The Tamil Diaspora is sharply divided over a post-war strategy with one influential section led by the late LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran’s successor, T. S. Pathmanathan aka KP exploring the possibility of working with the Sri Lanka government. Although the progress is slow, both parties are confident of reaching a workable agreement, which will enable Sri Lanka to capitalize on her war victory over the LTTE in May last year.

Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire opens the first in the world themed Sri Lankan elephant walkway and habitat - named 'Uda Walawe'. The brand new £1 million home, for five Asian elephants, was officially opened by Sri Lanka's High Commissioner in July 2010. His Excellency Justice Nihal Jayasinghe unveiled a commemorative plaque, lit a ceremonial oil lamp and cut a ribbon.

 The late LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran’s successor, T. S. Pathmanathan aka KP says Sri Lanka should strive to deal with domestic issues on its own without involving external elements. Former head of LTTE procurement section, the soft-spoken, KP points out that all previous attempts by foreign governments to address Sri Lanka’s problems failed.

A delegation from the People's Republic of China led by its Foreign Ministry Deputy Director Zhang Ze visited Sri Lanka recently on the invitation of the Sri Lanka Government to assist the de-mining process in the North.

In an exclusive interview with The Island in Colombo yesterday, Pathmanathan, former confidant of the slain LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and the outfit’s main arms procurer, discussed a wide range of issues, including his capture in Kuala Lumpur last August, breakdown of various attempts to negotiate peace and a desperate bid to thwart annihilation of the LTTE‘s military leadership in May 2009.

The police and security forces have so far identified 737 hardcore terrorists among 11,686 LTTE cadres who surrendered. They are being held separately from others undergoing rehabilitation at different government-run centres.

Mass Media and Communication Minister and Defence Spokesman Keheliya Rambukkwella yesterday stated that any public representative and Non Government Organization can visit the North and East and contribute to its ongoing resettlement drive and the development process.

Brigadier Sudantha Ranasinghe, Commissioner General of Rehabilitation says LTTE cadres are being gradually released from government centres following rehabilitation in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. Brig. Ranasinghe, who succeeded Major General Daya Ratnayake, says their work is on track thereby allowing small groups of LTTE cadres to rejoin their families every month. 

PANICHCHANKERNI, 26 July 2010 (IRIN) - Every day, more than 100 fishing boats launch into the waters off Panichchankerni in eastern Batticaloa District - four times the number when fighting re-erupted four years ago. Security restrictions meant boats could only go out at certain times, but these rules have been relaxed since the end of the war in May 2009.

Sri Lanka intelligence agencies, with help from Interpol, have unearthed vital information on the international network of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). According to the Sri Lankan Defence Ministry, information gathered from documents in the possession of an LTTE operative has helped intelligence agencies zero in on a few key LTTE operatives abroad.

The role of disable War Heroes at Yakkala Ranaviru Apparels was recognized and well-evaluated Friday (23rd) evening when the Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya awarded gifts to them in appreciation of their contribution to Army uniform manufacturing.

The government is engaged in an ambitious programme to establish permanent security forces bases in the Northern and Eastern Provinces as part of a strategy to thwart any possible attempt to revive LTTE terrorism. Authoritative government officials told The Island that the deployment of security forces in the Northern and Eastern Provinces as well as other parts of the country would be solely at the discretion of the military top brass.

The LTTE has either infiltrated or created two dozen front and cover organisations in Canada to support its terrorism campaign, International Terrorism Expert Prof. Rohan Gunaratne said in the aftermath of the action taken last week by the Canadian Revenue Agency to revoke the charitable status of the ‘Tamil Refugee Aid Society’.