Author: TELO Admin

A Tamil war memorial erected in Mullivaikkal to remember the victims of the final stages of the conflict, has been found destroyed.

The Sri Lankan army vandalised the Mullivaikkal memorial monument located in Mullivaikkal East earlier today, just hours after the security forces blocked Tamils from erecting a memorial stone at the site where tens of thousands were massacred 12 years ago.

A complaint has been lodged at the Mullaitivu police station today regarding the demolition of the Mullivaikkal memorial.

Members of the Mullivaikkal Memorial Public Building, clergy,TELO Leader Selvam Adikalanath MP,TNPF Selvarasa Gajendran MP, lawyers of the Tamil National People’s Front and the Kariduraipatru Pradeshiya Sabha chairperson TELO Vijinthan have lodged a complaint at the Mullaitivu police station.

After cordoning off the area and under the cover of darkness, soldiers caused damage to the structure that commemorates the Tamil Genocide Day.

Troops began cordoning off the area late yesterday evening, just hours after locals had begun preparations to mark Tamil Genocide Day on May 18th.

Journalists who attempted to access the area at approximately 10.30pm last night were prevented from entering by armed Sri Lanka troops. All four roads leading to the area had been blocked by soldiers, who refused to allow anyone through.

When they finally were allowed access in the early hours of the morning, the constructed site lay in ruins.

A memorial monument, which depicts a pair of outstretched hands, had been broken off and tossed into the nearby sand. In recent years the monument was the site of annual memorials, with survivors of the massacres lighting flames of remembrance on it.

Tamils also arrived to find that a memorial stone that had been specially constructed and engraved for the12th anniversary had disappeared entirely.

“The military must have used heavy machinery to move it somewhere, maybe one of their camps,” said a local journalist. Military boot prints were strewn across the sand, amidst the scattered debris of the memorial.

This morning however, the military refused to take responsibility for the destruction, telling reporters that they had nothing to do with vandalism or the disappearance of the memorial stone. “Look at how they are lying,” added the journalist.

The destruction comes just days before the 12th anniversary of the massacres will be marked on May 18th, and amidst a ramping up of military intimidation and surveillance across the Tamil homeland.

The NIA has taken over the probe into the seizure of AK-47 rifles and ammunition along with Rs 3,000 crore worth of heroin from a Sri Lankan vessel on March 25.

The agency has registered an FIR against six Sri Lankan nationals. NIA sources said the agency will be probing the recovery of rifles and ammunition while the seizure of heroin will be probed by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).

“After the seizure of 301kg of heroin from the boat, Ravihansi, NCB had started a probe. They later reported to the state police regarding the recovery of five AK-47 rifles and 1,000 9mm bullets from the boat. Based on this, Kerala Police filed an FIR at Vizhinjam station on April 5. As the case has international ramifications and is of serious nature, NIA decided to take over the probe. An FIR has been submitted at the NIA court in Kochi,” a source said.

The accused persons in the case are Sri Lankan nationals — L Y Nandana, 46, of Nakulugamuwa; H K G B Janakadassppriya, 42, of Nakulugamuwa; A H S Mendis Gunasekara, 33, of Dondanduwa; Thilanka Madushan Ransingha, 29, of Dondanduwa; and Dadallage Nisanka, 40, of Rathgama. The case has been registered under Section 7 of the Arms Act for possession and acquisition of prohibited arms and ammunition. NIA Inspector Ebinson Franco is probing the case.

“The seized AK-47 rifles and ammunition will be received from Kerala Police soon. The boat is currently at Vizhinjam Coastal police station. We have not yet produced the accused persons before the court. We have to take them into custody for interrogation. Due to Covid-19, the initial procedures are facing a delay. Once the NIA court opens after lockdown, we will a file petition for the production of the accused persons and later their custody will be sought,” an official said.

The boat was intercepted by the Indian Coast Guard around 225 kilometres off Vizhinjam coast.

The heroin was found concealed inside the water tank of the vessel in 301 packets bearing the image of a flying horse, a common branding practice of drug trafficking syndicates. During interrogation, the arrested persons revealed that an unknown vessel carried the consignment from Chabahar Port in Iran, and handed over the same to Sri Lankan fishing boat Ravihansi in the high seas near Lakshadweep.

(The New Indian Express)

The government decided to debate the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill on 19th & 20th of May, disregarding objections from the opposition at the Party Leaders meeting, said JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Thursday (13).

He said the proposal was made by the ruling faction at the party leaders’ meeting and went on to note that the Port City Economic Commission Bill will pave the way for the Port City to transform itself into a money-laundering center.

“The Colombo Port City will not be accountable to certain laws in the country if the bill is passed,” warned Dissanayake adding that Sri Lanka’s close affiliation to one particular country will negatively impact Sri Lanka’s future in geopolitics.

He alleged the government is attempting to pass the controversial bill by using the restrictions imposed to prevent the coronavirus while directing the people’s attention towards the pandemic.

Visas of tourists and foreigners resident in Sri Lanka will be extended for 60 days without penalty, the immigration office, which is cutting down services as part of efforts to contain Coronavirus surge said.

The validity of all categories of visas issued to foreigners are automatically extended from May 11 to July 09, the Controller General of Sri Lanka’s Department of Immigration and Emigration said.

Holders of tourist visa can go to the link https://eservices.immigration.gov.lk/vs and pay the relevant ree before July 09, 2021, without a penalty.

Those leave the country within during the period can pay the visa fee at the airport.

They can also visit the immigration office in Bataramulla before 09 July and get the endorsement and pay the vista.

Resident visas area also extended till July 09.

During the period they could contact 0707101050 from 0830 to 1500hours to get an appointment to visit the head office and get the visa endorsed.

Passports will be issued to Sri Lankans in case of an emergency from Battaramulla head office and regional offices in Kandy, Vavuniya, Matara and Kurunegala.

Contact numbers

Travel Division – Battaramulla Head Office — 0707101060, 0707101070

Citizenship Division – Battaramulla — 07071001030

Visa Division – Battaramulla – 0707101050

Ports Branch – Battaramulla – 0777782505

Matara Regional Office – 041-5412212, 041-5104444

Vavuniya Regional Office — 02505676344, 025-567-6345

Kurunegala Regional Office — 037-555-0562, 037-555-0563

Kandy Regional Office – 081-562-4509, 081-562-447-

General information: www.immigration.gov.lk

With the travel restrictions in effect from today, it is strictly prohibited to open shops from 11 pm today (May 13) until 4 am Monday (May 17), Police Media Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said.

He said that during that time people should stay in their homes and no one is allowed to travel.

Transportation is permitted only for essential services and patients can travel to hospitals or to the nearest pharmacy to buy medicines, he said.

The pharmacy will be allowed to run delivery services and the public will not be allowed to leave the house for any other purpose during these three days except for an emergency, the spokesman said.

The method of going out in the order of the numbers of the National Identity Card is not applicable for these three days and it will be effective from next Monday, the media spokesman said.

Head of the Presidential Task Force, Basil Rajapaksa on Wednesday morning (May 12) left for the United States of America for medical treatment.

Basil Rajapaksa left for the USA to receive treatment, Sagara Kariyawasam, the General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) told News 1st.

According to our airport correspondent, Basil Rajapaksa has departed Sri Lanka aboard flight EK649 at around 3:15 am, en route to Dubai.