UNHRC’S INITIATIVES NEED DELHI’S ‘POWER ASSERTION’ (HARIHARAN)TO RID THE RAJAPAKSES’ IMPU

by Vssubramaniam for The Ground Report India August 11, 2012

UNHRC’S INITIATIVES NEED DELHI’S ‘POWER ASSERTION’ (HARIHARAN)TO RID THE RAJAPAKSES’ IMPUNITY OVER LANKAN TAMILS’ OPPRESSION!

Colombo boastfully hawks its National Action Plan (NAP) implementing all the inconsequentials in the LLRC’s proposals but omits the crucial political element. The NAP is a diversion to tire out the international community away from efforts to hold Lanka accountable for its grave crimes against humanity. Once the NAP fails to provide the space to effectively deal with thecrucial political component that led to the conflict in which Lanka committed the crimes, all the hog wash in LLRC and NAP to bring about long-term reconciliation and lasting peace in Lanka is no different from what the Sinhala regimes promised and never delivered for over the past six decades and allowed the oppression of the Eelam Tamils to continue without any redress. In summary the NAP here amounts to a ‘No Action Plan’.

Lanka devious efforts to evade UNHRC accountability have the support of the South Block captive Delhi/Sonia who also supported Lanka’s war overtly and covertly until the Tamils were defeated in May 2009. After that Delhi continues to support the Lankan genocide to eliminate the Tamil homelands from the Lankan soil completely by fighting international efforts through the UNHRC to bring Lanka before the courts for the crimes it committed. The lessons from Lanka’s war against Tamils is that lives of Tamils are at the Lankan mercy once the life saving umbrella that the LTTE provided was lost in May 2009. Mullivaykkal massacre is not the only killing in the war, there were many many more mini-Muliivaykal massacres and other killings details of which will surface only when independent international courts investigate. It is foolhardy to expect much from a LLRC or any locally appointed courts to investigate. Colombo and Delhi dread independent investigation by international courts; fearing dreadful and embarrassing cans of worms to appear.

Killings of Tamils though shocking to civil humanity in only one aspect of the Lankan genocide. It also involves other brutal forms of cruelty under Lanka’s official ‘winner takes all’ (Kohona) policy; it rapaciously snatches away from the Tamils their homeland, assets, homes, land, livelihood and even human dignity (including the modesty of women) under the Sinhala supremacist’s military occupation. The why for the Delhi mandarins not for once condemning these brutal acts is difficult to fathom.

Such atrocities that cause distress to many do not stir the rock like hearts of the mandarins in Delhi. They observe a novel form of dharma under the label ‘secularism’ pretending to be neutral and not condemning the brutal killings and oppression right under its nose. Lankan genocide is now about ridding the Tamil homelands in Lanka. This outrageous plan in action shocks all except the South Block mandarins and their captive UPA leaders. Delhi’s sneaky actions to hinder international efforts go beyond curbing the excesses of Lanka to redress the Eelam Tamil’s sufferings to the South Block instigating Delhi to sabotage international action to bring the Lankans to account for their crimes. Shiv Shankar Menon is reportedly now the chief architect of the South Block policies. Every one of his visits to the Rajapakses is dreaded by the Tamils fearing what more brutal crimes this South Block emissary has planned for with his counter-parts to harm the Tamils in Lanka. The fear was born out of the South Block’s past record of the cozying emissaries who frequented Colombo to calibrate the Rajapakse devastating attacks on the LTTE. These produced the Mullivaykal and many mini-Mullivaykal massacres. Civilians were not spared. The Delhi trio was involved according to Gothbhaya Rajapakse in the Mullivaykal tragedy. Confirmation by independent agencies that the Delhi trio was deeply associated in the Lankan crimes using the ‘no fire zone’ to entrap tens of thousands for the kill and ‘barb wire fenced open air detention of over 300 000 displaced civilians whose release took as long as 3 years would be most embarrassing. Though Gothabhaya openly hinted at the ‘in the loop’ involvement of the Delhi trio and Delhi’s astonishing stilled silence on this creates fears that the trio had a definite role in the Lanka crimes. The ‘no fire zone’ and the ‘mass detention prisons’ are inerasable blots on the dharmic heritage of a great country though these were caused by its adharmic bureaucrats. . more

A Former US AG Joins Transnational Government Of Tamil Eelam As A Senator, A Sinhalese Also Joins The Senate

By Colombo Telegraph -August 16, 2012

Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran the Prime Minister of the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE), yesterday announced the names of nine Senators to TGTE’s Senate. The Senate was created as the Upper House of TGTE’s Parliament.

Rudrakumaran

Among those appointed as Senators is a former United States Attorney General, Ramsey Clark, who played a major role in drafting and guiding the passage of two important US Laws: The Voting Rights Act of 1965 and The Civil Rights Act of 1968.
Another appointment to the Senate is a Sinhalese, Dr. Brain Senewiratne, who is currently living in Australia,
Other members of the Senate include: Dr. Nagalingam Jeyalingam, M.D. from New York., Mr. Satya Sivaraman: Journalist and human rights & public health activist from New Delhi, India, Mrs. Usha Sriskandarajah: A well-known Tamil activist from Canada, Mr. Elansezhian B.Sc. from Tamil Nadu, India, Mr. Gnaneswaran: An Engineer from Canada, Jegan N. Mohan: A Senior Barrister-at-Law from Canada, Mr. Rajaratnam B.Sc. from Canada.

It is reported that the names of additional six Senators will be announced soon. Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) was created in the aftermath of the bloody end of Sri Lanka’s war; resulting tens of thousands of Tamil civilians were killed and sexually assaulted by the Sri Lankan security forces. UN documented war crimes and recommended an International Commission of Inquiry.

Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) is a democratically elected government of the Tamil Diaspora of Sri Lanka. It held internationally supervised elections in twelve countries to elect Members of Parliament (MPs). These MPs drafted and ratified a Constitution and elected a Prime Minister, a 10 member Cabinet and a Speaker.

Read more information about the Senators; TGTE-Announces-Appointments-of-the-house-of-Senate-English-August-152012-members.pdf

Birds of a feather flock together: Swaziland Miswathi and SL ‘Hiswaatha’

-True story about the King as revealed by his 6th wife

(Lanka-e-News -16.Aug.2012, 10.30PM) Lanka e news is in receipt of copious reports , not only from Sri Lankans within , but even thousands living abroad as well as the whole world that they are rudely shocked and feeling disgraced over the Royal welcome accorded by SL to the King of Swaziland , a notorious rapist , sex maniac and one who is responsible for bringing that country to the brink of bankruptcy. It is none other than the equally or worse tainted Medamulana Rajapakse ‘Hiswaatha’ regime that has also earned the displeasure of its own people for the same raging crimes in the country and causing abysmal sufferings to the people which extended this welcome. It is the view of those many who had written to us that birds of a feather certainly would like to flock together. But, for that joy of flocking together , SL’s prestige and moral traditions cannot be compromised by the Rajapakse ‘Kabarayas’ (muddy water reptiles) , they had pointed out.  While the Govt. was making a huge hue and cry with the backing of its sordid media hirelings also giving undue publicity regarding the visit to Sri Lanka of Miswathi ,this barbaric uncouth King the second of Swaziland , Lanka e news as usual , first with the news and expressing frankly , fearlessly and forthrightly exposed the putrid background of this King who had thrown his people from the frying pan into the fire . We made it clear that King Miswathi had come to meet our own mud water reptile ‘Maharaja Hiswaatha’ of the same ilk for a most ‘jara’ flocking together. Lo and behold! we are now inundated with a deluge of information from countless quarters revealing the sordid ,unscrupulous and sex starved antecedence of our Maharaja’s boon companion , the jara King of Swaziland . The reports explain how because of this King his country had gone to rack and ruin , and that he cannot be trusted at all. Though to our moron Medamulana Maharaja ‘Hiswaatha’ he is a ‘great King’ (cast in the same mould as his) to be put on a pedestal , the whole world on the contrary frowns upon him as one who has no sense of morality , decency or human qualities and is just a beast and ruthless rapist . Mind you , this is not what we are telling , not the world, but from the horse’s mouth – related by one of his own wives.  This 44 year old Miswani is such a brutal rapist and sex maniac he has an insatiable bed diet with 13 wives who are forcibly made to yield to his animalistic sexual instincts.  Full story >>

Military Suicides: Lessons Learnt From The Eelam War In Sri Lanka

By Ruwan M Jayatunge -August 16, 2012

Dr Ruwan M Jayatunge M.D.

There is but one truly serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide. Judging whether life is or is not worth living amounts to answering the fundamental question of philosophy. All the rest — whether or not the world has three dimensions, whether the mind has nine or twelve categories — comes afterward. These are games; one must first answer - Albert Camus 

Suicide is regarded as one of the major public health problems in Sri Lanka and has received considerable attention in recent years. Suicides are the fourth most frequent cause of death in hospitals in Sri Lanka. (Fernando et al., 2010) argues that deaths from suicide reached a peak in Sri Lanka in 1995. Several interventions reduced the suicide rate of 48.7 per 100,000 in 1995 to 23 per 100,000 in 2006, though it is still a major socioeconomic problem.  In 2007 Sri Lanka had a rate of about 21 suicides per 100,000 people.

The validity of reported prevalence of suicide depends to a considerable degree on the method for determining the cause of death, the comprehensiveness of the death reporting system, and the procedures employed to estimate national rates based on crude cause of death data (Suicide and Suicide Prevention in Asia –WHO).Sri Lanka has an Island wide health services system and reporting of death is mandatory. Therefore most of the suicides do not go without being reported.

There are many psychosocial and economic factors that contribute to suicides in Sri Lanka. Some Sociologists had viewed that the prolonged armed conflict in the North had drastic effects on the suicide rates in Sri Lanka. During the past 15 years in war-torn Sri Lanka, it is estimated that nearly 50000 persons have been killed. Deaths due to suicide, in the same period, are estimated to be 106000 – twice the number due to war. (Suicide Prevention: Emerging from Darkness WHO)

The Military Conflict in Sri Lanka and Suicides                      Read More

UK WARNS TOURISTS OF UPSURGE IN NATIONALISM AND SEXUAL OFFENCES IN SL

August 16, 2012 

The British Foreign Office in a travel advisory warned tourists coming to Sri Lanka that there has been an upsurge of Nationalism in the country following the end of the war while also warning tourists of increasing reports of sexual offences including on minors.

The Foreign Office advises tourists to stay away from demonstrations as there has been an increase in anti-Western rhetoric in Sri Lanka. The advisory states,

“Travellers should note that the end of the military conflict in May 2009 has seen an upsurge of nationalism in Sri Lanka. As a result, anti-Western (particularly anti-British) rhetoric has increased. This has led to violent protests against the British High Commission and other diplomatic premises. Although no protests have so far been directed at the British community more generally, you should be vigilant and avoid demonstrations.”

Furthermore, the advisory warns against sexual offences and points to an upsurge in sexual offences against minors. While stating that there is no particular trend towards crimes against foreigners the advisory however highlights the death of a British National in an altercation in December 2011.

“Violent crimes against foreigners are relatively infrequent, although there have been an increasing number of reports of sexual offences including on minors.  When travelling around Sri Lanka, you should make arrangements through reputable travel companies and exercise appropriate caution.  Women should take particular care when travelling alone, or in small groups, and carry personal alarms. ” 

MORE..

The struggle to go home in post war Sri Lanka: The story of Puthukudiruppu

The struggle to go home in post war Sri Lanka: The story of Puthukudiruppu

Ruki-16 Aug, 2012

Groundviews

Rajini (pseudonym) was amongst the ten women we met in a church in Vavuniya district about a week ago. At the time she and two of her children were living in Kadirgama camp in Menik Farm. The women and their families were displaced since 2008 and were prevented from going home to Puthukudiruppu. Some of us had known this community for several years and their yearning was always to go home to their villages despite the uncertainties about the remains of their houses and property.

Rajini’s husband was killed on April 17th 2009 during the last phase of the war between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Her eldest son, now 23, was forcibly recruited by the LTTE in 2007. Two years later, at the end of the war, he and other former LTTE combatants were detained by the police and moved to the Boossa detention Centre in the Galle District. Rajini has two more children aged 10 and 16 years.

At the time of our previous meetings, the women shared with us their fond memories of the village and looked forward to returning home to their own places in Puthukudiruppu East and West in the Mullaitivu District. Ranjini and many others had spent more than three years at Kadirgama and Anandakumarasamy camps in Menik Farm. For Ranjini and the other women, their priority was to return home to a secure place in order to build a better future for their children.

Almost all the buildings in Puthukudiruppu were destroyed during the last phase of the conflict. And even three years after the end of the war, many of the homes remain in shambles. School buildings, hospitals and churches were also destroyed by heavy artillery shelling. The displacement resulted in the abandonment of private lands and in this three year period the residential areas had become jungles.

It is to these jungles that Rajini and her children came home to on August 10^th 2012. Along with Ranjini, about two hundred families returned to the jungles of Puthukudirrupuu East from Menik Farm.

Continue reading »

President doubtful whether power cuts are a conspiracy by Champika

Thursday, 16 August 2012 

The President has informed the head of the state intelligence unit to inquire and inform him whether the current power cuts and the strike by the CEB employees are being carried out with Power and Energy Minister Champika Ranawaka’s knowledge, a senior government minister said.

The President has told several ministers that having power cuts during a provincial election campaign would have a negative impact for the governing party. He has added that there were doubts whether Champika has instructed the power cuts to bring disrepute to the government during the election campaign since the JHU has decided not to contest the provincial council elections.

It is learnt that Power and Energy Ministry Secretary, M.M.C. Ferdinando has provided the President with many details against Minister Champika Ranawaka.

However, the duration of power cuts have now been increased to three hours due to the break down at the Norochcholai power plant and the lack of rains.

Meanwhile, the Chinese government through the embassy in Colombo has expressed to External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris its displeasure over the criticism leveled against the Chinese company that constructed the Norochcholai coal power plant by Minister Champika Ranawaka over the technical failures of the plant.

Don't expect justice by changing regimes that deson't recognise Tamils as Nation: Gajendrakumar

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 August 2012, 21:16 GMT]
Parity of status to Tamils as a nation is the only way to restore justice in the island. It is meaningless to expect that ‘internal justice’ would come from any regime in Colombo, said Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, a former parliamentarian and the leader of the Tamil National Peoples Front (TNPF) addressing the participants of a protest organised by the party on Wednesday to condemn the slaying of the Tamil political prisoner Delruxon Mariyathas and Nimalarooban. Wednesday's protest gains significance as the SL military and police that attempted to curb the protest in front of Jaffna were not able to suppress it through their ‘friendly magistrate’ as they managed to do earlier in curbing a protest at the same site by the TNPF. 

Tamil political prisoners were slain en masse in Welikade [in 1983] when a different party was in power in Colombo. The Bindunuwewa prison massacre took place under another regime [in 2000]. Now, the slaying of Nimalarooban and Delruxon in the prisons of the Sri Lankan State has taken place under the Rajapaksa regime. One cannot expect justice from any government in Colombo without the recognition that Tamils constitute a Nation on par with the Sinhala nation in the island, Mr. Ponnambalam said, both at his address at the funeral of Delruxon on Saturday and at the TNPF-organised protest held in front of the Jaffna bus stand on WednesdayGajendrakumar Ponnambalam, 15 Aug 2012

Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam on 11 Aug 2012
Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam further urged the contemporary Tamil political leaders not to betray the Tamils as the former leaders of the political parties three decades ago had done without understanding the systemic nature of the ‘Sri Lankan State’. 

He said that the Tamil political leaders should concentrate on forming a coherent strategy with a deeper understanding. 

TNA parliamentarians Suresh Premachandran, S. Sritharan, E Saravanapavan, former parliamentarian took part in the protest together with the general secretary of the TNPF Selvarajah Kajendren.

Mano Ganesan, the leader of the Democratic Peoples Front from the Western Province and progressive politicians and activists from the South attended the protest. 
Mano Ganesan on 11 Aug 2012
 Delruxon's body had been brought to his home village, Paasaiyoor, on the morning of 10th August after a long struggle with the Sri Lankan system in the South.

Even before the body reached the house of the victim, the SL Police in Jaffna had manged to secure legal instruction from the Jaffna Magistrate M. Ganesarajah that the funeral of Delruxon should take place without delay already on 09 August.

However, the body reached the house only on the following day and the SL police was forced to secure a new deadline for the funeral.

In the meantime, St. Antony's Church, where the funeral service was to take place, only had next available time on Saturday and the lawyers representing the family of the victim argued that it was not possible to conduct the funeral on 10 August without the prayer at the family church of the victim.

Braving the threatening presence of the occupying Sri Lankan military and the SL police, around one thousand people of all walks of life had taken part in the funeral on Saturday.

Several Tamil politicians and Sinhala politicians and activists of the progressive parties in the South had also attended the funeral.



“Delruxon was a freedom fighter. He was a former member of the LTTE. The occupying SL military arrested him several days after May 2009. He ended up in Vavuniyaa prison without any legal charges against him. At Vavuniyaa, he fought for the dignity of one of his fellow prisoner with courage,” said an ex-LTTE member who attended the funeral on Saturday.



Delruxon and Nimalrooban were among 122 Tamil prisoners who were brutally attacked and transferred away from Vavuniyaa prison on 29 June, after they had protested for days demanding proof of existence of one of their fellow prisoners who had been subjected to severe torture by the Sri Lankan forces.

The raid by the SL commandos on 29 June came after the Tamil prisoners had held three Sinhala prison officials in their custody.

Following the raid, the prisoners were transferred to Anuradhapura and Mahara prisons and were allegedly subjected to further torture.

Delruxon had fallen into coma after he was brutally attacked and was admitted at Mahara government hospital, where he was allegedly kept in chains and not treated properly by the hospital. As the condition of the slain Delruxon had deteriorated, a mother of another Tamil boy who had been reported missing following abduction also claimed he was her son and confusion prevailed for a while. Later, he was identified as Delruxon from Paasaiyoor.



Mr Senthilvel on 15 Aug 2012

S Sritharan on 11 August 2012

Srithunga Jayasooriya on 11 Aug 2012

Selvam Adaikkalanaathan on 11 Aug 2012

V Ananadasangaree on 11 Aug 2012

President displeased with Wimal-Hirunika alliance

Thursday, 16 August 2012

The special affection shown by Minister Wimal Weerawansa towards the late Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra’s daughter, Hirunika Premachandra has captured President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s attention.

Hirunika has been severely criticizing the President following Bharatha’s killing. Therefore, the President is angry that Wimal Weerawansa was invited as the chief guest at Bharatha’s memorial ceremony and the frequent visits made by Wimal to Hirunika’s residence.

The President has asked Wimal’s nemesis Kaduwela Mayor, Buddhadasa to question the work carried out by Wimal during the next Colombo District Development Committee meeting.

Pictures: “Reminiscence Of Mullivaikaal Massacre And Eelam Tamil Martyrs Of India”

By Special Correspondent - August 16, 2012 

In remembrance of Mullivaikaal massacre and Eelam martyrs of India, World Tamil Confederation has launched a massive project involving over hundred sculptors in Tanjore. Tanjore in known for the sculptures of late Chola Emperor Rajaraja the Great and the stone built temple of centuries-old architecture still revered and visited by thousands of Hindus from all parts of India and the world. It is celebrated as world heritage site by UNESCO. It is also home to the ancient ‘Tamil Sangam’, (Academy of Tamil Learning), it became as important for its scholarship as for its religious heritage.

The memorial exhibition of Mullivaikaal massacre adjacent to the Bragadeeswarar Temple in Tanjore contemplates to keep the memory of those who were massacred alive. The depth of the desperation, the revulsion of violent deaths and the pain of suffering masses have been captured and depicted in sculpture forms. A visitor commented that the sculptures is so powerful they penetrate the conscious deeply and cries out for justice.

No one can undermine the power of the sculptures in Tanjore or Kilinochchi. The project purported to have been instigated by an overwhelming memorial sculpture of Sri Lankan Army on A9 in Kilinochchi. Who would have anticipated that it would provoke such contemplation among Tamils in India?

It is better for all that the reconciliation efforts are dispensed from the military and delegated to civil society and responsible members of public to own and advance the reconciliation efforts beyond current impediments. The transition from post-war to just peace cries out with birth pangs again and again but still-born without political solution.

Read More

Government trying to make Harry Jayawardena another Kotelawela

Thursday, 16 August 2012

President Mahinda Rajapaksa says that millionaire businessman Harry Jayawardena would face the same fate like businessman Lalith Kotelawela.

The President has made this statement to Petroleum Minister Susil Premajayantha during a discussion on the importation of substandard fuel. The Minister had explained to the President during the discussion that it was the former head of the CPC, Harry Jayawardena who is responsible for importing the substandard fuel.

However, Harry Jayawardena has told the media that he would not be responsible for the substandard fuel issue and that it was the Minister’s responsibility.

One of Harry Jayawardena’s daughters is in former US President Bill Clinton’s staff. President Rajapaksa has been angry with Harry for some time since he had used his links to Clinton to help only former President Chandrika Kumaratunge.

Nevertheless, Harry Jayawardena has invested the most amounts of monies in the President’s election campaigns in 2005 and 2010.

Video: CEB wants pensioners, students if strike continues

Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Chairman Dr. Wimaladharma Abeywickrama requested all Engineer Faculty final year students and CEB pensioners today to join the CEB if the ongoing protest is not called off by August 24.

The chairman also said he had taken all measures to recruit 200 employees including engineers on a permanent basis with the approval of the Management Services Department while others will be recruited on a temporary basis.

Pensioners who are willing to rejoin CEB are requested to hand over their applications to the nearest CEB sub-stations. (Indika Sri Aravinda)

WATCH

Straight Talk Leads To Godage’s Recall

Envoys are almost never sacked by home governments except in the event of a change of regime in the home country or if they are guilty of an exceptionally nasty faux pas in their host country.

Both do not seem to apply to outgoing Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Malaysia Kalyananda Godage, who will make an ignominious exit in a fortnight after a mere eight months of trying to further the Sri Lankan cause here.

And the offence that precipitated his recall by External Affairs minister, Prof G. L. Peiris, who just months ago was hailed by Godage as bringing a breath of fresh air into Sri Lankan foreign relations?

Asking the minister at a meeting of 59 Sri Lankan envoys at the army cantonment hall at Diyatalawa last month for answers to questions raised by Malaysian Sri Lankan Tamil groups on efforts to rehabilitate and empower Tamils in the Northern and Eastern parts of the republic after the end of the civil war.

It was enough to rile Peiris into taking the matter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa to urge Godage’s immediate ouster.

An ironical turn of events, as Godage was ostensibly recalled into service after a 15-year-retirement to handle the affluent and educated Malaysian Sri Lankan community which, at the best of times, can be testy and difficult when it comes to its countrymen on the island.

Since his arrival in Malaysia, the career diplomat with 36 years of experience in government under his belt began engaging local Sri Lankan Tamil groups favourable to efforts undertaken by Rajapaksa’s government in relation to the Tamil community in Sri Lanka.

Primary among them was the Federation of Malaysian Sri Lankan Organisations (FOMSO), an umbrella body for Tamil and Sinhalese groups in Malaysia, which very much wanted to do its bit for its countrymen on the island.

He steered clear, as he would probably have been advised by Colombo, of a handful of other Sri Lankan Tamil groups in Malaysia that did not even want to engage the Rajapaksa regime.

But even FOMSO officials, who had made several trips to the Tamil homeland with Sri Lankan government assistance to identify areas where they could offer help, were not totally satisfied with the paucity of answers from Colombo.

It is understood that a recent meeting between Godage and FOMSO representatives saw pointed questions being asked about the pace of the rehabilitation of displaced Sri Lankan Tamils.

While FOMSO president Datuk S. Kulasegaran declined to comment on Godage’s recall on grounds that the organisation was apolitical, its advisor Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam was surprised that “the messenger” had been shot.

Colombo should be ready with answers for questions from Malaysians of Sri Lankan descent on the welfare of Tamils in Sri Lanka and not punish Godage for raising the matter, the head of the Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute said.

“I regret Godage’s recall by the Sri Lankan External Affairs Ministry. A lot had been promised by the Sri Lankan government but little seems to be done for the Tamils there.”

Godage’s predecessor, Dr Don Dayananda Ranasinghe, was a political appointee who left hands-on diplomacy to his deputy, Maj Gen Udaya Perera, the much-applauded former Director of Army Operations, who began engaging FOMSO as soon as he arrived in Malaysia.

One would have thought that the Ministry would have realised that Godage, a political columnist in the past for The Island newspaper, would continue pushing for active Tamil participation in their rehabilitation as he had in the past.

So where does this sorry affair leave the complicated issue of engagement between the Sri Lankan Government and Sri Lankan Tamils in Malaysia?

The Sri Lankan government may find itself sacrificing much of the goodwill it cultivated here in recent years with Malaysian Tamil groups with what may be seen as a hardening of its stance on its Tamil population.

Godage’s recall also leaves doubt as to how well his successor will be able to engage Sri Lankan Tamil groups here who want to see justice done for their brethren on the island.

On a bilateral level, however, his unceremonious return will hardly cause a ripple as Malaysia proceeds to maintain its position as the largest investor in Sri Lanka with hundreds of millions ploughed into an island starved for development.

Is Godage a nascent fifth columnist as he appears to be made out to be by his superiors, or merely a misunderstood patriot? Only time will tell.

Source New Straits Times

 

Video: July strikers’ protest compels road closure
WEDNESDAY, 15 AUGUST 2012
A massive protest by July strikers had compelled the closure of roads opposite the Fort railway station causing a major traffic jam. They were protesting the ill treatment they had received from successive governments and were marching towards the presidential secretariat when the police barricaded the area.

Our reporter said the protesters attempted to push down the barricades resulting in a tense situation after which two representatives were granted permission to visit the secretariat.( Lakmal Sooriyagoda)