www.tamilarangam.net Fortnightly ISSUE NO. 1 A TIRU Publication 1 December 1985 SITUATION REPORT Published by the Tamil Information & Research Unit (TIRU), Besant Nagar, Madras, India, on behalf of Tamil Information Centre, 3rjkpo;j;d Floor, 24-2Njrpa8 Clapha mMtzr; High St. Londo Rtbfs;n SW4 7UR, U.K. www.tamilarangam.net SITUATION REPORT has said that of this number housed in the 51 Information Department approval. Iran snubs Sri Lanka refugee camps 11,457 are Sinhalese and Trincomalees government agent, Camillus 12.008 Tamils. The visit of a high-powered 3-member delega- Fernando, was unable to single out any tion scheduled to leave for Iran on 10th Besides these refugees there have been many instances of 'misreporting", but said they were November was cancelled by Iranian authorities who have left the area for other places. not prepared to take any chances in the greater immediately prior to the scheduled departure. The Committee quotes the Government Agent interest of peace. The team was to consist of Deputy Minister of Trincomalee saying that following these (Daily News, 13, November 1985) of Foreign Affairs Tyronne Fernando, Chairman disturbances in the most affected areas of of the ruling party Marsha Abeywardene and Seruwila, Mutur, Kuchchaveli and Morawewa SLFP MP Halim Ishak The reason for the both Sinhalese and Tamils have left these The State of Tourism •v • cancellation was to show Iran's displeasure areas. The Government Agent has told the over Sri Lanka's contacts with Israel, particularly Committee that while the Sinhalese moved Charter operators from Western Europe have President Jayawardene's recent meeting with to Kantalai and a fair proportion into other cut flights to Colombo heralding a bleak Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres in Paris, areas in the South, the Tamils have gone to winter season for the tourist industry, the according to Iranian newspaper "Islamic Trincomalee town and Batticaloa. trade said yesterday. Republic". "This was later confirmed by the The Committee quotes the Government agent: President of the Association of Group Tour Iranian Foreign Ministry. The Sri Lanka "While small numbers have been returning Agencies, Mr. R. Sivaratnam, said three charter Foreign Minsitry contacted by the Colombo to Mutur and Morawewa, the position at operators, Condor, Balair, Finnmatkat, have newspaper "The Island", declined to comment Kuchchuveli continues to remain the same. reduced the frequency of their flights due to on the matter. (Virakesari 13/11 and Island In addition Gomarankandwela adjoining Thihariya slack demand. 12/11 and 13/11) has been badly affected. Buddhist temples The cut backs have taken the tourist trade by there have been evacuated and are now surprise. The trade expected the sector's unoccupied." revival last year, after the 1983 violence, to U.S. Nukes off Colombo (The Island — 15th November). continue, says Ken Balendra of Walker Tours. Did the giant American Aircraft Carrier "USS Walkers are the local agents for Neckermann, KITTY HAWK" which visited Colombo between Trinco - A Forbidden Area Hotelplan and Tkaerbprg travel agencies. November 10 and November 14 have nuclear Tourist Board statistics show about 169.000 warheads abroad ? Replying to a question Continued unrest in Trincomalee, the eastern arrivals between January and August this by SLFP MP Lakshman Jayakody in Parliament coastal district, forced the authorities to close year, compared with 212.674 during the same on November 8, Foreign Affairs Minister A.C.S. this former tourist paradise to foreign visitors period last year. The board spent Rs. 47 Hameed said the government had verified and journalists, a senior military officer said. million publicity last year, .put no money was that the vessel would not enter Sri Lanka's The commanding officer of the district's spent on promotion this year. territorial waters with nuclear warheads on security forces, Brigadier Harsha Guneratne, (Daily News, November 13,1985). board. The naval authorities had "checked said they decided to keep journalists out of available information" following a US Embassy Trincomalee to prevent possible 'mischievous application for Kitty Hawk to dock in Colombo. reporting' which could trigger bloody rioting. Oberoi in the red (Daily News-: Nov.9). But "The Island" of Tension has been steadily mounting since Nov. 13 reported : "The Public Affairs Officer The Asian Hotels Corporation Ltd., owners August 18 when armed terrorists stormed a Lt.Art St.John J.G. of the American aircraft of the Hotel Lanka Oberoi, reported a net village called Namalwatte, about 20 miles carrier which arrived in Colombo on Sunday loss of Rs.27.5 million after tax for the year north of Trincomalee, and killed six civilians. said that the official position of the United ended March 31, 1985. The Oberoi, which States Navy with respect to nuclear warheads The latest clashes between security forces had increased its room capacity from 376 to aboard Kitty Hawk was to neither confirm and separatist fighters, and the terrorist 562 rooms, has reported 48.6 per cent nor deny it". massacre of civilians have claimed at least occupancy during the period under review, 57 lives. down from 53.7 per cent a year earlier. R».6169m. on Defence! At least 33 terrorists were killed when security forces raided four separatist hideouts and The country's economic gains would lie in terrorists killed 24 Sinhalese. Tamil and ruins if the ethnic crisis is not brought to a Moslem civilians during the last five days. Here are highlights of the Sri Lanka budget, halt. This was the warning given by Sri Lankan as affecting the average citizens in that More than a dozen homes have been burnt, country : Finance Minister Ronnie de Mel in presenting adding more people to the 35,000 refugees his 9th consecutive budget in Parliament on already in the district, government officials Rail Fares: 13th November. "A poor country like Sri said. Feeding the refugees cost the govern- Lanka cannot afford the defence expenditure ment millions. 3rd Class and Season ticket fares up by 8 of Rs.6,196 million in 1986 whereas in 1978 per cent. First class by 30 per cent and 2nd Brigadier Guneratne is touchy about foreigners jt was only Rs.560 million. (The Island 14/11). class by 15 percent. visiting his district. "There is absolutely no tourist here now. We Cigarettes: Refugee Situation in Trinco are keeping foreigners out because journalists Up by 5 cents. Today's prices of well-known The Committee Monitoring the Cessation of could slip in as tourists", he said. brands are (per cigarette) : Gold Leaf — Hostilities in a report issued on 14 November Tourist hotels were a favourite terrorist target, Rs.1/05; Capstan - 90cts; Bristol Mild - states that 23.465 persons belonging to 5262 with at least two being wrecked in major 85cts; Three Roses — 85cts; Four Aces — families of the Trincomalee District are now raids. 75cts. being housed on 51 refugee camps set up in Brigadier Guneratne said accredited corres- the District. pondents, however, could go up to the resort Liquor: The Committee which issued its report follow- district if their visit was arranged with the Up by Rs. 5/-all locally made liquor. Corres- ing its visit to Trincomalee on 9, November Joint Operators Command headquarters, with ponding increase of duty on imported liquor. Sri Lanka Situation Report Dec.1,1985 jkpo;j; Njrpa Mtzr; Rtbfs; www.tamilarangam.net SITUATION REPORT Postal Rates: had been taken in for questioning by the defacement was done... (Daily News : 1 Ordinary letters raised from 60 to 75cts. Post security forces led the protest. According to November). cards from 35 to 50cts. Registered letters reports, around 200 persons had not contacted from Rs. 4/60 to Rs. 5/75. Aerogrammes their families after arrest by the forces. (The from Rs. 51- to Rs. 6/-. Sun : 14 November). Hatton students protest Students of Highlands College, Hatton, boy- Telegraph Rates: cotted classes yesterday in protest against Up from Re. 1/- for the first 15 words to Rs. the arrest of three students of the school for An unidentified gang robbed Rs.226,000/- suspected terrorist activity. About 2500 1 /50. Each additional word up from 15cts to from an estate managed by the State Plantation 25cts. students attend this mixed school (The Sun : Corporation at Rakwana on Monday. (The 16 November). Sun : 14 November). Stamp Duty: Increase from 50cts to Re.1 /-. Telephone Charges: President J.R. Jayawardene leaves Sri Lanka other constraints on December 6 to attend the first summit Local calls raised from 90cts to Rs. 1/10. level conference of the South Asian Associa- Charges for New Connection from Rs. 7.000/- tion for Regional Co-operation (S.A.A.R.C.) to Rs. 7.500/-. Coin Collecting Box unit rate wiiesk mail posting of TAMIL INFORMA- in the Bangladesh capital of Dhaka. (The TION magazine. The last issue to appear up from Re. 1/- to Rs. 2/-. Non Business Sun : 14 November). Rental Rs. 360/- to Rs. 400/-. Business Rental 10, dated 1st October 1985. Rate from Rs. 900/- to Rs. 1000/-. We are now compelled, iaaeh te oumgret, fWblfcattea TEMPORARILY of Tt -find the necessary financial Airport Tax: Under the headline : "Public foil terrorists", are happy however to inform the Daily News of 13th November carried Embarkation fees raised from Rs. 100/- to you that you witt receive ir« Hsu of Tt > Rs. 200/-. the following news item '•- Report EVERY Some members of the public yesterday foiled Rice, flour and sugar had already gone up in , I- I^W«wrb^(wfc«Januay1^, an attempt by a group of armed terrorists to prices one week before the budget. to toe published in Madras every 1st rob the Jaffna Railway Station.