News

News

Time to bring LTTE to heel: Norwegian Foreign Minister

By Hisham Hilaly
Norwegian Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen on Friday declared that the time has come to draw the line in order that the LTTE ends its violations of the ceasefire agreement.

Mr. Helgessen told a question and answer session, which followed a seminar in Colombo on 'Peace' at the Sri Lanka Institute of International Relations, that "during the next round of talks they hope to introduce restrictions on the LTTE to prevent it violating the rules of the MoU".

Mr. Helgessen was responding to a question raised by an EPDP politician about the alleged disappearance of 20 political activists in the North.

"Talks alone won't bring peace, negotiations and implementations must go hand in hand," he said.

He said all political parties should join hands in order to achieve lasting peace in Sri Lanka and added he was really happy to see the commitment of President Chandrika Kumaratunga even though she was from a different political party.

He further said that there is a long way to go to achieve everlasting peace in the island.

He said that as a small country with a population of only three million Norway had been successful in its international role as a facilitator.

"The western world which had very high hopes on its security lost them after September 11 and now it is fear that grows each day," said Mr. Helgessen.

Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Seiichiro Otsuka said the peace talks would not have come so far if it had not been for the facilitation of Norway.

Spectre of death haunts dream sea

By Sarath Chinthaka in Wattala
Uswetikeiyawa, one of the most picturesque and popular sea bathing spots, has become a sea of death with as many as 32 drownings being reported in the past six months.

Residents and police said the bathing spot off Hendala and near the well known Preethipura homes is haunted by a spectre of death for various reasons. One cause, strange and horrifying is that mysterious sea snakes lurk in the famous reef and attack people with their poison. Life guards say the death rate has reached deeply disturbing proportions partly because some bathers are indisciplined and do not follow instructions. But residents say poisonous sea reptiles may also be sending some people plunging to a watery death.

Police and life guards also said drunkenness was also another cause for many drownings and in those cases too bathers did not seem to respond seriously to warnings that they should not go swimming after a heavy booze.

Life guards say large crowds of sea holiday makers came to Uswetikeiyawa regularly and it was difficult to monitor their movements closely while some people did not heed warning signs or advice.

Long time resident Chandrawathi, said many people appeared to be misusing the popular beach instead of enjoying it. She said she had seen and heard of many people taking crazy risks after drinking bouts. Ms. Chandrawathie also said there was a belief that a poisonous snake was responsible for some of the deaths. W.P. Upali from Ahangama who visits Uswetikeiyawa regularly said the area was surrounded by a natural reef and there have been poisonous snakes under it. He said there have been cases where people have died of snake bites. Wattala Police Inspector Sena Suraweera said there were regular fights and drunken brawls on this beautiful beach and drunk bathing was one of the causes of many deaths. Volunteer lifeguard Ishanka Priyadharshana (20) said they lacked facilities to cope with the large turn-out but many people were also indisciplined and did not listen to warnings.

TULF explains violations by LTTE and Govt.

By Shelani Perera
TULF leader V. Anandasangaree met former Amnesty International Secretary General Ian Martin and discussed human rights violations by the Government and the LTTE.
Mr. Martin had asked for an appointment with the TNA to collect details on human rights violations prior to his participation in the sixth round of peace talks in Japan next week.

The TNA had informed Mr. Martin that R Sampanthan and Mr. Anandasangaree would meet him on Tuesday, however as Mr. Sampanthan was on a tour, he met with Mr. Anandasangaree.

Mr. Anandasangaree told The Sunday Times he had briefed Mr. Martin on the human rights violations which had taken place for the last 15 years. "It was a very cordial meeting. When you speak of human rights violations, it should be noted that both parties have to take the responsibility. It is the reality," Mr. Anandasangaree said.

Mr. Martin also visited Kilinochchi to meet senior LTTE members. He had also conducted a lecture to LTTE carders following the opening of the LTTE's 'court of appeal' last week.

JVP rejects Geneva bait

By Shelani Perera
The JVP has accused the government of misleading a parliamentary select committee in relation to a recent Geneva seminar on federalism.

Parliamentarian Nandana Gunathileka said a six member parliamentary select committee including him had agreed to go to India from March 7 to 12 to study the workings of the Human Rights Commission there.

He said that at the last moment a change was made in the itinerary and the parliamentarians were told to go for a five day Geneva seminar on federalism.

Mr. Gunathileka said he contacted his party leadership and flew back to Sri Lanka on Friday while the others went to Geneva.

He said the government had tried to mislead the JVP and the parliamentary select committee on human rights. The JVP was interested in human rights but not in the type of federalism that the government and the LTTE was trying to foist on the country he said.

Back to News