Wednesday 17th December, 2008 tells Europol Seminar Act against LTTE front organisations Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the EU, Tamil Eelam (LTTE). This underlined the Furthermore, with respect to engage- Belgium and Luxembourg Ravinatha seriousness with which the law enforce- ment in propaganda, glorification of ter- Aryasinha told the Europol seminar held ment and criminal justice communities rorism and martyrdom, the Ambassador in the Hague, Netherlands recently, that in these countries were watching develop- said, it was imperative that the EU come there was sufficient evidence available ments relating to the activities of the to an early determination as to where the The disabled children’s get-to-gether, from Eheliyagoda and Kuruwita DS divi- that the operations of some Tamil organ- LTTE and its front organisations. right of freedom of expression ends and sions, took place at the Sethmini Centre of Eheliyagoda. A mother feeding her dis- isations were an integral part of the In a detailed analysis of the organs of the European Council’s recently sanc- abled daughter. (Pic by J. Antony, Ratnapura, Corr.) LTTE as seen in actions taken against its the LTTE, the trajectory taken by the tioned regulations to curb terrorist relat- fronts in Canada and the USA. group in its global operations, he said, the ed acts of glorification or terrorism and Prof.Warnapala seeks foreign aid to Taking concerted action against such actions the Tamil Rehabilitation martyrdom begins. He called for the early entities who act for, or on behalf of, or at Organisations (TRO), the World Tamil EU listing of the TRO and other LTTE upgrade status of universities the behest of terrorist organizations, is Movement (WTM), the Tamil front organizations in Europe, greater an obligation the countries have volun- Coordinating Committee (TCC) and oth- vigilance, cooperation in intelligence The Minister of Higher Education, Austria for the tarily undertaken under the numerous ers, proved that they formed an integral sharing and cooperation in the field of Professor has decid- enhancement of fur- UN conventions on terrorism. Doing so part of the LTTE overseas infrastructure criminal justice. ed to seek additional economic and ther assistance to also casts on countries the obligation to directed by the group’s international Emphasisting on the theme ‘Time to technical cooperation from the govern- Sri Lanka, in the implement these provisions equally, to Secretariat in the Wanni. While acknowl- Act’, Ambassador Aryasinha cautioned ment of Austria for his ambitious field of higher edu- terrorist entities across the globe, he said. edging the action taken in the US and that failure to take timely action to curb plans to upgrade the status of universi- cation. The theme of the seminar was ‘Time Canada to proscribe LTTE front organisa- the LTTE and its front organisations’ ties and enhance the syllabuses and Sri Lanka has to Act. The LTTE, its Front Organization, tions, the TRO and the WTM, respectively, activity in Europe could have several educational systems of technical and been a recipient of and the Challenge to Europe’. The semi- Ambassador Ariyasingha said the gov- ramifications; it could render the sacri- vocational institutes to cope up with the development nar brought together representatives ernment of Sri Lanka regretted that at fices being made on the ground to eradi- the new trends that are taking place in assistance from from 15 EU member States, as well as present sufficient attention was not being cate terrorism in Sri Lanka wasted and other developing countries in the Wiswa Austria. There are from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Sri paid in Europe to the activities of the leave open the possibility for the renewal region. The secret for the technological currently four projects in progress Lanka, the USA, Switzerland and LTTE front organisations, despite their of the conflict; the loss of dominance of revolutions that had taken place in under the soft-loan export credit facili- Interpol, as well as representatives from activities being arrested and scheduled to control in the Wanni could also result in India and Malaysia was mainly due to ty guaranteed by the government of other European Institutions, Eurojust stand trial in France, the UK and Italy, the LTTE resorting to use greater pres- the heavy investment that these gov- Austria. They are Labduwa and and SitCen (the European Union (EU) and TRO accounts being frozen in the UK sure on the Diaspora to continue funding ernments placed for scientific and Mattakkuliya Advanced Technology Joint Situation Center), for an assess- and Denmark. the organization which is bound to inten- technological research during the last Institution Project, Rehabilitation of ment of the activities of the LTTE and its Elaborating on front organizations’ sify conflict within the Diaspora with two decades. Kirindi Oya Water Supply Scheme, front organizations. involvement in fund raising, money laun- those who opt for peace and reconcilia- “We should not solely be dependent Supply of Modern Medical Equipment The Ambassador observed that this dering, crime, ‘Thamil Cholai’ schools, tion. on government resources but should to Kurunegala Teaching Hospital and was probably the first time such a wide- Satellite TV/Radio and interment net- The Sri Lanka delegation to the semi- also seek the help of countries in the other rural hospitals, Rehabilitation of ranging international group of experts works, telephone card business, he said, nar, included representatives from the European Union to achieve our tar- Southern Catchment of Colombo had chosen to devote an entire two-day it was vital for the international commu- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Attorney gets”, he said. Sewerage System and Construction of seminar, which focused on the worldwide nity, including the EU, to arrest these General’s Dept. and Ministry of Defence. Due to the initiatives taken by the 05 Steel Bridges in the Kalutara activities of the Liberation Tigers of activities. Minister in this connection, the District. Ambassador also assured the minister The Austrian government has also that he would take a personal initiative committed to finance the Batticaloa- in this connection and have a wide dia- Valachchenai Railway rehabilitation Rs. 30 million income from harvest of logue with the resource personnel in project. 1200 acres of abandoned paddy land Supplementary crop cultivation by Lakshmi de Silva a success says PM The harvest from a stretch of fallow Prime Minister Ratnasiri successful in achieving the intended paddy land at Malimboda, Matara, Wickramanayake lauded the Provincial targets. In addition to the long term brought under the plough after 25 Administrations in the island for their crops such as maize, soya, kurakkan, years, had brought an income of over contribution towards the agricultural cowpea, and green peas, vegetables and Rs. 30 million rupees to the farmers development of the country. Both in fruit cultivations too are taking place.” who cultivated the plot while their planning and their implementation of The Prime Minister stressed that input was only 1.2 million rupees, the agricultural project it was essential while maintaining the coconut estates Minister of Home Affairs Chandrasiri to get their cooperation, he said. properly the cultivation of other supple- Gajadheera said at the traditional A discussion was held to review the mentary crops such as pine apples and ‘aluth sahal mangalya’ held at the progress of the campaign launched to papaya should continue to earn more Gunaratna Vivekaramaya Temple with cultivate supplementary crops in income. “We must produce the vegeta- the participation of the farmers. estates by Plantation Companies on bles and fruits and other necessary The farmers had cultivated the Monday morning. This programme was items to satisfy the demand of the coun- 1200-acre plot after a lapse of several implemented parallel to the ‘Api try as much as possible,” he said. years. This was one of the achieve- Vavamu, Rata Nagamu’ programme. Plantation Industry Ministry ments of the ‘Api Vavamu Rata The Prime Minister said, “As Secretary Indrani Sugathadasa, its Add. Nagamu’ food production programme planned, the cultivation of supplemen- Secy.P.L.U.Dissanayake,TRI started by President Mahinda tary food crops has been successful as Chairman Dr. S. S. B. D. U. Jayawardena Rajapakse who was also a son of a the company managements have been and several others spoke. farmer from the south. “The true agri- cultural revolution had now started”, The first harvest, known as ‘agrapala’ from the newly asweddumized stretch of the Minister said. 1200 acres of paddy land was offered to the Gunaratnara Vivekaramaya temple “The President had allocated 2,800 Sultanagoda, Matara recently by the farmers with the participation of the Minister million rupees to develop the Nilwala of Home Affairs Chandrasiri Gajadheera. flood protection project and the gov- ernment was using the indigenous farmers of the area as the water was tion of the project to prevent the waste methods and new technology to stagnant with increase salinity. Water of water, and remove its salinity. improve the quality of paddy and to and its salinity had made the river Minister of Cultural Affairs and get a better harvest”, Gajadheera said. basin uncultivable. It was a concept of National Heritage Mahinda Yapa At the mobile public service camp the late Dr. S. A. Wickramasinghe to Abeywardena said traditional agricul- held at Matara recently there was a build nine reservoirs on the nine river tural practice of invoking the bless- request by the people of the area to basins without letting the waters to ings of the Triple Gems and the deities rehabilitate the Nilwala project. flow unused to the sea. However, it had always had helped the farmers to Earlier the project had failed to help now become possible by the rehabilita- obtain a good harvest. The meeting to review the progress of supplementary crops cultivation in estate lands chaired by the Prime Minister

First multi-storey housing project for shanti dwellers at Torrington place

The Ministry of Urban Development government. The and Sacred areas Development Ministry money will be raised initiated the first multi-storey communi- from the taxes levied ty based development project this month on constructions at 187 garden, Torrington Place under the above 5,000 sq. feet ‘Pelpathin thora nagara’ (Cities Sans floor space. This form Shanties) concept of the Mahinda of funding was first Chintana. Both, Ministers Dinesh mooted by Minister Goonawardena and , Goonawardena. incharge of Urban Development and The programme Housing Ministries respectively, were is being implemented present at the launch. in association with The aims of this programme were to the Urban provide houses for those who live in Development On a request made by Warakapola Pradeshiya Sabha member Kapila shanties and ill planned houses and to Authority, Colombo Seneviratne, Kegalle District MP and Minister of Labour Relations and improve the living standard of such com- Municipal Council Manpower Athauda Seneviratne, released a sum of Rs. 200,000 to concrete munities. Initially permanent houses will and the the Nidangama-Nelundeniya Samurdhi Mawatha in the Dedigama electorate. be provided to 80 families living in Thimbirigasyaya The Minister initiates the roadwork while the OIC Dedigama police looks on. shanties. Minister Dinesh Goonewardena and at the foun- Provincial (Picture by Ratnapura Corr.) The project will not be a burden on the dation laying ceremony. Secretariat.