The Judicial Mind In Sri Lanka ( New Book)
Responding To The Protection Of Minority Rights
| by Jayantha de Almeida Guneratne, Kishali Pinto-Jayawardena and Gehan Gunatilleke
From The Conclusion….jpg)
Peace for the World
First democratic leader of Justice the Godfather of the Sri Lankan Tamil Struggle: Honourable Samuel James Veluppillai Chelvanayakam
A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
From The Conclusion…
US resolution not against people of Sri Lanka– Suren Surendiran
By Sulochana
Ramiah Mohan- February 2, 2014
The Global Tamil Forum (GTF), one of the leading Tamil Diaspora organizations in the UK, has taken up a major initiative to lobby for a US resolution, which is expected to be taken up by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva in March.
By Sulochana
Ramiah Mohan- February 2, 2014
The Global Tamil Forum (GTF), one of the leading Tamil Diaspora organizations in the UK, has taken up a major initiative to lobby for a US resolution, which is expected to be taken up by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva in March.
Beyond UNHRC Resolution: Demand A Constituent Assembly
By TU Senan -February 4, 2014
TU Senan
Genocide – that is the recent verdict given against the Sri Lankan government by the Permanent People’s Tribunal (PPT) in relation to the carnage in the last stages of the civil war. Yet this verdict will have no value for Tamils other than serving as a propaganda point. As we know, the PPT decisions are never acknowledged by the ‘international community’ of world governments. But that is largely beside the point; the volume of established evidence that has been accepted by the PPT could have been accepted in any court of law. Is a court challenge to the Rajapaksa dictatorship likely to take place? We all know the answer. Similarly we all know the answer to the question of what is likely to come out of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session in March this year.
There will be no talk of a political solution either or any attempt made to address the national aspirations of the Tamil masses in Sri Lanka. It is not a lack of evidence that is holding them back. Rather a severe lack of ‘political will’. And that ‘will’ is not determined by genuine interest in ‘justice’, but rather by the competing economic interests in the region.
Conflicting economic interests behind the March resolution
The Chinese government, which holds a veto power in the UN, has scheduled further discussion for March on the FTA agreement with Sri Lanka. They want to come to a ‘landmark’ agreement before the end of 2014. Already China-Lanka trade has increased by 306% since 2005. According to a Sri Lanka Central Bank report, 19% of total imports, worth $3.64 billion, came from China in 2012.
Another important country that determines South Asian regional politics, certainly Sri Lanka’s socio-economic future, is India. Sri Lanka’s trade with India was just $672 million in 2001. But it has increased by over 500% to $4.08 billion in 2012. Heavy criticism from Indian capitalists is starting to be expressed with claims that “Sri Lanka is slipping out of India’s orbit”. Indian big businesses want more ties and more investment as they predict the ‘Great Game’ of this century will be played out in the Indian Ocean.
Both China and India are investing heavily in various infra-structure projects. India is building a major railway line while China is building a big motorway. The Chinese are significantly ahead of India in this competition by helping to provide arms to the regime and forging close ties with the Rajapaksa family. The current economic crisis and the fall of GDP growth in India and China will further hamper the Indian government’s hold on the Sri Lankan economy. Mammoth China, even with low growth, still has the potential to hold on to small economies like Sri Lanka’s. This factor could help to sustain the Sri Lankan economy, without which crisis is imminent.
Even with the so-called ‘Pacific turn’ of the US, the western imperialist powers are set to lose out in this game for now. They need the Indian and Chinese economies to come to the rescue of the world economy. At the same time they are pushing for greater control in the Pacific region – particularly to counter the threat from increasing Chinese influence. But the small economies in Asia are falling like little flies when China raises its hand against them. Read More
‘If UK-USA do not stop genocide of Tamils, they are still complicit in it’: Denis Halliday
[TamilNet, Tuesday, 04 February 2014, 09:17 GMT]Noting how the UK-USA governments helped the GoSL during the genocidal war on the Eezham Tamil nation owing to geopolitical interests, former UN Assistant Secretary-General Dr. Denis Halliday said that “as long as they don’t stop the genocide and block the land grabs, and help us to turn it around, they are still complicit in my book.” In an exclusive interview to TamilNet, Dr. Halliday, who was also one of the judges at the Bremen-PPT, condemned Britain’s historical role in “creating a problem” that is the unitary state of Sri Lanka noting that “there was no reason, no justification, to conclude that you need a unitary state.”He also emphasised that Britain should relook its neo-colonial policies and own responsibility for the Tamils soon. “This genocide is going to destroy Tamil Eelam if we do not stop it soon,” he said.
Posted By bandara On February 4, 2014
- US Ambassador at Large for Women’s Issues Catherine Russell’s two day visit next week cancelled
- Govt. says dates of visit clash with GL’s schedule
- US Embassy expresses regret over refusal of visa
- US envoy was to meet with women’s parliamentary caucus in Colombo
By Dharisha BastiansThe Sri Lankan Government has refused entry to a top US official, signalling a hardening of positions in Colombo ahead of the UN Human Rights Council Session in March where Washington is to sponsor a third resolution pushing the country to move forward on reconciliation and accountability.
This is the first time such a high-ranking US official has been denied a visa to enter Sri Lanka.
The move comes after the Government hit out against US Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Biswal who concluded a visit to the island last weekend, saying it was evident from her visit, those that preceded it from Washington and “intrusive” behaviour by other representatives of that country, that there was a desire to believe the worst of Sri Lanka and build on that premise to justify punitive action against the country.
US Ambassador at Large for Global Women’s Issues, Catherine Russell was scheduled to be in Colombo on 10-11 February for meetings with Government officials, the women’s parliamentary caucus and women’s organisations in the country. Ambassador Russell was also scheduled to travel to Jaffna during her two day visit.
Russell’s visa request had been officially submitted to the Ministry of External Affairs on 27 January and notice was given of the rejection on 31 January.
Highly-placed sources said the Sri Lankan Government had been notified of Ambassador Russell’s visit before the official application was made. Assistant Secretary Biswal had raised the issue of the Ambassador’s visa rejection at all of her meetings with Government officials, the sources added.
After the Government denied her entry, the US Embassy in Colombo has cancelled Ambassador Russell’s visit.
“It is regrettable that the Government of Sri Lanka has refused to grant a visa to Ambassador Catherine Russell for this trip. Ambassador Russell’s mandate is to promote stability, peace, and development by empowering women politically, socially, and economically around the world,” a Spokesman from the US Embassy in Colombo told the Daily FT.
The Spokesman added that the US would continue to raise important issues related to gender based violence, the impact that the conflict had on families (particularly female headed households), the need for greater economic empowerment by women and for greater political participation by women across Sri Lanka.
Ambassador Russell may be connected with women’s activists and parliamentarians via video conference during her visit in the region, the Daily FT learns from authoritative sources.
An External Affairs Ministry official confirmed that the US Envoy had not been granted a visa because there were problems with the date of her visit. The dates of Russell’s visit would coincide with a period in which External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris would not be in the country to meet with the Ambassador, the official said. The Government was trying to reach consensus on mutually convenient dates, the official added.
Russell’s visit would have been the third high-ranking visit by a US State Department official since the beginning of the year, as Washington steps up engagement in the lead up the UNHRC sessions in Geneva.
US Ambassador at Large on War Crimes Issues Stephen J. Rapp visited Sri Lanka in January, while Assistant Secretary Biswal, who is the Obama Administration’s key focal point on South and Central Asian affairs, was here last week. At the end of her visit, Biswal said a deteriorating human rights climate, corruption, impunity and attacks on religious minorities was putting Sri Lanka’s democracy in jeopardy. Her comments irked the Government, which hit out at her remarks the very next day.
Media reports over the weekend indicated that Power and Energy Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi had taken issue with the US Ambassador’s attempt to conduct a meeting of all women MPs in Parliament at last week’s Cabinet meeting chaired by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Ramblings In Search Of Tigers’ Foot Prints- Part II
| by Tamizh Prabakaran
Translated by : L. Annadoure -February 4, 2014
Translated by : L. Annadoure -February 4, 2014
[ The indictment levelled against Tamizh Prabakaran, the reporter of Junior Vikkaden is that he has taken photos of Sri Lankan Army camps and he has been found talking to women on whom forcible sterilisation operation have been done. The Member of Parliament Mr.Sridharan and the Provincial Council members who happened to be with the reporter came to be arrested by the Army and they have been handed over to Jayapuram Police station where the Member of Parliament and other Provincial Council members who after having been interrogated as to the accusation have been released. The Reporter has been subjected to a gruesome interrogation both by the Army and the Police. Thereafter the reporter has been taken to Fourth Floor where he has been subjected to interrogation throughout the night and when he requested water the interrogators who instead of giving water just pointed at a bottle containing petrol and when the jib of his pant failed to jib they have refused to procure him another pant to wear.
EXCLUSIVE ONLINE INTERVIEW
WITH INDIAN PEACEKEEPING
FORCES INTELLIGENCE HEAD
COL. HARIHARAN
Interview with Indian Peacekeeping Forces Intelligence Corps Head Col. Hariharan (RH)
Interviewer: Parasaran Rangarajan (PR)
Please note that the video and text are answered separately.
Jayalalithaa said there were reports about four countries, (including the US) trying to move a resolution against Sri Lanka UNHRC for alleged war crimes
Demanding that India move a seperate resolution against Sri Lanka in a UN body next month, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today said Congress-led UPA however would not do that and claimed "scenes will change" after Lok Sabhaelections where her AIADMK will have a say in this matter.
Jayalalithaa said there were reports about four countries, (including the US) trying to move a resolution against Sri Lanka in the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for alleged war crimes.
"As far as we are concerned, India itself should move a seperate resolution seeking punishment for those who had committed genocide (against civilian Tamils in the last leg of Eelam War in 2009), seek the support of other countries and adopt it. But the present Congress (led) coalition government will for sure not do that," she told Tamil Nadu assembly.
"Lok Sabha elections are going to come soon. Then the government will change and so will the scenes. AIADMK will be in a position to decide the Centre's policies. Efforts will then be taken to move a resolution against Sri Lanka (by India) at the UNHRC and make it a success," Jayalalithaa, who has aligned with CPI-M and CPI and one who envisages a bigger role for her party post elections, said.
Expressing deep regret over India's participation in the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Colombo in November last despite Tamil Nadu assembly passing two resolutions against it, she said "we strongly condemn" External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid representing India in the summit, ignoring the "overall sentiments" of Tamils.
Jayalalithaa said there were reports about four countries, (including the US) trying to move a resolution against Sri Lanka in the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for alleged war crimes.
"As far as we are concerned, India itself should move a seperate resolution seeking punishment for those who had committed genocide (against civilian Tamils in the last leg of Eelam War in 2009), seek the support of other countries and adopt it. But the present Congress (led) coalition government will for sure not do that," she told Tamil Nadu assembly.
"Lok Sabha elections are going to come soon. Then the government will change and so will the scenes. AIADMK will be in a position to decide the Centre's policies. Efforts will then be taken to move a resolution against Sri Lanka (by India) at the UNHRC and make it a success," Jayalalithaa, who has aligned with CPI-M and CPI and one who envisages a bigger role for her party post elections, said.
Expressing deep regret over India's participation in the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Colombo in November last despite Tamil Nadu assembly passing two resolutions against it, she said "we strongly condemn" External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid representing India in the summit, ignoring the "overall sentiments" of Tamils.
ByChrishanthi Christopher- February 4, 2014
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) charged that the Urban Development Authority (UDA) is acting in an illegal and arbitrary manner by evicting the residents of Wanathamulla, and challenged its Board of Directors to come forward for a public debate on the legality of their actions and acquisition. Speaking to Ceylon Today, the President of the BASL, Upul Jayasuriya, said yesterday that most of the residents possess valid deeds going as far back as 20 years or more, and that the UDA is acting beyond its jurisdiction.
Sri Lanka Experience And The Storm Gathers Momentum For Modi
S. Sivathasan
What Nehru wrote about a great Indian personage, when changed a bit to the political stalwart that Modi is, it will read thus. He came as a tonic to the demoralized Indian mind, gave it self- confidence and some sense of political direction. Modi storm which has intensified and gathered momentum is ready for its second landfall. The portents indicated are that when it does fall, Congress will be devastated, Third Front pulverized and Aam Aadmi eliminated from a contest of any note. Serious discussions, edifying articles and credible survey results are now accessible for a better appreciation of election prospects. Let us await the fall as it shapes.
The Surge
In my three previous presentations on Modi, I examined the BJP – Congress layout in the political landscape and the likely course of Modi surge in the labyrinth that is Indian election. Most of the variables are falling into place, the haze is getting cleared and predictables are increasing. What is most conspicuous is that the Indian electorate is opting more decisively for Modi and BJP. In my article on Modi dated 2nd January, I posed a hypothetical question, why Congress cannot come below 100 and why Modi will not go above 280. Though much ground needs to be lost by the former and gained by the latter, opposing direction of travel seems well pointed for the two.
On a time scale till May, February is yet for speculation. March is for Alliance partners to be in place and seat numbers to come closer to greater probability. April is for pre poll alliances and May is for post poll partnerships. With information flowing from all around, the two major parties have got into definitive territory, both negative and positive. Like the waning moon, AAP is corroding its shine by the day. Come April and it shall have depedestalised itself to single digit terrain.
If Modi Wave became a Storm and has gathered Momentum, what are the signs? Popularity escalating to4/5th weightage on an all India scale is phenomenal enough. More striking is the rate of growth from December 8 to now. Can an electorate move on from a limited perspective to a national one with ease and speed? Yes is the answer that Sri Lanka provides.
Family eats bitter gourd to stave off hunger Mother admitted to hospital for low sugar level
By Aisha Nazim
and Ruchira Senaratne- February 4, 2014
The Department of Census and Statistics is fond of showing an ever increasing economic growth rate to portray how well-off the Sri Lankan community is in this postwar era. Sadly, these data and statistics are not exactly accurate, especially when considering the economic situation of the rural communities, where the population is mostly made up of farmers and labourers.
The poverty levels of the farmers are such that many families forgo meals as they cannot earn enough to fulfil even their basic needs, including feeding and providing for their children.
Such is the case of R. Vinitha Seneviratne, who, unable to feed herself and her family, was compelled to live off the bitter gourds that grew in her garden.
A resident of Sivalapitiya in Dunumadalaawa, Vinitha is a mother of four, the oldest child being a girl of 13, while the youngest are two-month-old twins.
Impoverished family
Her husband is a labourer, who is barely able to find work these days, leaving the impoverished family of six even worse off than they are usually. The daughter has been admitted to the Anuradhapura Hospital six times so far, as she suffers from a hearing impairment and has had to undergo surgery to rectify it.
Tears fill Vinitha's eyes as she recalls how she was unable to feed her starving children as they did not have anything at home, not even a grain of rice.
"The children were crying for rice, for food, but there wasn't anything at all I could feed them with. My husband is a labourer and wasn't able to get any sort of work for a long time. This rendered us unable to buy even a kilo of rice to feed our children. My husband said that he wasn't able to borrow even a cent from anyone, and told me that we will just have to resign ourselves to die of starvation," she said, adding that it was as a last resort that she plucked the bitter gourd that grew in her garden and fed her family with only that for five days.
However, the diet did not bode well with her and she felt faint and unwell after having it for three consecutive meals. Having no other option she continued with it but by the fifth day, she experienced severe stomach problems.
"After five days of nothing but boiled bitter gourds, my stomach revolted and I had diarrhoea. I thought it would settle down but it only got worse. As there was nothing to be done, I went to the Alayapatthuwa Hospital and was then transferred to the Nochchiyagama Hospital. I was admitted and received treatment for about 12 days. My children continued to be in hunger throughout," Vinitha explained.
Poverty can have many causes and Vinitha and her family are just one of the hundreds of other farming families undergoing similar fates. The reason this time is said to be the lack of rain, which caused many of the harvests – be it rice, pulses or vegetables – to fail. A correspondent from Pubudupura pointed out that there were no rains during the maha season, causing many farmlands to become barren, which in turn affected their economic status as their livelihoods depended on their harvests.
Vicious cycle of debt
Meanwhile, National Organizer of All Ceylon Peasants' Federation (ACPF), Namal Karunaratne, pointed out that another reason for farmers to be enmeshed in poverty was because of the vicious cycle of debt in which they are caught up in.
Citing an issue, which has persisted throughout the years, Karunaratne said that farmers never make a profit as they can never sell their produce at a price that would cover the cost of production.
Farmers bear the cost of production, but are unable to market it for a price which would bring them profit. Subsequently, as they have no alternative but to sell it, they sell it for a much lesser price than is fair to themselves, he said.
"They take loans in order to cultivate their farms, and then more loans to pay it back because what they make from sales doesn't cover costs. They become entangled in an unbreakable web of debt. It's no wonder that people starve; sometimes they can't bear the hardships of life and they resort to committing suicide. Mothers attempt to kill themselves along with their children, and this is when you hear stories of women jumping into wells and in front of oncoming trains while holding onto their infants," he added.
While the government provides Samurdhi allowances to most farmers, this is not enough for their sustenance. As they are bereft of decent and regular meals, they fall victim to many diseases, especially kidney-related diseases. Karunaratne highlighted that over 400,000 farmers in the North-Central Province alone were afflicted with kidney diseases, while many of the children and pregnant mothers are malnourished.
(Pix by Ruchira Senaratne)
By Aisha Nazim
and Ruchira Senaratne- February 4, 2014
The Department of Census and Statistics is fond of showing an ever increasing economic growth rate to portray how well-off the Sri Lankan community is in this postwar era. Sadly, these data and statistics are not exactly accurate, especially when considering the economic situation of the rural communities, where the population is mostly made up of farmers and labourers.
The poverty levels of the farmers are such that many families forgo meals as they cannot earn enough to fulfil even their basic needs, including feeding and providing for their children.
Such is the case of R. Vinitha Seneviratne, who, unable to feed herself and her family, was compelled to live off the bitter gourds that grew in her garden.
A resident of Sivalapitiya in Dunumadalaawa, Vinitha is a mother of four, the oldest child being a girl of 13, while the youngest are two-month-old twins.
Impoverished family
Her husband is a labourer, who is barely able to find work these days, leaving the impoverished family of six even worse off than they are usually. The daughter has been admitted to the Anuradhapura Hospital six times so far, as she suffers from a hearing impairment and has had to undergo surgery to rectify it.
Tears fill Vinitha's eyes as she recalls how she was unable to feed her starving children as they did not have anything at home, not even a grain of rice.
"The children were crying for rice, for food, but there wasn't anything at all I could feed them with. My husband is a labourer and wasn't able to get any sort of work for a long time. This rendered us unable to buy even a kilo of rice to feed our children. My husband said that he wasn't able to borrow even a cent from anyone, and told me that we will just have to resign ourselves to die of starvation," she said, adding that it was as a last resort that she plucked the bitter gourd that grew in her garden and fed her family with only that for five days.
However, the diet did not bode well with her and she felt faint and unwell after having it for three consecutive meals. Having no other option she continued with it but by the fifth day, she experienced severe stomach problems.
"After five days of nothing but boiled bitter gourds, my stomach revolted and I had diarrhoea. I thought it would settle down but it only got worse. As there was nothing to be done, I went to the Alayapatthuwa Hospital and was then transferred to the Nochchiyagama Hospital. I was admitted and received treatment for about 12 days. My children continued to be in hunger throughout," Vinitha explained.
Poverty can have many causes and Vinitha and her family are just one of the hundreds of other farming families undergoing similar fates. The reason this time is said to be the lack of rain, which caused many of the harvests – be it rice, pulses or vegetables – to fail. A correspondent from Pubudupura pointed out that there were no rains during the maha season, causing many farmlands to become barren, which in turn affected their economic status as their livelihoods depended on their harvests.
Vicious cycle of debt
Meanwhile, National Organizer of All Ceylon Peasants' Federation (ACPF), Namal Karunaratne, pointed out that another reason for farmers to be enmeshed in poverty was because of the vicious cycle of debt in which they are caught up in.
Citing an issue, which has persisted throughout the years, Karunaratne said that farmers never make a profit as they can never sell their produce at a price that would cover the cost of production.
Farmers bear the cost of production, but are unable to market it for a price which would bring them profit. Subsequently, as they have no alternative but to sell it, they sell it for a much lesser price than is fair to themselves, he said.
"They take loans in order to cultivate their farms, and then more loans to pay it back because what they make from sales doesn't cover costs. They become entangled in an unbreakable web of debt. It's no wonder that people starve; sometimes they can't bear the hardships of life and they resort to committing suicide. Mothers attempt to kill themselves along with their children, and this is when you hear stories of women jumping into wells and in front of oncoming trains while holding onto their infants," he added.
While the government provides Samurdhi allowances to most farmers, this is not enough for their sustenance. As they are bereft of decent and regular meals, they fall victim to many diseases, especially kidney-related diseases. Karunaratne highlighted that over 400,000 farmers in the North-Central Province alone were afflicted with kidney diseases, while many of the children and pregnant mothers are malnourished.
(Pix by Ruchira Senaratne)
by Latheef Farook -4 February 2011
Crucial Muslim support facilitated the process of Sri Lanka gaining independence from British in 1948 and help end almost four and half centuries of European colonial rule in the island. Many still remember the leading role played by Muslims leaders such as Dr T.B.Jayah, Sir Razik Fareed, Dr M.C.M.Kaleel and Dr Badiduddin Mahmud in the constitutional reforms of this country and their enthusiastic support for the demand of the Dominion Status and independence. They never obstructed the political progress of the country.
For example when the demand for independence began gathering momentum World War 11 broke out in Europe. The British government urged all its colonies to support them assuring that they would be given independence after the war.
Lawmakers to live in lap of luxury Proposed Rs 6 billion condominium for MPs to include gyms, swimming pools, healthcare centres, restaurants and playgrounds
By Dilrukshi Handunnetti- February 4, 2014
Colombo's skyline has been changing dramatically in the past few years. Adding to this soon would be a luxury high-rise condominium with ultramodern amenities to be constructed as a rapid development project in Thalapathpitiya in the Colombo District, for the exclusive use of our legislators.
By Dilrukshi Handunnetti- February 4, 2014
Colombo's skyline has been changing dramatically in the past few years. Adding to this soon would be a luxury high-rise condominium with ultramodern amenities to be constructed as a rapid development project in Thalapathpitiya in the Colombo District, for the exclusive use of our legislators.
This is how the Government celebrates Independence Anniversary, Court Orders against Sit Ins
- Tuesday, 04 February 2014
'While preparing to celebrate the 66th anniversary of independence, the government is engaged in an odious process of blocking students’ fights that are based on just demands. Consequently, the police have obtained court orders to immediately remove, the continuous sit-in being held at the Galaha Junction against cutting down the four year, Allied Health Sciences degree course into three years and the continuous sit-in being held at the University of Rajarata premises in Mihintale, based on nine demands' said by Inter University Student's Federation .
The IUSF futher states 'the police have informed the students that these court orders have been obtained after taking into consideration any damage that might happen to public peace, lives, public property and private property. However, all these struggles were in fact supported by the public in the past few weeks. Trade Unions, Mass organizations and Religious leaders have extended their support to these struggles without any condition. Therefore, because these sit-ins are conducted by the students very peacefully, it is apparent that these sit-ins do not cause any public nuisance and that there had been no damage to public property until this point nor will there be any in the future'
See more details of their statement follow
In spite of its ability to end these sit-ins by giving solutions to the problems of the students, the government is trying to end these sit-ins through anti-democratic means in order to show it to the world that this is country is a place where people can live in freedom. The current government will not think twice to attack the students using the security forces for that purpose. This means that the lives of students participating in these peaceful sit-ins are in an extremely dangerous situation. However we stress that the police and the government will be responsible for any damage that might fall upon the lives of these students. Today, the government is using the very laws that ought to be used for the safety of the public in order to repress the public.
As a result of the forced military training for university students, the government which is holding parades to celebrate freedom took the life of a student right before that celebration. With the aid of court orders, the government has obtained an official power to commit murder in the coming days.
While condemning this odious anti-democratic process of the government we wish to inform the authorities that students’ struggles will not be abandoned until proper solutions are given!
SRI LANKA: failure to control murder, rape, robbery, torture and ill-treatment, and other crimes
February 4, 2014
Independence Day Message
As the country thinks back on the 66 years since its independence, there is unanimous agreement that the nation has failed to achieve any of the aspirations of independence. What is most glaringly horrendous is the vast numbers of crimes that are taking place. As a consequence, people are living in fear and without a sense of being protected by the state. All agencies that are supposed to be involved in making the country a safe place have become dysfunctional.
Former AFP reporter Mel Gunasekara's horrendous murder came just two days before the independence day commemorations. According to reports, she was killed while she was at home alone on Sunday morning. She was stabbed and cut. Such crimes are often reported from around the country. There are many professional killers with developed skills available to be put to use by anyone who wishes to have one of his or her enemies eliminated. Such killers are a 'gift' from the war. A sophisticated killer can be at anyone's door at any time.
The government is least perturbed by such killings and does very little to investigate or prosecute such crimes. What is worse is that, often, when such crimes take place, the public perception – rightly or wrongly – is that the government itself is behind the killings. Stopping murder or any other serious crime does not appear to be a serious objective pursued by the government.
The de facto Chief Justice of the country, Mohan Peiris, went on record recently stating that the rule of law is not practiced anywhere. This does not appear to be a slip of the tongue but, rather, the overall approach of the government on the issue of rule of law. The very manner in which Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake was removed and Mohan Peiris was appointed was an open mockery of law.
The heart of the matter is that legality or illegality are not matters of significance regarding the actions of the government. The government does whatever it wants to do without any regard as to whether its actions are legally justified or not. Further, hardly any avenue is available for the citizen to challenge the legality of the actions of the government.
The adverse impact of the virtual removal of the 17th Amendment to the Constitution by the adoption of the 18th Amendment has been talked about so much that it hardly needs to be elaborated here. The result of that change was to make all the public institutions of the country dysfunctional. When the public institutions are dysfunctional, there are no valid instruments for a government to carry out its public functions, which includes the duty to protect citizens from crime.
The tamashas of elections which are offered from time to time are no indicators of democracy. It is unfortunate that there is comparatively little resentment from the people about the manner in which they themselves are turned into a spectacle without meaning during such elections.
In short, the day of independence has turned out to be a day that reminds people of their fears and helplessness, rather than a day that they could celebrate with pride and hope.
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