ICRC Resumes at Omathai as Passage of Convoys Get Streamlined

Officials of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) assumed their duties again at the Omanthai Entry/Exit point Friday morning (14), following an understanding made between the Security Forces and the ICRC. The point thus will hereafter remain open between 9.00 a.m. - 1.00 p.m. on all days. All traffic on emergency purposes however is to be facilitated accordingly, despite those new opening hours.

Major General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander, Security Forces Headquarters, Wanni meanwhile during a special meeting held Friday (14) morning with Head of the ICRC mission in Vavuniya, Ms Vallery, Vavuniya District Secretary, Ms. Charles and the General Officer Commanding for Vavuniya jointly agreed to dispatch all food convoys twice a week (Tuesdays and Fridays) in single files, similar to those of the UN convoys and other traffic on all days as usual.

Friday’s meeting took place following a directive given by Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka who visited Wanni Secrity Forces Headquarters on Thursday (13).

Courtesy - SL Army

Eastern province Chief Minister’s secretary gunned down

The secretary of the eastern province Chief Minister and his driver were killed in a shooting incident took place opposite the Steel corporation in Oruwala along the Kaduwela - Athurugiriya road this morning, 14 November.

According to the police sources, the shooting incident took place around 11.30 a.m.

The gunmen shoot at Mr Kumaraswamy Nandagopan, secretary of eastern province Chief Minister while he was traveling on a car with his driver along the Kaduwela - Athurugiriya road police sources said.

Courtesy: Ministry of Defence

No LTTE hand in Ragu killing- Pillayan

Eastern Province Chief Minister Pillayan told Daily Mirror the LTTE was not involved in yesterday’s killing of his personal secretary & top TMVP leader Ragu.

The Chief Minister said he was able to draw this conclusion after personally inspecting the crime scene in Athurugiriya yesterday.

Mr. Pillayan, who termed his personal secretary as also being the leader of the TMVP as per the electoral list, urged the authorities to bring the perpetrators to book in order to protect the democracy of the country.

However TMVP leader MP Vinayagamurthy Muralitharan alias Karuna Amman reiterated that the LTTE was behind the murder of his party’s senior member Ragu . He said that Ragu risked his life by traveling alone without his security personnel.

Courtesy: Dailymirror

Eastern Chief Minister’s Secretary and another shot dead in Athurugiriya

Kumaraswami Nandagoban, Private Secretary of Eastern Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan was shot dead along with another person by unidentified gunmen in Athurugiriya this morning (14).
They were target opposite the Oruwala Steel Corporation.
Meanwhile the Eastern Province Chief Minister has visited the site of the shooting.
Athurugiriya police are conducting further investigations.

Courtesy: Government Information Department

Danish Ambassador pays a courtesy-call to Secretary Defence

The Ambassador of Denmark to Sri Lanka H.E Mr. Ole Lonsman Poulsen made a courtesy call to Secretary Defence Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, today (Nov 13) at the MOD premises.

Ambassador Lonsman is on an official visit to Sri Lanka.

Courtesy: Ministry of Defence