NP Governor orders priority to Southern contractors in Northern development tenders

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 May 2010, 20:20 GMT]
Northern Province Governor and former Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Commander, Major. Gen. G. A. Chandrasiri, has directed Government Secretaries in the North to prioritize contactors from South in allocating tenders to all development work in the North, sources in Jaffna said. In the context of North being invaded by Southern Sinhalese businessmen and traders Governor’s directive effectively further denies all opportunities to local contractors in the development works in North, the sources added.
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SLA releases 495 Tamils detained in special detention centres in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 19 May 2010, 05:51 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) released 495 Tamil detainees held in Thellippazhai Special Rehabilitation Centre and Kaithadi SLA detention centre in an event held in Jaffna Veerasingham Hall Tuesday. 270 students, 198 boys and girls of school going age, 72 Jaffna University students, 125 men and women claimed to have been former Liberation Tiger cadres were officially handed over to their parents at the event.
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Valikaamam HSZ resettlement issue remains unresolved

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 May 2010, 09:46 GMT]
The issue of resettling families uprooted from their properties by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) for the establishment of High Security Zone (HSZ) discussed in a meeting in Thellippazhai Divisional Secretariat Monday was not resolved due to the non-cooperation of the Tamil political leaders, the representatives of the Welfare Organizations for Uprooted Persons (WOUP) who arranged the meeting said. WOUP had requested all the parliamentarians of Jaffna district to raise their voices together to solve the issue, its representatives said.
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Resettlement of uprooted civilians remains rejected in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 May 2010, 11:05 GMT]
The civilians uprooted from Valikaamam in Vadamaraadchi by occupying Sri Lanka Army (SLA) converting their lands into High Security Zone (HSZ) 20 years ago have lost all hopes despite repeated promises and announcements made by government ministers, officials and Jaffna SLA Commander as SLA authorities continue to deny permission for resettlement, according to A.C. Nadarajah, one of nearly a hundred thousand uprooted persons in Jaffna peninsula. Mr. Nadarajah, a former principal, social activist and the present manager of ‘Yarl Thinakural’ in Jaffna, leads one of the welfare organizations for uprooted civilians in Jaffna peninsula. "It is obvious that the main reason for this predicament is the adamancy of the SLA to vacate the lands and properties confiscated from thousands of families in Jaffna peninsula," Mr. Nadarajah told journalists in Jaffna.
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Jaffna Mayor demands detained deputy mayor to be released within 3 days

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 11 May 2010, 10:45 GMT]
Ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Jaffna Mayor, Ms. Yogeswari Patkunam said that unless Jaffna deputy mayor, Ilango alias Regan arrested and detained in Jaffna remand prison is released within three days Jaffna Municipal Council (JMC) employees will abstain from their duties bringing all the work of JMC to a stand still, in a media release to local dailies. Meanwhile, JMC opposition parties accused Mayor’s husband Patkunam of forcing JMC employees to abstain from duty Tuesday. The employees however gave up the protest when Minister Douglas Devananda and the Mayor requested them in the afternoon to do so. Following this Mayor Ms. Yogeswari Patkunam issued the media massage, which has drawn the attention of peninsula residents who consider it as an open challenge to the judicial system, sources in Jaffna said.
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Indian High Commissioner opens Visa handling office in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 May 2010, 12:16 GMT]
Mr. Asok K. Kantha, the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanaka, officially opened a branch of Indian Visa handling office Wednesday around 3:00 p.m in a private building on Brown Road in Jaffna. This office will receive applications for visa to India and send them to Colombo Indian High Commission for processing and then deliver the visa to the applicants, it was said in the opening event. Jaffna district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians, Suresh Premachandran and Mavai Senathirajah participated in the event. Minister Douglas Devananda, the head of Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP), who usually participates in events of this nature, was a notable absentee as he was not invited, sources in Jaffna said. Jaffna Mayor Ms. Yogeswary Patkunam of ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) though invited turned up only when the event had ended and the guests were leaving.
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2 EPDP men alleged of attempting to issue death threats to Chaavakachcheari magistrate

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 April 2010, 15:33 GMT]
Chaavakachcheari Magistrate, P. J. Pirabakar Friday directed Chaavakachcheari police to investigate into an allegation against Jaffna Deputy Mayor Thurairajah Ilango alias Regan and Allexander Soosaimuthu alias Charles, Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) organizer for Thenmaraadchi, for engaging in activities aimed at issuing death threats to Magistrate Pirbakar or in attempts to kill him, sources in Chaavakaccheari said. Soosaimuthu was the EPDP contestant in the parliamentary elections. The allegation was made to Chaavakachcheari magistrate court in a letter where the residents of Paa’ndiyan Thaazhvu had informed that the above mentioned EPDP persons were seen to move about with weapons in the area for three days since Tuesday where magistrate Pirabakar lives in Paa’ndiyan Thaazhvu, with the motive to issue death threat or to kill him, the sources added.
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Jaffna Mayor allows star hotel in historical sacred site in Nalloor

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 April 2010, 06:07 GMT]
Amidst strong protests raised by Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians, Saiva and cultural organizations in Jaffna peninsula against the proposed construction of a star hotel in the land where the palace of last Tamil King of Jaffna Kingdom Sangkilian had stood and in the sacred vicinity of historically famous Nalloor Kanthasuvami temple, ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Jaffna Mayor, Ms. Yogewary Patkunam has decided to permit construction of the said star hotel, sources in Jaffna said. Meanwhile, UPFA Minister Douglas Devananda, in a recent press meet in Colombo had said that he had advised the Mayor on this issue and that he has taken action to stop the hotel being built on the sacred site, the sources added.
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Jaffna MP accuses EPDP of illegal sand excavation in Vadamaraadchi

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 April 2010, 05:38 GMT]
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Jaffna parliamentarian, E. Saravanbhavan publicly raised accusation against Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP), a constituent party of the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA), for having appropriated exclusive rights to excavate sand for building construction in Ma’nattkaadu in Vadamaraadchi East using illegal means making millions of rupees, in a press report, sources in Jaffna said. Meanwhile, EPDP Minister Dougals Devananda, in response to Saravanabhavan’s accusation, said that the EPDP firm engaged in sand excavation is registered in Sri Lanka parliament and the increase in the demand for sand is due to Sri Lanka Army (SLA) permitting only a limited number of lorries to transport sand from Ma’nattkaadu SLA High Security Zone (HSZ), in a media report, the sources added.
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Sri Lanka’s new Foreign Affairs Minister is G.L.Peiris

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 April 2010, 11:04 GMT]
The new Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka is Mr.G.L.Peiris and Basil Rajapakse has been appointed as Economic Development Minister. Traditional Industry and Small Entrepreneur Development Ministry goes to Douglas Devananda. Thirty seven member cabinet took oaths before the President Mahinda Rajapakse Friday afternoon at Presidential Secretariat. The two new faces in the cabinet are Basil Rajapakse and Wimal Weerawanse. Basil Rajapakse is the brother of President Mahinda Rajapakse. Wimal Weerwanse is the leader of the National Freedom Front (NFF), a breakway group of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). All others served in the outgoing cabinet.
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Chamal Rajapakse new Speaker, Fonseka attends parliament

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 April 2010, 08:18 GMT]
The first session of the seventh parliament elected in the April 8 general election was inaugurated Thursday with all new parliamentarians were sworn in the morning. Eldest brother of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Mr. Chamal Rajapaksa was elected new Speaker of the parliament. Former Commander of the Sri Lanka Army General (retd.) Sarath Fonseka was brought to the parliament under tight security from the Sri Lanka Navy Headquarters where he is being detained since his arrest on February 8.
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SLA blocks Hindus performing rituals in Keerimalai

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 April 2010, 10:14 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) authorities in Jaffna have obstructed Hindus performing religious rituals to their ancestors in the temple pond as well as dissolving the ashes of their cremated relatives in Keerimalai seas around the historically famous Nakuleasvaram temple claiming that Keerimalai has been declared as a tourist spot and no one should pollute the springs and sea therein, sources in Jaffna said. This infringement on religious rights which had been observed by the Hindus for ages has angered the Hindu organizations in the peninsula, the sources added. Keerimalai is one of the major tourist attractions in Jaffna peninsula and SLA has imposed this restriction in order to please the Sinhalese tourists who continue to pour in their thousands after the opening of A9 road, representatives of the organizations said.
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EPDP men accused of intimidating SLFP organizers in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 April 2010, 10:46 GMT]
Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) candidates of the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) who contested Jaffna electorate allied with Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) led by former Minister Douglas Devananda accused EPDP men for intimidating them when they were coming out of Jaffna Secretariat after the vote count, sources in Jaffna said. Meanwhile, the four defeated SLFP candidates, being the organizers of the party in Jaffna district, have been instructed to stay in the peninsula and to continue to work for the party by Basil Rajapakse, the senior advisor to President Rajapakse and his brother. EPDP authorities fear that these four persons as SLFP organizers will be functioning as representatives of the government which would negatively affect their power.
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Overwhelming Tamil majority rejects elections under Sri Lankan State

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 April 2010, 11:04 GMT]
A record number of candidates, numbering more than 1800 contested for the parliamentary seats in the North and East, but Eezham Tamils responded to it by a record low in participation. The turnout was only 18 percent in the North. Even after including the displaced it is only 23%. The clear verdict of Eezham Tamils, said in the most profound democratic way under circumstances possible, is that they have no confidence in democracy under Sri Lankan State. Another interesting observation is that in the entire Jaffna district, the leading Tamil National Alliance (TNA) totally polled just 65,119, only as much as the 64,256 votes cast in favour of Vaddukkoaddai Resolution by the diaspora in UK alone. The silent but vast majority of Eezham Tamils at home demand new genre of political organisation and leadership is the message of Thursday's polls.
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Election fraud feared in Jaffna electorate

[TamilNet, Monday, 05 April 2010, 16:47 GMT]
The open participation of a high police officer in the election propaganda meeting of Minister Douglas Devananda at Nalloor Ilang Kalaingar Hall Sunday has triggered suspicion and fear that the police and Sri Lanka armed forces will support election fraud in favour of Douglas Devananda’s Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) and its ally Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), sources in Jaffna said.
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EPDP alleged of removing wall posters of other contestants, in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 02 April 2010, 12:51 GMT]
United National Party (UNP) chief candidate Ms. Vijayakala Vijayakala’s supporters in Jaffna town accused Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) for tearing off their campaign wall posters and pasting Minister Douglas Devananda’s and EPDP candidates in their places in Jaffna town and its surroundings. Other political parties including Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and All Ceylon Tamil Congress too blamed the EPDP men for removing their wall posters.
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Ruling UPFA Mayor of Jaffna reports of an attempt on her life

[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 April 2010, 19:23 GMT]
Mayor of Jaffna Ms. Yogeswary Patkunam of the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) said that she managed to escape from an attempt on her life Thursday around 1:30 a.m as she was on her way to Durraippah Stadium to check arrangements for the public meeting in which President Mahinda Rajapakse was to address the same day, in a press meet she held Thursday evening in Jaffna. Her husband, her driver and an attorney-at-law of Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP), an ally of ruling UPFA, were present at the press meet.
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Mahinda Rajapakse displeased with Jaffna election meeting

[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 April 2010, 11:01 GMT]
Despite efforts by Minister Douglas Devananda and the candidates of Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) it was possible to bring in only less than 400 persons to attend the propaganda meeting in which Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse participated Thursday in Jaffna Duraippah Stadium, sources in Jaffna said. Mahinda Rajapakse appeared disturbed and displeased on seeing a small crowd and delivered an address which failed to cover the much expected and vital issues like political solution, resettlement of uprooted families in Valikaamam North in Sri Lanka Army occupied High Security Zone (HSZ) and restoring normalcy in Jaffna peninsula.
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Douglas Devananda intimidates Yarl Thinakural editor, manager in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 April 2010, 06:50 GMT]
Douglas Devananda, a minister in Mahinda Rajapaksa's cabinet and the leader of the paramilitary-cum-political party Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP), has publicly warned the editor of Yarl Thinakural K. Vamathevan and its administrative manager A. Nadarajah for having published front page news on the attack on Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) candidate Ankajan, stating that the reporting has negatively affected election propaganda for his party besides damaging his reputation. Douglas Devananda openly threatened that Vamathevan and Nadarajah will not be able to go for work Friday if they fail to apologize to him at a press meet he held for the local media in Jaffna Srithar Theatre Thursday morning. The open threat by Devananda to the lives of the news editor and the reputed manager of the Jaffna daily has created fear and panic among the media persons in Jaffna peninsula.
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‘Sinhala Only’ in a government office opening event in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 22 March 2010, 17:15 GMT]
Local media reporters in Jaffna peninsula staged a walkout Monday from the official opening of Sri Lanka Foreign Employment (SLFE) branch in Nalloor in Jaffna Monday when it was conducted in Sinhalese language only. Tamil Minister Douglas Devananda was also present at the event along with Northern Province Governor, G. A. Chandrasiri. Meanwhile, the Governor and the Minister later participated in the foundation stone laying ceremony for the new building of Jaffna Municipal Council in its original premises. The government is fervent in opening various offices and laying foundation stones for new buildings in an attempt to entice the voters of Jaffna peninsula, civil society circles in Jaffna observed.
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