South Africa not mediator says Lanka

By admin on July 10, 2014

The Government today informed Parliament that South Africa will not act as mediator in Sri Lanka and the recent visit of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was only to share views on the truth and reconciliation commission process.

Deputy External Affairs Minister Neomal Perera told Parliament that Ramaphosa was in Sri Lanka on an invitation extended by the Government of Sri Lanka.

He said that the visit took place following discussions held between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and South African President Jacob Zuma on the sidelines of the Commonwealth summit last year.

“The President of Sri Lanka had expressed interest to ascertain what lessons, if at all, Sri Lanka could take from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission process in South Africa. Therefore President Zuma designated Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa as special envoy to Sri Lanka to share South Africa’s experience of the TRC process,” the Deputy Minister told Parliament in response to a question.

He said the visit of Cyril Ramaphosa to Sri Lanka was undertaken in the capacity of a mutual sharing of views on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission process in order to explore the possibility of adopting a similar mechanism in Sri Lanka.

Ramaphosa met with various political leaders and delegations in Sri Lanka, including the Minister of External Affairs, Professor GL Peiris, the Leader of the opposition United National Party Ranil Wickremasinghe, the leadership of the Tamil National Alliance, the Chief Minister of the Northern Provincial Council, Mr C. V. Wigneswaran and Governor of the Northern Province Major General G.A Chandrasiri. (Colombo Gazette)

Freedom Of Expression & Association Of NGOs Under Threat In Sri Lanka

| by Laksiri Fernando

( July 10, 2014, Sydney, Sri Lanka Guardian) The circular ‘order’ issued by the Ministry of Defense (MoD) on 7 July 2014 with the objective of prohibiting the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) conducting “press conferences, workshops, training for journalists and dissemination of press releases” undoubtedly is the most intrusive directive issued so far by any government since independence without any reason of emergency or war (internal or external) in the country.

Freedom of Expression & Association of NGOs Under Threat in Sri Lanka by Maria Anderson

Bring Your Black Abayas, We Will Give You Coloured Abayas: New Campaign Started In Sri Lanka

July 9, 2014

In fear of attacks by groups influenced by the growing anti-Muslim sentiments in Sri Lanka, Muslim organizations have initiated a campaign to persuade Muslim women to opt for coloured Abayas instead of the black ones that are being presently worn.

A New Indian Express report states that the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka (MCSL) – a network of Muslim organizations, has kick started a campaign titled ‘Bring your black abayas, we will give you coloured abayas’.

The report states this campaign is being implemented in the hope of making the Abaya- the loose outer garment worn as a cloak to cover the body from the shoulders to the feet by Muslim women – more acceptable to the Sinhalese majority in the country.

The black abaya and the niqab have been heavily criticized by the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), which has attributed the garment to Islamic extremism. As a result, the two garments worn by Muslim women has turned into subjects that have aroused fear and suspicion among the Sinhalese majority.

President of MCSL has stated that they are currently in the process of getting new abayas made and that the distribution would commence in ten days.

New Indian Express report has also quoted the Advisor to the All Ceylon Jamiyathul Ulama (ACJU), Mohammad Dahalan as stating, “The back abaya and the niqab, the face covering which is less commonly worn, have been creating negative feelings among the majority Sinhalese-Buddhists. When everybody is in black, it gives the impression that we are a uniformed force. And the niqab has raised security concerns.”

Meanwhile, MCSL Vice President Hilmy Ahamed told Colombo Telegraph that the program was initiated so that particularly those from low-income families can continue to wear the abaya without being targeted. He said that the MCSL is donating zakath money (donations given to low-income families during Ramadan season) so that low income families can make their purchases. “We have managed to manufacture these Abhayas at a very reasonable price. The fabric importer has volunteered to give the fabric at cost,” he said adding the beneficiaries of the program are selected in order to ensure only those who are eligible to receive zakath benefit from the program.

Responding to Aluthgama

• by Qadri Ismail 
• - on 07/10/2014 

Imagine a country, an island in the Indian Ocean. Let’s call it Serendib (ooh, the irony). Imagine further: several groups, including those named Limat, Milsum and Alahnis, populate the island. A long war ended there some five or so years ago. Nevertheless, peace gives it a pass. Just the other day, a Limat woman, raped repeatedly by the Serendibian military over a period of years, managed to escape the country and tell her story abroad. It made international headlines – well, not in China, Russia, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, but in Europe and North America. A few days later, her mother, still in Serendib, was murdered by the military. Brazenly. In full view of the rest of the village.

Responding to Aluthgama by Maria Anderson

July ’83 and June ‘14  SL Muslims at the 

cross roads – 6 

By Izeth Hussain-July 4, 2014, 9:19 pm

Whom the Gods wish to destroy, they first drive mad. – Greek saying

There has been much thinking, writing, and discussion on the Aluthgama/Beruwela outrages, so that we can now try to draw conclusions with some measure of confidence about what those outrages really signify. There seems to be a fairly widespread notion that July ’83 and June ’14 constitute two great divides in Sinhalese/minority relations, with the difference that that in 1983 the outrages were of course much worse. Both divides had behind them two common factors: an excess of drunken power compounded by ethnolunacy in the two Governments of the time.

July ’83 and June ‘14  SL Muslims a Cross Roads – 6 by Maria Anderson

Rajapaksas to take over Temple of the Tooth too?

 Thursday, 10 July 2014 

The President has initiated a special mission to appoint Uva Chief Minister Shashindra Rajapaksa to the revered position of the Diyawadana Nilame of the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, internal sources from the Temple say.

At the present, Shashindra Rajapaksa functions as the Basnayake Nilame of the Kataragama Devalaya as well.

Formerly an office of the Royal household, today the Diyawadana Nilame remains a prestigious position, enriched with over two thousand years of history to safeguard and carry out ancient rituals for the most sacred Relic of the tooth of the Buddha.

The Diyawadana Nilame is now elected by a far-flung electorate comprising the most Ven. Mahanayake Theras of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters.

Trustees of Buddhist Temples with an annual income of Rs. 1,000/- and registered with the Public Trustee and the divisional revenue officers (now Sri Lanka Administrative Service Officers) in the Kandy areas.

These officers have to be Buddhists and male. Each term of an elected Diyawadana Nilame is 10 years and he may run for a second term.

The first term of the present Diyawadana Nilame - Nilanga Dela Bandara ends in 2015.

It is said that the President is planning to name Nilanga Dela Bandara to Parliament from the national list and hand him the reins of the Buddha Sasana Ministry before naming Shashindra to the election.

As a person hailing from the low country has never been appointed to this prestigious position before, the President has reportedly decided to take the election campaign to his own hands.

Muslims Appreciate Dalai Lama’s Comment On Sri Lankan And Burmese Buddhist Criminals

July 10, 2014 

The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka (MCSL) has hailed the statement issued by Dalai Lama that called upon extremist and violent Buddhist organizations in Sri Lanka and Myanmar to refrain from resorting to violence against Muslims.

Dalai Lama

MCSL had appreciated Dalai Lama’s comment in which he had stated, “I urge the Buddhists in these countries to imagine an image of Buddha before they commit such a crime,” while adding his words should be the starting point of a collaborated effort by all communities to ‘practice their true religion and strive towards understanding and peace’.

The MCSL Vice President Hilmy Ahamed in his statement had also thanked the majority of Buddhists including parliamentarians, religious leaders and other citizens who supported the Muslims during the anti-Muslim clashes that erupted in Southern Sri Lanka, by saving their lives and protecting their property.

However, Dalai Lama’s comments were not received so well by every faction in Sri Lanka; Buddhist monk Elle Gunawansa had criticized Dalai Lama’s words and it was quoted by in the daily English newspaper, Daily Mirror.

Papal visit becomes a headache for president!

 Thursday, 10 July 2014 

The president is paying attention to warnings by his advisors that the visit by Pope Francis XI to Sri Lanka on 14 January 2015 will have an impact on the presidential election due close to that period if he makes remarks detrimental to the president and the government following his tour of northern and eastern provinces, say internal sources at Temple Trees.

The president expects that the papal visit will worsen the situation for him both locally and internationally in the aftermath of the statement made by British Prime Minister David Cameron after his visit to the two provinces while in the country to attend the commonwealth heads of state summit last November and the recent remarks by Dalai Lama. In order to avoid such a situation, he is considering hold the presidential election before the visit by the Pope.

As per the constitution, Mahinda Rajapaksa can call for a presidential election only after 18 November 2014. According to the elections act, within 16 days of announcement of the election, the elections commissioner should call for nominations, and hold the election within 42 days thereafter. The entire process will take up 58 days. Therefore, if the election is announced on November 18, the election should take place on 30 January 2015.

However, his astrologers have strongly advised the president to hold the presidential election before January 15. But, the constitution has come in his way.

Furthermore, it is the papal custom not to tour a country which is due to hold elections. As a result, the president has decided to announce a presidential election before November 18 and obtain an interpretation from the Supreme Court.

‘Aba Saranai’ And The Scourge Of Theocratic Politics

| by Tisaranee Gunasekara

“…it is time that the world adopt a position that refuses to countenance Religion as an acceptable justification for, excuse or extenuation o, crimes against humanity.”

Wole Soyinka (UN Conference on the Culture of Peace and Non-violence – 21.9.2012

( July 10, 2014, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) ‘Eat, Pray, Fast’ was the title of a photo-essay in the Foreign Policy magazine marking the beginning of the 2013 Ramadan season . The pictures provided a glimpse of the wide and varied spectrum of global Islam – from the hip young protestors of Turkey breaking fast in the Gezi Park to a fully-covered woman outside a mosque in India.

‘Aba Saranai’ and the Scourge of Theocratic Politics by Maria Anderson

Every Sri Lankan Should Be A Jihadi

By Muhammed Fazl -July 10, 2014

Muhammed Fazl

Be they political leaders or men in robes, if a non-believer understands it as a concept of terror, then it would only expose their ignorance and fear of the fastest growing religion in the world. Considering the recent events, my attitude arising from my steadfastness in my Islamic faith would be far more harmless compared to the lethal tactics of the ruling class and their politicized armed forces using monks in suppressing my right to practice my faith in this isle where I was born!

To begin with, it was NEVER an issue of a clash of religions in this country. In the past, losing Buddhist adherents to other faiths never created any problems to any community nor did Lord Buddha prohibit his disciples from believing in another scripture in any of his teachings. And it makes me wonder why the present day ‘flag bearers’ of Buddhism force the noble teachings on people and admonish them when they become non-believers. With no spiritual or divine figure to hold its adherents accountable for their actions, I question the authority of existing high priests and the validity of their judgments when they themselves are held hostage by a gang of thieving and a murderous kind. My observation originates from the deafening silence of the Maha Sangha on the present state of affairs of this country when it is seen as all but right even by a blind man.

While it is no secret that high priests do enjoy a cushy and luxurious lifestyle, the blind followers need to do a lot of soul searching when the ‘most venerable’ of Buddhism are allowed to act on the contrary to the basic teachings of Lord Buddha. In this context, one should be able to question the decisions of misguided Buddhist monks seeking leadership positions amongst the ignorant faithful. Failure to do so would erode centuries old noble practices and possibly the faith itself may face a gradual extinction as well.Read More

Is it the NGOs in Sri Lanka that need straitjacketing?

by Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka 

- on 07/10/2014 

Just as a criticism of the Ministry of Sports or the Cricket Control Board, are in no way a critique of Sri Lanka’s cricket team or its sportsmen and women, I must clarify that my critique of the Defense bureaucracy is in no way a critique of the Sri Lankan armed forces.

Is It the NGOs in Sri Lanka That Need Straitjacketing by Maria Anderson

President’s official photographer has misused Rs. 8 million!

 Thursday, 10 July 2014 

The President’s Office is holding a secret inquiry, on the orders of the president, into alleged misuse of Rs. 08 million by his official photographer Sudath Silva, said sources at the President’s Office.

Sudath Silva has collected this money from several Tamil businessmen in Colombo, purportedly to fund the visits by ‘patriotic Sinhalese’ from countries in Europe to Geneva for protests against the proposal against Sri Lanka at the UN human rights council sessions in March.

The president was told about it by several pro-government members of the Tamil diaspora who had met him some days ago. Surprised by their revelation, the president had asked about it from Sudath Silva then and there. But, he has sworn that it was a total falsehood.

Well knowing the character of Sudath Silva, the president has ordered his chief of staff Gamini Senarath to immediately inquire into the matter. According to our sources, Sudath Silva is now personally meeting the Tamil businessmen in question and pleading with them not to give evidence against him, and giving them various promises. The same fate that befell Prasanna Hennayaka, the official photographer of former president Chandrika Kumaratunga, will befall Sudath Silva, said a top official of the Presidential Secretariat.

Govt. institutions owe Rs. 130 million to Mahaweli Authority – Minister

July 10, 2014 

Legal action will be taken immediately against persons and Government Institutions that have defaulted payments for properties, houses and buildings rented by the Mahaweli Authority, Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva said today.

The Mahaweli Authority has shown me that Government Institutions alone owe Rs. 130 million, De Silva claimed. He added that he has requested a comprehensive report on the matter and will take swift legal action.

Dayasiri assaults Harin 
 
July 10, 2014 
A brawl between Wayamba Chief Minister (CM), Dayasiri Jayasekara, and UNP Badulla District MP, Harin Fernando, on Wednesday, forced the organizers of Derana TV's Waada Pitiya, which was to be telecast on Tuesday, to cancel the programme.
 
At the beginning of the programme, Fernando referred to Jayasekara as "I say" and "eunuch". These derogatory words irked Jayasekera, leading to a situation, where the organizers were unable to control the explosive situation which transpired as a result.
 

The situation got out of hand when Jayasekara told Fernando, that he was heaping conditions on the UNP leadership if he was to be considered as their Chief Ministerial candidate for the forthcoming Uva Provincial Council elections.
The confrontation between the two was provoked after Jayasekara said a condition laid down by Fernando to contest the election was that the parliamentary seat, which would thereby fall vacant, be filled by his nominee. Jayasekara based his accusations on media reports.
 
The Wayamba CM, citing media reports, said Fernando had requested from the UNP leadership that after the Uva Provincial Council elections, he be transferred out of Badulla, and be provided with nominations to either Gampaha or Negombo.
Jayasekara had further said though Fernando speaks disparagingly of the President and the government during the day, at night he fellowships with the President's eldest son Namal.
 
After these accusations were made, Fernando, instead of engaging in a healthy debate with Jayasekara, called him names and addressed him as "I say, you eunuch," which in Sinhala, means thamuse napunsakaya. He had made similar disparaging remarks to Jayasekara, unbecoming of an MP.
To diffuse the tension, the organizers of the programme had called for a brief interlude but no avail. They had been virtually going after each other's throat and in the heat of the moment had begun raising their voices and were also shouting at each other.
 
Harin had started shouting obscenities at Jayasekara and had stood up from his chair to attack him. Jayasekara in the meantime had warded off Harin's attack and punched him on his face. Harin's lip had started to bleed and he in turn had tried to punch Jayasekara.
 
The organizers of the show Waada Pitiya and other MPs had then intervened to stop the fight but they too could not stop it. The fight had lasted for about five minutes.
By that time, the studio was in complete disarray, the producers of the show at Derana compelling to put an end to the live show.
 
Sunil Handunetti, was then seen escorting Harin out of the studio, while Jayasekara too left soon afterwards.
Sunil Handunetti, later confirmed that the fight did indeed take place and that he had escorted an injured Harin Fernando out of the studio. Handunetti added that Harin's face was bloody from the fight.
 
Arundika Fernando meanwhile, was saddened by the manner in which politicians behaved. He added, he did not approve of the behaviour of Harin nor the manner in which he spoke during the intermission. Fernando added that he had requested the Derana producers not to telecast the fight to the public and that they should refrain from speaking about it in public.

Dayasiri, Harin exchange fisticuffs

 

Thursday, 10 July 2014 

North Western Province Chief Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera has bitten United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian Harin Fernando while the two exchanged fisticuffs during a political debate show - Wadapitiya on Derana TV on Tuesday night, reports say.

It is said that the UNP MP sustained slight wounds to his neck and shoulder.

Speaking to 'Mawbima' newspaper, Sunil Handunneththi has said that when MP Fernando was taken out of the studio after the incident, there was blood on his face.

When inquired by 'Sri Lanka Mirror', Dayasiri Jayasekera had said that he did not bite MP Fernando and an exchange blows did not happen.

Nevertheless, the North Western Province Chief Minister is taking currently legal action against MP Fernando citing that the latter insulted him.

Julian Burnside says government may be guilty of piracy over asylum seekers

Leading human rights lawyer says holding 153 Sri Lankan asylum seekers at sea ‘looks for all the world like piracy’

The Sri Lankan naval vessel the Samudra after transferring 41 asylum seekers whose boat was turned away by Australia. Photograph: Lakruwan Wanniarachchi/AFP/Getty Images

Melissa Davey-Thursday 10 July 2014

Leading human rights lawyer and advocate Julian Burnside QC has told the ABC that the Australian government’s holding of 153 asylum seekers on a customs boat at sea may amount to piracy.

On Monday the high court granted an interim injunction preventing the group of asylum seekers, which includes young children, from being handed over to the Sri Lankan navy.

At the Melbourne hearing, counsel for the immigration minister, Scott Morrison, told the court that the asylum seekers’ boat was intercepted outside of Australian territorial waters and therefore not subject to Australia's migration laws. It was the first time the government had admitted the boat’s existence after refusing to comment on its whereabouts for more than two weeks.

"It looks for all the world like piracy," Burnside told the ABC.

"If they went on to the Australian vessel because they had asked for help and they were offered help, then they seem to have been taken under false pretences because the government not only publicly denied their existence, it also seemed distinctly uninclined to offer them any help."

The asylum seekers say they are Sri Lankan but left from India about a month ago, however Sri Lanka has indicated it will not take them back,and Abbott has said he has no plans to send them there. Burnside thinks India would be unlikely to accept them either.

On Wednesday the president of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Gillian Triggs, told Guardian Australia it was likely the asylum seekers would end up on Nauru.

Manus Island detention centre does not accept children, and Christmas Island was in lockdown following self-harm and suicide attempts among asylum seekers in the detention centre there, she said, with seven confirmed cases since 7 July.

“I know nothing about their condition, but it has led to lockdown conditions on Christmas Island,” Trigg said.

“I think the ray of light is that there is now an undertaking by government lawyers so that people on board the ship will be taken to a detention centre in the next couple of days,” she said.

Triggs said she consistently received reports of self-harm and suicide among asylum seekers, prompting her to three weeks ago urge Morrison to send asylum seekers on Christmas Island to Darwin for processing.

“I said it was increasingly dangerous for asylum seekers on the island and the humane policy should be to bring them to Darwin from Christmas Island for processing,” she said.

“But ultimately they [the government] don’t want their record of no boats arriving to be spoiled, they want to be able to continue to say no boats have arrived for more than six months – they are hoisted on their own petard.”

On Wednesday a spokesman for the Morrison said it was long-standing government practice not to confirm or comment on reports of individual acts of self-harm, but there was no basis to the claims of self-harm or attempted suicide.

Morrison is currently in Sri Lanka for the commissioning of two Australian-donated patrol boats and according to the ABC, has also made a secret visit to the war-torn Sri Lankan region of Jaffna.

Speaking after the launch of the patrol boats, Morrison said his government’s secrecy around asylum seekers was justified, Fairfax Media reported.

“What I'm saying is that any other ventures that are the subject of matters before the Australian courts are matters that we will address in those courts and we have always maintained a very strong process for how we manage communications regarding our operations,'' he said.

''Those matters are currently before courts in Australia so I don't intend to [engage in] any further discussion of that other than [what] has been provided in the court.”