Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that the Sri Lankan government is looking at seeking legal mean of stopping existing illegal operation of the LTTE rump, operating from the overseas."Most of the hierarchy of the LTTE were killed at the final stages only a few low rung cadres have managed to escape and are now engaged in false propaganda operations in order to collect funds from the Diaspora.

They were engaged in illegal operations like gun running and human smuggling using their shipping fleet various organizations and front offices in many parts of the world. The government is looking at seeking legal means of stopping existing illegal operation of the LTTE rump," Mr. Rajapaksa said.

He made this comment addressing the Intercontinental Chapter Meeting of the Young Presidents� Organization, held at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies in Colombo. Speaking at the event Secretary Defence said that Sri Lanka was plagued with ruthless terrorist attacks which had caused immense suffering to our entire population and when His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa was elected to the Presidency in 2005, he had a mandate from the people to end the terrorist conflict once and for all, a daunting task which many previous governments had failed. The LTTE terrorists had no interest in peace, instead, they exploited the respite given through peace talks and ceasefires to kill its opponents and strengthen its offensive capabilities he said. The terrorist did not allow any democratic freedoms in the areas they dominated so the President was keen to resolve the conflict and his first priority was to do so through peaceful means he added.

With the successful end of the humanitarian operation the government was left with a huge task of ensuring the welfare of around 300,000 internally displaced persons he reminded. The government had to demine an area of about 5000 square kilometres of land before resettling the IDPs he said. Rehabilitating thousands of ex-LTTE cadres and reintegrating them to society was carried out in a well planned manner the Secretary noted. He mentioned that the government after a national consultation conference with key officials in the UN and other relevant agencies, work on creating welfare villages to house the IDPs began and the facilities there exceeded international standards. He reiterated the effort of the government's commitment in providing relief to the people even though the LTTE did not allow these resources to be used properly.

Talking further he said that the Government has launched an initiative to construct over 78,000 houses in the North and East, including houses constructed with donor assistance and the Sri Lankan Army alone has renovated more than 7,500 houses and constructed nearly 4,600 new permanent and 6,000 semi-permanent houses for civilians being resettled. And under the government's "Northern Spring" programme most of the infrastructure development work including building of roads, minor tanks, public buildings, hospitals and schools and provision of electricity, water supply and sanitation, upgrading of healthcare facilities were undertaken, he added.

Within just three years and four months after the defeat of the LTTE, all the Internally Displaced Persons living in the welfare camps have been successfully resettled and the successful completion of the resettlement programme and the closure of the IDP camps in such a short period is a significant and laudable achievement by any standard he disclosed.

Speaking on rehabilitation the Secretary said that speedy actions taken by the Government with the assistance of the military to rehabilitated nearly 12,000 ex-LTTE cadres who had surrendered to the Security Forces at the end of the Humanitarian Operation was a complete success as seen on a research conducted by two American academics, Dr. Kruglanski and Dr. Gelfland of the University of Maryland, College Park, which indicated the significant decline in the support of violence amongst all beneficiaries of the rehabilitation programme, including even the most hard-core cadres. He further said that every opportunity has been given to the rehabilitated and reintegrated ex-LTTE cadres to resume normal lives in society including assistance to set up their own businesses, obtain funds for self-employment, and undertake farming and fisheries related activities.

He said that peace and stability the entire country now enjoys has already yielded tremendous dividends as tourist arrivals are on the rise, and the country has been chosen to host several significant international events including the 58th annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference, the 2012 Twenty20 Cricket World Cup, and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2013. He expressed optimism about the country's future prospects and requested the business leaders to exploit the vast potential the country has to offer including the highly educated work force in fields such as Information Technology. There are a number of Sri Lankan companies that have already made a mark internationally. The same can be said for fields such as Medicine, Accountancy, Engineering, and various other sectors in which Sri Lanka produces large numbers of committed and talented professionals every year he added.

Pointing on the government's initiatives he said in order to realise the tremendous growth potential that the country has, the Government of Sri Lanka has undertaken a range of development initiatives and the on-going urban development programmes are a case in point. These are focused primarily on uplifting the quality of the country's urban spaces through the development of clean, green, people friendly cities and the commercial capital of Colombo is being transformed through several initiatives he added.

He was confident that the urban regeneration programme underway in Colombo, and the urban development projects underway in the other cities around the country, will result in the country's urban spaces becoming wonderful cities in which to live. He mentioned several major infrastructure programmes presently underway, including the building of highways between key cities, the upgrading of the railway network, and the expansion of electrification and water supply and building new Ports and airports.

Participating in a question and answer session at the end of his speech Secretary Defence said most of the hierarchy of the LTTE were killed at the final stages only a few low rung cadres have managed to escape and are now engaged in false propaganda operations in order to collect funds from the Diaspora. They were engaged in illegal operations like gun running and human smuggling using their shipping fleet various organizations and front offices in many parts of the world he added. He said the government is looking at seeking legal means of stopping existing illegal operation of the LTTE rump. Answering a query the Secretary said the governments had to face many issues like Political/Military/Economic/ Social when seeking a solution to the problem and also there were a lot of external pressures and involvements. But this government addressed all those issues successfully and in constant liaison with other countries and carried out the humanitarian operations he added. He again reiterated the need for political stability in winning the war and also achieving post war development goals of the country. He extended an invitation to all to join hand and work together.

Even though the size and the strength of the military was increased the government never compromised on the welfare issues of the general masses he said. Public support was a vital component in the fight against terrorism he noted. The President as the Commander in Chief gave clear directives to military and also personally visited to many parts of the conflict zone during the operations he said. Had we backtracked on our aim during difficult times we would be still embroiled in the war, strong leadership, proper planning and clear directions took us to success, he reminded. The high standard of the professionally qualified military officers with foreign training and experience was exemplified during the operations he said.

The Saudi Arabian government Kingdom has offered a grace period for the overstaying Sri Lankan migrant workers, Sri Lankan embassy of Riyadh said. The grace period is valid from today and the overstaying Sri Lankans can leave the Kingdom under an amnesty. The Embassy asks the overstaying Sri Lankans to report to the Saudi Immigration and Emigration Department to obtain pass to leave the country without being punished. Unconfirmed sources say that around 10,000 Sri Lankans are staying in the Kingdom without valid visa or authorization.

The Tamil National Alliance has urged China to influence the government to address Tamil grievances in a serious manner and put forward a political solution to their concerns. TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran said that the government often banks on China to avoid pressure exerted from countries like India and the United States. 'China must look at the actual situation in Sri Lanka and not do anything that may harm Tamil sentiments. They must use the influence they have on the government to push them to address Tamil concerns,' he said. Meanwhile Tamil National People's Front leader Gajendrakumar Ponambalam said despite the end of the war four years ago the government is now continuing to wage a war against the Tamils by other means.

Two navy personnel had fallen off a small Sri Lanka Navy vessel which was involved in an accident during the Victory day Parade at the Galle Face Green this morning. The boat had capsized during the parade causing both sailors to fall overboard. One of them has been rescued while the other sailor is reported missing at sea. Approximately 170 officers and 2700 sailors of the Sri Lanka Navy had taken part in the Humanitarian Victory Day Parade 2013, which marks the fourth anniversary of ending of terrorism. The Naval Contingent comprised of Naval Forces from the Western Naval Command, the Southern Naval Command, the Wanni Naval Command, the Eastern Naval Command and the Northern Naval Command.

Mrs Ananthi Sasitharan, who personally witnessed Sri Lanka military taking away her husband, Mr Elilan, a political leader of the LTTE, at the end the Vanni War in May 2009, speaks out her experience from a civilian point of view and as a mother caring for her children during the war and the genocidal onslaught. Still living in Vanni, at Ki'linochchi, the 46-year-old mother of three is also running an organization that seeks to establish what had happened to their beloved ones. The SL State is still refusing to reveal the fate of those who were filtered away from the civilians and taken into buses to undisclosed detention camps. The narration of the survivor of the genocidal massacre, told with courage from Ki'linochchi, brings out the spirit and courage of a people who stood with their liberation fighters until the last moment. TamilNet brings out a 40-minute recount by Mrs Sasitharan.

A group of persons including two leaders of the Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) have been arrested by Mannar Police today over a commemoration ceremony. The General Secretary of the TNPF, S. Gajendran and National Organizer, S. Manivannan are said to be among the group of around 15 party members arrested. They were arrested regarding a ceremony organized today to commemorate the deaths of Tamils during the war in Sri Lanka, TNPF leader and former MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam told Ada Derana. He stated that the arrests were made at around 4.00pm today (18) and that they are currently in Mannar Police custody.

Impeached Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayke who appeared before the Bribery Commission issued a lengthy statement denying the charges levelled against her. Sources close to Dr. Bandaranayake said she gave a detailed explanation on how she obtained each and every asset she possessed. She spoke for some three and a half hours giving details of her bank accounts and how she came to own her other properties. She emphasised that she had accumulated her assets in a legitimate way. Dr. Bandaranayake was asked to appear before the commission once again at 9.00 a.m. on Monday. The charges include the non-declaration of assets and liabilities annually and about some 20 bank accounts she held in various banks including nine accounts in the National Development Bank (NDB).

President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the Victory Day at the colourful ceremony held at Galle Face Green reiterated that the cruel terrorist war was ended four years ago and there will be no more wars and blood bath in the country. He said the country had been united as one nation and the people were free from terror and fear. The President recalled that the entire world warned not to engage the ruthless LTTE but to offer what the terrorists wanted. 'Our brave armed forces displayed that a ruthless terrorist outfit like the LTTE could be defeated though the world had second thoughts',the President said.

UNP MP Ravi Karunanayaka says that the former media spokesperson of the LTTE Daya master had asked to compete from the UNP to the NPC polls but the party did not allow it. He further stated that for the UPFA which considers previous terrorist activities as a qualification for the politics has accepted Daya Master to their list. MP Karunanayaka made this remark at a media briefing held yesterday (17) at the National plantation workers union hall at Rajagiriya. HE said that not only Daya Master, Tamilini, even the former friend of the LTTE leader Prabhakaran Gunasundaram Jayasundaram too will contest to the NPC from UPFA.

President of the National Trade Union Centre (NTUC), K.D. Lal Kantha, alleged the electricity bill of Minister of Mass Media and Information, Keheliya Rambukwella, was Rs 121,114 for the month of March. "This is the bill for his private home. These private bills are paid by his ministry to the CEB. Why can't the President and the Cabinet, as a start, enact a law, to prevent the use of the public money to pay the bills of the ministers?" he questioned. The people of the country must fight to totally abolish the electricity tariff hike in the coming days, without limiting themselves to the reversal of the new electricity tariff plan. He expressed these views addressing the media in Colombo, at a convention organized by the Coordination Committee for the National Trade Union Alliance (NTUA), in response to the remarks made by President of the Federation of University Teachers' Associations (FUTA), Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri, regarding the essential role played by electricity in the daily lives of the masses.

Sri Lanka this morning staged an extravagant military parade at the Galle Face Green in Colombo to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the monumental victory over the terrorist war waged by the Tamil Tiger rebels for three decades. Sri Lankan President as Commander in Chief was the Chief Guest at the occasion where over 13,000 Security Forces personnel of the Three Armed Forces, the Special Task Force (STF) and the Civil Defense Force took part in a grand parade. Also, took part in the parade were 50 naval craft in the sea off the Galle Face and 30 air craft including fighter craft from the sky. The commemoration ceremony was inaugurated with a 21-gun salute by the Artillery unit of Sri Lanka Army. The National War Hero Ceremony will be conducted in front of the statue of the Gallant Soldier at Sri Jayewardenepura, Kotte at 4 pm today and the President will lay a wreath to pay tribute to the over 20,000 soldiers who perished in the three-decade long battle.

Any organisation or individual will not be allowed to venerate a terrorist organisation. Anyone participating in a commemoration ceremony for LTTE cadres will be arrested, Vanni Commander Major General Boniface Perera said. 'There is only one military in a country. Any citizen has the right to commemorate their loved ones but no one can commemorate terrorists who were disloyal to the government. If persons are planning to remember LTTE members it is treason. We will arrest whoever is involved in this,' Major General Perera said. He was responding to a query about reports in some newspapers including the Udayan published in the North, that relatives of those who died during the last phase of the war in Vellamullivaikkal and Pudumathalan were planning to organise a commemoration day in Vavuniya today when the government was celebrating Victory Day.

The Tamil Eelam freedom charter will be promulgated on the 18th May 2013 at an International Conference under the auspices of TGTE in Lancaster Pennyslavania - U.S.A. TGTE under the dynamic leadership of Mr.V.Rudrakumaran Prime Minister, was born out of dire necessity and not by compulsion. The justification for an independent state of Tamil Eelam in the traditional homelands of Tamils in the north and east is accepted and endorsed by Tamil Diaspora supported by numerous International scholars and eminent persons.

The British Tamil Forum's (BTF) call for a mass rally in London on Saturday, remembering the 2009 Mu'l'li-vaaykkaal genocidal massacre, focuses on urging Britain and the Commonwealth to boycott the Sri Lanka CHOGM meet in November. Earlier this month, the British Prime Minister David Cameron has announced his decision to attend the meet. 'It is ridiculous as well as painful to find that Cameron has decided to attend CHOGM in Sri Lanka,' said a BTF statement on Thursday, adding that the meet, leading to Sri Lanka chairing the Commonwealth for the next two years, 'will not only be disgraceful to the Commonwealth and Britain, but will also create a permanent blot in their history.'

43rd Chief justice in Sri Lanka Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake reappeared before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption today as notified. The Commission had recently notified Dr. Bandaranayake to submit verbal answers with regards to allegations of having maintained irregular assets. Appearing with her attorneys Dr. Bandaranayake had made her verbal submission before the Commission. Subsequently the Commission had notified Dr. Bandaranayake to reappear before it on the 20th of this month.

Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) will seek the opinions and views of the public on the draft constitution being prepared by the party. UNP parliamentarian Wijedasa Rajapakse said the draft constitution would be made public on the 29th of this month. He said the UNP would also have a discussion with party leaders in the parliament regarding the draft. He explained that the UNP's draft constitution would limit the powers of the executive presidency and the president will also be liable and responsible when making decisions. The draft constitution also proposes that a person would have to end his\her political career and be independent once elected as the president and would not be able to hold any Cabinet portfolios.

Saudia Arabia has long been a beacon of hope for many Sri Lankans who flock there to pursue a higher salary and a better life than they would otherwise get at home. About 1.8 million Sri Lankans live and work abroad, and about 90 percent of them do so in the Middle East - accounting for foreign exchange income of US$5.2 billion last year. For many economic migrants, though, the promise of a brighter future does not materialize. Mary Margaret, 32, spent six years in the Middle East as a housemaid, dreaming of earning enough money to build a home for her three children. 'I chose to go abroad as a housemaid because we had no other way of earning money. I laid a foundation for a new house six years before but could do nothing thereafter,' she said.

Minister Wasudewa Nanayakkara has stated that if the government intends to hold an independent and fair election all military personnel in North must be limited to their respective camps. In an interview to ' Ravaya' newspaper he has stated that if the security forces are deployed all over the Northern Province the government will not be able to declare an independent and fair election to the international. Responding to the Minister's statement Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has told ' Ravaya' that the military personal will not be evicted if it affects the security of the Northern Province. The security forces will only be involved in development process, he said.

Concerned over reports of Sri Lankan government considering removal of land and police powers from the provinces prior to the elections in the Northern Province, India today asked it not to take any step against their own commitments relating to the 13th Amendment. India's External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid telephoned his Sri Lankan counterpart G L Peiris and also raised the issue of 26 Indian fishermen who are in detention in his country while seeking their early release. According to official sources, the conversation also focused on the elections that are to be held in the Northern Province with Khurshid expressing his concerns regarding media reports referring to some consideration being given to removal of land and police powers from the provinces prior to the polls.

The main opposition UNP yesterday said it had rejected a request made by Velayutham Dayanithi alias Daya Master and his supporters to contest the Northern Provincial Council on the UNP ticket. UNP Colombo District MP Ravi Karunanayake told a news conference that the group met the UNP leaders during their recent visit to the North. The UNP MP made this point referring to a statement by Daya Master that former LTTE cadres should be allowed to contest elections. He said the party informed them that the UNP had decided to keep away from LTTE associates as various allegations had been levelled against the party linking it with Tamil Terrorists.

A woman attempted to commit suicide by jumping into a well with her 3 children in Vavuniya this morning. Neighbors had managed to rescue the mother, however the three children had already perished by then, police said. The woman's three daughters -aged 1, 3 and 4, had drowned inside the well. The mother of three, a resident of Thandikulam in Vavuniya, has been arrested while Vavuniya Police is conducting further investigations.