Mega projects for Eastern development

Susantha Punchinilame, Minister of Nation Building and Eastern Development said Rs. 8,000 million has been allocated to develop the Eastern Province from this year's budget and of Rs. 2100 million has been allocated to the Ministry of Nation Building at a press conference held at Ratnapura.

He said Rs. 8,000 million will be invested to develop Ampara, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Mullaitivu districts which have 50 divisional secretariat areas including 1208 rural villages and an area of 11514 square kilo metres.

The people living in this areas will be benefited with their basic needs and their living standard will be upgraded. State income will be increased and a population of 1,819,555 will be granted with facilities in the year 2008.

Japan pledges to eradicate terrorism

Japanese Prime Minister Yasao Fukuda said Japan would always reject terrorism and his Government would take every possible step to stop terror acts.He made these observations when he met President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on Monday night.

Addressing a joint news conference at the Prime Minister's Office, the 71-year-old Japanese leader said his Government condemns all forms of terrorism and would take every possible action to eradicate terrorism.He expressed confidence in Sri Lanka's efforts to achieve peace and assured the Japanese Government's fullest support and cooperation to President Rajapaksa's peace efforts.

"I conveyed to the President, Japan's intention to cooperate for peace in Sri Lanka as well as economic development," Fukuda told the media.The Japanese Government increased assistance to Sri Lanka under the Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) programme from US$ 320 to $ 400 million per year.

Prime Minister Fukuda is no stranger to Sri Lanka as he was the former President of the Japan-Sri Lanka Friendship Association. He held that position for several years before stepping down on his election as Japan's Prime Minister last September.

Eastern Tamils rally against alleged LTTE

housands of Tamils and Muslims are flocking to Batticaloa town today (December 10) with slogans and banners condemning alleged LTTE, TNA coalition's obstruction of resettlement and development work, in a demonstration organized by the Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP), reports our Eastern Area defence correspondent.

Latest reports said that an estimated crowd over 9000 participated in the event to stage their strong protest against the self-claimed Tamil representatives.

People were seen coming in from all parts of the recently liberated Eastern Province to stage a mass protest against the LTTE - TNA axis, said defence sources observing the activities.

According to available information many Tamil and Muslim civilians from Kallady, Chenkallady and Valachchenai and many other areas are making their way towards Batticaloa, where the demonstrators are expected to hand over a memorandum to the Batticaloa GA, to be forwarded to H.E the President.

Top LTTE terrorists arrested in India

News reports from India reveal a senior LTTE cadre and two others who had tried to buy a boat for the use of LTTE terrorists were arrested by the Police in Chennai, India on Saturday (December 8). The reports further say that Sri Lankan currency worth Rs. 478,000/= that found with the suspects was also seized by the police.

According to a press release by the Q branch police in Chennai, a boat which had been kept ready at coastal Mallipattinam in Thanjavur district to be sent to the LTTE was also seized.

The news reports further said that police personnel had spotted the suspected trio at the parking lot of Anna International airport terminal on Saturday night. Police had identified Jayakumar alias Gowrishankar, as senior LTTE cadre attached to the seaborne wing of the terrorists outfit. The suspect was said to have actively engaged in the terrorists activities, between 1995 and 2005. The other two suspects were identified as James alias Raja, another Sri Lankan national and Ravikumar, a resident in Chennai.

President to Visit Japan

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, will leave for Japan for a 4-day official visit Today (December 8, 2007).During his stay in Japan, the President and Madam Shiranthi Rajapaksa will make a State Call on Their Majesty the Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.

The President will also hold a meeting with Mr. Yasuo Fukuda, Prime Minister of Japan.

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Islandwide blackout owing to technical fault

The Ceylon Electricity Board says a technical fault at the Kelanitissa power plant is the cause for the islandwide blackout since early this morning.