y used for carrying 'aring the names of udali Vidyalaya, ell known Sri Lankan Arnold. The police sailants would have o transport some of
| an improvised tritfitted on to it with facing the window. niper cartridge casngrenade cartridges, 's, cheese, fruitcake, u" were also found as also evidence that d“sili sili" shopping
TAM TIMES 7
bags to dump their excreta and urine in a bid not to use the toilets and give away the fact of their occupancy.
Reportedly, Mrs. Kadirgamar had seen her husband being shot as he stood a little distance away from the pool in the flood-lit garden. As she ran towards the fallen minister his bodyguards had warned her off as at least two other shots hit the nearby wall.
When members of the STF arrived at the scene within 15 minutes of the shooting, their immediate attention was drawn towards the second floor window of the house opposite the slain Minister's residence, according to STF Chief, DIG Nimal Lewke.
Finding the gates locked, the STF of ficers had climbed over the wall and woken up the occupants - cricket captain of the 1965 Royal College team, Lakshman Thalaiyasingam (58) and his wife, Vipiyan Selvallogini Thalaiyasingam (42) who is partially paralysed after suf. fering a stroke.
Inside the house, the officers found nothing suspicious on the ground floor. However, officers retrieved an empty 40 mm grenade cartridge from the corridor on the upper floor of the house.
However, a further search of the premises on the following morning led the officers to six packs of 40 mm grenade packs and a grenade launcher abandoned in the back garden. Police also later recovered the alleged sniper rifle from a shrub near the residence.
Lewke said that investigators felt the assailants had jumped over the back wall of the house and run towards Narahenpita after the shooting. Lewke added that it was hard to believe that the occupants of the house were unaware of the events that took place Friday night as the house had only one entrance and anyone would have to enter through that entrance, especially to go to the toiletupstairs. "Even if they did not know of anyone entering their house, the noise during the shoot out would have been hard to miss," he said.
The Thalaysinghams had insisted that they were not aware of anything going on upstairs. The husband had claimed that he returned from the Otters Aquatic club and did not hear anything. They had told police that they had no idea who came and went from the servant quarters. Both were subsequently taken into custody for questioning.
Police said that no one could have entered the top floor without going

Page 8
8 TAM TIMES
through the ground floor. In fact the door to the top floor had been closed with the key in place at the time the commandos entered the house.
LTTE denies involvement
The LTTE denied any involvement in the assassination of Foreign Minister Kadirgamar and laid the blame on other south-based forces opposed to the ceasefire agreement. In a statement issued on the TamilNet website, political wing leader S P Tamilselvan condemned the government for "hastily blaming the Liberation Tigers for the killing".
TamilNet quoted him as saying that there were several forces opposed to the ceasefire agreement in the south. "We also know that there are sections within the Sri Lankan Armed forces operating with a hidden agenda to sabotage the ceasefire agreement," he asserted. He urged the government to "conduct a thorough investigation to identify the assassins."
Tamilselvan said that the government, ridden with internal rifts and power struggles, should look inwards for culprits of the assassination. There is a growing trend in the south to blame the LTTE for all killings, he affirmed.
No doubt, it’s the Ti The Sri Lanka's p( that there was not even that the Tamil Tigers assassination of the isla ister. Even as the evid ing up against the II claimed that it had cor the Tamil Tigers we
gamar's killing.
A sequence of eve show that Kadirgama been hiding in an adjc looking his swimming two days. A 7.62 mm shoot the minister at The weapon has notb investigators found cy bullet casings from th police have now nabb pects and are matching gerprint samples pick pod and bathroom wi say there is conclusiv that it was the LTTE. Govt rejects Tiger d However, Govern Minister Nimal Siripa news conference in government did not a by
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AUGUST 2005
gers lice have claimed a shadow of doubt were behind the ind's Foreign Minence was now pilTTE, the police clusive proof that re behind Kadir
htspiecedtogether ur’s attackers had ining house overg pool for at least rifle was used to least three times. een traced, though anide caspules and 2 crime scene. The ved dozens of susgthe DNA and fined up from the triindow. The police 2 enough evidence
lenial ment Spokesman, la de Silva saidata Colombo that the ccept the denial of
the LTTE.
“The LTTE has nied any involveent in the killing ut the government nds it difficult to ceptit,” he said acsing the LTTE of immittinga serious olation of the asefire. De Silva binted out that the TE had made conadictory stateents on the murder. While denying any volvement in the ling, the organisaon on the other nd had said in anher story in the o-LTTE Nidaranam website that ith “the term of the overnment coming an end, Kadirgnartoo comes to an ld.'
Military Spokiman Brigadier aya Ratnayake deared, "there seems
to be no doubt there is LTTE involvement.” He said the assassination had “all the hallmarks of a LTTE assassination plot." He said early this month two persons were arrested outside Mr. Kadirgamar's official residence at Wijerama Mawatha. “They were filming and taking photographs of his residence. We questioned them and have confirmed that they are members of the LTTE," he said. Police Chief Chandra Fernando backed Minister de Silva's claim that the LTTE was involved. He said from the weapons used for the killing, a 7.62 telescopic sniper gun and the grenade launcher found later, it is obvious the LTTE was behind the killing. He explained that the 7.62 gun, the telescopic sniper weapon and 40mm grenades were used only by the LTTE. "No one has such weapons. Even the photographic and video evidence we uncovered by arresting two persons near the Buller's Lane residence two weeks earlier and the intelligence received for the last five years points the finger at the LTTE" he said.
Military spokesman Brig Daya Ratnayake also maintained that the killing was an act of the LTTE. "Minister Kadirgamar has been on their hit list for years. They had been trying for the last ten to twelve years to eliminate him, he was a prime target," he said.
Asked as to why the LTTE would risk international censure by killing Kadirgamar, Brig Ratnayake said: "What has happened to the LTTE after condemnation by the international community? Nothing at all. The international community must take physical action to penalise them and not just make statements." He added, "The LTTE are not worried about condemnation because they think they can regain support after some time. That's what happened after Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's killing. They only suffer temporary losses. Their mechanisms and lobbying networks are functioning well."
"The LTTE used similar tactics when they killed someone called Robert (Subathiran, an EPRLF leader) in Jaffna two years ago. We have collected all the DNA samples and now have dozens in our custody. It's only a matter of time before we narrow down the culprits,” said Chandra Fernando, IGP, Colombo. Magisterial Inquiry
During the magisterial inquiry subsequently held, a witness to testify was the main occupant of the house that the assassins used to carry out their deadly

Page 9
AUGUST 2005
mission. He identified himself as Mr Luxmanan Thalayasingham. In his evidence, he informed the Chief Magistrate that the house in question belonged to his brother, Jayendran, currently residing in England and that he and his wife had been living in this house for the past 10 years. He confirmed that the house in question consisted of two rooms downstairs and three rooms upstairs.
He informed court that they have had twelve servants over aperiod and that the last to be employed was there for only five days. He also said that he got the servants from his wife's contacts and friends and that the last one, who was there for five days, was introduced to them by his neighbour, Dev, whom he had got to know only a year ago.
Mr. Thalayasingham also confirmed that he was not aware of, either the whereabouts or, of any information about
any relatives of the ployed.
When asked wh stairs rooms, Mr Tha that no one used the used only to store said that the upstairs visited for more tha and that he didn'th back up a suspicion
On further Thalayasingham sai the incident, he hac house at l l a.m. an p.m. He found all lo ruling out any foul that he went to slee 9.45 p.m. and got t dent only when Arm search his house aro night the shooting o
Diplomatic offensive
by Government
Colombo launched a diplomatic offensive following Lakshman Kadirgamar's assassination for which the Government blamed the LTTE. President Kumaratunga herselfled the way when in an address to the nation said, "The community of nations represented by the United Nations Organization and its Security Council has now united to oppose terrorism practically and effectively. We know that the international community will be strengthened in their resolve to stand with me and my freely elected, democratic Government against the terror and violence of the LTTE.'
As the first step in this diplomatic offensive, Foreign Secretary H.M.G. S. Palihakkara and the Secretary General of the government's Peace Secretariat, Jayantha Dhanapalabriefed the diplomats on the danger of terrorism faced by Sri Lanka and urged the international community to take practical and effective measures to Suppress and prevent terrorism. Colombo based Ambassadors and High Commissioners and a large number of concurrently accredited envoys based in New Delhi and other Asian capitals and heads of international agencies attended the briefing.
The recommencement of any dialogue with the LTTE has been seriously undermined by the murder of former Foreign Minister Lakshamn Kadirgamar, said Head, Government Peace Secretariat Jayantha Dhanapala in a briefing to the diplomatic community in Colombo.
Dhanapala observed that the assassination would be a grave setback to the peace process. However, he pointed out that since the process had been in abeyance since April 2003, there would be no such disruption to the peace talks. "Although there has been no breakthrough in talks, the restarting of the peace process has seriously been undermined due to this development,” Dhanapala said.
In the light of the assassination, there had to be a serious review of certain policies and procedures in the peace process. "At the same time, notwithstanding this act of grave provoca
 

TAMIL TIMES 9
servants they em
o occupied the uplayasingham replied m and that they were clothes. He further rooms had not been un a year by anyone ave any evidence to
of trespassing. questioning, Mr. d that on the day of i gone to a friend's ld had returned at 3 cks and doors intact, play. He further said p that day at around o know of the incily personnel came to
"It is quite evident that from the top of my house there is quite a clear view of the pool of the former Minister's house. The security personnel should have made it a point to inspect it, if they suspected a threat to the Minister when he was there. Also, as far as I know, the shootings took place around l l p.m. But the security personnel arrived at my place around 1 a.m.” Mr. Thalayasingham stated.
Further investigations seem to have revealed that two sons of retired SP Thalaysingham living in the UK had asked their brother living in the Thalaysingham residence to go to the UK some days before the assassination of Kadirgamar. The two brothers living in the UK had asked their brother to sell the property and leave the country for
und 1 a.m. the same ccurred.
the UK a short time earlier, according to sources said. O
tion, the Government will continue to adhere to the ceasefire." said Mr. Dhanapala and added that he hoped the international community, including the co-chairs of the 2003 Tokyo Donor Conference, would recognize their responsibility to take action. Foreign Secretary Palihakkara called upon the international community to take anti-terrorism measures such as sanctions and internationally isolating the responsible entities and individuals, and engaging in international law enforcement cooperation against their terrorist activities. He stressed that the need of the hour was to follow up on the recognition of the nature of the act, by taking practical and effective measures for the prevention and suppression of terrorism.
He said that on the basis of the investigations, the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar clearly carried the hallmarks of the LTTE. In this context Mr. Palihakkara went on to welcome the accurate characterization of the assassination as a "truly vicious terrorist act” by many international statesmen, in their messages of condolence.
The island's Ambassador in the United States Bernard Goonetilleke said that he had emphasized to the United States Government the need to send a strong message to the LTTE and had urged that the US Government examines what options were available to it, in view of the rapid escalation of provocative terrorist activities by Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers.
Goonetilleke made these observations when he spoke to media personnel, who attended the signing of the Condolence Book opened at the Sri Lanka Embassy in Washington by the United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Tuesday 16.
The ambassador appreciating the accurate characterization of the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar as a "terrorist act” by many distinguished international leaders in their messages of condolence, he emphasized "the need of the hour is now to follow up on the recognition of the nature of the terrorist act, by taking practical and effective measures as required by international law, for the prevention and suppression of terrorism.'
Earlier, the United States Secretary of State Dr. Rice, after signing the Condolence Book at the Sri Lanka Embassy in Washington, D.C., remarked, “there can be no cause that is justified

Page 10
10 TAMIL TIMES
by terrorism and by violence. And I want to say to the (Sri Lankan) President that we have been impressed with her vision and with the people of Sri Lanka, and how they have responded to this tragedy. We call upon all parties to try and find a way to peace."
Ambassador Goonetilleke further briefing the Washington press corps said he appreciated the important role played by the international community in the face ofterrorism, and particularly naming of the Tiger outfit as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the US Government as early as in 1997, which had forced the LTTE to enter into a ceasefire agreement in February 2002 and subsequently to the negotiating table. However, it was clear that the LTTE had only done so only in order to “buy time' in the international climate that they faced in the aftermath of 9/ 11. "Regrettably the international response has not been adequate for the LTTE to change its unacceptable behaviour," Goonetilleke said.
He called for concerted international action that was immediate and tangible against the LTTE, to include not only those that have a bearing on the LTTE, but also its numerous front organizations in many countries through which the organization continues its reign of terror in Sri Lanka. "These measures could include sanctions and internationally isolating responsible entities and individuals, and engaging in international law enforcement cooperation, against terrorist activities.”
Bernard Goonetilleke presenting factual data to the Washington press corps said, 'according to the Scandinavian truce monitors, up to May 2005, the LTTE had committed 2903 ceasefire violations, including assassination of members of the democratic political parties, government officials, civilians and
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members of the armed forces and the police; abductions for ransom, forcible recruitment of young boys and girls in their early teens and a host of other criminal activities. In contrast, the Sri Lanka Government has violated the ceasefire 131 times, which has largely been instances of harassment. The LTTE also does not permit democratic dissent in the areas dominated by them and has systematically eliminated all political opponents through assassinations.'
"War is not an option'
TTE - -- ܀ ܥ ܀
Aug 17 - Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers for the first time said that they would not resume their two-decade old war against the island state in the aftermath of being accused of assassinating the country's foreign minister. But they would face it 'if it is thrust upon the Tamil people."
In an exclusive interview with Reuters, in contrast to recent warnings of an imminent return to war, they said abiding by an ongoing truce was the only way to resurrect a stalled peace process.
“We want to maintain the ceasefire momentum, the peace. and ensure that we walkback into the peace process again,” S.P. Thamilselvan, head of the Tigers' political wing, told Reuters in the rebel stronghold of Kilinochchi late on Tuesday (16).
“War is not an option," "But if war is thrust upon the Tamil people, we will have no option but to face it." "So it's in the hands of the government,” he said.
The Tigers have said repeatedly in recent weeks the truce, in place since 2002, could collapse because of a rash of killings in the restive east that the military and rebels each blame on the other.
He toned down his recent threats that the ceasefire could collapse unless the military disarmed a renegade rebel faction attacking Tiger cadres in the east, saying the group's leadership "may have to sit down and think about it" if the killings continued.
But the rebels still demand that the government stick to the terms of the ceasefire and disarm the renegade faction - which it has refused to do.
"The most simple way to get the peace process back on track is by sincerely and effectively giving implementation status to the ceasefire agreement," Thamilselvan said. "That alone is sufficient to get the peace process back on trackfor the parties to sit down and talk."
The Tamil Tigers have denied involvement in the Foreign Minister's murder, but few in Colombo believe the Tigers' denial of any role in his killing. Though credited with scores of killings over the years, the LTTE has never officially claimed any one of them, analysts in Colombo say,
Kadirgamar, a Tamil, is seen by many of his community as a traitor to their cause after campaigning to have the LTTE banned internationally as a terrorist group, and defending the Sri Lankan armed forces against international criticism of human rights violations. However, Mr. Thamilchelvan said that although his organisation had little regard for Mr. Kadirgamar, a close confidante of President Kumaratunga, it did not mean the LTTE killed him.
"The collective Tamil thinking and the judgment ... of the man is that he is a traitor.' Thamilselvan said. "This does not necessarily mean he has earned his death, because it is not just Mr. Kadirgamar who did this. "An eye-for-an-eye and a tooth

Page 11
AUGUST 2005
for-a-tooth is not the concern at the moment when we are strongly committed to the ceasefire agreement," he added. "We are seriously interested in the ceasefire agreement."
The Tigers say Kadirgamar's killing by snipers late on Friday (12) was probably an inside job by elements opposed to the peace process. But Thamilselvanstopped short of accusing anyone directly, saying it was up to the police to investigate and find the culprits and for the courts to try them. Kadirgamar "had 24-hour security," he said. "So if in the end someone had been able to infiltrate into that set up and meticulously carry out a killing, definitely there is an inside element in this matter." (Source: Reuters)
“Hero of our times'
- President
August 14 - The following is the text of the address to the nation made by President Chandrila Kumaratunga two days af. ter the assassination ofForeign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar: "I address you today at a time of profound sorrow. The nation has lost a leader, a great humanist and I have lost a dear friend and colleague. Minister Kadirgamar was the one Minister, who worked most closely with me in the critical area of the fight against terrorism and the attempt to bring about a negotiated political solution to the Tamil people's problem.
Initial indications of the investigations seem to reveal the responsibility of the LTTE in his brutal murder. It is unacceptable that a group that talks endlessly about being committed to a ceasefire would so blatantly violate it. This violation of the ceasefire is the latest in a continuous series of violations by the LTTE. The LTTE has denied involvement in the murder. Their denial contradicts the facts and our knowledge of their long held desire and repeated attempts to murder both my Tamil Cabinet Colleagues.
Lakshman Kadirgamar was a hero of our times. He was a true patriot who paid the ultimate price in the service of his motherland. Minister Kadirgamar was a Sri Lankan nationalist, who believed passionately in a united and democratic Sri Lanka, in which all peoples would live with dignity and freedom. He envisioned a negotiated political settlement of the ethnic problem that combined devolution of political power with pluralism and democracy. He strived hard for the democratic rights of the Tamil people. He constantly grieved the subjugation of the Tamil people to LTTE authoritarianism.
Minister Kadirgamar was an idealist. Long before 9/11 and the London bombings, long before terrorism became anathema to the Western World, he spoke out against terrorism in Sri Lanka and abroad and explained and convinced the international community that terrorism is no freedom struggle and in fact destroys the very freedom it claims to achieve. During my first government, he was instrumental in having the LTTE recognized internationally for what they are, an armed terrorist group. Consequently they were proscribed in the leading nations of the World. The USA, the UK, Australia followed India. He was an ardent promoter of ethnic harmony and Peace through a negotiated settlement of the conflict and played a crucial role in assisting me to create the conditions that persuaded the LTTE to come to the negotiating table.
Lakshman Kadirgamar was a greathuman being. An extremely successful sportsman in his youth, he gave up a lucrative and eminently successful legal practice to join with mé in 1994 to pursue the dream I hold for a united, peaceful arid prosperous

TAM TIMES 11
Sri Lanka. He was a rare combination of intellectual brilliance, political wisdom and personal courage and integrity. The entire nation will miss him. His brutal murder creates a vacuum that will be well nigh impossible to fill.
The assassination of Minister Kadirgamar was a horrendously barbaric act of terrorism against an unarmed civilian, perpetrated by those who opposed all the noble values that he stood for freedom, harmony, brotherhood and peace. Lakshman Kadirgamar joins along list of distinguished Tamil leaders such as Alfred Duraiappa, Amirthalingam, Neelan Thiruchelvam, Sam Thambimuttu, Sarojini Thiranagama and Kandasamy who were murdered by the LTTE in an attempt to subjugate the Tamil people through violence and terror.
Terrorism has become today, the single most dominant global phenomenon. From New York to London, the western world has begun to experience the terrorism which we have for long suffered in Sri Lanka. Terrorism has been condemned globally while its true nature is recognized and rejected. The community of nations represented by the United Nations Organization and its Security Council has now united to oppose terrorism practically and effectively. We know that the international community will be strengthened in their resolve to stand with me and my freely elected, democratic Government against the terror and violence of the LTTE.
We shall never bow down to terror, nor allow it to succeed neither will we compromise the security of our peoples. Yesterday I declared a state of emergency to ensure the security of the nation and also to assist in the search for the assassins of the Minister, and other terrorist operatives. After an emergency National Security Council meeting, several measures have been adopted to ensure tightened security throughout the country.
I have been a victim of terrorism many times, the attempton my life in 1999, the assassination of my father, my husband and several political associates, and now my Foreign Minister. However we cannot letterror and hatred overcome us. As long as the ethnic problem remains unresolved, violence and terror will always be with us. The terrorist challenge, we face today which claimed the life of Minister Kadirgamar requires adequate security measures to ensure that terror cannot act with impunity.
But this deals only with the manifestation of terrorism. This will not suffice. If we are to achieve lasting Peace, we need to deal with the root causes of the politics of violence and terror. For this we need an enlightened vision and policy that will seek out the true causes of ethnic conflict in our land and redress it objectively and effectively. Passion and subjectivity can have no place in this process. Those extremist forces who oppose even minishal concessions toward peace, must know that they are responsible for the perpetuation of the terrorist cause, in as much as the LTTE is responsible for generating it,
We must prevail to ensure that Lakshman Kadirgamar's sacrifice has not been in vain. I will redouble my efforts and the commitment of my government to implement the task of devolution of power based on a democratic and pluralistic society, through dialogue with all the communities inhabiting our land. To achieve this, I and my Government need the continued support and encouragement of our peoples as well as that of Sri Lanka's friends in the international community.
I appeal to all Sri Lankans not to be provoked by this wanton terrorist attack and to act with utmost restraint at this mo
ment.
May the blessings of the Triple Gem God Almighty and the Devas be with you always.”

Page 12
12 TAMIL TIMES
Top Tamil broadcaster,
husband shot dead
August 13 - A well-known popular Tamil newscaster and presenter of Rupavahini and her husband were brutally shot and killed Friday 12 August by unidentified gunmen at their Bambalapitiya residence adjoining Kinross Communications and Travel Centre run by them.
The victims 44-year-old Mrs Relangi Selvarajah and her husband SinnaduraiSelvarajah (47) were reportedly gunned down inside their house adjoining the communications centre at St. Peters Lane opposite St. Peters College. The news of couple's murder in broad daylight in Colombo receded into the background and did not receive the usual publicity it would have attracted because of the assassination of Lakshman Kadirgamar a few hours later on the same day which began to dominate the media scene.
Relangi Selvarajah was a well-known news presenter for state television Rupavahini and the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. She also produced the SLBC's Ithaya Veenai programme which was on occasions critical of the LTTE. Relangi was also well known for her TV talk shows and was the Tamil announcer for major events shown live on TV.
Mrs. Selvarajah started her broadcasting career as an announcer of the Jaffna "Manikkural” local broadcasting service from 1979 to 1983. She joined the SLBC in 1987 and became a senior announcer in 2000. A popular face on the Channel Eye Tamil programmes and newscasts of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini
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AUGUST 2005 Corporation (SLRC), Selvarajahanchored the Uthaya Darisanam programme every Sunday from 9 a.m to 10.30 a.m. She also played an award-winning role in the 1978 Tamil film Theivam Thantha Veedu. Relangi, a mother of one, was also an exponent of Barathanatyam. She hailed from Kurumbachitty, Jaffna.
Four employees had been working at the communications centre and three of them had gone for lunch while the other had gone to the bank at the time of the slaying.
The assailants who had stormed into the communication centre around 1.00 p.m. had entered the victim's house and fired several shots repeatedly at the couple killing them on the spot. Bambalapitiyapolice who are conducting investigations said they found ten rounds of ammunition which had been fired from a 9mm pistol at the crime scene. According to police, so far no clue of the killers has been established but there is some suspicion as to whether it could be the work of an LTTE pistol gang because of Relangi Selvarajah's artistic and journalist work. Relanagi's husband is said to have been a PLOTE supporter which also might have had a bearing on them being targeted by the LTTE. Democratic People's Liberation Front (DPLF), the political wing of PLOTE said Mr. Selvarajah, was one of their supporters. "We have no doubt that this is the work of the LTTE,” DPLF leader Dharmalingam Sitharthan was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying.
Jitney Pooneshkumar sister of the slain broadcaster, said all four employees of the Communication Centre had unusually gone out together and this left room for suspicion. "Usually at leastone employee remains in the centre while others go out, but today all of them had gone out together and this is suspicious" she said. She said the slain couple had a one-year-old baby.
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AUGUST 2005
UN protest over
flag incident
August 15-The UN office in Colombo strongly condemned the LTTE for bringing down the UN flags at UN Office in Killinochchi flown half mastin honour of the Late Mr. Lakshman Kadirgamar.
A group of pro-LTTE activists on Monday (15) stormed the UN agencies compound in LTTE-held Kilinochchi and brought down UN flags flying at half-mast on the day of national mourning and funeral of the assassinated Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, "The raid would not have taken place without the LTTE's express orders," an army spokesman said.
Brennon Jones, the spokesman for the UN Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka, Miguel Bermeo told the BBC that the United Nations was disturbed and saddened by the incidents that took place in Kilinochchi.
“As a sign of respect and solidarity, the UN flags were flying at half-mast during a day of national mourning and of the funeral of Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister who had been tragically assassinated on 12 August,” he said.
Describing the incident, the spokesman Brennon Jones said a group of some 60 persons forcibly entered the UN agency compound in Kilinochchi and proceeded to bring down the UN flags.
The compounds included UNHCR, UNDP and UNICEF. These regrettable incidents took place after UN staff refused to comply with the group's demand that the flag not be flown at half-mast.
"The United Nations condemns these kinds of incidents in the strongest possible terms. We are here to serve the needs of all the people of Sri Lanka and we expect that UN staff and property should be respected and protected if we are able to fulfilour mission,' the statement further said.
In the wake of these incidents, the UN Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka has issued a protest to the LTTE, as the incident took place in a LTTE-controlled area. He has also requested that the LTTE ensure such incidents do not occur again. The Government of Sri Lanka has been informed accordingly, he said.
A media release issued by the Sri Lankan presidential secretariat said, "The international community has condemned the murder of the late Foreign Minister. Having noted, the statement of the President of the United Nation's Security Council, President Kumaratunga has condemned the violation of the UN of fices in Killinochchi by the LTTE and regrets that this incident has taken place, besmirching cordial relations between SriLanka and the United Nations, in the 50th year of Sri Lanka's membership in that organization."
Human Rights Watch on Murder of Foreign Minister
New York, August 16, 2005. The assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar in Colombo on Friday (12 August) highlights Sri Lanka's spiralling crisis ofpolitical killings, Human Rights Watch said.
Kadirgamar is the latest and most prominent victim of political violence that has continued in Sri Lanka since the 2002 ceasefire between the government and the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Since the ceasefire, more than
 

TAMIL TIMES 13
200 people, mostly Tamils, have been killed for political reasons. Most of the murders have been attributed to the LTTE. The rate of attacks has escalated since April 2005, with credible reports estimating the rate ofkillings at one a day by June 2005. "The murder of Lakshman Kadirgamar is the latest act of political brutality in Sri Lanka. Sadly, it is unlikely to be the last," said Sam Zarifi, deputy director of Human Rights Watch's Asia Division. "Real action is needed by all sides to get the killings to stop."
Responsibility for the murder of Kadirgamar, a Tamil politician who had long been critical of the LTTE, has not been determined. As Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister from 1994 to 2001, and again since 2004, he was instrumental in having the LTTE declared a terrorist organization in several countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom. Sri Lankan authorities have blamed the LTTE for the murder, but the investigation is continuing. The LTTE denied any role in the murder, blaming forces opposed to the cease-fire agreement. The LTTE has issued similar denials even in other cases of political assassinations where they were clearly involved.
In addition to Kadirgamar, Friday night marked the murder of Relanghai Selvarajah, a Tamil producer of a popular radio program that was very critical of the LTTE.
Human Rights Watch expressed concern about possible reprisals against Tamils living in government-controlled areas. The police have deployed 1,000 officers to find Kadirgamar's assassins. The government also declared a state of emergency nationwide, giving security forces sweeping powers to deploy troops, arrest persons without charge, and search and demolish buildlings.
Human Rights Watch reminded the government that even under a state of emergency it cannot violate basic international human rights such as the right to life; freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; and freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. Arbitrary deprivations of liberty or deviations from the fundamental principles of a fair trial, including the presumption of innocence, are not permitted. Human Rights Watch urged the Sri Lankan government to publicly issue instructions to the army, police, intelligence services and other state institutions to this effect.
"At this critical hour, the government needs to exercise restraint, and make sure the security and investigative forces follow internationally accepted norms,” said Zarifi. "Many innocent Tamils have suffered unjustly in the past when the government has ignored their basic rights. The government must vigilantly safeguard the rights of the minority communities."
Human Rights Watch also called on the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, the Norwegian-led body responsible for enforcing the terms of the Cease Fire Agreement, to inquire into and hold accountable those responsible for the growing crisis of political killings.”
| Tamilsel van condemns "the knee jerk accusation”
August 14 - LTTE has strongly condemned the knee jerk reaction of the government in accusing LTTE for the murder of Foreign Minister Kadirgamar. The Leader of the Political wing of LTTE, Mr S P Tamilselvan said,
"It has become the habit of the government and the security forces of blaming LTTE for all murders committed in the south.
In the current ceasefire environment, within the highly pro

Page 14
14 TAMIL TIMES
tected zones in Colombo, it is impossible for the LTTE to carry out any such attacks. We totally reject the accusation levelled against the LTTE.
The view being expressed that this attack resembles past LTTE attacks is very suspicious. Kadirgamar was given very high security. There were news reports that more than 100 security personnel were giving him protection. The chances of an outsider carrying out such a well planned and precise attack within such a high security area are minimal. Watching the news reports that are coming out our suspicions fall on the security forces and those who were providing him the protection.
Kadirgamar had the opportunity to carry out a false propaganda on a worldwide scale against the Tamil people’s struggle and the LTTE. However, in the present context LTTE has direct contact and relationship with the international community. This environment permits us to have direct line of communication immediately.
Kadirgamar's past actions have been weakened in today's context. Therefore this murder is intended to create a wrong impression about the LTTE and the Tamil people in the world stage. We are examining the situation. We will state our position only after finding out the reasons behind this murder. We condemn the instant accusation of LTTE.
As far as we are concerned we view this to be an outcome of the weaknesses and contradictions within the government and in the security situation. We do not think that this incident will worsen the contradictions between the two sides. We are very clear about this.
The security forces and the armed paramilitaries are together carrying out many murders and activities that are causing confusion. We have pointed out this worsening situation in the past. It
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s this that has pushed the ceasefire situation into serious state." aid Tamilselvan (Source: LTTE Peace Secretariat, Kilinochchi)
Rescuing the CFA from Wreckage
Aug 19 - Former United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka seresita Schaffer told the media in a special statement on Foreign Minister Kadirgamar assassination that the Government of Sri Lanka had shown courage and statesmanship in trying to rescue he ceasefire (with the LTTE) from wreckage in which it stood, and strongly advocated to both warring sections "before one can alk seriously about a peace process again, I think it will be necessary for both sides to clarify what they mean by ceasefire.' "Both the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE should re-commit to the goals they expressed in Oslo over two years ago" she further noted.
Schaffer was the United States envoy to Sri Lanka from 1992 through 1996, and is presently the Program Director for South Asia in Center for International and Strategic Studies, an influential think tank in Washington.
Noting that she had last met Minister Kadirgamar only a month ago (July) when she was in Colombo, the former US Ambassador said, "What horrifying news. I knew Kadirgamar well during his first time as foreign minister. I feel it very personally, having worked closely with him during my tenure as ambassador' she said.
"Perhaps the most devastating loss Sri Lanka has suffered in over two decades of civil war is the death of so many of its most promising leaders. Kadirgamar's assassination is one more in that already over-long list. With each additional killing, it becomes more difficult to make peace.
"This is not just because this type of murder is precisely what the ceasefire was supposed to prevent; it is not just because it quite understandably devastates whatever beginnings of trust had been created during the period since peace talks began. It is also because Sri Lanka needs leaders in order to move ahead, and it especially needs strong leaders in order to make peace. So killing Kadirgamar is a life-threatening wound to Sri Lanka's future.'
LTTE, SLMM discuss deteriorating situation
Aug 18- Head of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission Mr. Hagrup Haukland and the LTTE's Political Head Mr. S.P. Thamilchelvan met in Kilinochchi and discussed the deteriorating situation in the NorthEast. Mr. Thamilchelvan, talking to press after meeting the truce monitors, said that he had conveyed in "clear terms' to Government that abiding by the Ceasefire Agreementon which the whole process had been based for more than three and a half years was the "immediate need of the moment.” Mr. Thamilchelvan accused the Sri Lankan armed forces in Jaffna for violating CFA by "abducting" a disabled LTTE cadre who was on vacation for medical treatment with his parents. This abduction was a serious violation of the CFA, he said.
Acknowleging that the Norwegian Foreign Minister Mr. Jan Petersen, had sent a message to the LTTE leader Mr. V. Pirapaharan, Mr. Thamilchelvan told reporters that the Norwegian FM had invited both the parties to engage in discussions to take forward the Cease Fire Agreement. The LTTE leadership will soon send a reply to the specific invitation made by the Norwegian FM, Mr. Thamilchelvan told the reporters.Talking briefly to the reporters after the meeting, SLMM Head Mr.

Page 15
AUGUST 2005
Hagrup Haukland welcomed the continuous commitment expressed by the parties to the February 2002 CFA agreement.
There is a serious responsibility on the part of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission to ensure the terms of the agreement are implemented in full, Mr. Thamilchelvan told the press after the meeting with the truce monitors at the LTTE's Peace Secretariat in Kilinochchi.
The situation in the East was also disucssed in the meeting, according to the website of the LTTE Peace Secretariat. Colombo should prohibit the paramilitary groups operating in the SILA held territories, Mr. Thamilchelvan had told the Head of Mission, who was concerned over the recent spate of killings in the east. The website further said that the Head of SLMM had made reference to a formal complaint made by the Sri Lankan government, accusing the LTTE of committing the assassination of the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mr. Lakshman Kadirgamar. "Rejecting the allegation as totally unfounded, unsubstantiated and aimed at a malicious political agenda of discrediting the LTTE," Mr.Thamilchelvan had told SLMM chief that it was "very unfortunate that those responsible for crime investigation too jump on to the political bandwagon and pass verdicts well before investigations proper commence, enabling the offenders to go scot-free," the website reported.
Jaffna SP hacked to death
A senior police officer was abducted and hacked to death following the death of man who was killed when a soldier's gun accidentally discharged on Thursday, 4 Augustin northern Jaffna. The slain police officer was Superintendent of Police (SP), Jaffna, W.D. Charlie Wijewardene whose severely mutilated dead body was later recovered with multiple cuts and stab wounds from a wooded area in Suthumalai about 4km away from where he was abducted by his captors. The body was found stripped of his uniform and was clad in a sarong.
The slain SP is the senior-most police officer to be killed since Colombo and the LTTE signed a ceasefire agreement in February 2002.
The SP had rushed to the scene of an earlier incident in which a Tamil civilian, Jeyaseelan Santharuban, 24, was killed in an accident inside a barber saloon. Santharuban was killed when an army soldier's gun accidentally discharged. The accident occurred when one of the soldiers who were inside the saloon for a hair cut had handed over his weapon to another soldier. The incident took place at Innuvil junction located on KKS Road, 4 km from Jaffna town.
Subsequent to the incident, a group of individuals alleged by the army to have been instigated by LTTE operatives went on a rampage, burning tires and throwing stones at army positions and setting fire to military vehicles. The police had rushed to the scene to calm the situation and in order to restore order.
SP Wijewardene also had gone to the scene to defuse the situation. At the time he was unarmed and without his usual security. The SP was moving with the crowds trying to ease the tensions. Reportedly, a few from the crowd had invited him into another premises to negotiate with the agitated people. They had allegedly kept him inside saying that he would be released only after the LTTE's Jaffna district political head Mr. Ilamparithy who was said to be on his way to the scene arrived and after the LTTE head had talked to the SP. When the army was informed of the detention of the SP, the shop was cordoned off by the security forces. However, the SP's abductors had blindfolded him, bundled him into a van and slipped out through the backstreets until they found a safe place where the SP was

TAM TIMES 15
tortured and hacked to death.
Inuvil area was tense after the incident and riot police were called in disperse the protestors. Police also fired tear gas to keep the crowd away. Large number of soldiers and police were deployed at Maruthanamadamjunction and other areas in the close proximity of the site. Sri Lanka Army (SLA) controlled areas in the Jaffna district were brought under police curfew with effect from Thursday night 8.30 p.m. till Saturday 5 am.
According to news reports Jaffna parliamentarian, Senathiraja, was "the first to inform the incident at 2 p.m. on Thursday to SLMM officials in Jaffna urging them to rush to the scene to control the situation." "However the SLMM officials were not there in time to deal with the situation. They came rather late - after around one and a halfhours when the agitation had gone beyond control," he said. "If they had reached the spot immediately they could have brought the situation under control. The SLMM office is only four kilometres away from Inuvil where the incident occurred,” Senathiraja said.
Defence Spokesman of the Sri Lanka Army, Brigadier Daya Ratnayake speaking to the BBC, reiterated that the incident that took place in a saloon in the Inuvil area of Jaffna was a genuine accident. Brigadier Ratnayake stressed that the LTTE was carrying out a mudslinging campaign to discredit security forcers in the wake of this accident and pointed out that the army is in a position to produce photographic evidence to prove that the incident was unintended.
Further explaining as to what happened at the barber saloon, Brigadier Ratnayaka said "As some LTTE sources say the soldiers did not deliberately shoot at the barber. There were five soldiers who were present at the scene. Two ofthem went inside to take a haircut, handing over there weapons to the others who were outside. The gun misfired and wounded the barber. It was an accident and we are dealing with the soldiers accordingly." He said that the two SILA soldiers allegedly involved in the shooting incident were being handed over to the Police for further inquiries, and the Magistrate had remanded them in custody.
Meanwhile, Mr.Chandra Fernando, Sri Lanka's Inspector General of Police (IGP), has appointed a twelve-member team headed by Mr.Mahinda Balasuriya, senior police officer to conduct inquiry into the killing Mr. Charles Wijewardene, Jaffna.
As the authorities blamed LTTE cadres for the murder of the SP, denying any involvement in the murder the LTTE attributed the killing to an angry crowd of people who had been provoked by the killing of the barber by the soldier.
SP's murder suspect arrested: Aug 18 - In a joint operation conducted by the military and the police, an LTTE cadre, Gopalan Weerapandian (Gopi) alleged to be involved in the killing Jaffna SP Charles Wijewardena (posthumously promoted SSP), was arrested near the Jaffna University at 10.05 a.m. on 17 August.
Security squads had rushed to the scene after receiving a tip off. The LTTE cadres had reportedly fired at government personnel seriously wounding Sgt. Tillakaratne of the Jaffna Police and a police constable attached to the CID. They had managed to apprehend one suspect but several had fled.
The wounded had been admitted to the Jaffna Hospital. The condition of Sgt Tillakaratne, who had been shot in the chest, was reported to be serious and arrangements were being made to airlift him to Colombo.
According to the police, LTTE had abducted and killed Wijewardena two weeks earlier after he intervened to restore law and order in Jaffna and its suburbs after the accidental death of a barber in the Jaffna town.
The LTTE claimed that the arrested suspect was an innmocent person and demanded his immediate release at meeting between SLMM chief Hagrup Haukland and LTTE political wing leader S.P. Thamilselvan, SLMM. C

Page 16
16 TAMIL TIMES
ZeK teaeff
fareYkzekze
Sri Lanka cremated its slain Foreign Minister at a state funeral on Monday 15 August.
Several thousands of people attended the funeral of slain Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar which was held with full state honours at the country's Independence Square in the capital, Colombo. Late Kadirgamer’s son Ravi lit the funeral pyre after sunset.
Several thousands paid their last respects as the remains of Kadirgamar were taken in procession to the Independence Square from his official residence at Wijerama Mawatha in Colombo 7.
The military parade accompanied the cortege from the beginning of the drive of the Independence square to the venue where the funeral orations were made by religious leaders and the Prime minister on behalf of the Sri Lanka government,
A visibly emotional President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge dressed in white was present at the Independence Square and was seen consoling the wife of late Kadirgamar, Suganthi Kadirgamar who was sitting next to her. Kadir, as the Minister was known to his friends, was one of the President's closest confidants and advisers.
The respect Kadirgamar had won from the international community was marked by the presence of representatives from 12 nations.
It was notable that a high-level Indian delegation including Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh and Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran, were among delegations from 12 countries which included India, Pakistan, Nepal, Norway, Japan, the Maldives and others. On their arrival they drove straight to the official residence of Kadirgamar and laid a wreath on his body. The Indian delegation offered condolences to Kadirgamar's wife and Singh handed over to her a letter from Congress President Sonia Gandhi, the widow of Rajive Gandhi whose assassination was also blamed on the Tigers.
Among the visiting mourners were Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan Petersen and his deputy, Vidar Helgesen, both key players in the island's peace process
aimed at ending the l War.
Many parliament all political parties i of the Opposition Rai were presentat the In Earlier during th people were seen sta pay their last respect Kadirgamarathis off ated at the highly re Mawatha in Colomb ies and Buddhist moll were among the long filed past Kadirgam his official residence the funeral in Indepel Soldiers with se and sniffer dogs form the square and lined s white flags of moul Christian, Muslim an the ceremony.
The Government tional day of mour closed and shops and out of respect for the politician who had m by standing by his c tional flag was lower mark of respect for and the city wore a white flags and cond ting the city's public The outpouring much in evidence. H from mothers carryi cians, followed a b. gamar's coffin drape ange, green and maro to bid him a tearful fi est statesman of ol you," read a banner zens” group near o Square. Many open they had never felt li a politician was assa tropical island had politicians being ass two-decade long civi A military ban tunes filed past abol nearby park, which v an iron fence and arm

AUGUST 2005
置
ang drawn out civil
arians belonging to ncluding the leader hil Wickremesinghe dependence square. 2 day, thousands of inding in queues to s to the remains of icial residence situsidential Wijerama p. Foreign dignitarnks in saffron robes line of people who ar's open coffin at before gathering for hdence Square.
mi-automatic rifles led a cordon around treets trimmed with ning as Buddhist, ld Hindu priests led
had declared a naling. Schools were cinemas were shut charming, fatherly ade himselfa target pnvictions. The naed to half-mastas a the slain Minister funereal look with plence banners dot
spaces. of grief was very undreds of people, ng babies to politier carrying Kadird in the yellow, oron flag of Sri Lanka rewell. "The greatIr time: we salute held up by a citihe Independence y cried saying that ce this before when ssinated. The little fitnessed too many assinated during its
war. playing patriotic t 4,000 people in a ras cordoned offby 2d policeman. Some
people broke down in tears.
As the decorated hearse wound its way to the cremation site, followed by over a 1,000 people, the tri-services and the police marched to a funeral beat. The school flag of Trinity College, Kandy - from where Kadirgamar won the best allround student medal - was also carried at the procession. At the Independence Square, Kadirgamar's coffin, draped in the national flag, was carried by leading dignitaries. Buddhist, Christian, Muslim and Hindu clergy leaders spoke on the need for peace and prayed for the departed soul.
Speaking on behalf of the government at yesterday's funeral Prime Minister Rajapakse compared the 9/11 New York attacks, the London bombings and the assassinations of Rajiv Gandhi, President Premadasa, Presidential candidate Gamini Dissanayake and of Lakshman Kadirgamar as events of the same magnitude. While Al Qaeda was responsible for the first two, the LTTE carried out all the listed assassinations.
"The LTTE wants to divide Sri Lanka and destroy its democratic way of life and I urge all countries of the civilized world to join together to fight terrorism," Rajapakse said.
"In our moment of grief, we stand committed and united, irrespective of any differences there may be among us. We have no doubt, that all countries of the civilized worldwilljoin us, in as much as we join them, in the common struggle against terror, in every form and manifestation”.
Pointing out that Sri Lanka was a multiracial, multilinguistic and multireligious country, he said that we shared a common heritage and a common way of relating to the world and Lakshman Kadirgamar represented that reality and projected it effectively to the outside world. He said the LTTE sought to destroy this ground reality and their aim was to divide the country and destroy its democratic way of life. "The evil hand of terrorism, which threatens the very fabric of civilized society, has taken away yet another champion of peace - Lakshman Kadirgamar”, Rajapakse said. Though born a Tamil Christian by birth he was cremated amidst multi-faith prayers. After Buddhist, Hindu, Christian and Muslim religious sermons, white plumes of smoke rose into the sky as Kadirgamar’s son Sri Rathana Kadirgamarand nephew Kevin Jayawardana, lit the pyre with torches while the crowd looked solemnly on. O

Page 17
AUGUST 2005
Lakshman Kadirg
A Profile
Lakshman Kadirgamar was born on April 12th 1932. He hailed from a distinguished Tamil protestant family with deep roots in Jaffna. He was the youngest son of Sam J.C.Kadirgamar (Senior). S.J.C.Kadirgamar QC. (junior) was Lakshman's eldest brother. Lakshman's other older brothers were Col. Bai Kadirgamar of the Ceylon Army, Rear Admiral Rajan Kadirgamarofthe Ceylon Navy. The only surviving member of the family is Mrs. Isawari Richards, wife of the late Dr.A.M.D.Richards. Lakshman's mother is the older sister of the late Rev.B.C.D.Mather, grand-father of Sri Lankan Test cricketer Russel Arnold. Jaffha Collegeex-principal Rajan Kadirgamar was a first cousin of Lakshman.
Lakshman K was a distinguished product of Trinity College, Kandy where he was widely acclaimed for his all round excellence. He won Trinity's coveted Dr. Andreas Nell Memorial Prize for Ceylon History and the Napier Clavering Prize for English. He was the Editor of the College Magazine and captained the Cricket team.
An outstanding sportsman in his youth, he was also a rugby colours man and athletics Lion breaking many records in hurdles. He culminated his trail blazing school career being appointed as the Senior Prefect in 1949 and winner of the much coveted Ryde Gold Medal for the best all round student in 1950. Mr. Kadirgamar was offered the captaincy of the Sri Lanka contingent to the 1956 Melbourne Olympics but he declined to accept it due to pressure of his law examinations.
Mr. Kadirgamar read for his LLB degree at the University of Colombo. He obtained a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree from the University of Ceylon in 1953. He was placed first in the First Class at the Advocates Intermediate Examination the same year. The following year, he was placed first in the First Class at the Advocates Final Examination of the Ceylon Law College and was admitted to the Ceylon Bar in 1955. He later proceeded to Balliol College, University of Oxford where he read for a degree in Letters. In 1958 Mr. Kadirgamar
was admitted to the l as a Barrister at Lav completion of his st lege, Oxford, he was the University of C was elected to the President of the Oxl Recently, he w; Oxford Union when veiled by the Vice Patten, of this prest An all round spo the All India Hurd Ahmedabad and All ing glory of his legal was elected as an H Inner Temple, one Courts of England a year history, being ol to do so after form Minister Tunku Abd He headed a Uni tual Property Organ tor where he was 1 drafting of legislatic ermincntS.
Mr. Kadirgamar Ceylon Bar from 19 fore the Privy Cour years 1955 to 1960 practising among th of the time. He funct ant to the Internation tion (ILO) in Genev also the one-man pointed by Amnesty vestigate the Catholi Vietnam in 1963.
On resumption ( Lanka Bar, he spec cial, Administrative erty, Industrial and tional and Internati appointed President Mr. Kadirgamar of the Advisory Cor tual Property for the Lanka and the For Group appointed by Lanka. He chairedth grading Consultancy struction Industry ol He was a membel sultants on Law Ré appointed by the Mi

TAMIL TIMES 17
aar
Jnited Kingdom Bar v, Inner Temple. On udies at Balliol Colawarded a B.Lit. by )xford in 1960. He coveted post of the ord Union in 1959. is honoured by the his portrait was unChancellor, Chris igious university. rtsman, he also held les Record both at ahabad.The crowncareer was when he onorary Bencher of of the four ancient nd Wales in its 496 nly the second Asian dr Malaysian Prime ul Rahaman in 1974. ted Nations Intellecisation as its Direc"esponsible for the on of nineteen gov
practised law at the 60 to 1971 and becil, London, in the and 1971 to 1974, e eminent barristers ioned as a Consultal Labour organizara in 1974. He was Commissioner apInternational to inc-Buddhist crisis in
fpractice at the Sri alized in Commer, Intellectual PropLabour, Constituonal Law. He was 's Counsel in 1991. served as a member hmittee on IntellecGovernment of Sri sign Affairs Study the President of Sri Committee for UpServices in the Con
Sri Lanka. of the Panel of Conform in Sri Lanka lister of Justice. He
is the author of a number of articles published in international legal journals such as the Modern Law Review, The South African Law Journal, The Conveyancer, property law.
He entered poliics due to the efforts of Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam. He was appointed national list MP for consecutively for 4 times in 1994, 2000, 2001 and 2004. He functioned efficiently as Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister from 1994 to 2001 and from 2004 until his assassination on 12 August this year. He brought to his post the rich international experience he had gained. By any yardstick Kadirgamar was an outstanding Foreign Minister. "One of the best in the world,' as former Indian High Commissioner Gopal Gandhi put it. "The best chairperson for international conferences," said External Af. fairs Minister K Natwar Singh.
Kadirgamar became a trusted confidante of President Kumaratunga and played an active part in her government and in the peace process. He was primarily responsible for inviting the Norwegians to become facilitators in Sri Lanka's peace process. As Foreign Minister, he campaigned to secure the proscription of the LTTE in western countries like the UK and USA for which he earned the eternal wrath of the LTTE which denounced him as a "traitor'. While stressing the justifiability of the Tamil cause, he deprecated separatism, fascism and the crass militarism which had come to characterize the Tamil struggle for rights since the mid eighties. "Separatism is a kind of tribalism and I am not a tribalist," he is reported to have once said.
Interviewed on the BBC's "Hard Talk” programme Lakshman Kadirgamar was questioned: "By your own admission, you are at the top of the Tamil Tigers” hit list. How do you feel as an ethnic Tamil yourself to be reviled by the group?" in his reply Mr. Kadirgamar said "At birth I was given a label, the LTTE wants me to accept and approve everything that they do, the suicide bombers, the child soldiers, the political assassinations, the extortion of ordinary people. If being opposed to all that makes me a traitor which is what they call me sometimes. I am absolutely delighted to accept that appellation. I do it with pleasure.”
In another interview on the Japanese NHK programme, he was asked, “You (continued on next page)

Page 18
18 TAMIL TIMES
Reactions to
Kadigamar’s mu
International India shocked and pledges support: Pledging its full support to Sri Lanka in its hour of need, India has condemned unreservedly the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.
A Government statement issued in New Delhi said: "We have learnt with deep shock and profound grief of the brutal assassination of Sri Lanka’s distinguished Foreign Minister and long-standing friend of India, Lakshman Kadirgamar. This has been a heinous act and we condemn it unreservedly. We hope that the perpetrators of this terrorist crime will be brought to justice.
"We have every confidence that Government and friendly people of Sri Lanka will rise to the challenge and defeat the forces which seek to undermine Sri Lanka's unity and political stability. India will, as always, extend its full support to our friendly neighbour in its hour of need. The Government of India's support for the unity and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka remains constant and undiluted. "We convey the sincere condolences of the Government and people of India to Mrs Kadirgamar and the entire Kadirgamar family on their irreparable
loss. Our prayers are moment of sorrow.'
Meanwhile India Minister Natwar Sing message said Mr. Kad parture from the Sri scene had "created a difficult, if not impo "Mr. Kadirgamar is not only an immeas Government and peop also for our region ar democracy all overth The Government dia have losta trusted who at all times, uphe cause of partnership interaction between S with deep and passior mitment," he said. Congress Leader a National Advisory C. dhi in message to Mrs "My thoughts and p with you and your f heard of the tragic and your beloved husbat Kadirgamar was apers and dynamism. He w peace and to achieve h
(continued from page 17)
are from the Tamil community. You try to re-build the friendship between both peoples. So could you tell me your intention? What is it going to be?
In reply Kadirgamar said, "I am first and foremost a citizen of Sri Lanka, I don't carry labels of race or religion, or any other label. I would say quite simply that I have grown up with the philosophy that I am probably, kind of a citizen of the world. I don't subscribe to any particular philosophy. I have no fanaticism, I have no communism. I am not impressed by anybody's claim to the race. All right you are born into a certain family, you are given a label but that label does not determine in my case, what my outlook on life is, I believe there should be a united Sri Lanka. I believe that all our peoples can live together. They did live together. I think they must in
future live together a over. We have our fou the country, Buddhis duism and Christian gions exist very peac very well. I see no rea races in the country Sinhalese cannot aga ship of confidence an belief. That is what working for that I will having some labels pi
A passionate "Sril he refused to be over: and pressure that bigg to bear upon the little "A small nation shoul cringe and crawl in the and stronger countrie the view that a small gotiate successfully w powerful countries by with self assurance al
 

AUGUST 2005
with them in their
in External Affairs h in a condolence rgamar's tragic deLankan political void that will be sible to fill'. 's untimely demise urable loss for the le ofSri Lanka, but ld for the cause of e word. and people of Inand valued friend, ld the interests and and multi-faceted ri Lanka and India late sincerity com
ind Chairperson ouncil Sonia Gan... Kadirgamar said, rayers have been amily ever since I shocking death of ld. Mr Lakshman on or rare brilliance orked tirelessly for is vision of a com
V.-
fter this trauma is r major religions in m, Islamism Hinity. All these reli2fully. They get on son why the major l, the Tamils and in build a relationd trust. That is my I wish for and in not be deterred by nned on me.'
lankan' to the core, wed by the weight r countries brought sland of Sri Lanka. inot, and need not, : presence of bigger s,” he felt. He took country could nethbigger and more presenting its case ld dignity." C
posite Sri Lanka, free of barriers of the barriers of hatred, prejudice and misunderstanding that divide people and communities. I have warm memories of my meetings with you and your husband. He was a true and greatly valued friend of India, who significantly strengthened the ties of cooperation and understanding between our two countries. We deeply mourn his loss and will always honour his memory. I understand your unbearable anguish and share your grief with all my heart. May your and your family find the strength to bear your loss." Jayalalithaa expresses shock: Expressing shock at the assassination of the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, said "Yet another towering Statesman of Sri Lanka has fallen to the cowardly bullets of a terrorist. This dastardly act must be condemned by the entire international community in the strongest terms and action taken to bring the guilty to book." She said Kadirgamar was known for his firm and principled opposition to terrorism and for his critical role in getting the LTTE banned internationally.
His death, coming as it did in the wake of reports of renewed violence in eastern Sri Lanka, would be an "irreparable loss' to the democratic leadership of Sri Lanka and the ongoing peace process, she said in a statement. Jayalalithaa said she had written to Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga conveying the deepest condolences at the loss of"this distinguished son of Sri Lanka,” requesting her to convey the condolences to the bereaved family. UN Security Council in a statement said, "The members of the Security Council strongly condemn this senseless act of terrorism.
They expect that the case will be speedily investigated and the perpetrators, organizers and their sponsors brought to justice. The members of the Security Council call on the parties concerned to implement fully the provisions of the ceasefire agreement and to continue their dialogue, in order to attain sustainable peace and stability in the country.' UN Secretary General in a statement said, “I am shocked and saddened to learn few hours ago about the assassination of Sri Lankan Foreign Minister. I deplore in the strongest of terms this criminal and senseless act and hopes that the perpetrators will be found and brought to justice. I express condolences to his family of the deceased and his sympathy with all Sri Lankans in this hour of sorrow. Sri Lanka has lost a deeply respected states

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AUGUST 2005
man dedicated to peace and unity, I hope that this tragedy will notweaken the commitment of the people of Sri Lanka to achieve a durable peace in the country." USA: In Crawford, Texas, where President Bush is vacationing, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said, "We condemn this outrageous and barbaric act' and offered condolences to the Sri Lanka government and Kadirgamar's family. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice "I am shocked and saddened by the assassination of Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar. This senseless murder was a vicious act of terror, which the United States strongly condemns. Those responsible must be brought to justice," I offer my deepest sympathies and condolences to Mr. Kadirgamar's family and to his friends and colleagues in Sri Lanka who will miss him greatly. I last met Foreign Minister Kadirgamar this June. He was a man of dignity, honour and integrity, who devoted his life to bringing peace to Sri Lanka. Together, we must honour his memory by re-dedicating ourselves to peace and ensuring that cease-fire remains inforce," she added.
Singing the condolence book tt the Sri Lankan Embassy in US, Dr Rice said, "I want to say to the people of Sri Lanka, that we mourn him, we mourn your loss, we mourn the loss for his family, and they will be remembered in our thoughts. I also want to note that it is the great hope of the United States that out of this tragedy people will once again commit themselves to a path to peace.
There can be no cause that is justified by terrorism and by violence. And I want to say to the President, with whom I spoke just a couple of days ago, that we have been impressed with her vision and with the people of Sri Lanka - and how they have responded to this tragedy. But we call upon all parties to try and find a way to peace." Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon said, "I am deeply shocked and saddened by the assassination of Lakshman Kadirgamar. I strongly condemn this cruel and senseless act of terrorism. The Commonwealth has always believed that terrorism serves no purpose. Those who perpetuate violence in this way will never win a real peace.” Norwegian Foreign Minister, Jan Petersen said, “The assassination of the Foreign Minister Kadirgamar is a gruesome deed, which is deeply tragic for Sri Lanka. I condemn this killing of a significant politician and a respected representative for his country. I would like to ex
press my condolen the President of Sri ment and to the peo the peace process ir ous test. It is now that both parties to utmost to fully ful according to the cea Head of the Sri Mission, Hagrup H statement regardin said: “SLMM stro brutal assassination Kadirgamar. This b blow to the peace Such brutal violence and insecurity withi fore represents as ceasefire. I sincerel ernment of Sri Lank continue in their ef ceasefire and to im building measures a SLMMwill continu assist the Parties to ment.” European Union c Ferrero-Waldner sai the assassination of Minister was a brut rorist act "This was rorist act and its p brought to justice. der robs Sri Lanka o ure and dignity who self to finding a pea solution to his coul ticularly saddened b intention of the kill flict and to rob the Lanka of the peace prosperity they so decades of civil wat tsunami of Decemb Australian Foreign der Downer said: TI terrorism' should n rail the peace proces deeply saddened an of Kadirgamar's deal as an eminent state friend, Downer saic moderation who sou and worked tireles This heinous act ol be allowed to derail to Sri Lanka. It is Al that, despite this t Lankan peace proce cluding through earl the Post-Tsunami C ment Structure (P- British Foreign Se said, “I strongly con ing of Mr. Kadirga

TAM ME3 19
ces to his family, to Lanka, the Governple. The killing puts Sri Lanka to a seriof great importance the conflict do their fil their obligations sefire agreement."
Lanka Monitoring Iaukland, in a press g the assassination ngly condemns the of Foreign Minister arbaric act is a huge process as a whole. creates fear, distrust in society, and thereerious threat to the y hope that the Govka and the LTTE will forts to maintain the plement confidence t this fragile moment. le to do its utmost to the Ceasefire Agree
bmmissioner, Benita id in a statement said Sri Lankan Foreign al and senseless tertruly a vicious tererpetrators must be This senselless murfaman ofgreat stat) had dedicated himceful and democratic ntry's ills. I am parecause I see the clear ers is to restart conworthy people of Sri , reconciliation and clearly deserve after and the devastating er 2004.” n Minister, Alexanhis "Heinous act of ot be allowed to deis. Saying that he was ld disturbed to learn th and describing him sman, colleague and l, "He was a man of ight the path ofpeace sly for his country, f terrorism must not efforts to bring peace stralia's stronghope errorist act, the Sri ss will continue, inly implementation of )perational ManageTOMS). cretary, Jack Straw, demn the brutal killamar yesterday. Mr.
Kadirgamar served with distinction as Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister for several years and had close personal ties to the UK. I always found my meetings with him very useful. His death will be a great loss to Sri Lanka, the region and the international community."
British High Commission in its capacity as local presidency of the European Union: Heads of Mission based in Colombo issuing a statement condemning the assassination expressed condolence to his family. Canadian Foreign Minister, Pierre Pettigrew said that Canada condemned the assassination. "I am shocked and saddened to learn of the assassination of Foreign Minister Kadirgamar. This is an unconscionable act committed against a member of the Sri Lankan government. On behalf of all Canadians, I extend my deepest sympathy to his family and all Sri Canada urges restraint by all parties. The perpetrators of this terrible act must be brought to justice." Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said. "I am shocked to have learnt the sad news about the assassination and passing away of Mr Lakshman Kadirgamar,” Thaksin said in a statement. "Thailand strongly condemns this criminal and barbaric act of violence, but this would not deter our readiness to continue to support Sri Lanka's tireless efforts to bring about peace and unity to her country. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sri Lanka in this time of grief," he said,
"Sri Lanka has lost a national hero. His devotion to peace in Sri Lanka will always be cherished and remembered by all of us," Thaksin said in a separate letterto President Chandrika Kumaratunga. Bangladesh's Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia told BSS News that late Foreign Minister Kadirgarma was an "outstanding statesman and with his untimely death, the world and South Asia in particular, has lost a leader and a man of peace.” In a condolence message she called the killing a "dastardly act" and said she hoped the assailants would be brought to justice. Japanese Prime Minister, Junichiro Koizumi: "I am greatly shocked and saddened at the tragic news that Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was assassinated. I strongly condemn that act of violence and would like to offer my deepest condolences to his family and the people of Sri Lanka on behalf of the Government and the people of Japan." French Foreign Minister, Philippe Douste-Blazy said, "France firmly condemns the murder of the foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar and no cause

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20 TAMIL TIMES
can justify such an act, French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said. French authorities offer their condolences to the family of Mr. Kadirgamar and express their sympathy and solidarity to the authorities and the People of Sri Lanka.' Russian Foreign Ministry in a statement said, "Russia strongly denounces this barbaric terrorist act in which the outstanding politician who had done much for strengthening national unity of Sri Lanka was assassinated." The Foreign office of Switzerland said in a statement, "It is with consternation that the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs has learned of the assassination of Lakshman Kadirgamar, Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka. It condemns this unjustifiable criminal act and offers its deepest sympathies to the families. The DFA hopes that those responsible for this killing will be found without delay and brought to justice.
The DFA wishes the peace process in Sri Lanka to continue despite this act of crime. It exhorts the parties concerned to by all means avoid any escalation of tension and to respect the cease-fire.' Foreign Minister of Germany, Joschka Fisher, said in a statement: The killing of Lakshman Kadirgamar, Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka, was a senseless and cowardice act of the terrorists and those responsible has to be arrested and brought before the justice.
Joschka Fisher has learnt with horror the killing of Lakshman Kadirgamar and conveyed his sorrow and deepest sympathy to the Government, people of Sri Lanka and the members of the family of Lakshman Kadirgamar.
Lakshman Kadirgamar was internationally a highly respected and outstanding person and always remained a good friend of Germany. German foreign minister also said that Lakshman Kadirgamar was one of the most prominent participants in the peace process in Sri Lanka and the heinous murder was directed against the peace process. Nepal King King Gyanendra: Nepal’s King paid tribute to assassinated Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, hailing him as a man of vision who worked tirelessly to bring peace to the troubled island, state-run news agency RSS said.
In a message ofcondolence to President Chandrika Kumaratunga, the King said, “We believe that terrorism is the number one scourge of our times and we in the civilized world need to strengthen our common efforts to defeat it. As Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, he
has also made invalu the promotion and r national peace and
The King also ni was a great friend Nepal and praised make the seven-nat sociation for Reg (SAARC) a viabler Li Zhaoxing, Fore People's Republic shocked to know w His Excellent Lak. Foreign Minister of cialist Republic of nately passed away. an old friend of the has made great cont of China-Sri Lank Kadirgamar paid a December, during v friendly meeting. I deep condolence a to Your Honourabl Honorable to the Kadirgamar" Peoples Republic nese government st assassination of Lakshman Kadiraga ror. “The Chines shocked and sadder tion of Sri Lanka Lakshman Kadirgar Ministry spokesma Beijing. He also si government offersp and sincere sympat Minister's family. “The Chinese condemns this act always, support the ment’s efforts in se ciliation, restoringe and safeguarding na territorial integrity' Erik Solheim, N Envoy: "It's comp major setback fort
Reactions within United National National Party con est terms the assas Mr. Lakshman Ka Foreign Affairs.
The perpetrato have not been idei investigations are s that the investiga speedily and the pi justice.
Security sourc on record to the m responsible for

AUGUST 2005
able contribution for laintenance of interarmony.” ited that Kadirgamar and well-wisher of his contribution to on South Asian Asonal Cooperation gional organisation. ign Minister of the of China: "I was th deep sorrow that «hman Kadirgamar, the Democratic SoSri Lanka unfortuH.E. Kadirgamar is chinese people, who ribution to the cause a friendship. H.E. visit to China last which we held a very wish to extend my ld sincere sympathy e and through Your family of H. E.
of China: The Chi"ongly condemns the Foreign Minister amar as an act oftere government was ned by the assassinan Foreign Minister nar' Chinese Foreign In Kong Quan said in aid that the Chinese rofound condolences ny to the late Foreign
government strongly of terror and will, as Sri Lankan governking national reconxonomic development ional sovereignty and
he also stated. orwegian Special letely insane, it is a he peace process."
Sri Lanka
Party: “The United demns in the strongsination last night of irgamar, Minister of
's of this criminal act tified as yet and the till on. It is necessary tions be concluded rpetrators brought to
es have already gone dia that the LTTE is this killing. Mr.
Kadirgamar has been long identified as being under LTTE threat. Unless the perpetrators are quickly identified it will have a serious impact on the already fragile Ceasefire Agreement.....
As a politician he made a valuable contribution to the nation at a crucial time and his loss cannot be replaced....
Although he was a strong critic of the manner in which the ceasefire was being implemented, he was for peace and stood for the resolution of our national problem through political negotiations. He was responsible for bringing in the Norwegian Government as facilitators and initiating the dialogue on the ceasefire which enabled the UNP Government to continue what he started, using the services of the same facilitator, to achieve the ceasefire.
"The United National Party therefore while acknowledging that this murder is a blow to the ceasefire, trusts that a negotiated peace which is so vital for our people will be ensured by the government, the ceasefire maintained and all steps taken to prevent a return to war.
The UNP joins the President and the Government in sharing the deep sense of grief the people of Sri Lanka feel at this tragic loss of a leader of great achievement and promise. The party conveys its deepest condolences to Mrs. Kadirgamar and the children at this time of personal sorrow."
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse: Kadirgamar was one of the best and most successful Foreign Ministers that Sri Lanka has had since independence. He was mainly responsible for building Sri Lanka's image abroad which was badly tarnished at the time he first assumed office in 1994.
Kadirgamar was a national leader who was respected by all communities in the country for his stance on the national question. He was in the forefront of the country's peace process. He played a major role in the national and international war against terrorism which has threatened the very fabric of the civilised world and its cardinal values of freedom and democracy. He worked tirelessly to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country and also stood firmly for an undivided Sri Lanka.
It is a great tragedy that this apostle ofpeace and ethnic harmony should have been brutally gunned down when the country needed him most. At this moment of tragedy we strongly condemn this brutal act of terrorism which, according to security sources, has been perpetrated by the LTTE.

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In this hour of grief, let us remind ourselves that assassination did not destroy Mahatma Gandhi or Abraham Lincoln or S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike or Martin Luther King and Rajiv Gandhi, as the ideals for which they sacrificed their lives continue to live and nourish their countries-paradoxically strengthened by the fact of their assassination. We deeply mourn Mr. Kadirgamar's loss and extend our sympathy to Mrs. Kadirgamar and the members of the family. Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP): A true son of Sri Lanka has fallen. The LTTE bullet aimed at Lakshman Kadirgamar was a bullet aimed at all those who reject racism and believe in democracy and human rights. It is very temporary victory for a bloodthirsty racist fascist hiding in the Vanni who has modelled himself after Hitler. This horrific crime instead of cowing us, strengthens the will of the people to resist dictatorship, and fight for true equality, multiculturalism and multi-ethnicity.
Kadirgamar was a descent man without the guile, the double-speak and the political treachery of the average main streamSri Lanka politician. The JVP and hecame from diferent histories and dif. ferent backgrounds. But we developed a strong bond based on his transparent decency and love of the country. Born as a Tamil he was at ease with all in Sri Lanka, except with those who believe in racial hatred. It is no secret that as the United Peoples Freedom Alliance government was formed, we in the JVP wanted him to have very high office. In the many meetings with him, our assessment of him as a decent man continued to grow. We of the JVPhave lost a friend; the country has lost a true patriot.
Friend and patriot, you died as you lived. You died for our common ideals.Your death however will not be in vain. As we mourn your death, we of the JVP double our resoluteness in fighting for the honest values you stood for.... Farewell friend, in death your ideas will become still stronger" Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP): "The Lanka Samasamajaa Party is deeply shocked by the assassination of the Foreign Minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar, by a suspected LTTE sniper. His death is a great loss to the country. Mr. Kadirgamar has performed extremely well as the Foreign Minister ofthe PAGovernmentfrom 1994 to 2001 and of the United People's Freedom Alliance Government since April 2004. He has restored professionalism to the Foreign Service, expanded the coverage by the Missions and im
proved their efficie tellectual ability and improve Sri Lanka” get the support of all our economic and so This high profile wake of an increase ders by the LTTE bc the South. Amidstin LTTE cadre presen tions in the South, a Rupavahini media Selvarajah and her had connections wit party to the LTTE, Colombo on the sar killings by the LTT East the recent crl Wijewardena in Jaf lines. The LSSP do acts of the LTTE wi the Tamil people. It people themselves v ized by the LTTE. While the LSSP Lakshman Kadirgar the hands of the LT tice to be meted ou ble, it reiterates th Government and the themselves to be div the objectives of at of all those affected the eventual achie' peace. Ceylon Workers C lon Workers Congre sassination of Lak The silencing ofdif dastardly acts is mo must be met with cc
mocracy.
Late Kadirgama was respected as a 1 tual. As a President nationally recogniz tual property law m tribution to the lega ing Parliament on t most appropriate an contribution to th Minister and Palliam Minister he introdu to the foreign servic friend and agentlem It is tragic that death in this manner his sudden loss and condolences ofAru President, General the Ceylon Workel Kadirgamar, the chill bers.” Mahajana Eksath "It is with great reg

TAMIL TIMES 21
ncy. He used his indiplomatic skills to s image abroad and countries to further cial development..... killing comes in the d incidence of muroth in the North and creasing evidence of ce in strategic locawell known SLBC/ personality, Relangi husband, who both h the PLOTE, a rival
were shot dead in ne day. Of the many E -in the North and uel murder of SSP fina caught the heades not associate the th the aspirations of fact it is the Tamil who are being terror
mourns the death of mar and the others at TE and calls for jusit to those responsie necessity for the 2 people not to allow erted from achieving tending to the needs by the Tsunami and vement of a lasting
'ongress: "The Cey2ss condemns the asshman Kadirgamar. fering views by such st deplorable. Views punterviews in a de
ar was a person who Lawyer and Intellecs Counsel and inter2d experton Intellechade a valuable conal system. His enterhe National list was dhe made a valuable e Government as a entarian. As Foreign ced professionalism :e. He was for a good han politician.
he had to meet his ... We are saddened by wish to convey the mugan Thondaman, and all members of is Congress to Mrs. dren and family mem
Peramuna (MEP): ret and with a sense
of personal loss that the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna bemoan the brutal assassination of Lakshman Kadiragamar M.P. P.C. Minister of Foreign Affairs at the hands of assassins who had removed from our midst an exemplary personality who was not only our spokesman but also the visible embodiment of the hopes and aspirations of an undivided Sri Lankan with its territorial sovereignty integrity and dignity intact.
Lakshman Kadiragamar strode the arena of Foreign Affairs as a colossus with a firm grip of relevant matters of both the national and international scene. He was dedicated to the cause of Sri Lanka. He utilized his acumen, eloquence, knowledge and experiences to disabuse the minds of the international community which up to recent times has been prejudiced due to diabolical misrepresentation and misinformation by the LTTE and fellow travellers. It is to his credit that the true image of Sri Lanka has been successfully restored as a self respecting nation in the eyes of the World Community. -
The MEP mourns the death of Lakshman Kadhiragamar who laid his life at the Altar of Mother Lanka striving to live up to the high ideals of dignity, responsive to truth, loyalty to the country and the democratic traditions. This shall constitute the monument inscription on the headstone of this grateful Nation.' - Dinesh Gunawardena. Leader of MEP, Tamil National Alliance, Parliamentary group leader, R.Sampanthan, in a press release on 14 August said, "The killing of Hon.Lakshman Kadirgamar, MP, PC has caused shock and consternation. We strongly disapprove of the killing. We convey our deep condolences to Ms Kadirgamar, the children and all other members of the Kadirgamar family.
“The killing of Mr.Kadirgamar has happened at a critical time in the peace process. The many killings that have taken place in the past several months have had an adverse impact of the Ceasefire Agreement. Unless the ceasefire is sustained, the peace process cannot recommence. Delay and drift in the peace process encourages other parties who want to sabotage the peace process and creates the environment for violence. We urge that the peace process be recommenced in a meaningful way. That would be the only way to sustain the Ceasefire Agreement and discourage all forms of violence.' Sri Lanka Muslim Congress: “The late Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was a towering personality who steadfastly and boldly stood for what he believed

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and was one of the few politicians who commanded respect of people from all walks of life as a statesman, a rarity in today's local politics
"Born a Tamil his ascendance in politics as the Foreign Affairs Minister of
the country and also at one point a pos
sible candidate for premiership, all purely on merit, will definitely serve as a beacon of inspiration for the minority politicians in the country.
"The late Minister Kadirgamar has throughout his political career been a sympathizer and also a strong supporter of the Muslim cause. "It is with a great sense of gratitude the SLMC recollects the brilliant speech he made at the adjournment debate on a separate Muslim delegation in October 2003, urging the parties to the conflict and the international community to give up the discriminatory practices on Muslims.' Liberal Party of Sri Lanka: "Lakshman Kadirgamar was one of the most distinguished statesmen this country has produced, not only in the last decade, but since independence. His assassination, following after the similar removal of other moderate Tamil statesmen such as Neelan Thiruchelvam, San Thambimuttu and Appapillai Amirthalingam, is startling witness to the manner in which the whole issue has been thoroughly brutalized. Catholic Bishops' Conference: “The Catholic Bishops' Conference is deeply shocked and concerned by the outrageous killing of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Lakshman Kadirgamar who has been directing our foreign policy during the last decade or so. His assassination is a heinous act and a blow to the attempts to work out a negotiated political settlement to the ethnic conflict which has caused so much loss of life and property in our country...
Mr. Kadirgamar's assassination is an affront to those who preach and promote a negotiated political settlement to the ethnic conflict. It will only create further mistrust between the two major communities who live side by side in various parts of the country. It will only strengthen the hand of those who oppose any negotiated political settlement. We call upon the two mainstreampolitical parties to reach some consensus about the kind ofpolitical settlement they envisage and to take this issue of the negotiated political settlement out of partisan politics. We feel the time has come for the rival Tamil rebel groups to reach some rapprochement among their groups and to desist from violence which will destabilize the whole country. Muslim Council of Sri Lanka: “The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka, which comprises of over 50 of the largest and most influential National organisations of
Muslims in Sri Lanka bemoan the loss Kadirgamar, a noble of Mother Lanaka at sassin's bullet. Laks! was a person of the hi honour whilst being tellectual and politica time, who had the cou cipled stand onjustice when he advocated the resentation to the Mu negotiations, whilst s
ment.
Whilst, conveyin pathies to his family in mourning the loss ( Sri Lanka who has be our midst because he ferent from his assass Rt Revd Duleep de of Ciolombo: “Sri II other of her noble sol bullet. The Hon Laks was an outstanding il litical statesman of person of integrity an tributions to the politi and social debates in S. were characterised by nity and conviction. F this juncture is not c loss to the nation but back to those who w negotiated political se nic question with pea tice for all.
An analysis of the immense contributio nation must await a l sufficient to mention down in history as pe the Foreign Ministers independence. He se interests with distinct professionalism in di national relations. On I am aware that his w ment were greatly vali in Parliament and ou unequivocal stand fo ness on all issues. Be political scene, he w lawyer whose interver earned the respect o Bench.
The Hon Kadirga. career as a scholar, s dent leader at Trinity later at Oxford Univer fortunate that he brou of discipline, values a his life as apolitician. he had the courage to stand on justice forth country whilst spe against acts of t Kadirgamar is only t line of ethnic Tamils

joins the nation to
of Lakshman and exemplary son che hands ofan asıman Kadirgamar, ghest integrity and an outstanding inil statesman of our rage to take a prinfor the monitories, e right of equal repslims in any peace peaking in Parlia
gour deepest symwe join the nation of this noble son of 2n taken away from tooka position dif ins.“
Chickera, Bishop anka has lost anhs to the assassin's hman Kadirgamar ntellectual and poour country and a d honour. Hisconcal, legal, religious riLanka and abroad y their clarity, digHis assassination at nly an irreparable ; also a serious set 'ere yearning for a ttlement on the ethce, dignity and jus
Hon Kadirgamar's to the life of our ater date. But it is now that he will go rhaps the ablest of we have had since rved our national tion and promoted plomacy and interthe domestic scene, visdom andjudgeued in the Cabinet, Itside. He took an r justice and fairfore he entered the 'as an outstanding tions in civil cases f the Bar and the
mar had a brilliant portsman and stuCollege Kandy and 'sity. Sri Lanka was ght these qualities und leadership into As an ethnic Tamil, take a principled e minorities in our aking out openly error. The Hon he latest in a long who have been as
AUGUST 2005
sassinated because they took a position different from that of their assassins. It is never too late for all Sri Lankans to take a courageous and principled stand on this and to commit the destinies of our communities and of our country to pluralism, dialogue and a willingness to accommodate dissent. There is no other way we can move forward.
We mourn with his family, with the President and with our people the loss of a man of peace, ideals and sincerity. May his soul rest in Peace and our country experience the peace that we all long for.” National Christian Council: "The National Christian Council of Sri Lanka unequivocally condemns the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, which has come as a shock to all right-thinking people of our country. The country has lost a courageous leader at a time when it needed the serv. ices of such men and women most. We denounce all attempts to stifle dissen tient voices, which is so necessary in any democracy. We express our condolences to Mrs. Kadirgamar and the other family
members and wish to assure them of our
prayers for them in this time of crisis....." National Peace Council of Sri Lanka: "The assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar has taken place when important efforts were being made to re-engage the government and LTTE in a joint mechanism for humanitarian purposes and to re-start the peace process. The National Peace Council condemns this assassination, more so as it has been carried out during a time of ceasefire that has existed for three and a half years. The government has accused the LTTE of this assassination which the LTTE has denied. This open breakdown of relations is a major blow to hopes of a revival of the peace process.
"While Minister Kadirgamar is the most prominent figure to be assassinated during the post ceasefire period, he is only one among a large number of victims. Tamil political opponents of the LTTE, military personnel and LTTE cadres are today being killed virtually on a daily basis. Journalists supporting and opposing the LTTE have also been killed. We are saddened by these killings and condole with their families. Regrettably the repeated condemnations of these actions by civil society and the international community have failed to stem the growing number of such killings.
"The National Peace Council takes this opportunity to once again condemn the use of violence and assassination to address past grievances or to weaken the opponent. Such actions will not serve to bring any benefit to either the peace process or help in finding a political settlement to the ethnic conflict.” O

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Under Age Child Recruitment on the increase August 2005
The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka is deeply concerned to note the dramatic increase in child recruitment by the LTTE reported from our offices in the North and East. Despite the recent Security Council Resolution on Children and Armed Conflict adopted on 26 July 2005, and the decline in numbers of underage recruits post-tsunami, recent reports indicate that the LTTE is again recruiting significant numbers of children. At the annual session held in Geneva of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in April of this year, the Chairperson noted that recruitment numbers had gone down. We now regret to inform the public that there has been a disturbing increase in the numbers of underage recruits. Under International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law to which Sri Lanka is a party and Customary International Law the recruitment of children into armed conflict is prohibited. It is first and foremost recognised to be a violation of child rights, human rights and human dignity. Under international law, eighteen is set as the minimum age for all participation in hostilities, and any recruitment or use of children under the age of fifteen is considered a war crime. This standard is outlined in Article 38 of the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflicts, the Geneva Conventions and their Optional Protocols, and the 1999 Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, which prohibits the forced recruitment of children under the age of eighteen for use in armed conflict as one of the worst forms of child labour.
The international commitment to ending underage recruitment was again reinforced in July 2005 with the adoption of Security Council Resolution 1612 (2005) of 26 July 2005 on children and armed conflict. The Resolution strongly condemns the recruitment and use of child soldiers by parties to armed conflict. The Resolution
also recalls the States to end im the primary role ments in providir tion and relief to by armed conflict, quests that the Se mediately implem reporting mechal The Security Co adopted the Res lished a Working Mechanism will 1 underlined that S initially proposec General in his rep armed conflict of lect and provide ti curate and reliable recruitment and u in violation of app law. Additionally, mation on other v. committed agains by armed conflict with the participat eration with, natio relevant United N ciety actors. The F five previous reso ject. The previous tive to the Secreta Otunno has issue declaring this to b cation in combat dren in armed cor As well as the work outlined ab to protect the righ have been nation Sri Lanka that hav protection of chil commitment to e cruitment. In June the LTTE both si for Children Aff Action Plan inclu by the LTTE to er
 

responsibilities of punity and stresses of national governng effective protecall children affected The Resolution recretary-General imentamonitoring and hism on the issue. uncil unanimously olution and estabGroup to which the eport. The Council such a mechanism, by the Secretaryort on children and 9 February, will colmely, objective, acinformation of the se of child soldiers licable international it will provide inforiolations and abuses it children affected
, and must operate
ion of, and in coopnal government and ations and civil soesolution reaffirms lutions on this subSpecial Representay General, Mr Olara a press statement e a new era of appling the use of chilflict.
international frame»ve that is in place s of the child, there al developments in e contributed to the liren and the formal nding underage re2003, the GoSL and ned an Action Plan :cted by War. The ded a commitment d child recruitment,
TAMIL TIMES 23
whether voluntary or through coercion.
Despite this and other promises made by the LTTE to end underage recruitment and to release those children already recruited, the Human Rights Commission is deeply concerned that documented evidence of underage recruitment has continued, and is on the rise. Reports from Regional Offices of the Commission, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and NGOs in the North and East, point to an increase in recruitment in the last few months.
In 2005, the Human Rights Commission has received 141 reports of child recruitment at its Regional Of. fices of Jaffna, Vavuniya, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, and Kalmunai. Of those reports, there were at least 25 children aged 15 and under (the youngest reported to be l l years of age).
UNICEF, as of 31 July 2005 has documented 5,081 cases of underage recruitment, (including re-recruitment following the defection of Colonel Karuna in 2004 and the release of 2,437 recruits) since the signing of the cease-fire agreement. The LTTE formally released 1,480 children to UNICEF during this time. Of the cases registered by UNICEF, 1,209 are outstanding as of July 2005. Recent reports from the East show a dramatic increase in child recruitment particularly during the temple festivals. UNICEF reports that in July, there were nearly double the numbers of reports of underage recruitment than in the month of June. There were 59 cases reported in June, whereas the numbers increased to l l l reports in July. Batticaloa in particular has seen a substantial increase in the number of reported cases, of both recruitment and re-recruitment, with 63 cases reported as compared with the 18 reported cases in June.
It is not possible to know the full extent of the problem of underage recruitment. Not all parents are aware of existing reporting mechanisms and in some known cases the parents have not officially reported to the Human Rights Commission or to UNICEF due to fear of reprisal. The figures available do not therefore provide an accurate estimation of the ex

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24, TAMIL TIMES
tent of recruitment. Although the numbers are uncertain, it is clear that child recruitment is a fundamental violation of human rights and international law, and it is therefore unacceptable to have any cases at all.
In addition, the Human Rights Commission is extremely concerned to note the lack of protection for LTTE runaways who surrender to the security forces. Children who have been released or have run away are in a vulnerable position and in need of protection. HRC has received reports that children are regularly harassed and when taken into custody, are sometimes subjected to repeated questioning and videotaping. The Human Rights Commission is also gravely concerned by the failure to determine the identity of those responsible for the events at the Bindunuwewa Rehabilitation Centre that left 27 dead and 14 injured, some seriously on 25 October 2000. The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka decision on 27 May 2005 acquitted the four accused convicted by the Trial-at-Bar of the High Court on charges of the murder of 27 inmates
and attempted mur The majority of the dren and former LT lice and judiciary m sary steps in ident. trators of this atrocit to justice. The Hur mission has reque: lawyers to study th case and to recomr action.
In accordance v tion on the Rights o children should be and "survivors' of must be protected a return and reintegra The Government of: accordance with pro evant international all necessary mea protection and hum all children affected including released ch ways, and children dered to the police
The Human Rig of Sri Lanka, recogn ment of both the In
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AUGUST 2005
der of 14 others. victims were chilTE cadre. The poust take all necesifying the perpey, and bring them man Rights Comsted two leading e evidence in the nend a course of
vith the Convenf the Child, these seen as "victims' the conflict and nd supported for tion into society. Sri Lanka must, in visions of the relconventions, take sures to provide lane treatment to by armed conflict, ild soldiers, runawho have surrenor armed forces. ghts Commission ising the committernational Com
munity and National actors to the comprehensive protection of children in armed conflict, calls for immediate action from all parties to end the recruitment of children to armed groups, and to effectively address the impact of armed conflict on children. To this end it is imperative that priority is given to ceasing recruitment, the return of children to their families, and to the protection and humane treat ment of underage LTTE cadres who have run away or have surrendered to government forces.
In light of the serious and continuing nature of reports of underage recruitment, the Human Rights Commission will be writing to the Foreign Secretary to invite former UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Karin Sham Poo of Norway, the current acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict, to conduct a visit to Sri Lanka in order to report on the progress of the Plan of Action and to submit her findings to the United Nations Security Council and all relevant parties. O
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Page 25
AUGUST 2005
The Barbe and the Police
Dr. Rajasingham Narendran
The recent murders in Inuwill of Jayaseelan Shantharuban (Barber) and Charles Wijewardene (Superintendent of Police) and how the story has since unfolded will be recorded in the annals of the Sinhala-Tamil ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka as landmark incidents. The events leading to the so-called accidental shooting of Shantharuban are yet shrouded in mystery. The accidental misfiring of a soldier's gun while being handed over to a fellow soldier for safe keeping is the most implausible explanation among those proffered, which if true, speaks volumes of the quality of training and professionalism in the Sri Lankan army. On the other hand the explanations that Shantharuban was deliberately shot over problems involving illicit liquor and/ or his spying activities on behalf of the LTTE (D.B.S. Jeyaraj, Tamil Week, 7th Aug'05) or accidentally shot when a soldier was trying to shoot his superior officer (Deutsche Presse-Agentur, 5th Aug'05), sound more plausible.
Shantharuban w
The killing of Shantharuban, the barber, over the sale of illicit liquor and /or because he was an LTTE spy is deplorable, if deliberate and premeditated. Our sympathies are with the family of Shantharuban, who have suffered an irreplaceable loss of a young man in his prime, what ever the precipitating causes may have been. No human being deserves to die in this manner, in any civilized society. The Sri Lankan army should be condemned in unequivocal terms for this murder, if it was deliberate. The man should have been brought to justice and subject to due process, if he stood accused of any misdemeanor. If it was a genuine accident, the death was regrettable and the Sri Lankan army has to review its training and weapon han
dling procedures a ity. The fact that t ernment has expr offered compensat Shantharuban shoʻ and welcomed. holden on the Sri the government to and honest inquiry and prosecute exp diers involved, if exists against them of the Sri Lankan there after that jus is perceived to be Shantharuban, was however fortu taken to hospital gency medical car in a manner befitti being. The debatei he was taken to h called public (reac the police or the a there was an oppoi him to be taken to tant. The army, pol present at the sce this humanitarian It stands to the Lankan army and p mitted Shantharub hospital, although life could not bes
Charles Wijewar
However, the Charles Wijeward tendent of Police ducted, tortured, n. and thrown on the the condemnation being, especially tl the Tamils who a The cowardice, bril humanity, indecen barbarism displaye be a blot on all Ta ing an unarmed a

TAMIL TIMES 25
Y 3.
s a matter of priorhe Sri Lankan govessed regrets and on to the family of uld be appreciated However, it is beLankan army and hold an impartial in to this incident editiously the sola prima facie case . It will be the duty judiciary to ensure stice is done and it
SO. the human being, nate in having been and offered emere. He was treated ng a fellow human s not about whether ospital by the soi mob), the LTTE, army. The fact that
tunity available for
hospital is imporice or LTTE cadres ine did not hinder gesture in anyway. credit of the Sri police that they perban to be taken to unfortunately his aved.
dene
manner in which lene, the Superin, Jaffna, was abnutilated, murdered : roadside deserves of every human he vast majority of re yet decent folk. Itality, cunning, incy, beastliness and d in this murder will mils, forever, Killnd unguarded Po
lice Officer- although a Sinhalese and owing allegiance to the Sri Lankan government- who had gone to the scene of the murder in pursuance of his legitimate duties and to establish peace, was not acceptable by any standard.
I was personally shocked and appalled at this loathsome murder and have been irritated and angered at the manner in which the mainstream Tamil media and the pro-LTTE news organs
are portraying it. I am sure most de
cent Tamils are feeling the way I do and are frustrated at their impotence in the face of this unnecessary barbarism and inability to give vent to their feelings. I take this opportunity to express my heart felt condolences and regrets to the family of Charles Wijewardene both on my behalf and on behalf of all the Tamils who feel as I do and beg their forgiveness for this dastardly crime committed in our name. Will the LTTE, if it has even a modicum of humanity left amongst its leadership, come forward to identify the miscreants involved and subject them publicly to the judicial process that is now operative in their Ealam? Let us at least belatedly prove to the world that we are yet a decent, civilized and just people!
Implications
The stories of Shantharuban and Charles Wijewardena have far reaching implications for the Tamils of Sri Lanka, beyond the immediate events. The moral basis of the Tamil quest for justice, human rights, equality and democracy within Sri Lanka has been seriously undermined by the murder of Charles Wijewardene and many others - Tamil, Sinhalese and Muslims - who have preceded him. If human life, irrespective of whose it is, is not respected and valued, calling one self a human being will have no meaning. Human civilization is built around this philosophical concept. War, an enduring pre-historic phenomenon, is being subject to the constraints of the Geneva conventions in modern times, in order to humanize an evil we are unable to exorcize. Being a Tamil involves not only speaking the Tamil language, but also living subject to a

Page 26
26 TAMIL TIMES
perennial set of time tested lofty values. The LTTE and its coterie of sycophants and hangers-on are hell bent on destroying the very fundamentals of the Tamil identity in a very systematic and determined manner.
Uri Avnery recently (Arab News, 28th.July’05) wrote with reference to Israelis, "As a 9-year old I saw with my own eyes the collapse of the German republic. It was generally referred to as the Weimar Republic. Since then, the sights and sounds of the collapse of the republic are engraved in my mind. The big question that has been haunting me ever since and which has remained unanswered to this day is: How could such a thing happen? How could a gang of thugs with an inhuman ideology take over a state that, in its time, was perhaps the most cultured country in the world? On the eve of the Eichman trial, in 1960, I wrote a book on this, concluding with the question: Can it happen here? Today, there is no escape from this terrible answer: Yes, it can happen here. If we behave like the people of Weimar, we shall suffer the same fate as the people of Weimar". ls our position as Tamils any different in Sri Lanka today?
Episodes in Ramayana
Four incidents narrated by Kamban - one of the great Tamil poets- in his version of Ramayana, which is steeped in Tamil culture and values, are worth recalling. The first involves the slaying of Vaali, the monkey king who had usurped the Monkey Kingdom and the queen from his brother Sukreevan, by Rama, to whom Sukreevan had complained about his misfortunes. Rama engineers a wrestling match between Vaali and Sukreevan. While they were wrestling, the concealed Rama shoots brave Vaali with his arrow and mortally wounds him. Before dying, Vaali worships Rama, but questions the cowardly method he had resorted to kill him.
The second involves Hanuman, who was sent as a peace emissary to Ravana to request the immediate release of Sitha. An arrogant Ravana, while rejecting the call for Sitha's re
lease, wraps cloth a tail and sets fire to tion of prevailing erning emissarie Hanuman sets fire Lanka with his bur stroys it.
The third refer and Vibhishana, Ravana. During the tles with Rama's a Ravana reques Kumbakarna to lea behalf. The brave, hrana advises Rav Sitha, as her kidna ceration were im ong. Ravana, calls grateful and accuse capable of reciproc care and love he l him. A disappoin agrees to go to ba fate is pushing me i death (Vithy piddith - Tamil)" and implc release Sitha at lea Vibhishana at a later Ravana to release save Lanka, Raval vice and callshima ( crosses over to Rau sult.
The fourth stor in which Ravani part. His army dec tally disarmed, a stands with his hea of a victorious Rama. Rama tells h come back tomor Naalai Vaa)”.
These episod Ramayana highligh that had to be adh Vishnu incarnate l spect and safety t corded to an unarr by the enemy, den free speech and d Vaali to questi Kumbakarna and V tion Ravana and a nimity towards ev enemy that was di and the consequ tested values flouted. Where are

round Hanuman's it, in contravenconventions govs. An enraged to the capital of ning tail and de
; to Kumbakarna the brothers of course of the batrmy, a besieged is his brother d the war on his but wise Kumbaana to let go of pping and incarmoral and wrKumabakarna unhim of being inating the life long nad bestowed on ted Kumbaharna ttle saying, "My nto this battle and u untha nindrathu res his brother to st after his death, date also implores Sitha in order to na rejects his adcoward. Vibishana ma's side as a re
involves a battle a himself takes imated and he todejected Ravana ld bowed in front und fully armed im, “Go today and ow (Indru poye,
es in Kamban’s
ut values in battle
ered to even by a ike Rama; the rehat had to be acned emissary sent hocratic values of ebate that permit on Rama and, Vibishana to queslvice him; magnain a helpless arch splayed by Rama; inces when time
are blatantly these values in the
AUGUST 2005
LTTE and among LTTE followers today?
Then and now
Vengeful and mean "Tit for tat" or 'eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth' concepts were never in the ethos of the Tamils or in the religions - Hinduism and Christianity- they practise. The LTTE songsters who praise the bravery of the LTTE cadres, the sacrifice of the suicide bombing "Black Tigers' and hark back to the days of Puranaanuru (poetry of the Sangam period) to draw parallels, fail to also point out the differences in values between the Tigers of today and the Tamil warriors of the past. They fail to mention that the much spoken of Veera Thaai (brave mother) of the Sangam poetry who went searching for her son in the battlefield, vowing that she will cut her breasts off if her son was a coward-wounded in the back while running away from battle- was though sad, proud to find that her son had died facing battle, with a wound on his chest. This was the bravery that was cherished, admired, praised and celebrated in the past. These were battles conducted between armies away from where women, children and livestock dwelled. These were not battles aimed at helpless civilians and unarmed adversaries. These were not cowardly murders conducted by pistol gangs and organized mobs against dissenters exercising their birth right and unarmed men coming to make peace! I remember a time when the Tamils of Sri Lanka were proud to say that they cannot be enticed in to mob violence like the Sinhalese. Where are the values that brought forth this confidence? LTTE sponsored and paid for individual and mob violence are becoming the norm in the Tamil areas of Sri Lanka today, Are the Tamils more prone to mob violence than they were in a bygone era? I say no. An overwhelming number of Tamils yet retain their timeless values. It is the LTTE and its goons who are creating the illusion of the violent Tamil and the Tamil mob. The LTTE and their gangs are principally responsible for projecting the Tamils of Sri Lanka as terror

Page 27
AUGUST 2005
ists, drug smugglers, credit card cheaters, thugs, arsonists, callous murderers, extortionists, kidnappers, child snatchers, welfare cheats, forgers and many other negative stereo types to the world, in the name of liberating us from Sinhala misrule. The LTTE that has the capability to run a trans-national state - contravening international law and conventions - and impose its will on the Tamil Diaspora to collect funds compulsorily through strong arm tactics, does not have moral authority to discipline its diehard supporters who are principally involved in various nefarious activities including senseless murder around the globe.
Are we Tamils going to continue to be a people who dwell in the past and present, and are prone to miss the future? We know where we were and we also know where we are now, But do we have an idea where we are going or where we are being taken? It is time that we snap out of past memories and the spell it has cast on us. This spell is being regularly recast by the LTTE to hold us in its thrall. The Shantharuban - Charles Wijewardene story is the latest spell that is being cast to keep us bound to memories of an unpleasant past. Let us also hoist ourselves out from the quagmire that is our present,
The quagmire
The peace process presently in total limbo is the quagmire that the Tamils (and the Sinhalese) are trapped in, due to the machinations of the LTTE and the short sighted attitudes of the Sinhala polity. The LTTE is unwilling to take us out of this quagmire, even if it is capable of doing so, because it stands to gain as an organization with military-business-industrial capabilities from a situation where power can be excised without any legal constraints. The LTTE stance has also strengthened the forces within the Sinhala polity opposed to granting the Tamil demands for greater autonomy and self rule. The return to war regularly threatened by the LTTE and the incidents presently being instigated by it to create illusions of an impending
war, such as the Wijewardene, will in the quagmire.
The LTTE unil of the peace talks not merit that unfo was strategically mistake. The press polity to deliver a as a result. The mindless actions excuses for the Si vert to a state ofb interrupted occasio Sinhala-Buddhist reference to the Ta The Tamils as begin looking to a Lanka, as oppose ent Tamil Ealam, rent international nomic realities. Th a Tamil Ealam gov would be, has beer idly by the LTTE years. I do not thir senses would desi Tamil Ealam volu added reason why" solutions to their p Lanka. The LTTE should be forced t tion of the peace tal polity immediately litical parties in should be forced terms their contem meet Tamil dema anticipated preside LTTE should be fo on the policies of ping, murder and ( imposed on the Tal Tamil Ealam and tablishing the due within Sri Lanka its control and ind should be forced gangs, other snatchers and ag The LTTE should dissent and pluralis polity. The LTTE from engaging in of any nature ( covertly. The LTT to permit investm ture, human reso

TAMIL TIMES 27
murder of Charles only sink us deeper
aterally pulled out or reasons that did rtunate move. This an unforgivable ure on the Sinhala solution was eased LTTE through its has provided the nhala polity to relissful somnolence nally by flashes of lemagoguery, with mil demands.
a people have to future within Sri d to an independon account of curpolitical and ecoe glimpses of what erned by the LTTE n painted quite vivover the past few k any Tamil in his e to live in such a Intarily. This is an Tamils have to find roblems within Sri in the mean time o demand resumpks with the Sinhala y. The leading pohe Sinhala polity to set out in clear plated solutions to nds, ahead of the ntial elections. The orced to back track violence, kidnapxtortion that it has mils in the name of COincentrate On esights of the Tamils and in areas under luence. The LTTE o rein in its pistol assassins, child ent provocateurs. be forced to permit m within the Tamil should be stopped business ventures ither overtly or should be forced 2nts in infra strucirce development,
agriculture and industry n the Tamil areas without any hindrance. While every one can appreciate the need for the LTTE to secure areas under its control from a military perspective, the LTTE has to be forced to find a way to accommodate the developmental needs of the people.
The future
The future for the Tamils within Sri Lanka can be secured primarily by minimizing economic dependence on the Sinhala polity for employment, livelihood and other matters that are important to civilized life, provided the LTTE acts sensibly. Contentious political issues should be handled in parallel with the awareness that these will take time to resolve given the "Drink, Eat and be Merry (Kaappalla, Beepalla, Jollykerapalla)' attitude and short sightedness of the Sinhala polity.
The present ceasefire should be exploited to achieve this economic independence for the Tamil areas as quickly as possible. The morally bankrupt LTTE of today does not seem have the vision, wisdom, political acumen or capability to lead the Tamils along this path. It also seems clear the LTTE has outlived its period of usefulness to the Tamils and instead has become a major liability. Its achievements relate to the past, however glorious and necessary they were at one time. The past is gone, while the future is ahead of us. The Tamil people have to jettison the LTTE, if it is unable to reform and lead the Tamils in a democratic, mature, sensible and cultured manner. We Tamils as a people should not be penalized, castigated or damned in the future for the sins of the LTTE, committed in our name. We should demonstrate to the LTTE that we are not a feeble race (recent speech of Pottu Amman) they assume us to be and have the capacity to stand up for the values we cherish. The disappointment and disillusionment of the Tamils with the LTTE, its ways and mores are quite palpable today. This could become a tidal wave that will make the LTTE only a brief episode in our long history, unless the LTTE takes immediate remedial action. O

Page 28
28 TAM TIMES
Incorrect reading
Karen Armstrong
Human beings, in nearly all cultures, have long engaged in a rather strange activity. They have taken a literary text, given it special status and attempted to live according to its precepts. These texts are usually of considerable antiquity yet they are expected to throw light on situations that their authors could not have imagined. In times of crisis, people turn to their scriptures with renewed zestand, with much creative ingenuity, compel them to speak to their current predicament. We are seeing a great deal of scriptural activity at the moment.
This is ironic, because the concept of scripture has become problematic in the modern period. The Scopes trial of 1925, when Christian fundamentalists in the United States tried to ban the teaching of evolution in the public schools, and the more recent affair of The Satanic Verses, both reveal deep-rooted anxiety about the nature of revelation and the integrity of sacred texts. People talk confidently about scripture, but it is not clear that even the most ardent religious practitioners really know what it is.
Protestant fundamentalists, for example, claim that they read the Bible in the same way as the early Christians, but their beliefthat it is literally true in every detail is a recent innovation, formulated for the first time in the late 19th century.
Before the modern period, Jews, Christians, and Muslims all relished highly allegorical interpretations ofscripture. The word of God was infinite and could not be tied down to a single interpretation. Preoccupation with literal truth is a product of the scientific revolution, when reason achieved such spectacular results that mythology was no longer regarded as a valid path to knowledge.
We tend now to read our scriptures for accurate information, so that the Bible, for example, becomes a holy encyclopaedia, in which the faithful look up facts about God. Many assume that if the scriptures are not historically and scientifically correct, they cannot be true at all. But this was not how scripture was originally conceived. All the verses of the Qur'an, for example, are called “parables” (ayat); its images of paradise, hell, and the last judgmentare also ayat, pointers to transcendent realities that we can only glimpse through signs and symbols.
We distort our scriptures if we read them in an exclusively literal sense. There
has recently been muc the way Muslim terr Qur'an. Does the Qu Muslims to slay unb they find them? Does cide bomber instant p gins? If so, Islam is prone to terrorism. T often been confused b derstanding of the wa People do not rob single edict of theirs did, the world would who love their enemie cheek when attacked. reasons why a tiny m are turning to terrorism ing to do with Islam. way people read the days, once a terroristh up a London bus, he scriptural texts that st action.
Part of the probler reading our scriptures to them. When, for fundamentalists argu they hurl texts back tively, citing chapter of spiritual tennis mata familiarity with the Bi before the modern in made it feasible for e copy and before wide essentially modern phe them to read it for the Hitherto the scri been transmitted orall that, like a great theatr them in a special frar tians heard extracts o' during the mass; they choose their favouri young Hindu men stu years with their guru, facing and non-violer meant to influence the the texts. In Judaism, t ing Torah and Talmu. itself a transformative just as important astl The last thing any is to read the Qur'an st cover to cover, becaus be recited aloud. Inde means “recitation.”M is derived from sound one passage with anc lims who hear extracts sands of times in the acquire a tacit unde

AUGUST 2005
of religious texts
h discussion about orists interpret the ran really instruct elievers wherever it promise the suiaradise and 70 virclearly chronically hese debates have y an inadequate uny scripture works. otically obey every acred texts. If they pe full of Christians sand turn the other There are political inority of Muslims n, which have nothBut because of the ir scriptures these as decided to blow can probably find eem to endorse his
mis that we are now instead of listening xample, Christian e about the Bible, and forth competiand verse in a kind h. But this detailed ble was impossible vention of printing verybody to own a spread literacy - an :nomenon - enabled mselves. ptures had always y, in a ritual context ical production, put me of mind. Chrisf the Bible chanted could not pick and te texts. In India, died the Vedas for adopting a self-efit lifestyle that was ir understanding of he process of studyd with a rabbi was experience that was he content. one should attempt raight through from e it was designed to ed, the word qur'an uch of the meaning d patterns that link other, so that Muschanted aloud thoucourse of a lifetime rstanding that one
teaching is always qualified and supplemented by other texts, and cannot be seen in isolation. The words that they hear again and again are not "holy war," but "kindness," "courtesy," "peace," "justice,” and "compassion.”
Historians have noted that the shift from oral to written scripture often results in strident, misplaced certainty. Reading gives people the impression that they have an immediate grasp of their scripture; they are not compelled by a teacher to appreciate its complexity. Without the aesthetic and ethical disciplines of ritual, they can approach a textinapurely cerebralfashion, missing theemotive and therapeutic aspects of its stories and instructions.
Solitary reading also enables people to read their scriptures too selectively, focussing on isolated texts that they read out of context, and ignoring others that do not chime with their own predilections. Religious militants who read their scriptures in this way often distort the tradition they are trying to defend. Christian fundamentalists concentrate on the aggressive Book of Revelation and pay no attention to the Sermon on the Mount, while Muslim extremists rely on the more belligerentpassages of the Qur'an and overlook its oft-repeated instructions to leave vengeancetoGod and makepeace with theenemy. We cannot turn the clock back. Most of us are accustomed to acquiring information instantly at the click of a mouse, and have neither the talent nor the patience for the disciplines that characterised pre-modern interpretation. But we can counter the dangerous tendency to selective reading of sacred texts. The Qur'an insists that its teaching must be understood "in full” (20:114), an important principle that religious teachers must impart to the disaffected young.
Muslim extremists have given the jihad (which they interpret reductively as "holy war') a centrality that it never had before and have thus redefined the meaning of Islam formany non-Muslims. But in this they are often unwittingly aided by the media, who also concentrate obsessively on the more aggressive verses ofthe Qur'an, without fully appreciating how these are qualified by the text as a whole. We must all - the religious and the sceptics alike-become aware that there is more to scripture than meets the cursory eye.
Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004 (Karen Armstrong is the author of The Battle for God: A History ofFundamentalism.)

Page 29
AUGUST 2005
7/7 LONDON BOMBS
Lavanyan Ratnapalan
A city bomb blast leaves all of the people of that city - its survivors - in a similar physiological position. First of all, everybody experiences shock, which is a blow that some will find it too easy to recover from. Later, perhaps on the following day, the reality of events will come to reclaim them. Some Londoners rallied very quickly after the blasts of July 7th. Transportworkers at London Bridge Station high-fived each other between shifts: a sign of comradeship in anxious times. The police and emergency services have worked diligently and tirelessly to support the victims and to catch the criminals who committed these terrible acts.
Nevertheless, London has seemed emptier these past couple of weeks. The rush hour is quieter, there are more available seats on the tube, and fewer tourists are to be seen on the pavements of the West End. These are some of the uncomfortable reverberations of the July attacks, and in this sense it is entirely wrong to portray Londoners as "stoic' and capable of "taking it', as many politicians and media figures have done. One British journalist has noted that, "All cities can in some sense take it, and many have suffered more than London. A city is a habitation built for "taking it'."
The Blitz spirit that some commentators have found among London's population in the aftermath of 7/7 has only been possible through a necessary distortion of history. What is seldom recalled about this event are the many instances of theft and looting carried out by Londoners while homes were evacuated for air raid shelters during the night-time bombing raids of 1940-41. It is a common circumstance of any war, you might assert, which would be true, but would it then be fair to praise Londoners in particular for their spirit, and not the residents of any other war-ravaged city? And is it also fair in this respect to ignore the boos and chanting that greeted Churchill on his first visit to the East End during the war? And the widespread and mutual Cockney hatred of the Royal Family at the same time? All of these facts must be placed in counterpoint to some of the
propagandistic devi being foisted on peo about Londoners' r nervous period.
The choice ofth deliberate, since th avoided by the Britis London should take don have to take it knows that the war ing in London more been for many year IRA s recent annou with the British peo reminder of the pea negotiating with gro ist.
The example of to a common misc causes of the attacks that they were moti naticism. It is as yet that the men who cowere devoutly relig ics, so that anyone presumption can onl point of view given ently at hand.
What it is possit is that the history of the last century at le ligionis less a motiv ist activity than spe particularly when co ist terms. In the cas ists, the key unifyir the Ummah, which community of Musl without territorial b cept helps to clarify ish-born suicide bor people - be they Ira tinian - with whom had minimal social c The key motiva activists is political ceived aggressor, wi British and Americ have sent their armie
D) Y (See
www.amassociates.co.uk-use
 
 
 

TAMIL TIMES 29
ces that are currently ple all over the world esilience during this
e word propaganda is 2 issue that is being sh government is why : it. What made Lonanyway? Everyone on Iraq has made livdangerous than it has s. In this respect the ncement that its war ple is over comes as a ceful possibilities of ups classed as terror
the IRA also points onception about the on London, namely, vated by religious facompletely unproven nducted these attacks ious, let alone fanat
who makes such a y be extolling a racist the information pres
ble to show, however, suicide bombing, in :ast, suggests that reating factor ofterror:cific political goals, onceived in nationale of "Islamic' terror1g concept is that of describes the global ims as a kind of state borders. Such a conthe motives of Britmbers in defence of a qi, Afghan or Pales, they can only have Ontact.
ting factor for these combat against a perho in this caseare the an governments that :sto fight wars in Iraq
and Afghanistan. The alleged statement to Italian prosecutors of one of the terror suspects who was caught in Rome, Hussein Osman, supports this view': "More than praying we discussed work, politics, the war in Iraq ... we always had new films of the war in Iraq... more than anything else those in which you could see Iraqi women and children who had been killed by US and UK soldiers." Religion could help to facilitate suicide from a psychological point of view, and organisations such as Al-Quaeda could provide money and logistical support, but neither of these factors are adequate in themselves to explain the desire to carry out such attacks. At the same time, all of the terrorists in London appear to have been young men under the age of 30. This may prove to be highly significant in terms of the psychology of political action, as one commentator has recently noted: "Terror, particularly self-annihilating Terror, seems to resolve certain conflicts in masculinity. It seems reasonable to posita drive in young men towards self annihilation...Terror seems to give the male drive towards self. destruction an ethical dimension, transforming idiotic self-destruction into heroic self-sacrifice.'
I know what some readers will be thinking as they read such explanations: another middle-class liberal fails to understand how there could be fanatics out there who make a conscious decision to destroy themselves and many others in order to gain a martyr's place in heaven among beautiful virgins and everlasting pleasure. Such an irrationalist interpretation may be true, but it is unhelpful in understanding the root causes of terrorist action. Many of the young men who were behind the attacks in New York and London, not to mention Osama Bin Laden, hail from respectable middle class families; they are smart and educated, even urbane citizens of the global, multicultural world that we all claim to share a place in today. Even if these men could have succumbed to the heavenly temptations described above, it could not have been the first step, the primary motivation to terror: to assume so would mean removing social and political reasoning entirely from the issue, which is another way of mystifying events that have a concrete substance and reality. O
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Child recruitment intensifying: July 25 - The United Nations children's agency, UNICEF, said that the LTTE has recruited 28 children during July this year despite repeated pledges to stop child recruitment. It said that the Tamil Tigers were intensifying child recruitment. According to the UNICEF office in Colombo, there have only been 18 cases in June.
The agency says every time they raise the issue, the Tigers promise to "look into the matter, but kept recruiting under-age cadres. "Not everyone is forcefully recruited. Some do join the LTTE voluntarily," Jeffrey Keele, communications officer for UNICEF told the BBC. "But the child recruitment needs to stop." The spokesman said the current no-war, no-peace situation in Sri Lanka make it difficult to find a permanent solution to the problem."It is going to be very difficult to see child recruitment ends once and for all without an active peace process going on."
Two youth hacked to death: July 26 - Two youth, Kumarasamy Pathmakaran (aged 23) of Kotahena, Colombo and Subramaniam Gokulan (aged 26) from Chavakachcheri, Jaffna were hacked to death by some unknown persons last night at Manipauram near Nelukulam on Vavuniya -- Mannar Road. The killings appear to have taken place Monday (25) night and the victims were brought to Manippuram from elsewhere by the killers, according to the villagers.
The dead bodies were found under a banyan tree. No trace on the murderers was possible but the villagers had informed the police that they saw a white colour Hi-ace van near the spot,
286 Tamil medium teachers for NE schools: July 26 - 286 GCE Advanced Level qualified Tamil medium teachers are to receive their appointment letters from zonal education offices in their respective districts in the northeast province Wednesday. These teachers have been selected by the Colombo Ministry of Education based on the results of the competitive examination held in December last year and the list has been handed over to the North East Provincial Ministry of Education for posting, education department officials said.
Selected teachers have been notified to collect their appointment letters from zonal education offices in their respective districts in the northeast province. The breakdown of the newly appointed AL qualified teachers is given below district wise: - Jaffna-50, Mullaitivu-22, Killinochchi-16,Vavuniya-25, Mannar-12, Batticaloa-62, Amparai-67 and Trincomalee-32.
EPDP membershot dead in Batticaloa: July 27- Pankirajah George, 39, a member of the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP), was shot and killed by suspected LTTE gunman riding a bicycle Tuesday (26) night around 11:00 p.m., Batticaloa Police said. The incident took place 2 km. south of Batticaloa town, at Chinese Road in Puthur. The EPDP cadre, also known as Ramesh, was attached to the EPDP's Chenkalady office. Ramesh, a father of two children, was residing in Theemaltheevu in Batticaloa. The gunman had used 9 mm handgun, according to Batticaloa Police conducting investigations into the killing.
Batticaloa youth shot dead in Colombo: July 27 - Mr. Kirupaharan Krishnapillai, 28, a Tamil youth, who was shot by unidentified gunmen Tuesday (26) night around 11:30 p.m. in Colombo, succumbed to gunshot wounds Wednesday morning around 6:30 a.m. at Colombo Hospital, Police sources said,

AUGUST 2005
Mr. Kirupaharan, a resident of
Sithandy in Batticaloa, was stayRAC K ing at a lodge in Colombo waiting to go abroad, according to the staff at the lodge. Two unidentified gunmen on Tuesday night entered the lodge, located on Hussaniya Lane connecting with Dam
Street, and shot the victim who is suspected to be a supporter of the Karuna faction of the LTTE.
Muslim businessman shot dead: July 27 - A muslim businessman, Mr. M. M. Ibrahim Mohideen, was shot and killed by two unidentified gunmen on Wednesday (27) at 9:55 p.m in Abdul Jawath Alim Mawatta, Kaththankudy, a large Muslim town 4km south of Batticaloa, Police said. Gunmen followed Mr. Ibrahim in a motorbike when he was returning home in his motorbike, residents said. Kaththankudy Police conducting investingations into the killing said that the killers had used 9 mm handgun to shoot the businessman who was once president of the Kaththankudy Business Society.
Mahinda Rajapakse Presidential candidate: July 28 - The central committee of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) endorsed the name of Prime Minister, Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse, as its candidate of the Sri Lanka's executive presidency. Mr.Nimal Sripalade Silva, Cabinet spokesman and Minister in the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government announced this at a press briefing held in Prime Minister's official residence "Temple Trees'.
Sixty-two members of the central committee supported the name of Mr.Rajapakse as presidential candidate. Mr.Nimal Sripala de Silva said the Presidential election would be held in December 2006 and not in 2005 as demanded by the main opposition United National Party (UNP). President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge in the capacity of President of the SLFP presided the central committee meeting.
LTTE office in Vavuniya attacked: July 28 - Two unidentified men lobbed grenades at the Administrative Office of the LTTE in Vavuniya around 10:00 p.m. Thursday (28). No one was injured in the attack. The attackers, who came in a motorbike, fired into the building after charging two grenades. The office is located at Thirunavatkulam, two kilometers north of Vavuniya town. There were four LTTE administrative officials inside the building at the time of the attack which damaged a motorbike and a computer, LTTE sources said.
Coffin protest against killings: July 29 - Relatives and colleagues of a slain EPDP activist placed his coffin near the office of European truce monitors, SLMM, Friday (July 29) in northern Sri Lanka, demandingjustice for alleged killings by the Tamil Tigers. Sulliampillai Nixon, 22, was fatally shot Thursday (July 28) by a gunman suspected to be a Tamil Tiger in the northern town of Jaffna. His relatives and colleagues refused to remove the coffin until the European cease-fire monitors assured them they would try to find a way to stop the killings. Earlier EPDP members escorted by soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army and Policemen brought the body of Mr.Nixon in a procession from Kailasapillaiyar Koviladi junction carrying placards to the office of the SLMM located along Nallur Temple Road in Jaffna. Nixon had been selling the EPDP's newspaper when he was shot.
"We understand their frustration ... but we don't have a mandate to go after the perpetrators,” said Helen Olafsdottir, spokeswoman for Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission. Nixon was a

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member of the Eelam Peoples' Democratic Party, or EPDP.
Tamileelam TV begins broadcasts: July 30 - "The importance given to nurturing the electronic and printed media by the Tamil Eelam leader Pirapaharan is why we are now able to extend our Television services to countries in Asia," said K Veera of National Television of Tamileelam (NTT), speaking at an event held Friday (July 29) 10am at the Media Co-ordinating office in Kilinochchi to mark the inauguration of television broadcasts to southeast Asian countries as from 1st August, sources in Kilinochchi said.
“We faced several hurdles to inform our public the factual details of events that affected them during the period of war. The ability of the State to spread false propaganda through state-controlled media taught us that building a strong media network to disseminate the Tamil point of view locally and internationally was crucial to our progress. Our media capability grew with our growth in military strength and now we have the capability to broadcast live news through satellite technology to most parts of the world where Tamils live. We urge all journlists to co-operate with us to make our new broadcast program to SouthEast asian countries a success," added Mr Veera. The new service using Eurostar at 11.5GHz will reach India, parts of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Mayanmar and China for two hours between 13.30 - 15.30 GMT, the media unit officials said.
Arrested for possessing explosives: July 29 - Mohamed Sayed, 39, was arrested by the Sri Lankan Police for alleged possession of explosives Saturday (July 30) morning at Iyankerni. Police unearthed explosives kept buried beside a coconut tree in the compound of his home on Jinna Road, Eravur Police said. Eravur Police conducting investigations said that the arrest was made after the police discovered two powerful explosives following a tip off
Elderly man killed in Jaffna: Aug 1 - A 52-year old Tamil man, a father of three, was killed by alleged LTTE assailants in Atchuvely in Jaffna on Friday (29 July). Mr. Phillipiah Jeyarajah was killed by men riding in two motorbikes. Mr. Jeyarajah, a farmer, was returning to his field when he was gunned down. Area residents reported that one of Mr. Jeyarajah's son was a member of PLOTE, and Mr. Jeyarajah himself was detained and assaulted by LTTE in the past. According to residents in Jaffna, LTTE pistol gang members are now targeting the family members of rival groups.
Three LTTE men arrested: Aug 1 - Three persons with suspected LTTE links were arrested by police when they were caught videotaping the high security residence of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar in Colombo, Police sources said they suspect the three men were linked to the LTTE, and have handed them over to the CID for interrogation. Minister Kadirgamar, is noted for his anti-LTTE campaigns internationally and is believed to be high on the LTTE hitlist. The foreign minister's last barb at the Tamil Tigers came on Friday when he said that a lasting solution to the country's national question was impossible until the LTTE was fully decommissioned. He called on the LTTE to follow the IRA's standingiving up"war for good".
Injured man in grenade attack, dies: Aug 2 - Mr. Ratnasingham Sivakumar, 30, a salesman at a Liquar shop in Batticaloa succumbed to his wounds at Batticaloa hospital from injuries received from a grenade attack. An unidentified attacker lobbed a grenade into the liqour shop at Pillayaradi in Sinna

TAMIL TIMES 31
Urani, 5 km north of Batticaloa where Mr. Sivakumar was employed was alone at the shop at the time of the attack which took place on Monday (Aug. 1) around 2:00 p.m.
Grenade lobbed at EPDP office in Colombo: Aug 5 - The office of the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) leader Mr. Douglas Devananda came under a grenade attack around 11:40 p.m. Thursday (4), Police sources said. There were no casualities reported but a big noise due to the explosion echoed throughout the highly residential Park Road, Colombo 5, the area where the EPDP office is located. Mr. Douglas Devananda, MP, leader of EPDP is the Minister for Vocational Education. He was not at the Park road office when the grenade was thrown. A week ago an EPDP cadre was shot dead in Jaffna while he was selling the group's newspaper Thinamurasu.
Grenade attack on LTTE office: Aug 5 - Unidentified men, suspected to belong to the Karuna faction, attacked Kaluwanchikudy political office of the LTTE Friday (5) early morning. At least five handgrenades were lobbed inside the office premises, Kaluwanchikudy police said. Five LTTE political cadres who were in the office narrowly escaped from the attack, LTTE sources said. Doors and windows in the front side of the building and the roof were damaged in the attack, Kaluwanchikudy Police conducting investigations said. Shortly before this incident, Periyakallar LTTE political office also came under attack. The name board of the Periyakallar office was removed and dumped on the road. LTTE political officials have brought these incidents to the notice of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), the LTTE Political co-ordinator said.
Fisherman abducted and killed: Aug 7 - Sivarajah Mariyapalan, 22, a fisherman, was shot in his head and killed by unidentified persons who abducted him Saturday (7) evening at Arumugathankudiyiruppu village in Eravur, Police said. The victim, a resident of the village, went for fishing to Savukkady sea around 9:00 p.m., parents told Eravur Police. The body of the victim was found by his parents Sunday morning behind a bush near St. Anthony's church at Savukkady. Mr. Mariyapalan was shot with a 9mm handgun, according to the Eravur Police conducting investigations into the killing.
Grenade attack on shops: Aug 7 - A shop owner was seriously injured and another civilian injured when two unidentified persons riding a motorbike lobbed a grenade into a shop at Chenkalady junction, a high security zone area between Sri Lanka army garrison in Kommathurai and the Black Bridge checkpoint, 15 km. north of Batticaloa. Four shops located near the Chenkalady market were fully burnt by the fire caused by the grenade explosion. The attack took place around 8:30 p.m. Saturday (6), according to Eravur Police. The shop owner, Mr. Srimohan, with serious injuries is admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Batticaloa Hospital. Mr. Ravinthiran, the other civilian with injuries is admitted to Eravur Hospiltal.
Soldiers attacked in Mirusuvil: Aug 8-Three soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army sustained injuries when the vehicle in which they were taking meals to fellow soldiers stationed in the area came under attack after being waylaid by unidentified persons Sunday(7) night around 9 p.m. at Mirusuvil in Thenmaradchchi divisions in Jaffna district. The attackers fled from the scene. Two soldiers sustained minor injuries and the third was admitted to the Palaly military hospital in a critical condition, security sources said.

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Attack on JVP office condemned: Aug 8 - The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuns (JVP) has condemned the cowardly attack on JVP office on 7 August in Trincomalee allegedly by the LTTE and urged the government to restore democratic rights of the people in the north and east.
Jayantha Wijesekera, JVP parliamentarian from Trincomalee, said that he had survived the attempt carried out by suspected members of the LTTE at the eastern town of Kantalai in the Trinco district. "I was sitting just outside my office when two LTTE members arrived on a motorcycle and threw a grenade at me. It dropped without exploding and I was led away by my personal security personnel," Wijesekera said. A Police Sergeant was injured when two suspected LTTE cadres hurled a handgrenade at the JVP Trincomalee district political office and fired at policemen on duty. Police said two people had come on a motorcycle and hurled the grenade and fired several shots before fleeing the scene. JVP Trincomalee district parliamentarian Jayantha Wijesekara had been at the office at the time of the attack and five policemen who were on duty had retaliated by firing back at the two suspects. A Police Sergeant who was injured in his right leg was rushed to the Kantale hospital while one of the suspects who were riding the motorcycle had escaped leaving the bike behind.
Two LTTE cadres shot dead: Aug 10 -Two political cadres of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were shot and killed by suspected Karuna gunmen who were riding in a blue colour van Wednesday around 7:30 a.m. The incident took place at Kanjirankuda junction on Akkaraipattu-Pottuvil Main Road, around 300 meters away from the Special Task Force (STF) base in Kanjirankuda, which is located 3km south of Thirukkovil in Amparai district.
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The LTTE cadres, Mr. Ramesh (Vellayan), 32, from Sinnathoddam in Thirukkovil and Mr. Sujiventhan, 19, from Vinayagapuram were traveling on amotorbike from LTTE controlled Pavattai to their political office located Thambiluvil village. Hands of the slain LTTE cadres were bound behind their backs. Their motorbike was taken away by the attackers, sources said.
SP killing- LTTE must bring culprits to book: Aug 11 - Some non-LTTE Tamil groups say if the LTTE is not responsible for the killing of Senior Superintendent of Police, Charles Wijewardane it is their responsibility and duty to bring the culprit to the book. They say "Killing of Mr. Wijewardane a good officer is a violation of the Ceasefire Agreement signed between the government and the LTTE. If the LTTE is so keen to safeguard the CFA they must bring to justice the killers of Mr. Wijewardane."
They have expressed their sadness on the brutal slaying of Wijewardane, an officer who worked closely with Tamil people and others. Colleagues described him as very honest and a sincere officer who does not even have a house having served the Police for a very long time. Intelligence sources say the LTTE had targeted Mr. Wijewardane due to his popularity with the Tamil people. A senior Police Officer said, "Tamil people loved him and trusted him and he trusted them in return. That's why he went to speak to the mob unarmed and he would have never thought the LTTE would kill him in such a brutal manner.' The Police said the LTTE had threatened witnesses not to give evidence against the killers of Charles Wijewardane. M'sia, Recruiter of Lankan workers: Aug 12 - Malaysia may nearly top the list of labour-receiving countries of Sri
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Lankan migrant workers soon if a delegation from Colombo visiting Kuala Lumpur next week is able to convince the authorities to fulfil a promise to recruit 80,000 workers annually, local officials said. Malaysia has promised to recruit 80,000 workers annually and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to this effect was signed during a recent visit to Kuala Lumpur by Sri Lankan Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Athauda Seneviratne. However, the officials said cabinet sanction or higher government authority would be required for its full implementation.
Currently Sri Lanka has some 5,000 domestic workers in Malaysia and raising that to an annual 80,000 male and female workers would place it second only to Saudi Arabia which has an annual intake of up to 125,000 workers from Sri Lanka. Other countries in the Middle East, the region that hires the largest number of Sri Lankan workers, recruits less than 80,000 per country annually, according to Suraj Dandeniya, President of the Association of Licenced Foreign Employment Agencies (ALFEA). Dandeniya is leading a delegation of 50 members of ALFEA to Malaysia on this promotional mission accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Labour and Employment Relations Mervyn Silva. Dandeniya said that the delegation would look for opportunities for jobs in the IT and the hotel sector rather than for housemaids or lower level jobs. He said they were hoping to persuade the authorities to speed up recruitment of both males and females.
EU approves Euro 45 million for Tsunami victims: Aug 12 - The European Commission approved another €45 million for two Tsunami reconstruction projects in Sri Lanka. Building on the €30 million already provided by the European Commission for emergency work since the Tsunami struck last December, this €45 million is the first instalment of the EC's longer term reconstruction package. The funding will support livelihood recovery in the areas affected by the Tsunami in the North and East and will reconstruct 270 km of the coastal road that goes from the South to the East.
Charge de affairs of the EU delegation in Sri Lanka Wouter Wilton said: "Efforts to help victims of the tsunami must continue. The immediate crisis response may be over but the challenge of longer term reconstruction of the shattered coastal communities of Sri Lanka remains.
This Commission Decision will provide €5.5 million for an Immediate Communities Livelihood Programme in order to revitalize the livelihoods and basic economic opportunities in the affected communities. Communities will receive equipment, vital infrastructure and skills training to reconstruct their villages, their local infrastructure and to help them earn their own livings again. The project will be implemented in cooperation with the existing community-based United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Transition Programme in the north and east of Sri Lanka.
An additional €39.5 million will be available to reconstruct different sections of the road from Matara to Batticaloa, which have been extensively damaged by the tsunami, as well as having been in a bad state for many years. Rehabilitation of the road is viewed by the Government as a strategic priority for post-tsunami recovery but also for the longer-term sustainable development of the southern and eastern regions. The EC will finance the corresponding road sections with the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The reconstruction of the road will help to restore the local economy in the tsunami-affected regions in the south and east. Up to 50 million more will be provided for further reconstruction work in due course.

TAMIL TIMES 33
Grenade attack on tsunami camp: Aug 12 - Two unidentified persons, riding a motorbike lobbed a grenade into an armed post located close to the Triple Gem tsunami refugee camp in Kalmunai Thursday (11) night around 10:00 p.m. Two civilians, standing near the armed post, were also injured in the grenade attack, Police said. Police Constable Mr. Nimal Somasri, 36, and the homeguard Mr. Gamini, 30, were the security personnel injured in the grenade attack. The two civilians injured in the attack were: Mr. Nadarajah Sivanantharajah, 39, and Ms. Parvathy Subramaniam, 50. The Triple Gem tsunami refugee camp is located near Kalmunai Pansala, which is located around one kilometer from Kalmunai town.
Police constable shot: Aug 12 - Apolice constable, Mr. Farook, 35, was shot and injured Friday (12) noon in Karaithivu, 48 kilometres south of Batticaloa.The constable was on duty at Vettuvaikalavai Bridge with two other police constables when the incident happened. The gunmen fired from a long distance, from an abandoned land, Police said. Police constable Farook was admitted to Amparai Hospital with wounds in his leg, hospital sources said.
STF water bowser attacked: Aug 12 - Unidentified gunmen fired at a water bowser belonging to Special Task Force (STF) Friday (12) evening around 4:30 p.m. at Sangamamkandy in Pothuvil, 90 km. south of Batticaloa. Three STF soldiers sustained minor injuries and the vehicle was damaged, Police said. The incident took place at 212 milepost on Akkaraipattu - Pottuvil main Road, between Thandiyadi and Komari. Sangamamkandy is located in Amparai district. STF water bowser usually supplies water to Sangamam and Kalugolla villages, sources said. The police blamed the LTTE for the attack.
Policeman killed, two injured: Aug 12 - A Police Constable, Mr. Athukorala, was shot and killed and two other policemen were seriously injured when suspected LTTE gunmen shot at a police mobile unit Friday (12) around 2:30 p.m. at Dehiyathakandia in Amparai district in the East. Injured police constables have been admitted to Amparai Hospital, Police said.
Grenade attack on tsunami camp:Aug 12- The LTTE hurled two grenades at Thisarana camp for displaced tsunami survivors, wounding four people on Thursday (1 l) night in Akkaraipattu, police said. One police constable and a Home Guard and two tsunami survivors were admitted to Batticaloa hospital with injuries.It was the third attack on the tsunami camp injust over a month, police said. A complaint was lodged with Scandinavian truce monitors by the tsunami survivors.
Grenade lobbed at police station: Aug 14 - Two unidentified gunmen riding a motorbike lobbed a grenade and shot into the main entrance of the police station in Thirukkovil around 8:45 p.m. Saturday (13). No one was injured in the attack, Thirukkovil Police Officer-In Charge (OIC) Mr. Ahmeer said. Police returned fire, but the attackers managed to escape from the site.
LTTE political office attacked: Aug 15 - Political office of the LTTE in Batticaloa, located inside the Sri Lanka Army held eastern town's high security area, was attacked by two unidentified men Sunday (14) noon. The attackers, who approached the office in a motorbike, lobbed more than five grenades, one by one, into the building through the main entrance, neighbouring residents said. Five LTTE political officials who were in

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side the building narrowly escaped the attack, sources said. Frontal part of the building, documents and the furniture inside the office were damaged in the attack. The Batticaloa political office of the LTTE was attacked at least six times within the last 12 months, sources added.
Policeman, homeguard injured: Aug 15 - Unidentified persons lobbed three grenade into a police checkpoint wounding a police constable and a homeguard at Pandiruppu in Kalmunai at 7:50 p.m. Sunday (14), Police said. The injured Police Constable Mr. A. Gunatilleke and the homeguard Mr.M. Azmi were rushed to Kalmunai Ashraff Memorial Hospital. The checkpoint, attacked for the second time in three weeks, is located around 500 meters near Kalmunai police station at Thalavettuvanjunction on Batticaloa-Kalmunai Road, 39 km. south of Batticaloa, a TamilNet report said.
Three injured in grenade attack: Aug 15 - A Special Task Force soldier, a policeman and a homeguard were seriously injured at 9:30 p.m. Sunday (14), when unidentified attackers lobbed a grenade into their checkpost located on RKM Road in Akkaraipattu, 64 km. south of Batticaloa, Police said. The injured men were rushed to Akkaraipattu Hospital and later transferred to Amparai Hospital. Tension prevails in Akkaraipattu following the attack.
STF soldiers returned fire on the attackers. Continuous firing was heard for 5 minutes, residents said. Five Lankan security personnel were stationed in the sentry post adjoining a tsunami refugee camp at Tharmasangari playgrounds, one kilometer from Akkaraipattu town. The injured men were STF
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AUGUST 2005
oldier Mr. Ratnayakka, homeguard Mr. Ramesh and policehan Mr. Abdullah, according to hospital sources. Three STF oldiers were injured in a previous grenade attack on the same heckpost on July 21, according to a TamilNet report.
Karuna cadre shot dead: Aug 16- Suspected LTTE gunmen hot and killed Mr Mahathevarajah, a cadre from the Karuna iroup, Monday (16) night at Namalpockuna in Polannaruwa. Mahathevarajah was shot in his head with a 9 mm. handgun, Aralaganwela Police said. The dead body was found by Aralaganwela Police Tuesday morning following a tip off from he two Karuna Group cadres who told the police that they scaped from the attackers. The three Karuna cadres were atacked near a forest area, according to their statement to the olice.
Soldier killed in the east: Aug 16 - Suspected Tamil Tigers ired on two army posts in northern Sri Lanka on Tuesday 16), killing one soldier, in the first anti-government violence ince the assassination of the country's foreign minister last week, police and the military said.
A rebel sniper fatally shot Lance Cpl. H. K. A. Hendeniya while he was on duty at a post in Muttur in eastern Sri lanka, said Rohan Abeywardene, the regional police chief. He said Hendeniya was taken to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries. Barely 15 minutes later, at least four rebel assailants opened fire on a separate army guard post in the same area, but no one was injured in that attack, Abeywardene said. Also Monday (15), suspected rebels shot and killed a 17-yearold who had been associated with a breakaway Tamil Tiger rebel faction near the town of Batticaloa in northeastern Sri Lanka, Brigadier Ratnayake said.
Navy seize explosives and one killed in east: Aug 16 - The navy has seized high explosives from a fishing boat along with eight detonators in northern Sri Lanka. The explosives and detonators were uncovered in Jaffna late Monday (15) by navy officers who were suspicious of the boat, said Brig. Daya Ratnayake, the military spokesman. The three occupants of the boat were arrested. Ratnayake said the explosives had the potential to "cause substantial damage."
In a separate incident late Monday near eastern Batticaloa, three suspected Tamil Tiger rebels shot and killed Madawaraja Pirav, 17, Ratnayake said. Pirav was associated with the breakaway faction of the mainstream rebel group.
Injured in grenade attack: Aug 16 - Five Army and Police personnel were injured in two grenade attacks allegedly by LTTE cadres in two different locations in the Ampara district on 15 August.
In Alayadiwembu, Akkaraipattu, alleged LTTE cadres reportedly attacked policemen providing security to a Tsunami Welfare Centre injuring an STF commando, a police constable and a home guard. They were admitted to the Akkaraipattu hospital and later transferred to the Ampara hospital. In another incident, suspected LTTE cadres allegedly hurled hand grenades at a police patrol around 7.45 p.m. in Pandiruppu in Kalmunai, injuring a policeman and a home guard. The injured were admitted to the Kalmunai hospital.
Policemen shot in Iruthayapuram: Aug 17 - Unidentified persons fired on two Sri Lankan policemen, wounding them on

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Tuesday (16) night around 8:30 p.m. in the Iruthayapuram suburb of Batticaloa town, Police said. The attackers used T 56 rifles and shot from a long distance, Police said blaming the LTTE for the attack.
The wounded policemen, Mr. Amararatna Dissanayake, 46, and Mr. K. N. Gunawardana, 39, were rushed to Batticaloa Hospital at 8:50 p.m. The policemen were on duty, around 50 meters from a sentry post at the time of the incident. Iruthayapuram is located about 2 km. off Batticaloa town.
Sammanthurai police station attacked: Aug 17 - Unidentified attackers armed with automatic rifles opened fire on Sammanthurai police station Tuesday (16) night around 11:30 p.m. Police constables returned fire on the attackers, No one was injured, Police said blaming the LTTE for the attack. Continuous firing was heard for five minutes, according to neighbouring residents. The police station building sustained damage in the attack, Police said. Sammanthurai town is located in Amparai district, 45 km. south of Batticaloa.
Youth with explosives arrested: Aug 17 - Soldiers of the Sri Lanka Navy conducted a cordon and search operation in the Pallimunai coastal area in the Mannar district Wednesday (17) for about two hours from about 7:00 a.m., civil sources said. During the operation SLN soldiers recovered about three kg of gelatin sticks, 31 detonators and four feet of wire. The soldiers arrested a Tamil youth and handed him to the Pallimunai Police for further action, sources said.
Magistrate goes undergraoud: Aug 17-A leading lawyer and acting magistrate from Akkaraipattu has gone into hiding following death threats made allegedly by the LTTE. The acting Magistrate, S. Jeganathan, a resident of Thambiluwil, started receiving death threats after he had remanded ten LTTE cadres who were arrested for being in possession of ammunition and cyanide capsules. The remand order was based on a plaint filed by the Akkaraipattu police which produced the suspects in court. The police plaint said that the suspects were arrested while travelling in a vehicle and in possession of two T-62 weapons, bullets, two cyanide capsules and two LTTE dog tags.
"A group of LTTE cadres had gone to Jeganathan's house in Thambiluwil subsequent to the remand order and threatened him with death if he fails to resign from the post of acting Magistrate," according to local sources.
LTTE sniper kills soldier: Aug 17 - A soldier on duty at an Army checkpoint, at Colony 64, Pachchanur, Mutur, was killed by suspected LTTE sniper fire on Tuesday (16). The deceased was identified as Lance Corporal Hendigoda. He was shot dead when he was about to leave the checkpoint after finishing his turn of duty at around 12.00noon, a senior army official said.
Grenade attack on EPDP office: August 18- Suspected Tamil Tiger cadres hurled a grenade at the office of a rival Tamil political group on Wednesday (17) in northern Sri Lanka, injuring one person, the military said. M. Ambarasan, 28, was asleep at the office of the Eelam People's Democratic Party in the Tamil heartland of Jaffna when an assailant flung the grenade into the building, said Brig. Daya Ratnayake, military spokes
a.
Meanwhile, two ethnic Tamil men found loitering outside

TAMIL TIMES 35
Devananda's heavily guarded home in Colombo were arrested Tuesday (16) evening after failing to provide a satisfactory reason for their presence there, Ratnayake said, adding that they were still being interrogated.
Kidnapped and killed: Aug 18 - A Tamil youth, Mr. Satheeskumar, residing in Armour Street in Colombo, was abducted Wednesday (17) night around 9:30 p.m and was found dead a day later with gunshot injuries behind a bush at Kahathoduwa in Homagama, 22 kilometers southeast of Colombo. The youth, estimated to be 25 years of age is a native of Pungudutheevu division l l in Jaffna, Police said. The body of the deceased victim is lying at Kalubowila Hospital for postmortem and final identification by the parents or relatives, Hospital sources said.
Former TELO member shot dead: Aug 18- Gunmen allegedly belonging to the LTTE shot and killed a former Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO)cadre in Kurumankadu, around 1.5 Km. west of Vavuniya around 8.20 p.m. on Wednesday (17), Vavuniya Police Officer In-Charge A.M. C. Abeyasinghe Banda said. The killing took place in a populous area, close to the UNHCR office in Vavuniya. The victim, identified as Somapalan Jegadeeswaran alias Mathy, 30, was shot twice in his head with a 9 mm. handgun at point blank range, as he was walking close to the UN office at Kali Kovil road in Kurumbankadu, Vavuniya Police said. Meanwhile, the TELO Office in Vavuniya said that Mathy, who is from Maharambai kulam in Vavuniya, had left their organisation a few months ago.
TRO de-listed in the UK: Aug 18 - The British Charity Commission has decided to remove the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) from the list of registered charities, according to reports. A spokesman for the British Charity Commission is reported to have said the decision was taken after a report on the activities of the TRO from the year 2000 that revealed its links with the LTTE, which is banned in Britain.
Policemen injured in attack: Aug 18 - The police reported that suspected LTTE cadres fired at two policemen, wounding them on Tuesday (16) night around 8:30 p.m. in the Iruthayapuram suburb of Batticaloa town. Police said that the attackers had fired T 56 assault rifles and shot from a long distance. The injured policemen were identified as Amararatna Dissanayake, 46, and Mr. K. N. Gunawardana, 39. They had been admitted to the Batticaloa government hospital.
More suspects sought in DIG's murder: Aug 19-The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probing the murder of DIG Charles Wijewardena in Jaffna had identified eight suspects who are reportedly involved in the abduction and killing and their arrest is imminent, according to a senior officer of the investigation unit. According to the investigators the eight suspects after the killing had left their village in Jaffna and taken shelter in several other areas which are now known to the CID. The special CID team was sent to Jaffna by the CID DIG on
the direction of IGP Chandra Fernando.
DIG Charles Wijewardena was killed by a suspected LTTE instigated mob in Jaffna when he tried to inquire into a death of a civilian at Inuvil, Jaffna two weeks ago. The LTTE has denied (continued on page 41)

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36 TAMIL TIMES
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Mrs. Masilanani Muthuvelu (ManiAmma), passed away on the 10th of August 2005.
She was the beloved wife of the late Mr. Muthu Velu Of Urumpirai, a loving mother of Dr. Maheswaran (UK), Somasunthary (UK) and Balakrishnan (NZ), mother-in-law of Sivayogavathy (Thevaki) (UK), Dr. Sivalingam (UK) and Mahalluxmy (Ramani) (NZ), grandmother of Gayathiri, Baskari, Renuka, Bhaminy, Yasothiny (Geetha)and Vidhya, and great grandmother of Chanthru, Chanthia, limaany, Ashwini, Arjun, Anjali, Amaran and Amala. The funeral took place at the City of London Crematorium at Manor Park on 15th of August. The members of the family
House & Property For Sale
Wellawatte Private Lane (Land Side), 15 perch, Four roomed House with 1 room annexe (AIC). Garden, car park. Residential or development. USD 320,000. Details - httplwww.atsrilanka.com/shani
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

AUGUST 2005
wish to thank all friends and relatives Who attended the funeral, sent floral tributes and messages of sympathy and assisted them in several
ways during the period of grief -27Abbotswood Gdns, Clayhall, llford, Essex IG5 OBG Tel: O2085505139
Mrs GNANAME3AL GNANANAYAK NARENDRANATHAN; most dearly beloved adoring wife of late Mr Ponnudurai Narendranathan, daughteroflate Mr & Mrs Sabapathypillai (of Karampan East), daughterin-law oflate Mr&Mrs Ponnudurai (of Maruthanamadam); dearest loving proud Amma to her children Thrinayani Jegathambal, Sownya Wjayambal, Sobhana Meenambal, Priyadarsani Brahathamball, Adhithya Thrilochanan, Vasutharini Kirjambal, Agasthya Ponnambalamand Ambika Dhakshayani always thoughtful mother-inlaw of P Arulampalam, T llangovan, R Srikanthan, Meera Narendranathan and Malini Narendranathan, darling dearest Payeeya to her grandchildren Abhirami Janani Raveendran, Amanath Thirumadhavan Raveendran, Nimala Arulampalam, Janaki Saruhasini Srikanthan, Janarthanan Ragavan llan
| Savithridevi Sivaloganathan
govan, Dhivya Saraswathy langovan and Divani Kruthika Narendranathan, (all of UK); loving sister of Sabapathypilai Pathmanathan (India), and Sister-in-law of
(SriLanka), Gayathridevi Ganesan (US), late Mayithridevi Arumugam, Srjayadevi Ponnudurai (SriLanka), Kathirayidevi Ponnudurai (SriLanka), Ponnudurai Poopendiranathan (SriLanka), and Padmini Pathmanathan (India); passed awaypeacefully surrounded by all her loving family on 30th July 2005. Funeral Services and Cremation took place according to Hindu rites on 2nd August 2005. A soul of great nobility, whose gentleness, kindnessandgenerostyknewno bounds, she will be greatly missed, but always be in the thoughts and mindsofall her family and friends. Family members express their Sincere thanks and deep gratitude to all their friends and relatives for their gracious presence, and for all their expression of sympathy words ofcomfort, messages of condolences; and the floral tributes, as well as to all those who helped in numerous ways, on this sadocCasion of our bereavement -53Crossways, South Croydon, Surrey CR28JQ, UK.
Georges Apartments to en Colombo
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area. Cook on request. £ 20 per day.
Contact George 0208 689 0236 Orr 07931587168
DO ROMJ (ZAVAT TI (CON S) (TE) nkans.com

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AUGUST 2005
IN MEMORAMS
First Anniversary Remembrance
8th August 2005
Mrs Poo Sivasubramaniam (1929-2003) Remembered with love and
affection by family
and friends.
Siva.niranjanOsteria.com.uk
+44 144225.9122
Fourth Year Remembrance
Dr. Chelvadural Manogaran (1935 - 2001) Emeritus Professor of Geography, University of Wisconsin, Parkside, USA.
Sadly missed and fondly remembered by his beloved wife Santhana Devi (Kili); daughters Anita and Shakila, son-in-law Douglas Shimp, grandson Nathaniel Shimp, family and friends.
Anniversary Remembrance of Mr. Mayilvaganam Velummylum
Sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his loving wife, children Thayanandarajah (UK), Nithianandarajah (New Zealand), Mayilvaganarajah (UK), Chitra (Colombo), Anandarajah, Krishnarajah and Jayanthi (all of Chennai), grandsons Cameron, Ewan and Atharsan, son-in-law KamaleSwaran (Colombo), daughters-in-law
Mr. Mayilvaganam Velummylum J.P, U.M., Attorney-at-Law and former Chairman, Urban Council, Point Pedro, Sri Lanka passedawayon 31.8.89 and the sixteenth anniversary falls on 31st August 2005.
Sumitra (UK), Devi (New Zealand), relations, friends anda host of grateful conStituents
- Hillcroft, 14 Howards Wood Drive, Gerrards CrOSS, BuckSSL97HN.
75047
EMERGENCYTRA
 
 
 
 

TAMIL TIMES 37
Second Year Remembrance
in loving memory of Mr. Chellappah Balasingan on the secondanniversary of his passing away on 10th
August 2003.
Sadly missed and fondly remembered by his beloved wife Balasaraswathy, loving children Ragulan, Renuka (both of UK), Ravichandran (Chennai, India), Ragawan and Rathika (both of UK); sons-in-law Shriananda and Rajaloganathan, daughtersin-law Sujatha, Shantha and Shankari; grandchildren Hariharan, Rishiharan, Sinduja, Bhairavi, Sriram, Piranavan and Lakshman.
- 3A The Drive, Northwood, Middlesex HA61HQ. Tel 01923842275.
Nineth Anniversary Remembrance 22nd August 2005
in everloving memory of Mr. Selvarajah Kiritharan. Sadly missed and fondly re
membered by his lowing parents, Mr. & Mrs Selvarajah (UK), brother Muraleedaran (Australia), sisters Dr. Subathini Ramesh (Jafna University), Mrs Shanthini Shanmuganathan and Mrs Shamini Uthayakumaran (both of UK), uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, otherrelatives and friends. Your Memories are always With us
- 63 Elm Croft Crescent, North Harrow, Middlesex HA26HL. Tel 02088636768.
Fifth Year Remembrance
in loving memory of Mrs Amirtharanee Ratnasingham on the fifth anniversary of her passing away on the 21st August 2004. Affectionately remembered by herloving son Kumaran, Sister Thevaranee and other members of the family.
- Miss. J.T.Rasiah, 64 Jessup Close, London SE18.
"EL ONLY ) )-SRILANKA
676 360
-SOUTH INDA -SINGAPORE

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38 TAMIL TIMES
In loving memory of Mr. Apputhurai Gunaratnam, formerly Divisional Superintendent of Post Offices, Sri Lanka On the fifteenth anniversary of his passing away
Death Anniversary Remembrance
Mr. Apputhurai Gunaratnam
on 28th August 1990. Sadly missed and fondly remembered by his loving wife Rani; children Thirukumar (Australia), Vasuki (Sri Lanka), Devaki (Australia), Sutharsan (UK), Sarathadevi (California); sons-in-law Ravindran, Radhakrishnan and Sashikanth, daughtersin-law Vasanthi, and Suzanne, grandchildren Ashvini, Yathurshini, Prushoth, Mayurikka and Mayuran.
- 1 Appin Court, Roxborough Park, Harrow-on-the-Hill, Middx HA2 OKOQ.
Forthcoming Events
September 2. Amavasai 3. Feast of St. Gregory
the Great 4. Aavani Sunday (3) 5. Feast of The Dedication of
Basilica of St. Mary Major 6. Feast of The Transfigura
tion of the Lord 7. Vinayagar Sathurthi 8. Feast of St. Dominic 9. ShaShti
10, Feast of St. Lawrence 11. Aavani Sunday (4) the last;
Feast of St. Clare 12. Aavani Moolam 13. Feast of St. John Chrysso
SfOf) 14. Eekathasi 15. Pirathosam, Feast of The Assumption of the Blessed
· Virgin Mary 16. Feast of St. Stephen 17. Full Moon;
LONDON TAMIL CENTRE ANNUAL DRAMA FESTWALS
Professor Kopan Mahadeva
ms,
We were recently invited by the London Tamil Centre (LTC) to a rare and memorable phenomenon among Eelam Tamils, which I feel is worthy of reporting to TI. It was the 10th annual thespian highlight of LTC's hyperactive elders'communitygroup consisting of around 130 regulars. LTC is a charity founded in 1996 by the illustrious social workers headed by Dr. Ratnam
 
 
 

AUGUST 2005
Third Anniversary Remembrance
In ever loving memory of Mr. SinnathambySivapiragasam of Sandilipay, formerly of lrrgation Department, Colombo
on the third anniversary of his passing awayon 23rd August 2002 (20th August according to the Hindu calendar)
Fondly remembered and sadly missed by his children Radha, Sivakumaran, Rajini, Ramani, Rohini and Renuka; daughter-in-law Navamani; SOns-in-lawViswanathan, Dr. Salama and Umasuthan, grandchildren Sivaruby & Sivayogi, Krishnakumar & Ahian, Shireen, Vidya & Menaha, Jenani & Richard; great granddaughter Yalini& Leela, Maya and sister Kanmani, - 10 Orchard Court, Worcester Park, Surrey KT47LD,
el: O2083306722.
Puraddasi Sani (1) 20. Sankatahara Sathunthi 21. Feast of St. Mathew 22. Karthigai 23. Feast of St. Rose of Lima 24. Puraddasi Sani (2) 27. Feast of St. Monica 28. Karthigai 29, Feast of the Beheading of
St.John, the Baptist 30. Pirathosan, Feast of St.
Jerome At the Bhavan Centre, 4A Castletown Road, London W149HQ. Tol: 02073813086/4608,
Email: infoCobhavan.net Sept 7th 7 p.m. Ganesh Sathurthi -- Bhajans, Puja and Prasad All Welcome 10th 10.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Bhavan Admission - Open Day 17th 6p,m, Kathak: Sankara Eye Foundation presents Gauri Sharma Thipathi & Geetha Sridhar. 25th 6p.m. Bhinna Abhinna - Steel Pan Music from Thinidad and Indian Music. The blend of sound is unique.
Nithiyananthan. Its new Board of Trustees are: Messrs. N. Seevaratnam (Chairman), E. Ponnambalam (Secretary & Welfare Activities President), S. Uthayakumar (Treasurer),M. Manuelpillai, V. Shanmugalingam, and Mrs. P. Sivanesan & Mrs. S. Yoharajan. The Centre's multifarious activities are administered by Mrs S.Selvakumar, Mrs S.Sahathevan and Mrs. L. Jeyseetharan.
This year's drama was Destiny's Decree The evening's proceedings started sharp at 6.00pm, as scheduled (which itself is a rare phenomenon among Eelam Tamils' activities in London) and ended around 9.00pm, as intended. The venue was Wembley High Technology College. Project engineer & popular poet Mr. Kandiah Rajamanoharan and his medical consultant wife Sashikala, were the Special Guests. This year's play, like the previous nine staged annually by the LTC, was written and directed by the indefatigable and versatile teacher Mrs. Guna Veluppillai, withherusual one-a-minute, home-spun, wise-cracks, that made the full house of 300-odd invitees Choke With Chuckles and rock with laughter. The play was staged by LTC's 50-60 amateurthespians, all of whom appeared on stage in One role or another. Of course, they did forget or repeat their lines, nowand then, in keeping with their age, and then improvised, triggering spontaneous cheers from the tickled audience. The fun was enjoyed more by the actors themselves, in the true spirit of real drama.
The previous plays staged by this group were: Sankiyan, Kannan Enke?, Muththamilzae Murukan Aalayan, Elalan,

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Theyva Nampikkai, Paththinith Theyvam, Thaay Naadaa? Thancha Naadaa?, Verli Naaddu Mokam, and Ootum Uravum. I had been presentata few of these with my wife, and seen the rest in VHS video format, and was ever impressed by the amount of trouble that these elders had taken to absorb the plots and characters, to memorize lines, to rehearse their roles Several times, to procure and wear appropriate make-up and costumes, and finally to perform with no stage-fright or inhibitions at all, at their ripe ages which ranged from 60's to the 80', and even 90's as were Mr. S. Arumugam & Mr. M. Thiagarajah when they died. And the love for Tamil language and culture, Tamil nationalism and liberation displayed by these youngsters-at-heart is remarkable, a rare phenomenon deserving to be preserved alive, and in electronic forms in the Jaffna Library, Tamil Nadu, UK, Canada, andelsewhere.
The plot of Destiny's Decree staged on 17th July is topical, in that it brings the 26-12-2004 tsunami and its social impacts dramatically into focus. Mother Laxumy from a village in Tamil Eelam lives with her two sons, Rajendran and Arasendran, and her daughter-in-law Mrs. Rasam Rajendran. Both of hersons get caught to the tsunami, and while the younger son Arasu manages to return to their much devastated home, himself unhurt,
Tamil Triumphantly Towers at Toronto Concert
She was born blind, a handicap that confines a person in perpetual darkness. Many blind people accept this as an inevitable kamic consequence in this birth and opt to while away a lifetime in less human circumstances, in most cases they are helpless but worse, even shunned without helping hands and compassionate hearts.
Gayathri Sankaran was among the exceptions. When hardly eleven, she gave her vocal arangetram in Camatic music at Tenali in Andhra Pradesh. Indeed a child prodigy, she went from strength to strength powered by her singular determination and in the process developed what could be termed as the divine eye. She is now well on her way seeking her Ph.D in music.
Her first guru was her mother a popular Carnatic musician. Later she came under the tutelage of Sri Allamaraju Someswara Rao. Gayathri reveres several masters who guided her along, and among them was her primary guru, Padmabushan Lalgudi Jayaraman. She also had the privilege to spend some time at Kalakshetra and enjoyed the inspirational guidance of Rukmini Devi. All along her husband gave her immense support.
On Sunday July 10, 2005 Gayathri Sankaran accompanied by her student Ramya Rangarajan thrilled a packed audience at Toronto's Yorkwood Library auditorium with their vocal recital. It was entirely of Tamil masterpieces written by great composers like Swati Thirunal, Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiar, Papanasan Siwan, Arunachala Kavirayar, Ootukadu Venkata Subbaiyar, Ambujam Krishna, Sundar Rajand Laigudi Jayaraman. Beginning with a sparkling Vanam in the Bhouliraga, com
 

TAMIL TIMES 39
Rajendran fails to showup, even aftermonths, and is deemed to have been killed and buried in the sea by the tsunami. These survivors adopt a refugee camp where Arasu dedicates himself to reconstruction and Re-housing tasks, and becomes acknowledged as a skilled builder. As before, he continues to respect, adore and look after his sister-in-law Rasu (who loses herpower of speech, soon after her husband's loss, but regains it, due to Laxumy's efforts), but village gossips and a do-gooder bully Laxumy to almost compel Arasutomanry Rasu. The couple live happily, and are soon blessed with a child. Meanwhile, Rajendran was saved at sea by some Tamil Nadu fisherman and is given refuge by a religious-minded Samaritan called Saratha. Once he collects some cash Rajendran returns to Eelam, to investigate the plight of his mother, wife and brother. But even his motherand wife, nowaffluent and complacent, fail to recognize him. In fact they insult him, who looks like a real beggar. He notes his wife and brother living very happily with a child and decides to leave them alone to their destiny.
All the actors looked their parts, some appearing as real 2030 year olds, playing their designated roles with great dedication and realism. This play deserves to be seen by a wideraudience, on stage, as well as on TV.
posed by Lalgudi Jayaraman, they rendered seventeen wellknown pieces, among them were Ramanukku mannan mudi (Hindolam), Yen Palli Kondeer (Mohanam), Eesane (Nalinakanthi), Devi Neeye thunai (Keeravani), Mayil meethu (Vasantha), and Kooviazhaithal (Valai). Their Thilana in the DeShraga Composed by Lalgudi Jayaraman was an appropriate final number to a remarkable evening.
Even though every piece rendered that evening hadits own unique characteristics in pristine purity, clarity and honeyed and mellifluous melody, Gayathrireached her peak when she flowed gently into the tuneful harmony of the Mohana raga alaparanam. Truly a descent of Ganga from the heavens, it brought tears of rapturous joy to many in the audience.
The concert was sponsored by the Thamillsai Kalaamanram of Ontario. The accompanying artistes were Senthivel Kesavamoorthy (violin), Vasu Rajalingam (mrithangam) and his students Sujeenthar, Sajeevand Surentharon the kenchira, gatan, and morsing respectively. They gave an excellent account of their proficiency
Not often a vocal recital of such high standard by an artiste, totally dedicated to this divine music is held in this part of the world. Famous vocalists and instrumentalists, most of them professionals, do perform here but a person of the calibre of Gayathri Sankaran inspiring an audience not only with her melodious singing but also being a living proof that a handicap of this nature need notaffect aperson provided there is determination and faith; such are certainly blessed with the divine eye.
Friendly and pleasant, she related herself with everyone she met with an overflowing warmthnessandalong with hersishya Ramya, they were trulyambassadors of our culture from India, what an inspiration to our young people. Gayathri, with unprompted magnanimity offered her research material to be edited and published as a book on the history of Camatic music by the Thamil Isai Kalaamanram. Her research has all the marks and merits that are passionately pursued by academics and Scholars.
Gayathri and Ramya presented on the stage and off, the sacred nature of the Guru-Sishya bond that touched the hearts of many. Theirs, it was evident, is a unique, mutually shared leadand-follow rapport.

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Their devotion to each other certainly gave an insight into the loyalty and fidelity of attachment of a teacher-student relationship that has come through eons of centuries in our culture. What prevailed in the universities of the forests in ancient times among Sages and their Sishyas was brought to us by these two on the modern stage in all its authenticity and integrity.
Earlier, on Thursday July 7, Gayathri Sankaranconducted a well attended seminar on the history of Carnatic Music at the Scarborough Civic Centre which was also sponsored by the Thamil Isai Kalaamanram. She was assisted in this presentation
Kunasekeram Nesiah: His Life and Vision
The centenary year of the late Mr. K. Nesiah was 2003. He led a simple life with a great vision. He was lecturer of Education at the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya for a long time and retired in the sixties. He lived in Jaffna till his passing away in 1993.
He hailed from Kaitadi but his ancestors were immigrants from Malayasia. He married the daughter of Cannon Somasunderam who was a dedicated Servant of God in the early part of the 20th century,
Mr. Nesiah was a man of firm convictions. He was a follower of Mahatma Gandhi and adopted the gandhian way of life. He made it a commitment to lead a simple life and was particular in wearing the national dress. He was a person who believed that money should not be spent unnecessarily on purchasing expensive materials. Nesiah practised austerity in all aspects of his life. His contention was that there are many people in the world who suffer from lack of their basic needs and one should save whatever he can and help the poor. He has been helping several social rehabilitation projects like the Kaitadi School for the Deaf and Blind and the Christian Orphanage run by Ms. Hutchkins at Kilinochchi. He was also associated with Ariyaratne of the Srilanka Shramadana Movement. Mr. Ariyaratne attended the funeral of the late Nesiah, travelling all the way from Colombo.
Having been a lecturer in Education, Nesiah continued to have an alert interest On Current educational issues. With a BA Honours degree, he was selected by Professor Green who had gauged his intellectual capacity at the interview. He had the knack of remembering volumes of facts and can speak fluently on any aspect of education. He participated in national and international conferences and seminars on education. He had written research papers on all major milestones in the history of education in Srilanka like the nationalization of Schools, introduction of Swabhasha as the medium of instruction, vocational education and the Zonal system.
Nesiah believed in a Sri Lanka that is socially and nationally integrated. He was a pioneer in the field of social studies as a subject in the curriculum. Being impressed by the theories of education put forward by John Dewey, Nesiah asserted that children should be presented with an integrated social knowledge instead of compartmentalizing it into Geography, History, Sociology and Civics. It is through the efforts of educationalists like him that Social Studies has now become a subject in the curriculum up to the G.C.E ordinary level, displacing the traditional subjects- which would ensure a life - centred education.
His view for Srilanka was that it should remain united

AUGUST 2005
by Ramya Rangarajan.
Mr Thampiah Siripathy, President of the Thamil Isai Kalaamanram, presenting both artistes paid a tribute to Gayathri Sankaran for being such an enomous source of inspiration to many, apart from being an authority on Camatic music, and equally, as a vocalist and violinist. He also appreciated the role of Ramya as a very special sishya ofa greatguru.
Tamil certainly towered triumphantly in Toronto that Sunday night.
- Victor Karunairajan in Toronto
through social, cultural and national integration. He shunned caste distinctions and gave shelter in his own home for so called depressed class children so that they could attend prestigious schools like St. John's, from where they were debarred in the past. He participated in functions at 'harijan' homes to build their social esteem and acceptability. He practised Ghandiysm and adopted it to suit Sri Lankan conditions. A person helped by him later became the head of the Primary Section of St. John's. Much to his credit, the members of the so-called low Caste later entered the fields of medicine and engineering which were earlier monopolized by Students from affluent homes.
Nesiah was one of the philosophers behind the Federal party led by the late S.J. VChelvanayakam. He was an active member of the think tank' of the Federal Party which had its discussion meetings at his very home. He believed that Federalism is the solution to Srilanka's burning ethnic problem. Federalism will ensure to safeguard all the component ethnic groups. Srilanka being a small country is not suitable for partition and therefore every effort should be made to preserve its unity through a political concept. He preferred Federalism to any other solution.
The pivotal strength of Nesiah's emotional and spiritual well being was self-reliance. He was a hard nut who always stuck to his principles and convictions. After his retirement he continued to live in his mansion at Somasunderam Avenue. When his sons wanted him to move to Colombo and live with them he refused. During the time his wife became feeble and weak, he is the One who looked after her. Even at the ripe old age of 90, he could draw water from his well and bathe (rope and bucket). His stamina could be compared to the "kaitadi Campu" which has the capacity to survive in a dry and rugged terrain. When the I.P.K.F took over Jaffna, they wanted the people in Chundikuli to go and take shelter in schools close by. Nesiah did not budge. He continued to stay at home during the turmoil and survived dangerously. He had the indomitable courage to live by his convictions. He lived alonel in his house during the latter stages of his life, a woman came and cooked for him during the daytime but he lived boldly in his huge mansion without any help. He lived by his faith and courage which helped him throughout his life. I happened to be his kinsman and neighbour. While conversing with him a few days before his demise, I mentioned that John Dewey, the American educationalist died at the age of 93. It was unfortunate that he became ill and died just a few days after at the age of 93. He was a legend of his times- a Tamilian who had the makings of a gandhian type philosophy. His life-style should be a shining example for the future generations of Tamils and give them the inspiration to lead a courageous and purposeful life.
- J. J. Atputharajah

Page 41
AUGUST 2005
Australian NeWSletter
Although Tamils are a young migrant community in Australia and in New Zealand, they are upwardly mobile and are quite dynamic. Tamils in this region are no exception to the rest of the Tamil Diaspora in connecting largely with the humanitarian and rehabilitation efforts in their homeland in the current milieu. Nevertheless, Tamils in this region like their counterpart elsewhere, attribute particular regard to preservation of Tamil identity through social, cultural, religious activities, which in turn serves to embrace the younger generation to their heritage. In that sense, all community organizations such as temples, churches, mosques, language schools, various other institutions, OBA's are all contributing a vital part in their own right. Manipay Hindu and Jaffna St John's OBA in Melbourneand Hartley College and Mahajana OBA's in Sydney recently celebrated their annual cultural evening with dinner.
Innisai Malai, a light music concert was staged within a fortnight in three major centres across the east coast of Australia in support of the rehabilitation projects undertaken in the North and East. The Innisai Malai group, which is primarily based in Melbourne, has had a long history spanning over two decades and one of its greatest successes has been in attracting large number of young artistes to the ensemble. This year's concert series was held first in Canberra and then in Sydney and finally in the home turf of Melbourne. No doubt,
(continued from page 35)
any involvement in the DIG's murder stating that ana angry 'Tamil mob' had abducted and hacked him to death.
Four Tigers killed at: 19 Aug. At least four Tamil Tiger cadres were killed and three others were injured as a result of internecine clashes, SriLankan defence officials said. The LTTE roadblockat Arasadithivu in Batticaloa came under attack around 11 pm last Thursday, 18 Aug.
Defence sources said the attack had been carried out by the rival Karuna faction who had arrived in push cycles at the road block. When the Tigers attempted to search the Karuna loyalists the renegade group members had opened fire at the LTTE cadres. Weapons belonging to the victims had been reportedly snatched away by the assailants. Soldier injured in grenade attack: Aug 20 - Two motorcycle-riding attackers lobbed a grenade into a sentry point of the Sri Lanka Army located on Kalliyankadu Cemetery Road near the Batticaloa Railway Station Saturday (20) noon. An SLA soldier, Sanjeeva Prasanna Wikramarachi, 21, was injured in the attack. Four SLA soldiers were on duty at the sentry post at the time of the attack. The wounded soldier was rushed to Batticaloa Hospital. The police blamed the LTTE for the attack. Newspaper office attacked: Aug 20 - Unidentified persons Saturday (20) evening around 5:30 p.m. lobbed two grenades inside the advertising office of the Tamil daily "Sudaroli" located in Perara Mawatta, Wellawatte, in Colombo. The grenades did not explode. Three employees were inside the office at the time of the attack. None was hurt, Wellawatte Police said. Bomb disposal squad of the Sri Lanka Army rushed to the site and defused the unexploded grenades, Police said.

TAMIL TIMES 41
the event was a grand success and the proceeds are pooled for worthy projects in Tamil homeland.
World Saiva Peravai, in collaboration with The Saiva Manram in Sydney is organising the 10th International Saiva Conference in Sydney during January 2006 on a theme of "Saivam - Challenges and Opportunities". There are Hindu temples in every state and territory of Australia and a few in New Zealand and it is widely believed that an event of this nature would probably increase the profile of the Hindu Community.
Sydney and Melbourne are the two major cities in Australia with significant proportion of Tamils and each city could boast excellence in a trait of learning... Sydney offers admirable opportunities for Tamil language learning while Melbourne displays copious openings for learning Tamil classical arts. It has been mentioned before in these columns about the intensification of arangetrams in Melbourne. It was not surprising when a scholarly personalike Mrs Balam Lakshman, recently avowed in one of the arangetrams that Melbourne is fast becoming the Tanjore of Australia. Indeed, a glance through the cultural calendar reveals that about two dozen or so arangetrams are being scheduled in the next year in Melbourne, of which half seems to be Miruthangamarangetram. Undoubtedly, proliferation of arangetrams is a welcome trend and even if only a handful of them were to treasure the art and culture, it would mean a great leap for lamils in Kangarooland, - Sivasupramaniam Sitsabesan
Attack on LTTE office in Vavuniya: Aug 21 - Three LTTE women officials were injured when unidentiefied attackers lobbed a grenade through the backdoor of the LTTE Women's political office located in Vairavapuliyankulam, 1.5 km west of Vavuniya town Saturday (20) night at 10:55 pm. This is the fourth time that an LTTE office in Sri Lanka Army controlled Vavuniya town has been subjected to attack, a reportin TamilNet said. The women's political office is located close to the LTTE's District Political office. The administrative office of the LTTE located in Thirunavatkulam was also attacked once, the report said. Vavuniya Police is conducting investigations into the attack. SLTMA condemns attack on newspaper office: Aug 21 - The Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance (SLTMA) in a news release said it strongly condemned the grenade attack on the Uthayan newspaper's office in Wellawatte, Colombo, on 20 August calling it a "cowardly act," and urged the Sri Lankan government to take prompt action to stop such attacks. "In recent days Tamil media personnel are being intimidated, and their professional activities are being monitored with suspicion,” said the SLTMA. "It is shocking to note that it was after the emergency regulations had come into effect, and the city of Colombo put under tight security, that the Tamil Newspaper office has been attacked.' EPDP member shot dead: Aug 21 - Unidentified gunmen on Saturday (20) evening shot and killed a member of the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), Nadarasa Kesavavarnan, 25, in Vavuniya. The killing took place around 6:00 p.m. at Samanakulam, five kilometers southeast of Vavuniya town. The victim was riding a bicycle when suspected gunmen approached him on a motorbike and shot him using a micropistol to kill the victim, according to Vavuniya Police.The EPDP cadre, a father of two children, was from Asikkulam in Vavuniya.

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42 TAMIL TIMES
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