Main Tamil party in Sri Lanka says no deal on political talks

Call to abolish the 13th amendment The venerable Elle Gunawansa thera convened a news conference today calling for the abolition of the 13thamendment to the constitution.                               An exclusive interview with TNA leader R Sampanthan: “I cannot go to the PSC with a clear conscience unless I have a commitment from Mahinda’’ Main Tamil party in Sri Lanka says no deal on political talks By Agencies-2012-10-16  Sri Lanka’s main minority Tamil political party, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), on Tuesday said it has not reached an agreement on resuming political talks with the government. TNA legislator Suresh Premachandran told Xinhua that there are still pending issues which need to be addressed before talks can resume with the Sri Lankan government aimed at reaching a political solution for the Tamils. Talks between the government and the TNA have remained stalled since late last year after the government insisted that the TNA join a parliamentary process to discuss the political solution with other political parties. The TNA refused to be part of the parliament select committee until an agreement was reached in the talks with the government. Earlier this week there were reports the TNA will resume talks with the government after a TNA delegation had visited India and met the Indian prime minister as well as other Indian officials. “No, that’s not true. We have not decided to resume talks or take part in the parliament select committee,” Premachandran said. India had urged the TNA and the Sri Lankan government to resume dialogue in order address the root cause of a 30-year war between the Tamil Tiger rebels and the Sri Lankan military. The rebels were defeated in 2009 and subsequently talks were initiated between the government and the TNA, mostly as a result of pressure exerted by India. Premachandran said that during the visit to India last week, the TNA had raised concerns over the continued military occupation of civilian lands in the north of Sri Lanka despite the end of the war. The TNA is demanding the full restoration of civil administration in the north which faces the brunt of the 30-year war.

Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Political Survival And Security Of India Depends On Revoking 13th Amendment – OpEd

By Shenali Waduge-October 15, 2012

India’s fragile federal status predicts a possible eventual breakup of India similar to that of the Soviet Union. This spells a national security concern for both India and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s armed forces eliminated the initial possibility securing Sri Lanka’s security and that of India. Why should India want to commit hara-kiri by continuing to encourage the eelaam slogan bypassing the possible dangers thinking it can handle worst case scenario of annexing Sri Lanka? Realizing the dangers of India’s entire Southern stretch falling into external hands if not protected, India must first protect its turf before exploring annexing endeavors. As for President Rajapakse it is in his interest to revoke the 13th amendment for the majority block vote will back him so long as he protects Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and unitary status. That is a powerful backing – one that President should not turn his back upon.

Why Does India Want 13a And Devolution?

India – Sri Lanka Relations

India forced Sri Lanka to sign the Indo-Lanka Accord. Sri Lanka was made to amend its constitution and introduce an Indian-style Provincial Council system and merge the North and east provinces to create an ethnic-based minority rule that would help India’s later objectives. With all these major changes already introduced what is all this nonsense about implementing the 13a – it is already implemented. So what is India not telling us?

Is it only India’s interest in Sri Lanka’s Tamils that makes India seeks assurance to “implement” the 13th amendment and devolution? Why would a powerful Central Government wish to take pains to appease Tamil Nadu – just another state of India? From the manner Tamil Nadu politicians are influenced is it not a dangerous scenario. No one expects State Governments to dictate to the Central Government and we certainly don’t take too kindly to being caught in between this tussle.

Have we failed to convey to India the dangers of separatism in Sri Lanka or does India want to have Sri Lanka separate ignoring that the plan is to actually separate India – Sri Lanka is just a pebble to test the water!

Sri Lanka did not ask for Provincial Council system – it was India that decided. Prabakaran had to consent because he was in India and was apprehensive of his future had he not given his consent. 13a was discarded by Prabakaran and therefore there should be no reason why Tamils should favor Provincial councils or the 13a.

READ MORE>>>

Radovan Karadzic denies Bosnia war crimes

                                     

Radovan Karadzic denies Bosnia war crimes
EMP v.3.1.0.r749603_749269_749444_6

Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic has said he should be rewarded for "reducing suffering", not accused of carrying out war crimes.

Beginning his defence at his trial in The Hague, he said he was a "tolerant man" who had sought peace in Bosnia.

Mr Karadzic was arrested in Belgrade in 2008 after almost 13 years on the run.

He faces 10 charges of genocide and crimes against humanity during the war in the 1990s, including the Srebrenica massacre and the siege of Sarajevo.

More than 7,000 Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) men and boys were killed at Srebrenica in the worst single atrocity in Europe since the end of World War II.

During the 44-month siege of Sarajevo more than 12,000 civilians died.

Mr Karadzic, 67, went on trial at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in October 2009.

'Truth will grow stronger' Full Story>>>

Norway Peace Initiative Chief’s Ongoing UN Role Scrutinized

By SEAMUS MARTOV / THE IRRAWADDY| October 16, 2012 

Charles Petrie, head of the Norway-backed Myanmar Peace Support Initiative, shakes hands with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. (Photo: UN Photo / JC McIlwaine)

The head of the Norwegian government-funded peace initiative for Burma’s ethnic areas, Charles Petrie, is facing scrutiny after it was revealed last week that he is simultaneously working on an unrelated United Nation’s review panel looking into the Sri Lankan civil war.

An article posted on the Inner City Press news site last Friday suggests that Petrie’s involvement with the ambitious Norwegian project may run afoul of UN rules forbidding staff from being employed or under the influence of the governments of UN member states.

Petrie, a long-time senior UN diplomat who previously served as the highest-ranking UN official in Burma, has been the head of the Norwegian project, formally known as the Myanmar Peace Support Initiative (MPSI), since it was launched in January of this year.

In April, Petrie, who formally retired from the UN in November 2010, was appointed to serve as the chief of a panel convened by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to examine the UN’s own actions during the final months of the Sri Lankan civil war in 2009. The panel was created following heavy criticism of the way Ban and his then envoy to Sri Lanka,Vijay Namibar, responded to a massive humanitarian crisis that unfolded as the Sri Lankan military launched a major offensive against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) that killed thousands of unarmed Tamil civilians in the process.

Petrie’s working for the Norwegian government while at the same time working for the UN panel could be in conflict with the UN Charter depending on how it is interpreted.

Article 100 of the Charter states: “In the performance of their duties the Secretary-General and the staff shall not seek or receive instructions from any government or from any other authority external to the Organization. They shall refrain from any action which might reflect on their position as international officials responsible only to the Organization.”

Reached for comment, Petrie told The Irrawaddy via email that he is working for the UN on a temporary “when actually employed” basis.

“I am leading a team of three other UN officials to conduct the internal review on UN actions in Sri Lanka during the final stages of the conflict and its aftermath,” he said. It remains unclear when exactly the Sri Lanka panel will finish its work, as both Petrie and and the office of Ban’s spokesperson declined to give an end date.

As for Petrie’s work with the MPSI, “My work in Myanmar has nothing to do with the UN and I am also doing it on a part-time basis (between 10 days to two weeks a month). I am not directly employed by the government of Norway,” he told The Irrawaddy.

Petrie previously served as the UN’s resident coordinator in Burma until November 2007 when he was ordered out of the country by the then military regime following the brutal crushing of the monk-led Saffron Revolution. The apparent direct cause of Petrie’s abrupt expulsion was an October 2007 statement his office sent out that warned of a “deteriorating humanitarian situation” in the country.

Since the Norwegian initiative began this year Petrie and the MPSI have endured heavy criticism from community-based organizations and refugee advocates who warn that the project is rushing ahead without adequate consultation with the war-affected ethnic Karen and Shan populations of eastern Burma.

The MPSI and officials from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs have done little to allay concerns about a lack of community participation, say the project’s critics.

Despite a request that key documents outlining the project and its goals be translated into ethnic languages, the MPSI has so far only translated these documents into Burmese. This remains a major sticking point as many ethnic people, including the senior members of some of Burma’s most powerful armed rebel groups, are not fluent in Burmese.

McGuinty Resigns: Dalton McGuinty resigns as premier

Tuesday, October 16, 20142

Premier Dalton McGuinty is saying so long, but not necessarily goodbye.

McGuinty has resigned from Ontario politics and taken the rare step of suspending the legislature, but not before dangling the possibility of a run for the federal Liberal leadership against front-runner Justin Trudeau.

Related: Uncomfortable realities for Federal Liberals

In power for nine years and leader of the provincial Liberals since 1996, the Ottawa lawyer made his stunning announcement Monday evening — just 12 months into his toughest stretch in government, leading a minority.

 •  Related: The self-inflicted death of a bold agenda

McGuinty, 57, said his decision stemmed from a mix of professional headaches and personal considerations, from tense relations with rival parties to the recent wedding of his only daughter.

 • Related: McGuinty can leave with his head held high

“The opposition’s political games are holding Ontario back,” the premier charged after proroguing the legislature until his successor is chosen, likely early next year.

 • Related: Toronto-area MPPs react with shock, admiration

Fulol Story>>>

INDIAN COURT RESERVES ORDER ON PETITION BY DOUGLAS DEVANANDA

October 16, 2012

An Indian court on Tuesday reserved its orders on a petition of Sri Lankan Minister Douglas Devananda seeking exemption from personal appearance in connection with a murder case.

Sessions court Judge S Rajagopalan reserved orders over Devananda’s petition to October 18.

Arguments over the petition filed by the Lankan Minister had commenced on October 12. 

Devananda, presently minister for traditional industries in Sri Lanka, was allegedly involved in a murder here in 1986 and was later declared a proclaimed offender. A Non-Bailable Warrant is also been pending against him.

He had moved court on September 11 to recall the NBW and submitted that a case had been registered against him and five others under various sections of the IPC.

Douglas had submitted his life was still in danger from LTTE ‘sleeper cells’ both in Sri Lanka and abroad and his visit to Tamil Nadu to appear in connection with the case would create a law and order problem here.

He had prayed that his personal appearance before the court in Chennai be dispensed with.  (PTI)

TAMIL NADU COPS CANNOT ENSURE SAFETY - DEVANANDA

October 17, 2012  09:04 am

Sri Lankan minister Douglas Devananda has expressed doubts about police’s ability to ensure his safety if he appears for trial in a murder case in Chennai. Tamil Nadu police were equal to the Scotland Yard in investigation, but when it comes to security they are not as efficient, as was evident from the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in 1991, his counsel told a sessions court, which is hearing the minister’s petition seeking recall of the pending non-bailable warrant against him and permission to face the trial through video-conferencing.

 

After hearing the arguments, IV additional sessions judge S Rajagopalan said he would deliver the verdict on the plea on October 18.

The matter relates to a murder case registered against Douglas and his associates for the Diwali-eve murder of one Thirunavukkarasu at Choolaimedu here in 1986. The sessions court had issued the non-bailable warrant against him and declared him an absconding accused in 1994, after he and others failed to appear in court. In his petition, Douglas said his entry into Tamil Nadu and personal appearance in the court would trigger law and order in the state. Apprehending threat to his life in the state, his counsel also wanted the trial to be conducted through video-conferencing.

Additional public prosecutor Prabhavathi, however, informed the court that an accused must present himself before the court concerned if he wants the warrant against him to be recalled. Allaying Douglas’ apprehensions about his personal safety, she said the state police would give him full protection to him during trial.

However, Douglas’ counsel P N Prakash, citing the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi at Sriperumbudur, said police cannot ensure safety of the minister. Several policemen too died in the assassination, he said.

Prabhavathi, opposing trial via video-conferencing, told the court that since several police officers handling the case had been transferred during the interregnum period, it would be difficult for any officer to identify the accused shown on the video. Prakash, however, said identification of the accused could be done by the witnesses and there was no need for the investigating officer to do so. Douglas has said he was prepared to face trial in the murder case but it should be through video-conferencing. (TNN)

UGC not honouring promises – FUTA

by Dasun Edirisinghe

October 15, 2012

 The university authorities had still to withdraw some of the circulars, issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC), as promised by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) charged yesterday.

FUTA President Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri told The Island that they had suspended the strike last Thursday on the basis of such promises.

"One of the major promises was that the circulars issued by the UGC, preventing university teachers from attending to some work, would be withdrawn," he said, adding that those circulars were an impediment to the freedom of university teachers.

Although the secretary to the higher education ministry had sent a letter asking the UGC to cancel those circulars, the UGC had still not done it, Dr. Dewasiri said.

The senior academic said that the higher education ministry had also sent a separate letter to the UGC asking it to pay the salaries of the dons for the past three months.

"But, our salaries, too, are yet to be paid," he said adding that some universities had paid only a salary advance.

FUTA decided to suspend its strike on the assurance of Minister Rajapaksa, but the promises must be honoured as soon as possible, Dr. Dewasiri said.

He said that last year, too, the FUTA suspended its strike following a government’ assurance only to be disappointed.

"This time around we will not get trapped in the same way," Dr. Dewasiri said, adding the FUTA could resume trade union action anytime.

Nallur local body chairman attacked –was filing action against wrongful land acquisition by Govt.
Tuesday 16 of October 2012
(Lanka-e-News -15.Oct.2012, 2.00PM) P Vasantha Kumar , the chairman of the Nallur local body was attacked by two unidentified persons who came in motor cycles . Owing to this brutal attack , he had sustained injuries and is admitted to the Jaffna Hospital.
Vasantha Kumar was to file a petition in the appeal court on the 15th against the acquisition of lands by the Govt. that belong to the local body. This attack was launched on him when he was returning after handing over the relevant documents in this connection to the Kopay police

NALLUR PRADESHIYA SABHA CHAIRMAN ASSAULTED

October 14, 2012 

The Chairman of the Nallur Pradeshiya Sabha, P.Vasanthakumar has been assaulted and injured by an unknown group of persons. He is currently receiving treatment at the Jaffna Hospital, police said.

Vasanthakumar was scheduled to file a case with the Court of Appeals tomorrow (15), regarding illegal land grabbing, and was returning after handing over certain documents pertaining to this to the Kopai Police.

However, it has been reported that the attack had taken place within the Jaffna Police Division, a spokesman for the Kopai Police said.

The Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman was assaulted on Ambalama Road in Kokthuvil at around 2.30pm today. The perpetrators had reportedly arrived on a motorbike and had rammed into Vasanthakumar’s motorbike and also had stolen several documents in his posession.

Kopai Police said a team of officers have been deployed to conduct investigations regarding the incident.


இந்நாட்டில் நீதி அஸ்தமித்திருப்பது நிரூபணம்: வசந்தகுமார் மீதான தாக்குதலுக்கு பா.உ. சிறீதரன் கண்டனம்

WikiLeaks: GSL And LTTE Not Interested In Diplomatic Niceties – Solheim To Co-Chairs In 2007

By Colombo Telegraph -October 16, 2012

“Norwegian Minister of International Development Erik Solheim described the government and the Tigers as “two entities not interested in diplomatic niceties,” who are not responding to Norway’s messages.” the US Embassy Oslo informed Washington.

 A Leaked “CONFIDENTIAL” US diplomatic cable, dated July 24, 2007, recounts the details of a meeting the representatives of the Sri Lanka Co-Chairs (United States, European Union, Japan, and Norway) has had in Oslo on June 29,2007 to discuss the  developments in Sri Lanka.The Colombo Telegraph found the related leaked cable from the WikiLeaks database which is classified by DCM Kevin M. Johnson.

“Solheim said President Rajapaksa is focused on his Sinhalese electorate in Sri Lanka, “like a US Congressman” focused on his constituents. While Solheim,s recent meeting with Rajapaksa in Geneva was “pleasant,” his overall sense was the president has no plan or strategy to solve the Tamil issue nor does he appear that interested since he does not even have a good Tamil advisor. On the other side, Tiger leader Prabhakaran is preoccupied with waging war. Solheim stated that it has become more difficult for Norway to assess the current Tiger position without regular contact and without a senior Tiger leader outside the country to fill the shoes of the late Balasingham. Solheim emphasized the need to keep Norway,s communication with them open, particularly through access to Killinochchi.” the US Embassy Oslo further wrote.

At least 75,000 of the 300,000 IDPs are still living in transit camps in North and East: Sampanthan

BY S VENKAT NARAYAN-MONDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2012

Tamil National Alliance Chief Rajavarothiam Sampanthan today debunked the Sri Lankan government's claim that all of the nearly 300,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) who vacated the Menik Farms have returned to their homes in the civil war-ravaged Northern and Eastern Provinces.

"At least 75,000 of the nearly 300,000 Tamils who were displaced by the civil war and vacated the Menik Farms are living either in transit camps or with their friends and relatives in the North and East," Sampanthan said in an exclusive interview to the Sunday Island here today.

A quarter of the IDP population is still roughing it up in 12 transit camps in the North and four in the East. These IDPs have not been able to go back to their original homes for a variety of reasons. One of them is the occupation of their homes by the security forces, he said.

Sampanthan complained that the government is not doing much even for those who have gone back to their original homes to help them settle down and get on with their lives.

Most of such homes are in a bad shape. Farmers and fishermen are finding it difficult to resume their activities because their agricultural implements, fishing nets and the like are in a bad shape. They need money to buy new farming equipment, fishing nets etc. What little the government is doling out is not enough, he added.

Sampanthan also charged that the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) who want to help the IDPs cannot operate freely. They need the Defence Ministry's permission for practically everything they want to do for the IDPs. They should be encouraged and given the freedom and leeway to do more, he opined.

The TNA leader expressed appreciation for what the Government of India is doing to help the IDPs resettle. "The Indian government is being careful and is making sure that whatever assistance it is rendering in the North and East reaches out to the right people," he said.

BY S VENKAT NARAYAN
IS

Mohan to be appointed in place of Shirani as the Chief Justice

October 4, 2012 

RS 619 MILLION PUBLIC FUNDS FRAUD CASE AGAINST MOHAN PEIRIS AND PB JAYASUNDARA: THE LAWYER WAS THREATENED

Mohan to be appointed in place of Shirani as the Chief Justice

Monday, 15 October 2012 

The President has decided to appoint former Attorney General Mohan Peiris as the Chief Justice after removing Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake from the post, sources from Temple Trees said.

The President has asked Mohan Peiris to take the relevant steps to file charges against Bandaranayake through a parliamentary select committee (PSC).

It is as part of this plan that the President had got Leader of the House, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva to make a statement denying any plan to bring an impeachment motion against Bandaranayake. The President has decided to get Bandaranayake’s friend, Judicial Services Commission (JSC) Secretary Manjula Thilekaratne removed from his post before making a change to the post of Chief Justice.

The President has ordered the Defence Secretary to inquire into the complaints received against the JSC Secretary and report to him within one week. Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella has been ordered to carry out a media campaign against the JSC Secretary.

Meanwhile, an attempt is also being made to safeguard the real culprits who have attacked the JSC Secretary in the course of the police investigation.

The police have purposely avoided carrying out any scientific investigating methods during the preliminary inquiries into the attack. The police have not asked for the services of the fingerprints unit and had also not used the police dogs to sniff the scent of the assailants.

Also, new entrants to the police force are being used to carry out the investigation.

The President had decided to intensify the attack against the Chief Justice in order to get her removed from the post since she is continuously rejecting invitations for discussions him.

The Chief Justice had avoided speaking to External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris who had tried to initiate a dialogue between her and the President.

The President had wanted Peiris to get the Chief Justice to agree to a meeting with the President to discuss the suspension of District Judge Aravinda Perera by the JSC.

However, when the Chief Justice had avoided Peiris’ telephone call, the President had assigned the task to Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunge.

The Chief Justice had answered Weeratunge’s telephone call and asked him to inform her in writing the reason for asking her to attend a discussion with the President. Weeratunge had then sent a letter to the Chief Justice saying the discussion would be on the allocation of funds in the 2013 budget for the judiciary.

The Chief Justice had then informed the officials involved in handling the funding allocated for the judiciary to participate in the meeting.

After hearing this situation, the Presidential Secretary had telephoned the Chief Justice and informed her that there was no necessity to bring the other officials since the discussion would be on the suspension of District Judge Aravinda Perera and several other personal issues.

The Chief Justice had immediately turned down the Presidential Secretary’s request.

The President had been angered after being informed by his secretary of the Chief Justice’s response.

The President had immediately summoned Mohan Peiris and said his patience had approached its limit and there needed to be an end to the current conflict. Sources said that the President had asked Moahn Peiris to take the necessary steps to remove the current Chief Justice from her post and had asked him to be prepared to accept the post once vacant.

Scotland seals terms of historic independence vote

1 of 1Full Size

By Maria Golovnina

EDINBURGH (Reuters) - Scotland set up a historic independence referendum on Monday after its leader and Britain's prime minister finalized arrangements for a vote that could lead to the demise of its three-centuries-old union with England.

Scotland's drive for sovereignty, led by its nationalist leader Alex Salmond, echoes separatist moves by other European regions such as Catalonia and Flanders which feel they could prosper as separate entities inside the European Union.

Signed in the Scottish capital Edinburgh, the referendum agreement allows Scotland to ask its people in a 2014 vote whether their homeland should become an independent country or stay within the United Kingdom.

"It's a historic day for Scotland," a visibly excited Salmond said after signing the deal with Prime Minister David Cameron. "Do I think we can win this campaign? Yes, I do."

One of the most contentious issues at stake is the ownership of an estimated 20 billion barrels of recoverable oil and gas reserves beneath the UK-controlled part of the North Sea.

Britain is also worried about the future of its nuclear submarine fleet based in Scotland as Salmond says there would be no place for nuclear arms on Scotland's soil after independence. Moving the fleet elsewhere would be costly and time-consuming.

Cameron, who did not address reporters alongside Salmond, opposes Scotland's push for independence but agrees it is up to its people to determine their future in a vote.

Many Scots are unconvinced. A Comres poll for ITV News found only 34 percent supported independence and 55 percent agreed that Scotland's economy would suffer as an independent country.   Continued...

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UK Tamil tortured in Colombo, returned after payment of ransom to CID

[TamilNet, Monday, 15 October 2012, 07:46 GMT]
Sivasubramaniam Jeevan, an Eezham Tamil youth citizen of UK living in Scotland, who was on a visit to the island of Sri Lanka on 3 October, was detained by the notorious Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Colombo from the day he landed to 9 October, and was allegedly tortured under suspicion of “LTTE links”, after taking away his passport and other documents. He was released last Tuesday after managing a payment of a sum of 1.5 million rupees, plus 325 pounds, as ransom money to the CID. Speaking to TamilNet from his residence in Scotland, 33 year old Jeevan, who is now undergoing psychological treatment owing to the trauma of interrogation, said that the CID officers tortured him by beating him, verbally abusing him, and threatening to kill him. He was also interrogated on diaspora activities in the UK, he said. 

Mr. Jeevan, who is originally from Nelliyadi, Vadamaraadchi had left Sri Lanka for the UK in 2006, and had obtained a British passport in 2012. He said that he was earlier with the LTTE, but lost ties with the organization after leaving the island. He had undertaken the travel to the island with the desire to just see places, thinking that the situation would be normal after the war, he said. 

Jeevan had landed at the airport in Colombo on the night of 3 October, with a return ticket booked for the 9th. On his arrival he was accosted by plainclothesmen from the Terrorist Investigation Department (TID). After taking his passport, they took him to a room and identified him by a wound on his back that he had got many years earlier in battle. They then handed him over to the CID who took him to a house in Colombo near the airport.

The CID further identified him by using a photograph that was sent to them from a collaborator in the UK. 

After stripping Mr. Jeevan to only his inner garments, they applied electric shock to his wound in the back, he said. He also added that he was slapped many times and abused profanely, with threats of further torture. Apparently, a CID man had also pointed a gun at Jeevan threatening to shoot him. 

The CID had also interrogated him on his involvement in fundraising activities in the diaspora, but Jeevan had denied having taking part in any. 

Later, after he appealed to a police officer named Rathnayaka whether he could make a call to his friends in Europe to inform them about his detention and secure some payment. The officer then took him to the Negombo police station and took all of the 325 pounds that Jeevan was carrying. 

On 5 October, a former LTTE cadre from Kilinochi was brought to the station to identify Jeevan. After this, Rathnayaka told Jeevan that there would be a need to interrogate him more. At this, Jeevan offered him an amount to secure his release. 

After some dealing the Sri Lankan officers settled at an amount of 1.5 million Sri Lankan rupees. 800,000 rupees was transferred via bank and 700,000 rupees was given as cash to Rathnayaka. 

In the period of his detention, he was extensively interrogated on activities in the diaspora and whether he had any links in the island. Some officers also commented that the diaspora was a big headache but that they were monitoring all activities. 

The Sri Lankan officer Rathnayaka apparently told Jeevan “You were meant to die. You have escaped.” 

Jeevan was later put on a flight on 09 October to UK. 

Speaking to TamilNet, he repeatedly stressed on the risks to life faced by anyone with a history of association with the struggle of Eezham Tamils returning to the island.

Hate Poster Campaign Against Civil Society Launched In Colombo

By Colombo Telegraph -October 15, 2012 |

A massive anonymous hate poster campaign against civil society launched in Colombo. The poster says;  ”Protect people-friendly Divineguma Bill which will uplift 1.5 million poor people from the Paikiasothy Gang”

The Centre for Policy Alternatives and its Executive Director Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu filed a Petition in August in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the “Divineguma Bill”. The Supreme Court’s determination on the Divineguma Bill was tabled in Parliament yesterday (18 September). A government-sponsored crowd – about 3000 were assembled in the Kalapola near Parliament – transported from various locations in about 40 buses, had been orchestrated, armed with anti Supreme Court slogans. Ministers Basil Rajapaksa, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene and Bandula Gunawardene were seen among the “protestors.” The Supreme Court decided that the Bill was unconstitutional and cannot be passed by Parliament without first being submitted to the Provincial councils for the ascertainment of their views.