• US excludes LTTE from global war
• American forces converge on Afghanistan
• Who's undercutting bread?
• 17th Amendment hangs in balance
• Heavy rain but hoodoo persists

US excludes LTTE from global war

By Shelani de Silva

"The US Government has not changed its stand in calling upon the Sri Lanka Government to initiate peace talks with the LTTE," US embassy spokesman Stephen Holgate told The Sunday Times. He said there was a distinction between Tiger guerrillas and the United States gearing to wage war against countries harbouring or encouraging terrorists. 

The LTTE is one of 30 groups which have been listed by the US government as terrorist organisations. The devastating September 11 attacks on the Twin Towers in New York and the Pentagon in Washington prompted a worldwide outrage against terrorism and fuelled hopes in Sri Lanka that a crackdown on the LTTE too would be imminent. 

However, Mr. Holgate's assertions made it clear the LTTE would not be a specific target when the US begins its global assault on terrorism. 

"We are fighting against terrorists who are not asking anything; they are not demanding anything, and not coming for negotiations; they want only to kill Americans.

"We even don't know who carried out the attack, we only have a prime suspect and Osama Bin Laden too has not asked anything. There is a distinction between the LTTE and the terrorist in the Middle East. So the US has not changed its stand in calling on Sri Lankan Government to go for peace talks," Mr. Holgate said. 

The US Government claims it has substantial evidence that Saudi millionaire Osama Bin Laden and his Al Qaeda group masterminded the September 11 attacks and The Sunday Times learns that Sri Lanka is among several Asian countries the FBI has contacted to ascertain whether bin Laden, Al Qaeda or any related groups had links with the LTTE or other groups in Sri Lanka. 

According to authoritative sources, state intelligence agencies have pointed out that they had no information or credible reports about any such links.

The US stance towards Sri Lanka was further underscored when US Embassy staff joined the "Sri Lanka First" campaign launched by the local business community on Wednesday when participants formed a human chain by holding hands to resume the peace process. 

In marked contrast, the Sihala Urumaya handed over a letter to the US Embassy in Colombo, calling on the US Government not to pressurise the Sri Lankan Government to open talks with the LTTE.

The letter from the National Movement Against Terrorism was handed over to US Embassy official Jason Watson by Sihala Urumaya leader Tilak Karunaratne. 

"The LTTE is a leader in this mode of barbarism that now threatens the whole world. The LTTE cannot be ignored as an isolated organisation operating in a small poor vulnerable island. Its fund-raising capacities and its global reach are undoubtedly the most wide ranging in the world," the letter said.

The NMAT said there could be peace only after the elimination of terrorism.

"We believe that it is now absolutely imperative for your Government to understand what we Sri Lankans have been saying all along that there can be no negotiations with terrorists."

The letter adds that Sri Lanka should not be pressurised to go for negotiations with terrorists.

American forces converge on Afghanistan

Bush was to hold a video-conference on attack plans with his National Security Council from his Camp David country retreat as powerful bombers were deployed to bases within striking distance of Afghanistan, officials said.

In Uzbekistan military officials told AFP that US transport planes had landed at a military airfield at Tuzel, about 15 kilometres (10 miles) from Tashkent, raising the prospect of a US attack from central Asia.

South and west of Afghanistan an armada of US warships was to be reinforced by B-52 heavy bombers and high-altitude spy planes stationed at air bases in friendly countries, an air force official told AFP.

Who's undercutting bread?

The price of bread has gone up by Rs. 1 and flour by about Rs. 1.50 a kilogram after Prima took over flour distribution from the Food Department.

Bakers Association Chief Parakrama Dissanayake said they were compelled to increase the price of bread as the price of Prima flour had been increased.

He said they understood that Prima had cited an increase in transport cost as the reason for the hike.

A spokesman for the Prima factory, however, told The Sunday Times that they were not responsible for the price increase and were willing to allow the Food Department to distribute flour stocks.

Under the PA-JVP deal, the prices of essential items, including bread and flour, cannot be increased for one year. 

Following reports of price hikes in violation of this deal, protests by the JVP prompted Premier Ratnasiri Wickremanayake to call a meeting of top officials of Prima, the Food Department and the CWE.

But no clear agreement has been emerged on the price.

17th Amendment hangs in balance

By Dilrukshi Handunnetti

The amendment provides for the setting up of the Constitutional Council and four independent commissions requires UNP backing to get a two thirds majority for its adoption. But UNP sources told The Sunday Times yesterday they would be able to take a decision only tonight or tomorrow after the controversy regarding the Constitutional Council was sorted out.

The problem arose when the government pushed for the President to be given the power to appoint one member of the council but UNP leaders objected saying that would make the council vulnerable to presidential interference.

The JVP which has been mediating between the government and opposition parties issued a statement on Friday saying a large degree of agreement had been reached on the composition of the council. 

The compromise is for the council to comprise the Speaker, the Prime Minister, the Opposition Leader, five members appointed jointly by the premier and the opposition leader, one Presidential nominee who will be a retired judge of the superior courts and another nominated by the opposition leader in consultation with other opposition parties.

A JVP delegation was to meet government negotiators yesterday to sort out matters but the meeting was put off for today. 

UNP leaders, including chief whip Tyronne Fernando told The Sunday Times they hoped to meet a JVP delegation tonight in a bid to reach a settlement.

Mr. Fernando insisted the UNP would not give its vital support if it felt the independence and impartiality of the council was threatened.

Meanwhile, the much-delayed and highly charged motion of no confidence against the government will finally be presented to parliament on Wednesday with a request that it be given priority, opposition sources said.

The motion has been signed by the leaders of the UNP, the SLMC, the TULF, the TELO, the ACTC and the SU.

UNP Assistant leader Gamini Atukorale said the motion was held back as part of a 'strategic delay' so that specific charges could be brought against ministers in the existing cabinet. 

His comments came amidst continuing reports that PA dissidents, including some former ministers, might cross over to change the balance in parliament. But if the motion is taken up after October 10, the President will then have the power to dissolve parliament.

Heavy rain but hoodoo persists

It said showers or thundershowers would also occur over the rest of the island particularly during the afternoon or evening. 

The department said the south west monsoon was expected to withdraw gradually from the region, giving way to inter-monsoon features.

Rainfall figures for the 24 hours ending at 9 a.m. yesterday: Bandarawela 18.8 mm., Colombo 67.3 mm., Galle 27.7 mm., Katunayake 38.7 mm., Ratmalana 81.7 mm., Ratnapura 22.8 mm., Avissawella 39.5 mm., Hanwella 71.8 mm., Kalutara 86.2 mm., Labugama 72 mm., Negombo 72.4 mm., Yatiyantota 48.3 mm., Dehiwala 70.3 mm., Boralesgamuwa 75 mm., Anhettigama 12.4., Elston Estate 39 mm. 

Hydro catchment areas: Kotmale 5.5 mm., Laxapana 19 mm., Mousakelle 2.5 mm., Norton 2.6 mm., Samanalawewa 2 mm. 

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