Letter To Mr. Gotabaya, The Secretary To The Ministry Defence In Sri Lanka

Gotabaya – Secretary MOD

By Muhammed Fazl -September 9, 2014

Muhammed Fazl

“A hero is not coz someone puts on a uniform and picked up a weapon… but because he put it down and stood up for the truth” – Dr. Dahlia Wasfi.

Dear Mr. Rajapaksa,

Assuming the ‘tense situation’ in the country seems to be simmering down somewhat in the eyes of the ignorant, thought I will take this opportunity also to refresh the nation of fickle minds about an impending  and a catastrophic juncture this country could be facing. But let me first give credit where it is 

due.

It should be mentioned that the whole nation is indeed grateful to you for being instrumental in giving leadership towards defeating one of the most ruthless terror outfits in the world. Your careful planning and efforts in beautifying the city and its infrastructure is another achievement that few could criticize. While facilitating the building of high-rise apartment complexes and mixed developments for the wealthy, providing livable housing at the same time to the displaced and the less-fortunate is also nothing short of a milestone that will be etched in the minds of many for years to come.                                   Read More

Gota’s Paranoia, Efficiency And War Crimes

By Rajiva Wijesinha -September 9, 2014

Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha MP

A Presidency Under Threat – Paranoia Against Efficiency

Recently I took part in a seminar on Rights and Development, arranged by the Law and Society Trust. That organization used to be bitterly critical of government, but under its new Director, Mala Liyanage, it seems to be trying to go back to the more balanced perspective of Neelan Tiruchelvam. He founded it, but after his death LST, like ICES, became tools of those opposed to the SLFP. I remember, while I was at the Peace Secretariat, having to upbraid the then Chair of LST, Raja Goonesekere, who had not known what was going on, and who after our correspondence agreed to look into the matter.

Certainly the more vicious attacks stopped after that, and it is a pity that, instead of adopting that sort of reasoned approach, government now deals with NGOs, as I told the Presidentrecently, because of worries about the hamfisted way of controlling (rather than monitoring) foreign funds, through incompetent people. But gratitude, as the case of the transfer to Australia of the last Head of the Secretariat shows, is stronger than public interest.

And unfortunately we have no institutional memory. Government ignored the report I did more than five years ago on NGOs, where I showed the interlocking directorates of a few, while also pointing out that the vast majority functioned positively. Sadly it is these last who feel threatened, while the others continue as before, except where, as with LST, a change of management leads to a more balanced approach. But I don’t suppose my report can now be found anywhere.                                          Read More