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Vol. 26 No. 270 Monday 20th November, 2006 Rs.15 - 30 Pages Registered in Sri Lanka as a Newspaper -Late City Edition Will Sri Lanka be MR vows to press 4 Israel: A Turning for political solution India’s Iraq? 15 Point President Mahinda Rajapakse yesterday empha- sized the importance in meeting the legiti- Govt. to open A-9 on humanitarian grounds mate aspirations of the Tamil speaking The government announced yesterday rity forces top brass, a statement said. not sabotage the initiative. Commissioner General of Essential people. Mahinda that it was ready to re-open the Muhamalai A spokesman for the President’s Office The following is the full text of the state- Services (CGES), to take all possible steps to Addressing a pub- gateway to facilitate the transport of urgent- expressed belief that the international com- ment issued by the President’s Office last ensure adequate supplies of food and other lic meeting, after laying the foundation ly needed supplies to the Jaffna peninsula. munity would support the effort. He night: goods for the use of civilians in the Jaffna stone for Sri Lanka’s second interna- President Mahinda Rajapakse decided to re- expressed belief that the international com- “H.E. the President had directed relevant peninsula. tional airport at Weerawila, the open the gateway after consulting the secu- munity would ensure that the LTTE would government authorities, spearheaded by the Continued on page 6 President underscored the need to dif- ferentiate between the demands of the people and the LTTE. Paying a glowing tribute to TULF veterans, A. Amirthalingam and V. Anandasangaree and Lakshman Kadirgamar, the President vowed to UNP Reformists vow to take battle press ahead with his efforts to find a negotiated political solution to the con- tentious issue. During his 35-minute address, the President assured the nation that the to grassroots, come what may security forces would respond to the threat posed by the LTTE. “Have we the 61 UNP MPs on their side, including given in to LTTE terrorism? Have we the Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya. Deputy Leader cut? compelled the security forces to bow UNP stalwarts, Wijeyapala Mendis, down to pressure?” he asked. The Dharmadasa Banda and Imtiaz Bakeer President said that the LTTE would not Marker said a special committee, appoint- be allowed to take the Eastern Province ed by the UNP leader himself, to probe the Muslims hostage. He asserted that that continuous defeats the party had suffered LTTE activity in the East had been at fourteen elections, had identified, as restricted with security forces taking the main reason for the setback, the lack the upper hand. of intra party democracy. It had, they He expressed satisfaction over his pointed out, recommended that the deci- efforts to secure the support of the JVP sion making process of the party be and UNP to tackle contentious issues democratized and expanded to include a facing the country. This would be of broader section of party activists. Among pivotal importance, he said, pointing the Committee’s recommendations, they Wijeyapala Mendis, Dharmadasa Banda out that D. S. Senenayake and S. W.R. D. said, was the establishment of a polit- Bandaranaike dreamt of the major and Imtiaz Bakeer Marker at yesterday’s buro. media briefing called by the UNP political parties co-operating on After several rounds of discussions national issues. Reformists. Pic by Gamini Munasinghe. with the Reformists, the UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe had appointed a Continued by Franklin R. Satyapalan committee, chaired by UNP MP John on page 6 Ameratunga, to look into the proposed The UNP Reformists, who made an reforms. Subsequently, on the day of the abortive attempt on Friday to prevent the Working Committee meeting on Nov.08, it party’s 51st National Convention being had been unanimously resolved by the Lanka won’t press charges held, speaking to the press in Colombo Working Committee that the reforms be yesterday, called upon the membership to implemented after being presented to the rally round them as the ultimate goal of against Indian accomplice party’s National Convention. But later, their campaign was to render the oldest the leadership had reneged on its prom- political party in Sri Lanka more demo- in arms smuggling ise to consider the proposed reforms. cratic, vibrant and capable of returning A lawyer appointed by the party to power in the near future. by Shamindra leader had, the Reformists said, claimed “We will fight on until our goal is Ferdinando that the proposed reforms did not con- achieved and the UNP is transformed form to the UNP constitution. They said into a strong and democratic political Contrary to his it was ploy to avoid reforms. entity,” they said. claims, a South They claimed they already had 20 of Continued on page 6 Indian fisherman, in SLN custody, is believed to be Sekar UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in a contemplative mood, at Sunday’s annual party con- involved with the vention, at the Town Hall, which was boycotted by a large group of partymen including deputy LTTE. Forty-five- Navy officer goes missing with leader Karu Jayasuriya. Pic. by Kamal Wanniarachchi year old Sekar told the navy of harass- ment by Sea Tigers after he was release of Commission report brought to Colombo to facilitate inquiries. by Shamindra Ferdinando up an appointment in the northern the- The navy is trying to determine the atre of operations. He had moved with UNP holds annual convention minus Karu faction level of co-operation between the South A navy officer, who held a key staff Sandagiri when he assumed the office of Indian fishing community and the appointment in an operational area, is Chief of Defence Staff. by Zacki Jabbar He, expressed confidence that differ- LTTE. believed to have deserted post after a one- The Island learns that he had been ences of opinion could be sorted out with- Sekar had carried an identity card man Presidential Commission concluded found guilty of supplying ammunition for The much awaited 51st annual con- in the next 100 days when all outstanding issued by the Tamil Nadu fisheries its inquiries on corruption and irregulari- a sniper weapon, allegedly in the hands of vention of the United National issues will be thrashed out and authority, the official said. The Indian ties, relating to procurement of equip- a sailor on the payroll of a politician. The Party was held in Colombo yes- the party united under one ban- had jumped from a large trawler after ment and services by the navy. sailor is believed to have decamped with terday minus the Karu ner. the SLN intercepted it in the seas off Speculation is rife that he had left the the weapon during a major LTTE offen- Jayasuriya faction, which boy- Tissa Attanayake was elect- Kalpitiya, west of Kudiramalai, around country.Navy Headquarters is making sive in the Vanni in late 90s. Although he cotted the proceedings. ed General Secretary despite the 4. 30 pm on November 14. Two Fast inquiries. claimed the weapon was lost during the Ranil Wickremesinghe, Karu Jayasuriya Faction oppos- Attack Craft (FACs) blew up the trawler The officer holding the rank of withdrawal from their forward positions, whose position as leader of the ing the appointment. along with its remaining occupants. Captain had deserted his post shortly subsequent inquiries revealed the theft. party was endorsed by the con- The membership, which In a statement to SLN, the suspect before the Commission handed over its Despite his alleged involvement in the vention, offered an olive branch Karu showed up in large numbers claimed that five Sea Tiger craft sur- report to President Mahinda Rajapakse. cover up, Navy Headquarters secured a to the dissenting group and set a amidst the internal rifts and rounded their trawler last Tuesday at The investigation focused on irregulari- place for him at the Batalanda Staff 100-day time frame to restructure and inclement weather, gave 12. 30 am. There had been three other ties during the tenure of Vice Admiral College. This had been done outside laid reform the party. Rukman Senanayake the chairmanship fishermen identified as Ravi, Daya Sandagiri’s command. down procedures, well informed sources Wickremesinghe decided not to of the party and Tilak Karunaratne the Thambirajan and Manoharan. The missing officer had served on the said. appoint a Deputy Leader in the absence of post of Treasurer. Continued on page 6 former Navy Chief ’s staff before taking Continued on page 6 Jayasuriya, despite calls to remove him. Continued on page 6 land on your The Is MOBILE/PDA GPRS enabled Anura, Udaya under fire over WTM http://mobile.island.lk Select: Web Web Address Tourism Minister Anura on the extravaganza, Sri Lanka’s strug- Industry sources expressed belief that Type:http://mobile.island.lk Powerd by Lanka com Bandaranaike and his former brother-in- gling tourist industry hardly received any the government would have to assess the law Udaya Nanayakkara, Chairman of the benefits. situation and take the required counter Tourist Board are under fire over the poor “One of the worst ever,” a top hotelier measures. The Sri Lankan delegation sim- show at the recently concluded World said. Another said that the whole show ply did not counter the adverse reports, Travel Market (WTM) in London. was a flop in terms of visitor participation both by the international travel trade and Although a whopping 42 million was spent and the display of Sri Lanka’s pavilion. foreign governments. 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