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Japan changes its stance on Sri Lanka - vows to become more pro active
Frederica Jansz in Colombo,
9.10 a.m. SLT Monday March 17.
Japanese diplomats in Colombo say that tomorrows talks between the Sri
Lankan government and the LTTE in Japan will change the Japanese
government's earlier policy from being a mere good wisher of the peace
process to becoming more pro active in assisting with development aid for
Sri Lanka's war ravaged north and east as well as in facilitating the peace
process.
Earlier, the Japanese insisted they would not hand out any development aid
until a final peace agreement is signed between the SL government and Tamil
tiger rebels.
In view however of the negotiations tomorrow in Hakone, Japanese diplomats
say their government has reconsidered its decision and are now willing to
begin financing development work to help rebuild Sri Lanka's war ravaged
north and east.
Japan says it will also host an aid donor meeting in Japan this June with
the aim of raising awareness on the Sri Lankan situation and creating an
environment for more investor interest.
Tomorrow's talks in Japan until last Friday March 14, were left hanging in
the balance following last Monday's incident when the Sri Lanka Navy
destroyed a suspected weapons ship belonging to the LTTE off Sri Lanka's
northeast coast.
Following this incident, the LTTE, prevaricated until the eleventh hour,
before confirming that their negotiators led by LTTE theoretician Anton
Balasingham would attend in Japan, political discussions with Sri Lankan
government negotiators.
Published: Sun Mar 16 22:25:38 EST 2003
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 ASK LAKSHMAN!
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A Q&A with Sri Lanka's Former Minister of Foreign Affairs
We are pleased to introduce Mr. Lakshman Kadiragamar, former Foreign
Minister of Sri Lanka, as the 11th guest in our series of Q&A
sessions. Presidents Counsel and Member of Parliament, Mr. Kadiragamar
is currently the special adviser on Foreign Affairs to the President
of Sri Lanka. Send in your questions to Mr. Kadiragamar and receive
his answers here.
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IT'S NOT CRICKET, STUPID, IT'S COMPUTERS, LOVELY COMPUTERS
Fulbright Scholar Brings Computers to Urban Disadvantaged Children in
Colombo, Sri Lanka.
By Chulie de Silva, Colombo.
You would think on a warm Saturday morning, children in Sri Lanka
would be watching a cricket match and cheering on their heroes. No,
not in Kew Road, Slave Island, a multi-ethnic enclave just five
minutes away from the exclusive Trans Asia Hotel in Colombo's central
down town area. The cricket match played on at the Malay Cricket Club,
on Saturday 25, January but thirty children were flocked round five
computers in a little rectangular room of the Vocational Training
Center (VTC) run by the Sri Lanka Malay Association's (SLMA) Rupee
Fund. [More...]
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LTTE acquire Underwater Scooters from Denmark!
Ranmali Wijesuriya in Colombo,
SLT 8.10 a.m Monday 17 March.
The LTTE is believed to have acquired 34 underwater scooters from Denmark
about four months ago according to a news report in The Island today. The
report says that these scooters are capable of operating underwater for
approximately one hour and up to three miles and, believed to have been
brought to Sri Lanka by the LTTE’s peace negotiating team last month.
According to the report the LTTE has also acquired powerful radio equipment
used to maintain communications between ships and shore and among ships. The
report adds that the scooters and the radio equipment have been brought by
the LTTE to the Bandaranaike International Airport and then taken to
Kilinochchi in a Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) helicopter. It says that the
scooters and the radio equipment were dismantled and brought in 25 parcels
and were loaded into an SLAF helicopter without any inspections. The Island
report also says that a senior Airport official was believed to be
responsible for helping the Tigers to obtain an additional helicopter to
carry the undeclared cargo. Underwater scooters could be used to mount
suicide attacks on vessels in harbors.
Published: Sun Mar 16 21:07:26 EST 2003
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Hartal in Batticaloa and Ampara today!
Bandula Jayasekara in Colombo,
SLT 7.45 a.m Monday 17 March.
LTTE backed organizations in Ampara and Batticaloa have urged the people in
the area to take part in a hartal today. The organizations have distributed
leaflets to the residents to demand from the government the release of all
Tamil political detainees in the Kalutara prisons, condemn the sinking of
the suspected LTTE arms ship and to mourn the death of the LTTE cadres in
board the sunken ship. Eleven LTTE cadres on board were killed when the Navy
attacked the suspected LTTE ship on the 10 of this month. News reports
quoting military officials in the districts say that the leaflets have been
distributed by the LTTE while the LTTE office in Batticaloa has denied
distributing any leaflets. A LTTE spokesman has said that no attempt would
be made to disturb the peace talks due to be held in Japan.
Published: Sun Mar 16 20:37:27 EST 2003
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