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| | Archives Jan-Feb 2009 |
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| | UN Under Secretary General briefs Security Council |
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| | Sir John Holmes, Under Secretary General for
Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator of the United Nations who visited Sri Lanka at the invitation
extended to UN Secretary General by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to send one of his colleagues to Sri Lanka,
and pursuant to a telephone discussion with Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, gave an informal closed door
information briefing on his visit to Sri Lanka
to the members of the UN Security Council on 27th February in New York.
Read more ...
Full text of the statement |
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| | ‘GOSL welcomes European Union’s call to the LTTE to lay down arms’ |
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| | The Government of Sri Lanka welcomes the
European Union’s (EU) call to the LTTE to lay down its arms and renounce terrorism and violence
once and for all, as contained in the European Union’s Council Conclusions
on Sri Lanka of 23 February 2009. In this context, if the LTTE heeds this call,
the requirement of an immediate ceasefire as urged by the EU will not arise. It
may be noted that the Government of Sri Lanka did suspend hostilities for a 48
hour period and designated no-fire zones, to allow safe passage of the civilian
population fleeing the conflict areas. The LTTE’s only response was to continue
with its armed hostilities, endangering the lives of civilians. It should be
emphasized that the objective of the present military engagement is to
defeat terrorism and create an environment conducive for democratic
pluralism. In this regard President Mahinda Rajapaksa has consistently
reiterated his firm commitment to a negotiated settlement through an
inclusive political process to address the legitimate concerns of all
communities, which has already been initiated.
Read more ... |
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| | UN Under-Secretary General urges LTTE to free civilians |
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| | The UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and
Emergency Relief Coordinator, Sir John Holmes has urged the LTTE to permit civilians
who are being held hostage by the LTTE in the Mullaitivu district to be freed immediately,
so that they could come into the cleared areas. He made this call at a joint media briefing
at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday (19 February 2009) following wide-ranging
talks with Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama. |
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| | Earlier, Minister Bogollagama welcoming the senior UN official, stated that the visit
of Sir John to Sri Lanka was timely and would provide him the opportunity of getting a first-hand
assessment of the extensive facilities that the Government has made to provide food and essential
services to the civilians held captive by the LTTE, and for the rehabilitation and resettlement
of the large number of civilians who have escaped from the conflict zone, being accommodated
at transit points and welfare villages. The Minister gave a comprehensive briefing to the
visiting official on the humanitarian situation in the North, highlighting the paramount
concern of the Government of Sri Lanka for the safety and wellbeing of the roughly 70,000
civilians who are being forcibly held against their will as human shields by the LTTE in a rapidly
shrinking area under its control. He emphasized the strict adherence of the security forces to
the Government’s policy of zero tolerance on civilian casualties in prosecuting the final phase
of the military operations to eradicate the menace of terrorism from Sri Lanka, despite paying a
heavy price in terms of their own casualties. |
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| | LTTE air raid thwarted; LTTE terrorist aircraft destroyed |
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| | The latest reports indicate that both LTTE aircraft that entered into
the Colombo airspace on 20 Feb. 09 were destroyed by the air defence system.
One of the aircraft disabled by anti air gunfire reportedly crashed in the
rear of the Inland Revenue Department building located on the Sir C.A. Gardiner Mawatha. |
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| | The two LTTE aircraft were detected around 21h45.
Following detection, air defence systems were activated causing the two terrorist aircraft to abort their missions. |
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| | Air Force sources said that the second aircraft that had been
trying to escape from air defence system was shot down while flying over Negombo.
Parts of the destroyed aircraft along with the body of the pilot were found close to the Katunayake Air Base. |
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| | Due to the crash of the terrorist aircraft
in Colombo 47 people have suffered injuries. According
to the sources at the National Hospital Colombo, two of the injured succumbed to their injuries. |
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| | Meanwhile, another 6 civilians who
suffered injuries in the aircraft crash in Katunayake were admitted to the Negombo hospital.
One of the injured has been transferred
to the national hospital, Colombo, hospital sources said. |
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| | For updates please consult www.defence.lk |
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| | Ambassador Aryasinha says “mischievous media reports have
distorted the international perception of developments in Northern Sri Lanka” |
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| | Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and
the EU Ravinatha Aryasinha has said, a series of mischievous reports filed
over the past two weeks based on LTTE propaganda, had distorted the international
perception of the ground situation in Northern Sri Lanka. This had detracted from
sufficient attention being paid to the difficult task being accomplished by the
government and the security forces, as well as the atrocities committed against
civilians by the LTTE. He pointed out that by spreading blatant falsehoods, which
they subsequently denied or corrected, some journalists, as well as Spokespersons of
UN Agencies and INGOs operating in Sri Lanka, had caused considerable damage, as
those who read the original sensational story which was “newsworthy” in the West,
didn’t have any knowledge of the subsequent denials, as they received no attention. |
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| | Intervening in a session of the South
Asia Delegation of the European Parliament chaired by MEP Robert Evans on Wednesday (11 February 2009),
Aryasinha gave
a factual account of the status of affected civilians within and outside the un-cleared area, and the government’s
future plans for re-settling the displaced persons and evolving a political settlement. He also provided documentary
evidence on several cases of distorted media reports to MEPs. He noted that while he had no illusion that the
thinking of those who might have for the past 25 years or so fed off Sri Lanka’s troubles could be altered,
he wished to appeal to the good sense of those who might be interested in reason, and to underline the main
strands of the dis-information spread by the LTTE in recent days. Read more...
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| | Full text of intervention |
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| | Government and UN Agencies agree to work closely to assess the civilians’ needs |
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| | Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama today held a meeting with Heads
of UN Agencies based in Colombo with the view to discussing all issues
of mutual interest regarding the protection of civilians in the conflict zone.
The UN Resident Coordinator along with the Representatives of UNHCR,
UNICEF, WFP and the Chief Security Advisor of the UN Office in Colombo
were present. Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Chief of Defence
Staff Air Vice Marshal Donald Perera, and Senior Officials of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs participated at the comprehensive discussion with the UN Agencies. |
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| | Issues arising out of the LTTE holding civilians from leaving the conflict zone and
the discrepancies pertaining to reported casualty figures were discussed
and it was agreed that the Government and UN Agencies would work within a
spirit of cooperation to assess more accurately the needs of the civilians
and the measures taken for their protection by the government. Read more... |
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| | EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT CALLS ON LTTE TO LAY DOWN ARMS |
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| | The European Parliament in Strasbourg on Thursday
( 5 February 2009) passed an urgency resolution on the ‘Situation in Sri Lanka’ with the support of all major
political groups, with the exception of the socialists, calling on the LTTE
to lay down their arms and participate in the democratic political process. |
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| | Speaking on the resolution Conservative Foreign
Affairs Spokesman MEP Charles Tannock who drew attention that “ the LTTE is using its front
organizations in Europe to maximum propaganda effect and raising money by extortion internationally”,
cautioned that “ Some LTTE militants may try to seek asylum in Europe”. |
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| | The EP endorsed the statement by the Tokyo Co-Chairs (Norway,
Japan, the US and the EU), which calls on the LTTE to discuss with the Government of Sri
Lanka the “modalities for ending hostilities, including the laying down of arms, renunciation of violence,
acceptance of the Government of Sri Lanka’s offer of amnesty, and participation as a
political party in a process to achieve a just and lasting political solution”. |
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| | The resolution concludes by calling on the Council,
the Commission and the Governments of the Member States to “redouble their efforts to help
bring a stable and just peace to Sri Lanka and to restore security and prosperity”. |
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| | • Statements issued by the Conservative group Read more... |
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| | • Speech made by Conservative Foreign Affairs Spokesman
MEP Charles Tannock. Read more... |
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| | SRI LANKANS IN BELGIUM AND LUXEMBOURG COMMEMORATE THE 61st SRI LANKA NATIONAL DAY |
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| | Sri Lankans in Belgium and Luxembourg commemorated the 61st National Day, on 04th February 2009 at the Embassy of Sri Lanka. |
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| | The programme included the hoisting of the national flag by the Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha, lighting of the traditional oil lamp,
singing of the national anthem, reading of the National Day messages of the President,
Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka, and Buddhist, Hindu,
Christian and Muslim religious observances. While the Venerable Sudhinavas of Wat
Thai Dharmaram conducted the Buddhist religious observances. Hindu, Christian and Islamic
religious observances were conducted by Swami Harinath Sharma, Mrs.Sharmini Jacobs and Mr. Izmeer Ahmad respectively.
Sri Lankans representing the Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim & Burgher communities, participated in this event which was
conducted in Sinhala,Tamil and English languages. Read more... |
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| | “Free from the shadow of terror, grasp the new opportunities before us” – President Rajapaksa |
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| | “Today, we are a nation that has defeated a powerful enemy
that stood before us. An enemy that we were told was invincible…Our heroic forces have given
us the opportunity today to celebrate the anniversary of our Independence in a country
freed, after many years, from the dark shadow of terrorism….We should be ready to properly
grasp and not waste the opportunity that history has presented to us after 61 years of freedom
from colonial rule, to once again raise our country to the dignity it deserves” said President
Mahinda Rajapaksa in his Address to the Nation on the 61st Anniversary Celebrations of Sri Lanka’s
Independence, in Colombo.
Full statement |
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| | Statement by the Tokyo Co-Chairs- Colombo, February 3, 2009 |
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| | The United States, European Union,
Japan and Norway on Tuesday on Tuesday
urged the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to consider surrendering to avoid more deaths,
including among thousands of civilians trapped in the war zone. “There remains probably only a
short period of time before the LTTE loses control of all areas in the north,” they said in a joint statement.
Full
statement
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| | Belgolux - Sri Lanka Business Council Re-launched |
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The re-launch of the Belgolux - Sri Lanka Business Council (BSBC)
took place under the patronage of visiting Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama,
on 27 January 2008 at the Hotel Conrad in Brussels, in the presence of an audience
that represented trade chambers, foreign trade associations, banks, investment fund
organizations and Belgian companies who currently maintain trade, travel and
investment links with Sri Lanka.
Read more ...
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| | President urges LTTE: Release civilians in 48 hours |
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| | My Government, since its election,
has always been concerned about the welfare of all citizens of Sri Lanka and their
economic and social progress. The welfare of the citizens of the Northern and Eastern
Provinces, especially of those in areas dominated by the LTTE, has been of even greater
concern to my Government. As a result, my Government has always been committed to usher
peace in those regions so that all people of Sri Lanka, especially those in the North
and the East will have the opportunity to exercise their democratic rights and choose
their leaders freely through election to realise their political aspirations within
the democratic framework that has flourished in Sri Lanka for long years.
Read more ...
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| | Foreign Minister says greater understanding of the respective positions and the need to continue to engage in a dialogue on GSP+ realized |
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| | Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama
has said greater understanding of the respective positions and the need to continue to engage
in a dialogue was achieved, through his interactions in Brussels aimed at supporting Sri Lanka’s
continued retention of the GSP+ facility
with the relevant European Commissioners. He said while Sri Lanka would not agree to
subject itself to any intrusion of its sovereignty, it was ready for continued engagement
and dialogue on any concerns the EU might have regards Sri Lanka benefitting from this facility.
The Foreign Minister made these observations during a question and answer session that followed an address
to members of the European Parliament, hosted by the ‘Friends of Sri Lanka’ Group.
Read more...
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| | Minister Bogollagama also met with
the President of the European Parliament Dr. Hans Gert Pottering.
Full text of statement |
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| | Foreign Minister Bogollagama reaffirms to EU Presidency Sri
Lanka’s abiding commitment to civilian safety in the north |
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| | Sri Lanka Foreign Minister
Bogollagama reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s total commitment
to the safety and security of civilians in the conflict area in the north and stated
that the government military action is only aimed at empowering people through a political process. |
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| | The Minister made this observation
when he met the Presidency of the European Union (EU) represented by the Foreign Minister
of the Czech Republic Mr. Karrel Schwarzenberg in Brussels on Tuesday (27 January 2009).
The meeting requested by Sri Lanka with the Czech Republic which assumed the EU Presidency since
January 2009 was aimed at providing a briefing on the situation in the north & east discussing the
extension of the GSP+ facility, Sri Lanka’s request to the EU to list the
Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) and other LTTE front organizations and
cooperation between the EU and Sri Lanka. Matters of bilateral interest
between Sri Lanka and Czech Republic were also discussed.
Read more... |
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| | Foreign Minister Bogollagama seeks Belgian
assistance for post-conflict development in Sri Lanka |
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| | Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama o
n Monday (26 January 2009) invited Belgium to assist Sri Lanka in the post conflict development
of the areas cleared of the LTTE. |
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| | The Minister made this
request when he called on the recently appointed Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy
in Brussels on Monday. It was noted that the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister was the first
foreign dignitary received by the Prime Minister since he assumed office earlier this
month. The Minister conveyed the greetings of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to Prime
Minister Van Rompuy, who is a long standing friend of Sri Lanka.
Read more... |
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| | Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama opens discussions
with the European Commission
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| | Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner
responsible for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy and Catherine Ashton, European Commissioner
responsible for Trade receives Rohitha Bogollagama, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka. Ambassador
of Sri Lanka to the European Union Ravinatha Aryasinha and
senior officials from the Government of Sri Lanka were associated in discussions.
Read more... |
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