SLMC & Leadership: ‘Policy Of Something Is Better Than Nothing’

By Rushdy Nizar Getaberiya -May 23, 2013 

Rushdy Nizar Getaberiya

Rally-round the Muslims under one umbrella was most likely the founding philosophy of SLMC. The idea at the rear crafting the SLMC could be welcomed by every Muslim and perhaps much-admired by many likeminded Muslims although opposed by considerable number within the Muslims itself. Late SLMC leader’s initiative has to be appreciated, but, “I am Ashraff & Muslim congress is mine”, this had hoodwinked the entire political organization as a whole. His sudden demise was not him alone but completely erased the entire Muslims HOPE whom just excited to experience a political solution for long standing discrimination as a minority living in a majority non Muslim country. He was a prominent minority political leader who had enough courage and ability to convince the Muslims and major political parties such like SLFP and UNP. I am extremely saddened at this moment about the SLMC, its members and followers, as to why, the said organization has become merely a profit making administrative center for handpicked members. More like a politically well-organized mafia faction making self-centric decisions rather based on community-centric interests.

Hakeem

The SLMC current leadership is merely a marionette and his political activities are limited only for certain powerful government ministers and pays a serious attention towards the orders given by them. Every his political move has been noticed by the party supporters and other Muslim mass in the island. It’s awfully pathetic to say the leadership has no courage to stand alone or to play any constructive role for those who elected him. There are cracks within the party and leadership though it’s covered with see-through white curtain, the shadow explains thoroughly as internal politics has become worse than outside dealing. Once a commanding political party now has fallen apart with no hope, how to regain the lost weight from the current political environment. The leadership hunger has buried Muslim rights and other benefits completely and put people hopeless.

Unlike the former leader, SLMC now has no influence and bargaining power or pull out any favors; this has the case with other Muslim Ministers and MP’s in the parliament who would not stand for the benefit of the community, which is very unfortunate. Recent anger, extremism over dominating Muslims and forceful intervention of influential extremist groups disturbing the peaceful coexistence has been continuously occurred and Muslims and its affluence being destroyed in the day light at times with the presence of spectator armed forces with no action taken at no point to prevent such cruelties could be the ideal example. One must not forget former deputy mayor Azath Salley’s effort on raising voice against the extremism and ended up in custody because of no UNITY among Muslims. Had he supported by other Muslim leaders possibly a political solution could have achieved.

Government MP Rishad Badurdin has taken the responsibility to do everything in his caliber to work with the government to strengthen his constituency further, whilst the hypocrite Hakeem being a Minister of Justice is unable to provide justice to his own people, leave aside the international outcry on various serious legal issues. Being the Justice Minister he is accountable to the countries law and order situation, and to maintain the peace and stability.

After the demise of M H M Ashraff, the SLMC continued to face serious consequences and failed to prove the party has the influence to convince governments. Under Rauf Hakeem, there is no full-fledged command which could be accepted by its members or SLMC parliamentarians rather they heavily influenced or bought by the ruling party for personal benefits, power and perks. Internal rift within the party and its responses towards people have become a comic. The esteem and reliance on the party, people kept have drastically damaged and party is getting scrawny in every next day.

It is Muslims of Sri Lanka hired him, therefore, it’s the time for him to be fired by the very same people who elected him since he is failed to fulfill the promises.

Sri Lanka army to reduce presence in northern Jaffna

APIn this May 23, 2009, photo, the abandoned devastation is seen in this aerial photo showing part of the former conflict zone on the north east coast of the Jaffna peninsula in Sri Lanka.

May 22, 2013

The Sri Lanka army has said that it would reduce the number of military camps in the former rebel stronghold of northern Jaffna and hand over lands back to their original owners.

“We will reduce the existing 17 military camps in Jaffna to just three,” Army chief Lt Gen Jagath Jayasuriya said.

The fourteen camps pulled out from different parts of Jaffna would be relocated in the main Palaly cantonment, he said on Tuesday.

Lands on which the camps were located would be handed back to their original owners and lands that would be difficult to be handed back due to national security considerations would be subject to compensation, he said.

Sri Lanka has come under international pressure for de-escalation of the military presence in Jaffna which is considered crucial to achieving reconciliation with the Tamil minority.

The international rights watch groups claim that a large military presence in the north since the end to the war with the LTTE in 2009 clamped the civilian life in the former conflict regions.

Jaffna youth group not disbanded. Tamil Arasu party Secretary Mawai Senathiraja notify

Wednesday , 22 May 2013

Tamil Arasu party’s youth group Secretary Sivakaran  informed that the party's Jaffna district youth group has been disbanded and   concerning this,  action is not taken said Tamil Arasu party General Secretary Mawai Senanithraja.

Tamil Arasu party youth group Secretary Sivakaran in his media statement mentioned that the party’s Jaffna district youth group has been disbanded from this month 5th.

Concerning this Tamil Arasu party General Secretary Mawai Senathiraja was contacted, he said, such happenings did not occur and no need to speak about it.

The opinion of Mawai Senathiraja was clarified from Sivakaran by contacting him, he said, I introduced youth groups in the north and east. I am responsible for it. By conducting disciplinary investigation, I disbanded the Tamil Arasu party's Jaffna district youth group.I am not aware what the party leadership had notified. You (Uthayan)if one said, it would be exaggerated to nine times said Sivakaran.

Worries Of Bodu Bala Sena: Religious Jealousy Of BBS

By Rifai Naleemi -May 22, 2013

Dr. Rifai Naleemi

In this part of our series we shall try to expose some aspects of religious jealousy of Bodu Bala Sena. It is against the very teaching of Lord Buddha to show resentment and envy to the people of any other faith. This is one of basic teaching of Buddhism.   In sharp contrast to this principle BBS and its cohorts express openly communal and religious jealousy.  Lord Buddha felt happiness when he saw the progress and development of other faiths.  Indeed, he accommodated all other religious faiths and practices. I shall argue that BBS acts contrary to this very teaching of Buddhism. It exposes jealousy and resentment when they see Muslims are getting more religious and more spiritually advanced. They expose this bitterness when they Christian churches work within Sinhalese community for fear of conversion. 

It is generally accepted fact that the religion of Islam is fast growing in many parts of world. Against all odds, more and more people are embracing Islam today than ever before.  It is reported that since 9/11 more people are turning to Islam. They turn to Islam to know about Islamic faith and Muslim way of life. It is reported that more copies of Holy Quran were sold soon after 9/11 than any periods of time in American history. It is reported that Islam is the fast growing religion in Europe toady than any other single faith. It is reported that more European girls are turning to Islam today than ever before.

Why famous and high profile people are embracing Islam in Europe? Recently Lauren Booth, Tony Blair’s sister-in Law, Yvonne Ridley embraced Islam in Britain. InSouth India, one of famous Professors Periyardasan embraced Islam. Why is it that despite deliberate distortion about Islam and Muslims more and more people are turning to Islam?  Annually thousands of people are turning to Islam in all part of the world despite all military and media onslaught against Islam and Muslims.

Hundreds of churches and pubs have been converted into mosques and Islamic centres in Europe. The last Friday (17/5/13) The Time News paper published a research finding on the decline of Christianity in theUK.  It is reported that Christianity is in gradually declining with each generation (The Times/UK 17-5-13). While church going people are decreasing in many parts of world the amount of people going to mosques are rapidly increasing in every part of world. This is a universal phenomenon.

Within international Muslim community too many dramatic changes have been taking place. More and more Muslims become religious today than precious decades.   An Islamic awakening has been taking place in many parts of world in recent time.  Despite so called war on terror an Islamic awakening has been taking place steadily across the globe. Some people feel religiously jealousy of this social phenomenon taking place across the globe in Muslim world and as well as in non-Muslim countries.

In Sri Lanka too this Islamic awakening has been taking place. Unlike in the past more and more people are turning to Islam to secure peace and tranquillity. More youth are following Islamic way of life today than ever before.  Mosques are filled with people praying five times prayers. Muslim girls are increasingly wearing Islamic dress codes.  Muslims are observing religious rites regularly in all aspects of life.  Muslims are waking up early mornings prayers. During the Ramadan charitable and religious activities are double and the mosques are full of people. Recently, Buddhist people are being invited to participate in breakfasting ceremonies.

BBS and its cohorts express utter bitterness when they saw these occurrences. Even they argued that Buddhists monks should not sit down with Muslim clerics. What type of racism is this? Did Lord Buddha teach this kind of discrimination? Isn’t it Hitler type mentality of BBS? When do these Singhalese Nazis learn from history?

Unlike in the past, recent times more and more Singhalese people interact with Muslims and come to know about Islam and Islamic way of life.   Each week on Fridays, the entire Muslims villagers are gathering for Friday prayers and religious sermons. These sermons are designed to cultivate piety, spirituality and good manners in human minds.  What more is that during the Hajj seasons more and more Sri Lanka Muslims go on spiritual journey to Mecca?

BBS and its cohorts feel jealousy of these religious awakening that takes place in the front of their eyes. Unlike in the past today, religious activities of Muslims are live in TV and websites. In a nutshell, Muslim’s life evolves around the religious teaching of Islam from birth to death 24 hours a day. Muslims wake up in the morning in the name of Allah and go to bed in the name of Allah.   Thus, Islamic way of life is a dynamic and practical way of life unlike other religious practices.

Please do not take me wrong but make a comparison between day to day functions of mosques and other religious places such as Churches and Buddhist/HinduTemples. Consider for instance, in any Muslim village the entire Muslim villagers wake up early morning and go to mosque each day. Muslims ought to go to mosques not occasionally, not once in month or once year rather every day five times.  Each day mosques are filled with people five times a day.

Whereas, people of other religions do not have such close attachment to their places of worship. They do not have such mechanism to visit their place of worship daily as Muslims do.  They may visit temples or churches in religious festivals and ceremonies but not obliged to go five times as Muslim do. That is why Muslims spend more money in building mosques. When BBS and its cohorts see illuminating tall mosques in each and every township of Sri Lanka rather than they appreciate Muslim devotion in their religion, they become jealous of dynamism in religious activities of Muslims.

Moreover, when they see Muslim girls wearing Islamic dress codes they feel jealous of this religious observation. When they see thousands of Muslims go on Hajj pilgrimage in two pieces of white cloths they feel a bit of religious jealousy. When they see some Muslims have big families they feel a bit of religious and communal jealousy. When they hear that some Sinhalese girls or boys are willingly embrace faith of Islam they feel a bit of religious jealousy.

Today, in our modern world inter-cultural fertilization and interaction is unavoidable.  Because of modern technological advancement most of Non-Muslim people come to know about Islam and Muslims through website and internets. Whether we like it or not today, most of Sinhalese and Tamil youths are familiar with Islam and Muslims. This awareness increases through their personal interaction with Muslims. Moreover modern telecommunication networks facilitate this inter-cultural knowledge increase. Some of youths are beings inspired and influenced by these modern websites and internet propagation.

Today more than 1.8 millions Sri- Lankans work in the Middle countries. Most of them are Sinhalese. Some of them have been living for more than two decades in the Middle East countries and they become more familiar with Muslim culture and religions than Sinhalese if they live these long periods of time in those countries. They might have been influenced and inspired with Arabic language, Muslim traditions, Muslim food and Muslim way of life. Particularly people from Hindu community with the case discrimination might have greatly influence with Muslim tradition of eating all together in one plate or one place without any discrimination.

It may be true that some of our housemaids may have been ill-treated in the Middle East and yet, those are isolated incidents. There are millions of people working in the Middle East and they have been well paid and well treated otherwise, they would have been returned to their native countries. Inter-cultural fertilization takes place with such long interaction with Muslim environment in Muslim countries.  I have read the stories of many English people who converted to Islam through their interaction and long stay in Muslims countries. It is a natural sociological and human phenomenon.   This is what exactly what happened to some Sinhalese/ Tamil house maids in the Middle East. Most of them go to Middle East from poor family background and when they see a true equal treatment at by some of religious Arab Muslims in the Middle East it is natural their hearts incline and lean towards Islam.

This is what exactly happening to Sinhalese when they come back to Sri Lanka after long stays in Muslims countries.  Some of them marry Muslim boys in the Middle countries and stay there permanently. Rather than examining these sociological changes there is no point in blaming Sri Lankan Muslims for the conversation of Singhalese people into Islam.  It is one basic teachings of Islam to proclaim that there is no compulsion in Islam. No one could force any one to embrace Islam. It is a personal freedom of each person to choose their faith and way of life. BBS should not be jealous of these sociological changes rather they should take some necessary steps to stop sending Sri-Lankan housemaids to the Muslim countries. Can they do that? Do they have political and economical power to do so? I challenge BBS that if they could let them stop sending housemaid into Middle East countries. That is one of the viable ways to stop inter-cultural fertilization and conversion.

There are so many issues related to Sinhalese extremism. There is a genuine fear among some Sinhalese people that Buddhism and Sinhalese culture are in decline. It could be for many reasons. It could be because of western influence. It could be failure of Buddhist religious leadership to provide proper spiritual training and education for children from early age. It could be because some do not have faith in Buddhism at all. It could be that we live in a secular and materialistic world that is different from Lord Buddha’s times. It could be that with advancement in technology people learn more about faith.

It could be because more than 1.7 million Sinhala people work in Middle East and Webern counties and they become friendly with Muslims and Christians and end up as Muslims or Christians or it could be indoctrination of some people as Christian missionary do in Sri Lanka: almost 1.2 millions Christians we have in Sri Lanka most of them previously Sinhalese Buddhists or Tamil Hindus.  All of these people converted for good jobs and education: this did not happen in Muslim community.

Now BBS have jealousy of Muslims for their devotion in faith.  BBS may constitute only 5% of Sinhalese population in Sri Lanka and the rest of   95% Sinhalese do not have any ill feeling of Muslims. . It is the failure of government and law enforcement made this matter to go out of control. I could argue that BBS and its cohorts are directly and indirectly educating Sinhalese public about Islam and Muslims. Their relentless campaign on Halal food logo made a great awareness about Islam among Sinhalese people.

I think that BBS is taking Islam into each and every Sinhalese house through their negative propagation machineries.  Let them do the job for Muslims and Islam. Every action has its reaction. The actions and activities of BBS will certainly backfire and we have seen that the backfiring has as already begun.

To be continued next week

Sri Lanka's BBS: an old spectre in new garb?

CHAMINDA WEERAWARDHANA 21 May 2013

Though interreligious violence in Sri Lanka is not new, the emergence of the well-organized, well-connected Buddhist radical group reflects a broader problem today - the alarming shortage of critical and constructive public debate.

The latest, and perhaps most disturbing development in post-war Sri Lanka’s ethnic relations is the recent rise of a Buddhist activist group, Bodu Bala Sena (BBS-Buddhist power force), driven against Sri Lankan Muslims, the island’s third ethnic minority. BBS explains its mission as strengthening the Buddhist faith in the island, providing spiritual leadership and saving Sinhala Buddhism from external threats. A more vicious strategy has emerged however with Muslims as the prime target, a perceived threat to the Sinhala Buddhist community’s ethno-religious majority.

BBS has succeeded in propagating a number of myths of Islamic infringement on Sinhalese Buddhists and launched campaigns against Muslim communities, including attempts to prevent halal certifications to businesses for food items produced in Sri Lanka. However, BBS activism has surpassed mere political propaganda and has also becoming increasingly violent. On 28 March 2013, a BBS mob attacked the warehouse of Fashion Bug, a Muslim-owned department store chain situated in the outskirts of Colombo. BBS is alleged to have called for attacks on people shopping at Muslim-owned businesses, and maintains what can be described as a far-right wing, majoritarian and fundamentalist posture, which stands in complete discord with the very fundamentals of the Buddhist faith they purport to defend. BBS activism increasingly shares much in common with anti-Muslim activism in predominantly Buddhist Burma, which has also taken a highly violent turn. While there is no explicit evidence of connections between the Burmese and Sri Lankan agitations, one cannot ignore commonalities between the two situations.

But while BBS is a relatively new phenomenon in Sri Lanka’s troubled sphere of ethnic politics, their ideology is by no means a novelty. 2015 will mark the centenary of what one scholar describes as Ceylon’s Kristallnacht, a series of Sinhala-Muslim riots that have also been described as a pogrom. The 1915 Sinhala-Muslim riots initially arose from a very local matter – a controversy over the passage of a Buddhist perahera (religious procession) past a mosque in the township of Gampola in central Sri Lanka. A legal battle fought by the custodians of the Buddhist temple in question ended with a court ruling that left many a Buddhist disheartened. Months later in mid-1915, a collision took place in Kandy – Sri Lanka’s second city and a centre of Buddhist worship – during yet another Buddhist procession, and rioting soon spread to the Kandy’s vicinity and to other parts of Ceylon, including Colombo. The rioters in Colombo were not only composed of an unruly mob but also of blue-collar workers in Ceylon Government Railways, who were keen to attack the trade monopoly held by Coast Moors – a community of traders who would travel extensively between Ceylon and India – who ran many local businesses in the city.

The Colonial Government responded by declaring Martial Law. Interpreting Sinhala-Muslim agitation as an anti-colonial uprising, the riots were violently suppressed. This helped further ferment Sinhala nationalism in the post-1915 years. In post-1915 Ceylon, anti-minority disturbances primarily targeted the Tamils, Sri Lanka’s largest ethnic minority. Riots occurred most notably in 1958 when the Solomon Bandaranaike government sought to strike a deal with the Federal Party of Ceylon, the most prominent exponent of Tamil nationalism at the time, to address some of the Tamils’ political demands, including the official recognition of the Tamil language. The most violent anti-Tamil pogrom of the 20th century was indeed that of July 1983 (known as Black July), a ruthless populist response to Tamil secessionist militant activity in northern Sri Lanka, not unendorsed by Sinhala nationalist elements within the government in Colombo. 

Though the threat of Tamil secessionism seemingly ceased with the controversial 2007-2009 military operation and the resulting decimation of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eealm, post-bellum Sinhala nationalism has begun to rekindle anti-Muslim sentiments - a crude irony as we approach the centenary of the 1915 riots. In contrast with 1915 though, BBS-led activism is better organized, and is reportedly financed by the secret budgetary allocations of the Ministry of Defence, according to journalists in exile. The Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, presidential sibling and highest authority in control of Sri Lanka’s armed forces, personally inaugurated a newly built BBS-led Buddhist Leadership Academy in Galle, Southern Sri Lanka, on 9 March 2013. At its inception, BBS was also a recipient of Norwegian funding. BBS is currently engaged in international outreach efforts, with its leaders touring the United States.

Despite debates on the veracity of reports regarding funding and links to the government of Sri Lanka, a cursory glance at BBS activism suffices to demonstrate that BBS is an influential, considerably well-funded and well-connected organisation. Its role in driving a wedge between the majority and a not insignificant minority is a dangerous phenomenon with potentially adverse consequences for the island nation’s troubled ethnic relations. An online petition, signed by many Sri Lankans who value interethnic and interreligious coexistence, calls upon the President of Sri Lanka to take steps to avoid interreligious violence. However, this is supremely optimistic as BBS clearly receives the endorsement of the ruling family, in the absence of which it would never have been in a position to launch such staunch verbal and physical attacks, steal the limelight and position itself at the forefront of political activism. 

Though tensions between a Buddhist majority and a Muslim minority are not new, the BBS phenomenon reflects a broader problem in present-day Sri Lanka - an alarming shortage of critical and constructive public debate on issues of national concern. Increasingly, steps are been taken to reduce the younger generation’s inclination to question the establishment through growing militarisation, through compulsory military training for university entrants and public servants in the education sector. Calls for communal harmony and good governance, often raised by a critically minded, educated and well-travelled urban minority, do not trickle down to the masses of the citizenry. This reality has facilitated the continuation of a highly clientelist, oligarchic mode of governance with unmistakably chauvinistic and dictatorial undertones.

Bodu Bala Sena insists government to abolish the 13th Amendment.

TUESDAY, 21 MAY 2013 

Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) today said the 13th amendment will influence the LTTE and other supportive parties to fulfill their dream of splitting the country into two and establish Eelam with the assistance of the current provincial council system. 

 

BBS General Secretary, Galaboda Aththe Gnanasara Thero told a news conference that having a referendum will further assist the LTTE supportive parties to take over the control in Northern and Eastern provinces as the last elections held in the provinces have proven that these parties have expanded their control over the people and attempting to gain the political authority through provincial election. 

 

The thera said that BBS will come to streets with the public to oppose the referendum and the 13th amendment and to compel the government to re-establish the sinhala communities in North and East provinces. 

‘Lake House’ in cess pit

WEDNESDAY, 22 MAY 2013 

‘Lake House’ is a newspaper institution that belongs to the government. It was established in 1927 and was a private enterprise until it was taken over by the government in 1973. The general view is that since it was taken over ‘Lake House’ has been used to wash soiled clothes of the government.

D.R. Wijewardene, the founder of Lake House, recruited renowned writers and intellectuals to his media institution to popularize its newspapers.  Martin Wickramasinghe, one of Sri Lanka's greatest authors and intellectuals, served as an editor of ‘Dinamina’ newspaper and Meemana Prematilleke, one of Sri Lanka's finest poets served as the editor of ‘Silumina.’ D.R. Wijewardene, a prominent representative of the Sri Lankan capitalist class, attempted to propagate its ideology through newspapers in a very subtle manner. However, he was careful not to jeopardize the image of his institution.

‘Dinamina’ the Sinhalese daily that was nurtured by intellectuals has been at present pushed to an abyss of no return. This is pointed out not by anyone else but by the paper itself. It is as if the newspaper has been controlled by lunatics who somersault in a cess pit. Dinamina displays that it has no notion of a media ethics and it could go to any distance in mudslinging.

Today (22nd) ‘Dinamina’ reports of a new discovery. It its headlines ‘Dinamina states yesterday’s token strike was the most unsuccessful strike in the history of this country. It also states the government pays tributes to the masses for making the strike unsuccessful and adds that the unsuccessfulness of the strike indicates that masses are with the President. In another sub heading ‘Dinamina’ unclothes itself. It states 'ලාල්කාන්තගේ නරිවාදන් රෙද්ද පල්ලෙන් බේරේ' (Lal Kanthe’s bragging has been exposed). This is indeed an attempt by ‘Dinamina’ to do away with a gentlemanly media culture and display its wretchedness.

What Lal Kanthe has said is to force the government to withdraw the increased electricity tariffs. According to ‘Dinamina’ demanding the electricity tariffs to be brought down is ‘නරිවාදන්’ (bragging). The increased electricity tariffs are not a personal issue of Lal Kanthe. On the other hand Lal Kanthe is not the only one who would be benefited if the electricity tariffs are reduced. It is for the whole nation. It is this truth ‘Dinamina’ is attempting to conceal.

It is as if ‘Dinamina’ is not aware of the comedy played by the government by using state power to intimidate employees, making attendance compulsory, forcing employees to sign the attendance registers thrice for the day, threatening employees that strikers would be sacked. The government was so panicked stricken regarding the token strike that its all powerful executive powers were challenged and its two third’s parliamentary majority was nullified. The strike was indeed a success if this was the criterion to guage the success of the strike.

Certain media reporting that nothing special occurred yesterday when thousands of state and private sector employees refrained from reporting for duty, shop owners closed their shops to protest and many others engaged in agitations to protest against the increased electricity tariffs is understandable. It is not only ‘Dinamina’ that is directly paid by the government that engages in such deceptions but also all other media institutions that are paid by owners of capital cannot escape from capitalist bonds.

TUs claim strike a success;Govt. calls it a big flop

 

by Dasun Edirisinghe-May 21, 2013

While the Co-ordinating Committee of the Trade Union Alliance (CCTUA) maintained that their token strike against the electricity tariff hike was successful all round the country, the government said that overall attendance in public sector institutions had, in fact, increased by 3.5 per cent yesterday.

Former JVP MP and Co–convener of the CCTUA, Wasantha Samarasinghe said their strike had been a huge success in the public and private sectors.

He said that 201 factories in the private sector had been closed yesterday due to the absence of employees. The strike was most successful in the private sector and all employees had staged demonstrations opposite their respective institutions, he said.

"According to our records, 60 per cent of teachers did not attend school yesterday," Samarasinghe said, adding that schools in the Ampara and Anuradhapura had been closed due to non attendance of teachers.

He claimed that 100 per cent of the employees had not reported for work on some estates, while overall 40 per cent of the estate workers had joined the strike.

Samarasinghe said that 95 per cent of the workers at the Sri Jayewardenepura hospital had joined the strike while 700 workers did not report to work at the Kalubowila Teaching hospital.

He said that 50 per cent of the Ayurveda workers countrywide supported the strike.

The former JVP MP said that workers of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority had not taken part in the strike, but they staged a demonstration.

Samarasinghe said that 90 per cent of shops had been closed in Chilaw, Anuradhapura, Mattakkuliya, Mutwal and Watawala yesterday in support of the strike

"As a token strike, it was very successful and our operational committee will meet today to decide future action as the government is yet to withdraw the electricity tariff hike," Samarasinghe said, adding that they would announce their next action after the Vesak celebrations.

Director General of Government Information Prof. Ariyaratne Ethugala said, in a statement, that normal attendance of government servants averaged 90 per cent daily, but it had increased to 93.5 per cent yesterday. He said that public servants being present at workplaces yesterday was a clear indication that they endorsed the government’s development plans in the Fisheries, Estate and Agriculture sectors.

Prof. Ethugala said that schools and hospitals also functioned as normal yesterday.

"The government appreciates those who helped defeat the attempt to sabotage its development programmes by reporting to work yesterday," he said.

The Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA), a main party in the CCTUA did not take part in the strike at the Colombo, Rajarata and Moratuwa universities, Engineering Faculty of Peradeniya University and the Science Faculty of Ruhuna University.

FUTA President Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri said their members in other universities and faculties only boycotted lectures, but examinations and other administration activities were conducted as usual.

He said that they staged a demonstration with the participation of lecturers from the Colombo, Sri Jayewardenepura, Visual and Performing Arts and Open Universities in Nugegoda town.

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena said that teachers’ attendance was high yesterday and school buses, school vans operated as usual and non-academic staff too marked their presence more than on normal days.

Gunawardena said that he had visited several schools in Colombo and the ministry could provide a list of attendance by school principals, teachers and non-academic staff. later to prove the strike was highly unsuccessful.

Operations at the Sri Lanka Ports Authority were conducted as usual yesterday as 98 per cent of the employees reported to work, SLPA Deputy Chief Manager, Nalin Aponsu said.

He said that the strike was a complete failure at the Colombo port.

The National Transport Commission said that neither the SLTB nor private buses took part in the strike.

Chief Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Graduates’ Association Manula Chamal Perera said that none of the newly recruited graduates supported the strike.

UNP MP and President of the Public Service United Trade Union Federation Ranjith Madduma Bandara said that UNP only helped the JVP organised strike.

"It was successful only in some place such as Railway Department and Printing Corporation," Madduma Bandara said adding that people got afraid when government cancelled all leave and they reported to work yesterday.

OPPOSING THE TARIFF HIKE…

May 21, 2013 

Supporting the token strike launched by opposition trade unions against the increase in electricity tariffs, a group of employees of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority today (21) engaged in a protest outside SLPA building. The protest was organized by the All Ceylon Ports General Workers’ Union. (Pic by Sanjeewa Lasantha)

WikiLeaks: JVP Electricity Strike Could Delay Reforms – US

May 22, 2013 

“Unions affiliated with the Marxist- Nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) party have warned of a strike and country-wide blackout on May 23 in protest of government moves to present electricity reforms to Parliament, which they fear would lead to privatization of the state electrical utility. However, the strike may be ineffective (i.e. unable to produce a blackout or force the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) to give in to union demands) as technical staff, including engineers, will not be joining the protest. Nonetheless, the government may delay the presentation of the reform bills in Parliament to give time for discussions which would appease technical unions, which want more time to study the bills. This is a first, albeit small, test of this Government’s willingness to stand up for needed reforms in the power and energy sector.” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington. 

K.D.Lalkantha - Head of the JVP unions

The Colombo Telegraph found the related leaked cable from the WikiLeaks database.The unclassified cable was written on May 19, 2006.

According to Mr. M.M.C. Ferdinando, Secretary, Ministry of Power and Energy, the government is determined to go ahead with the reforms. Speaking at a recent energy managers meeting organized by the PUC, he suggested that the government may refer the bills to a parliamentary consultative committee without directly presenting them to Parliament on May 23 as planned. According to Ferdinando, this decision may delay the parliamentary presentation to early June. It is not clear if this move would be taken due to JVP protests or due to complaints of inadequate time for consideration of the bills.

Placing a comment the Embassy wrote; Recently, the government has shown signs of moving reforms ahead in the electricity and energy sectors; the most important being the decision to procure a much delayed and much needed coal power plant. Last week, the President laid the foundation stone for a 300MW coal power plant, which will be built by the Chinese under a long- term concessionary loan. In April 2006 the government increased fuel prices, for the first time since June 2005, and is reportedly likely to do so again in the coming days. This may partially reduce government subsidies of fuel (though a recent analysis suggested that, with oil topping USD 70 per barrel, the Government may spend close to USD 2 billion on fuel subsidies in 2006). The GSL’s response to threats by the unions and decisions made surrounding the potential strike could be a harbinger of whether this government will stand for reform or cave in to union pressure on a variety of matters.

Read the cable below for further details;

Sri Lanka opposition says government threatened to sack strikers

By Shihar Aneez and Ranga Sirilal- Tue May 21, 2013

(Reuters) - Sri Lanka's opposition parties and trade unions accused the government on Tuesday of threatening state employees with the sack if they took part in planned street protests against a sharp rise in electricity prices.

Only a few hundred people joined the demonstrations, coordinated by the political opposition and trade unions, despite expectations of much larger crowds on the streets of Colombo.

The government rejected the accusations, saying that the planned walkout had simply failed.

Sri Lanka has more than 1.3 million state sector employees out of a total population of around 21 million people, and any strike by them could cripple the $59 billion economy.

Major trade union action, including extended strikes, have led to governments being toppled in the past.

"The government has threatened the trade unions and workers by saying they will be kicked out of their jobs," John Amaratunga, a legislator from the main opposition United National Party, told parliament.

Chandrasiri Mahagamage, secretary of the All Ceylon Port Common Workers Association which is part of the Trade Union Alliance, said a top official was at the main entrance to the port holding a camera to intimidate protesting workers.

"The (port) management threatened to fire employees who took part in today's trade union action," he said.

Most trade unions affiliated to the opposition in state-run companies object to the government's decision to raise domestic electricity prices by up to 59.4 percent. The price hike came into effect on April 20.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa's ruling coalition, which has more than a two-thirds majority in parliament including some lawmakers who defected from the opposition, has not faced mass protests since it came to power in 2005.

The government's Information Department said that 93.5 percent of public sector employees showed up for work on Tuesday, 3.5 percent higher than the average daily attendance.

"We have not interfered or threatened," Deputy Plantation Industries Minister Earl Gunasekara told reporters. "A strike will cripple normal day-to-day life, but today everything functioned even better than on a normal day."

(Reporting by Shihar Aneez; editing by Mike Collett-White)

The Democles's sword hanging above the uncrowned but heavy heads of the Rajapakse tyranny has come in the form of the CHOGM -Mangala says in parliament
(Lanka-e-News-21.May.2013, 11.30PM) Speech made by Hon. Mangala Samaraweera M.P. in Parliament on 21.5.13

Mr. Speaker,

In Latin there is a saying, 'Metus est Plenus Tyrannis' which means, I am sure as the Foreign Minister who is well versed in many 'tongues' knows, that fear is plentiful for tyrants and that a tyrants fate is to sit daily under the sword. Or as Shakeapear said 'heavy is the head that wears the crown.'

In the Sri Lankan context however, the head in question, perhaps, is more thick than heavy. Likewise, the Democles's sword hanging above the uncrowned but heavy heads of the Rajapakse tyranny has come in the form of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting - CHOGM- scheduled to be held in Colombo this November.

For many years, the Rajapakse regime continued to fool a gullible public and a blue eyed international community with lies and duplicity.

As Tisaranee Gunaskere, a courageous columnist wrote in her blog this week "Lies and dissembling, false promises and mendacious declarations, illusions and delusions form the bedrock of Rajapaksa governance. The Siblings are master-illusionists; they excel at using words to create a totally unreal counter-reality.' They did that when they called the Fourth Eelam War a ‘humanitarian operation with zero-civilian casualties’ and open prison camps ‘welfare centres’; they did it when they called the 18th Amendment a democratic measure, the Impeachment travesty a legal recourse and the arrest of Gen. Fonseka a patriotic act.'

However, the Sri Lankan public who were walking around in a somnambulist stupor for while after the defeat of the tigers four years ago are now waking up rapidly to the reality of this evil regime. Like a delinquent child put on probation to gauge whether he deserves a gift for Christmas , the Rajapakse regime is also now under probation in view of the pending meeting in November and the Human Rights review in March next year.

The fact that the Sri Lankan government has been subject to intense international scrutiny is confirmed by the statement made by the deputy PM, Nick Clegg in the British House of Commons on 15th May: "...............I assure that the government condemn those violations,the way in which political trials, regular assaults on legal professionals and suppression of press freedom continue and that too many recommendations of the lessons learnt and reconciliation commission have not been implemented. If such violations continue to ignore their international commitments in the lead up to CHOGM, of course there will be consequences. "

Bob Carr, speaking on behalf of the Australian government says at the CMAG Press conference held at Malborough House in London on 26th April 2013 says that the Sri Lankan governments progress will be monitored.

"I think it is a view that many of us hold that in the lead up to CHOGM, this Commonwealth with its adherence to democratic values is in a good position to engage with the government of Sri Lanka and monitor progress."

The Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Kamelsh Sharma, in his enthusiasm to hold CHOGM in Sri Lanka at any cost , seems to be very blue eyed about the prospects of making the Rajapakse regime to adhere to the Commonwealth Values and principles , " that are so dear to us".

At the CMAG press conference on 26th April, asked by a journalist when he would feel appropriate to stop using his good offices to engage Sri Lanka, Sharma replies and says: " ...............I do not anticipate that point is likely to be reached because of all the cooperation which I am getting..."

SG also says that he is sure that it will yield good results in all the areas of human rights, of the rule of law, of media freedom, of governance and institution building and strengthening. He will be picking up items from their own report: the LLRC Report.

Mr. Speaker,

I wish I could share blue eyed Secretary Generals optimism of yielding good results as we have first hand experience of the duplicitous nature of this regime but I sincerely hope that we are proven wrong and that the Secretary General is able to stop this drift towards dictatorship in Asia oldest democracy.

The UNP has consistently supported the holding of CHOGM in Colombo provided that the outstanding issues relating to the Commonwealth Charter, UNHRC resolution regarding Sri Lanka and the Presidents own LLRC report are resolved before CHOGM 2013 commences. This was emphasised by Hon. Ranil Wickramesinghe when he met the Secretary General in September 2012 and February 2013.

In fact, with less than six months away, the UNP wish to bring to the notice of the Secretary General and the Commonwealth, that no broad engagement has taken place at ground level and the deteriorating ground situation belies the statements by the SG and Dr. Moni at the press briefing after the CMAG meeting.

Mr. Speaker,

The Commonwealth Charter was adopted and launched by all Commonwealth member States during Commonwealth week in March 2013.

The full text of the charter was discussed and agreed by all Commonwealth heads of Government (including President Mahinda Rajapakse) at the last CHOGM meeting. This is a milestone for the Commonwealth and for the first time in its 64 year history, the Commonwealth has a single document setting out the core values of the organisation and the aspiration of its members.

However, the crisis the SG has to overcome is the discrepancy between the core values of the Commonwealth and the aspirations of the incoming Chairperson of the Commonwealth. In the pursuit of absolute political power, the Rajapakse regime has bee systematically dismantling and weakening democratic institutions for the last few years and despite the secretary Generals optimism, there is nothing , absolutely nothing to show that the regime is willing to change its autocratic agenda. In fact the regime continues to violate all 16 core values set out in the charter at varying degrees with impunity.

Due to the constraints of time, I will not list all the continuing violations of the 16 core values of the charter but I will highlight some urgent areas of concern.

1. Independent and accountable institutions are the cornerstones of any democracy but the government has not taken any action to repeal the 18th Amendment which was a power grab by the executive undermining the independent police, judicial, elections commissions. This bill was rushed through Parliament as an urgent bill in 24 hours. If the Government is sincere about the assurances given to Sharma, they could now display the same sense of urgency they showed in doing away with the commissions on September 18th 2010 . In fact the restoration of the independent commissions prior to the Northern PC elections should be a sine qua non for CHOGM to be held in Colombo as well as the restoration of civilian rule in the North and the East. I repeat: the repeal of the 18th amendment prior to the Northern Elections must be a sine qua non for CHOGM. The government must not be allowed to water down the 13th amendment.

2. Under human rights, the charter says, 'we are implacably opposed to all forms of discrimination, whether rooted in gender, race, colour, creed, political belief or other grounds. While the human rights of all those who oppose the regime is outed with impunity - even the human rights of match referees are violated by members of the Rajapakse brood; last week referee of a rugger match was brutally assaulted by a Rajapakse brat when his team lost at a Rugger match between the Navy and Police. 

The Tamil people continue to be humiliated by triumphalist policies of the government and Hon. Sampantban, the mover of this debate has made a detailed statement about the trials and tribulations the Tamils are facing today. The Muslim and Christian communities have been at the receiving end of brutal attacks by various extremist so called Buddhist groups working with the blessings of the defence Secretary. In fact , one of the Muslim leaders, Azzath Sally who wrote to the UN SG regarding the intimidation of Muslims was recently arrested and harassed for nearly a week.

Letter tabled.

In fact, the escalation of religious intolerance and attacks against places of worship was first brought to the attention of the President by the UN Special Rapporteur of Religion or belief on 7th May 2012.

Letter tabled.

However, no action has been taken so far, and reports of religious violence is on the rise. Instead of Tolerance, Respect and Understanding , the 4th core value of the Commonwealth Charter, intolerance has become the order of the day in Sri Lanka today.

The fifth core value of the charter reiterates its commitment to peaceful and open dialogue and the free ow of information. The free media continues to be intimidated and battered, with our best journalists been either dead or living in exile.

As a means of survival most media subject themselves to self censorship while others who show some degree of independence continue to be attacked or intimidated.

The New York based Committee to protect journalist in its impunity index listed Sri Lanka as the fourth most dangerous place for journalists to live in and attacks against the media continues with impunity.

Just last week, the office of 'Janarala', a left leaning tabloid was raided by the police and the staff questioned about a story relating to LTTE Gold laundering, the lead story on 12th May 2013. Some web sites which published this story have also been banned.

Four attacks have been made on Uthyan newspapers in Jaffna, this year alone. The last being on13th April 2013 when armed men entered the premises situated in a high security area, burnt the printing press and the newspapers about to be dispatched for sale.

The US State Departments acting deputy spokesperson, Patrick Ventrell, referring to the Uthyan on 30 April said, "Uthyan has seen its personnel beaten, it's newspaper shipments burnt, it's equipment destroyed and its offices set ablaze in this last month alone."

Mr. Ventrell also says that the assault on the free press extends beyond Uthyan. The BBC Tamil language programme about Sri Lanka and the Human Rights Council censored. Reporters have been physically assaulted and murdered in the years past and a prominent political cartoonist has been missing for three years.

Core value 16 of the Commonwealth charter talks about the role of civil society and says that 'we recognise the important role civil society plays in our communities'. In Sri Lanka today, prominent members of civil society are continuously harassed and intimidated and the state media continue to portray these people as terrorist sympathisers and traitors. In fact, as I speak now, Sagarica Delgoda of the Fredrica Neuman Stiftung has been taken to the notorious 4th oor of the CID for questioning.

As my time allocation is already over, I would like to say in conclusion that this is a moment of reckoning not only for the Rajapakse regime but also for the Commonwealth.

The Rajapakse regime , even at this late stage, must be made to put the interests of the country first over and above its own narrow and selfish agenda.

As for the Commonwealth, the Secretary General Sharma must ensure that the Rajapakse regime meets the values and principles of the Commonwealth charter not only in word but in deed as well. If not, he will merely be giving the Commonwealth seal of approval for the propaganda interests of an emerging dictatorship. Then the Commonwealth Charter will not be worth the paper it's written on.