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From day one, the LTTE terrorists have been involved in human cargo
smuggling, illicit drug and narcotics operations, smuggling of arms to
raise funds for their outfit.
This has not been limited to Sri Lanka or its closest neighbours, but
widely operated through their front organisations right around the
world.
The latest being that the LTTE terrorists are into sea piracy
breaching all maritime laws and conventions. The LTTE's first cross
border terrorist act was the assassination of Indian Premier Rajiv
Gandhi in his own soil.
Indian Courts have found Prabhakaran and Pottu Amman guilty of
murdering Rajiv Gandhi.
The USA has recently under FBI Sting Operations, arrested four LTTE
terrorists and two Indonesians who were helping the LTTE terrorists to
procure arms in the USA.
Two Indonesians on the arms procurement operations have pleaded
guilty and the four LTTE terrorists are awaiting judgement.
It was also reported that the FBI has trailed a deposit of $ 700,000
by the LTTE as a down payment to procure the arms. It is also a
well-known fact that the LTTE agents in the USA have attempted to bribe
some Congressmen to procure arms illegally.
Then on the other side of the world, there have been cases in India
and most recently in Quatar. Indian Police has recently arrested some
arms dealers affiliated to the LTTE from Tamil Nadu attempting to ship 6
tons of steel balls to manufacture claymore mines.
Following this arrest, another arrest has been made by Mumbai Police
attempting to ship equipment including 65 Japanese digital cameras for
spying, 500 ball bearings, 21 camera lenses, 300 FM radio sets and other
accessories valued at Indian Rs. 15 million.
Four people were arrested including three from Tamil Nadu, according
to Indian media reports.
The LTTE's most common form of terror is to hound anyone who opposes
to LTTE in any part of the world and kill them. They have planted hitmen
in many countries to carry out these assassinations.
Last week in Quatar, 5 LTTE cadres were sentenced to death for
bludgeoning to death another Tamil who had been a Karuna supporter. The
LTTE like Al Qaeda has already proved that they are terrorists sans
borders.
These assassinations of the LTTE opponents outside Sri Lanka clearly
demonstrate that the LTTE has its tentacles of terrorism spread over
many countries and not only a threat to Sri Lanka but to the whole
civilized world.
It is also a well-known fact that the LTTE terrorists have links with
Al Qaeda. A report by an advisor to the US Government states that the Al
Qaeda-LTTE relationship was formed in 1991. (Refer website for details
www.svik.org/thai.htm).
The LTTE terrorists are also linked to the Maoists in Nepal and many
other secessionists groups in India. Despite all these connections and
cross border terrorist activities, it's appalling to see that the
Western block of the International community thinks except USA that the
LTTE terrorists are only a domestic threat to Sri Lanka.
It's time like the USA, other countries most importantly UK, EU
countries, Canada and Australia treated the LTTE terrorists as
International terrorists in the same manner as Al Qaeda and other
terrorist groups are treated.
Suffice to mention that the LTTE's Prabhakaran, Pottu Amman and
recently the Sea Tiger leader Soosai have become the most wanted
criminals by Interpol.
The LTTE is a one man show headed by tyrant megalomaniac (worse than
Saddam Hussein) Prabhakaran. Ironically the International community
wants Sri Lanka to negotiate with this murderer. Should we?
MALIN ABEYATUNGE - Australia - via email
I refer to the Statement by Anura Bandaranaike made in Parliament in
recent times.
He states that he was a Royalist and says that Mangala was also from
the same school and goes further stating that they (Royalists) could not
be frightened easily.
If we analyze his statement it itself is based on a mysterious
telephone call by an 'unidentified' person, and he is petrified! (Very
correctly referred to as a storm in a teacup).
He quickly rules out any possibility of ever being threatened by the
JVP, UNP or even the LTTE (Which nearly claimed the life of his own
sister). We know that when the going gets tough, the tough gets panicked
for the slightest thing. May be this was the work of the old boy
network!
Dear Mr. Bandaranaike, I have been a great admirer of your oratorical
skills and have also been listening to and appreciating your speeches
especially made in English in the past. Quite apart from that, I have
also been observing your antics and especially singing your own praise
of Royal College for quite some time.
My question is whether you have been blissfully ignorant of the very
motto of Royal College - Learn or Depart! If you had been a regular
attender (Not like attending the Parliament and Cabinet meetings) you
would have seen this many a time hanging over your head like the sword
of 'Damocles' at the entrance of the west wing of Royal College.
You do not seem to have ever learnt from your imprudence in the past.
You compelled your mother to snub people like Dr. Colvin R. de Silva
(Old Royalist), which led her 'Samagi Peramuna' to a humiliating defeat
30 years ago.
Then you went under the safe wings of the late President J.R.
Jayewardene (Old Royalist) abandoning the SLFP especially at a time your
mother wanted you most. Now you express your so-called concern over the
same party and shed crocodile tears.
You rallied against your own mother sometimes threatening that you
would spill the beans (Yet to spill them) thus emotionally blackmailing
the old lady. You even took her to courts! Until her death you could not
extend your support to your sister to come to power. Your mother would
have breathed her last peacefully had you patched up a while before.
You claim giving away 3000 acres of your family property, but
honestly tell us! Were you instrumental in doing so? I am afraid not!
Your one time buddy Ranil Wickremesinghe (Royalist cum classmate)
once escorted you to the Speaker's chair and within seconds you changed
colour. This is not the only time you bit the hand that fed you.
If you are talking about Royal College, look at some eminent products
of her who could not be easily frightened! They were able to maintain
unruffled composure in the face of adversity, shall I say, even in the
cannon's mouth!
They have repaid the debt they owed: Anagarika Dharmapala, James
Peiris, Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan, Ponnambalm Arunachalam, Sir John
Kotelawala, Dinesh Gunawardena (Your classmate), Lalith Athulathmudali,
Sir Razik Fareed, E.A. Nugawela, P.B. Bulankulame, R.G Senanayaka, T.B.
Panabokke, Sri Nissanka, Dr. V.R. Schockman, Cyril de Zoysa, Pieter
Keuneman, Anil Moonasinghe, Felix Dias Bandaranaike, Gamani Jayasuriya,
George Rajapaksa, S. Nadesan, Indika Gunawardena, Tyronne Fernando, Dr.
Ranjith Atapattu and also Faizer Musthapha - your one time deputy to
name a few. They kept her 'fame inviolate'.
HIRAN KULATILAKE - (A loyal son of Royal) -
via email
Although the National Transport Authority imposed the issue of
tickets to the travellers in the private buses, the response by the
private bus operators are very poor. Some private buses issue tickets
while some issue only to a few and some others don't issue tickets at
all.
I was travelling in a 176 bus, in which the conductor didn't issue
tickets to anyone and when I requested for the ticket, he didn't issue
the ticket, then I told, "If I am detected for travelling without a
ticket", his answer was "I will look after" (Mama Balagannam). This
happened in 155 bus route too.
If this is the case, what is our position? The traveller has to pay
the fine for the fault of the conductor, if a flying squad checks one's
ticket and is found travelling without one.
In such cases, the authorities fine the traveller would be an
injustice to the traveller who paid the fare but, ticket not issued by
the conductor. Can the authorities find a suitable solution to this
important problem of the passengers?
Further, it should be mentioned here that the overloading in private
buses are not checked and fined for overloading.
It is unable for the conductor to issue tickets in over-crowded buses
and passengers pay the fare without a ticket or mostly fares collected
while alighting from buses, where no ticket is issued.
The issuing of tickets is not properly done or monitored, as such the
scheme is a failure.
The authorities should take stern action against the private buses
which are over-loading and for not issuing tickets.
D. T. - Colombo 12
Reference the above letter by Brian Goonesekera of New Zealand in
response to the article by Lucian Rajakarunanayaka which published in
the Daily News of January 27, I wish to state that I fully endorse the
facts mentioned by the writer Brian Goonesekera.
The cashiers at some of the supermarkets, mostly young girls do make
mistakes at times when issuing receipts.
But once the mistakes are pointed out to the relevant owners they
rectify the mistakes. Even if one buys a pencil costing Rs. 3.50, a bill
is issued containing all the particulars.
The vast majority of other shops do not issue receipts and even if
they do on request, it would be on a scrap of paper. Some resent on
being requested to do so.
The genuine supermarkets (not those who have only the name board)
have practically everything under one roof. This will save the customer
going from place to place.
Recently two reputed supermarkets were opened at Gampola much to the
delight of the residents. Formerly we had to go to Kandy for all these
requirements. long live supermarkets in Sri Lanka!
G. H. I. De Zoysa - Gampola
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