Sri Lanka’s squandered opportunities

By Editorial Board, Monday, February 18

ALMOST FOUR years ago, the Sri Lankan government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa won a decisive victory in a 26-year-long civil war with rebels from the island’s minority Tamil community. The cost was horrific: A United Nations investigation subsequently found that up to 40,000 civilians may have died in the government's final offensive. But the triumph made Mr. Rajapaksa a hero among the majority Sinhalese community and gave him an opportunity to modernize his country while healing its ethnic rift.

Unfortunately, the president and his family — two brothers hold cabinet positions — have pursued just the opposite course. Having acquired a two-thirds parliamentary majority by inducing the defection of opposition representatives, the ruling party rewrote the constitution to eliminate a two-term limit on the president. Government critics in the press, civil society organizations and the judiciary have been threatened and sometimes attacked by pro-government thugs. According to Human Rights Watch, several thousand people are detained without charge, and state security forces have continued to abuse Tamil activists, including through torture and sexual assault.

The regime has meanwhile brushed off demands by the U.N. Human Rights Council that it conduct a serious investigation into crimes that may have been committed in the final months of the war. Last week the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, NaviPillay, said that no mechanism had been established to trace people who went missing and that investigations of disappearances had not led to arrests or prosecutions.

This year Mr. Rajapaksa has taken two more big steps in the wrong direction. Last month he ratified the impeachment of the chief justice of the supreme court and installed a close follower in her place, neutering the judiciary’s independence. The president’s legislative majority initiated the impeachment after the court ruled against an economic development initiative by one of the Rajapaksa brothers; the plan ignored constitutionally guaranteed rights for local governments.

Mr. Rajapaksa had promised to expand that local autonomy as a way of addressing the legitimate interests of Tamils, who form a majority in parts of the north and east. But this month he celebrated Sri Lanka’s independence day by delivering a speech that reneged on the pledge. The government is now signaling that it may repeal the constitutional provision on local rights.

The United States and other Western governments have repeatedly and publicly protested Mr. Rajapaksa’s retrograde measures, but their words have fallen on deaf ears. Human Rights Watch points out that the Commonwealth community of nations may have some leverage, because Sri Lanka is due to host the bloc’s summit in November — a high-prestige event for a small country. By threatening to move or boycott the summit and Sri Lanka’s assumption of the Commonwealth chairmanship, governments such as Britain, Canada and Australia could send a clear message to Mr. Rajapaksa that his policies are unacceptable to democratic nations.

MaRa’s marauders and murderers hear trials in the Highway: Model pavement legal system in the making

(Lanka-e-news -18.Feb.2013, 10.30PM) Following the appointment of an individual who was languishing within the Temple trees as the c(t)hief justice , after ousting the legally appointed Chief justice and blatantly violating the constitution , the marauders and murderers of the MaRa regime in the districts are hearing cases and even meting out punishment in the highways, according to a report from the Mirigama district. Local body member Amila Perera , a stooge of Sarana Gunawardena , a deputy Minister of the regime and a marauder had taken an individual who had lodged a complaint with the police against him to the center of the Mirigama Town, assaulted , made him to kneel down , urinated on his head and made him to worship right before the police after robbing the police of their voice. It is most noteworthy that this incident had occurred just a day after the Cabinet spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella announced proudly on 15 th Friday at a media briefing that no politician must exert pressure on the police. Based on reports reaching Lanka e news , the story is as follows : The police had received a complaint that because of illegal excavation of earth at a place in the vicinity of the Mirigama Town , the houses at the top of the hill are being imperiled. That complaint had been made on the 14th at about 3.30 p.m. The complainant is Sanath Dhammika who resides on top of the hill at 2 B , 177 , Mannawatta, Nahalla , Dawuldeniya . Following this complaint , a team of police officers including PC Sunanda(64354) ,P C Ruwan Chamara (40134), PC Nuwan Amarasinghe( 85805) and PC Herath ( 39009) and some other police officers led by IP R S B Padmasiri had visited the site , when it was uncovered that the Mirigama local body member Amila Perera and a group are indeed excavating the soil of the Hill using backhoes. When an inspection was made , it was discovered that the excavators did not have the permission from the environmental protection authority , the permission of the local body or any other license to carry on the excavation. Thereupon , the police had taken into custody the backhoe, 2 tractors, 2 Tippers and the group that was engaged in the excavation . At that stage , Amila Perera has produced an identity card and claimed that he is the coordinating secretary of Deputy Minister Sarana Gunawardena . Yet the police had enforced the law , impounding the equipments and taken the suspects to the police station. Subsequently the Deputy Minister had phoned the police and scolded in the filthiest and foulest language – the only language most Ministers of the MaRa regime know. He had also insisted that the suspects be released. Simultaneously the DIG of Gampaha range , Sarath Kumara had called the police and instructed to release the suspects without recording anything as they are Deputy Minister Sarana’s ‘men’ ( even though they are crooks ) Consequently , IP Padmasiri and the police officers had no option but to release the suspects. Thereafter , the Mirigama police station OIC , Chief Inspector Eric Perera had arrived at the station. Amila Perera who left the station , had once again come back with a group and abused Eric Perera in filth. He had alleged that the police officers who arrested him were under the influence of liquor and a complaint in that connection shall be made. At the same time DIG Sarath Kumara had instructed to record the complaint. The ASP of Mirigama Pushpa Kumara had also arrived at the station in order to record the complaint. The high ranking officers have disgraced and relegated the lower rung officers to the position of dogs on Sarana’s instructions. Eric Perera who was helpless was only able to watch the injustice and insult that were being inflicted on his hapless subordinates. Both the DIG and the ASP are police officers who had been transferred to that district by Sarana Gunawardena. But the most repugnant part of this episode is Sarana Gunawardena giving instructions to the police to dispatch the police officers against whom the complaint is made to the Watupitiwala hospital instead of Mirigama hospital. The worst part was yet to come – the DIG and the ASP most obsequiously obeying the instructions of Sarana . Accordingly , the hapless breed of police officers were dispatched to the Watupitiwala Hospital at about 7.30 p.m. While they were being transported , Sarana Gunawardena had spoken to the Watupitiwala hospital and posed threats. The medical Authority of the Hospital and his wife are Doctors in the same hospital. On that night , it was the wife of Dr. Samantha Premaratne who had been the duty officer . Sarana had threatened her ‘ there is a group of policemen coming along with the ASP. A medical report shall be given that they are drunk. Otherwise, both of you be ready to go.’ The GMOA which goes on a strike for just a sneeze of a patient , is still silent even after these illegal and violent threats of Sarana held out loudly . In any case Dr. Mrs. Premaratne had stated that she cannot do anything on this , and to take them to Mirigama Hospital. When they were taken to the Mirigama general hospital , the DMO there had examined them and certified that they were not under the influence of liquor. Sarana who is a pampered scoundrel of the Rajapakses was not satisfied . He has spoken to his biggest scoundrel Mahinda , and the next biggest scoundrel Gotabaya and urged that they do something in this regard knowing very well the mentality of scoundrels . Gotabaya had phoned the IGP and told to suspend IP Premasiri who performed his duty duly and the other police officers. The IGP had not however carried out the order , and had entrusted the investigation into this to DIG Sarath Gunawardena.

Meanwhile , on the following day , 15th , Amila Perera the local body member, the hooligan of Sarana’s district and his stooge had acted criminally again . He had gone with a gang of goons to the house of Sanath Dhammika , an innocent individual for complaining against the unlawful excavations, and brutally assaulted him . He has then put him into the vehicle and brought him to the Mirigama town . In the middle of the Town , Dhammika whose hands and legs were tied was made to kneel down by Amila Perera and the latter had urinated on his head while large crowds were watching . He had then threatened the victim and made to fall at his feet and ask for pardon. Dhammika who is still in fear said ,because he was frightened that Amila might kill him , he obeyed him and worshipped . Dhammika later told us.

Despite all these disgraceful behavior and shamelessness , Mirigama is yet to see justice being implemented. The people are also in fear, he added. The past ……. ---------- This disgraceful , lawless and violent conduct of MaRa’s henchmen like Sarana and Amila are not what cropped up suddenly . This is a culmination of a series of violence and lawlessness in the country stoked by MaRa and his regime. This violence and lawlessness are not going to end here . Amila has even assaulted an IP Kalyanatunge when the latter apprehended a thief who snatched a chain. In order to rescue the thief who is a henchman of Amila that the IP was attacked. The IP ‘s one eye had got dislodged due to the assault. He was treated in the intensive care unit , and is still taking outdoor eye clinic treatment . On top of this he had been threatened that if a complaint is made, he and his daughter will be killed. In fear of these threats complaints had not been lodged. Moreover the officer is interdicted. Sarana the Deputy Minister is a notorious extortionist of the district. Amila Perera the local body member ,his underling collects about Rs. 40 lakhs every month for him as extortion money. Amila further collects Rs. 200/- from every Mirigama lorry daily , and Rs. 200/- from every bus driver daily. A trader , Rohan who spoke to us said, when he began business in Mirigama , Amila met him and said , if Rohan is to continue with his business he must pay Rs. 20 lakhs as extortion fee. When Rohan had agreed to pay Rs. 10 lakhs instead of Rs. 20 lakhs , Amila had told him , in that case he cannot go ahead with his business. Finally , Rohan told us he called off the business he wanted to start in Mirigama . Amila the notorious villain is the eldest son of a well noted kasippu dealer in Mirigama. It is to be noted that David is no mean kasippu dealer . He has had 157 cases against him. He has been fined countless number of times. If it is being wondered why such a notorious individual was elected by the Alliance supporters to the local body , that is wrong. It is difficult to find persons who voted for him. It was by rigging on the day of elections by Sarana that Amila got a place. On the day when counting was on , the people at the booth were chased away by Sarana Gunawardena and got Amila Perera elected as he fancied. The Alliance supporters themselves confess this is what truly happened. Sarana is necessary for MaRa. Why is Amila Perera so necessary for Sarana ? Suranga Peiris , the SLFP organizer of Nittambuwa was murdered sometime ago by Amila Perera and a group at the behest of Sarana, according to residents. Suranga Peiris ,a devout religious follower had objected to these evils and villainous activities . He was murdered on a poson poya day. During that time , not only Sarana , but even the Medamulana murderers had the need to liquidate Peiris. It is therefore very evident the killings of MaRa directly and indirectly had been multiplying and growing rather than declining. … And now when local body murderers and marauders are hearing trials and meting out punishment in the middle of the roads by assaulting , making victims kneel down and urinating on their heads before the public , a ponne (effeminate and cowardly) society is being bred in SL.

By -special correspondent

DESIRE TO SILENCE OUTSPOKEN JOURNALISTS SEEN IN MURDER ATTEMPT

MONDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2013.

Reporters Without Borders and its partner organization, Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka, firmly condemn an attempt to murder Sunday Leader journalist Faraz Shaukatally on the night 15 February, when he was shot and wounded by gunmen inside his Colombo home. Doctors say his life is no longer in danger.

“This appalling shooting suggests that the enemies of media freedom are trying to silence those journalists who still dare to report the news freely,” Reporters Without Borders and Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka said.

“Even if a thorough investigation is needed to determine the motive with certainty, there are already many indications that this attack was a reprisal for Shaukatally’s journalistic activities, especially as he had been threatened shortly after writing articles about government corruption and private sector embezzlement.

“We urge the authorities to react to this attack without delay and, in their investigation, to focus on the possibility that it was linked to his work, which seems the most likely motive at this stage. Shaukatally must also be given police protection at the hospital where he is being treated and after he leaves it, as well.”

Shaukatally was speaking by phone with editorial staff at the Sunday Leader from his home in the south Colombo district of Mount Lavina when three intruders appeared, cut his phone line and opened fire, wounding him in the neck.

Foreign tourists staying in the guest house beside his home took him to Colombo National Hospital, where doctors managed to extract the bullet fragments from his neck during the next 24 hours.

Witnesses say unidentified men went to his home two weeks ago, asking where he was. TheSunday Leader said: “It was clear that the attack on Faraz was well planned and coordinated as the gunmen knew the exact time he was at home on Friday, where his room is located and if he was alone in his room.”

This attack comes just weeks after the third anniversary of cartoonist Prageeth Ekneligoda’sdisappearance on 24 January 2010, the fourth anniversary of Sunday Leader editor Lasantha Wickrematunga’s murder on 8 January 2009 and the four anniversary of an attempt on the lives of Rivira editor Upali Tennakoon and his wife, also in January 2009.

Sri Lankan journalists are constantly the targets of threats and reprisals, often by the government. Former Sunday Leader editor Frederica Jansz recently talked to Reporters Without Borders about the violence and impunity that undermines the work of the media and forced her to flee the country.

Sri Lanka is classified by Reporters Without Borders as a country “under surveillance” because of its violations of online freedom of expression and is ranked 162nd out of 179 countries in its 2013 press freedom index.

AFP PHOTO/Sanka VIDANAGAMA

SL not only facilitated US rendition project but also nabbed key al-Qaeda suspect

* CIA’s hunt for terrorists

February 18, 2013, 10:43 pm 

by Shamindra Ferdinando-February 18, 2013

 A top level investigation has revealed that Sri Lanka not only allowed the use of its only international airport at Katunayake for flights associated with US extraordinary rendition project but also handed over a terror suspect apprehended on its soil to US agents.

The then UNP-led UNF government had arrested the wanted foreign national following the US government making representations, in the wake of an international hunt for key al-Qaeda operatives. Sources said that the suspect’s nationality was yet not known.

Authoritative sources told The Island that the then President Chandrika Kumaratunga, in spite of being the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, hadn’t been informed of the UNF’s decision to facilitate the secret operation.

The inquiry got underway close on the heels of the New York-based Open Society Foundation (OSF) alleging that there had been no known judicial cases or investigations in Sri Lanka relating to its participation in CIA secret detention and extraordinary rendition operations." A report recently released by the OSF dealt primarily with human rights abuses associated with the CIA’s post-Sept. 2001 secret detention and extraordinary rendition operations.

Sources said that the Defence Ministry was still in the process of inquiring into OSF allegations in a bid to identify those who authorized the operation.

Sri Lanka got involved in the top secret CIA operation following the US advice that it revamp its armed forces as well as intelligence gathering operations.

Although 54 countries were involved in the operation, actual arrests were made by only some including Sri Lanka on behalf of the US.

The 54 countries that aided in post-9/11 renditions: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Libya, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Yemen, and Zimbabwe.

An individual who refused to give ‘kappam’ for function attended by President’s wife killed

(Lanka-e-News-19.Feb.2013, 9.00AM) An individual who did not give extortion money for decorations towards a function attended by President’s wife had been abducted by the white Van and murdered , according to reports reaching Lanka e news. The victim is 37 year old Waniganetti milth Niroshan , a married person with two children residing at Attanagalla road, Nittambuwa. A group of individuals who arrived at the victim’s house yesterday (17) night at about 2,00 had claimed that they are from the police and got the door of the house opened . After forcibly taking Milth Niroshan who was woken up into the Van , the latter had fled at lightning speed. Later his body was discovered this noon at a Rubber estate , Galbamma district , close to Ruwanwella junction. The victim whose hands had been tied behind was having two T 56 gunshot injuries on his head. At the moment the remains are in the Avisawella hospital mortuary. His wife has complained to the Nittambuwa police regarding this abduction. Based on the stories of the residents of the area , the grounds for the murder are as follows :

Shiranthee Rajapakse , the wife of the President had attended a function held at Watupitiwala , Attanagala yesterday . In this connection , Sarana Gunawardena , Deputy Minister the notorious extortionist had been collecting funds via extortion means. The amount of money so collected was Rs. 15 lakhs. The deceased Niroshan is a staunch UNP supporter engaged in business. His whole family are strong UNP supporters. When funds were demanded from him by Sarana , he had categorically refused. On the following day , he had been abducted and killed. Previously too the victim had also been harassed by Sarana getting him remanded after planting a hand grenade

Police spokesperson unfit for the uniform. Tamil leaders denounce

Tuesday , 19 February 2013

Police did not arrest anyone from the Tellipalai incident. The video showing the arrest is fiction, are the shameful statements given by police spokesperson

Police spokesperson is not eligible to attire his uniform. Thousands of people caught the person, was released because he is from the military, and the lies stated by the Police spokesperson will pave way to disrupt law and order was stated by Tamil Leaders.

Waligamam north People urging for the living rights were engaged in a hunger protest in front of Tellipalai Durgai Amman temple on last 15th. In the middle of the protest, some intruded and attempted to cause disturbance.

One of the intruders was caught by the public and was handed over to the police. A video footage was published, police taking the arrested person.

But this was completely denied by the Police spokesperson Prasantha Jayakody, and he had made a statement that the videos were fabricated technologically and public did not handover anyone to them, and none were arrested.

Concerning this issue, Tamil National Alliance spokesperson, Jaffna district parliament member Suresh Piremachandran was queried and he said, if Police spokesperson makes a statement like this, none will give respect to the police uniform he has attired. This is a disgraceful statement.

Thousands of people in front of their eyes have handed over a person to the police, and he was released due to the reason that he being from the military, and if Police spokesperson says such a statement, he could remove his police uniform and function.

Tellipalai police Officer in Charge, Police spokesperson, Jaffna district Deputy Police Inspector is not fit for police duties and police uniform.

They will not protect law and order. Police uniform is getting tarnished by them was mentioned by him.

Democratic People’s Front Leader Mano Ganeshan concerning this said, the statement of Police spokesperson is an embarrassment issue.

The incident occurred in front of responsible parliament members; Police Spokesperson had completely denied it and it is a much hilarious issue.

Military spokesperson had made a statement that when opposition party leader was attempting to address some caused problems, and to prevent it, military came. If anyone cause problem, to prevent police should be notified.

All the Medias published the video image of arresting the person caused problem by police, but Police Spokesperson saying this is a technology fabricated is much humorous was mentioned by him.

Photos show Sri Lanka executed militant's child: director

AFP © Photos show Sri Lanka executed militant's child: director

February 19, 2013The West

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NEW DELHI (AFP) - Photos released on Tuesday to publicise a new documentary on Sri Lanka show that government soldiers executed the 12-year-old son of separatist chief Velupillai Prabhakaran in 2009, its director claimed.

The photos, part of a documentary for Britain's Channel 4, prove the Sri Lankan army's involvement in war crimes including summary execution and torture during the island's 37-year-long civil war, according to director Callum Macrae.

The pictures "tell a chilling story", Macrae wrote in an article published in Indian newspaper The Hindu.

In one, Balachandran, the youngest son of the slain Tamil Tiger leader, is seen eating a snack while sitting in a green sandbag bunker guarded by a soldier. A second image shows his bullet-riddled bare-chested body.

The documentary alleges that Balachandran was executed two hours after the first photo was taken.

The images have been scrutinised by digital image analysts, who concluded they came from the same camera, and support video footage of the boy's body uncovered last year, Macrae said.

The Sri Lankan government has maintained that Prabhakaran's family were killed in fighting. The bodies of his wife and daughter have never been found.

"The new photographs are particularly important evidentially, because they prove that Balachandran was not killed in crossfire, or in a battle. His death was deliberate and calculated," Macrae wrote.

"It is difficult to imagine the mindset of an army in which a child can be executed in cold blood with apparent impunity."

"No War Zone: The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka" will be released in March in Geneva to coincide with a UN Human Rights Council discussion on the country, currently facing censure by the US over its failure to probe war crimes.

Sri Lanka's military denied executing prisoners and accused the British network of engaging in a campaign to tar the country's reputation.

"These pictures come out in time for the UN Human Rights Council meetings. They want to discredit us," Sri Lankan military spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanisasooriya told AFP. "No evidence has been presented to us to investigate."

Macrae asked India to support calls for an independent probe and said that Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse and his brother, defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse, should be made to answer for alleged war crimes.

Rights groups say up to 40,000 civilians were killed by security forces in the final months of a no-holds-barred offensive in 2009 that ended Sri Lanka's decades-long fight against Tamil separatists.

Sri Lanka denies causing civilian deaths and President Rajapakse sees himself as having brought peace to the Indian Ocean island.

MaRa’s extortion Govt. local body members demand extortion money from their own independent members !

(Lanka-e-News-19.Feb.2013, 9.00AM) The extortion policies of the MaRa Govt. had snowballed so much so that its own Deputy Minister Sarana Gunawardena’s (notorious extortionist) stooge Amila Perera , the local body member who acts for and on behalf of him in these sordid activities is openly demanding extortion monies from independent members of his own local body. An independent member of that local body , Ajith Thilakaratne had complained to the police today that , Amila Perera demanded extortion money from him too. This complaint was made against the very Amila Perera who made an individual who complained against him and his illegal activities to the police to kneel down in the middle of the road after fetching him from his home and urinating on the complainant’s head . ‘I am making arrangements to commence a business with a relative brother in a land near the Mirigama Rendapola , prarthana Bodhiya . This Amila Pradeep Kumarasiri Perera , the member , had been repeatedly threatening me that he would not allow us to do this , and he would destroy everything.. Later he told us , if we do not give him a ‘support’ , we will not be able to carry on under any circumstance. I asked him what is the ‘support’ he is expecting ? Then he replied that if Rs. 3 lakhs is not given to them , this will not be allowed. On another day he arrived at my house in a ‘Cab’ vehicle tooted the horn , broke my gate and put a part of it in the house of a person who helps me.’

Earlier on , when a complaint was made against Amila Perera for illegal excavation of earth , Amila punished the complainant taking the laws into his hands by taking him to the middle of the Town ,making him kneel down and urinated on his head publicly. Since the DIG of the province did not enforce the law , a DIG Colombo had been assigned the task of arresting Amila. Sarana , the Deputy Minister kept Amila hidden. Finally , yesterday night he surrendered to the police.

Minister Siripala halts arrest of underworld figure

TUESDAY, 19 FEBRUARY 2013 

Police officers who were about to arrest Sirimevan Jayasekera alias ‘Dacan’, who had been wanted in connection with illegal excavation for treasure, have been prevented from doing so due to direct mediation by the Minister of Irrigation Nimal Siripala de Silva say reports.

This person called ‘Davan’ is the brother of Thilak Jayasekera, the main suspect of heisting the billion rupee loot from Bank of Ceylon branch at Hale-Ela and both of them are members of a powerful underworld gang. The police are unable to arrest them due to their financial and political power say reports.

The immediate incident involving the thugs is recorded from Nugahena area at Thalakumbura, Galauda in Badulla. A team of police officers who had gone to raid a group that was illegally excavating for treasure on the pretext of development in a privies land has been threatened by ‘Dacan’.

He is a powerful supporter of Minister Siripala and is a suspect of several illegal treasure hunting instances and murder. The three persons who assisted him to excavate treasure have been arrested but the main culprit ‘Dacan’ enjoys his freedom due to the direct intervention of Minister Siripala say reports.

Abducted by white van & murdered

TUESDAY, 19 FEBRUARY 2013

A person who had been abducted from a house at Welagedera in Attanagalla yesterday (18th) by a group that had come in a white van stating they were from the police has been found murdered and dumped under a culvert.

The person Malith Niroshana, had been giving money on interest and there had been several complaints against him in police regarding personal disputes and various other matters say police.

Niroshan’s wife says the group that abducted her husband said they were from the police and had asked her to come to Nittambuwa Police in the morning.

There were several bullet injuries on his body and a live T-56 ammunition was found near his body say police.

CASE FILED AGAINST DUMINDA SILVA OVER BHARATHA LAKSHMAN MURDER

February 19, 2013  

Charge sheets were filed against 13 suspects including MP Duminda Silva over the murders of four persons including former Parliamentarian and Presidential Adviser Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra.

Charge sheets were filed against 13 of the 22 suspects in the case, before Colombo Additional Magistrate Prasanna Alwis, Ada Derana reporter said.

SP Shani Abeysekera had stated that cases will be filed under article 146, 300 and 196 in the Code Of Criminal Procedure Act, he said.

Attorney Upul Kumarapperuma, who appeared for the family of late politician, commended the officers of the CID for their efforts to ensure justice regarding the case amidst various difficulties.

The Magistrate declared that the case can no longer be taken up before him as cases have now been filed against the suspects, and instructed the CID to take steps to take it up at court No. 06.  

Envoy Asitha Perera recalled

TUESDAY, 19 FEBRUARY 2013 

The Ambassador to Rome Asitha Perera has been recalled to the island in the middle of serving his tenure as the head of the Lankan missions in Italy.
Mr. Perera had told reporters that he had received his letter of recall today.

Earlier some Sri Lankans had protested opposite the embassy against the Ambassador. However, commenting on the recall, Perera said that he always “stood straight and did not relent to pressure exerted by smugglers.”

Ministry of Sports swindles Rs.3 million

TUESDAY, 19 FEBRUARY 2013 

About Rs.3 million that has to be paid by the Ministry of Sports for organizational matters that have been carried out by various sections for the 8th Asian Netball Championship held in Sri Lanka last year have not been paid reports a daily newspaper. The hotel bills of Sri Lanka Net Ball team, expenses for official clothing for the team, the allowance for the Australian coach, allowances for match referees and expenses for stationary have not been paid by the Ministry of Sports reports the newspaper.

When institutions inquire regarding payments authorities pass the ball to others saying they are not responsible and due to nonpayment of the monies due to them several small scale institutions that were involved in supplying various requirements for the championship have been confronted with financial crises.

When the championship was held the Netball Federation was not active but the Minister of Sports Mahindananda Aluthgamage had appointed an interim administrative committee comprising two co-presidents.

The Sports Minister had also appointed a special operational committee headed by Director General of Department of Sports Development Ranjani Jayakody for organizational functions of the championship. Even the media functions were carried out by the media unit of the Sports Ministry.

Issues in the team as well as in administration cropped up when Sri Lanka lost the championship. The Minister also took steps to dissolve the interim administrative committee.

It is reported that many payments due regarding eh Net Ball championship have not been carried out and several payments have been stopped on Minister’s orders. Director General of Department of Sports Development Ranjani Jayakody has admitted that payments have not been made.

Meanwhile, People’s Bank has spent Rs.22.3 million for the official sponsorship of Net Ball in Sri Lanka.

Horror at Sea: Adrift for Months, Starving Asylum Seekers Threw 98 Bodies Overboard
Burma

By Emily RauhalaFeb. 19, 20132 Comments


Asylum seekers from Burma rest inside a naval ship after being rescued in Galle, Sri Lanka, on Feb. 17, 2013

Thirty-two asylum seekers rescued by the Sri Lankan navy say they went without food for 21 days and were forced to throw dozens of dead overboard after their wooden vessel failed at sea. The survivors, who identified themselves as Muslims from near the Burma-Bangladesh border, told local officials that they set out to seek refuge in Indonesia or Australia, but instead spent two months languishing on the water. By the time they were plucked from the sea, they’d thrown 98 bodies to the waves.

The nightmare of shipwreck may sound like a relic of another time, but what happened off the coast of Sri Lanka this week is alarmingly commonplace. The U.N. estimates that at least 13,000 people fled the borderlands between Burma and Bangladesh by boat in 2012. Of them, 485 are known to have drowned. This deadly tide looks unlikely to recede: at least 1,800 refugees washed up in Thailand in January 2013 alone.

(MORE: On Its Treatment on Minorities, Burma Has a Long Way to Go)

Why risk the waves? Many of the asylum seekers are ethnic Rohingya Muslims, a group the U.N. identifies as among the most isolated and oppressed in the world. Though many Rohingya have lived along the Bay of Bengal for generations, some 800,000 are stateless, sandwiched between Burma and Bangladesh, welcome in neither. The Burmese government has never recognized them as part of the patchwork nation’s 135 indigenous ethnic groups and, over the years, has restricted their right to live, work and marry. In June 2012, the reported rape of a Buddhist woman in Arakan (Rakhine) state sparked a wave of communal violence that left at least 78 dead and tens of thousands displaced. An August report by Human Rights Watch said Burmese security forces did little to stop the violence and committed acts of murder, rape and forced displacement.

In the months since that violence, the conflict has lingered on, with many ethnic Rohingya left to wait indefinitely in squalid camps. In a dispatch published yesterday, TIME contributor Jason Motlagh, outlined how conditions have deteriorated:

Eight months on, pockets of Rohingya that remain in rural Arakan state are in serious trouble. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) announced in early February that its field teams continued to face hostile threats from Arakanese leaders and state forces that forced them to cut back medical care. Moreover, the aid agency warned of a brewing “humanitarian emergency” in the heavily restricted camps around Sittwe. Burmese officials claim the camps are necessary to shield the Rohingya population from further harm, but MSF says that acute malnutrition, skin infections and other ailments caused by poor sanitation are on the rise, especially among those uprooted by a second spasm of violence in October and now live on the margins of established camps.

With few options for work, and limited prospects for peace, more and more people are fleeing, Motlagh writes:

Faced with stagnant conditions inside the camps and insecurity everywhere else, greater numbers are taking their chances on the open sea. Mohdi Kasim, a prominent Rohingya community leader living in one of the camps, described how his neighbor, a veteran police officer, showed up at his door earlier in the morning in tears asking for money to help cover his boat fare. Both of his sons had already left. According to Idriss, 35, a Rohingya boat builder with gold rings on his fingers, two to three vessels are leaving the Sittwe area every night, often packed with over 100 passengers. (He declines to disclose his full name for fear of persecution.) “We tell the people it’s not safe, but they insist on going,” he says. “They are suffering so much here.” (Read the full story: ”Pushed From Burma, Stateless Rohingya Flee by Boat“)

Until that pain eases, desperate people will take to the water, and the death toll will rise.

Read more: http://world.time.com/2013/02/19/horror-at-sea-adrift-for-months-starving-asylum-seekers-threw-98-bodies-overboard/#ixzz2LMSOUaL
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President visits Sri Pada in a helicopter

Tuesday, 19 February 2013

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is to visit Sri Pada to honor a vow he had made on the Navam Poya that falls on the 25th.

Since the 68 year old President is now unable to make the traditional arduous trip to the summit of the mountain through Nallathanni or Kuruwita, is to use modern methods to make his trip to Sri Pada.

A new helipad is being built near the Maha Maluwa in Sri Pada for the President’s helicopter. The helipad is currently being built by personnel from the Sri Lanka Army and Sri Lanka Air Force.

The President and the First Lady would therefore visit Sri Pada on Poya Day.

Interestingly, the state media is to give live coverage of the President’s visit to Sri Pada by creating the impression that the President had climbed to the summit of the mountain together with other devotees from Nallathanni.

The Presidential security entourage is already making the necessary security arrangements for the trip.

Army looks for person who beheaded the President

Tuesday, 19 February 2013 

A joint operation was carried out in Matara to find the person who had removed the President’s head from a cut out that was erected near the Mahanama Bridge in Matara. President Mahinda Rajapaksa was to tour Matara on the 17th.

Officials have immediately taken steps to replace the vandalized cut out of the President with another. Photographs show how the cutout was replaced.

War heroes were deployed to clean the parks and drains in the Matara town while the police was tasked to remove posters from the town in order to beautify the area for the President’s visit. It is learnt that the Matara District Secretary and the Matara Urban Council officials had tried to prevent the incident of vandalism of the President’s cut out from reaching the media.

The President was to have his lunch in the Godagama area and the police had ordered that all little kiosks with thatched roofs to be shut and removed from the area.

The President is to open a building at the Sujatha Vidyalaya in Matara. The school authorities had been informed that a crowd of at least 2,500 was required if the President was to grace the occasion. The schools authorities had then put up tens spending several lakhs to accommodate the crowds. Monies had also been collected from the students to paint and prepare the school for the President’s visit. Each student had paid Rs. 350 while each prefect had paid Rs. 2,500 and the rest of the monies had been collected from sponsors and well wishers.

The President had called for an inquiry and a report into the incident where a student had stolen coconuts to collect money to paint her school. Circulars were also issued saying that monies should not be collected from students for school activities. However, we cannot understand why these circulars are not applicable to the schools the President visits. We do not know what the students at Sujatha Vidyalaya would have stolen or what crime the parents would have engaged in to find the money.