GOVERNMENT AND OPPOSITION NEED TO COOPERATE FOR THE SAKE OF THE COUNTRY 

27 April 2015

The attention of the entire country is focused on the forthcoming vote in Parliament with regard to the 19th constitutional amendment. This is a measure that is intended to make the Presidency more accountable to Parliament and the Judiciary and to set up de-politicised institutions to promote good governance. In particular, it will repeal the 18th Amendment passed by the last government which saw the consolidation of power for political expediency. The 18th Amendment strengthened the powers of the President, who was not effectively accountable to Parliament or subject to judicial review. It also removed some of the vital limited safeguards placed on the political arm of the State to prevent abuse of state resources and state officials.

The National Peace Council welcomes the decision that most of the political parties in Parliament have taken, in principle, to support the passage of the 19th Amendment. However, in practice, there still appear to be disagreements about what should go into the amendment. Since the presidential election of 1995 the winning candidate at all successive presidential elections has promised to abolish the executive presidency. But once they won, the winners deemed it opportune to keep the institution going. President Maithripala Sirisena is the exception. What has been most remarkable about the President has been his willingness, even at the cost of his own personal power, to change the notion of the president as being an all-powerful institution that is accountable to nobody, to one that shares power and is accountable. The president’s self-sacrifice and statesmanship is a unique contribution to governance throughout the world and it is the duty of the rest of the Sri Lankan polity to support him.

NPC is hopeful that the government and opposition will show the necessary determination to overcome their political differences to work together in the national interest and pass the 19th Amendment. Such cooperation would set a good example that could allow for the resolution of other complex problems, such as the long unresolved ethnic conflict. The present political situation, in which the President and Prime Minister are from the two biggest political parties which have been traditional rivals, but are working together along with a multi-party government, is a unique arrangement that needs to be carried forward to the future for the sake of the country.

Governing Council
The National Peace Council is an independent and non partisan organization that works towards a negotiated political solution to the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. It has a vision of a peaceful and prosperous Sri Lanka in which the freedom, human rights and democratic rights of all the communities are respected. The policy of the National Peace Council is determined by its Governing Council of 20 members who are drawn from diverse walks of life and belong to all the main ethnic and religious communities in the country.

Asylum-seeker returns with shattered dreams

Vaithilingam Linagaraja back home with family at Kaddaikadu off Elephant Pass in Jaffna. Pix by T. Premanath

By Chris Kamalendran-Sunday, April 26, 2015

'I have to start a new life … I don't know where to start'

For the past two years, Vaithilingam Linagaraja, a fishermen from Kaddaikadu off Elephant Pass in Jaffna, had been languishing in a refugee camp in Paula New Guinea after his bid to illegally enter Australia failed.

Asylum-seeker Returns With Shattered Dreams by Thavam Ratna

Protect Sri Lankan Muslim Journalist Sharmila Seyyid Who Supports Sex Workers’ Rights: Muslim Civil Society

April 27, 2015 

Muslim Civil Society activists have urged the Sri Lankan authorities to bring to book those who have been harassing and intimidating journalist and social worker Sharmila Seyyid for her opinion on rights of the sex workers.

Sharmila Seyyid

Giving an interview to the BBC Tamil radio she said that sex workers may be better protected if prostitution was legalized.

“This drew a significant backlash from a section of the Muslim community in the area and elsewhere prompting her to issue a clarification, in which she emphasized that she was ‘…only highlighting a social reality and did not intend to defy Islamic tenets’. She also expressed ‘regret if she had unwittingly hurt anyone’s sentiments’.” activists say.

We publish below the statement in full;

Statement on the continued harassment of Ms. Sharmila Seyyid and her family

We, the undersigned would like to express our extreme distress and dismay at the incidents of harassment against Ms. Sharmila Seyyid and her family through a variety of means including social media.

In November 2012, the Tamil Radio Service of the BBC interviewed Ms. Sharmila Seyyid, a journalist and social worker from the Eastern Province. In response to a question from the BBC reporter, Ms. Seyyid had voiced the opinion that sex workers may be better protected if prostitution was legalized. This drew a significant backlash from a section of the Muslim community in the area and elsewhere prompting her to issue a clarification, in which she emphasized that she was “…only highlighting a social reality and did not intend to defy Islamic tenets”. She also expressed “regret if she had unwittingly hurt anyone’s sentiments”.

The harassment and intimidation that began in the aftermath of the 2012 interview has resulted in her having to leave the country, and continues to this day, impacting other family members as well. An article reproduced in both the Sunday Observer and the Sunday Times of Sri Lanka on the 19th of April 2015 recorded several more recent truly horrifying actions against her on the internet and also recorded renewed calls by some to condemn her for insulting and offending Islamic teachings.

While we acknowledge that prostitution is prohibited in Islam (as in many other religions), we nevertheless uphold that Ms. Seyyid is within her rights and freedoms to express her personal views; and condemn all forms of harassment, intimidation and hatred by vigilante groups and individuals that are justified based on claims to the above. While we acknowledge and respect that feelings may have been hurt and sensibilities offended, we also categorically state that defaming, harassing and inciting violence against a person for holding a different opinion, in this case a woman, is unacceptable and not within the spirit of the faith, and can also be deemed a contravention of the law. If people feel themselves to have been wronged, due process should be followed to seek redress.                                   Read More

SLFP mounts 11th-hour blockade against 19A

• President appoints 3 MPs supporting amendment to thrash out issues with SLFP reps
• SLFP insists on Constitutional Council comprising majority MPs
• SLFP wants provision on President acting on advice of Prime Minister to be removed
• Talks end in deadlock; President to intervene
• SLFP insists they are not trying to derail constitutional reform
• Both amendments being mooted completely dilutes 19A, says President’s team
• What the SLFP is asking for completely negates whole of the 19th Amendment: Sumanthiran

By Dharisha Bastians-April 28, 2015
An eleventh-hour bid to get consensus on the 19th Amendment ended in deadlock last night, with the SLFP demanding changes to two major provisions of the draft legislation that Presidential advocates say would completely negate the purpose of the reforms – to curb the powers of the presidency and depoliticise key State institutions.
Negotiations came down to the wire last night, but ended in a stalemate, although the SLFP insisted they were not trying to derail the constitutional reforms, the Daily FT learns.

SLFP Mounts 11th-Hour Blockade Against 19A by Thavam Ratna

President’s commitment to give up his powers is his political strength 

By Jehan Perera-April 27, 2015, 12:00 pm

With the debate over the 19th Amendment to the constitution entering its final phase this week, the country is entering a decisive phase. The passage of this constitutional amendment will set in motion a process whereby Sri Lanka will become subject to the Rule of Law and not the rule of men as was advocated by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission in its report after having consulted a wide swath of the country’s intellectuals, decision makers and community leaders. The presidential system in Sri Lanka was flawed at its very inception, as it did not provide for an adequate system of checks and balances found in democratic countries with successful presidential systems. The 19th Amendment will go a significant part of the way to create conditions for better governance in the country.

President’s Commitment to Give Up His Powers is His Political Strength by Thavam Ratna

Sri Lanka president moves Constitution amendment bill

File photo of Lankan President Sirisena. The 19A amendment was introduced after last week's aborted attempt caused due to disruption by supporters of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa. (AFP photo)

Apr 27, 2015,

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena today presented a bill in parliament for a key amendment to the Constitution that seeks to dilute powers of the president. 

The 19A amendment was introduced after last week's aborted attempt caused due to disruption by supporters of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa. 

"It has always been my desire to prune presidential powers. You all will agree that I have been very generous," Sirisena told the House. 

Sirisena's opposition coalition had pledged to do away with presidential authority to make parliament more powerful, as their main plank in the January 8 presidential election which resulted in a stunning defeat for Rajapaksa. 

Sirisena described the amendment as a historic occasion where all legislators are presented with the first such opportunity in 37 years. 

Sri Lanka switched to an executive president-headed government in 1978 from a Westminster-style system. 

The 19A ran into a snag as some of its key provisions transferring powers of the president to parliament were subject to a national referendum by the Supreme Court. 

As a result the government has been forced to leave out such provisions.

The version presented today will pave the way for the establishment of independent commissions to ensure good governance. 

The vote on the amendment is to take place tomorrow. 

It remains to be seen if Rajapaksa's loyalists would provide the required numbers for the amendment to be adopted with 150 votes required in the 225-member assembly.

Sir Desmond de Silva QC – had a big catch in the troubled waters!

Sir Desmond de Silva must have been very well aware of the public criticism of Mahinda 

Rajapakse to the extent of being branded as an authoritarian by none other the former head of the UNHCR Mrs Navi Pillai. He could not foresee that his report will be relevant to the efforts of the UNHCR. His engagement has fattened his purse with irreparable reputational damage to him, discredit to his legal profession and thus compounding the pains of victims of the war. His effort proves to be a heartless crusade to earn wealth.

by Rajasingham Jayadevan

References/Quotes:

( April 27, 2-15, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) ‘The Rt Hon Sir Desmond de Silva PC QC is head of Argent’s International Law team and is one of this country’s leading criminal Queen’s Counsel. He has particular expertise in Fraud (both national and international), Business Crime, Extradition, Human Rights, Kidnap & Blackmail, Large Scale Importation of Drugs, Money Laundering, Murder, 

Sir Desmond de Silva QC – Had a Big Catch in the Troubled Waters by Thavam Ratna

Jaffna lorry owners protest against Douglas' finance firm Tamil Guardian 26 April 2015 Lorry owners in Jaffna protested against a finance firm owned by the paramilitary leader, Douglas Devananda, accusing it of failing to return owed money. The protest, which took place last Wednesday, was organised by a forum of the Jaffna lorry owners cooperative. It began at 11am in front of the Jaffna John Bosco School. Protesters marched past the office of the northern province's chief minister, and ended the protest at the northern province's governor's office, where they handed a memo addressed to the president. "The finance company [Maheswary Finance] provided members of our forum with sand mining jobs for a while following a promise to provide job opportunities," the forum's chair, Jeyakumar explained. "A deposit of Rs 5000 was collected from our members for this, there was an administration fee of Rs 300 per person too. They promised to return the deposit money should we leave the service." "In this way, Rs 977,500 was collected from 575 members during 2010-13. After 2013, members of the forum were not given any job opportunities as Maheswary Finance company procured their own vehicles. Following demands by the members to return their deposit, the company handed back Rs 50,000 per head for 50 people as the first phase. However, the remainder has not been returned even after two months have passed."

Exclusive: Attorney General’s Recommendations On Gota Arrest: Full Text

April 27, 2015

A leaked report from the Attorney General’s Department on the case against Avant Garde Maritime Services, confirms the Colombo Telegraph report which exposed the Attorney General’s recommendations on the possible arrest of Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Gotabaya

According the report AG did recommend that the former Secretary to Ministry of Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa and four others would be arrested for committing offences pertaining to the Unauthorized Importation of Fire Arms to Sri Lanka (Under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and Fire Arms Ordinance), Possession of Fire Arms and Ammunition Without Valid Licenses (Under the Fire Arms Ordinance and Explosives Ordinance) and aonspiracy, aiding and abetting to commit the above offences.

As Colombo Telegraph exclusively reported on March 09, 2015 it was Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who prevented the arrest of Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

The Attorney General’s Department consulted Prime Minister Wickremesinghe over the recommendation that Gotabaya be taken into custody together with four others for alleged violation of the Firearms Ordinance and other laws. Prime Minister Wickremesinghe has said that the former Defence Secretary should not be taken into custody.

We publish below the report in full:

CR1/58/2015

Hon. Attorney General
Case against Avant Garde Maritime Services and others pertaining to the – Floating Armory

Offences committed -

1.Unauthorized Importation of Fire Arms to Sri Lanka ( Under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and Fire Arms Ordinance)

2 Possession of Fire Arms and ammunition without valid licenses. (Under the Fire Arms Ordinance and Explosives Act)

3. Conspiracy, aiding and abetting to commit the above offences.

Suspects –   

    (1) Nissanka Senadhipathy – Chairman Avant Guarde Maritime Services

(2) Manjulakumara Yapa – Director Avant Guarde Maritime Services,

(3) Gotabhaya Rajapakse – Secretary , Ministry of Defence

(4) Mrs . D.M.S. Jayaratne Addl. Secretary , Ministry of Defence

(5) Major General Palitha Fernando (Rtd.) – Director Chairman Raknalanka Military Liaisons Officer

An investigation by the CID is ongoing in relation to the authority given to the Rakna Lanka Company and Avant Guarde Maritime Services to supply weapons and other related services to the merchant ships and fishing trawlers using weapons belonging to the state and others.             Read More

How To Pick The Right Men?

by Arjuna Ranatunga

( April 26, 2015, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Ports Minister Arjuna Ranatunga in writing has urged President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to be cautious when granting nominations for the next election in order to ensure that corrupt individuals are not allowed to contest at elections.

Full letter:

Honorable President Maithripala Sirisena,

Honorable Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe,

This letter comes forth as a request from a citizen who believes in a political philosophy and a resulting culture, which disfavor party politics, but rather upholds the progress of the country above all else.

My honest feeling is that the victory we achieved on 8th January, under your leadership, is a remarkable collective political victory of all Sri Lankans. As a sportsman and a member of the cricket world cup winning team in the year 1996, I am proud to have become a stakeholder of that political victory as well. I served as a frontline combatant against the authoritarian rule and family based politics of the Rajapaksa’s, ignoring personal benefits and even ignoring the life threats I received; I put my country’s welfare before my own. The great joy and enthusiasm I experienced at the victory secured on 8th January is far more than what I experienced on the day Sri Lanka gained victory at the 1996 cricket world cup.

Honorable President and Honorable Prime Minister, the memories of the defeated regime are of resentment and of a apprehension. One family, through their narcissistic and immoral rule, has enjoyed our national resources without limit or control. Their will was to consume all the existing resources up to the limits of the sky, the earth and the ocean of the motherland. The will of the family suppressed the will of all Sri Lankans. The country was paralyzed by many forms of fear and violence, even though the war on terror had ended. Personally, as a member of the parliament, I experienced tremendous amount of pressure and frustration during that time of political rule. On reflecting on the situation of the general public during that period, it is evident that the stress and violence the past regime unleashed upon the general public was severe and consequently had reached a tipping point both for the oppressor and the oppressed by the time of the elections. On the 1st of December at Viharamahadewi Park, we signed a collective agreement which pledged an end to this dark age, prompting a positive future not only for us but also for the generations to come with the support and participation of various political parties and civil society collectives, disregarding all internal contradictions. Coincidently, the 1st of December is my birthday. It was remarkable that I had the opportunity to lay the foundation for the Maithri era that gathered different political parties and movements on one platform for one cause and for one challenge on a day that is very close to my heart.

Honorable President, Honorable Prime Minister, on the 8th of January we established a milestone of a beginning of an ideal era in the history of Sri Lankan politics. There is yet on the one hand the great task of rebuilding the country, which was misdirected by family rule and family business. On the other hand, there is also the great challenge of the political parties and movements working together. We must also not forget that there are political conspiracies and maneuvers, as expected, to paralyze our march forward and to bring back ‘the family’ into the power. The distress I have right now is that the partners and masterminds of that ongoing conspiracy are not outside but amongst us. The henchmen who became the backscratchers of the defeated regime, casino owners who looted and misused public money openly, heroine and ethanol dealers, black market dealers and dealmakers are now changing their moves. Now disguised in new outfits, their attempt is to get close to you and to continue their same manipulative behavior. I kindly ask you not to be deceived by them. The real call of the hour is to view the situation with a discerning eye, leading us to make right choices.

Honorable President, Honorable Prime Minister, in my view the upcoming election is critical in many ways. I believe more than all the other factors, the upcoming election is crucial for the future of our country. The entire future of the 8th January victory can be determined by the results of the upcoming election. Therefore, I kindly request you not to permit nominations for casino/ betting centre owners, gambling agents, heroine- ethanol and black market dealers and other fraudulent persons for the upcoming election. Furthermore, on the foundation of the same argument, I kindly request you not to grant nominations for opportunistic and corrupt persons who cross over from major parties when they are not able to secure nominations; in their own parties. I honestly believe Honorable President, that you as the Chairperson of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, and Honorable Prime Minister, you as the leader of the United National Party, are capable of standing this request favorably.

Honorable President, Honorable Prime Minister, remarkably for the first time in the Sri Lankan political history, today both of you are able to move all parties and people in the North and the South towards one destined objective. Even though both of you belong to two different political parties and ideologies, today you are able to make decisions collectively; important issues have been resolved as a result of this key alliance, understanding and leadership. Accordingly, I kindly request you to make decisions and to take action on the matter I have emphasized. For the betterment of the country, both of you have been given the honorable duty of restricting opportunists and corrupt individuals from entering into the country’s political sphere. I believe it is meaningful to introduce criteria and guidelines for the process of permitting nominations, which cover all political parties. Today, we must not ask people to select “good” people as politicians, but provide the opportunity for people to select the “best” people from good candidates. That duty is mainly entrusted personally, to the good reasoning powers of the two of you and dependent upon the power vested in your supreme designations. I believe that in the upcoming parliamentary election this would be one of the best ways to defeat the opportunists and corrupt persons. Finally, I kindly request you not to let the victory and opportunity we achieved on 8th January be diminished and wasted. I strongly believe that this step will sustain and add true meaning to the victory of the common people and pave way to a civilized constructive political culture that would ensure a great future to our motherland.

May the Triple Gem bless you!

Yours sincerely,

Arjuna Ranatunga

Sri Lanka's former leader Rajapaksa remains defiant

Rajapaksa says his election defeat was a conspiracy as parliament prepares to debate bill limiting presidential powers.

 

27 Apr 2015

Sri Lanka's parliament is due to debate a bill limiting presidential powers.

This is seen as an attempt to roll back the legacy of former leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, who vastly expanded his powers while in office.

Rajapaksa was unexpectedly defeated in elections in January.

Some analysts say complacency cost him  the presidency. He considers his defeat a conspiracy.

Al Jazeera's Minelle Fernandez met Rajapaksa in southern Sri Lanka for his first television interview since losing the presidency.

Below is an edited transcript:

Al Jazeera: The new government, after coming to power, said they have credible reports.

Rajapaksa: That's what they always say, no? They have credible reports, they have everything …Now they are attacking me personally, my family, filing cases against us. So this is just to harass us, and they do not want anybody from our family to come to politics.

Al Jazeera: So at no time on the night of election were there any plans by you to try and stay in office by force?

Rajapaksa: No, I had decided if I lose I will give it up. That's why at 5:30AM I left that place.

Al Jazeera:  Internationally you were acknowledged for allowing this smooth transition of power. Would you say that that decision was purely made by yourself or were you pushed?

Rajapaksa: No one can push me. If I take a decision, when I take a decision I take responsibility. No one can push me. I had decided

Al Jazeera: You are known as the president that brought an end to almost 30 years of conflict in this country; one of the most brutal conflicts in the world. However, now six years after the conflict, your image as a peace broker has begun to erode, there were allegations that you were beginning to behave like a dictator, that you were turning a blind eye to corruption. Is this one of the reasons for your election defeat?

Rajapaksa: It was a well-managed mudslinging campaign against me.

Al Jazeera: There also serious allegations across the board of widespread corruption and nepotism against the Rajapaksas...

Rajapaksa: No…other than Namal, I didn't bring anyone to pollitics. It was by the earlier leaders.

Al Jazeera: So there was your brother who was the defence secretary, another brother the Minister of Economic Development.

Rajapaksa: I had to get him down, I had to do that.

Al Jazeera: The speaker of parliament?

Rajapaksa:  He was elected by the people.

Al Jazeera: The last few weeks has seen a crackdown on different players in the previous government. Your brother was arrested, your brother-in-law was accused of corruption with regards to the national airline, your cousin was accused of arms-dealing in Ukraine. Do you see this as a witchhunt? 

Rajapaksa: This is a witch-hunt … I agree with you.

Al Jazeera: That was a question!

Rajapaksa:  I agree with the question.

Al Jazeera: Why would you say this is happening?

Rajapaksa: They are frightened of me. If not me, it's the name, so they're just attacking us.

Al Jazeera: What are they frightened of?

Rajapaksa: I don't know...they don't want us involved (in politics). They think I might contest  next time or something like that. We have been in politics since the 30s, I've seen losses but we have never experienced something like this.

Al Jazeera: The government says there will be no kangaroo courts, but that they will take action based on evidence.

Rajapaksa: Who gives a decision to arrest? Who gives the order? It's all them.

Source: Al Jazeera

Mismanagement of SLT Funds to support the Previous Regime on Interception of Telephone Conversations & Monitoring Short Messages

 Monday, 27 April 2015

SLT currently has 3 Soft Switches to cater the present Local & International PSTN Services (Voice Calls) from Huawei Technologies and ZTE Corporation of China.

There was a necessity of upgrading the above soft switches to an Internet Multi Media Subsystem (IMS) Platform to unify all the SLT Switching Platforms & all users for unified services.

In the standard & accepted procedure was to call for a Public Tender or Restricted Tender based on a Technical Requirements of SLT publishing the same requirements as Tender Bid Document in the SLT eTender but the above upgrading was concluded without calling for a Public Tender and merely awarding the upgrading to Huawei Technologies to facilitate the negotiations what the previous management of CEO, Mr. Lalith De Silva had with the Rajapaksa Regime and the particular vendor.

Huawei had a long term understanding with the CEO and Mr. Terrrence Fernando (GM / IP Services) by offering an upgrade to their existing Old Soft Switch to a Modular based Platform but originally Huawei promised us to upgrade to a Cloud based IMS. Huawei had cheated in this also. In negotiating this matter
Mr. Lalith de Silva and Mr. Terrence Fernando had negotiated with Huawei to include all necessary
equipment for Voice Call Monitoring System (Lawful Interception System) and awarded the IMS Upgrading to Huawei without following the proper Tender procedure to cover this LIS Equipment.

The Actual Payment due for the IMS Upgrade was around LKR 600,000,000.00 but paid around LKR 940,000,000.00 to Huawei for all the equipment including the Lawful Interception System (Additional Payment of LKR 340,000,000) but nothing was mentioned or reported to the Board of Directors or Chairman. They even went on to the extend of avoiding details in any of the shipping documents.

Once the Equipment were reached to SLT Warehouse, it was understood that Huawei has not send all the necessary equipment for Voice Call Monitoring but delivered only the Interface Equipment in March 2014. Then our Technical Team questioned how SLT could implement the LIS for Voice Call Monitoring without User Interface Equipment having only the Interface Equipment. Huawei wanted to avoid the delivery of such equipment to SLT and deliver only to the President’s House without SLT Staff’s knowledge but our Technical Team questioned Huawei openly and refused to accept the delivered equipment and the payment approval. Finally CEO, Lalith De Silva managed to obtain the necessary

signatures from Terrence Fernando and proceed with the payments. In contesting ths issue, one of the Technical expert Pandula Godakanda who was instrumental in preparing all the Technical Requirements & Documents resigned from the Team and finally requested a Transfer to a different Division refusing to work under this situation.

Although these equipment was imported to Sri Lanka in March 2014, SLT could not installed the equipment since the User Interface Equipment were not available in SLT or not delivered to SLT. Later we got the news to say that these User Interface Equipment were delivered to Temple Trees by Huawei

under instructions from CEO, Lalith Silva and Defense Secretary Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa through Mr. Gamini Senarath. (This information was unofficially conveyed to us by Mr. Eric and Mr. Daniel of Huawei in a social event after a couple of drinks) But our Team insisted Huawei to deliver all the required

equipment to SLT and finally these equipment were delivered to SLT in September 2014. These User Interface Equipment which were delivered to SLT in the 2nd Batch was originally detained by the Sri Lanka Customs but later released with the interference by higher level people in the rank of Gamini

Senarath and Director General Customs, Mr. Jagath Wijeweera. These User Interface Equipment are from a Company in Israel not from Huawei. One set of User Interface Equipment for Voice Call Monitoring was originally delivered to Temple Trees and was operating under the supervision of 2 Chinese Engineers and some Local Security Officers and the 2nd Batch is still in the SLT Warehouse No.A under the strict supervision of Mr. Sugath Silva. None of our Technical Team wanted to install the same and provide the service to the previous Regime. In the last few months CEO, Lalith was so annoyed on this but they managed with the Equipment delivered to Temple Trees. This system installed in the Temple Trees was operated by the 2 Chinese Engineers and Security Staff members and Terrence Fernando in SLT. CEO, Lalith was giving the fullest support and the blessings to Terrance Fernando to operate. All other arrangements are being made by the CAO, Priyantha Perera for Payments and other warehouse arrangements. This matter was very much questioned by GM/Finance, Anura Ranasinghe when it came to the Payment since some mismatches / discrepancies were observed in the relevant documents. CEO, Lalith was directly instructed and managed by then Director, Mr. Shameendra Rajapaksa. They even hide all these from then Chairman, Mr. Nimal Welgama as well.

The following Technical Team was involved and more accurate information and the truth could be investigated by individually & personally consulted secretly. All most all the Team Members were not happy to support this matter but CEO, Mr. Lalith and Terrence Fernando wanted to proceed with Mr.Shameendra Rajapksa. This was very well supported and manipulated by CAO, Priyantha Perera.

Technical Evaluation Team

1. Buddhi Manage – DGM/ International (Project Manager) – 071 4 290321
2. Asiri Galgoda – GM / Network Planning – 071 4 335803
3. Terrence Fernando – GM / Core Networks – 071 4 745325
4. Pandula Godakanda – DGM / Core Networks – 071 4 290031
5. B. Perera – DGM / Switching Regions – 071 4 290326
6. Ajith Kumara – Eng / Switching – 071 5 352048
7. S. Delgoda – Eng / Switching (Regions) – 071 4 291247
8. Priyantha Dabare – Eng / Switching (Metro) – 071 5 348188
9. Thushara Jayawardana – DGM / Planning – 071 4 291134
10. Imali Weerasinghe – 071 6 837853

Commercial Evaluation Team

1. Mr. M. K. C. Gnanathilake
2. Mrs. Wasana Perera – Deputy CEO / VisionCom
3. Mr. U. T. C. Perera – GM / Asset Management & Budget

President talks of the conspiracy: LeN probes: Some conspirators exposed herein

(Lanka-e-News- 26.April, 11.30PM) On the 21 st , when president Maithripala Sirisena met with the representatives of the people who toiled hard with commitment to install Maithripala Sirisena as the president at the last presidential elections , he told them there is a conspiracy against him when he is seeking to  abolish the executive presidency powers.We at the  Lanka e news who made a contribution to boot out the brutal corrupt Rajapakse regime , and elect Maithripala as the new president cannot take lightly the ‘conspiracy’ Maithripala referred to, and cannot be simply dismissed.

When we probed into this conspiracy ,  in the government service alone we have uncovered a wealth of information about this , which we shall reveal to our valuable viewers. This plethora of information were gathered based on the reports provided by the patriotic government employees in association with our inside information division. Based on this information, it will be possible to conclude who are the conspirators by the president , it is hoped. The details are as follows :

We are a group of principled officers who took immense risks in making the change that the country witnessed on January 8th this year. Aster electing to office, we could observe how the present leaders too had to  accommodate double dealing crooks, both politicians and bureaucrats, in the new government too making the much promised good governance a mockery. First instance was the appointment of the Secretary to the President. We are grateful to you for exposing this even before the appointment. However, what happened is history. We, who risked both our profession and the life for the change had to be silent onlookers for some time, decided to let you know the subtle developments of double dealing involving dangerous crooks who were staunch stooges of previous government and especially who collected dirty money for Gamini Senrath. We do not write this to any other media as we do not trust any and wish to express our gratitude for your continuous and unwavering fight from the time when defeating of Rajapakshas was a dream. Now there are lot of fathers for the victory as you can see.

Let us start with the top again, Mr Abeykoon, Secretary to the President. He was working with Gamini Senerath at the immigration. When Gamini became powerful he made Abeykoon Controller General of Immigration. Later Secretary Public Administration. Appointment to all key posts were done by Abeykoon by order of Gamini Senerath. They were very keen on the appointments to Revenue earning departments, Customs, Immigration, Excise and Import and Export Control.

All the heads of above departments earned dirty money for themselves and for Gamini Senerath or the government calling them party funds. Now they have removed by the present government but forgotten that Gamini Senerath had planted second tier crooks too. 

The most corrupt of such was the Deputy Controller of Import and Export Prasanna Gamage. He was tasked with collecting commissions from bitumen importers and also from used vehicle importers when they came to get licenses. During the elections days money was openly obtained inside the office and took away in brief cases without fear. Abeykoon ordered GAs to organise meeting s at the district level and the money and Arrack were sent openly with Ginige. Besides these, he was openly doing politics Maithree sharing pots insulting Maithree and he continue it to date. The other members of the group were/are Nishantha (immigration), Vimukthi Janadara, Udesh Senevirathna, Harsha Kaluaarachchi,( all were attached to the presidents Sec) Deepa Liyanage (Senior Asst Secretary under Gamini Senerath) and Prabath Chandrakeerthi who was Senior Asst Secretary of the Office of the Chief Government Whip in the Parliament.

The above were bold enough to insult the president even until a few weeks after the president assumed office. Vimukthi’s wife shared dirty posts in the facebook even while Vimukthi is  still working for the president.  

How Gamini Senarath manipulates through Abeykoon. 

Import Export Controller General was removed from the post by the new government and the acting Controller General is a Treasury officer. But Prasanna Ginige runs the show better now as he is the de facto boss there now and all dirty work is in full swing once again. 

Prabath Chandrakeerthi has been appointed as the DG of Coast Conservation directly under the President. It is a special grade position but Chandrakeerthi is not special grade.

Nishantha of Immigtaion was out of country on no pay leave for five years. The reason for taking leave was for higher education. But he didn’t do any course and returned. Abeykoon as Public Admin Secretary personally recommended his class 1 promotion to the Public Service Commission hiding all disqualifications for the promotion and he got the promotion illegally.

Recently there was an interview to select Sri Lanka Administrative Service officers to the Foreign Ministry to be appointed to Embassies. The purpose of this policy was to give an opportunity to gain foreign experience to the officers who work at the grassroots level enjoying least privileges. But who were selected this time (one moth ago) under the good governance. None other than above mentioned Vimukthi, Udesh and Harsha who were working under Gamini Senerath. It was Gamini Senerath who spoke to Mr Abeykoon to get his men selected. Abeykoon nominated his Additional Secretary for the interview and gave the names. Instead of Officers at the divisional level as mentioned in the relevant cabinet decision three were from the top office of the country who had already got long term foreign exposure through scholarships.

Last example is that another two junior officers attached to Gamini Senerath’s office was recently transferred to Immigration urgently. It is generally difficult to get a transfer to immigration as it has to go annual transfers. Once transferred they were given important posts in the department too, which an average officer has to wait for several moths for a seat. It was also a deal by Gamini Senerath through Abeykoon who is Secretary to the President. 

Today we saw a court order to investigate bank accounts of Gamini Senerath. Investigating Prasanna Ginige and Deepa Liyanage is also a must and exposing all above will also help to weaken their mafia in the forthcoming election. 

Also exposing above crooks will boost the moral of the officers who are dedicated to a clean administration. We assure that all above are true and no mudslinging at all. 

-A group of public officers dedicated to fight without getting demoralized-

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by     (2015-04-26 20:24:28)

Nepal’s Earthquake: Nature, Not Karma

By Yudhanjaya Wijeratne –April 27, 2015 

Yudhanjaya Wijeratne

ByApril 26th, 2015. A terrible thing happened. An earthquake, measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, struck just near Kathmandu. Thousands were buried under clouds of dust and rubble as their homes collapsed around them. It was followed by aftershocks, one of which hit at 07 AM, measured 6.7 on the scale and shook buildings in New Delhi. As of the time of writing, over 2,500 people have died. The bodies are still being dug up.

That’s a nice set of numbers, isn’t it? If you can imagine Nepal as it is now, then I envy your imagination. What I’ve done is reduce 2,500 lives to nothing more than a few lines on a screen.

Because I, like most of the world, have not witnessed the carnage first-hand. I’ve seen them in photos hastily uploaded from phones, from people sharing photos of their loved ones begging for information, from a Facebook notifications marking my friends as “safe”. Thousands of people woke up this morning, logged a status along the lines of “Thoughts and prayers to those affected by the earthquake in Nepal” and got on with their lives. Movin’ on, guvnor. Stayin’ alive.

But the online space frequently brings out the worst in people, not the best. Social good check-ins are harmless. Some people, though, apparently decided that Nepal’s earthquake was karmic justice for the sacrifice of 5,000 buffaloes for a religious festival held last year. Comments were made on everything from the nature of the Hindu gods to the the spectacularly bitchy nature of karma.

What do you say to people like this?Read More