Attempts to undermine investigation of Britisher’s murder

WEDNESDAY, 28 DECEMBER 2011
A group of persons identifying themselves as law abiding citizens of Tangalle, have complained to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) in writing that there are attempts by some elements with vested interests to undermine investigations into the killing of  a British national at a hotel in Tangalle  recently.

The letter has been copied to the Attorney General, the secretaries of political parties, the MPs of the Hambantota District and the British High Commissioner. The organisation says that the chairman of Tangalle Pradeshiya Sabha who is the main suspect in this case is under the patronage of a powerful politician.

The organisation says in the letter, that attempts are being made to tamper evidence with regard to this case. Soon after the incident, the hotel management made a statement to the police regarding the alleged involvement of this person in the case.

“It is learnt that the hotel management is under pressure to withdraw the statements made,” the organisation says.

Besides, the organisation says that the main suspect’s name was connected with numerous other crimes in the recent past. Among them is the gunning down of an elderly woman K.A. Kusumawathi when she was travelling in a bus along with others to participate in a UNP political rally in the run up to the 2010 Presidential Election. Also, he had allegedly been involved in the incidents of opening gunfire at a UNP rally in Walasmulla on March 4, 2011, and damaging the house of the vice chairman of the Tangalle Pradeshiya Sabha.

Meanwhile, Hambantota District UNP MP Dilip Wedaarachchi said in a statement that had the law and order machinery been implemented with regard to these previous crimes, the latest unfortunate incident in Tanagalle would not have happened. He urged the authorities concerned to act promptly to bring the perpetrator to book as soon as possible.

Also, he commended the statement made by Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa that an independent inquiry would be conducted into the matter.
Mr. Wedaarachchi charged that this Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman and others around him had terrorised the entire Tangalle area, and the recent act of killing a British national and causing grievous injuries to his Russian girlfriend would strike a severe blow to the tourism industry.

“Is this the way Sri Lanka is being made the wonder of Asia?” he asked. (Kelum Banda

At UN, Ban Has Belatedly Watched "Killing Fields of Sri Lanka," Response UNclear

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive

UNITED NATIONS, December 28 -- "Killing Fields of Sri Lanka" has finally been watched by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, according to a one-word response provided to Inner City Press on December 28 by Ban's Office of the Spokesperson.

  The documentary depicts UN culpability in the abandonment and killing of civilians in Northern Sri Lanka in 2009, when Ban was, as now, Secretary General; it reports on the so-called White Flag killings of Tamil Tiger leaders in whose surrender Ban's chief of staff Vijay Nambiar played a role.

  For months, Ban's spokespeople said he hadn't watched the documentary. During a visit by Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa, Inner City Press filmed Sri Lankan Permanent Representative Palitha Kohona telling Rajapaksa that Ban had already seen the government produced rebuttal to "Killing Fields" -- but not yet the film itself.

On December 28, Inner City Press put questions in writing to Ban's spokesperson Martin Nesirky, including

"Yes or no, has [Ban Ki-moon] ever watched "Killing Fields of Sri Lanka," given that Sri Lanka says he watched the gov't-produced rebuttal?"

Four hours later, the following arrived:

From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not Reply [at] @un.org
Date: Wed, Dec 28, 2011 at 4:08 PM
Subject: Questions
To: Matthew.Lee [at] InnerCityPress.com

On the "Killing Fields of Sri Lanka": Yes.

So Ban HAS belatedly watched "Killing Fields of Sri Lanka." When? What is his response to it, given its criticism of the UN under his tenure? We will continue to pursue this. 

(c) UN Photo
Mahinda Rajapaksa & Ban, reaction to Killing Fields and LLRC not seen

   Ban still has no comment on the government's Lessons Learnt & Reconciliation Commission report. On December 28 Inner City Press asked

"The summary of the LLRC report that the Executive Office of S-G Ban Ki-moon has asked the Department of Political Affairs to prepare, when is it due?"

 To this, the answer was

"On the LLRC report: As we have said before, it is being studied. If we have more, we'll let you know."

Watch this site.

SRI LANKA: Action against dengue beginning to pay off

 

Photo: Contributor/IRIN

A billboard in Colombo warns of the dangers posed by dengue

COLOMBO, 29 December 2011 (IRIN) - Sri Lanka is making progress in the battle against mosquito-borne dengue fever, say health officials.

“Over the last two years we have gone all out to stop the spread of dengue,” Pabha Palihawadana, head of the Health Ministry’s Epidemiology Unit, told IRIN. “Now we are seeing some of the results.” 

In 2011, 26,722 cases were reported - down from 34,105 cases in 2010 - the Health Ministry reported. The number of deaths dropped from 246 to 172. 

Dengue infections rose suddenly in 2009, when 35,000 infections were reported - an almost six-fold rise on 2008 when there were 6,607 cases. This prompted the authorities to take action, but the number of infections continued at a high level. “That is when we knew we needed help,” Palihawadana said. 

In May 2010, an anti-dengue Presidential Task Force - involving the ministries of health, defence, the environment, education, and local government, and headed by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa - was set up and a massive community prevention campaign launched using billboards, TV advertising and even schoolchildren to raise awareness. 

At the same time, military and civil defence forces began cleaning up areas suspected of being mosquito breeding grounds. Dumping rubbish in unauthorized locations became a criminal offence with fines of up to US$40; and public health inspectors began visiting homes in search of potential breeding places. 

“It was with the fines and the environmental police that we saw the tide beginning to shift,” Palihawadana explained. 

Photo: Contributor/IRIN

A Colombo city worker fumigates a suspected mosquito breeding area

Urban areas have been particularly susceptible to dengue: In 2011, nearly 15,000 infections and 115 deaths were reported in Western Province, the island’s most populous region and home to the country’s largest city, Colombo. Other urbanized districts with high rates of infection include Kandy (1,553), Galle (831) and Rathnapura (1,078). 

The Presidential Task Force has so far set up over 15,300 committees at district and village level dedicated to dengue eradication. 

Health Ministry spokesman W. M. D. Wanninayake explained that until the task force was set up dengue was considered a medical problem, but “with the task force it is now a national priority”. 

Zapping the larvae 
Imports, and local production, of Bacillus Thuriengiensis (BTI), a bacteria used to control dengue vector larvae, were stepped up. BTI was released in breeding grounds in high-risk areas, while at the same time efforts were made to boost training for health workers, and set up dedicated dengue treatment facilities in at least 50 hospitals. 

Health experts from Thailand were brought in to train senior health professionals who then cascaded the training down to district level. 

Speedier referrals for patients with haemorrhagic fever have helped reduce the number of fatalities. 

“We have to commend the government of Sri Lanka for adjusting the national management guidelines for dengue patients when admitted to hospital,” Kumari Navaratne, a public health specialist at the World Bank said. “This has drastically reduced the complications of dengue patients while in hospital and therefore reduced the case fatality rate.” 

The government is currently drafting a National Dengue Prevention Act, due to become law in mid-2012, Wanninayake said. 

Under the new legislation, the authorities will be allowed to impose spot fines of up to US$400 and jail terms of six months on anyone who fails to clean up potential breeding areas. 

According to the World Health Organization, there is no effective vaccine against dengue, or drug treatment for those who become infected - and there are an estimated 50 million dengue infections worldwide each year. 

'Sri Lanka's ties with China no threat to India'

  Friday, December 30, 2011   Colombo: Sri Lanka's ruling party has said that the country's cooperation with China should not be viewed by India as a threat to the South Asian region.

According to Rohitha Bogollagama, a member of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and Sri Lanka's former foreign minister, the island nation maintains a special relationship with China similar to the ties it shares with India, Xinhua reported.

Over the past few years, India has expressed concerns of China's growing presence in Sri Lanka after China invested in several key projects in Sri Lanka. 

Last month, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that his government turned to China for assistance in some projects after India had refused to get involved.

Bogollagama, who was the foreign minister during the final stages of the war between Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels and the Sri Lankan military in 2009, said China offered unconditional support to the government at that time.

"They also supported us in the international arena. The Chinese also assisted the economic drive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa without placing conditions during and after the war." 

China was involved in the construction of a massive sea port in the southern part of the country and is also building what would be Sri Lanka's second international airport.

The Chinese also assisted in the construction of Sri Lanka's first coal power plant and is involved in several highway projects.

As for Sri Lanka's relationship with India, Bogollagama said that both have a strong traditional and cultural relationship.

"Our relationship with India is unique and cannot be replaced. India also supported us during the fight against terrorism," he said.

"We are also benefiting from the economic partnerships with India. There are thousands of tourists visiting Sri Lanka from India as well."

India, however, has been vocal about human rights concerns in Sri Lanka.

IANS  

26,000 not resettled due to HSZ

The government says that more than 110,000 people have already been resettled in former HSZs in Jaffna

More than 26,000 displaced people are yet to be allowed to resettle in their ancestral lands occupied by high security zones (HSZ) in Jaffna, according to Sri Lanka's main Tamil political party.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has submitted a report to the Supreme Court (SC) that detailed the HSZs in Jaffna which are still not made available to the original inhabitants by the Sri Lankan government.

The report was submitted as the SC heard fundamental rights petitions filed by the residents of some HSZs seeking an order for them to resettle in their ancestral lands.

It said over 7000 families were not allowed to resettle in 23 village divisions within the Valikamam Pradesheeya Sabha.

The Supreme Court which accepted the report ordered a copy to be handed over to the Attorney General (AG).

The AG was also ordered to inform the court on 04 March on plans for resettlement.

The HSZs were established by the Sri Lankan government during the decades-long armed conflict with the Tamil Tigers which ended in May, 2009.

The government earlier informed the court that 111,199 people from nearly 36,000 families from former HSZs in Jaffna have already been resettled.

Canada proud of stand on Lanka

Canada says it is “proud” of the stand it took on Sri Lanka’s human rights record just before the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.

The Canadian press quoted Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird as saying in an interview that he is proud of his stand against the Sri Lankan government for not adequately investigating alleged atrocities by its military forces when they annihilated the LTTE in May 2009.

“We’re appalled at that. Someone needs to stand up and say the lack of accountability for war crimes, the lack of any meaningful reconciliation … it may not be very popular, but someone needs to raise these realities. I think it’s tremendously important,” he was quoted as saying.

Canada was trounced by Portugal last year for the second of two temporary two-year, non-veto-wielding seats on the UN’s top body. It was the first time in the six-decade history of the UN that Canada failed to win a seat for which it made a bid.

The loss sparked criticism in many quarters about whether Canada’s foreign policy under the Conservative government — perceived tilts in policy toward Israel and away from Africa and an unpopular policy on climate change, among them — may have cost the country support among a majority of the UN’s 190-plus member countries.

Baird shot back at critics on all fronts in a wide-ranging interview in his Foreign Affairs Department office shortly before Christmas.

“Maybe if we had shut up, and not talked about gay rights in Africa; maybe if we had shut up and been more quiet about our concerns about Sri Lanka; maybe if we hadn’t been so vocally against the deplorable human rights record in Iran, maybe Iran might have voted for us,” Baird said in the Dec. 20 interview, one of several he conducted with various media outlets that day.

“But we didn’t, and I don’t think we regret anything. Iran probably voted against us; North Korea probably voted against us; Gadhafi probably voted against us. I think those are all badges of honour.”

Living in fear: Sri Lanka's Tamil women

THURSDAY 29 DECEMBER 

It’s been two-and-a-half years since the end of Sri Lanka’s war against the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Though the government claims to have restored peace in the Tamil-dominated Northern and Eastern provinces, much progress remains to be made. A recent report released by the International Crisis Group (ICG) highlights insecurities of Tamil women in the island country.

The 30-year-long civil war caused much suffering to Tamil women who were already part of a strong patriarchal system. The ICG’s report, which was released last week, suggests that while the decline of the LTTE has brought many positive changes in the lives of Tamil women, it has also ushered in a fresh set of challenges.

Heavy militarisation 
Various independent reports studying the final stages of the war have accused the Sri Lankan government’s Sinhalese troops of using rape as a weapon of war. One of the most shocking among them was the Channel 4 documentary Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields, which showed video footage of Sinhalese troops making lewd, sexual comments over the naked corpses of Tamil women.

Horrid tales of sexual assaults by Sinhalese troops have dominated accounts of human rights abuses by the Sri Lankan government. Despite this, there still remains a heavy military presence in the Tamil-dominated Northern and Eastern provinces.

“Women often have to rely on male Sinhalese soldiers for information, goods and services… All of this compounds women’s exposure to risks,” the ICG’s report says. Heavy militarisation in the region is causing lack of security among Tamil women, who fear being sexually abused by Sinhalese soldiers.

Economic challenges
The ratio of Tamil men to women has been skewed because thousands of Tamil men died or disappeared during the war. Of those who survived, many have fallen prey to alcoholism. “[The war] has resulted in tens of thousands of female-headed households in the north and east,” the ICG reports.

The lack of a male bread winner has put the onus of running the houshold squarely on the shoulders of Tamil women, who until now were used to staying home and taking care of their families according to the old patriarchal structures. Looking for employment opportunities in a post-conflict society has become a major challenge for these women.

Sex work 
The pressures of day-to-day survival have led many women into prostitution. An activist, who does not wish to be named, fearing retaliation from the Sri Lankan government, is quoted in the report as saying, “There are definitely cases of Vanni (a region in the Northern province) women being promised work in the south and ending up in brothels or sexually abused on the way to garment factories where the terms and conditions are not what they were told.”

Many reports of Tamil girls ending up in the brothels of the south have surfaced in the media recently. “Like all sex workers in Sri Lanka and most other countries, the Tamil women who find themselves in prostitution face serious risks of violence, disease and social ostracism,” the reports says.

The road ahead
Earlier last week, the Sri Lankan government issued a public release of the report of its Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC). While the report is still being studied by the United Nations, the government has received an encouraging pat on the back for the move.

But critics say the report doesn’t delve deep into the truth. Groundviews, a Tamil citizen journalist forum called it “a document that looks to the future, exonerates the military, does not touch on the question of accountability and includes some touchy-feely language about the country’s need to move forward, celebrate its diversity and be grateful for the defeat of terrorism.”

Against this back drop, the prospects of a better life for women in the North and East seem a distant reality. The question remains whether a government which refuses to be held wholly accountable for committing crimes against its civilians can be expected to better the lives of its vulnerable populations.   

EPDP sees motive in Lessons report

December 28, 2011
R. K. RADHAKRISHNAN
The only political party that has come in for serious adverse notice in the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission report, the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), wonders if there was any ulterior motive in retaining the comments against it in the final report.

“We regret to note about the comments made as regards the EPDP in the report. Whilst we deny the allegations about the EPDP, we wish to emphasise that while the leader of EPDP was giving evidence before the commission, he had brought to the notice of the commission about the incorrect translation, which resulted in misunderstanding of what he stated. In addition, releasing this misconception to the media, prior to tabling of this report to Parliament makes us to believe whether it is done with any ulterior motive,” said EPDP in a statement.

In a section devoted to “illegal armed groups,” the Commission narrates specific instances involving a few groups and also included the response of some of the groups. “The Commission is constrained to observe the attitude manifested by the leadership of the TMVP and EPDP in their explanations provide little or no consolation to the aggrieved parties, and tends to militate against any meaningful reconciliation process,” the Commission noted and wanted the government to put an end to the illegal groups.

STRANGE

What makes the issue much more strange is the fact that the EPDP is part of the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA). EPDP chief Douglas Devananda, the man who once was part of the nascent Tamil Tigers outfit, is the lone Tamil of Cabinet rank in the UPFA.

The adverse comments against the EPDP did not stand in the way of it welcoming a majority of the recommendations. It wanted the setting up of the Parliamentary Select Committee without further delay and with time frame work for the conclusion of its recommendations to reach a final and durable solution. “Once the select committee is in progress, our party will initiate action to have discussions with the constituent parties of the select committee with a view to promote consensus to reach early agreement.”

The EPDP also wanted all Tamil political parties to stand united. “In this regard we would also initiate action to revive the ‘Tamil Party Forum' to reach common understanding among Tamil parties in this regard,” it said.

But the EPDP call is unlikely to evoke any positive response from the main Tamil parties that assemble under the banner of the Tamil National Alliance. The TNA distrusts EPDP and the EPDP did everything it could to try and win over the Tamil people in the Northern Province ahead of the recent local body polls. But the people refused to be swayed.

Sri Lanka: Attempts to Join ASEAN- Fresh Insights:

27-Dec-2011

By  V. Suryanarayan

 S R Nathan has served the Republic of Singapore with great distinction in several capacities. When Singapore became independent suddenly on August 9, 1965 Nathan joined the fledgling Ministry of Foreign Affairs and rose very high in the organization. He became the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, served as Ambassador to the United States and High Commissioner in Malaysia, in addition to heading the Department of Intelligence. Nathan later became the President of Singapore and served the Republic for two terms.

After his retirement, SR Nathan has brought out his memoirs entitled An Unexpected Journey: Path to the Presidency (Singapore, 2011). The book came out few months ago. Published after he left the corridors of power, the book is not only fascinating reading; it also provides rare insights into Singapore’s turbulent history after the Second World War.

From the point of view of students of Sri Lanka’s foreign policy, the book is invaluable because it provides fresh insights into Ceylon’s attempts to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) which came into existence in August 1967. The founding fathers of ASEAN were Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines. SR Nathan was an important member of the Singapore delegation, which was led by S. Rajaratnam, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and which finalized the aims and objectives of the regional organization. The Memoirs contains references to Ceylon’s efforts to join ASEAN in 1967 and spells out the reasons why Colombo’s attempts did not succeed.     Full Story>>>

Coldest weather in '90 years'

28 December, 2011 

GB Samarasinghe, director general of the department says Wednesday's temperature is the lowest since 17.2 degrees recorded in 1920

Sri Lanka's meteorological department has predicted a historically low temperature for the capital, Colombo, as a result of cyclonic storm 'Thane.'

The storm over Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify further and move North-westward towards Indian east coast, it said.

The temperature in Colombo may be dropped to 18 degrees, according the forecast.

According to said Daily Mirror newspaper, the temperature recorded in the capital on Wednesday is 18.2 Celsius.

The temperature will not stay on 17 or 18 degrees for a long perid of time GB Samarasinghe, director general of meteorological department

GB Samarasinghe, director general of the department told BBC Sandeshaya that Wednesday's temperature is the lowest since 17.2 degrees recorded in 1920.

"However, the temperature will not stay on 17 or 18 degrees for a long perid of time," he added.

The meteorological department has warned fishing and naval community to refrain from maritime activities as "shallow and deep sea areas off the coast extending from Mannar to Trincomalee via Jaffna will be very rough with very strong winds and intermittent rain."

Sri Lankan public is also advised to be vigilant and follow department's weather information.

The department earlier faced strong criticism for failing to predict a strom that devastated many coastal areas and killed dozens in the island in November.

Protestors force SL military to open cremation ground in HSZ

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 December 2011, 18:51 GMT]
Resettled Tamils in the eastern part of Kaangkeasanthu’rai (KKS) on Tuesday staged a spontaneous protest against the Sri Lanka military demanding the right of the dead to be cremated in their own cremation ground. The protestors threatening to carry the casket of one of their relatives to the cremation ground blocked the main access route of the SL military, demanding the occupying army to open the route to the cemetery. Although the SL military blocked more than a hundred villagers, who attempted to take forward the casket to the cremation ground, the military hierarchy was forced to allow the villagers to reach the cremation ground through an alternative route as the protest lasted for more than 3 hours. The elected TNA members of the civic body in KKS joined the protest, which is described as first of its kind agitation in the SL occupied Jaffna. 

Preparations at the cremation site in KKS on Tuesday

The protesting villagers were blocking the access route of southern tourists to KKS. They also blocked SL military vehicles.

Earlier, when the matter of cemetery was brought to the SL military through Valikaamam North Piratheasa Chapai (PS) officials, who are elected representatives of the TNA, they were told by the military to approach their hierarchy through EPDP paramilitary leader and SL minister Douglas Devananda for the request to be considered. But, the villagers had declined the SL military offer calling it ‘cemetery politics’ by Mr. Devananda.

Three deaths have occurred since the resettlement in the village. But, the dead were cremated in private land.

The SL military was embarrassed by the civil protest on Tuesday, according to the journalists who were at the protest site.

The president of the Valikaamam North PS, S. Sugirthan, told the journalists that the protest demanding the SL military to open the main access route to the cemetery would be stepped up.

The SL military has opened only 3% of the High Security Zone for resettlement in the Jaffna peninsula.
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From combatants to criminals

Sunday December 25, 2011

The war is over, but the lack of proper psychological counselling for battle-weary men has resulted in a wave of crimes.

Nadia Fazlulhaq reports

Investigations into recent crimes, have revealed a disturbing trend of the involvement of members of the armed forces who have deserted as well as those still serving. From the killing of MP Bharatha Lakshman, grease devils who instilled fear in elderly women, to the murder of a popular doctor in Karandeniya and other killings in Udawalawe and Homagama, those who were arrested were military deserters and soldiers. The main suspects who were arrested by Police in the shooting of former MP Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra included members of the army commando unit and another from the Special Task Force who had served in Vaharai, Mavil-Aru and Sampur. The suspect who was taken in, in connection with the killing of two elderly women in Kahawatte was a 22 year-old army deserter who had served in Vidatheltivu area during last few months of the war. The deserter, a father-of-one has admitted to the killings that took place on April 3 and June 19 this year, according to police. In October this year, a family of four including two children aged eight and ten, was killed in Panahakaduwa, Udawalawa. The chief suspect arrested by Police was also an army deserter. While the main suspect behind the killing of Dr. Prasad Jayasinghe of the Karandeniya Hospital was a Captain in the army those who committed the crime included a commando and a member of the army engineer unit. In September another army deserter was taken into custody in connection with the brutal slaying of three persons of a single family at Dolakade in Homagama. The victims included a Kapu Mahattaya from a local devale, his mistress and the woman’s brother. The same month, the bodies of an elderly couple in their 70’s were found lying in their house in Akmeemana. Both had suffered heavy cut injuries. A soldier was arrested for killing the couple over a land dispute. In April, this year a navy officer was arrested by Baduraliya Police for killing his young wife and two year-old daughter and dumping their bodies in a nearby forest. Mount Lavinia Police arrested two deserters from the Army and the Navy after they kidnapped a child and demanded a ransom of Rs. 500,000. In October, STF’s Chief Inspector B.A.Jayathilake (57) reportedly killed Assistant Superintendent of Police Sarath Sisira Kumara (45) and committed suicide in the Mahaoya STF camp. Officer Jayathilake was a father of three school-going children. Another army deserter who was involved in an illicit affair with a wife of a wealthy businessman in Giriulla, killed the businessman in June this year. In December, a soldier hurled a hand-grenade after opening fire inside the Tissamaharama Police station critically injuring his 19 year-old wife. Military spokesman Brigadier Nihal Hapuaarachchi told the Sunday Times that out of 60,000 deserters 55,000 were de-listed as they had no financial or logistical obligations to the army or had any criminal record. Dr. Jayasinghe (right inset) who owned a medical centre was shot dead as he stepped out of his clinic “The police and military police have launched a search operation for about 25 ex-servicemen believed to be involved in major criminal activities, including homicide. In addition steps have been taken to arrest 440 deserters involved in minor offences,” he said. He said desertions occurred mainly due to personal reasons like family disputes. “When they go back however they find it hard to find jobs, resulting in financial hardships As they have training in handling weapons they either joined with criminals or find violence as a way of earning money,” he said.Brigadier Hapuarachchi also added that combat-related psychological trauma results in frustration, depression and violence. Although there is a psychiatric unit at the Military Hospital and Base Hospital in Panagoda, a shortage of staff including military psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, counsellors trained in trauma counselling especially understanding military culture, social workers and psychiatrist nurses have resulted in failure to properly address the problem of combat-stress related psychological illnesses. The Sunday Times learns that there about five army personnel as in-patients both in the National Institute of Mental Health in Angoda and the Panagoda Base Hospital. A considerable number of soldiers also obtain treatment from out-patient clinics at the Military Hospital in Narahenpita and Panagoda. The Navy and Air force too have psychiatrists while in addition the Navy has started recruiting psychological counsellors and putting up counselling centres. But the deserters are out there in society, with little or no counseling or psychiatric treatment. Consultant Psychiatrist of the Sri Lanka Army, Dr. Neil J Fernando, told the Sunday Times that although the war was over the psychological trauma of the combatants needs to be addressed. “Unlike the servicemen of World War I, World War II or the Vietnam War, Sri Lankan combatants were exposed to combat trauma for long years. Many have served 10-15 years in the operational areas and have witnessed and experienced gruesome realities. About 150,000 have been directly or indirectly exposed to traumatic combat stress,” he said. War trauma can later result in criminal activities, domestic violence, suicides, homicides, alcohol and drug abuse, cruelty to children etc, he added. Dr. Fernando said depression, and adjustment disorders are common among soldiers. “Some are low in spirit, unable to experience pleasure, look at life in a pessimistic way, suffer from low self image and suffer from loss of self-respect and guilt. These soldiers especially those who were engaged in direct combat are prone to suicide. But if this self-aggression created by guilt is directed outwards they are capable of committing homicide and can turn violent. The shooting incident in Mulleriyawa that claimed the lives of Bharatha Lakshman and others Police and army at the scene of the crime in Udawalawe and (inset) the four victims According to Dr. Fernando the first psychological consequence of war is re-experiencing or re-living the trauma over and over again. These can come as intrusive flashbacks or as nightmares. The other consequences include avoidance behavior and hyper arousal state. “I have treated a number of soldiers who avoid looking at meat as it reminds them of human flesh, avoid looking at their uniforms or travel in a truck and those who panic at for the sound of a fire cracker being lit or a doorbell,” he said. Dr. Fernando said soldiers who sustained brain injuries develop psychological trauma and suffer from mood changes and personality disorders. Some also suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) where they relive the war situation, or show avoidance behavior and hyper arousal state. Those who have been prisoners of war and gone through torture usually suffer from PTSD. “Soldiers retire early and go back to civilian life without any counselling. They find it hard to adjust to civilian life and need proper psychological support. Permanently disabled soldiers too need psychological support, “he stressed. Dr. Fernando said research showed that the most number of desertions takes place during non-combative periods. “There should be more amnesty periods, so they can leave the army in an honourable way and find jobs instead of opting for violence,” he said.

Image building gone wrong? - By Dr. Vickramabahu karunaratne

Wednesday, 21 December 2011 

Melanie Newman and Oliver Wright of The Independent of London reported on 6 Dec 2011, that Bell Pottinger International attended a meeting of Tamil dissidents in London organized by the British Tamils Forum (BTF) and the NSSP.

This news item said “Days before President Rajapaksa’s arrival in London in December 2010, Tim Ryan, the chairman of Bell Pottinger International, and a colleague attended an open political meeting in Harrow organized by the BTF and the Nava Sama Samaja [New Social Equality] Party. Gobi Ratnam, a Tamil journalist who chaired the event said the pair stood out as the only white people present. They said they were from Bell Pottinger. ‘They said they wanted to listen to our problems, to learn and help the Sri Lankan people,’ Mr. Ratnam said. ‘A lot of people were talking to them.’

Dr Vickramabahu Karunaratne, the Sinhalese general secretary of the NSS Party who ran for president in 2010, gave a speech at the meeting in which he called for Tamil forces to join a new alliance of opposition members and breakaway groups to challenge the government - comments that were widely reported.” On the other hand the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (BIJ), which is a not-for-profit organization based at City University, London, also came out with its investigation report. BIJ, which bolsters original journalism by producing high-quality investigations for press and broadcast media, reported the same incident and published a picture of Tim Ryan with my self.

The news item added “Dr Karunarathne spoke with Mr. Ryan after the speech. He told the Bureau he had not known Mr. Ryan was working for the Rajapaksa government prior to the meeting, but ‘he made me aware of that’.

Working for the Rajapaksas

Mr. Ryan told him he was ‘collecting information to help the government campaign,’ he added. Bell Pottinger refutes this. It says, its representatives were interested as part of their brief to learn and to understand the views of the Sri Lankan Diaspora in the UK. The BTF claims Bell Pottinger representatives also attended a Tamil Remembrance event at London’s Excel Centre on November 27, 2010. The firm has not confirmed this.”

Meeting Tim for the first time

I met Tim for the first time, while I was waiting for the meeting to start. It was held at the Harrow Sports Club public room. I thought, at first, he was a provincial media person who dropped in to see what was happening. He was accompanied by two others, if I remember correct.

Head of Bell Pottinger

The chap was very cordial and introduced himself as the head of Bell Pottinger. I thought it sounds strange. As reported, he talked to me after the meeting and explained that they are working for the government, to improve its image.

When I returned from the London visit I was attacked by goons, set up by the government. I do not believe that Bell Pottinger has any thing to do with it. However Mr. Ryan promised those who were there that the company will work for resolving the national problem in Lanka, and they will report all events correctly. Obviously he wanted to avoid any conflict in that meeting, where few hundred Tamil radicals attended.

My speech was published in several websites; hence Mr. Ryan’s presence in that meeting did not add much to the drama. The company clearly works at grass root levels to collect information; and their agents are trained to cover radical, militant meetings. A company chairman wearing a plain jacket walked in to a meeting of angry Tamils and radical socialists to gather information; could have been a page from a Hadley Chase novel.

Call to eradicate fear from Tangalle tourists

27 December, 2011 

Tourists are afraid to go out in the night - Mr. Wedaarachchi

All planned events and festivities for tourists in the southern Sri Lankan resort of Tangalle has been cancelled following the killing of a holiday maker, say local tourism promoters.

“Normally, tourists move around and visit other venues in the area, but now they are afraid to go out in the night” President of the Tangalle Tourist Hoteliers Association Keerthi Priya Wedaarachchi told BBC Sandeshaya.

According to President Wedaarachchi tourists avoid using guest houses in the area.

He said that there had been many tourists in the area than anticipated before the fatal attack on two tourists on Christmas Eve.

This is a bad omen not only for Tangalle but for the whole of Sri Lanka. So everybody has to work hard to eradicate fear from   Mr. Wedaarachchi

"Almost all hotel rooms were full in Tangalle before the murder on the Christmas day."

“This is a bad omen not only for Tangalle but for the whole of Sri Lanka. So everybody has to work hard to eradicate fear from,” he added.

Meanwhile, police said that key suspects who handed over themselves to the police on the 26th evening, have been remanded until the 6th of January.

Victim transferred

Police spokesperson Superintendent of Police Ajith Rohana confirmed that the Chairman of the Tangalle Pradeshiya Sabha, Sampath Chandrapushpa Vidanapathirana is among those remanded.

	Tourists are not staying in Tanglle - Mr Wedaarachchi

Five Sri Lankan men have been arrested so far on suspicion of killing, Kuram Shaikah Zaman, a British national of Israeli origin, an ICRC volunteer working in the Gaza strip.

Shaikah Zaman’s colleague Victoria Alexandrovna who was also attacked has been transferred on Tuesday to privately owned Lanka hospitals in Colombo following treatment at the intensive care unit at Karapitiya Hospital Galle.

When questioned whether the Russian female has been sexually assaulted the police said that it was awaiting medical reports.

“We were informed that there were no cloths on the Russian female when she was admitted to the hospital. However, we are still waiting to see the medical reports including DNA tests” the police spokesman said.

Exam results announced by rabid Education higher ups who are raving mad are again erroneous! – here is the evidence

Because of a serious exam. Dept. fault all data destroyed , but Govt. hiding details – Akila Kariyawasam

(Lanka-e-News -27.Dec.2011,11.55PM) The rabid two legged ‘dogs’ who describe themselves as higher ups of the education Dept. released the G C E Avanced level exam. results. The students who saw their results released by these rabid dogs also got afflicted with the rabies of these two legged ‘rabid dogs’ . Of course the students went ‘mad’ justifiably over their results , for the results were all topsy- turvy , and issued by these rabid higher ups. In short , the results were absolutely horrendous and misleading . Here is a clear illustration to prove the point: A student sat the exam in Arts subjects. In his results , mathematics has been included as a subject . Don’t these higher ups and the Minister who are the architects of this children’s education disaster deserve a place in the mental asylum? Why is the regime playing fun and games even with the education of the children which is the country’s future investment in the future? Are the leaders who appointed these Ministers mad or the Ministers and officials who are responsible for this historic blunder mentally deranged ?

At today’s UNP media briefing more light was thrown on this unpardonable blunder committed by the regime , its Minister and its education officials.

After the earlier results were withdrawn , and when the results after another scrutiny were released , a father of a student told me , his son who was selected on the first result release for medical College had been ousted in the second result announcement. Kurunegala district UNP M P Akila Kariyawasam who revealed this pathetic plight of just one of the countless students who had met with similar fates went on to cite another instance , where because of the fault of examination Department , the results when being fed into the computer, there had been a serious lapse which had led to all the data getting destroyed. The Kurunegala M P made all these shocking disclosures when addressing a media briefing today(27) at the Opposition official residence.

The Govt . stated that the results had to be amended because there was a difference between the talents of the students district wise and Island wide . But this amendment owing to the talents district wise and those Island wide generally cannot be done in a day. Hence , this release of the amendment results is false , misleading and a deliberate lie. The MP with profound concern urged the Govt. not to poke fun at serious issues as these where the child’s life and future are at stake , and the country’s future depends on.

SLMC to urge for land and police powers

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), which is an ally of the governing UPFA, says it would urge the government to allocate land and police powers as outlined in the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

SLMC General Secretary M.T. Hassan Ali told The Sunday Leader that the government needs to change its attitude about implementing the 13th Amendment.

“The government cannot say outright that land and police powers would not be allocated to the provinces,” he said.

“The SLMC has always called for maximum power devolution for the minority communities,” he added.

Hassan Ali also noted that the President had on several occasions earlier said the government was looking at a political solution that went even beyond the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

When asked how the SLMC planned to make the request to the government, Hassan Ali said the party’s High Command would meet soon after party leader Rauf Hakeem returns to the country from an overseas trip.

T-56 weapon assigned to President’s security division that had been used to murder Red Cross worker British citizen !

(Lanka-e-News -27.Dec.2011, 9.00AM) The T 56 weapon used in the murder of the British national, an International Red Cross aid worker in Tangalla by local body Chairman Vidhanapathirane is a weapon that had been allocated for the President’s security division , according to reports reaching Lanka e news.

This weapon has been assigned to the security division of President’s Carlton house . In order to suppress this information leaking out every move is being made , according to inside sources of the Tangalla police. 

How did a T 56 weapon assigned to the President’s security reach the hands of a chairman of a local body is a big question mark ?

The first conspiracy to suppress this murder was the distortion of the facts pertaining to the murder by a concocted medical report that the victim died of cut injuries when he died of gunshot injuries caused by this weapon. The second was the medical report spuriously prepared that the bullets were not of T 56 weapon. Yet at the scene of the incident , T56 bullets had been found.

To fuel the suspicions on the investigation process even more , no statement had been recorded of the eye witnesses to this murder committed by Vidyapathirane. The statement of the Manageress of the Nature reef Hotel had been distorted and had not been pasted in the book yet. It is an SI , Jayasinghe of the Tangalla police who is making these inquiries sans impartiality. Namal Rajapakse had given as many as 8 calls to this SI until now forcing him to distort the facts and hold the investigation to suit Namal’s instructions.

Might it be recalled that during the last Presidential election period , when UNP supporters were traveling in a bus , they were shot at, and one lady died as a result. In that crime, Vidyapathirane was a suspect, yet he was not arrested.

Though under the reference 49/2011 there is registration of this murder by the Tangalla police in the heinous crime register , the police had not recorded the GHT form No. or the phone message in this regard at the time of admitting the victim who was murdered to Hospital ,in the register under ref.49/2011 or in the heinous crime record book.

The ASP Jayalath Balagalla of Tangalla under intense pressure from the MaRa regime is moving heaven and earth to hide and expunge the information regarding the T56 weapon and Vidyapathirane’s involvement in the crime.

The deceased, Kurami Shaik is a British National and Int. Red Cross aid worker . He had come to SL on a passport No. 099211927 issued in Geneva.

Yesterday(26) night suspect Sampath Vidanapathirane has surrendered to the police with his lawyers

Lankan lessons: War crimes and Rajapaksa regime

   27 DEC, 2011
Given scepticism about the intentions of the Rajapaksa regime, the big question mark over Sri Lanka’s Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) was if it would impartially probe alleged war crimes committed by the Sri Lankan army during the last phase of the war with the LTTEor if it was part of Colombo’s prevarication. 

On the war crimes front, the LLRC’s report, made public recently, is a disappointment. It has attracted criticism from UN-affiliated and other international rights groups, citing doubts about the LLRC’s mandate and impartiality. The report virtually exonerates the Lankan army from the charge of deliberately targeting civilians, including using heavy artillery in the No Fire Zone. 

Pertinently, Colombo had, then, after some nudging by New Delhi, sought to allay fears of a massacre by promising not to use heavy weaponry in the zone. Indeed, the LLRC’s report even suggests that given the foggy nature of events during the last stages of the war, it is impossible to find out exactly what happened. This is bunkum. 

Closure, as the report itself notes, is part of the process of reconciliation. And that means an independent, impartial enquiry into these alleged crimes is vital for that process to be meaningful. On some other counts, like, say, on missing persons and detainees, language policies, land issues, demilitarisation and so on, the report proposes some sensible measures. It also stresses that the devolution of powers issue is central for a reconciliation based on a political solution. 

The murderousness of the LTTE was to blame too but, as the report notes, the whole conflict is rooted in the sense of grievances of the Tamil people. In that context, there have been fears the LLRC was set up as part of an effort by Colombo to stave off international pressure and buy more time while really not doing much on most issues in reality. 

The Rajapaksa regime actually has been consolidating the Sinhala majoritarianism responsible for much of the conflict. Whether it will move, credibly and with visible effect, on even the forward-looking aspects of its own LLRC’s report is the key question.