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A new milk collection facility will be open on 23 rd July, 2008 in Trincomalee in order to support rural dairy farmers in the district. The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) funded World Concern Sri Lanka to build the centre at Uppuveli, Trincomalee enabling dairy farmers along the Kuchchaveli coast to supply direct to the domestic market. MILCO, who own Highland milk products, will run the centre transporting milk daily to their upcountry processing plant. The centre can hold 3,000 litres in chilled milk at present and has the capacity to expand to 5,000 litres in future.

Representatives from the Department of Animal Production & Health, MILCO, the District/Divisional Secretariat and CIDA are expected to attend the opening which marks a turning point for Trincomalee’s dairy farming community. It has been over three years since farmers had a regular buyer for their milk. With powdered milk prices now at record highs, demand for fresh milk is increasing and both Nestle and MICLO are actively soliciting farmers in the district. Farmers can now make between Rs. 32 and Rs. 35 per litre, providing much needed income as they rebuild their lives after many years of economic hardship.

The Trincomalee facility is one of two MILCO run regional facilities built by World Concern Sri Lanka, an International NGO ‐ the other having recently opened at Vellavely in Batticaloa. CIDA and World Concern also built three smaller Community Chilling Centres with 500 and 1000 litre tanks through which farmers societies can keep their milk cold before transporting it to the regional centres.

Over the 15 month project World Concern Sri Lanka has supporting 580 farmers with technical training, the purchase of cows, micro credit facilities, insurance services and the provision of milk cans and cattle sheds ‐ all designed to improve the farmers productivity and to raise rural incomes. Ian McInnes – Country Director for World Concern Sri Lanka – says that “incomes for these farmers have more than doubled as a result of this project”. World Concern Sri Lanka is also working in Batticaloa and Ampara with a total of 1,500 famers across the Eastern Province. Mr. McInnes believes there is plenty of scope to assist thousands more farmers across the Province as they resettle through the Governments IDP resettlement project. He says “Many farmers are returning to find their cattle gone, their old collection facilities in disrepair and that they have no access to a regular milk run. Once the cattle are reclaimed or new cows are purchased, the problem of replacing the milk run is easily solved as long as the chilled collection facilities can be rebuilt”.

This project was possible thanks to a contribution from the Canadian International Development Agency.

Author: Ian McInnes, Country Director, World Concern Sri Lanka

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) expressed their dismay at reports of assault and harassment of three media personnel by government officials in Colombo on July 18. The IFJ further stated that they are alarmed at reports that hundreds of police personnel at the scene did not intervene or were unable to stop the assaults.

“Now is the time for the subcommittee to demonstrate the Sri Lankan Government’s genuine commitment to support and protect Sri Lanka’s independent media, by investigating all attacks on media immediately and bringing the perpetrators to account,” the IFJ Asia-Pacific said.

On July 18th, The Daily Mirror’s - Journalist Yohan Perera was assaulted by persons said to be Sri Lanka Urban Development Authority officials, as he covered residents protesting demolition of homes in preparation for the SAARC summit.

Addressing a press conference on July 21st the Police Spokesman said that they are waiting for the victim to identify the assailants to record statements.

Full text of statement by IFJ:

Call for Investigation as Sri Lanka Government Officials Assault Journalists

The Intern ational Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is alarmed at reports of assault and harassment of three media personnel by government officials in Colombo on July 18.

The incident marks the eighth attack on independent media since the five main journalists’ organisations in Sri Lanka welcomed moves by the Government in late June to set up a Cabinet subcommittee to investigate media rights violations. The subcommittee, however, has not investigated any of the recent cases of intimidation or attacks on media personnel.

According to the Free Media Movement (FMM), an IFJ affiliate, officials from the Urban Development Authority reportedly assaulted Daily Mirror journalist Yohan Perera and photographer Pradeep Dilrukshana. Perera was hospitalised with injuries from the attack.

Television journalist Dushantha Manoj from Sirasa TV was also reportedly harassed by the officials.

The media personnel were reporting on the alleged illegal demolition of hundreds of homes in Colombo for the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) meeting to be held in Colombo on August 2 and 3.

The IFJ is further dismayed at reports that hundreds of police personnel at the scene did not intervene or were unable to stop the assaults.

“We see this incident as a sign of the absolute intolerance towards independent coverage of critical issues related to democratic governance,” the FMM said.

The IFJ joined the FMM on July 18 in calling on the Government to ensure the subcommittee investigated immediately and transparently on the continuing intimidation and harassment of journalists and the independent media in Sri Lanka .

“Now is the time for the subcommittee to demonstrate the Sri Lankan Government’s genuine commitment to support and protect Sri Lanka ’s independent media, by investigating all attacks on media immediately and bringing the perpetrators to account,” the IFJ Asia -Pacific said.

“Only by encouraging a safe environment where journalists no longer fear for their lives will Sri Lanka be able to boast an independent media profession that is representative of real democracy.”

“The IFJ demands that the Government of Sri Lanka make good on its promise and investigate promptly and transparently all attacks and intimidation directed against journalists and media institutions in Sri Lanka ,” IFJ Asia-Pacific said in a media release today.

Full text of the statement:

As journalists in Sri Lanka continue to suffer intimidation and harassment, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) calls on Sri Lanka ’s Government to make good on its recent commitment to investigate thoroughly all acts of violence directed toward members of Sri Lanka ’s media community.

In late June, the five main journalists’ organisations in Sri Lanka welcomed the Government’s move to set up a Cabinet subcommittee to look into the grievances of journalists, but said the committee must build confidence among the media community by reporting promptly and transparently about the progress of its inquiries.

Since then, seven incidents have been reported in which media personnel have been intimidated and harassed. There is no evidence of the subcommittee seeking to investigate any of these incidents, let alone the long list of prior cases.

The Free Media Movement (FMM), an IFJ affiliate, said in a statement today: “Given the number of reports on the intimidation and harassment of journalists the FMM has received over the last two weeks, it is apparent that the Cabinet subcommittee appointed by the Government to look into the grievances of the media community is powerless to foster media freedom and freedom of expression in Sri Lanka or investigate meaningfully the violence directed against journalists.”

The FMM reports the following incidents since late June:

· In early July, FMM spokesman Sunanda Deshapriya was visited at his family home by people claiming to be police. It was subsequently discovered that they gave false names and positions.

· On July 7, Sirasa TV reporter T. Jayakumar was threatened at the Supreme Court and asked not to report on a fundamental rights petition filed by a Major General against the military high command.

· On July 7, Chaminda Kulathunga, a provincial radio correspondent in Hambantota, was reportedly assaulted by police as he covered a demonstration. His identity card and tape recorder were confiscated.

· On July 7, Mahamuni Subramaniam, a provincial correspondent in the northern town of Vavuniya , was visited by a group of people who questioned him about a news photo of a June 16 bomb blast near the office of a police senior superintendent. He said two other Tamil journalists were also receiving regular threats and intimidation.

· On July 13, a Sinhala nationalist newspaper ran an opinion piece accusing a photographer of working against national security because he took a photograph of a bomber plane departing from Sri Lanka ’s international airport.

· On July 14, Meegoda Hemapala, a freelance provincial correspondent of Giraduru Kotte, was threatened by a mob that surrounded his house, angered by his reporting of a case of alleged child abuse. Hemapala said senior police also threatened him.

· On July 16, an anonymous caller threatened staff at the Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI), including Director General Ranga Kalansuriya, who has received threats against his life.

“The IFJ demands that the Government of Sri Lanka make good on its promise and investigate promptly and transparently all attacks and intimidation directed against journalists and media institutions in Sri Lanka ,” IFJ Asia-Pacific said.

“The Cabinet subcommittee set up to investigate violence against journalists in Sri Lanka is meaningless if it does not make serious and genuine efforts to resolve the crisis confronting journalists and media – and by extension, all citizens - in Sri Lanka.”

For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0919

The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 122 countries

Maavai Senathirajah, a parliamentarian of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) representing Jaffna in a letter to Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapakse, has protested the procedures initiated by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) officials for Jaffna residents to obtain a “Pass” to travel out of Jaffna. The system is suppressing freedom of movement and grossly violating basic human rights, he says.

Full text of the letter follows:

His Excellency Mahinda Rajapakse,
President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka,
Presidential Secretariat,
COLOMBO-01

Your Excellency,

URGENT APPEAL FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE ARMY PASS SYSTEM TO TRAVEL OUT OF JAFFNA PENINSULA.

I am in receipt of spate of representations from the residents of Jaffna with regard to the untold hardships, immense inconveniences and much time consuming procedure which is being adopted on those who venture to travel out of the peninsula.

I feel it is appropriate to apprise you briefly with regard to the difficulties which are being encountered by such applicants for the “permits.”

They are required to perfect about ten forms.

The recommendation of the Grama Sevaka has to be obtained.

The Divisional Secretary of the Division concerned has to countersign the recommendation of the G.S. of the area.

Thereafter, they have to submit their applications sufficiently supported by relevant documents at the respective army camps for approval and issue of permit.
For this purpose they are compelled to waste their precious time, energy and money. They are required to wait in the queue for unlimitedly long time in front of the army camps braving the hot sun, rain, dust and other unfavorable and injurious whether conditions, half-starved and other physical strain.

On their way if they happen to encounter passing of army convoy, they are prevented from proceeding further but to confine themselves in a nook and corner for long time until the end of such convoy of the fleet of army vehicles.

This tedious process takes number of days to procure the permit and therefore the very purpose of obtaining this permit ends up in losing the very purpose of this permit, at time.

The applicants venture to obtain this permit to travel out of Jaffna, not to made pleasure trips, but for very urgent purposes such as attending funerals, visiting the ailing and sinking kith and kin, to go abroad on receipt of visa, to meet their relatives who await their arrival in Colombo and other outstations to render financial and other assistance urgently required by them in order to tide-over their pressing difficulties, sending off their kith and kin and dear and near, who leave this shore for good and so on.

So, the prevailing “pass system” is undoubtedly causing tremendous hardships to the applicants and some times deprive them of the very purpose of their attempt to obtain pass/permit.

Hence it is needless of point out that it is a practice of suppression of freedom of movement and gross violation of basic human rights.

I, therefore, being the Member of Parliament of Jaffna District, feel duty bound to lodge my vehement protest against this inhuman pass system and demand the immediate withdrawal of same to bring relief and redress who deserve the right of travelling out of the peninsula as and when necessary.

I most eagerly await your urgent response to this agitation.

Thanking you,

Yours Sincerely

MAVAI. S.SENATHIRAJAH,M.P.,
JAFFNA DISTRICT

CC to:
1. Major General Chandrasiri, Jaffna Military Commandant- for kind information and very early necessary action, please.
2. Govt.Agent, Jaffna

Many of the people displacing in Vanni are living in open spaces as the number of displaced continues to grow, according to a news report released by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE) Peace Secretariat website LTTE PS today:

Full text and video as follows:

The number of people displacing in Vanni continues to grow as their homes are targeted by Sri Lanka military artillery fire. More than 100,000 people within the Vanni area have displaced since the clashes restarted in mid 2006.

Many of the displaced are forced to live in the open space. Shortage of fuel affects the transport of drinking water to the IDPs. Shortage of cement affects the building of toilets for the IDPs. Both these shortages were imposed by the Sri Lanka Government and could easily be rectified. Blocking humanitarian aid for the children among IDPs is a serious violation of international humanitarian law.

The pictures in the clip show the conditions of the displaced in Vanni. The lack of privacy for the young girls and women under the conditions seen in this clip will strike anyone in the face.

Statement by National Peace Council of Sri Lanka

Collateral damage will be to entire country’s detriment

The issue of human rights violations and impunity has reached a critical juncture that could have far reaching implications for the future well being of the country. With major international events scheduled to take place in the coming months, and with the SAARC Summit scheduled for the end of the month, there had been hopeful anticipation of positive changes for the better. However, the National Peace Council is distressed that the continuing human rights violations that take place with impunity in different parts of the country, including Colombo, will lessen the prospects for Sri Lanka to successfully achieve its objectives, including obtaining the GSP+ tariff concessions from the European Union.

The National Peace Council condemns the attack on a journalist belonging to the Sri Lankan Press Institute, Namal Perera by an armed gang in a white van in Colombo. Both he and British High Commission political officer Mahendra Ratnaweera, who was driving the car in which they were traveling were brutally attacked with clubs. This assault has come shortly after the Sri Lanka Press Institute decided to take legal action against a government-controlled newspaper that had published an allegedly defamatory story about their work, and an earlier search of their office by armed personnel in military uniform.

The intimidation of those who seek to be an independent voice in society is a most unacceptable feature of life in Sri Lanka today. We regret that these human rights violations are taking place despite repeated pledges by senior government leaders including President Mahinda Rajapaksa to protect the democratic rights of the people. We regret that not all government officials speak in one voice on the issue of human rights and democratic freedoms. We appeal to the government to ensure that it speaks and acts in a consistent manner that is in accord with human rights and democratic freedoms even in this time of war. We fear that unless this is done, the collateral damage to the country as a whole will outweigh by far the benefits of repression that favour a few vested interests.

Governing Council
National Peace Council of Sri Lanka

The National Peace Council is an independent and non partisan organisation that works towards a negotiated political solution to the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. It has a vision of a peaceful and prosperous Sri Lanka in which the freedom, human rights and democratic rights of all the communities are respected. The policy of the National Peace Council is determined by its Governing Council of 20 members who are drawn from diverse walks of life and belong to all the main ethnic and religious communities in the country.