Presidential Election:

Polls Chief can reject MR’s nomination papers - Wijeyadasa

18th Amendment was passed after Mahinda elected for two terms

By Zacki Jabbar-September 2, 2014

The UNP said yesterday that President Mahinda Rajapaksa was disqualified from contesting for a third term and the Election Commissioner was legally empowered to reject his nomination papers.

Member of the UNP Leadership Council and Constitutional Lawyer Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa MP addressing the media in Colombo, noted that when the 18th Amendment was introduced in September 2010, the incumbent President according to the Constitution had already been elected for two terms and was debarred from seeking re-election.

He said that the law was quite clear and any amendment was applicable to a future President and not the incumbent, who in this case was Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The Election Commissioner could obtain the Attorney General’s advice and reject President Rajapaksa’s nomination paper if he decided to contest a third time, but the question was whether he would be able to obtain an independent opinion, Wijeyadasa said, adding that the AG’s Department which had remained independent since 1833, was, for the first time in Sri Lankan history, brought under the President’s office by the UPFA government.

"Can you expect the AG who is now an employee of the President to rule against his boss?"

The MP said that a motion introduced by him in Parliament in terms of the Latimer House Principles to make the Superior Courts independent had been struck down by the UPFA government. The President being the head of the Commonwealth should have ensured its passage, but instead he did not allow it go beyond the presentation stage, the UNP MP said.

India’s Moral Rectitude On Test At Swamy’s Abrasive Conduct

By S. Sivathasan -September 3, 2014 

S. Sivathasan

The susceptibilities of Tamils are now under constant laceration.  The man who has earned the ire of all Tamils is Swamy. From the day Modi was elected Prime Minister, this man thinks he has come into his own. By himself of no consequence, of miniscule weight and without credibility, he has purportedly attached himself to Modi and the BJP government. So he prates and behaves in Sri Lanka. It is very unfortunate that the new government has taken kindly to his scheming ways. His malevolence erodes the image of governance by the day.

Lanka should be “A FEDERATED STATE OF INDIA”. So asserted Swamy not so long ago. Unable to put up with his unsolicited advice the Sunday Times of August 31, 2014 quoted him to tear his mask down. It went further to say “now the government (Sri Lankan) gives the self-styled leader a red-carpet welcome”. Is leader the appropriate word? For reasons of culture apparently, the term impostor has been veered from.

General Gerry de Silva, a one time Jaffna Commander and later a respected Sri Lanka Army Commander has this to say in his book ‘A Most Noble Profession’. “A  day after EPS (Elephant Pass) fell into the hands of theLTTE in April 2000, Dr. Subramanian Swamy made a public statement to the effect that if Sri Lanka wanted India to intervene once more she would have to submit to demands of being a federated state of India.”   Read More

Law College In All Time Low Due To Rampant Elitism And Favouritism

September 3, 2014

Concerned parties have expressed grave concern over the present plight of the academic activities in Sri Lanka Law College, pointing out the once-prestigious education establishment has come to its ‘lowest standards during the recent past’.

De facto CJ

The aggreived parties, blame the downfall of the SLLC on elitism and favouritism that is being promoted in appointing senior adminsitrative officials to the establishment by the Rajapaksas and the de facto Chief Justice Mohan Pieris.

The deterioration had began soon after the appointment of WD Rodrigo as its Principal who was at the center of criticism not so long ago for his act of welcoming President Rajapaksa‘s son –Namal with beetle leaves and for his role in Namal’s exceptional results despite not attending the lectures or examinations. His close links with the Rajapaksas are further established, when Rodrigo moves to Temple Trees as a ‘consultant’ following his removal from the position, which was then replaced by retired Supreme Court judge PA Ratnayaka by the de facto CJ who was then the Chairman of the Council of Legal Education

But before long, Justice Ratnayaka left the position due to extreme pressure and Jayatissa De Costa – a card holding member of the SLFP was thereafter appointed as the Principal under the direction of President Rajapaksa without any consultation of the Council of Legal Education.

Respectively, the CJ then appointed two of his close allies Nigel Hatch PC as a member of the Council and Retired SC Judge Shiranee Tilakawardane as a consultant. These two individuals are infamous for publicly criticising and ridiculing the practise of law being taught in non-English enviornments and are also well known for making a mockery out of students and lawyers who have attended rural schools or are not fluent in English.

Similarly, several other appointments based on favouritism have been made to the Law College including the appointment of retired High Court judge Edirisinghe who is closely linked with the de facto CJ, to be in charge of examinations.

Colombo Telegraph learns that just few days ago, 20 CCTV cameras were installed in various locations within the SLLC premises under the direction of the de facto CJ and Shiranee Tilakawardane. Among the other bizarre events that have taken place following the appointments of these individuals includes the ousting of a student who was wearing slippersout of the Law College by Hatch who had thereafter brought in a new rule directing the security staff not to allow any students in slippers, into the Law College premises.

Furthermore, it has also been pointed out that the mode of examinations has also undergone interesting changes. Recently, while the examinations were continuing the questions had been changed in five subjects. In the Law of Property paper, an invigilator had pointed out two questions that were inaccurate nad had instead dictated two other questions that were newly introduced.

Meawhile, among the other issues that have been highlighted as a result of the rampant elitism and favouritism prevalent within the SLLC includes the paper setter of the Constitutional law question paper being replaced by an official attached to the Attorney General’s Department for no apparent academic reason.

Who Will Be The Next Sri Lankan Leader To Meet Modi?

| by Upul Joseph Fernando

( September 3, 2914, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Political leaders from opposition parties are battling each other to be the first to meet Indian Prime Minister Modi as reported in ‘Ceylon Today’ a few weeks ago. Indian South Block sources revealed that the Indian Prime Minister will meet Sri Lankan Opposition Leaders after concluding his rounds of meets scheduled with the TNA. Rumours were afloat that Modi would first meet former President Chandrika Kumaratunga. However, chances are less that she could meet him first due to several other reasons. The main reason is that her standing with the BJP generally had not been on a strong footing. She was nursing a grudge against Vajpayee’s BJP Government which was in power during her presidency for not helping her in the worsening struggle against the LTTE. Rao’s Congress Government before the Vajpayee Government offered a helping hand to Chandrika’s devolution proposals with a view to marginalize Prabhakaran. But the Vajpayee Government strongly urged her to go for a negotiated settlement with the LTTE. Chandrika was annoyed when Vajpayee invited Ranil, the Opposition Leader for a discussion with him.

Mostly due to these reasons Chandrika’s chances of having an audience with Modi before others hang in the balance. Ranil-Modi meet before all others too cannot be predicted in view of the current developments in India. In fact, Ranil made an unsuccessful attempt to meet Modi when he visited India recently. Ranil had stronger ties with the BJP when the likes of Advani held influential positions in the party. However, now that the old guard of the BJP had been purged from their powerful positions, Ranil may not have influential friends over there.

Invitations

A notable feature of former Indian Prime Ministers extending invitations to Sri Lankan Opposition Leaders had always been made after much circumspection and deep analysis of all pros and cons. This position is best illustrated by the invitation Chandrika received following her arrival from London and became a Central Committee Member of SLFP, to meet then Indian PM Rao. This invitation of Rao came as a surprise not only to Premadasa who was in power then, but also to Anura Bandaranaike, the then heir apparent to the SLFP crown.

Dixit, then Indian High Commissioner who had arranged the meet between Rao and Chandrika had this to say about it in his book:

"Two opposition leaders from Sri Lanka (both belonging to the same family) visited Delhi in 1992. Anura Bandaranaike, son of Sirimavo Bandaranaike, arrived in Delhi in the late spring or early summer of 1992. He was a SLFP (Sri Lanka Freedom Party) Leader and also the Leader of the Opposition in Sri Lanka Parliament. He was received by the Prime Minister, and he also met other leaders and went back quite satisfied. Just a few days later, his sister Chandrika Kumaratunga was in the Indian capital at the invitation of the Jawaharlal Nehru University. Chandrika Kumaratunga, at that point of time, was making preparations to re-enter Sri Lankan politics after her long absence from the political scene in the aftermath of the assassination of her husband Vijaya Kumaratunga by the JVP (Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna).

I had the privilege of knowing Kumaratunga (later to become the President of Sri Lanka) during my assignment in Colombo. When she visited the Indian capital, she wanted to meet the Prime Minister, but having tried through normal channels, she had not succeeded. She met me and mentioned her request. I recall Kumaratunga defying mainstream Sinhalese public opinion in 1986 to go and talk with Tamil militant groups in Madras to explore the possibilities of a peaceful solution to the ethnic problem of Sri Lanka.

I rang up the Prime Minister directly that evening and requested him to receive Kumaratunga. I explained that I was making this special request because, in my assessment. Kumaratunga belonged to the most enlightened segment of Sinhalese leadership and I predicted that she would become an important figure in Sri Lankan politics, if not in the Sri Lankan Government, within five years. Prime Minister Rao agreed to a 15-minute meeting, but it lasted for 45 minutes. Kumaratunga had an analytical and detailed discussion with the Prime Minister on the Sri Lankan situation and Indo-Sri Lanka relations. The footnote to this event is that, when Kumaratunga did become President of Sri Lanka in 1994, she sent me a note. It read: “Mani, I have proved your prediction correct except that it has come true in a shorter time span of two rather than five years.” I was touched that she had time to recall this incident and communicate with me in the midst of her enormous concerns and preoccupations.”

In the same manner that Rao invited Chandrika for a meet in 1992, Prime Minister Vajpayee invited then Leader of Opposition Mahinda in 2003 to undertake a tour of some Indian States to familiarise with the devolution of power between centre and states and more importantly for a discussion.

A SLFP Central Committee Member, Chandrika Kumaratunga who was invited by the then Indian Prime Minsiter to meet him became the President in 1994. Mahinda Rajapaksa who was also invited as Leader of Opposition by the Indian Prime Minister in 2003, too became President in 2005.

Appointment

It was known then, that Mahinda who was Prime Minister sought an appointment to meet Manmohan Singh even before the declaration of 2005 Presidential Election. It was futile. Actually Singh met Chandrika and Opposition Presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe separately and advised them both to agree to a bi-lateral arrangement to settle the ethnic problem. Presumably India acted with some conviction that Ranil would emerge victorious at the Presidential poll. But the then Indian High Commissioner in Colombo Nirupama Rao had alerted India to the possibility that Mahinda could win the Presidential poll.

India failed to heed to the report on the ground situation which prevailed at the time. India miscalculated the situation.

Usually, Indian Prime Ministers extend invitations to Opposition Leaders after a serious appraisal of many cogent factors. When Fonseka turned up in India just before the 2010 Presidential Election and sought an appointment with the PM, he was unsuccessful. India had not rated his chances high at the Presidential Election. Indian Prime Ministerial invitations to Sri Lankan Opposition Leaders ahead of Presidential Elections indicate a prophetic importance. It is interesting to note whom Modi will meet first with a Presidential Election round the corner. Will it be Ranil or Chandrika?

Vignettes of legal profession from Hulftsdorp 

BY Hemantha Warnakulasuriya-September 3, 2014 

In the bygone days lawyers and even judges travelled to Courts by CTB buses. Hemal Perera a lawyer friend of mine who is now domiciled in Australia has had to face a novel experience while travelling in a CTB bus. He was a standee passenger and after sometime he felt the person behind him trying to pick his pocket. He took hold of the fellows roving hand and turned around slowly to give him the usual treatment men normally used at such times. On taking a hard look at the would-be pickpocket his jaw fell and dropped the hand of the culprit immediately. He was none other than Panadura Chief Magistrate, Ellepola. He said "Well I blew it. I am learning to pick pockets.

I see I need more practice." Hemal displaying much respect the judge deserved said "Sir, why don't you sit at that empty front row seat. Conductor would have made arrangement for you to sit there." He said "No Hemal, that seat is reserved for clergy. As you can see I am not a member of the clergy. One day perhaps if I become one I might sit there. Until then I will travel as a standee passenger like now." He was always a very fair and an honest judge who won respect from all, litigants and lawyers alike. His position and status in the official bar never went to his head and he never became swollen-headed like some judges.


Legal profession then was an immensely respectable one. Judges and lawyers were well-read individuals and were like walking encyclopaedias. Now it is nowhere near it was in its halcyon days. Rookie lawyers who join the profession now are not interested in reading or acquiring knowledge. Sometimes they may not know who Colvin R. de Silva is but they know who Mervyn Silva is. They are interested only in making money and their love for motor cars also run deep in their hearts.


In the old days very few judges and lawyers had motor cars of their own. Most of them travelled in buses. A few big wigs in the Magistrate Court like Arumugam Mahesan, V. Nagarajah and Sirimevan Bibile travelled in their own cars. Their cars were patrol-guzzling big contraptions like the cars American millionaires used. Among these few car-owning lawyers there was a competition to own the biggest car as it was considered a symbol of status which would in the end mean more clients and more money. Mahesan who was the undisputed colossus in the Magistrate Court had a Stud Breaker car, a big ship-like affair. In silhouette his car looked like it had wings. His broker in his law office used to tell prospective clients that his car could fly when it hits high speeds. Our friend of whom we are talking today, though he will remain unnamed, was a six-footer with handsome looks. At one stage he also entered the fray to acquire the biggest car, a fight which was raging between Mahesan and Nagarajah. Not to be outdone by other two he also bought a Dodge, which he used to fill up with kerosene and petrol. For the purpose of this narrative we call him M.W. When he started the engine of his car it made a terrible noise like that of a steam roller and emitted clouds of smoke which made everybody dodge to avoid getting splashed with a combination of kerosene, petrol and a filthy smell.


One day, Mahesan made mockery of M.W's car and the oil combination telling a friend of his that the car runs on kerosene. Somebody who overheard his merry-making story had carried it to M.W. On hearing this story M.W started fuming angrily. We were famous for eons about our tale carriers cut throats and traitors. Politician's very life depends on this type of charlatans. In M.W's case the damage done to his self-respect was immense. Immediately after hearing the belittling story M.W started scolding Mahesan and went into crown hotel. He started hitting the bottle fast and furiously. Then he came straight to our office and started scolding Mahesan using foulest possible language, nonstop. When he ran out of steam he again ran into Crown Bar to replenish the courage giving stuff.


The day after this incident a big commotion was heard from near Mahesan's office which was right in front of the car park. Our hero M.W. had come early that day and had backed up and stopped his car right in front of Mahesan's office. He had revved up the engine of his car emitting a thick cloud of smoke straight into Mahesan's office. Because of the strange noise people had gathered outside his office and on seeing what was happening dashed away to avoid smoke and unbearable smell. Mahesan had been splashed with a copious dose of smoke and his clothes were drenched in drops of oil expelled from M.W's battleship-like car. He had to run home for a change of clothes. This state of affairs continued between the rivals for a few more days.


Mahesan was from good Jaffna stock and was a proud person. He could not tolerate M.W's harassment anymore. Therefore, one day he decided to take on his antagonist, albeit in a friendly fashion. He had a big pencil about 1 ½ feet long with a prominent curvature at one end which he used to scratch his back. When he wanted to show his importance to junior lawyers he would deliver a gentle knock on their head and call Putha in front of that lawyer's clients. He decided to use that tactic with M.W also to bring him down a peg or two. One day he delivered a gentle knock on the back of M.W and addressed him as Putha. M.W was stung to the quick and retorted, "Why sir? My mother never told me she had ever retained you as a lawyer." At this Mahesan, with his face getting charcoal black ran into the Chief Magistrate BGS David's chambers.


Next week saw another exciting episode of the clash of titans. Parked in front of Mahesan's office from early morning were several rows of cars and Lorries leaving no room for M.W to park his large car. Later, we heard Mahesan had hired a fleet of cars and Lorries from a mudalali in Bambalapitiya to do a fit for tat against his rival. Our hero was a thrice married man. He failed to get a divorce from his third wife to marry the wife number four. He then embraced Islam religion and married for the fourth time under that religion.


One day, we heard a big commotion from the lawyers' office. On one side of the parties in conflict was U.L.M. Farook a devout Muslim and a well loved person in the Bar. Whenever he got a big fee for a case he would invite all of us for a drink at A.A or Otters club. On one such day when we sat for the usual drinks Lal Perera called a waiter aside and gave him some instructions. Shortly after he brought a plate of meat which he said was Wal Gona Mas and offered a plate to Farook also, who ate it with much relish and ordered another plate. Later Lal Perera told me that he fed Farook pork.


The fight was between Farook and M.W. He was shouting at Farook accusing him of stealing one of his clients using brokers; a Rs. 15,000 worth case. While fighting, Farook said to M.W, "You, for all your big talk married under Muslim religion, our religion." M.W retorted, "Yes but I did not become a Muslim. I bought it from a Lebbe for 500 rupees. I eat pork; if you want I can send you some." At this Farook fainted and we had to take him to Kaleel's nursing home. As usual M.W had pirouetted to crown hotel for two quickies.

Include Unlawful Oil Hedging Deals In COPE: Nihal Sri

September 3, 2014

Anti Corruption activist and good governance specialist Nihal Sri Ameresekere has written to the Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprise (COPE), DEW Gunasekere highlighting the non-inclusion of the unlawful oil hedging deals that were carried out by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) that resulted in a loss of Rs. 480 million public funds.

Nihal Sri Ameresekere

In the letter, Ameresekere has listed out a series of questions which he states would assist the Auditor General in considering the matter he has highlighted on exposing the financial losses incurred as a result of poor legal consultancy in dealing with the Court cases on the CPC hedging deals.

Ameresekere had initially written to the Auditor General’s Department regarding the oil hedging deals of the CPC on May 12 this year, in reference to media reports that stated that the Central Bank had paid a sum of Rs. 480 million as legal fees in defending actions instituted in foreign jurisdictions.

Drawing attention to the fact that this sum is higher than the recurrent and annual expenditure of the entire Attorney General’s Department between the period of 2008 – 2011 (during which the highest had been Rs. 419 million) Ameresekere has pointed out that if the legal arguments he brought forward with concern to the Court cases when it initially emerged in 2009 were to be followed, this colossal loss of public finances could have been avoided.

He has expressed regret that the Supreme Court was precluded from going into the merits of the two fundamental rights applications filed by him in May 2009 and June 2009 on the Court cases regarding the oil hedging deals by three private banks, upon being misdirected on a ‘time-bar issue’ and the objections raised by then Attorney General Mohan who had informed the Court that he is defending the actions filed abroad and that Amaresekere should ‘lay his head at rest’.

Amaresekara had also referred to the three sets of notes that he had forwarded to the then Attorney General Mohan Peiris on the data, facts and the law that were to be used in his submissions to the SC, which Peiris had acknowledged and yet instead had made an assurance and a guarantee that no payments whatsoever would have to be made from public funds to the respondent banks under the CPC deals and that he would recover the costs that he reckoned would be in the region of Rs. 150 million.

Further pointing out that if his advises was considered and used in the Court cases, the colossal loss of public funds could have been avoided and therefore, has urged the COPE Chairman to probe as to why the details relevant to the costs incurred through these illegal deals were not disclosed.

Six More Students Interrogated By TID In S’gamuwa Uni Following Attack On Tamil student

September 3, 2014

Six more undergraduates of the Sabaragamuwa University have been detained and interrogated by the Terrorist Investigation Department (TID) since yesterday – they are the third set of students to be arrested since the attack on a student of Tamil identity within the university premises on August 3.

SB – Minister Higher Education

Six first-year undergraduates of the Social Sciences and Languages faculty had been arrested yesterday at the Bandara hostel and have been detained and interrogated at the University guest house. These fresh arrests are made following a series of similar arrests made since the attack on a Tamil student named Sandheer Kumar Sudharshan – a resident of Muhamalai. He was found gagged and unconscious in the morning on August 3, with cut wounds all over his body. The victimized student initially told the Police that he remembers a group of five masked men attacking him.

Another third year student of Tamil ethnicity was arrested and interrogated by the TID on August 5, while he was sitting for an examination and the charge made against him was downloading downloaded images of wounded Sudharshan. Thereafter a group of students who held a press conference on August 6 to raise public awareness on the incidents in the university had been followed to their homes and attacked by the TID.

Soon afterwards, Sudharshan upon being released from hospital is arrested and detained by the TID on August 9 during which he backtracks on his original statement to the Police and confesses to inflicting the cut wounds on himself. It is 23 days since his detention and neither his parents nor his colleagues have been permitted to visit him.

China’s Approach to FTAs with Other Countries: What Can Sri Lanka Expect?

Janaka Wijayasiri-Sep 03, 2014

IPS trade economists Janaka Wijayasiri and Dharshani Premaratne argue that if China’s FTAs with other countries are any indication, Sri Lanka can expect a flexible and collaborative free trade agreement, but there are five key areas that need tackling in the FTA negotiation.

In a previous article on the proposed Sri Lanka- China Free Trade Agreement (FTA), we looked at the potential to expand bilateral trade. Since then, the two countries have finalized a Joint Feasibility Study on 11 March 2014. As expected, the study reported that the FTA would bring substantial economic and trade benefits to the two countries, with both governments expressing hope that the deal will be implemented at an early date. Given that series of negotiations are likely to begin to hammer out an agreement in the near future, it is worth looking at the main features of China’s existing FTAs with other countries to get a sense of what a possible FTA with China would look like.
China’s Approach to FTAs With Other Countries What Can Sri Lanka Expect by Thavam

Norochcholai shut down costs CEB Rs.600 mn a day 

By Maheesha Mudugamuwa-September 2, 2014

Science, Technology and Atomic Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka says that the shutdown of Lakwijaya coal-fired power plant at Norochcholai costs the CEB Rs. 600 mn a day.

Addressing a book launch on Sunday (31) in Kandy, the former Power and Energy Minister Ranawaka said that the future of Sri Lanka’s power and energy sector would depend on the Norochcholai power plant.

If the power plant was handed over to another authority, it would severely affect the country’s power sector, he said.

Pointing out that nearly 60 percent of the country’s electricity requirement would be met by the Norochcholai plant, Ranawaka stressed that if the total energy requirement of the country today was 30 GWh, the plant could be able to generate 21 Gwh.

It was being said in some quarter that a power crisis was on the horizon and the officials of the CEB and Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) were thieves, Minister Ranawaka said, adding that there was a conspiracy behind the continuous losses of the CEB and CPC mentioned by the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE).

Minister Ranawaka said the onus was on the public to reject, at a future election, the politicians in league with the Power Mafia, which he said was worse than Prabhakaran.

Ministry secy. frowns on ‘CEB-Chinese firm MoU’

By Ifham Nizam-September 2, 2014

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) General Manager Shavindranth Fernando has come under fire for signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as regards the Norochcholai coal-fired power plant with China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) without the Power and Energy Ministry approval.

Ministry Secretary, and senior civil servant, M. M. C. Ferdinando, contacted for comment, said the MoU had been signed without his approval. When a formal agreement between the two governments was signed, they would take up the matter with the General Manager, he added.

Ferdinando said that plans were underway for an MoU to obtain technical support from the Chinese government after the warranty period was over.

Fernando stressed that after the warranty period was over they had to depend on Chinese expertise instead of going for open bidding.

Ferdinando said the approval of the Attorney General, Finance Ministry and the Cabinet had been sought in this regard.

A senior official of the China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) told The Island that they had not signed any such agreements.

However, CEB Additional General Manager, M. C. Wickremasekara told The Island that there was an agreement signed by the General Manager and it was beneficial to Sri Lanka.

He said that under that agreement China would provide training to engineers free of charge and already eight engineers had been undergoing training in China.

CEB General Manager Shavindranath Fernando, contacted for comment, did not deny having signed an MoU with the Chinese Company.

 உயிர்ப்பலிக்கு எதிரான மாபெரும் அறவழிப் போராட்டம்

மறவன்புலவு க. சச்சிதானந்தன்

மறவன்புலவு க. சச்சிதானந்தன்

August 30 

உண்ணா நோன்பு தொடக்கம்

Like

• 

  மறவன்புலவு க. சச்சிதானந்தன் 12 மணி நேரம். வாய்க்குள் எதுவும் செல்லவில்லை. உடலை மனம் தன் கட்டுக்குள் வைத்தது. பசி எடுக்கவில்லை, நீர் விடாய்க்கவில்லை. களைப்பு வரவில்லை. தூக்கம் எட்டிப் பார்க்கவில்லை. 
  
  செய்தியாளர், காவல்துறைப் புலனாய்வினர், படைப் புலனாய்வினர், வந்து சென்ற அன்பர்கள், யாவருடனும் உயிர்ப்பலி பற்றிய பல்வேறு செய்திகளைப் பரிமாறும் வாய்ப்பு.
  
  உடனிருந்தவர்களின் மன உறுதி. செய்தியாளருக்கு ஒவ்வொருவரும் சொன்ன கட்டிறுக்கமான செய்திகள்.
  
  மர நிழல், நெடுஞ்சாலையில் வண்டிகளின் இரைச்சல் பரபரப்பு, சோழகக் காற்றின் கடும் வீச்சு, சாலையில் நடந்தோரின் வியப்பும் ஆர்வமிகு வாசிப்பும்.
  
  இறைவனின் இரக்கம் என்னே என்னே!

  
  
• 

  மறவன்புலவு க. சச்சிதானந்தன்http://www.bbc.co.uk/.../2014/09/140902_hphcorder.shtml
  

  
  

  கோயிலில் பலி கொடுக்க இமாச்சலப் பிரதேத்தில் தடை - BBC Tamil - இந்தியா

  www.bbc.co.uk
  

  இமாச்சலப் பிரதேச மாநிலத்தின் உயர் நீதிமன்றம் இந்துக் கோயில்களில் ஆடுகளை பலியிட விதிக்கப்பட்ட தடையை அதிகாரிகள் அமல்படுத்த வேண்டும் என்று உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது

SC Says Need Licence For Animal Sacrifice

September 3, 2014

The Supreme Court today in a judgement delivered with regard to the Munneshwaram Kovil animal sacrifice said that, ‘ritualistic’ animal sacrifice is “trade” within the Butchers ordinance and therefore the Kovil authorities need a license if they are to continue with the annual sacrifice.

The appeal lodged by the aggrieved Kovil authorities were accordingly dismissed.

The Bench comprising Chief Justice Mohan Peiris, Rohini Marasinghe and Sarath De Abrew gave the judgement this afternoon in front of a packed courthouse.

Mohan Pieris delivering the judgement said that religion doesnt make an exception to the law and that the Kovil authorities could only continue with animal slaughter having obtained a butchers license.

The Judgement could cause dissension among religious minorities in the country,which include the Muslims who partake in animal sacrifice during the period of ‘Haj’.

The Munneshwaram Kovil slaughter had been continuoulsy taking place for over a century prior to the intervention of Minister Mervyn Silva and thereafter by hardline Buddhist monks