Wednesday, December 19, 2012

SRI LANKA: GOSL prevents UNDP funds for Judges Annual Conference 2012

the Lawyer's Collective-December 19, 2012

Judicial Service Association (JSA), the association of the judges of the original court, had organised the Annual Judges Conference, sponsored by the UNDP -- under the Equal Access to Justice Programme, which is scheduled for 21 and 22nd of December 2012. This programme comes under the Ministry of Languages and Social Intrigration (Hon. Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara). The Secretary to the Ministry (Ms. Malkanthi Wickramasinghe) had informed the JSA on 18th December that the Minister does not wish to sponsor this programme (conference), notwithstanding the MOU singed and an advance being paid for the venue of the Conference. Thus the sponsorship of UNDP has been withdrawn officially due to arbitrary and politically motivated decision of the Ministry.

The JSA has however decided to hold the conference at the original venue (Taj Samudra Hotel) but limited to one day (i.e. 22nd December), with the voluntary contributions from the Judges themselves. Chief Justice Bandaranayaka will be the chief guest while Justice Wigneswaran will be the key note speaker.

In a further development there is uncertainty whether the vehicles (cars) that had been imported recently for the use of Superior Courts Judges (Court of Appeal and Supreme Court) would be released to the judges.

Lawyers Collective

Breaking News: Chief Justice Filed Action Against PSC Report: Full Text Of The Petition

By Colombo Telegraph -December 19, 2012

Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake has filed action at the Court of Appeal a short while ago, challenging the report by the Parliamentary Select Committee that probed the impeachment motion against her.

Read the full petition here

SRI LANKA: The government fears gatherings of judges

December 19, 2012

The government has withdrawn its sponsorship for the annual programme of the Judicial Service Association. On that basis this prevents the UNDP funds for being utilised for this meeting. However, it is reported that the judges will proceed with the meeting for one day with their own personal contributions.

Obviously, the government has tried to stop this annual gathering where the judges normally spend two days and also have the opportunity to interact with each other and to socialize. The obvious fear would be that the judges will naturally talk about the threat faced by the independence of the judiciary in Sri Lanka. Recently many events of concern have happened such as the attack by a minister with others on the Magistrate's Court and the High Court of Mannar. The magistrate complained also that he was threatened by the Industries Minister Risath Bathiudeen. A contempt of court issue as well as criminal is pending on the matter. Then there was the attempted kidnapping and assault on the Secretary of the Judicial Service Commission. Above all there is the attempt to get rid of the Chief Justice after the Supreme Court had given a ruling adverse to the government.

The Judicial Service Association met the Chief Justice and discussed the matter and issued a statement during the course of the last few weeks. The Association also issued a further statement expressing their serious concern about the issue of the separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary. Referring to the proceedings by the PSC against the Chief Justice the Association requested the president not to act on the PSC recommendations as the PSC does not constitute a competent tribunal to ensure a fair inquiry on the matter. The association also stated that the removal of the Chief Justice or a superior court judge is an extremely important matter and therefore on all aspects of an inquiry into such matters appropriate legal principles should be strictly adhered to.

Following this statement the SLBC morning programme which is inappropriately titled, 'Peoples' Power' attacked this statement stating that the statement does not express the views of the judges but only of some persons who have hijacked the Association. In a broadcast which was aimed at creating hatred against the judges there was no attempt at all to interview any of the judges or to give a fair understanding of the content of the letter and the circumstances under which it was issued.

Besides the judges lawyers are also under attack. There was an attempted assault on Gunaratne Wanninayaka, the President of the Colombo Magistrate's Court Lawyer's Association and the Convener of People's March when four persons pursued him and one threatened him with a pistol to open the window of his car. It was due to the intervention of the domestic helpers of his house who were alerted by the cries of his wife that the assailants fled. Mr. Wanninayaka and other lawyers have condemned this attack as aimed to be an attack on his life. Mr. Wanninayaka has been a very active campaigner against the impeachment motion against the Chief Justice.

In the same way that at one time journalists who were making independent reports were portrayed as enemies of the state and attacked, now the attacks are against the judges and lawyers. Given the severe reactions from the public as well as from around the world which describes the impeachment process as completely unfair the government seems to be paranoid about any gatherings of lawyers and judges.

When a government fears the lawyers and judges of its own country it indicates a serious insecurity on the part of the government. The attacks on judges and lawyers arise from this same sense of insecurity.

We urge the government to respect the country's judiciary and to abandon the attacks on the judiciary. We also call upon the people to support the judiciary against these attacks.

The Government Fears Gatherings Of Judges And Prevents The Funds

By Colombo Telegraph -December 19, 2012

Vasudeva Nanayakkara

“Judicial Service Association (JSA), the association of the judges of the original court, had organised the Annual Judges Conference, sponsored by the UNDP – under the Equal Access to Justice Programme, which is scheduled for 21 and 22nd of December 2012. This programme comes under the Ministry of Languages and Social IntrigrationVasudeva Nanayakkara. The Secretary to the Ministry Malkanthi Wickramasinghe had informed the JSA on 18th December that the Minister does not wish to sponsor this conference, notwithstanding the MOU singed and an advance being paid for the venue of the Conference. Thus the sponsorship of UNDP has been withdrawn officially due to arbitrary and politically motivated decision of the Ministry.” says the Lawyers Collective .

The JSA has however decided to hold the conference at the original venue, Taj Samudra Hotel but limited to one day (i.e. 22nd December), with the voluntary contributions from the Judges themselves. Chief Justice Bandaranayaka will be the chief guest while Justice Wigneswaran will be the key note speaker.

“In a further development there is uncertainty whether the vehicles (cars) that had been imported recently for the use of Superior Courts Judges (Court of Appeal and Supreme Court) would be released to the judges.” the Lawyers Collective further says.

Meanwhile issuing a statement the Asian Human Rights Commission says; “Obviously, the government has tried to stop this annual gathering where the judges normally spend two days and also have the opportunity to interact with each other and to socialize. The obvious fear would be that the judges will naturally talk about the threat faced by the independence of the judiciary in Sri Lanka. Recently many events of concern have happened such as the attack by a minister with others on the Magistrate’s Court and the High Court of Mannar. The magistrate complained also that he was threatened by the Industries Minister Risath Bathiudeen. A contempt of court issue as well as criminal is pending on the matter. Then there was the attempted kidnapping and assault on the Secretary of the Judicial Service Commission. Above all there is the attempt to get rid of the Chief Justice after the Supreme Court had given a ruling adverse to the government.”

I felt ashamed to be a member of parliament: Kiriella

WEDNESDAY, 19 DECEMBER 2012

UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella spoke to the Daily Mirror on the impeachment process, the declining decorum in parliament and the weakening of the opposition.

CJ’s Writ Applications Will Be Supported Tomorrow Morning

By Colombo Telegraph -December 19, 2012

The Writ Applications filed at the Court of Appeal by Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake will be supported before a three judge bench of the Court of Appeal at 10 a.m. tomorrow.

Romesh De Silva

Chief Justice Bandaranayake has sought to quash the findings of the PSC Report that found her guilty on three charges and restrain any further action with regard to the findings.

President of the Court of Appeal S. Skandarajah and Justices Anil Gooneratne and A.W.A. Salaam will comprise the three judge bench to hear the application when it is taken up tomorrow. The Chief Justice’s petition will be supported by Romesh De Silva PC, and his team of lawyers, instructed by attorneys Neelakandan and Neelakandan.

SRI LANKA: Women's rights activists condemn the use of vulgar, sexist language against the chief justice by ministers and parliamentarians

December 19, 2012

We, the undersigned note with extreme concern, the proceedings related to the impeachment hearing of the first woman Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Banadaranayake by the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC). Any hearing, regardless of the person, must adhere to principles of natural justice and rule of law. In the case of the Chief Justice all those norms and practices have been violated.

On 6th December 2012, when she appeared before the PSC, its members have used abusive and derogatory language tantamount to sexual harassment. It is reported that at various stages of the proceedings of the PSC two members have hurled abuse at the CJ. The harassment experienced by her was so traumatic that she was made to walk out of the proceedings.

Furthermore, responsible Ministers of the government and the state media have continued to engage in character assassination of the Chief Justice, since the commencement of the impeachment process. The sad fact is that she is the target of this type of slander, only because she is a woman.

Indeed, the Chief Justice is not the only victim of such degenerative sexism. Electronic and print media have continued to report vulgar and sexist statements being made against women parliamentarians, women Ministers and women activists. One example is where the Hon Kumara Welgama made sexist comments on Hon Rosie Senanayake. Hon Mervyn Silva continues to use vulgar language regarding the Chief Justice in his public pronouncements. Women who hold public positions have been called vagrants, mad women and allegations are made on their sexual conduct. This reflects institutional sexism in the political system.

Such appalling behaviour of politicians contributes an environment of spiraling violence against women and girls in our society.

We wish to remind the Sri Lankan government of its international obligations under CEDAW(Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women) ratified by the government in 1981.

We vehemently condemn the use of vulgar, sexist and derogatory expressions by politicians and state media against the Chief Justice Dr Shirani Banadaranaike especially during the conduct of proceedings and also at other fora outside of the proceedings.

Sgd:
Ms Shanthini Sachithanadam - Viluthu Organisation
Ms Visaka Tillekerathna - Justice for Victims.
Dr Nimalka Fernando – Women's Political Academy (Sri Lanka)
Dr Sepalika Kottegoda – Women and Media Collective Ms Selvi Sachithanandam - Poornam Foundation Ms Padmini Weerasooriya – Mothers and Daughters of Lanka Ms Saroja Sivachandran - Centre for Women and Development Ms Sherine Xavier - Home for Human Rights
Ms Sriya Ahangama - Women's Centre
Ms Samanmalie - Dabindu Collective
Ms Visaka Dharmadasa – Women Affected by War
Ms Sunila Abeysekera – INFORM
Dr Paikiasothy Saravanamutt – Centre for Policy Alternative

Individual Activists:
Ms Janakie Senevirathne, Ms Anberiya Hanifa, Ms Chulani Kodikara, Sr Helen Fernando, Sr Angela Fernando, Ms Leela Issac, Ms Priyadarshini Ariyaratne, Ms Madhu Dissanaike, Ms Anoma Rajakaruna, Ms Chandini Rajaratnam, Mr C.J Weliamuna, Ms Rane Rathnayake, Ms Dorren Fernando, Mr Hans Billimoira, Ms Chandini Rajaratnam, Ms Sonali Gunasekera, Mr Ranjith Cabral, Ms. Seetha Ranjani and Mr Mahim Mendis

Rights Activists Condemn The Use Of Vulgar Language Against The CJ

By Colombo Telegraph -December 19, 2012

“We wish to remind the Sri Lankan government of its international obligations under CEDAW(Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women) ratified by the government in 1981. We vehemently condemn the use of vulgar, sexist and derogatory expressions by politicians and state media against the Chief Justice Dr Shirani Banadaranaike especially during the conduct of proceedings and also at other fora outside of the proceedings.” says a group of rights activists.

“Indeed, the Chief Justice is not the only victim of such degenerative sexism. Electronic and print media have continued to report vulgar and sexist statements being made against women parliamentarians, women Ministers and women activists. ” issuing a statement they further say.

We publish below the statement in full;

On 6th December 2012, when she appeared before the PSC, its members have used abusive and derogatory language tantamount to sexual harassment. It is reported that at various stages of the proceedings of the PSC two members have hurled abuse at the CJ. The harassment experienced by her was so traumatic that she was made to walk out of the proceedings.

Furthermore, responsible Ministers of the government and the state media have continued to engage in character assassination of the Chief Justice, since the commencement of the impeachment process. The sad fact is that she is the target of this type of slander, only because she is a woman.

Indeed, the Chief Justice is not the only victim of such degenerative sexism. Electronic and print media have continued to report vulgar and sexist statements being made against women parliamentarians, women Ministers and women activists. One example is where the Hon Kumara Welgama made sexist comments on Hon Rosie Senanayake. Hon Mervyn Silva continues to use vulgar language regarding the Chief Justice in his public pronouncements. Women who hold public positions have been called vagrants, mad women and allegations are made on their sexual conduct. This reflects institutional sexism in the political system.

Such appalling behaviour of politicians contributes an environment of spiraling violence against women and girls in our society.

We wish to remind the Sri Lankan government of its international obligations under CEDAW(Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women) ratified by the government in 1981.
We vehemently condemn the use of vulgar, sexist and derogatory expressions by politicians and state media against the Chief Justice Dr Shirani Banadaranaike especially during the conduct of proceedings and also at other fora outside of the proceedings.

Sgd:

Ms Shanthini Sachithanadam – Viluthu Organisation
Ms Visaka Tillekerathna – Justice for Victims.
Dr Nimalka Fernando – Women’s Political Academy (Sri Lanka)
Dr Sepalika Kottegoda – Women and Media Collective
Ms Selvi Sachithanandam – Poornam Foundation
Ms Padmini Weerasooriya – Mothers and Daughters of Lanka
Ms Saroja Sivachandran – Centre for Women and Development
Ms Sherine Xavier – Home for Human Rights
Ms Sriya Ahangama – Women’s Centre
Ms Samanmalie – Dabindu Collective
Ms Visaka Dharmadasa – Women Affected by War
Ms Sunila Abeysekera – INFORM
Dr Paikiasothy Saravanamutt – Centre for Policy Alternative

Individual Activists:

Ms Janakie Senevirathne
Ms Anberiya Hanifa
Ms Chulani Kodikara
Sr Helen Fernando
Sr Angela Fernando
Ms Leela Issac
Ms Priyadarshini Ariyaratne
Ms Madhu Dissanaike
Ms Anoma Rajakaruna
Ms Chandini Rajaratnam
Mr C.J Weliamuna
Ms Ranee Rathnayake
Ms Dorren Fernando
Mr Hans Billimoira
Ms Chandini Rajaratnam
Ms Sonali Gunasekera
Mr Ranjith Cabral
Ms. Seetha Ranjani
Mr Mahim Mendis

Withdraw impeachment against CJ immediately - PMD

WEDNESDAY, 19 DECEMBER 2012

The signing of the People’s petition organized by People’s Movement of Democracy (PMD) demanding the government to withdraw the impeachment motion against the Chief Justice took place today (19th) opposite Fort Railway Station.

Among those present were lawyers, university teachers and trade union leaders including Parliamentrian Vijitha Herath, Srinath Perera PC, Senior Lecturer Chandraguptha Thenuwara and Attorney Sunil Watagala.

The petition states “Rajapaksa regime that took the Parliament under its authority by creating a 2/3rd majority using various perks, bribes and benefits is now attempting to cow down the judiciary that appears to be an obstacle for its despotic path. The rage that exploded with the challenge in the Supreme Court against ‘Divi Neguma’ bill that would have become a bonanza for Rajapaksas turned into an impeachment against the Chief Justice.

Despite Rajapaksa regime’s attempt to show that the impeachment process was a project to cleanse the judiciary, it is obvious to the people that the attempt was to take revenge from the Chief Justice and plant one of their stooges in the position. The best examples are the haste in carrying out the process and the naked manner the decisions were published. Hence, there is no need for so-called independent investigations carried out to give legality to vendetta of Rajapaksas.

As such, we, the undersigned, demand the government to immediately withdraw the impeachment motion against the Chief Justice and stop pressurizing the judiciary.

GL Throws Former Student Shirani B Under The Bus At DPL Briefing

Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris | Photo Ishara Kodikara

By Colombo Telegraph -December 18, 2012

External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris today morning called up the Colombo based diplomatic corps to brief them on the impeachment process against Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake.

Colombo Telegraph learns that in a highly professorial briefing to the diplomats,Minister Peirishighlighted British and US case law, with regard to impeachment of judges and informed the embassy officials that Sri Lanka was following constitutional procedure to remove the Chief Justice.

A document on several US Supreme Court judgments was distributed to the diplomats, specifically referring to how the impeachment of judges in the US was undertaken by the legislature.

However several diplomatic sources told Colombo Telegraph that it was laughable that the Minister failed to highlight that in the same judgment the court noted that there were two constitutional safeguards in place in the legislative process to impeach a judge in the US – firstly that the impeachment resolution is moved in the lower house and trial and inquiry undertaken by the Senate and secondly that even in the senate, a judge must be found guilty by two thirds of a senate majority. One diplomat quipped that the last time a Supreme Court justice in the US had been impeached was in 1804 and even then, he was found not guilty by the senate and continued on the bench. Britain has never had to remove a judge of the English high court or the court of appeal, although the provisions exist.

The diplomats were also informed that there had been a clamour from the opposition regarding the scandal involving the Chief Justice’s husband, who was Chairman of a state bank that was engaged in a dubious share transaction. Proof of this ‘clamour’ was provided to the embassy officials with newspaper cuttings and Parliamentary Hansard extracts. Several opposition MPs including Dr. Harsha de Silva, Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Dayasiri Jayasekera have been highlighted as those agitating against the Chief Justice’s husband and casting doubt on Bandaranayake’s independence.

In the Rupavahini programme Wedikawa (Platform) Parliamentary Select Committee Member Rajitha Senaratne also highlighted these reports, including one article saying Not Only The Chairman Husband; Chief Justice Wife Must Also Resign!, written by Uvindu Kurukulasuriya. Senaratne said: “This is what my friendUvindu Kurukulasuriya wrote earlier although he now writes against this.” This article was also highlighted in the Diplomatic briefing by Minister Peiris. Other press statements by opposition members were also highlighted by Minister Senaratne.

Defending the Parliamentary Select Committee process that recently found Bandaranayake guilty on three charges out of 14 in the impeachment motion filed against her, Minister Peiris told diplomats that the Chief Justice had surrendered all her legal rights to be heard when she walked out of the proceedings on December 6, 2012. The Minister also told the diplomatic corps that the PSC was not a place for evidence to be examined in cross examination since the only thing the committee had to ascertain was whether the evidence gathered was true or false, embassy sources told Colombo Telegraph.

Ironically, Minister Peiris was Chief Justice Bandaranayake’s teacher at the Law Faculty of the Colombo University when she was a student at the campus. The Minister identified her as one of the brightest in her batch and was reportedly instrumental in recommending her as a lecturer at the faculty once she graduated. Minister G.L. Peiris as Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs in the Chandrika KumaratungaGovernment of 1994-2000, recommended Bandaranayake’s appointment to the Supreme Court bench.

Government sources believe that the Rajapaksa Administration blames Peiris for his role in elevating Bandaranayake to the position of Sri Lanka’s first female Chief Justice. Peiris is believed to have supervised the drafting of the impeachment motion against his former protégé and is now engaged in a massive effort to restore the legitimacy of the Government process undertaken to remove her from office.

Several attempts made to contact Minister Peiris with regard to this matter proved fruitless.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Court action against Bishop of Mannar.

December 17, 2012 at 6:31 pm | lanka C news

The Criminal Investigation Department has made arrangements to take court action against Rev Father Rayappu Joseph, the Bishop of Mannar, for issuing false statements, supporting the Tamil Diaspora, allied to the L.T.T.E.

The C.I.D. has summoned the Bishop to it’s headquarters for issuing false statements to the international media saying that, the Sri Lankan government is harassing the Vanni Tamil people, who have migrated to Australia illegally and sent back to Sri Lanka by the Australian government.

C.I.D has questioned the Bishop for five hours and obtained statements from him.

Earlier, the C I D has obtained statements from the Tamil people, who have been expelled to Sri Lanka from Australia, and they have said that, they were not been harassed by the Sri Lankan government.

A higher official of the C.I.D. has said that, most probably, a case will be filed against the Bishop of Mannar,for providing false statements to the international community and embarrassing the country.

Equal Rights want Jaffna students released

TUESDAY, 18 DECEMBER 2012

The movement for Equal Rights staged a protest outside Fort Railway Station to urge the government to release the Jaffna University students who are being held in Custody and to end the military rule in the North. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Rehabilitate Gotha and release university students. Opposition parties denounce

Monday , 17 December 2012

Jaffna University students who are detained at the Welikanda camp will be released after rehabilitation, was the statement made by Defense Secretary Gottabaya, which cannot be accepted was stated by opposition parties.

They pointed out that Gothabaya is functioning with arrogance beyond his limits and he needs rehabilitation.

Who is Gottabaya to take court actions arbitrarily? He is a normal government official. He can only function under limited powers given to him was mentioned by Tamil National Alliance and all the opposition parties. Parties urged for the immediate released of the detained university students.

Recently 12 Jaffna university students were arrested by the Terrorism Investigation police and were taken to Vavuniya for inquires. On conclusion of the investigation, 8 students were released and the remaining four were detained at the Welikanda camp.

A crucial discussion was held between the Jaffna university administrators and Defense Secretary Gottabayaka Rajapakese on last Friday at the Defense Ministry.

During the discussion, Defense Secretary notified the four students are on detention will be released after they are rehabilitated.

Tamil National Alliance, United National Party, Democratic Peoples Front, Nawasamasamajee party and Tamil National Party were asked about their opinion and the party leaders gave their views in regard to this.

Suresh Piremachandran

Defense Ministry Secretary's duty is not to rehabilitate anyone. Defense Secretary has a habit to speak whatever crops up. Only the court could decide whether the arrested students could be rehabilitated or they should serve prison sentence.

Police during midnight crept inside the students homes and on threat have arrested them. This is an erroneous act. Threatening them to surrender is the second crime committed. The arrested students should be produced in courts.

Gothabaya being the youngest brother of President speaks with arrogance and assumes that he could do anything and functions according to his desire was mentioned by Parliament Member Suresh Piremachandran.

Wickramabahu Karunaratne

Defense Secretary Gottabaya Rajapakse has not still realized about the post he is given and functioning, hence he is the first person who should be given rehabilitation. He is only affected from power prestige.

Gothayaba is a state official and in what authority, he had ordered the students for rehabilitation. By utilizing the terrorism prevention law and if investigations are conducted, he does not have authority to order rehabilitation. The actions of Gottabaya are strongly condemned by us.

We will voice for the release of the students. Discrimination in education was show in those days, was the cause for war in the country. Therefore government should not play with the student society was stated by Nawasamasamajee party General Secretary and Dehiwela Mt.Lavania Municipal Council Member Prof.Wickramabahu Karunaratne.

Mano Ganeshan

Approximately thousands of Tamil political prisoners are detained in prisons and detention camps. They should be given rehabilitation and released or atleast released on bail for which in several occasions we appealed the government. Government without taking any attention to our pleas, with its officials had beaten and arrested the students moving freely in attending to their education and stating they should be rehabilitated is a brutal act.

Sri Lanka government at many times was condemned by the United Nation but has not still reformed which clearly establish from such incidents was mentioned by Democratic People’s Front Leader Mano Ganeshan.

Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam

The activity of government in rehabilitating the arrested Jaffna university students is illegal. If government actually has concern towards the welfare of the arrested students, they should be released without rehabilitation

Arresting the Jaffna university students is illegal.

False accusations were charged against them and were arrested. Inquiries were not conducted in the proper manner for the accusations charged against them.

Tamil National People’s Front Leader Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam said, without carrying out investigations, students cannot be detained in rehabilitation camps without proving.

Haren Fernando

By stating that the four arrested Jaffna university students require rehabilitation, and detaining them in rehabilitation camp is an erroneous act. Government's such act is a mystery why and for what? We cannot accept the government’s activities of plundering the rights of the University students on threats.

Due to the 30 years’ war in the country, Jaffna university students faced some drawbacks. Hence considering their education activities, government should take action to provide the basic trainings. This is essential at the present atmosphere.

By identifying their flaws government should process activities to overcome it. Other than this, arresting the students in the manner of threats and government processing rehabilitation activities by snatching their rights which cannot be at all accepted was mentioned by United National Party MP Haren Fernando

Jaffna University students' union leader B.Bawananthan, union secretary P.Tharshanth, Arts Faculty students' federation leader K.Jenamey Jayanth, Science Faculty students' union member S.Solaman, are the four students still serving detention.

Canadian MP Parm Gill Expresses Concern Regarding Abuses of Civil Liberties in Sri Lanka

(Lanka-e-News -18.Dec.2012, 3.15PM) Member of Parliament Parm Gill expressed concern over the arrests and detention of student demonstrators at Jaffna University in Sri Lanka, and the violation of civil liberties that has occurred.

“A number of my constituents have expressed their concerns about the events that have taken place at Jaffna University,” said MP Gill. “I share their concerns for the treatment of the students involved.”

“As Canadians, we take basic civil liberties such as freedom of speech, conscience, and association, for granted. I urge the Sri Lankan Government to respect the right of their citizens to free, peaceful assembly and the right to express themselves.”

MP Gill joins with other members of the Government, including Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, in calling for a peaceful resolution to the protests and resulting unrest at Jaffna University.

Earlier this month, Minister Baird called on the Sri Lankan government to, “Finally put the people of that country first.”

MP Gill extended his thoughts to those affected by these recent events, and implores the international community to put pressure on the government of Sri Lanka to ensure the rights of all involved are protected.

Efforts carried out to bring back the university activities to normalcy. Arrangements to meet force Commander. Oppose emerge

Tuesday , 18 December 2012

Efforts are being carried out to bring back the Jaffna university activities to normalcy. However concerning these attempts, many uncertainties have raised.

In view of bringing back into normalcy, the learning and teaching activities of the university, Registrar has invited faculty heads to attend to a discussion with Jaffna District Military Commanding Chief at Palaly.

The meeting is scheduled to take place on the forthcoming Friday.

All faculty Deans from the Jaffna University had been issued directives in regard to this according to the instruction given from Vice Chancellor to Registrar is the information received to "Udayan" print media.

However the expectation of the university administration is, the faculty Deans should attend to the discussion with the Military Commander, and objections were raised straightaway.

Concerning the discussions with force Commander, Arts faculty Deans met yesterday.

Informative circles notified to "Udayan" print media that there is strong objection to this proposal. They have informed that there is no necessity for them to meet military was further informed by the informative circle.

Following heroes day, four out of the arrested Jaffna university students are not still released. They are detained at Welikanda for rehabilitation, and would be released later, was mentioned by Defense Secretary Gottabaya Rajapakse to the university administration on last Friday. He had advised to take action to bring the university activities to normalcy without anticipating the release of students.

On this basis, directives were issued to the faculty Deans to meet Jaffna District Military Commander for discussion.

Tuesday , 18 December 2012

Audio: It was a media show by stooges: Wijeydasa

Wednesday, 19th December 2012

Sri Lanka Bar Association (BASL) President Wijeydasa Rajapakshe today rejected allegations made by certain groups that the resolutions passed at the BASL Special General Meeting were done in an arbitrary manner. He said those who were making these allegations were “stooges” and were completely “biased” in what they say.

“The Vice President who tendered her resignation is prejudiced because her husband is the Bribery Commission investigating officer. If she had any kind of decency she should have not been a member of any proceedings against the Chief Justice. Her husband JayanthaWickremaratne is the officer investigating the cases against the Chief Justice’s husband and therefore she was never impartial,” he said.

When asked about the divisive nature of the meeting, Mr. Rajapakshe said the meeting was conducted in an impartial manner and certain people with vested interests, put on a show for the media.

He said he welcomed the resignation of the Vice President, and pointed out that the Bar Association would not be hampered by such a resignation.(Hafeel Farisz)