IMF concerned over Lanka trade deficit

03 February, 2012

IMF has expressed concern over widening trade gap in Sri Lanka

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has expressed concern over the increasing trade deficit in Sri Lanka though the growth of the economy has been “very strong.”

Speaking to journalists in Colombo, the head of IMF delegation Brain Aitken said when the team last visited Sri Lanka in September, last year, the inflation was also under control.

“The one thing seen in the last three months is that the trade deficit has widened and the credit growth has stimulated,” he added.

The aim of the delegation, said Mr Aitken, is to explore the steps to control that situation.

The main opposition in Sri Lanka, meanwhile, has accused the government of failing to introduce a coherent economic policy in post-war Sri Lanka.

Interest rate

Dr Harsha de Silva, the economic affairs spokesman of the UNP, told BBC Sandeshaya that the government initially predicted a 9% economic growth.

It is not an easy task to reduce the trade deficit through such measures. What we should have done is to devalue the rupee significantly while increasing the interest rates   Dr Harsha de Silva

“But it is now being reduced to eight percent but the World Bank has recently reduced that to 7.7%,” he said.

The central bank, in the meantime, has devalued Sri Lanka Rupee by 20 cents and increased the interest rate, for the first time in five years.

“The Repurchase rate and the Reverse Purchase rate of the Central Bank will be 7.50 per cent and 9.00 per cent, respectively,” said a statement issued by the central bank.

The bank’s monetary board has also decided to direct commercial banks to “moderate their credit disbursements,” it added.

As Sri Lanka that spends 18 billion USD for imports only earns 9 billion USD from exports a year, says Dr de Silva, that the Central Bank is forced to implement such measures.

“It is not an easy task to reduce the trade deficit through such measures. What we should have done is to devalue the rupee significantly while increasing the interest rates,” Dr Silva, MP, told the BBC’s Elmo Fernando.

“That is why the IMF has decided not to release the 800 million USD tranche of the 2.6 billion loan,” he added.

However, Mr Aitken said it is up to the government to draw or not to draw the last tranche of the loan.

An Open Letter to Ban Ki-moon

Edward Mortimer

Chair of the Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice

SECRETARY-GENERAL
UNITED NATIONS
NEW YORK,
NY 10017

Dear Secretary-General,

I write to follow up my letter of 2 June 2011 on the subject of the United Nations Panel of Experts' reporton accountability issues in Sri Lanka.

Since I wrote, you have shared the report with the President of the United Nations Human Rights Council, a move we were very pleased to commend you for. But sadly the President has not brought it formally to the Council's attention, and it appears that very little has yet been done to implement the report's actual recommendations . Furthermore, we understand that not only the report itself, but also its individual authors, have come under sustained attack from people claiming that it is "not an official UN document."

It would be of great value to those on all sides who are working for a more robust culture of accountability in Sri Lanka if you were to correct these misinterpretations and explain publicly that the Panel of Experts report, as a report commissioned by yourself, does have an established place within the UN system - and is indeed "an official UN document".

The report's recommendations fall into three groups - those concerning the United Nations, those for international accountability, and those addressed to the Government of Sri Lanka. None of them have yet been implemented.

The failure of the Government of Sri Lanka to implement the recommendations addressed to it means that it is clearly in breach of both the spirit and the letter of the joint statement made by you and President Rajapaksa on 26th May 2009.

As for the UN, we were very disappointed to hear that Ms Thoraya Obaid, whom you had appointed to conduct the internal review recommended by the Panel, has not been able to start work, and in fact has now relinquished the task. We would be very keen to learn of the new timetable and arrangements for completing this much needed review.

But the most important recommendation is the one that calls on you to "immediately proceed to establish an independent international mechanism, whose mandate should include the following concurrent functions

1. Monitor and assess the extent to which the Government of Sri Lanka is carrying out an effective domestic accountability process, including genuine investigations of the alleged violations, and periodically advise the Secretary-General on its findings;
2. Conduct investigations independently into the alleged violations, having regard to genuine and effective domestic investigations; and
3. Collect and safeguard for appropriate future use information provided to it, which is relevant to accountability for the final stages of the war, including the information gathered by the Panel and other bodies in the United Nations system."

Over 12,000 concerned citizens, in 133 countries, have sent requests through our website to your public email address, asking that this be done. But so far we see no signs of progress towards it.

Since you (to your eternal credit) commissioned this excellent report, we are anxious to learn how you plan to ensure that its recommendations are implemented. We very much hope that you will continue to show leadership by rejecting impunity and pursuing accountability - in Sri Lanka and in all other cases crying out for truth, justice and sustainable reconciliation.

Kind regards,

Edward

Edward Mortimer CMG
Chair, the Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice
28 Charles Square,
London,
N1 6HT

SRI LANKA: Independence without justice

February 3, 2012
A statement for the commemoration of the independence of Sri Lanka

The 64th commemoration of Sri Lanka's independence takes place at the time when the country's justice system is in a hopeless crisis. The abuse of the judicial process for political reasons has created doubts about the independence of the judiciary itself. The government shows no will to respect the rule of law. The police and the Attorney General's Department are immersed in problems that seem to defy any kind of genuine improvement. Where is justice to be found? This is the question that everyone is asking but no one is able to provide a credible answer.

Almost every day cases come before the courts which reinforces the perception of manipulation in the process of justice. Shocking fabrication of charges quite obviously to achieve petty political revenge comes to the notice of the people all the time. On the other hand the manipulation of criminal investigations as well as the filing of charges with the view to exonerate those who are in politically favourable positions is also quite common. Whether we look into the cases filed against Sarath Fonseka, who perhaps is treated as the most prominent opponent of the present government or cases like those relating to the murder of Baratha Lahksman Premachandra the obvious forms of blatant manipulation of justice is quite manifest. Does anyone believe that there are genuine reasons for the failure to find the murders of Lasantha Wickrematunge and those responsible for the disappearance of Prageeth Ekenaligoda, Lalith Kumar Weeraraj and Kugan Muruganathan and those behind the white van abductions?

The government cynically ignores all criticism relating to the undermining of justice in prominent cases as well as much less prominent cases like those faced by the ordinary citizens throughout the country at every police station and in every court. Despite of consistent criticism in this regard the government neither offers any apology nor makes any promises of improvements.

When justice is in such peril does independence make any sense? Freedom andjustice are inseparable. Where justice is undermined freedom is also undermined. A political system that puts its justice system in peril necessarily creates a messy situation not only for the people but also for itself. Good governance without justice is impossible.

The disarray that exists within the policing system, the Attorney General's Department and the judicial system itself arises from structural reasons. The reasons are to be found within the country's constitution. This constitution, having placed the executive above the law, has destroyed the functioning of the country's legal system and the administration of justice. The ruling political parties have, while in opposition, promised to abolish this constitutional system and to create one which is based on the rule of law and democracy. In fact, this has been everyone's promise and the betrayal of this promise has resulted in the betrayal of the very notions of independence.

Today the government is not in a position to even ensure security on the roads. Discipline on the roads is an indicator of the discipline within a country. The absence of discipline in the country though decried by every politician defies any solution. When the system of law and justice is in crisis there is hardly a possibility for creating discipline in any of the country's institutions.

Besides this, delays in justice remain a killer disease. The manner in which delays affect justice is simply maddening. A single trial may take five or six years and to add to the chaos many state counsels are transferred during the trial. Any cunning defence lawyer may win even a foolproof case by relying on delays for an acquittal. There are many factors that contribute to these delays. The factor that hangs on justice like a noose is the Government's Analyst Department. All attempts to cause even limited changes to this accursed department have failed. The present government does not even care to raise a finger against this department.

The government also resist the passing of a witness protection law. Perhaps, there may be those who think, that it is unsafe to protect witnesses. The killing and intimidation of witnesses is a game that is allowed and even encouraged.

The open sabotage of justice, as it is happening now, poses a great threat to the morale of the people. A political system that demoralizes the people is inviting peril to itself and the nation.

The government remains oblivious of this lawless and messy situation. Equally the opposition political parties are also oblivious to this crisis. Politics has become disconnected from the real problems that the people and the system of administration face.

What sense does celebrating independence make in such circumstances. The only sensible decision that any responsible citizen can make is to stay away from any such celebrations. Making a firm commitment to fight for a change in this situation is the need of the hour. It is the citizens who would have to begin the process of making that change. Demands for drastic reforms in the systems of the administration of justice is the only way to respond to the prevailing impasse.

INSIDE STORY: Rapist killer in the Govt. Bucket

The Rapist J.D.C. Jayasinghe is given a High Position at the Ministry of Mass Media & Information

| by Darshani Wimalasuriya & Nirmal Peris

( February 03, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) A senior administrative officer accused of rape and child molestation has been appointed to a high position in the Ministry of Mass Media & Information. JDC Jayasinghe alias Javigodage Don Charles Jayasinghe also known as Muddaragama Kukul Charlie was accused of raping a young woman named Maldeniyage Priyadharshani from Minuwangoda in 1999.

Maldeniyage Priyadarshani was a young girl who worked in a garment factory in Katunayaka. She was young, attractive and naive. She was struggling to overcome the poverty and dreamed of having a better life for her and for her family. When she met J.D.C. Jayasinghe a senior officer attached to the Ministry of Health in 1999 Jayasinghe promised her to find a government job in the Minuwangoda Hospital. She was overjoyed and highly enthusiastic about the new job in a government hospital -working as a female sanitary laborer. J.D.C. Jayasinghe boasted his contacts at the Health Ministry and promised Priyadarshani that she would be getting the job soon. Maldeniyage Priyadarshani was convinced that this kind gentleman, a fatherly figure was going to help her and find a pensionable government job. One day he asked her to come for a job interview and took her to a hotel room and then forcibly raped her. Her world fell apart and she could not face neither the family nor the society. Her dream of becoming a bride and to have a loving family , a good job was destroyed by a sexual predator.

Death Certificate of Priyadarshani  

 Read More »

Pirates demand $7.5m ransom for Sri Lankan fishermen

The wife of missing Sri Lankan fisherman Shantha

 Sebastian displays her husband's identity, as her

 child cries at her residence in Negombo, Sri Lanka,

 Wednesday, Feb 1, 2012. -- PHOTO: AP

( February 03, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian)  Families say Somali pirates are demanding US$6 million (S$7.5 million) for the release of six Sri Lankan fishermen who were abducted three months ago.

Mr Niroshan Anthony said on Wednesday his brother and the other fishermen set out to sea in Negombo on Sri Lanka's west coast last September for multi-day fishing, but contact with the vessel was lost after one month. Anthony is the older brother of abducted fisherman Shantha Sebastian.

'They have threatened to kill my brother and let us hear the gunfire on the phone if the money is not paid by Friday,' said Mr Anthony, adding that his family is unable even to meet their basic needs.

Fisheries Minister Rajitha Senaratne confirmed the pirate attack but said the Somali government has not been able to secure the fishermen's release.- AP

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Bayagotha who boasted Somalia pirates can be defeated blasted: Come out from your hiding and save our fishermen

-Ultimatum to Govt. expires today

(Lanka-e-News-03.Feb.2012,11.45PM) Six Sri Lanka (SL) fishermen had been held captive by a group of sea pirates in the Somalian sea , and have demanded ransom from the SL Govt. for their release. This issue has created a maelstrom of controversy.

The pirates had stated that if a sum of US dollars 6 million is not paid to them they would kill the fishermen. The ultimatum given by them expires today (3).

The Defense Secretary Gotabaya after winning the war , once blabbered boastfully that the SL army can even defeat the Somalia marauders . The people will surely remember how proudly he announced this at that time in order to secure a contract for the Navy to provide security to ships.

Later , after imprisoning the Army Commander who won the war for him and the country, he humiliated the Army by engaging them to cut drains, cleaning latrine pits and sell vegetables. Now the opportunity has presented itself to Gota to make good his vainglorious boasts . Yet the Govt. has done nothing so far to rescue the fishermen . Hence , this has confirmed to the people that Gotabaya better known as BayaGotha (coward Gotha) is indeed a shameless coward.

These fishermen were seized as far back as four months ago. The Govt. took no action to get them released. But now suddenly ,by blaming on technological issues and that the fishermen by committing trespass on the territorial waters have insulted the country, Govt. is trying to wash its hands of the fishermen in turmoil after fastening the blame on them.

The People’s campaign had this to say on this issue :

Based on media reports the pirates have reduced the ransom amount by half . Yet because the Govt. showed no interest to rescue the fishermen and the deadline has expired , the lives of fishermen are at stake more than before.
Firstly , it should be noted that the Govt. has no right to mount the blame on the fishermen who had allegedly committed trespass ,and claim that they have brought disgrace to the country .Fishing trawlers of Foreign Companies were allowed for a long period to poach on our waters . Consequently , our fishermen who were deprived of their means of getting a good haul and were not protected by any security measures, necessarily had to travel farther and trespass on foreign territorial waters..

Besides , it should be pinpointed that the image of a country is not soiled by a fishing trawler committing trespass on the waters. The image of a country is destroyed when human rights are undermined. It is when abductions , murders , disappearances, rapes , child molestations rage and Democratic Institutions are crumbling under a regime which stokes those evils, that a country’s image stands to be tarnished.

The Govt . cannot escape its responsibility on flimsy grounds saying it is unable to successfully negotiate with the pirates and marauders because of the technological handicaps , because even at this moment , and always this Govt . has had fond dealings and close intimate association with marauders , plunderers and murderers .

To a Govt. as this which doesn’t care two hoots for the woes and justifiable demands of the working class, it looking the other way in respect of these fishermen whose lives are in dire peril is unsurprising.

White Van has no mercy like its authors even on students: J’pura University student abducted and assaulted

(Lanka-e-News-03.Feb.2012,11.45PM) A Jayawardenapura University student had been abducted in a white colored Van yesterday, and then thrown on to the middle of the road after being assaulted. The victim of this criminal abduction and assault is S P Sajith who is functioning as the representative of the Main student Council.

He had been abducted on 2nd at about 11.15 in the night when he was heading for the Hostel from the University. The victim was admitted to the Kalubowila Hospital where he is receiving treatment.

Cabinet spokesman Keheliya summoned by court

(Lanka-e-News-03.Feb.2012,11.45PM) The habeas corpus writ application filed in the Appeal court requesting an order to be issued to reveal where Lalith Kumar Weeraraj and Kugan Muruganandhan are detained was taken for trial today (3) The appeal court comprising judges Ranjith Silva and Nalin Perera which examined the application ordered the respondents to appear before court on he 15th and file answers.

The respondents cited in the application are Cabinet spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, The Attorney General, Army Commander , IGP and Commanding chief in charge of Jaffna. Senior Lawyer J C Weliamuna, Lawyer Senura Abeywardena, Lawyer Ajith Kumara M P. and Lawyer Nuwan Bopage appeared on behalf of the petitioners.

Life term for Cambodia Khmer Rouge jailer Duch

3 February 2012

Cambodia’s UN-backed genocide court has rejected an appeal by Khmer Rouge jailer Duch and increased his sentence to life imprisonment.

Duch, born Kaing Guek Eav, was jailed in 2010 for his role in running a notorious prison where thousands of inmates were killed.

He had appealed on the grounds that he was a junior official following orders.

The BBC’s Guy Delauney: “The judges comprehensively demolished all of his arguments”

Duch – the first senior Khmer Rouge official to face charges before the court – was convicted of crimes against humanity in July 2010. He appealed against the verdict in March 2011.But judges rejected his claim and increased his sentence from 35 years to life.

The 69-year-old was the commander of Tuol Sleng prison, where at least 15,000 men, women and children deemed enemies of the regime were tortured and then executed in “killing fields” outside Phnom Penh.

     Full Story>>>

Sharing in Sri Lanka: Part I

Sri Lanka’s Multi Billion Rupee Commitment – Courtesy China

Southern Expressway, Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre and Hambantota Port Development Program

Friday, February 03, 2012

Sri Lanka has spent an astounding Rs. 391.7 billion on investment projects in the country in the last four years. This enormous amount of money has been spread over five projects, of which only two have been completed but are still to serve any real purpose.
All of these projects have been undertaken by Chinese firms, and have been funded by loans obtained from the Chinese state-owned Export-Import bank. Many of these loans have been taken with interest rates for long term borrowing (20 years) varying from 3% to 6%, and short term loans at an interest of 2%.

According to highly placed sources in the Finance Ministry, however, loans from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank for short term loans would have varied between 0.25% and 2%, while the interest rates for the long term loans are the same. It is believed that these loans would have come with stricter guidelines than what is being currently enforced by the Chinese. Read More »

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Sharing in Sri Lanka: Part I

Nayana and her young daughter, Sakunthala live in a small mud hut, in the middle of the jungle.

CTV NEWS VIDEO PLAYER

Karen Owen has part one of Sharing in Sri Lanka

CTV Calgary's Karen Owen went with a team from World Vision to Sri Lanka to meet some of the people who have benefitted from its programs and even more who need our help.

In part one of her series, Karen focuses on a mother and little girl whose home was destroyed by a wild elephant.

Nayana and her young daughter, Sakunthala live in a small mud hut, in the middle of the jungle.

The hut was recently rebuilt after being badly damaged by a wild elephant.

The elephant crashed right through the mud wall. Nayana and her little girl were on the other side of the wall in bed.

"My heart was pounding, my legs were shaking. I felt so weak, but I knew if I stayed on I would lose my life and my baby's so I knew I could get out of the house through the door," said Nayana through a translator.

Elephants are a big part of life in Sri Lanka. They are cultural and religious symbols, beasts of burden and tourist attractions.

The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is a safe refuge for some of Sri Lanka's majestic pachyderms and is also a popular destination for tourists and locals.

It is estimated about 250 elephants are killed every year by farmers defending their crops and villages.

Elephant lookouts dot the landscape through the jungle in Sri Lanka.

Men stay up in the lookout at night, singing, lighting torches and setting off firecrackers to scare the elephants away.

Nayana and her daughter spend their days in their new hut but the nights are spent at her grandfather's home.

Nayana is too afraid to be alone and her husband abandoned the family when Sakunthala was just a baby.

Their life is not easy and even though they have little money and no protection, Nayana has big dreams for her little girl.

"I believe she will have a very good life. I don't know how to explain it, I sense it, she's very smart and I strongly believe she will have a very good life in the future," said Nayana.

World Vision hopes to find a sponsor family for Nayana and her daughter and hundreds of other children and families who are just like them.

For more information on the Alberta campaign, visit the World Visionwebsite.

Letter on Sri Lanka to Permanent Representatives of Human Rights Council Member and Observer States

FEBRUARY 2, 2012
Call for action at the UN Human Rights Council on accountability for war time abuses in Sri Lanka
You Excellency,

We write to urge your delegation to work with other member and observer states of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) to bring the issue of accountability for wartime abuses in Sri Lanka onto the agenda of the Council during its March 2012 session. Almost three years after the end of the military conflict between the Sri Lankan government and the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the government has not kept its commitments to the people of Sri Lanka, the UN Secretary-General, and the Human Rights Council to undertake credible measures to provide justice and accountability for the widespread and serious wartime abuses.

Violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, including alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, remain unaddressed by the Sri Lankan government, even after the long-delayed report by the government’s Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC). While containing some useful recommendations, the LLRCdisregarded the worst abuses by government forces and failed to recommend measures to hold accountablegovernment and military officials responsible for abuses.

   Full Story>>>

Human Rights Study Project Visits Sri Lanka

  3 February 2012

By Michelle Carmon ’14 Assistant News Editor The 10th Cowan Fellows Human Rights Study Project (HRSP) team traveled to Sri Lanka from January 1-17, 2012. The goal of the project, which is now in its tenth year, is to promote awareness of legal issues surrounding the development and protection of human rights in foreign countries. Each year, the team of students selects a country to visit during winter break, and each team member researches a different area of human rights within that country. While in Sri Lanka, students interviewed attorneys, judges, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), individuals living inside internally displaced person camps, high-ranking government and military officials, victims of abuse, and ordinary civilians. John Akin ’13, President of HRSP, described the government’s reaction to the team’s presence: “The current government of Sri Lanka has a history and a reputation of being very unfriendly to NGOs and human rights organizations. The second day we were in the country, we were told the Ministry of Defense would like to speak with all of us, and they would be sending a car in the morning to come and get us. “They brought us into the Ministry, and we met with a number of military officials before finally meeting the Chief of National Intelligence. They wanted to know what we were doing in the country, and after speaking with us told us that we could meet with anyone we wanted, but they wanted to make sure we met with the ‘right people.’ We were very aware of the potential consequences for the people we were interviewing with after that day, and much more careful with our actions and profile in the country.” The following students participated in HRSP 10: John Akin ‘13, Clare Boronow ’12, Gabriel Hippolyte ‘13, Elizabeth Dobbins ‘13, Calleigh McRaith ’12, Jane Lee ‘13, Amanda Gray ‘12, and Lansing Lee ’13. The HRSP team will present their research later this semester and they encourage all interested students to attend. Applications for the next HRSP team will also be available for first and second year students later this spring.

'US to pressure Sri Lanka on reconciliation process'

 3 February 2012 | By Johan van Slooten (Photo by RNW)

 The United States is set to table a resolution against Sri Lanka at the next sitting of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva later this month. The Americans have voiced their concerns over human rights violations in Sri Lanka before, but so far had not taken the step of bringing it forward at the HRC.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has mentioned the option of a resolution in a letter to Sri Lanka’s External Affairs Minister G.L. Pieris, whom she will meet next month in Washington.

In March 2011, the US government already warned that Sri Lanka should do more to investigate the killing of many thousands of civilians during the final stages of the separatist war with the Tamil Tigers, which ended in 2009.

Tribunal
Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Robert Blake said last year that Sri Lanka could be hauled before an international war crimes tribunal if Sri Lanka’s own internal investigation did not meet international standards.

That investigation, carried out by the government’s own Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Committee (LLRC), was published in November, but it has since been met with international criticism. “The report was really, really bad,” says Fred Carver of the London-based Sri Lanka Campaign. “It lacked any accountability. Subsequently, the government failed to take any action. There was no next step, which is very necessary.”

Benefit of the doubt
Mr Carver is positive about America’s move to support a resolution against Sri Lanka at the HRC. “They’ve never been very critical of Sri Lanka, so this is new. So far there’s been a general feeling throughout the Western world that they give Sri Lanka the benefit of the doubt. This really would be a welcome change of opinion.”

Mr Carver warns that a failure of the reconciliation process could lead to a resumption of the civil war. “That could in turn lead to a new wave of international terrorism or money laundering in Europe. The world has an invested interest in Sri Lanka not returning to a civil war.”

Pressure
Alan Keenan of the International Crisis Group (ICG) says it’s clear that the international community is not satisfied with Sri Lanka’s steps towards a satisfactory reconciliation process. “The possible steps by the US and other countries at the HRC are a way of keeping pressure on Colombo,” he told RNW.

But he can understand why some countries – most notably Western countries – chose not to push too hard on what happened during the final stages of the Tamil war.

“If that had happened, they risked further inflaming passions in Sri Lanka,” Mr Keenan says, “with a risk of polarizing the communities and also strengthening the Rajapakse government.”

'Neo-colonialism'
President Rajapakse could then portray himself as “the victim of Western neo-colonialism trying to steal the fruits of his victory,” Mr Keenan adds.

Nevertheless, the ICG says that this fear is not a strong enough argument to allow impunity. “It’s undermined the country’s core institutions of the judiciary, police and political parties,” says Mr Keenan. “This needs to be addressed for Sri Lanka to move forward.”

Encourage Sri Lanka
David Kennedy, the spokesman for the US delegation at the HRC in Geneva, agrees: “If there is a resolution, it will be to encourage Sri Lanka to move towards reconciliation with all communities,” he told RNW. “It needs to be addressed, as it is an important human rights issue. A resolution at the HRC is just one tool to achieve that goal.”