New charges pending TNA support for against Rajaratnam Fonseka based on NEW YORK (AP) — US secret pact federal prosecutors said they - Govt. will file new charges against by Don Asoka Wijewardena billionaire hedge fund oper- ator Raj Rajaratnam alleging Release of hardcore LTTE he made at least $36 million cadres in custody from trades based on insider information, double what the Re-merger of NE government previously Reducing the believed. Rajaratnam strength of State `Vol. 29 No. 46 Thursday 7th January, 2010, 36 Pages Rs. 20 Registered in as a Newspaper Late City Edition Intelligence

Curtailing strengh of military and NKorea began police Alternative Yapa uranium program Dismantaling of high security to Congress? zones soon after 1994 deal Media Minister Lakshman Yapa 6 11 12 Abeywardena said yesterday that common Presidential candidate had secretly agreed to five conditions put forward by the in return of Fonseka their support at the election. They are: putting UNP 1. Release of hardcore LTTE cadres in custody before country Last ditch Indian bid 2. Re-merger of the North and the East - UPFA Continued on page 2 by Harischandra Gunaratna to stop war revealed UPFA General Fonseka says Secretary and Minister by Shamindra Ferdinando yes- terday said that presiden- ad President he kept his tial candidate Sarath given in to Indian and joint Fonseka quite contrary to H British-French pressure to halt a pledge to wipe the common Opposition combined security forces offensive direct- slogan “Country First” ed at the LTTE, last April, the terrorist has adopted the slogan, out terror “UNP First” since he has leadership would have survived to fight undertaken the job of another day. by M. A. Kaleel, Kalmunai Corr. resurrecting the Secretary to the President, Lalith Weeratunga UNP revealed that the President had politely Opposition common candidate for which is explained to both parties that the LTTE could the forthcoming Presidential elec- now in tat- not be given a lifeline again. tion General (Retd) Sarath Fonseka, ters. Responding to The Island queries, addressing an election rally in Sirisena Weeratunga said that Indian delegation com- Kalmunai on Tuesday, said that said that prising Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon, President Mahinda Rajapaksa had Fonseka had Indian National Security Advisor M. K. been a politician for forty years come to a Narayanan and the then Indian High while he had been one for only forty dead end, Commissioner in Colombo Alok Prasad had days. duped by sought an immediate end to the final assault on He said that of the 40 years he Ranil the LTTE when they called on the President on had served as an army officer, 30 Wicklre- years were spent in the North and Maithripala April 24. Weeratunga said that the government mesinghe. of India had been concerned about the crisis the East and he was well aware of the Continued on page 2 Vanni battle could cause, particularly in Tamil needs of the people in those areas Nadu, though the President firmly asserted that and their political aspirations. Sri Lankan forces could not miss an opportunity Recalling the election of Mahinda to finish off the LTTE. Rajapaksa as President of the coun- Cops summon But the President had assured that every- try in 2005, Fonseka said Leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Rajavarothayam Sampanthan, MP, at yester- thing possible would be done to protect the civil- that he (Rajapaksa) victims instead day’s press conference in the parliamentary complex flanked by TNA parliamentarians ians, the Presidential Secretary said adding that said that he would and . On the extreme right are TNA MPs the Sri Lankan leader had gone to the extent of meet Prabhakaran of culprits Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam and Selvam Adaikalanathan. (Photo-Jude Denzil Pathirajaa) and would usher in by Norman Continued on page 2 peace whereas he (Fonseka) on Palihawadana assuming duties as army commander Close on the heels of pledged that he last Sunday’s clash Prisons would not leave the between UPFA supporters TNA backs Fonseka fighting to his successor and the joint Opposition overcrowded at Kiribathgoda, the UNP by Zacki Jabbar by heads of the ITK, ACTC, deciding to support Fonseka, they Continued on page 2 said that the government EPRLF and TELO, said at a news had spoken to Rajapaksa on sever- by 65 per was targeting several The Tamil National Alliance conference in Colombo, that they al occasions, but his replies con- UNP and JVP organizers yesterday asked the Tamil people have lost confidence in Rajapaksa vinced them that he was not seri- in the Gampaha District. to vote for General (Rtd) Sarath because he has been engaged in a ous about easing the sufferings of cent JVP won’t oppose UNP sources told The time buying exercise and did noth- the Tamils, nor offering them a Fonseka at this months by Denagama Island last night that Presidential Election, because ing to resolve the problems and political solution. George Perera (Mahara President Mahinda Rajapaksa has grievances of the Tamils. Questioned, if that meant that Dhammika Pilleyan, UNP Organiser), Ruwan been bluffing them, for the last Asked if Fonseka had given they trusted Fonseka to implement Ranaweera Wijewardene (UNP four years. them any written gurantees, he his promises, Sambandan said, dissidents Organiser) and JVP Parliamentary Group leader of replied in the negative. “Let’s put it this way. Sri Lankan prisons are Continued on page 2 the TNA, R. Sambandan, flanked Sambandan said that before Continued on page 2 overcrowded by 65 per coming back cent. There are 11,500 convicted prisoners and Promises probe on No trains to 14,000 remand prisoners Hakeem lashes out Solar eclipse on Jan 15 in the country’s prisons COPE, PAC findings Kandy on according to high ranking by Shamindra Ferdinando at police partiality The solar eclipse on January 15 will Prisons Department Jan 10 be fully visible in the northern sector sources. The JVP yesterday said that it Train services to by M. A. Kaleel, Kalmunai Cor. underwear”, of the country while it would be par- Prisons in Galle, would push for investigations into Hakeem said Kandy will be suspended tially seen in the southern parts of Sri Colombo, Kalutara, cases of waste, corruption and irreg- amidst laugh- on Sunday (Jan. 10) SLMC leader Lanka. Tangalle, Mahara, ularities involving MPs exposed by addressing a United National ter. between 7.00 a.m. and 7.00 The Southerners living below the Negombo and Matara were the Committee of Pubic Enterprises p.m. for repairs to the Front election rally in Hakeem and Public Accounts Committee said that the Anuradhapura border could view this severely overcrowded bridge between Kandy Kalmunai on Tuesday criticized compared to those in though it had thrown its weight and Peradeniya, Sri the Police for their partiality. Kalmunai HQI solar eclipse partially, the Arthur C. Batticaloa, Monaragala and behind the UNP to help presidential Lanka Railways said. Speaking in Sinhala, Hakeem was carrying Clarke Centre for Modern candidate Sarath Fonseka win the Polonnaruwa, sources The Inter-City Trains said that the IGP’s sudden visit out his duties Technologies said. forthcoming presidential election. from Colombo Fort to to Ampara and Batticaloa dis- to the best of It said the solar eclipse was a rare said. Acknowledging that a section of Kandy at 7.00 a.m, 10.35 tricts had aroused his suspicion his ability as Sources said the reason Hakeem feature and advised viewers to wear UNP MPs, who had switched their a.m. and at 3.35 p.m. would and he felt that it was with the far as the UNF for overcrowding was allegiance to President Mahinda election posters were con- protective gear as direct exposure of terminate their runs at intention of distrupting the mainly due to convicts’ Rajapaksa, to avoid being brought to cerned. ”Maybe he wants to the eye may lead to total blindness. the Peradeniya Station. UNF meetings held in book on corruption charges might earn stars. He would see stars The centre would be monitoring inability to pay fines Kattankudy, Kalmunai and return to the UNP’s fold after the on January 27”, the SLMC the eclipse to provide details of this imposed for minor Ampara. “The IGP was promis- January 26 polls, JVP General leader said. offences. ing the Police everything except rare feature. Secretary Tilvin Silva emphasised Fraudsters that politicians and officials named by parliamentary watchdog commit- arrested tees should be investigated. Chilaw police arrested Addressing the media at the JVP two suspects who were col- Sarath will release manifesto ahead of Mahinda headquarters, Silva said that those lecting donations from by Shamindra Ferdinando forces were increasingly used in itics of hate direct- campaign on December 18 in errant MPs should be punished traders in the town pre- the Government’s campaign ed from Temple Kandy, the Opposition candidate regardless of the party they belonged to, the UNP or the UPFA. tending that the funds JVP General Secretary Tilvin regardless of Polls Commissioner Trees. had addressed 23 major rallies. were to be utilised to deco- Silva yesterday declared that Dayananda Dissanayake’s efforts Silva expressed He said that their meetings in Continued on page 2 rate the town in view of an their candidate General (Retd) to ensure a level playing field. confidence that Jaffna, Vavuniya, Batticaloa, election rally to be Sarath Fonseka would comfort- Addressing the media at JVP they had the where- Trincomalee and Ampara drew addressed by presidential ably defeat incumbent President headquarters, he accused UPFA withal to overcome large crowds. He alleged that gov- candidate Sarath Fonseka Mahinda Rajapaksa at the forth- leaders of trying to sabotage the all obstacles and ernment goons on Tuesday on January 7 (today) coming Presidential polls though former Army Chief ’s polls cam- ensure a convinc- (January 5) made several Following a tip off by the ruling coalition was using paign while praising the virtues ing victory for attempts to disrupt a meeting Puttalam District MP State resources to its advantage. of a seasoned politician. Fonseka at the Tilvin addressed by Fonseka at Ampara. , Silva said that a section of the He said that the government January 26 polls. He He claimed that the Ampara the suspects were arrested. media, the police and the armed was practicing what he called pol- said that since the launch of their Continued on page 2