Iran-funded project in Sri Lanka to become operational

Iran-funded multi-purpose Uma Oya Project will commence on Tuesday when the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and President Mahinda Rajapaksa ceremonially inaugurate the mega development project in Sri Lanka.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will arrive in the island on Monday, April 28, 2008 on a two day official visit. During his visit President Ahmadinejad will hold talks with his Sri Lankan counterpart, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka and Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama on issues of bilateral interests, official news website of Sri Lanka reported.

After completion the Uma Oya project will add 100 megawatts of power to the national grid. This will be the longest ever hydro-tunnel built in the country. The dam which would be constructed across the Uma Oya in Puhulpolla, Welimada, in the Uva Province, will irrigate the Kirindi Oya reservoir in Wellawaya.

The project will also provide potable water, irrigate and facilitate agriculture and other industries in the Uva and southern provinces. The project will generate both direct and indirect new job opportunities to the region and open doors for new development programs.

It will also irrigate 5,000 acres of paddy fields in Handapanagala in Wellassa, 2,000 acres in Kuda Oya, and also develop Athiliweva and Maagal Oya.

Several bilateral agreements will be signed during the Iranian president's visit.

Extracted from,
http://www2.irna.com/en/news/view/menu-234/0804264491172834.htm

Government handed over Madhu Church to trustees

Sri Lanka Army opened Madhu Church for its trustees in this evening. Area Army commander and senior officials along with the trustees of the Madhu church attended this simple ceremony, our reports said.

The government said liberation of the Madhu Church precincts from the terrorists marks a watershed in the Northern war theatre. The troops trod with utmost caution in the sacred area, honoring a No Fire Zone arrangement, which the LTTE unfortunately violated. The soldiers ensured that no harm was caused to the Sacred Shrine, renowned throughout Asia.

The Army faced a formidable task vis-a-vis Madhu. The LTTE had heavily mined the area. The slightest propaganda by the troops and any damage to the Church would have sent the LTTE misinformation network into hyper drive. It is to their credit that they managed this feat without literally falling into the traps laid by the LTTE, physically and metaphorically.

Extracted from,
http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/10764
photo,
http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/04/26/z_new350.jpg

'Lanka bus explosion LTTE's revenge killing'

Sri Lankan army on Saturday said the deadly explosion in a passenger bus near here on Friday which claimed 26 lives was a "revenge killing" by LTTE which lost more than 160 fighters in clashes at Jaffna.

"The LTTE seems to have resorted to such a cowardly act by undertaking bomb explosion in a bus targeting innocent civilians due to huge casualties it suffered during Wednesday's clashes in Jaffna. It seems to be revenge killing," a senior defence official said.

While the army lost 70 soldiers with five still missing in the attack on Muhamalai and Kilali in Jaffna, the death toll of the LTTE in the fighting is estimated at 160, according to the official.

With the death of two more people today, the death toll from the bomb that ripped through a bus at Pliyandala about 17 kms south of Colombo rose to 26. Around 62 people were injured in the attack.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa deplored the attack on the packed bus, saying the militants had once again resorted to killing innocent civilians in the face of heavy setbacks on the battlefield.

Rajapaksa said the attack clearly showed the LTTE was not ready to abandon violence and destruction even though the Government had repeatedly pledged its commitment to peace.

He asked the people to raise vigilance in order to help troops to foil "terrorists" destructive plans.

Extracted from,
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200804261521.htm
Photo,
AP