Contagion of MaRa and NaRa pollutes South and makes it Jara
Monday 16 of July 2012
(Lanka-e-News-15.July.2012, 11.55PM) Yet another member of the Tangalla Municipal council which has earned a disrepute as the worst corrupt Council of Sri Lanka has been arrested by the police in connection with a robbery of goods from a rented house of a foreigner in the area. 

It is noteworthy , the Chairman of this same Council is presently in remand following the alleged murder of the fiancé of a foreign lady on whom rape was also committed. It is most surprising that this Chairman appears for the Council activities while he is in remand custody.

UPFA member of the Tangalla Council, Anjana Liyanage is in custody following charges of rape committed on a girl.

Meanwhile , the parents of the teenage girl who was raped along with the group of businessmen is receiving death threats . They have made a complaint to the Matara police. In this connection 22 suspects were taken into custody while more are being searched by the police for arrest. The relatives of the prime suspect in this rape has been making these death threats to the victim’s family. They have threatened that as soon as the suspect comes out , the entire family including the parents , and other children will be killed.

Akuressa UC Chairman Sunil and his relative who were remanded in connection with raping a girl are also having all the Royal comforts in prison , it is learnt.

If we are to reveal the character of Sunil , he is the worst animal in human form to whom perverted sex exploits is his favorite occupation not his official duties ,at the expense of young innocent girls. He enjoys having orgies. Recently , when celebrating his sex orgy with the 100th victim he had invited the high ruing police officers and businessmen of the area who have gladly partcicipated.
Meanwhile , at the Weeraketiya local Council, the members have climbed on the chairs and mounted opposition against the Chairman. There had also been fisticuffs between the Chairman and Vice chairman, reports say.

What is most significant to note is all these chairmen ,Vice chairmen and members of the local bodies of the South are from where the President hails are overflowing with sinister and disgraceful activities , according to reports. It is also specially noteworthy that all these culprits and rapists are stooges of the MaRa regime or activists and leaders of the Nil Balakaya better k

Debate brewing over Sri Lanka tea blending plans

   July 15, 2012,

COLOMBO (AFP) - Sri Lanka's tea industry is deeply divided over plans to boost earnings by importing cheaper leaves for blending and re-export, over fears the changes could water down the "Pure Ceylon" brand.

Pure Ceylon -- using the country's colonial-era name -- is to tea what single malt is to whisky, according to some aficionados, with single-origin Sri Lankan tea costing as much as twice that of a multi-origin tea.

The country has long been a leading exporter of the commodity, but now the Tea Exporters Association (TEA) wants to import leaves from countries like Kenya, Vietnam and Indonesia, and blend them with higher quality local produce.

TEA members, who make up more than 80 percent of Sri Lanka's tea exports, say the island should harness its local blending expertise and reclaim its role as a tea hub, a position being eroded by competition from Gulf nations.

They argue that the high quality and the correspondingly high prices have placed "Pure Ceylon Tea" beyond the reach of the lucrative mass market, even if the industry enjoys an enviable brand reputation.

"We lose out because our tea is too expensive," says Niraj de Mel, head of TEA. "We don't have a (cheaper) tea that can compete in the mass market."

De Mel argues that Sri Lanka could almost double its exports of 300 million kilos (660 million pounds) annually by taking a "realistic" view of the world market and blending its tea with cheaper imports.

Sri Lanka does not currently allow tea imports for blending, but in May the official Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB) said a panel was investigating options.

The announcement sparked an intense debate with "purists" and "realists" fighting it out in the press and on social media.

SLTB chief Janaki Kuruppu told AFP that no final decision had been taken and that a balance needed to be stuck.

"We are carefully studying the proposals and the objective is to increase overall revenue while protecting our brand image," he said.

Purists, such as leading Sri Lanka tea maker Herman Gunaratne, fear blending with cheap teas will undermine the industry in the long term and say the island must focus on the luxury end of the market.

"We are known for our top quality tea," says Gunaratne. "Why should we dilute our image?"

At a tea plantation in the southern village of Ahangama, Gunaratne makes an exotic range of tea that can fetch up to $2,000 a kilogramme, some of which ends up on the shelves of the top-end Mariage Freres tea emporium in Paris.

"The way forward is not blending, but manufacture. We must make more expensive tea," he says.

Gunaratne worries that blending with East Asian teas could damage a reputation built up over 150 years.

Tea is not indigenous to Sri Lanka, but after a Scotsman named James Taylor planted the first tea bush -- the Camellia Sinensis in 1849 -- tea became a primary export and the nation's main foreign exchange earner.

Sri Lanka conducts the world's largest weekly tea auction where five to six million kilos change hands, but turning the high-quality tea into humble and affordable tea bags is mostly done abroad by foreign companies.

Sri Lanka's stance prompted Unilever to drop plans in the late 1990s for a factory in Sri Lanka and it instead set up its Lipton tea bagging plant in Dubai where they blend teas from East Africa and Asia -- including Sri Lanka.

The factory currently produces 1.1 million bags of tea an hour and is set to be the world's biggest plant by 2015.

Sri Lanka's export lobby argues that the country's refusal to import leaves is only helping to further establish Dubai as a tea hub.

Sri Lankan tea brand Dilmah, which competes head-on with Lipton and other multinationals, is one of those fiercely resisting any moves to relax government policy.

"The quality of Ceylon tea and its image as the world¹s finest tea will be irreparably tarnished if free importation of black tea (for blending) is permitted," says Dilmah director Malik Fernando.

As things stand, millions of kilogrammes of Sri Lanka tea are blended abroad and many argue that the island could have better control over the product if the blending were done at home.

"We want to get the benefit of a large tea industry in Sri Lanka," says Rohan Fernando, chairman of HVA Lanka Exports.

"If we ban imports and don't allow the industry to develop, then it will go somewhere else."

Understanding Sri Lankan Version Of Elections – A New Dimension

By JC Weliamuna -July 16, 2012 

By JC Weliamuna -

JC Weliamuna

Another round of elections has been fixed and the country is turned into election mode. Elections are said to be a benchmark of democracy, and then why are we bothered when more and more elections are held? More and more elections, have we correspondingly increased democracy in Sri Lanka? What does an election mean and how does it help a democratic framework in a country? Is there anything new in Sri Lankan form of elections? Where are we heading to?  This article is dedicated to find some answers to these issues.

Concept of elections and Universal Suffrage

“Election” has been an immeasurable topic,   studied and analyzed from different disciplines. It has an impact directly on politics, economics and legal sphere and it is also part of international law. For example, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights – Article 25 guarantees “right to vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections, which shall be universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot, guaranteeing free expression of the will of the electors”.

Encyclopedia Britannica defines “election” as a formal decision making process, by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office”. They are, however, not limited to electing of representatives and officers in Executive capacity or Legislature;  in some countries even judicial officers are elected. Nevertheless, all categories of elections, including Presidential, Parliamentary, Provincial Councils and local authorities are within the legal meaning of elections.

Historically, elections were intended to elect “representatives” for oligarchic institutions. In other words, through elections, rulers were elected but “right to vote and to be elected” was limited to people distinguished by royalty, family ties, military control and wealth. That was the evolution of elections but with the emergence of the concept of suffrage, the electoral process became a totally different concept.  Suffrage is basically a question of who is entitled to vote, which is a central issue of elections.  We have witnessed historic movements of development of suffrage from a” limited group” to a “larger group” and then to include all citizens, beyond a certain age. In order to be clear, we must also not forget that there is a concept called “universal or adult suffrage”, which consists of the right to vote by all adult citizens; and where universal suffrage is accepted, the right to vote in not restricted by race, sex, belief, sexual orientation, gender, social status and wealth. Reportedly, it was in France, in 1792, that universal male suffrage was first practiced and in 1913, Norway enjoyed first full universal suffrage including for women. No far behind, in 1931 Ceylon recognized universal franchise for all above the age of 21.

Elections are generally associated with democracy and there is also a misconception that democracy resembles elections. This narrow view is no longer valid, particularly where many despotic rulers manipulate the electoral process to perpetuate their authoritarian regimes.  Even many democratic countries failed to adhere to the principles of democracy in the electoral process. Therefore, election is a concept that is not always synonymous with democracy but democracy requires, among others, the conduct of genuine, periodic, free and fair elections.   In modern democracy, what happens in between elections is as important as the election itself.

Concept of Elections in Sri Lankan Law      Read More

Sri Lankan military officers in Tamil Nadu spark protests

Chennai: Close on the heels of the recent objection raised by Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa to the training of Sri Lankan airmen at the Indian Air Force station in Tambaram, Chennai, two Lankan officers - Rear Admiral SN Ranasinghe and Major General Jayasularaaga Dias - have arrived at the hill station of Coonoor, sparking protests.  

The officers are part of a 25-member delegation from 10 countries for a one day programme at the Defence Services Staff College. 

The officers, who landed in Tamil Nadu on Sunday evening, have already got a taste of the strong anti-Lankan sentiment in Chennai. 25 MDMK workers attempted to take out a march to the Gateway hotel, where the visitors are staying, and were arrested by the police. There is heavy police deployment outside the hotel as a few Tamil outfits are expected to stage demonstrations on Monday in a bid to prevent the officers from attending the conference.

Also Read

• No training for Sri Lankan air force men anywhere in India, demands Jayalalithaa

Recently, bowing to pressure from the Tamil Nadu chief minister, as well as UPA ally the DMK, MDMK and PMK, the Indian Defence Ministry ordered the Lankan Air Force trainees to be moved out of the state. Ms Jayalalithaa had also accused the centre of "pussyfooting" over the issue instead of "pouncing on Sri Lanka like a tiger."

The presence of the two officers is bound to result in more angry statements released by political parties in Tamil Nadu. Interestingly, Ms Jayalalithaa is camping at Kodanad, less than 50 kms from the venue of the conference.

Northern Province Election And The PSC

By Sumanasiri Liyanage -

Prof. Sumanasiri Liyanage

Giving an interview to an Indian national newspaper based in Chennai, The Hindu, appears to have become a perennial practice of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. In this interview, (http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article3624948.ece) he has revealed that “We want to hold elections in September 2013. We are working towards it [the elections] in a systematic manner.” President Rajapaksa who has great liking for elections at whatever level and who has initiated recently preponing three provincial elections including the election of the war-ravaged Eastern Province has tried time and again since May 2009 to postpone the elections to the Northern PC giving multiple excuses. Of course one may easily find adequate reasons for the postponement of election in an area where a ‘dirty’ war was fought for nearly 30 years. Nonetheless, one of the principal measures that has been suggested to take to move in the direction of normalization is holding democratic elections even the situation is not totally ripe for such practices. President Rajapaksa was not hesitant to hold elections in the Eastern Province provincial council in spite of the objection and boycott of the election by Tamil National Alliance. In my opinion, it worked well although the infamous Governor of the Eastern Province has continuously deployed constitutional tactics to disrupt the working of the democratically elected provincial council.

Read More

Govt. maintains focus on diplomatic battles against external forces

Sunday, July 15, 2012
= Minister Samarasinghe finalises report on Lanka's HR record but India's response still uncertain
= Victory likely for UPFA in two provinces, but EPC's fate in balance

For a second week in succession, matters relating to the conduct of the country’s foreign policy preoccupied the Government.
Last Sunday, Sri Lanka’s envoys overseas wrapped up a two-day workshop that helped them learn the new thinking of the UPFA leaders with regard to a multitude of issues related to external relations. Most emphasis was on matters related to economic development. If there were critical issues, like for example, the upcoming sessions of the UN Human Rights Council where a report from Sri Lanka will be discussed under Universal Periodic Review, there was no detailed discussion on them. Yet, some envoys did raise political issues of lesser significance.
Last Sunday’s revelations in these columns about envoys being called upon to share rooms and pay a minimal Rs 3,000 for accommodation was to draw the attention of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He had addressed them only a day earlier. Rajapaksa remained at the Air Force Commander’s bungalow at the Diyalatawa military cantonment where he had received a briefing of the day’s media coverage.
Unaware of what was to follow, External Affairs Ministry Secretary Karunatilleke Amunugama announced that envoys who had to share rooms would have to pay US$ 100 or around Rs. 13,376 and those wanting single rooms US$ 200 or around Rs. 26,752. He said his Ministry would make the payment and it would be individually recovered thereafter.

.The extended tour took the weary diplomats to Katunayake and Gampaha. Pic by N. Kumarasinghe

Thereafter, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence spoke on the theme “Project Sri Lanka – Essence of Reconciliation.”
Just then envoys were surprised to see President Rajapaksa turn up. He walked up to the podium and told envoys that before leaving for Colombo he wanted to thank them for honouring his invitation and coming over to Sri Lanka.
Thereafter, EAM Secretary Amunugama announced that President Rajapaksa had said that the government would meet the accommodation costs of the envoys. However, he said, it was mandatory for the participants to resume the cross country tour when the workshop ends.
Defence Secretary Rajapaksa noted, “It is important that the heads of mission and staff of Sri Lanka’s high commissions and embassies in other nations are fully aware of this, because of the challenges we face in the global arena today. Although the benefit of peace is evident to all Sri Lankans, we have seen that some sections of the international community have been largely critical on issues relating to Sri Lanka in the recent past. Countering this criticism is a key national priority.
“I believe there are several reasons for this criticism. These include the work of the LTTE’s international propaganda machine; the active Tamil vote base in certain countries; undue fear in some capitals about the influence of China in Sri Lanka; the actions of some international human rights organisations; and a certain degree of cynicism about the Government’s genuine efforts to address the issues of the Tamil community. Whilst appreciating the hard work of several ambassadors and high commissioners in countering this criticism, I wish to stress that more needs to be done. The heads of mission and staff of our embassies and high commissions around the world must counter this anti-Sri Lanka propaganda with facts. They must make sure that the true picture about what is happening here dominates the dialogue, instead of the propaganda of those who wish to harm our nation.”

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Mervyn makes good his threat : remands Madawala - prefers garbage to ‘mud curry’Monday 16 of July 2012

(Lanka-e-News-15.July.2012, 11.55PM) Following the public and blatant threats directed by Minister Mervyn Silva by an announcement made via the TV channels against the Kelaniya local body Chairman and its members , the same Mervyn Silva the notorious ‘vermin’ Silva has made good his threat by getting a member arrested by the police on a frame up. The conflict between Mervyn and the members of the Council was based on a garbage clearing issue , though Mervyn has never been a direct garbage cleaner. The unloading of garbage at the earlier place was obstructed by Mervyn . Consequently , the whole of Kelaniya became a place of accumulation of garbage and the stench created because of Mervyn was unbearable to the whole of Kelaniya.. The Kelaniya local body which was driven into difficulties thereby , held discussions with the City development authority, and got ready to dump the garbage at a place in Manelgama. A court order was also obtained . According to the residents of the area , it is Mervyn Silva who was not a direct garbage cleaner was the one who created all the garbage problems and stench. When this arrangement was being made ,again Minister Mervyn who has an affinity for garbage deals has obstructed the dumping of garbage at Manelgama. When Manelgama residents , the police and the local body members held discussions today (14) , to resolve this issue , Mervyn’s garbage traits had prompted him to use his henchmen and stooges to scream and stage venomous protests causing disruptions . The member who objected to this obstruction and stood up to give answers was Hasitha Madawala .The latter is a target of attack of Mervyn. The member explained that a court order has been obtained to dump garbage at Manelgama on condition that it shall be covered up thereafter. Subsequent to this , there arose a huge uproarious situation .At that moment DIG Anura Senanayake who was there had arrested the Alliance member , Hasitha Madawala, enemy of Mervyn alleging that he had threatened a civilian who was there. Since it was a Saturday the member could not be released on bail , and had been remanded until the 16th. By the Magistrate . Anura Senanayake strips shamelessly to display his true deformed form under the uniform It is very clear that this whole drama was orchestrated on the 14th by Mervyn Silva, as confirmed by his open threat made by him the previous day via the TV channel . He threateningly said ‘ Madawala means a mada curry (mud curry) who is bathed in mud. Everyone who opposes me is corrupt. I am having the rosary in my hand.. The day is fast coming when I have to throw the rosary away. Thereafter they will only get a bus ticket’. In the picture is Mervyn Silva the cleaned garbage self proclaimed non corrupt Minister in embrace with his enemy ‘mud curry’

Impossible Fairy Tales About The Police

By Laksiri Fernando -July 15, 2012 

By Kishali Pinto-Jayawardena -

Kishali Pinto-Jayawardena

It is quite inane for government officials to say that no politician influences the police. Even in this land of impossible fairy tales, with proposed airports, cricket stadiums and expressways jostling each other in flagrant mockery of commonsense while basic governance flounders from the management of the economy, the pitiable state of education and the rampant rapes of children, such claims can only evoke considerable hilarity.

Extreme degeneration of law and order

The most recent such assertion is made by Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s brother, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa who vehemently insists that the Inspector General of Police has been afforded the full reach of the law to arrest the culprits responsible for crime. He of course, denies that there is a high crime rate in the country.

These unconvincing disclaimers struck me even more forcibly than normal a few days ago when two brothers from the South, Muslim in ethnicity, came desperately seeking legal advice regarding a sequence of events that should not surprise anyone familiar with similar stories. Nevertheless these accounts still give rise to shock and awe at the extreme level of degeneration of law and order that we can see.

No ‘terrorists’ were involved here, depriving the police of a convenient excuse. Instead, this was a simple take of absolute greed illustrating yet again the precise nexus between the underworld, sections of the police and powerful politicians.

Regular police officers ‘mortally afraid to interfere’   Read More

A Damning Record

By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema-Sunday, July 15, 2012

The government is considering the further strengthening of laws on child abuse and rape.

The complaints on the rape of under aged girls continue to increase with another case of a girl being raped over a period of two days is reported from Nawalapitiya.
The 15 year old girl from Ovitamahakumbhura in Nawalapitiya had been reported missing by her family on July 4th.
Fathima (name changed) had been picked up by a known three wheeler driver in the area at
a round 10 p.m. on the 2nd of this month when she had gone to the boutique to buy a loaf of bread.
The three wheeler driver, 37 year old Mohomad Zainur Mohomad Kahir had told Fathima that her mother wanted her to go to the town with him to fetch some commodities she had purchased earlier in the day.
Instead of going to the town, Kahir had taken the girl to a rest house in Nawalapitiya called Rambukpitiya Rest.
Once at the rest house, Kahir had taken a room and 30 year old businessman Mubarak Mohomad had joined them.
The two of them had then raped the girl at the rest house over a period of two days.
After two days, on the 5th, Fathima had been threatened and dropped off in the Nawalapitiya town.
She had then found her way to the Nawalapitiya Police and the police had informed her mother since she was reported missing to the police by her family the previous day.
After Fathima had complained to the police about what had happened, she was taken to the Nawalapitiya Hospital for medical treatment.
The Nawalapitiya Police had arrested three persons in connection with the Fathima’s rape case.
The police have arrested Kahir, Mubarak Mohomad and the 31 years old owner of the rest house, Mahamanthakalage Prabath Madhushan for aiding the rape of an under aged girl.
The suspects were remanded by the Nawalapitiya Magistrate and were to be presented before courts again on the 12th.
However, Fathima’s rape is one in the many hundreds of such cases that have been reported to the police this year.
Police records have revealed that over 700 incidents of rape or abuse of children have been reported during the first six months of this year, while over 900 complaints have been received of women and child rape/abuse cases. Last year, the police have recorded over 1,700 incidents of rape and abuse involving children and women, of which around 1,160 were child abuse and rape cases.
In 2010, 1,089 rape cases of children under 16 years and 235 rape cases of women and 571 grievous sexual harassment cases of children were recorded by the police.
These damning statistics have show an increase in the number of child rape and abuse cases recorded from all parts of the country.
The government meanwhile says it is considering the further strengthening of laws on child abuse and rape.
Cabinet Spokesperson and Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that child abuse and rape were serious issues that need to be addressed.
He observed that stern laws need to be enforced to prevent incidents of child abuse and rape from increasing further.
The government believes that stern laws would create a fear among potential abusers as wells as the society on the whole.
Nevertheless, the government is yet to take any concrete steps with regard to strengthening the laws against rapists and abusers.

IFJ Love Hana And Hate Frederica, So No Statements On Ceylon Today And Sunday Leader Issues

By Colombo Telegraph -July 14, 2012

Colombo Telegraph exclusively learns that the silence of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) on key media freedom issues including the Defence Secretary’s recent tirade against the Sunday Leader Editor and the sacking of Ceylon Today Editor in Chief Lalith Allahakkoon is a direct result of petty personal clashes and internecine politics within the media activist fraternity and individual journalists.

Frederica Jansz, editor-in-chief of the Sunday Leader (center)IFJ full member FMETU Secretary Dhramasiri Lankapeli (Far right) Sri Lankan journalists, activists and opposition lawmakers have staged a protest against media suppression and intimidation after she received a death threat from the president’s brother.

As the Sri Lankan media faces a new wave of media clampdowns and renewed intimidation from powerful elements within the Sri Lankan government, IFJ and its affiliate media activist groups are too deeply embroiled in internal politics and agenda pushing to effectively represent endangered scribes and media organizations in the country.

The Colombo Telegraph learnt that in a conversation with Uvindu Kurukulasuriya, a former Convenor of the Free Media Movement, South Asia Project Manager for IFJ, Sukumar Muralidharan said his organization would not be issuing a statement condemning the Defence Secretary’s recent tirade against Sunday Leader Editor Fredrica Jansz until the journalist patched up her relationship with the FMM and certain media activist groups in Colombo. “They (Sunday Leader) need to patch up their relationship and we cannot get involved in something that could alienate us from the affiliates,” he said.

Muralidharan was referring to the Free Media Movement of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association which are affiliates of the IFJ.

“This is the same reason why we did not say anything on the Ceylon Today matter,” Muralidharan added. “Beyond a point, when there are serious disagreements between local groups, we cannot take a stand one way or the other,” he said, adding, “it only makes things worse.”

The Sunday Leader has recently published articles criticizing the alleged corruption of the FMM and the IFJ, while Hana Ibrahim, who profited directly from Allahakoon’s sacking by being appointed Editor in Chief of Ceylon Today, was a trustee of the FMM, contributor to the IFJ and Sri Lanka Representative for the New York based Committee to Protect Journalists. Following a statement released by the FMM on Allahakkoon’s sacking, Ibrahim tendered her resignation to the FMM. Reports say she made consistent efforts to prevent the FMM from issuing a statement in reaction to her predecessor’s sacking and resigned when massive pressure from civil society and other sections of the media forced the group to make a statement, one week after the incident.

Terror, Terrorists and Terrorizing are still here
Sunday 15 July 2012
All democratic organizations vehemently condemned the unlawful killing of political prisoner Nimalaruban, without any trial, at the Vauniya prison.  Everybody in the north as well as in the south understands that he and other prisoners were severely assaulted and beaten with iron rods by the police and others, while they were under the supervision of defence secretary. Post-mortem has become a mockery with the “Communist” Minister of Prisons jumping the verdict. My former comrade has done better than Beria. As highlighted previously on numerous occasions, in this column, Lankan political and military leadership continues to violate the basic human rights of the Tamil people in Lanka with total impunity. This state terror is now spreading in Sinhala areas too. Even after the recent UNHRC resolution and the subsequent assurances given by the Lankan delegations to the global powers, the real ground situation has not changed. Liberal organizations and such leaders claim that unless the international community takes a strong stand and isolates Lanka from international forums, there would not be any change in the human rights situation on the ground. They continuously and vehemently call upon the global powers to immediately condemn this kind of unlawful custodial killings and initiate diplomatic moves to expel Lanka from the Commonwealth. Now they request world powers to take up this unlawful killing at the forthcoming specific Human Rights Review session on Lanka, in Geneva. Unfortunately, Liberalism is impotent to day to go further than formal protest. So called liberal democracy is limited by the whims and fancies of the ruling elites of world powers. Mahinda follows the socio economics of world masters; hence is inevitably shielded by them. UN is incapable of positive action when America, India and others who yield power are to defend the villain. The Protest of the Opposition, Vipaksaye Virodhaya-VV- is the alternative left for those who are willing to do something positive against this villainy of the regime of madness. Terror of the regime of madness can strike you at any moment. It has threatened union leaders, media personnel, political opponents and critical artistes. It was in this background the VV meeting was held at Beruwala on July 6th.

Green flag stood for rigidity     Full Story>>>

Arumugan Thondaman, Mano Ganesan, Radha Krishnan join hands for Sabaragamuwa PC

Saturday, 14 July 2012

CWC leader minister Arumugan Thondaman and DPF leader Mano Ganesan met urgently today in Colombo and decided to field a common list of candidates for Ratnapura and Kegalle districts for Sabaragamuwa PC elections.

The common list will consist candidates from Ceylon Workers Congress, Democratic People’s Front and Up-Country People’s Front under CWC’s cockerel symbol.

The common list is to seek Tamil democratic representation in Sabaragamuwa provincial council said, Mano Ganesan. He also said that UPF led by Radha Krishnan MP and Mrs. Chandrasekeran has also extended support to this move.

He further said that, DPF being a vibrant party in the opposition will continue to oppose the government. We will continue to work with UNP, NSSP and USP and other opposition parties. We recognize the participations of CWC and UPF in the government. Our join exercise is only to seek Tamil democratic representation.

Under the current electoral system, we have reasonable opportunity to obtain our representation only if we go together beyond party lines.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa – O Tempora O Mores

July 14, 2012

By Frederica Jansz -

Frederica Jansz

There is no difference or should be none between human beings. But, is that a reality in Sri Lanka? No. Certainly not. The most recent incident where Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Defense Secretary lost his temper and used foul language brought home some truths about human behaviour, at least from some sections of our people.
The language and tone of the delivery evoked a huge outcry from journalists across the civilized world. The international press and electronic media were aghast and responded immediately. Just like humans and even animals who help each other to face, for example, a harsh winter. But, the local media true to form remained mum.  Why? We would leave that to you readers to come to your own judgment.
At the expense of quoting Thomas Niemoller ad nauseum, fellow journalists consider those words; “And then they came for me…”.  It could and will be you next. That is certain. Your silence is telling.
That the occupant of high public office in our land could utter such foul, lewd and disgusting words: indeed the language of the gutter – speaks volumes on the depths to which Sri Lanka has sunk.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa may have or did indeed play a pivotal role in winning the war for which we all remain grateful – this however does not give him the prerogative to believe that we remain subjugated – mere serfs – who continue to live in a land where he reigns as Lord of the Manor.
It is indeed unbecoming and disgraceful of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a public servant, to have uttered the threats he did against this newspaper, and today we wish to reiterate our position which we did during his hysterical ranting that The Sunday Leader will not be cowed by them.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa more than any other public servant has paid lip service to the building of a decent society in Sri Lanka. It is all the more shocking then, that he should conduct himself in such a low manner.
Given the office he holds, we have no doubt it is well within his power to do us harm, whether or not through the abuse of the state machinery that lies at his disposal. We have therefore no choice but to give his threats the widest possible publicity in the hope that this will persuade him to desist from the course of action he may contemplate, to eliminate the Editor of this newspaper or do physical harm.
Rajapaksa knows better than anyone that The Sunday Leader has consistently been critical of consecutive regimes not for partisan reasons but to uphold the democratic values essential to our society.  Yet, none of his predecessors have ever stooped to the level he has.
When we contacted him last week it was purely to ascertain if he was aware that the management at SriLankan Airlines had taken a decision to change a wide bodied A340 scheduled to fly to Zurich on Friday July 13, to a smaller A330,  in order to accommodate a pilot who he himself admitted “is a close friend”, to bring down a puppy dog for him from Zurich.  The change in aircraft would have resulted in 56 passengers having to be off-loaded costing the state owned airline hundreds of thousands of rupees.
He was called by The Sunday Leader not with any intention to defame him or otherwise but merely to clarify what we had been told by sources within SriLankan Airlines.  Instead, of responding with civility he resorted to abuse using foul language and threats.
Our second telephone call to him on Friday July 6, was to tell him that we had since decided not to carry this story following a telephone conversation we were told that had taken place between a confidante to the President and himself.  Rajapaksa had maintained he knew nothing of a flight schedule change and would “fly the dog down on another airline” if this was indeed the case.  The reason for the second telephone call was to tell him that The Sunday Leader would not carry the story but it was NOT because he had threatened its Editor the previous evening.
He however, again turned abusive and used the most foul, lewd and disgusting language, going so far as to say ninety percent of the people in Sri Lanka wanted the Editor of this newspaper dead.
Chilling words indeed, given that it is only a mere three years since its previous Editor was murdered in broad daylight and his killers continue to roam free.       He further accused us of accepting “monies” from the US Ambassador, NGOs and Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu – Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Alternatives.  Rajapaksa should know better than anyone that The Sunday Leader is not one to be swayed by third parties. Indeed, when there is news that is in the national interest, be assured that nothing will prevent The Sunday Leader from publishing it. We urge Gotabaya Rajapaksa, even now, to respect the office he holds, and to conduct himself with the dignity and decorum the people of Sri Lanka have a right to expect of him. It does not become his brother the President nor him that he should threaten journalists or indeed, plot violence against them.

The Sunday Leader Editorial

Repeal the constitution, write another


Sunday 15 July 2012

Perish, pro-Prabhakaran Tamil nationalism...

The present constitution must be repealed and replaced by a new instrument founded on democratic principles; the state must be transformed, secularism enshrined and minority rights guaranteed. Nothing less can be the left’s foundational position, notwithstanding tactical compromises that may need to be made along the way for temporary alliances. The goal of the democratic revolution is bourgeois democracy and a unified nation state: that is, guaranteeing democratic rights and freedoms, anchoring the division of power between the legislative, executive and judicial, making the repressive apparatus of the state (military and police) subservient to the public interest, guaranteeing the rights of minorities, and unifying the national market. 
Unless and until we are well on the way along this road Lanka cannot be said to be a democratic nation in any serious sense. We have made progress in consolidating a national market but on all the other counts Lanka has slid back since independence from the British Raj in 1948. India, despite hideous shortcomings, is ahead in fulfilling these democratic tasks. All Lankan governments have been opponents of democracy but none has been as brazen, open and repressive as the Mahinda Rajapaksa UPFA regime. The LSSP, CP and DLFP leaderships are deeply and inextricably woven into this fabric, hence this call for a left programme is not addressed to them; that would be a waste of time.
This letter is the fifth and final in my offerings towards drafting a programme for the left, but it keeps the door open for bold liberals and democrats. Previous letters dealt with an overview, economic policy, industry, and the rural sector, foreign investment and services. 

The nature of the state       Full Story>>>

Channel 4 hammers India over "war crimes’’ in Jammu and Kashmir

July 14, 2012,
By Shamindra Ferdinando

UK media outfit, Channel 4 pursuing international war crimes inquiry targeting Sri Lanka over accountability issues during Eeelam War IV has now accused India of war crimes in Jammu and Kashmir.

The hour-long TV documentary, ‘Kashmir’s torture trail’ telecast late Tuesday lashed out at India over atrocities committed by its troops, while UK’s Guardian newspaper, too, attacked the Indian government also on the same issue.

Last year, both India and Sri Lanka were lambasted by some UK MPs during a debate, which dealt with human rights situation in the Indian sub continent.

A senior GoSL spokesman told The Sunday Island that the unprecedented attack on India meant that the media could be manipulated by interested parties.

The official alleged that the Channel 4 attack on Sri Lanka had been prompted by influential Tamil Diaspora and it wouldn’t too, difficult to identify those behind the latest documentary.

 Those demanding an international war crimes inquiry on the basis of unsubstantiated allegations made by Channel 4, couldn’t turn a blind eye to the latest revelations made by the same channel, he said.

In fact, it would be interesting to know the reaction of the British foreign office which, in the immediate aftermath of the telecasting of ``Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields’’ in June 2011 warned Sri Lanka of dire consequences unless it investigated war crimes.

The UK is yet to respond to Channel 4 allegations against India. Analysts noted that the latest UK human rights report, too, avoided commenting on India’s human rights record, though two senior UN officials lambasted India over rights violations.

India is a key member of the 47-member UNHRC divided into five regional groups. India voted for US-led resolution targeting Sri Lanka at the 19th sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions in Geneva last February.

Diplomatic and political sources, based both in Colombo and Geneva, said that UN demand that India abolish the National Security Act, the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, and the Unlawful Activities Act etc highlighted the insensitivity of those in the UN system.

Addressing the 19th sessions of the UNHRC Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders, Margaret Sekaggya accused India of failing to implement existing law instruments. The former Ugandan judicial officer alleged that some of the relevant Indian laws were out-dated and not in conformity with international human rights standards.

The assessment was based on a visit Sekaggya undertook from January 10 to 21 last year.

India also came under fire for targeting journalists. The UN official went to the extent of accusing the judiciary and human rights commissions, both at the central and state level of failing to do their duty. She asserted that the judiciary and human rights commissions needed to do much more to ensure a safe and conducive environment for defenders.

The UN also recommended that the ‘highest authorities of the state’ recognise the importance and legitimacy of the work and work accordingly.

Sekaggya said that Indian security forces, police and intelligence agencies should be made aware of and trained in the role and rights of human rights defenders. She stressed the need to train Indian forces on international human rights standards to ensure they comply with required standards. 

Sources said that it would be important to establish how the Channel 4 production team had been in the Kashmir valley at the time of last year’s stone-pelting incidents in which over 100 youths were killed.

Many an eyebrow has been raised over the possibility of the production team having prior information as regards the planned protests, which led to killings.

Violent Rulers; Violent Mores; Violent Nations

July 14, 2012
By Tisaranee Gunasekara -

Gotabaya

“People will kill you!!! People hate you!!! They will kill you!!!”
Gotabaya Rajapaksa to Frederica Jansz (The Sunday Leader – 8.7.2012)

“Language reveals all”.
Viktor Klemperer 
(The Language of the Third Reich)

In post-war Sri Lanka, violence is everywhere.
Over 700 children were raped/abused in the first six months of 2012 – a horrendous rate of four a day. Murders (including custodial murders) are so common they barely make the news. In post-war Sri Lanka, violence is becoming the method-of-choice to resolve a conflict, fulfil a desire, deal with an opponent, enrich oneself or just vent out.
The extent to which the virus of violence has infused the national-bloodstream can be gleaned from two recent outbursts of intra-Buddhist conflict. On both occasions mob-violence was used to ‘resolve’ a ‘religious’ dispute, with ‘true Buddhists’ assaulting ‘false Buddhists’. The rights and the wrongs of either case is immaterial; what is revealing is that self-proclaimed adherents of Buddhism, a teaching premised on absolute non-violence, had no compunction whatsoever in using violence to settle a doctrinal disagreement.
These violent outbursts were regarded with near-indifference by religious and political leaders (including the JHU, which believes, against all evidence, that monks can bring morality and civility into politics); and by society.

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