http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/index.php/news/front-page-news/19958.html
Monday, 30 August 2010 00:57
India had denied a visa to Sinnaiah Thavaratnam, KP’s first cousin, after being chosen to be part of a Lankan fishermen team which toured Tamil Nadu to discuss bilateral fishing issues recently.
Thavaratnam, who is the chairman of the Federation of Jaffna District Fishermens’ Associations, told an Indian news agency on Saturday, that he was given no reason for the rejection.
When asked for permission to see a higher officer, it was
denied.“I do not know why they keep denying the visa to me these days. In 2006 too, I was denied. But, my wife was able to get it last year and she toured Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Over the 1980s and 1990s,I had visited India more than 25 times without a problem,” he said.
Asked if it were because he was KP’s first cousin (His father and KP’s father are siblings) Thavaratnam chose not to answer directly, but said that it was wrong to punish him for the deeds of a cousin.
“My wife and I had done a lot for stranded, arrested or wounded Indian fishermen and spent a lot of money on these. I have always spoken for amity between the fishermen of both sides. If I have done anything wrong or against India, I would like to know what it is, and am prepared to correct myself,” Thavaratnam said.
Thavaratnam was out of touch with KP when the latter was abroad working for the LTTE as arms smuggler and funds manager. But he had met KP twice after he was captured in August 2009.
KP on Saturday had said that Thavaratnam was president of his North Eastern Rehabilitation and Development Organisation (NERDO) and that he himself was its Secretary.
But, Thavaratnam told Express that this was not so, and that he was working with NERDO only on issues concerning Jaffna fishermen.
Asked what he thought of the visit of the Lankan fishermen to Tamil Nadu, which he missed, Thavaratnam said that the agreements entered into were good.
“Tamil Nadu fishermen have promised to end trawling in the shallow seas by November 2011. I welcome this,” he said.
(Express News Service)
Herman's Note:
Thaveratnem was the proposed leader to the team visited Tamilnadu India during the 16-24 August. As his visa was denied by Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka, Mr.T.Suriyakumar replaced his position and lead the team. However, the SL team was reluctant to proceed as planned with this situation and organizers of NAFSO and ARIF had to take strong position to convince the team to follow the planned actions.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Sunday, August 8, 2010
15000 North & East kids study under trees
http://www.lakbimanews.lk/news/laknew1.htm
ARMY CAMPS MUSHROOM
NO APPOINTMENTS FOR TEACHERS
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Fifteen thousand school children in the North and East are compelled to study under trees since schools have been converted into IDP and transit camps and detention centres, while the government spends millions on military bases, education department sources said. The situation is grave in Vavuniya, Omanthai, Maithadi and Kilinochchi where the majority of schools function in temporary shelters with minimal facilities.
"Omanthai Maha Vidyalayam is used as a transit camp for people who are returning to their villages from IDP camps. Although a year has passed after the civil war ended, no steps have been taken by the government to either build new shelters for IDPs, or to rebuild schools in another location," said an education ministry official.
Meanwhile, General Secretary of Sri Lanka Teacher Services Union (SLTSU) Mahinda Jayasinghe told LAKBIMAnEWS that there is also a massive dearth of teachers in the North and the East, which is having a negative impact on education. This shortage mainly affects subjects such as English where the education authorities are dependant on pensioners who have been re-enlisted on contract basis.
"Not only are thousands of students continuing their education without buildings, water or sanitary facilities, these schools also need hundreds of teachers," Jayasinghe said. "A lot of teachers who worked in these schools have either left for Colombo or have left the island. Even 14 months after the end of the war the government has not appointed Tamil medium teachers to these areas."
Jayasinghe added that there are over 500 Tamil medium teachers in the 2010 batch at teacher training centres in the island, but none of them have been given appointments because of the lack of funds.
"Each year around 3000 trained teachers are given appointments around this time of the year, but this time that is not the case. Appointment letters are not given since no funds have been allocated in the 2010 budget. This means that thousands of Tamil youth will sit for O/L and A/L exams partially ready."
Meanwhile in a recent visit to Wishwamadu Army Commander Major General Jagath Jayasuriya claimed that with the establishment of new army camps, buildings which have been occupied for security purposes will be returned to schools.
I AM UPLOADING THIS NEWS TO MY BLOG AS THIS REALITY SHOULD BE CHANGED WITH THE INVOLVEMENT OF COMMITTED PEOPLE. SO WE NEED TO FIND THEM IN TO OUR CIRCLES WHO ARE FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM TO THE DISPLACED PEOPLE AND DEMOCRACY TO THE NATION.
Herman Kumara.
08.08.10.
ARMY CAMPS MUSHROOM
NO APPOINTMENTS FOR TEACHERS
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Fifteen thousand school children in the North and East are compelled to study under trees since schools have been converted into IDP and transit camps and detention centres, while the government spends millions on military bases, education department sources said. The situation is grave in Vavuniya, Omanthai, Maithadi and Kilinochchi where the majority of schools function in temporary shelters with minimal facilities.
"Omanthai Maha Vidyalayam is used as a transit camp for people who are returning to their villages from IDP camps. Although a year has passed after the civil war ended, no steps have been taken by the government to either build new shelters for IDPs, or to rebuild schools in another location," said an education ministry official.
Meanwhile, General Secretary of Sri Lanka Teacher Services Union (SLTSU) Mahinda Jayasinghe told LAKBIMAnEWS that there is also a massive dearth of teachers in the North and the East, which is having a negative impact on education. This shortage mainly affects subjects such as English where the education authorities are dependant on pensioners who have been re-enlisted on contract basis.
"Not only are thousands of students continuing their education without buildings, water or sanitary facilities, these schools also need hundreds of teachers," Jayasinghe said. "A lot of teachers who worked in these schools have either left for Colombo or have left the island. Even 14 months after the end of the war the government has not appointed Tamil medium teachers to these areas."
Jayasinghe added that there are over 500 Tamil medium teachers in the 2010 batch at teacher training centres in the island, but none of them have been given appointments because of the lack of funds.
"Each year around 3000 trained teachers are given appointments around this time of the year, but this time that is not the case. Appointment letters are not given since no funds have been allocated in the 2010 budget. This means that thousands of Tamil youth will sit for O/L and A/L exams partially ready."
Meanwhile in a recent visit to Wishwamadu Army Commander Major General Jagath Jayasuriya claimed that with the establishment of new army camps, buildings which have been occupied for security purposes will be returned to schools.
I AM UPLOADING THIS NEWS TO MY BLOG AS THIS REALITY SHOULD BE CHANGED WITH THE INVOLVEMENT OF COMMITTED PEOPLE. SO WE NEED TO FIND THEM IN TO OUR CIRCLES WHO ARE FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM TO THE DISPLACED PEOPLE AND DEMOCRACY TO THE NATION.
Herman Kumara.
08.08.10.
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