SLA obliterates Tiger Heroes' Cemeteries, erects military bases

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) which has been systematically razing to the ground without any traces the Thamizh Eezham Heroes War Cemeteries (Thamizh Eezha Maaveerar Thuyilum Illam) in several places of North and East, has in recent weeks obliterated the Thuyilum Illam at Kodikaaman in Thenmaraadchi, Jaffna, and is erecting a big SLA base in its place. Ellangku’lam Heroes Cemetery in Udupiddi in Vadamaraadchi had been already destroyed without any trace and the premises converted into an SLA base. The obliterated Thuyilum Illam is now enclosed by barbed wire fence and hidden by coconut cadjans where a large number of SLA soldiers are hurriedly constructing a base. Tamil circles view the systematic destruction of Tamil war heroes' cemeteries and the symbols of the Tamil struggle in north and East as part of a large-scale genocide programme on Tamils by the Sri Lankan state. 

All the Heroes Cemeteries maintained by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Vanni had been completely razed to the ground and all the graves, memorial plaques and the dais where the Common Flame is lit on Heroes Day have been totally destroyed.

Bulldozed grounds of LTTE War Hereoes Cemetery in Visuvamadu, destroyed by the SLA.

The SLA is very particular in erecting its bases on the grounds where Tamil Hereos cemeteries had stood so that nothing remains to remind the fighters who had sacrificed their lives for the cause.

LTTE war heroes' memorials in Jaffna peninsula at Koappaay were bulldozed by the Sri Lanka Army in 1995. The other cemeteries destroyed in Jaffna were: Chaaddi in Veala'nai (1995), Kodikaamam in Thenmaraadchi (1996) and Ellangku'lam in Vadamaraadchi (1996). These war cemeteries were re-built following the February 2002 Ceasefire Agreement.

The war heroes cemeteries located at Kagnchikudichcha'ru in Ampaa'rai district, Thaa'ndiyadi, Tharavai, Ka'ndaladi and Maavadi Munmaari in Batticaloa district and Aalangku'lam, Iththikku'lam, Verukal, Uppaa'ru and Paalampoaddaa'ru Trincomalee district were destroyed after the SLA occupied LTTE held areas in the East in 2006 and 2007.

In Vanni, there were at least ten War Heroes Cemeteries. The cemeteries were located in Aa'ndaangku’lam and Pa’ndivirichchaan in Mannaar, Kanakapuram and Muzhangkaavil in Ki’linochchi district, Uduththu’rai in Vadamaraadchi East of Jaffna district, Eachchangku’lam in Vavuniyaa and four at Vanni-vizhaangku’lam, Visuvamadu, A’lampil, and Mu’l’liyava’lai of Mullaiththeevu district.

During the last battles of Eezham War IV, when genocidal attacks were launched from all fronts by the Sri Lankan military, the Tiger fighters killed in the war were buried at Ira’naippaalai and at Iraddaivaaykkaal in Mullaiththeevu.

The Sri Lanka Army bulldozed the Heroes Cemetery at Visuvamadu between March and April 2009. The SLA captured Tamil civilians of Vanni, who were made to pass through Visuvamadu on 21st of April 2009, before reaching internment camps in Vavuniyaa, had witnessed the complete destruction of the largest Maaveerar Thuyilum illam in Visuvamadu, where more than 4,000 war dead Tamil fighters had been buried by the Tigers. 

My best in next 10 years: Kamal Haasan

Kamal Haasan on Friday said his best innings in films would come over the next 10 years. "I am proud of my film industry", he said and added: "I'll keep doing films, as I know nothing else".

The 'Ulaga Nayagan' was speaking at the inauguration of a three-day retrospective of his films, organised by the Directorate of Film Festivals at the Siri Fort Auditorium in New Delhi, to mark his 50 years in Indian cinema.

"I am not going to dwell on what has been done, but rather focus on what is to be done," the actor said at the function attended by Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni.

"This journey seems very short because I felt I had lot of time. I think I've been very lucky with my teachers or gurus. Literally, they've been my gurus; it's not about working under somebody hence calling him guru instead of your boss. They were gurus," he said.

In her address, Ambika Soni said, "Kamal Haasan as an artist over a period of time, balanced cinema with realism. His portrayal of different characters, created a pan India phenomenon, breaking the barriers of age groups, language and commercial interest.

Some of the character portrayals left a deep imprint across all generations. His multilingual cinematic versatility ensured a fan following reiterating his mass appeal and acceptance of his cinema as a unique artistic expression."

Acknowledging the contribution of Kamal Haasan to cinema, the Minister said each of the films being screened during the festival had a strong social message.

Films such as, 'Anbe Sivam, Virumaandi, Thevar Magan, Sagara Sangamam, Dasavatharam' and 'Nayagan' would be screened during the three day festival. Garmin nüvi 285W/285WT & nüMaps Lifetime Map Update Collection

2000 prints for ‘Endhiran’

The budget size of ‘Endhiran’ is getting bigger and bigger as it is nearing the D-day. The magnum opus of Shankar was touted to be a 100 crore project when it was launched in 2008. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Then it was said to be 120 cores and when Sun Pictures took over the film ‘Endhiran’ was billed as a 150 crore production. Now the new buzz is the cost of ‘Endhiran’ has touched around 200 crores.

The other news is that ‘Endhiran’ will be a mammoth worldwide release and the Rajinikanth starrer will also be released in China where the super star has a fan following just as in Japan. So to cater to all the markets ‘Endhiran’ will be out in more than 2000 pints so that there is no place in the world which is not touched by the magnetism of the super star.

We had already reported that the music launch of ‘Endhiran’ will happen in Malaysia. There will also be a music release function for the Tamil Nadu fans during the first week of August our sources say.

TRS MP Vijayashanti held, released on bail

Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) leader and MP Vijayashanti was released from jail on bail on Saturday evening, a few hours after she was arrested for making inflammatory remarks ahead of the July 27 by-elections in Telangana and sent to judicial custody.

A city court granted bail to the actress-turned-politician, who alleged that police misbehaved with her and said she had decided to take up the issue with the prime minister and Lok Sabha speaker.

After her release from Chanchalguda jail on Saturday evening, she told reporters that the way a woman MP was treated by the police was shameful. "My only crime is that I gave a slogan," she said referring to the allegedly provocative remark she made a few days ago.

Vijayashanti, who had earlier refused to move a bail petition, said as a disciplined solder of the party and also in view of the law and order situation, she agreed to the party decision to apply for bail.

The bail was granted a few hours after a court sent her to 14 days judicial custody. Police arrested her from Road Number 3 Banjara Hills near her residence and brought her before the third additional chief metropolitan magistrate at the Nampally criminal court.

The Medak MP was on Friday booked for promoting animosity and hatred among people.

The TRS leader, while addressing party workers a few days ago, had called upon people in Telangana to "slay" anyone who opposed formation of a Telangana state.

Earlier, tension prevailed near her residence in Banjara Hills as police used force to disperse TRS workers who gathered there to resist her arrest.

Vijayashanti, who went into hiding on Friday after police filed a case against her on the directions of the Election Commission, was taken into custody by police while leaving for Siddipet in Medak.

The actress, known as Lady Amitabh for her roles in Telugu movies, had heated arguments with policeofficials.

"I was in my house throughout the night and even this morning but you did not come. Now you are arresting me on the road," the MP told them. TRS workers raised slogans against the police, who had a tough time controlling the crowd.

Congress legislator T Jayaprakash Reddy was also arrested for making provocative remarks. He represents Siddipet assembly, a part of Medak Lok Sabha constituency.

Reddy, arrested in Sangareddy, will be brought before a magistrate, police said.

Spain edge past resolute Paraguay

Spain set up a potentially thrilling semi-final meeting with Germany but the European champions had to do it the hard way, requiring a lone second-half strike from David Villa to claim a 1-0 win over a resilient Paraguay 1-0 at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park. The goal saw Villa take an outright lead in the race for the adidas Golden Boot with five goals but the match was as much a tale of two failed spot-kicks, one for each side.

Vicente del Bosque fielded an unchanged Spanish line-up to that which defeated neighbours Portugal 1-0 four days ago. Conversely, Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino made six changes to the team which squeezed past Japan on penalties. Left out were his trio of misfiring strikers, with Roque Santa Cruz, Edgar Benitez and Lucas Barrios all consigned to the bench.

Both sides went into the match aiming for new heights. Spain clinched a top-four finish in 1950 in a round-robin final stage but they have never competed in a FIFA World Cup™ semi-final, while Paraguay had already achieved a first by progressing past the Round of 16.

If Spain were feeling complacent, then one of the new faces in La Albirroja’s forward line, Jonathan Santana, provided an early wake-up call by forcing Iker Casillas into a save in the opening minute. Paraguay didn’t allow Spain to settle and successfully disrupted their normally crisp passing game during the first half. The in-form Villa only rarely found space on the left flank in the early stages, while at the other end Nelson Valdez looked dangerous whenever Paraguay made forays forward.

Spain midfielder Xavi took matters into his own hands on the half-hour mark with a wonderful snap-shot; the dipping volley from 25 yards clearing the crossbar with goalkeeper Justo Villar scrambling. Minutes later at the other end, Santana narrowly failed to connect with a diving header from a Claudio Morel cross. Valdez then had the ball in the net four minutes before the break only to see his effort disallowed for offside as Paraguay finished the first half in a positive frame of mind. 

The second half commenced in similar fashion to the first period, with neither goalkeeper under threat until a remarkable period around the hour-mark. The drama began when Gerard Pique wrestled Oscar Cardozo to the ground as a corner, Paraguay’s first of the night, was played in from the left. Cardozo looked set to give La Albirroja a stunning lead from the penalty spot against the European champions only for skipper Casillas to rescue his side with a superb diving save to his left. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Within 60 seconds, Antolin Alcaraz was deemed to have bundled over Villa in the penalty area and Spain had their own chance from the spot. Xabi Alonso buried his spot-kick but Spanish joy was shortlived, with a retake ordered for encroachment. This time Villar dived low to his left and parried Alonso’s effort, and Paraguay scrambled the rebound to safety. Dark Hope

Minutes later, Andres Iniesta hit a curling effort that was well blocked by Villar, and it was indeed to be the Barcelona midfielder who proved the difference in the decisive moment of the match seven minutes from time. Budweiser Man of the Match Iniesta made a driving run from midfield, teeing up Pedro, whose shot hit Villar’s right-hand post before rebounding to Villa. The Spain No7 accepted the gift, placing his effort against the left-hand post but eventually nestling into the net, but only after rebounding off the opposite post.

In the final minute, Casillas saved his side with a double block from Santa Cruz and Barrios, while Villa was similarly denied by the impressive Villar in a lighting counter-attack.