British HC calls off meeting with JVP
The British High Commission yesterday indicated its inability to meet JVP representatives at their Pelwatte party headquarters. Well informed sources said that the British HC sought a meeting with the JVP immediately after the protest opposite the High Commission against what the JVP termed "the British bias towards the LTTE".

India mobilizing Russian radar to counter LTTE threatNew Delhi,
May 14:
After the three ‘air-raids’ carried out by rebel Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka, India is trying its best to secure sensitive installations in Tamil Nadu and Kerala from such apprehended attacks, and in this regard have pressed more mobile radars, UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) into service.

LTTE torches bus carrying schoolchildren Rafik Jalaldeen
JAFFNA: The LTTE set fire to an SLCTB bus in Jaffna after ordering its passengers to get out last morning. The bus belonging to the Kondavil depot was plying from Maradanamadam to Urimpirai when it was forced to stop at a point on the Palai main road by a group of LTTEers riding motorcycles.
They had ordered the passengers out and flung a petrol bomb into the bus setting it ablaze. The incident occurred around 7.20 a.m.
The passengers included a large number of schoolchildren and women. "The LTTE cadres forced out the passengers from the bus before lobbying a petrol bomb into it," Military Spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe said.
None of the passengers were injured in the incident while the bus was completely destroyed, he said.
According to the Brigadier, LTTE cadres are trying to sabotage public administration in cleared areas.
"This is an act of blatant vandalism by the LTTE which was condemned by the public severely affected by lack of transport facilities," he added. Meanwhile, a Tiger cadre was shot dead and another injured by the Security Forces when they attempted to spy at the Muhamalai Forward Defence Line yesterday morning.UNP says it has vital information on Govt. – LTTE secret deal
By Kelum Bandara
The main Opposition UNP said yesterday it possessed vital information on the secret deal between the government and the LTTE in the run up to the November 2005 presidential election and vowed to disclose the details to a select committee.
Earlier sacked minister Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi alleged in parliament that more than Rs. 200 million had been handed over to the LTTE to ensure it enforced a boycott of the election.
UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekara told a news conference, the party had gathered vital information about this illegal financial transaction.
Mr. Jayasekara said the UNP would reveal the incriminating information before a Select Committee which Mr. Sooriyarachchi and the other sacked minister Mangala Samaraweera had called for in parliament.
“The government came to power by whipping up racism in the south. President Mahinda Rajapaksa pledged not give in to the demands of Tigers. But, what has happened in reality? We know how these funds were given to the LTTE. We are urging the Speaker to appoint the Select Committee as soon as possible to probe this allegation,” he said.
Mr. Jayasekara charged the government was blocking the appointment of a select committee because it feared irreparable damage to its image.
The UNP also criticized rampant corruption in the government and asked why no action was taken against errant politicians and officials involved in financial frauds exposed by the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) in Parliament.
“The COPE revealed corruption running into billions at 25 state institutions. But, the government is dodging its responsibility in bringing the culprits to book. We urge them to take action without any further delay,” he said.
Mr. Jayasekara said the UNP would reveal instances of more corruption at state institutions when the report of the Public Accounts Committee was submitted to parliament soon.
He alleged the President had intervened to sell Sri Lanka Telecom Ltd shares to Global Telecommunications Holdings N.V. deviating from the usual procedure.
“There is a lot of corruption involved in this case too. The President in his capacity as Finance Minister has signed the Cabinet paper for this purpose. But, it should have been signed by Post and Telecommunication Minister Rauf Hakeem,” Mr. Jayasekara said.