Organisers of a conference in UK today confirmed that, UK has rejected entry Visa for an Indian Spy  Colonel R. Hariharan for a visit on 13th January 2008.Colonel R. Hariharan is an intelligence specialist on South Asia and is a retired Military Intelligence officer. He served as the Head of the Intelligence unit of the IPKF in Sri Lanka from 1987 to 1990.

When :-              Thaipongal Day – Tuesday 15th January 2008
Where :-            Sydney Murugan Temple
Activities: -        Bajan – 11.00 am till 11.45 am
Lunch – Vegetarian food with Vadai & Payasam 
Prasatham - Kadali, Vadai & Aval be served after 7.00 pm Pooja.

"..No two countries that both had McDonald's had fought a war against each other since each got its McDonald's.."
Thomas Friedman’s Golden Arches theory

The Lexus and the Olive Tree is a book by Thomas Friedman that portrays that the world is currently undergoing two struggles: the drive for prosperity and development, symbolized by the Lexus, and the desire to retain identity and traditions, symbolized by the olive tree. Friedman says he came to this realization while eating a sushi box lunch on a Japanese bullet train after visiting a Toyota factory and reading an article about conflict in the Middle East.

"..The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy..."
Martin Luther King Jr

2008 dawned with the news that another Tamil Member of Parliament (MP) has been assassinated at a Hindu temple in broad day light, ostensibly by the Sri Lankan government sponsored paramilitary group. 

A parcel bomb explosion was reported in Colombo High Security area, 50 meters away from the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Head quarters near Lake House building around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Two civilians were treated for shock. Nobody was injured in the attack, Police said.

Australia is concerned about the Sri Lankan Government's announcement that it intends to withdraw from the 2002 ceasefire agreement with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.  This is a step backwards which Australia fears could lead to further escalation of violence, including against civilians.  I appeal to all parties to the conflict to protect the human rights of all Sri Lankans.  Sri Lanka's conflict cannot be resolved militarily.  Only a negotiated settlement can bring lasting peace.  I urge all involved parties to submit to democratic processes and the rule of law and to work towards a political solution that meets the aspirations of all Sri Lankans.
The Hon Stephen Smith MP
MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Statement by Paul Willms,Ex- MP Third Chamber of The Netherlands
Observer on the peace process for a durable solution to the conflict in Sri Lanka 
EU shares blame for failure of Sri Lankan cease fire agreement and peace talks  
I strongly regret the unilateral decision by the Sri Lankan government to abrogate the cease fire agreement of 2002, however I do understand the militaristic mindset of the current political establishment in Colombo but must underline that there can never be a military solution to the legitimate grievances of the Tamil people. 

Courtesy: N.Nandhivarman
Charming and significant as the term is, it is a warm tribute not only to the poet but also to the people for the people had had their monarchs and ministers, their warriors and saviours, their seers and saints, miracle - mongers and priests, but had no poets and from ages past there were poets in abundance, poets who supplemented the scriptures or who polished the palaces by their poetry, but poets who sang for and about the people in the people’s tongue were very rare.

Full text of the press release follows:
Norway regrets the Government of Sri Lanka’s decision to terminate the 2002 ceasefire agreement
The Government of Sri Lanka has decided to terminate the ceasefire agreement concluded with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on 22 February 2002. Norway served as facilitator for the negotiations that led to the agreement. If either party wishes to terminate the agreement, it is required to give notice of termination to the Norwegian Government 14 days in advance.