News
Palk Strait security beefed-up by India to combat SL refugee influx
By Dinasena Rathugamage
The Indian Coast Guard has from Wednesday beefed up surveillance in the Palk Strait deploying additional patrols to prevent Lankan refugees reaching the Tamil Nadu coast, fishing and naval sources said.
An additional 16 vessels have already been deployed to be increased by nine more shortly, the sources said.
The Tamil Nadu political administration has decided to welcome Lankan refugees and grant them asylum. However several key ministers of the Central Government have expressed opposition predicting that there would be a large influx of Lankan refugees in coming weeks.
In recent weeks 84 Lankans from the northern districts have reached the Tamil Nadu coast and have been granted refugee status while two have been held in an Indian prison over narcotic charges.
Meanwhile, a news report in the The Hindu of May 11 said that a high alert has been sounded in the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu to prevent the intrusion of the Lankan nationals into the State.
Patrolling along the territorial waters and roads leading to the coastline have been intensified, police sources said on Tuesday. The state government was in touch with the Union Home Ministry on this matter.
While the arrival of refugees in small batches started in early March this year with several families taking boats to reach the Rameswaram coast, a sudden increase was likely, the sources said.
There was a possibility that many of the 50 odd prisoners who escaped from the Hambantota Prison could enter India by illegal means via the sea route.
Security personnel in the coastal districts were alerted to mount surveillance at vantage points and alert Village Vigilance Committees in all fishing hamlets to keep a watch at known landing points.
“We are closely monitoring the situation in Sri Lanka and are in constant touch with the Ministry of Home Affairs and intelligence agencies on the issue,” a top Tamil Nadu government official told The Hindu.
“The Coastal Security Group of the Tamil Nadu police is coordinating with the Indian Navy and Coast Guard on the frequency and patroling pattern along the south-eastern sea belt,”
It was not just Sri Lankan Tamils but Sinhalese, Muslims and others could also flee as the country plunges into a deeper economic crisis, the Indian authorities say.
“There is a possibility that former cadre of the banned LTTE could sneak into India with the support of their sympathisers who are already raising funds to revive the movement. Smuggling of weapons, drugs and other contraband substances cannot be ruled out,” the official claimed.
Officials of the State police, fisheries and intelligence agencies at Rameswaram were told to be in constant touch with fishermen and others sources to look out for families stranded in islands between the two countries, the Indian report said.
“Since vigil has been enhanced, some illegal boat operators dropped fleeing families in islands close to the International Maritime Boundary. Coastal security agencies rescued such families and brought them to Dhanushkodi in recent weeks. If need be, we will request increased aerial surveillance in the area,” the official said.
News
“We cannot allow flooding to become a part of the daily lives of the people in the Colombo District” – PM
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that unauthorized constructions within the Colombo District, nor any form of residential developments that endanger the public carried out under the guise of development agenda will not be allowed.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing the media at the conclusion of the Colombo District Disaster Management Committee meeting held on Tuesday [December 09] at the Colombo District Secretariat.
Addressing further, the Prime Minister stated:
“The Colombo District has become vulnerable to this extent due to the constructions carried out without any proper planning or understanding of regulations, along with personal and politically motivated decisions that have placed both the district and its people at risk.
Compared to the districts that suffered severe loss of life and property due to the recent cyclone, the damage to the Colombo District has been relatively lower. However, special intervention is being carried out together with the relevant institutions to manage the potential future flood risks in the district.
This matter was also given special attention during today’s District Disaster Management Committee meeting. We cannot allow the flooding to become a regular part of the lives of the people in Colombo. All relevant institutions will come together to put forward a common plan for flood control in the district.”
The Prime Minister further stated that discussions are already underway to provide sustainable solutions for the people living in high-risk areas within the Colombo District.
The discussion was attended by the Deputy Minister of Urban Development Eranga Gunasekara, Deputy Minister of Mass Media Kaushalya Ariyaratne, and Colombo District Members of Parliament Aruna Panagoda and Chandana Suriyarachchi.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The handover of 35 tonnes of Russian Humanitarian Aid to Sri Lanka, recently affected by the cyclone «Ditwah», took place at Katunayake today (10th December)
The shipment was welcomed at the Katunayake airport by Ambassador of Russia Levan Dzhagaryan, Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Anura Karunathilaka and Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd).
Ambassador Levan Dzhagaryan: said “This delivery is a reflection of long-term friendly relations between Russia and Sri Lanka and reaffirms Moscow’s commitment to support countries in a difficult humanitarian situation.”
The supplies brought by the EMERCOM (Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations) aircraft comprised a movable 60 kW electric power station, Pumping equipment for water drainage, Summer tents (10-person capacity) and Food supplies (sugar, vegetable oil, rice)
The total cargo weight is 35 metric tonnes. The aid will be distributed among the most affected regions.
A meeting between the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake and the French Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Rémi Lambert, was held on Tuesday (09) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat.
During the discussion, the French Ambassador assured the Secretary to the President that the French Development Agency would extend its support to the Government’s programme for providing relief to those affected by Cyclone Ditwah and for rebuilding Sri Lanka. He further stated that steps are being taken to dispatch a team of experts to the country in the near future.
The Deputy Head of Mission at the French Embassy, was also present on this occasion.
“We cannot allow flooding to become a part of the daily lives of the people in the Colombo District” – PM
Russia gifts 35 tonnes of Humanitarian Aid to Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka squad named for ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup
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Tickner and Rae bowl West Indies out for 205 to give New Zealand the edge
French Ambassador pledges support for relief efforts
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