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Tigers look for third party mediated peace talks

LTTE Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran has proposed peace talks mediated by a third party in a message delivered in Jaffna to mark the Heroes' Day the Tigers traditionally celebrate in Jaffna at the time of his birthday on November 26.

A release from the LTTE's International Secretariat in London said that Prabhakaran (spelt at Pirapaharan in the Tiger release) "is prepared for a negotiated political settlement if peace talks are mediated by a third party.'' Such a third party was not identified.

Prabhakaran who said that "we have not closed the door to peace'' called for the "creation of a climate of peace and goodwill to hold peace talks.''

The LTTE's official release quoted Prabhakaran saying that "peace negotiations cannot take place under prevailing conditions of war, violence and oppression'' and said that the Tigers would prefer to hold talks in a climate of "peace and normalcy.''

Extracts of Prabhakaran's speech were released to both the international and domestic media by the LTTE's London office. Tamil sources in the Wanni said that Prabhakaran made this address to a carefully screened audience. It was also broadcast live over the Voice of Tigers radio.

"We hold that the view that political negotiations cannot be free, fair and just if the government utilises the military aggression on our soil and the restrictions imposed on the economic life of our people as political pressure. We are prepared to engage in initial talks to discuss the removal of such pressures and to work out a basic framework for political negotiations,'' the Tiger leader said.

The speech accused the "Sinhala leadership'' of a lack of political will and sincerity to resolve the problem. Hence the desire for third party mediation.

In the course of the speech Prabhakaran alleged that foreign countries he did not name were providing Colombo with economic, diplomatic and military assistance and said that this was helping to prolong the war.

He pledged that the LTTE will not allow the "Sinhala state administration'' to function in "occupied Tamil land''. The Tigers were ejected from the Jaffna peninsula in December 1995 but continue to demonstrate a presence there.

The release by the LTTE in October of a group of soldiers held prisoner for nearly five years sparked speculation that the LTTE was looking for peace talks. The government has indicated its willingness for talks but under certain conditions.

Justice Minister G.L. Pieries recently said that the president had no strong objections to talks involving a third party facilitator when the time was ripe to open such talks. Analysts noted that Prabhakaran talks in terms of "mediation'' while Colombo says "facilitator.''

Prabhakaran's speech on Friday referred to the "growing entrenchment of Sinhala - Buddhist chauvinism and militarism in Sri Lanka politics'' and said that these were stumbling blocks for a negotiated political settlement.

Tigers admit using aircraft for first time

Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger guerrillas have for the first time announced they are operating aircraft and said they were used to drop flowers over a "martyrs cemetery", Tamil sources said Saturday.

The separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said in their clandestine Voice of Tigers radio Saturday that helicopters were used in a ceremony at Mulliyawli in the north-east of the country on Friday.

Tamil sources who monitored rebel radio in the northern town of Vavuniya, 260 kilometres (160 miles) north of Colombo said the rebels' ceremony marked the culmination of their "Heroes Week" which commemorated thousands of fighters killed in the separatist conflict.

The radio announcement was the first admission by the guerrillas that they were operating aircraft.

The radio said while its "Air Tigers" carried out the operation to drop flowers over the cemetery where their cadres are buried, anti-aircraft guns were brought into the area to keep away Sri Lankan air force planes.

The Defence Ministry had earlier said they had no hard evidence about the guerrillas' air ability, although the navy had recently opened fire at unidentified flying objects in the north of the country.

Authorities last week moved three anti-aircraft guns to defend the parliament against a possible air attack by the guerrillas.

A poster at the main checkpoint at parliament displayed the type of aircraft operated by the Sri Lankan air force, as well as of a helicopter and two microlight planes which the LTTE are thought to possess.

Sri Lanka had also imposed a limited ban on domestic flights to prevent aircraft being hijacked for an attack against vital installations in Colombo. (AFP)

Government cautious on LTTE offer

By Franklin R. Satyapalan
There was no government reactions yesterday to LTTE leader, V. Prabhakaran's offer of peace talks with third party mediation. Senior ministers preferred not to say anything at the present stage.

While UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was out of Colombo and not available for comment, Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku, the party spokesman said that the government "should respond positively.''

"We are all keen on finding a solution to the on-going conflict and all options available should be utilised,'' he said. The UNP has been urging talks while the war continues.

Analysts noted that there were several conditions that Prabhakaran has imposed for talks (see accompanying story on this page) and it was unclear whether negotiations on those terms would be possible.

Kodituwakku said that if the third party mediation that Prabhakaran had mentioned was in the form of a "facilitator'', the UNP would have no objections. He indicated that the UNP would abide by the positions it took during the Liam Fox initiative.

The CWC's P.P. Devaraj, speaking in the absence of Mr. Thondaman who was away in India said that when (peace) opportunities present themselves, it was up to the leaders of the government, opposition and all parties to grasp them.

SLMC General Secretary Rauf Hakeem said that his party had never opposed talks with the LTTE, "but they must not lay down any pre-conditions.'' He said that talks can focus on devolution and peripheral matters can be sorted out while the substantive discussions were on.

"For any lasting peace in the northeast, the Muslim dimension should not be ignored,'' he said.

A spokesman for TELO speaking from Jaffna said that in the context of the government and the LTTE not trusting each other, a third party mediator was the viable solution.

Mr. M.K. Sivajilingam, presidium member of TELO and Chairman of the Velvettiturai Urban Council said: "If the government calls for conditional talks and the laying down of arms by the LTTE, will the Tigers or any other liberation movement agree? Similarly, if the LTTE wants army camps in the northeast closed, will government agree? The only way out is unconditional talks with third party mediation,'' he said.

LSSP warns of danger ahead

The LSSP has warned that it would be unrealistic to estimate war expenses at anything less than the Rs.57 billion spent this year and said that such expenditure in a recessionary situation would have far reaching consequences.

The first of these, it said, would be a serious budget deficit. There would also be "inflation beyond the ambit of control, negative or depressed economic growth, increase in unemployment and under-expenditure in welfare and poverty relief which could jeopardise social stability itself.''

The LSSP also urged that the administration of the GST be reordered as a measure of immediate relief to the people. It must be prevented from being a burden on the consumer. Also welfare measures and Samurdhi must be maintained without a reduction in scope.

The statement which dealt with the budget, war and recession urged that the PA government should no longer continue the "futile exercise'' of seeking UNP support for constitutional changes before placing such proposals in parliament.

The statement described as "untenable and clearly a prevarication'' the position advanced that an amendment to the constitution or its substitution can be done without obtaining a two-third parliamentary majority.

It also expressed opposition to the unreserved acceptance of open economic and free market policies.

"The LSSP is of the view that in the face of what has happened in the East Asia, the PA government could have no meaningful alternative to a clear reordering of the economic and a deliberate and planned movement away from the policies that brought these countries to their present impasse'', the statement signed by LSSP General Secretary Batty Weerakoon said.

The following is the statement of the LSSP

The Budget for 1999 appears to share the view that what today is in every sense a world economic recession is likely to be of relatively short duration and therefore manageable. Hence perhaps the non recognition of the recession as a factor that can seriously impact on our rate of growth by affecting our exports. Our traditional exports have always and understandably suffered in periods of recession in the west. Exports of our garments industry are bound to suffer even more significantly. This is an industry that proliferated as off-shore production of the western countries, principally the USA. The recession in the west is bound to affect our Free Trade Zone produce. The impact of this recession on the oil producing countries can gravely narrow the Middle East labour market too.

The resulting economic consequences to us will certainly be compounded by the war expenses the country will be called upon to bear. It will not be realistic to estimate the war expenses at anything less than the Rs. 57 billion we have had to spend this year. This expense in a situation of recession could have far reaching consequences the first among which will be a serious budget deficit. Inflation beyond the ambit of control, negative or depressed economic growth, increased unemployment and under expenditure in welfare and poverty relief can jeopardize social stability itself.

There is nothing we could do in regard to the world economic recession except to prepare for it in advance by cushioning our people and our economy against its worst consequences. But as to the military operations and their mounting costs we have our choices. The LSSP is of the considered view that it is only with the enactment of the draft Constitution with its provision for the further devolution of political power that there can be opened a meaningful path to the reduction of the level of military operations. The PA government should no longer continue with the futile exercise of seeking UNP support for the amendment as a precondition to placing it before Parliament for its due adoption. In the given conditions

Parliament is the only forum in which the Opposition can openly decide and declare their position in regard to it. Far too much time has been spent on pointless polemics on this as a substitute for purposive action. The LSSP does not accept the position advanced that the amendment to the Constitution or its substitution can be done without obtaining a two-third majority for it in Parliament. The said position is untenable and is clearly a prevarication.

The LSSP has always urged on the country the disastrous consequences that could ensure from the unreserved acceptance of the policies of the Open economy and the Free Market to which the IMF pushed Third World countries, The present fate of the crisis stricken East Asian countries justify the LSSP's misgivings on this matter. The LSSP is of the view that in the face of what has happened in East Asia, the PA government could have no meaningful alternative to a clear reordering of the economy and a deliberate and planned movement away from the policies that brought these countries to their present impasse. Such reordering must aim at enhancing local capacity in industrial and agricultural production. The related economic growth has to have as a priority the felt improvement in the quality of life of the people at all levels. There must be speedily enforceable legal provision that ensure the use of national assets in the interest of national development. Privatised state property that is managed in a manner prejudicial to the national interest should be reinvested in the State.

The pursuit of the objectives stated above would mean a turning away from the IMF policies of restructuring Third World economics. The LSSP had identified itself over a considerable period of time with the objectives that were counterposed to IMF policies. Almost isolated then, the LSSP now finds that the IMF itself has admitted the need to rethink its positions which at one time were considered sacrosanct by Central Bank pundits and Treasury bureaucracies the World over.

As measures of immediate relief to the people the LSSP urges that the administration of the GST be reordered so as to prevent it from being a burden on the consumer welfare measures and the Samurdhi handout be maintained without a reduction of their scope, and the small and medium industrialist and agriculturist be protected from unfair foreign competition.

Island Capers
Loose cannon

The Daily News editor who found recently himself throwing barbs at the Sunday Leader when he was really targeting the Sunday Island has once more excelled himself as a loose cannon shooting blanks.

Last week he decided to do an editorial himself without following his usual practice of letting a more competent man do the job. This time too we were the target, "lying through our teeth'' if you please. But as usual the poor man has got all confused and ended up making a fool of Industrial Development Minister C.V. Goonaratne. The minister who was talking about export growth had some funny words put into his mouth.

We quote from the editorial. "But, if anyone carefully studies the economic indicators of the first nine months of this year, they clearly show that the country has recorded a 15.2 per cent growth rate ..........'' Good god, who's lying through whose teeth? We know that CVG was speaking of one thing but the editor was saying something else.

The poor fellow has been so busy reading the Sunday Island last week that he seems to have missed the Sunday Observer whose circulation he so proudly touts. That paper led its business page with the bold headline "Export growth slows.'' Exactly what we said for which we attracted a whole editorial!

About his ugly personal remarks about the talented young AFP correspondent in Colombo, the less said the better. What is ugliest is that he has added more venom than was in the Daily News into the Internet edition of his paper. Why? We hear that even his political bosses are not pleased.

And the poor man still remains confused. We are told in the opening paragraph of yesterday's Daily News front-page lead about a South Asian economic crisis in which 10 million have lost their jobs! Perhaps a geography lesson is also in order. The verdict on the editor's antics, we are told, is "over-enthusiasm.'' We'd use another word.

Appeal by Upali Newspapers and Kobbekaduwa Trust
More artificial legs needed for disabled soldiers

More than 5,000 young men have lost their limbs in Sri Lanka's North-East war. Every year, more and more of our able-bodied men are left with mere stumps for legs as the war drags on. Most are robbed of their livelihood and lives.

They go to war to defend the integrity of the country - to save lives. As a result, they end up with their lives in shambles.

One may feel there is little one can do to help them rebuild their lives - but there are ways. An artificial leg gives a new lease in life to those cruelly disabled in the war.

A few months ago, Upali Newspapers Ltd launched a campaign to raise funds for the Denzil Kobbekaduwa Trust to be used for the provision of artificial limbs to disabled soldiers. The campaign, carried out by way of appeals published in newspapers as well as individual requests to more than 81 eminent businessmen in the country. While it has resulted in the collection of a sum of over 800,000 rupees, the response from the top-notch businessmen has been disappointing.

Meanwhile, Air Lanka has agreed to fly in the finished limbs from their country of origin free of charge and a duty waiver has been requested for their import. There has, however, been no response yet on the duty waiver.

There has been sizeable contribution from workers in the Middle East and individual well-wishers here and abroad. However, the moneyed businessmen in the country who usually spend their capital freely to sponsor sporting events - and the like - have been silent.

The Denzil Kobbekaduwa Trust has tied up with two suppliers of the best quality limbs. One is a German-owned factory located in Sri Lanka and the other is a British company with a branch in Malaysia. The latter provides limbs to landmine victims in Cambodia. Both companies provide light, easy-to-use limbs that allow maximum comfort to the wearer. The legs, being of high quality, are relatively expensive. And the Trust needs money to support its work.

In an appeal for help to supply artificial limbs, Chairperson of the Trust, Lali Kobbekaduwa, says that all the boys who lose their legs come from different ethnic backgrounds but have one thing in common: "they come from desperately poor homes and have gone to war not only to fight for the integrity of our country but also to earn a wage that would help support their families". "You will agree that they have paid a terrible price for their patriotism and their poverty," she adds.

Upali Newspapers and the Denzil Kobbekaduwa Trust appeals again for donations to this worthy cause. All names of donors will be published in 'The Island' and the 'Divaina'. It can also be arranged for donations to take place in the premises of a donor company in order to attract maximum attention to their generous act.

Money contributed towards giving soldiers back their lives is different to sponsoring sporting events but it is ultimately a case of what a company prioritises: buying artificial limbs for those who lost their legs on the battlefield while defending our right to life, or lending their name to a game or sporting event. One thing is certain - the soldiers need your help.

No clue on Thara Devi statue

By Kalinga K. A. Weerakkody
Police have so far drawn a blank in their investigations into the missing priceless 5th century 'Thara Devi' statue which was reported to have been spirited out of the Anuradhapura archaeological museum on November 13.

"We have still not made any headway in our investigations", a senior police official admitted.

Two security guards and an officer attached to the museum were arrested in this connection and remanded pending investigations.

Police investigators are baffled over the mysterious disappearance of this artefact which was kept in a cubicle under lock and key in the museum guarded round the clock.

Police suspect it to be an 'inside job', but no clues have surfaced so far.

The missing statue in a sitting posture is 31/2 inches in height with a width of 21/2 inches.

Jaffna NGO's to file rights plea regarding disappearances in north

By Franklin R. Satyapalan
The Federation of Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the North are to file a fundamental rights application in respect of disappearances of persons in the Jaffna Peninsula, a spokesman for the federation said yesterday.

'The Island' learns that these fundamental rights applications will be initially confined to the 100 disappearances including the July 1996 disappearances of 24 persons at Kaithady in Jaffna.

The spokesman of the Federation of NGOs explained that they had to seek a legal remedy as appeals repeatedly made during the past two years by NGOs, political parties and human rights activists had fallen on the deaf ears.

A representative of the Federation of NGO's had left Jaffna by ICRC vessel on November 24, with the relevant documents for the application, a spokesman said.

Over 600 persons had disappeared since the security forces recaptured the Jaffna Peninsula and President Chandrika Kumaratunga appointed a committee about a year ago to inquire into and submit a report within six month. But nothing has happened upto now.

Abortive attempts to enter Australia
Rs. 10,000 bail each for 62 suspects

The Acting Magistrate Galle Chandana Uluwitiyage Friday granted surety bail in Rs. 10,000 each for the 62 suspects who made an abortive attempt to enter Australia illegally by sailing in a multi day trawler before they were rescued by the Navy last week from the sinking trawler in the seas off Kirinda.

The court postponed further hearing for March 4 next year.

Defence Councel Kumara Bandara and D. Sarathchandra moved court for bail. Galle Harbour police prosecuting did not object.

Of the 63 Sri Lankans the majority were Sinhalese and the others were Tamils and Muslims. They had paid sums amounting to rupees eight lakhs each and boarded the trawler 'Fathima' at Negombo and sailed 1800 nautical miles for 18 days before they faced turbulent seas and went off course and finally rescued by Naval Personnel around 9.30 on November 21.

Caring government must share people's suffering
Prune Parliament to half its size, says Avadhi Lanka

In a strong statement objecting to the proposed increase of parliamentary allowances including those of cabinet ministers, Avadhi Lanka said that those who called themselves a caring government must be willing to share the people's suffering.

"Being essentially mediocre men, singularly ill-equipped, both intellectually and spiritually, to represent the people's interests, if at this hour, when the lot of the masses is untold misery, those who called themselves a caring government are unable or unwilling to share the people's suffering, Avadhi Lanka wishes to tell them in the words of a well-known British statesman, "in the name of Heaven, for God's sake, go", the statement said.

Saying that it was "aghast, as much as the suffering masses of this country must surely be", on the reported decision to increase these allowances, the statement pointed out that in addition to their allowances MPs enjoy other perks such as duty free import of vehicles "which are often sold on the open market at a considerable profit".

Other perks include free telephone and postal facilities and highly subsidised meals in the parliamentary canteen.

"If government finances do not permit increases in remuneration to public servants, how can politicians justify increasing their own remuneration? Year in and year out, budget deficits have been the curse of our economy since Independence. They have caused inflation and made the life of the ordinary people a struggle for existence", it said. The statement argued that an increase in remuneration of politicians can only be justified on the ground of increased productivity. But how productive has the work of politicians been?

"Many of them support bootleggers, illicit distillers of kasippu, drug traffickers, smugglers and other social vermin. Underworld characters are their special friends. Through their assistance they unleash violence on their political opponents, disrupt their meetings and create a climate of violence if not terror. They have failed to behave like gentlemen in parliament, a noble institution whose dignity is being undermined by indecorum of its own members".

It said that the politicians have failed to resolve a single problem of the people whether it be the ethnic problem or unemployment, they have undermined law and order and brought society close to anarchy while protecting themselves with a corps of armed military personnel.

The statement said that politicians do not deserve the consideration of being compensated for inflation by increased remuneration. It is politicians, particularly of the ruling parties, who are responsible for creating inflation in the first place. "They have voted for continuous budget deficits and failed to check waste, bribery and corruption", it said.

It argued that with the creation of provincial councils the cost of maintaining our politicos have become an unbearable burden and argued that the politicians should reduce their numbers in parliament by at least fifty percent.

SL bags gold medal at India International Trade Fair '98

From S. Venkat Narayan, Our Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI, November 27 - Sri Lanka has bagged the gold medal for the excellent display in its stalls at the prestigious India International Trade Fair '98 (IITF '98), which concluded here Friday.

The Sri Lankan pavilion was adjudged as the best among the displays put up by 20 foreign countries in this year's fair. Ms. Ranjani Tudugala, Deputy Director, Sri Lanka Export Development Board, received the gold medal on her country's behalf from Yogesh Chandra, chairman and managing director, India Trade Promotion Organisation (IPTO).

Romania won the silver medal while Bangladesh and Tatarstan shared the bronze.

Nine leading Sri Lankan companies took part in the IITF '98. Their participation has been organised by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board in collaboration with the Sri Lankan high commission here.

Ms. Tudugala said Sri Lanka has been taking part in these fairs continuously since 1981. But this is the first time that it has bagged the gold medal for its display in its pavilion this year.

The nine companies that took part in the two-week fair are: Noritake Lanka Procelain (Pvt) Ltd., Royal Fernwood Porcelain Ltd, Lanka Walltile Limited, Lanka Tiles Limited, Ceylon Biscuits Limited, Maliban Biscuit Manufacturies Limited, Deldem Group (Pvt) Ltd., Floral Greens Mfg Lanka (Pvt) Ltd., and Ceylon Tea Services Limited.

These companies displayed and promoted a wide range of Sri Lankan products, such as porcelain/hotel/restaurant/domestic ware, porcelain tableware, containers and hand-painted ware, ceramic glazed wall tiles and floor tiles, biscuits, wafers, chocolate coacted products, artificial flowers, floral arrangements, plants and trees, gift items and value-added tea in packets and bags.

Meanwhile, business deals worth over US$ 200 million for technology intensive products were firmed up during the first 13 days of the IITF '98, IPTO Executive Director K. T. Chako said at the awards-giving ceremony.

Of this, orders worth nearly $50 million were confirmed, while the rest are under negotiations.More than three million people visited the fair. Of them, 100,000 were business visitors and entrepreneurs, Chako added.

About 5,000 entrepreneurs, including 150 companies from 20 countries, participated in the fair.

Ms. Tudugala said nearly 500 business visitors among several million people who visited the Sri Lankan pavilion during the fair. Several Sri Lankan companies have been able to find potential business partners, who are ready to import their products into India and operate as sole selling agents. Details of business transactions were not readily available.

However, Sanjeev Sharma, who has entered into an agreement with Lanka Tiles Limited to import their products into this country, told this correspondent: "Sri Lankan tiles are superior to the Indian ones. Once the tariff duties are down to a minimum, I am confident Sri Lankan tiles will find many buyers in India."

Satinder Manocha, who has been appointed by Ceylon Biscuits Limited as their importer and sole selling agent, sees a bright future for Sri Lankan biscuits in India. Manocha said: " I expect the Sri Lankan biscuits to do well in India for the simple reason that such biscuits are not available in the Indian market. Products such as chocolate finger biscuits, mint-coated finger biscuits, chunky-chocolate-coated biscuits, specialised lemon biscuits, puff cream biscuits, cheese buttons and savoury chicken biscuits are bound to be lapped up by Indian consumers."

He went on: "I have been working for this company for the past couple of months, and we have already got 165 distributors in the north, east and west. I expect sales worth 20 million Indian rupees (about $500,000) in the first year itself." He said Ceylon Biscuits Ltd., has put up a factory in Chennai (Madras) to produce and sell its products all over India.

UNP awaits clarification from Kotalawala

by Zacki Jabbar
UNP's continued participation in the peace initiative by the business Leaders will depend on the response it receives to certain clarifications sought from the Chairman of the Business leaders Joint Committee Lalith Kotelawala senior UNP sources said yesterday evening.

They said that in response to Kotelawala's invitation asking the UNP to nominate its representatives for future discussions with the business leaders, Ranil Wickremesinghe last week wrote to Kotelawala seeking certain clarifications.

This was after he discussed Kotelawala's letter with senior party men including Ronnie de Mel, A. C. S. Hammed and K. N. Choksy.

"The meeting ended with a decision to seek certain clarifications from the business leaders which are necessary for the UNP to decide whether it should continue discussions on the peace intiative" the sources said. But they declined to say what they were.

The government last week nominated Ministers G. L. Peiris and M. H. M. Ashraff, Southern Province Governor Neville Kanakaratne and Western Province Governor K. Viknaraja to represent it in pursuing the business leaders peace intiative in resolving the ethnic issue.

The business leaders initiative is spearheaded by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC), The Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL), National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL), The Ceylon National Chamber of Industries (CNCI), The Exporters Association of Sri Lanka (EASL) and the Employers Federation of Ceylon (EFC).

Last month the business leaders held an All Party Conference (APC), to promote their initiative in addition to separate meetings with President Kumaratunga and Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The UNP boycotted the APC alleging that Justice Minister G. L. Peiris had sabotaged an earlier APC consultation initiated by the UNP.

Stanley William to attend World Buddhist summit

The Deputy President of the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress Mr. Stanley William has been invited to attend the World Buddhist Summit at Lumbini, Nepal on November 30, December 1 and 2,1998.

In a letter to Mr. William, Nepalese Minister for Youth, Sports and Culture and Chairman, Main Preparatory Committee, Purna Bahadur Khadka says;

'It is with great pleasure I wish to inform you, that His Majesty's Government of Nepal in collaboration with Lumbini Development Trust is hosting the World Buddhist Summit at Lumbini, Nepal from 1st December to 2nd December 1998, preceding that a Pre-Summit Meeting will be held on 30 November 1998, His Majesty's Government of Nepal has invited Government leaders, Royalties, Ministers, Most Venerables, Venerables, high authorities of Buddhist associations and scholars to attend the Summit. The theme of the Summit is Lumbini: the Fountain of World Peace.

His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev will inaugurate the Summit.

Peace is the important pre-requisite in world today. Lumbini, as you are well aware, is the birthplace of the Apostle of peace, Lord Gautam Buddha. Listed in the World-Heritage by UNESCO, Lumbini is the most sacred place of pilgrimage for the Buddhists from all over the world. His Majesty's Government is making her best efforts to develop Lumbini in collaboration with the international community. His Majesty's Government hopes that with the successful convening of the Summit, world attention could be garnered for promotion of world peace as well as for the development of Lumbini as a shrine of peace for mankind.

I have the honour to extend my hearty invitation to you to attend the Summit.

I am fully confident that you would attend the Summit and contribute to the success of the Summit and the development of Lumbini.'

Sunethra Bandaranaike Trust presents play in aid of youth year

A play titled "Butterflies will always fly" will be presented by the Sunethra Bandaranaike Trust in aid of setting up an integrated theater workshop for disabled and non-disabled youth.

The play directed by Mr. Wolfgang Stange and Mr. Rohana Deva Perera will go on the boards at the Bishop's College Auditorium at 7 p.m. on December 16. Tickets will be available at the Bishop's College Auditorium from November 30.

A news release on this performance said that the integrated theater workshop will adopt an original approach, actively reaching out to creative young persons in the various artistic disciplines, irrespective of disability.

"This interaction will result in their awareness of each other's capabilities and in the sharing of each other's talents. The workshop will work with all ethnic groups', the release said.

It said that the Sunethra Bandaranaike Trust will take the initiative in the venture along with other concerned individuals or organisations in the state or the private sector willing to contribute to the project financially or in any other way.

The performance is sponsored by the Union Bank, German Cultural Institute and the Heritage Foundation.

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