Sri Lanka's War Is Long Over, But Reconciliation Remains Elusive

The Catholic bishop of Mannar, Rayappu Joseph, has been an outspoken critic of military abuses by government forces during the long civil war. "Where are they?" the bishop says of those who are missing. "We want justice."

Mannar, in northern Sri Lanka, is a fishing village where ethnic Tamils live. The country's long civil war ended in 2009, but many in the village say there will not be reconciliation until there's an accounting of the thousands who disappeared during the fighting.Julie McCarthy/NPR

JULIE MCCARTHY

JUNE 29, 2015

Sri Lanka, a palm-fringed island in the Indian Ocean, is in the sixth year of peace. But as the country prepares for elections in August, the legacy of its long civil war still casts a shadow.

Sri Lanka's War is Long Over, But Reconciliation Remains Elusive by Thavam Ratna

Journalists removed from Jaffna public consultation on resettlement
 29 June 2015
Journalists were forced out from a public consultative meeting about resettlement at the Jaffna District Secretariat on Monday.

Despite being invited to a public consultation with Sri Lankan minister for resettlement, D. M. Swaminathan, journalists were told to leave the meeting before discussion began, reportedly at the behest of the Government Agent.

Photograph @mayurappriyan

Although Mr Swaminathan announced that the meeting was to hear the needs of those awaiting or expecting resettlement, his words were directly followed by his staff member ordering journalists to leave the auditorium.

Journalists criticised the conflicting claims made by the organisers, initially that the meeting was a public one to which media had been invited, and then that the meeting was a confidential one with selective participants, including members of the military and former members of parliament.

After ejecting journalists from the auditorium, officials placed the closed doors under police guard.

Photograph @mayurappriyan

GTF asks Tamils to back TNA

By Mirudhula Thambiah-2015-06-30

Global Tamil Forum (GTF) Director Suren Surendiran said his organization urges the Tamil people in Sri Lanka to support the TNA in the upcoming parliamentary elections by casting their votes in toto, also by and large all Sri Lankans to reject chauvinistic forces in the country.

Following are excerpts:

Q: The Sri Lankan Diaspora organizations including the GTF and the BTF are propagated among the Sri Lankan Sinhalese in the South as separatists' forces attempting to divide the country. Also your organization is propagated as agents of imperialist and hegemonic forces against the Sri Lankan Government. What is your position on this propaganda?

GTF Asks Tamils to Back TNA by Thavam Ratna

More than 100,000 persons jobless in Eastern Province

By Ifham Nizam, reporting from Batticaloa-June 30, 2015

More than 100,000 people of the Eastern Province, of some 600,000 persons categorized as the working class, do nothing for a living, which is one of the biggest stumbling blocks to the development of the area, a senior politician said.

However, Eastern Province Chief Minister Naseer Ahamed praised the timely initiative of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and National Geographic Society to develop a comprehensive online guide for tourism attractions and services in the Eastern Province, which he strongly believes would give the province the much needed economic boost.

He stressed that they would go all out to take advantage as a new destination which has tremendous resources and opportunities, with the backing of various stakeholders.

"The objective of this initiative is to promote tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place - its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and the well-being of its residents and the involvement of local people. This objective augurs well with the tourism development plans of the Eastern Provincial Council and the government of Sri Lanka, he said.

The Chief Minister said that the goal for the Eastern Province is to triple the percentage of total foreign guest nights by 2016 to 4.8 per cent from the current 1.6 per cent and to double the percentage of total domestic visitor nights by 2016 to 10.4 per cent from the current 5.2 per cent.

Ahamed said in alignment with the national goal of a 150 per cent increase in foreign arrivals to 2.5 million by the year 2016 from one million in 2012, the goal for the Eastern Province is further elevated by 150 per cent.

"The first challenge in building tourism arrivals in the Eastern Province is improving perception. To those who have never been there it is assumed to be unsafe. Years of news about conflict and fighting have left an impression that it would not be a safe place to visit.

"A new perception must be created that will motivate domestic and international travelers to consider the Eastern Province as their destination of choice from among other established competitive destinations already available, he said at the launch of the National Geographic Eastern Sri Lanka GeoTourism MapGuide at East Lagoon in Batticaloa.

He added: "Foreign capital inflows are a basic national need that strengthens and stabilizes the markets and finances. Today, we have identified tourism sector as a potent medium to address the social issues such as unemployment and poverty."

Ahamed praised IFC and the National Geographic Society, who have been working tirelessly for the last 18 months to promote the Eastern Province as a tourism destination.

He thanked the European Union for its support for the District Development Programme (EU-SDDP) and the Royal Government of Norway for recognizing and supporting the project financially.

Graeme Harris, Senior Operations Officer, IFC, Meghna Singh, Programme Manager EU-Sri Lanka, Dr. R. Gnanasekar, Geotourism Council Member and S. Giritharan, Additional Government Agent, Batticaloa were also present on the occasion.

Ruki Fernando’s Travel Ban Removed but Gag Order Continue

( Ruki Fernando © s.desshapriya)

30/06/2015 

The travel ban imposed by the former Rajapaksa regime against the Human Rights and civil society activist Ruki Fernando has been removed today the 30th but the media censorship is still reports to be in force.

The travel ban which was imposed in 2014 March by the Terrorist Investigation Department (TID) was lifted after 15months. Following the travel ban Ruki Fernando had to obtain special permission from the courts 14 times to travel overseas. Sometimes he had to appear twice before the courts. Due to this restriction he had to abstain travelling to overseas for Human Rights activities. Sometimes despite court permission the immigration obstructed him from travelling.

In March 16th 2014 Ruki Fernando was arrested following the allege shooting of the director of Peace and Reconciliation Rev. Praveen from Kilinochchi. Later he was baselessly charged for helping the LTTE to reorganize and giving information to the foreign countries. There are reports that the Terrorist Investigation Unit still continue to investigate about Ruki Fernando

– LNW

THE UN CHARTER AT 70: TOWARD A 

SAFER AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR 

WE THE PEOPLES

Huffington Post (USA)

26 June 2015

By Ban Ki-moon

Long before I became Secretary-General, the United Nations occupied a special place in my life. I was six years old when the Korean War broke out. I have memories of my village in flames as my family sought refuge in nearby mountains. But another sight is even more lasting: the UN flag. We were saved from hunger by UN food relief operations; we received textbooks from UNESCO; and when we wondered whether the outside world cared about our suffering, the troops of many nations sacrificed their lives to restore security and peace.

I know from my childhood, and now from decades of public service, the immense difference the United Nations can make. As we mark the anniversary of the adoption of the Organization's founding Charter on June 26, 1945 in San Francisco, my hope is that the human family will come together with greater determination to work for a safer and more sustainable future for "we, the peoples," in whose name the Charter was drafted.

The United Nations at 70 can look back on a proud record of working with many partners to dismantle colonialism, triumph over apartheid, keep the peace in troubled places and articulate a body of treaties and law to safeguard human rights. Every day, the United Nations feeds the hungry, shelters refugees and vaccinates children against polio and other deadly diseases. Our relief workers brave remote and dangerous environments to deliver humanitarian assistance, and our mediators strive to find common ground between warring parties and peaceful solutions to grievances and disputes. The United Nations was founded to prevent another world war, and it has succeeded in that core mission; despite grave setbacks, the past seven decades would surely have been even bloodier without the United Nations.

Yet we are keenly aware that today's landscape is scarred by conflict, exploitation and despair. At least 59.5 million people have fled their homes - more refugees, displaced persons and asylum-seekers than at any time since the end of the Second World War. Violence against women blights all societies. At a time of pressing human needs, huge amounts of money continue to be squandered on nuclear weapons and other destabilizing military arsenals. The consequences of climate change are ever more apparent - and have only just begun. And although the world said "never again" after the Holocaust, and again after genocides in Rwanda and Srebrenica, we continue to witness atrocious crimes by violent extremists and others.

New powers have emerged since the representatives of 50 nations gathered to draft the Charter, and membership in the Organization has grown to 193. Globalization, urbanization, migration, demographic shifts, technological advances and other seismic developments continue to remake our societies and transform international relations. Yet the Charter's vision of a world of peace, and the values enshrined in the text - dignity, equal rights, tolerance and freedom - remain touchstones for people everywhere.

The 70th anniversary falls in a year of potentially momentous decisions on our common future. Countries are shaping what we hope will be an inspiring new sustainable development agenda and moving towards a meaningful agreement on climate change. Our goal is transformation: we are the first generation that can erase poverty from the earth - and the last that can act to avoid the worst impacts of a warming world.

As the distinctions between the national and the international continue to fall away, challenges faced by one become challenges faced by all, sometimes gradually but often suddenly. With our fates ever more entwined, our future must be one of ever deeper cooperation - nations united by a spirit of global citizenship that lives up to the promise of the Organization's name.

Ban  Ki-moon is the Secretary-General of the United Nations

Sri Lanka's Sirisena 'under strong pressure' for new polls

Jehan Perera is Executive Director of the Colombo-based National Peace Council (NPC) of Sri Lanka.

29.06.2015

President Maithripala Sirisena recently dissolved parliament, paving the way for fresh elections in mid-August. DW speaks to Sri Lankan political analyst Jehan Perera about the reasons behind the move.

Sirisena issued the notice at midnight on Friday, June 26, announcing the election for the 225-member Parliament for August 17, some 10 months ahead of schedule. The new parliament would be convened on September 2, officials said. Sirisena's decision came after PM Ranil Wickremesinghe pressed for elections because the ruling United National Party (UNP) lacked sufficient majority to pass reforms.

Sri Lanka's Sirisena 'Under Strong Pressure' for New Polls by Thavam Ratna

Present, Past Presidents & Care Taker Prime Minister

By Sinnathamby Sivanandan –June 30, 2015

Sinnathamby Sivanandan

On 22-6-15 I listened to the “Daily Politics” program of “Sirasa” conducted by TV Presenter Chamika Roshan, political analysts interviewed were Kingsley Senanayake and Sanjeeva Ranatunge both are veterans in current political developments. It sounded very interesting to me the manner in which the Roshan handled it and how it was dissected and disseminated by the analysts.

The topic they delved into was about the past and present Presidents based on media headlines.

Ranil is not like Ceaser’s wife above all suspicion as he had installed “Mustang” Machangs in key positions and is alleged to cover their corrupt deals, some loyal Royal friends had let him down.

One report was a country should have only one leader which came out from the mouth of the present President addressing the party members. Prehaps everyone is aware there had been a revolt within the blues which was a bolt from the blue that resulted in the leadership crisis within the Darley Road darlings much to the embarrassment of the party members. The split within the party has caused a fissure and in fighting. Who created this wedge and all conspiracy theories had been analyzed in depth by analysts and skeptics with their views aired and in print. All the prudent citizens from layman to learned would have formed their own conviction and judgement.

The other report came out from former President “Ranil Langa Mada Desaplanaya Nai” in English no mud politics with Ranil. This gave me a little bit of thought in a humourous vein in my own thinking. The mud politics was started by UNP in 1977. The 1977 elections marked the defeat of the SLFP and the re-emergence of UNP. The magnitude of the victory far exceeded even the optimistic projections of its supporters. The total ellimiation of Marxists parties wholesale was a development that was least expected. The land slide victory after the mud slinging campaign with a steam-roller majority was the beginning of JRJ’s autocratic all powerful regime, usurped surplus power and went to the extent of stripping former Prime Minister Madam Srimavo’s civic right to restoring same.

This was the time UNP got muddled in mud in politics. JRJ was inundated in votes with his mammoth support base. The Mahout led the Siri Kotha elephants in style. The elephants were all well tamed and trained to sign undated letters of resignation, rebels were unheard in the herd and jumbos simply followed the unbowed unafraid leader.

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Dissolution of Parliament due to President’s commitment to reform 

By Jehan Perera-June 29, 2015

In their public statements those in the political firmament close to the president spoke with confidence that the dissolution of parliament was still far off. Some even said that parliament would only be dissolved next year nearer to the April 2016 deadline for the term of parliament to end. But the long anticipated dissolution of parliament finally took place last Friday. It ended weeks of uncertainty that saw financial markets plunge, economic investments being put on hold and the slowing down of investigations into the alleged acts of corruption and violations of law by members of the former government. But still when it happened, the dissolution of parliament took even the president’s close associates by surprise if anecdotal evidence is to be believed.

The sequence of events shows that President Maithripala Sirisena took the decision to dissolve parliament after it became evident that his desire to see the 20th Amendment obtain the approval of parliament was not going to materialise. The ethnic minority parties took umbrage that the 20thAmendment did not take their concerns into account. It was the ethnic minority vote that enabled the president to defeat his opponent who had sought to win the elections on tide of ethnic majority nationalism. President Sirisena acted according to his publicly stated view that Sri Lanka is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country, which means that the consent of the ethnic and religious minorities too is necessary when fundamental change is being contemplated.

However, it is also significant that the president decided to dissolve parliament after a secret meeting that is reported to have taken place with former president Mahinda Rajapaksa. The former president has been projecting himself as the opposition leader best suited to win the votes of the ethnic majority and thereby lead the opposition to victory at the general elections. On the other hand, the president has made it clear that he would not permit the former president to contest the general elections from within the SLFP or the larger UPFA alliance, both of which the president heads by virtue of being president of the country. It is likely that the failure of these secret talks propelled the president’s decision to dissolve parliament.

SENSITIVE ISSUES

In deciding to hold early general elections rather than seek to work in tandem with the former president, President Sirisena has shown that he will stick to his promise of good governance. The president’s willingness to give priority to good governance over partisan interests in power is a testament to his statesmanship. The early dissolution of Parliament due to the political deadlock between the government and opposition means that most of the unresolved issues that existed prior to the presidential election continue to be relevant, such as the need for a Freedom of Information Act which was one of the casualties of the government’s lack of a parliamentary majority. In addition, the main conflict that Sri Lanka has grappled with since its independence, the ethnic conflict, remains unresolved.

The brief lived UNP-led government gave an indication of the progress that is possible in taking the country in a new direction in terms of conflict transformation. In particular, the lifting of the fear psychosis that held society in thrall and the steps towards the reintegration of the ethnic and religious minorities into the mainstream of society were virtually instantaneous, due to the shift in the policy and outlook of the new president and the government. They have publicly acknowledged the multi ethnic and multi religious nature of the polity and the value of adhering to internationally recognised systems of good governance.

Election campaigns provide the greatest opportunity for public education. It is necessary that the political leaders who seek genuine change in the country should address the key issues that Sri Lanka as a country needs to resolve. These are the issues of a just political solution to the ethnic conflict and the dealing with the problems of accountability for war time violations of people’s rights. These are sensitive issues and for that reason the resolution of these problems must be done in consultation with the people and not by ignoring or bypassing them. But the tendency of politicians who are contesting elections is to play safe and not address controversial issues. As the president is not contesting the elections himself, he can be the great educator so that controversial solutions are not sprung on the people after the elections.

ELECTION PLEDGE

At the presidential election held in January, the president promised to change the system of governance and to ensure that the type of massive corruption and abuse of power that took place during the previous government would not be permitted to continue. Indeed, the president’s commitment to reform was evident when he reduced his own powers of presidency by championing the passage of the 19th Amendment. However, if the president were to have agreed to make the former president whom he accused of massive corruption and abuse of power, to contest as the champion of either the SLFP or UPFA as demanded by the former president and his supporters, it would mean the end of any sort of accountability for the crimes and abuses of the past.

The lack of effective action in recent days against those accused of massive corruption and abuse of power by the law enforcement agencies is likely to have been caused in part by the growing concern about the stability of the government. The police and bribery investigators need to feel confident that those they are prosecuting today do not become their bosses tomorrow. They also need to know that those who are in positions of political power today will be there to protect them tomorrow. The refusal of parliament to appoint the Constitutional Council which is the body vested with authority to select the members of the Bribery Commission, would also be a reason for the lack of action to bring those accused of financial crimes to justice.

A later dissolution of parliament would also have been decidedly unfavourable to the UNP which has been heading a minority government for the past six months. The government was giving an increasing impression of being impotent. The shock defeat that it experienced in parliament when it sought to increase the limits of government borrowing in April, seemed to have made it lose confidence in taking more difficult legislation before parliament. The right to information act got stalled and did not pass. The uncomfortable logic that the government had to face was that the opposition in parliament was several times larger than itself, and had long ceased to cooperate with it. The strengthening of the pro-Rajapaksa faction within the SLFP made it difficult for the government to pass legislation in parliament. It therefore appears that the dissolution of parliament was done to to stop the strengthening of the regressive element within the SLFP.

Chamal Rajapakse officially announces his retirement from politics : Farewell on 7th

(Lanka-e-News- 30.June.2015, 10.00PM) Speaker Chamal Rajapakse the least crooked of the Medamulana Rajapakse lineage officially announced after the recent dissolution of parliament that he would not be contesting at the next elections , and he is retiring from politics.

Accordingly a farewell function is be accorded to Chamal Rajapakse on the 7 th at 3.00 .p.m. at the parliamentary complex. The permission of the prime minister , opposition leader and parliament  secretary has been granted towards this, and all arrangements have been made in this regard.

All MPs and ministers of the last government have been invited for this function. Sources close to the speaker revealed , as nominations can be handed over on the 7th  , the day after the function on 6 th, none need to hand over nominations on the 6 th , and hence it is believed all parliamentarians will  attend the function.  

Chamal Rajapakse who was born in 1942 is 72 years old , and is  the eldest of the Medamulana brothers. Chamal who is an old boy of Richmond College , Galle did not pursue higher education . He joined the police service as a sub inspector straight from school.  After serving in that post for 8 years , he joined the State Trading Corporation as an assistant manager. 

Subsequently ,Chamal entered politics in 1985 and contested the Mulkirigala seat under the SLFP  , and lost . Thereafter in 1989 he contested  the Hambantota district and won. Since that point of time until now , he had held posts of M.P., deputy minister , minister  and minister cum speaker . He received  the State  SL ‘Vibooshana’ award for service to the people.

During the era of the Rajapakse regime of monumental corruption , he was a main  person  who safeguarded the regime  while also safeguarding his reputation steering clear  of corruption , fraud  and murder charges unlike the other Rajapakse brothers who were steeped in all those crimes and more. If only Chamal the speaker  has the ability to cause his sons , his younger brothers and their sons too to retire from politics , it will be another  great service he will be doing to the country and the people , for which the entire nation will be ever grateful as they are  yearning for that  every minute of the day.

---------------------------
by     (2015-06-30 18:13:00)

Sri Lanka President dashes Rajapaksa PM hopes; Mahinda to go it alone

By Our Political Correspondent-Jun 30, 2015

ECONOMYNEXT - President Maithripala Sirisena today ruled out granting nominations to former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa to contest as a prime ministerial candidate at up coming general elections.

President Sirisena in a special announcement broadcast over state television, rejected opposition-initiated reports that the former president will make a come back as a prime ministerial candidate from the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA).

State Rupavahni interrupted its regular programing to announce that  President Sirisena had not recognised his arch rival as a UPFA prime ministerial candidate. Nor has the President agreed to make him prime minister at any stage.

President Sirisena is the leader of the UPFA as well as its main constituent party, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). The SLFP  wil conclude its nominations lists by Friday the 3rd, Sirisena said in a further statement issued to news organisations later in the evening.

There had been talks between representatives of President Sirisena and former leader Rajapaksa in Kandy today, but the talks were inconclusive.

However, former media minister Keheliya Rambukwella told reporters that the talks had progressed well with one glitch over Rajapaksa demanding to be the main PM candidate.

It had been an emphatic no from Sirisena and sources close to Rajapakse said he was due to announce his entry back into main stream politics tomorrow.

Rajapaksa has organised a press conference at his Medamulana home where he is expected to announce his candidature at the August 18 election as the leader of a new political alliance.

"This will be somewhat similar to president Sirisena's entry into the presidential election from the Swan symbol," a source close to Rajapaksa said.

This means Rajapaksa will be competing directly with the Sirisena-led UPFA leading to a further split in the SLFP/UPFA combo.

Any further erosion of the UPFA/SLFP base would be advantageous to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who has openly challenged Rajapaksa to enter the fray.

Meanwhile, the Tamil National Alliance said their four-party Tamil coalition will contest the August 18 election keeping its coalition in tact despite fears that some may try to contest on their own after leaving the TNA.

"We have now worked out our arrangement and it is clear that the TNA will contest as one entity and we are confident of retaining out 14 seats," TNA former Jaffna MP, Suresh Premachandran said.
   
"We may be able to increase our number up to about 17 and we will be a formidable force in the next parliament," he added.

The TNA remaining as a single entity will give them a bigger role in the next parliament and may even make them king makers if no party gets 113 seats in the 225-member parliament to have a simple majority.

Allocation Of Functions Of Departments To Ministries

By R.M.B Senanayake –June 30, 2015 

R.M.B Senanayake

There is an interest among some political parties and civil society activists like the Ven. Maduluwawe Thero for a small Cabinet where the allocation of functions among the Ministers is based on rational principles. It is a salutary development and requires the support of those who value rationality in politics and governance. It will lead to a reduction in the present excessive cost of our political Establishment- a burden which increased unduly with the setting up of the Provincial Councils. The burden of maintaining the Political Establishment falls on the people. With the setting up of the Provincial Councils we do not now require a top heavy Ministerial outfit at the Central Government. But our national politicians are not willing to give up their power and intervention by Civil Society is absolutely essential to curb the excessive costs of the Political Establishment. Cavil Society must ensure that there is a radical re-structuring of the political Establishment at the national level now that the Provincial Councils have come to stay. A curb on the number of Ministries and the size of the Cabinet is an essential reform of our political Establishment. So a study of a rational allocation of functions among Ministers and a rational grouping of departments under Ministries is essential for rational government. It indirectly limits the number of Ministries and Ministers as well.

This problem was studied by the British Machinery of Government Committee in 1918, called the Haldane Committee. They said there are only two alternatives which may be briefly described as distribution according to the persons or class of persons to be served by the particular departments or according to the services to be performed by the respective departments. Under the former method each Minister who presides over a Department would be responsible to the parliament for those activities of the government which affect the sectional interests of a particular class of persons, say for women or for children or a Ministry for the Unemployed. The inevitable outcome of this type of allocation of functions will lead to what has been called Lilliputian administration. Further when the function is limited to catering to a particular class of persons then it is impossible for a department to engage in its particular specialized service. For example if it is the work of the Ministry to provide say a police function or the supply of public goods such as defense or law and order or national insurance or pensions then the function requires a specialized knowledge to be acquired and such function cuts across different classes of people. If we divide the functions according to the clients to be served then functions which require specialization cannot be developed for a Ministry to acquire the necessary expertise. Instead different Ministries carrying out the same function such as the provision of insurance or banking will not be able to develop the necessary expertise. Instead several Ministries catering to different classes of people will be engaged in the same function. This militates against specialization. Then the quality of the service provided by the several departments engaged in the same function will suffer. They will not be able to provide as high a service as when the service was done for all the people by a single department. Further, the Department will be engaged in providing several services required by the same class of persons. But if a Department provides just one particular type of service to all persons, it can develop greater expertise in providing such service.

                           Read More

JVP to contest election with an alternative programme

TUESDAY, 30 JUNE 2015

"Before the general election masses rejected the political culture set up during Mahinda Rajapaksa regime. Now, those who have been rejected during the SLFP crisis are getting ready to contest the election. President Maithripala Sirisena cast away the country and the people to give preference to his party. Now discussions are being held to get the thieves from the old regime to contest the election. Masses will never approve this move," said the Information Secretary of the JVP.

He said this addressing a media conference held at the head office of the JVP today (30th).

Speaking further Mr. Herath said, "There was a despotic family rule in this country before 8TH January this year. The people in the country wanted to end this arbitrary despotic family rule. Masses rallied for this purpose without any bias. The JVP too got involved actively in the presidential election to defeat the despotic family rule. At the presidential election our slogan was ‘Defeat despotic family rule! Rally for Democracy!’ In the end all were able to defeat Rajapaksa family rule that was cancerous to this country.

After 8th January a coalition government of Maithri – Ranil was formed. People were promised 100 tasks to be fulfilled in a programme of 100 days. The JVP, without being a shareholder of the government, carried on a task for the country and the people in an attempt to bring in democratic reforms, win economic reliefs and punish fraudsters and the corrupt. People wanted to punish thieves in Rajapaksa regime who had been involved in large scale frauds and thieving. After a few days of the election victory on the 8th January, the JVP handed over a lot of information regarding fraudsters of Rajapaksa regime to Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption and the CID. Our complaints were against large scale fraudsters. Cases were filed in the Supreme Court. That’s how we mediated to get the fraudsters punished. However, at the end of the 100 day programme the government could not fulfill the promises made to the people. The government started going against the mandate given to it by the masses. We had to take to the streets against the government as it attempted to rule the country ignoring the mandate it received. We agitated demanding the arrest of thieves who were involved in large scale rackets. We held demonstrations and agitations demanding the government to fulfill promises it had made. However, the government, disregarding the wishes of the masses, continued its rule entirely to fulfill its power hunger.

We know that a big change cannot be achieved in 100 days. However, the people expected the government to fulfill the promises made to adopt the 19th amendment, Audit Service Commission, the National Drug Regulatory Authority Bill and establishing an independent police, judiciary and a public service. People also expected that the government would establish the Constitutional Council after adopting the 19th amendment. People thought good governance would be established as promised. However, we knew that Maithri – Ranil administration would never be able to find solutions for people’s issues. This government does not have any solution for issues such as unemployment, issues in education and health sectors.

The government also failed to fulfil the simple issues of the people. Now the UNP states it would reveal various things. They talk about thieves. They should have revealed such information earlier. Saying thieves would be exposed after 6 months is a joke. What the government including the UNP could have done was to take action regarding frauds and corruption that had been already revealed.

People were promised that the government would be dissolved after 100 days. As such, a general election was due after 23rd April. However, this election was postponed day by day. People were not satisfied with the work done during the 100 day programme.  Despite stating the cabinet would be appointed scientifically, it was increased to 82. Certain individuals were given posts of presidential advisers making administrators a laughing stock. There was a large scale financial fraud at the Central Bank. The committee appointed to investigate this fraud became a joke. Accusations against the Governor of the Central Bank Arjun Mahendran were being revealed at the Committee on Public Enterprises. The country came to know despite Maithri – Ranil administration bragging about eliminating corruption, there were frauds and corruption during their rule as well. The country started moving towards anarchy. Even then the President did not want to dissolve Parliament. President Maithripala discarded the country and the people to en-clasp his party. As a result the country moved further towards anarchy. Taking action against fraudsters in the previous government was delayed.

Due to the power struggle in the SLFP Mr. Maithripala Sirisena had to consolidate his power as the president of the party. He didn’t take necessary urgent decisions on behalf of the country. SLFP – UNP coalition government did not take any attempt to punish the corrupt. They took measures to protect thieves. The people expected different policies from them.

Now, the Parliament has been dissolved. No decision was taken when the Parliament was due to be dissolved. Before the general election masses rejected the political culture set up during Mahinda Rajapaksa regime. Now, those who have been rejected during the SLFP crisis are getting ready to contest the election. President Maithripala Sirisena cast away the country and the people to give preference to his party. Now discussions are being held to get the thieves from the old regime to contest the election. Masses will never approve this move.

It is necessary to make a strong effort to fulfill the wishes people expected through the 100 day programme. For this a strong representation of the JVP is necessary in the next Parliament. The present administrators have no solutions for economic issues, unemployment issue of the youth or health issues that torment masses. For this a broad social transformation is necessary and the JVP would use the general election to achieve this. We have already started having small meetings. We are establishing electoral and district boards of authority targeting the election. We have already started preparing nomination lists. We are also taking measures to make available a manifesto from the party. We are having discussions with intellectuals, professionals and scholars to get their suggestions. Our election manifesto would be presented to the masses in the middle of July. We expect to get signature to the nomination papers on 11th July. We are also making all arrangements to face the election with a new propaganda structure.

We are preparing nomination papers with vigorous individuals to have a strong representation in the Parliament. Accordingly, we put forward a team led by Comrade Anura Dissanayaka to Colombo District. Other members of the team will include Member of the Political Bureau of the JVP Comrade Lal Kantha, Member of the Central Committee Comrade Laxman Nipunarachchi and Attorney at Law Comrade Sunil Watagala. The Information Secretary of the party Comrade Vijitha Herath, the National Organizer Comrade Bimal Ratnayaka and Member of the Central Committee Comrade Mahinda Jayasinghe will be among those who contest Gampaha district from the party.

Member of the Central Committee Comrade Nalinda Jayatissa will contest Kalutara District while Matara District team will be led by the Member of the Political Bureau Comrade Sunil Handunneththi. Badulla District team will be led by the Member of the Central Committee Comrade Samantha Vidyaratna while Hambantota will be led by the Member of the Central Committee Comrade Nihal Galappaththi. The team for Jaffna District will be led by the Member of the Central Committee Comrade Ramalingam Chandrasekar, Anuradhdapura will be led by the Member of the Central Committee Comrade Wasantha Samarasinghe, Kegalle District will be led by Member of the Central Committee Comrade Gamini Ratnayaka, Ampara District will be led by former MP Comrade Wasantha Piyatissa.

The JVP expects to contest the election with an alternative programme against the corrupt and deceptive political culture carried out by the UPFA and the same policies followed by the SLFP – UNP coalition during the last 6 months. We propose an alternative programme against the corrupt administrations carried out by the UPFA and the UNP. We, with the support of the masses, would strive to get the maximum representation in the Parliament."