Sri Lanka guarantees 'security of sea lanes' on Blake visit

JDS Info
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The Sri Lankan government assures western powers that the sea lanes in the region has become safe since its' militarily defeated the Tamil Tigers in a bloody war that killed tens of thousands of Tamil civilians.

Addressing the Parliament on the third of May during the visit of US Assistant Secretary of State to Sri Lanka, Foreign Minister GL Peiris said that the accomplishments of the government led by Mahinda Rajapaksa "go far beyond the national situation".

Prof. Peiris declared in the house that the government has "achieved things which has brought about stability, tranquility in the entire SA region," .

"Particularly I would stress the security of the sea lanes in this region," he added.
Commenting on the report to the UN Secretary General by the experts panel, Minister Pieris critisised it for stating in the introduction that the war in Sri Lanka 'ended tragically amidst controversy'.

Panel report attacked in parliament

Prof. Peiris who said it was tragic "certainly not for the people of Sri Lanka," questioned whether it is "because the wrong side won the war".

Claiming in parliament that the panel report is "replete with palpable bias and prejudice" the foreign minister said that the panel "travels far far beyond its mandate".

"It has been set up to advice the UNSG. But it proceeds to provide gratuitous advice to the government of Sri Lanka on a wide range of matters which pertain exclusively to domestic policy. Our court system, the role of the Attorney General, public order, constitutional issues. None of these matters fall within the ambit of the mandate that the Secretary General has given to the Panel."

SL will work with UN system

However, the minister assured the parliament that the Sri Lankan government will work with the UN system in future as well.

"Far be it from us to entertain any thought of living in isolation in the contemporary world," said Minister Peiris.

Following his meeting with the Sri Lankan government team led by Minister Peiris on the 4th of May, US Asst. Secretary Robert Blake said that he is encouraged that External Affairs Minister Peiris will communicate soon with the UN Secretary General.

Blake speaks of 'positive progress'

USAS Blake who said that the government has made some 'positive progress' had praise for the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC).

"The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission is playing an important role in the reconciliation process. The Commission has heard testimony from Sri Lankans from all regions and ethnic backgrounds." a statement from USAS Blake issued by the US embassy in Colombo said.

However, the statement does not mention whether the US ASS has discussed the UNSG's panel report that called the LLRC 'deeply flawed, does not meet international standards for an effectively accountability mechanism'.

"The UN report underscores the importance of a durable political solution that can forge a prosperous, democratic and united Sri Lanka, but also the importance of dialogue between the UN and the Government of Sri Lanka," was all the US statement had to say.

© JDS Info

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Sri Lanka: Computer expert chooses evidence in camera

By Olindhi Jayasundere and Lakna Paranamanna | Daily Mirror
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Computer expert, Dr. Chathura de Silva invited by the Lesson Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) to ascertain whether the video clips telecast by Britain’s Channel 4, that showed Sri Lankan soldiers committing alleged war crimes were genuine or not, said that he wished to give evidence in camera.

Dr. de Silva, who is an Engineer and lecturer at the Moratuwa University Department of Computer Science, told the Lesson Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) that he wished to give evidence on camera as he feared for his life. Before the private submission was given yesterday, LLRC Chairman, C.R De Silva stated that de Silva was invited by the Commission to offer his expert opinion to ascertain the genuineness of the Channel 4 broadcast, which alleged that the Sri Lanka Army had killed innocent civilians.

De Silva said he was more than willing to give evidence but feared that it could be a threat to his life. He said that the university had also advised him to refrain from making a public statement to the commission owning to possible security threats.

The British TV channel alleged that Sri Lankan troops had executed captured LTTE cadres. The LLRC permits those who give evidence to the commission to make their submission either in camera or in public based on their preference.

© Daily Mirror

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Israeli Agriculture Minister visits Sri Lanka

Daily News
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Israel's Agriculture Minister Orit Noked, accompanied by a top level Israeli agro-business delegation is on a visit to Sri Lanka until May 7. This visit, is expected to enhance cooperation between the two countries in the agriculture field.

Noked is scheduled to meet Prime Minister D M Jayaratne and other Ministers. During her meetings with government officials and farming and business communities, Minister Noked will reiterate Israel's intention to become a fully-fledged partner in Sri Lanka's development efforts.

Minister Noked and her Sri Lankan counterpart, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, will inaugurate the Agro-Business Seminar and sign an MoU to further augment the agricultural cooperation between the two countries and develop areas of mutual interest in the agriculture sector.

The various topics of cooperation included in the MoU are capacity building and transfer of know-how; technology transfer; development of R and D Systems; exchange of scientific and agricultural technology information; promotion of Public Private Partnerships (PPP); water management and innovative irrigation technologies; rural development; land conservation and precision agricultural practices.

© Daily News

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Media forced to plead for life and profession: Media activists

By Susitha R. Fernando | Daily Mirror
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The UN Panel report on Sri Lanka was prepared not because of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon but because of politicians who intimidated the media and failed to protect its rights, media activists celebrating the World Press Freedom Day said yesterday.

Speaking at a discussion organized to show challenges faced by Sri Lanka media at present, Chandana Sirimalwatte, the editor of ‘Lanka’ newspaper said that when various activities relating to the media is taking place under the theme ‘21st Century Media- New frontiers and new barriers’ around the world, Sri Lankan media was forced to plea to protect their profession and lives.

The discussion under the theme ‘One step to the Guillotine’ held at the Public Library was addressed by Lanka editor Chandana Sirimalwatte, lawyer for ‘We Are Sri Lanka’ organization, Nuwan Bopage, University lecturer Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri and Pubudu Jayagoda, JVP Political Bureau member.

In his address Editor Sirimalwatte stated that according to the report titled ‘To identify the challenges faced by Sri Lanka journalist’ prepared by Media Movement for Democracy (MMD) for the World Press Freedom Day, in the last six years nine journalists were abducted, 17 journalists arrested, 35 journalists attacked and 11 journalists were killed in Sri Lanka. In addition seven media institutions including newspaper, televison and website offices were attacked and completely burnt down.

Unfortunately the President and the Minister of Media had not done anything to protect the media or the journalists other than making speeches stating they would protect them. The government had failed to carry out justice against those intimidated journalists and attacked media institutions. Quoting the report, editor Sirimalwatte said that there are many instances where the police whose duty is to enforce law and order had taken the law into their hand against journalists. It was evident that both the government and the police follow a lethargic attitude to bring the culprits who intimidate and attack journalists and media institutions.

“This was how the Sri Lankan government and politicians who did not take any action when the media was intimidated, paved the way to release a UN report against the country,” the editor reiterated.

Lawyer Nuwan Bopage speaking on the legality of freedom of expression in Sri Lankan media said that the media freedom today has been violated and intimidated as had never happened over the history.

He said according to the legal system of other countries, the journalists enjoy far better freedom and they can report and criticize anybody for the betterment of the society. This is as long as they are not prejudiced and do not have intention to harm anyone. However even in such instances where the report of the journalist has affected someone he can have the opportunity to make an apology.

“The legal system has been used to attack and punish journalists over the history of Sri Lanka and the most dangerous situation is that the Emergency Regulation is being used to arrest journalists and keep them for prolonged detention, Further over the past journalists were branded as terrorists and charged them under Prevention of Terrorist Act (PTA)”, he said

He further said that media is reluctant to criticize judicial decisions which in fact is something that should happen. “If it is evident that the politicians are treated differently from others by the judiciary and allowed to get away when there are sufficient evidence against them, the media has the right to criticize,” Attorney-at-law Bopage said.

Meanwhile Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri, Senior Lecturer of the Department of History at the University of Colombo speaking on the importance of independence of media said that the idea of freedom of expression is a result of the renaissance and obstructing it is denying the benefit of development we achieved from the renaissance.

“The UN Report on Sri Lanka was not an idea of its Secretary General Ban Ki-moon but was a result public outcry who wanted to know what happened during the war”. He further said that State of Sri Lanka is controlled by a one family which is against the ideology of renaissance.

© Daily Mirror

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Sri Lanka: Private sector moves into former Tiger lair

Photo courtesy: Perambara.org

By Shamindra Ferdinando | The Island
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No one would have expected the private sector to launch operations in the former LTTE stronghold of Mullaitivu two years after the war.

A few years ago, the establishment of local and foreign partnership company, especially one engaged in telecommunication infrastructure development would have been unthinkable.

But, with the dawn of peace, Sierra Global Network Private Limited, one of the leading telecommunication infrastructure development and managed services company has established a regional office in Mullaitivu.

A senior military official told The Island that Mullaitivu had been covered by a special security plan due to its strategic importance to their overall strategy. The LTTE set up its longest runway in the Mullaitivu district during eelam war IV, the official said. The LTTE would never have allowed private projects, let alone one involving telecommunication infrastructure development.

Government forces regained Mullaitivu on Jan. 26, 2009, 13 years after losing the town in the single worst debacle in the entire eelam war.

A senior spokesperson for Sierra Global Network Private Limited said that even before the conclusion of the war in May 2009, the company had completed what he called 3G/GSM expansion project in Jaffna for Mobitel at the beginning of 2009.

According to him, the Jaffna project had paved the way for the coverage in the entire peninsula.

"We are helping telecom operators to expand their services in the Northern Province.

Among the major projects was the construction of Fibre Optic Cable network of Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) from Jaffna exchange to Vavuniya exchange providing a seamless broadband connection from Colombo directly to Jaffna. We are also maintaining the Suntel CDMA network as well as Airtel 3G/GSM network in the Northern Province," the spokesman said.

Sierra Global is a strategic partner of Huawei engaged in post-war projects.

Since launching of Airtel’s 3G/GSM service in the Northern Province last year, Sierra Global maintains Airtel base stations situated in Jaffna, Mannar, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya, Trincomalee and Mullaitivu through Huawei. Austin Wang, CEO of Huawei Technologies Lanka Limited expressed confidence that the ongoing projects would further strengthen their working relationship, particularly in the project covering the Northern region.

Jerry Huxtable, Managing Director of Suntel Limited said that setting up of operations at Mullaitivu would be a boon to Suntel. Sierra Global maintains CDMA base stations belonging to Suntel in the Northern Province.

Following a recent visit to Mullaitivu, Dr. Arosha Fernando, Director/CEO of Sierra Global told The Island that they were the first to move to Kilinochchi in September last year. According to him, the company had been engaged in a range of projects, including construction of towers, fibre optic cable networks as well as the new Court Complex and Technical College.

© The Island

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