Discussions on for VIP Security - Leader of the House

Uditha Kumarasinghe, Irangika Range and Sandasen Marasinghe

Speaker W. J. M. Lokubandara yesterday stressed in Parliament that the existing circular of VIP security is exclusive to the Prime Minister, Speaker, Opposition Leader and Members of the Parliament. The Government should intervene with immediate effect in this respect.

The Speaker was responding to a privilege issue raised by MP Ravi Karunanayake alarming that the VIP Security circular issued by than IGP Victor Perera in 2008 excluded the Speaker, Prime Minister, Former President, Opposition Leader and Members of Parliament.

At this stage the Leader of the House, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva stated that decisions were taken about the Security of MPs at the Party Leaders' Meetings and discussions were still in progress. He also stated that if the members are acting in the House for going petty political advantages it was useless discussing these matters at the Party Leaders' meetings.

Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva also said that if the issue was raised following the proper procedure in the House, the question could be answered. We have allowed enough discussions in the House of the issues of the Opposition.

MP Basil Rajapaksa to visit India

Rasika SOMARATHNA

Senior Advisor to the President, Basil Rajapaksa MP, will visit New Delhi shortly to explain the Government's position on the humanitarian measures it has taken for the Wanni residents, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said yesterday, "We will keep Delhi apprised with regard to the humanitarian assistance process at all times," Minister Bogollagama said.

Highlighting Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee's statement regarding the Sri Lankan situation in both houses of Parliament on Wednesday, Minister Bogollagama said that concerns raised in the speech had reflected that both Government's were on a common ground.

While noting that the statement by Mukherjee had well reflected Indian Government's thinking the Minister said that this meant both Governments saw eye to eye on key issues related to the humanitarian aspect.

Addressing the media in Parliament premises yesterday the Minister said he was confident that India would not interfere in Sri Lanka's internal affairs in the face of pressure from Tamil Nadu, but would provide viable support as a friendly neighbor.

On Wednesday, Mukherjee stated in Parliament that Sri Lanka had assured India that the safety and well-being of the Tamil community in that country would be taken care of and Mukherjee had also stated that New Delhi had emphasized to Colombo that the safety and security of the civilians must be guarded at all costs and that they should have unhindered access to food and essential supplies.

He had also emphasized that what was required was a peacefully negotiated political settlement "within the framework of a united Sri Lanka respecting rights of the minorities,.

In addition the need to ensure the safety of Indian Fishermen was also highlighted with Mukherjee stating that the two governments had agreed to work towards concluding practical arrangements to prevent any incidents.

Minister Bogollagama reflecting on the speech by his counterpart said that Sri Lankan Government headed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa had the same concerns with regards to the present conflict.

The present military campaign is not against a particular community but one against terrorism and separatism and a humanitarian mission to liberate a populace which had lived under tiger tyranny for over two decades, Bogollagama said.

He further said that the present hype generated in Tamil Nadu was the work of a few politicians and did not reflect the thinking of the its community as a whole. In fact many politicians and people of Tamil Nadu was appreciative of the Sri Lankan Government's efforts to rid the affected Tamil diaspora from the LTTE tyranny he added.

A campaign to alleviate misconceptions harbored in Tamil Nadu with regards to the Sri Lankan issue would be launched soon the Minister said. He also added that the issues concerning Indian fishermen would be sorted out soon. During the same media briefing which was convened to announce weekly Cabinet decisions Minister of Mass Media and Information Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said that despite LTTE attacks assistance provided to Northern populace would continue unabated.

While condemning the latest suicide attacks by the tigers which targetted two merchant vessels carrying food stocks to Jaffna the Minister said that the act had amply demonstrated the LTTE's lack of thinking with regard to the plight of the civilians.

Troops capture Gajabapura

Troops operating on the Weli Oya front last evening captured Gajabapura, a small village in the North of Ethavetunuvewa flushing out Tiger cadres, acting Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Perera told the Daily News. In 1984 LTTE massacred Sinhala settlers living there known as Dollar farm and Kent farm.

It was later renamed as Gajabapura. With the capture of this village, troops operating in the Weli Oya frontlines further expanded their front further towards the Vavuniya district border in the West of Andankulam.

Vaiko arrested

MDMK Chief Vaiko was arrested yesterday on the charge of supporting the banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and fomenting secessionism, police said.

Vaiko was held around 3.45 p.m. from his northwest Chennai residence, police said. This is the second time that Vaiko has been arrested for supporting the banned group, the earlier occasion being during the previous AIADMK government.

Police said Vaiko has made 'highly inflammatory speeches in support of the LTTE'. He has been held for seditious speech in a rally in Chennai in which he slammed PM Manmohan Singh's stand. "There is no change in our stand. We'll support LTTE's armed struggle," Vaiko has said.