Channel 4 canard Lanka to send top official to London

Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday (06 September) said that a senior government representative would be sent shortly to the UK to investigate the so-called Channel 4 execution video. Rajapaksa expressed self-assurance that the country could face a threat posed by the LTTE propaganda machine, now that the LTTE had been crushed militarily. He pointed out that the international group of people should not be deceived by LTTE propaganda tactics.
Siri Hewawitharana, a Sri Lankan IT expert, who lately bare Channel 4 execution videocassette as a fake, subsequently pointed out that it was dubbed to give the effect of firing sounds. Ruling out that the video had been at first done by a mobile telephone camera he said that a high fineness video camera had been used for that reason. It had later been transferred to a mobile phone, he said. The poor quality dubbing, he said, betrayed the fact that it was not handled by specialists.
Courtesy : The Island

More buses for Jaffna, Point Pedro and Karainagar depots

The Government has taken necessary actions to get bigger transport facilities for public of the Northern Province. Accordingly, Buses and spare parts were provided for the depots in Jaffna, Point Pedro and Karainagar lately.
"We are thankful to the Government for increasing the convey facilities in the Northern province and it would be a great help for the people who live in these areas and it will make their day-to-day life easy," Sri Lanka Transport Board Northern region Chief Manager, Ganesh Pullai said.
"Since, there are many growth projects that have been in progress in these areas we can expect a main economic and cultural growth there in the near future" he further said participating at a event at the Sri Lanka Transport Board skull place of work to provide buses and spare parts for three depots in the Northern province.
Road traveler Transport Minister, Lasantha Alagiyawanna and Sri Lanka convey Board Chairman Dhammika Hewapathirana also attended the event.

Madhu church access road opens on Aug 14

The access road to the Madhu Shrine which was liberated from the LTTE terrorists after 30 years will be commissioned on August 14 on orders of leader Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The annual Madhu Church festival will be held on August 14 and 15, for the first time after eliminating totally terrorism in the North. Therefore, this chance would advantage thousands of pilgrims attendance the feast from a variety of parts of the country, a Spokesman from the Highways and Road Development Ministry told the Daily News.
The construction work on the main road heading to the holy Shrine has already been completed as an a accelerated project by the Government at a cost of Rs.132 million.
Accordingly, the make bigger of road from Puliyadirakkam to Madhu Shrine (11km) on the Medawachchiya-Mannar-Thalaimannar main road ( A14) has been broaden upto six meters.
In addition to the main right of entry road to the Madhu Shrine, three by-roads including the march road (0.85km),interior road (3km) and circular road (4km) within and approximately the Madhu Shrine had also been reconstructed under the management of the Highways and Road Development Ministry and Road Development Authority, he said.
The renovation had been carried out by five restricted contractors.
The Government will rebuild the roads within the region of Madhu Shrine previous to the pilgrimage begins.
Courtesy: Daily News

U.S. Government supports early return of displaced persons with another $15 million in emergency food aid

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced a new gift of $15 million (Rs. 1.724 billion) of food aid to support the early return of people displaced by the disagreement in the North. Consisting of wheat, lentils and vegetable oil, USAID's second shipment of vital foodstuff aid this year will be consigned to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) and will fulfill the necessary food needs of 300,000 people for four months.
With this latest donation, USAID, the development agency of the U.S. Government, has provided nearly $59 million (Rs 6.78 billion) of food aid in 2008 and 2009. Recognizing the U.S. Government's important support to assist displaced populace, in July, the Hon. Basil Rajapaksa, M.P. and Special Advisor to the leader, received a symbolic handing over of crisis food aid from U.S. Charg‚ d'Affaires James R. Moore and USAID Mission Director Rebecca Cohn.
"USAID supports WFP and the Government of Sri Lanka in their efforts to provide essential food aid to Sri Lankans who have been displaced by the conflict," stated USAID Mission Director Rebecca Cohn. "Our food donation will hold up the Government of Sri Lanka's promise to return displaced citizens to their homes quickly and safely. As part of this support, our food will be used for the six-month ration that people take delivery of once they go back to their homes. In addition, our food may be used for short-term, food-for-work behavior to help the most vulnerable of these people resume their livelihoods," she continued.
Coordinating with the Government of Sri Lanka and operational with non-governmental partners, WFP distributes food aid from USAID and other donors to people in provisional IDP camps and provides a six-month share when IDPs return home. v"This very generous donation from the United States comes at a critical juncture," said Adnan Khan, WFP Country Representative. "It will allow WFP to carry on providing much-needed food and nutritional support to the IDP population and add to their food security. We are very grateful to the United States, WFP's largest donor, for this latest payment, which reaffirms a commitment to partnering with the Government of Sri Lanka and to the humanitarian collection of people in peace building and rebuilding efforts."
The American people, through the U.S. Agency for International Development, have provided development and caring help in developing countries worldwide for almost 50 years. Since 1956, USAID/Sri Lanka has invested nearly $2 billion to benefit all the people of Sri Lanka.