Mr. Seeniththamby Yoheswaran is the Member of Parliament representing the Batticaloa District in the Eastern Province. Charles Devasagayam interviewed him in Toronto for the Tamil Mirror readers. In this Exclusive interview he describes about the Land Grab in the Tamil areas, reasons for the early election in the Eastern Province and the India's stance on the Tamil issue. The full interview is given below:

Charles Devasagayam: What is the purpose of your visit to Canada?

Seeniththamby Yoheswaran: The World Tamil Cultural Movement invited Mr. Sritharan, Member of Parliament (M.P) for Kilinochchi and my self for the 'Tamil Conference' that was held on July 1, 2012 in Toronto.

C.D: 'Land Grab' in the traditional Tamil areas are the pressing issue for the Tamils, according to many sources. As a M.P from the Batticaloa District, can you explain to the Tamil Mirror readers, briefly, about the 'Land Grab' in the Eastern Province?

S.Y: After independence from the British in 1948, the 'Land Grab' accelerated extensively in the Eastern Province. I am saying this because, earlier there weren't any Sinhala Member of Parliament from the Eastern Province. But today, there are five Sinhalese M.P's from this province. This clearly shows that how the Tamil Lands were grabbed and how the Sinhala population was settled in that Province.

Eastern Province includes three districts, namely Trincomalee, Ampara and Batticaloa. In Thiriyai from Trincomalee district, 3000 acre land adjacent to the Pansala has been expropriated by the government for their colonisation purpose.

Same way in the Batticaloa Distrct's Vavunatheevu Pradeshaya Sectretary's Division, 25,000 acre land has been taken by the �Village Vigilante Force,�(Oor Kaval Padai). Eastern Provincial Council is also providing assistance in this regard.

In addition, Naval Forces have appropriated lands in the Vaakarai area. 1200 acre land has been taken out by these forces in �Kirimichchai� area. They have camped there to build big houses to the Sinhala Navy Forces. This is also a form of Sinhala colonisation.

In the Batticaloa District, government planned to take 10,500 acre land in the 'Vada Munai and Oothu Chenai' area. As a first step they wanted to allocate 5000 acre land to 100 wealthy Sinhalese people on the basis of 50 acre per person. We protested on this development and stalled the process so far.

A lots of land in the coastal Tamil areas are being used for the Sinhala colonisation. They are clearing these areas for this purpose.

Also, in the Trincomalee District, near the 3 rd mile post hill area of the Mutur Pradeshiya Secretary's Division, lands are being cleared and a small Budhist Shrine is being built as a prelude to a Sinhala Budhist colonisation.

Same way in the Amparai District, most of the areas where Tamils have been living have been changed to Sinhala settlements.

The government also did not resettle the displaced Tamils in this area. For an example, Tamils from 'Thangavelautha Puram and Kanchi Kudichcha Aru and Sagamam were uprooted and been living in the Thirukkovil area. The government did not make any effort to resettle them in their own land. Since this land is fertile the government wanted it to be given to the Sinhalese. Now, these uprooted Tamils have moved back to their areas by themselves, although the basic amenities are not provided to them.

Therefore, the Sinhala government has been colonising our area in a planned way. So far Sinhalese Members of Parliament have been elected from the Trincomalee and Amparai Districts only. Now, they are determined to elect a Sinhala M.P or a Member from the Provincial council or a member from the Pradeshiya Council from the Batticaloa District as well. In this respect they are working on a strong land grab and or a colonisation scheme.

C.D: Can you shed some light about the status of the Tamil people from the Sampoor area in the Trincomalee District?

S.Y: The government has expropriated about 6000 acre land from the Sampoor Tamils. They are planning to give a small portion of that land to India for the Coal Power Plant Project. The rest of the area has been designated as the High Security Zone.

These Tamils are living in this area under harsh conditions. They are yearning to move back to their own land. However, the government has not yet returned their land to them. These uprooted people are living in the "Kiliveddi and Kaddai Parichchaan interim shelters/ camps" with great difficulties. We believe that the government is keeping this areas not for the colonisation purpose, but to keep the military's presence and to implement the projects by the Foreign governments.

C.D: On May 18, 2012 when the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, G.L. Peiris paid a visit to the State Department to meet Hillary Clinton, he mentioned that the Northern Province has experienced a 24 % economic development compared to 8 % in the rest of the country. What is your opinion about that statement?

S.Y: The Northern and Eastern Provinces were largely affected by the long war. Successive governments did not do any development work in these areas for over 30 years. Now, the current government is reconstructing the major roads and building bridges.

However, what we feel is that the Tamils should live in peace and breathe the air of freedom. What is important above all these small development projects is that Tamils should live in their own land. Now they are not able to rule themselves.

C.D: What is the real reason behind advancing the Provincial Council election to September 2012 in the Eastern province?

S.Y: The Provincial Council in the Eastern province should have been dissolved only in 2013. However, as per the Geneva Resolution, the Sri Lankan government is compelled to offer a political solution to the Tamils before the next sitting in Geneva in March 2013.

Mean time, this government has already separated the North and East and has created a Provincial Council in the Eastern Province. A Tamil (Pillaiyan) has been ruling as a Chief Minister in the East.

According to the Indo-Lanka accord, these two Provinces ( North and East) can join together as one unit if they wish to do so. So, if the Chief Minister of Eastern Province is a Tamil, he may join with the Northern Province under the suggestion from India and or International community. It will be then a blow to this government.

Therefore, if a Muslim Chief Minister is elected, he will not be willing to join the Northern province. Thus the government can prevent the merger of Northern and Eastern Provinces. This is the strategic reason for the government to advance the Provincial council election in the Eastern Province.

C.D: What is the stance of the Indian government on the Tamil issue?

S.Y: As far as India is concerned they are telling one thing to us and another to the government of Sri Lanka. If the Indian government really wanted, it could have provided us with a satisfactory solution.

Due to the pressure from the Tamil Nadu, the Central government is doing certain things. However, they seem not as firm as they should be. If they wish they could even bring about a good political solution to the North and East. Therefore the political solution lies in the hands of India.

The Indian government also prefer, the existence of an Eastern Province. The current Chief Minister's position was possible because of India. We are engaged with the Indian government because of their close proximity to us. However, we believe that they haven't come to a conclusion or a decision based on a justifiable thinking.

C.D: Before his arrival in Canada, Sritharan, M.P was taken to the 4 th floor by the CID for an inquiry. Is this to remind and or warn him to address the Diaspora Tamils with caution?

S.Y: After the news came out about our visit to Canada in the news Media, he was asked or summoned to come to the 4 th floor. They were mostly clarifying about his earlier speech from a C.D. It was in the line of that his speech is affecting the Sovereignty of Sri Lanka. However, we don't know clearly why they would do this at this juncture.

C.D: Finally, what would you like to say to the Diaspora Tamils?

S.Y: Diaspora Tamils should strengthen their unity and support the call for a permanent solution to the Tamil question. At the same time they should try and help those affected by the war and natural disasters. Specially, try to avoid criticising the Tamil National Alliance and support the path taken by them.

C.D: Thank you Mr. Yoheswaran, for your time.

S.Y: Thanks Charles, for giving me this opportunity to convey my views.

Courtesy - Tamil Mirror

The Saudi Arabian government Kingdom has offered a grace period for the overstaying Sri Lankan migrant workers, Sri Lankan embassy of Riyadh said. The grace period is valid from today and the overstaying Sri Lankans can leave the Kingdom under an amnesty. The Embassy asks the overstaying Sri Lankans to report to the Saudi Immigration and Emigration Department to obtain pass to leave the country without being punished. Unconfirmed sources say that around 10,000 Sri Lankans are staying in the Kingdom without valid visa or authorization.

The Tamil National Alliance has urged China to influence the government to address Tamil grievances in a serious manner and put forward a political solution to their concerns. TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran said that the government often banks on China to avoid pressure exerted from countries like India and the United States. 'China must look at the actual situation in Sri Lanka and not do anything that may harm Tamil sentiments. They must use the influence they have on the government to push them to address Tamil concerns,' he said. Meanwhile Tamil National People's Front leader Gajendrakumar Ponambalam said despite the end of the war four years ago the government is now continuing to wage a war against the Tamils by other means.

Two navy personnel had fallen off a small Sri Lanka Navy vessel which was involved in an accident during the Victory day Parade at the Galle Face Green this morning. The boat had capsized during the parade causing both sailors to fall overboard. One of them has been rescued while the other sailor is reported missing at sea. Approximately 170 officers and 2700 sailors of the Sri Lanka Navy had taken part in the Humanitarian Victory Day Parade 2013, which marks the fourth anniversary of ending of terrorism. The Naval Contingent comprised of Naval Forces from the Western Naval Command, the Southern Naval Command, the Wanni Naval Command, the Eastern Naval Command and the Northern Naval Command.

Mrs Ananthi Sasitharan, who personally witnessed Sri Lanka military taking away her husband, Mr Elilan, a political leader of the LTTE, at the end the Vanni War in May 2009, speaks out her experience from a civilian point of view and as a mother caring for her children during the war and the genocidal onslaught. Still living in Vanni, at Ki'linochchi, the 46-year-old mother of three is also running an organization that seeks to establish what had happened to their beloved ones. The SL State is still refusing to reveal the fate of those who were filtered away from the civilians and taken into buses to undisclosed detention camps. The narration of the survivor of the genocidal massacre, told with courage from Ki'linochchi, brings out the spirit and courage of a people who stood with their liberation fighters until the last moment. TamilNet brings out a 40-minute recount by Mrs Sasitharan.

A group of persons including two leaders of the Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) have been arrested by Mannar Police today over a commemoration ceremony. The General Secretary of the TNPF, S. Gajendran and National Organizer, S. Manivannan are said to be among the group of around 15 party members arrested. They were arrested regarding a ceremony organized today to commemorate the deaths of Tamils during the war in Sri Lanka, TNPF leader and former MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam told Ada Derana. He stated that the arrests were made at around 4.00pm today (18) and that they are currently in Mannar Police custody.

Impeached Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayke who appeared before the Bribery Commission issued a lengthy statement denying the charges levelled against her. Sources close to Dr. Bandaranayake said she gave a detailed explanation on how she obtained each and every asset she possessed. She spoke for some three and a half hours giving details of her bank accounts and how she came to own her other properties. She emphasised that she had accumulated her assets in a legitimate way. Dr. Bandaranayake was asked to appear before the commission once again at 9.00 a.m. on Monday. The charges include the non-declaration of assets and liabilities annually and about some 20 bank accounts she held in various banks including nine accounts in the National Development Bank (NDB).

President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the Victory Day at the colourful ceremony held at Galle Face Green reiterated that the cruel terrorist war was ended four years ago and there will be no more wars and blood bath in the country. He said the country had been united as one nation and the people were free from terror and fear. The President recalled that the entire world warned not to engage the ruthless LTTE but to offer what the terrorists wanted. 'Our brave armed forces displayed that a ruthless terrorist outfit like the LTTE could be defeated though the world had second thoughts',the President said.

UNP MP Ravi Karunanayaka says that the former media spokesperson of the LTTE Daya master had asked to compete from the UNP to the NPC polls but the party did not allow it. He further stated that for the UPFA which considers previous terrorist activities as a qualification for the politics has accepted Daya Master to their list. MP Karunanayaka made this remark at a media briefing held yesterday (17) at the National plantation workers union hall at Rajagiriya. HE said that not only Daya Master, Tamilini, even the former friend of the LTTE leader Prabhakaran Gunasundaram Jayasundaram too will contest to the NPC from UPFA.

President of the National Trade Union Centre (NTUC), K.D. Lal Kantha, alleged the electricity bill of Minister of Mass Media and Information, Keheliya Rambukwella, was Rs 121,114 for the month of March. "This is the bill for his private home. These private bills are paid by his ministry to the CEB. Why can't the President and the Cabinet, as a start, enact a law, to prevent the use of the public money to pay the bills of the ministers?" he questioned. The people of the country must fight to totally abolish the electricity tariff hike in the coming days, without limiting themselves to the reversal of the new electricity tariff plan. He expressed these views addressing the media in Colombo, at a convention organized by the Coordination Committee for the National Trade Union Alliance (NTUA), in response to the remarks made by President of the Federation of University Teachers' Associations (FUTA), Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri, regarding the essential role played by electricity in the daily lives of the masses.

Sri Lanka this morning staged an extravagant military parade at the Galle Face Green in Colombo to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the monumental victory over the terrorist war waged by the Tamil Tiger rebels for three decades. Sri Lankan President as Commander in Chief was the Chief Guest at the occasion where over 13,000 Security Forces personnel of the Three Armed Forces, the Special Task Force (STF) and the Civil Defense Force took part in a grand parade. Also, took part in the parade were 50 naval craft in the sea off the Galle Face and 30 air craft including fighter craft from the sky. The commemoration ceremony was inaugurated with a 21-gun salute by the Artillery unit of Sri Lanka Army. The National War Hero Ceremony will be conducted in front of the statue of the Gallant Soldier at Sri Jayewardenepura, Kotte at 4 pm today and the President will lay a wreath to pay tribute to the over 20,000 soldiers who perished in the three-decade long battle.

Any organisation or individual will not be allowed to venerate a terrorist organisation. Anyone participating in a commemoration ceremony for LTTE cadres will be arrested, Vanni Commander Major General Boniface Perera said. 'There is only one military in a country. Any citizen has the right to commemorate their loved ones but no one can commemorate terrorists who were disloyal to the government. If persons are planning to remember LTTE members it is treason. We will arrest whoever is involved in this,' Major General Perera said. He was responding to a query about reports in some newspapers including the Udayan published in the North, that relatives of those who died during the last phase of the war in Vellamullivaikkal and Pudumathalan were planning to organise a commemoration day in Vavuniya today when the government was celebrating Victory Day.

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43rd Chief justice in Sri Lanka Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake reappeared before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption today as notified. The Commission had recently notified Dr. Bandaranayake to submit verbal answers with regards to allegations of having maintained irregular assets. Appearing with her attorneys Dr. Bandaranayake had made her verbal submission before the Commission. Subsequently the Commission had notified Dr. Bandaranayake to reappear before it on the 20th of this month.

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Concerned over reports of Sri Lankan government considering removal of land and police powers from the provinces prior to the elections in the Northern Province, India today asked it not to take any step against their own commitments relating to the 13th Amendment. India's External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid telephoned his Sri Lankan counterpart G L Peiris and also raised the issue of 26 Indian fishermen who are in detention in his country while seeking their early release. According to official sources, the conversation also focused on the elections that are to be held in the Northern Province with Khurshid expressing his concerns regarding media reports referring to some consideration being given to removal of land and police powers from the provinces prior to the polls.

The main opposition UNP yesterday said it had rejected a request made by Velayutham Dayanithi alias Daya Master and his supporters to contest the Northern Provincial Council on the UNP ticket. UNP Colombo District MP Ravi Karunanayake told a news conference that the group met the UNP leaders during their recent visit to the North. The UNP MP made this point referring to a statement by Daya Master that former LTTE cadres should be allowed to contest elections. He said the party informed them that the UNP had decided to keep away from LTTE associates as various allegations had been levelled against the party linking it with Tamil Terrorists.

A woman attempted to commit suicide by jumping into a well with her 3 children in Vavuniya this morning. Neighbors had managed to rescue the mother, however the three children had already perished by then, police said. The woman's three daughters -aged 1, 3 and 4, had drowned inside the well. The mother of three, a resident of Thandikulam in Vavuniya, has been arrested while Vavuniya Police is conducting further investigations.