239 scholarships awarded for children of war heroes

The second stage of the "Viru Sisu Pradeepa" scholarship program which awarded scholarships for the children of war heroes was held at the Defence Ministry auditorium under the patronage of Prime Minister Hon Rathnasiri Wickramanayake yesterday, 18 December.

Under the "Viru Sisu Pradeepa" program 239 scholarships were awarded for the children who passed 5-year scholarship examination in 2007 and 2008.

178 children of army personnel, 7 children of Navy personnel, 10 children of Air force personnel and 34 children of police personnel were awarded these scholarships. H.E the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the chairman of the National Defence Fund, has approved the allocation of over 6 million rupees for awarding scholarships for the children of war heroes who have sacrificed their lives and limbs for defending the motherland.

Defence Secretary Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotion & Welfare Mr. Sunil S. Sirisena, Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Donald Perera, Army Commander Lt. Gen Sarath Fonseka, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, Air Force Commander Air Marshal Roshan Gunathilaka, IGP Jayantha Wickramarathna, officials of the Defence Ministry, the scholarships winners and

Avant Guards Security (Pvt) Ltd donates 5 three-wheelers for war heroes

A leading security service providing company in Sri Lanka, Avant Guards Security Private Limited, has donated three-wheelers to the war heroes who sacrificed their limbs while serving in battlefront for defending the motherland.

The donation of five three-wheelers was officially handed over by the Chief Executive Officer of Avant Guards Security (Pvt) Ltd, Major (Retd) Nissanka Senadipathi, to Chairperson of Defence Ministry's Seva Vanitha Unit Mrs Ioma Rajapaksa in a charm function held at the defence ministry premises last Monday, 15 December.

A few representatives of Ministry's Seva Vanitha Unit were also present at the occasion.

46 Tamil civilians reach to security forces - Welioya

Forty-six more Tamil civilians who were able to escape LTTE's grip have reached to the security force seeking safety for their lives this evening, 18 December, defence sources said.

According to the available sources, the escapees comprising sixteen females and thirty males, residents of east of Kilinochchi, have reached to troops in north of Palampasi, Welioya.

The escapees have later been directed to the welfare centers established after providing with foods, medial treatment and other necessities.

Two LTTE cadres surrender to Army - Kilinochchi

Two LTTE terrorists who have escaped the outfit have surrendered themselves to the army troops of Task Force 1 in general area Nagatevanturai jetty this morning, 18 December.

The surrendees have confessed that they have been forcibly deployed in Pallai area following a military training underwent. The two surrendered LTTE cadres, 28 and 33 year-old youths, have reached to Nagatevanturai jetty located in northeast of Pooneryn crossing the Kilaly lagoon, defence sources said.

One of the escapees, who married to Sinhalese lady in South, speaking to our correspondents in Sinahala language said that LTTE outfit is now struggling due lack of cadres to face the multi-pronged offensive push given by the security forces. "The LTTE cadres manning LTTE defence lines in Paranthan were forcibly deployed, though they like to surrender leaving their arms, they can't do it" he added.

Further speaking he said that LTTE terrorists forcibly hold over 1000 civilians who opposed LTTE orders in three jails located Pallemunai and Vishwamadu areas. "Two jails area in Pallemunai while the other in Vishewamadu area" he said.

The two surreandees were directed to the rehabilitation center following the initial investigations.

Fifty-Four LTTE cadres turned rehabilitated youngsters receive vocational training certificates

Fifty-Four Tigers turned rehabilitated good citizens who underwent vocational training courses in Jaffna after they renounced LTTE violence and surrendered to the troops received their graduation last Friday (12) during a ceremony, held at Thelippalai Union College.

The vocational training programme, initiated by the office of the Rehabilitation Commissioner General under the 2008-2012 Rehabilitation and Social Mobilization Project offered training to those 54 men and women in the spheres of masonry, motorbike and scooter repair, drainage works, electrification of houses and English language.

The training initiative, taken by Commander of the Jaffna Security Forces, Major General G.A Chandrasiri saw 27 males and 27 children and females undergo this training while inculcating positive thinking, leadership values, skill promotion, peace building and promotion of non-violence. A separate workshop in this connection was also conducted during the training for the benefit of those detainees with the help of many lecturers from Jaffna and those flown from Colombo.

Simultaneously, on completion of the rehabilitation programme, those youth are encouraged to find overseas employment through their contacts elsewhere. Already 25 youth after the rehabilitation had already migrated on foreign employment.

The certificate awarding ceremony for those rehabilitated youth took place recently at Thelippalai Union Maha Vidyalaya. Major General G.A Chandrasiri, Commander Security Forces Headquarters, Jaffna gave away special gift parcels and certificates to those youngsters and assured full support for their future plans during the function.

US Ambassador Replies to Tamilnet

by Ambassador Blake

I was disappointed to read on TamilNet criticism of the US Government's programmes to help stabilise and develop Eastern Sri Lanka. Since there is no mechanism to respond to TamilNet, I thought I would use the Embassy's blog to respond to some of the incorrect assertions in the TamilNet article.

US Ambassador Robert O’ Blake

First, a Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP asserts in the TamilNet article that Washington's purpose in our programmes for the east is to, "help Colombo make majoritarian inroads into the east." This is incorrect. We have specifically established the goal of fostering economic development, good governance and stability while preserving the existing ethnic balance in the east.

It is well known that the east is one of Sri Lanka's poorest provinces and that poverty and lack of adequate economic opportunity are principal drivers of conflict. One of the best ways to address such poverty is to establish programmes that will link new businesses in the East with the country's principal markets in the western and other parts of the country. Indeed, USAID's Connecting Regional Economies programme in the East has five goals: *

First: Support livelihood development for vulnerable populations;

Second: Promote the development of agriculture-based value chains;

Third: Ensure that groups in conflict-affected areas benefit from participation in these value chains and our other efforts;

Fourth: Implement a workforce development strategy; and finally promote a business enabling environment.

The Member of Parliament also alleges that U.S. development initiatives "take place through direct collaboration between the American agency and the ministries of Sri Lanka, sidelining the provincial council." This also is incorrect. While we of course coordinate with the Central Government as we would in any country, none of our money goes through the Central Government. Rather, it goes directly to U.S. and/or Sri Lankan organisations working in the east to implement our programmes.

Furthermore, one of the goals of our "Supporting Regional Governance" programme in the East is to improve the capacity and Governance of the Eastern Provincial Council and Local Government authorities. Specifically, this programme aims to support and facilitate increased citizen engagement in Regional and Local Government, strengthen inter-community reconciliation, and promote social equality by, for example, promoting citizen interaction with Government institutions, and strengthening the capacity of journalists and media outlets in the East.

Lastly, the MP alleges that America's programme in the east will only "add to the ethnic conflict in the island."

He says "meaningful development of the east can take place only after a substantial political solution to the Tamil national question." We agree that a political solution is necessary, but we do not agree that meaningful development can take place only after a political solution is agreed upon.

It is important to give the people of the east the opportunity now to obtain vocational training and sustainable private sector jobs. Such sustainable livelihood opportunities are an essential part of ensuring stability and development so that the Tamil, Muslim and Sinhalese communities in the East can rebuild their lives and cooperate with each other to help the East realize its potential.

TF1 troops extend their defences; 2 LTTE bodies found - Kilinochchi

Troops of Task Force 1 had several confrontations with LTTE terrorists while extending their defences in Nivil and Adampan areas yesterday, 18 December.

Army troops of 582 Brigade launched an attack targeting LTTE defence line in general area Nivil and captured it inflicting maximum damages to the enemy. In a subsequent search operation troops have found two bodies of LTTE terrorist killed during the gun battle.

Meanwhile, army snipers deployed in Adampan area gunned down two LTTE terrorists, the report received from the battlefront said.

57 Div troops advance towards Kilinochchi; 5 LTTE bodies found

Troops of 57 Division on offensive march towards LTTE's main administrative base, Kilinochchi, advanced further into LTTE hiding places in Kilinochchi front despite enemy resistance. Troops under 57 Division had several confrontations in general area Adampan, south of Adampan, west of Iranamadu, west of Kilinochchi and south of Iranamadu areas inflecting heavy damages to the enemy.

Troops of 571 Brigade successfully breach the LTTE built earth bund in several locations causing heavy damages to enemy. The consolidating operations are being underway in the area. Troops uncovered three LTTE bodies while conducting consolidating operations following hours-long fighting in the area.

Meanwhile, troops of 574 Brigade confronted with detected group of LTTE terrorists in general area south of Iranamadu while extending own defence line, defence sources in battlefront said. In a subsequent search operation conducted troops uncovered two bodies of LTTE terrorists along with military items. 3 T-56 weapons, 1 I-Com set and 2 hand grenades were among the items found.

Troops neutralize enemy gun positions - Muhamalai

Troops launched an effective attack at LTTE defences with heavy guns to neutralize enemy gun positions in Muhamalai, northern battlefront last afternoon, 17 December.

According to the defence sources, terrorists have directed indiscriminate mortar fire in three occasions at troops deployed in Muhamalai front. Army troops suffered minor damages due to the mortar fire.

Intercepting enemy communication channels, Electronic Warfare sources confirmed that terrorists suffered heavy damages.

Commodore M.Imam Hossain pays courtesy to Secretary Defence

Former Assistant chief of Bangladesh Naval staff, Commodore M.Imam Hossain, (c ), ndc, psc, BN made a courtesy call to Defence secretary Mr.Gotabaya Rajapaksa at Defence ministry last afternoon (Dec 17).

Commodore Hossain was the former Assistant chief of Bangladesh Naval staff (Logistic) at Naval Headquarters Bangaladesh. Presently he has been appointed as Defence attaché of the Bangladesh Embassy in Sri Lanka.