Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Wednesday , 03 April 2013

War memorial construction work was observed by Sri lanka Military Commander Lte.General Jagath Jayasooriya last week. The new war memorial is erected by the Sri Lanka military at Kudumbimalai, Batticaloa.

After the defeat of liberation tigers, monuments are erected in Vanni remembering the war victory by the forces.

Forces have transformed localities by erecting monuments at the areas the final war occurred as Sinhala people’s vital tourist centers.

This war tourist centers and monuments, will not assist for ethnic reconciliation was reviewed by Medias worldwide and in this situation, the forces are erecting another monument in the east.

A memorial monument is erected at the Kudumbimalai locality was a threat to the soldiers as it was the stronghold of Liberation Tigers.

Sri Lanka Military Commander Lte.General Jagath Jayasooriya last week visited the construction towards this war memorial monument and he observed the activity and gave more guidance.

This is much expected that this memorial monument would be inaugurated next month on the fourth anniversary day remembering the tigers defeat.

Defense Secretary Gottabaya Rajapakse inaugurated the memorial tomb at Karadiyanaru, Ilupadichenai junction, in memory of demised forces at the battle to capture Kudumbimalai in the year 2007.

Sri Lanka must find aid workers’ killers, charity says

Sri Lankan soldiers march in a vctory parade in Colombo May 19, 2012, marking the third anniversary of the defeat of the Tamil Tigers REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte

By Nita Bhalla-Tue, 2 Apr 2013 18:08 GMT

NEW DELHI, (AlertNet) - The Sri Lankan government must find and prosecute those responsible for the massacre of 17 aid workers during the country's 25-year civil war, French charity Action Contre La Faim (ACF) has said.

The killing of the aid workers, who were shot at point-blank range outside their office in northeast Sri Lanka in 2006, was the worst attack on humanitarians since the 2003 bombing of the United Nations compound in Baghdad.

"It's important that those responsible be held accountable. If we want real peace and reconciliation and justice in Sri Lanka, any investigations conducted must be transparent which they have not been so far," Pauline Chetcuti, ACF's Humanitarian Advocacy Advisor told AlertNet by phone from Paris.

The "Mutur Massacre", named after the town where the killings took place, occurred on August 4, 2006, during the civil war between separatist Tamil Tiger rebels and government forces that began in 1983.

The mostly ethnic Tamil aid workers were providing water and sanitation to survivors of the 2004 tsunami when Tamil Tiger fighters launched an offensive against government troops to take control of Mutur.

Trapped in their office, the aid workers lost radio contact with their head office.

Two days later, the bodies of 15 of them, men and women, were discovered lying face down in the ACF compound with bullet wounds to the head and neck. The bodies of two others were found in a vehicle nearby, possibly killed while trying to escape.

The war ended in May 2009, but no one has been held accountable for the killings, let alone arrested and charged, says ACF, which now runs a campaign called "Justice for Mutur."

WEAK U.N. RESOLUTION

Tens of thousands of civilians were killed in the final months of the war as government troops advanced on the last stronghold of the Tamil Tiger rebels fighting for an independent homeland, a United Nations panel has said.

In a resolution passed by the U.N. Human Rights Council last month, the organisation urged Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to carry out credible investigations into the killings and disappearances during the war, especially in the final stages.

It also voiced concern at reports of continuing violations including killings, torture, curbs on the right to freedom of expression, and reprisals against activists and journalists.

Resolutions such as that brought by the United States are not binding, but the scrutiny by the U.N. Human Rights Council maintains pressure on the government to prosecute war crimes.

ACF said it welcomed the resolution, but noted that the resolution did not demand an independent inquiry into the deaths of ACF staff and other war victims, but called on Colombo to undertake its own investigation.

"It's great that the international community got together to pass this resolution, but it's really not enough because the terms of the resolution are not strong enough and it doesn't force Sri Lanka to do something concrete," said Chetcuti.

"What we are calling for is an international, credible investigation into war crimes. Asking Sri Lanka to do its own inquiry is ironic as its own army is accused of being behind some of these human rights violations."

ACF says it has closely followed three Sri Lankan judicial proceedings on the Mutur massacre, but says the proceedings, which spanned two years of investigations, were subject to continuous delays and riddled with errors and political interference.

An international group of observers withdrew due to a lack of transparency, and as a result, ACF also pulled out from the country in protest and to press for the guilty parties to held accountable.

A 2008 report by a local rights group, The University Teachers for Human Rights, blamed Sri Lankan security forces for the massacre and accused the government of a cover-up.

The Sri Lankan government has denied responsibility and has blamed the killings on Tamil Tiger fighters.

Government must explain as to whether the security forces were asleep - Karu

Wednesday, 03 April 2013

Once again the right of the people in the North to hold dissenting opinion has been threatened. The latest example is the attack on the office of the Udayan newspaper by goons.

According to the government democratic rights have been established not only in the North but across the country. There cannot be room for any kind of harassment in the North. The attack on the Udayan office has taken place under this background.

The problem is if there is security as stated by the government, who permitted and created the environment for these goons to behave as they wish and to reach their victim without any hindrance and flee from the sight unharmed. The government must explain as to whether the security forces were asleep; whether they are subjected to any political influence preventing them from carrying out their entrusted duties. How did the goons become so powerful to go above the forces?

Because in January a similar attack was carried out on Udayan newspaper, unidentified goons assaulted a distributor of Udayan newspaper and damaged his motor bicycle, fled unharmed after burning the newspapers. Although almost 3 months have elapsed after the incident, those who are responsible are still at large.

We firmly believe that whether we agree or disagree with the other person’s opinion we have to respect his/her right to hold a dissenting view. It is an inborn quality of those who believe in democracy. When we shoot down the messenger it will leave room for gossip mongering. Also it will bring harmful results. We wish to emphasize that those who are in power should realize this truth.

Deshabandu Karu Jayasuriya M.P.

Gampaha District

British Spies Organised Execution Of Patrice

Lumumba

April 2, 2013

British spies admitted helping to organise the detention and execution of the first prime minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the 1960s, a peer has claimed, the Telegraph reports.

Baroness (Daphne) Park of Monmouth, who was the senior MI6 officer in the African country at the time, said she had “organised it”, according to the Labour peer Lord Lea. Independence leader Patrice Lumumba was arrested, tortured and executed just months after becoming the first democratically elected prime minister of the DRC in 1960.

company law obligations of directors in a listed company Concerns of Minority Shareholders

4th April 2013 at Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel

Tuesday, 02 April 2013

With the Committee on Public Enterprises of Parliament (COPE) conducting investigations into Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), minority Shareholders in the Colombo Stock Exchange are laughing at this Seminar by SEC for capital market education !!!

Opening remarks are by Chairman SEC, Nalaka Godahewa. The SEC Act states that persons with wide experience and shown capacity in legal, financial, business or administrative matters be appointed as Members of SEC. Nalaka Godahewa’s qualification is questionable. He has been terminated as an Executive of Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation. Thereafter he had been a Director of Ariston Oil & Shipping (Pvt) Ltd., with K. Omprasadham and Nirj Deva Aditya and others and of CSC Kandia (Pvt) Ltd., and the CEO. These had been private companies and not listed companies.

After Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation was taken over by Government, Nalaka Godahewa received political appointment as CEO. In such position he was involved with Lanka Hospitals, and the controversy of Fortis Global Healthcare Holdings (Pte) Ltd., Singapore purchasing 29% of Lanka Hospitals. Media disclosed the local seller having paid a very large commission. It was alleged in the media that Nalaka Godahewa had been able to push this deal, with the assistance of Dilith Jayaweera, who had cleared Fortis Chairman through VIP Lounge, using his political clout.

Dilith Jayaweera also made the famous power point presentation at the SEC and Colombo Stock Exchange meeting chaired by President Rajapaksa. This led to the resignation of respected Thilak Karunaratne and the appointment of Nalaka Godahewa as Chairman SEC. Thilak Karunaratne had submitted a Report to COPE disclosing details of 17 serious investigations pending before the SEC at the time he resigned in August 2012. Chairman COPE D.E.W. Gunasekere recently told the media that the ‘mafia’ had blocked these investigations.

Presentation on the obligations of Directors is by Neomal Goonewardene of Nithya Partners, Attorneys-at-Law. They as Lawyers advised Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) to enter into illegal hedging deals with Standard Chartered Bank, Citibank and Deutsche Bank, resulting in losses of around US $ 300 million to the State. CPC Act did not permit such type of deals, which Nithya Partners failed to realize and also that these were illegal gambling deals. Nithya Partners failed to realize that CPC should have been advised by Attorney General and not by a private law firm. How could such persons preach on legal obligations of directors ?

Panel discussion also includes Rajendra Theagarajah, MD/CEO, Hatton National Bank (HNB). Sunday Leader recently exposed its controller Harry Jayawardene’s attempt to transfer Rs. 25 billion from Greenfield Pacific EM Holdings Ltd., a trust company in Gibraltar on behalf of Milford Exports Ceylon Ltd., a customer of HNB. Greenfield Pacific EM Holdings Ltd., had been a part of the consortium put together by HNB to purchase Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation Ltd. The purchase had been cancelled as illegal by the Supreme Court in 2009.

This Sunday Leader exposure of 10th March 2013 disclosed 5 foreign companies beneficially owned by Milford Exports Ceylon Ltd. One such Company disclosed had been Sonetto Holdings Ltd. This Company had been featured by The Nation of 14th January 2007 in an exposure titled ‘Blackmailed’ on allegations made by Pakistan’s famous nuclear physicist Dr. A.Q. Khan. Sonetto Holdings Ltd., had been disclosed to have a Bank Account at HNB to which nearly US $ 700,000 had been remitted as had been extorted as ‘hush money’, as alleged by Dr. A.Q. Khan. If this is the banking practice of HNB, how can they preach to others on legal obligations of directors ?

Another Panel Member is Ronnie Peiris, Finance Director of John Keells Holdings. Former Chief Justice Sarath Nanda Silva had disclosed to persons known to him, that John Keells Chairman Susantha Ratnayake accompanied by Dilith Jayaweera had visited the Buddhist Temple operating the Buddhist TV Channel at Wijerama Mawatha and donated Rs. 15 million to the Temple through an Advertising Company, and had also offered a luxury air condition mini Bus.

This had been just before the Supreme Court had delivered Judgment against John Keells Holdings, cancelling as fraudulent their purchase of Colombo Port’s Oil Bunkering company, Lanka Marine Services Ltd. Chief Justice Sarath Nanda Silva had been the Chief Dayaka of this Temple. It had been an attempt to virtually bribe the highest judiciary to prevent an adverse Judgment, which was a failure. Sarath Nanda Silva had reprimanded the Buddhist Priest. Ronnie Peiris as the Finance Director of John Keells Holdings would have handled this illegal donation. How can such persons preach on the legal obligations of directors ?

Comments

SEC has become a prostituted glorified marketing and business promotion outfit. The Law enacted to the Parliament had made the SEC a regulatory authority to protect the interest of the investors. It is sad that it had become worse than a Casino with manipulations perpetrated by educated people. High time COPE acted without merely issuing statements to the media. What has DEW done other than talk ?

REFUSING BRITISH NATIONAL ENTRY TO SL TELLS STORY OF GROWING RELIGIOUS ANXIETY

April 3, 2013

Refusing British national entry to SL tells story of growing religious anxiety

Refusing a British national entry into Sri Lanka based on a Buddha tattoo “tells a sad story about the growing levels of religious anxiety in a country usually famed for its hospitality towards visitors”, Deputy High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Robbie Bulloch wrote in a blog post published by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Mr. Bulloch wrote in his post that visitors to foreign countries should be sensitive to the communities they visit and their culture while adding that countries that focus heavily on tourism should in turn understand that a large portion of visitors do not share the same beliefs and traditions as themselves and should in turn be more tolerant.

He wrote that the visitor would have avoided this situation had he read the travel advice given by the UK government on Sri Lanka and had covered the tattoo.

The British national was denied entry into Sri Lanka because he had a visible tattoo of Buddha which the immigration officials claimed could cause offense and endanger his own safety. The man claimed to be of Buddhist faith himself and that the tattoo was a demonstration of his affiliation with Buddhism.

Full Blog Post by Bulloch:

A few weeks ago a British man was refused entry to Sri Lanka because he had a large visible tattoo of Buddha on his arm. Sri Lankan immigration officials took the view that it would cause offence and concluded that he should not enter the country. Initial reports suggested that the visitor had also voiced disrespect towards Buddhism although the man later declared that he was himself a Buddhist and that far from being an insult, the tattoo demonstrated his affiliation to the religion. Whatever the truth behind the conflicting reports, this is a good example of how tourism can result in cultural misunderstandings.

Of course, part of the reason that we travel is to experience different cultures. That entails being sensitive to the communities we visit and ensuring that we are aware of different cultural norms. On the other side, countries like Sri Lanka and Maldives which open themselves up to large scale tourism need to be prepared for the fact that people with very different perspectives and values will visit their shores. Glossy marketing and the relative ease of global transport can mask the fact that tourist destinations often have very different customs to those found in liberal western cities.

Had the visitor read our Travel Advice (www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/sri-lanka) he would have seen that we caution against causing perceived insult to Buddhism. This advice has now been updated to include a specific reference to tattoos. The man with the tattoo of Buddha claimed that he was exercising his right to free expression. That’s a right strongly promoted and defended by the UK government. We also recognise that such freedoms are necessarily limited where such expression has a negative impact on others (e.g. racist language). Arguably a better informed traveller might have had the awareness to cover his tattoo while visiting a country with strong views on Buddhist iconography.

But while visitors need to be better informed and respectful of the countries they are visiting, a degree of understanding and tolerance is also desirable on the part of the hosts. In Maldives, for example, this means having to balance traditional Islamic customs which outlaw alcohol and revealing clothing with providing a relaxed environment for tourists who pay a lot of money for a well-earned holiday in paradise. This has been managed in Maldives through a clear separation between resort islands and those inhabited by Maldivians, but the cultural differences have nevertheless given rise to tensions.

In Sri Lanka, while many see the economic opportunities offered by increasing visitor numbers, there are also concerns amongst some local people that traditional livelihoods and cultures are coming under threat. And while many tourists enjoy exploring new destinations and cultures, they also need to feel that they are safe and protected in areas less accustomed to foreigners.

It’s been reported that the decision to deny entry to the man with the Buddha tattoo was made partly on the basis that his safety could have been at risk. That could well be the case, but if so, it tells a sad story about the growing levels of religious anxiety in a country usually famed for its hospitality towards visitors.

Robbie Bulloch Deputy High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and the Maldives

Students burn their voter ID cards over Lankan navy atrocities

Posted 03 Apr 2013

About sixty students from 7 colleges in Cuddalore district gathered near the Viruthachalam bus stand Wednesday morning and burnt their voter ID cards in protest against the government of India’s silence over their demands on the Eelam issue.

Students protesting against the Indian government's Sri Lanka policy

T Maran, a student leader, said the protest was against New Delhi’s refusal to act on their demand to arrest the Sri Lankan high commissioner to India, Prasad Kariyawasam, for the killings of over 600 Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy in the last two decades.

“We want India to approach the UN for conducting a referendum in Sri Lanka for Eelam, a separate Tamil nation. Till we achieve our demands, our struggle will continue,” he said.

Most of the colleges in the State reopened after a long break over the students’ protests on the Eelam issue.

Student leaders said that they have formulated a fresh strategy to continue their struggle in a sustained manner to keep the pressure on the central and state governments till justice is secured for the Eelam Tamils and Tamil Nadu fishermen. – TWL Bureau

A Tolerant Sri Lanka: How far will we go?

3 Apr, 2013

The past few weeks have seen a rise in incidents and publicly expressed sentiments against the Muslim community by groups who claim to represent the rights of Sinhala Buddhists in Sri Lanka. Expressing concerns of undue place given to Muslims in Sri Lanka – from entrance to the Law College to issuing Halal certification to even increase in Muslim population and property ownership by Muslims, groups such as the Bodu Bala Sena and Sinhala Ravaya have taken it upon themselves to educate the Sinhala Buddhists on these concerns.

While these groups declare to be non-violent, speeches given by them at various rallies, defamatory references to individuals and the attacks on Muslim owned businesses in the past few weeks give the impression of a situation of vigilante groups gathering strength.

It is in this context that Social Indicator, the survey research unit of the Centre for Policy Alternatives created this online questionnaire. How seriously should we take the anti-Muslim sentiments being expressed? Are the Bodu Bala Sena justified in their actions? What is the role of the media? What actions should the Government take? Ten questions have been designed to provide a snapshot of public perception on these issues Sri Lanka is experiencing at present.

The questionnaire will be open for responses from today until 11 April 2013.

Click on the image above or here to answer the questionnaire (will take around 5 minutes).

Fashion Bug Attacker Anti-Muslim Monk Changes His Robe To Islam Burqa

By Colombo Telegraph -

Three Buddhist monks who had been implicated in the mob attack on Fashion Bug in Pepiliyana had surrendered to the Mirihana Police Station yesterday evening were set free after both parties eventually came to a settlement.

17 suspects including the monks were produced at the Gangodawila Magistrate Court today and the management of the Fashion Bug and the suspects connected over the attack on the premises last week, decided to amicably resolve the issue today.

The picture shows one anti-Muslim attacker Buddhist monk changed from his traditional way of wearing the outer robe to a women’s dress burqa in Islamic culture.

It was another, in a series of attacks against Muslims as Fashion Bug owns by a family of Sri Lankan Muslims. The mob had gone on a rampage setting clothes that were in the store on fire and shouting obscenities at the girls who worked in this complex, saying that they should be ashamed to work in an enterprise owned by Muslims and to never come back. The mob had also manhandled some of the girls.

Tamil Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran told Parliament on March 21, 2013; “Muslim women can’t walk on the streets of this country today in their traditional dress. In Manampitiya, Hon. Minister, a young girl in an abaya, was walking and she was attacked. She has made a complaint to the Polannaruwa police. On the day the Mattala airport was opened, the same night a church in Weerakettiya was attacked by a mob, unfortunately led by religious leaders – by Buddhist monks. And they go and demonstrate before the Indian High Commission saying two venerable monks have been attacked in Tamil Nadu. We condemn those attacks. We don’t support that. No monk should be attacked in Tamil Nadu. But why aren’t they complaining about the church being attacked in Weerakettiya, in your own country, before you look at other countries? Why aren’t they going in processions protesting that Muslim women are being attacked on the road? You don’t go on processions for that, you only have to complain about other countries. Look at yourself, inside, first. You put your house right. If you put your house right no one else will ever be able to point fingers at you. You have this happening in your own country. You treat people who are numerically in the minority like dirt, and then you have the brass to stand up and pontificate about international interference and call that bullying. When you get a little bit of the taste of your own medicine you are smarting but you can’t understand how much we feel being treated like dirt in this country. You talk about changing the goal post.”
A monk is attacking the Fashion Bug

Muslim women can’t walk on the streets of this country today in their traditional dress

WikiLeaks: Political Islam In Sri Lanka And The Maldives

By Colombo Telegraph -April 2, 2013

“At this point, there are three major SLMC factions: SLMC (Hakeem); SLMC (Athaullah); and the National Unity Alliance (NUA). (Note: The leader of the NUA is Ferial Ashraff, another close Mission contact, who is the widow of the founder of the SLMC, M.H.M. Ashraff, who died in 2000.) While they disagree on peace track issues, none of the factions is Islamist-leaning at this time. Other than the SLMC, many Muslims — especially those in Colombo — are supporters of the country’s dominant political parties, the United National Party (UNP) and the People’s Alliance (PA). Both the UNP and the PA are dominated by Sinhalese Buddhists.” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.

Muslims display the victory symbol as they hold a picture of Osama bin Laden during an anti-Israel and anti-U.S. protest demonstration after Friday prayers in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, July 21, 2006.

The Colombo Telegraph found the related leaked cable from the WikiLeaks database. The cable discusses political Islam as a factor in Sri Lanka and the Maldives.The cable is classified as “Confidential” and written on July 17, 2003 by Charge d’Affaires Donald A. Camp.

The US Embassy wrote; “Against this backdrop of routine participation by Muslims in the democratic process, there is very little evidence of political Islam in Sri Lanka. During the military campaigns against the al-Qaida/Taliban in Afghanistan in late 2001 and more recently against the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq, there were some anti-U.S. demonstrations in which Muslims played a role. One party active in these demonstrations was the Muslim United Liberation Front (MULF), which has no parliamentary representation and has very few members. In general, the various factions of the SLMC did not participate in these demonstrations, though there was a slight undercurrent of anti-U.S. feeling among mainstream Muslims.”

“There is some information that some disaffected Muslims in the east have formed small anti-Tamil Tiger armed groups with names like “Osama” and ‘Jihad.’ Such groups are not a major factor in the east at this time. Nonetheless, fueled reportedly by money from “charitable foundations” based in the Middle East and remittances from Muslims working in that region, there has been an overall shift in the east toward an Islam with a harder edge. (Note: Across the wide spectrum of the Muslim community in Sri Lanka, there is also some indication that more women are honoring hijab norms by covering their hair, etc., than was the case in the past. This could be an indication of a push for prevalence of stricter forms of Islam within the community.) Anecdotally, Mission has heard that some anti-western views may be gaining a limited beachhead in the east where there was none before. The Sri Lankan government is well aware of the potential problem with Muslims in the east and keeps a close watch over the situation.” Charge d’Affaires further wrote.

Read the cable below for further information;

Government is a diplomatic pauper – 'Ethera Api'

WEDNESDAY, 03 APRIL 2013

The government has become a diplomatic pauper and avoids issues that come up in international dealings says the President of 'Ethera Api' organization and Member of the Central Committee of the JVP former Parliamentarian Lakshman Nipunarachchi. Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) received 9925 complaints in 2012 from Sri Lankans employed abroad; the complaints received from Sri Lankans abroad are increasing but the government behaves irresponsibly towards migrant workers said Mr. Nipunarachchi speaking at a press briefing held today 93rd).

Speaking further Mr. Nipunarachchi said 'Ethera Api' organization acts as a mediator regarding issues confronted by Sri Lankan migrant workers and hopes to present several matters to draw the attention of the authorities.

He said there was an issue that has come up regarding workers employed in Cyprus. "Cyprus has become a victim of the capitalist economic crisis. Cyprus has been trapped in a debt trap and its economy has broken down as the money that has been invested in Greece cannot be obtained due to the economic crisis in Greece. The new government that was elected in February is slashing the provident fund of employees and is plundering money from workers. The money obtained from Automatic Teller Machines (ATM) has been limited to Euro 100 per day. Popular Bank and Cyprus bank, two popular banks, have completely ceased their transactions. Credit card transactions have been stopped. Also, the government has decided to levy a 40% tax on all deposits over Euro hundred thousand.

The oil reserves explored by Cyprus government are to be sold to Germany. Hydro – Gas reserves too are to be sold. As a result of this crisis Cypriots will lose many jobs. Many will be ousted from their employment. In such an environment about 4000 Sri Lankans employed in Cyprus are confronted with a grave crisis. Most of these Sri Lankans live in Cyprus as employees of firms, house maids. There are many students as well. Many employed in Cyprus are confronted with the risk of losing their jobs. Students have been stranded.

The people in Cyprus have asked authorities to send away foreign workers. A situation has come up where all foreign employees including Sri Lankans are harassed. There are only temporary councils to mediate in such matters.

The government of Sri Lanka has not taken any interest in this issue. Even at present job agents send Sri Lankans to Cyprus promising them jobs. Those who are sent there are not aware of the present environment there. As the government has not taken any interest the agents have not stopped sending people to Cyprus. The government has allowed persons to take their decisions. The government should stop sending people by agents. Those who go for employment find money by taking loans or pawning their assets. However, when they go to that country they become helpless and later they are unable to pay back their loans.

The government also should learn a lesson from Cyprus situation. Cyprus headed towards a massive economic crisis as it depended on loans without any management of its economy. The only alternative they had was loans, loans and loans. The situation in Sri Lanka is similar.

The situation of Sri Lankans going to the Middle East is not different. The house maids are confronted with much harassment. Our embassies do nothing for these employees. This was clearly seen through Rizana's incident. This country has become diplomatic pauper."

The legal Secretary of 'Ethera Api' Janaka Adhikary and its Organizing Secretary Hemanthe Weerakone were also present.

PROTEST AGAINST CRICKETERS AT IPL...

April 3, 2013

A protest took place outside the Sri Lanka Cricket Office in Colombo today (April 3) against the participation of Sri Lankan cricketers in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The group called Power of Ravana which included a number of Buddhist monks turned up outside the SLC office in protest. (Pics by Sanjeewa Lasantha)

Port workers in Colombo threaten to boycott South Indian cargo

Colombo: Apr 2, 2013

Workers at Sri Lanka’s main container port in Colombo on Tuesday threatened to stop handling cargo from South Indian ports to protest the harassment of Sri Lankan monks and pilgrims in Tamil Nadu.

“We can’t silently watch the harassment of our monks and pilgrims in Tamil Nadu. We want to stop handling cargo from Indian ports as a result”, Mahesh Samarawickrema, a dock workers’ trade union official told reporters.

Representation image.

Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalitha had earlier refused to host the Lankan cricketers in Chennai in view of the growing political tensions, stemming from the treatment of ethnic Tamils in Sri Lanka.

The port workers held placards against Tamil Nadu politicians Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi, in the port premises.

However, port official Nalin Aponso said there had been no official response from the port management to the dock workers demands’ to stop handling cargo from South India.

Port figures showed that almost 60 percent of Colombo port’s annual container volume of 4.1 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit, a measure used for capacity in container transportation) comes from south Indian ports.

PTI

Army Major too was not assaulted!

WEDNESDAY, 03 APRIL 2013

Minister Mervin Silva's son Malaka, former Minister Mano Wijerathne's son Rehan and four others charged for assaulting Army Major Chandana Pradeep Sussain and robbing his firearm and mobile phone at the Hilton Jaik car park have been acquitted by Fort Magistrates Court today (3rd).

The suspects were acquitted when police informed Court that the Attorney General had instructed that there was no evidence to take legal action against the suspects.

The Attorney General also had instructed yesterday to acquit two suspects of Kotakethana murder. The suspects are close associates of a senior Minister of the UPFA government.

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