Menon summons SL High Commissioner and gives strong message

New Delhi/Colombo, Oct. 17 (IANS) With the political temperature rising in Tamil Nadu over the situation in Sri Lanka, Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon on Friday summoned Sri Lankan High Commissioner C.R. Jayasinghe and asked Colombo to "take steps" to stop the violence that has severely affected Tamil civilians in the island nation.

"India expressed grave concerns over the ongoing violence in Sri Lanka. He asked Colombo to take concrete steps to stop the military offensive in Sri Lanka," an official source said after Menon summoned Jayasinghe to South Block, the seat of the External Affairs Ministry, to register India's unhappiness with the situation in Sri Lanka.

This is the third message from New Delhi to Colombo in the last three days.

With Tamil Nadu MPs threatening to resign en masse if the violence against innocent Tamils is not stopped in Sri Lanka, Menon again impressed upon Colombo to pursue a negotiated political solution, rather than continue with military means to settle the decades-old ethnic feud.

Menon also asked Colombo to ensure that the harassment and killing of Indian fishermen in neighbouring areas are stopped forthwith.

Menon's decision to summon the Sri Lankan envoy comes a day after President Mahinda Rajapakse told The Hindu newspaper that his government was committed to finding "a just and enduring political solution" and there were "no military solutions to political questions."

This shows New Delhi's growing impatience with Colombo over the way the Sri Lankan government has launched its biggest ever offensive against the Tamil Tigers, leading to much hardship and suffering for civilians caught in the crossfire, the source said.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee had sent a stern message to Colombo Thursday asking it to shun "military means" and pursue a political settlement that respects the human rights of minorities in the island nation.

"It is essential that their rights be respected, that they be immune from attacks, and that food and other essential supplies be allowed to reach them," Mukherjee said.

In a clear warning to Colombo, Mukherjee said the Indian government would "do all in its power to achieve this goal and to ameliorate the humanitarian conditions in Sri Lanka."

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday had asked Sri Lanka to de-escalate hostilities and pursue a negotiated political settlement.

In Colombo, India's High Commissioner Alok Prasad met Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama and conveyed New Delhi's "concerns" over the situation in the north and east.

"The discussion centered on current issues pertaining to Indo-Sri Lanka bilateral relations in the context of developments in the North and the East of Sri Lanka. Concerns being expressed in this regard in India were conveyed to Minister Bogollagama by the High Commissioner," the Foreign Ministry here said in a statement.

Bogollagama responded that Sri Lanka was "fully conscious of the concerns being expressed and understand the context in which these matters are being raised."

"The Minister assured that in the spirit of existing excellent bilateral relations, Sri Lanka intends to further discuss these issues bilaterally to address those concerns. It was indicated that bilateral consultation process in this regard could continue at appropriate levels," the Ministry statement said.

Basil to India for talks

Indian ministers resign over Wanni war

Indo Lanka relations turned into a crisis situation last Friday over the plight of the Wanni civilians with all of the seven ministers from Tamil Nadu resigning from the Central Government.

The decision was taken following an all party meeting held last Tuesday (14) to call the centre to intervene to halt the killing of Tamils in Sri Lanka.

President Mahinda Rajapakse last week directed Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapakse and President's Secretary Lalith Weeratunga to proceed to New Delhi and explain the Sri Lankan position and deny charges of civilian casualties. They are to also give an assurance of forwarding a political solution within weeks.

Meanwhile, India's NDTV quoting sources stated that Indian Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon had summoned Sri Lankan High Commissioner in New Delhi, C.R. Jayasinghe last Friday to convey India's concern over the situation in the north of Sri Lanka.

Cabinet Ministers of the Central government from DMK, Shipping and Road Transport Minister T. R. Baalu and Communications and Information Technology Minister A. Raja, and Ministers of State S. S. Palanimanickam, Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan, S. Ragupathy, K. Venkatapathy and Radhika Selvi decided to hand over post-dated letters addressed to the Speaker of Lok Sabha Somnath Chatterjee to DMK Leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi.

It is learned that Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss will also follow suit.

In addition, three MPs of DMK had also submitted their resignation from the Rajya Sabha to Karunanidhi last week in Chennai.

The three MPs who resigned were Trichy Siva, A. A. Jinnah and Vasanthi Stanley, following resolution adopted at the all party meeting held last week stating that all MPs from the state would resign if the centre does not intervene and workout a ceasefire in Sri Lanka within two weeks.

MP Kanimozhi, the daughter of Karunandhi had also submitted her resignation to Karunanidhi soon after the meeting last week. Five Tamil Nadu parties, DMK, PMK, Communist Party of India (CPI), CPI (Marxists) and Dalit Panthers gave an ultimatum to the centre on the Sri Lankan Tamil problem and warned that all MPs from the state would resign, if the it failed to pressurise Sri Lanka for a ceasefire within two weeks. The DMK and other parties also demanded that India should stop all military assistance to Sri Lanka, take steps to halt the war, to ensure the return of a ceasefire, and to assist the Tamils who have been affected due to the military operations.

The Indian External Affairs Ministry in a tough statement issued Friday made reference to New Delhi's grave concern over the plight of civilians and said normalcy cannot be brought about by military means or battlefield victories. Calling for a peacefully negotiated settlement which allows each community to realise its own potential within a united Sri Lanka, the External Affairs Ministry warned the Government of India will do all in its power to achieve this goal.

Cites 1971 Eady Pakistan as example

India can intervene in SL says Karunanidhi

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi has been reported in the Indian media saying that India could certainly intervene in Sri Lanka to alleviate the sufferings of Tamil minorities there, in the same way it did in then East Pakistan in 1971.

"Did India not intervene in Bangladesh when needed?" the DMK chief has reportedly told the Indian media when asked how India could intervene in the affairs of a foreign nation. He was referring to the 1971 India-Pakistan war that led to the creation of a separate nation of Bangladesh.

Karunanidhi had addressed the media persons after 14 party Lok Sabha MPs, including central ministers T.R. Baalu and A. Raja, handed over post-dated resignation letters to him demanding an end to the violence in Sri Lanka.

"The decision about the resignations will be taken finally on October 28, if the situation does not improve," he had told the media.

The resignations came even as the central government asked Sri Lanka to halt its military offensive against the Tamil Tigers in the island nation.

Earlier Friday evening, the ruling DMK had announced that four of its Rajya Sabha MPs had submitted post-dated resignation letters to Karunanidhi on the issue.

A party spokesperson had said: "We have great faith in the United Progressive Alliance leadership at the centre and hope the suffering of our brethren in the island will end soon."

Karunanidhi's daughter and Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi handed her resignation letter to her father last Tuesday.

Tamil Nadu and the union territory of Puducherry together have 40 members in the Lok Sabha - all of who have offered to quit if the government fails to take action on the Sri Lankan issue.

Meanwhile, lawyers in Coimbatore burnt an effigy of Union Defence Minister A.K. Antony within the court premises earlier in the day, alleging a conspiracy by bureaucrats of Kerala origin to keep the Tamil minority in Sri Lanka on tenterhooks.

GL warns of serious economic impact if GSP is lost

International Trade Minister has informed the government in writing that if Sri Lanka loses the GSP Plus facility the impact on the economy and the export trade will be serious.

In a note to cabinet dated October 15, Minister Peiris has pointed out that 100,000 jobs will be lost in the apparel sector with another significant number in other export sectors such as leather and rubber products, fisheries products, ornamental fish, fruits and vegetables, ceramics, bicycle components etc.

The Minister has also said according to a study done by the Sussex University Sri Lanka could lose 2% of GDP if GSP Plus is withdrawn.

He has further said EU has become the number one market for Sri Lanka's exports with the year 2007 recording exports to the tune of US$2.5 billion.

Indicating that Sri Lanka may well lose the GSP Plus facility Minister Peiris has also recommended a financial assistance package to the industry which could run into billions of rupees that may well have to come from other sectors such as health and education while also putting a salary freeze for the state sector employees.

Minister Peiris has recommended a committee under the chairmanship of the Central Bank Governor and Secretary Finance Ministry to work out the modalities of the financial package.

OPEC oil price falls to US$ 63.34 on Friday

Govt won't reduce fuel prices

By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema

The government has not made any decision to reduce local fuel prices despite the rapid decline in global fuel prices since early September.

A statement released by the Central Bank last Friday said that while Brent crude oil had come down to US$ 66.02 but increased to US$ 76 later, the OPEC Basket hit US$ 63.34.

Petroleum Minister A.H.M. Fowzie told The Sunday Leader that there were no immediate plans to reduce local fuel prices. "There's no decision to reduce fuel prices. At least not till the budget, which is next month," he said.

Fowzie said the government was yet to place an order for a new shipment after the decline in global oil prices since September.

"There are no immediate plans to reduce local fuel prices. The CPC has incurred a loss of Rs. 21 billion till October this year. We need to recover that money," he said.

Fowzie explained that while the CPC incurred a loss of Rs. 11 billion during the first five months of this year and even after increasing local fuel prices in May, the CPC continued to incur losses.

"Since the government increased local fuel prices only by 50% of the required price, the CPC continued to incur losses amounting to billions of rupees," he said.

However, Fowzie said the government did not plan to make a full recovery of the losses incurred through local fuel sales.

"We need to at least make a partial recovery," he said.

Fowzie also said plans were afoot to submit a proposal where local fuel prices would not be subjected to any changes depending on the global fuel prices.

"We are looking at forming a fixed price for fuel from next year," he said.

He also said that while there was a chance of local fuel prices being reduced at the forthcoming budget, there were many aspects to be considered before reducing local fuel prices.

"One has to always consider the plight of the country's economy," he said, adding ad hoc adjustments of fuel prices cannot be made, as it would have a negative impact on the economy.

The government meanwhile introduced a Rs. 15 and Rs. 10 import cess on petrol and diesel respectively from last month.

However, sources attached to the CPC have come down hard on the government claiming it was not passing on the benefit of declining global fuel prices to the local consumers.

"When the world market prices increase, the government is quick to increase local prices, but when there is a decline, local fuel prices remain the same and new levies are added to it. The government should immediately bring down local fuel prices," they said.

According to sources, the government could sell a litre of petrol for approximately Rs. 111 after purchasing a barrel of petrol at US$ 108 and adding all the relevant taxes.

NTUC demands a salary increase for all sectors

By Nirmala Kannangara

The JVP affiliated National Trade Union Centre (NTUC) has urged the government to increase the public, private and estate sector salaries in the 2009 budget or face serious consequences, NTUC sources said.

Besides the salary increases the NTUC has also insisted that the government pay the stalled cost of living (CoL) allowance and the arrears, Convener NTUC, Samantha Koralearatchi told The Sunday Leader.

"The people are suffering due to rising CoL but the government has so far done nothing to provide relief to the people. It is not only the public sector that faces difficulties but also the private and estate sectors that draw a much lesser salary than that of the public sector, badly need a salary hike now as it is impossible to survive with the rising CoL," claimed Koralearatchi.

According to Koralearatchi although the NTUC on several occasions urged the government to increase the salaries, its failure to address these demands has pushed the working class from pillar to post.

"The government stopped paying the CoL allowance which was promised in the 2006 budget and instead was paying Rs.375 once in six months. When we staged a protest against the government's decision to curtail the CoL allowance the government said that since the Treasury has to spend billions of rupees on the war they were not in a position to pay the CoL allowance. If so how could the government increase the salaries of the ministers and parliamentarians despite the war expenditure and from where did they find the extra funds to maintain the world's largest cabinet? Unlike the politicians the working masses who contribute  to the country's economy request a mere Rs.5000 salary increase to live on," added Koralearatchi.

 Koralearatchi further said that unless the government took steps to grant a Rs. 5000  salary increase to the public, private and estate sectors and the CoL allowances in the 2009 budget, the JVP affiliated NTUC is to plan a series of agitations islandwide followed by a general strike to win their demands.

Change of route cited as reason

Govt. blames UN for delaying goods to Wanni

By Arthur Wamanan

The reluctance of the WFP to transport essential items could lead to food shortages in the Wanni, a top government report said last week.

The report by Commissioner General of Essential Services, S.B. Divaratne on October 10 handed over to President Mahinda Rajapakse said that the UN was reluctant to travel on the new route suggested by the security forces in Wanni for its second convoy on October 10.

"Under these circumstances, action by UN/WFP to withhold this convoy is deplorable. This action has impeded the uninterrupted supplies to Wanni Districts for which WFP should take the responsibilty.

The first convoy, which left on October 2, travelled on the Vavuniya, Mankulam, Oddusudan route. "However, the second convoy was advised to take the route from Vavuniya, Pullaiankulam, Nedunkeny and Oddusudan. This change of route was decided due to security reasons," the report said.

The report said the UN was not agreeable to the new route, which resulted in the delay of sending goods to the Wanni. The government on October 13 sent a convoy of 20 trucks loaded with 300 metric tons of essential items following the delay of the UN convoy.

"The Government is responsible to implement the operation and for ensuring that the commodities provided by WFP are properly transported, received, handled and accounted for and distributed to the beneficiaries," the report added.  "Also, it will facilitate the safe and unimpeded access for delivery distribution and monitoring of these commodities. Security clearance for relief convoys that the government wish to send including food donated by the WFP will rest only on the Government and not on any foreign determination."

The second WFP convoy of 50 trucks loaded with 750 metric tons of goods was forced to turn back following clashes on the route of the convoy last Thursday.

High casualty rate

Fierce battles South West of Kilinochchi

Heavy fighting broke out in areas south west of Kilinochchi, when troops from the Army’s 57th Division attacked the massive defensive earth bund constructed by Tigers on the bund of the Akkarayankulam tank yesterday morning.

The Defence Ministry said that troops had launched an attack on the Tiger defences early yesterday morning aimed at breaching the defences, south west of Kilinochchi.

“Troops have run at the LTTE defence kept along the earth bund and entered into the remaining LTTE hiding areas in the area north of Akkarayankulam tank. Pitched battles are going on in the area, at present,” the Ministry said yesterday afternoon.

The Tigers have pitched substantial resources and cadres into the defences that run from Nachchikudah near northwestern coast through Akkarayan and on to the A9 and east of it. Heavy fighting first broke out in the areas on September 2. The Ministry said that senior Tiger cadre Bhanu was believed to have led the cadres in areas south west of Kilinochchi but moved out of his command post yesterday.

The Ministry said that heavy clashes were reported in the Nachchikudha area as well.

“Meanwhile, troops of Task Force 1 operating in the South of Nachchikudha have commenced their offensive march towards north early this morning. Simultaneously, their fellow troops are continuing to maintain the southward thrust from Pallawarayankaddu south. At present, Task Force 1 soldiers have cut off all land access routes available for the terrorists trapped in the Nachchikudha terror stronghold,” it said.

There was no indication of casualty figures but the ministry said that troops had inflicted heavy damages to the Tigers. Unconfirmed reports said that at least 27 soldiers had been killed and several dozens injured in yesterday’s clashes. Meanwhile the Army said that soldier who was shot and injured by suspected Tiger fire in the Yala Block II area on October 17 early evening succumbed to his injuries yesterday.

Action on Sally’s petition

Decision on fate of CMC next week

By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema

Western Province Governor Alavi Moulana yesterday said a final decision on the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) would be taken within the next few days.

Moulana told The Sunday Leader that following the Supreme Court (SC) order last week calling on the Western Province Chief Minister to make submissions to court on November 3 on corrective action taken as recommended by a commission that probed corruption in the council, he had already had a discussion with Chief Minister Reginald Cooray on the action to be taken.

A three-member panel of SC judges, headed by Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva last Thursday took up a petition filed by former CMC deputy mayor Asath Salley and a group of 110 taxpayers alleging serious malpractices in the CMC and the failure of the chief minister to act on the recommendations made by a commission that probed allegations of corruption in the council.

The Chief Justice had noted the chief minister has options to either remove the chief administrative officer or councilors, or dissolve the council under the powers vested in him.

“We are in the process of discussing the action to be taken. The problem has to be rectified and there is no doubt about it. I have already spoken to the Chief Minister and also informed the President,” Moulana said.

He added that a final decision would be arrived at before November 3.

When asked if the dissolution of the council was being considered, Moulana said no decision has yet been made and were still conducting open discussions.

Former CMC deputy mayor, Salley told The Sunday Leader that the chief minister had failed to take any action despite the commission of inquiry appointed by him had found the CMC administration to be full of corruption and malpractices.

“The commission found the council guilty of six out of the eight charges leveled against it. Although 10 months have lapsed since the commission handed over its report, no action has been taken,” Sally said.

CEB unions to oppose new

Electricity Draft Bill tooth and nail

By Nirmala Kannangara

The Government's decision to table the proposed new  Sri Lanka Electricity Draft Bill in parliament on October 23 to repeal the existing Act before the budget will bring the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to a complete standstill, the JVP affiliated Lanka Viduli Sevaka Sangamaya (LVSS) told The Sunday Leader.

Despite strong opposition by  CEB employees, the Power and Energy Ministry is to table the new Draft Bill in parliament on October 23. But the CEB employees have decided to resort to trade union action in the event the controversial bill is passed, according to Convener, LVSS Ranjan Jayalal.

"Now the minister claims that there is no necessity to get alarmed, as under the new draft bill the minister will be vested with  powers to take action against the corrupt CEB officials which would in turn help to streamline the CEB. If that is so, the employees are ready to extend their unstinted support for the Bill. But why cannot the minister show us the new Draft Bill and why did the minister cancel the meeting with the trade union representatives scheduled for Wednesday (15) at the last moment? This shows that the minister is reluctant to face us and also not ready to divulge the amendments  being made to the existing Bill," claimed Jayalal.

Jayalal further said that a series of protest campaigns has been organised to urge the government to withdraw the Draft Bill followed by lightning strikes in the event the controversial Bill is passed. Plans are also underway to lobby the opposition for its support to defeat the Bill in parliament.

Power and Energy Minister John Seneviratne was not available for comment.

Karuna - Pillayan clash settled say Police

The tense situation, which prevailed in Batticaloa last Friday following Karuna cadres taking over the TMVP press, returned to normal yesterday, police officials said.

Police spokesperson SSP Ranjith Gunasekara said that the Karuna cadres had left the Meenagam office and the press adjoining the TMVP office by yesterday.

"The situation has been brought under control. The Karuna people had vacated the press," he said

The press is used by the TMVP to publish the Tamil newspaper Tamil Alai.

TMVP spokesperson K. Iniyabharathi however said that there were no major problems reported from Batticaloa on Friday. He denied reports that there was tension between the Karuna cadres and Pillayan loyalists last Friday.

"A group of persons had come to the press and taken some of the newspapers. There was a slight misunderstanding on the whole issue. That was all. But there is no friction between Karuna and Pillayan," Iniyabharathi said.

It was reported on Friday that Karuna cadres captured the Meenagam office in Batticaloa and arrested more then 10 Pillayan supporters.

It was reported that the Karuna loyalists had entered the Meenagam office and the press of the Tamil Alai newspaper down Govindan Street, Batticaloa, and had taken over by force.

Pro-Tiger websites reported that Karuna's men had captured 13 Pillayan loyalists together with T-56 assault rifles.

Akkaraipattu killings: Police draw blank

There has been no headway made in the investigations into the killing of four persons in Akkaraipattu last week, police said.

The four persons, two Tamils and two Muslims were killed by unidentified persons last Thursday while farming.

Police Spokesperson SSP Ranjith Gunasekara said that there have been no new developments in the investigations.

In Moneragala last month, seven farmers were killed and the military had requested the civilians to be vigilant and inform the security forces when they enter the jungle areas.

The military said that there were reports of LTTE activities in the jungles around Moneragala.

The police however could not comment on whether last week's killings were also carried out by the LTTE.

Explanation called from CEB DGM

By Nirmala Kannangara 

The CEB last week disconnected the power supply to former Nation Building Minister D.M. Dassanayake's Kurunegala residence and office, which had an outstanding bill of nearly Rs. 6 million for the past several years.

An explanation has been called from the Deputy General Manager, Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), Kurunegala for his failure to act against persons who had defaulted in the payment of electricity bills.

Deputy Minister, Power and Energy, Mahindananda Aluthgamage told The Sunday Leader the CEB has called for the explanation of DGM Kurunegala for his failure to carry out his duties properly.