by: Ajit Kumar Singh

Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management

On July 31, 2008, Government troops crossed the Mannar-Kilinochchi boundary to enter Kilinochchi District, the headquarters of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), killing 20 militants and injuring another 35. Later, the 58^th Division of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) captured the Vellankulam Town, the northern-most town in the Mannar District, on August 2, 2008, and advanced up to the 29^th milepost on the Mannar-Pooneryn Road, shifting the entire Division into the Kilinochchi District. With the capture of Vellankulam, the whole of the Mannar District came under the control of the Security Forces (SFs) for the first time in the North-East conflict. "The troops attached to the 58 Division killed 2,500 Tiger cadres in the Mannar battlefront by the time it completely liberated the Mannar District from the clutches of the LTTE and stepped into Kilinochchi District, the last stronghold of the LTTE," the General Officer Commanding of the 58^th Division, Brigadier Shavendra Silva disclosed. The troops on the Mannar front had begun their operation in September 2008.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has thanked all those who contributed to the successful conclusion of the 15th SAARC Summit which helped immensely in doing Sri Lanka proud in the eyes of the world.

(August 03, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) It is easy for anyone who has met Manel Abeysekera to understand how she rose to become the first woman to join the Foreign Service of Sri Lanka. Erudite, charming, hospitable and articulate, she seems to possess all the quintessential qualities of a diplomat. Yet, she remains simple, with her feet on the ground.

COLOMBO, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's earnings from tea exports grew by 40.3 percent in the first half of 2008 from a year earlier due to higher prices and increased demand from the Middle East, a top official at the Sri Lanka Tea Board told Reuters on Wednesday.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday pointed out that the Attorney General's Department should guide the Government correctly in legal matters. President Rajapaksa was addressing senior officials of the Attorney General's Department at Temple Trees.

The leaders of the SAARC countries attended the concluding session of the 15th SAARC Summit, which held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) today (03rd August). At the end of the session all leaders endorsed the Colombo Declaration of the fifteenth SAARC Summit, which focused on combating terrorism, energy, environment, water resources, poverty alleviation energy, transport, science and technology and education.

By: Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha

On Sunday August 3rd, I issued a press release entitled 'Further Generalizations from the Asian Human Rights Commission'.  I was in fact responding to a report from the Asian Centre for Human Rights, and must apologize unreservedly for the error to the Asian Human Rights Commission. 

In mitigation, though this is not an excuse, both these institutions, which purport to speak for Asia as a whole have very similar initials, and I was responding to a report read on my blackberry, over the weekend when I was not in office, and the initials ACHR seemed all too familiar. The release has been altered to make clear the reference, and I hope AHRC will forgive me for this lapse.  

I will pass over the suggestion they have made in their letter to me, pointing out the error, that it might have been deliberate, since I can understand that a sensitive soul might have been hurt by my unwarranted strictures.

Major General G.A. Chandrasiri, Commander Security Forces Headquarters, Jaffna (SFHQ-J), briefed nearly two hundred representatives from Jaffna-based Government Departments, State Agencies, local and international Non Governmental Organizations, commercial establishments and other civil Organizations on the implementation of new security clearance procedures for various emergencies, effective from this month (August).

Chairman of the Central Environmental Authority Udaya Gammanpila answering all criticism levelled against him and the Environment Ministry for slapping a two per cent levy on the monthly bills of mobile phone users, yesterday said that the Bill was “progressive” by all means because it deals explicitly with mobile phone users and not with non-user village folk.

by Prof. Sudharshan Seneviratne

Part I

South Asia is a historically evolved region drawing its ‘identity consciousness’ from the rich tangible and intangible heritage found in its natural landscape. We in South Asia are nurtured within the legacy of a shared heritage for over three thousand years and its ethos is a classic representation of diversity and commonalities.

Sri Lanka Air Force MI-24 Helicopter gun ships carried out close air support mission targeting LTTE gathering place in 5 1/2 Km north of Vellankulam this afternoon, 05 August. Air Force spokesperson,

Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara, speaking to defence.lk said that the air sorties were carried out around 2.00 PM to assist the ground troops advancing northwards along the A-32, Mannar - Poonaryn, main road.

I believe that as the 15th SAARC Summit in Colombo draws to a close, all of us who have participated in the deliberations can draw satisfaction from a most productive and fruitful outcome.

In the final analysis, all regional cooperation efforts including in South Asia, have as their objective, prosperity and equitable development. Our deliberations have therefore had a strong focus, on economic and commercial cooperation.

by:Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha

I am delighted that Shanie has now decided she has no wish to prolong her exchange with me. I am only sorry that she began it all, by making unwarranted attacks on my integrity as well as my work as Secretary General of the Peace Secretariat. She also chose to make unwarranted attacks on the police with regard to the investigation into the murder of Joseph Pararajasingham, and has still not responded to my simple request to substantiate her allegations.

By:K. Venkateshwarlu

GALLE: When cricket stars, Mahela Jayawardene, Muttaiah Muralitharan and Kumar Sangakkara addressed a media conference in Mumbai recently, they spoke nothing on cricket but everything about tourism. Team Sri Lanka was batting for the nation’s tourism destinations courtesy Sri Lankan Airlines and Sri Lankan Tourism Promotion Bureau.

By: Victor Marambage in Trincomalee

TRINCOMALEE: Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan said he decided to give up terrorism and work for democracy when a woman whose husband has been killed by the LTTE, offered him food and a drink while he was hiding as a terrorist in Maduru-Oya.

Ramon Magsaysay Award Presentation Ceremonies

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, addressing the opening session of the 15th SAARC Summit this morning (August 2) at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, called on the South Asian leaders attending the summit to commit themselves and their countries to a more determined and concerted effort to collectively combat the scourge of terrorism in all its forms and manifestation.

I wish to begin by congratulating His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa for his election as Chairperson of SAARC. I also convey my deep appreciation to the Government and people of Sri Lanka for the excellent arrangements made for the 15th Summit, and for the warm and generous hospitality that has been extended to all of us.

Your Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa,
Your Excellencies the Heads of State and Governments of SAARC Member States,
Distinguished Representatives of Observers, Mr. Secretary General,
Ladies and Gentlemen