Transferred LTTE Suspect Died In Hospital

தமிழ்க் கைதி அடித்துக்கொலை; பலரின் நிலை பரிதாபம்

வவுனியா சிறைப் போராட்டத்தின் பின்னர் தென்னிலங்கை சிறைகளுக்கு மாற்றப்பட்ட தமிழ்க் கைதிகளின் நிலைமை பரிதாபம் என்கின்ற

Transferred LTTE Suspect Died In Hospital

July 4, 2012

By Colombo Telegraph -

A LTTE suspect, who was transferred from the Vavuniya prison to the Mahara prison following the turmoil at the Vavuniya prison, has died today.

The 29 year old inmate, named Ruban, had been charged for his alleged involvement with the LTTE.

He was receiving medical treatments at the Prison hospital for a fractured arm but later he was transferred to the Colombo North Teaching Hospital following a breathing difficulty.

In the aftermath of the turmoil at the Vavuniya prison, 28 inmates were transferred to the Mahara Prison by the Department of Prisons. Out of the 28 inmates who were transferred, ten are presently receiving treatments at the Prison hospital while four inmates have been admitted to the Colombo North Teaching hospital.

There would not be a problem if the captured were killed immediately – Defence Secretary

Wednesday, 04 July 2012 

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has reportedly reprimanded Major General Prasanna Silva saying that the failure to follow orders to kill the LTTE activists and leaders who surrendered to the security forces after the Wanni operation had resulted in incidents like last week’s hostage drama at the Vavuniya Prison. The Defence Secretary has said that such incidents would continue to take place creating the impression among the LTTE’s international wing that the organization was still active.

Major General Prasanna Silva commanded the 55th and 59th Brigades during the Wanni operation. The two brigades carried out the ground operation from Muallitivu to the Vettilainkerni beach strip.

The Sea Tiger Leader Shashi Kumar who was captured by the 59th Brigade during the operation had reportedly headed the coup in the Vavuniya Prison last week.

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has personally directed all unit commanders during the Wanni operation to kill any LTTE activist who surrendered to the security forces or are captured. Therefore, the 53rd Brigade commanded by Major General Kamal Gunaratne who conducted the operation in Ampalaipokkavan in Nandikadal had killed 308 LTTE cadres from the Charles Anthony Brigade who were arrested.

Top level LTTE members were also killed during the Wanni operation and only the ordinary cadres had been handed over to the police. Commander of the 58th Brigade, Major General Shavendra Silva had killed LTTE Leaders like Nadesan and Pulidevan who had tried to surrender carrying white flags during the final stages of the war.

However, Major General Prasanna Silva had not followed the Defence Secretary’s orders and had recorded the arrest of every LTTE members. These LTTE members have been handed over to the Military Police with written and photographic records. Since all LTTE members were handed over to the Military Police after officially recording their arrest none of the LTTEers arrested by his brigade had been killed.

EIGHT ONLINE JOURNALISTS AND AN OFFICE ASSISTANT FREED BUT INVESTIGATION CONTINUES

PUBLISHED ON WEDNESDAY 4 JULY 2012.

Reporters Without Borders is relieved that the eight SriLankaMirror and SriLankaXNews journalists and an office assistant arrested on 29 June were released the next day by Judge Kosala Senadheera of Colombo court No. 8 on the grounds that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had failed to produce evidence of actual wrongdoing.

According to an article on LankaeNews, an influential, trilingual news website based abroad, the judge ruled that no one can be arrested to prevent a crime that has not been committed.

The CID had said it raided the SriLankaMirror and SriLankaXNews offices in Colombo and arrested their journalists because they had published “false news” and because they had sent it toLankaeNews, which could have used it to defame the president and incite unrest.

Although the journalists have been released, they are still under investigation and the computer equipment that was taken from the SriLankaMirror journalists has still not been returned, preventing them from working normally. The computers are due to be produced in court at the next hearing, on 6 July.

The freed journalists have all decided to lodge complaints against the CID and the defence ministry for violating their fundamental rights by detaining them arbitrarily. Reporters Without Borders supports this initiative, which is needed to prevent such abuses from going unpunished. It also urges the authorities to close the investigation of the two sites, which were clearly targeted because of what they were reporting.

“The SriLankaMirror and SriLankaXNews journalists cannot be held responsible for the supposedly defamatory reports that might have been published on the basis of information they provided,” Reporters Without Borders said. “Reporting news and information is a fundamental right and duty for all journalists and it is up to LankaeNews to evaluate whether or not the information it obtains is accurate.”

LankaeNews has been hounded in recent years and reprisals against its journalists are increasing. Its Colombo premises were badly damaged in a January 2011 arson attack which the authorities blamed on its staff. Launched in 2005, it incurred the government’s wrath when it supported Gen. Sarath Fonseka, the leading challenger to President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the January 2010 presidential election.

Sri Lanka is ranked 163rd out of 179 countries in the 2011-2012 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index. The situation for journalists continues to worsen although the civil war ended in 2009.

29.06.12 - Eight journalists and an office assistant arrested in police raid on two news websites

Reporters Without Borders firmly condemns today’s police raids on the offices of two Colombo-based news websites, the SriLankaMirror and SriLankaXNews, in which eight of their journalists and an office assistant were arrested.

“We call for the immediate release of all those detained,” Reporters Without Borders said. “The exact reasons for the raids on these two news websites, which the authorities have had in their sights for some time, must be clarified without delay. However, given the government’s past violations of freedom of information, we regard it as an attempt to censor and intimidate critical journalists.”

The raids were carried out at around 11:45 a.m. by about 25 police officers from the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) and the Crime Investigation Department (CID), who had a search warrant issued by Judge Prasanna Alwis of Colombo court No. 4.

Both websites are located in the same building – 71 Thotupolar Road in the Colombo suburb of Athulkotte. One of them, SriLankaXNews, is operated by the United National Party (UNP), an opposition party.

The nine detainees were taken to CID headquarters in Colombo for questioning. They consisted of six SriLankaMirror journalists and an office helper:

1. Kleum Shivantha Rodrigo - editor
2. Ajith Senevirathne - photographer)
3. Tharindu Rajapaksa - feature writer)
4. Himashi Karunarathne - sports editor)
5. Shiranthini Manawadu - reporter
6. Asanka Nivantha - marketing manger
7. R.M. Preamawathi - office helper 

And two SriLankaXNews journalists:

8. Siddik Kariyappar - Tamil-language editor
9. Subhash Jayawardane - features editor 

The police confiscated computers from both offices, which they sealed. They also searched the home of Ruwan Ferdinandez, who used to work for SriLankaMirror and is now editor in chief ofSriLankaXNews.

The raids were carried out one day after access to five Tamil-language news websites – TamilWin,Athirvu, Sarithan, Ponguthamil and Pathivu – were blocked.

This not the first time the government has targeted the SriLankaMirror site, which was one of four leading independent news sites critical of the government that were blocked on the information ministry’s orders in November 2011. The other three were SriLankaGuardian, Paparacigossip9, andLankaWayNews.

Access to the SriLankaMirror site was unblocked after it appealed to the supreme court. The Lankaenews and Lankanewsweb sites have also been hounded by the authorities, especially in connection with their coverage of corruption.

Sri Lanka was classified as one of the countries “under surveillance” in the latest Reporters Without Borders report on “Enemies of the Internet.”

SRI LANKA: Celebrating the National Security State?

July 4, 2012
Contributors: Basil Fernando

One of the reactions to the earlier article, SRI LANKA: Defending the nation's internal security, is "What’s wrong? The military has come to stay." What is chilling is that it appears to be a frank statement happily proclaiming a fait accompli. Earlier generations of Sri Lankans used to proudly say that democracy had come to stay in their country. Not many seem to feel that way anymore. The late J.R Jayewardene seems to have made a correct prediction when he said that his constitution had come to stay.

That is how sad it is. The last article was on the Ministry of Defence having become the most important institution in the country, under only the Executive Presidency. In fact, the two positions are only formally different, and in real politics they are same. The reader has come to the conclusion that the military has come to stay. He has taken it all to mean the same thing.

He is not wrong. The national security state and what used to be called the military state are not very different. In a military state, someone with a military cap is on top. In the public security state, there may not be such visible signs of military uniforms. Aspects of democratic façade may still be there, mocking at the citizenry at large.

What is important is the reality -- the reality of the loss of liberties, the loss of opportunities for people, and the loss of the right to a decent income.

It is this last aspect that is the ultimate reason for the transformation into a public security state. To deprive the right to strive for a decent income. No wonder one Minister said that Rs. 2,500, that is about US $20 per month is enough for persons "to live without dying". The ideal state of affairs is "to live without dying", the kind of state in which slaves were kept alive. Even the talk about a decent income for all has disappeared from the political parlance.

Not to have the right to liberties, right to opportunities and the right to a decent income is what the national security state is all about. It is for that reason that the Defence Ministry has been given the pride of place as against all other public institutions. Is that what has come to stay?

Death Penalty for Rape

It is pointless giving statistics for the number of victims are far more than the numbers on record or those that have been reported. The appeals by civil society and child protection authorities need to now be synergized with public outrage to demand that the Government take immediate action.

l by Shenali Waduge

(04 July, 2012, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) No one has the right to take away the innocence of another and in the case of a child, punishment for such an offense needs to go beyond the present practice of filling prisons with these offenders or giving them bail to commit another such offence. Revival of capital punishment is a now or never question which needs prompt attention and action.

Take any newspaper and the main page is full of rape, child abuse or molestation incidents happening throughout Sri Lanka. The incidents related to prostitution, drugs, human trafficking and other such ills are not waning either. It is pointless giving statistics for the number of victims are far more than the numbers on record or those that have been reported. The appeals by civil society and child protection authorities need to now be synergized with public outrage to demand that the Government take immediate action.

There should be no empathy for the inhumans who commit such abuse on even children hardly 1 year old.

Although Sri Lanka has the legal death penalty, all death penalty cases have been commuted to life in prison and there have been no executions since 1973. Since 2000 there are over 1000 on death row but they are simply languishing in jails waiting for execution or a final decision for commutation for execution.

Capital punishment was abolished by S.W.R.D Bandaranaike in 1955 despite objections. Capital punishment was reintroduced by Mrs. Bandaranaike no sooner she came into power. When the J R Jayawardena Government took over though the law was in force it was defunct with debate over verdicts and incidents of those convicted being released or pardoned are many. Thus, since the late seventies capital punishment is at a standstill.

We have discussed, debated and argued enough – crimes are increasing and becoming horrifying with each day. No one has the right to rob children of their innocence. These sex maniacs and perverts need to be treated with the language they understand for often most of their victims end up killed.

If crime rate was low when capital punishment was in force what is stopping the authorities from imposing the death sentence denying bail to these sex perverts?

Any child is as important as one’s child – punish the perverts for rape with death.

Law should be equal to relatives and non relatives – Advocate S.L. Gunasekera
Wednesday, 04 July 2012

First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa it is learnt is angered by a comment made by Advocate S.L. Gunasekera to an English weekly newspaper about her brother, SriLankan Airlines Chairman, Nishantha Wickremasinghe. Gunasekera has said he law should be initiated against Wickremasinghe for the illegal possession of foreign currency and that the delay in implementing the law was surprising.

Gunasekera has said in the interview that the incident related to the SriLankan Airlines Chairman was a clear example that the law did not apply equally to everyone in the country.

Gunasekera has pointed out that since a case has been filed before court against Sarath Fonskea’s sister-in-law, Ashoka Thilekaratne for possessing foreign currency without approval, similar action should have been initiated against the SriLankan Airlines Chairman.

According to Gunasekera, SriLankan Airlines Chairman Nishantha Wickremasinghe is one of his close relatives, but he would not stand to protect him.

Wickremasinghe explaining the foreign currency that was in his possession has told The Sunday Times that the Rs. 40 million worth foreign exchange and the Rolex watch were gifts from his sons in Australia.

In the event a person is carrying over US$ 2,000 foreign currency to the country, it is mandatory to register the amount with the Customs.

Sources from the Customs say that there has not been any record in within the past year of either Wickremasinghe’s sons or any other family member bringing foreign currency worth US$ 2,000 into the country from overseas.

SRI LANKA: A 17-year old boy is physically and sexually assaulted by intoxicated police officers at Pallama Police Station for a crime that he did not commit

July 4, 2012

SRI LANKA: A 17-year old boy is physically and sexually assaulted by intoxicated police officers at Pallama Police Station for a crime that he did not commit

ISSUES: Denial of justice; torture; impunity; rule of law 

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a 17-year old boy was physically and sexually assaulted by intoxicated police officers at Pallama Police Station for a crime that he did not commit. Mr. Chamara (name changed for privacy and security purposes) was accused of stealing jewelry from a neighbour. Despite repeated denials of this accusation, he was arbitrarily arrested by officers attached to the Pallama Police Station, detained and grossly assaulted, both physically and sexually. According to Mr. Chamara, the police officers who tortured him consumed liquor before and during the assault. Although Mr. Chamara has been released on bail and underwent medical treatment at Chilaw Basic Hospital, he is still suffering from the assault. His hearing has been affected, and he is unable to work. This case is yet another illustration of the exceptional collapse of the rule of law in the country.

CASE NARRATIVE:        Read More...

U.S to remain engaged with Sri Lanka: envoy
 2012-07-04 

COLOMBO, July 4 (Xinhua) -- The United States will remain engaged with Sri Lanka despite some differences of opinion on the political front, the U.S. ambassador to Sri Lanka said on Wednesday.

In a message released in Colombo to mark America's Independence Day, the U.S. envoy in Colombo Patricia Butenis noted that the Sri Lankan government has made progress on the resettlement issue and post war development.

"When I arrived in 2009 the war had just ended and there were literally hundreds of thousands of displaced people that needed to be resettled. Now that's down to just a few thousand. The government has also made great progress with the rehabilitation of ex-combatants. Demining is another significant achievement," she said.

The Sri Lankan military defeated the Tamil Tiger rebels three years ago after 30 years of war and the government has almost completed the resettlement of over 300,000 war displaced in the north.

Most of rebels who surrendered to the military have also been rehabilitated and released back into society but the most hardcore rebels remain in prison.

Butenis noted however that there still remains a lot to be done and her government stands ready to help Sri Lanka to move forward.

The United States had in March sponsored a resolution against Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHCR), a resolution which Sri Lanka had termed as ill timed and unwarranted.

The resolution had called on the government to implement the recommendations of a local war commission known as the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC).

"On the political level we have had to weather some storms. But we've come through, and I am certain of our future cooperation. As a friend the United states will continue to partner with Sri Lanka as it moves from a post conflict nation to one truly at peace with others and with itself," Butenis said.

She also said that her government will continue with the development programs with the public and private sector in Sri Lanka while helping especially the communities most affected by the conflict.

Editor: Tang Danlu

If Implementation is the answer, What is the question?

WEDNESDAY, 04 JULY 2012
By Salma Yusuf
In Sri Lanka’s post-war context, two national mechanisms have been put in place. First, the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) report released at the end of 2011 calls upon the Government of Sri Lanka , among others, to work towards a political solution that is favourable and acceptable to all sides and communities concerned. The home grown mechanism, independent in nature though commissioned by the Government, was developed to reflect upon and recommend action, and drew on solicited and unsolicited submissions from the public in all areas of the country and hence has been hailed for its credibility and transparency.

Second, and pursuant with its pledges at the United Nations’ Universal Periodic Review, the Government of Sri Lanka embarked on drafting a National Human Rights Action Plan (NHRAP) in 2009. The Action Plan has sought to address the objective of improving human rights protection and promotion in all aspects, with targets to be achieved in five years. The Action Plan has subsequently been adopted by the Cabinet.
 The machinery      Read more...  

'Over 15,000 missing in Sri Lanka' : Report reveals

03 JULY 2012

BY INDIKA GAMAGE

More than fifteen thousand have been reported missing in Sri Lanka by the end of last year, reveal figures released by the International Committe of Red Cross (ICRC). The annual report unveiled in Geneva by ICRC  President Jakob Kellenberger says,"thousands remained unaccounted for, leaving relatives without definitive information about their fate" in Sri Lanka.

In its report describing the harm that armed conflicts inflict on populations around the world, the ICRC says that it has been trying to trace 15,780 people in Sri Lanka at 31 December 2011. A vast majority of them are men, while  tracing cases for 1494 children and 754 women are also being handled by the ICRC. Only a few as 136 people have been traced to their families. The ICRC has visited 17,741 detainees during the past year.

The ICRC's latest revelation of the missing people, comes two years after  a UN appointed three-member panel 'estimated that there could have been as many as 40,000 civilian deaths' in the Sri Lankan government's final offensive against Tamil Tiger rebels.
Restrictions to livelihood, food and water
While the ICRC says that most of the 2,80,000 civilians displaced by May 2009 have been sent back from the camps 'to their areas of origin' the government of Sri Lanka says that the number resettled in the north is 482,326. The Resettlement Ministry say that they belong to 145,830 families. In a meeting in Colombo with USAID Deputy Director Trekor Hublin in May, Minister for Resettlement Gunaratna Weerakoon has assured that the Six thousand five hundred in Menik Farm will be sent back by August 2012. However, Minister Weerakoon has said "rebuilding them back to their normal life will take at least five more years"

Pulling out ICRC assistance from war affected northern Sri Lanka on a government order has severely affected the war displaced who had been sent back from camps to their places of residence or to designated settlements. The ICRC report say that returnees found 'damaged or neglected infrastructure, such as water supply systems, and faced the daunting task of restarting livelihood activities'. However, following a government order in 2010 to close the ICRC’s offices in the north and to cease assistance activities, plans to implement livelihood activities have been cancelled. Government-imposed restrictions on ICRC access to resettlement areas has also prevented it from carrying out planned water supply projects and from systematically monitoring civilian welfare.

The report also finds fault with the government for not allowing the ICRC to carry on planned assistance in the north to returning war displaced. Following the closure of its remaining offices in the north the ICRC says that it had to cancel programmes including 'the provision of seed and tools to farmers to boost crop production; the provision of tackle to fishermen to help them resume livelihood activities; cash grants or vocational training to vulnerable families to invest in improving their future; and the rehabilitation and/or extension of municipal water systems'.

Around the world the ICRC has visited more than 540,000 detainees in 2011, about 28,900 of whom were monitored individually, in 1,869 places of detention in 75 countries and 5 different international courts.It has also established the whereabouts of more than 7,000 people for whom tracing requests had been filed by relatives and reunited around 1,500 people with their families. It had conducted assistance programmes in 80 countries.

Photo coutesy: vikalpa.org

Sri Lanka: Halt Harassment of Media
JULY 3, 2012
Websites Blocked, Journalists Face Charges

The government raids did not just target two media outlets but were part of a broader effort to intimidate and harass all critical journalists. Sri Lanka’s poor reputation on free speech will only sink lower unless these assaults on the media stop immediately.

Brad Adams, Asia director

(New York) – The Sri Lankan government should immediately end harassment of media outlets and journalists in violation of the right to freedom of expression, Human Rights Watch said today. In the three years since the end of the armed conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government has expanded its efforts to silence critical views.

On June 29, 2012, the Criminal Investigation Department, acting on a court order, raided the offices of the Sri Lanka Mirror, a news website, and Sri Lanka X News, a website of the opposition United National Party. The authorities confiscated computers and documents, and arrested nine people on the grounds that the websites were “propagating false and unethical news on Sri Lanka.” They were charged under article 120 of the Penal Code, which imposes up to two years in prison for those who “excite or attempt to excite feelings of disaffection to the president or to the government.” The day after their arrest the nine were released on bail.

Full Story>>>

Orientation session on Tamils issue
R. K. RADHAKRISHNAN   COLOMBO, July 3, 2012

Sri Lanka, under siege for refusing to take steps towards granting Tamils their political space, and for refusing to look back into Eelam War IV and take action against human rights abuses, has summoned all Heads of its overseas Missions for an orientation session.

The session, slated for July 7, will be held in the Army cantonment, Diyatalawa.

The lectures would include a series of lectures on priorities, the status of the Tamil question, and what Sri Lanka should aim to achieve in the medium- and long-term.

The idea is to get all diplomats on the same page given the fact that

Sri Lanka is seeking new friends for support in multilateral bodies.

Sri Lankan Tamil party says no progress on political solution
2012-07-03

COLOMBO, July 3 (Xinhua) -- The main minority Tamil political party in Sri Lanka said on Tuesday that moves aimed at reaching a political solution to the ethnic issue in the country remained deadlocked.

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) legislator M.A. Sumanthiran told Xinhua that his party leader R. Sampanthan and the leader of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) Ranil Wickremesinghe had met over the weekend in an attempt to look for a way forward.

Following the end of a 30-year war between the Tamil Tiger rebels and the military three years ago the government and the TNA began talks aimed at reaching a political solution.

However the talks were suspended late last year after the government insisted that the TNA take part in a parliament process involving all the political parties to reach a political solution.

The TNA refused to be part of the process known as the Parliament Select Committee (PSC) until an agreement is reached at direct talks between the government and the TNA.

"Mr. Sampanthan met Mr. Wickrememesinghe and discussed several issues regarding the PSC. But there is still no decision or progress. Our position remains that we will join the PSC only once an agreement is reached in bilateral talks with the government. However the government does not seem keen to resume bilateral talks," Sumanthiran said.

Sumanthiran also said that there was an attempt made by the UNP leader to push the government to have bilateral talks with the TNA while also going ahead with the PSC but the government had failed to respond positively to the request.

Amidst pressure from its allies the government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa has refused to have talks only with the TNA on the basis that they are not the sole representatives of the Tamils.

However the UNP has refused to take part in the PSC until the government reaches an agreement with the TNA to join the process.

As a result the PSC has also remained deadlocked despite pressure from Sri Lanka's biggest neighbor India which wants the government to reach a speedy political solution which is acceptable to all the communities in the country.

Editor: Lu Hui

How India And Sri Lanka Handle The Headache Of Tamil Eelaam – OpEd

By Shenali Waduge  June 30, 2012

Tamil Eelaam has without a doubt turned into an issue that has nothing to do with the Tamil people either in Tamil Nadu or in Sri Lanka and everything to do with India’s strategic interests. Eelaam is nothing but a tool and a white horse to advance India’s strategic interest. It is something the Tamil people of both countries must learn to accept and refuse to fall prey to. Unfortunately, the Tamil representatives in both India and Sri Lanka are in the pockets of India who have been outsourced the task of maintaining the bogus “Eelaam” quest politically which camouflages India’s intentions and actions. India has meticulously turned the Eelaam quest into an opportunity to advance its territorial stakes while ensuring India’s plans remains on track. Sadly, Sri Lanka’s leaders continue to fall prey and refuse to use the strength of the public that detests India in Sri Lanka to deny India’s game plan to permanently create a stake inside Sri Lanka.

 Read More

Thieves of museum robbery come to light -camouflages of the Govt. collapsing

(Lanka-e-News-03.July.2012, 10.30PM) The chief of the security of the Colombo National art Gallery had been abducted in a white Van and after keeping him in custody for 20 days and severely assaulting , has been demanded to accept the responsibility for the theft of the valuable ancient swords and 221 artifacts from the museum , according to reports reaching Lanka e news.

Imbuldeniyagedera Stanley Liyanage is the security chief of the art gallery who was abducted and ruthlessly assaulted. He was abducted on the 12th of June and released on 2nd July , yesterday early morning at 5.30 at Udunuwara , Gadaladeniya junction of old Davalagala police division.

After the release , Stanley has lodged a complaint with the Davulugala police. Yet in his complaint though he had stated that he was abducted and mercilessly assaulted in connection with the alleged robbery at the Colombo museum ,the police has only recorded that he was abducted and assaulted to force him confess that he committed a robbery.

Stanley the victim is 40 years old , and is residing at 99 /1, Rangaleema gaha kotuwa is the chief security officer stationed of the Arts Gallery at Colombo 07 . On 12th June night, a group of individuals had arrived and taken Stanley out . As he stepped on to the road , he was slapped several times, held by the limbs and thrown into a white Van. He was then shown the weapons in the Van and blindfolded . 

He was later detained at an unknown place. They have during the 20 days of detention kept him blindfolded and assaulted forcing him to confess that he committed the alleged museum robbery involving valuable artifacts and ancient swords. 

The victim stated that the abductors and assailants appeared to be from the army and the police though it cannot be confirmed. Stanley has however refused to confess to a crime he has not committed. Finally , he had been freed early morning at Gadaladeniya on the 2nd.

Following the ruthless attack launched on Stanley , one ear of his totally deaf. He was also compelled to be admitted to the Kandy base Hospital owing to the severe battery and assault he suffered . He is undergoing treatment at ward 10 of the Hospital.
The total degeneration of the legal system and rule of law in SL was epitomized when another suspect was produced to court in connection with the same museum theft even as Stanley Liyanage was freed. This suspect who supposedly has robbed the valuable museum artifacts had in his possession 7 pieces of gold allegedly- molten gold from the artifacts weighing 630 grams in total. This is a most strange arrest, because as the white van released an innocent victim who was detained for 20 grueling days, mercilessly assaulting him on the ground he is the suspect , the CID now produces a new suspect with molten gold as the real culprit before the chief Magistrate Singapulli .
This new suspect , Thenuwara Aarachchige Kelum from Ihala Biyanwila , Kadawatha , has sold three melted pieces of this gold , the CID told court. This robbery of the museum , a most treasured national asset , amidst strict security shocked and drew the attention of all in SL. Hence , it is most intriguing and perplexing why the Govt. did not give publicity to the arrests of suspect following the white van abduction or the suspect apprehended based on the melted gold of the Museum artifacts.

It is interesting to note that while the relevant police was conducting investigations into these most valuable articles that were robbed, the CID took over the investigations including all the records , statements and other documents. 

By now , the entire country knows what are the capabilities of the CID, that is, they are well trained to distort any investigation , suppress any information and deceive the people to suit only the most foul needs of the Rajapakse regime , as pointed out by some of the CID officers themselves.

The main reason for this disgraceful and disdainful state of affairs in the CID based on views of officers of the CID is , Mahes Perera who has been appointed as the Director , CID, is a notorious gambler and infamous Don Juan . Gotabaya the defense secretary who is fully aware of the weaknesses of Mahes Perera is browbeating him into doing all Gota’s sordid and evil biddings , while this scoundrel of a Director also knows that if he does not yield to Gota , he will stand exposed.. This truth is well and thoroughly known to all members of the staff of the CID. 

The above manipulations and maneuvers resorted to by the Govt. camouflaging the actual events and the true rogues in the museum robbery clearly reveal the other side of the episode – who are the true thieves in this museum robbery of the most ancient valuables.

The more one conceals the truth the clearer it becomes that it needs concealment. This is what this Govt. is doing subordinating sublime national interests to its most selfish base nefarious interests.

Occupying Sri Lanka Army assaults Saiva priest in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 July 2012, 07:57 GMT]
The Tamil priest of Aathi Paraasakthi temple in Valveddith-thu'rai was brutally assaulted by the occupying Sri Lanka military on Monday, a few minutes after the priest politely reminded a Sinhala soldier, who went inside the temple wearing boots, that the act was considered as showing disrespect to the deity and as desecrating the shrine. The priest, brutally attacked by the military, was rushed to Valveddith-thu'rai hospital by the devotees of the temple at E'l'lang-ku'lam. Tension prevailed in the area following the offending act of the SL military, residents of the village said. 

A SLA soldier, who was playing with his fellow troopers in the military-appropriated land of the temple, ran inside the temple after a ball. 

The Tamil priest, who was conducting prayers inside the temple noticed the act of the soldier entering the temple wearing shoes and politely warned him on the hostile act. 

Following this, the soldier went out and came with a team of soldiers, headed by their commander, and beat the priest causing several injuries to him. 

The wounded priest was taken to the hospital by the devotees after the SL soldiers left the site. 

The SLA had appropriated the land belonging to the temple and transformed it into a play ground for them.

The SLA had earlier destroyed the Tamil Heroes Cemetery for Vadamaraadchi region, which was situated near the temple.

Sampanthan Discusses Land Grabbing Issue With Menon

Tuesday, July 03, 2012

By Maryam Azwer

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader, Rajavarothiam Sampanthan, says that land grabbing in the North and East as among the issues he discussed with visiting Indian National Security Adviser, Shivshankar Menon on Friday.
Sampanthan said that the issue of a political solution to the ethnic question was the main point of discussion, but that they had also brought up matters pertaining to the Parliamentary Select Committee and the ‘ground situation’ as well.
“I also told him about land grabbing and excessive land being taken over for military purposes and how the demographic composition of the Northern and Eastern Provinces is being further radically altered as a result,” said Sampanthan.
He also said that, “It was a very constructive meeting. Mr. Menon has come here as the envoy of the Indian government to convey certain messages to the Sri Lankan government with regard to a political solution and to emphasize that India’s position with regard to this matter is consistent and continues. This is the view of the Indian government and the whole of India… that there must be an early acceptable political solution to the Tamil question in Sri Lanka, which gives the Tamil people their self-respect and dignity and gives them an equal status in this country.”
Sampanthan added that India is interested in ensuring a political solution “within a united, undivided country” and also said “I think they have conveyed their views to the Sri Lankan government, and they also wanted to share with us their perceptions.”
When asked what he expected of the outcome of the meeting, Sampanthan said “I do think that we are now in a different era, where with the end of the armed struggle, the need for a political solution has become more important and is being emphasized more by different sections. And I think this visit must be looked at in a manner very different from the normal round of visits that take place,” he said.

Treasure hunters ransack temple
July 2, 2012, 

By Padamasiri Gardiyawasam, Tangalle Corr

Treasure hunters have damaged Buddha statues and chetiya of the Hakuruwela Pihillawela Purana Rajamaha Viharaya in Weerakeitiya on Sunday (01) night.

They had demolished a side of the Chetiya and broken down the pinnacle (kotha) and taken it away with them, police said.

At the time the Chief incumbent of the temple had gone for a pirith chanting ceremony. The acolyte of the temple was found gagged and trussed up when the chief incumbent returned. Parts of the Buddha statues which had been demolished by the treasure hunters in search of valuable items deposited in them were scattered on the floor. The value of the treasure taken away could not be estimated, police said.

Weeraketiya police are conducting further investigations.

UN concerned over raid on SL news websites

TUESDAY, 03 JULY 2012

The United Nations yesterday expressed concern over the raid on the offices of the Lanka Mirror and Lanka X news websites and on the arrest of nine employees.

UN Secretary General’s spokesman Martin Nesirky told a news conference that the UN was aware that such a raid had taken place.

“And as we’ve said in many other cases, not just with regard to this country, journalists need to be able to do their work without interference.  And that’s the general principle and it applies in this case, too,” he said.

The European Union and the US denounced the attack on the media and said journalists must be able to carry out their legitimate work without fear of harassment or intimidation

Thirteen Year Old Girl Raped By 13 Men

By Niranjala Ariyawansa

At the tender age of 13 years she left her home at Hakmana and came to Tangalle to escape from an uncle who repeatedly raped her. Not only did he rape her but also threatened her that she will be killed if she informed her parents about his activities.  He also forced her to leave home because he feared that he would be exposed. She may have ultimately decided to leave her home as she was threatened with death and she wanted to escape from this harrowing experience. But this was only the beginning of a more pathetic story.
On  June 3, she was inTangalle, which is 25 kilometers away from her home. By this time this girl who  had lived with her parents  through fear of threats from her uncle who had raped her ran away from home and  overnight became a young girl loitering in an unknown city. To all those who showed her any sympathy, her request has been to find her some sort of employment. As a result they had taken her to Ruwan Textiles, the largest textile shop in Tangalle. There was a notice at the front indicating that Sales Girls are required. But she did not know that to escape from the storm she was walking into a vast ocean.
45 year old Harshana was the  owner of Ruwan Textiles. He agreed to give employment to this abandoned girl. Next day was Poson Poya and Harshana with a number of other business friends was making preparations to have an  Ice Cream Dansala.
After they finished the Dansala  on June 5, they organized a party at Namal Guest House & Restaurant  in Medilla which is located about 1km away from Tangalle town. At this party where most of the rich businessmen of Tangalle were present, this 13 year old girl became their victim.
This girl was sexually  abused by  seven men for three days  at this hotel. The abusers were 45 year old Harshana – owner of Ruwan Textiles, owner of Nilupul Stores who is believed to be about 60 years – Chandana, the owner  of Shehan Guest House -  Dimuthu Muthukumarana, Coordinating Secretary  to the Minister of Disaster Management -  Pradeep, a retail shop owner, youngest son of Sampath, a fish seller, Anjana and  Lalith. They had also taken her to other hotels in Tangalle where she was sexually assaulted by many. She has been transported to these places by Raja in his three wheeler.
After six days of inhuman sexual abuse and assault by these men, she has been handed over to the Tangalle Police by a person from Rekawa. When he was about to leave, the girl had told the Police that he is the last person who abused her.  After that he has revealed the names of others. Within the last three weeks 9 out of 13 men who were responsible for this crime has surrendered to the  Tangalle police.
First three has surrendered to the Police through Krishantha Punchihewa, a lawyer in Tangalle. Later the other suspects, except the youngest son of Sampath,  have also surrendered to the police through the same lawyer. Altogether 9 persons have been produced in court and remanded. Four suspects are still in hiding.
The girls who is in a critical condition is receiving medical care under the National Child Protection Authority and with the consent of her parents.
Our attempts to get more information from Mr. Kalinga Silva, OIC of Tangalle Police station was not successful.  Instead we spoke to C. Wedisinghe, Superintendent of Police in charge of Hambantota. He directed us to Mr. Jayalath Balagalle, ASP Mr. Balagalle informed us that  he does not know anything about this  and directed us to  Mr. Nandana Wijeratna, ASP  in charge of this investigation. When we spoke to Nandana Wijeratna he stated that he is unable to give any information and directed us to  the PoliceSpokesman.
However an  officer at Tangalle police, who did not want to be named,  told us that  since Tangalle is the hometown of President Mahinda Rajapaksa it has been prohibited to release any information  as it may be a slur on the president.
The United Front member of the Tangalle Pradeshiya Saba, who did not want to be named  told us  since  all the remanded suspects are rich businessmen in Tangalle  the whole incident will be swept under the carpet. Further, since the girl is from another area nobody is taking any initiative to organize a protest. People at Tangalle also fear that they may have to face repercussions from these wealthy businessmen, should they do so.
According to the Pradeshiya Saba member, more than 13 had joined this seriese of sex abuse. However her uncle who raped her first is still at large with four more suspects.

“Police Must Immediately Arrest The Uncle Of This Child…” – Prof. Harendra Silva, Former Chairman, National Child Protection Authority

“This is the  future of the country.  Howmany such incidents happened at Tangalle? On the one hand we must educate our children, when such abuse takes place to inform the parents without feeling shy or go before the law enforcement authorities.
On the other hand there are vultures who are waiting to catch these children. Even by giving a minimumof 10 years imprisonment for child abuse has not reduced these incidents. Reason is the  poor law enforcement. Those who indulge in these activities know that these could be swept under the carpet by the power of money or politics. You can even buy the police officers. These businessman from Tangalle also must be thinking like that. I want to request the judges not to grant them bail  and to impose maximum punishment.
The Police must first of all arrest the uncle of this girl. We cannot allow any body to ruin this girls’s future.  The schools and the society corner these children. But it is these criminals who should be cornered from society. We must give the maximum protection  and education to these children.”