A group of Sri Lankans demonstrated near the venue of a two-day international conference on the Lankan conflict, organised by Australia-based Tamil Tiger sympathisers and held in Canberra on Thursday and Friday.
The demonstration organised by the Society for Peace, Unity and Human Rights for Sri Lanka, exhibited large photographs of the massacres perpetrated by the LTTE. They also handed over a note to the Australian foreign office setting out the current situation.
According to Australian press reports, former Rupavahini Chairman, and ex-BBC broadcaster, Vasantha Rajah, the Vicar-General of the Diocese of Jaffna, Dr. S.J. Emmanuel and Dr. Sunil Ratnapriya were scheduled to address the meeting.
The conference did not have the blessings of the Federal Government as they regard the LTTE as a terrorist organisation. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade had boycotted the conference.
The Canberra Times reported:
The source said organisers had refused to allow some people with anti-Tamil Tiger views to register.
"We are not entirely sure how balanced the conference will be. We know it will present the Tamil view but there are concerns about the lack of other viewpoints," the source said.
The conference was organised by the Australian Federation of Tamil Association and the Australian Human Rights Foundation. One of the organisers, Ravi Chandra, conceded that some people with extreme anti-Tamil views had been refused registration.
"Five people who had broadcast on ethnic radio in Melbourne that this was a Tamil Tiger conference in support of terrorism have been refused registration," Mr. Chandra said.
Six companies at Orugodawatte have complained they are being deprived of basic amenities by the Kolonnawa Urban Council and several appeals have not brought any results.
An Association of these entrepreneurs comprising Business Forms Pvt Ltd,. Da Vinci Computerized Labels Pvt Ltd., Print Pack Ltd., Hassim Industries, K.M.P. Trading Company and Klavenberg Pvt Ltd., said they had purchased the land from the UDA to establish their businesses but they were not being provided with any services.
They complained that the main access road was in a dilapidated state, while there was illegal parking and also repairing of vehicles on the road.
They say that water stagnation which is a result of drains being blocked in the entire complex, results in mosquito breeding. "Garbage is dumped at the entrance to the Trade Complex and it is collected only after we pay a fee to the garbage collectors. There is also the illegal slaughter of animals and burning of hides causing an unbearable stench. Stray dogs and cattle roam about the area. Roads have not been repaired after the laying of telephone cables."
Furthermore the lighting in the area is also poor and the Association said they had to fix bulbs etc., at their expense. This area is also frequented by drug addicts and this has resulted in thefts of valuable items and government property. The Association added that overseas clients who visit them frequently from countries such as Britain and Germany have been appalled by the deplorable state of the area.
In a letter to the Kolonnawa UC Chairman, the Association stated they were paying the quarterly tax under protest and would be reluctantly compelled not to pay in future until the promised interview with the valuer was granted.
They also said if no action is taken they have to take the matter up with higher authorities.
The government has only five ships to transport goods to Jaffna and each able to carry a mere, 15,000 tonnes, the head of the Northern Rehabilitation Authority said.
Mr. Soma Gunadheera, Chairman of the Northern Rehabilitation and Resettlement Authority (NPRRA) told 'The Sunday Times' that if this problem continues it would become extremely difficult to coordinate the rehabilitation work in the Jaffna district.
"We are now having enough and more stuff with us in Colombo and with the foreign donors pledging assistance last Thursday in further developing the war-torn district, we would need more transport facilities to do a good job," he said.
Aruna Kithsiri president of the Abu Dhabi Youth Forum, who was arrested for collecting funds for the Defense Fund by the Abu Dhabi Presidential Police is back in Sri Lanka.
Aruna was charged with collecting funds for the National Defense Fund, organizing musical shows and other Jayawardena raising programs. He spent two days in police custody and 49 days in jail before he was released on March 10.
He said, "I am going through a really bad period at present and this is an injury caused by a bike accident a few days ago". He has also lost one of his bags at the Colombo airport.
"A lot of people specially those connected to the LTTE did not like my fund raising programs and I knew that some how these people would get me into trouble. All my activities were monitored very closely by many watchful eyes".
Aruna is grateful to the President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and the Labour Minister for getting his release. The government has allocated a sum of Rs. 300,000 for me as legal cost for which I am really grateful", he said. "Especially I appreciate the letter by the Prime Minister to the UAE ruler which was delivered personally by the Foreign Minister which definitely had a very great influence on my release. Also I heard from the officials of the embassy that the Foreign Minister has called even from places like Cairo and inquired after me".
Aruna told The Sunday Times that his life was at risk when he was in Abu Dhabi. "It is not safe for me to go back due to the threats that I have from the Tigers. I have a son four years old and another son who is just two months. My mother and my father live with me as well. So now my idea is to get a decent job in Sri Lanka and settle down here for good", he said .
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