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| Sunday, 29 August 2004 |
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LTTE to meet Malwatte Mahanayake Thera- Chandrasekeran From the Tamil press by S.Selvakumar The STF attending the funeral of an LTTE cadre, the JVP's opposition even to the government's alternate proposals, ex-Samurdhi Secretary Kumari Navaratne's vanishing trick and the proposed TNA meeting with the LTTE took centre stage in Tamil dailies last week. The purchasing price of a litre of milk has been increased from Rs. 13 to 20 on the orders of President Kumaratunga, the Thinakaran reported on Monday and quoted Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama as saying that this would encourage dairy farmers. In another front page story the paper said STF officials in Ampara visited the residence of Jagatheeswaran who was gunned down a few days ago and paid their last respects. The deceased was the former deputy head of the Ampara district LTTE political wing. The Virakesari quoted Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar as saying that people will not hesitate to defeat a government if economic benefits are not passed on to them. Kadirgamar cited the recent elections in India and Sri Lanka as examples. The JVP has categorically stated that it was opposed not only to the ISGA proposals of the LTTE but also to Government's alternate proposals now being prepared at the Peace Secretariat. It has further stated talks with the LTTE should be only aimed at reaching a final solution otherwise JVP will not render any support, the Thinakkural reported. The paper on Tuesday said the LTTE in a letter to the head of the SLMM has said that the Army's encouragement to armed gangs in the East has put the ceasefire agreement in jeopardy. A Jaffna resident charged under the PTA for possession of explosives was sentenced to 15 years in jail by the Colombo High Court, the Sudaroli reported on Tuesday. In another story the paper said that around 50 people surrounded the SLMM office in Trincomalee on Monday and demanded the release of two home guards abducted by an armed gang recently. The SLMM has responded to the demand by saying that it will conduct an inquiry and let know the position in three days time. Former Deputy Secretary of the Samurdhi Fund Ms Kumari Navaratne wanted in connection with a fraud involving State funds has gone missing according to the Police, the Tinakaran reported. Her husband has told the Police that she has gone abroad. Japanese Ambassador Akio Suda who met TNA Parliamentarians on Monday has said not to bother about the JVP's views on recommencing peace talks since it is only a small ally of the Government, the Virakesari reported. Commenting on the Supreme Court ruling that the three SLMC MPs cannot be expelled from the party SLMC Secretary General Hassan Ali has said that after studying the Court ruling steps would be taken to expel them in the proper manner, the Sudaroli reported on Wednesday. Below that story the paper published the Court ruling where it said the expulsion is invalid. The pro JVP National Bhikku Front has called upon the Government to give priority to stop the LTTE establishing a state of Eelam. Providing employment and arresting the cost of living is not the priority it said, the Virakesari gave prominence in the front page. Special security arrangements will be in place in the East from next week, the Thinakkural said quoting DIG Nimal Lewke head of the STF. Ten LTTE cadres have launched a protest atop the roof of the Batticaloa prisons demanding their release. They said they had gone to government controlled areas for political work when they were arrested. In another front page story the paper quoted the SLMM as saying that they do not have proper evidence to inquire about the recent attacks in the East. A Defender Jeep without a registration number has been found by the Police abandoned in a thick jungle at Weeragaswewa in the Ambalantota Police area. Police forwarded the chassis number to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles who confirmed that it belonged, to the Fisheries Ministry, the Thinakaran reported on Thursday. Upcountry People's Front leader and Parliamentarian P. Chandrasekeran has said that he conveyed Malwatte Mahanayake Venerable Thibotuwawe Sri Sumangala's wish that the prelate would like to meet with the LTTE for talks to the latter and they have consented for such a meeting but added that no official communications have been made so far, the paper said. Meeting the press in Kilinochchi after discussions with SLMM chief Trond Furuhovde S. P. Thamilselvan said that the ceasefire agreement does not impose any disqualification or disability on the LTTE to procure and amass arms and ammunitions. Even the security forces are doing the same, he has reasoned out, the Sudaroli reported. The paper in a front page story speculated that the three dissident SLMC Parliamentarians whose expulsion from the party was invalidated by a Supreme Court ruling were likely to be sworn-in-as Deputy Ministers in the government. The LTTE has intimated to the SLMM that there won't be any future meetings with the security forces until the killing of LTTE cadres stop, the Thinakkural said. The road blocks and search operations once again introduced in the Batticaloa and Ampara districts have created a war psychosis in the minds of the people in these areas, the Virakesari said on Thursday. The JVP is taking action to effect a proper pay hike to plantation workers through the November Budget of the UPFA Government, the Thinakaran reported on Friday. In another front page story the paper said the Saudi Development Fund has granted Rs. 1,025 million as a soft loan for the Batticaloa-Trincomalee road development work. The Virakesari reported that talks between various State sector trade unions and the Public Administration Ministry for an interim allowance of Rs. 3,000 for public servants until the Budget, has ended in failure. The paper quoted Ministry sources. TNA Parliamentarians will meet S. P. Thamilselvan on Monday and talks will be on the present stalemate in the peace process and about the next step. The talks were scheduled twice last month but postponed, the Sudaroli reported. Quoting Minister Douglas Devananda the paper said though the JVP is opposed to the ISGA proposals they would agree for a federal structure for the North-East. The Thinakkural quoting chairman of the Shell Gas Company said permission has been sought from the Government to increase the selling price of a domestic cylinder by a further Rs. 100 and he has also said that it is possible the price may go up to Rs. 1,000 a cylinder before the end of the year. |
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