Sri Lanka tipped to raise defence spending

Sri Lanka's president Mahinda Rajapakse (pictured) is expected to raise defence spending 

Sri Lanka's president is expected to raise defence spending when he unveils his 2012 budget Monday, officials said, even though the country's bloody civil war came to an end two-and-a-half years ago.

…As the island nation's export-dependent economy is hit by a downturn in key US and European markets, Mahinda Rajapakse, who is also finance minister, is expected to outline plans to cut the country's deficit and raise new revenues.

Finance ministry officials said the budget will forecast a growth rate of 8.0 percent for 2012, down from an earlier projection of 9.0 percent, and estimated 8.5 percent growth in 2011, unchanged from previous estimates.

The slower growth outlook was tied to economic woes in Europe and the United States, where leaders are struggling to overcome spiralling debt problems that have resulted in lower spending on exports, officials said.

As a result, Sri Lanka's budget deficit is projected to hit 6.2 percent of gross domestic product next year, compared with a previous forecast of 5.2 percent, officials said.

The new estimate is still lower than the 6.8 percent tipped for 2011.

Official figures tabled in parliament showed 230 billion rupees ($2.1 billion) would be spent on defence in 2012, up from 215 billion rupees this year.

Security authorities say they need to keep defence spending high to repay loans on military hardware purchased to fight the Tamil Tigers during nearly four decades of ethnic conflict that ended in May 2009.

Sri Lanka's military is also recruiting, despite claiming victory over the rebel group and declaring an end to a civil war which claimed the lives of up to 100,000 people.

Rajapakse was also expected to raise new taxes, including higher cigarette and alcohol duties, although few details were available.

The country's total spending in 2012 is estimated at 2.22 trillion rupees while total revenue is estimated at 1.12 trillion rupees, figures showed.

Have more children, police hinted

By Charles Haviland 21 November, 2011

	The government has offered a special incentive to police families that have more children

The government of Sri Lanka appears to want military and police families to have more children.

Presenting the annual budget speech on Monday, President Mahinda Rajapaksa announced that any police officer parenting a third child would be given a one-off cash grant of one hundred thousand Sri Lankan rupees.

The same grant was offered to army, navy and air force parents a year ago.

Delivering the budget in his capacity as finance minister, President Rajapaksa said that giving police families a sum equivalent to 900 dollars for parenting a third child was the mark of a "caring society."

He said the police and the rest of the security forces had fostered democracy, development and social reconciliation in Sri Lanka, and deserved this grant for having another child.

'Continued militarisation'

Nearly all members of the police and military currently come from the Sinhalese ethnic majority and the announcement was criticised by two civil society activists.

You can't bring a child up with 100,000 rupees   A police officer

One, Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, said the police had done nothing to democratise Sri Lanka and asked why such grants should not be offered for every Sri Lankan child.

Another, Herman Kumara, said these special family grants continued a process of social “militarisation” and financial help should be given to farmers, fishermen and other food producers.

The police spokesman, Ajith Rohana, said however that his colleagues did a risky and difficult job and deserved such concessions.

Sri Lanka has a relatively low fertility rate of less than two children per woman.

A police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said he would not be having a third child simply to get the grant.

“You can't bring a child up with 100,000 rupees,” he said.

Regime chief's reciprocal gesture: Deepali and Raseen to have foreign pleasure trips

(Lanka-e-News -20.Nov.2011, 11.55P.M.) The Regime chief has arranged an excursion for justices Deepali Wijesundara and Zulfikar Raseen to Malaysia and Singapore on a holiday as a reciprocal gesture for sentencing Gen. Fonseka and putting him in jail. 

The expense for this tour is being met by the Central Bank under the foreign Ministry of the regime chief . This tour to be embarked on the 11th of December will have another 8 judges making up the group. This group for the tour had been chosen at the sole discretion of Deepali Wijesundara, according to inside sources of the High court..
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Deepali shows her gratitude for daughter’s wedding gift

Saturday, 19 November 2011

Lanka News Web has learnt of the valuable wedding gifts given by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to the daughter of High Court Judge Deepali Wijesundera, who sentenced former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka to three years in prison in the White Flag case. President Rajapaksa signed as the witness from the bride’s side for the wedding.

After signing as the witness for the wedding, the President has handed an envelop to the bride with a cheque signed for Rs. 1 million to Deepali Wijesundera’s daughter. The President had also sent a brand new unregistered vehicle to her house few days after the wedding.

A Captain from the Commando unit of the Presidential Security Division had taken the unregistered vehicle to her house.

Deepali Wijesundera had told her daughter that she would have to face some problems if the media found out about the unregistered vehicle and had made arrangements to sell the car.

The first indictment that condemns Deepali and Raseen to perdition

(Lanka-e-News -20.Nov.2011, 11.55P.M.) Justices Ms. Deepali Wijesundara and Ms. M. Sulfika Razeen sentenced Gen. Fonseka to a three year jail term on the first of the three charges filed against him. Fonseka was fully exonerated on the other two charges. On the 08th of December 2009 or thereabout , a false statement orally or otherwise was made at Rajakeeya Mawatha , Colombo which could instill fear in the public or incite them to rebel against or topple the lawfully elected Govt. This statement purportedly made to Sunday leader Editor Fredrica Sandra Kamela Janz related , Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse speaking on the phone to Brigadier Shavendra Silva who was the Commanding chief of the 58th regiment at that time had instructed the latter not to allow any LTTE leader to surrender who is coming with the white flag and to kill them all. Under the Security ordinance section 5 , based on the declaration No. 1405/14 dated 13th August made by his Excellency the President in the gazette notification ( extraordinary) of the Democratic socialist republic of Sri Lanka , under the emergency ( other procedures and powers ) of 2005 No.1, order no.28 has been violated whereby a punishable offence under order 45 (1) has been committed.  Full story >>

Canadian students show solidarity with Tamil cause

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 November 2011, 03:01 GMT]
The York Federation of Students, the students’ union at York University representing over 50,000 students, unanimously adopted a resolution last week recognizing the ongoing structural genocide of the Eezham Tamil nation and the need to stand in solidarity with the Tamil people in their global struggle for self-determination. The success of enacting such resolutions has been credited to campaigns by Tamil students in educating and explaining the narrative of the Tamil struggle to their peers and allies, student activists said. The move is considered to be a reflection of the broader strategy to resist the discourse that aims to create a climate of fear, criminalization and alienation of Tamil community activism. Such efforts increasingly create a culture of acceptance to the Tamil nationhood and to its national symbols, student activists further said.  Full story >>

• YFS Resolution

Full story >>
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“Be It Resolved that the York Federation of Students...

Full Text of Motion
November 2011. ONGOING SITUATION IN SRI LANKA
Whereas the Tamil people have historically inhabited the North-Eastern parts of
the island of Sri Lanka as their traditional homeland; and
Whereas the Tamil people are distinguished from other groups living in the island
by their unique language, culture, religion, traditions and history; and
Whereas the Tamil nation has been historically marginalized in language,
education, and citizenship and suffered state sponsored pogroms; and
Whereas the UN Secretary General appointed Panel of Experts on Accountability
in Sri Lanka produced a report indicating war crimes and crimes against
humanity were committed during the final stages of the war; and
Whereas the Report of the Secretary-Generals Panel of Experts on
Accountability in Sri Lanka found credible allegations of indiscriminate killing of
civilians, extrajudicial killings of political prisoners, and the systematic bombings
of hospitals were committed by the Sri Lankan Government and Armed Forces
during the final stages of the war; and
Whereas despite compelling evidence of war crimes and crimes against
humanity, the Sri Lankan government outright dismisses the analysis of the UN
Special Rapporteur and the Report of the Secretary-Generals Panel of Experts
on Accountability in Sri Lanka; and
Whereas the United Kingdom based Channel 4 News broadcasted a
groundbreaking documentary entitled “Sri Lanka's Killing Fields” which features
devastating and unprecedented video evidence of war crimes and crimes against
humanity during Sri Lanka's civil war; and
Whereas certain footage from the documentary has been authenticated by the
UN and has been declared as evidence of definitive war crimes by the UN
Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial killings; and
Whereas despite the Government of Sri Lanka declaring a return to normalcy
there continues to be a denial of political and civil rights for the Tamil people, the
Tamil people continue to endure violent persecution, media restrictions, the Sri
Lankan military occupation of the North-East, ethnic cleansing and colonialism,
forced detention and slow progress in resettlement of Internally Displaced
Peoples (IDPS); and
Whereas the York federation of Students has stood in solidarity and consistently
supported the Tamil community’s call for justice, fairness, and human rights while

being a strong voice for peace on the global stage.
Be It Resolved that the York Federation of Students shall endorse the
international call to immediately establish an independent, international,
and impartial mechanism to ensure truth, accountability and justice in Sri
Lanka; and
Be It Further Resolved that the York Federation of Students encourages its
members to pressure the Federal Government to unequivocally call for an
international war crimes inquiry to establish accountability and true
reconciliation; and
Be It Further Resolved that the York Federation of Students encourages its
members to stand in solidarity with the Tamil nation in their global struggle
for self-determination and freedom; and
Be It Further Resolved that the York Federation of Students calls for an
immediate end to the colonialism and genocide of the Tamil nation and an
end to the occupation of the Tamil homeland by the Sri Lankan Armed
Forces and its allied paramilitary groups.                                                  Full story >>

Sri Lanka war probe report delivered to president

Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa speaks during the Reintegration Ceremony for 'Rehabilitated Beneficiaries', in Colombo September 30, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Dinuka Liyanawatte/Files

By Ranga Sirilal

COLOMBO | Sun Nov 20, 2011 10:15pm IST

(Reuters) - The Sri Lankan panel investigating the end of a quarter-century war with Tamil Tiger separatists delivered its report to President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Sunday, a step awaited by Western nations urging investigations into war crimes allegations.

Rajapaksa has said he will make public the findings of the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), Sri Lanka's answer to calls from some Western governments, overseas Tamil Tiger supporters and rights groups for an independent investigation.

"The final report was handed over to the president by its chairman. The president will now study the report," Bandula Jayasekara, the president's director general of media, said.

It is expected to be presented to parliament in December, officials have said, but the government has yet to give a date.

Many Western nations, India and others have said a credible report by the LLRC would, in conjunction with political concessions to minority Tamils, obviate the need for an outside inquiry.

The report says there appears to be enough evidence to warrant the government investigating incidents that may have occurred in the last months of the war, which ended in May 2009, the Sri Lankan weekly Sunday Times reported.

"However, the Commission has neither named the specific incidents nor identified the persons responsible for them," the newspaper said.

The U.N.-sponsored report on Sri Lanka says there is "credible evidence" the military killed thousands of civilians at the climax of the war, which ended in Sri Lankan victory.

The government has said civilians were killed but rejects the bulk of the U.N. report as a regurgitation of allegations "fabricated" by the Tamil Tigers' overseas propaganda network, and says its soldiers acted in accordance with international law.

(Reporting by Ranga Sirilal; Editing by Bryson Hull and Janet Lawrence)

What Is “Peace & Prosperity” In Sri Lanka, Sir ?

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Friday November 18, 2011 was important for more than two reasons. It was President Rajapaksa’s 66th official birthday and was also the First Anniversary of his Second Swearing in, as President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

Happy Birthday, Mr. President (Picture courtesy: www.lankafirst.de)

Yet the third was the most important reason for Opposition politicians. The delivery of the judgement on the “White Flag” case in which former army commander Sarath Fonseka was indicted. It would be a birthday cake, said some at Hulftsdorp Hill, much in advance of the “D” day. Determinations apart, the verdict would end up with a five member bench in the Supreme Court, appealed by the defendant, is a fair guess to begin this write up. This case would take a back seat in Sri Lankan politics before long, though the Opposition may give it some hype for a short spell.

Read More »

Solheim – Hero Or Villain?

Sunday, November 20, 2011

• Genuine peace is better than the absence of fighting

Peace however imperfect is always better than slaughter. Two and a half years since the war ended I recall the words of Desmond Tutu and Lakhdar Brahimi when they commented on the Sri Lankan situation post war, “Genuine peace is more than the absence of fighting.”

We are all relieved the war has ended.  After a conflict lasting 26 years the military achievement of the government cannot be downplayed.  That achieved: How far has Sri Lanka moved towards a lasting peace?Read More »

Criminals Posing As The CID

Sunday, November 20, 2011

• White vans are back again

By Nirmala Kannangara - Photos by Asoka Fernando

The white van phobia is back again. Notorious for its link with a series of abductions in the past, said to be carried out by the security forces; two youths were abducted in white vans on Thursday November 10 and Friday November 11 from Gonawala in Kelaniya and Jubilee Post in Nugegoda respectively.

Who is behind this, is the question that has arisen among the victims’ families. It is learnt that both abductions had been carried out in a similar fashion by persons pointing pistols and claiming to be from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

Read More »

“Problem Solved” Gota Is The “Hero”

Sunday, November 20, 2011

By
Uvindu
Kurukulasuriya

The triumvirate comprising President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya and Army Chief Fonseka was hailed for providing political, administrative and military leadership respectively in the triumphant war against the LTTE.

The triumvirate: General Fonseka, President Rajapaksa and Gotabhaya , Rajapaksa United: Two brothers Gotabhaya and Mahinda and Camaraderie in the old days : Gotabhaya and Sarath Fonseka                                            

Since Sarath Fonseka entered  politics the credit of military victory was in dispute and ended a friendship. Who deserves the total credit? The UNP and JVP led a fierce battle against President Rajapaksa. They claimed that Fonseka was the real hero who won the war against the LTTE.

Read More »

Amidst Fonseka furore MR faces vital issues

Sunday November 20, 2011

Vanishing features of Lankan life

Much attention on today’s LLRC report and tomorrow's budget Ranil gets showpiece post overseas, but faces showdown at home
By Our Political Editor
The fallout from the military defeat of Tiger guerrillas two and a half years ago reverberated many ways in this week's events. Main among them was Friday's majority High Court judgment where former General Sarath Fonseka was convicted and sentenced to three more years in jail and fined Rs 5,000. He was to serve a further six months if the fine was not paid. Earlier in the week, a senior US defence official used the "Galle Dialogue," an annual event on international maritime security born in the aftermath of the war, to warn Sri Lanka over human rights issues. Today, the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) is handing over its much awaited final report to President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Even a resurging crisis within the main opposition United National Party (UNP) has surfaced after the latest Fonseka conviction.read more.. ----------------------------------------------------- Sunday November 20, 2011

Story and pix by Susantha Liyanawatta Knife-grinder P. Wilson laments that people rarely sharpen blunt knives or scissors these days

Bullock carts, 'parana-coat' men, local blacksmiths and 'thorombel' vendors are among the fading images of Sri Lanka. Bullock carts which once ruled the streets are hardly ever seen. Today women do not wait for 'parana coat' sellers to exchange used clothes for household items. Thorombel vendors carrying fancy items, toys and household goods in small carts have become a rarity.. "Today peop Today people do not wait for the parana coat sellers to exchange used clothes for household items le opt for more convenient ways of purchasing. Instead they go to shops. They do not collect clothes and wait for us to come", says K. Nandasena, who used walk from house-to-house with plastics items to be exchanged for old clothes. P. Wilson, a blacksmith from Grandpass said, "This is a skill passed down from generation to generation. "But we do not have business anymore. A new knife or scissor replaces one that gets blunt," he said. Bullock carts are a rare sight today

LLRC: Probe possible war-related incidents

Sunday November 20, 2011

Information points to prima facie evidence but no names named Channel 4 video rejected as fabrication, but Darusman report taken note of

By Our Political Editor

The final report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) will ask the government to investigate incidents that may have occurred during the final stages of the war that militarily defeated the Tiger guerrillas two and half years ago. This is on the grounds that there appears to be a prima facie case based on the information the commissioners have received. However, the commission has neither named the specific incidents nor identified the persons responsible for them. It has also declared that Britain’s Channel 4 video on alleged massacres by the military “was a total fabrication.” These are some of the highlights in the commission’s more than 400-page report which its chairman, former Attorney General and President’s Counsel C.R.de Silva, will hand over to President Mahinda Rajapaksa today. Appointed on May 15 last year, it was mandated to inquire into and report on a number of matters relating to the north-east conflict. They included the facts and circumstances which led to the failure of the Ceasefire Agreement operationalized on February 21, 2002 and the sequence of events that followed thereafter up to May 10, 2009. To prevent recurrence of such a conflict, it was also asked to recommend institutional and legislative measures which need to be taken. It was also told to report on how to promote further national unity and reconciliation among all communities. The Commission has noted that the general view of the public was that the “ethnic problem” was exacerbated by politicians to enhance their vote banks. It has called for an end to race hate politics and emphasized the need to establish a Sri Lankan identity instead one where a person’s ethnicity is used as the guide. It has traced the events that followed the standardization of marks for university admissions, a step taken by the administration of then Premier, Sirimavo Bandaranaike. The separatist lobby then described standardization as a discriminatory step against Tamil youth forcing them to rebel, an argument hotly disputed by others who said standardization helped rural youth over town youth irrespective of race. It has also dealt extensively with the events that followed the ethnic violence of July 1983. The commission has said any Sri Lankan should hold the right to acquire land in any part of the country. Whilst taking note of attempts that have been made to degrade the image of Sri Lanka, the commission has said it has taken note of the “Darusman Report” or the report of the UN Panel on Accountability Issues on Sri Lanka appointed by the Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon. It has also dealt extensively with International Human Rights Law (IHL) and issues related to them. According to S.B. Atugoda who served as the Secretary to the LLRC, more than 1000 persons have given oral evidence and 5,100 had sent in written submissions. He said the commission held 52 public sittings and made 12 field visits to 40 locations including the north and the east.

Looking for the boy with the violin

20 November 2011

Civil war in Sri Lanka came to a bloody end in May 2009.

Nearly 300,000 people, driven out of their homes with the retreating Tamil rebels, were trapped in a small strip of land.

Facing bombardment from sea, air and land, many died and the others were released to walk through the raging final battle.

The BBC's Priyath Liyange one night caught a glimpse of a young boy picking his way across the battle field with a violin case slung over his shoulder.

He was intrigued by it.

Armed only with a picture of the boy and the handful of men who walked with him, Priyath Liyanage went back to Sri Lanka on a quest to find the boy with the violin.

Listen more in Your World: the boy with the violin

Tamils Not Treated As Equal Citizens – Sampanthan

R. Sampanthan

Leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Rajavarothiam Sampanthan, says the Tamils in the country are still not treated as equal citizens and have lost their dignity and self respect. In an interview with The Sunday Leader, R. Sampanthan also spoke on Sinhalese settlement in the North and East, as well as local and international efforts towards assuring accountability for alleged war crimes.

By Maryam Azwer

Excerpts from the interview:

Q: Would you agree that the Tamil people have been mistreated and are continuing to lack – across the board – fundamental freedoms and dignity, etc?
 A: Very unfortunately that is the truth. The Tamil people have not been treated as equal citizens for a very long time. They have suffered loss of their dignity and self respect. They have felt insecure. They have been deprived of access to powers of governance in keeping with their democratic wishes.
As consistently expressed by them for over a period of 50 years, the consequence of all of which is that the Tamil people of this country have been stamped with inferiority and do not feel that they are equal citizens. The Tamil people have consistently demonstrated that they will not accept this status of inequality and that they are resilient enough to come out of this tragic situation.Read More »