INDIA-SRILANKA-MALDIVES

Sri Lanka evicts some war refugees from villages

COLOMBO– Sri Lanka has barred some 3,000 villagers who fled the bloody final months of the country’s civil war from returning to their homes in the north, possibly so the military can set up camps in the area, ethnic Tamil lawmakers charged Monday.
The villagers were among 300,000 civilians detained in camps for months following the government’s defeat of Tamil Tigers rebels in mid 2009, ending 25 years of civil war and the rebels’ bid for an independent Tamil homeland in the north.
The government said detaining the refugees — almost all of them ethnic Tamils — was necessary to weed out rebels hiding among civilians and also to ensure that northern areas are cleared of land mines before people returned.
However, the refugees were allowed to leave the camps in December and the government says most of them have now been resettled in their villages. Officials say there are about 33,000 remaining in camps, but they are allowed to freely move out and come back.
On Monday, Suresh Premachandran, a lawmaker from the opposition Tamil National Alliance, said about 3,000 people have been barred from returning to their villages. He and two other lawmakers last week visited Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and Mannar districts, where the final battles raged.
In some villages, hundreds of people who were earlier allowed to resettle have now been evicted and sent back to schools that serve as refugee camps. Some are taking shelter under trees, Premachandran told reporters.
"The people were highly distressed and were literally rolling on the ground and weeping," the Tamil National Alliance said in a statement. "The army had forcibly loaded their belongings onto a tractor and was bringing it to the school when we got there."
He said the party has heard that the military was preparing to acquire some land for establishing semi-permanent military quarters, or cantonments. The party sought government clarification, but there has been no response, he said.
Premachandran also asked the government to allow the people to live in their villages as promised.
There was no immediate comment from the government, but government spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said last week that the resettlement process has to be carried out cautiously due to the presence of an estimated 1.5 million land mines in the region.
He said the government has given priority for demining, and so far 275,000 mines have been removed since the war’s end.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100802/ap_on_re_as/as_sri_lanka_war_refugees

2. Mangala’s party to join UNP
SLFP (Mahajana Wing) Leader MP Mangala Samaraweera will obtain the UNP membership on August 6 along with his supporters, political sources said yesterday.Mr. Samaraweera defected from the UPFA in 2007 and joined the opposition in parliament.  After that he did politics with the UNP.
He also contested the April 8 Parliamentary election on the UNP ticket and got elected.  The UNP leadership also requested Mr. Samaraweera to become a member of the UNP.
For the first time, Mr. Samaraweera entered parliament in 1989 representing the SLFP.  
Again he was elected to Parliament in 1994, held leading Cabinet portfolios in the government of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga.
He also worked as the Foreign Affairs Minister from 2005 till 2007 when he was sacked from the Cabinet by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/index.php/news/front-page-news/17340.html

3. Sri Lanka gets US help for business in former war zone
The United States aid agency has tied up with Sri Lankan businesses to set up clothing, construction and computing ventures that will create employment in the island’s north, a statement said.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) said US government support is expected to create 10,000 full-time jobs in northern Sri Lanka, which was battered by the ethnic war.
The 30-year war ended in May 2009, resulting in an economic revival in the former northern and eastern war zones as well as in the rest of the island.
"We are committed to helping conflict-affected communities return to normalcy through the creation of sustainable jobs and increased business opportunities," USAID Mission Director Rebecca Cohn said.
The USAID has forged four new business alliances with Sri Lankan private companies, under USAID’s Public/Private Alliance (PPA) Program.
USAID’s investment of about 1.1 billion rupees is generating an additional 2.9 billion rupees investment from the private sector for a total investment of about four billion rupees in the construction, business process outsourcing, and apparel manufacturing sectors.
An alliance between USAID and a Sri Lankan construction consortium will establish seven mobile training centres for construction craftsmen in the northern province where much reconstruction work is needed.
Training will be provided to 5,000 people over a period of six months including three months of on-the-job training.
USAID has also established another PPA with a leading garment textile firm in Jaffna which manufactures and exports denim textiles to US clients including Levi’s, Jones New York, J.C. Penny, Tema, and Charles Voegele.
This will create 1,800 full-time jobs over three years.
USAID also said it is teaming with leading business process outsourcing and information technology and English language training companies "to help fill workforce gaps in BPO and IT."
These alliances will establish professional IT and English skills development training centres in each of the five districts in the Northern Province.
USAID said courses in Business Process Outsourcing, Enterprise Java, and English language skills will be offered at no charge to over 3,000 under- and unemployed students who will then participate in on-the-job training schemes with private firms.
USAID is also establishing another PPA with a major garment manufacturer to expand its operations to northern Sri Lanka.
"This alliance is expected to initially employ 750 full-time staff and market its finished apparel to such firms as Tommy Hilfiger, Polo Ralph Lauren, Columbia Sportswear, Next, Tesco, and Burberry," it said.
"Emphasis will be placed on supporting widows, single mothers, and families with disabled members."  In April, USAID launched five new alliances in Northern and Eastern Sri Lanka, including aquaculture, horticulture, logistics, and garment partnerships.  http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/fullstory.php?nid=1883854554

4. EU never felt war against LTTE a criminal act: EU Charge’d affairs
Guy Platton, Charge d’affaires of the Delegation of the European Union says the EU never felt that it was a criminal act on the part of the Sri Lankan government to wage war on the LTTE, though the EU always wanted to end the fighting to pave the way for a negotiated settlement to avoid massive loss of life in contravention of the Geneva Conventions.
Platton was responding to a query by The Island, in the wake of recent revelation of excesses by foreign forces including US, British and Polish troops in Afghanistan
Dismissing LTTE claims the Sri Lanka Army had triggered the Jaffna battle, the mission (Maj. Gen (retd) Ulf Henricsson) said that "…considering the preparation level of the operations it seems to have been a well prepared LTTE initiative,"
The EU suspension of the GSP plus facility given to Sri Lanka will come into operation on August 15. The EU decision was taken after the government refused to give a written guarantee to the EU promising to implement 15 conditions, which included the implementation of the 17th Amendment to the Constitution and removal of emergency regulations. www.news.lk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15999&Itemid=44

5. Lanka to become leading eye donor in Asia
Sri Lanka will become the leading eye donor in Asia soon with the establishment of the Eye Bank at the Colombo National Eye Hospital (CNEH)in collaboration with the Singapore Eye Bank (SEB), Colombo National Eye Hospital and the Health Ministry, Health Ministry spokesman said. According to the spokesman, a Memorandum of Understanding will be signed between the Health Ministry and the SEB today (August 2 Monday) in connection with establishing the Eye Bank.
Health Ministry Secretary Dr Ravindra Ruberu will sign for MoU on behalf of the Health Ministry. The SEB will handle the project.
The majority of Sri Lankans are Buddhists and therefore Sri Lanka became the leading eye donor in Asia. The number of eye donors is going up day by day.
But, still there is no proper methodical system to do eye donations and to make use of the donated eyes within the country and internationally. The proposed Eye Bank will assist to alleviate corneal blindness in Asia.
Sri Lanka will be the major provider of cornea throughout Asia with the establishment of the Eye Bank, he said. The Eye Bank will be connected to the Association of Eye Banks in Asia (AEBA). While increasing corneal donations, the project will also increase corneal transplants. It will improve the standards of medical care for eyes and corneal transplants. Promoting research and training will also be a part of the same project, he added. http://www.dailynews.lk/2010/08/02/news25.asp

6 .Sri Lanka opens $1.5 bln port to outside investors
Sri Lanka said it would invite outside investors into its $1.5 billion Hambantota port project, the keystone of a $6 billion post-war infrastructure revitalization drive.
The invitation for external investment will coincide with the November opening of the port on Sri Lanka’s southern coast, along an ancient "Silk Road" trading route and one of the world’s biggest East-West shipping lanes.
The port and its accompanying services represent the single largest investment option for foreign investors in Sri Lanka, which is aiming to transform its economy after finally ending a quarter-century separatist war in May 2009.
One option that is not on the table for outside investors is the oil bunkering facility. Many have speculated China wants the right to use the site as part of its "string of pearls" strategy to expand its influence and maintain energy security.
"We will handle oil bunkering. We don’t want to give it outside. But bulk cargo handling, storage facility, warehouses, transshipment, and all others are open for investments," Sri Lanka Ports Authority Chairman Priyath Wickrama told Reuters.
About 30 investors — primarily from India, China, Singapore, Russia, the Middle East, Australia and major shipping lines — have expressed interest, Wickrama said. He did not elaborate further.
CHINESE PEARL?
China, Sri Lanka’s largest infrastructure lender, has loaned $425 million toward the port, which will be Sri Lanka’s largest. “We are negotiating with China for an $800 million loan for the second phase," Wickrama said.
Wickrama declined to say if China will have a role in operating the bunkering facility, about which neighboring India has expressed concern to the Sri Lankan government.
Political analysts say Sri Lanka has successfully managed Indian pressure over the Chinese port investment, which could also help transshipment trade on the subcontinent.
Hambantota is one of four ports being built or upgraded under President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s plans to renew the Indian Ocean island nation’s $42 billion economy by returning it to its old and lucrative role as a trading hub.
Sri Lanka initially aims to get 2,500 of the 70,000 cargo vessels that pass Hambantota annually to use its bunkering and cargo handling facilities, and expand that to 8,000 a year once the second phase is done in 2014.
Sri Lanka now handles around 6,000 ships annually in its only port in Colombo on the western coast, which requires ships plying the East-West shipping lanes to divert.
Initially, Hambantota will have 100, 0000 metric tonnes of bunkering capacity, which could be expanded to 4 million metric tonnes if demand picks up. http://www.lankanewsweb.com/news/EN_2010_08_02_001.html

7. Scrapping of Rs. 253bn S’kanda refinery expansion likely
Colombo: The Government is considering alternatives to Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery Expansion and Modernisation (SOREM) after a preliminary study revealed that costs of the project could exceed well over rupees half a trillion.
“Although Iran agreed to fund 70% or nearly Rs. 137 billion of the total estimated project cost of Rs. 195.5 billion (US 1.7billion) the rough estimate after the recent feasibility study is a staggering US $ 2.2billion. So SOREM has become virtually impractical and impossible,” a senior official of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and Petroleum Resources Development told The Bottom Line.
These issues had been discussed at a recent meeting chaired by Petroleum Resources and Petroleum Resources Development Minister, Susil Premjayanth with the participation of officials of the Treasury, Power and Energy Ministry, Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and state banks.
He added that with the balance sheet of CPC no bank would dream of lending for a project of such magnitude, except without a sovereign guarantee by the Treasury.
“And CPC must show that it can ensure repayment. But as there’s no proper pricing mechanism, lenders will be reluctant to lend. Under the current pricing formulae CPC can not even reach break-even point.”
According to him, 30% of expensive diesel fuel and 80% of furnace oil is burnt to produce electricity. But with the commissioning of Norrochcholai and Sampur Coal Power Plants, these high-cost diesel plants will become redundant. Furthermore, majority of the Power Purchasing Agreements (PPA) with private oil plants are to expire by 2014.
“It was discussed that there were cheaper options whereby we could increase the refinery’s capacity from the current 50,000 Barrels Per Day (BPD) to 70,000 BPD. With the government now promoting environmental-friendly fuels like LNG or Liquefied Natural Gas, we can manage with 70,000 BPD refinery for the next 15 to 20 years. If so, Sri Lanka will not need the expensive expansion project then.”
In February 2010, independent energy consulting firm –United Kingdom-based KBC Technologies, was commissioned to conduct the project feasibility study on SOREM.
The CPC earlier hoped to develop SOREM as a turnkey project (EPCC – Engineering, procurement, construction and commission project) and thereby solicit funding on supplier’s credit basis, with the contract awardee being expected to bring the necessary funds based on its own.
Under the contract, KBC Advanced Technologies is required to complete the feasibility and Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) studies by October 2010.
By manufacturing Sri Lanka’s total requirement of refined petroleum products within the country itself, a staggering US$ 300million, or Rs.34.5 billion can be saved each year by not having to import petrol or diesel, energy experts opine.
Earlier, Iran’s Oil Design and Construction Company (OD&CC) was to conduct the feasibility study under the auspices of National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company (NIORDC) once Sri Lanka made its 30% down payment of Rs.58 billion, which was near impossible with CPC’s track record.
At present, CPC is hampered by capacity inadequacy of its refinery and has to import 50% or nearly 50,000 barrels a day as refined products (petrol and diesel) at very exorbitant prices with only the balance produced locally.http://www.thebottomline.lk/2010/08/01/page1.html

8. Gen. Fonseka to appear in court again on Aug 16
Parliamentarian General Sarath Fonseka and retired Captain Senaka Haripriya, said to have been the General’s secretary during the presidential election, were produced before court today on the charge of conspiring to overthrow the government.
Counsel appearing on behalf of retired Captain Senaka Haripriya, President’s Counsel Thirantha Waraliyadda requested court for an opportunity to be granted to General Fonseka and Captain Haripriya to discuss matters pertaining to the case.
He noted that this opportunity had not been received since General Fonseka was currently in custody of the Army and the retired captain is in remand custody.
Colombo chief magistrate Rashmi Singappuli said that this should be informed to prison officials.
Opposing this, president’s counsel Nirantha Waraliyadda said that if court could not grant that opportunity, it must be recorded in the case report that such an opportunity was denied.
General Sarath Fonseka’s lawyer, attorney-at-law U. Bandara said that he agreed with the statement by the president’s counsel.
The magistrate ordered both suspects to be produced before court on the 16th of this month. http://www.newsfirst.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12346:gen-fonseka-capt-haripriya-to-appear-in-court-again-on-aug-16&catid=97:news-items-2&Itemid=294

9. Rajapaksa friend to be appointed as Auditor General
Colombo: It has been revealed that a friend of the Rajapaksa family is to be appointed as the head of the government Auditor General’s Department. It has always been a tradition to appoint a senior official at the department who has been appointed as the chief auditor. However, this time around, the tradition is to be broken by appointing an individual who has not served in the Auditor General’s Department.
The incumbent Auditor General is to retire in August and he too was appointed to the post from outside the     Department. However, it is learnt that there are two officers who are eligible to be appointed as the head of the Department.
Department employees have expressed doubts over the plan to appoint one a Rajapaksa loyalist as the chief Auditor General, which is considered an independent position. The employees say that it could be to cover up the various cases of fraud and corruption received by the Department annually www.lankanewsweb.com/news/EN_2010_08_02_004.html

Sharing:

Your comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *