Rains pound North-East as cyclone Nilam approaches
Tamil Guardian 30 October 2012
12:43 GMT
Mullativu. Photographs Sri Lanka Red Cross Society
A depression in the bay of Bengal, has intensified into a mini cyclone - named cyclone Nilam - which is said to be approaching the North-East and India. The Meteorological Department in Sri Lanka, said last night that it was approximately 100km from Trincomalee. This morning, the Met Depart has stated the cyclone has changed course and is likely to pass over Kankesanthurai this afternoon.
All images are courtesy of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society.
Mullaitivu district
The news comes as heavy rains and gusts of upto 80kmph continue to batter Mullativu district and across the North-East. Despite the change of direction of the cyclone, the pounding of the North-East is set to continue.
Flooding in Jaffna
The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society reported that Tamils who had only be recently resettled due to the armed conflict are "mostly effected", particularly in Puthukkudiyiruppu, along with Manthai East, Maritimepattu, Oddusuddan and Thunukkai.
Satellite imagery of cyclone Neelam. 0600 UTC, 30 Oct 2012
A parliamentarian from the Tamil National Alliance, M.A Sumanthiran, speaking to the Sunday Leader, outlined that the government was responsible for the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) calls to abolish the 13 Amendment.
[more]
A new Army colony is being planned in the Jaffna peninsula announced Sri Lanka's army commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya.
Speaking to the Sinhala language newspaper Divaina,
[more]
Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa exalted the values of Buddhist teachings, asserting that Buddhism had never allowed Buddhists to become extremists.
[more]
The Sri Lankan government has expressed concern over a recent Memorandum of understanding, signed between the US Embassy in Colombo and the Trincomalee Urban Council, to establish an ‘American Corner’, a public information centre.
[more]
Sri Lanka’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has interrogated members of the German NGO the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, for allegedly working beyond its legal mandate.
[more]
A Sri Lankan military soldier is suspected to have perpetrated the rape of a 7 year old girl in Nedunkeni, Vavuniya, reports Uthayan.
The incident led to a protest by local Tamils, demanding that the culprit be arrested.
[more]
Defence Secretary Gothabaya Rajapakse has warned the government of the consequences in case the TNA wins the Northern Provincial Council polls, due to be held later this year.
[more]