In a human life twenty-five years is huge. When it is compared with an organization twenty-five years is massive. It all started as a simple thought of a simple man who loved his country very much and couldn’t stand the organized spreading of lies and misleading information about his motherland. Actions he took in a time of necessity with few of his friends grew up into an organization that every one talking about today. Simple actions of a simple man bear fruit today after 25yers.

During these twenty-five years actions taken by this organization has given massive results. In a time diplomats are afraid to talk about the country they represent, this organization stood up to the occasion. This organization is none other than SLUNA or Sri Lanka United National Association. Today everyone agrees what SLUNA has done is commendable.

Among feathers in SLUNA’s hat banning LTTE and WTM are the brightest but there are a lot more to come. Constant lobbying, firing letters to media when at a time the media was mainly fed with pro-LTTE propaganda in this conflict, is similar to rowing upstream. But at the end they managed to correct the picture. Well-done Daya, Mahinda, Ira and Asoka and all who were with them. We salute all of you. But the greatest salute to them is to join hands to carry forward the things that need to be done in the future.

WTM BAN

We thank the Government of Canada for taking a timely action to ban the World Tamil Movement a well-established LTTE wing in Canada.

Importance of this action will be visible in the future as brave Sri Lankan forces clear the jungle hide outs of the LTTE and chase them away and it is left to be seen if the LTTE would starts to continue terrorist offensive against SL from countries like India, Canada, United States, United Kingdom, France and Australia. We request the Canadian Government to take action to stop glorifying terrorism and stop Canadian residents from carrying out wars in other countries using Canada as a safe heaven. Other wise it will affect Canada’s traditional role as a peacekeeper and drag her into conflict situations.

SLUNA IN ACTION

RALLYING FOR A CAUSE

SLUNA as a part of Forum of Sri Lankan Canadians against Terrorism organized a successful demonstration to thank the Canadian Government for banning WTM. The demonstration was held on June 25^th 2008 in Toronto at the Young and Bloor Street intersection. A well-organized and successful rally has created a wave of pro Sri Lankan rallies around the world. We are proud of what we have achieved.

SPECIAL AGM AND FUND RAISING DINNER

A special general meeting was held on June 14^th to welcome the new Consul General to Toronto Mr. Bandula Jayasekera. A fund raising dinner was followed after SGM to top up the SLUNA Heroes Fund to support “Api Wenuwen Api” program, which envisaged building 50,000 houses for members of the Sri Lankan Security Forces. Meeting and the dinner were very successfully with a hall full of SLUNA members. At the fund raising dinner SLUNA managed to collect CDN$3005.00 and all together the Heroes Fund reached CDN$ 9495.00 which was very close to our original target of CDN$10000.00.

SLUNA DONATIONS TO

“API WENUWEN API” AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

SLUNA Executive Vice President Dr. Daya Sarachandra handed over a bank draft for CDN$ 7500.00 to the Defense Secretary Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksha on July 8^th at the Defence Secretariat in Colombo. Donation was directed to “Api Wenuwen api “. The balance of SLUNA heroes fund was donated to NMAT (CDN$500.00) to provide gift packages of essential items to brave soldiers undergoing treatments in Colombo hospitals and CDN$1500.00 has been earmarked to be remitted to Siva Wanitha Unit and Kobbekaduwa Trust Fund. We request your support in future events as your contributions will go so far.

SOLIDARITY IS GROWING

Solidarity between Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities in the Diaspora are growing faster than ever since LTTE was thrown out from Eastern province. Diaspora is much more relaxed and attending each other’s community events frequently.

FUTURE ACTIONS

SLUNA 25^TH ANNUVERSARY

All preparations are under way to celebrate SLUNA’s 25^th anniversary in grand style. There will be a Special Meeting on August 30^th2.30PM at Scarborough Civic Center with the participation of a VIPs from Sri Lanka and Canada. Meeting is arranged into two segments.

First segment will be dedicated to celebrate the life of Sri Lanka’s late Foreign Minister Hon. Lakshman Kadiragamar. Keynote speaker will be Dr. Palitha Kohana the Foreign secretary of Sri Lanka. Widow of Mr. Kadiragamar Mrs. Sugandhi Kadiragamar is also planning to attend the event.

Second segment will be dedicated to celebrate 25years of SLUNA record. Sri Lanka’s new High Commissioner to Ottawa His Excellency Daya Perera and Sri Lanka’s Consul General in Toronto Mr. Bandula Jayasekara and several distinguished guests will take part. We welcome all of our members and well-wishers to attend the event and be a part of our history.

FILM “PRABAKARAN”

Young Sri Lankan filmmaker Tushara Peries’s debut film “Prabakaran” will be screened in Canada very soon. The story is based on a Tamil female pregnant suicide bomber with a mixed parentage (Sinhala and Tamil) employed by LTTE to assassinate an important person in the government. Film is trying to portray her inner struggle to choose between carrying out the assigned task and the bonds in her life such as her unborn baby, her Sinhala husband and her brother a child soldier forcefully recruited by LTTE. You have to see the film to see which path she is going to choose.

The film director Tushara Peries was attacked and Tamil subtitled copy was stolen by LTTE thugs while it was in processing in a film lab in Tamil Nadu, India.

SLUNA is planning to organize two shows of the film in Mississauga and Scarborough. We will let you know the venue and the date very soon. Income will go to SLUNA sponsored charities in Sri Lanka.

NEWS AROUND US

BRUCE FEIN HIT THE JACK POT AND DISSAPPEARED

After realizing that he might loose his professional status for supporting a banned terrorist group US attorney Bruce Fein decided to open his own account in Canada to tap the Tamil Diaspora money to conduct a unrealistic law suit against Sri Lankan leaders. Even a person with a very minimum knowledge of Law could understand that this bankrupt attorney is taking Tamils for a ride same as other LTTE leaders are doing today. According to latest media reports Mr. Fein is disappeared and not answering “Tamils for Justice” phone calls.

“PONGU TAMIL” CANNOT SAVE LTTE

As defeats in war front continue LTTE is having a hard time to keep Diaspora together. A recorded low attendance was reported on July 5^th “Pongu Tamil” event despite the threat to Tamil shop owners to close their shops that day. Even though LTTE media reported 7500 attended but our correspondents say only around 3500 had attended. Recent “Black July” exhibition on July 26^th also had a hard time to bring people in. According to our correspondent attendance at this event during lunch hour were hardly 20 people.

FUND RAISING CONTINUE

Despite the ban on WTM, LTTE is using several fake organizations disguised as sports and cultural associations to continue their fundraising activities. Among their latest activities a sponsored day at “Ontario Place” a musical show and a sports festival were noted. It is evident that the LTTE is using several Indian Tamils as front people when organizing these events. We also found them collecting funds on behalf of the TRO; which is a banned NGO in SL. We wonder where this money goes? We ask Canadian authorities to be vigilant as LTTE is increasingly contravening Canadian Law.

Editor: Hasaka Rathnamalala

Design: Mangalika Aluthgamage

Email: sluna@idirect.com

Web: www.sluna.org

Address: P.O.Box 55292,300Borough Dr.

Toronto, ON, M1P 4Z7

August-2008

EDITORIAL