LTTE Leader Velupillai Pirapaharan has vowed not to lose Kilinochchi to the Sri Lankan security forces and said President Mahinda Rajapakse is day dreaming if he believes the Tigers’ administrative capital can be captured.

Breaking his silence after several years, the Tiger leader has in an e-mail interview to Indian magazine Nakkeeran also denied by implication the involvement of the organisation in the murder of Former Chief of Staff of the Army and Opposition Leader of the North Central Provincial Council, Retired Major General Janaka Perera.

Pirapaharan’s interview came as the security forces are facing stiff resistance in their march to Kilinochchi amidst heavy rains due to the onset of the north-east monsoon.

"Our cadres carry out attacks on the Sinhala forces and not allowing them to enter Kilinochchi. The military is facing severe losses due to these attacks," he has said.

In his interview Pirapaharan also said that the support of the Tamil Nadu politicians and the people was ‘pleasing’ to the LTTE.

Praising the current Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, Pirapaharan said that he had showed his support to the Tamil struggle in the past as well. "He has always showed his love and passion towards the Sri Lankan Tamils. He has proved it on several occasions. He has not only voiced against the Sinhala state terrorism in Tamileelam, but has also showed it in action," Pirapaharan has said.

Referring to the murder of General Perera, the Tiger leader has said it was usually the case that the LTTE gets blamed for such killings and that in this case the murder could be due to internal problems in the south.

The LTTE is not usually known to deny assassinations they have carried out.

Karuna bought over by Govt. charges Pillayan

The battle between Karuna and Pillayan intensified last week with the office of Eastern Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan faxing a statement that Karuna has been bought over by the government.

The statement was signed as Tamil People Living in the East (TPLE). The statement said Karuna had betrayed the Tamil people after being appointed as a Member of Parliament at the expense of the rights of the Tamil community.

The statement called upon Pillayan not to make such decisions that would push the Tamils to a helpless situation. "Karuna Amman has been bought over. What would be the state of the people of our district if Pillayan also abandons us?" the statement said.

The divisions within the TMVP widened with the Pillayan faction openly challenging Karuna’s leadership.

Soon after Karuna’s statement that provincial councils did not require police powers, Pillayan loyalists and TMVP General Secretary, E. Kaileswararaja fired off a letter to Karuna seeking explanation as to why he made such a statement against party decisions. However Karuna loyalists hit back arguing that the Pillayan faction was engaged in splintering the party right down the middle.

Karuna last Tuesday had said that the provincial councils did not need police and land powers. The TMVP had said that the statement was against the party decision and said that the view expressed by Karuna was his personal view.

However K. Iniyabharathi, TMVP Ampara District Head, a Karuna loyalist told The Sunday Leader that a certain group was trying to split the party by creating unwanted problems.

He said that Karuna still remains the leader of the TMVP. "These are all unwanted issues. Some people are trying to split the party by raising unwanted problems. Karuna Amman is still the leader of the TMVP. No one needs to have doubts about that," Iniyabharathi said.

Goodbye Gamini

It was on Friday, October 24 around 1.40 p.m. that we received the heartrending news that our Sports Editor, Gamini Senadheera had passed away. It was a day and a time at which he would have normally been busy finding stories, writing stories and standing in the computer room making his pages.

But on this Friday, he lay spent in a hospital bed, death overtaking this good man who lived his life to the fullest.

It is difficult to console his family, loved ones, colleagues and friends but the thought of Gamini Senadheera and the life he lived will suffice to think of him with each passing day and love him all over again.

Gamini Senadheera started his career in the mid ’60s as a part time sports writer. His experience in the field of sports journalism is wide and varied. After his remarkable career at Lake House, Gamini joined Lankapuvath.

Gamini Senadheera was easily one of the more experienced sports journalists in today’s journalistic world. He has been with The Sunday Leader since its very inception and worked hard, diligently finishing his pages on time. Come rain or sunshine, Gamini got the stories and conscientiously sub-edited them and made the pages.

A celebrated cricketer himself, especially while he was at St. Benedict’s College, Kotahena, it was only natural that Gamini pursued a career in cricket and sports journalism.

Gamini made a name for himself with his impartial stance and fair reporting. He was much sought after and travelled the world — to cover test cricket in England, Australia, India, South Africa and Pakistan. He covered the World Cup in 1996 when Sri Lanka emerged victorious.

Gamini Senadheera was a true all rounder — writing, sub-editing and laying out pages made him a great asset to any newspaper. He was undoubtedly an asset to Leader Publications where he worked as our Sports Editor. His long years of experience and his exceptional ability gave him a sense of confidence that few could enjoy. He covered cricket, athletics, and football with equal ease.

Gamini wrote extensively on cricket for The Sunday Leader and The Morning Leader and was responsible in bringing out many supplements on cricket, especially during test series’.

Gamini Senadheera was loved by all. Always happy and laughing, able to enjoy a good joke even amidst a heavy load of work, Gamini Senadheera did not show anyone any sadness or give away a hint of the load that he carried. He was a loving husband and loved his sons, daughters-in-law and his grandchildren with all his heart.

Nothing brought him greater happiness than taking home goodies for his grandchildren. "They bring me so much happiness — they are my life," he once told this writer.

Gamini was essentially a family man, being there for them like a sturdy rock. He enjoyed taking them out and going on little ‘trips.’ Gamini experienced great happiness from such simple things in life.

Gamini Senadheera was a God-fearing man and spent his off-days in church. Every morning as he walked into his office, he did not make much conversation with anyone — not before he stood near and prayed with his eyes closed near the picture of the Holy Face of Jesus, with a crown of thorns.

It is seldom in life that one meets people as Gamini Senadheera — strong and capable, true with his friendship yet having the strength of character to call a spade a spade. His voice boomed with authority and confidence — a voice that has been stilled today.

Gamini, you are gone, and it is unlikely that we will meet an all-rounder like you again — a capable journalist, a loving husband, father and grandfather and a true friend.

Till we meet again…Gamini, with a heavy heart and unshed tears we say, Gamini, Goodbye….

President Mahinda Rajapakse informed UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe that he was prepared to look at a political solution to the ethnic issue after capturing Kilinochchi.

President Rajapakse met Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Secretariat on Friday to discuss the current political situation in the country.

The Sunday Leader learns that Wickremesinghe had informed the President to present the political solution to show the bona fides of the government to both the people of Sri Lanka and the international community of the commitment to finding a political solution.

Wickremesinghe has said he will fully support a viable political solution which is acceptable to all communities.

The President while agreeing to a political solution had it is learned said he would be looking at it after Kilinochchi was liberated.

Karunanidhi has no control over protests now claims TNA

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) last week said that even the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi will not be able to stop the protests against the ‘genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka.’

TNA Parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran told The Sunday Leader that the Tamil Nadu politicians and the people had realised that the government was carrying out attacks against the Tamils and had begun to voice their concerns.

"They (Tamil Nadu) have realised that the government is carrying out genocidal attacks on the Tamils. Therefore, they have now begun to protest against the attacks on the Tamils in Sri Lanka. These protests will go on until the attacks are stopped."

He added that there was no chance of the protests stopping midway, as the matter has gone through to the grassroots in Tamil Nadu.

"Not only the politicians, but also others like students and artistes are voicing their support for the Tamil people. The protests are continuing. Even the Chief Minister cannot stop them now."

Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapakse is to leave today for India as a special representative of President Mahinda Rajapakse to meet the leaders of the Indian government on the current situation in Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile leader of the DMDK, V. Gopalasamy alias Vaiko was arrested by the Tamil Nadu police last week for expressing pro-Tiger sentiments. Vaiko has been remanded at the Puzhal Central Prison until November 6.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu opposition party, AIADMK had called for the arrest of Chief Minister Karunanidhi over his speech in support of the LTTE. The AIADMK members had walked out of the Rajya Sabha demanding that Karunanidhi be arrested.

Karuna ousted as TMVP Leader

The chasm between TMVP heavyweights Vinyagamurthi Muralitharan alias Karuna and Sivasuntharai Chanthrakanthan alias Pillayan widened over the weekend with the party appointing a new leader named Nandagopan.

In a dramatic turn of events, Karuna who was identified as the TMVP leader has been named the head of the party's Military Wing. Following the new crisis Karuna has refused to hold any discussions with Pillayan to resolve their differences.

Pillayan loyalists had last week written to Karuna seeking explanations as to why he violated party decisions and said that the provincial councils did not need police powers.

Pillayan had earlier publically said that the PC's should be given more powers including police powers.  The TMVP is now divided between the two leaders and high rankers backing them.

Azath Moulana said that Karuna Amman who is the head of the TMVP military wing had no right to comment on political issues.

"The TMVP consists of several wings. Karuna Amman is in charge of the military wing. He has no right to comment on the political issues," Moulana said.

He added that the TMVP had appointed K. Nandagopan as the head of its political wing, a move opposed by Karuna loyalists.

Karuna loyalists however said that Nandagopan was appointed the head of the TMVP and not of a particular wing.

"How can you expect us to accept an unknown person as the head of the TMVP," K. Iniyabharathi a Karuna loyalist said.

Moulana added that Eastern Province Chief Minister Pillayan was ready for discussions with Karuna Amman.

"Karuna Amman has still not responded to the explanations called by our General Secretary with regard to his statement (on police powers). Further steps on the matter will depend on his response. The Chief Minister is however ready to hold discussions," Moulana said. Karuna loyalists however shot down any chance of talks.

"There is no point talking to them," said Iniyabharathi.

Soon after Karuna's arrival from UK, the TMVP said that he would function as the party head while Pillayan would be his deputy apart from being Chief Minister of the eastern province.

Defence Ministry puts lid on casualty figures

The Defence Ministry has "temporarily" suspended releasing casualty figures from the northern battles as such reports "would impede battle field successes," the Ministry website said last week.

"The editorial board of defence.lk has decided to temporary suspend the reporting of all casualty figures in relation to the ongoing counter terrorist operations in Wanni. This is in consideration of the continuing advance of the security forces there and the need for operational security, whereby such reportage may impede the successful accomplishment of the mission," it said.

The suspension comes in the wake of heavy battles in areas south west of Kilinochchi along the Vannerikulam-Akkarayankulam axis.

The Ministry said that operations were continuing in the area. Earlier in the week the Ministry said that there were heavy battles over the weekend in the same area.

"During these clashes on the weekend, 33 soldiers were reported killed in action, 48 injured and three others were reported missing. Both ground and radio monitoring sources reported heavy damage to the terrorists. Troops during clearing operations found remains of 11 LTTE cadres along with 7 T-56 riffles," it said on October 21.

Third food convoy leaves for Wanni

The third UN food convoy since October 3 travelled to the Wanni last Friday (24), UN officials said.

UN Spokesperson Gordon Weiss told The Sunday Leader that 28 trucks loaded with essential food items left for the Wanni.

At least 101 trucks of the UN have been sent to the Wanni since October 3 in addition to the supplies by the government.

The lack of shelter facilities for the IDPs in the Wanni is continuing to be a concern, according to government officials in Kilinochchi and Mulaithivu with monsoon rains hitting the areas.

Imelda Sukumar and Nagalingam Vedhanayagam, Government Agents of Mulaithivu and Kilinochchi respectively, said that they needed around 20,000 shelters immediately for the IDPs in both districts.

"There is a health risk. Most of these people are living in the open without proper toilet facilities," Sukumar said. "With the rains there is the threat of water-borne diseases, especially among the children."  Weiss said that the shelter materials to the Wanni would be sent this week.

Farmers get fertiliser

The National Fertiliser Secretariat is currently distributing fertiliser to paddy farmers around the island for the Maha season.

Director, National Fertiliser Secretariat, H.S.Dharmawardena told The Sunday Leader that during rainy weather unloading fertiliser from the ships was a problem.

"This is a terrible situation when we have to unload the fertiliser at the docks. When it rains we have to halt the unloading and wait till the rains cease," explained Dharmawardena.

Nevertheless distribution of fertiliser around the country is being carried on he said. The distribution was initiated on September 1 by the National Fertiliser Secretariat.

The distribution of fertiliser is also being done by the agri centres.

In the districts of Ampara, Kurunegala and Polonnaruwa Coop Societies are assisting in the distribution of fertilizer.

Decision on gas price revision on October 31

The final determination on the domestic gas price revision will be conveyed to the gas companies on Friday, October 31, Chairman, Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) Rumy Marzook said.

According to Marzook the price of a domestic gas cylinder will be worked out taking into consideration the LP gas prices in the world market during August and September and the freight charges during that period.

Meanwhile Marzook told The Sunday Leader that the CAA had received applications from Shell and Laugfs Gas companies for a price revision.

"Considering the pricing formula the two gas companies have already forwarded their applications and at the moment the CAA is in the process of making the calculations for the price revision," Marzook added.

Finance Director, Shell Gas Company, Rimoe Saldin told The Sunday Leader that his company has made an application to the CAA in early October for a price revision according to the pricing formula.

"The LP gas prices in the world market during August and September will be considered for the November price revision and since the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) does not provide LP gas to Shell it has to import its entire stock from abroad. This costs the company dearly on freight charges," Saldin added.

However Managing Director, Laugfs Holdings, Thilak de Silva told The Sunday Leader that Laugfs was anticipating a price decline in domestic gas.

US calls for political solution before military success

CHENNAI: The United States is encouraging all parties in Sri Lanka to accept a political solution to the conflict without waiting for a military defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, the Hindu reported yesterday.

In an interactive session at the University of Madras on Friday, U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Robert Blake rejected Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's view that political talks could come only after the LTTE was wiped out or disarmed.

 "A military solution is going to be very, very difficult," he said, citing Sri Lankan Army Chief Sarath Fonseka's statement that even if the Army occupied all of northern Sri Lanka, a residual guerrilla force of at least a thousand LTTE fighters would go underground.

Mr. Blake made it clear that the ruling and opposition parties needed to agree on the All Parties Representative Committee's blueprint for constitutional reform. "The greatest failure of the last 25 years has been the failure of the main Sinhalese parties to reach agreement," he said adding 90 per cent of the APRC document had found consensus.

"The U.S. view is that the [Sri Lankan] government could further isolate and weaken the LTTE if it articulates now its vision for a political solution," said Mr. Blake. Moving forward on a political solution would have three-fold benefits - to reassure 200,000 refugees in the Vanni region that they can move south and aspire to a better future; to disprove the LTTE's claim of being the sole representative of Sri Lanka's Tamils; and to persuade Tamils overseas to stop funding the LTTE.

A political solution could also improve the human rights situation "that has disproportionately affected Tamils" and would hasten reconciliation, he added.

Mr. Blake felt that India and the U.S. could use their strategic partnership to good effect in Sri Lanka, where the two countries "share exactly the same perspectives, the same values." While refusing to comment on the demands in Tamil Nadu for Indian intervention in Sri Lanka, the Ambassador noted that "with Indian help and leadership, we have a good chance of making progress on this."

So far as the U.S. was concerned, he ruled out any military intervention on the island. In fact, the U.S. recently effected a complete freeze on all military assistance to Sri Lanka after concerns were voiced about the human rights situation and the use of child soldiers. However, the U.S. earlier "helped the Sri Lankan military defend itself against terrorism," by supplying a maritime radar system and 10 inflatable boats to the navy.

The American ban on the LTTE, which was followed by several other countries, also cut the flow of money and weapons to the Tigers, the result of which could be seen in their recent military defeats, he said.

Today, most American aid to Sri Lanka was either humanitarian in nature or was focussed on building the economic and political infrastructure of the eastern part of the island. This year, the U.S. had contributed $32.7 million worth of food and other commodities through the Food for Peace programme, said Mr. Blake.

JVP turns down President's invitation

The JVP has declined an invitation extended by President Mahinda Rajapakse to discuss the prevailing political situation in the country.

Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga had extended the invitation to the party in writing two days ago for discussions.

The JVP after rejecting the invitation, issued a statement yesterday saying the decision to decline the invitation was taken by the party's politburo.

The statement issued by party secretary Tilvin Silva has said the request had not specifically stated the matters that would come under discussion.

The statement has also said the JVP is well aware of the severe financial crisis faced by the country due to the unbearable tax burden on the people and the very high commodity and services prices.

The Marxists have further charged that the government has failed to provide even minimum concessions to the suffering public, and it had given no regard to the party's suggestions and views in that connection.

The party's letter to the President has said the country is having India interfering into its internal affairs, and accusing New Delhi of using the national conflict to further its economical and political objectives.

The letter has also said the present regime had also not heeded the party's warnings about the Indian intentions, and is presently acting in breach of the wishes of patriotic forces and the public mandate.

The letter has finally stated that therefore, it is pointless to participate in discussions as requested.