Minister tells diplomats STOP TERRORISM FUNDING IN YOUR SOIL!
Posted on April 24th, 2014
Compelling evidence on flow of overseas funds for planned terrorist activity Action in designating 16 groups and 424 individuals taken under UNSC Regulation 1373:
The government’s action in designating 16 groups and 424 individuals involved in terrorist funding and other activities connected with plans to revive terrorism had been taken under United Nations Security Council Regulation 1373 which not only empowered governments to resort to such measures, but imposed on States an imperative duty to effectively suppress terrorist funding, External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris said.
The minister was speaking at a comprehensive briefing for Ambassadors and High Commissioners accredited to Sri Lanka at the External Affairs Ministry yesterday.
The main purpose of the briefing was to provide the diplomatic community authentic information regarding action taken by the government against groups and individuals involved in terrorist funding and other activity connected with plans to revive terrorism.
“Regulations had been framed for this purpose under Sri Lankan legislation, and timely action has been taken on the basis of these Regulations,” he said. Minister Prof. Peiris told the diplomatic community that there is compelling evidence regarding the remittance of substantial sums of money from overseas for planned terrorist activity.
“As a result of extensive investigations in recent weeks, the government is aware of the sources of this funding in several instances and the bank accounts into which the money had been paid. Sixty five arrests have been made and 19 persons have been released after questioning,” he added.
“A wealth of information, including documentary evidence and primary evidence of communications between the parties concerned, is now at the disposal of the government,” the minister said.
“The emerging picture indicates activity by several networks, including links between activists operating from broad and recipients of funds within Sri Lanka. Weapons, documents and other material have been found in consequence of information elicited during questioning. From the material available, it is clear that the funds sent are intended to be used for military, intelligence and propaganda purposes, with groups of persons and others operating under their direction assigned responsibility in respect of each of these areas,” the minister said.
“While the investigations are continuing, and further information is coming to light regarding the identity and role of other participants, the elaborate nature of the preparations revealed by the evidence already obtained, leaves no room for doubt that an intricate planning apparatus is sought to be established,” Prof. Peiris added. The government’s foremost duty, the minister emphasized, is to exercise the greatest vigilance and to nip in the bud attempts at resurgence of any form of terrorist activity. “A country that has suffered anguish and pain inflicted by terrorism for three decades, expects no less from its government,” he added.
The minister observed that timely and decisive action has been effective in warding off any threat of growing activity, and the government will continue to watch the situation closely and not hesitate to adopt such further measures as may be required. An encouraging feature of the situation, he explained, is the considerable quantity of information emanating from people of the relevant areas, eager to prevent the disruption of their lives which they are now engaged in rebuilding. Prof. Peiris drew attention to the attempt in some quarters to paint a picture of a threat to tourism and investment.
The minister characterized these attempts as entirely unwarranted and mischievous. The government is in total control of the situation, and has every confidence of eradicating at the very inception any attempt to revive terrorism in any from in any part of the country, he commented. The minister pointed out that the benefits flowing from the eradication of terrorism in Sri Lanka are by no means confined to the country, but accrue to the entire South Asian region. He mentioned, in particular, Sri Lanka’s significant contribution to maintaining the safety of sea lanes in the area and the control of a wide range of illegal activity including people smuggling and the proliferation of small arms.
He underlined the importance of pre-emptive action to deal with the kinds of activity he had described, and requested all nations represented at the briefing to extend their fullest co-operation in preventing the inflow of funds for terrorist purposes and forestalling all forms of activity which these resources are intended to support.Major General K.H.G. Hendawitharana, representing the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development was also present.
April 24th, 2014 at 4:12 pm
At last something is happening.
BUST all LTTE RUMP activists. ARREST these terrorists when they visit SL.
IDENTIFY their network persons in SL and BUST them.
We have to first put the HOUSE IN ORDER.
April 24th, 2014 at 7:24 pm
We have a comprehensive database depend on different classes and that include sleepers sleeper abroad.
Recently we had information about high level police personal who is suppose to pass information to the foreign power and this was misinformation that was fed from London… We do through check and Kapila (Gen) is more than capable in this area.
April 25th, 2014 at 9:25 am
Please also read the following two news ites along with this article.
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(1)
Sri Lanka’s TNA seeks Tamils’ right to self-determination at Chavakachcheri May Day rally
Wed, Apr 23, 2014, 11:00 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Apr 23, Colombo: Sri Lanka’s main Tamil party, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), will call for Tamils’ right to self-determination at its May Day rally scheduled to be held in Chavakachcheri.
TNA Jaffna District parliamentarian Mavai Senathirajah has said the TNA would celebrate May Day this year under the theme of the right to self-determination as well as issues including the cost of living, unemployment, resettlement and land grabbing. He explained that the people in the North and East have been affected by these issues.
Mr. Senathirajah told the media that the TNA will also call on the military to release all privately owned land to allow farmers whose lands are under military custody to carry out their livelihoods.
Members of the TNA, Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran, provincial ministers and councilors, and members of other local bodies will attend the May Day rally.
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(2)
Coalition partner criticizes Sri Lankan government for not acting against the Tamil party
Fri, Apr 25, 2014, 07:45 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Apr 25, Colombo: A coalition partner of the Sri Lankan government , the National Freedom Front (NFF) has faulted the government for not taking any action against the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) for attempting to divide the country.
NFF Spokesperson Mohamad Muzammil said the TNA was trying to get Tamil youths to tie cyanide capsules around their necks again. He accused the Tamil party of trying to instil racial hatred among the Tamil youths in the North.
In a media statement the party spokesperson explained that while the TNA has accused the government of falsely propagating a notion of the resurgence of the LTTE to fortify its military presence in the North after eliminating the LLTE in 2009, the TNA has not given up on its attempt to divide the country.
As a result of TNA’s divisive actions, the terrorist organization is attempting to come back, Muzammil charged.
According to Muzammil, the government has failed to take action against the activities of the TNA that are most often in violation of the Constitution.
He urged the government to take action according to the Constitution against the Tamil party without delay and warned that if not, inevitably the country will be a battle field again. Please see below!
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(3) Also, related to this is the following:
Sri Lankan government to amend laws related to funding of NGOs
Fri, Apr 25, 2014, 06:43 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Apr 25, Colombo: The government of Sri Lanka plans to amend laws related to providing funds to Non Government Organizations (NGOs) in the country.
The laws will be amended in a manner that would provide the government with a legal mandate to closely scrutinize funding received by NGOs.
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has made these comments at a meeting with media heads yesterday at Temple Trees, local media reported.
The President has made this comment in response to a statement by an editor of a newspaper that there was no transparency when it comes to funds received or spent by NGOs in the country.
The President had responded saying that it was difficult for the government to trace the origins of funds received by NGOs under the existing laws. External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris has added at the meeting that under the laws that existed before 1977, NGOs should reveal their funding sources and how those funds were spent, but it is not so under the current laws.
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April 25th, 2014 at 12:26 pm
Can someone with the legal background please clarify from where the Tamils derive “their exclusive unilateral right for self determination ?”. To my mind the whole country must decide on that and not just the TNA . If not it would be like asking the leg whether to amputate it. The question instead should be posed to the whole body – not just ask the part to be amputated!! And before someone writes back, that is what UK is experimenting on Scottish Devolution, and I and many here do not agree with that either! -S de Silva – London
April 25th, 2014 at 3:36 pm
“Sri Lankan government to amend laws related to funding of NGOs”
That is good news Indrajith.
Hope it happens. ONLY TALK at this stage.
Govt. passed 3 strategic development acts (CASINO acts).
I’m NOT opposed to a SPECIFIC casino in the area between Lake House and Zahira College. This area is under threat of Islamic Ghetto Colonization. SAVING it from ISLAMIC VALUES is a good thing.
NO to island-wide casinos. LIMIT them to a VERY SMALL AREA like this. Good move. 99.9% of SLs will not even go close to these luxury resorts!!
April 25th, 2014 at 9:13 pm
S de Silva:
The right of self determination is enshrined in International Law and in the UN Charter (Article I). Sri Lanka is a signatory to both. In addition it is part of International Covenants on HR and in the Vienna Declaration of HR. Sri Lanka is party to these as well.
Any group of people (and even individuals collectively) have the right of self determination.
Therefore, it is correct to say Tamil people in Sri Lanka have their exclusive unilateral right for self determination.
However, there is a catch. Any group (say Tamils) are only entitled to the right of self determination which means the right to pursue self determination. They are not by these laws entitled to self determination per se. This has implications for Sri Lanka. While Article 157 of the Constitution considers it a criminal offence to engage in separatism, Sri Lanka cannot prevent Tamils from pursuing their right of self determination.
Your example is correct. However, the “leg” has the right to pursue the path of self determination but there is no right to self determination (“amputation”).
By pursuing the right, a group may arrive at a compromise with the government for devolution, federalism, further autonomy and eventual separation depending on their bargaining power.
April 26th, 2014 at 11:17 am
Many people both from Lanka & abroad have called for ARRESTS of TNA members of parliament as they are promotin separatism & following the rules of LTTE from may 2009.
There are ample eidence to punish these TNA members or withhold their salaries, as THEY ARE IN FACT AGAINST A DEMOCRATICALLY elected govt: They are using words that can be contrude as PLOTTING AGAINST the State of Sri Lanka. If these ARE SO CONFUSING and can be abused by legal begals, IT IS TIME to do what India did for TAMIL NADU, when PM Nehru was living.
He declared any state of Indian Union cannot LEAVE the UNION under the law. So that is why TN is trying hard to get Sri Lankan Tamils to get ELAM, BUT NOT to have independence TN, from Indian union by themselves. IT IS PROHIBITED even to CHALLENGE India’s laws under their constitution.
If that is the case WHY NOT in addition to OUR present LAWS of allegence & loyalty OATHS to Sri Lanka, WHY NOT INSIST on TNA & other separatist idelogists to be puniished by Sri Lankaan Govt: if ever they even talk about separatism. IT IS AN ACT AGAINST THE our UNITARY STATE of SRI LANKA. A unitary state as described in our constitution, and many countries have ACCEPTED this form & even helped us to maintain that status.
These laws are somehow been used to achieve their perceived goals, THE ULTIMATE seperate state, WE HAVE introduce LAWS that prohibit such action by TNA or any other group. …………….J