The Web Sri Lanka In Focus

Saturday 19 July 2008

DMK leaders on fast to protest killing of fishermen by Lankan troops

Leaders of the ruling Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK) staged a day-long state-wide fast on Saturday to protest the killing of Tamil fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy.

Party president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi commenced the fast in Chennai today.

Several union and state ministers, besides senior party functionaries participated in the protest.

On Thursday, a resolution was adopted by the DMK's Working Committee meeting, which called for Central intervention in the matter.

The DMK also adopted a resolution that urged the Centre to summon the Sri Lanka High Commissioner and express its displeasure in strong and unequivocal terms over the killings.

A third resolution called for the intensification of patrolling by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard on the international maritime boundary to prevent incursions by the Sri Lankan Navy.

The DMK Working Committee called on the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, to convey the Indian Government's concern and displeasure over the killing to the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse during the 15th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit in Colombo next month.

Source: newstrackindia

E.U. delegation to visit Sri Lanka

A parliamentary delegation of the E.U. will arrive here on July 20 to assess the situation in the eastern part of the country, especially after the recent election to the Eastern Provincial Council (EPC).

The delegation includes a cross-section of political groups and E.U. member-states.

The delegation’s six-day visit would include meetings with key members of the Cabinet, political parties and the media.

The visit assumes importance as the issue of extension of GSP plus concession” to Sri Lanka’s textile sector is coming up for review shortly.

The Foreign Ministry said Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the E.U., Ravinatha Aryasinha, briefed the delegation in Brussels on Wednesday.

Source: Hindu