 How the troops are advancing and where the civilians are fleeing........ |
Contents |
As the going gets tough in operation 'Jaya Sikurui', Tamil rebels are reported to have trained hundreds of disabled cadres to undertake suicide missions to prevent the advance of security forces.
A government official who arrived in the army controlled area confirmed that the LTTE was providing training to its cadres who have been crippled in previous operations to carry out suicidal attacks. The LTTE is also making public appeals for people to join it for what it described as the 'final assault'.
With intelligence reports indicating that almost all top leaders of the LTTE are now in the Wanni region, heavy resistance is expected in the next few days of the operation into which the government has thrown an unprecedented 20,000 troops.
As the operation entered its fifth week, in contrast to what has been witnessed in previous years thousands of civilians have been fleeing the areas controlled by the LTTE despite repeated calls for them to remain and prevent the army advancing into the areas controlled by the rebels.
Civilians were fleeing in all directions to Jaffna, Mannar, Vavuniya and Mullaitivu with the number now exceeding 50,000 within the past few weeks, reports said.
More than 26 welfare centres have been set up in Mullaitivu district alone. The civilians have taken refuge in other villages including Thunukkai and Pudukudiyiruppu.
Security forces who resumed their advance from the Rampaikulam area had inched their way through a distance of two kilometres and captured the Periyamadu area from where they began their operation early yesterday. More than 20 soldiers were killed in Friday's battle.
On Friday the LTTE put up heavy resistance, but troops overcame it and advanced.
Meanwhile, the LTTE has intensified its attacks in the eastern province over the week killing more than 15 policemen in separate attacks.
At least five groups attacked the advancing troops.
Military claimed that around 60 to 70 rebels were killed in the fighting on Friday while over 150 were wounded.
Lake House directors were summoned by President Kumaratunga and reprimanded over the coverage of the chillie crisis in the group's newspapers.
The President's move came amidst speculation of a shake up in the Lake House directorate and tighter govt. control.
Before the President's move, Treasury Secretary B.C. Perera summoned Lake House editors to tell them the govt. was unhappy over their coverage of the crisis where chillie farmers were stuck with all their chillies while cheaper imports flooded the market. The Treasury chief told the editors that since Lake House was funded by the state, they were duty bound to project a proper image of the govt.
But one of the editors had hit back saying their primary duty was towards the people and not the govt. Media Minister Dharmasiri Senanayake was not present at the President's meeting with the directors.
It will be business as usual for the new British Labour Government vis-a-vis the LTTE problem, Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar said yesterday following his talks with the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs responsible for South Asia, Derek Tatchett, in London this week.
In a telephone interview with The Sunday Times, Minister Kadirgamar said there would be no change in the new Labour government's policy towards the LTTE.
"The Labour Government will have no talks with the LTTE," he said.
Mr. Kadirgamar said his three-day visit to London was to ascertain from the British Foreign Office about any likely shift in policy towards the LTTE by the new government.
He said the answer was that it was "resoundingly business as usual."
Asked what the British Government's reaction had been to a letter said to have been sent by the LTTE dated May 3 to the new British Government headed by Prime Minister Tony Blair, Mr. Kadirgamar said that neither the Foreign Office nor the Prime Minister's Office had received such a letter and even if they had received the letter they had no intention of replying it.
Mr. Kadirgamar yesterday flew to Qatar where he declared open the new Sri Lankan embassy.
World Tel, which became popular in Sri Lanka with its World Cup coverage featuring big names like Tony Greg and Ian Chappel is to sign a staggering Rs. 360 million contract with the Sri Lankan Cricket Board for full television rights for all international matches to be played here for the next three years, an official said yesterday.
He said the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka had got eight offers from international TV companies after it called for tenders. Three of these companies — World Tel, ESPN and Star TV — were shortlisted and World Tel has clinched the deal.
BCCSL president Upali Dharmadasa said yesterday that the executive committee of the board at a lengthy meeting on Friday night had decided to give the contract to one of the TV companies but declined to name it or give other details.
BCCSL Chief Executive Dhammika Ranatunga also told The Sunday Times yesterday he could not reveal details now but a news conference would be called soon to announce the deal.
World Tel, which features widely acclaimed commentaries by some of the world's greatest cricketing stars — Garfield Sobers being the latest — also got exclusive rights for the recent four-nation Pepsi Independence Cup tournament in India where Sri Lanka emerged powerfully as champions. But sections of the Indian media were critical of World Tel for excessive advertising at crucial moments. There are also reports of financial problems between World Tel and india's national TV Doordarshan which linked up for the Independence Cup coverage.
The Indian media also accused World Tel of showing its boss Mark Mascrenhas presenting some trophies while the Sri Lanka- India match was in progress. Indian board secretary Jagmohan Dalmiya, who takes over soon as secretary of the International Cricket Conference, also accused World Tel of blocking more than 50 photo journalists from doing their work at the presentation ceremony after the India Sri Lanka match.
The Sunday Times learns that another World Tel official Tony Lewis, a former England cricket captain had been in Sri Lanka recently apparently to push the deal for his company.
An official of one of the TV companies whose bid was rejected said the Cricket Board had acted unfairly in selecting World Tel especially after the bad publicity it got during the recent tournament in India.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's national television, Rupavahini , cut a miserable figure on Friday night and disappointed millions of cricket lovers when its repeatedly announced live coverage of the Sri Lanka Vs West Indies one-day international in Trinidad drew a blank.
Viewers waited and waited till midnight but little or nothing came with a pathetic Rupavahini being able to beam only a few bleak black and white pictures despite having all the state technological resources.
Putting Rupavahini to shame, a private citizen in Borella was able to get a clear live transmission through his dish antenna. Acting fast, the SLBC sent its team of commentators to that residence and they ball-by-ball commentaries on the state radio from around 1. a.m. yesterday. In the meantime, MTV and several private radio stations gave the scores of the match at regular intervals.
would be called soon to announce the deal.
World Tel, which features widely acclaimed commentaries by some of the world's greatest cricketing stars — Garfield Sobers being the latest — also got exclusive rights for the recent four-nation Pepsi Independence Cup tournament in India where Sri Lanka emerged powerfully as champions. But sections of the Indian media were critical of World Tel for excessive advertising at crucial moments. There are also reports of financial problems between World Tel and india's national TV Doordarshan which linked up for the Independence Cup coverage.
The Indian media also accused World Tel of showing its boss Mark Mascrenhas presenting some trophies while the Sri Lanka- India match was in progress. Indian board secretary Jagmohan Dalmiya, who takes over soon as secretary of the International Cricket Conference, also accused World Tel of blocking more than 50 photo journalists from doing their work at the presentation ceremony after the India Sri Lanka match.
The Sunday Times learns that another World Tel official Tony Lewis, a former England cricket captain had been in Sri Lanka recently apparently to push the deal for his company.
An official of one of the TV companies whose bid was rejected said the Cricket Board had acted unfairly in selecting World Tel especially after the bad publicity it got during the recent tournament in India.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's national television, Rupavahini , cut a miserable figure on Friday night and disappointed millions of cricket lovers when its repeatedly announced live coverage of the Sri Lanka Vs West Indies one-day international in Trinidad drew a blank.
Viewers waited and waited till midnight but little or nothing came with a pathetic Rupavahini being able to beam only a few bleak black and white pictures despite having all the state technological resources.
Putting Rupavahini to shame, a private citizen in Borella was able to get a clear live transmission through his dish antenna. Acting fast, the SLBC sent its team of commentators to that residence and they ball-by-ball commentaries on the state radio from around 1. a.m. yesterday. In the meantime, MTV and several private radio stations gave the scores of the match at regular intervals.
UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, has vowed to introduce a new United National Party at the next elections in the new millennium (year 2000) amidst reports of moves from within the party to challenge his leadership. Mr. Wickremesinghe downplayed the party revolt and said he was confident he could ride the storm.
In an interview with The Sunday Times on the eve of his departure on an official visit to Britain, the 48-year-old former Prime Minister compared a move by one-time UNP general secretary Sirisena Cooray to mount what he calls a campaign aimed at destabilising the party with that launched by loyalists of (former Prime Minister) Dudley Senanayake against J.R. Jayewardene after Dudley died and JR became UNP leader.
Mr. Cooray was a close associate of the late President Ranasinghe Premadasa. His attempts to re-enter the UNP as a key figure after temporary retirement are being resisted by Mr.Wickremesinghe, backed by UNP front-liners who fear Mr. Cooray's re-entry may dislodge them from their positions.
Mr. Wickremesinghe and Mr. Cooray were cabinet colleagues at the time of President Premadasa's assassination on May Day, 1993. Mr. Wickremesinghe dismissed reports that he was being ungrateful to Mr. Cooray, who his supporters say had recommended Mr. Wickremesinghe for the premiership having stood down himself.
"There were MPs who wanted me to be the President when Parliament met to decide on the Presidency after Mr. Premadasa's death," Mr. Wickremesinghe says "I accepted only the Premiership."
Mr. Cooray against whom there was an arrest warrant issued for non-appearance before a Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the death of former National Security Minister Lalith Athulathmudali returned to Sri Lanka immediately after the commission concluded sittings in April. An attempt to re-enter the UNP which he left has been unsuccessful and even a meeting with Mr. Wickremesinghe has not yet taken place.
In the meantime, Mr. Cooray has launched on "Api Premadasa" movement and has obtained the state controlled Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in a show of strength bid scheduled for June 29 to coincide with the late President Premadasa's birthday.
Mr. Wickremesinghe said the UNP vote had dropped to 35 per cent and the party had to not only find another 15 per cent, but also contend with rigging.
He has called for a meeting of the UNP's parliamentary group on June 18 to discuss how to increase the party's vote bank, considering also that by the next elections 65% of the voters will be under 45.
He was looking for new candidates and new leadership who could attract the new voters and he was prepared to take the risk of discarding the old guard for this purpose.
"If you want to rebuild the UNP you must break with the past and think of the future," he said.
In the next few weeks we intend launching countrywide propaganda rallies aimed at the cost of living, jobs, problems of farmers, justice etc.
Mr. Wickremesinghe said he was not trying to destroy the late President Premadasa's legacy and identified his housing and poverty alleviation programmes as plus factors.
"But I'm not too sure whether Sajith (President Premadasa's only son) is happy that Mr. Cooray is taking the Premadasa mantle," he said and added that he hoped to iron out matters together with Sajith, his mother Hema Premadasa and Mr. Cooray soon.
Talking on issues relating to the government, the UNP leader said that he felt Justice Minister G.L. Peiris was the only one pushing for the package while others want war.
The Tamil parties believe the government has sent the wrong signals by going ahead with current operation 'Jaya Sikurui' and Dr. Peiris was disturbed that he was kept in the dark about the exchange of letters understanding between himself and the President on the conflict in the North.
"Divisions within the UNP are nothing compared to divisions with the government," he quipped.
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