Three of the most prominent teacher trade unions, the Ceylon Tamil Teachers Association, Ceylon Democratic Teachers Union and Ceylon Islamic Teachers Association, came together against the proposed transfer scheme in the East, reported Tamilnet.

The head of the Sri Lankan delegation currently in talks with the Tamil National Alliance has denied it is under pressure from India to devolve power to the provinces.

Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva told BBC Sinhala the agreement to discuss land and police powers, an ‘apparent u-turn’ from their previous position, has nothing to do with influences by other countries.

"No no no no, there was no pressure. Neither India nor other country can dictate how our country is governed," he said in response to a question by BBC Sandeshaya.

The past few days have seen rumours that General Sarath Fonseka, sentenced for implicating the defence secretary in war crimes, would receive a pardon from Sri Lanka's president, Mahinda Rajapaksa. The reports, said to have emerged from the Presidential Secretariat sources, alleged that the pardon would be announced on New Years Day.

Writing in The Platform, Mario Arulthas a member of the TYO UK (Tamil Youth Organisation UK) argues that the end of the armed conflict has not brought peace, but instead as the ruling regime "attempts to consolidate the Sinhala-Buddhist fascism that has plagued the island for decades", the genocide of Tamils "continues unabated".

Records prepared by the LTTE's Peace Secretariat during the 2006 peace talks were released by Tamilnet on Saturday.

Tamilnet took the decision to release the records, which it states were handed over personally by the late S.P Tamilselvan, in order to "facilitate a deeper understanding of the peace process and its eventual collapse".

See here for article by Tamilnet in full.

Extracts reproduced below:

The Sri Lankan government has taxed a charity for importing wheelchairs for Tamil war victims.

322 wheelchairs and other mobility equipment destined for the north of the island were taxed $8,000 by Sri Lankan customs.

The head of the Yorkshire based charity, PhysioNet, has condemned the move by the government.

Peter Thompson said the shipment took over 3 months to clear customs.

Photograph www.sundaytimes.lk

Escorted by Sri Lankan military commander for the Eastern province, Major Gen.

Sri Lanka's ruling party, the UPFA, have said that the country's close ties with China should not be seen as a threat to India.

According to Rohitha Bogollagama, member of the UPFA, Sri Lanka's relationship with India is unique and cannot be replaced.

In an interview with Bhagwan Singh, published in the Deccan Chronicle, Sri Lankan president, Mahinda Rajapaksa slammed calls for a war crimes inquiry as "baseless issues" contrived by the Tamil diaspora, and dismissed the TNA's demands as "impossible".

See here for interview in full.

Extracts of Rajapaksa's responses reproduced below:

On calls for a war crimes investigation

"The LTTE remnants in these Western countries are bringing pressure on political leaders there to raise baseless issues against Sri Lanka."

"After the 1880 uprising in Ceylon’s Uva (in the south), the British rulers killed every male aged above 14, and destroyed all water reservoirs to force the people into starvation. They took away land. They did that in India, too. And they talk of human rights now. The West wants me to be their lackey and I refuse to be that."

 

On relationships with India

"For me, India is first, and others come only after India. As soon as I came to power, I went to India and got their support; after that, I did not have to bother about the UN, UK, US, and so on."

On TNA and devolution

"They (TNA) have the same attitude as the LTTE.

"They demand impossible things — merger of the north and the east, land policy and police. See what happened in your country [India] when Rahul Gandhi was travelling in Uttar Pradesh. Chief minister Mayawati tried to get him arrested. Do you think I want to get arrested by these people (by giving the Tamils a police force)?