A 14-Years-Old Student Is Tortured By A Buddhist Monk For Refusing To Learn Buddhism

June 15, 2012

By Asian Human Rights Commission

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that PG Amila Tharanga Thilakaratne (14) a Year 9 student of Mahanama College Geatambe in the Kandy District was severely tortured by his teacher, a Buddhist monk. Amila was persecuted on a religious basis and is thus a victim of religious intolerance. Amila has been raised Catholic, but attends a school in a predominantly Buddhist area, where the majority of students are practicing Buddhists. Amila was questioned by the Venerable Rahula Thero on Buddhist history, and when he told him that he followed the Christian faith, the monk beat him severely. He was admitted to the Kandy Teaching Hospital to receive treatment for his injuries, and is currently recovering in Ward 18 of the hospital. Corporal punishment is banned in all schools, remand centers and prisons in Sri Lanka. This act of brutality is a gross violation of Amila Thilakaratne’s human rights.

NARRATIVE:

According to information that the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received, PG Amila Tharanga Thilakaratne (14) a Year 9 student attending Mahanama College Geatambe in the Kandy District was tortured by his teacher, who is also a Buddhist monk, because he professed a belief in the Christian faith. His permanent address is: No: 28/1, Sarasavigama Mahakande, Hindagala, Kandy.

Amila Tharanga has five older brothers and one younger sister. His father is a mason working in building construction, and his mother is a homemaker. Amila Tharanga has been attending Mahanama College Kandy since Year One; his brothers have attended the same school. Mahanama College Kandy is a Buddhist school, and only Buddhism is taught in the school.

Although the state education department has ruled that children of faiths other than the predominant religion should have the right to learn their own religious teachings, abide by the codes of their religious practices and sit for school exams (circular 2009/10), these rights are often not respected and religious minorities, such as Catholics and Christians, are forced to learn Buddhism. Amila Tharanga and his older brother, Gashan, are discriminated against at school because they are not Buddhist.

On 11 June 2012, a Buddhist monk named Rahula Thero came to Amila’s class to teach Buddhism. Since Amila was the only non-Buddhist student in the class, he moved to the back row for the duration of the lesson. However, the monk has forced him to sit in the front row and asked him to recite the names of the Buddha’s parents. Amila replied that he is a Catholic. The monk told him that he should learn Buddhist teachings even though he is a Catholic, and severely assaulted Amila until the young boy was bleeding from his left ear. Rahula Thero and another teacher, Mrs Kokila, told Amila not to tell anyone about the assault.

For the rest of the day, Amila had to bear the pain without recourse to medical treatment. When Amila’s brother Gashan heard about the assault, he went to his brother’s classroom, but Mr. Thero saw Gashan and threatened to beat him if he entered the room.

After school, Amila went home and went to sleep for fear of informing anyone about the brutal assault. He began to vomit at around 7pm, and he told his father, P.G. Thilakaratne what had happened at school. The next morning, Amila’s father took his son to hospital. According to Mr. Thilakaratne, Mr. Thero threatened them with violence if they revealed what had happened to higher authorities.

Amila was placed in Ward 10 of the hospital. The next day, he was transferred to Ward 18. The officers at the hospital’s police post obtained a statement from Amila on June 13. Amila’s father, Mr. Thilakaratne filed a complaint with the Kandy Police (WCIB 1/84/16,) but so far, no investigation has been initiated.

Mr. Thilakaratne fears that his complaint will go unheard in a country in which Buddhist monks enjoy impunity for violent actions. He worries that Amila will not be able to regain his hearing, and will be expelled from his school for reporting the incident to the police. Mr. Thilakaratne seeks justice and redress for the violation of his child’s right to practice the religious faith of his choice. He seeks protection for his son and for witnesses of the crime by the state.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

The Asian Human Rights Commission has reported innumerable cases of in which students have been tortured in different schools across Sri Lanka. It is illegal under local and international law to physically harm any child.

The state of Sri Lanka signed and ratified the Convention Against Torture (CAT) on 3 January 1994. Following state obligations, the Sri Lankan Parliament adopted Act No. 22 of 1994, making torture a crime that is punishable for a minimum of seven years and not less than ten years if the suspect is proven guilty. The Attorney General of Sri Lanka is suppose to file indictments in cases where credible evidence has been found of people being tortured by state officers.

SUGGESTED ACTION:Please send a letter to the authorities listed below expressing your concern about this case and requesting an immediate investigation into the allegation of torture by the perpetrator, and the prosecution of those proven to be responsible under the criminal law of the country for misusing powers of a state. The officer involved must also be subjected to internal investigations for the breach of the department orders as issued by the Educational Department.

Please note that the AHRC has also written a separate letter to the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment on this regard.

US Ambassador meets Mannaar Bishop

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 June 2012, 10:28 GMT]
The United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Patricia Butenis, Wednesday, during an official visit to Mannaar, paid a courtesy call to Rt. Reverend Rayappu Joseph, Bishop of Mannaar Diocese, and talked to him for more than three hours on the current situation faced by Tamils in the NorthEast, sources close to the Bishop said. 

Rt. Reverend Rayappu Joseph was summoned last month to the notorious Colombo’s Fourth Floor of the Criminal Investigation Unit by the Terrorist Investigation Department and was grilled by the TID officials over the evidence the Bishop gave to the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) in regard to civilian massacres, human rights violation and other atrocities committed in past.

National and International NGOs and Civil society organizations fearing threat to Mannaar Bishop's life appealed to the Government of Sri Lanka and Vatican to ensure security to the Bishop. 

The US envoy, who arrived by a helicopter, met Bishop Rayappu Joseph in the hostile climate faced by the Bishop who was threatened recently by a Minister based in Mannaar and holding an important position in the Mahinda Rajapakse Government.

The Island group and their follies

Friday, 15 June 2012 

Who is more powerful in the heavily pro Government and racist Island group?

Is it the owner NimalWelgama, the Chairman of the group? He is also the Chairman of The Sri Lanka Telecom whose advertisements are all channelled only to the Island group.

Or is it the rebel and racist Editor, PrabathSahanabdu. He is known to castigate everything under the sun and projects himself as a champion of all lost causes. The country’s laws still do not apply to him.

The Ministry of Defence recently instructed Sahabandu not to refer to Fonseka as General. This is because it is unlawful since the title has been withdrawn by President Rajapaksa through a legally valid warrant. Sahabandu has thrown this to the waste paper basket and continues to defy Defence Ministry Secretary GotabhayaRajapaksa. On Thursday, he even gave a front page prominence to “General Fonseka” addressing a press conference. To add insult to injury, he wrote an editorial also challenging Gotabhaya when all other media maintain a deliberate silence on him for terrible fear of being abducted in white vans.

What is law for other citizens, the warrant issued by Rajapaksa, is not law for Sahabandu. Suddenly the Island has begun to support Fonseka and ignore Gotabhaya. A Cabinet Minister said Sahabandu’s new policy to oppose Rajapaksa Government is with approval of Welgama. He said the circulation of the newspapers have come down. However, Gotabhaya is furious about this.

Another man who has got angry is Shamindra “sources said” Ferdinando, the wonder boy of modern journalism in Sri Lanka. He is disappointed Gotabhaya did not ask him to write a book and gave it to former JVP activisit, C.A. Chandraprema. Therefore, Ferdinando is “re-visiting” the LTTE war in articles to boost his ego and image.

Gotabhaya has said that he will deal with Welgama and his group if they continue playing the double game. Await more developments in the coming weeks said an MoD official who is monitoring the developments.

Persecution And Harassment The Editor Had To Face Was A Result Of Not Catering To A Partisan Agenda
June 15, 2012 |

By Colombo Telegraph -

“We believe that we have, as a news desk, engaged in unbiased reportage and non-partisan commentary. We believe that the leadership for the desk was provided by Lalith, and we completely and wholly back his editorial positions during the period. We also believe, wholeheartedly and disapprovingly, that the persecution and harassment that he had to face was a result of not catering to a partisan agenda that was, at some stages, expected of him by the management.” resigned senior journalists of Ceylon Today said in their resignation letters. 

Wasantha, Dharisha, Wilson and Rasika

“It is in this light that we have decided that we do not wish to work in an environment and under a management that does not take care of its own. The decision was voluntary, the decision was without malice, and the decision was without hesitation – but it was one that we were compelled to make considering the circumstances.” they further say.

Below we give the resignation letter in full;

The Chairman,

Ceylon News Papers,

#101, Rosmead Place, Colombo 7.

Dear Tiran Alles,
Dinidu

  When we started nearly ten months ago, some of us were attracted with the notion of being able to work alongside journalists in a professional, ethical and responsible media environment.

It is also extremely disturbing, the persecution of our Editor-in-Chief Lalith Allahakkoon and our journalists that has arisen, based on false assumptions of political and ideological affiliations and allegiances; it is alarming, to a greater extent, that these persecutions and allegations stem from the highest echelons of the management, being you.Ten months down the line, the dynamics have shifted, and the biggest threats to us, and the biggest threats to our integrity and independence come not from without the organisation, but from within.

Siding with the concepts of justice, democracy and dignity of life for all people in the country, and being liberal and progressive in thinking, does not constitute a wrongdoing – yet these are the wrongdoings that you have accused our desk – and especially Lalith – of.

We believe that we have, as a news desk, engaged in unbiased reportage and non-partisan commentary. We believe that the leadership for the desk was provided by Lalith, and we completely and wholly back his editorial positions during the period. We also believe, wholeheartedly and disapprovingly, that the persecution and harassment that he had to face was a result of not catering to a partisan agenda that was, at some stages, expected of him by the management.

It is in this light that we have decided that we do not wish to work in an environment and under a management that does not take care of its own. The decision was voluntary, the decision was without malice, and the decision was without hesitation – but it was one that we were compelled to make considering the circumstances.

Please accept my resignation effective immediately, along with those of my colleagues.

Thanking you,

Wilson Gnanadass  - Deputy Editor

Dharisha Bastians  - Deputy Editor

Rasika Jayakody  - Journalist

Dinidu De Alwis – Journalist

Alles running scared to send letter of termination to Ceylon Today Editor in Chief
Friday 15 of June 2012
(Lanka-e-News-15.June.2012, 3.30PM) Sources close to DNA MP Tiran Alles who is yet to make his maiden speech in the Sri Lankan parliament says that he is reconsidering the termination of Editor Lalith Alahakoon back to Ceylon Today, fearing that more staff from the paper would leave the newspaper.

Mr. Allahakkoon was fired on Wednesday night, but his letter of termination has not yet been delivered to him, sources said. Sources say that the delay is due to Mr. Alles’ fearing that more staff would leave the paper.

Four journalists resigned in protest from the newspaper after Mr. Alahakoon and Deputy Editor and senior Graphic Artist Vasantha Siriwardhana was fired from their positions.

Deputy Editors Darisha Bastianz and Wilson Gnanadas and news editors Rasika Jayakody and Dinindu de Alwis handed in their resignations on Thursday. Two other reporters have handed in resignations today, sources said, adding that five mour reporters from the newspaper will hand in their resignations next week.

The management has launched a fully fledged recruitment drive to poach senior journalists from the Nation, Lakbima News and the Wijeya Group, in anticipation of a further exodus.

Editor of Mawbima, Thushara Gunarathna has told confidantes that he has already reached out to Sunday Times Deputy Editor Anthony David. He has said that a positive response is expected shortly.
However, sources close to Mr. David said that Mr. David had said that he has no plan of joining a paper that treats senior editors so shabbily.
Mr. Alahakoon is reportedly inundated with phone calls from diplomatic missions, government ministers, opposition politicians, respected members of the media fraternity and media activist groups.

Several diplomats have registered their profound shock and horror over the fact that the newspaper which started championing the cause of democracy, freedom and justice particularly given Alles’ role trying to get former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka released, ended up firing a veteran editor.
Meanwhile Editor of the Sunday Mawbima Upul Joseph Fernando last night frantically called several UNP politicians and conveyed that he had nothing to do with the decision to terminate Lalith Alahakoon and he is in fact not in agreement with the manner in which the senior journalist was treated. Executive Director of Alles’ company Dushyantha Basnayake upon whom it fell to inform Mr. Alahakoon of the management’s decision has privately expressed his personal regret over the Alles’ move with several journalists.

The decision of four senior journalists at Ceylon Today to resign in protest of Mr. Alahakoon’s sacking yesterday has been hailed by the media fraternity and activists for the freedom of the press as an act of valour and conscience. These same activists question why self-proclaimed media activist Hana Ibrahim who has been appointed to take over Mr. Alahakoon’s position has refrained from mobilizing the Free Media Movement of which she is an office-bearer given the injustice meted out to the senior journalists and in light of the principled action taken by some members of her staff.
Courtesy: SLXNews

1033 lands, houses to be permanently appropriated for SL military in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 June 2012, 23:41 GMT]
After appropriating thousands of acres of land in Mullaiththeevu, Ki'linochchi, Mannaar and Vavuniyaa districts of the Northern Province, the SL military establishment in the North has accelerated its drive of appropriating 1033 properties, most of them privately owned lands and buildings, for the three SL armed forces outside the already seized ‘High Security Zone’ in the peninsula, civil officials in Jaffna told TamilNet, giving statistical breakdown of figures from the internal records of the occupying military. Colombo has passed the responsibility of land appropriation in Jaffna to its colonial military governor Maj. Gen. (retd) GA Chandrasri, according to the informed officials. In the meantime, the commander of the occupying SL military in Jaffna, Maj. Gen. Hathurusinghe, has defended the military move to maintain permanent camps in areas outside the so-called High Security Zones. 

Maj. Gen. Hathurusinghe has given articulation to Colombo's interpretation that what it means with ‘reconciliation’ is a process of familiarising the gagged Tamil people with the militarisation of the occupying Sinhala military.

In parallel to the land grab in the North, the SL military, has been conquering the interior lands of the Eastern province bordering the Sinhala districts and its coastal stretch, through paramilitary-run provincial council in the East.

In an interview to a local newspaper in Jaffna, Maj. Gen. Hathurusinghe, the Gucci peace prize awarded commander of the genocidal Colombo, has justified the SL militarization as being carried out for the ‘security’ of the civilians at their request. He blatantly refused the accusation that the SL military was intervening in the civil affairs of the people. 

The interpretation of Hathurusinghe is that de-militarisation doesn't mean removal of bases. Until the SL military builds up its permanent bases, the military needs places to stay, where can they go, asked Hathurusinghe. 

While merely reiterating the rhetoric of closing down the camps in the suburbs of the Jaffna city, Maj. Gen. Hathurusinghe is keeping mum on the existence of 51-2 brigade headquarters at the heart of the city of Jaffna, the civil officials, who did not wish to be named due to security reasons, told TamilNet.

Of 1,033 properties to be appropriated by the three forces of the occupying SL military, 1,004 are owned by private persons. Only 29 lands come under so-called State-ownership, the sources said. 

The SL military has illegally appropriated the lands with houses, as enclaves of groups of houses, in densely populated areas among the civilians. Now, the occupying military wants to legalise these appropriations. Normally, when the military occupies an enclave in a crowded area, people vacate even the neighbouring houses fearing the military. Thus each enclave has an undeclared no-man's territory.

Almost all of the properties are situated in residential areas, except Choanappu village Hindu cremation grounds in Vadamaraadchi South West (Karaveddi) Piratheasa Chapai (PS). The chairman of the civic body, K. Viyakesu, has turned down the request by the SL military to hand over the cremation grounds to them. 

Sometimes back, the chairman of Kaarainakar PS had to sign on the papers at gunpoint. However, the civic bodies have unanimously refused to entertain the request from the military.

According to recent reports, the SL governor in North has instructed his officials to appropriate 61 acres of lands from the civic bodies in the district for military purposes. 

The SL military, since 1996 when it seized the control of Jaffna, had begun to illegally appropriate most of the 1033 properties.

The figures do not include the properties in the already military-seized ‘High Security Zone’. 

716 private properties are already in the possession of the SLA. Of these, 371 lands are with houses, 283 are plain lands and 46 lands contain buildings of businesses. The SLA has also seized 9 public lands for its use outside the HSZ. 

Now, the SL military is seeking to legalise the seizure to enable itself to establish permanent cantonments in Jaffna. 

Further 253 lands are under the control of the Sri Lanka Navy, 123 of these are with houses, 104 plain lands, 7 lands with commercial buildings and 19 public lands. 

64 lands are under the control of the SL Police. 57 of these lands are with houses, 5 plain lands and at least one with a commercial building. 

The SL military has not dismantled the HSZ. The lands of HSZ are not handed over to the owners. Colombo initiated large propaganda drives promising resettlement in the occupied lands of HSZ, each time during the presidential and civic elections. But still most of the properties have not been handed over to the people.

“The Sinhala military will indefinitely stay as leeches on Tamils in Jaffna,” a grassroot political activist in Jaffna told TamilNet adding that the SL military's land grab, especially in the aftermath of the UNHRC resolution in Geneva, only testified that the so-called domestic mechanisms were deemed to fail.”

“Likewise, how could a provincial council, resist the land grab, when the occupying military could proceed with occupying lands despite the resistance shown by the civic bodies,” the activist asked. 

“Only an international mechanism, which recognises historical, earned and remedial realities of Tamil sovereignty and the right of Tamil Nation to exercise its Right to Self-Determination as a nation in parity with that of the Sinhala nation in the island, could address the situation,” he further said. 

“However, the global outfits, promoting the implementation of the genocidal LLRC recommendations, talk of Sinhalicisation, Buddhisisation and land grab, omit addressing the national question only seeking a regime change favourable to their geopolitical outlook,” he said adding that the continued injustice on the part of the global establishments was the real hurdle in resolving the national question of Eezham Tamils. 

“The counter-insurgency establishments want us Tamils to toil with the day-to-day issues like land grab, instead of allowing us to focus on addressing the root cause. After allowing unchecked colonisation, structural genocide and the change of 'facts on the ground', they would tell us that the ground realities have changed and that we should accommodate ourselves to the ‘changed’ realities,” he said urging global Tamils to give highest priority in attending the root cause than getting waylaid by the Establishments that seek to exploit the plight of the Eezham Tamils.

Oh, Tamara!

By Dharisha Bastians -

Dharisha Bastians

There is a reason that diplomatic missions in Colombo, especially representing countries of the West that are constantly being denigrated by the Government of Sri Lanka or its proxies, refrain from reacting publicly to every charge levelled against them and every negative sentiment expressed. One senior diplomat put it succinctly – “Do we really want to be front page news in Colombo every morning?”

Diplomacy, almost by definition, is something that must be conducted with some degree of discretion. It is a tool used to prevent conflict and build trust, confidence and relationships between States and International bodies. Diplomats must always attempt to further a State’s national interest and the national interest, is not always served in the public domain. This is why Wikileaks, while being the hero of journalists and freedom of information activists, is officially the diplomat’s worst nightmare. Diplomatic engagement is most successful when it is conducted quietly and with neither bragging in success nor finger-pointing nor wound-licking in defeat. Sri Lanka has known such diplomacy – but its successes are rarely touted and the sequence of events often not publicly known at all. Former Foreign Secretary and career diplomat H.M.G.S. Palihakkara was at the helm of one such success at one of the most critical junctures of Sri Lanka’s military offensive against the LTTE in May 2009. Palihakkara who was serving as Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, put up the fight of his life to keep Sri Lanka out of the agenda of the UN Security Council in 2009, an eventuality that would have proved far more damaging for Sri Lanka than the UNHRC resolution recently adopted in Geneva. Yet, Palihakkara having never spoken of it, the triumph is only known and acknowledged by those with a particular interest in such affairs. Compare that against the constant crowing that has been underway since Sri Lanka successfully quashed a resolution attempted at the UNHRC in 2009. Compare that also, against the public relations disaster that has been the Geneva and the Sri Lankan delegation since the UNHRC’s 19th Session in March this year.

Latest bombshell      Read More

US music group boycotts Sri Lanka event

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 June 2012, 10:52 GMT]
Big Mountain, a US-based reggae music group with origins from San Diego, declined an invitation from Sri Lanka to participate in a reggae festival to be held in Colombo. The band, which was named Big Mountain, in protest to colonization by Europe, said in a statement that they "feel that to play a concert of this type, at this moment in time, would help to gloss over or legitimate conditions of systemic violence that have transpired in that region and towards indigenous populations in particular." 

Full text of the official statement released by the Band follows:

OFFICIAL STATEMENT BY BIG MOUNTAIN
BOYCOTT OF SRI LANKA

The name of our band, Big Mountain, derives from a struggle that pitted two Native American communities against one another in a struggle over a sacred piece of land. That struggle was being manipulated by a large and powerful mining corporation in search of profit and at the expense of all native peoples of the region. Troubled by that manipulation and inspired by the struggles of our own Native American ancestors to resist the oppression of European colonizers and wealthy corporations, we recorded a song of the same name and that contained the chorus of “on top of Big Mountain, there is no room for Babylon.” By that, we meant that there is another way, a de-colonial ethic, a way to live that is not entangled within the perpetual war, violence, exploitation, and environmental degradation that was introduced in the western hemisphere by European colonizers.

We were recently invited to perform songs like Big Mountain at a reggae festival in Sri Lanka. We were encouraged by this invitation as it provided yet another opportunity for us to share our de-colonial message with our brothers and sisters in humanity. We are declining this invitation, however, due to our concern with the violence that has transpired there as of late and that has been described as part of Sri Lanka’s “civil war.” Whilst we would be honored to help convey a message of peace and reconciliation, we also feel that to play a concert of this type, at this moment in time, would help to gloss over or legitimate conditions of systemic violence that have transpired in that region and towards indigenous populations in particular.

According to Wikipedia, Big Mountain was an American reggae/pop band, most famous for their cover version of Peter Frampton's "Baby, I Love Your Way," which became a Top 10 hit single in the U.S. in early 1994 reaching number 6 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, number-one on Mainstream Top 40, and number 2 in the UK shortly afterwards.

The original line-up including Joaquin McWhinney "Quino," vocals, Jerome Cruz, guitar, Gregory Blakney, drums, Lance Rhodes, drums, Manfred Reinke, keyboards, and Lynn Copeland, bass guitar.

Extremist Diaspora And Sampanthan’s Speech Complicate ‘Reconciliation’

June 15, 2012

By Laksiri Fernando -

Dr. Laksiri Fernando

It is difficult to believe that President Rajapaksa or his advisors did not anticipate protests in London or possible cancellation of his address to the Commonwealth Economic Forum in connection with his participation in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. It was a repetition of what happened in December 2010 when he was supposed to address the Oxford Union Debating Society. The only difference was that the cancelation of his speech, of course under pressure, this time was decided by an inter-national organization, the Commonwealth Business Council, created by none other than the Commonwealth Heads of Government in 1997, unlike the first one being a mere university student organization, however prestigious that one might be.

On both occasions, the right to speak was a casualty. There is no question that some diaspora groups in the United Kingdom, whether with direct links to the proscribed LTTE or not, and the human rights organizations concerned with war crimes and human rights violations have every right to peacefully protest against the President. However, it is at least not acceptable if the Global Tamil Forum (GTF) or its British counterpart, the British Tamil Forum or other organizers brought threats or pressure on the Commonwealth Business Council to cancel the event. It is more abominable if any ‘human rights’ organization was involved in this effort. A balanced and an objective approach to ‘war crimes’ requires highlighting both the government and the LTTE atrocities rather equally.

It is possible that the President went to the event to show his point; that some of the active diaspora groups are intransigent or even ‘terrorists.’ Now the government is utilizing the debacle for its advantage as reported inThe Island (14 June) claiming that it posed a threat to President’s life. It is true that he or his armed forces are accused of war crimes and more and more evidence is unleashed by different sources completely credible or not. But there should be a due process and that due process cannot be taken over by the extremist activists in London.

Unlike the Oxford event, the Commonwealth Heads and Governments are involved in this instance. At least some of them might not take the rebuff that one of their counterparts had to undergo without sympathy. After all he was invited by the Commonwealth Business Council and business of the Commonwealth cannot be conducted under the siege of the extremist agitation. The next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHGOM) is scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka in 2013 and the President is going to be the host of this event.

Over-reading       Read More

How much can Sri Lanka help itself?

A Sri Lankan child. An oft-heard claim in Colombo today is that 'charity begins at home'. Photograph: Eranga Jayawardena/AP
ndigenous charity and philanthropy could transform development in Sri Lanka – but will it be for better or for worse?

The role of charity and philanthropy in development is a subject of growing interest within the global aid community. As a result of slowing support from traditional funding sources, the activities of private foundations and voluntary initiatives now account for increasingly larger amounts of development assistance. Meanwhile, mounting calls for a more "moral capitalism" following the banking crisis have led to greater pressure on companies to develop inclusive business practices.

But much of the discussion so far has concentrated on the contribution of big global players such as the Gates Foundation. Less attention has been paid to indigenous charity and philanthropy in the developing world, and how local giving practices are being mobilised for development. Yet indigenous philanthropy has played an important rolein the development process, and that role is likely to increase in the future.

Our research in Colombo, Sri Lanka, is exploring indigenous forms of charity, philanthropy and development in the country. By scoping patterns of giving within the city and around Sri Lanka's global diaspora, we're building an understanding of the drivers and impacts of charitable and philanthropic activities on poverty alleviation.

An oft-heard claim in Colombo today is that "charity begins at home", and ostensibly levels of charitable giving in Sri Lanka are huge. For two years in a row, it has ranked eighth in the Charity Aid Foundation's World Giving Index, ahead of any other developing nation. The reasons are complex, but giving is central to the traditions of Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam that exist in the country. Our research is highlighting the multi-layered relationships forming between different kinds of social engagement, from traditional gift-giving through communal religious charity to corporate social responsibility.

However, the long-term potential of these practices – and where they may lead – is an open question. Much depends on whose definitions of charity and philanthropy we use, and what counts as development. Our work is drawing attention to four key issues.

First, due to huge suspicion and hostility from the government and many ordinary people, civil society organisations are limited in how they raise funds. "We know we can't collect money locally," said the director of a Sri Lankan NGO, "because people think we're a front for the LTTE [Tamil Tigers]." It's also not uncommon for successful charities and philanthropists to be seen as a political threat by the ruling party of the day. The result has been dependency on foreign donors, but almost every organisation we've spoken to expects this money to dry up soon.

Second, although Sri Lankans do give generously, they don't give to the kinds of causes that international donors gave to. For many organisations we've contacted, the loss of foreign funding is creating a gulf that local charity is unlikely to fill. "Once people have given to poorer relatives, the temple and their old school, there's nothing left for us," said one local fundraiser. Greater space for non-traditional actors can only be a good thing, yet development organisations fear they are going to disappear.

Third, the traditions of giving that do exist tend to focus on humanitarian relief rather than long-term change. Preference is given to direct, in-kind donations to individuals, families and welfare organisations, including orphanages and elders' homes. Fear of corruption or financial mismanagement explains part of this, but so too does a reluctance to pay for charities' administration costs. It also reflects religious beliefs and obligations. Yet even the biggest beneficiaries of in-kind donations complain they struggle to pay utility bills and wages because of this, and would like to encourage more by way of cash donations if they could.

Finally, indigenous charity and philanthropy is rarely co-ordinated. Giving tends to be impulsive and private, and few organisations work together. Some large Sri Lankan companies are seeking to develop joint projects, as part of which they will conduct need assessments and impact evaluations. But private business owners – whose activities account for the majority of large-scale giving – pick and choose causes according to personal preferences, and rarely bother to follow-up. Although often donating very large sums, they avoid issues that require smaller but ongoing commitments.

Indigenous charity and philanthropy has the potential to transform development in Sri Lanka. A few years after the economy was raised to middle-income status by the IMF, there seems to be huge potential to encourage the growth of new development actors and opportunities. Yet there is also mounting uncertainty in the local development sector about which way things are going to go. Whether indigenous charity and philanthropy can be harnessed and leveraged for development, or whether what is meant by development will change to accommodate indigenous giving preferences – and what either of these mean for poverty alleviation – remains to be seen.

• Dr Tom Widger is a research fellow at the department of anthropology, School of Global Studies, University of Sussex

The Diaspora factor

War on terror revisited: a battle abroad

June 14, 2012

By Shamindra Ferdinando

GTF spokesman, Suren Surendiran with South African President Zuma

‘President Rajapaksa is in a hell of a predicament also because as the Commander in Chief of the Military, he is alleged to have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. With mounting evidence, he is trying to negotiate, perhaps barter justice with a political solution as he knows that the day he relinquishes his position as head of state, he is likely to be arrested just as Charles Taylor of Liberia or Milosevic of former Yugoslavia.’

While the LTTE was retreating rapidly on the Vanni east front, following a debilitating setback at Kilinochchi in the first week of January, 2009, the Tamil Diaspora groups emerged as its successor. The UK-based Global Tamil Forum (GTF) is now at the forefront of an internationally backed campaign to haul Sri Lankan leaders up before an international war crimes tribunal over accountability issues.

The GTF displayed its power when President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited London at the invitation of the UK, to participate in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations recently.

Suren Surendiran with David Miliband

The UK-based GTF spokesman Suren Suendiran, in an exclusive with The Islandvowed to pressure the GoSL to take meaningful measures to address accountability issues. "We’ll not cease our campaign until those responsible for atrocities are identified through an international investigative mechanism and punished."

Surendiran said that he last visited Sri Lanka in 2010, though he wouldn’t want to come back again until the restoration of law and order.

The following are excerpts of the interview:

(Q) What is your perspective of the Indo-Lanka Peace Accord?

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The Agenda with Steve Paikin: R. Cheran: Sri Lanka's Road to Reconciliation

After a 27-year war, Sri Lanka has released a report on its aftermath. R. Cheran gives Steve Paikin his view of the "Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission" report.

June 13, 2012

We cannot afford to under or overestimate the dangers we face

WEDNESDAY, 13 JUNE 2012
By Ayesha Zuhair
“My sole ambition was to serve my country and people...”
Tamara Kunanayakam, Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative (PR) to the United Nations (UN) in Geneva, has accused Navanethem Pillay, the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, of playing the political agenda of the US and Western powers.

 In an e-mail interview with the Daily Mirror, Ambassador Kunanayakam elaborates on the accusations contained in her letter to the UN human rights chief, and reflects on her tenure as PR to Geneva which comes to an end on 30 June.

Q: Some confusion has arisen as to whether the accusations that you have recently levelled against Ms Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, reflect the official position of the Sri Lankan Government. Could you clarify whether or not your letter to Ms Pillay received prior clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs?

 A few days ago, the Daily Mirror quoted a very senior Ministry official as having said that the Government has no intention of criticising the High Commissioner or taking action against her. If that is the stand of the Ministry, then it must also be that of the Government!

 After having verified the authenticity of the email communication by Mr. Rory Mungoven, I acted in conformity with the mandate given to me by His Excellency the President and the stand taken by the Government so far.

 The consistent position of the Government has been to defend the independence and sovereignty of our country and to oppose any kind of external intervention in its internal affairs, and to pursue a policy of non-alignment in international relations.

 You will recall that as far back as 2006, the Government refused to succumb to pressure from the previous High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, and certain Western powers, to open an OHCHR field office in Sri Lanka.

 Mr. Rory Mungoven was then stationed in Colombo as the UN Human Rights Advisor. A cable sent to the US State Department by the then US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Robert Blake, and released by Wikileaks, reports Mungoven as having said that what was essential for Sri Lanka was not technical assistance, but a robust UN monitoring and protection mechanism in the field!
 The position I took was in full conformity with that stand. Now, if the Government has suddenly changed that position, then it has not been communicated to me.
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Youthful partygoers thwart bank robbery

One suspect captured, another killed in police shooting

June 13, 2012,

By Norman Palihawadane

One person was killed when police opened fire on an armed gang that attempted to rob the Battaramulla branch of the Bank of Ceylon yesterday.

One member of the gang had been nabbed while another had fled, police said.

The deceased has been identified as R. S. Mahesh, a soldier attached to the Chundikulam Army Camp. The 22-year-old soldier was on leave at the time of the incident.

The attempt to rob the bank was foiled by the police who were alerted by four other youth who happened to go past the bank in a three wheeler on their way back  to Dehiwela from a party in Battaramulla. They had noticed the suspicious movements of a person standing opposite the bank, near Sethsiripaya in Battaramulla, the police said. Another person had been in a three wheeler outside the bank.

The youth had slowed down their vehicle to inquire from the person outside if there was a problem when they heard a sound, from inside the bank, of a glass breaking. They got hold of the lookout and phoned the Talangama police that the bank was being robbed. The other suspect, who was in the three-wheeler, made good his escape.

Police rushed to the scene and surrounded the bank building, They then ordered the suspects inside the building to come out. At this moment the suspect came out and hurled a grenade towards the policemen forcing them to open fire.

The attacker who was injured in the shooting had been admitted to Colombo National Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, police said.

Acting on information divulged by the suspect in custody, police traced the address of the deceased and found the three-wheeler which had fled the scene, parked there. The suspect who fled in that vehicle has gone missing and the police are searching for him.