I was informed by an agent, allegedly working for 'Digos', the Secret Police of Italy, that certain video clips were being prepared by the LTTE to bolster its claim that the Sri Lankan soldiers committed war crimes.This was to be used internationally by the LTTE as proof of atrocities committed by the government of Sri Lanka. According to the informant, Prabahkaran was certain that the LTTE would be able to push back the Sri Lankan army to its pre-war position.

Then this video footage would be used to influence the International community to intervene in Sri Lanka. I gave this information to those who mattered and after the war was over the Sri Lankan Diaspora in Italy invited Major General Shavendra Fernando. He was accompanied by photographer Ramawickrama, who covered the war.

I told them of the possibility of the LTTE releasing the video footage even after the war in order to gain sympathy of the International community.

When finally Channel 4 brought out a documentary depicting the war crimes, allegedly committed by Sri Lankan solders, there was an international outcry to try the high officials of the Sri Lankan government and the war heroes, for war crimes, at the International War Crimes Tribunal at Hague. The LTTE, though badly defeated and their spirits deflated, had made a resurgence, in the international scene, with the documentary aired by the Channel 4.

The LTTE meticulously used this video footage and resources to popularise this video produced by an internationally reputed television broadcaster like the �Channel 4�.

The propaganda blitz that was independently carried out by the LTTE with the help of western journalists who were starved of international news that bleeds. As Gill points out, 'news that bleeds, Leads'. LTTE was very suave to give the impression to the European Community that an independent television station had produced the video, and had taken responsibility for its contents.

'Channel 4' had earlier produced much video footage on the Serbian Massacre and even what Charles Taylor did in Liberia.

The 'Channel 4' and the 'LTTE rump' strived to telecast the video through the most popular TV channels in Italy. Before Channels 4 contacted them, I was able to send a dossier, prepared by the Sri Lankan Defence Ministry, countering the allegations contained in the video. I used, along with the propaganda material, submitted to me through the Defence Ministry, the article which was published in the Sunday Times of U.K. As this was a short newspaper article, published in one of the most prestigious newspaper in the world, I was able to translate it into Italian and send it to all the broadcasters and other agents who supply material to the media.

This article is reproduced below. It has been written by one of the leading journalists attached to the Sunday Times, Adrian Anthony Gill. He is the Sunday Times Restaurant Reviewer and television critic. He is considered by most Europeans as one of the shiniest stars among all critics in all fields. He tormented his victims with vituperative jabs. This piece on Channel 4 video had a devastating effect. When the LTTE were trying to establish that it was the footage shot by 'Channel 4' journalists, he pondered.

The conclusions were hilarious as it was assumed to be a hoax, perpetrated on Channel 4, by the LTTE, for the consumption of blinded gullible ill-informed Europeans. No one in our Embassy or the finest translator could translate the subtle nuances and the pungent rhetoric Gill displayed with consummate skill, which would have traduced the spirit of the LTTE and their agent John Snow.

This was what Gill wrote "Choosing to Die [Terry Prachett's BBC 2 documentary on euthanasia] was billed, hyperbolically, as the first time the moment of death has been shown on television. It isn't. Not by many, many deaths. What they meant was the first death of a white western man in a sitting room; there is death all over television all the time. Sri Lanka's Killing Fields, Channel 4's documentary on that country's civil war, was made up of little else but the moment of death. Just before we get into it, I am going to pause, yet again, to have an eye-rolling weary word about John Snow's comic ties and jocund socks. And to explain why I mind and why they matter. The ugly garish ties are worn to semaphore the fact that this is a chap who is only wearing a suit because the headmaster says he must. Inside, he is really a far more relaxed, counterculture kind of dude, not at all the establishment flunky, the two-piece single-breasted implies. It is a pathetically and worryingly childish pose in a man approaching retirement who wants what comes out of his mouth to be taken seriously. Back to the programme.

"Channel 4 has been flogging this story for more than a year, ever since it was given an unattributed but disturbing clip of footage that appeared to show Tamil Tiger prisoners being executed. It has shown it so often, to righteously harangue the Sri Lankan ambassador and various spokesmen, that now nobody will talk to it.

The channel has accumulated a large collection of samizdat amateur footage from mobile phones and video cameras � mostly unattributed and uncorroborated. It mixes this footage with comment from unnamed sources with distorted voices and shadowed faces and human rights lawyers. It was brutal, it was shocking, but it wasn�t journalism.

Not a second of this has been shot by Channel 4; none of the eyewitness accounts comes from journalists.

Snow's commentary was intemperate and partisan, and it was all held together by assumptions. Channel 4 News has drifted from providing news broadcasts into being an outlet for nodding spokespeople and assorted NGOs and environmental pressure groups, or anyone who can provide interesting or sensational film. It follows the old American news adage, "If it bleeds, it leads".

What was depressing about this particularly bloody special was not just that it had precious little context or considered thought, but that the people who will suffer most from it are not governments or soldiers, but the victims of this brutal war, who deserve a more measured professionalism and due diligence, and who deserve better than this compilation of gore, topped and tailed by a man in a comedy tie.

Finally, the most demeaning and prurient part of it all was the penises of the naked men, being executed, were smudged out, as if they were the shocking part. And the pubic hair of abused and murdered women was coyly pixillated so as not to be titillating. The horror of war tidied up like Japanese porn, to save us the embarrassment and distaste of having to look at the genitals of the dead.

This was a piece of politically correct sanitising that was degrading and humiliating for the viewer and the viewed, but was symbolic of this programme's contorted news agenda. It really was the most astonishing and misjudged editorial decision from a news broadcaster that has grown into the habit of poor judgment on almost everything. Channel 4 News once had clever and astute reporters; now it boasts a revolving handful of Autocue readers with hair issues. And its arts coverage, which was by far the best of any terrestrial news, is now ill-informed, naff and embarrassing. This documentary was a low point in a continuing slump.

What both, 'Choosing to Die' and the Sri Lankan documentary suffered from in different ways was empathy - which is very popular in documentaries these days. What both should have had was a buttoned-up sober detachment."

The article had a devastating effect on the reader and neither the LTTE nor their agent John Snow was able to penetrate the sanctum sanatorium of media, the Italian Media Empire, not even in provincial television channel, till I left Italy.

The same letter was given to other Ambassadors who used the script of Mr Gill to good effect to counter malicious specious propaganda unleashed through Jonathan Miller and the Channel 4

-(AP)-

The Working Committee of the United National Party (UNP) has decided to expel 10 members including provincial councilors Maithri Gunaratne and Shiral Lakthilake from the party. UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake stated that the report compiled by the disciplinary committee appointed to inquire into the attack on Sirikotha was handed over to the Working Committee today. He stated that Working Committee decided to terminate the party membership of 10 individuals, including Maithri Gunaratne and Shiral Lakthilake based on the findings of that report.

Colombo District MP Duminda Silva is due to attend Parliamentary sessions tomorrow (18) after 18 months of leave taken with the approval of Parliament, according to government sources. He had been granted leave after being seriously injured in a clash in Mulleriyawa. He returned to Sri Lanka recently after a long period of medical treatment at a hospital in Singapore and continued undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Colombo.

JHU says that It not Sri Lanka, but India which broke the Indo-Lanka pact by not being able to demilitarize the LTTE as they promised. JHU made this accusation to India as a reply to a alleged statement made by the TNA in India that by bringing changes in to the 13th Amendment, Sri Lanka is trying to violate the Indo-Lanka pact. Party secretary Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said in a media meeting today (17) held at the party HQ, that the Indo-Lanka pact has now become politically nullified. He said that it is India who broke the pact by militarizing the LTTE instead of demilitarizing it. And even the TNA's India visit to discuss about the 13 Amendment changes wit the Indian Govt, was heavily criticized by the minister. He said that the local problems should be solved locally.

Sri Lanka's Ministry of External Affairs Monday launched the official website of the 2013 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held in Colombo in November this year. The website www.chogm2013.lk , launched at a function held today with Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris presiding, will provide information relating to the CHOGM 2013. Prof. Peiris speaking at the occasion said that holding the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka is a victory achieved by all Sri Lankans. He said that this is the first time an Asian country got the opportunity to host the Commonwealth summit.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said India would convey its views on alleged attempts by political parties in Sri Lanka to repeal the 13th Amendment to its Constitution, after considering its implications. "While this is a matter on which a decision will be taken by various political parties within Sri Lanka, we will certainly consider its implications and make known to the Sri Lankan authorities our views in the matter," Singh said in a letter to DMK chief M Karunanidhi. As per the 13th Amendment that followed the Indo-Sri Lankan Accord of July 1987, Sri Lankan government had agreed to devolve some authority to the provinces. Observing that the Centre had consistently worked for all communities in Sri Lanka to find their rightful place in the country, Singh said, "We will continue to work for attainment of this goal through a process of national reconciliation in Sri Lanka."

External Affairs Minister Professor G.L. Peiris today expressed appreciation of the action taken by the German Parliament (Bundestag) to defeat a recent Resolution critical of Sri Lanka. He also urged the German authorities the activity of several LTTE front organizations operating in Germany under the guise of community organizations. Peiris made these observations during his bilateral discussions in Berlin with Dr. Guido Westerwelle, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany. He emphasized that conditions in Sri Lanka today are conducive to significant expansion of trade and investment relations between the two countries. Germany, he pointed out, is the second largest investor from the European Union in Sri Lanka, a very significant source of tourism, and the largest source of grant and soft loan assistance from the European Union to Sri Lanka. In these circumstances, it is important for Germany to be fully informed, Minister Peiris said, about current developments in Sri Lanka.

Northwestern Provincial Councilor Ananda Sarath Kumara of the United PeopIe's Freedom Alliance(UPFA), has been further remanded until June 27th over the punishing of a school teacher at the Navodya School in Navagattegama. Puttalam Acting Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake issued the order this morning (17). Meanwhile, Nawagattegama Navodya School has been closed shortly after the demonstration held with the participation of teachers, students and members of the Ceylon Teachers' Union against the Councillor. The school has been reportedly closed at 10.30 am due to a heated situation.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalalithaa on Monday accused the Centre of not engaging the Sri Lankan government in any dialogue to resolve the issue of attacks on fishermen from the state and maintaining a 'stoic' and 'apathetic' silence over it. "The External Affairs Ministry has continued to maintain a stoic and apathetic silence and there appears to be no effort to engage the Sri Lankan government in any dialogue to resolve the issue," she said in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Recalling her earlier letters to him, she said it was regrettable there was no strong reaction from the Government of India. "The apathy of the government has emboldened the Lankan Navy to continue their predatory onslaughts on Tamil Nadu's fisher folk with impunity."

Sri Lanka's major Muslim party and coalition partner of ruling alliance, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) says the party will take legal action if the parliamentary select committee that will be appointed to revise the 13th Amendment to the Constitution approves the proposals to curtail the powers devolved to the Provincial Councils. National organizer of the SLMC, Rafeek Rajabdeen said the party was against the amendments brought to take away police and land powers from Provincial Councils. Parliamentary Group of SLMC unanimously resolved on June 11 to express opposition to any moves to make changes to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

Sri Lankan Navy arrested eight Indian fishermen who had crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and were fishing in waters north of the Talaimannar coastal line. The Indian fishermen were arrested and their 2 mechanised fishing trawlers confiscated by a team of navy personnel from the Talaimannar navy camp. Later, they were handed over to Talaimannar Police and are scheduled to be produced at the Mannar Magistrate's Court today.

Sri Lanka Marxist party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) announced that it would bring a political package to replace the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. The party led a bloody campaign against the 13th amendment and the Provincial Councils in 1987-90 period and many thousands of people died as a result. Politburo member of the JVP, parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayaka said that solutions for the problems of the Tamil people are needed to be provided concurrently with the abolition of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. JVP proposes solutions to the problems of the Tamil people in their package while proposing to abolish the 13th Amendment completely, Dissanayaka says.

Following the announcement by the government that a Code of Ethics will be introduced for the print and electronic media, the Media Ministry now says it hopes to introduce new laws for websites. Media Ministry Secretary Charitha Herath said that a committee is to be formed to draft the new laws for websites operating in Sri Lanka. Herath said that so far just 67 websites have been registered with the Media Ministry but yet there are no laws to take action against them or unregistered websites if they publish false and damaging content. He said that in other countries there are laws and when they are outdated the authorities often update them with new laws.

Youth Affairs Minister Dullas Alahapperuma says there is nothing wrong in falling in love and the police have no right to arrest young couples who just hold hands or sit together under an umbrella. Speaking at an event in Matara today, the Minister said that he had once received a complaint that 80 young couples had been arrested by the Matara police. "What did they do wrong? They were arrested for going to the beach together, sitting on a bench together or being under a tree, under an umbrella together having a chat. They never even kissed the cheeks. They were not naked. So what is wrong? If they were in front of a school then they should be removed from there," he said.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) will embark on a visit to India for talks with state officials on an invitation extended by the Indian Government, and are scheduled to leave the island tonight. A delegation of TNA parliamentarians led by its leader R. Sampanthan, is expected to meet Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid among others, during the visit. The main focus of the talks will be the proposed amendments to the 13th Amendment of the Constitution, among other political developments in the island. Several political parties, including government allies, had recently raised strong objections to the 13th Amendment and wanted it repealed.

DMK president M. Karunanidhi does not oppose the training of the Sri Lankan military in India because he wants Congress support to get his daughter Kanimozhi re-elected to the Rajya Sabha, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa said Saturday. "Despite the DMK exiting the central government, Karunanidhi is not opposing the centre because he needs the support of five Congress legislators for his daughter Kanimozhi's reelection," she said. Kanimozhi is one of the two DMK members in the Rajya Sabha who will retire July 24. A total of six members, including Kanimozhi, would retire next month.

The Bodu Bala Sena organization objects to the decision taken by the British Council to hold an English examination for kids in its Kandy library upon a request of a private tutor in Aunradhapura, on the Poson Poya Day. The objection was officially made to the British Council Kandy library authorities by the BBS Kandy organizer Ven. Liyanwala Rathanasara thero and Central Provincial council JHU member Thushara Swarnathilaka. Ven.Rathanasara thero states that bringing the children from Anuradhapura to Kandy on a Psoson Poya day is a terrible wrong doing.

United National Party Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake yesterday pointed to the sharp fall in the Rupee and stock market as being telling signs of the country's economic crisis.Karunanayake warned that the sharp depreciation of the rupee over the last 72 hours impacted the country's imports and increased the country's debt burden by billions of rupees. Yesterday the currency fell to a six month low of 129 against the US dollar. "When the rupee fell against the dollar from Rs. 114 to Rs. 128 last year, the country's debt burden increased by Rs. 280 billion. It is poised to increase again now," Karunanayake charged.

Former Army Commander and the leader of the Democratic Party Mr. Sarath Fonseka says that the devolution of power is not that much of a problem. He made this comment while leaving the court yesterday (14) after appearing for the case file against him and his secretary retried Army captain Mr. Senaka de Silva regarding providing accommodation and wages to 10 Army deserters to relieve them from the state loyalty. Mr. Fonseka further said that we can not go back to the stone age solutions. Answering to a question regarding the elections in Northern and Eastern provinces, He said that according to the law if elections are held in other provinces, it should be the same in North and East.

The President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa has appointed a new Commander to Sri Lanka Army. Major General Daya Rathnayake has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and appointed as Commander of the Sri Lanka Army with effect from 1st August, the Defense Ministry said today. Current Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya has been promoted to a General and appointed as the Chief of Defence Staff with effect from August 01 while the Present Chief of Defense Staff Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetileke will relinquish his position on the same day. Lieutenant General R.M.D Rathnayake, more popularly known as 'Daya Rathnayake' is currently the 43rd Chief of Staff in the Sri Lanka Army (since February 2010). He will become the 20th Army Commander of Sri Lanka.