The travel ban imposed by the Rajapaksa regime on foreign passport holders when travelling to the war affected zones, was lifted with effect from today.
Defence Ministry Media Center announced today that the ban was lifted through a directive by President Sirisena and the decision had been made at the first national security council meeting held yesterday since the election of the new President.
However, the transportation of the following items have been restricted:
Northern Province: Weapons + ammunition/ explosives/ camouflage costumes/telescopes
Eastern province: Weapons + ammunition/ explosives
October 15 Defence Ministry announcement that all foreign travellers to the north must obtain its permission.
Jagath Fernando / January 17, 2015
Excellent move to remove the travel ban.
Also appointment of Palihakkara as the Governor.
Heard that 100 new factories will be started in North and East within a short period.
/
Dom / January 17, 2015
Factories can be setup in Trincomalee. More than 1,000,000 jobs will be offered to the Sri Lankan people.
/
malaka / January 17, 2015
I am so VERY SHOCKED why CMB TELEGRAPH have NEGLECTED TO REPORT one of the Major and Key developments in the NORTH the REmoval of the Former Military Governor and the appointment of A Civilian Governor.. Not Long ago The same CMB TELEGRAPH gave extra Cover with (facts and Creative news items) to the MASS ORGANISED protest to replace the Military Governor. And Anandi so called sit in..’ cmb telegraph Described this as a ‘BURNING ISSUE’ and KEy demand of the TNA.. Yet one of these VEry Crucial and Key demands are met.. ANd NOT one word about this matter for the CMB Telegraph readers.. Instaed it give coverage to People in Canada writing letters, MIA interview etc etc??? SO As a Reader of CMB Telegraph (a Very Avid one) why have you not given coverage to this IMPORTANT STORY??? which last year was your main Headlines for months???
/
sach / January 18, 2015
Because it will make the government look good..as this is an LTTE mouth piece….such news should be avoided…
Just look at the title of this article. Even it is given in a negative manner
/
Rev.Devil / January 18, 2015
Hahahaha…100 days later …there comes a Parliamentary Election….but…wondering…whether the ”Queen of Cheat” will allow it to happen as the whole SLFP ers visibly run behind MS…!!? Even the stray pigs like Mervyns seems to be welcome by the rulers of the day as no one dared to throw spoiled eggs at him when he was interviewed by Sunanda Deshapriya like Opportunistic Jurnos over his allegations against his yesterdays beloved Masters. !!?
/
Concerned / January 18, 2015
Yes, now the diaspora Tigers can roam freely with their US and British passports, finance and provide equipment to anyone they like.
[Edited out]
/
Palmsquirrell / January 18, 2015
Foreign passport holders could travel North and East in 2013,2012,2011 . So why do you think only now it is an issue.
The truth is that the new travel ban was enacted after the UN called for independent war crimes investigations. Rajapaksa and the Sinhala chauvinists like yourself do not want foreigners to investigate the genocide and ongoing suppression of Tamils. Just a naked attempt at suppressing the truth.
/
Galagedara Chandiya / January 18, 2015
Keep squeezing the palmsquirrell, [Edited out]. It feels good?
/
iemerald / January 20, 2015
the only word that comes to mind is bollocks
/
Donald J Gnanakone / January 18, 2015
Why did it take Sirisena, Ranil, Chandrika and the TNA 9 days to eliminate the stupid, racist, chauvinist need for Visas within one country ???
They all could have acted much faster.
Even when I had an entry Visa to Sri Lanka issued on November 19, 2014, without any rhyme or reason they (Rajapakse Brothers) demanded me to leave the country on December 14th.
Nobody, could raise any objections or protest, except the US embassy who visited me to the dept. of immigration, my home and the airport prior to my departure.
As promised, I returned on the 9th of December 2015, but not without me using my friends and influence in Colombo. As a Tamil I was disappointed that Tamil political parties did not even protest then or when I returned. They all have become so “weak mentally” after years of suppression and repression.
There should be a new paramount change in Tamil attitudes without being subservient.
The current attitude in the selection of Cabinet positions and deputies, reflects on the racist Sinhala attitude. Sirisena, or Ranil did not even consult the Tamils in the appointment of the Governor and are demonstrating their arrorgance.
Donald Gnanakone
Tamils For Justice
Founder.
/
sach / January 19, 2015
yes ranil should ask from gnanakone uncle before he does everything in SL.
/
nanda / January 17, 2015
People need a clarification on this –
Does it means that in the other parts of the country transport of Weapons, ammunition, explosives, camouflage uniforms are permitted by law.
/
truth / January 17, 2015
Thank you for asking for the clarification!
The govt. must First remove all the illegal arms hidden in the south by the “ruling class”
LTTE came into being because of the harassment, killings, rapes, arson, abductions and step motherly treatment of the minorities by STATE SPONSORSHIP!!!Youngsters had no choice except to take arms!!
Now every one knows which part of the country had(and still has) the most “sophisticated criminals” in the guise of Presidents, Secretaries, Ministers, pseudo leaders, advisers!! Bring them all to answer for their sins first!!!If Maithri and Ranil has the courage to dispense justice without favouring or sheltering their friends and relatives and weed all those criminals from the society is the day Sri lanka’s victory can become permanent and will emerge as a strong nation!!
/
Sellam / January 17, 2015
A very pertinent question. The government must take immediate action to confiscate all illegal weapons held by the mafia and para military and others. The para military of the EPDP in the North and the para military of the Ex LTTE leaders in the East are holding illegal weapons which has to be confiscated.
/
mastar saar / January 17, 2015
I think its because Tamils are prone to violence.
/
Burning Issue / January 17, 2015
Did JVP fight with paintballs?
/
vishvajith / January 17, 2015
Really ? You must be right, I always thought Rev Gnanasara was a Tamil. And then Gotabaya too, both so prone to violence, in peace time.
/
sach / January 18, 2015
no matter what sort of an imbecile gnanasara is he did not commit violence. He was guilty of agitating people much like Kasippu Joseph and Wiggie
/
Sellam / January 17, 2015
No, it is because these paramilitaries in the North and East worked for Rajapaksas for one thing and for their own benefits.
/
Palmsquirrell / January 18, 2015
Tamil violence was a reaction to decades of Sinhala pogroms against Tamils.
Just typical of you chauvinist Sinhalese to completely ignore all the anti Tamil riots by Sinhalese where Tamils were burn alive , tortured , beat up, stolen from and hounded by Sinhala mobs with the support of the government.
/
Fareeda A / January 18, 2015
This new govt does not have the heart to just say that the discriminatory requirement is lifted full stop.
The army has to be allowed to retain an excuse to stop and humiliate Tamils in and out of these provinces and this government does not have the heart or mind to say no to that. The army can at their pleasure poke their fingers into all your bags and baggage because u r suspected of carrying amunition, weapons and now telescopes too!
Tamils should not have any interest in bird watching – such pleasures are only for the people of the south.
/
sinhalese buddhist / January 17, 2015
All weapons and ammunition should be banned from civilian use, anywhere in the country. Only the police and the state-armed forces should be allowed to carry weapons. No paramilitaries and private security agencies should be allowed weapons.
/
Kettikaran / January 17, 2015
President Maitripala’s Interim Govt. is moving cautiously to keep the restive Tamils within the national fold. So far the reality has been any mention of even the remotest indication of some minimum concessions to Tamils was met with fierce resistance from political parties and even the general Sinhala public – often lead by Buddhist priests. Tamils were not ready to be inflicted with discriminatory treatment for all time. After all they are from an ancient, proud race living in the island from as long as anyone else and with an established history, language, culture and religious beliefs.
Mahinda Rajapakse is guilty of much of the recent provocations against the Tamil nation. Tamils will not forget he ordered the cancellation of the existing practise of singing the National Anthem in Tamil in their areas – as a form of crude reprisal of his being turned away from the Oxford U “lecture” He promised India and the TNA he will allow Governor Chandrasiri’s tenure to expire and then to appoint a civilian as Governor. But later, purely in anger, he not only extended Chandrasiri’s term – but did it for five years instead of the yearly extension. In various ways he made Tamils feel as “the enemy” while deceiving the world with the lofty claim “Tamils are also my people” Tamils will also not forget Basil’s warning before the elections unless Tamils in the NEP vote for them they cannot expect funds from the Central Govt. But all the while, the 3 Rajapakse Brothers were conniving with highly successful Tamils in the diaspora on various
business deals – some of which are likely to make news soon.
Tamils today are ready to forget and forgive most of the
cruelty imposed on them in the past many decades. After all, we lived together for long and there is, I firmly believe, the desire to live together in peace again. They will cooperate with President Sirisena or anyone else to unite the country and move forward towards reconciliation and economic development. It is now up to the Sinhala political and religious leadership to make the necessary amendments – as a measure of priority.
Kettikaran
/
sach / January 18, 2015
“After all they are from an ancient, proud race living in the island from as long as anyone else and with an established history, language, culture and religious beliefs. “
then why no evidence?
No tamil books in ancient SL even the oldest is later than 17th century…
No religious structures in a massive scale in North and east while rest of the country is filled with ancient buddhist structures. Reality is there are more ancient buddhist viharas in North and East than hindu temples….
the question is why there is NO evidence?
/
Have Evidence / January 18, 2015
Looks like you are an ignorant (very limited knowledge) about Sri Lanka. You should read and get yourself some basic knowledge before commenting in a public forum and make yourself a clown. The google will give you a wealth of knowledge, for example if you want to know about evidence, please refer to DBSJ’s archives or there are many others even on CT. Some examples see below: [Edited out]
/
sach / January 21, 2015
Are you talking about DL Devananda? He was answered by a Sinhalese and did not see him talking about history after that.
/
Burning Issue / January 18, 2015
Such,
I feel sorry for you as I could not help yourself! Your knowledge of history stinks. Just research about the ancient Eastwaram temples and what religion was prevalent in SL pre Buddhism. Why do the buddhist vihara in SL have hindu deities that one does not see in other countries where buddism is practiced?
Not all ancient people made recordings of their history and built monuments. Many ancient Hindu temples were destroyed by the Portuguese. Moreover, do not ever forget the tamil Buddhists. Onetime in South India Buddhism was dominant and it was before Buddhism arrived in SL.
/
Native Vedda / January 18, 2015
Burning Issue
I feel sorry for you for you being sorry for sach.
sach, wathie, thresa, nuisance, Taraki, ……………. do employ the same script writer.
/
sach / January 21, 2015
Before wasting time for feeling sorry for others spend your time to learn some history from a real source not from comment section in CT.
The Eastwarams belong to the category of Ravana, Kumarakandam which are mythology not history.
Tamils are good at one thing misinterpreting history, for them anything in the southern part of south asia is tamil.
Let me answer your stupid questions.
1. Hindu deities are worshipped in other Buddhist countries like Mynmmar. It doesnt mean they were Hindu and became Buddhist. The Hindu practices were later brought and absorbed by the society.
2. The first kingdom of SL Anuradhapura has ZERO hindu temple in its complex. The oldest recorded one is from Polonnaruwa that too because of Cholas.
3. Hindu deity worship started in the mainstream during Kandyan perdiod because of obvious Hindu influence.
4. Better learn your own eelamist ideology. I see everyday tamil fellows coming with eelam history that contradict with each other. Go and see how Hoole has also said Tamils in North were Buddhists and NOT Hindu. I remember the Hindus here declared war against him. He categoricaly said Tamils were buddhists because historical evidence suggest Buddhist civilisation in north and no adequate ancient Hindu temples.
5. The Tamil BUddhists in SI, further proves that SL is less or not Hindu.
Instead of learning history from CT, go and read a book. By the way i have been asking you this question which you never answered.
Tell me a single ancient Tamil language book or even one attributed to tamils in ancient SL before 17th century….
/
Kettikaran / January 18, 2015
Sach, evidently, is a Sinhala racist hiding under a Tamil name.
As to evidence, do make a trip to Mannar soon and visit the Thiruketheeswaram Temple which another scholar – the late Sir Paul Peiris, the illustrious father of the equally respected Dr. Sudarshan Deraniyagala, confirmed was over 3,000 years old. Prof. Deraniygala is a world famous Archeologist-Historian. The temple is located in the vicinity of the ancient trading port of Mantota (Sinhalese description) As you go on gaining further light, you will educate yourself who lived where and when in this ancient island. Take the time also to make some study on who King Theva Nampiya Theesan was and in what language he then spoke.
Kettikaran
/
levi / January 19, 2015
sach
Please do not confuse yourself with Buddhists and Tamils. If you talk of Buddhists please check up who was the First King Who embraced Buddhism in Sri Lanka. It Was a Tamil Hindu King Who Welcomed Mahinda Trero sent by Emperor Asoka.
Ravana Was also A Hindu King Who Worshipped Siva.
Levi
/
Palmsquirrell / January 18, 2015
” So far the reality has been any mention of even the remotest indication of some minimum concessions to Tamils was met with fierce resistance from political parties and even the general Sinhala public – often lead by Buddhist priests “
Remember what former Sinhalese Prime Minister and President J R Jayawardene said – That Sinhalese would be happy if he starved the Tamils.
/
Senthil / January 17, 2015
The main reason for Gotha & MR to carry out all the genocide without fear is because the previous government got away without any punishment for JVP time mass killing and floating of many bodies in the river and white van abductions. So this time it is absolutely necessary for all the unlawful killings to be investigated and punished. Best thing is to allow UN.
/
sach / January 18, 2015
were the people who voted in the election ghosts? Did they rise from non existing genocide?
Accept the fact….fat prabha try to hid behind women and children to cause civilian deaths. Collateral damage is not genocide….
/
Palmsquirrell / January 18, 2015
Ask yourselves why Rajapaksa banned travel to the North and East in 2014 for foreign passport holders when no such ban existed in 2013,2011,2012 .
It was because of International Community’s probe into GOSL’s human rights violations. Rajapaksa was trying to prevent International investigators from talking with Tamils in these areas. It was just blatant attempt at cover-up and vindictive revenge.
/
Sadith / January 18, 2015
He is implementing the TNA demands according to the secret agreement.
Remove the governor and to appoint a dummy – Done
Removal of travel ban to tamil terrorist – Done
Things follow
Removal of Muhamalai check point, removal of check points around Jaffna uni:, removal of lion flag from all the govt buildings.
/
Kettikaran / January 18, 2015
It is ignoramuses like this Sadith who have brought the Sinhala Nation to the plight they are in – a Passport that most are ashamed of; a country where nearly two million work in slavish conditions because the once superb Education system – with English in the fore – was destroyed in the name of Sinhala nationalism from 1956. A semi-destroyed country where over 4 million are unemployed – with about a million of them being graduates. More Sinhalese are now found in fleeing vessels to Australia and elsewhere. The list goes on and on.
Why?
Unless the National Question is satisfactorily settled early, in the next few years many Lankans will queue to find bare employment in fastly developing India – a reverse in the historical process. It is in the interest of the Tamil Nation in the Island to demand and work for self-governance within an undivided country. There is no other way in a Sinhala majority Sri Lanka where most are un-repenting racists.
Kettikaran
/
Saras / January 18, 2015
How about the arms hidden at the Srithar theatre, Stanley Road, Jaffna, compound by Douglas? Please seal the building, search and get rid of all arms and ammunitions and subject Douglas to due legal process for crimes and corruption
/
aratai / January 18, 2015
.
So, it’s official….. Tamils can carry Weapons + ammunition/ explosives anywhere except North and East.
:-)
/
Senthil / January 18, 2015
Brother Sadith,
I do not understand your worries about the recent changes by the new government while living outside North. I am sure you are not a real Singhalese Brother (Not a Sinhala name). Why you still like to suppress Tamils and what you or country will gain by suppressing Tamils. What is wrong with everything you have mentioned Done, Done. I think most of the readers here will understand your motive. We Tamils and Singhalese are desperately wanted to live together like at the distant past, please do not spread poison among us. We all know who you are.
/
Senthil / January 18, 2015
Very glad to read in Tamilwin about the starting of cleaning operation in the North to bring our old culture back – Every antisocial elements should watch Anniyan and Indian once again. We wanted our younger generation to concentrate in developing the country and enjoy everything at the same time – we need to replant all the destroyed trees back like “Paalipalam tree near vavaniya”. Hope to return to see the old srilanka.
/
Sellam / January 18, 2015
Why not for a change take action on the media for reporting false information and misleading the people. This is a very serious offence.
The reporters and the media papers get away with it as if nothing has happened. Very lately several false reports came about and the people reading them get confused.
/
crazyoldmansl / January 19, 2015
Why camoflage and telescopes only for the east?
/
Danny / January 20, 2015
One good sign of eternal peace between communities lifting travel ban and acceptable exemptions of explosives+weapons+ammunition+camouflage+telescope simply northerners rest of the world can understand with satisfaction.
It’s new hope to entire Srilankans whoever born HERE or never been in this island or Srilankan origins whoever never stepped own soil, immaterial whether Sudu Pora,Kalu Pora, Good Pora, Bad Pora, DiazPORA, SingaPora, KottiPora, LanzyPora, KalavanPora, Transnational Pora, International Pora and Investor Pora anyone can travel around any part of 65,610 Sq Km area. Country under rule of law.
one suspicious sign why partial to Eastern province ??????
26000 acres of land awaiting to release actual legal owners good sign No more ethnic bias, discrimination, partiality.
signs of peace & reconciliation steps. But eastern province partiality pulling down the mindsets ???????
/