A Variety Of Comments On A Variety Of Issues

By Emil van der Poorten -September 2, 2012 

Emil van der Poorten

The Federation of University Teachers’ Association held what was, by all accounts, a very successful rally which not only attracted a very large crowd but also brought about a demonstrated commitment to joint protest and action from a broad spectrum of organized labour which was without recent precedent.  Typically, the police (I am sure, NOT on the direction of our democracy-practicing government!) placed several physical and prohibitionary barriers before those seeking to march in solidarity and gather at Hyde Park, inclusive of a ban on the use of loudspeakers after 6 p.m., to little effect by the sounds of it.

While the daily reporting of horrendous crimes continues apace, we have our minister of national safety, or whatever designation he now has added to his other titles, claiming that Sri Lanka is one of the safest places in the world in which to live.  One has no excuse for misunderstanding such an opinion when it emanates from behind a heavily armed security contingent which gets mobile every time their boss climbs into his bullet-proof car and whizzes off to theColombo Stock Exchange or similar places of upper class activity.

I was witness to a truly remarkable display of good sportsmanship and just plain decency on Saturday the 25^th at the Kandy Sports Club vs Upcountry Lions rugby match at Nawalapitiya.  Completely unrehearsed, members of both teams shook hands and, in some instances, embraced each other at the conclusion of the game.  A far cry from rugby games featuring our allegedly highly-disciplined services XVs when assault rifles are, literally, brought into play and spectators by the dozen hospitalized for having the temerity to support the “wrong” (civilian) team!  Maybe the fact that neither of these up-country teams contains Royalty has something to do with this!  However, all of the above has nothing to do with my prediction gone wrong that the Up-Country Lions would “throw” their game against the Navy the week before.  That didn’t happen not because the attempt was not made but because it did not succeed!

After the headline in The Sunday Leader that the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission was forced out of office by no less a person than the President of this country, one need hardly join the (now redundant) dots in the matter of the monumental financial scandals that beset this country.  Apropos of the acceleration of the financial rape and plunder that blankets Sri Lanka, it seems that not only are the rats preparing to abandon the sinking ship but they are laying-by enough to meet the exigencies of any rainy years that the fates might hold in store for them!  The downside of this, of course, is the fact that the rest of us are going to be left on something that will more closely resemble a sieve than a sea-worthy vessel, making navigation through the stormy seas ahead an even greater challenge!  Also, it seems that, for whatever reason, the connections between the various players are becoming more visible by the day with no Sherlock Holmes’ skills being required to identify who they are or where they fit into the scheme of things.  Of course, web comments provide some interesting sidelines to all of this, inclusive of an obviously well-orchestrated attempt to beatify a gentleman called Dilith Jayaweera who, I am told is a sophisticated and suave “nice guy.”  All of this will, ultimately, come out in the wash I suppose, one a little different to the laundering that provoked the brouhaha in the first place.

And then there was a newspaper headline that proclaimed that a “Five-Star Brothel” had been raided.  This brought to mind the obvious question: who makes these judgements and on what basis are “stars” apportioned in such circumstances?  Are they done, as in the hotel trade where star-apportionment, like kissing, goes by favour leading to some hotels rated as 5-Star getting hugely adverse comments on various web-sites such as Travel Advisor or are there some other criteria that are applied?  Do we have senior politicians (who make judgements on everything these days) cast ballots based on their own expert knowledge of the subject and, if so, are they allowed to print their own ballot papers as they are wont to do at the more common “democratic” elections held in this country?  Is the elections Commissioner (EC) required to issue his self-righteous edicts which amount to nothing before the ballots are cast and then bewail his fate once ballot papers are found in locations other than ballot boxes once the election is over?  Are the results conveyed to a VVIP first who then sends down selected tidbits to the EC as the mood takes him?  Is it necessary to conduct Customer Satisfaction Surveys in a matter of this nature, particularly if we are soliciting the opinions of the afore-mentioned senior politicians?  I really need some Presidential Commission or Government-appointed “expert” to satisfy my curiosity in these matters.

And then there has been the continuing soap opera (tele-drama in Sri Lankan terminology) with regard to several fuel-contamination scandals, with even the largest shark in Sri Lankan business waters claiming to have been duped and treated as a “puppet!”  What things some people say under what they see as adverse circumstances is the commonest response I have heard from the “great unwashed public!”  Given the fact that he was not the favourite human of the “Big Man,” the choice of this businessman to head up a Petroleum Corporation in crisis was always a matter for conjecture.  However, when one views this hiring and firing in the context of the massive confusion that has been created, there is more than a minimal element of planning to it.   In fact, there is a certain a logic to it.  Isn’t it yet another instance of circling the wagons and firing wildly in every direction, maximizing everyone’s disorientation in the hope that it will create a situation in which the facts will be obscured and the thieves more easily make their escape?

I once asked the question, not entirely rhetorically, as to what one does with those whom the gods have driven mad pending their ultimate destruction..  The answer might be emerging right now: be entertained until all of us go down in one flaming fireball in the ultimate bad joke!

New SEC Chairman – A Pawn Of The “Stock Market Mafia”

Sunday, September 02, 2012

By Faraz Shauketaly

The appointment of Dr Nalaka Godahewa as Chairman of the Securities Exchange Commission far from putting the controversy surrounding pump and dump and market manipulation at the Colombo Stock Exchange at rest, has caused an uproar amongst seasoned investors. The uproar has been fuelled by Dr Godahewa’s links to Dilith Jayaweera who admitted to the media last week that he had received ‘five’ letters – and he was talking about events surrounding the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC).
Nalaka Godahewa’s links and investments in companies in which Dilith Jayaweera is also involved has seen him being appointed Chairman of George Stuarts Finance and Colombo Land & Development Plc.
Godahewa was also previously a Director at Seylan Bank. In the days leading to his SEC appointment Godahewa resigned his position at George Stuarts Finance.
In the Annual Report for 2011 of Colombo Land & Development Plc Godahewa is listed as the 7th largest shareholder holding 2,301,000 shares – valuing the shares at the end of 2011 at Rs 126.3 Million. The shares are listed as being on lien to Seylan Bank.

Our Previous Exposés On Nalaka Godahewa

The Quarterly Report for March 2012 shows Godahewa holding the same portion of shares but the value of the shares had crashed to Rs 39 from the 2011 close of Rs 54.90. A notional loss of Rs 36.5 Million however should only have made Seylan Bank become alert as a tranche of 2,301,000 shares are on lien to them. If Seylan Bank was exposed to 50% of the holding in 2011 and lent Rs 60 m to Godahewa by March 2012 the value of those shares had dipped by Rs 36.5 Million or more than half of the amount Seylan Bank lent Godahewa – one time Director of the bank.
The Quarterly Report for June 2012 shows Godahewa still holding to his 2,301,000 shares but the share value had dropped below March 2012 levels. In June 2012 the share was trading at Rs 32.20 and Godahewa was staring at a notional (paper) loss of a staggering Rs 52.3 Million – perilously close to the Rs 60 Million he obtained from Seylan Bank.  On the basis that Seylan Bank granted a loan of Rs 60 million when the shares were worth Rs 126.3 Million, (keeping in line with the norm of 50% although we cannot establish whether as a Director of Seylan Bank at the time Godahewa received preferential treatment).
In 2012 according to documentation publicly available from the Colombo Stock Exchange under statutory disclosure rules, Dr Godahewa is reported as having made several purchases of stock in Colombo Land: 9,100 shares at Rs 30.00; 35,300 shares at Rs 30.50. None of these shares are listed as having a lien to any bank.
A separate entity, Pasikudah Beach Resort is listed by Citrus Leisure as a subsidiary with notes stating that a sum of Rs 168 Million was spent for Pasikudah Beach Resort to purchase prime land in Pasikudah. The ownership of this land is disputed with the Swiss nationals owning the property maintaining that they have never sold the land. The land was sensationally purchased by the Deputy Mayor of Kotte Madura Vithanage for Rs 60 Millon, who sold it several days later to Pasikudah Beach Resort, a company connected to Dilith Jayaweera, for Rs 168 Million. A legal battle to establish the authenticity of the ownership is ongoing.
It has also been revealed that Godahewa is listed as the owner of 1,091,700 shares valued at Rs 10.7 Million in Waskaduwa Beach Resort Plc making him the 10th largest shareholder there. The entire shareholding is on lien to Seylan Bank and under normal circumstances the bank would have advanced Godahewa 50% of the value making the bank’s exposure Rs 5.2 Million. The interest Godahewa is likely to attract would work out at Rs 880,000 per year or Rs 74,000 per month. With the interest on the other loan for the Colombo Land & Development shares, Godahewa is servicing a loan of Rs 700,000 plus per month to Seylan Bank.
Additionally Godahewa has a tranche of 500,000 shares in Waskaduwa Beach, making him the 16th largest shareholder with that – occupying both 10th and 16th position. This tranche of shares is not on lien to Seylan Bank.
According to the Inland Revenue Department, whilst capital gains realised on investments on the Stock Exchange are not ordinarily subject to income tax, monies utilized to service loans will be deemed to be income and taxed accordingly. Further reports state that a group of Sri Lankan citizens are readying themselves to petition the Courts claiming that Dr Godahewa’s continuation as Chairman at the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority is unconstitutional and that his appointment at SEC displays a very high degree of ‘conflict of interest’.
The web of Godahewa’s link lays bare his claim that he is permitted to hold office at Sri Lanka Tourism because Colombo Land & Development does not operate a hotel and therefore is not in breach of the Tourism Act. A legal eagle told us that was a singularly one-sided view of the events, The Tourism Act specifically debars anyone who has a link in operating hotel services from holding office.
But Godahewa has demonstrated that he does have a link or indeed had such a link at some point whilst he continued to hold office at Sri Lanka Tourism.
As our diagram shows, Godahewa is intrinsically linked to Colombo Land & Development, Waskaduwa Beach Resort and Kalpitiya Beach. All of these are patently also linked to Dilith Jayaweera directly or through other companies in which Jayaweera has interests.
By his own admission to the media Jayaweera has admitted to being the recipient of letters from the SEC but has denied being part of any alleged ‘Mafia’ operation at the SEC in what is widely believed to be Mr Jayaweera alluding to allegations that he was part of the pumping and dumping and market manipulation at the Colombo Stock Exchange.
As part of the work that Nalaka Godahewa will have to oversee as Chairman of the SEC, would be the investigations that are already underway. The former Chairman of the SEC, Tilak Karunaratne told the President that he had sent out 226 letters to investors asking for more information.  The prospect of Godahewa overseeing an investigation into his business partner or indeed a fellow shareholder in the form of Dilith Jayaweera has caused more serious questions to be raised as to the integrity, probity and transparency of any investigation being contemplated or already under way by the SEC. A number of telephone calls and e-mails addressed to Nalaka Godahewa went unanswered; the opportunity for Godahewa to respond to this article went unheeded.
(faraz@thesundayleader.lk)

Three crime busters –MaRa, Gota and IGP rid country of rapes in a strange way!
(Lanka-e-News -02.Sep.2012, 6.00PM) The three criminal crime Busters, Regime chief , Bayagotha and IGP Ilangakoon have got together and completely halted child rapes in Sri Lanka (SL) in a most strange way come what may !

During the recent past , there were at least three child rape crimes reported per day across SL. Yet, what attracted the attention of the people most was the multiple rapes committed by a UPFA local body Chairman Saruwa Sunil , and his celebration openly marking the crime of raping the 100 th victim in the series. 

These crimes committed with impunity rudely shocked the country , though to Sunil a buddy of the regime chief it was a frivolous sport and adventure meriting celebration . What was even most irksome and disdainful in these criminal actions was the participation of several high ranking police officers and frontline politicos in Sunil’s obscene party.

When this whole episode came to light ,the entire country and shocked society began agitating against these raging rapes under the MaRa regime and his cronies who were directly involved. The regime chief who is as slippery as the Eel , however slipped himself from his responsibilities by stating that he cannot plant a police officer in every home, and the elders must know how to protect their children.

This irresponsible announcement by MaRa provoked resentment so much so that at every election campaign platform , he was criticized. 

MaRa has now found an escape route from these justifiable criticisms. He has teamed himself up with Bayagotha , the defense Secretary and the Nayaa- gothaya , the IGP to form a troika to initiate a new scheme supposedly to eradicate rapes in the country. Whether this is a scheme to stamp out rapes or is the troika scheming with ulterior motives to safeguard the rapists , as a great many of those criminals are their cronies and stooges, was not sure. 

In any case one thing is clear now in their latest efforts , that is, they want to conceal all the complaints of rape crimes received by the police across the country from media publicity and seeping out to the people- this is their solution.

Earlier the police media unit revealed to the media two or three of the rape crimes , but now not one such rape is being reported to the media. Though the police reported about three rape crimes per day in the past , the number of child rapes committed are much more , but they are not being officially complained to the police , according to analysts. 

In the circumstances , the criminal troika had got together to conceal rather than solve the raging rapes in the country implying that the rapists can commit their crimes without let or hindrance under the new methodology adopted by the troika of suppressing the rape information from seeping to the public and the media.
Earlier the rapists indulged in these crimes with impunity , but now they are even provided with a cover to suppress their crimes. What a wonderful solution devised by the Troika !! 

Meanwhile the police had arranged to carry placards and go in a procession along the streets on the 30th in several towns to stop child rapes in the country- the joke of the century by jokers of the police !!! This is the first time in SL’s history the police had been enlisted for these protest processions .In other words the police under the Nayaagothaya IGP had proved that it is incapable of performing its duties duly and control rapes , and therefore has to take to the streets to protest against the uncontrollably raging rape crimes in the country , the pattern set by the Rajapakse regime. A number of civil security Committee members had also been invited to participate . 

Private Tutors To Be Axed

Sunday, September 02, 2012

By Indika Sri Aravinda

The Examinations Commissioner yesterday said that he would take steps to stop private tuition classes being held in the country within two years.
“There is nothing wrong with the papers that we have produced. All the issues are created by those who conduct private tuition classes,” Examinations Commissioner W. M. Pushpakumara said.
“All the questions in this year’s paper are strictly from the school curriculum, and those who conduct tuition classes are creating issues because subject matter outside the syllabus – which they teach – has not been included in this year’s papers,” he said.
He added that 22 complaints have been received by the Department over irregularities with the Year-5 scholarship exam, and have been forwarded to the Criminal Investigations Department.
The results of the exam will not be released till the investigations are over, he added.
Pushpakumara said that the examinations department is the only body which can stop tuition classes, and necessary steps would be taken to include parents in an effort to stop all tuition classes over the next two years. Speaking on the matter of the disputed Z-scored of the Advanced Level examinations, he stated that the responsibility lies fully with the University Grants Commission (UGC), as the formula was created solely by the UGC. “W e are focused on the outcome of the ongoing legal developments,” he added.

SEC Director Chandu Epitawela to be summoned before Bribery Commission

Sunday, 02 September 2012  
SECs controversial director surveillance Chandu Epitawela is to be summoned by the bribery commission on corruption charges concerning his insolvent in setting up a stock broking company while working at the SEC

In 2010 Epitawela persuaded the chairman to visit Japan with his Japanese friend on an official visit promoting the stock market. They enjoyed all the hospitality of the Japanese friend named Takashi. On their return Thakashi and chandu opened a company. Since epitawela could not officially be in the company he nominated his good friend one Saparamadu as his nominee of this company. Thru this company with epitawelas help they applied for a stock broking company licence with epitawelas cousin Boyagoda as his front. Chandu wanted to be CEO of this company and wanted 50% stake without infusing a single cent as equity. The Japanese refused and lines were drawn the Marriage broke down. The Japanese gave 10% to Boyagoda as he was the local agent with capital infused.

Epitawela is now harassing this stock broking company with surveillance issues that do not exist.

Epitawela used his office to get this license for him indirectly which is a huge conflict of interest.

An official complaint was lodged to the Acct. Director General Bandara and no action has being taken. It is believed that Bandara too will be summoned by the Bribery commission for not taking action which tantamounts to corruption.

Now, Jaya orders Lankan football team to be sent back

September 02, 2012
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa [ Images ] on Sunday suspended a stadium officer in Chennai for allowing a Sri Lankan football team to play a friendly tie, terming it as an insult to Tamils and directed that the team be sent back home.

"The (Nehru) stadium officer has no authority to allow matches there and only the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu is authorised to do so. By using an authority that did not exist, the official had demeaned the sentiments of Tamil people," she said.

Jayalalithaa directed Chief Secretary Debendranath Sarangi to place the Nehru Stadium Official under suspension and initiate department-level proceedings against him. "I have also instructed that no competitions must be held for the Sri Lankan team besides directing that they be sent back," she said in a statement.

The team from Royal College, Colombo, had played a match against Chennai customs department in the friendly tie organised by a former city league football player on Friday.

Jayalalithaa's action comes against the backdrop of her vociferous opposition to India training Sri Lankan military personnel not only in Tamil Nadu but also anywhere else in the country, saying the Lankan forces had committed war crimes against Tamils in the island nation.

The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam [ Images ] chief also slammed the Centre for allowing the Sri Lankan football team play matches in Tamil Nadu.

Jayalalithaa said she had received information that an official of Royal College of Colombo had called up an officer at Reserve Bank of India [ Get Quote ] in Chennai seeking to make arrangements for some Sri Lankan football players to play friendly ties in Chennai.

Accordingly, they played the match with the customs department on August 31 and coming to know this, she said, she had directed a complete probe. "It came to be known that the RBI officer approached the (said) stadium officer who gave oral approval for the match," she said.

Jayalalithaa said she had also directed eight students of a Sri Lankan school who had come for a tournament with a city-based school and their coach to be sent back.

The CM criticised the Centre for allowing the Sri Lanka [ Images ]n football team to land in India despite paying no heed to her earlier pleas including imposing sanctions on Sri Lanka till Tamils in the camps were rehabilitated on par majority Sinhalas.

She recalled the Tamil Nadu Assembly had passed a resolution in this regard.

The ruling AIADMK and other political parties in Tamil Nadu, including key United Progressive Alliance [ Images ] ally Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, have been strongly voicing their opposition to Lankan military men being trained in India.

Speaking in unison last week, they had condemned the Centre's stand on continued training of Sri Lankan military, after Minister of State for Defence Pallam Raju said the training would go on.

Mangled In Yala

By Nirmala Kannangara

The entrance to Yala National Park, Kulu Safari camp site and A jeep belonging to the Independent Jeep Services

Camp Operators in Yala National Park have come under attack from jeep drivers in the presence of foreign tourists bringing into focus a new dimension in the country’s hospitality industry.
Eight employees attached to the Kulu Safari, Leopard Safari and Mahoora Safari have come under severe attack by the Independent Jeep Services (IJS) drivers, who have claimed that they have the backing of Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa according to the victims. The reason behind the attack was that IJS is against the tent operators taking their guests  in their own jeeps. Out of the eight, Sajith Buddhika, Manager, Leopard Safari has received severe head injuries and his right ear drum has been damaged and is being treated at the surgical ward of the Hambantota Base Hospital.
“I dropped a group of British tourists at the park entrance and was waiting outside for another two groups – USA and Spanish families who were on their way. I was on the phone talking to them when a group around 25-30 jeep drivers came and dragged me from the jeep and assaulted me and the driver of the other jeep waiting with a shock absorber. I felt faintish. I was beaten by Weerakoon alias mole mahaththaya,” said Sajith Buddhika. Speaking from his hospital bed Buddhika said, “I started vomiting when I went to lodge a complaint at the Tissamaharamaya police but did not take any notice as there were no external injuries. While I was resting at the camp my situation turned worse around 11 pm and I was rushed to the Tissamaharamaya hospital and was transferred to Hambantota hospital. The ENT doctor has requested the JMO report to start treatments”. Surgical ward doctor at the Hambantota hospital did not wish to make any comment in this regard. However, this was confirmed by Sunil – a guide attached to the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWLC). “After a tour I came to the ‘freedom café’ outside the main entrance to have a cup of tea. Seeing Buddhika in his jeep in front of the café, I went and spoke a few words with him and came back to have tea. While having tea I saw a group of around 25 jeep drivers dragging Buddhika from his jeep and assaulting him with an iron rod. Then came Indika in his jeep and he too was dragged out of his vehicle and assaulted mercilessly,” said Sunil.
Sunil has later lodged a complaint at the Tissamaharamaya police on August 27, 2012. Meanwhile Manjula, the Naturalists who was in charge of the Kulu Safari at the time of the incident described how the attackers mentioned that it was Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa who wanted to assault the camp operators.
“Two of my colleagues and I went to Chaaya Wild to drop some of our clients and this happened when we were about to leave. One Tharindu a jeep driver who assaulted us told that it was the Speaker that wanted us assaulted and chased  away from Yala. I was severely beaten on my shoulder and it is still swollen and gives a lot of pain. When we wanted to proceed towards the park the attackers obstructed our way claiming that we are not allowed to get back to the park and wanted us to go back to Colombo. Then we went towards the Tissamaramaya police but could not stop as there were many other jeep drivers near the police. Then we went to Lunugamvehera police and the OIC Tissamaharamaya came there and escorted us to his police station. I lodged a complaint  on August 24 stating what the jeep drivers said about the Speaker’s involvement,” said Manjula.
Meanwhile Javana Fernando Managing Director Kulu Safari said that although this issue was boiling up for a long time, he never thought that the jeep drivers would take law on to their hand.
“I am surprised as to why these drivers mentioned the Speaker’s name which cannot be true. When I met MP Namal Rajapaksa on Thursday, he gave an assurance that these types of thing will not be allowed to happen and that he will look into this matter. According to my Naturalist Manjula, this has occurred around 11 am on Friday August 24. I am in this business over the past 9 ½ years and this is the only place where the jeep drivers want to monopolize operation. I am doing safari camps even at Wasgamuwa, Wilpattu and Udawalawe national parks but those jeep drivers are very cordial and helpful to us,” said Fernando.
Fernando said that all the camp operators have obtained the necessary approvals from the Tourist Board and from the Department of Wild Life Conservation (DWLC). “We are an independent unit who do not depend on any one. We take part in all travel fairs in the world and promote Sri Lanka as a destination. We are helping the tourist board’s plan to get those magical 2.5 million tourists to the country in 2016. But if things happen in this way will the tourist come to the country?” added Fernando.
According to Fernando, the attackers assume that the camp operators are eating in to their business and said that he is ready to take legal action against the attackers. “I am going to send my boys to the police for a further complaints with the names of those who were involved in this attack. These jeep drivers have told my employees that we can continue in camp operation but cannot take the foreign guests in our jeeps instead they want to provide that service. They have further warned them not to ignore their cautioning failing which all of the drivers will be  put into a jeep and burnt alive,” said Fernando.
However, Fernando said that he will not stop operation in Yala due to the threats and added that the police, army, STF, DWLC and the Defence Ministry were extremely helpful to bring the tense situation under control.
“When my Naturalist wanted to go to Tissamaramaya for marketing on Saturday, he has  turned back asking not to leave the park but to be inside. Then he had to get the army’s intervention to do his marketing. These jeeps are parked all over- near Chaaya Wild, Debarawewa, Yodakandiya and Yala junction closer to the Tissamaharamaya Rest House. I am planning to speak to the Speaker to inform as to how his name has been dragged by the jeep drivers,” said Fernando.
According to Fernando, the camp operators pay US$ 50-60 per foreign client per night and VAT to the government and added that they have received the approvals from the DWLC to keep 14 guests per night.
“Generally we are allowed to keep only 10 guests but we have received the approvals to keep 14 at a time. In addition to the guests we can keep eight staff members. I have four jeeps and my clients are mainly from UK, Switzerland, Germany, USA, Finland, Belgium, Australia, China and a few from India. If things continue in this manner in future it would adversely affect the tourism industry,” said Fernando.
Managing Director Mahoor Luxury Tented Safari Camp Anuruddha Bandara said that his naturalist and a driver have been assaulted by the jeep drivers on Thursday 23 evening along the Situlpawwa Road. “Although my employees came under attack, they did not lodge a police complaint as we want to settle the matter amicably. The attackers have told my two boys that it was Chamal and Namal Rajapaksa that wanted them chased away. How can these drivers say that they want to take my clients in their jeeps? They are my clients and it was I who travelled abroad and got the bookings. It is unfair for this association to make such a demand,” said Bandara.
Meanwhile Mahoor Camp Manager Ishan has met representatives of the IJS on August 24 morning to have a dialogue to settle the issue. “Around 40 jeep drivers and jeep owners came for the meeting. When I tried to explain to them that these attacks in the presence of tourists would damage the tourism industry, one of the jeep owners mole mahaththaya came up to me shouting that they cannot allow outsiders to earn money in Tissamaharamaya. He further said that neither he nor the IJS want to talk to me as they are not scared of any one other than the Rajapaksas,” said Ishan.
According to Ishan, their jeeps were not allowed to go out of the park to do marketing.
“Even the company that provides us jeeps has come under pressure. He has been asked not to give jeeps to us. We give business over 5-6 million to Tissamaharamaya per month. For the jeeps alone we pay over 15 million. So how can they claim that we do not give business to the people in the village,” said Ishan.
Noel Rodrigo Chairman Leopard Safari meanwhile said that the IJS has no authority to attack on camp operators as they are registered companies and pay taxes to the government.
“We promote the country at travel fairs and bring large number of tourists by promoting wildlife. Our work is gre-atly appreciated around the world and receives bookings 6-12 months in advance. There was a time that tourists travelled to India and Africa to see Leopards. It was I who could convince tourists that there are many leopards in Sri Lanka and could divert their attention towards our country. When incidents like these are happening in the presence of our foreign guests what would happen to the country’s tourism industry,” claimed Rodrigo. According to Rodrigo, the jeep drivers have chased away the USA and Spanish families by not allowing them to enter the park. “When these two parties arrived, my naturalist and driver who were waiting for them outside the entrance were under attack. Seeing these two parties, the jeep drivers have chased them away. So my employees had to send them to The Safari at Tissamaharamaya. Later around 7.30 pm they were brought back to the camp under the army and police protection. These goons went to the extent of locking the Yala gates preventing us from leaving the park or bringing down our guests,” said Rodrigo.
He further said that five of his foreign agents from UK and Australia contacted him to find out as to what was going on at Yala.
“After the complaints were made, one of the attackers- Tharindu was arrested but within few hours he was released. I do not know whether he was released by the police or by a magistrate,” he added.
However, refuting allegations Weerakoon alias mole mahaththaya owner of 30 safari jeeps said that none of the camp operators or their employees were attacked by the IJS members as they do not want to resort to any unwanted issues.
“I am a big businessman and do not want to assault people. I only went there to solve the matter,” he said.
He further said that none of the Rajapaksa family members wanted to chase away these camp operators but they had to take a decision of their own. “True we are only scared of the Rajapaksas. We are thugs in Tissamaharamaya and would not allow outsiders to earn money in this          village. What ever the businesses that are taking place have to be done by us and the income should come to our people not to outsiders,” he added.
Meanwhile Deputy Director (Eco Tourism) DWLC, P.M. Dharmathileka said that his department cannot take any action against anyone since these incidents have occurred out side the national park. “We need both these parties to promote tourism. But the jeep drivers could have acted in a more responsible manner,” said Dharmathileka. According to him, most of the jeep drivers do not posses a valid driving license and the jeeps are not up to standard to take foreign tourists.
“I got the two parties to the DWLC head office for a discussion. We will be imposing strict rules for both these parties from October 1, and the jeeps that do not have the valid licenses and are not up to standard will be prevented from carrying foreigners. We have to be thankful to these camp operators as it was they who brought tourists to the country when tourists did not visit during the war. In addition we will see as to whether these jeep drivers abide by the speed limits in future,” said Dharmathileka.

Chamal Rajapaksa Unavailable….

Move to arrest Judge Warawewa: Ranil

FRIDAY, 31 AUGUST 2012
Opposition UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe today alleged that there was a move to arrest  retired High Court Judge W.T.M.P.B. Warawewa soon. Addressing an election rally in Kantale Mr. Wickremesinghe said Mr. Warawewa was to be taken in by the CID on a statement he had made on the education sector in the country.

Mr. Wickremesinghe said he appointed Warawewa to head a committee to study and prepare a national education charter and the latter had made some remarks on the education sector at one of the meetings held at the Parliamentary complex organised by the joint opposition.

“ Is it a crime to work for the betterment of the education sector irrespective of politics?,” he asked.

Referring to the government’s pledge to make members of the civil defence force permanent, Mr. Wickremesinghe said the UNP first made this suggestion in 2008 and the UPFA government turned a blind eye on it. “ The government was making false promises now just to attract votes,” he added. (Yohan Perera)

The Rajapaksas Cannot Survive Without The Chinese Connection

By Tisaranee Gunasekara -September 1, 2012 

“Outside a doll, inside the plague”. - Greek Proverb

Mega is a classic despotic-obsession. The largest, the tallest and the longest are absolutely irresistible to the nastiest, the meanest and the deadliest. Neither economic logic nor common or garden reason has any say in these pageants of megalomania.
What the Rulers want they must have and damn the consequences. The fascination with the mega is an obsession the Rajapaksas share. They want to build, build and build – irrespective of whether the projects are economically viable or developmentally necessary and irrespective of Sri Lanka’s precarious financial conditions.
In this size-and-numbers game, even the quality of the projects is of no moment.
This obsession has a bearing on the current Lankan foreign policy, on par with other Rajapaksa characteristics such as limitless power-hunger and antipathy towards devolution.
The Rajapaksas need a strategic ally who will enable them to fulfil their manic-aspirations, be it dotting the country with ports and airports or sending a First Son to space.
They need an international Godfather who pays as little heed to public welfare and economic rules as the Rajapaksas themselves, empathises with the Siblings’ mega-obsession and has the money to fund it.
They need a patron who is blasé about their project of Familial rule and Dynastic succession and is immune to pressure from any human rights lobby or the Tamil Diaspora.
They need a powerful protector-nation which wants to bankroll them for its own geo-strategic reasons. There is only one country in the world which fulfils all these criteria. And that country is China.
Like other emerging superpowers in their time, China wants to create a rampart of client-states which will act as political and economic shock-absorbers in times of need. Once upon a time and even not so long ago, this secondary frontier was created with the use of naked force; in today’s world a far more nuanced approach is necessary.
The Chinese method is an improvement on the American method of the Cold War period: cultivate and bankroll venal rulers and use their countries as proxies in power-contestations.
Beijing looks for autocratic rulers willing to sell their countries for a lifetime in power. The Rajapaksas need a wealthy, powerful international ‘Sugar Daddy’ immune to any sort of pressure and with less scruples than even the classic ‘Ugly Americans’. The two make a snug fit.
In an ultimate irony, the World Bank in a new report (China 2030: Building a Modern, Harmonious, and Creative High Income Society) has urged China to increase its social spending by 7%-8% of the GDP over the next 20 years and to tackle the problem of rampant inequality.
Unlike democratic nations which must pay heed to popular demands at least in election times, China can afford to have a regressive tax system and spend most of the resulting funds not on public welfare but on defence, including maintaining client states.
It thus has a natural financial advantage in dealing with the Rajapaksas, unavailable, for example, to India.
Plus as an imperfect and devolved democracy, India also needs to pay attention to the concerns of Indian Tamils and Tamil Nadu.
The ongoing row over the training of Lankan military personnel in India is emblematic of this reality.
Delhi wants to continue with the training programme while Chennai is dead set against it. Eventually Delhi may prevail, but the programme will remain a contentious issue.
While India struggles with such embarrassing conundrums, China is free to form any form of alliance with the Rajapaksas and to offer them any kind of assistance.
The Rajapaksas have embarked on a project of transforming North-Eastern demographics by creating new facts on the ground via organised and state-driven colonisation schemes (this is the total opposite of individual Sinhalese buying/leasing land in the North-East, as individual Tamils do in the South).
Since a sufficient number of ordinary Sinhalese will not agree to become pawns in this dangerous game, the Siblings have come up with the idea of permeating traditional Tamil habitats with military cantonments.
This state-driven project requires massive funds. The Chinese are to step into the financial-breach with a loan of US$ 100 million to “set up accommodation and infrastructure facilities to army camps in the north and east” (The Sunday Times – 26.8.2912). Military cantonments constitute Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s solution for the ethnic problem.
These cantonments will be as damaging to a lasting peace as the Israeli settlements are – but such concerns are immaterial to the Netanyahus, Avigdor Liebermans and the Rajapaksas of this world.

Toys made in China are plentiful, attractive and above all cheap; they are also of abysmally low quality and have a very short lifespan.

The quality issue is not limited to Chinese toys. Last month a US$ 300 million new bridge in Harbin collapsed – the sixth Chinese bridge to collapse since June 2011.
“Questions about materials used during the construction and whether the projects were properly engineered have been the subject of national debate ever since a high speed train plowed into the back of a stopped train on the same track on July 23rd last year… a subsequent investigation blamed in particular flaws in the design of the signalling equipment” (New York Times – 24.8.2012).
If this is the way the Chinese build in China, one can just imagine the quality of their constructs in other peoples’ countries. They ignore natural obstacles – a la the Hambantota-rock. They are not particularly concerned about the quality of the materials used – as the CEB Chairman has admitted vis-à-vis Norochcholai.
Plus they use convict-labour; men who are compelled to slave for unbelievably long hours, under abysmal working conditions, will not care whether their work lasts a century or a day.
Che Guevara once said that ‘Quality is respect for the people’. The obverse is also true; the absence of quality denotes a lack of respect, a ‘take it or leave it’ attitude towards the people. It happens when people are choiceless, as consumers and as citizens.
Those who are old enough would remember the soggy-match boxes and the kerosene-smelling cloth which symbolised local production in the 1970-77 Era. As we now know, Lankan manufacturers can make high quality products. But why should politically-mandated businessmen with a captive market make the necessary effort?
Being seen as a Chinese pawn can damage Sri Lanka at multiple levels.
For instance Lanka can become a proxy-battleground for the politico-economic contestations between China and India and perhaps even China and the US.
The US is set to station 60% of its naval fleet in the Asia-Pacific region and is reportedly considering deploying sea-borne anti-missile systems in East Asia. If – unfortunately for the world – Mitt Romney wins the US Presidency, the situation is likely to become even more fraught. Only suicidal-fools become embroiled in other countries’ wars.
The Rajapaksas cannot survive without the Chinese connection; but it is unlikely to prove beneficial to Sri Lanka, even from a developmental point-of-view. Chinese experts have reportedly informed the CEB that they do not know when the repairs to Norochcholai will be completed.
Power-stations which malfunction and bridges which collapse on a regular basis do not herald a development Shangri- la.

When one war criminal met another

Photograph: Sudan's Ministry of Defence

 Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa recently made a trip to Sudan and met his counterpart, the ICC wanted Abdel Rahim Mohammed Hussein, Sudan’s Minister of Defence.

Abdel Rahim Mohammed Hussein had an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court earlier this year, for 21 counts of war crimes and 20 counts of crimes against humanity.

Whilst Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defence failed to publish photographs of the two meeting, Sudan meanwhile released the above photograph, praising a successful meeting.

Rajapaksa also met with other senior Sudanese military officials who according to Sri Lanka,

“expressed their desire to enhance the cooperation between Sudanese and Sri Lankan military training institutes in order to share expertise and knowledge.”

A Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between the two nations, pledging further co-operation in the field of military training.

Several arrest warrants have been issued against Sudanese officials by the ICC, including a warrant against President Omar Al-Bashir for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Bahu Was Attacked Is A Fairy Tale

By Vickramabahu Karunaratne -September 1, 2012

Dr. Vickramabahu Karunaratne

News items variously reported that NSSP leader Bahu was attacked at Dambulla, when he came to participate in the protest of the opposition-VV on 17 August. These claimed that people were protesting against his participation in TESO meeting in Chennai; some members of the public abused while others threw eggs at him. Under terrible pressure, frightened Bahu cried for help and pleaded Ranil for intervention. Ranil and other leaders came there in time to rescue Bahu from this predicament. Otherwise Bahu who faced the wrath of the people would have at least ended up in hospital!

I read this fairy tale in amusement. I wondered how this creation came out suddenly and spread out into so many media institutes. It has to be a plan from the top. Clearly this media creation is tied to another news item which said that I was interrupted while addressing the Chennai mass rally on August 12. This was highlighted by none other but President Mahindahimself. One news report said on16th August- “President Mahinda Rajapaksa said no one should be allowed to tarnish the unblemished image of the country while in Sri Lanka or abroad, by the patriotic people of this country. ‘The aim of the Eelamists is to break the unity and trust among us and reduce the feeling for the country and make us criticise the motherland,’ President Rajapaksa said. The President said a leader of a political party who attended this pro-Eelam conference had similarly criticised the country. ‘However the same people who tried to set up Eelam here intervened to stop his speech,’ the President said. President Rajapaksa said what this demonstrates is that although Eelam is we1come elsewhere they don’t want this to happen in their own country. The President said although Eelam could be established elsewhere, no country will want this to happen on their own soil. ‘On the other hand, patriotic Sri Lankans should not allow those criticising their motherland abroad or allow foreigners to criticise the country in their presence. We should not play into the hands of Eelamists,’ the President said.”

I must say clearly that nobody interrupted my speech at Chennai and that speech is available now in all three languages. Similarly no body threw eggs and disturbed me at Dambulla. I went to Dambulla around 3pm on 17 August 27, 2012 to participate in VV- the protest of the opposition. I was greeted by Dambulla UNP organizer Sanjeeva Kaviratne and a crowed of supporters. He requested me to start the protest campaign and by 4 pm the protest became a mass affair with large number of people gathered to watch and support our slogan shouting with the display of posters. Campaign went uninterrupted until Ranil arrived and started the rally. Arun Soysa opened the meeting; getting on to the double cab that was organised for this purpose. In my speech I ridiculed the government for getting pushed around by global masters. Ranil spoke last. The whole event was reported correctly by a main TV channel on the same day at 10pm and any one interested can go to

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0e5isKs1bc  , and watch it.

Clearly some body wanted very badly to show the world at large, that Bahu was attacked for going to Chennai to participate in the TESO rally. It was vitally necessary for them, to show that speaking against the Mahinda regime is unpatriotic, and hence people spontaneously reacted to the presence of Bahu in public events. In particular it was necessary to show that in the first event I participated. Dambulla VV was a mass protest. Hence the so called attack was constructed carefully by a set of media creeps who could build fairy stories for any eventuality.

Chinese defense minister reiterates China's policy of peaceful development in Sri Lanka
 2012-09-01

COLOMBO, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie, who is currently in Sri Lanka for an official goodwill visit, has reiterated China's national defence policy featured with peaceful development.

Since the beginning of its reform and opening-up, China's overall national strength and international influence have grown remarkably, but some people in the international community suspect that China would take the road of expansion with force, and have been actively spreading the "China Threat Theory", said Liang at the Defence Services Command and Staff College of Sri Lanka.

"On this point, the Chinese government issued a whitepaper China's Peaceful Development in 2011, solemnly declaring to the world that China will unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development. The core idea of this path is that China will develop itself through upholding world peace and contribute to world peace through its own development," Liang, China's the first defense minister to Sri Lanka, said on Thursday.

He explained that China's adherence to the path of peaceful development is determined by its history, culture and traditions, which center on the idea of peace and harmony.

He said in the Sri Lanka National Museum stands a stone tablet carved in 1409, which was gifted by Zhenghe, the famous navigator in ancient China during his stopover in Sri Lanka, as a commemoration for his donation to a local Buddhist temple. "The three languages carved on the stone tablet, namely, Chinese, Persian and Tamil, expressed respect for Buddhism, Islam and Brahmanism. This shows the inclusiveness of the Chinese people towards different religions, and the respect for the harmonious co- existence of multiple cultures. Such a historical culture and tradition that values peace above all has exerted profound influence on China's choice of a peaceful development path."

He also China's adherence to the path of peaceful development is also a choice necessitated by its national conditions as China was plagued by invasions and wars brought by foreign powers in history and the Chinese people know the value of peace and the importance of accelerated development.

He further said China's adherence to the path of peaceful development conforms with the trend of peaceful development in the world.

World-multipolarity, economic globalization and social informationalization are gaining momentum and countries are becoming increasingly interdependent and more closely linked with each other in terms of interests, which determine that the pursuit for peace, development and cooperation has become an irresistible trend of the times, said Liang.

He said China has realized that its development "must conform with the trend of history, must stick to peaceful development and common development and prosperity with the rest of the world."

Liang said among China's 14 land neighbors, five are in South Asia and China attaches great importance to its relations with the South Asian nations.

He said the Chiese army's efforts in conducting friendly exchanges and cooperation with its counterparts in the South Asian nations are intended for maintaining regional security and stability and not targeted at any third party.

China's national defence policy is subject to and in service of national development strategy and security strategy and China's adherence to a peaceful development path determines that China will pursue a national defence policy that is defensive in nature, said the defence minister.

He said the fundamental goals and tasks of China's national defence is to curb separation, promote reunification, guard against and resist aggression, protect state sovereignty, territorial integrity and maritime rights and interests, and safeguard national development interests.

He said China pursues a coordinated development of its national defence and economy."China's defence spending in 2010 and 2011 took 1.4 percent and 1.28 percent of its GDP respectively. Compared with the developed countries, and some developing countries, China's defence spending stays at a very low level."

He said China exercises a military strategy of active defence, with the basic principle of adhering to a self-defence position that not to take the initiative to offend others, stand for non- military means to solve disputes, take defensive posture strategically, conduct self-defence and attack only after being attacked. "Take the recent Huangyan Island incident as an example, it is obvious that China's military strength is stronger than that of the Philippines, but we didn't use force or threat to use force, on the contrary, we have been committed to seeking solution of the dispute through diplomatic means."

He said China sticks to improving the quality of its military with informationalization as the main objective and it firmly upholds world peace and stability.

"Up to now, China has dispatched around 21,000 person/times to 30 UN Peace-keeping missions, making it the largest personnel contributor among the 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council. We have sent rescue teams for 18 times to conduct humanitarian rescue operations. Since 2008, China has sent 12 batches of naval task forces to conduct escort missions in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia. With the further modernization of China's national defense, China will make greater contributions to world peace as a responsible member of the international community," he said.