The murders that are taking place in the north east are shocking. People are saddened over these killings. The people are in despair over these killings. The murder of Sahathevan Niluxan, a part time journalist and Jaffna University student, by unidentified gunmen is most despicable.

Ceylon workers Congress once again staged its drama of quitting from one side to the other-from the government to the opposition and vice versa. After the birth of the new millennium, the Cockerel symbol party has changed sides several times during the last seven and a half years.

Freedom of speech is vital for the flowering of democracy in a country. If the freedom of speech is muzzled in a country, there can be dictatorship. Although the freedom of speech is protected in Sri Lanka, there have been threats to freedom of speech. The proposal to re-enact the criminal defamation law, which was repealed in 2002, has triggered off serious criticism from all sections of the society.

The government has relaxed the ban on fishing in the north-east, thereby enabling the fishermen in Vadamarachi and other areas to commence their fishing. Earlier, following the establishment of a sea security zone and the ban on fishing in the north-east, many thousands of families of fishermen lost their livelihood and had to depend entirely on government ration and relief.

Human rights situation in Sri Lanka has been internationalized. Earlier, human rights violations were discussed by Human Rights Organizations within the country. Now, it has gone beyond the shores of this country. It is being discussed with great concern by Human Rights Organizations and activists all over the world.

The views expressed by the S.P.Thamilselvan, the LTTE’s Political Wing leader echoes the view point of the Tami people in totality. Lankan Tamils struggled on the lines of non- violence for 30 long years demanding their just rights to live with honour.

Today, Tony Blair leaves office after little over a decade as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He leaves office a reviled figure, largely due to the widespread unpopularity of his decision to support the United States in the invasion of Iraq, and its continuing disastrous consequences.