Statement by women’s rights organisations, activists on NHRAP
GROUNDVIEWS on 02/09/2017
Peace for the World
First democratic leader of Justice the Godfather of the Sri Lankan Tamil Struggle: Honourable Samuel James Veluppillai Chelvanayakam
A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Thursday, February 9, 2017
GROUNDVIEWS on 02/09/2017
“ROLLING OVER” OF UNHRC RESOLUTION IS NOT A GOOD OPTION FOR SRI LANKA
File photo: Poster against High Commissioner Zeid in Colombo.
09/02/2017
Should Sri Lanka ‘Roll Over’ in Geneva?
The 47-member Human Rights Council (HRC) has a mandate to hold no fewer than three regular sessions a year, for a total of at least ten weeks. These sessions take place in March (four weeks), June (three weeks) and September (three weeks). Further, if one third of the Member States requests, HRC could decide to hold a special session at any time, to address human rights violations and emergencies. That was how the 11th Special Session of the HRC was convened to consider the situation in Sri Lanka in 2009, a week after the conflict came to an end.
SRI LANKA HAS OVERWHELMINGLY FAILED TO IMPLEMENT HRC 30/1 RESOLUTION.
09/02/2017
Issuing a statement today ( 9th Feb) “Sri Lanka Campaign” says that a fresh evaluation by them found limited evidence of progress on accountability and reconciliation by the government of Sri Lanka and calls on the UN Human Rights Council to pass robust follow up resolution in March.
“Sri Lanka Campaign” is not affiliated with any political or ethnic group inside or outside of Sri Lanka, and we exist to fight for the rights of all those living in Sri Lanka, statement adds.
The statement further says that:
A breakdown of the resolution text into 25 specific commitments reveals that the government of Sri Lanka has lived up to its word on a mere three of its pledges. Seventeen remain largely or wholly unimplemented, with a further five only partially achieved.
“In October 2015, the government of Sri Lanka made a promise to its citizens: to enact a comprehensive set of measures to end human rights violations, address the bitter legacy of the war, and lay the foundations for a sustainable peace. These findings indicate that unfortunately the government has failed to live up to its word. Indeed, it has fallen massively short”, said Richard Gowing, Campaign Director.
Despite several positive steps by the government, the overwhelming majority of its commitments for bringing about accountability and reconciliation remain unfulfilled. None of the four institutional mechanisms which it pledged have yet been established, and on one of the most important of these – an independent judicial mechanism for dealing with serious war-time violations – there has been visible backsliding in terms of commitment.
“These findings ought to be a wake-up call both to the government of Sri Lanka and international community. The window of opportunity for dealing with the past will not remain open indefinitely and in the context of persistent human rights violations, surveillance and militarization in war affected areas, each day that passes sees that window close ever further. The government must grasp the nettle with both hands and take the bold steps necessary to avert yet another cycle of conflict.”
“The international community for its part must not shy away from the frank and robust response that this latest evaluation suggests is needed. In the short term, that means a further resolution at the March session of the HRC mandating ongoing international monitoring and support. In the longer term, it also means key states revisiting the more conciliatory approach that has been adopted towards the new government over the past two years, one which is evidently not yielding results for war affected communities”.
On March 22nd members of the Human Rights Council will sit to deliberate on Sri Lanka’s progress on Resolution 30/1 and, in light of the ‘expiry date’ on the text, consider the further courses of action available to it. The Sri Lanka Campaign is calling on members of the council to pass a second resolution which:
1) Renews, without any dilution, the terms of Resolution 30/1, with a request to the government of Sri Lanka to produce a clear timetable for implementation of the outstanding commitments
2) Requests the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to monitor the implementation of the resolution (including further reporting to the Council on its progress at agreed intervals)
3) Welcomes the recommendations of the final report of the Consultation Task Force on Reconciliation Mechanisms
4) Acknowledges the prevailing ground situation in the North and East (including persistent patterns of serious human rights violations, militarization, surveillance and intimidation) and the barrier that it poses to lasting reconciliation
5) Cautions against an approach to transitional justice which defers accountability for serious crimes
Forecast for 2017: Dr Harinda Vidanage
Featured image courtesy Raisa Wickrematunge
GROUNDVIEWS on 02/09/2017
This is the seventh in a series of video interviews forecasting what 2017 will have in store across different sectors. Director of the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies, Dr Harinda Vidanage speaks about possible developments in the field of international relations over the coming year. At 0:50 he discusses the trend towards inward-looking policy over the coming year, while at 2:08 he speaks of emerging global powers that could gain prominence due to this trend.
For the earlier videos in our series, click here for discussion on developments in human rights, LGBTIQ rights, economics, politics, women’s rights and security for the year ahead.
Death threats intensified after the case verdict : ‘final gunshot’, ‘Maraya’ were the warnings-Dr. Sameera who had a close call reveals..(video)
(Lanka-e-News -09.Feb.2017, 6.10PM) ‘Continuous threats were received by me that I will be murdered if I do not quit SAITM medical College and teaching hospital , and these threats intensified after the court verdict ,’ chief executive of SAITM medical College and teaching hospital Dr. Sameera Senaratne revealed.
Dr. Senaratne also said , he made a complaint even on the 6 th morning pertaining to the death threats and intimidation he received in writing and via phone , and all the phone numbers have been forwarded to the police . Dr. Senaratne also informed an individual who called himself as ‘Maraya’ and of a group by the name ‘ final gunshot’ threatened him last.
It is well to recall , Naveen De Soysa the secretary of the GMOA, the cursed criminal face which has a rare attraction that invites only a good pummeling, sprang forward to assault Ravi Kumudesh , the president of SL medical science laboratories association at the meeting held on 30 th January , and three times threatened him with death while even going to the extent of saying’ I shall look after you outside’. Ravi Kumudesh a few days ago made a complaint in this regard to the Maradana police and DIG in charge of Colombo.
In any event the investigations into the attempted murder by shooting on 6 th night has been entrusted to the CID , according to unofficial sources.
The video footage of the statement made by Dr. Sameera Senaratne who just managed to escape death in the shooting incident is below
The video footage of the statement made by Dr. Sameera Senaratne who just managed to escape death in the shooting incident is below
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by (2017-02-09 12:50:51)
by (2017-02-09 12:50:51)
WELIKADA KILLINGS: REPORT TABLED AND PM PROMISES TO BRING TO BOOK KILLERS OF 27 PRISONERS
Image: Victims of the prison massacre .
09/02/2017
Prime Minster Wickremesinghe tabled the report in parliament on Welikada prison killings and promised to bring the killers to book on 7th February.
A Committee headed by retired High Court Judge Nimal Nambuwasam and comprising retired Senior DIG Ashoka Wijethilake and retired Administrative Officer S. K. Liyanage was appointed by Justice Minister Dr Wijayadasa Rajapakshe on January 22, 2015 to investigate the prison riot and subsequent killings.
PM told the parliament that the government is awaiting a police report on the incident and on its receipt those responsible for the killing of 27 inmates and injuring 40 others would be identified and due action would be taken thereafter. The committee submitted its report on June 9, 2015. Although it was not make public by the Wicemesinghe weekly Sinhala language newspaper Ravaya has been released the report under heading ” The report Ranil want to hide”.
The committee had recommended the payment of Rs 500,000 to family members of each inmate killed and Rs 100,000 to each inmate injured.
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe on behalf of the Government strongly condemned those killings at the Prison which took place during the previous regime led by Mahinda Rajapaksa. and said that action would be taken against individuals responsible for the killings of prisoners at Welikada in 2012 once the Government received the police report into the incident.
He said he had already instructed the Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs Ministry to take steps to implement the recommendations made by the Committee report.
The Prime Minister said a copy of the report had also been forwarded to the IGP. He said the Justice Minister had sought Cabinet approval to pay compensation.
With the inputs from The Island
Thursday, 9 February 2017
A very notable feature of our political culture is the longevity of political careers. Several of the present ‘leaders’ began their politics in the 1970s or even before, in their callow youth, on the basis that their fathers too were in politics! What in most cultures would be a matter of embarrassment is considered a qualification here
“The European and the African have an entirely different concept of time.
An accommodation with the realities.docx by Thavam Ratna on Scribd
Money laundering charges against Namal: AG to file indictments
Friday, February 10, 2017
The Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) conducting investigations against six suspects including Hambantota district MP Namal Rajapaksa for their alleged involvement in money laundering amounting to Rs.45 million involving two companies owned by Namal Rajapaksa yesterday informed Court that the Attorney General was expecting to file indictments in the High Court against the suspects.
When the two connected cases filed under money laundering charges came up before Colombo Additional Magistrate J. Trotsky, the FCID said that they have sought the AG’s advice regarding the two cases. Further magisterial inquiry into the incident was fixed for June 22.
Four suspects Namal Rajapaksa, Sudarsha Bandara Ganewatta, Nithya Senani and Sujani Bogollagama were present before Court.
They are currently out on bail. Meanwhile, the Additional Magistrate issued open warrants through Interpol for the arrest of two suspects Indika Prabhath Karunajeewa and Iresha Silva who had evaded police investigations since the inception.
The Additional Magistrate further ordered to relax the bail conditions in respect of four suspects including Namal Rajapaksa, enabling them to appear before FCID once in two months instead of the last Sunday of each month.
The FCID had commenced investigation into a complaint that MP Namal Rajapaksa had purchased Hello Corp.Pvt. Ltd for Rs.100 million using ill-gotten funds of Gowers Corporation and NR Consultation Pvt Ltd, allegedly owned by Namal Rajapaksa.
The FCID informed Court that investigations revealed that MP Rajpaksa had been allegedly involved in money laundering to the tune of Rs.15 million at NR Consultation Pvt. Ltd and another Rs.30 million in Gowers Corporation Pvt Ltd, in 2012.
Police alleged that money laundering transactions had taken place through a company named Boston Capital, allegedly owned by Rohan Iriyagolla and he has revealed everything in this regard.
In this case, MP Namal Rajapaksa, Indika Prabhath Karunajeewa, Pavithra Sujani Bogollagama, Senani Samaranayake, Sudarshana Bandara Ganegoda and Iresha Silva were named as the suspects by the FCID, following the instructions of the Attorney General.
It was reported that Gowers Corporate Services (Pvt) Limited of Colombo 5, is providing coordinating services to Sri Lankan Airlines.
The FCID had initiated investigations into this matter following a complaint made by Voice Against Corruption Convener Wasantha Samarasinghe.
Samarasinghe alleged that MP Namal Rajapaksa had bought shares of a company named Hello Corp and set up a company called Gowers Corporate Services (Pvt) Limited while being a MP, from the Rs.125 million he earned through illegal means.
President’s Counsel Jayantha Weerasinghe with Counsel Sampath Mendis, Senior Counsel Jeewantha Jayatilleke and Counsel Ralitha Amarasena appeared for the suspects.
Weerawansa the crooked patriot re remanded ! His accomplice was sentenced earlier too over swindling Rs. 2.2 million of war heroes’ funds !
(Lanka-e-News -09.Feb.2017, 6.00PM) The accomplice Samantha Priyanath Loku Hennedige ex Human resource manager of former minister Wimal Weerawansa the notorious crooked cardboard patriot ( both of whom are now in remand custody) involved in the fraud amounting to Rs. 91.6 million of distributing 37 State vehicles to relatives , has previously too committed a fraud in a sum of Rs. 2.2 million while he was serving in the army . After he admitted his guilt in that crime he was punished by courts, and is now serving a 20 years suspended jail sentence, based on reports reaching Lanka e news.Loku Hennedige is the accomplice in the present crime in which the prime suspect is Weerawansa (the self proclaimed ‘patriot’ a crook though . He is now behind bars along with Weerawansa . It is well to recall , earlier too Loku Hennedige while serving in the army aerial administration board as a Captain has swindled a sum of over Rs. 2.2 million that was allocated for the foreign travel of army officers in connection with LokuHennedige’s training. That sum included Rs. 600,000.00 during the whole year - 1998 ; Rs. 1.4 million during the whole year -1999; and about Rs. 200,000.00 during the first four months of the year 2000. Hennedige has been indulging in this fraud for a long time. After this was discovered , he was expelled from the army , and a case was filed.
When he admitted his guilt and agreed to re pay the sum in that suit , he was fined Rs. 180,000.00 and a 20 years suspended sentence was delivered against him. That is a six year jail term suspended to 20 years.
That was in 2014 during the era of the Rajapakses when they were entertaining the notion they would never be defeated, and Rajapakse the chieftain of the crooks is a ‘nomerenna miniha’ though only a cursed individual would nurse such a devil’s desire . The sentence was passed by Colombo High court judge Ms. N. Ranawake .In other words the sentence of most criminal Weerawansa’s equally criminal crony will terminate in 2034 ( copy of the relevant news report is appended ) .
That was in 2014 during the era of the Rajapakses when they were entertaining the notion they would never be defeated, and Rajapakse the chieftain of the crooks is a ‘nomerenna miniha’ though only a cursed individual would nurse such a devil’s desire . The sentence was passed by Colombo High court judge Ms. N. Ranawake .In other words the sentence of most criminal Weerawansa’s equally criminal crony will terminate in 2034 ( copy of the relevant news report is appended ) .
That means Weerawansa the crooked ‘patriot’ had selected another crooked rat as his Human resource manager on purpose so that buddies of the same feather could rob together .In other words for Weerawansa’s crooked activities ,while parading as a self proclaimed ‘patriot’ he has employed another experienced crooked scoundrel who had clearly demonstrated the same crooked streak in him by robbing the funds of ‘ war heroes’ . Obviously , he made Loku Hennedige as his human resource manager because Weerawansa wanted to have an experienced criminal with him to aid and abet in his crooked activities and rook the public wholesale. The natural and necessary outcome : the fraud jointly committed by the duo involving a sum of Rs. 91.6 million.
Weerawansa remanded again
When Weerawansa and LokuHennedige who are in remand custody were produced in court on the 7 th , they were remanded again until the 20 th by Colombo Fort magistrate Lanka Jayaratne .
Weerawansa’s henchman who shouted in court on the previous court day admits his guilt..
Sudesh Premalal a henchman of Weerawansa who was remanded for shouting and behaving violently in court on the previous court day during sessions , was produced in court from remand custody . Sudesh pleaded guilty to contempt of court charges and he was fined Rs. 1000.00 and sentenced to one and half years in jail suspended to 7 years by the judge.
Weerawansa’s application for bail fixed for hearing on the 13 th……
Meanwhile the revision application for bail filed by Weerawansa challenging the refusal to grant same by judge Lanka Jayaratne filled in Colombo High court was taken up for hearing on the 6th . High court judge Vikum Kaluarachi postponed its hearing until the 13 th.
The respondents cited in the application by Weerawansa’s lawyers are the Attorney General and the OIC of FCID . They were noticed to appear in court on the next date .
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by (2017-02-09 12:46:42)
by (2017-02-09 12:46:42)
This waste and plunder must stop now
2017-02-10
With the ever-increasing marvels of modern technology making the concept of a global village more of a reality and with the newly-inaugurated United States President Donald Trump bringing about chaos in the international political and economic order, paradigm shifts are necessary.
For instance, there is little relevance in the old labels of capitalism and socialism. In any event, even in the cases of the so-called socialist giants such as the former Soviet Union and China what we saw to a large extent was state capitalism. Now with technology changing the face and the ways of the world, practicalism is emerging as the most realistic approach to political and social economic affairs. It is in this scenario that we need to reflect on last Wednesday’s latest report by the powerful and popular parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE). The committee, headed by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna’s (JVP) proactive parliamentarian Sunil Handunnetti, reported to Parliament that 15 state institutions had lost a shocking and staggering Rs. 110 billion in public funds during a stipulated period. He said that during COPE’s investigations from May 1 to August 31 last year, it found the wretched situation of these wasteful and uneconomic state enterprises.
Most economic analysts are of the view that the latest report raises major questions about the viability of state enterprises and whether the current trend of private-public partnerships will help to make them more enterprising, creative and active participants in the eco-friendly and all-inclusive economic development strategy.
According to the COPE report, one of the worst cases of wasteful expenditure without accountability or transparency is the Suriyawewa Cricket Stadium of Sri Lanka Cricket. A payment of Rs. 5 billion is pending and there is no particular owner. Without allowing officials to throw some full tosses or no balls on this issue, civic minded citizens need to make use of the new Right to Information Law (RTI) and demand information as to who did what to bring about this colossal if not criminal waste of public funds.
The COPE report says that the Cooperative Wholesale Establishment (CWE), the Road Development Authority (RDA), Sri Lanka Insurance, State Engineering Corporation, Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, Sri Lanka Cricket, Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation, National Lotteries Board, Ceylon Electricity Board and Sustainable Energy Authority of Sri Lanka, Football Federation, Sri Lanka Ayurvedic Medicine Corporation, Maga Neguma institutions under the RDA, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Kurunegala Plantations and the Employee Trust Fund were investigated by the committee.
The huge investment on the show-piece Nelum Kuluna or Lotus Tower was a total waste of public funds. Giving a good kick, COPE said the Sri Lanka Football Federation had received millions of Euros or dollars in donations but the manner in which the funds were used could be called foul by the referee.
According to COPE, the State Engineering Corporation loss is Rs. 2,918 million and ministers are responsible. Several cases relating to this have been filed in court. The CWE has to recover a rental of Rs.124 million from subsidiaries and no inquiry was conducted against persons involved in fraud amounting to Rs. 1.3 million.
The Maga Neguma project has spent Rs. 5.86 million to maintain 54 consultants and 94 public relations officers in 2015. The abrupt closure of Sri Lanka Insurance branches would cause big losses. It was further revealed that the CEO and Managing Director had drawn Rs. 165 million and Rs. 55 million as a salary during a stipulated period without making much of a contribution to the institution.
Shame, shame and shame despite the promise of good governance and justice the plunder of public funds seems to be continuing. This must be stopped and the plunderers brought to justice if the national government wishes to restore its credibility among the people.
2017-02-10With the ever-increasing marvels of modern technology making the concept of a global village more of a reality and with the newly-inaugurated United States President Donald Trump bringing about chaos in the international political and economic order, paradigm shifts are necessary.
For instance, there is little relevance in the old labels of capitalism and socialism. In any event, even in the cases of the so-called socialist giants such as the former Soviet Union and China what we saw to a large extent was state capitalism. Now with technology changing the face and the ways of the world, practicalism is emerging as the most realistic approach to political and social economic affairs. It is in this scenario that we need to reflect on last Wednesday’s latest report by the powerful and popular parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE). The committee, headed by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna’s (JVP) proactive parliamentarian Sunil Handunnetti, reported to Parliament that 15 state institutions had lost a shocking and staggering Rs. 110 billion in public funds during a stipulated period. He said that during COPE’s investigations from May 1 to August 31 last year, it found the wretched situation of these wasteful and uneconomic state enterprises.
Most economic analysts are of the view that the latest report raises major questions about the viability of state enterprises and whether the current trend of private-public partnerships will help to make them more enterprising, creative and active participants in the eco-friendly and all-inclusive economic development strategy.
According to the COPE report, one of the worst cases of wasteful expenditure without accountability or transparency is the Suriyawewa Cricket Stadium of Sri Lanka Cricket. A payment of Rs. 5 billion is pending and there is no particular owner. Without allowing officials to throw some full tosses or no balls on this issue, civic minded citizens need to make use of the new Right to Information Law (RTI) and demand information as to who did what to bring about this colossal if not criminal waste of public funds.
The COPE report says that the Cooperative Wholesale Establishment (CWE), the Road Development Authority (RDA), Sri Lanka Insurance, State Engineering Corporation, Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, Sri Lanka Cricket, Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation, National Lotteries Board, Ceylon Electricity Board and Sustainable Energy Authority of Sri Lanka, Football Federation, Sri Lanka Ayurvedic Medicine Corporation, Maga Neguma institutions under the RDA, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Kurunegala Plantations and the Employee Trust Fund were investigated by the committee.
The huge investment on the show-piece Nelum Kuluna or Lotus Tower was a total waste of public funds. Giving a good kick, COPE said the Sri Lanka Football Federation had received millions of Euros or dollars in donations but the manner in which the funds were used could be called foul by the referee.
According to COPE, the State Engineering Corporation loss is Rs. 2,918 million and ministers are responsible. Several cases relating to this have been filed in court. The CWE has to recover a rental of Rs.124 million from subsidiaries and no inquiry was conducted against persons involved in fraud amounting to Rs. 1.3 million.
The Maga Neguma project has spent Rs. 5.86 million to maintain 54 consultants and 94 public relations officers in 2015. The abrupt closure of Sri Lanka Insurance branches would cause big losses. It was further revealed that the CEO and Managing Director had drawn Rs. 165 million and Rs. 55 million as a salary during a stipulated period without making much of a contribution to the institution.
Shame, shame and shame despite the promise of good governance and justice the plunder of public funds seems to be continuing. This must be stopped and the plunderers brought to justice if the national government wishes to restore its credibility among the people.
State Finance Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena-Pic by Shehan Gunasekara-
- State Finance Minister says Mahendran’s allegedly embezzled money second only to infamous bond issue
- Asserts no Govt. servant has authority to misuse public funds
- Says it is disappointing for Govt. that is supporting and inculcating good governance
By Charumini de Silva-Friday, 10 February 2017The Government is to probe the leaked Central Bank audit report of former Governor Arjuna Mahendran, which alleged embezzlement which a senior State Minister described as second only to the infamous bond.
State Finance Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena told journalists yesterday the audit report was disappointing for the Government which was voted in for good governance hence the matter would be probed and Mahendran was answerable.
The audit report had found irregularities with regard to the former Governor’s expenditure which accounts to over Rs. 66 million on foreign tours, multiple hotel accommodation during the same period, and misuse of credit card for personal expenses where he has failed to produce valid invoices.
“No Government servant has the authority to misuse public money. Audit is a tool of financial control, which is used to safeguard an organisation against fraud. Thereby, the former Governor is bound to answer for this internal audit,” he added.
Abeywardena said as revealed in the COPE report, Mahendran’s fraud was equivalent to the State enterprise loss of Rs. 110 billion.
The Minster also criticised Mahendran’s recent statement in this regard published in a number of national newspapers, claiming that it was unacceptable to issue such statements which in his view was an attempt to mislead the general public of the country.
However, he stressed that the Government was still investigating if the statement was issued to the media under Mahendran’s signature and urged the media to restrain from giving unnecessary publicity to statements which would mislead the public.
Mahendran in a statement on Tuesday said, “These statements are libellous in the extreme. They are based on extremely dubious and unverified sources.”
He alleged a group of disgruntled CB employees closely allied with a former governor lobbied for his removal because he cancelled all the tamashas and excessive foreign travel enjoyed by a few of his selected cronies.
“They (disgruntled CB employees) have effectively scuttled investigations into their shady practices from the past. These include buying gold at very high prices, buying highly risky Greek bonds, advising the Government to undertake a highly risky hedging strategy for petroleum imports and incurring huge losses for the Central Bank for three consecutive years by undertaking dubious foreign bank borrowings guaranteed by the Central Bank,” he added.
“For the record, all expenses incurred by me while serving as Governor of the Central Bank, were made according to proper procedures and audited by the Auditor General’s department”.
Publishing Internal Audit Reports: My Version Of The Story
By Arjuna Mahendran –February 9, 2017
Arjuna Mahendran
Several news items have recently appeared in some News papers, and Websites which carried the statements of various interested parties alleging various unsubstantiated issues against me. These statements are libelous in the extreme. They are based on extremely dubious and unverified sources. Nor has anyone from such media organizations which gave wide publicity to uncorroborated allegation approached me to find out my version of the story.
The allegation that an internal audit report from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka has made comments that are unfavorable has never been brought to my attention. Such audit reports cannot be finalized until the accused party is given a fair hearing for his or her explanation of events. This is standard procedure in any government or private institution. Hence this story has no basis in fact.
It has been stated by the Hon Minister of Finance that a group of disgruntled employees in the Central Bank of Sri Lanka who were closely allied with a former Governor are attempting to bring the current government’s policies into disrepute. This news item is an example of such activity. We have seen several previous instances in the last 2 years where confidential reports of the Central Bank have been disseminated to the press and social media to discredit the current government.
It is clear that these disgruntled staff of the Central bank are trying to deflect attention away from their own wrong-doings of the past. The doctoring of GDP data, the expenditure of vast amounts of money on futile international media campaigns, the loss of over Rs 6 billion of state funds that were handed over by these same Central Bank officials to a now-bankrupt primary dealer are issues that these unscrupulous officials are attempting to hide.
During my period as Governor I cancelled all the tamashas and excessive foreign travel enjoyed by a few select cronies of a former Governor. This is why these persons lobbied for my removal. They have effectively scuttled investigations into their shady practices from the past. These include buying Gold at very high prices, buying highly risky Greek bonds, advising the government to undertake a highly risky hedging strategy for petroleum imports and incurring huge losses for the Central bank for 3 consecutive years by undertaking dubious foreign bank borrowings guaranteed by the Central bank.
The officials responsible for all these actions which resulted in several billions of dollars of losses to the country are still in very senior positions in the Central bank.
If the Central Bank rules and procedures were subverted in any way as a consequence of my actions, there are ample fora to seek remedial action. His Excellency the President has set up a Commission of Inquiry with a broad mandate to investigate such matters. It is therefore highly unbecoming of any responsible media organization to take it upon itself to give vent to rumor-mongers and others whose ulterior motive is to bring disrepute to my erstwhile superiors, the Honorable Prime Minister and the Honorable Minister of Finance, by attacking my conduct and pre-judging the outcome of the deliberations of the Commission of Inquiry.
Sri Lanka: Coup against Bandaranaike Is Possible — CIA
UNPdominated government would probably be more effective and more sympathetic toward the West than the Bandaranaike government, declassified papers reveal
( February 9, 2017, Boston — Hong Kong SAR, Sri Lanka Guardian) “There is a constant possibility of an extra-legal attempt to seize power by one or more of the conservative groups which have been plotting against the Bandaranaike government,” a declassified CIA document has revealed.
“However, it is doubtful that they would be able to establish a stable and lasting government unless they were able to secure the cooperation of one of the main political parties or of a popular political leaders,” the paper submitted on July 14, 1959, noted.
Meanwhile, assessing the political viewpoint of the United National Party, the CIA noted that the UNPdominated government would probably be more effective and more sympathetic toward the West than the Bandaranaike government has been.
Excerpts;
We believe that an early change of government in Ceylon is likely, and that the 6utlook for the next two or three years at least is for continued basic instability. It is probable that this period will be characterized by coalition governments. The trend toward polarization of the political scene to the right and left is likely to continue.
Important differences will remain among moderates and communists and there will continue to be basic cleavages between the Sinhalese Buddhists and the various minorities. Political instability will continue to impede badly-needed measures to promote economic progress.(Paras. 6-7, 9-12, 14)
The relatively conservative UNP appears to have profited more than any other party from Bandaranaike’s loss of popularity. While it probably could not win a majority of seats, it might emerge from new elections with sufficient strength’ to have a strong, if not decisive voice in the formation of a coalition government, possibly through some. Kind of accommodation with the moderates of Bandaranaike’s SLFP Except in the unlikely event of a communist takeover, we do not believe that Ceylon’s generally popular neutralist foreign policy will undergo any major change. However, a UNPdominated government would probably be more effective and more sympathetic toward the West than the Bandaranaike government has been. (Paras. 11-12)
There is a constant possibility of an extra-legal attempt to seize power by one or more of the conservative groups which have been plotting against the Bandaranaike government. Under certain condition, they could take control of the government. However, it is doubtful that they would be able to establish a stable and lasting government unless they were able to secure the cooperation of one of the main political parties or of a popular political leaders (Para. 17)
Campaign conducted by LeN and pro good governance masses against a most corrupt rascal who swindled the country for 15 years bears fruit !
(Lanka-e-News -09.Feb.2017, 6.10PM) The vigorous unrelenting campaign that was conducted by Lanka e news which always champions the cause of the people and makes fearless and frank exposures of crimes and corruption in the best interests of the country , as well as the campaign of the pro good governance masses finally bore fruit. This campaign was directed against a most corrupt scoundrel who while staying put in a government Institution was destroying that very Institution to the detriment of the entire nation!
Chandrasena Nimalsiri the Director General and chief executive of civil aviation authority is the notorious culprit who engaged in a series of crooked and corrupt activities which Lanka e news continued to expose during the past. This sexually frustrated scoundrel was pampering women who yielded to his sexual advances and satisfied his sexual lust . He granted them foreign travel , posts and perks while also most cunningly manipulating and securing monthly salaries as high as several hundred thousand rupees to himself and his stooges. Finally the attention of the government was drawn to the exposures made by Lanka e news.
Based on these revelations the presidential investigation commission has now initiated a probe into the grave corruption ,frauds , abuse of state assets and privileges indulged in by the Civil aviation authority during the past.
The presidential investigation commission has sent a letter requesting to forward all the relevant files within a week relating to the criminal and corrupt activities of Chandrasena Nimalsiri as well as the ministers who aided and abetted the former in his frauds and malpractices , thereby duping the entire country wholesale for so long.
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by (2017-02-09 12:57:27)
by (2017-02-09 12:57:27)
Mahinda’s family tours cost SriLankan Rs. 113 million
According to SriLankan Airlines sources the money that has to be paid to the Airlines due to flights undertaken by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his entourages during the period March, 2011 to 31st December, 2014 is Rs. 113,404,724. He, with his entourage, had travelled in passenger flights and at times he has travelled using credit facilities but the money has still not been paid.
Rs. 3,507,098 is due for flight UL 1081/2 taken on credit facilities on 9th March, 2011 to Johannesburg to attend Would Youth and Students’ Festival. Again, Rs. 725,435 is due for using UL UL 571Z to travel to Milano.
Also, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and a group of officials reserved UL 1001 flight on credit facilities to Maldives and Seychelles paying Rs. 23,580,083 but the balance of Rs. 742,416 has not been paid.
Meanwhile, Rs. 43,470,100to be paid for flight UL 4571 to Rome and Milano on 10th November, 2010 has not been settled yet.
Also, Rs. 725,450 that should be paid for getting air tickets to fly to Rome and Milano by retired president’s wife has not been paid yet.
Also, Rs. 28,810,590 for reserving flights UL 001 and UL 4111/2 on credit facilities by retired president Mahinda Rajapaksa to fly to Kathmandu and Maldives on 10th and 15th December, 2014 and Rs. 3,916,836 to reserve UL 001 on credit facilities to fly to Thirupathy on 18th December, 2014 has not been paid yet. The amount the retired president has to pay SriLankan Airlines is Rs. . 113, 404,724.
Nonviolent Economy
By Johan Galtung-06.02.2017
Two important words enriching each other. “Nonviolent” easily becomes bla-bla, and “economy” is too general. But, does “nonviolent” make a difference for the better to the economy? And vice versa, can “economy” make “nonviolent” more positive, beyond resistance to evil?
Let us start with “economy”, here conceived of as a cycle with three poles: Nature, Production, Consumption. And three processes: Extraction from Nature, Distribution from Production to Consumption, and Pollution from Production-Consumption back to Nature. The cycle flow is in that order: Nature → Production → Consumption → Nature.
A simple summary of the economy: humans extract resources from nature, produce-process for (end) consumption, and sends what they cannot consume back to nature (but economists, like book-keepers, left out the Nature part). And we want it all to be nonviolent!
“Do no harm!”, nonviolent, is insufficient. “Peace”, “peaceful” include positive peace–Peace Economics, A Theory of Development are my books (TRANSCEND University Press, 2012, 2010)–with “do good!”.
And: Nature can evolve better without us, not we without Nature.
Enters money, speeding up the cycle at the Distribution link. Not only products in return for labor or other products but anything in return for anything at the same price. The general flow of money is contrary to the cycle flow: there is monetized consumer demand (and producer supply to stimulate demand), to be met by monetized producer supply, to be met by resources from nature. We notice that consumers pay for products (goods and services), producers pay for resources, and nobody pays nature; not only extracted, but exploited. Violence.
Money takes on its own life, generalized to “financial objects”, including complex “derivatives”. Added to the “real economy” for end consumption then there is a “finance economy” for buying and selling of financial objects, with no end consumption. It just goes on and on.
Nonviolence to nature only as non-depletion and non-pollution is not good enough; only negative peace. Positive peace with nature would enhance nature, cater to nature’s need for diversity and symbiosis, increase the diversity of biota and abiota, stimulate photosynthesis and other syntheses enriching nature. A model is forestry, clearing to improve the access of plants, trees, animals to sun and (not too much) water. This is also done in animal parks as opposed to the very violent zoos with cages, etc. They should be forbidden, right away.
But the basic violence is slaughter, for food. Let nature yield its fruits voluntarily. A nonviolent economy is vegetarian and beyond.
Does this limit extraction to the “sustainable”, reproducible? “Sustainable”, status quo, is not good enough, “enhanceable” is better. A better nature will offer more to extract and less of nature’s violence, drought-flooding-tsunamis-earthquakes. A nature at ease with itself and humans, without being tamed like we tame animals. Plowing furrows for monocrop seeds, remedying lost diversity with manure and poison, is violence. Permaculture, diverse, symbiotic, is nonviolent; enriching nature to offer more and better fruits.
We move on to Production-Distribution-Consumption, with humans all over but no Protagoras “man is the measure of all things”. Our discourse for the economy certainly also includes nature as “measure”.
The argument would be the same. Not to do harm to human beings is to meet their basic needs, to stay alive, and for water and food, clothing and shelter, health, and education to relate to others. Not good enough, we want both the real and the finance economy also to do good to humans, to enhance them, not merely not to do harm. Too modest. Or, a discourse advanced by not very modest people wanting to protect an economy serving elites, not people, with some minor modifications?
Cooperation, not competition? Both, competition is fun, like in sports, games as long as losing does no real harm. A false dichotomy.
Dialogue is the key, between consumers and producers. Consumers having a say in what is produced would also be in the interest of the producers. Diversity is another key, individual consumers differ.
Instead of producers doing “market studies”, they should enter into dialogue with people. They might discover that instead of cars that all look alike and are the same except for class geared to class society, people want slower, less risky cars, more like Tivoli cars. And computers that save automatically, erasing being an option.
Instead of spying on people to offer packages geared to their demand “profiles”, let people express individual wishes and meet them. Humans seem today to be increasingly individualist and diverse; and they want to be in command as subjects, not manipulated as objects.
In short, equality between the Production and Consumption poles, like between them and the Nature pole. However, the cycle itself should also be nonviolent: a cycle with the three poles in three different continents is violent by being beyond control, even comprehension. Contract the cycle to the regional-state-provincial-local levels to facilitate dialogues on equal terms. An argument for localism.
Distribution uses long chains for products to reach consumers, even across regional and state borders; transport at the expense of Nature, fees for the consumers. Again an argument for localism.
Finance economy for nonviolent investment; not derivative chains for speculation at the expense of many. To be forbidden, right away.
In a nonviolent economy consumption not only makes no harm but is a delight, like meetings in virtual space, or driving at no risk. Or, by making drinking and eating more delightful. To quench thirst water does the job, straight down. But anything with taste should stay sometime in the mouth, near the taste and smell buds. Chew slowly, with no violence by “washing it down”. Nonviolent quantities of good wine and juices are for tasting and smelling, not for washing. Bon apétit!
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