Lawless University Of Jaffna: Who Will listen?

By Alahan K. Alaharatnam -February 17, 2015

Jaffna VC’s Fraudulent Credentials and Lawless Recruitment

Much is written about administrative and financial corruption by the Vice Chancellor of University of Jaffna. I would like to express my frustration as a foreign-based Sri Lankan wishing to return and serve but being denied by the present VC the opportunity given by the constitution to all qualified citizens.

Jaffna VC

Exercising its powers under the Universities Act to formulate schemes of recruitment, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has formulated Circular 721 which gives 4 different categories for non-medical probationary lecturers: i) “a degree with specialization in the relevant subject” with First Class or Second Class Honours (Upper Division), ii) the same as (i) but with Second Class Honours (Lower Division), iii) a degree with specialization without honours, or any other degree with at least Second Class Honours and a 2-year postgraduate degree in the relevant subject with a research component and iv) such other academic or professional qualifications as may be approved by the UGC upon the recommendation of the Higher Educational Institution. Category iii is important to those like myself vying to be Senior Lecturer.

The law, as seen above, allows a broad class of people to apply. A selection committee then selects. But what does the University of Jaffna advertise for its new Engineering Faculty?: “The applicants must be engineering graduates, who successfully completed four years degree program recognized by University Grants Commission and accredited by the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka” (reproduced as advertised without corrections).

This means several qualified people allowed by the UGC cannot apply: 1) No graduate from a top British university because their engineering degrees are of three-year duration, 2) No one from a top Indian, US or other university granting four-year degrees because they are not accredited by IESL (which does not have the resources to accredit most international programs), and 3) No one under category iii or iv explicitly listed by the UGC.

That is, the VC and Registrar who placed the advertisement have colluded to keep out many qualified applicants, perhaps to favour someone they like, or to keep out someone they do not like. They have thereby taken over the powers of the UGC to determine schemes of recruitment and of the selection committee to select applicants under the schemes of recruitment.

Furthermore, “degree with specialization in the relevant subject” has been broadly interpreted by engineering faculties at Peradenya and Moratuwa using the fact that their engineering degrees are science degrees – Bachelor of the Science of Engineering – to recruit computer scientists to computer engineering, chemistry and applied science graduates to chemical engineering, and physicists to electrical engineering. In fact Jaffna’s physics has in the not too distant past advertised for electrical engineers to teach physics and as I recall made an offer. Peradenya and Moratuwa have both recruited chartered engineers without postgraduate degrees as senior lecturers. Degree with specialization relevant to the subject of engineering therefore does not necessarily mean an engineering degree.

Following this advertisement a friend with specialization in Material Science and Engineering from Moratuwa went for the forms and was told he cannot apply although his is an engineering degree! I am a computer science graduate whose first degree will never be accredited by IESL. I have my PhD in a computer science topic through an electrical engineering department like many senior lecturers in computer science in Jaffna. I have had to show competency in 4 core electrical areas at undergraduate level and do 36 postgraduate course credits for my electrical PhD. But I cannot apply for a senior lecturer’s position in either electrical/computer engineering or computer science by Jaffna’s new rules.

I decided I would apply and see any way since the VC and Registrar who framed the advertisement cannot exclude certain categories although a selection committee might have the power to prefer applicants with some specialities. The advertisement stated that I may send a postal order for Rs 100 for the application form or alternatively download it from www.jfn.ac.lk/vacancies.php. The advertisement having been dated 2 October 2014 with closing dates of 17 and 30 October for posts at my level, my only option was to download.

For that too I was asked to send Rs. 100 with my application. For posting me the form I understand the charge but I do not know to meet what expense when I download the form. Does the UGC not fund the university to make it earn money like this? It makes the university sound rather cheap.

But when I went to the advertised URL to download the form, the form could not be found. As such I could not even apply for an instructor’s position because I could not get the forms from abroad in time.

University of Jaffna’s new engineering faculty has few qualified staff. This is clear from the advertisement which states: “The candidates for Temporary Instructor are expected to conduct the first year engineering laboratories covering all specializations of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical and Process Engineering and they should be able to help to design the second year level experiments in the same area of specializations.” How can, say, a B.Sc. civil engineer teach electrical? When they are so short of staff, why prevent many qualified persons from applying? Is this a tutory or a university?

Indeed, the VC herself will not qualify by her own standards in the in a medical faculty without a medical degree. She is keeping out people like me through these devious ways. Colombo Telegraph has highlighted how she kept out many good people. All these positions should be re-advertisements with the proper rules and reasonable closing dates. Those recruited under the advertisement should be terminated and all processing halted.

It is said that the Jaffna VC has a home science degree from India. I do not know but I have seen her VC application where she claims to have a degree in biochemistry. A subject degree is a four-year honours degree as understood in Sri Lanka. No subject degrees at first degree level are issued in India. She has a three-year general degree perhaps with chemistry as one of many subjects. But biochemistry at first degree? She is a fraud. The first page of her CV by which she applied for VC is attached. She should be dismissed for lying in her application. I know that small fry like me would be. Will the UGC allow a VC to get away with it?

Will someone please listen? Before University of Jaffna is irrecoverably destroyed?

End of the road for Nil Balakaya ! – Susil dismantles it : Nil Balakaya, its origin and Namal’s robbery revealed

(Lanka-e-News- 17.Feb.2015, 11.55PM)   The SLFP youth organization will no longer be functioning as Nil Balakaya  , and its name will be scrapped , said the new SLFP national organizer of the party Susil Premajayantha. Recently when new appointments were made within the SLFP, Shantha Bandara M.P. and Eric Weerawardena were appointed as the President and secretary respectively of the youth  organization of the party.

Earlier , it was Namal Rajapakse the notorious synthetic lawyer against whom charges are mounted  that he  passed the law final exam by fraudulent means was the youth organization leader .The name ‘Nil Blakaya’ too is a name introduced by Namal via a robbery.

Hereunder is the story as tof how the Nil Balakaya originated…

During the period , when Mangala Samaraweera was the minister of Ports , it was Prasanna Kalutarage who was the secretary of the SLFP trade union , of Ports authority . That was the time the war had erupted again. Prasanna brought forward a proposal before the union committee , every Poya day  of the month they should go to the bordering villages and build security bunkers out of the steel and wood that are discarded at  the Port.

This proposal was accepted by the committee and even Mangala Samaraweera’s  consent was given.

On the first occasion , the villages bordering Polonnaruwa were visited , and bunkers were built.

Subsequently more joined in this as a welfare project. Thereafter this project was extended to use the steel cables discarded by the cranes in the Port to make suspension bridges  for the people living in  difficult areas .  Such bridges were built for the people in most difficult areas in Badulla.   

With more groups joining in this project  , it became necessary to give this a small publicity , towards which Prasanna Kalutarage had need to produce a poster . Prasanna at that time met the editor of Lanka e news , Sandaruwan Senadheera , a friend of his at latter’s publicity office at Rajagiriya . When the name of the trade union was to be mentioned  as the producer of the poster it became an issue , because there were many outsiders too rendering assistance. 

The name proposed by the Lanka e news editor was , Nil Balakaya . Prasanna  and others too agreed with this name. Though this Nil Balakaya commenced as a voluntary movement providing facilities to the people in remote areas, it was not registered .

Later, when Mangala Samaraweera rejected his ministry portfolio and the Rajapakses , and crossed over to the opposition , the Rajapakses robbed this name Nil Balakaya and that group ,and  made it into a corrupt  vile force  for the most nefarious and obnoxious purpose  -to boost the image of Namal Rajapakse , the counterfeit lawyer alias  black coated shark. 

Prasanna Kalutarage and his group who toiled so much was finally chased away from the trade union. 

It can be fathomed to what extent this name under Kalutarage took root in the hearts of the people , when considering the fact that even UNP later used the name ‘Green Balakaya’ to launch a youth organization.

In the circumstances  , now ,it is well for the people to probe , hereafter ,if the SLFP   youth organization is to  discontinue in the name of  Nil Balakaya , whether it should be rightly given back to its founder so  that it can resume its welfare activities as a   movement serving the people  as before

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by     (2015-02-17 22:20:12)

Open Letter to the Government of Sri Lanka: On the Port City Review

Image courtesy Yamu

• by Ranil Senanayake 
• - on 02/18/2015 
• • 
    

Prime Minister Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe
Minister Hon. Rajitha Senaratne
Minister Hon Lakshman Kiriella

Dear Sirs,

On the Port City Review

I am writing this open letter to you all as I have doubts that you might receive it through the layers of bureaucracy and entrenched interests that support the proposed ‘Port City’ project. A recent news report quotes a senior government spokesman stating that a “comprehensive review would look into every aspect of the project, including its environmental impact.” Obviously a ‘comprehensive review’ will take a few weeks at least for a project this size and any decision taken in a few days would mean that no ‘comprehensive review’ has been undertaken and we are once again lulled into a state of false complacency while our nations future is dismantled.

It will be salutatory to have the names of the scientists who are on the ‘comprehensive review’ committee, as there is serious doubt of quality of work by the ‘scientists’ who performed the initial EIA, which we the public have no access to as yet. We trust that you will not continue the underhand, opaque transaction procedures of the last government and be tarred with the same brush, we trust that you will you give us the Government that you promised us, open and transparent. I as the only qualified Systems Ecologist in this country, offer my services to this nation and to you GRATIS in the defense of this nation, if you are to set up an independent Sri Lankan committee to investigate the EIA that allowed the “Port City’ to proceed.

As we, the public have not has access to ‘Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) that has been done in regard to this project there are some serious concerns that I would request you to consider. These considerations are basic, they impact this nation far into the future and if not addressed could create irreparable negative consequences for the public of this nation. May I list a few to illustrate the magnitude of the problem?

• Air Quality. The pollution from the new city will be swept into Colombo city by the prevailing sea breeze. Will there be controls of the air quality in the new city, so that the residents of Colombo will not have to suffer increased rates of emphysema, lung cancer and related illnesses? How will be the standards for air quality from the new city be set and monitored?
• Water Quality. The new city will need huge quantities of fresh water for its use. Where will this water come from? There is not enough surface water in the Kelani basin to supply such a quantity. Will the citizens of this nation have to compete with the new city for its fresh water ?
• Where will the energy to operate the new city come from? At the moment we are promoting dangerous coal fired power plants that have been demonstrated to bring ill health to our citizens, destroy our agriculture, poison our fishery and ruin our heritage. Will this new energy needs be met with more such disastrous power generation being foisted on our nation?
• Garbage and pollution. Who will deal with the garbage and toxic effluents that will be generated by the new city? Will Sri Lanka be used as the dumping ground for the new city? What waste treatments plans are in place, recognized by the current EIA?
• Destruction of the land environment. The massive amount of rocks that will be used in filling up the sea has to come from our land. What will be the effects of this blasting and quarrying? We have already witnessed the earth slips and erosion at Koslanda and elsewhere through bad land use practices.

There are many other considerations including offshore sand transport, marine biodiversity and climate change impacts that should appear in a reasonable EIA. Thus it is clear that any ‘comprehensive review’ will have to address these issues. To do less will be to cheat the public. Thus we the public, await an open discussion.

Please do look around to see the other similar problems created without consultation with the public, the Chinese Trans Canal project in Nicaragua is a case at point. Already a large segment of the population are dissatisfied with the secrecy and political instability looms. Such secretive contracts, will always breed national discontentment.

Wishing your new government well in its endeavor to protect this nation and to bring us prosperity and well being.

Sincerely,

Ranil Senanayake

Unsealing The Ascharya Deception

By Nishthar Idroos -February 17, 2015

Nishthar Idroos

Many a tightly sealed lid is being opened with vigor, steam and importantly tonnes of inexhaustible determination. A multitude of weapons are being deployed at suspicious sites and on cankering vaults both locally and in distant lands. It’s a hive of activity and work is reassuringly in progress. Huge clobbers are meted out with weapons of diabolical thrust by an entire battalion of chivalrous soldiers. Sahodarayas from the Hela Urumaya fame, the rotund and world cup winning Captain Cool and the inimitable Rathu sahodarayas are surprisingly working in unison for the common good of the nation. They’re naturally goaded by the infectious Yahapalanaya syndrome, the vernacular slogan that has captured the imagination of all and sundry, a curiously experiential and ever permeating piece of vocab rapidly transcending all nooks and corners of mother Lanka.

It seems even the irrepressible His Excellency Dr Mervyn Silva has turned avid devotee of the Yahapalanaya contagion. The pint sized chandiya is at it again, this time dancing to an entirely different tune. He’s simply the most outstanding iguana in Sri Lanka’s political landscape today. This should certainly add to the phenomenal proselytization taking root vis a vis good governance. Leaders from the political left and others are extending direction and leadership quite admirably. One would venture to say that it’s poignant poetry to see unity in political diversity. It’s always intriguing to find traditionally warring factions notorious for their mutual loathing working together for the common good of the nation. After all much is at stake, its fervently hoped sanity and sensibility will prevail until the whole operation is successfully completed, if at all. A new leaf has to be turned for the betterment of the country.Read More

Change Agents

by Victor Cherubim

( February 18, 2015, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) Who are the agents of change in Sri Lanka?

There was a defining moment, a cataclysmic break from the past that was brooding in the minds of men and women from all walks of life in Sri Lanka that could not have been contained any longer, when the Presidential election was called on 8 January 2015. It turned out to be the birth pangs of a new way of governance, a new vision and a way out of the cobwebs of an antiquated thinking, which served the war effort but awaited evaluation. This ended in the change we have seen in the election of President Maithripala Sirisena as the sixth President of DSR of Sri Lanka.

It could not have happened by itself, without many change agents, all doing their part to bring about this rebirth. The most potent of all the Change Agents, was President Mahinda Rajapaksa himself. He was undoubtedly a charismatic agent of this change. Without debating the pros and cons of how he brought about this change, let us consider the ingredients of this change.

We live in a world where there is a time span for leaders to perform, where talent has become the core currency of competitiveness, not only for business but also for national economies alike. Yet there is often a mismatch all too frequent between systems of government and delivery of peoples’ wants and needs with the passing of time. Governments far too often are cocooned in complacency, and fail to read the pulse of the general public. Foreign and national policies are also not clearly enumerated or even in place, for a seamless transition.

Civil service and Government policy

There is the saying, “Governments come and go, but the Civil Service is here to stay”.

When Governments manipulate civil administration to suit the exigencies or politics of the times, there is gulf of widening propositions which leaves much for the imagination. But, by the very nature of this administrative machinery, the fact is that a threshold of tolerance is reached when even the Civil Service would “rebel” against any Government. This perhaps, could have eroded the situation in Sri Lanka, over time and caused the sea change, we see today.

The “policy profession” as the Civil Service is now termed, can be highly innovative. It helps the government of the day develop and implement its policies as effectively as possible. They see their career, learning and development anchored around policy work. They share a common set of transferable behavioural skills to encourage and bring together evidence, politics and delivery to support ministers in achieving outcomes for the government.

There is no denial that it was not only politicians of all shades, religious leaders but also Civil administration helped as Change Agents in ushering in a new era of tolerance and civil order.

Change in Policy Objectives

JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake recently took to task Finance Ministers past and present for not outlining the country’s proposed economic targets as reflected in the budgets. The result is that the business community operates in an unstable environment fraught with uncertainty and because of this when there are times when they are raking in profit, they attempt to capitalise on such situations by striving for excessive gains.  He added “This is not a budget. It has no long term economic plan. It has no tax formula. It has merely reduced tax from essential food items and imposed taxes on various other sectors, thereby precipitating a vicious cycle.”What he implied is that Governments had a duty to outline a clear policy for the administrative service to implement. Change Agents cannot achieve their objectives without clear long term foreign and national policies in place.

“A Change Agent recognises the importance for positive action on the wellbeing of the economy, society and environment. They have the confidence and competence to live and work in a way that makes a positive and progressive impact.”

It is the hope that all this change will not be in vain if policy objectives are not clearly defined as proposed during the fragile and limited window of opportunity of the 100 day Plan. Unlike, the purported authoritarian rule of the previous government, coalition partners in National Government rely on “elites” who can use the diversity as their strength, but simultaneously this diversity of opinion and views, can be their inherent weakness on delivery of promises.

Perhaps, the most profound challenge for Change Agents is to strike a chord with the mood of the people for change and deliver this change in the most subtle ways possible.

Deconstructing Independence Day Discourse 2015: A Response to Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka

AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena, via South China Morning Post

by Anura Gunasekera 

- on 02/18/2015 

The 2015 Independence Day celebration was invested with the dignity of understatement – a complete departure from the showmanship and bravura performances which characterized the previous events under the patronage of Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Deconstructing Independence Day Discourse 2015 a Response to Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka by Thavam Ratna

Corrupt army officers still serving free of charge.

 Wednesday, 18 February 2015 

It is reported that higher officers serving in the SL Army who were involved in various corruptions and frauds are still serving in same positions scot free. There are allegations leveled against few officers abusing their military powers under the direction and instruction of the former defense secretary for the victory of the former president during the last presidential election.

Major General Lal Perera who is currently serving as the Defense Brigade Commander of the East has been accused for disciplinary breach and unethical conduct. We reported a financial fraud of the latter last 14th.

Jaffna Defense Brigade Commander Major General Jagath ALwis too is accused for many disciplinary breach and alleged for deploying his position and soldiers for election activities.

Former Mullaitivu Defense Brigade Commander Jagath Dias too is charged for abusing his powers for the requirement of the former defense secretary and accused for working in collaboration with Namal Rajapaksa’s Nil Balakaya during elections. Meantime there are allegations leveled against him for providing unlawful lodging and food in the army for the members of the Nil Balakaya.

Major General Mano Perera who is serving in the Central Province as the Defense Brigade Commander is a person charged with a history of corruption. The latter is accused for working loyal to the former president during the distribution of reliefs for the people affected by the landslide. He has exerted pressure for the victims affected by the landslide to support the former president and deployed his army to work in favour for the victory of Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The Black Book maintained during the elections by foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera consist names of these corrupt officials. However they still serve in their usual positions scot free.

There is a genuine apprehension among the ordinary soldiers in the army that President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wicramasinghe not enforce the law against these officers and it is reported that many soldiers are deprived of this situation. They assert when there are clear evidence of abusing powers, financial frauds and deploying army the law should be enforced without delay. They voice that these corrupt officers should be immediately removed and appoint unbiased officers who has served the army with discipline and loyalty.

The Need For Electoral Reform

By Rajiva Wijesinha –February 18, 2015

Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha MP

I am not sure why such a meal is being made about Electoral Reform. The pledge in the Presidential Manifesto was quite clear, viz

Another serious problem that our Sri Lanka Freedom Party led government failed to address during the last twenty years is the change of the electoral system. The existing electoral system is a mainspring of corruption and violence. Candidates have to spend a colossal sum of money due to the preferential system. I will change this completely. I guarantee the abolition of the preferential system and will ensure that every electorate will have a Member of Parliament of its own. The new electoral system will be a combination of the first-past-the post system and the proportional representation of defeated candidates. Since the total composition of Parliament would not change by this proposal, I would be able to get the agreement of all political parties represented in Parliament for the change. Further, wastage and clashes could be minimised since electoral campaigns would be limited to single electorates.

I find it totally unacceptable therefore, particularly given the reasons italicised above, that the draft of proposed constitutional changes has no reference to electoral reforms. It is reported that there are worries amongst the smaller parties that they will be left out if constituencies are introduced, and this will certainly happen if votes have just the one vote. Most people will vote for the candidate likely to win of the main candidates, and even if they have a high regard for a small party, they will not waste their vote.

That is why the German system allows two votes, and that is the only system that will ensure that ‘the total composition of Parliament would not change by this proposal’. I therefore this morning drafted the necessary Constitutional Amendment, and will propose it to Parliament as soon as possible. I understand of course that my colleagues may wish to amend this, but I hope it will be recognized all round that this is the basic principle that we should follow.Read More

Sri Lanka to review all projects approved by Mahinda Rajapaksa government 
Colombo will review all projects that was approved by the previous government and take steps if discrepancies are found.


By ET Bureau | 18 Feb, 2015 

:

NEW DELHI: Sri Lanka on Tuesday said that it would review all projects — that was agreed by the previous Rajapaksa government — in the island nation being built with international support and take action if discrepancies are found in any of the plans. 

Colombo will review all projects that was approved by the previous government and take steps if discrepancies are found, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Smaraweera told a news channel without naming any country a day after official talks between his visiting President Maithripala Sirisena and PM Narendra Modi. 

It is no secret that Sirisena government has decided to review Chinese infrastructure projects awarded under the Rajapaksa administration. 

Delhi had grown increasingly wary of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa's policy of closer ties with China, which became a key supporter of the island's economy after its 26-year-civil war ended in 2009. Last year, President Xi Jinping became the first Chinese leader to visit Sri Lanka in 28 years. 

China has built a port in Southern Sri Lanka and signed a deal to develop a $1.5 billion port next to the commercial port in Colombo, raising apprehensions Beijing is seeking influence in the island nation with which New Delhi has had historical ties. 

Ties worsened further after the Rajapaksa government allowed Chinese submarines to dock twice last year even after a warning from no less than Modi. Meanwhile President Pranab Mukherjee has said India and Sri Lanka should focus on "closer economic integration" by building on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and promote cross-investments by companies. He was speaking at a banquet hosted for Sirisena and his wife at Rashtrapati Bhavan here on Monday night.

Sri Lanka says China "port city" broke rules
China's President Xi Jinping (2nd L) and Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa (R) unveil a plaque during the launch ceremony of a $1.5 billion project to build a port city on reclaimed land in the capital Colombo September 17, 2014.

BY SHIHAR ANEEZ-Wed Feb 18, 2015

(Reuters) - Sri Lanka's prime minister said on Wednesday a $1.5 billion luxury real estate deal with China was signed without cabinet approval and without following procedures, and launched a new investigation to uncover any corruption.

The last government entered into the deal with China, dubbed Port City, to build an offshore development on reclaimed land next to Colombo port. Critics say the details of the deal were not revealed and the environmental study not made public.

India has opposed part of the agreement that would give ownership to 20 hectares of land on a freehold basis to a Chinese state-owned company, next to Colombo port which primarily serves India for trans-shipment.

When he was in opposition, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said he would scrap the project.

On Wednesday, he said two committees would investigate the deal after the results of an initial investigation showed irregularities, but that the government had not decided to stop the project.

"All the activities of the Port City deal were done without transparency and without following many legal procedures. The agreement was signed without cabinet approval," he told parliament.

"If there was anything against the law while signing the agreement, if there has been any corruption, if there are any conditions detrimental to the country, we will take necessary actions," Wickremesinghe said.

China is keen to ensure the safety of its investments in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's foreign minister will visit China next week. Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena is expected to visit China by the end of March.

A Chinese embassy official in Colombo said China acknowledged the government's decision to investigate.

"But it is an obligation of a democratic government to respect an international bilateral agreement reached with another country by the previous government," the official said.

Wickremesinghe's statement came as Sirisena, who unseated former president and close China ally Mahinda Rajapaksa in Jan. 8 polls, was on a four-day visit to India.

Cabinet Spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said on Feb. 5 the new government would allow the Port City to go ahead. However, Wickremesinghe later said the initial probe was not over.

The port city is planned on 233 hectares of reclaimed land in Colombo. Under the proposed deal, 108 hectares would be taken over by China Communications Construction Co Ltd, including 20 hectares on an outright basis and the rest on a 99-year lease.

The development would include shopping malls, water sports, golf, hotels, apartments and marinas.

(Reporting by Shihar Aneez and Ranga Sirilal; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel)

Press freedom, political repression and the spread of ‘terror’ 

February 18, 2015

Isis fighters, pictured on a militant website

The anti-LTTE war in Sri Lanka took a considerable toll on local media freedom. Between 2005 and 2014, national security was seen by the relevant government as an over-riding consideration in running the country and the media were expected to operate with this in mind. Since defeating the LTTE militarily took prime place in state affairs, media freedom and other liberties came to be seen as disposable and inessential.

Press Freedom, Political Repression and the Spread of ‘Terror’ by Thavam Ratna