Quick Look

UPFA public rally in Kurunegala

President Mahinda Rajapaksa will address a UPFA public rally tomorrow at 2 p.m. at the Maligapitiya grounds, Kurunegala in support of its candidates contesting the Wayamba Provincial Council elections.

Fast demanding Tigers to release civilians

A fast campaign demanding the LTTE to release innocent civilians from the human shield in Vanni organised by the Independent Student Front will be held today from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. opposite Ramanadan Hindu Ladies College, Bambalapitiya.

A public petition will also be handed over to ICRC followed by the fasting.

Launch of new book

Casteless or Caste-blind? Dynamics of Concealed Caste Discrimination, Social Exclusion and Protest in Sri Lanka published by Kumaran Book House, Colombo and Chennai, will be launched at a ceremony at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, today from 2 to 4 p.m.

The speakers include Prof. Jonathan Spencer of the University of Edinburgh, Dr. Selvy Thiruchandran of the Women's Education and Research Centre and Senior Advocate R. K. P. Goonesekera.

The authors are Kalinga Tudor Silva, Senior Professor of Sociology and Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya, P. P. Sivapragasam, Director, Human Development Organisation, Kandy and Paramsothy Thanges, lecturer in Sociology, University of Colombo.

Meditation for chickenpox patients

A special meditation program for chickenpox patients will be held on February 8 at 5.30 p.m. at Harmony Hall, 55, Peters Lane, Dehiwela. The program which is one of the monthly health programs, is organised by the Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga Centres, Sri Lanka.

A highlight of this program is a presentation on chickenpox by Dr. Viji Chandramohan.

Following the presentation, an hour of meditation will be conducted for patients. Relatives and friends of patients who cannot be present, can represent them.

Admission is free. Contact 011-2717572 or 011-2344106.

Islamic New Year prize giving

The Islamic New Year Prize Giving of Al Madrasathul Furqanniyah, 213, Layard's Broadway, Colombo 14 will be held on February 8 at 2 p.m. at Sri Gurunarayana Hall, Layard's Broadway, Colombo 14.

Islamic lecture in Tamil

An Islamic lecture organized by Dharunnadhvah Lilkhairiyath, an Association of Muslim men and boys, on 'Successful indeed are the Believers' by As Sheik M. Anas (Naleemi), will be held on February 9 after Asar prayers at Al-Ma'hadul Bukhariyul Kadirie Thakiya (Jamiul Falah Jumma Mosque) 178, Layard's Broadway, Colombo 14.

Anniversary celebrations

The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation Muslim Service will broadcast the first year anniversary celebration programme of the Madrasathul Sabiul Rashard, Maligawatte Jumma Mosque, Colombo tomorrow at 8.10 a.m.

DS shramadana postponed

The shramadana to be held at D.S. Senanayake College, Colombo on Saturday has been postponed.

Musical at St. Joseph's

'Marians' Live in Concert, a musical program will be held tomorrow at 6.30 p.m. at St. Joseph's College auditorium.

This will be held in aid of the Kelani Cables Welfare Society.

President assures Ban ki-Moon:

No harm to civilians

Asela KURULUWANSA, Indika POLKOTUWA, and Sanjaya MATURATA

I have informed UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon yesterday over the phone that the humanitarian operation to defeat terrorism are conducted by the Sri Lanka Army in a manner that does not harm or cause grief to the civilians in the North, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said in Kandy.

The President has also informed the UN Secretary General that it was the duty and obligation of the Government to liberate the innocent Tamil civilians from the clutches of the brutal terrorists.

Security Forces are trying to liberate civilians from the grip of the LTTE ensuring the safety of civilians while the LTTE has rejected the appeal made by the Co-Chairs to release the civilians held captive by them.

FM appreciates Co-Chairs' stand

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama appreciated the statement made by the Tokyo Co-Chairs who have recognized that the "international efforts to persuade the LTTE to allow the civilians freedom of movement have failed".

The Co-Chairs have also drawn attention to the fact that within a short period, the LTTE will lose control of the remaining areas in the North.

After nearly three decades of fighting the LTTE, who have been proscribed in several countries including the USA, UK, the European Union, India and Canada, Sri Lanka is at a juncture at which the military is gaining control of all areas in the North.

The Government is fully aware of the need to look after the welfare of the civilians who are being held as human shields by the LTTE. President Mahinda Rajapaksa on January 29 announced a 48 hour safe passage to the civilians to move to a safe zone, keeping in mind, the need to ensure the security and welfare of these innocent civilians. The Government remains ready to provide humanitarian facilities to the civilians if the LTTE lets the people go.

The Government has also declared a 'zero civilian casualty' policy in its military operations and at all times made every effort to ensure that civilians are supplied with food, medical supplies and other humanitarian assistance in collaboration with the UN and the ICRC. It is unfortunate that the LTTE is exploiting the safe zone declared by the military to place their heavy artillery and using this zone as a launching pad, causing civilian casualties and endangering their security.

The Government wishes to reiterate its position that the military activities are aimed solely at eradicating terrorism. The Government notes the timely call by the Co-Chairs to the LTTE to lay down arms. The Government has repeatedly called on the LTTE to surrender their weapons and join the democratic process.

The President is committed to continue the political process that has already been embarked on.

UN apologises for comment

Manjula FERNANDO

The United Nations yesterday apologised to the Government for their comments over a report of using 'forbidden' cluster bombs on the Puthukudiruppu hospital in the Vanni.

The statement issued by the UN's Colombo based spokesperson Gordon Weiss, did not point a finger at military, but it prompted an Amnesty International report denouncing the act which they directly attributed to Government Forces.

Disaster Management and Human Rights Ministry Secretary Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha said the UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka Neil Buhne extended a verbal apology yesterday morning for the comments made by its spokesman.

However, Prof. Wijesinha has insisted for a statement that would lead to correcting the Amnesty International report based on the UN statement, in a letter addressed to the UN Resident Coordinator yesterday morning.

He wrote that the Government was "reaching a very difficult situation with many people pouncing on any loose statements by respected agencies like UN and ICRC and twisting them to their own uses."

Prof. Wijesinha said the the report of the use of cluster bombs by Government Forces was a frail attempt by the defeated LTTE to rouse emotions of the international community. "We did a detailed analysis of how the storty escalated," he said adding that the reports were trying to indicate the Government was using Russian made forbidden munitions in its humanitarian mission to free civilians from LTTE clutches. "They should be careful not to fall into LTTE traps," he added.

WPC nominations from Feb 19-26

The Government yesterday published the Gazette notification declaring elections for the Western Provincial Council.

Accordingly, the period for accepting nominations will be February 19 to 26 noon.

Independent groups contesting the elections are required to make cash deposits by noon on February 25. The deposit required is Rs. 2,000 per candidate.

The Western Provincial Council will elect 111 members including the bonus seats. The date of the poll will be announced following the handing over of nominations.