Earthquake near Kandy Sri Lanka 5.8 scale

 

By Walter Jayawardhana

Earth Quake of 5.8 scale reported near Kandy

The US Geological Survey reported 5.8 scale earth quake near kandy Sri Lanka at 6.10.44.90 UTC on march 22,2007. The description has been given as 2185 kilometers SSE of Kandy and 2204 Kilometers SE of Colombo.

Vaikos organizing secretary surrenders in the LTTE bomb case

By Walter Jayawardhana

VAIKO’S PARTY ORGANIZING SECRETARY SURRENDERS TO POLICE Q BRANCH IN CONNECTION WITH LTTE CASE

Vaiko led Marumalrch Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) Organizing secretary, Seema Basheer has been arrested by the Q branch of the Tamil Nadu police in connection with the case of smuggling bomb making material to the Sri Lankan terrorist group, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. (LTTE) Basheer has been suspected of laundering money in this case where several people are suspected of procuring and smuggling bomb making materials to Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka.

Although Basheer has been giving the slip to the police when they visited his house to question him he voluntarily surrendered to the Q Branch of the Tamil Nadu police who are investigating into the LTTE and other terrorist related cases in the South Indian state.

Meanwhile, Rameshkumar, a suspected LTTE supporter, who had been running a soap factory in Perambalur, from where the aluminium ingots meant for bomb making were to be moved to Sri Lanka, and who has been absconding from the police so far also surrendered before a metropolitan magistrate in Chennai.

But MDMK Secretary Vaiko Gopalaswamy issuing a statement said that his party functionary Basheer has been framed for political reasons by the DMK administration in the South Indian state.Police said since the arrest of Barakath, a DMK functionary and on the information supplied by him, they have been watching Basheer of Vaiko’s party for several days.

The police took Basheer to a municipal magistrate of Tiruchirappalli to be remanded.Vaiko accused that Basheer has been framed to demoralize other functionaries of his party. In the last Tamil Nadu assembly elections, Basheer lost to DMK General Secretary K Anbazhagan by a narrow margin of over 400 votes in Chennai Harbour seat. Vaiko said although he has been supporting the LTTE he has never involved his party in any unlawful activity in Tamil Nadu. Describing the arrest as a politically motivated move against his party workers Vaiko said they would never be cowed down by such threats.

The other person, Rameshkumar, the soap factory owner who surrendered to a municipal magistrate has been absconding many days from the police. The magistrate remanded him into judicial custody for fifteen days. But the Q Branch of the police said they would be filing a separate motion to take him to their custody for questioning on the case.

With the surrender of Rameshkumar the number of people in the custody of this case has risen to eight people.

Munnuswamy Parameshwari to be released

By Walter Jayawardhana

SRI LANKA JOURNALIST MUNNUSWAMY PAREMESHWARI TO BE RELEASED

The lawyer representing the Attorney General told the Supreme Court that the Mawbima journalist Munnuswamy Parameshwari who has been arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act will be released since the police were unable to discover enough evidence to file charges against her.

The young Tamil reporter was arrested three months ago for her association with an alleged suicide bomber on suspicion. The police said she was attempting to get the suspected suicide bomber released using her influence as a reporter.

The lawyer representing the Attorney General informed the Supreme Court that there is no sufficient evidence to file charges against her and it will be conveyed to the magistrate to release her from the remand jail.

The matter came up before the Supreme Court when Ms. Munnuswamy Paremeshwari filed a fundamental rights petition before the apex court asking the court to release her since she is innocent.

Sri Lanka complete a 198-run win over Bangladesh

Sri Lanka complete a 198-run win over Bangladesh to do their chances of a Super Eight spot no harm. They were led by Sanath Jayasuriya’s blitz of a century, Mahela Jayawardene’s plucky 46, and fifties from Kumar Sangakkara and Chamara Silva as they totalled 318 for 4. Bangladesh, in reply, failed to get going as Chaminda Vaas and Lasith Malinga struck early blows and barring Jayasuriya, every bowler used got a wicket.

A comprehensive victory for Sri Lanka. All eyes now turn to the crucial Sri Lanka-India game on March 23. -Cricinfo-

Priest at madu charges LTTE kidnapping refugees at church

By Walter Jayawardhana

PARISH PRIEST OF MADU CHURCH CHARGES THAT THE TAMIL TIGERS ARE KIDNAPPING 17 YEAR OLD MINORS AND YOUNG ADULTS AMONG 10,000 WAR REFUGEES CAMPING AT THE CHURCH

The parish priest of Madu Matha Catholic church charged despite continuous warnings not to do so the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) keep on kidnapping 17 year old minors and young adults among war refugees who have camped themselves in the church premises.

Rev. Emilus Pillai, the parish priest charged that LTTE recruiters enter church grounds and kidnap the war refugees among about 10,000 desolate people who have been living in the church grounds for protection for the last two months. They are Tamil civilians who have fled from the war between the LTTE who are also known as the Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lanka security forces.

He said, “First we told them not to enter the church premises armed and banned all such people from entering the the church premises. Now they come unarmed and forcibly take away 17 year olds and young adults to be recruited for the war.”

He said the church should become a sanctuary for all people regardless of their race or creed. He said by violating that concept the LTTE has violated the sanctity of the church.

Father Emilius Pillai said the refugees have come to the church since they had no other place to go and the helpless people should not be harassed at all and left alone.

The priest said he has seen it with his own eyes how they come and visit the people living around the church and kidnap them for war. On such occasions they are careful not to step inside the church, Father Emilius Pillai pointed out.

The Reverened Father said the refugees are leading an extremely difficult life and spending a hand to mouth existence due to food shortages. On the top of that comes the LTTE harassment, he charged.

Describing the difficulties of the Madu Church refugees the parish priest said they have been forgotten by NGO’s and the government. Father Emilius Pillai said they are living on meager rations of dry food supplied by World Food organization. He was of the opinion that all should do little more to lessen their misery.