Archive for September 12th, 2008
Govt. confident of looking after civilians fleeing LTTE – Minister Anura Yapa
Government will take all the necessary measures to ensure safety of all the civilians in the North, at the the crucial juncture of the war against terrorism, the Minister of Mass Media and Information, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said addressing the weekly cabinet briefing yesterday (11).He recalled how the Government resettled around 60,000 civilians in Vakarai and Muttur that even won the praise of the international community.
Minister said that Government has overcome such situations successfully in the East, when the troops were engaged in the mission to liberate the area from LTTE terrorists.
The Minister expressed confidence that the Government could establish civil administration successfully in the Northern Province as was done in East.
Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena noted that the INGOs and NGOs serving in the LTTE held areas are invited to render their relief service to the civilians from Vavuniya.
He also urged these organizations to pressurize the LTTE to allow civilians to move freely to the liberated areas without obstruction.
He said that Government has taken swift measures to provide all the necessary facilities and relief items to the people in Jaffna through the District Secretariats.
Courtesy: Government Information Department
Anti- noise pollution regulations to be streamlined shortly
Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources will table new regulations to prevent noise pollution in Parliament once the Supreme Court case pertaining to the use of loudspeakers is concluded, Minister Champika Ranawaka said in Parliament yesterday (11).“The sub committee is been appointed to study the court order given on the use of loudspeakers,” Minister said.
Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinesh Gunewardena, Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, Export Development and International Trade Minister Prof. G. L. Peris and Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogallagama are members of this Sub Committee.
Courtesy: Government Information Department
SAARC Secretary General pledges fullest cooperation to work very closely with Sri Lanka
Visiting Secretary General of SAARC, Dr. Sheel Kant Sharma at a meeting with the Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama discussed the worked ahead for Sri Lanka as the SAARC chair and the modalities by which the decisions taken at the recently concluded 15th Colombo Summit are to be implemented, Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.In this regard, he noted that five ministerial meetings are to be hosted by Sri Lanka during her Chair, the first of which would be the Meeting of Transport Ministers to be held before the end of this year. The other ministerial meetings are related to Parliamentary Affairs, Energy, Women & Children, and Education.
Apart from these ministerial meetings, Sri Lanka will be chairing the SAARC Council of Ministers Meeting in New York on 29 September, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly Sessions.
Minister Bogollagama stated that he would seek early ratification by member states of the four instruments signed during the Colombo Summit. Of particular importance would be the SAARC Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, which would give a further impetus in the collective fight against terrorism.
The SAARC Secretary General Dr. Sharma pledged his fullest cooperation to work very closely with Sri Lanka, as the current Chair of SAARC in achieving the deliverable targets as envisaged in the Colombo Declaration for the benefit of the peoples of the region.
Dr. Sharma was accompanied at the meeting by Mr. Vinay Mohan Kwatra Director for India at the SAARC Secretariat. Foreign Secretary, Dr. Palitha Kohona, and senior officials of the Ministry were present at the meeting.
Courtesy: Government Information Department
BOI receives Superbrands status
The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BoI), the autonomous statutory body for facilitating foreign direct investments, has been awarded the prestigious Superbrands status by the Superbrand Organisation under the Business-to-Business category.
The Superbrands Organisation is an international organisation headquartered in London with operations in more than 30 countries. The organization evaluates and awards Superbrand status in consultation with local business leaders based on criteria such as quality, reliability and trust, distinction, reputation and prestige.
“The award recognises the effective role played by the BOI in Sri Lanka’s economic landscape,” Dhammika Perera, Chairman and Director General of the BOI said. He said the award will be an impetus to attracting strategic investments beneficial to the country in areas such as employment, export growth and transfer of technology, and positioning Sri Lanka as a profitable destination for would-be investors in South Asia.
During the last two years, the BOI has significantly increased the foreign direct investments to Sri Lanka. FDIs have increased from US $ 287 million (2005) to US $ 603mn (2006) and US$734mn (2007). The BOI is targeting US $1 billion in FDI this year.
The Superbrand award was accepted by Executive Director, Investment Promotion of the BOI Duminda Ariyasinghe from the COO of Superbrands International Steve Dodgson at the Tribute event held recently at Cinnamon Grand Hotel on behalf of the Chairman/DG, Dhammika Perera.
The BOI is a self-supporting government agency that does not rely on Treasury for funds. The BOI has spearheading innovative models including the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model to develop capital intensive infrastructure projects such as new zones.
By Christine Hettiarachchi
Courtesy: Lankapuvath
Wanni operation continues; 34 terrorists killed, 30 wounded
According to the finalized military report received from the battlefront said that 34 LTTE terrorists were killed while 30 others suffered injuries during clashes ensued in Vavuniya, Mullaittiuvu, Kilinochchi and Welioya fronts yesterday, 11 September.
Troops of 56 Division operating in Vavuniya front confronted with a group of LTTE terrorists in general area north of Vedamakilam during day hours yesterday. Four LTTE terrorists were killed and two others suffered injuries due to this attack, ground troops confirmed. Meanwhile, 6 more LTTE terrorists were killed and 6 others suffered injuries in two separate clashes reported in general area Palamodai in Vavuniya front.
Further, 9 more LTTE terrorists were killed by the troops operating in 57 division in three separate confrontations took place in general area Akkarayankulam in Mullaittiuvu district.
Troops of Task Force 1 operating in Kilinochchi district had several confrontations with LTTE terrorists in general area Kariylaimoddai, Manniyakulam, Vannerikkulam and Panaikandamadu areas. Nine LTTE terrorists were killed while 6 others suffered injuries in these confrontations, the report added. One soldier has laid his life for defending the motherland while 11 others sustained injuries.
In Welioya front, troops of 59 Division had several confrontations in general area south of Nayaru and Andankulam. 5 more LTTE terrorists reportedly either killed or wounded when the troops attacked at terror bunker defence in south of Nayaru. In the same area, ground troops confirmed that an LTTE terrorist was killed and 2 others suffered injuries when the troops attacked LTTE bunker line. Separately, 4 LTTE terrorists were killed and 3 others suffered injuries in several confrontations reported in general area Andankulam in the same front. Six terrorists reportedly either killed or wounded.
Meanwhile, troops on mine clearing operations in general area Andankulam have unearthed 114 anti-personnel mines and 9 Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) in Welioya front. In a separate clearing operation conducted troops have found following list of items from Alkaddiveli area.
Items
Quantity
LTTE made Hand Granades 27
AP Mines (RANGAN - 99) 05
Disposable RPG 01
Claymore Mine 01
60 mm Mortar Rounds (with 05 fuses) 17
T-56 Ammunition 1200
MPMG Ammunition (with 2 Links) 375
Courtesy: Ministry of Defence
