ASSESSMENT OF security situation and contribution of the Security Forces for restoration of peace and civil life were among major spheres of attention for a two-member UN delegation when they visited Jaffna recently.

Freedom rays dawned to the East on July 19th 2007 due to the priceless services of the gallant soldiers who embarked on a humanitarian operation.The soldiers undertook this effort at a time when the Eastern polity under the grip of the brutal LTTE terrorists for more than two decades, were yearning for rays of freedom.

In his ‘Final Response’, Mr. Gunasekara returns to his theme of the provocative character of the TULF’s separatist political stance and propaganda. This takes nothing away from my point that this does not constitute a legitimate reason for the vicious, murderous violence of July 1983. No political position or pronouncement, however objectionable, if expressed peacefully, can justifiably be met with violence, leave alone lethal violence. I have already referred to Quebec and Scotland, but let us look closer home.

Foreign Secretary Dr. Palitha Kohona, detailing the arrangements and expectations for this year's SAARC summit in Colombo, said that SAARC leaders were planning to formulate common positions on the energy crisis, climate change, development, and the eradication of poverty.