Terminal cancer patient Ian Toothill conquers Everest

An Israeli army spokesperson accused Palestinian demonstrators of burning tyres and throwing stones

Ian Toothill, a Sheffield Wednesday fan, agreed to plant the flag of rivals Sheffield United at the summit of Everest--Ian Toothill reached the top of the North Col route on Mount Everest on 16 May

Ian Toothill was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2015

6 June 2017

A terminal cancer patient who has been told he has just months to live has conquered Mount Everest.

Ian Toothill said he believes he is the first cancer patient to scale the world's highest mountain.

The Sheffield Wednesday fan planted a flag of rivals Sheffield United at the summit for charity.

The 47-year-old personal trainer, who reached the summit on Monday, has raised money for cancer charity Macmillan.

He tweeted: "Nothing to see here, just some cancer dude [Sheffield Wednesday] fan on the summit of Everest with a @SUFC_tweets flag."

Live updates and this and other stories from Yorkshire

Mr Toothill, originally from Sheffield, lives in Willesden Green in London and has climbed in the Himalayas.

He was diagnosed with bowel cancer in June 2015 and told in early 2016 that he had beaten the disease, but later found out it had returned.

He said he has been told he has "just several months left to live".

Speaking to BBC Radio Sheffield in February, he said: "I'm determined to prove anything is possible."

'Amazing achievement'

He reached the top of the North Col route on 16 May and the summit of Everest on 5 June.

Miss NJP tweeted: "What an amazing achievement and a wonderful moment for @IanToothill. Feeling emotional. So glad you made it to the top #climbingforcancer".

The Sheffield Wednesday fan planted the rival Sheffield United flag at the summit after a friend donated £1,000.

Mr Toothill was accompanied part-way of the climb by Leslie Binns, from Rotherham, who abandoned his climb to the summit after saving the life of a fellow climber last June.

His fundraising bid raised almost £31,500, most of which was used to pay for his trip. The rest was donated to the charity.

Trincomalee women's groups and children protest schoolgirl assaults

05 Jun  2017

Women’s groups in Trincomalee protested in Muthur, calling for justice for the three young girls sexually assaulted in the district last week.

Civil society groups were joined by schoolchildren to demand that as well as justice to be served to the four attackers, Sri Lanka must do more to protect women and children.

Last week, three schoolgirls from Mallikaitheevu, Trincomalee, between the ages of 6 and 8 were reportedly hospitalised after being assaulted by four construction workers who were not from the area.

A week of protests culminated on Friday in a shutdown of areas of the East, with the Eastern Teachers Union and civil society organisations undertaking Hartal and protesting for the protection of children.

INCLUDE ESC RIGHTS AS JUSTICIABLE RIGHT IN NEW CONSTITUTION – HRCSL REPORT TO CESCR 61

Invitation Image: A public discussion will be held on ESC rights situation in Sri Lanka tomorrow.

08/06/2017

Incorporating ICESCR into Domestic Law

1. HRCSL recognizes the imperative need to address the following Concluding Observation of CESCR (2010):

The Committee calls upon the State party to ensure that the Covenant enjoys full legal effects in the domestic legal order and prevails over domestic legislation in case of conflict. It also urges the State party to bring its domestic legislation in conformity with the rights contained in the Covenant. The Committee calls upon the State party to improve human rights training programmes in such a way as to ensure better knowledge, awareness and application of the Covenant and other international human rights instruments, in particular among the judiciary, law enforcement officials and other actors responsible for the implementation of the Covenant.

5. HRCSL is of the view that the ongoing constitutional reform process taking place in Sri Lanka at present is an opportune moment to adopt a comprehensive Bill of Rights. Sri Lanka has a dualist legal system and has to incorporate international human rights standards via domestic legislation. The currently operative 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka privileges civil and political rights over ESC rights. At present most economic and social rights are confined to the non-justiciable Directive Principles of State Policy (Chapter VI of Constitution).
6. The unique public representations process adopted by the current constitutional reform process reported on the public demand to have economic and social rights such as the right to education and health care enshrined in a future constitution.[1] However, a small but politically influential group has commenced an active campaign to discourage the incorporation of ESC rights as justiciable rights in the constitution, mainly on the basis that ESC rights have resource implications and an unelected judiciary should not be left to decide such issues.[2] HRCSL is deeply concerned by such efforts that could roll back decades of work to bridge the artificial cold war inspired divide between civil and political rights and ESC rights.
7. HRCSL has actively advocated the inclusion ESC rights as justiciable rights in the future Constitution of Sri Lanka. In our recommendations for constitutional reform (Annex I), the Commission endorsed an existing draft Charter of Rights that fully recognized indivisibility of rights. Further, our recommendations called for an expanded non-discrimination clause which is pivotal to the equal enjoyment of all rights including ESC rights, and also judicial review of legislation (not currently permitted).
8. Additionally, HRCSL issued a public statement specifically on the need to include ESC rights as fully justiciable rights in the Constitution of Sri Lanka (Annex II). It called on the government of Sri Lanka to give leadership to recognize ESC rights as fully protected constitutional rights.

[1] Report of the Public Representations Committee on Constitutional Reform at http://www.yourconstitution.lk/PRCRpt/PRC_english_report-A4.pdf

[2] ‘Socio-economic rights in Sri Lanka’s constitution may backfire on the poor’, Economy Next, 25 February 2017 at http://www.economynext.com/Socio_economic_rights_in_Sri_Lanka_s_constitution_may_backfire_on_the_poor-3-7428.html

Read the full report as a PDF CESCR – 61st sessionINT_CESCR_NHS_LKA_27402_E

CESCR-61st-sessionINT_CESCR_NHS_LKA_27402_E.pdf by Thavam Ratna on Scribd

இராணுவத்தில் குற்றம் செய்தோர் தண்டிக்கப்பட்டாலேயே இராணுவத்தின் நற்பெயரை பாதுகாக்க முடியும்

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

கடத்தல், கொலை, கப்பம் போன்ற குற்றச் செயல்களுடன் ஈடுபட்டவர்கள் எந்த அடையாளத்துடன் இருந்தாலும் அவர்களுக்கு மன்னிப்பு வழங்கப்படாது என நிதி மற்றும் ஊடகத்துறை அமைச்சர் மங்கல சமரவீர பாராளுமன்றத்தில் தெரிவித்தார். இராணுவத்தில் குற்றச் செயல்களுடன் தொடர்புபட்ட சில கறுப்பு ஆடுகள் இருக்கலாம். அவ்வாறானவர்கள் அடையாளம் காணப்பட்டு தண்டிக்கப்பட்டாலே இராணுவத்தின் நற்பெயரைக் பாதுகாக்க முடியும் என்றும் கூறினார்.

ஜெனீவா பிரேரணை தொடர்பில் தினேஷ் குணர்வத்தன எம்பி கொண்டுவந்த சபை ஒத்திவைப்பு பிரேரணை மீதான விவாதத்தில் முன்னாள் வெளிவிவகார அமைச்சர் என்ற ரீதியில் கலந்துகொண்டு உரையாற்றும்போதே அவர் இதனைத் தெரிவித்தார்.

ஜெனீவா ஒப்பந்தத்தில் வெ ளிவிவகார அமைச்சர் என்ற ரீதியில் கைச்சாத்திட்டதாக குற்றஞ்சுமத்தப்பட்டது. எந்தவொரு ஒப்பந்தத்திலும் நாம் கைச்சாத்திடவில்லை. நாட்டிலுள்ள சக பிரஜைகளின் நன்மை கருதி சில விடயங்களை நிறைவேற்றுவதற்கு இணக்கம் காணப்பட்டது. இதனாலேயே அரசாங்கம் அப்பிரேரணைக்கு இணை அனுசரணை வழங்கியதாக அமைச்சர் மேலும் குறிப்பிட்டார்.

தொடர்ந்தும் உரையாற்றிய அவர், இலங்கை இணை அணுசரனை வழங்கிய இந்த தீர்மானத்தில் மனித உரிமைகளுக்கான ஐ.நா. உயர்ஸ்தானிகர் அலுவலக அறிக்கையின் பரிந்துரைகள் உள்வாங்கப்பட்டிருக்கவில்லை. எனவே எதிரணியில் உள்ளவர்கள் பொய் கூறி மக்களை திசைதிருப்புவதை நிறுத்துமாறு கேட்டுக் கொள்கின்றேன்.

இணை அணுசரனை வழங்கிய இலங்கை தொடர்பான தீர்மானத்திற்கு 48 நாடுகள் ஆதவளிக்க முன்வந்திருந்தன. இந்த நகர்வில் இலங்கையை பல்வேறு நாடுகளும் பாராட்டியுள்ளன.

ஆனால், முன்னாள் ஜனாதிபதியும் தற்போதைய குருநாகல் மாவட்ட எம்.பி.யுமான மகிந்த ராஜபக்‌ஷவும் அவரை சுற்றியுள்ள அவரது ஆலோசகர்களும் தான் தற்போது பதற்றமடைந்துள்ளனர். நாட்டின் இறையாண்மை பற்றி இவர்கள் பேசுகின்றனர். ஆனால், அன்று ஐ.நா. விசாரணைக்கு இடமளித்து இவர்கள் தான் நாட்டின் இறையாண்மையை விட்டுக்கொடுத்தனர். எனினும், அதிகாரத்தை இழந்தவர்கள் இனங்கள் மத்தியில் மீண்டும் இனவாதத்தை தூண்டிவிட முயற்சிக்கின்றனர்.

அரசாங்கம் என்ற வகையில், பாதுகாப்பு படையினர் மற்றும் மக்கள் தொடர்பான பொறுப்பு எமக்கு இருக்கிறது. நாம் அந்த பொறுப்பை ஏற்று செயற்படுவோம். இராணுவம் இதில் எந்தவொரு நடவடிக்கைக்கும் அச்சப்பட தேவையில்லை. இந்த செயற்பாட்டின் மூலமே எமது இராணுவத்தின் நற்பெயரை பாதுகாக்க முடியும்.

எம்மிடம் சிறந்த இராணுவமொன்று இருக்கிறது என்பதை சகலரும் நன்கறிவர். ஆகையால் தான் ஐ.நா. அமைதி காக்கும் படையில் அங்கம் வகிக்க எமது இராணுவத்தினருக்கு இடம் கிடைக்கிறது. எனினும், எந்தவொரு சிறந்த இராணுவத்திலும் கறுப்பு ஆடுகள் இருக்கலாம். அவ்வாறானவர்களை தண்டிக்கும் போது தான் இராணுவத்தின் நற்பெயரை பாதுகாக்க முடியும். கிறிசாந்தி கொலை சம்பவத்தின் போது உரிய விசாரணை நடத்தி சம்பந்தப்பட்ட படை வீரருக்கு தண்டனை வழங்கப்பட்ட போது தான் முழு இராணுவத்தின் நற்பெயரும் பாதுகாக்கப்பட்டது.

லோரன்ஸ் செல்வநாயகம், மகேஸ்வரன் பிரசாத்

International petition against the Army and military intelligence

Jun 08, 2017

Amnesty International has launched an international petition urging the Sri Lankan government to prevent the 

Army and military intelligence from harassing a Christian priest who organised a memorial service for those in the North who died during the last stages of the war.

The petition states that the police obtained a court order preventing the May 18 memorial service and asked that the government prevent the Army and military intelligence from harassing Fr. Elil Rajendram and the families of the deceased who planned to erect a stone monument honouring their dead at Mullivaikkal.

In the petition General Secretary of Amnesty International, Salil Shetty calls on international support for Fr. Rajendram and several international organisations claim that that Police had summoned Fr. Rajendram and his family members several times whilst also conducting searches into the homes of the memorial service’s organisersduring the planning process and prior to the court order being issued.

The London-based Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justiceclaims that within the first two weeks of May military intelligence personnel had called on Fr. Rajendram six times, he had received several late night anonymous telephone callsand between May 16-20 been summoned three times to the Police to record his statement.

According to theInternational Truth and Justice Project (ITJP)Fr. Rajendramhad been summoned to the Vavuniya Police and asked to sign a statement written in Sinhala whilst his parents had been intimated during Police questioning. The ITJP also called on the United Nations to intervene in this matter.

The Amnesty International petition states that the Sri Lankan government had a duty to protect the right to commemorate the dead and called on petitioners to send email, telephone, fax or twitter messages to the Sri Lankan Prime Minister or the Sri Lankan Ambassador to the US.

Early this year, the government appointed Consultation Task Force for Reconciliation Mechanisms (CTF) chaired by Dr. Manouri Muttetuwegama recommended that the government remove restrictions against those in the North and East who wished to commemorate their dead.

UN statistics show that at least 70,000 civilians died in the Sri Lankan government’s war effort to capture the North.

- http://srilankaedition.com

‘Yahapalanaya’: A game of patience?


Friday, 9 June 2017

I am neither a political science expert nor a commentator, but I know some basic universal principles and ethics that should go with politics in the civilised world. Do we hear of politicians crossing over, switching parties or forming destructive cults within parties in mature democracies? I believe that this happens very seldom there.

First and foremost, in those countries, the people, who aspire to become career politicians, check the most compatible party for them based on their principles, ideologies and conscience, before taking action. This is the personal litmus test they all take.

Many, except for a very few, come with the supreme intention and passion to make people’s lives better and to uphold the democratic norms and rights of all. If they find some mismatch at some point, they leave politics for good, keeping their good names intact, more often than not.

We have 225 MPs in Parliament and a few thousand people in other political structures. Strictly speaking, it is an overcrowded cadre that goes beyond our country’s meagre means, on maintenance. But, how many of our politicians go by their conscience or have taken the litmus test before coming to politics? I think it’s just a few at present. For most of them, it is a lucrative job!

In Sri Lanka, the most notable cross-over took place during President Rajapaksa’s first term. Many UNP MPs joined the Rajapaksa administration, betraying the party and their voters for personal gain, on the pretext of helping the Government to win the war against the LTTE. Why did they leave the UNP? Did the UNP change its fundamentals or was it not to help finish the war? No!

I would not say that all of them who crossed over received pay-outs, but certainly many of them were handsomely rewarded through ministerial portfolios and other lucrative perks, to say the least. By and large, this is the political calibre we have today although we boast about democracy, Buddhist values and the like. They mostly go for personal gain! Some of these people have now returned back to the UNP!

Having said that, I must also acknowledge a subset of MPs including some relatively young politicians such as Anura Kumara Dissanayake and his team of JVP MPs, Harsha De Silva, Eran Wickramaratne, Buddhika Pathirana, Ranjan Ramanayake, Champika Ranawaka and some TNA and SLFP MPs who make a rare exception, compared with the aforesaid opportunists.

These people seem to be engaged in principle-based ‘gentleman politics’ to an acceptable extent at least, but it is only a minority of about 50-60 MPs, in my opinion. This is a positive factor, but, it is just a fourth of the Parliament if we go by these numbers. Not a sizeable chunk when it comes to political dynamics, especially in a country like ours!

What the country has been through since 8 January 2015

In this analysis, it is important to look at what the country has been through since 8 January 2015. As per the mandate, Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe took up the topmost positions in the Government as the Executive President and Prime Minister, respectively. However, Ranil Wickremesinghe didn’t have the support of the majority of MPs in Parliament singlehandedly, but the Sirisena supporters of the SLFP/UPFA came to his rescue. The JVP and TNA also supported the progressive moves of the Government.

In the run up to the general election held in August 2015, this arrangement was just a temporary measure for a few months to give some relief to the people through the budget and pass the 19th Amendment to the Constitution in order to remove some extreme executive powers vested in the President.

The main promise to the public was to bring about ‘Yahapalanaya’ (good governance). But the socio-political atmosphere that prevailed pre 8 January 2015 was really toxic, law and order was hardly in force on the supporters of the Rajapaksa administration. They could literally do anything and go scot-free at the time! Not to mention that quite a few used this window to accumulate wealth through illegal means and take revenge on their opponents, etc.

Hence, the country’s cleansing process cannot be that simple as many of the hard-core people of this calibre are still around as people’s representatives. This is mainly due to the electoral voting system we have in place. Also, they are not short of cash for any election! This does not imply that all the others are saints! There are culprits in the other political parties (UNP, SLPA/UPFA Sirisena group, etc.) too. But, the difference is that they do not have State patronage or cover up from their masters that the sycophants of the previous regime had, as I believe.

At the last general election held in August 2015, we saw some SLFP stalwarts, who are with the incumbent President, losing the election and the Rajapaksa faction of SLPA/UPFA, the ‘Joint Opposition’ (JO), securing about 50 MPs. In order to balance this situation and consolidate his position, the President appointed some defeated politicians from whom he could garner support, through the National List.

There is one cardinal norm that we cannot forget in the democratic world. At general elections we choose our representatives, and they in turn represent us in Parliament for a fixed term. In the case of Sri Lanka, we empower 225 people to represent us. The executive (President) and these 225 MPs are entrusted in making the Legislature to realise the aspirations of the nation. The party or the coalition that commands the trust of the majority forms the government.

Today, we have a Unity Government (between the UNP/UPFA and a few others) that has won the trust of about 150 MPs (two-thirds of Parliament) headed by President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe. The number of cabinet, state and deputy ministers account for 90+ for obvious reasons (no track and the number changes upwards all the time!).

Whether we like it or not, the Yahapalanaya process has to be worked out through these 225 people to a large extent! This is why we see MPs/ministers demanding facilities (they have the bargaining power now) and the Government and President oblige most of the time to keep them happy. Two classical cases are the sale of vehicle permits issued to the MPs (but this has been happening since 1977) and some ministers demanding extra luxury vehicles as their official transport.

Apparently, the President and PM are working with a lot of patience. This is the path to ‘Yahapalanaya’ in Sri Lanka (could be so in the other developing countries too). We must understand the reality.

Government servants and other professionals working in semi-Government institutions are also an integral part of his equation! I believe that we have many talented and honest professionals in the Government service, if the political will is there to turn the country around.

Sacrificing immediate future for the sake of ‘Yahapalanaya’

The possible immediate action is only diluting the toxicity in the system and gradual improvement of governance – cannot hurry up or upset the applecart and lose everything so far built! In other words, as it appears, we are compelled to sacrifice our immediate future because it might cost us ‘Yahapalanaya’ outright (cannot afford the risk!) if things go wrong at this stage.

Thinking of the future (long term) wholesome benefits that ‘Yahapalanaya’ could bring us when established to an acceptable level, we the citizens should have patience now – a lot of it perhaps!

However, I am quite happy with two of the appointments the Government made recently. Harsha De Silva and Eran Wickramaratne received ministerial appointments where they could use their knowledge, experience and talent to serve the masses. These are noteworthy progressive signs!

While this process goes forward (though quite slow these days), we must take action including the following to ensure ‘Yahapalanaya’ as part of Sri Lankan culture for all times.

• Inculcating a culture of taking the said litmus test before joining a political party. We must maintain the multi-party system. Some might even go to the extent of forming new political parties if they cannot find a suitable existing one.
• Political parties must properly screen the people they take on board. Preferably, we should go for the educated who could think outside the box. This is not only checking the paper qualifications, education is much wider than that! Also, their social background is important.
• The holders of top positions in Government and semi-Government institutions must be qualified and fit to hold those respective positions. We are in the 21st century now! 
• To introduce the necessary adjustments to our education system to facilitate this process from a young age. 
• The archaic older generation, in traditional parties such as the UNP and SLFP, should be replaced by the able young people. My gut feeling is the younger generations are relatively incorrupt worldwide in general. 
• Sporting honest prospective political leaders who have the capability and capacity to seamlessly take over the national battens at relay points. Unfortunately, this is not in sight yet. 
• People should be able to make sure that they can dismiss the corrupt politicians from the system as soon as possible. Country first! 
• Restructuring and empowering the Government service to suit 21st century challenges. Examples can be drawn from India, etc. There is something we all must understand. Maybe we are still 10 to 15 years or two to three parliaments away from realising our fervent wish and hope of ‘Yahapalanaya’ (touch wood!), but it is a worthy gain we could long, sacrifice and work for, thinking of our future generations! 

(The writer is a borderless thinker and futurist. His contact email: galhena@yahoo.co.uk.)

Blame whom for what Sri Lanka is?

This is pretty interesting-and frustrating too-when we look back on what they keep philosophising with messages. 

2017-06-09

Few days ago in his “World Environment Day” message President Sirisena says, “….at present, due to the frequent occurrences of natural disasters, we have to admit that humans cannot survive without a sustainable environment. Nature reminds us of its message through landslides, devastating floods.”

Blame whom for what Sri Lanka is.docx by Thavam Ratna on Scribd

CCTV Footage: Another Muslim-Owned Shop Torched In Maharagama

JUNE 8, 2017

Another Muslim owned shop “Just for you”, a shoe store has been set ablaze just a kilometre away from the leather shop that came under petrol bomb attack in Wijerama junction less than twenty four hours before. CCTV footage obtained by Colombo Telegraph shows a lone man in a bicycle throwing a petrol bomb and running away. A strategy to drive the Muslims away from this Government is in full swing. Who is the architect of this strategy?

A shop in Maharagama came under a firebomb attack at around 2:20 am on 7th of June. None of the local media has reported this incident. There is strong suspicion that local media have been advised by the security forces not to highlight these attacks as the European Union and other diplomats have expressed their concern over the Government’s indifference, inability or lack of resolve to address the growing intolerance of minority communities by some Buddhist racist elements, including a few from the Buddhist clergy.

The Muslims who observe fast during this sacred month of Ramadan have been severely constrained in observing their religious rituals. The mosques all over the country have called upon Muslims to show total restraint as they believe that some forces are working to destabilize the country and force a regime change through cross overs in Parliament. The Muslim politicians have been advised by the Muslim religious and civil leadership to ensure that they stand united in defending the rights of Muslims to practice their religion without fear.

A Muslim youth who spoke to Colombo Telegraph on condition of anonymity expressed his disgust at the way the Government is continuing to ignore the numerous demands of the Muslim community to arrest the perpetrators of these crimes.

“we need to deal with our wheeler-dealing politicians and bring back a political culture which would ensure that our parliamentary representatives will first and foremost fight for the rights of the Muslims to live as equal citizens in this country while practicing our religion. Failure may drive our youth to extremism which would be disastrous to the country,”he further said,.

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OIC EXPRESSES SOLIDARITY WITH MUSLIMS IN SRI LANKA

08/06/2017

The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Dr. Yousef Al-Othaimeen has stressed the OIC’s full solidarity with and support for the Muslim community of Sri Lanka against the apparent rising trend of violence instigated by extremists which is spreading fear and mistrust among the population. The Secretary General expressed that the reports of attacks on homes, businesses and mosques are of great concern and deeply regrettable.

While appealing for calm and peaceful relations between the communities, Dr. Al-Othaimeen urged the authorities to enforce the rule of law, investigate the incidents and bring the perpetrators to justice. He noted that the Muslim community in Sri Lanka has a long standing presence in the country and a tradition of living in peace and harmony with their compatriots and contributing to the cultural and economic life of the country as a whole.

A Shop A Day Continues: Muslim-Owned Shop Torched In Dematagoda

JUNE 8, 2017

It’s one more shop today and it’s in the heart of Muslim land in Dematagoda. The incident has taken place between 11.30-11.45pm last night at a small bakery right in front of Clifton Balika Viddayalaya, Maligakanda down Dematagoda road. According to the owner of the shop the arsonist has entered from the rear end of the shop and attempted to set fire to the freezer and the frying pans that had been stacked at the rear end of the bakery. There was other small cooking equipment, which has also been damaged.

The owner had heard the commotion and upon seeing the fire had called the fire brigade who had come and put the fire off and brought the situation under control. The shopkeeper told Colombo Telegraph that it is surprising to note how the thick frying pan has got pierced due to the fire. There is deep suspicion that the materials used to set fire may have some military grade materials that were found when Aluthgama was set on fire. The residents of Aluthgama accused the military of collusion with the Sinhala rioters in Aluthgama.

The total loss is estimated at around Rs 300,000-400,000. An eye witness told Colombo Telegraph that the police have taken away the CCTV footage that was available within the premises. There were no cameras where the fire had broken. This cannot be an accidental fire as the bakery was being renovated and no baking activity was undertaken. There are other places which has been installed with CCTV surveillance, and those videos might show more. When Fashion Bug store in Pepiliyana was set on fire last year, it was alleged that the police had tampered with the video footage.

The Muslims are beginning to feel that the government is not controlling the situation.

On a positive note, the arsonist who came on a bicycle and set fire to Fashion Leather store in Wijerama has been arrested. The police refused to divulge any details as investigations are still in progress.

A Muslim youth who spoke to Colombo Telegraph on condition of anonymity said: “Muslims are suspicious that the police would protect the masterminds behind the arson.”

In the meantime, the President had threatened to mobilize the army to quell any racial violence.

“Has he no faith in the police investigations. Is there higher-ups in the police department protecting the hate mongers and arsonists?” the Muslim youth asked. (Kamani Senanayake) 

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Sustainable financing is essential in conserving the ocean environment – Prime Minister Wickremesinghe

Jun 08, 2017

Addressing the UN Sea and Ocean Summit held in support of the Sustainable Development Goals, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized to the global leaders that Sri Lanka, being an island nation is deeply conscious that our fate is not in our hands alone as for Sri Lankans oceans are life and death.

“Our large coastal communities survive at ocean level. For us, rise of the seas, pollution of the oceans, depletion of fish, good coastal eco systems are not abstractions – they are the core of our existence,” said Prime Minister Wickremesinghe.

He stressed that if cleansing oceans from plastic debris and other pollutants and assuring maritime sustainability does not happen there will be no future for island nations like Sri Lanka. “This is especially why we are so supportive of international environment actions,” the Prime Minister pointed out.

He pointed out that experiencing the consequences of environment destructions, Sri Lanka has strongly endorsed the Paris Climate Agreement, FAO International Plan of Action and stand behind every significant international environmental agreement – especially the Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

He has further pointed out in his speech the importance of sustainable financing in order to realize commitments through sustainable programs. “. Government financing and philanthropic support will probably be insufficient and we will have to encourage creative private public partnerships and other means to unlock commercial capital. These are ways in which we can mobilize new stakeholders and collaborators whose support will help ensure broader constituency for our endeavors,” Wickremesinghe elaborated.

He has continued to emphasize the importance of creating a sustainable ocean economy, new blue – industries including off-shore renewables, marine technologies, aqua cultures, clean up and transition activities.

He added “Environmental interconnectivity can provide an opportunity for peacekeeping, peacemaking and development that will bring multiple benefits to several regions in and around South and Southeast Asia and the Eastern Pacific Ocean.”

Following is Prime Minister Wickremesinghe’s full speech to the United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal.

Madame President - Mr. Secretary General

Allow me to express my appreciation to those who have been responsible for organizing this conference – notably Mr. Peter Thomson - President of the General Assembly, the Governments of Fiji and Sweden - co-hosts of the Conference, the Permanent Representatives of Portugal and Singapore - facilitators of preparatory meetings and to the Secretary General of the Conference.

This assembly is part of a historic process – The collective international efforts to define and correct the depredations of humankind on the Planet Earth. It is a relatively recent effort, beginning with the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm and the Stockholm Declaration in 1972. Since then we have made much progress in recognizing the environment and its protection as the responsibility of all nations. We have largely accepted the connection between ecological management and the human condition. We have had many conferences, created many institutions. Public awareness and concern about the environment is wider than at any time in history. Yet with all these developments, we have still a long way to go to reach the optimum level of global environmental sustainability.

This is why the work and outcome of this conference is so important. The oceans constitute about 70 percent of the earth’s surface and contain 97 percent of the earth’s water. If we do not make more progress on the oceans, the seas and maritime resources, all our other environment efforts will be difficult, if not impossible to achieve. In many ways then, this has vital significance for the future of humankind. The condition of the oceans, so well described in the concept papers and the discussions of delegates, enhance the urgency of our task.

As we proceed with our deliberations, there is an area which my government believes needs more attention. This is the organization of funding sources. For commitments to become reality requires not only sustainable programmes but also sustainable financing. Alongside corrective measures and technical developments, we need to create a sustainable ocean economy, new blue -industries including off-shore renewables, marine technologies, aqua cultures, clean-up and transition activities. Government financing and philanthropic support will probably be insufficient and we will have to encourage creative private public partnerships and other means to unlock commercial capital. These are ways in which we can mobilize new stakeholders and collaborators whose support will help ensure broader constituency for our endeavors.

The outcome of this conference and several like gatherings scheduled in the near future also must link to parallel concerns – notably the institutional legal framework contained in UNCLOS and its implementing agreements and institutions. My government and I personally have urged the adoption of measures related to the freedom of navigation in the Indian Ocean. We strongly believe that such measures will help to initiate a stable zone of economic progress that can eventually embrace larger ocean areas and will provide the stability that accelerates rapid environment improvement.Environmental interconnectivity can provide an opportunity for peacekeeping, peacemaking and development that will bring multiple benefits to several regions in and around South and Southeast Asia and the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

Madame President,

Island nations like my own, are particularly vulnerable to the impact of ocean environments and climate change. In the past decade or so, Sri Lanka has been devastated by nature driven tragedies. Floods and landslides of 2003, the massive Tsunami of 2004 and other disasters have wrecked my country. Right now, as I speak, we are inundated with savage floods causing hundreds of deaths and hundreds of thousands of displaced people. Human misery is unbelievable. We are grateful to the international community, the United Nations and its agencies and the Secretary General, and so many generous contributions of assistance. But, all this underlines how helpless we are in the face of environmentally sourced disasters.

For nations like my own, the oceans are life and death. The Indian Ocean, in which we are located, provides employment, food, avenues of trade and commerce. Our large coastal communities survive at ocean level. For us, rise of the seas, pollution of the oceans, depletion of fish, good coastal eco systems are not abstractions – they are the core of our existence. Parenthetically, I might mention that the Indian Ocean around us now has the second largest accumulation of floating plastic waste in the world. Cleansing the oceans, assuring maritime sustainability is our future – and we increasingly ask: What is our future unless this is done?

We are deeply conscious that our fate is not in our hands alone. This is especially why we are so supportive of international environment actions. We strongly endorse the Paris Climate Agreement which was ratified on our behalf by Sri Lanka’s President His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena. We affirm our commitment to the FAO International Plan of Action and are implementing the Sri Lanka National Plan of Action on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing. We consistently stand behind every significant international environmental agreement, especially the Sustainable Development goals and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. It is our hope that the collective interest embodied in these instruments will be the basis for a new consensus.

Madame President

I come from a culture, a country where our philosophic heritage cherished the sanctity of the environment. The Lord Buddha, widely venerated in our part of the world, enjoined people to preserve it for prosperity. The passage of time, the exigencies of modernization and the separation of individuals from their natural habitat have undercut that message. But the wisdom of such sage advice, which nurtured our ancestors, is now starkly evident. And conferences such as this, remind us that we must reclaim our heritage or perish.

Madame President,

For 72 years, the United Nations has worked, with varying degrees of success, on the global agenda as it has evolved. The here and now, the immediacies of the world, largely engage the attention of the UN. Although it tries, there is understandably not much space available to focus on the future. But surely, part of our task is also to shape Planet Earth so that we will leave a heritage that generations to come will welcome.

Our efforts in the environmental area fulfill that obligation. That is why I strongly endorse the objectives of this Conference and hope that your deliberations will create practical, prompt and inclusive results. Today’s urgencies and our legacy for the future demand no less.

Beware of the poison in imported food

2017-06-09

One of the national government’s positive missions has been to grow the food that we need in Sri Lanka instead of busting up millions of dollars to import junk food or processed rubbish. As a tropical paradise, Sri Lanka has been blessed by being Asia’s rice bowl till recently. In addition we have hundreds of varieties of nutritious vegetables, grains and fruits and we need to be aware of the need not just to eat well but to eat wisely. 

This week the country was stunned by charges that the state’s premier trading company the Cooperative Wholesale Establishment (CWE) has imported and sold a huge stock of plastic Basmati rice from Pakistan. The allegation, which has gone viral on social media, has not been denied or confirmed by CWE Chairman T.M.K.B. Tennekoon, who says samples have been sent for testing by the Medical Research Institute (MRI). But the National Movement for the Protection of Consumer Rights has called for an immediate probe by the Director General of Health Services and alleged that the plastic Basmati may be a part of the wholesale racket by Sri Lanka’s rice mafia. The Association says the cultivation of rice, which has been part of Sri Lanka’s culture and civilization for thousands of years is being destroyed by this rice mafia which has thrown hundreds of thousands of once proud farmer-families into the mud holes of history.  

While the spotlight now is on rice, we also need to focus on other food items. According to United States-based physician and nutritionist Dr. Al Sears, we need to monitor what chemicals go into our food. Even when there’s science to prove the health risks of new ingredients, the authorities drag their feet and it can take years or even decades before they pull harmful additives out of the market.  

He says that when a processor wants to add a new chemical to food, the authorities do not require testing. The food company just sends a notice to the officials. The notice says that the ingredient is “generally recognized as safe” or as safe.   

Dr. Al Sears says for example, in the US it happened with partially hydrogenated oils, or trans fats (Margarines). They were considered safe for years. But in 2013 the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) withdrew its safe status after these fats were linked to serious heart disease. Yet the FDA still permits trans fats at low levels in foods.   

Artificial food colourings are another example. At least six of them were considered safe for years and later banned by the FDA. Two others -- Red No. 3 and caramel colouring used in colas -- have been found to cause cancer in animals. But the FDA still has them listed as safe.   

There’s another so called safe ingredient we need to reflect upon, Dr. Al sears says. It’s widely used in food products in the US even though it’s banned in the European Union. It’s called carrageenan. This common food additive is extracted from red seaweed (Chondruscrispus). It’s sometimes called Irish moss. Carrageenan has no nutritional value. It’s used as a thickener and emulsifier. Food companies add it to improve the texture of ice cream, yogurt, cottage cheese, soy milk, almond milk, chicken stock, deli meats and other processed foods.  

There are two forms of carrageenan -- degraded and food grade. In animal studies, the degraded form has been proven to cause tumours. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies it as a possible human carcinogen.   

But food grade carrageenan is not much better. Tests show that the food grade type also contains some of the degraded form -- in some cases as much as 25%, Dr. Al Sears says. The food grade version can become degraded. When we eat food-grade carrageenan, it can break down and become degraded in the gastrointestinal tract. It also becomes degraded with exposure to heat, bacteria and mechanical processing.
Even the food grade version has been shown to cause inflammation and colon cancer in animals. It causes the same kind of inflammation that is the root cause of many serious diseases.  In Sri Lanka, the Consumer Protection Authority responsible for food safety, needs to play a much bigger role in making the people aware of unsafe or dangerous substances in some of the imported junk foods or processed food we are importing and giving even to children.

Toffee nosed Gota grilled for as many as 4 1 /2 hours by CID..! Deflated and even discarded by his corrupt cronies

(Lanka-e-News -08.June.2017, 10.45AM) The notorious murderous Gotabaya Rajapakse who was responsible for giving illegal orders to commit secretive illegal murders during the nefarious corrupt Rajapakse era was summoned to the CID on the 5 th , and grilled for as many as four  and half hours for the first time !

It is well to recall when criminal Gota was summoned to the Bribery and Corruption commission to record a statement soon after the Rajapakse regime was thrown out lock  , stock and barrel , the scoundrel monks and corrupt joint opposition politicos wreaked havoc engaging in hooligan activities and blocked roads. However , when Gota came to the CID to be grilled on Monday (05) , none of the crooked and corrupt joint opposition M.P.s were there to boost  toffee nosed Gota.

Gotabaya who  is noted for organizing  unscrupulous media coolies to  go to places to record the ‘voice cuts’ of the other  crooks and the corrupt of the Rajapakse regime when they arrive for questioning by the police, on the contrary appeared at the CID most secretly without anybody’s knowledge  ,and without any media coolie in his company. 

Gotabaya who tried to throw his weight about at the initial stage during interrogation in a short while became a deflated balloon having lost all his characteristic airs and graces. After starting to call  for drinking water to quench his thirst following his panic stricken and guilt ridden state , began trekking to the latrine every now and then as though somebody has given him a  laxative.. Toffee nosed  arrogant  Gota of the past remained like a meek mouse  when answering the questions.

We shall not reveal the questions that were posed  except those pertaining to the attack on journalist Keith Noyahr on which he was manly questioned at first.

It is a universal law crimes never  pay. Every criminal who commits well planned and plotted crimes thinks at the beginning he will never be trapped any day , yet some day he will have to meet the Waterloo .

On the same day Gota was interrogated , retired senior DIG Anura Senanayake a close henchman of Gota and a murderer himself  who was in remand custody for over a year in connection with the ghastly murder of Thajudeen , was released on bail under stringent bail conditions.

Earlier on Senanayake making a statement charged in open court , while the actual murderers behind the crime are free , he was incarcerated.  When he was going home after his release on bail  , all what he told the media was ‘ many thanks.’

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by     (2017-06-08 05:23:12)

Over 450,000 children in 5-17 age group not attending school: Survey

Friday, June 9, 2017

A total of 452,661 children in the 5-17 school going age group are not attending school and 51,249 children among them have never attended school, a survey by the Department of Census and Statistics reveals.

The survey titled ‘Child Activity Survey 2016” reveals that the main reasons for children not to attend school are awaiting for G.C.E (O/L) results, disinterest in education, non consideration of the valuae of education, too young (not eligible to enter school), disability, financial difficulties, Studying at home for G.C. E (O/L),leaving school before completion of studies to support families.

Around 89 percent of children currently not attending school had previously attended school. Around 11 percent of children are either not attending school or have nevdr attended school. The percentage of children whoa have never attended school is higher in the 5-11 age group which is due to them being “too young to enter school”. The survey collected information considering about 16 different reasons for not attending school.

The survey further revealed that about 17% (77,730 children) who dont attend school category reported that they are “not interested in education/education not considered valuable, which is the second highest reason. Meanwhile, when the boys and girls are considered this percentage is higher for boys (20.8%) when compared to that of girls (13.3%).

However, the percentage of children who are not interested in education or do not consider education to be valuable is higher in the estate sector when compared to other sectors.