Terrorism expected to be high on agenda of SAARC summit

In the backdrop of attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul and upsurge of violence in Sri Lanka, terrorism is expected to be high on the agenda of the upcoming SAARC Summit in Colombo.

The two-day Summit from August 2, which will be preceded by official and ministerial level meetings beginning tomorrow, will also deliberate on food security, energy security and connectivity.

The SAARC meet will discuss how to deal with the scourge of terrorism that is affecting several of the eight member countries, particularly India, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Besides these countries, SAARC also comprises Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives and Bhutan.

The meet will seek to formalise a regional Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) in Criminal Matters as a tool to check terrorism through cooperation in investigation and other aspects.

India has been pressing for the legal framework, particularly in the wake of the July 7 Kabul attack which has trans-national linkages.

The regional MLAT was discussed at the last Summit held in New Delhi in April last year but it could not be finalised because of opposition by Pakistan to the extradition clause.

The Summit will also deliberate on the issues of food and energy security in view of the increasing prices of eatables and fuels.

The upcoming Summit is expected to see progress on the proposal for setting up of a SAARC Food Bank aimed at meeting the requirements of the member countries in the times of need.

The Summit will also deliberate on continued implementation of the connectivity, the theme of the last meet.

Source: outlookindia

Sri Lanka's worsening human rights could hit economy -EU

Sri Lanka's failure to address human rights concerns, including a "frightening" number of abductions, could cost the island nation a lucrative trade concession, the European Union said on Friday.

Concluding a visit to the island nation, an EU delegation for South Asia relations said that the Sri Lankan government needed to do more to address rights abuses.

Human rights groups have said around 150 people, most of them ethnic Tamils, were abducted in the first half of this year, most from the capital Colombo.

"The European parliament delegation urges the government of Sri Lanka, as a top priority, to organise investigations into these cases," the delegation said in a statement, describing the number of abductions as "frightening".

"The widespread belief that the military and police enjoy impunity does nothing to set ordinary people at ease and may even fuel the LTTE," it said, referring to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, who are fighting for a separate state for ethnic Tamils in the island's north and east.

Rights groups have reported hundreds of abductions, disappearances and killings blamed on government security forces and Tamil Tiger separatists since a bloody civil war, in which 70,000 people have died since 1983, resumed in 2006.

The government has admitted there are rights abuses and has said it is doing its best to address them.

The trade concession, called the GSP+ scheme, expires in December. It helped Sri Lanka net a record $2.9 billion from EU markets last year, or 37.5 percent of total export income.

"The European Parliament delegation remains extremely anxious about the impact a possible loss of GSP+ status would have on the economy and employment in Sri Lanka," the EU statement said.

Sri Lanka was one of 15 countries granted GSP+ concessions in 2005 to help it recover from the Indian Ocean tsunami.

The island's garment and textile industry, which employs hundreds of thousands of largely rural poor, would be hard hit if the special trade terms were axed.

The European Commission said last month it would withhold a 70 million-euro aid package unless Sri Lanka removed barriers to humanitarian assistance.

Source: reuters

Security for SAARC meet strengthened

Despite the LTTE’s ceasefire declaration for the duration of the SAARC Summit, Sri Lanka is taking nothing to chance and has drawn up an unprecedented security plan. The government on Tuesday said it viewed the ceasefire announcement as a ruse to regroup.

A senior government official told The Hindu there would no change in the security measures contemplated by the military and police to ensure smooth conduct of the summit. “We do not believe in the pronouncements of the LTTE. If the past conduct of the Tigers is any guide, the so-called unilateral ceasefire by the LTTE is all the more reason for the government to be extra vigilant,” said the official.

The security plan for the SAARC is envisaged in two phases. Some of the measures proposed would come into force only in the second phase, when the Foreign Ministers commence their two-day deliberations on July 31, and when regional leaders meet on August 2 and 3.

Several key areas in the city would be declared out of bounds for the public from July 31 to August 3. On representations from some of the SAARC countries, the government has permitted heads of state to bring their own security contingents. In a recent interaction with Foreign Correspondents Association (FCA), Army chief Lt. Gen. Sanath Foneska said the government would not hesitate to seek assistance of neighbouring countries to help the Air Force and Navy provide air cover and sea surveillance. As per the security plans, the summit venue, hotels where the delegations would stay, Katunayaka Air Base and Parliament House would be declared High Security Zones.
LTTE’s ploy

The security plan is premised on the assumption that the LTTE might use the opportunity to tarnish the country’s image by trying to sabotage an international gathering and divert attention from their battlefield losses.

Also, the military has claimed troops operating near Illuppakaddavai pounded LTTE positions with artillery and mortar fire, killing at least 25 LTTE cadre and injuring 17 others.

Source: Hindu

Sri Lanka not ready to accept unilateral LTTE cease-fire agreement

Sri Lankan government has stated that it is not bound by the unilateral cease-fire agreement announced by the Tamil Tigers Monday night.

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said in parliament Tuesday that the government will not respondent to the LTTE overture, All India Radio (AIR) reported.

The Tamil outfit had announced a 10-day unilateral cease-fire from July 26 in view of the SAARC Summit slated to begin in Colombo later this month.

However a few hours after the announcement of the cease-fire agreement by the Tamil Tigers, Sri Lankan Air Force launched massive air strikes on Mullaithivu killing 22 black tigers.

Air Force spokesman Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara told AIR that the fighter jets pounded training camp of LTTE leaders located at Uddarkattukulam in Mullaithivu.

LTTE has not reacted to the loss suffered by them following the air strike.

At the same time Sri Lankan Navy launched an offensive on an LTTE flotilla at Pulmudai off Trincomalee in the eastern coast early hours today.

Navy spokesman said that one Tamil Tiger boat was completely destroyed while two other vessels were partially damaged.

The spokesman said the 10 sea-tigers are believed killed in the sea-attack.

Source: IRNA

ESPN Star lands rights to Olympics

ESPN Star Sports has acquired exclusive cable, satellite, IPTV and mobile TV rights in 22 countries in Southeast Asia, including India, to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Deal gives the Disney-News Corp. joint venture 200 hours of coverage for the London Games and more than 60 hours for Vancouver.

"This is the first time that IOC has awarded the rights to a pay TV platform across the region, and it is a testament to our commitment to reaching out to a wide audience base across Asia with the most interesting and compelling programming," said ESS managing director Manu Sawhney.

The 22 territories covered by the deal are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, India, Indonesia, Laos, Macau (English-language rights only), Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Caledonia (English-language rights only), Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.

The company recently landed exclusive TV rights for the Indian subcontinent to soccer events including the 2010 FIFA World Cup and 2009 Confederations Cup.

Source: variety

LTTE announces unilateral ceasefire during SAARC summit

The Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) on Tuesday announced that the movement would observe unilateral ceasefire during the period of SAARC conference from 26th July to 04 August, giving cooperation for the success of the conference. Conveying goodwill and trust of the Tamil people, the LTTE Political Wing, in a press statement issued from Vanni said it wished for the success of the SAARC conference, extending the movement's support to the "countries of our region, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives."

Source: Tamilnet

Indian Govt to go ahead with Sethusamudram project

Ahead of crucial trust vote, the government bows to pressure from its ally -- the DMK -- to file affidavit to allow work on the Sethusamudram project.

Government will file an affidavit in the Supreme Court tomorrow asking for work to progress on Sethusamudaram project. Government is also planning to submit that ASI survey is not important. The
government's turnaround - considering it had earlier suggested that the Archaeological survey is imperative - is being seen as a surrender to the DMK.

The government's turnaround will come as a major boost to DMK. DMK has been pushing for the project to go ahead.

In its time of crisis it's only natural for the Congress to be more dependent on its allies, and so it comes as no surprise that the government has had to bow to the wishes of the DMK.

What is Sethusamudram?

Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project, which envisages dredging of a ship channel across the Palk straits between India and Srilanka, is finally taking shape. The project will alllow ships sailing between the east and west costs of India to have a straight passage through India's territorial waters, instead of having to circumvent Sri Lanka. This will lead to a saving of upto 424 nautical miles (780 Km) and upto to 30 hours in sailing time.

Two channels will be created - one across north of Adam's Bridge (the chain of islets and shallows linking India with Sri Lanka) South - east of Pamban Island and another through the shallows of Palk Bay, deepening the Palk straits. The total length of these two channels would be 89 Kms.

Source: timesnow

Sri Lankan expats will have to pay duty on household items

Beginning Aug. 1, Sri Lankan expatriates will have to pay a duty on electronic and household goods they ship home, according to an advisory by Customs officials in Colombo.

Members of the Sri Lankan community in Saudi Arabia have lambasted the move, while at least one shipping company in the Kingdom has complained that the government gave neither prior notice of the duty nor a grace period for goods that have already been purchased by Sri Lankans abroad and are on their way to the country.

Some of the items, such as televisions, will face a 20 percent levy upon arrival in Sri Lanka.

The size of the duty is based on the types of products being shipped. Items that will now be taxed include: air conditioners, refrigerators with two or more doors and with capacities over 500 liters, dish washers, deep freezers, four burner cookers with ovens, fully automatic washing machines, CRT televisions exceeding 29 inches and LCD TVs exceeding 32 inches. The cost of the levy depends on the item.

Andrew Sinnen, country manager for Trico International, a shipping agent in the Kingdom, said that the news has come as a shock to the Sri Lankan community.

“The expatriates, including housemaids, purchase these items over a period of time prior to their vacation and store them in our warehouses. Some of these goods are currently aboard cargo vessels,” Sinnen said, pointing out that notice should have been given for such a move in the interest of the poor workers.

Fazli Sameer, an IT consultant working in Riyadh, said it is bad news for all Sri Lankan overseas workers. Previously, they were given baggage allowances that waived import duties on personal goods.

“Removing the duty free concession on several items of household electrical goods under the prevailing passenger baggage allowance is certainly a step backward in the motivation of expatriates who look forward to return home either for their vacation or on completion of their work overseas contracts,” Sameer said.

Most expatriates, especially those living and working in the Middle Eastern region, are used to these household electrical items and would certainly want to continue using them in their own homes in their native land, he added.

“These items are not luxury for those who live abroad and they are essentials for all those who live in Sri Lanka too,” Nihal Gamage, former president of the Sri Lankan Expatriates Society said.

Source: arabnews

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