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DIVAINA
Tuesday 17, October 2006.
Page-01/LEAD
NORTH –EAST MERGER IS ILLEGAL
The Supreme Court has given a ruling that the merging of the North and East to be considered as one province for governing purpose declared by the then President J.R. Jayawardene in 1987 as illegal.

AKASHI PRAISES GENERAL CONSENSUS
The efforts being made by President Mahinda Rajapakse to come to a general consensus with all political parties in the south was praised by the Japanese special peace envoy Yasusi Akashi. He further said that the Japanese government is dedicated to the establishment of peace in Sri Lanka.

Page-03
16 TORRINGTON SCHEME HOUSES HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO FAVORITES ON THE
RECOMMENDATION OF THE MINISTER
The Housing Minister has been alleged to have given her special recommendation to give 16 of the Colombo 07 Torrington Housing Scheme to her favourites who already have houses in Colombo.Amongst these 16 people are the ministers younger sister, the chairman of the Housing Development Corporation, the additional secretary of the ministry of housing and the former Authority General of the Housing Authority said the news source connected with the Housing Development Authority.The handing over of the relevant houses had taken place from 01 of last September.In regard to these houses security has been provided by the deployment of security personnel of the Housing Development Authority.

NATIONAL IRRIGATION POLICY BEING ESTABLISHED
In regard to irrigation this time steps have been taken to establish a
national irrigation policy for the first time said Agriculture, Irrigation and Mahaweli Development Ministry Secretary T.H. Abeyawickrema yesterday (16) to the “Divaina”. A ten member committee including representatives from the Irrigation ministry, Irrigation Department, Agrarian services and Farmers development ministry, Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority are at present in the process of drafting the national policy said the secretary.

EDITORIAL
NORTH-EAST IS NORTH AND EAST
The area which was termed as the North-East for the last 20 years has once again been declared as the North and East from yesterday (16). These two regions were merged into one in 1987 to form a good push to the separatism war the country is engaged in. Since that time various civilian groups opposed this merger but to no avail. Finally the JVP on behalf of the people of the country represented matters to the Supreme courts seeking a solution. From yesterday the region is known to consist of 2 separate regions by virtue of a verdict of the Supreme Court.We have now come to a very critical situation. It appears that Prabhakaran is getting ready for his final war. For this purpose he without much excitement has started to send his murderers to kill and get killed. These murderers will engage in deadly human butchering. Accordingly in the Muhamalai attack on last 11 and yesterday (16) morning’s attack at Habarana a large number of lives have been killed it has been learnt. At which point did we go wrong with the war? Only America and Israel know to war in the proper way.

Foreign forces brought Sri Lanka to the mouth of destruction through a number of agreements. Here are some of them:-*The agreement signed between the Portuguese and Don Juan Dharmapala in 1557 to betray the Kotte Kingdom to the Portuguese.*The agreement signed in 1815 between John Doyle and the Kandyan Chiefs to vest ruling power over the Kandyan kingdom and the rest of Sri Lanka on the English.*The Indo –Lanka agreement signed between J.R. Jayawardene and Rajiv Gandhi in 1987.The 2 regions being the North and the East which were administered as two separate provinces from traditional times were merged into one region by a clause in the Indo-Lanka agreement. The condition was to confirm the merger by a people’s referendum held in the said area after one year of signing the agreement but nothing was done in regard to this condition for 20 long years until yesterday’s Supreme Courts decision.The merger of these 2 regions resulted in the following:-*By merging the 2 region into one the formal administration collapsed.*Civilian lives collapsed.*Prabhakaran who was focusing on the North only to establish Eelam easily expanded his original idea by the readily added region.J.R. Jayawardene was made to sign this agreement by frightening him. If the Indo-Lanka agreement was not signed J.R. Jayawardena was made to be convinced that India would invade Sri Lanka. The time has come now to correct all wrong things in the Indo-Lanka agreement.

LAKBIMA
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
LEAD
94 FROM NAVY KILLED IN LORRY BOMB AT HABARANA

PAGE 1
THE WHITE CANTER CAME FROM THE DAMBULLA SIDE
A white canter came from the Dambulla side at about 1.40 in the
afternoon. I arrived at the cashier’s desk when I heard a big explosion.

THE UNP GIVES RANIL THE POWER TO SIGN THE MOU
The working committee of the UNP decided to give its leader the power to sign the agreement between the SLFP and the UNP.

THE MERGING OF THE NORTH AND EAST AGAINST THE LAW
The 5 member bench of the Supreme Court unanimously decided on the 16th that the decision taken by the former President Mr. J.R. Jayawardena to merge the North and East. Accordingly it decided to de-merge the North East and said that the people of both sides had the right to appoint their own representatives.

THE BIGGEST MISTAKE MADE IN SRI LANKA WAS CORRECTED BY THE JVP
The MP of the JVP Mr. Wimal Weerawanse said addressing the media at the Courts complex yesterday (16) that his party was able to correct the biggest mistake that was committed in the country. This was after the Supreme Court decided to de-merge the North and the East
Page 9

SHIVA PASUPATHY TO REPLACE BALA AT THE PEACE TALKS
Foreign news agencies report that the LTTE theoretician Anton Balasingham will not be taking part in the peace talks set for Geneva between the government and the LTTE and that former Attorney General Siva Pasupathy will be taking part instead. Foreign news reports indicate that Balasingham has taken leave of LTTE activities due to his ill health. It is reported that the LTTE is in the process of replacing Balasingham from the post of theoretician with Shiva Pasupathy. Pasupathy currently serves in the constitutional council of the LTTE and as its legal adviser.

3 TIGERS KILLED IN STF ATTACK
It was disclosed on the 16th that 3 inclusive of 2 area leaders of the LTTE have been killed and seven others were injured by a massive STF counter attack on a group of Tigers who came to attack the Bakkiella Home Guard watch post in Amparai. Two area leaders Kuilankan and Govindan Ponnakumar
have thus died.

EDITORIAL
ATTACKS COUNTERATTACKS AND PEACE TALKS
The 28th and 29th of October have been set for peace talks in Geneva with the consent of both parties. The warfront however is not creating the best backdrop for the event. The International community has also focused on this and the EU has stressed that both parties must refrain from war exercises and sit for peace talks. The EU issuing a special communiqué said that the scheduled peace talks could be jeopardized by this aggression and that both parties must realize that there is no solution that can be achieved through war. It points out that the people in the North East have been subject o abject misery due to the conflict and that the government must adopt measures to safeguard the human rights of the people in the area.Both sides can present excuses for the situation and the most common is that the side that is attacked cannot look on with folded arms when attacks are being made on it. What we are stressing on here is that both sides have not focused on the destruction caused by such attacks. It has become essential now to do so. The first casualty of war is truth. This is probably why it has become difficult to determine who makes the first attack. The required action is not to present hairsplitting arguments to blame one party for making the first attack but for both parties to stop attacking. Now the talks scheduled for the 28th and 29th leaves the road open for both parties to make such a decision. It is difficult to imagine that the targets of the peace talks can be achieved while exchanging blows. The two sides will sit with anger boiling inside their hearts. This will not be conducive to positive decisions being made. We therefore stress on the need for both sides to pay attention to the fact stressed upon by the EU.

LANKADEEPA
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
LEAD
94 FROM NAVY SACRIFICE THEIR LIVES

Page 1
RANIL GETS POWER TO SIGN AGREEMENT
The working committee of the UNP decided to give the leader of the party Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe the power to sign the agreement between the UNP and the SLFP.

Page 15
17.8% OF OFFICE AND INDUSTRIAL WORKERS SUFFER FROM DIABETES
The Minister for Health and Nutrition Mr. Nimal Siripala de Silva said that a recent survey done jointly by the Ministry of health and the University of Oxford disclosed that 17.8% of the office and industry workers in the country suffer from diabetes. It also revealed that 12% of the country’s children suffer from the disease.

Page 5
450,000 SPENT FOR OFFICIAL 350 PHOTOGRAPHS OF MINISTER FOR POWER AND
ENERGY
The Union of SLEB workers are protesting against the expenditure of Rs.455,000 for 350 photographs of the Minster which he has ordered to be displayed at Head Quarters and all provincial offices of the Board according to the General Secretary of the Union of SLEB workers Mr. Ranjan Jayalal.

RANIL TELLS THE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT TO SUPPORT THE BUDGET FOR THE
SAKE OF
THE PEACE PROCESS AND THE COUNTRY
The Leader pf the UNP Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe told the parliamentary
group on the 16th that the party hopes to support the budget this year with the motive of taking the peace process forward and to provide a better standard of living to the masses. The meeting was held in the parliamentary complex.

EDITORIAL
WE WISH THE NEW IGP STRENGTH TO OVERCOME CHALLENGES
We congratulate the 30th IGP and we wish that he would get the cooperation and blessings of all because this is something that is very important. We believe that the vast experience and knowledge gained by the new IGP will benefit the people of this country.It is true that a certain part of work was accomplished by the former IGP but it is equally true that there is a huge amount of work yet to be done.The Former IGP held a news conference and stated that he was able to efficiently fulfill much with the cooperation of his subordinates in the control of the underworld and drug trafficking. He said that he looked into the housing issues of the police and adopted measures to stabilize the service and increase its efficiency. He said he enhanced the service by establishing the 119 emergency access service and the electronic finger printing service. However that is we think even the former IGP will admit that there is still a huge task in hand. There are still many underworld characters, devious dealers and drug traffickers at large. We continue to hear of incessant murders, thefts and robberies.
There is also a new trend in crime. There is an increase in criminal acts victimizing foreign visitors. Sexual harassment, theft and extortion have increased making the Australian Foreign Department request its citizens to reconsider visiting Sri Lanka. If the Australian Foreign Department has such a feeling it is very detrimental to our country.The accusation made by Australia even though countries like America and Britain have not made such requests cannot be taken with heads down. Our reputation and economy is at stake. It is opportune that the IGP takes serious note of this.We are aware that some in the police too have connections with some nefarious characters. This is because of the additional income that can be gained from such connections.We must also take note of the enhanced strategy used by the underworld and our police force needs to be trained and equipped with new technology and skills to be used to combat these new trends. It is heartening to note that the IGP has thought on those lines and decided to even improve the English knowledge of the police force. We suggest that even the knowledge in Tamil be added to this list.We have come to know that there are also promotion problems in the police force. It will be good to look into this area too to create job satisfaction in the force.It will also be good to establish a good working relationship with the Police Commission or an unnecessary situation of conflict can arise. A revamping of the police service will not only contribute to the wellbeing of the policemen but will also reflect on the well being of the public. Hence it should be done with long sight. Priority should be given to obtain the cooperation of the public.

VIRAKESARI
Tuesday October 17, 2006
Lead
NORTH-EAST MERGER IS ILLEGAL, says High Court ruling. It also says that the President does not have powerHigh court verdict issued yesterday in response to a case filed by the JVP on the 14th July, said that the merger is invalid and the President has no power to merge both provinces under the Public Security Law.

Page 1
SUICIDE ATTACK AT HABARANA. 98 NAVY PERSONNEL DIED; 120 INJURED
SERIOUSLY
Person arrived in a Canter type small van laden with explosives targeted the parked navy personnel convoy at Thiganpathaga area in Habarana yesterday around 1.40pm. The disaster occurred as a result of LTTE suicide cadre, said Comm. DKB Dasanayake, Navy spokesman.

GIRL DIED ON AIR STRIKE; 11 PEOPLE INJURED SERIOUSLY
Incident happened at Puthukudiyiruppu, MullaithivuThavarasa Dusyanthani (14), resident of Kaiveli died and 11 more persons from the same village sustained serious injury when Air force Kefir assault
aircraft carried out attack yesterday around 5.30pm at Kaiveli village.

SIX PERSONS INCLUDING A GRAMA SEVAKA GUNNED DOWN IN JAFFNA
Ariyathurai Ariyasivam (40), resident of Kokuvil, father of five, owner of a tea kiosk, was gunned down yesterday around 9am at hospital junction. Markandu Mahendran (48), resident of Ariyalai, Grama Sevaka, was shot dead around 9.30am at his office. Selliah Nandakumar (46), father of two, was shot dead around 8am at Sithankerny junction. Thiranagama Soorasanga (56), a Singhalese, father of 9, native of Galle and living in Point Pedro for many years, was shot dead at Viyaparimoolai, Pont Pedro around 9am. Mohamed Musthapha, a Muslim married man was gunned down at Pathirakali Temple road, Point Pedro yesterday evening. Vairamuthu Nallathamby, a married man, was
also gunned down at Odakarai area, Point Pedro yesterday evening.

HINDU CLERGY ABDUCTED IN COLOMBO WAS RELEASED AFTER TORTURE
4 persons arrived in a blue jeep abducted Janarthan Bala Jegatheswara kurukkal, a Hindu clergy working at Ponnabalavaneswar temple last Saturday at Pettah bus stand, Colombo. He was assaulted while questioning and then he was released yesterday at five-lamp junction, Pettah.

A SOLDIER DIES ON A ATTACK AT VAVUNATHIVU
Tigers carried out motor attack against security bunkers surrounded the army camp, Vavunathivu on the 15th. One of the motor fell near the bunker and exploded. Samanthasri (34), soldier on duty died and two more soldiers injured as a result.

TWO DIED ON CLAYMORE ATTACK. Incident happened at Udupitty
Targeting road patrolling security personnel, claymore bomb was exploded yesterday at Udupitty, Jaffna. One soldier and a police officer were died and another soldier was injured at the attack.
Page 2

AUTHORITATIVE ORGANIZATION IS NEEDED TO MONITOR CONFLICT ENVIRONMENT IN
NORTH EAST, Rev Fr. Rayappu Joseph, Bishop, MannarPermission denied to SLMM to inspect conflict areas. Therefore, a powerful organization is needed to overcome this issue, said Rev Fr. Rayappu Joseph, Bishop, Mannar, when he was speaking at a meeting organized by the anti-war front in Mannar on Saturday.

Page 9
THREE BODIES WERE HANDED OVER TO RELATIVES
Bodies of Minuwangoda traders recovered on the 15th at Skanthapuram irrigation bund, Vavuniya were handed over to their relatives. Unknown men abducted these Singhalese traders along with two Muslim traders. Later, the Muslim traders were released and these three were murdered.

DEADLINE FOR LODGING COMPLAINTS ON ABDUCTIONS IS EXTENDED
Deadline for submitting complaints to the Presidential Commission was expired yesterday (16th). Now, the date is extended to 7th. Complaints could be lodged in writing or facsimile. Address: Room No 131, BMICH, Colombo 7. Fax 2669131

Page 10
ALL NECESSARY ACTIONS TO DEFEAT TERRORISM WILL BE TAKEN, Says the
President, Mahinda Rajapakse.Public should be alert following the Habarana attack and the civilians should extend their support for Govt’s initiatives. I would take all necessary action to defeat the terrorism, says in a report released last night by the Presidential Secretariat.

GOVT IS COMMITTED TO TALK EVEN THE TIGERS CARRY OUT ATTACK AGAINST THE
ARMED FORCES, Says Palitha Kohana, Secretary, Govt Peace Secretariat.Though the Govt is committed for peace, the authority would take action to ensure National Security. We would not withdraw from the Talk even the Tigers carry out attacks, he added when he was inquired about the progress made on the Peace initiation.

EDITORIAL
IT IS NECESSARY TO RESOLVE THE CRISIS CONFRONTED BY THE NORTH EAST
FARMERS
It is regrettable to note that no one pays attention on the dwindling economy as a result of present armed conflict. Cultivation in the North East is abandoned and the civilians in these areas are facing economic difficulty constantly. The Eastern Province contributed immensely for rice cultivation and these cultivators met major portion of nation’s rice demand. The rice cultivation is totally affected as a result of increased offensive and the farmers are presently displaced and languish at refugee camps. Further, farmers able to continue their cultivation in the North East are undergoing greater difficulties due to present restrictions imposed by the security forces especially ban on fuel transport to Tiger held areas in Batticaloa. The farmers also urged the authority to make them available seed paddy, fertilizer and related implements to cultivate their lands at Paduvankarai area, military uncontrolled area in Batticaloa where 90% of rice cultivation is carried out. Livestock farmers too undergoing hardships as cattle foods are not available in this region. It is the moral duty of the authority to take swift action to resolve the farmers’ hardships, since the civilians in the region too are Sri Lankan citizen. All concerned parties should do their best to bring peaceful environment in these areas by removing restrictions imposed in the military uncontrolled areas.

THINAKKURAL
Tuesday October 17, 2006
Lead
NORTH EAST MERGER IS ILLEGAL, Says High Court verdictUnder the Indo- Sri Lanka Pact in 1987, the North East was merged and brought to a single administrative unit temporarily as per 13th amendment. The merger is illegal and in contrary to the constitution, said the ruling
issued by the High Court yesterday.

Page 1
SUICIDE ATTACK AT HABARANA. MORE THAN 100 NAVY PERSONNEL DIED. More
than
150 officers injured critically; 24 vehicles destroyed.The attack carried out at Navy transitional camp at Thigampothana area in Habarana claimed more than 100 lives and injuring more than 150. This suicide attack was carried out yesterday around 1.30pm. More than 5 vehicles destroyed beyond recognition and more than 10 vehicles damaged heavily.

AKASHI PROPOSES TO HOLD NEXT ROUND OF TALK IN JAPAN
Akashi, Japanese Special Envoy, who arrived in the island to meet both
parties to discuss the present situation and the proposed Geneva Talk, met the President yesterday. He also expressed desire to hold next round of Talk in Japan.

ETHNIC CRISIS WOULD BE FURTHER DETERIORATED. INDIA SHOULD BREAK THEIR
SILENCE
The verdict given by the justice sector on the de merger of North East would complicate the ethnic conflict further. Hope and sentiment of the Tamils would also be demolished through this ruling, said Raviraj, TNA MP. India should make her stance in public and the major political leaderships in Sri Lanka too explicitly express their standpoint, he added further.

INDIA IS DISSATISFIED OVER SRI LANKAN MILITARY OPERATION
While New Delhi considers that the Sri Lanka has its rights to respond for any terrorist acts, the Govt’s attempt for the last two months to beat Tigers militarily is not a correct approach, says New Delhi sources.

BUILDING CONTRACTOR SHOT DEAD AT SAMMANTHURAI
UK Raheem (49), father of three, resident of 15th road, Sammanthurai was gunned down yesterday around 9am at his house. Persons arrived on a motorbike called Raheem and took him out of his house and then shot at. He died and the assailants fled.

Page 2
YASUSHI AKASHI VISITS VANNI TOMORROW
Akashi, Japanese Special Envoy, will hold talk with Tamilselvan Tiger Political Wing Leader tomorrow around 10am in Kilinochi. Meanwhile, Bauer, Norwegian Special Envoy, will meet Tamilselvan on Thursday around 10am.

5 TAMIL YOUTHS HELD AT HETTIPOLA
5 Tamil youths, resident of Chenkaladi, Batticaloa, were made to
disembark from a bus at a checkpoint, Hettipola and arrested yesterday morning. These youths came from Puttalam for employment, it is said.

Page 8
JAPAN STRESSES SRI LANKA TO HOLD THE TALK IN SUCH A MANNER THAT WOULD
BRING A TANGIBLE OUTCOME
We pay concern on the Tigers violent activities, Govt circle complainsWhen the Japanese Special Envoy, Akashi, met the leader of Govt Peace Team, Minister, Nimal Sripala De Silva, yesterday, he stressed the proposed Talk in Geneva should be held in a constructive manner.

EDITORIAL
CEASE FIRE AND SLMM
It is surprising to note the present war and cease fire agreement in force. The agenda for the proposed Talk would be prepared on the basis of discussion between the Jon Hansen Bauer, Norwegian Special Envoy, and the Tigers during this week. Both the Govt and the Tigers have their own agenda in the proposed Talk and the facilitators would face difficulty to bring a consensus on this issue. The Tigers desire to give prominence to Cease-fire while the Govt wants to talk all aspects including political settlement. Conclusive decision on the SLMM functioning would be taken at the Talk, SLMM hopes. We are unable to travel to conflict areas such as Muhamalai. Then how our work could be carried out, questioned SLMM. War could not be averted if CFA is not adhered and functioning of SLMM is respected. We could not find progress in the Talk without bringing a halt to violence, which cause bloodletting and loss of life.

SUDAR OLI
Tuesday October 17, 2006
Lead
NAVY CONVOY DESTROYED AT HABARANA. 100 NAVY MEN DIED AND AROUND 150
INJURED
The suicide attack carried out in a explosive laden truck targeting
transitional point of the Govt forces located between 101 and 102 milepost between Dambulla and Habarana on A6 road claimed the lives of around 100 Navy men and around 150 soldiers injured critically.
Page 1
IT IS A VICTORY TO THE EASTERN PUBLIC. TIGERS RECEIVED A TOTAL DEFEAT,
JVP
delighted with the Court rulingThe Court ruling which said that the merger of North East is invalid is a victory to the civilians living in the East and a great blow to the Tigers, said Wijitha Herath,JVP Parliamentarian to the Sudar Oli.

EDITORIAL
JUSTICE WHICH SEVERS TAMIL HOME LANDS
Sri Lanka High Court announced that the North-East merger- that is merger of Tamil Home Lands- is illegal. The situation, which prevailed for the last 18 years, is found incorrect now. As far as Tamils of Elam are concerned, this ruling is expected. Tamils believed that this kind of ruling would only be obtained in this law court and we also believed that fair justice could not be expected. The constitutional laws, which snatch political rights of minority Tamils and maintain ethnic uniqueness of the Sinhala community are passed at the parliament unilaterally and later imposed on the Tamils. The republic constitution brought in 1972 and the dictatorial president systems presented in 1978 were passed at this House and no Tamil contribution was made in the preparation of these two systems. It is meaningless to hope the judicial system of the country get out from the constitutional limitation to deliver a just and fair ruling. Tamil civilians will never accept the severance of their motherland. This fact is known not only to the Sri Lankan Govt but also to the International Community. When the North East merger was examined by the High Court, Co Chair warned in their report that the special arrangements made on the North East issue should not receive any change and achieving peace would be at a risk if any change is made. Referendum has to be conducted to make the merger permanent. However, the referendum is not possible due to ground situation. India has insisted that the merger should go on till the referendum is conducted. It is also blow to the Indian request and the view expressed by the Co chair too was overlooked. What would be the response from India and the Co Chair that stresses peaceful settlement to the crisis, for this severance of Tamil Home Lands in the name of justice?

Page 2
THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF TARGETING AREAS OTHER THAN BATTLE FRONT, Says
Tigers spokesman.
Since the military is causing more damage to the civilians for example an air strike few hours before at Puthukudiyiruppu populated area, we could not deny attacks against other military positions in the island, said Ilanthirayan, Tiger military spokesman, when the BBC Tamil Osai Program interviewed him.

Page 6
RICHARD BOUCHER ARRIVES ON THURSDAY
Richard Boucher, USA State Minster, South Asia affairs, is expected here on the 19th and he will hold talk with ministers, leaders of civil societies, representatives of NGOs with regard to Peace Effort and Human Rights.

CACHE OF ARMS RECOVERED AT ILAVALAI, JAFFNA
On a tip off received on the 15th night, military was able to recover 2 T56 guns, 2 hand grenade, 20 magazine at Ilavalai, said Brig. Prasath Samarasinghe, military spokesman.

AUSTRALIAN EXPERTS ARRIVE THIS WEEK TO INVESTIGATE MUTHUR MURDERS
15 bodies of NGO employees murdered at the Muthur incident will be exhumed in the presence of Judge, Anuradhapura, 4 JMOs and officers attached to the French NGO and will be taken to Colombo. Australian forensic experts will arrive here this week to carry out autopsy again.

DAILY MIRROR
LEAD
TIGERS UNLEASH HIGH NOON HORROR2
A suspected LTTE truck bomber rammed into a navy convoy killing 94
unarmed sailors and injuring 116 others at a troop’s transit point at
Digampathaha in Habarana yesterday afternoon. This alleged Tiger suicide attack made hours after the arrival of Japanese Special Peace Envoy Yasushi Akashi in the island, claimed the highest number of Navy casualties since the signing of the Ceasefire Agreement.“The victims were unarmed sailors, some returning home on vacation and the others returning for duty,” military spokesman Prasad Samarasinghe said. Military fears the death toll could rise as the recovery operation was still underway last evening.

NORTH-EAST MERGER ILLEGAL: SC
The Supreme Court yesterday ruled that the proclamations issued by the
then President enabling the Northern and Eastern Provinces to operate as one administrative unit and be administered by one elected council were null and void and had no legal effect.

JVP HAILS ORDER BUT TAMIL PARTIES INSIST ON MERGER
The JVP and the JHU yesterday hailed the Supreme Court order for the de-merger of the North-East as a great victory for the people while Tamil political parties stressed the need to continue with the merger as a prerequisite to resolving the ethnic problem.

UNP AGREES TO SUPPORT GOVERNMENT AMIDST CONCERNS
The UNP Working Committee approved the proposed MoU with the Government after insisting on the leadership to go for an adequate power sharing arrangement befitting the party’s stature and strength. At the meeting which soon turned stormy, party members were critical of the decision taken by the party hierarchy to embark upon collaborative politics with the SLFP at this crucial hour.

K’FIR CRASHES INTO NEGOMBO LAGOON
An Air Force Kfir Jet returning to Katunayake airfield crashed into the Negombo Lagoon last evening due to a technical fault while the pilot managed to escape unhurt. The jet which was returning after a short mission in the North had plunged into the lagoon in Talahena, Singapooruwatta area around 5.45pm, Negombo police said. According to sources the fighter jet was among three other Kfir jets returning after an air movement and was the last to return. The first three jets had landed safely.

Page 03
ABDUCTED HINDU PRIEST RELEASED IN PETTAH
Colombo’s Ponnambalavaneshwar Sivan Devashthanam Hindu temple
junior-priest janarthanan Bala jegadeeshwara Swamigal (27) who was abducted on October 14 at the Pettah at dawn yesterday.According to the civil monitoring committee on extra judicial killing, the priest was picked up by five armed men at the bus stand when he was about to board a bus to Matale where he was to conduct a special pooja at the Muthumariyamman priest in a blue colour jeep to an undisclosed location 25-minute-drive away from the place of abduction. It is learnt the priest had been interrogated by the abductors, who spoke in both Sinhala and Tamil.

HARDCORE TIGER NETTED IN ARMY DESERTER’S HOUSE
A 22-year-old hardcore Tiger cadre was taken into custody while staying in the house of an Army deserter in Gangeyaya area in the Buttala Police Division.

THE ISLAND
LEAD
N-E MERGER NULL AND VOID
The Supreme Court yesterday declared the merger of the North and Eastern Provinces invalid, null and void. The petitioners, three members of the JVP, were granted the entitlement to elect a Provincial Council for the Eastern Province under Article 154(a)(2)of the Constitution of Sri Lanka. The judgement was by the Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva, with Justice C. N. Jayasinghe, Justice N. K. Udalagama Justice Raja Fernando and Justice N. G. Amaratunga agreeing.

Page 01
SENIOR TIGER KILLED
The LTTE yesterday admitted to losing a very senior cadre in a battle
against the armed forces. ‘Colonel’ Akbar was killed in the figting, LTTE spokesman Daya Master told The Island. He daid the TLTE had set aside yesterday as a day of mourning in Killinochchi for their cadres killed in fighting.

SLMC STAND ON MUSLIM ADMINISTRATIVE UNIT STAND- ALI
The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress said that yesterday’s Supreme Court verdict declaring the temporary merger of the Northern and Eastern provinces null and void, has not changed its policies in anyway. General Secretary of the SLMC Hassan Ali told “The Island” last night that the SLMC’s request for separate Muslim Administrative Unit stands.

Page 02
IF PUSHED, WE WILL BE COMPELLED TO DESTROY LTTE – PM
The LTTE should understand that the government is not eager to go to war and kill people unnecessarily. "But if they continue with their bomb blasts to destroy us and terrorise the Tamil speaking people at gunpoint, we, as a responsible Government, would be compelled to destroy it," Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake said.He was speaking after ceremonially commissioning the (Kandana) Kalu Ganga water treatment plant at Horana, to serve 500,000 households besides 100,000 new connections in Bulathsinhala, Panadura, Moratuwa, Ratmalana, Bandaragama and Horana.

CEMENT, FERTILISER PESTICIDES AGROCHEMICALS IN MOONSHINE – MINISTER
Medical experts have found that the increase in the number of people suffering from chronic renal failure has been due to the consumption of illicit liquor containing cement, fertilizer, pesticides and agrochemicals, constant use of paracetamol for minor headaches and use of native decoctions, Health and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva told The Island yesterday.

DAILY NEWS
LEAD
NEARLY 100 SAILORS KILLED IN LTTE SUICIDE ATTACK
Barbaric act against unarmed Forces personnelDIGAMPATHANA: Nearly one hundred sailors were killed and 116 including civilians were injured in a barbaric suicide attack by the LTTE by driving an explosives-laden truck targeting hundreds of unarmed Naval personnel at Digampathana on the Trincomalee-Habarana road.

GOVT WILL NOT HESITATE TO PURSUE SUITABLE COURSE OF ACTION AGAINST LTTE
TERRORISM - GOVT. DEFENCE SPOKESMAN
COLOMBO: If the LTTE terrorists persist on resorting to disgraceful and barbaric acts of terrorism, when the hand of friendship is extended to Prabhakaran, by such acts the innocent people are losing the opportunity to find solutions to their problems, states Plan Implementation Minister and Government Defence Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella. Minister Rambukwella made this comment by way of expressing his sorrow over the massacre of a large number of security personnel by the exploding of a bomb in the Digampathana area of Dambulla yesterday.

Compiled by the Daily Resume Team of Globe Information And Publicity Services.

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Q "DINAMINA" Published by Ceylon ,No.35, D.R. Wijewardana

rd, Colombo.

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Q "THINAKKURAL" Independent Tamil Daily. No. 68, Elihouse

Road, Colombo 

15. Telephone: 522555.


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