That A Campaign To Suppress Dissent Is Underway Is Crystal Clear

By Mangala Samaraweera -April 18, 2013 

Mangala Samaraweera MP

In present day Sri Lanka it has become customary for whispers and speculation of impending elections to be followed up by brutal onslaughts on what remains of the country’s free press. It is a thinly veiled attempt to intimidate the media into silence ahead of crucial polls about the crimes and lapses of a completely corrupt incumbency.

It is not surprising therefore that a dangerous trend is being set, commencing with twin attacks on the Uthayan newspaper publishing in the country’s north in the space of less than a month and followed up with a threat against theSirasa Media Network. Neither media organisation is a stranger to devastating and debilitating attacks against them; attacks that have only increased in brutality and impunity in recent years. Each time they are struck, the organisations and personnel find the strength to pick up the pieces and carry on. We salute their courage and commitment to their professional duty.

We call upon the Government to ensure the safety of the premises, equipment and personnel of the Sirasa Media network and the Uthayan newspaper. For too long the incumbent regime has left questions unanswered about repeated and debilitating attacks on this country’s Fourth Estate. Scribe killers, white vans and armed groups terrorising media institutions have roamed outside the ambit of the law for long enough. It is a travesty that as such crimes against the nation’s free press go unpunished, the Government’s law enforcement arm remains exclusively preoccupied with brutally quelling garbage disputes in Colombo’s low income neighbourhoods or attacking peaceful demonstrators protesting against the meteoric rise of extremist groupsthat are sowing hate and discord between communities of people in this country.

We reiterate that this consistent assault on independent media institutions is a gross infringement of the people’s fundamental right to free expression and impedes their right to information and condemn this culture of intimidation and suppression unreservedly.

That a campaign to suppress dissent is underway is crystal clear. Its mission is to wipe out the last vestiges of the independent media in the country and rob the people, perhaps permanently, of their right to information. Let those who attempt to terrorize the media remember that every successive attack will not only unify the media against the ruling powers, but also galvanize all sections of the opposition to join the fight against a common enemy. I call upon all media institutions to shed their differences and stand together in the unequivocal condemnation of this latest threat against Sirasa and Uthayan in the knowledge that while today it might be their turn, the suppression will not end until each and every newspaper, radio station and television station is effectively silenced and subjugated.

People in the North are not fools; Saravanapavan tells media spokesperson

Thursday, 18 April 2013

TNA Jaffna District parliamentarian E. Saravanapavan says that government spokesperson Minister Keheliya Rambukwella was giving wrong information to the media and that the people in the North were not that foolish to believe such statements.

He made this statement in response to the government comment that the attack on the Uthayan newspaper on the 13th morning by a group of armed army intelligence personnel was in fact and act carried out by the newspaper itself.

Parliamentarian Saravanapavan, who is also the owner of the Jaffna based Uthayan newspaper, said that one of the institution’s printing presses have been completely destroyed by fire. He added, “The attack took place at 5 a.m., but the police arrived at the scene only at 11a.m. The government in Colombo thinks that our people are fools. It is the people who are around the President who are foolish. Therefore, we do not expect any justice form them.”

He observed that a political party in the North and the military together were disrupting the civilian administration in the North. He also alleged that Jaffna Commander of the Army, Mahinda Haturusinghe was disrupting the civilian administration in the North in a manner that exceeded his powers.

Meanwhile, a 12 page Uthayan newspaper had been circulated in Jaffna on the 16th.

Many movements denounce attack against �Udayan�

Monday , 15 April 2013

Numerous movements have condemned the attack staged once again against “Udayan” press.

Tamil National People’s Front

Armed gang intruded the “Udayan” press office carried out the shooting by moving into the printing machine section and chased away those on duty.

Shooting was carried out against the printing machine main electric generator which brought its operation to a complete standstill. It doused petrol and set fire. A large quantity of printing rolls stored was too set on fire.

The attack incident occurred ruthlessly and inhumanly was strongly condemned by Tamil National Alliance Peoples Front.

More military presence and military surveillance operations is in existence in the  Jaffna town locality and such activities cannot be executed without the support from military said General Secretary S.Gajendran in his denounce message on behalf of the party.

Sivaram Memorial Forum

The Sivaram Memorial Forum strongly condemn the attack once again executed towards the “Udayan” daily press located in Jaffna as it is another segment of the continuous threats against medias in Sri Lanka.

Military is directly connected in the backdrop of this attack on the motive of preventing the newspaper circulation is not a difficult task to presume.   “Udayan” organization comes in the forefront in targeting to the vast number of attacks so far against press organizations.

 In recent times, mud slaying campaigns are carried out against the “Udayan” daily newspaper by government connected elements in the midst of Tamil people, and this is one of that should be considered.

 It is much aware global wide of its non-worthiness of complaining to the Sri Lanka government concerning the attacks against “Udayan” daily newspaper or to arrest the offenders and produce in front of justice.

In this issue, the international society should take constructive measures was further mentioned in the condemn message.

Waligamam south divisional council Chairman

“Udayan” will not fear even though printing machine is scorched said, Waligamam south divisional council Chairman T.Pragash.

Press freedom is buried in our country. Armed hooligans attacked the “Udayan” press printing machine establish media freedom is completely denied.

Government has the responsiblity to protect the journalists in a democratic country. They should function to provide complete freedom, but freedom is entirely denied from the roots in our country.

It is much depressing to note that those protect the law and order in this country, are ignoring such incidents. Police security exists at the “Udayan” organization, but incidents of this nature occurring is much depressing was further said.

Waligamam north divisional council Chairman

“Udayan” operates boldly without fear for any attacks said, Waligamam north divisional council Chairman S.Sugirthan in his denounce message.

Printing machine belonging to “Udayan” press, was scorched by armed gang, and irrespective to these attacks, “Udayan” will  not hesitate to publish the truth to the people.

Currently journalists’ attacks in our country have multiplied. “Udayan” is the only one newspaper operates in Jaffna courageously.

For expressing the suppressions, “Udayan” was under attacks many times. Such incidents in a democratic country should be condemned.  “Udayan” does not fail to   disclose the injustice caused to the suppressions of people impartially.

Such activities oppress media freedom. The relevant persons by finding the offenders should produce in front of law, was further said.

Waligamam north divisional council member

“Udayan” determine the power of Tamils. This was the reason that the printing machine was scorched, by those who were unable to accept,  said, Waligamam north divisional council member C.Hariharan in his denounce message.

““Udayan” press rendered service during the struggles of the Tamil people for rights in the past history is enormous. During war period, peninsula newspapers came to a standstill, but Udayan with much courage published the emotions of Tamil people genuinely and impartially.

This is an act which was unable to grasp by the speedy development of this newspaper was further mentioned in the denounce message.

Mannar Citizen Group

If government does not have any connection with the “Udayan” attack, it should immediately protect the “Udayan” office and staff by providing adequate security, to protect from future incidents.

The Mannar district citizen’s panel in its condemning message said, continuous attacks are against the “Udayan” press, and it cannot be permitted to silently watch these unruly activities.

We consider this is the correct opportunity for the entire media sector to join together condemn such acts against the media sector and to impede this continuing.

Concerning the continuous against “Udayan” press, government has not taken any action to investigate the devastation events.

Government without making statements that it does not have any connection with the attacks, should find the authenticity without postponing.

South Asia Freedom Media movement's Sri Lanka branch

Un-identified group in a worst manner attacked the “Udayan” newspaper head office located at north and had scorched the printing machine is strongly condemn by the South Asia Freedom media movement.

After the defeat of liberation tigers in the north, unidentified persons are attacking journalists and media organization was further mentioned in the South Asia Freedom media movement Sri Lanka Branch in it condemn notice.

“Udayan” press is operating in the central area of Jaffna town was attacked. Two weeks back the Udayan regional office at Kilinochchi came under attack.

Scorching newspapers, attacking journalists, attacking the distributing vehicles, assaulting distributors are the violence intensified against the northern newspapers.

It is much evident that during this year, once in two weeks press is attacked. Military is in full control of Northern Province and still similar attacks are continuing.

It is much observable that some political elements are operating against this Tamil newspapers. Defense Ministry directed the war and achieved victory, is unable to find so far who is responsible for such attacks.

Such attacks activate anger to the entire society and it will tarnish the reputation of the country was said by the movement.

Monday , 15 April 2013

Conference at Danish Parliament highlights need for international investigation on Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Thursday, 18 April 2013, 08:12 GMT]
Expressing deep concern for the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in the island of Sri Lanka, Danish politicians from both the ruling left parties and the opposition party, academics, Eezham Tamil politicians from the island and the diaspora, Sinhala journalists, and other civil society activists called for an independent international investigation into the crimes of the Sri Lankan state during the war and after, in a conference organized in the Denmark Parliament on Wednesday. The event titled “A forgotten conflict: Conference on Human Rights in Sri Lanka” saw a general consensus among participants that Sri Lanka was incapable of investigating its crimes through its own mechanisms. 

Panel discussion

Mogens Lykketoft, Speaker of Denmark Parliament

TNPF president Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam

Exiled Journalist Bashana Abeywardane

Speaking at the event, Mogens Lykketoft, current Speaker of the Parliament and former foreign minister, opined that the international community had a responsibility to provide justice for the Tamils. He also hoped for India to take a stronger position on Sri Lanka.

Mr Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, President of the Tamil National People’s Front, spoke about how the Sri Lankan state was carrying out a policy of Sinhalization and militarization of the Tamil homeland with genocidal intent. 

Referring to the pro-LLRC US resolution that was passed in Geneva, he said that this resolution was of no use to the Eezham Tamils, elucidating how it did not meet any of the aspirations of the Tamil nation.

Exiled Sinhala journalist Bashana Abeywardane was of the opinion that the least the International Community can do is to recognize the genocide of the Tamil nation. Likewise, referring to international legal principles, he said that the proof of the genocide was the deliberate targeting of the Tamil population by the Sri Lankan sate in over thirty years of war. 

Per Stig Moller from the Conservative party said that while it was hoped that the Sri Lankan government would keep up its promises to the world at least ‘post-war’, what was left was only a sense of betrayal.

Academic Mikkel W. Kaagaard, author of ‘Sri Lanka: From Independence to Suicide Terrorism’, was of the opinion that the main Sri Lankan political parties in order to capture or retain power oppressed the Tamils as a policy.

Jeyashanker Murugiah from the TGTE spoke about the cultural genocide of the Eezham Tamil nation being executed by the Sri Lankan state.

The conference also had a panel discussion involving Danish statesmen, journalist, and a representative from the Denmark Federation of Tamil Associations (DFTA). Agreeing on several breaches of international law by the Sri Lankan state, they were of the common opinion that only an independent investigation on Sri Lanka would suffice. 

Maheswaran Ponnambalam, president of the DFTA, emphasised on the illegal detention of Tamil prisoners of war, calling for their immediate release. 

The conference was jointly organized by the Social Democratic party, which forms the major bloc in the ruling coalition in the Denmark government, and the DFTA.

The Need For A Broader Multilateral Diplomacy For Sri Lanka

By Kamaya Jayatissa -April 18, 2013 

Kamaya Jayatissa

“If you’re in a coalition and you’re comfortable, you know it’s not a broad enough coalition.” – Bernice Johnson Reagon

When fighting in the international arena, one should know that the only way to survive is to constantly build new coalitions while strengthening and maintaining the existing ones. Due to its belonging to the Non Aligned Movement and to the various “Gs” (G77, G15), but also due to its long standing friendships with key countries such as Russia, China and India, Sri Lanka was so far able to keep close ties with the predominant coalitions present within international organizations; close enough to overcome the post-war international pressures in 2009 but not sufficient to maintain a prolonged legitimacy on the Geneva battlefield.

For Sri Lanka, these past three years were marked by the abandonment of some of its closest allies, underlying a drastic shift of solidarity away from the island not only by its Latin American friends but also by the African countries– let alone India. And what better illustration than the international political quake which brutally shook the island of Sri Lanka in March 2012 when the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) adopted a country-specific resolution. The fact that a supposedly non-politicized organ of the United Nations adopted such an unorthodox vote against one of its Member States not only demonstrates a broad international dissatisfaction against Sri Lanka’s peace-building process but also illustrates a shift of political attention and scrutiny towards Colombo, a shift that will be hard to reverse if no better focused foreign policy is implemented by GoSL. This abandonment was unfortunately, as we all know, further confirmed with the March 2013 resolution.

From an internationalist’s perspective this is where things get interesting, not to say entertaining. The outcome of the recent Geneva battles offers us a fascinating illustration of what I wish to describe as the State Coalition phenomenon. In the absence of a precise legal framework, I wish to define the said notion as follows:a State coalition is an informal multilateral group based on a concerted set of States with a view to achieving one or several objectives common to the group. Illustrations of such like-minded groups are: the different “Gs”, the BRIC/BRICS, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the Visegrád Group, the Group of Cairns or even the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, to name a few.

Unlike Boutros Boutros-Ghali’s concept of alliances (Contribution à une théorie générale des alliances, 1963), ‘State Coalitions’ are not solely based on a military or any legal/formal component. Instead, they deal with a wide range of issues (human rights, peace and international security, economical issues, environmental issues, etc.) and have now become one of the main components of international governance. Indeed, as an emerging instrument of multilateral diplomacy, their role in the international arena keeps on increasing to the point of becoming vital in times of crisis. These coalitions are no longer simple consultation forums. On the contrary, they are used as a preliminary to the subsequent decision making process within international bodies, as witnessed at the UNHRC with the United States sponsored resolution pertaining to the promotion of reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka. Hence, we now witness the emergence of a two-speed or two-level global governance where international organizations and informal forums compete, complement and coexist with each other.

The emergence but mostly the multiplicity of these informal multilateral forums and their diverse modalities –reciprocal, unequal, ephemeral, permanent, defensive or offensive- demonstrate the discontinuity of the international order traditionally founded on the balance of powers between States.

This new instrument of multilateral diplomacy enables even the smallest State –in terms of size and/or economy- to act in a more efficient manner and sometimes even counter the existing superpowers. Such example is of Palestine which, despite pressures from the US, gathered 107 votes in their favor and was admitted as a Member of the UNESCO in October 2011.

Depending on the way we build them, strengthen them and mostly maintain them, these interstate networks can either work against us or in our favour. Such a factor should therefore be taken into account when dealing with international affairs. In the case of Sri Lanka, the Indian vote in favor of the United States sponsored resolution also illustrates the limits of the common position between two countries which are bound by millennia of historical, geographical, political and socio-economic ties. Indeed, one of the main weaknesses of any coalition is the persistence of its Member States in privileging their national interests and acting sometimes at the expense of their own allies. This usually leads to a precarious solidarity between States, both in their relations within the coalition and in their bilateral relations.

Given its current position in the international community, Sri Lanka cannot afford to cut, not even partially, the relationships it built within its own coalitions. These forums represent an additional platform of action for States, such as Sri Lanka or Palestine, that are facing difficulties when using the traditional tools of international law. Mostly built on a certain unity of thought (‘like-minded’), those relationships should be maintained not only in times of needs but throughout, in order for them to grow efficiently.

Sri Lanka’s 2013 defeat, following its defeat in 2012, at the UNHRC proves more than ever that our country needs to further reach out and open itself to international solidarity while preserving at the same time its national sovereignty. Else, the island might end up further isolating itself from its own allies creating irreversible frictions that will have an inevitable impact domestically.

மன்னாரில் புனித பிலிப் நேரியர் திருச்சொரூபம் சேதம்

வியாழக்கிழமை, 18 ஏப்ரல் 2013 12:26 0 COMMENTS

-எஸ்.றொசேரியன் லெம்பேட்

மன்னார் மாவட்டத்தில் புனித பிலிப் நேரியர் திருச்சொரூபம் ஒன்று இனந்தெரியாதோரினால் சேதமாக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.   

மாந்தை மேற்கு உதவி அரசாங்க அதிபர் பிரிவுக்கு உட்பட்ட அடம்பன் கண்ணாட்டி கிராமத்தில் உள்ள புனித பிலிப் நேரியர் தேவாலயத்திற்கு முன்பாக கண்ணாடிப் பேழையினுள் வைக்கப்பட்டிருந்த புனித பிலிப் நேரியர் திருச்சொரூபமே இனந்தெரியாதோரினால் சேதமாக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

இந்த இடத்திற்கு நேற்றுமுன்தினம் புதன்கிழமை இரவு 11 மணியளவில் வந்த இனம்தெரியாத நபர்கள் கண்ணாடிப் பேழையினுள் வைக்கப்பட்டிருந்த   புனித பிலிப் நேரியர் திருச்சொரூபத்தை தூக்கி எடுத்து சுமார் 50 மீற்றர் தூரத்திற்கு கொண்டு சென்று நடு வீதியில் போட்டு உடைத்து சேதமாக்கியுள்ளதாக அடம்பன் பங்குத்தந்தை லக்கோன்ஸ் பிகிராடோ அடிகளார் தெரிவித்தார்.

இந்த திருச்சொரூபம் சேதமாக்கப்பட்டமை தொடர்பில் விடத்தல்தீவு பொலிஸில் முறைப்பாடு செய்துள்ளதாகவும் அடம்பன் பங்குத்தந்தை கூறினார்.

இந்த நிலையில்,  குறித்த வீதியில் திரண்ட மக்கள் வீதியை மறித்து போக்குவரத்தை தடைசெய்தனர். பின் குறித்த இடத்திற்கு வந்த உரிய அதிகாரிகள்   மக்களுடன் கலந்துரையாடினர்.

புனித பிலிப் நேரியர் தேவாலயத்திற்கு முன்பாக பல வருடங்களாக கண்ணாடிப் பேழையினுள் வைக்கப்பட்டிருந்த  புனித பிலிப் நேரியர் திருச்சொரூபம்  யுத்தம் மற்றும் இடப்பெயர்வுகளுக்கு மத்தியிலும் எந்தவித சேதமும் இன்றி இருந்ததாகவும் அடம்பன் பங்குத்தந்தை லக்கோன்ஸ் பிகிராடோ அடிகளார் தெரிவித்தார்.

இது தொடர்பான விசாரணையை பொலிஸார் மேற்கொண்டுள்ளனர்.





தொடர்புடைய செய்தி

Shirani barred from leaving the country

THURSDAY, 18 APRIL 2013 

Former Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake has been barred from leaving the country.  The Bribery Commissioner asked the Controller of Immigration and Emigration yesterday (17th) not to allow Dr. Bandaranayake to leave the country until the investigations into the alleged corruption charges against her were completed.

A Parliamentary Committee had ruled that Dr. Bandaranayake was guilty of not declaring her assets which led to her impeachment. However, the judiciary had ruled that the Parliamentary committee was illegal and its report was nullified.

According to the law, the Commission has the right to prevent people facing bribery charges leaving the country when investigations have commenced against them.

Related news:

Calling her to Bribery Commission is a violation of natural justice says former CJ

I never come through the back door - former CJ

Stop the process of hunting – People’s Lawyers

Stop the process of hunting – People’s Lawyers

I’m still the Chief Justice – Shirani Bandaranayake

Refuse visas & freeze bank accounts of 7 ministers & 117 MPs involved in impeachment process –BHRC

Annul order against PSC report on impeachment – an appeal to SC

This is my country, I’ll never leave it – Shirani

A new issue has emerged – Tilvin Silva

Victimization in Judiciary sector begins

Govt. wanted to appoint one of its associates as CJ – SL

President cannot shy away from responsibility of the impeachment process - JVP

Don’t remove CJ – Religious leaders request President

Attempt to appoint pro-Rajapaksa CJ, Masses need not be subjugated by ‘Medamulana’ theory – PMD

Masses march against impeachment

A historical verdict given

The government began the New Year by giving an electric shock to the masses – Tilvin Silva

THURSDAY, 18 APRIL 2013 

The government that was marking time making up various stories regarding increasing the electricity tariff, finally increased the electricity tariff with effect from the 12th.  The government continued to say that electricity tariff would be increased in a manner that would not burden the masses. The President wished masses for the new year. Everything was done according to auspicious times and the government commenced work for the New Year by increasing the electricity tariff. As such this year cannot be an auspicious one for the masses.

This was stated by the General Secretary of the JVP Tilvin Silva at the special media conference held at the head office of the party at Pelawatta today (18th).

Speaking further Mr. Tilvin Silva said, "Increasing electricity tariff cannot be considered a simple matter. The government increased prices of a large number of essential commodities. Now electricity tariff has been increased. The government also deceived the people. When the present Minister of Power and Energy Ms. Pavithra Wanniarachchi assumed duties she said Norochcholai would not be given to China nor would the electricity tariff increased. However, the government continued with the process of increasing the electricity tariff. A day was assigned for the Public Utilities Commission to receive public complaints regarding increasing electricity tariffs. However, electricity tariff was increased without considering the public opinion.

If the Public Utilities Commission had considered public opinion it should have not allowed electricity tariff to be increased. For, 95% of the people who presented views to the Commission said not to increase electricity tariffs. However, the tariff was increased in the manner the Ceylon Electricity Board wanted. The people were deceived. This shows that the Public Utilities Commission is a useless institution.

There is a serious issue within the increase in electricity tariffs. It is the poor that is mostly affected by this increase. The policy of the government was to consume electricity frugally.  Accordingly, it is the poor that used electricity frugally. However, it is this sector that has been severely burdened. The tariff for consumption of electricity between units 1 to 30 has been raised from Rs.3.00 to Rs.5.00. The monthly fee and the fuel adjustment charge of 25% are added to this. Collecting fuel adjustment charge from the poor who use only three or four bulbs per family is very unfair.

The government increased the electricity tariff according to a new system this time. The increase for 1 to 30 is Rs.5.00, 31 to 60 is Rs.6.00 and 61 to 90 is Rs.8.50. However, when the consumers exceed 30 units they have to pay at the rate of Rs.6.00 for all the units. Earlier the system was that first 30 were calculated at Rs.3.00 and the number of units exceeding this limit was calculated at Rs.4.70. As such the increase is one that is unbearable. There are 800,000 consumers in the 1 to 30 category, 1.3 million in the 31 to 60 category and 1.2 million in the 61 to 90 category. As such, the number of consumers that consume up to 90 units is 3.3 million.

According to the increase a consumer using 90 units per month has to pay Rs. 1197 (90 x Rs.8.50 + fixed fee of Rs.90.00 + fuel adjustment charge 40%). A consumer using 91 units has to pay Rs. 2352 (91 x Rs.15 + fixed fee of Rs.315 + fuel adjustment charge of 40%) The consumer has to pay Rs. 1155 for the increase of one unit! Isn't this very unfair? This is how the government follows a system of exploiting masses. This shows that the system has never considered the plight of the masses. The government has adopted a system that burdens the consumer who uses fewer units but gives relief to those who use up more units. This is an arbitrary increase that burdens the middle class but gives concessions to the upper classes.

Why did the government have to increase electricity tariffs in this manner? The government states Ceylon Electricity Board incurs losses. However, when the government obtained loans it promised to adhere to conditions of the IMF and the World Bank.

The last budget was presented after these pledges were given. The government promised to create a price formula based on costs for its services. When Champika was the Minister of Power and Energy on 21st January he said a price formula was necessary for fuel and electricity.  This indicates that a price formula had been proposed for state services. This is why the increase in electricity tariffs is presented to the Public Utilities Commission. It is this Commission that prepares a formula considering the costs. However, this time the Public Utilities Commission accepted the CEB proposal.

The second reason is the colossal frauds and waste that exists in the CEB. It is not the people but Rajapaksa regime and the Minister of Power and Energy that are responsible for the losses of the CEB. However, it is the people who are burdened. The Public Utilities Commission had instructed the CEB to reduce its expenditure by 40%. This shows the amount of unnecessary expenditure at the CEB. Also, the CEB bought electricity from 4 private power stations that Public Utilities Commission had rejected. Rs.13000 million was spent for this. Electricity could have been bought cheaper from Kelanitissa power station. However, electricity is bought from private power stations to get commissions for various individuals. The wrong policies of the government too are responsible for the losses. People were made to have high hopes regarding Norochcholai power station. However, it has broken down for the 14th time. The power station built with a large loan from China has incurred losses in billions. Now installments and interests are being paid for a power station that doesn't generate electricity. Also, there are serious issues regarding the use of vehicles of the CEB.  Certain officials use 3 to 4 vehicles.  They use CEB vehicles for their domestic purposes as well.

Meanwhile, the government spent millions on a propaganda campaign. They appealed to the masses to save electricity by switching off one bulb. However, large scale waste of electricity occurs in Temple trees and residences of ministers and government Parliamentarians. For, they do not pay any electricity bills.  The government also wastes large amount of electricity to have its pageants. Cricket is played at night wasting a large amount of electricity in the country where the sun shines throughout the year. The government should stop mass scale wasting of electricity. The government doesn't take any measures to stop waste and doesn't increase the tariff of those who waste electricity either.

This is an arbitrary government that doesn’t consider the plight of the masses. Mahinda Rajapaksa talks of the rate of the economic growth. However, prices of commodities go up at a rate. The income or salaries of masses do not go up in the country that is said to be developing. This is a government that shows pageants to the world but burdens the masses.

A liter of petrol was increased by Rs.15.00 on 15th December, 2012. On 5th January, 2013 the price of a gas cylinder was increased by Rs.150. Now the electricity tariff has been increased. Increasing the prices of power and energy affects the masses drastically. Now there is talk about a 15% increase in bus fares from July. When people have pawned whatever they possessed to celebrate the New Year and are unable to pay back their debts the government has increased the electricity tariff.

The government will continue its trend of burdening the masses if the masses do not do anything to defeat government's moves. This government is not scared of the masses; it is not responsible for the people. The government has control over the Parliament as well as the judiciary. The government that welds power thinks the people will vote for it whatever they do. As such, 4.4 million consumers of electricity must rise up against the arbitrary increase in electricity tariffs. They should take to the streets demanding to withdraw the unjust increase. This state could be defeated only by people's actions against the government. We ask the masses not to accept the increase in electricity tariffs. We ask the people to take to the streets against the increase in electricity tariffs.

This is not a government that genuinely represents the masses.  Hence, this government should be defeated. We call upon the masses to support not only a struggle to bring down the prices of electricity tariffs but also the government that doesn't have any regard for the people's wishes.

Responding to questions posed by journalists Mr. Tilvin Silva said the Public Utilities Commission is not a useful institution. It doesn't accept people's views. It is merely an institution created to provide jobs for supporters. Such institutions created to give jobs for Mahinda Rajapaksa's friends would never consider views of the masses.

The government is preparing to amend the electricity act. Laws are to be included so that independent states could be given the right to generate and transmit electricity. As such, the government will hand over or sell power stations such as Norochcholai and Sampoor to countries like China and India.

The IGP has rejected the incident regarding Army presence at Matale mass grave. However, there is information that such an incident had taken place. The government attempts to terrorize people in Matale. We told the government that commissions were useless but to take a judiciary process. However, the committee proposed by the President doesn't have any members. There is no judiciary process either. We are definite about taking legal action regarding the incident.

The Member of the Central Committee of the JVP Lakshman Nipunarachchi too was present.

Us And The Modern Monsters

By Basil Fernando -April 18, 2013 

Basil Fernando

Kavi Kola – Poetry Sheets (1):  Us and the Modern Monsters

Cry, my beloved country, cry.

Loudly ask why

Do not let the monsters

Smash out the light.

Look at those three hoodless vans

In the thick of darkness coming,

Keeping measured distances.

They move slowly.

One in front carries

Young prisoners from a camp

And a few soldiers.

They each take a prisoner

Throw them into the air,

As children throw balloons.

A marksman takes aim,

Moving his expert fingers.

A few soldiers rush out of the third van,

Pour petrol and set fire

To the wounded youths.

Three vans move again,

Keeping measured distances,

Till the next prisoner is thrown like a balloon.

When Kerosene runs out,

The van begins its return, taking back

A single surviving prisoner.

In a mass grave at Matale

Remains of one-hundred

And fifty bodies are excavated.

Some, among so many

In the South, North and East.

Such are the works of new monsters,

Created by the marriage of

Modern physics and ancient metaphysics.

Modern monsters more sinister

Than a nine-headed poisonous dragon,

Medusa or Minotaur.

Thesius, Perseus and Hercules

Too weak to tame

The modern monsters,

Created out of new concoctions.

Perhaps, the depths of all oceans,

And ocean-like human minds,

Must be stirred, again and again…

Till a new potent concoction,

Emerges with powers

To annihilate the modern monsters.

Cry, my beloved country, cry.

Till out of the abyss of our desolation

New giants may arise,

Who, unlike Hellenistic heroes,

Will posses the psychic power

To melt away our collective burden.

*Basil Fernando published his first volume of poems A New Era to Emerge in 1972. Since then, he has published several volumes of poems in English and two collections in Sinhala. His poems have appeared in several Sri Lankan and international anthologies. His poems have been translated into many Western and Asian languages. A translated anthology of his poems was published in Malayalam entitled Sundaramaithry. In 1983, he and Richard Zoysa shared the first prize for poetry in New Ceylon Writings, published by Professor Yasmin Gunaratne. His poems are available here.