EELAM NEWS BULLETIN 151007

India-Lanka hail excellent ties
President briefs Indian PM on search for settlement, battle against terror:

Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has commended the excellent relations between India and Sri Lanka during an hour-long meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa in New Delhi.
President Rajapaksa was on an official visit to India and addressed the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit on Saturday.
Both leaders observed that it was necessary to keep working to ensure continued good relations and understanding between the two countries on all fronts.
At the meeting with Dr. Singh at the Prime Minister’s official residence, there was a warm exchange of views on the present state of Indo-Sri Lanka relations and current development impacting on these relations between the two countries, the President’s Office said.
President Rajapaksa told the Indian Premier of the situation in Sri Lanka, especially with regard to the search for a political solution to the ethnic issue and the battle against terrorism.
The Indian leader was also briefed on the Government’s programme for development of the Eastern Province for economic progress and the advance of democracy.
The Indian Prime Minister said India was ready to strengthen the links between the two countries and build on the multi-faceted nature of the relationship.
He also referred to continued understanding and cooperation between Sri Lanka and India on matters of security and political affairs.
In his inaugural address to the Leadership Summit Prime Minister Singh said: “Let there be no mistake about our resolve to meet the challenges the challenge of terrorism head on... We have to mobilize all our resources and will power for continued defeat of the terrorist machinery.”
At the meeting with Congress Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, the discussions were centred on the new developments in the Eastern Province and efforts to defeat terrorism in the country.
The Congress leader was apprised of the new development programme in areas cleared of the LTTE and the moves taken to make the East a model for development of a hitherto politically disadvantaged region.
Gandhi said it was encouraging to know of the steps being taken to obtain a political solution to the crisis in Sri Lanka, and of the loss of a recruiting base for the LTTE in the East, particularly the recruitment of child soldiers. She stressed on the need to strengthen to good relations between the two countries.
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona, and High Commissioner Romesh Jayasinghe and India’s National Security Advisor M. K. Narayan and External Affairs Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon were present at President Rajapaksa’s meeting with Dr. Singh.
Foreign Minister Bogollagama, Secretary to the President and the Foreign Secretary were associated with the President during discussions with Gandhi.

Top level Indo-Lanka talks to further improve excellent ties on all fronts
Monday, 15 October 2007
President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh exchanged views on the present state of Indo-Sri Lanka relations and current development impacting on these relations between the two countries. Both leaders observed that it was necessary to keep working to ensure continued good relations and understanding between the two countries on all fronts.The President’s Office said that the warm exchanges took places during the hour long talks between the leaders of India and Sri Lanka during President Rajapaksa’s visit to New Delhi. President Rajapaksa was on a visit to India and addressed the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit on Saturday.
At the meeting with Dr. Singh at the Prime Minister’s official residence President Rajapaksa briefed him of the situation in Sri Lanka, especially with regard to the search for a political solution to the ethnic issue and the battle against terrorism.
The Indian leader was also briefed on the Government’s programme for development of the Eastern Province for economic progress and the advance of democracy.
The Indian Prime Minister said India was ready to strengthen the links between the two countries and build on the multi-faceted nature of the relationship.
He also referred to continued understanding and cooperation between Sri Lanka and India on matters of security and political affairs. In his inaugural address to the Leadership Summit Prime Minister Singh said: “Let there be no mistake about our resolve to meet the challenges the challenge of terrorism head on... We have to mobilize all our resources and will power for continued defeat of the terrorist machinery.”
At the meeting with Congress Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, the discussions were centred on the new developments in the Eastern Province and efforts to defeat terrorism in the country. Last Updated ( Monday, 15 October 2007 )

India quietly steps up arms aid to Lanka
Times Of India 15 Oct 2007, 0000 hrs IST,Rajat Pandit,TNN

NEW DELHI: Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse may publicly say India’s “moral support” is all that his country requires to tackle its bloody ethnic strife but behind closed doors, Colombo continues to seek “more” military hardware and software from New Delhi. India, on its part, is not shying away from stepping up arms supplies to Sri Lanka, with the latest example being more automatic 40mm L-70 close range anti-aircraft guns to guard against aerial strikes by LTTE.
“The Ordnance Factory Board, for instance, has just received another $40,000 order for supply of L-70 gun barrels to Sri Lanka. Among other things, four ‘Indra’ low-flying detection radars have already been supplied to Sri Lanka,” said a source. That’s not all. Playing upon India’s fears about China and Pakistan making strategic inroads into Sri Lanka, Colombo has asked New Delhi to supply more air defence weapons and radars, artillery guns, Nishant UAVs and even laser designators for PGMs (precision-guided munitions).
Interestingly, even as Rajapakse was headed for New Delhi on Friday, there were reports from Colombo that a couple of remote-controlled miniature aircraft were seized from a LTTE vessel. Contending that the aircraft were to be used as deadly missiles after being loaded with explosives, Sri Lankan officials claimed that LTTE continued to use TN for its arms smuggling activities.
While India has been providing “largely defensive” equipment to Sri Lanka till now, sources said the supply of “some clearly offensive weapons” could not be ruled out since India does not want China or Pakistan to step into the vacuum, much like what happened in Myanmar in the 1990s. An indicator of this unease in the Indian defence establishment had come earlier this year when national security advisor M K Narayanan had publicly asked Sri Lanka to refrain from seeking arms from China or Pakistan.
The remarks had created a furore in Lanka, especially since Narayanan had added that India would not provide weapons with offensive capabilities to the island nation. The government, of course, has to keep political sensitivities in Tamil Nadu in mind all the time as far as weapon deliveries to Sri Lanka are concerned, with its partner DMK frequently voicing its concern over the plight of Tamils in the island nation.
The government, of course, has to keep political sensitivities in TN in mind all the time as far as weapon deliveries to Lanka are concerned, with its partner DMK frequently voicing its concern over the plight of Tamils in Lanka.

Lanka asks UN to emulate India
Oct 14 (HT) Top Sri Lankan leader, Basil Rajapaksa, had asked the visiting UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, to emulate India and stop "policing" Sri Lanka, The Nation reported on Sunday. The second most important man in Sri Lanka after President Mahinda Rajapaksa, told the ranking UN official, that India was not acting as the policeman of the South Asian region, but was helping Sri Lanka solve its problems. For example, India had sent food to tackle shortages in Jaffna, he said.
Posted: Mon, Oct 15 2007. 12:04 AM IST

NTPC identifies new location in Sri Lanka
Site to the north of coastal Trincomalee is ‘prima facie’ safer than the previous one for proposed 500MW plantUtpal BhaskarThe perception of an increased threat from separatist outfit Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has forced NTPC Ltd, India’s largest power generation company, to relocate its proposed 500MW coal-based thermal power plant in Sri Lanka.NTPC wants to set up projects in other countries, too.“The new site is north of Trincomalee, while the earlier site was south of it. We have selected the site and prima facie it is okay. We now have to sign the power purchase agreement,” said a senior NTPC executive who did not wish to be identified. Trincomalee is in the North-East coast of Sri Lanka and, in the past, has seen heavy fighting between the LTTE, which wants a separate Tamil state, and the Sri Lankan army.The power project is an attempt by India to engage its neighbours both politically and economically; the Indian Navy has access to the Bay of Trincomalee under an accord signed by the two countries. The NTPC plant is expected to significantly enhance power supplies in the island nation. Sri Lanka has a total power-generation capacity of only 2,500MW, against India’s capacity of 130,000MW.The project in Sri Lanka is important for NTPC to globally demonstrate its ability to set up power projects in other countries. The company also plans to set up power plants in Nigeria, which is allocating long-term supplies of liquiefied natural gas (LNG) to fuel NTPC’s plants in India.“Sri Lanka is in need of power generation (capacity) as the power supply situation there is weak. Being a major power generation player in this part of the world, it is a good thing for NTPC to set up projects outside India,” said R.V. Shahi, former secretary in India’s power ministry. However, a Mumbai-based power sector analyst who did not wish to be identified said that it remained to be seen whether there was a big international market for NTPC. “Not many power generation companies have a global presence,” the analyst added. NTPC’s Sri Lankan project involves an investment of $500 million (Rs1,965 crore) and is to be set up in a joint venture with the Ceylon Electricity Board. It is expected to be commissioned by 2011. The project will be set up on a build, operate, own and transfer basis and will have a debt-to-equity ratio of 70:30.It will use around 2.5 million tonnes per annum of imported coal, which may be sourced from Australia and Indonesia.

Naval Observation Post to come up near Mandapam
C. Jaishankar

RAMANATHAPURAM: As an urgent step to check smuggling activity in the Gulf of Mannar area, the Indian Navy has decided to establish a Naval Observation Post (NOP) at Seeniappa Dharga near Mandapam in Ramanathapuram district. This is the first time that the Navy has come out with a plan to create a facility along the Gulf of Mannar ever since it established Naval Detachments along the Palk Bay during the Indian Peace Keeping Force operations in Sri Lanka. These assets were basically established to assist the IPKF to meet its logistic and strategic needs from the Indian shore. The decision assumes significance following intelligence inputs that smugglers operating from the Palk Bay and the Palk Straits have reportedly shifted their activities to the Gulf of Mannar.
The proposed facility would enable the Navy to extend its operation to Valinokkam. The recent incidents of smuggling along the Rameswaram coast suggest that the northeast monsoon season, from October to December, is considered a favourable season for smugglers. “There were reports that smugglers have changed their strategy based on the seasonal changes. We want to increase the area of operation. The proposed facility would serve the purpose and put an effective check on smuggling activities,” Commodore Phillip Van Haltren, Naval Officer in Charge, Tamil Nadu told The Hindu over phone on Saturday. Commander Subrato Mukherji, Area Commander, South, Naval Detachment, Rameswaram, said the survey for establishing the NOP had been completed.
Preparations were under way to install the facility. Communication facilities would be established at the NOP. Logistic support including adequate boats would be provided to naval personnel manning the new facility.
Commodore Haltren said he held a meeting with area commanders recently and discussed several issues. Instructions were given to all officers to step up vigil along the Rameswaram coast. Sea and air patrolling would be intensified.

Concessions for South Indian film producers
The Sri Lankan Government is favourably considering South Indian film producers’ request to grant special considerations for Indian film producers using Sri Lanka as a location to film their movies, National Film Corporation (NFC) Chairman Asoka Serasinghe said. He was addressing film producers in Tamil Nadu during an interactive session in Chennai last week.
Chief Guest Radikaa Sarathkumar recalled her fond memories of Sri Lanka. Serasinghe, in Chennai in connection with the Festival of Sri Lankan films underway in Chennai, also stated that the Government was keen to promote filming in Sri Lanka by foreign film makers and was especially keen to attract South Indian film makers and producers to Sri Lanka.
Listing some concessions, Serasinghe revealed that the NFC would waive off any charges for filming feature films in Sri Lanka with immediate effect.
Director and Actor Channa Perera narrating his experience related to his film Anjalika scheduled to be part of the Film festival. He said the NFC would grant a Surety Bond to the Sri Lanka Customs for clearance of camera and other equipment brought to Sri Lanka for filming and that the NFC would provide internal transport facilities and accommodation.
Serasinghe stated that in addition to these facilities, the NFC could also provide the services of extra artistes and assist with hiring local equipment if necessary and added that the NFC could also arrange to visit locations chosen through its Location Library and would also liaise with the Sri Lanka Tourist Board and SriLankan Airlines to obtain further concessions where possible.
In addition to the above concessions, Serasinghe also announced that the NFC was working towards reducing various fees charged by Government institutions and authorities. He stated that concerns regarding effective distribution of Indian films in Sri Lanka have also been addressed and requested producers to liaise with the NFC.
Serasinghe stated that the NFC had received many requests for concessions from Indian film makers on some of the requirements and payments imposed for filming in Sri Lanka.
He said in view of the cordial and long standing relations between India and Sri Lanka, the NFC was working towards fulfilling these requests.
It was also disclosed that an agreement had been finalised with the Gemini Group of Companies, India to produce a film as a joint venture by India and Sri Lanka featuring Sri Lankan and Indian stars.
The agreement was due to be signed in Sri Lanka during November after which work on this film would commence in December.
Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner in southern India P. M. Amza invited film producers and directors to choose Sri Lanka as a location for film shooting.
The scenic locations have encouraged several production companies to shoot films there and the Sri Lankan Government is keen on more such collaborations, Amza said at the inauguration of a Sri Lankan film festival.
“Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka share a rich tradition of cinema,” Amza said. “Even today, post-production of many Sri Lankan films is done in Chennai to achieve superior technical quality”.
The Tamil film producers expressed their satisfaction and stated that they were pleased that most of their requests had been addressed positively.
They also expressed their gratitude to the Sri Lankan Government and the NFC for considering their requests favourably and added that they would certainly be happy to use Sri Lanka as a preferred foreign film location for their future projects.
- Asian Tribune

No piecemeal approach on LTTE: Lanka minister
Manu Pubby Posted online: Monday, October 15, 2007 at 0000 hrs IST NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 14
In A clear signal that Colombo is hardening its stance against the LTTE, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama has said that it is time to stop a “piecemeal” approach against the Tigers and tackle the situation militarily for a “comprehensive” solution. With a record $1.4 billion defence budget this year, the Sri Lankan Government is looking at an all out offensive against the LTTE. “Every year we spend some percentage of our GDP in fighting terror. It is time to stop a piecemeal approach and look at it in a comprehensive manner,” said Bogollagama, who met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, during his visit here. The Foreign Minister said that Sri Lankan forces have destroyed 10 “floating arsenals” belonging to the Sea Tigers and have cleared the Tamil force from the Eastern province in recent days. However, echoing President Mahinda Rajapakse’s recent statement at a leadership summit in Delhi, he added that getting back to the negotiating table is still a possibility. “The LTTE is getting pushed to the wall and should get a pragmatic realisation that political negotiations are the only way to get out of it,” the Minister said. With a 20 per cent increase in defence spending this year, Colombo is looking at new military hardware to fight the newly raised aerial wing of the Tigers but not much of it is likely to come from India. “We buy defence equipment from wherever it is available to us. And, we are very transparent about it. We cannot burden India with any other demands. There is already a lot of moral support from New Delhi,” Bogollagama said. The Minister said that in discussions with Sonia Gandhi and the Prime Minister, Colombo emphasised on the need to get a political solution to bring peace in Sri Lanka. “Our talks (were focused) on broadening areas of interest, particularly political proposals to solve problems,” he added. The Foreign Minister also met senior politicians, including L K Advani on the visit. He will head back for Colombo on Tuesday.

Norway special envoy to Sri Lanka to visit India
By IANS Monday October 15, 10:17 AM New Delhi, Oct 15 (IANS)

Norway's special envoy to Sri Lanka, Jon Hanssen Bauer, is to visit India soon to explore how to take ahead the fractured peace process in the war-hit country. But there are no immediate prospects of fresh peace talks.
Bauer will be meeting officials of the external affairs ministry and National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan to have a personal assessment of what India is thinking vis-a-vis the Sri Lankan conflict.
It will be the first trip to New Delhi this year by Bauer, who was named special envoy in March 2006 but who quickly went off the peace facilitation radar in the wake of escalating violence in Sri Lanka.
Indian officials will provide the 55-year-old diplomat a detailed view of what they feel has gone wrong in Sri Lanka, where fighting involving the military and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has killed the Norway-brokered 2002 ceasefire agreement (CFA) for all practical purposes and intent.
Informed sources, however, told IANS that there were no prospects of Colombo authorities and the LTTE meeting any time soon to resume the stalled peace negotiations.
'The visit is meant to keep up contacts and spirits. And hope,' one source said.
Bauer will not visit Sri Lanka this time. But he may, hopefully, in the not too distant future, the sources said.
Bauer's visit comes just months after Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse met Norwegian International Development Minister Erik Solheim, the former special envoy who still oversees the peace process, in Geneva.
It will also take place shortly after Rajapakse's trip to New Delhi where he met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and said that his government would be willing to talk if the Tigers showed interest in 'genuine negotiations'.
LTTE chief Velupillai Prabahakaran, who is faced with one of the most serious military challenges since he started his armed campaign for Tamil Eelam, will be making his annual policy statement in November-end.
India is seriously concerned over the situation in Sri Lanka, where the military's success in driving away the LTTE from the eastern province has made it gung-ho about taking on the Tigers entrenched in the north. If that happens, it could be a messy affair.
At the same time, the earlier hopeful signs of Colombo unveiling a credible power sharing arrangement have given way to despair following political developments that have disappointed those who still nurture a belief in a negotiated settlement.
With Western countries overseeing the peace process realising the vast complexities of the Sri Lanka scenario, it is not going to be easy for Norway to forge ahead. This is where India, which has a special interest in Sri Lanka, comes in.
Once violence escalated in Sri Lanka from December 2005, Norway got Colombo and the LTTE to meet in Geneva and Oslo. But the talks did not make much progress. After the LTTE tried to assassinate the Sri Lankan army chief in April 2006 and Rajapakse's brother and Defence Secretary Gothabaya Rajapakse in December, the situation got out of hand.
Colombo then barred Bauer from going to Kilinochchi, the LTTE political hub. The Tigers also complained that Norway was not putting enough pressure on Sri Lanka to halt its military offensive.
Although Sri Lanka now holds the upper hand militarily, it is under intense pressure internationally to check its deteriorating human rights record. It is at such a juncture that Norway is trying to find out what it can do to put the peace process back on the rails.

Sri Lanka: Joint UN North East Situation Monitoring Report – Sep 2007

Attached below is the joint UN agency North East situation monitoring report. This report is intended to give an overview of the current situation in the North East by tracking the trends of various conflictsensitive indicators. The table on the next page lists data for the three most recent months.
Note that full commitment, as indicated by timely, regular reporting from all responsible agencies, is required in order to make this report useful as a decision-making tool.
The following interpretations can be made for the month of September based on the data available:
North East:
- 18 cases of underage recruitment and 6 releases are reported for September 2007.
- The number of security incidents involving humanitarian aid workers is 16.
- The number of UN projects disrupted due to security reasons has decreased to 71. Please see comments on the last page for details.
- The number of reported hartals has increased from 1 to 4.
- 12 days of closure in primary and secondary schools are reported throughout the North and East, with 99 schools concerned. Please see comments on last page for details.
- The average market price of rice has increased throughout the North and East, except in Batticaloa, where the price has decreased.
- Average daily wages for skilled labour remains stable throughout the North and East.
- Average daily wages for unskilled labour remains stable throughout the North and East except in Batticaloa, where it has increased.
Jaffna:
- The average market price of rice has increased from 72 to 90 Rs./kg.
- The average market price of bread remains stable at 40 Rs./loaf.
- The average market price of kerosene has increased from 82 to 89 Rs./litre.
- The average market price of vegetable oil has decreased from 200 to 181 Rs./litre.
- The average market price of lentils remains stable at 105 Rs./kg.
Kilinochchi:
- The average market price of rice has increased from 26 to 30 Rs./kg.
- The average market price of bread remains stable at 28 Rs./loaf.
- The average market price of kerosene has decreased from 120 to 110 Rs./litre.
- The average market price of vegetable oil has decreased from 160 to 180 Rs./litre.
- The average market price of lentils has increased from 58 to 65 Rs./kg.
Mannar:
- The average market price of bread remains stable at 30 Rs./loaf.
- The average market price of all other monitored commodities has increased.
Mullaitivu:
- The average market price of rice has increased from 26 to 29 Rs./kg.
- The average market price of vegetable oil has increased from 170 to 180 Rs./litre.
- The average market price of bread, kerosene and red lentils remains stable.
Vavuniya:
- The average market price of bread remains stable at 30 Rs./loaf.
- The average market price of all other monitored commodities has increased.
Trincomalee:
- The average market price of all monitored commodities has increased.
Batticaloa:
- The average market price of rice has decreased from 39 to 38 Rs./kg.
- The average market price of all other monitored commodities has increased.
Ampara:
- The average market price of rice has increased from 39 to 40 Rs./kg.
- The average market price of kerosene has increased from 55 to 58 Rs./litre.
- The average market price of all other monitored commodities remains stable.
Please note that this September report does not cover the recent developments in the country.

ADB president backs India's sustainable, equitable growth policy
Last Updated: 15-October-2007 06:51:07

MUMBAI (Thomson Financial) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is committed to support India in its efforts to achieve sustainable and equitable economic growth, according to Haruhiko Kuroda, president, ADB.
Kuroda said ADB's country partnership strategy 2008-2012 will be closely aligned with the Indian government's 11th five-year plan and will support the focus on inclusive growth. "I am pleased to note the prevailing buoyancy stemming from India's unprecedented growth and strong economic fundamentals. The increased integration of the global economy has made India a visible economic force,'' Kuroda said during his recent visit to India.
The ADB president said the bank expects India's economy to expand by 8.5 pct in 2007 and 2008, up from an earlier forecast of 8.0 pct and 8.3 pct, respectively, driven by robust investment, buoyant industrial expansion and moderate agricultural growth.
Kuroda said ADB's key strategy for India would be to help reduce poverty through infrastructure-led growth.
The ADB president also added that the growth alone is not enough and has to be supplemented by specific measures to address equity.
ADB will also increase the focus of assistance on broad-based economic growth in rural areas through investments in agriculture, irrigation, rural roads, and rural finance which directly benefit the poor, 75 pct of whom live in rural areas, he said.

Arbour promises redress for prison inmates
By Yohan Perera

UN Human Rights Commissioner, Louise Arbour has promised redress to inmates in Boossa, Magazine and Welikada prisons after her visit to Welikada on Saturday.
Informed sources said Ms. Arbour has promised that their cases would be resolved within three months.
Western People’s Front Leader and Parliamentrain, Mano Ganesan said the Tamil parties who met her last week handed over a report containing details of inmates in Welikada, Anuradhapura, Boossa and Magazine prisons. Ms. Arbour had told them that she was here for a specific purpose and not to find out about the inmates alone.
Nevertheless she had however expressed her concern about the inmates and agreed to visit them at Welikada.
The detainees of the Welikada had called off their fast unto death campaign after the assurance of Arbour who promised to resolve their cases within three months during her visit on Saturday. They launched the campaign on Wednesday demanding Ms. Arbour to visit Welikada prison. They also made a call to UN to pressurise the Sri Lankan government to expedite their cases which they claimed that have been postponed over and over again.
Over 86 prisoners participated in the campaign. She met five prisoners who represented the detainees according to sources.

Trinco factory zone, Eppawala mine projects get Cabinet nod
By Uditha Jayasinghe

Industrial Development Minister Kumara Welgama outlined plans by the government to establish a new factory zone in Trincomalee and process phosphate from the Eppawala mine under a Rs.670 million loan from Bank of Ceylon. Both projects are set to kick off in the near future.
The special factor of the Trincomalee zone is that the government will provide buildings in addition to the customary infrastructure. Cabinet approval has already been given and plans have been drawn up for six new buildings. However it is still not clear how many businesses will be setting up their signboards in the new zone but the Minister was effusive on the government’s plans to include local as well as foreign players.
“We are coordinating with the Board of Investment (BOI) on this and the government will fund the entire setting up process. We plan to give a plethora of benefits to investors including infrastructure, tax benefits and land. There has been a lot of interest among the business community to open up the recently cleared Eastern Province for business and this idea was put forward to encourage that tide,” he said.
The Minister also pledged to revive around ten state corporations including the Eppawala phosphate mine and the Pulmude oil refinery that comes under the ministry. Single Super Phosphate will be processed under the former project using Indian expertise and will be exported to manufacture fertilizer. As the project will be funded and executed by government institutions Mr. Welgama expressed hope that the potential legal mire sanctioned by the Supreme Court could be skirted around.
“As these projects begin one by one we hope to expand industries to villages and eventually have at least one factory per Provincial Council. We want to give incentives to not just foreign companies but also to local ones,” he said.
The Ministry also plans to support the design degree programme at the Moratuwa University with Rs.82 million, improve productivity of 30 factories costing Rs.65.8 million and another Rs.7.2 million will be spent on an image building programme for Sri Lankan apparels titled “Garments without Guilt.” Another Rs.25 million will be spent on a special programme to uplift the handloom industry.