Attorney General’s dept. or yawning and sleeping General’s dept.?

(Lanka-e-News -14.May.2016, 12.20PM) Lanka e news on 10 th of May posted a report captioned ‘   ‘‘3 months since new AG took office; Rajapakses and brigand still free ! AG dept. suffering from somnolence and somnambulism !

In that report there were three charges leveled . Two of those charges are tenable and pursued while the other is being dropped ,LeN wishes to reveal.

The two charges that are tenable and the evidence in support are hereunder …

1. The CID has concluded its investigations fully , and the file has been forwarded to the Attorney General (AG) over a year ago , yet the latter has delayed filing action in court . The evidence in support are hereunder .. 

In the investigation into the assets of former chairman of Ports Authority ,  Priyath Bandu Wickremamuni, the AG department  file Ref.No. is CR 1/271/15 pertaining to this investigation. The file was handed over to the AG’s department after investigations on 2015-05 -05 . As at today,one year and one week had elapsed since the file was handed over ,yet no action whatsoever has been taken by the  AG’s department .This lapse is unpardonable under any circumstances. 

2. The investigation into the diplomatic passport obtained after submitting false information by Wimal Weerawansa M.P. The file ref. No . at the AG’s department is  1 &E 284 /2015 and the  date on which the file was handed to AG’s department is  2015-12-14 in this connection. Still no action has been taken to file legal proceedings in court.

So far there has been no notification that there are any lapses in the investigations ,meaning that  the investigation is faultless. It is only the filing of proceedings  in court which is  the responsibility of the AG now. Hence such delays cannot be excused or pardoned. These cases  must be duly filed even working overtime by commencing a system to work in the night with a view to  clear the backlog , unless of course the AG;s department too is eager to toe the line of the bogus recruiting agency. 

If  employees  are working in the night in factories , why cannot a government department similarly work in the night ? Certainly there is nothing barring them from working in the night.

In the news report dated 10 th May of ours , it was mentioned the wife of an assistant of the AG is a legal officer in the Coca Cola Co. and the police file pertaining to the investigation into the release of pollutants by Coca Cola Co. into the Kelani ganga had gone missing at the AG’s department . We are hereby withdrawing this statement .

Though she is the wife of an assistant of the AG , that  is a civil case , and this AG’s assistant is only responsible for criminal cases. Therefore he is not linked to the Coca Cola file ,and that file is not lost.

In the circumstances , if the officer concerned have been hurt in any way owing to our report we tender our profound apologies to the , while also amending the report as afore-noted.

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by     (2016-05-14 07:01:36)

Demystifying Debt

RAISA WICKREMATUNGE-on 05/12/2016

Revisiting ties with China, a bailout deal from the IMF, and increases in VAT have been making headlines recently. What does this all mean from an economic standpoint, and is Sri Lanka following the right tactics? Groundviews spoke to some economists to ask if they could unravel these issues. Those interviewed include Eran Wickramaratne, Deputy Minister of State Enterprise Development, Chief Economist, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Anushka Wijesinha, economist Deshal de Mel and Lead Economist and Senior Product Head at Frontier Research, Shiran Fernando. 

We asked them the following questions:

1. What is your input on Sri Lanka’s current situation in terms of debt repayment, given recent statements that the balance of payments crisis has been avoided?
2. Some MPs are saying they are still uncovering the amount of the debt to be repaid due to excesses/alleged corruption of previous government- what are your thoughts on this?
3. There has been concern raised on the government making contradictory statements, particularly on VAT. What is your view on these contradicting statements?
4. Sri Lanka is taking a 1.5 billion dollar bailout package from the IMF – what will this cost us, from an economic standpoint?
5. There seems to have been a complete turnaround in terms of foreign policy in regards to China. What are your thoughts on this? Are there other viable options?

Here are some key highlights –

“There needs to be discipline in economic and fiscal management. An economic plan signals to the investment community that Sri Lanka has a plan. Investors don’t like uncertainty.” – Eran Wickramaratne

“Contradicting statements on key policy issues is never a good thing. It results in uncertainty in the market and is a negative for the investment and business climate…It is expected that there will be ideological differences in a coalition of this nature, but it is important that these issues are debated internally and a compromise reached prior to going public with policy statements, such that the government can speak in one voice, avoiding policy reversals and contradictions.” – Deshal de Mel

“The Debt repayment bunch up was expected to occur in 2015 and moving into 2016. This level of repayments is something new to the economy. To refinance this, ideally the investments made in the last 5-10 years plus more earnings from exports should be able to mitigate this to some extent. Unfortunately those two factors have not met expectations.” – Shiran Fernando

“Our tax to GDP ratio is now well below what it should be for a middle income country like ours, and well below many of our peer economies. We have a narrow tax base, and lots of exemptions and loopholes. We have an outdated tax code..” – Anushka Wijesinha

Click here to see the full interview, compiled on Microsoft Sway, or access it directly below.

Caste landing in Geneva and London’s new Muslim Mayor 

by Rajan Philips-May 14, 2016, 8:59 pm

The two events in the title are not connected, but they share two overlapping processes that justify a few joint reflections. The first process involves the age old, or ageless, tensions between social inclusion and exclusion. And the second is the globalization of these tensions, which have historically been isolated and confined to specific communities. Their contemporary manifestations are now being writ large the world over, on the one hand, and are becoming inextricably intertwined in the world’s urban mosaics, on the other. In January this year, the UN Human Rights Council’s Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, delivered her report for 2015, described as "a thematic analysis on the topic of minorities and discrimination based on caste and analogous systems of inherited status." In essence, the report frames caste discrimination in all its forms as a violation of human rights and qualifies it as a matter of concern for all of humanity and not just caste societies.

The second event occurred five months later, on May 6, 2016, when Sadiq Khan, a British Muslim born to Pakistani immigrant parents, was elected as the Mayor of London, the oldest of the world’s modern metropolises. The London election is not the end of racism in western societies, but it shows how far Britain (and other western countries) has changed after Enoch Powell’s "Rivers of Blood" speech in 1968. The 45 year old new Mayor of London was not even born till two years later (1970). The Mayoral election might be seen as vindication of Powell’s foreboding that uncontrolled immigration would change Britain irrevocably. Powell, upper class and Oxford Classicist, was quoting Virgil to emphasize his anxieties but the Latin quote in translation inadvertently became the sensationally historical title of his speech. Nonetheless, he struck a raw nerve among Britain’s white under classes, left and right, even as he was widely condemned by social elites and political leaders and punished by his Conservative Party. Racial accommodation and the backlash against it have since become the two faces British society, and indeed every other Western country. Mr. Khan’s election is a victory for accommodation even though the backlash against it had already begun with the racist campaign launched by the Tory candidate and his supporters. We have seen this already in America. After universally celebrating the election of its African American President in Barack Obama, America has been blindsided by the backlash against that self-same success. Donald Trump pompously rode that backlash to secure the nomination of Abraham Lincoln’s Party. There is now the dreadful prospect of a Trump presidency!

Mayor Khan’s election is all the more remarkable because he ran against a virulent anti-Muslim campaign and in a general anti-Muslim climate in the Western world, unlike President Obama whose African roots were not a matter of contention in either of the two elections he won. The American people were looking for change after eight years of war and the onset of a huge economic recession. The backlashes came after Obama’s victories. On a positive note, their victories were made possible by a plurality of voters, and not ‘a majority of the majority’, coming together on a platform of common issues. In a field of 12 candidates, Khan won an impressive 44% of the vote, 57% after counting second preferences, described as the largest personal mandate in Britain’s voting history. The voters were more swayed by Sadiq Khan’s promise to freeze the London Underground and bus fares for his entire term of four years, and spurned the accusations against him of having links to Islamic extremists. Khan won without disavowing or distancing himself from Islam. Khan’s victory is also being touted as a sign of the support among a plurality of British voters for voting to stay in the European Union in the upcoming Brexit referendum in June. Not to mention the hype about being the forerunner for an ethnic minority becoming British Prime Minister.

Habitual nay sayers will dismiss such victories as superficial and cosmetic, and of little consequence without fundamental changes in society. But fundamental changes do not come about at one fell swoop, and they will not come at all unless every positive change, however minor, is recognized for its worth and consolidated as the basis for the next step. In the current phase of the reasonably long history of world capitalism, the global mixing of populations that colonialism and capitalism brought about is beginning to show interesting new possibilities. The possibilities vary from country to country both in their acceptance and in the backlashes against them. Calgary, Canada’s fourth largest city, has had a Muslim Mayor, Naheed Nenshi, since 2010 with hardly any backlash. He is a now a national figure and was re-elected in 2013 polling 74% of the vote. That does not mean there is no racism in Canada, or there are no Muslim youths taking flight to join ISIS forces in Iraq and Syria. But it is fair to say that in the never ending tension between inclusion and exclusion, the forces of exclusion in Canada are politically very much weaker than they are in the neighbouring United States.

UNHRC and Caste

But neither country can be proud of its history of treating its indigenous people, the surviving descendants of those who lived in the Americas and had built their own civilizations when Columbus first landed here. To its credit, the new Liberal government in Canada is making a concerted effort to right the wrongs of history. Just last week, the present government rejected the objections of its predecessor and accepted the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples almost a decade after it was first adopted by the General Assembly. In theory, this means the willing acceptance of international oversight by a sovereign government in regard to the treatment of a section its own people. But in practice what the Canadian government is demonstrating is that by acting on its own to change government policy and practice vis-à-vis its indigenous communities, the First Nations, it would render international overseers inconsequential, if not unnecessary. Resistance to international or UN initiatives invariably occurs when governments are not willing to change their ways.

To return to ‘caste landing in Geneva’, no one could conceivably take exception to UNHRC’s innocuously titled "Report of the Special Rapporteur on minority issues", dealing with caste and analogous discriminations based on inherited status. Despite its title and short length, the report by the current Special Rapporteur, Hungarian lawyer Rita Izsak-Ndiaye, is a remarkable and powerful document that challenges not just the ill-effects of caste but the caste hierarchy itself based on the principles of "human dignity, equality and non-discrimination." Disappointingly, but not unsurprisingly, the government of India has not taken kindly to the UNHRC report, just as an earlier BJP government strenuously objected to the inclusion of caste on the agenda of the 2001 World Conference Against Racism in Durban South Africa. As if to divert attention from the UNHRC report, the BJP government has taken to commemorating the 125th birth anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar at the UN in New York and elsewhere.

As the UNHRC report points out over 250 million people suffer from caste-based discrimination worldwide. Although the biggest concentration is in South Asia, and more predominantly in India and Nepal, caste has migrated among diaspora communities in the west. In addition, there are analogous practices in Africa, the Middle East, and the Pacific region. Although based on work and descent, the stigma of caste has shown to be resistant to removal even with changing occupations and geographical relocations. The report emphasizes the "interpersonal and communal relationships" that underpin caste differences, requiring not only "legal and political responses", but also "community based approaches" involving "formal and informal education and open dialogue from an early age." The purpose of these initiatives should be not merely to establish equality on paper, but really to change "the mindsets of individuals and the collective conscience of local communities." Education, open dialogue, and social change cannot be fostered by rejecting a very worthy UNHRC report, but by accepting it and acting on its recommendations. My point is that international and UN concern over caste discrimination is not overdue, but it has become invariable and inevitable.

MaRa in Uganda to advise dictator Musevini who won by rigging elections and arresting opposition leader; Musevini castigates ICJ

(Lanka-e-News -14.May.2016, 12.35PM) In 2010  Medamulana MaRa alias Percy Mahendra Rajapakse after having won at the presidential elections 2010 by 1.8 million votes (through rigging) which victory  sent a wave of rude shock across the country and  even  the election campaigners , he announced his victory and  took his closest rival and common candidate at the presidential elections 2010 , General Sarath Fonseka into custody. 

Today , in Uganda too where Rajapakse  went to attend the swearing in ceremony of its new president Museveni the dictator , in much the same way as Sri Lanka’s General Fonseka was taken into custody by Machiavellian  Mahinda Rajapakse , Museveni’s rival and opposition leader Kizza Bezigye was taken into custody by Musevini.

It is the habit and practice of Uganda dictator for the last  years to show to the world that he is a victor at elections each time by a huge majority after holding rigged elections .This time too  it was no exception- he claimed he won by a 61 % majority. His swearing in took place on the 11 th. 

MaRa his faithful follower and friend  of course made sure he is there for that ceremony. Bezigye who is Musevini’s rival and of the opposition on the other hand who did not accept the victory of Museveni as genuine held a counter swearing in ceremony.

Museveni who alleged that Besigye’s ceremony as unlawful assembly arrested the latter. Based on foreign media reports , Besigye was pulled out of his official vehicle , and taken to an unknown destination. This is reminiscent of the abduction of Sarath Fonseka from his official residence , and holding him in  detention in a Navy camp . In Fonseka’s case too nobody knew for several  days where he was taken. 

Though Medamulana MaRa deemed it right to be present at the spurious inauguration ceremony of Museveni , the Envoys and Diplomatic officials of Western countries got up and walked out in protest during the proceedings.

The Western Envoys walked out because  Sudan’s president against whom a warrant has been issued by the International court of justice for war was also present at the ceremony , and in addition because  Musevini in the inaugural address criticized the International court of justice which is acknowledged and acclaimed by all civilized countries of the world. MaRa on the other hand was squirming and shivering in a corner like a serpent soaked in kerosene when the name International court of justice for war was being mentioned.

Meanwhile , the social media in Uganda gave  huge publicity to the video footage of the counter swearing ceremony of the opposition leader Besigye . This massive publicity campaign  provoked Musevini who in a panic stricken state  ordered a ban on the entire social media network within the country . MaRa too the devil’s disciple of Musevini did the same thing in Sri Lanka during his nefarious decade in power in order to conceal the truth and reveal his bogus news. It was on that  account  Lanka e news website which was revealing the truth and nothing but the truth was banned by him.

Fortunately in Sri Lanka the heroic people and the political leaders were able to get together and throw Machiavellian mendacious Medamulana Mara out of power lock and, stock and barrel on 8 th January 2015 , but in Uganda the hapless people and the opposition party leaders have been unable to give the same treatment to Musevini.

This defeated ad discarded president of Sri Lanka going to Uganda to give counsel to another Despotic president must be roundly condemned and frowned upon by  the heroic Sri Lankans who succeeded in uprooting our own despotic scoundrel from our midst, who is now seeking to give counsel to Musevini the dictator of Uganda.

Based on informed sources in Uganda , Machiavellian mendacious Medamulana MaRa has taken lodging in Speke Resort Munyono , and is in the process of giving advice to Musevini. 

It is however the general consensus that the curse of the shawl had struck Uganda which is now in a state of turmoil after MaRa alighted on that soil

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by     (2016-05-14 07:16:31)

CPRRUPTION: SRI LANKA’S NEW QUARTET MOUNT PRESSURE FOR PROSECUTIONS

( Ministers Rajitha and Champika in the lead)

14/05/2016

A new quartet of ministers has mounted pressure on the President and the Prime Minister to prosecute members of the Rajapaksa regime accused of massive corruption and ensure swift investigations into high profile murders as the government nears its first anniversary.

The four-member ministerial group had presented a cabinet paper demanding a detailed progress report into some of the headline grabbing corruption alleged by the United National Party when they were in the opposition.

Health Minister Rajith Senaratne, Megapolis Minister Champika Ranawaka, Ports minister Arjuna Ranatunga and Regional Development Sarath Fonseka signed the missive calling the conduct of the police and the Attorney General’s department into question .

A top government source said there would be a major shake up in the investigative mechanism given the less than satisfactory progress at the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) and the CID.

“It looks like investigating crimes is being turned into a lucrative source of income for some police officers,” a ministerial source said on condition of anonymity. He said the cabinet heard of a 30 million rupee bribe allegedly paid to remove a file that was under investigation.

At the highest levels in the government there were serious questions about the conduct of the police.

Allegations that the police Colombo Crime Division abducted a suspect and assaulted him to recant a testimony against former president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s chief ofg staff Gamini Senarath has been brought to the President’s attention.

“The President got down the parties involved and has given clear instructions to the IGP to hold an inquiry into this incident,” a minister directly involved in the incident said.

Another minister said the government was also investigating allegations that some senior members of the police had been paid handsomely to hush up investigations or destroy evidence.

The new IGP Pujith Jayasundera has been asked to give the government a report on the specific instances that had been brought to the attention of the president last week.

Minister Senaratne, who led the breakaway faction from the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime in late 2014, told reporters last week that he was under pressure from over 40 civil society organisations to deliver or depart.

The minister had earlier this year given a February 4 deadline to the government to show results, but the administration was given more time to allow a new attorney general to settle in and speed up pending cases.

However, that has not been the case and even the new AG  Jayantha Jayasuriya, P.C, has failed to impress, the source said.

Apart from a failure to take decisive legal action against any of the high profile individuals in the previous regime, except Basil Rajapaksa, most of the investigations have stalled.

Even in Basil Rajapaksa’s case, police went out of their way Thursday to block journalists reporting his latest court appearance before the Matara magistrate.

Matara SP Sudath Masinghe prevented all reporters getting into the court house although the magistrate had only requested that there should be no filming inside her court house.

SP Masinghe effectively prevented any photographs of Basil being brought into court and reporters being in court when the case was called up.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has ordered the Law and Order minuistry to investigate why police blocked journalists covering court proceedings.

The new AG and the new IGP are under pressure to show results in the drawn out cases. The assassination of Lasantha Wickrematunga, the Eknaligoda murder and the Wasim Thajudeen killing are some of the high profile cases which are still dragging without suspects being arrested.

(Colombo/May 14, 2016)
EN

GSP Plus: Lanka has a long way to go, 27 conventions

By Namini Wijedasa-Sunday, May 15, 2016

The GSP Plus facility granted by the European Union is — by its very nature — a highly conditional duty free concession. To argue otherwise would be disingenuous.

One need not look far. The concession’s unabbreviated name is the ‘EU Special Incentive Arrangement for Sustainable Development and Good Governance’. It is awarded to selected countries on the basis of specified human rights and governance objectives being met. In evaluating Sri Lanka’s application for a renewal of the facility, therefore, the EU would be constrained by a design of its own making to grade the Government’s performance in a wide range of areas.

EU envoy David Daly flashes the red card to Sri Lanka on GSP Plus. Pic Amila Gamage

Sri Lanka lost the concession in 2010 precisely because it had failed on multiple fronts to adhere to conditions inherently attached to the GSP Plus. The EU examined implementation of three key conventions: The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR); the Convention against Torture (CAT); and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

The EU concluded that, “neither the ICCPR, the CAT, nor the CRC, nor the legislation incorporating the obligations under these conventions have been effectively implemented in Sri Lanka during the period covered by the investigation”. The Government was given time to act; it failed and the trade concession was withdrawn.

Much has changed since that report came out.
The war is ended, the regime has changed, the Emergency has been lifted (one of the EU’s key concerns) and certain steps have been taken in the direction of reconciliation. But a cursory examination of an EU-spearheaded list of 58 commitments — and such a list does exist — makes it clear that a lot of what is expected of Sri Lanka has not yet been achieved.

Deputy Foreign Minister Harsha de Silva admitted this week that “multiple action points” had been identified where “progress is expected and being made” (the operative word being “expected”). These action points include reviewing and repealing the Prevention of Terrorism Act; expediting cases of remaining detainees; rehabilitating ex-combatants; amending the Code of Criminal Procedure to include the rights of detainees; adopting new regulations for public disorder management; reviewing the Public Security Ordinance; and expediting the processing of remaining cases referred by the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances.

They also include establishing an Office on Missing Persons; making fully operational provisions of the Protection of Victims of Crime and Witness Act; introducing a new Human Rights Action Plan; and ratifying the Convention on Disabilities and sending to Parliament the draft Disability Rights Bill.

Among the other undertakings are sending to Parliament a new Prisons Administration Act and adopting a strategy against prison overcrowding; expediting the conclusion of emblematic cases identified in report of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; introducing reforms to address delays in the administration of justice; and reviewing the status of Tamil diaspora organisations and individuals in the terrorist list.

These are but a fraction of the commitments made. Significantly, Sri Lanka must also have ratified 27 core international conventions when applying for the GSP Plus. “To be accepted into the GSP+, countries must sign a binding undertaking to maintain their ratification of the 27 conventions, and to ensure their effective implementation,” the EU states. Sri Lanka has acceded to but is yet to ratify several of these.

This week, a delegation led by Sonali Wijeratne, Director General of Commerce, was in Brussels for a meetign of the EU-Sri Lanka Working Group on Trade and Economic Relations Cooperation. A joint statement issued after their meetings said, “In particular it discussed Sri Lanka’s intention in applying for GSP+ status under the European Union’s GSP Regulation”.
There is little difference between this and the communiqué issued after the Working Group on Trade in 2015. That one said, “In particular they started the process that may lead to the re-admission of Sri Lanka to the status of GSP+ under the European Union’s new GSP regulation.”

The delegation comprised eight members from Colombo, four of whom had competence to take on human rights issues. Apart from Ms Wijeratne, they were Neil Asoka, DG Finance Ministry; Jayantha Senanayake, Director Agriculture Department; Champika Malalgoda, Executive Director BOI; Abdul Azeez, DG Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Yasantha Kodagoda, Additional Solicitor General; Udani Gunawardana, Assistant Director/Human Rights of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Gehan Gunatilleke, Consultant Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

EU has strict monitoring mechanisms If and when the GSP Plus concession is granted to Sri Lanka, the EU will in two-yearly cycles monitor implementation of 27 international conventions. The monitoring mechanism involves two interrelated tools, EU literature states. The first is the “scorecard”, an annual exchange of information on beneficiaries’ shortcomings on each of the 27 conventions, as identified in particular by the international monitoring bodies. Beneficiaries are encouraged to provide information on their progress against the shortcomings, and details of future plans. Responses to this GSP Plus report will be welcomed through their replies to the next scorecards. The second tool is the “GSP+ dialogue”. This is a close engagement between the EU and the beneficiary countries to support them to tackle their shortcomings, discuss difficulties, and recognise the progress made. The GSP+ dialogue seeks to build a relationship based on trust and cooperation, and makes use of existing bilateral fora (e.g. on trade, human rights, and labour rights). “The exact objectives of GSP+ monitoring vary between beneficiaries,” a fact-sheet explains. “It is essential that beneficiaries’ challenges and achievements are seen in their own national contexts.”

Dilan Wirasinghe, A Man Behind SriLankan Airlines’ Duty Free Scam Named In Offshore Leaks

May 14, 2016

Rumesh Dilan Wirasinghe the CEO of Phoenix Duty Free Services, the controversial duty free supplier of SriLankan Airlines In-Flight Duty Free has been named in the offshore leaks database released by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), Colombo Telegraph investigation found.

Phoenix Duty Free Services which started off as Phoenix Rising Ventures Ltd, when as an unknown entity and having no prior experience in the business signed off a deal with the airline to supply duty free items for sale on board and also the supply wines and champagne for consumption in flight.

The contract was signed by the former SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena and Manager In Flight Services Rashmore Ferdinands, with the approval of former Chairman Nishantha Wickramasinghe the brother in law of the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The controversial awarding of the contract out of tender procedures was also highlighted in the “Weliamuna Report” when the national carrier was ordered to be investigated by the government in February of 2015. The report highlighted staggering losses the airline was incurring after the signed contract between the management of the airline and Phoenix Duty Free officials was amended mid way through the contract.

Based on lawyer Weliamuna’s report, the airline will eventually stand to lose over US $ 8 million when the deal which strangely still continues comes to an end with the current financial year.

The ICIJ report states that Rumesh Dilan Wirasinghe has two off shore accounts linked to Canada.

Read More

Why are tormenting and torturing raggers allowed to commit contempt of court flagrantly ? -Lawyer questions (video)

(Lanka-e-News -14.May.2016, 12.20PM)  Committing contempt of court is a challenge to the administration of justice in a country. It is why such an individual found guilty is punished by court. If an individual is to criticize within court premises the verdicts of courts as he /she wishes , vilifies the courts or  threatens courts it is tantamount to contempt of court .

When one studies the report in regard to the recent ragging incident at the Kelaniya University ,and the statement made by the raggers , it is very evident that they have not only openly defied the laws , but have also degraded and despised the powers and authority of the court.

Let us examine the statement (herein) made by the female ragger on behalf of he suspects when they were produced in court…Her statement absolutely and clearly demeaned the court and challenged  the verdict delivered. If we  are  to borrow her own words,  ‘it became clear in court under the ragging enactment quoted , only if we use force to have sex , we cannot get bail. Yet , even when such a thing has not taken place , a court decision of its own was taken to refuse bail’ she claimed. Her view was , the court had taken its own decision not to  grant bail to the suspects despite the fact that  there was n’t such a situation in this instance, The youth went on to declare  further as follows:

 ‘At this moment definitely we tell the authorities , if these suspects are detained forcibly any longer without any charges , and if these students are not freed forthwith , we shall continue with our struggle and engage in our protests.’  

In her  statement noted above she says the court has come to a decision on its own. This is clearly a contempt of court because it is criticizing a court decision, challenging the authority of he court, and is critical of the affairs of the court. (decision given in Attorney General v Times Newspapers Ltd. and others (2001) EWCA Civ 97; [2001] 1 WLR 885; [2001] EMLR 530 ). 

In her second statement , she insisted that  ‘ these students who are being detained without any valid grounds shall be released immediately.’ Or else they would continue to agitate and stage protests , she threatened.Since these suspects are currently incarcerated on a court order , the power to release them is only vested with the courts. 

In other words , it is the court that is being forced to release these suspects. It is significant to note , an individual who is incarcerated on a court order cannot be released or forced to be released by anybody ( not even by the president).

All what can be done is a  request for bail can be made.. Besides , her demanding to release the suspects ,and her assertion that protests will be staged otherwise, constitute a threat to the court, in my opinion. When considering  the case (Garuminige Thilakaratne , S.B. Dissanayake ) in which the contempt of court issue was taken up , it is my conviction this statement cannot be dismissed without being treated as tantamount to serious contempt of court .

Sugath Dheerawardena , Attorney at law
Translated by Jeff

The relevant video footage is herein 

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by     (2016-05-14 06:59:44)

More colleagues engaged in Wimal’s politics with public money exposed

FRIDAY, 13 MAY 2016

Another instance of former Minister of Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Wimal Weerawansa using two offices named Battaramulla Sub project office and ‘Jana Sevana’ supervision office under National Housing Development Authority to serve his friends and relatives and provide employment for his party colleagues so that they could engage in his party politics with public money during 2011 to 2014 period has been revealed.

About twenty people had been given appointments under Ocean View Development Company attached to the Ministry to work in the relevant offices and except for three of them other seventeen people had drawn salaries from Ocean View Development Company while employed elsewhere.

Also, Minister Weerawansa had informed that his relatives and friends should be released from the offices so that they could directly engage in his political work.

Among the staff of the offices is Prasanna Sanjeewa Tennekone, a journalist of Vijaya newspapers. According to information he has been the news coordinator of the office.

One of the offices had been maintained at National Housing Development Authority and the other at No. 33, Sunil Mawatha, Battaramulla.

According to sources the offices did not need the number of employees recruited and the government had been incurred a loss of Rs.30 million due to the illegal appointments.

Managing director of a Johnny’s ethanol company arrested

May 14, 2016

The Managing Director of Acibic Oasis Pvt Ltd., Anton Rober Sebastian, a resident of Waththala Kerawalapitiya, was arrested yesterday 13th by the Financial Crime Investigation Unit alleged for many other charges including of illegally importing Ethanol to Sri Lanka.

The latter was arrested after a court order obtained following the produce of information, under the case number 488/16 lodged at the Watthala magistrate’s court.

During the police investigations it was revealed that Acibic Oasis Pvt Limited has produced liquor to Wayamba Distilleries Company using the imported ethanol.

During the investigations it was further revealed that Acibic Oasis Pvt Limited has imported ethanol during the 2012 – 2014 periods under the pretext of importing perfumes cum colognes and used the Sathosa vehicles and drivers to transport the materials.

During the 2012 – 2014 periods Sathosa institute was under the corporative and internal affairs ministry and Johnston Fernando was the minister.

Former minister Johnston Fernando’s son’s name was connected to the ownership of Acibic Oasis Private Limited and the former minister’s name too is connected to the Wayamba Distillery.

Sanskrit fever grips Germany: 14 universities teaching India's ancient language struggle to meet demand as students clamour for courses

 The summer school in spoken Sanskrit at the South Asia Institute, University of Heidelberg, is attended by students from all over the world-Professor Dr. Axel Michaels, Head of Classical Indology at the University of Heidelberg, says students from 34 countries have taken the course

 PM Narendra Modi with German Chancellor Angela Merkel-Educationists feel it is important to introduce Sanskrit at school level as it will enable students to have a better understanding of the subject

By ADITYA GHOSH-14 April 2015

Will Germans be the eventual custodians of Sanskrit, its rich heritage and culture? If the demand for Sanskrit and Indology courses in Germany is any indication, that’s what the future looks like. 

Unable to cope with the flood of applications from around the world, the South Asia Institute, University of Heidelberg, had to start a summer school in spoken Sanskrit in Switzerland, Italy and - believe it or not - India too. 

“When we started it 15 years ago, we were almost ready to shut it after a couple of years. Instead, we had to increase strength and take the course to other European countries,” said Professor Dr. Axel Michaels, head of classical Indology at the university. 

In Germany, 14 of the top universities teach Sanskrit, classical and modern Indology compared to just four in the UK. The summer school spans a month in August every year and draws applications from across the globe. 

“So far, 254 students from 34 countries have participated in this course. Every year we have to reject many applications,” said Dr. Michaels. 

Apart from Germany, the majority of students come from the US, Italy, the UK and the rest of Europe. 

Professor Dr. Axel Michaels, Head of Classical Indology at the University of Heidelberg, says students from 34 countries have taken the course

Linking Sanskrit with religion and a certain political ideology was “stupid” and “detrimental to the cause” of its rich heritage, the professor said. 

“Even the core thoughts of Buddhism were in the Sanskrit language. To better understand the genesis of oriental philosophy, history, languages, sciences and culture, it’s essential to read the original Sanskrit texts as these are some of the earliest thoughts and discoveries,” he added. 

Francesca Lunari, a medical student who has been studying Sanskrit at Heidelberg University, agreed. 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-3038926/Sanskrit-fever-grips-Germany-14-universities-teaching-India-s-ancient-language-struggle-meet-demand-students-clamour-courses.html#ixzz48fnyOnHO 
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UNICEF says 25 Palestinian children killed in three months

Number of youths under 18 detained by Israeli army is highest it has been in seven years

Palestinians hold pictures of 12-year-old Dima Wawi, who was arrested and held by Israel (AFP)

AFP-Saturday 14 May 2016

Twenty-five Palestinian children were killed in the last three months of 2015 during a wave of anti-Israeli attacks and the number detained was the highest in seven years, the UN children's agency said on Saturday. 

"Serious concerns arose regarding excessive use of force, particularly in relation to incidents where Palestinian children were shot dead by Israeli security forces after carrying out or being suspected of carrying out stabbing attacks," UNICEF said in a report.

It said more than 1,300 Palestinian children were injured during the spike in attacks, almost all in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, while three Israeli children were hurt in the West Bank and West Jerusalem.

UNICEF cited the example on 25 October in Hebron in the West Bank of a 17-year-old girl who was "taken by IDF [Israel Defence Forces] soldiers for a search, shot with at least five bullets and killed".

"Israeli authorities said that she had attempted to stab a policeman, however, an eyewitness stated that she was not presenting any threat at the time she was shot, and was shouting that she did not have a knife," it said.

Compared with the high toll for the October-December period, UNICEF recorded four Palestinian children killed and 165 injured between July and September last year. 

UNICEF also voiced alarm over the number of Palestinian children aged between 12 and 17 held by the Israeli army, noting the tally stood at 422 at the end of December, according to the Israeli prison service, the highest recorded since March 2009.

Israeli law allows Palestinian children from the age of 12 to be put on trial.

Since the October outbreak of unrest, 204 Palestinians and 28 Israelis have been killed. Most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, Israeli authorities say.

- See more at: http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/25-palestinian-children-killed-3-months-unicef-426054255#sthash.s78TMGwE.dpuf

Has Israeli war criminal played lead role in Cannes security?

Israeli Brigadier-General Nitzan Nuriel, right, with US Air Force Lt. General Craig Franklin, in 2012. (Eucom)

Ali Abunimah-13 May 2016

The French city of Cannes has denied reports that an Israeli general is overseeing security forces tasked with protecting this year’s film festival, which began on Wednesday.

But authorities in the glamorous Mediterranean resort have confirmed that Brigadier-General Nitzan Nuriel was consulted as part of a security review.

The city now appears to be trying to play down the Israeli general’s role even further.

After two horrific mass attacks by suspected Islamic State extremists in France, and the recent bombings inBrussels, it is right that French authorities would do all they can to keep the festival, which attracts major stars and media attention, safe.

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Today Julia Roberts, George Clooney & Jodie Foster photocall. Plus de photos #Cannes2016  http://www.cannes.com/fr/culture/cannes-et-le-cinema/le-festival-de-cannes/la-montee-des-marches/festival-de-cannes-2016.html …

11:03 AM - 12 May 2016 · Cannes, France, France

But it makes no sense for Cannes to turn to an Israeli general whose entire career consists of brutalizing and violating the human rights of millions of Palestinians under military occupation.

A former senior aide to two Israeli prime ministers, Nuriel also took a commanding role in Israel’s 2006 invasion of Lebanon, where Israeli forces indiscriminately targeted civilians in attacks Human Rights Watchcalled war crimes.

Contradictory reports

On Tuesday, the French edition of The Times of Israel reported that Nuriel was involved in overseeing the massive security operation by land, sea and air to protect the festival.

It later amended its article with a retraction and correction, saying that Cannes city hall had denied Nuriel’s involvement.

The website’s English version states that The Hollywood Reporter had “claimed that Nuriel is also in charge of security for the 10-day event.”

“The city of Cannes, however, refuted that claim, saying Nuriel is not involved whatsoever and that security preparations are under the exclusive authority of the interior ministry,” The Times of Israel adds.

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