When the Troops Come Home

Writer: Stephen Long, Los Angeles

I sincerely hope the Government of Sri Lanka is looking past the destruction of the LTTE to the day when the troops finally come home. This will be a joyous time of celebration, no doubt, but it will also be a time of crisis: what are you going to do with the excess force in the military? You will reduce the size of your army, of course, but what are you going to do with the men and women who served you so valiantly and rid your country of terrorists?

This is a problem faced by all nations who find themselves in similar situations after the war is over. Julius Caesar faced it. In the last century America faced it four times, and is facing it again with the returning Iraqi war veterans. In the case of America, they botched it badly after Vietnam, and they are botching it again with Middle East returnees. Here in Los Angeles it is heartbreaking to go Downtown to the skid row area around 5th and Maple Streets and see the large numbers of homeless and drug-addicted men and women – many of whom were heroes in both Vietnam and in Iraq/Afghanistan.


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No plane, Janaka’s body taken by road,Govt. provides motorcade

The remains of Major General Janaka Perera and his wife were taken to Anuradhapura by road yesterday, as an aircraft was not made available for the remains to be flown to Anuradhapura for the public there to pay their last respects.

The remains were taken to the Ratmalana Airport at 7.45 a.m. yesterday but was kept there for about four hours for want of an aircraft.

Relations had obtained permission from Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake and Air Force Commander to fly the remains to Anuradhapura. However, no aircraft was made available. The motorcade left Colombo around 2 p.m.

Meanwhile, UNP General Secretary and parliamentarian Tissa Attanayake said that he sought permission thrice from the Prime Minister to fly the remains to Anuradhapura but he failed to get it.

Attanayake lamented at the government’s attitude towards a soldier who rendered yeoman service to the country at the risk of his own life. The remains were kept at the Ratmalana airport for nearly four hours but no aircraft was provided and this was an embarrassment to the UNP and to the kith and kin of the dead couple, Attanayake said.

The remains were originally scheduled to be taken to

Major Genral Janaka Perera’s residence at Freeman Mawatha in Anuradhapura around 10.30 a.m. and large crowds had gathered there awaiting the arrival.

He said large crowds also gathered on the road side when the remains were taken to Anuradhapura but Police prevented the motorcade taking the usual route and directed the motorcade through various side roads preventing the people from paying their last respects.

Mobile service in Mannar not held due to people fleeing to Vanni

Secretary to the Ministry of Public administration D. Dissanayake said the Government was compelled to call off the ‘Mobile Services’ scheduled to take place in the Mannar district on October 20 and 21 as the majority of those who were internally displaced from the Mannar District had fled to take refuge in the Vanni District.

He said originally Minister of Public Administration Karu Jayasuriya had made arangements with over 36 State Agencies to go to the Mannar District on October 20 and 21. A report on the prevailing ground situation submitted by a delegation led by Minister of Constitutional Affairs and National Integration D. E. W. Gunasekera had stated that only around 5,000 people were remaining in the district had turned up when they visited the area on September (25).

"We wanted to provide birth certificates, driving licenses, national identity cards and passports to those affected people."

Dissanayake said the situation was further aggravated as a result of Minister Karu Jayasuriya having to take bed rest following his surgical operation.

"We have to wait until these people return. Our going would be of no use and we found that with the ongoing Military Operations which had intensified in the North, finding accommodation for such a large delegation of around a 1000 in the North Central Province to travel daily to Mannar as the transport service was not able to cope with such a number

Russian embassy condemns A’Pura bomb blast

The Embassy of the Russian Federation in Sri Lanka expressed its profound condolences to all bereaved family members of those mercilessly killed and injured as a result of barbaric suicidal terrorist act committed in Anuradhapura on the 6th of October, including the former Ambassador of Sri Lanka in the Soviet Union Dr. R. Johnpulle with his spouse and the former Envoy of Sri Lanka in Australia and Indonesia Major-General J. Perera with his spouse.

"We strongly condemn terrorist activity in any part of the world whatever slogans are used to justify it and express our confidence, that the friendly Sri Lankan people will soon secure peace and stability throughout the island." the statement said.

Security News

At least 19 LTTE terrorists were killed and 9 others reported wounded during battles ensued between troops and LTTE in general area Akkarayankulama, in the Southwestern perimeters of Kilinochchi on Tuesday (Oct 7), according to Wanni military sources.

Troops acting on information found a complete explosive jacket worn by LTTE suicide cadres, 2 claymore mines and 3 AP (anti personal) mines from a jungle area in Nilappanikkanmalai, Kuchchiweli in Trincomalee district, this morning (Oct 8).

Sri Lanka Air Force MI-24 helicopters raided 3 separate LTTE gathering places located in Mullaittivu front this evening, 8 October.The air raids were carried out around 5.40 p.m. targeting identified LTTE gathering places located in general area Kumbulamunai, western edge of Nayaru lagoon in Mullaittivu, Air Force spokesperson, Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said.

According to Tamil Net

Two Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) officers were killed near Kagnchikudichchaa'ru STF camp around 9:45 a.m.

Chandrika Kumaratunga losse again

Supreme Court today ordered former Chandrika Kumaratunga to pay Rs. 3 million to government over the Water's Edge land transfer. Court also ordered businessman Ronnie Peiris to pay Rs.2 million and return the land to the UDA.

UK based businessman Ronnie Peiris has settled a tax probe by the Inland Revenue Department to the tune of Rs. 60 million and more over the controversial Waters' Edge Golf Club land transaction initiated during the administration of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga.

According to Finance Ministry sources, Peiris eventually settled a claim by the Department for the payment of his share in the transaction. Peiris is Group Finance Director and President of John Keells Holdings and has overall responsibility for Group Finance, including.