Peace for the World

Peace for the World
First democratic leader of Justice the Godfather of the Sri Lankan Tamil Struggle: Honourable Samuel James Veluppillai Chelvanayakam

Friday, July 31, 2015

சமஷ்டி கோரிக்கையை பிரிவினையாக திரிபுபடுத்த முயற்சி

ஜூலை 31 2015 
முகப்புதமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பின் தேர்தல் விஞ்ஞா பனத்தில் சமஷ்டி யென்ற பிரிவினை கோரிக்கை உள்ளதாக முன்வைக்கப்படும் கருத்துக்கள் திரிபுபடுத்தப்பட்ட பொய் என தேர்தல் வன்முறைகளைக் கண்காணிப்பதற்கான நிலையத்தின் இணை ஏற்பாட்டாளர் டொக்டர் பாக்கியசோதி சரவணமுத்து தெரிவித்தார். கடந்த காலத்தை நோக்கி தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பு செல்ல முயற்சிக் கின்றது எனக் கூறி ஒரு தரப்பினரைப் பயமுறுத்துவதற்கே இவ்வாறான திரிபுபடுத்தப்பட்ட கருத்துக்கள் முன்வைக்கப் படுவதாக அவர் கூறினார்.
தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பின் தேர்தல் விஞ்ஞாபனத்தில் சமஷ்டி முறையிலான இலங்கைக்கே அழைப்பு விடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. ஒற்றையாட்சிக்கு உட்பட்ட இலங்கை அல்ல. எனினும், பிரிக்கப்படாத இலங்கைக்குள் சமஷ்டி முறை பற்றியே கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது. அதில் பிரிவினை பற்றி எதுவும் குறிப்பிடப்ப டவில்லையென டொக்டர் பாக்கியசோதி சரவணமுத்து தினகரனுக்குத் தெரிவித்தார்.
தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பில் பிரதான கட்சி இலங்கை தமிழரசுக் கட்சி. இது சமஷ்டி கொள்கையை கடைப்பிடிக்கும் கட்சியாகும். அப்படியான கட்சி சமஷ்டிக்கு பரிந்துபேசாமல் இருக்க முடியாது. மீண்டும் பழைய நிலைக்கே அவர்கள் செல்லப்போகிறார்கள் என மக்களை அச்சமூட்டுவதற்காக திரிபு படுத்தப்பட்ட பொய்யே த. தே. கூ பிரிவினை கோருவதாக முன்வைக்கப்படும் கருத்து என்றும் அவர் கூறினார்.
சமஷ்டிக் கொள்கை என்பது பிரிவினையைக் கோருவது அல்ல. இவ்வாறான கருத்துக்கள் முட்டாள் தனமானவை. இதற்கு மக்கள் வாக்குகள் மூலம் பதில் சொல்வார்கள் என்றும் அவர் மேலும் தெரிவித்தார்.
அதேநேரம், அரசியல் கட்சிகளால் முன்னெடுக்கப்படும் இனரீதியான பிரசாரங்கள் துரதிஷ்டவசமானவை. இதனை தடுத்து நிறுத்த வேண்டும். இல்லாவிட்டால் வாக்காளர்கள் அதற்கான சிறந்த பதிலை வழங்குவார்கள் என்றும் டொக்டர் பாக்கியசோதி சரவணமுத்து மேலும் குறிப்பிட்டார்.

Rise Of Financial Institutions & Northern Province Debt Trap

Colombo TelegraphBy Mithula Guganeshan –July 31, 2015
Mithula Guganeshan
Mithula Guganeshan
Indebtedness sharply increased within the Northern Region as the growth of average debt per family rises from Rs.52, 000 to Rs.194, 000. Thus, demonstrating the lack of proper financial education and the discipline required to be financially fit, crucial benchmarks for a successful life. Additionally, ADB report states that higher growth in credit from the private sector would be the key towards achieving sustained economic expansion due to tightened competition. Financial institutions needs to increase their credit growth from the private sector therefore aggressive marketing and campaigns are implemented to attract potential new clients. Any business with financially sound management would weigh their options before obtaining credit from the bank for further developments. Therefore, the obvious choice is to tap the financially illiterate small business owners, those easily buying into the idea of obtaining a loan in the hope of improving their businesses.
Most of the time, these owners are retail or wholesale businessmen and there is potentially no room for further growth in this particular sector within the Northern Province. Clearly justifies the extra ordinary levels of debt within the Northern Province and the number of awards won by the financial institutions for increasing the credit growth. In the end, as promised financial institutions has secured its own future and continues its development- oriented journey whereas the losses incurred by the common businessmen are hidden behind the financial institution’s big victories.
JaffnaThere are businessmen from the Northern Province who have lost millions as interests to these financial institutions and it doesn’t stop there, they have lost their businesses, properties, deposits, and in overall their lives. We need clarity when financial institutions promise us to be a partner for our business, because some partners tend to be interested only in their gains. Why don’t these institutions proudly communicate how they have contributed towards improving private sectors growth especially in the Northern Province, through their financial guidance, if there is any to begin with?Read More

TNA Seeks Self-determination For Tamils

By Easwaran Rutnam in Jaffna-Friday, July 31, 2015
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) says the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which was part of the Indo-Lanka Accord, is flawed as power is concentrated at the Center and its agent, the Governor.
In its election manifesto released in Jaffna yesterday, the TNA said that the Tamil people are entitled to self-determination in keeping with United Nations International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, both of which Sri Lanka has accepted and acceded to.
TNA leader R. Sampanthan, reading out from the TNA election manifesto at the launch event, said that power sharing arrangements must continue to be established as it existed earlier in a unit of a merged Northern and Eastern Provinces based on a federal structure.
“The Tamil speaking Muslim historical inhabitants shall be entitled to be beneficiaries of all power sharing arrangements to the North-East. This will no way inflict any disability on any people. Devolution of power on the basis of shared sovereignty shall be over land, law and order and enforcement of the law so as to ensure the safety and security of the Tamil people,” he said.
Former TNA Parliamentarians participated in the event but a notable absentee was the Chief Minister of the Northern Province and TNA member C. V. Wigneswaran.
Wigneswaran has been pushing for a war crimes investigation in Sri Lanka and Sampanthan said that the TNA manifesto also calls for the release of the report on the war in Sri Lanka by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
“Accountability and Reconciliation are fundamental to genuine and permanent peace in Sri Lanka,” he added.
The TNA election manifesto, however, stressed that all the proposals in the document must be enacted and implemented within the framework of a united and undivided Sri Lanka.
The TNA manifesto also calls for “meaningful demilitarization, resulting in the return to the pre-war situation, as it existed in 1983 before the commencement of hostilities, by the removal of armed forces, military apparatuses and High Security and Restricted Zones.
Sampanthan said that Tamil people, who have been displaced in the North and East due to the conflict, must be speedily resettled in their original places.
He also said that it is important that all political prisoners and other prisoners held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) in relation to war related activities must be released.
Coal bid runs into fresh controversy

2015-07-31 
The fifty billion rupee per year tender to supply coal to the Lakvijaya Power Plant in Norochcholai for three years has run into fresh controversy, with the chairman of the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) reportedly refusing to chair the technical committee for the spot tender scheduled for August 13, Daily Mirror learns.

Mr. D.K.B.S Thilakasena, the chairman of the TEC, which oversaw the previous bid (which is currently under a cloud due to the U-turn made by the Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee (SCAPC)), has refused to sit on the committee for the spot tender that was called for, sources said.

The spot tender was called, following appeals to the Procurement Appeal Board (PAB) by at least four bidders following the U-turn by SCAPC, in order to supply a portion of the coal required for the running of the plant, until a decision is made regarding the tender.

The issue surfaced following the award of the tender, on June 13, by the Lanka Coal Company to Noble Resources International Pte Ltd, to supply 2.2 million tonnes of coal per year for a period of three years to run the plant. It is said to be one of the biggest tenders awarded in recent times.

The tender was awarded, after bids were opened on June 11, following a competitive bidding process in which seven companies competed to win the tender.

The tenders had been vetted by the TEC and a tender board of Lanka Coal Company (a subsidiary of the Ceylon Electricity Board) after which the tender had been awarded to the company which met the required specifications at the lowest price.

However, on June 29, Swiss Singapore Overseas Enterprises Pte Ltd, a company which had tendered a higher bid, had written to SCAPC calling for a reevaluation of its bid. The communication by the Swiss company was against the code prescribed for bidders.

The issue took a different turn after SCAPC, on the very same day it received the communication from the disgruntled bidder, wrote to the TEC of Lanka Coal Company and ordered them to re scrutinise the tenders and to disregard two vital criteria it had previously imposed.

The directive from SCAPC had been issued by the secretary of the SCAPC, who is also an associate of the secretary of the Ministry of Power and Energy, Dr. B. M. S Batagoda.

Authoritative sources told Daily Mirror that the two vital criteria (clauses 1.4 and 1.5 of the bid document) were with regard to the size of the coal.

“The issues around these two criteria had been considered extensively during the bidding process. They can’t suddenly decide that they should not form a part of the bid document. That is completely out of line,” the source said.

Thereafter, on July 3, SCAPC received the reevaluation report of the TEC, following its directive of June 29th. On July 6 the tender was awarded to the Swiss company, causing the other bidders to cry foul and appeal the awarding of the tender.

“The efficiency of this whole thing is nothing but suspicious. You have a letter from a disgruntled bidder and SCAPC seems to have worked overtime, because on the same day they write to LCC. They receive the reevaluation on the July 3, which is a Friday. And next Monday (July 6) itself, the tender is awarded to Swiss Singapore, which, if nothing else, just doesn’t look right,” the source said.

The issue remains at a standstill, with the Procurement Appeal Board yet to make a decision on the appeals.

“Due to this delay we will not have coal for at least a short time, and the power plant will come to a halt. The losses from this can run into billions of the tax payers’ rupees, because restarting the turbines will incur a colossal expense. Just to restart the Norochcholai turbines, you need 450,000 litres of diesel,” another source said.

When contacted, the chairman of Lanka Coal Company, Maithri Gunarathne, refused to comment. However, the secretary to the Ministry of Power and Energy (and member of SCAPC), Dr. B. M. S Batagoda told Daily Mirror that there was nothing unusual about the process.

“The company which had initially been granted the tender was the company that had always won this tender during the last five years. There was nothing wrong in their communicating with SCAPC. We have chosen the most suitable bidder,” he said.

Mr. Thilakasena, who chaired the TEC, when contacted on Monday, refused to comment to the media and said that he continues to function as the chairman of the Technical Evaluation Committee. (Hafeel Farisz and Shihara Maduwage) - See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/81673/coal-bid-runs-into-fresh-controversy#sthash.tg2gJ2VU.dpuf

Increasing National Proceeds


By Hema Senanayake –July 31, 2015
Hema Senanayake
Hema Senanayake
Colombo Telegraph
The word “output” is an important word in economics because the wellbeing of people depends upon the output produced by any country. The popular measure of national output is known as GDP (Gross Domestic Product). The GDP is defined as the value of all products and services produced in a country. The products and services mentioned here are related only to the real economy. Why? It is because, certain services do not directly support to increase the wellbeing of people.
For example, Christina Wang, the Senior Economist in the Research Department, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, USA) says that, “earning interest is not … a productive activity that contributes to GDP.” Since, in relation to financial institution she further observes that, “…this is obviously sensible in the case of passive investors who buy market securities and then merely receive interest or dividends without producing new goods or services. It seems only logical that the same principle should apply to financial institutions as well. They should not be counted as generating value added and contributing to GDP simply because they earn asset returns.”
However, this does not mean that banks and financial institutions do nothing to contribute to GDP. Instead financial institutions do contribute to GDP when they pay their employees who in turn expend money on consumption and to pay taxes. Also, financial institutions do contribute to GDP when these institutions purchase products and services from the sectors in real economy. All these contributions capture in calculating GDP indirectly through the parameters known as “Consumption (C), Investments (I) and Government expenditure (G). You may all know that if we use the popular approach in calculating GDP, the GDP = C+I+G+NE, whereas C, I, G are referred to as above and NE is defined as net exports. The point I want to make here is that the expansion of financial sector is not same as the expansion of agriculture or industrial sector or education and health-care sectors. Why is this important?
FUTA 4It is because the country should be able to increase the output of real economy in order to increase the wellbeing of people. But for a practical sense I prefer to use a term known as national proceeds in regard to real economy, even though it is not calculated like GDP. According to John Maynard Keynes total national proceeds are the sum of all proceeds of income generating enterprises of the real economy. The concept of national proceeds is not a difficult concept to understand. Let me explain it briefly.Read More

Hurrah ! Chandrika on elections stage with trade unions ,civil organizations led by Ven. Sobitha Thera !


LEN logo(Lanka-e-News -31.July.2015, 3.00PM)  Former SLFP leader and a former president of the country Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunge who arrived urgently in Sri Lanka (SL) from London is to mount the stage with the civil organizations led by Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera conjointly with trade unions for and on behalf of  good governance , based on information reaching Lanka e news inside information division.
It is Chandrika who was responsible during  the rainbow revolution of 8 th January 2015 to make Maithripala Sirisena the common candidate at the last presidential election.When it was questioned by the opposition  at that time whether Maithripala who had never come forward on behalf of the people hitherto can be trusted , it was Chandrika who stood by Maithri and gave an assurance that Maithri can be relied upon. Moreover she made a huge contribution to build  an opposition common alliance to effect a change with a view to forming a government of good governance. In the circumstances , her sympathisers have urged her to come on the stage of the independent civil organizations and the trade unions and extend support to them in order that the victory that was won on 8 th January on behalf of the people can be sustained and once again repeated.  
It is learnt that Chandrika Kumaratunge has given her consent to it. Hence , in the not too distant future she will be mounting the elections platform with Ven . Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera , civil organizations and trade unions.Incidentally Chandrika has always been a symbol of success whenever  she appears on  common election platforms. 
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by     (2015-07-31 09:46:06)

BBS fresco on ISIS in Sri Lanka

BBS_ISIS
Monks have got a great respect among all Sri Lankan communities. We all respect them and the majority of monks are very good people. They do not like to harm anyone even an insect. Yet, there are some monks who make trouble for peace and harmony. Gnanasara thero as a monk may be a good man and yet, he has been used by some politicians to make some gains. BBS has been manipulating and twisting news reports.
by A Special Correspondent
( July 31, 2015, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) It is not a secret Bodu Bala Sena ( BBS) is trying to cashing in from BBS fresco in Sri Lanka. Recent revelation of Muslim man being killed in Syria is an excuse for BBS to preach its false lies about Muslims in Sri Lanka. BSS is always trying to find faults in Muslim community without any logical and rational reason. Today, religious preaching of BBS is mixed up with its political agendas. Political bankruptcy of BBS is exposed once again. It is now claiming that ISIS has threated its members with death. It claims that some death threating phone calls came from Afghanistan.   Let BBS now release the phone numbers of people who called them from Afghanistan. Why cannot they find them out from Sri Lankan telecommunication to make sure from where it came from? BBS is trying to con entire Sri Lankan people. They are trying to con Sri Lankan politicians, bureaucratic, police officers, Intelligences services and all other professionals. Each and every isolated incident takes place in any part of Muslim world, BBS is trying is get some political gains from it. This is complete garbage and full lies. They accuses Muslim community of anything and everything. There is no credibility in what they say and they claim. BBS is in a lost and people no longer like to listen to them. They are really trouble makers in Sri Lanka today.
CEO of BBS Dr. Dilantha Withanage said “they were threatened with death over the phone several times and some of them were from Afghanistan”. What a makeup is this? If this is true that they should take it up with Sri Lankan and Afghanistan governments so that they could verify who made these calls rather than making a big fuss about it.
If a trouble maker brings you news, check it first in case, you wrong others unwittingly and later regret what you have done (49:6). How many times, BBS has made this mistakes. Reporting and spreading wrong News without any proper check and clarification. Why do they do this? It means they do not have any moral standard in life. They do not follow teaching of Buddha rather they are making up with their own desires and inclination.
BBS is morally bankrupt   political party and its philosophy is to divide and rule. Its mission is to spread hated among communities in Sri Lanka. It knows well that it cannot get grassroots support from Sinhalese community. Sinhalese people rejected. People know well its venomous agenda and its dirty tricks. BBS knows well that people no longer support them. It was in hype of Gota’s time that BBS got its political influence and support. Now, MR and co are in back seats. BBS does not have any support. They do try to get support from public but people do not care about them now at all.
All what it does now is making some media hype to get public attention. Yet, now public cannot be fooled as before. People know the truth from falsehood now. This Gnanasara Thero has brought shame to Buddhism as ISIS does to Islam. There is no difference in these two groups in ideology, principle and mission. Al-Qaeda, Taliban, IS, ISIS and BBS all are in one mission. All are identical groups. They all use religion to spread hatred, they all epitomise racism, discrimination, hatred, hate mongering, and aggression, they all make trouble for humanity. They all hate peace, harmony and communal amity. These groups are enemies of humanity.
Monks have got a great respect among all Sri Lankan communities. We all respect them and the majority of monks are very good people. They do not like to harm anyone even an insect. Yet, there are some monks who make trouble for peace and harmony. Gnanasara thero as a monk may be a good man and yet, he has been used by some politicians to make some gains. BBS has been manipulating and twisting news reports.
The entire world knows that it has been ransacking and burning down Muslim shops, mosques and shrine. Indeed, BBS thugs killed three people in down south in Sri Lanka. And yet, it is has been shamelessly blaming Muslims people. It has been twisting facts about Muslim people. It has been blaming Muslims for all what happened. Yet, it is very much clear for any discerning people that BBS is fabricating stories and telling lies against innocent Muslims in Sri Lanka. It has been trying to incite and provoke Muslim people so that it can get some justification to do more harm on false pretexts. It Muslim community today did not behave in any reactionary manners as any other groups rather Muslim community has been maintaining patience and tolerance. Muslims have indeed, left all these aggressions and atrocities in the hands of God. No one can protect Muslims in this condition except God. This BBS aggression elevated Muslim faith in God. BBS indeed, has done a great job in this sense.
Today, BBS is not accepted among their own people. It has been rejected by 90% of Singhalese people. It will meet its sudden death. Indeed, it has already met its waterloo with the last presidential election defeat. In Sri Lanka there will be no more racial hatred, bias and discrimination. People of all religions, faiths and culture will prosper. That is the foundation of this nation. To welcome and accommodate all faiths and all groups. Sri Lankan history testifies this in details. Read history and know the truth. Sinhalese kings and monks never and ever harm any other religions in this soil. History tell us Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam were protected by Sinhalese kings and Buddhist monks. There are so many historical accounts to support this argument. We do not need to recall them here.
Today, Sri Lanka   needs cooperation of all communities to build this nation. It is reported that Sri Lankan economy is facing huge challenges these days. Mismanagement, unsustainable mega projects, frauds and corruptions of the previous government placed Sri Lankan economy in a very much precarious situation. To overcome all these, Sri Lankan people must be united and cooperate each other. Rather than making any communal division. Today, a communal unity among Sri Lankan people is a must. BBS is a great threat for this unity and it is working against national interest in this sense.
No one tries to harm Buddhism in Sri Lanka. It is BBS that harms Buddhism today in Sri Lanka. It is BBS who make trouble in Sri Lanka just in the name of Buddhism. It uses religion make all these troubles. May God protect this great nation?

Rajapaksa Says He Can Identify Parayās; Can The Voters Do The Same Please?

Colombo TelegraphBy Gamini Jayaweera –July 31, 2015 
Gamini Jayaweera
Gamini Jayaweera
In recently held UPFA inaugural general election campaign meeting at Anuradhapura, former President Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa very firmly stated that he could clearly identify the Thora (Seer fish) from Mora (Sharks), Mora from Balaya (Tuna), Balaya from Paraw (Trevallies), and Paraw from “Paraya” (?). As I have never heard of a fish called “Paraya”, I looked in the dictionary to find the real meaning of “Paraya”. The word was not in the normal dictionary but it was in the Examples of General Sinhala Slang Words in google. It is an offensive word for an “outsider” or for a person who is “not one of us”. “Paratti” is the female version which is usually prefixed to some other offensive word e.g. “Paratta Balli” literally translates as “outcast bitch”. In our school days these words were classified as swear words and we had been punished if we had used such words. It appears that Sri Lanka has advanced on cultural and religious values during the last decade, for some people it is perfectly all right to use these slang words in public debates. After all, the word has been used by our former President and therefore it must be an acceptable word to use in public places.
    Inimical Remarks about Rajapaksa
Mahinda
“Parayas and Parattis”
Having researched the true meaning of the words “Paraya” and “Paratti”, I have now realised that our former President was talking about two legged “Political Parayas and Parattis” (PP&Ps). I hope that the former President might not be offended as I have added the female version of the word “Paraya” thinking that he must have forgotten to mention it, as we have two legged Political “Parattis” too. The way the former President spoke at the rally, he gave the impression that he would punish these “Parayas” whether they were members of the UPFA or UNFGG if he became the next prime minister of Sri Lanka. It is obvious that former president is not referring to members of UNP, JVP, TNA, & DP as “Parayas” because he and the general public know that these parties are always represented different views to UPFA and opposed the way in which UPFA was governing the country during the last 10 years. So I have done a bit of investigation in to our political arena to identify some of these “PP&Ps” to educate and inform our voters about these people (Parayas) who should be rejected by the Sri Lankan voters in the forthcoming general election.
                      Read More
Champika challenges MR to debate on bribing Tigers

2015-07-31
Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, who accused former President Mahinda Rajapaksa of bribing the LTTE at that time, challenged him to prove his innocence if possible. 

Addressing an election meeting, Mr. Ranawaka, who is contesting the upcoming election on the UNP ticket, said he would challenge Mr. Rajapaksa to make an announcement on the allegation regarding the bribing of the LTTE with money. 

He alleged the Rajapaksas used the ‘white van culture’ to achieve their personal gains and all would be be exposed before the people.

 he said the people would come to know who was responsible for the disappearance of journalist Pradeep Ekneligoda and the assassination of newspaper editor Lasantha Wickramatunga.

 “All will be revealed before the people’s court on August 17,” he said. 

The Minister said there were as many as 64,000 slums in the Colombo district and all would be provided with decent habitation. “We will convert Colombo into a commercial hub,” he said. 

Shooting at Ravi’s meeting: Hybrid car allegedly involved with T56 cartridge case discovered at Bloemendhal housing complex


LEN logo(Lanka-e-News- 31.July.2015, 11.00PM) A vehicle suspected to have been used in the Bloemendhal road shooting was discovered this evening at the Bloemendhal housing complex . A T 56 cartridge case  was also found in the vehicle, according to police  media spokesman.
Following information provided by an informant that a group of ‘big made’ men from  the suspicious vehicle went into a house within the complex , the police had been able to detect this vehicle. This is a hybrid Dark Ash colored car. While the police did not confirm that anybody who arrived in the car was arrested , eye witnesses say  some youths had been arrested
Eye witnesses who saw the firing at Ravi Karunanayake’s supporters during noon said , the assassins came in two black hybrid cars. Four individuals who alighted from one of the cars carried out the shooting ,and they were not wearing masks , the onlookers revealed. 
The supporters were lighting crackers when these assassins began firing. Because the sound of crackers and the shooting could not be distinguished , the attackers after firing had got on the vehicles and sped away, by the time people learnt of the shooting.The empty cartridge that was found at the scene of the crime belongs to a T 56 weapon .


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by     (2015-07-31 18:12:53)

Mahinda Rajapaksa cannot become Prime Minister

GroundviewsPhoto courtesy WSJ


The question whether ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa is eligible to be appointed to the Prime Minister’s post if he has the support of a majority of members in Parliament following the August 17 poll is the subject of current debate.

Ravi condemns shooting at Kotahena

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Friday, 31 July 2015
Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake today condemned the shooting incident, which claimed the life of a woman and left more than 10 of his supporters wounded near Bloemendhal Road in Kotahena.
Armed men opened fire at a group of supporters of the UNP candidate while they had been engaged in election-related campaigning in the Kotahena area.
Karunanayake says that the gunmen had arrived in a black hybrid car.
Speaking to the media, the minister said he condemns this “organised” attack which was carried out while the government was giving precedence to the implementation of election laws.
Karunanayake had visited the Colombo National Hospital following the incident to look into the condition of his supporters.
Siththy Nasima, 42, a resident of Madampapitiya in Kotahena, succumbed to injuries after being rushed to hospital following the incident which had occurred at around 11.45 am today.
Twelve other including 10 men are still receiving treatment for injuries as the Colombo National Hospital while two of them are said to be in critical condition.
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Firing at Ravi’s meeting is first phase of MR’s plot to earn people’s sympathy after exploding bomb at MR’s rally -intelligence chief reveals


LEN logo(Lanka-e-news- 31.July.2015, 10.30PM)  The indiscriminate shooting at supporters of Ravi Karunanayake at his recent meeting is a preliminary part of the conspiracy of Mahinda Rajapakse  to earn the sympathy of the people by exploding a bomb through his own supporters subsequently  at Mahinda Rajapakse’s meeting , a chief of the State intelligence service revealed to the inside information division of Lanka e news.
After this explosion the aim is to fasten the blame on Ravi Karunanayake by claiming that the bomb attack was Ravi’s retaliatory attack to  avenge the shooting at his meeting, the security chief warned. 
The secret discussion in this connection was held at Gotabaya Rajapakse’s residence on the 29 th , with the participation of Dallas Alahaperuma and Wimal Weerawansa. At that discussion it was also planned  that between August 5th and 10 th , sabotage activities shall be commenced across the country by inciting  strikes in the postal, hospital and transport sectors . This treacherous responsibility had been undertaken by Dallas.
It was also decided that as a second step to create racial tension and conflicts across the country , and towards this the Ravan balaya is to be enlisted.It has also been planned to disribute handbills using Ravana Balaya on 12 th night and paste anonymous posters.

These posters are to instill fear among the people by alleging  Ranil is going to divide the country. Printing of posters has been entrusted to an ex  media coordinator of Dallas. At the same time the plan is to stoke racial hatred against the Sinhalese in Jaffna, Chavakachcheri and Kilinochchi , and simultaneously in the south provoke the sinhalese by kindling   their racial feelings  by falsely citing the  racial animosity  in the north.All  these .were planned and plotted at the discussion.
The intelligence division chief revealed this information to Lanka e news on  the hope  that by the media exposing these conspiracies ahead , the damage aimed at by these diabolic ruthless plans and the dangers packed in these plots  may be averted .
Meanwhile inside information divison  of Lanka e news Kurunegala correspondent disclosed that a number of suspicious jeeps of Johnston Fernando and a group of Jayaratne Herath are seen at various places in Kurunegala. It is apparent their designs are most deadly and vicious , being hell bent  to create untoward incidents. The police are not taking action to arrest those drunk groups inside those vehicles who look threatening while  all the time consuming arrack. 
Our inside information division reports have issued warnings that ,  this is  the group that may have  fired at the house of Lakshman Wendaruwage , and that a killing in Kurunegala is close at hand .
It is learnt that Mahinda has taken a house through Asliya printers , and its rent has been paid. Arrack  is being distributed here reports say..
As reported earlier by Lanka e news, Mahinda has taken a building  at Wilgoda road belonging to Herath who earlier on gave it on  rent to the Inland revenue department . This Wilgoda road house is being used as MR’s main election office  and this has been taken on lease for two months after paying two months rent at  Rs. 250,000.00 per month.
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by     (2015-07-31 17:14:38)

Shots fired at Ravi’s supporters; 1 dead and 11 injured

Shots fired at Ravi’s supporters; 1 dead and 11 injured
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July 31, 2015
(UPDATE) One person has been confirmed dead while at least 13 supporters of UNP Colombo District candidate Ravi Karunanayake have been hospitalised with injuries following a shooting incident at Bloemendhal Road, Colombo.
The group of UNP supporters were reportedly engaged in election-related campaigning in the Kotahena area when several unidentified individuals in two vehicles had opened fire at them and fled. 
Twelve persons have been admitted to the Colombo National Hospital following the shooting incident, the Police Spokesman’s Office said.
Meanwhile the Director of the Colombo National Hospital Dr Anil Jasinghe says that one woman succumbed to injuries and that two others are in critical condition.
Police said the attackers sprayed bullets into the crowd just after Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake left the venue, marking the first major violence ahead of the August 17 parliamentary elections.
Kotahen Police is conducting an investigation into the incident. 
Army responsible for deaths at Rathupaswela: SLHRC

2015-07-31
Investigations conducted by the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission had revealed that the Sri Lanka Army was responsible for the shooting and assaults that took place while dispersing the crowd at Rathupaswela. 

The incidents occurred on August 1, 2013. Three persons including two students were shot and killed by the army, and more than 37 were injured in the melee.

 There had been contradictory evidence regarding the person responsible for summoning the army, the commission said. Tear gas and water cannon had been used by the army to disperse the crowd. It had been established that the protestors did not carry firearms. 

After a lengthy investigation, the Human Rights Commission said that the army should conduct proper inquiries against the senior officers and commanding officers who participated in dispersing the protestors in Weliveriya and Belummahara. (Tharindu Jayawardene and Deepa Adikari)