Apr 21 (TC) The Sri Lankan government has issued a deadline of noon tomorrow for the Tamil Tigers to surrender. With the embattled rebels unlikely to put down their guns before then, only forceful and immediate international action to halt the fighting can prevent the possible deaths of tens of thousands of civilians trapped between the warring parties. More than 100,000 men, women and children are trapped in a space roughly the size of Central Park, more..

Apr 21 (TC) I disagree with one of the main points that Kusal is presenting in his article “Sri Lanka:Non-existing Capitalist and Working Classes and growing “Sinhalaisation”of Business Community”. According to Kusal, at least it implies that the "Left" in Ceylon and in Sri Lanka was totally if not partly responsible for the agony that the country is experiencing now. I disagree. There was/is no mainstream "Left" in the country at the first place. more..

Apr 21 (TC) In countries like Sri Lanka, capitalism did not organically evolve from feudalism as happened in Europe. Capitalism was arbitrarily imposed by colonialists on a feudal society. Therefore, it is not surprising at all that its feudal past is still alive. The feudal consciousness continues to persist in various forms. The Sinhala politicians’ pathological failure to politically solve the Tamil Question is partly a result of that. more..

Apr 21 (TC) In early April I used my previous research to present what I hope is a clinical study of suicides for political cause with special attention to the Tamils in general and LTTE in particular. This review embraced self-immolation in protest as well as fasts-unto-death, ansd defensive suicide not just suicidal act as attacking weapon. This ‘bank’ of work is now being augmented by another set of essays intended to arouse debate on web sites. more..

Apr 21 (LG) The Canadian taxpayer funded Tamil ethnic Community Multicultural Radio (CMR) along with its TVi television adjunct are the foremost Tiger terror advocates in Canada. They operate from Toronto and are totally focused on promoting the interests of Tiger terrorism in Canada. They are the current Canadian Cash Cow exploiters following the traditions of the Tamil Eelam Society (TES) and World Tamil Movement (WTM) who cheated the Canadian taxpayers to part with millions of Canadian dollars over the years. more..

Apr 21 (TC) Addressing the widely publicized UN world conference against racism and racial discrimination under the theme “United against Racism, Unity and Justice for all”, currently underway in Geneva, Sri Lanka’s most senior ethnic Tamil Cabinet Minister said that President Rajapakse was firmly committed to the full implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution which gives substantive autonomy to the provinces. more..

Apr 21 (LG) The person who organized the coaches to transport demonstrators from Toronto to Ottawa tomorrow Tuesday, wants $1000 more per vehicle for the return trip, an increase from $1800 to $2800 from last week’s rate. It is believed that whoever took charge of this arrangement saw in it quick money for his pockets and about hundred or even more coaches are expected to take the roads. more..

Apr 21 (LG) Pro-Tiger fanatic TamilNet indulges in brazen and blatant falsehood as if one can fool all the people all the time. On a day when the whole world read and saw through aerial and ground photographs and videos and various reports that over 35,000 human shield victims escaped and still the flow is on like a flood, Tamilnet came out with a report to the contrary which we publish below. more..

Apr 21 (LG) Sri Lankan Tamils and Sinhalese get together to celebrate New Year at Toronto Science Centre on Saturday 18th April, 2009 despite the threats from Tamil Tigers in Toronto to blow up the building. An unexpected crowd show up to show the solidarity to the cause and all tickets were sold out within two days. Most eye catching event was Ms. Melani Miguel from Toronto Tamil community stood up and sang the Sri Lankan national anthem in Tamil at the opening. more..

Apr 21 (GDI) Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority has issued 159 permits in 2008 to construct power plants working on solar power; cane solid waste Bio Mass wind power paddy husk and small scale Hydro power plants. The expected M.G.from these plants is more than 400 and that amount will add to the National Grid of electricity Minister of Power and Energy W.D.J. Senevirathna said. more..

Apr 21 (GDI) The Nation Building tax will not raise the cost of living (CoL) as none of essential items has been included in the tax and would mainly utilize to develop North, Finance and State Revenue Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said at the Parliament yesterday (20). "I stressed that this tax will not raise the CoL since ten essential commodities have been exempted from the Nation Building Tax (NBT) as a relief measure for consumers," he said. more..

Apr 21 (PISL) The last week has seen what amount to pleas to save the LTTE reach hysterical levels. Whilst much of this was couched initially in language suggesting concern not for the Tigers, but for the civilians trapped by the Tigers, gradually the mask slipped, and the true colours of the interventionists showed themselves. The picture became clear when the Sri Lankan government granted a humanitarian pause which had been argued for on the grounds that this was essential for the captive civilians to escape. more..

Apr 21 (LG) On Sunday, “Lakbimanews” claimed that the special police team investigating the killing of Superintendent of Police of Eastern Province, M.H. Jamaldeen determined that TMVP’s Karuna faction were responsible. In respect of this killing there were several conspiracy theories circulating among the Muslims from Oddamvadi to Pottuvil but the fact remained that the LTTE claimed responsibility for the killing of Jamaldeen on more..

Apr 21 (PSM) Dr. Meera Mohideen, VOG attached to the Vavuniya hospital was gunned down yesterday night (20.04.09) at his residence by unidentified gunmen. This is the second incident of killing of Muslim intellectuals in a month with the murder of SP Jamaldeen on 5th April in Maruthamunai. Being a resident of Vavuniya Dr. Meera Mohideen has worked previously at the Puttalam base hospital. more..

Apr 21 (PSM) The government presented this Bill in Parliament earlier to introduce a new electoral process with 70 per cent elected on the First-Past-the-Post system and 30 per cent on the PR system. The Bill also envisaged an increase on the cutoff point from five per cent to 12.5 percent. This bill was gazetted in November and presented in the Order Paper. more..

Apr 21 (DW) The Chronology of the Operation today. Around 11.45pm- 12 midnight, a team of Special Forces (1SF) and another team from 2 Commando led by Colonels Athula Kodippili and Ralph Nugera breached the 12km LTTE earthbund. The teams cleared a stretch of 3km from Puthumathalang towards Valaimadam. Heavy fighting erupted between the LTTE and the Special Forces. Large volumes of LTTE artillery and mortar fire from the NFZ started landing on the LTTE bund. more..

Apr 21 (AT) Canadian Tamils have told the Government of Sri Lanka not to bow down to the pressures exerted by the international community. Canadian Tamils for Peace and Democracy has urged Sri Lanka to reject all NGOs and multinational supervision on Sri Lankan soil and allow only state mechanism to oversee the welfare of the Internally Displaced People (IDP). "We believe the NGOs pose a threat to democratic governance and a challenge to the National interest." more..

Apr 21 (AT) Operating the most comprehensive naval networks among the designated foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S., the LTTE’s Sea Tigers were considered, until recently, as "untouchable" pirates who feared no nation. They were one of the leading pirates in the world, though little known, because of their unfortunate targets were often Malaysian, Jordanian, Philippine, Maldivian Chinese and Sri Lankan ships and the crew often disappeared. more..

Apr 21 (MoD) The President Mahinda Rajapaksa paid a sudden visit to the Sri Lankan Air Force Headquarters yesterday, as security forces stepped-up its march to free the thousands of civilians held hostage by LTTE at the 12km long land strip in the Mullaittivu coast. Thousands of civilians were pouring with belongings crossing a narrow stretch of the Nanthikadal lagoon seeking protection with the 58 Div troops, more..

Apr 21 (GDI) Poll cards for Western Provincial Council Elections 2009 have already been posted to voters registered in the Electoral Register for the year 2007, and the elections will be held on 25.04.2009 as scheduled, Commissioner of Elections Dayananda Dissanayaka said. “Since the introduction of the new computer software system in 2008, any possibility of multiple- registration under the same National Identity Card (NIC) has totally been prevented. more..

Apr 21 (MoD) Sri Lanka Army 58 Division soldiers this morning (Apr 21) entered into those areas of Puthumanthalam and Amapalavanpokkanai in the No Fire Zone [NFZ] , where they had rescued over 31,000 civilians yesterday. According to the sources, troops rescued nearly 3000 civilians early this morning and walked into the vacated areas. Now, troops have established their positions across the NFZ from Puthumathalan to the beachhead, more..

Apr 21 (MoD) The Sri Lankan army has done the civilised world proud by undertaking probably the biggest ever rescue operation in the world to save tens of thousands of civilians taken hostage by a terrorist outfit banned in many countries. Yesterday, the troops smashed the LTTE defences in the 'civilian safe zone' enabling over 35,000 men, women and children to move to safety in the government-held areas. more..

Apr 21 (LT) The killing of Dr. Mohammed of Vavuniya Hospital by a group of unknown persons is vehemently condemned states All Ceylon Government Medical Officers Union. The President of ACGMOU Dr. Gishanthe Dassanayake making a statement said killing of Dr. Mohammed who fulfilled the needs of helpless and internally displaced persons should be condemned with contempt. more..

Apr 21 (LT) The two suspects, who were taken into custody at Homagama regarding the incident where a group of UPFA supporters who had arrived in a vehicle without number plates to attack a group of JVP supporters who were putting up posters protesting against failure to take into custody the murderers of Nandana Balage and later in another incident where a gang which had come with more..

Apr 21 (LT) The official fire arm issued by the Ministry of Defense to NFF Parliamentarian Piyasiri Wijenayake, an accused of the murder of Nandana Balage, a member of the JVP, was taken into custody by Veyangoda Police and was produced before the Attanagalla Additional District Magistrate I.P.D. Liyanage yesterday (20th) who ordered that it be sent to the government analyst. more..

Apr 21 (LT) Propaganda for WPC election by political parties and independent groups will end at midnight tomorrow (22nd). All propaganda should cease 49 hours before the day of election which is the 25th. The final rallies of political parties are to be held tomorrow. Special security measures have been taken for the rallies. more..

Apr 21 (LT) The government continues to use gangs of armed thugs in vehicles without number plates to suppress political opponents says JVP MP Sunil Handunneththi. Mr. Handunneththi, issuing a statement condemning the attack on the members of the JVP at Homagama today (20th) morning, states the gangs of thugs carry out their attacks with the protection of the government. more..

Apr 21 (LeN) National Freedom Front (JNP) and the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) held a joint protest yesterday morning (20) before the Norwegian embassy of Sri Lanka urging segregation of diplomatic ties with Norway. The cause for the agitation is the inaction of the Norwegian government regarding the attack conducted by a group of LTTE supporters targeting Sri Lankan embassy in Oslo. more..

Apr 21 (TN) Directed by the Ministry of Education, Northern Province Education Ministry Secretary instructed Jaffna Education Officials to postpone the start of the second term of all schools in the peninsula Tuesday for a week so that they could be used to lodge the civilians fleeing war in Vanni, sources in Jaffna said. Government officials, directed by their superiors to be ready to receive Vanni civilians in their thousands, had dispatched a large number of buses to bring them to the peninsula Monday. more..

Apr 21 (TN) The Tamil Natonal Alliance (TNA) MP for Vanni, Sathasivam Kanagaratnam, who talked to TamilNet correspondent in Vanni on Monday blamed the Sri Lankan military for planning to cause a mass slaughter of civilians as Colombo announced a 24-hour ultimatum of surrender to the LTTE. Colombo has warned of concerted attacks into the so-called 'safety zone' starting from Tuesday noon. more..

Apr 21 (DN) The Government is fully prepared to meet the needs of over 35,000 civilians who entered the cleared area yesterday after being kept for months as hostages by the LTTE. Resettlement and Relief Services Ministry Secretary ULM Haldeen said all arrangements are in place to provide accommodation to the civilians in temporary shelters, tents and schools in the Vavuniya district. more..

Apr 21 (DN) The Maha Sangha will soon launch the largest ever humanitarian assistance program for the welfare of civilians living in IDP camps and villages in the Vavuniya district. This program titled Dakunen Uthurata Sarana is conducted by the Samasthalanka Shashanarakshaka Bala Mandalaya in coordination with the Ministry of Defence and the Department of Buddhist Affairs. Over 10,000 Buddhist temples island-wide will start collecting more..

Apr 21 (IANS) Congress president Sonia Gandhi's daughter Priyanka Gandhi Tuesday said that India cannot forgive LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran for her father's assassination in 1991, but she personally does not hate him. Priyanka Gandhi, who is campaigning for her brother Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi in his Amethi constituency, told reporters: 'Politically speaking former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi was killed and India can never forgive them (LTTE) for it. more..

Apr 21 (DN) Kalasuri Jayasiri Semage has been invited by an organization of Sinhala expatriates in Muscat, Oman to display his oeuvre along with several other painters. This is his first art exhibition to be held in Oman. The artists taking part in the exhibition too are Sri Lankans working in Oman in various capacities. As guest artist at the exhibition Semage will display some of his paintings done in oil on canvas and acrylic. more..

Apr 21 (Island) A vehicle in which National Freedom Front MP Wimal Weerawansa was travelling came under attack at Homagama yesterday. Three body guards of Weerawansa and MP Achala Jagoda who was following in another vehicle were injured in the attack but both MPs escaped unhurt. According to Weerawansa, when he was returning after an election campaign he received a call on his hand phone that a vehicle of another comrade in his party had been attacked. more..

Apr 21 (Island) There were more adverse reactions reported from various parts of the island following the rubella vaccine. Some cases were reported from Kandy and Polonnaruwa where children had required hospitalisation after receiving the vaccine. Some required the administration of adrenalin for revival, medical sources said. They said yesterday (20) that at least two more students had been affected by the vaccine despite more..

Apr 21 (Island) Parliament sittings were disrupted yesterday as the JVP MPs stormed into the well protesting against the government’s delay to arrest the culprits of the killing of Nandana Balage, a JVP activist, at Kalagedihena on April 6th. The JVP MPs carrying posters, pictures of Balage and black banners with slogans demanding justice, marched towards the Speaker, but were stopped by Sergeant-at-Arms. more..

Apr 21 (DM) The LTTE yesterday, in a significant statement, recognized and welcomed a refreshing attitude in the United States, which was different from other countries. It urged the Sri Lanka government to listen to international opinion and stop the war and enter into negotiations. But at the same time it warned the Sri Lankan government of dire consequences if the war was continued. more..

Apr 21 (DM) The main opposition UNP said yesterday that with most of the remaining civilians now crossing into government-controlled areas it was the responsibility of the government to ensure their safety and welfare. UNP member Dayasiri Jayasekara speaking on yesterday’s influx of civilians into government-controlled areas said it was good that the civilians were finally escaping from the Tigers and were being rescued by the security forces after months of being held hostage by the terrorists. more..

Apr 21 (UNHRC) UNHCR is ready to assist tens of thousands of internally displaced people (IDPs) who are on the move into government-controlled areas from the conflict zone in Sri Lanka's north-eastern coastal pocket. Yesterday, the Government of Sri Lanka informed UNHCR and other agencies that an estimated 40,000 people had fled areas where the military and the LTTE are engaged in heavy fighting. more..

Apr 21 (DM) President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday that after all the civilians were rescued from the No Fire Zone, LTTE leader Velupillai Prbhakaran could lay down arms and surrender and if he did so, the government would consider the possibility of rehabilitating him and his cadres. But the President said where Prabhakaran was concerned he would of course have to appear in Court to face charges that more..

Apr 21 (PTI) As the Sri Lankan government's 24-hour deadline to LTTE chief Prabhakaran to surrender comes to an end on Tuesday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi asked the Centre to issue an ultimatum to Colombo to declare an "immediate and permanent ceasefire." In telegrams sent to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, he said the "war situation in Sri Lanka is alarming and the predicament of the Tamils very critical." more..

Apr 21 (Reuers) Sri Lanka is close to finalising details of a loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund aimed at helping the island weather the global economic downturn, the central bank governor said on Tuesday. The comments by Ajith Nivard Cabraal came after the Sri Lankan rupee fell to a fresh record low around 120.25 per dollar partly on concerns that an IMF deal had been delayed. more..

Apr 21 (BBC) The Tamil Tigers have accused the Sri Lankan government of killing about 1,000 civilians and injuring many more during its military offensive. The government has denied the allegations, in turn accusing the rebel group of targeting civilians. It said by midday nearly 50,000 civilians had fled the rebel-held area in the north of the island. Meanwhile government forces say they have made inroads into the sliver of territory still held by the Tigers. more..

Apr 21 (AJ) The young man standing on the corner of Albert and Metcalfe streets in downtown Ottawa cast a forlorn presence on the sidewalk. He seemed over-dressed for a rather warm spring morning, but few people seemed to notice. Even fewer were willing to accept his handout: an appeal printed on thick, bond paper, titled "We are Tamil Canadians". The tepid response from morning commuters was emblematic of Ottawa's general reaction to a week-old demonstration by Tamil Canadians on Parliament Hill. more..

Apr 21 (Reuters) Sri Lankan soldiers battled into the last redoubt of the Tamil Tigers on Tuesday, and an exodus of people trapped by the rebels in the coastal strip reached nearly 50,000, the military said. The operation gathered speed after the military's noon (0630 GMT) deadline for the LTTE to surrender passed without any word from the separatists, in what appears to be the final act in Asia's longest-running war. more..

Apr 21 (Reuters) The Tamil Tiger rebels will never surrender, the head of the separatists' peace secretariat told Reuters on Tuesday, despite their being outgunned in an apparent final offensive by the Sri Lankan military. Seevaratnam Puleedevan, secretary-general of the LTTE peace secretariat, urged the international community to intervene by forcing a permanent ceasefire, which Sri Lanka has ruled out. more..

Apr 21 (AFP) The Sri Lankan army on Tuesday seized more territory from the Tamil Tigers as the rebels ignored a government deadline to surrender, the defence ministry said. The attack saw government forces effectively slice the last small strip of jungle held by the LTTE in two, and came as tens of thousands of civilians fled the fighting. "The LTTE has not responded to the government's call to surrender, so we are keeping up our offensive to rescue the civilians," more..

Apr 22 (Reuters) Sri Lankan troops thrust into the last Tamil Tiger-held area as an exodus of at least 49,000 people from it gathered speed, and the Red Cross warned of catastrophe in the apparent endgame of Asia's longest-running war. Here are questions and answers about what happens next on the Indian Ocean island: WHAT HAPPENS NOW ON THE BATTLEFIELD? On Tuesday, the military was advancing and expanding its control of the 17 square km more..