US Tamils join "One Million Bones" genocide protest

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 June 2013, 21:18 GMT]
Several Tamil activists attended the "One Million Bones," protest, a project conceived by a U.S. visual artist, Naomi Natale, to raise awareness of ongoing genocides and mass atrocities in places Sri Lanka, Sudan, South Sudan, Congo and other countries, held in the Mall in Washington D.C. Saturday. The event was attended by more than four thousand volunteers who laid several hundred thousand man-made bones in the rectangle covered by the 3rd, 4th Streets and Madison and Jefferson streets, and several thousand spectators including tourists. Tamil volunteers displayed prominent posters describing Sri Lanka's troubled history, and the genocide of Tamils, and distributed leaflets describing the mass atrocities committed by Sri Lanka military during Mu'l'livaaykkaal killings.

Avenue of world leadership in 21st century

"Three years we have been collecting 1,000,000 handcrafted bones for a three-day installation event on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., June 8-10, 2013. The installation will exist as a collaborative site of conscience to honor victims and survivors, and will also serve as a visual petition against ongoing conflicts and a resounding call for much need and long overdue action," the organizers said in their website.

Spokesperson for the collective Tamil organizations that attended the protest told TamilNet, "This is a key event that will help us to raise the level of awareness of Sri Lanka's war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. The event was a great success today, and the banner with the Auchwitz - Manik Farm comparison was a great hit with many Americans posing for photos with it. The organizers were absolutely terrific and will keep our materials available at a table on the mall. 

"We made every effort to network with key organizing personnel of this grass-root movement who are well aware of the Sri Lanka genocide, and as we go forward there will be followup collaboration with the key personnel at the top," the Tamil activist said.

The Laying of the Bones was opened by Rabbi Bruce Lustig, who told the volunteers that he is heartened to see the number of volunteers, and that the event showed that Americans will remember the voiceless who were killed for their ethnicity and race by their own governments, and this awareness will implore them to agitate for international action to prevent future mass killings.

The event continues on Sunday with educational workshops, a candle light vigil, followed by a lobby day "Take a Bone to Congress" with advocacy meetings on Capitol Hill. 

A Panchikawatta (Not Supermarket) Of Constitutions And Government’s 13A Mischief

By Rajan Philips -June 9, 2013 

Rajan Philips

Depending on whose translation you look at, there is an interesting line in Plato’s Republic (Book VIII) where Socrates tells his pupils that in the ideal City State a citizen can walk into a “supermarket of constitutions” and pick whatever pleases her or him.  The UNP’s marketing of its constitutional wares brings to mind not so much the emporium that Socrates had in mind but Colombo’s old Panchikawatta, the minefield of cannibalized machine and metal parts.  The grand old party has pulled spare parts from every constitution and every constitutional proposal we know and has assembled a badly mangled contraption.  The UNP’s proposals give options to buyers, but not the one option as has been duly noted, that would please many buyers, namely the option to change the UNP’s own constitution and its barnacle of a leadership.

A Panchikawatta (Not Supermarket) Of Constitutions And Government’s 13A Mischief by nelvely

Rajapaksa takes major gamble on NPC issues

By Our Political Editor-Sunday, June 09, 2013

•  Cabinet to take vital decision this week on Constitutional amendments
•  JHU, NFF insist on changes, SLMC, TNA and Left parties oppose moves to weaken PC system
• Ahead of Pillay visit, President submits memo to incorporate 53 more LLRC recommendations to National Action Plan

Internal fissures have prompted the Cabinet of Ministers to discuss again on Thursday the exclusion of two key provisions in the 13th Amendment to the Constitution and related issues. At last Thursday’s meeting, Cabinet Secretary Sumith Abeysinghe circulated to ministers two sets of documents. Both were signed by External Affairs Minister, G.L. Peiris, who is also a professor of law. Both related to constitutional amendments that require a two-thirds majority in Parliament and relate to changes in the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

A two-page document is titled ‘LEGISLATIVE POWERS OF PARLIAMENT AND PROVINCIAL COUNCILS – DRAFT AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 154G (3) OF THE CONSTITUTION’. Pointing out that it is “suggested for consideration by Cabinet of Ministers,” Peiris adds, “this relates to an aspect of the distribution of legislative powers between Parliament and Provincial Councils.” In the next page, he gives the draft of the new constitutional amendment. It reads:

“2. The Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is hereby amended in Article 154G by the repeal of paragraph (3) thereof and the substitution therefor of the following paragraph.

“(3). No Bill in respect of any matter set out in the Provincial Council List shall become law unless such Bill has been referred by the President, after its publication in the Gazette and before it is placed on the Order Paper of Parliament, to every Provincial Council for the expression of its views thereon, within such period as may be specified in the reference and

National Freedom Front leader Minister Wimal Weerawansa signs his party's public petition to collect two million signatures urging the Government not to go ahead with the Northern Provincial Council elections.

(a)    where the majority of such Councils agree to the passing of the Bill, such Bill is passed by a majority of the Members of Parliament present and voting; or

(b)    Where the majority of the Councils do not agree to the passing of the Bill, such Bill is passed by the special majority required by Article 82.”
In terms of existing provisions of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, statutes applicable to provinces (in respect of matters set out in a Ninth Schedule), no Bill for amendment or repeal is permissible without the express approval of all Provincial Councils. Existing provisions also allow adjoining provinces to form one administrative unit with an elected Provincial Council.

Rajapaksa Takes Major Gamble on NPC Issues by nelvely

Ethics Is A Traditional Homeland Without Claimants

By Malinda Seneviratne -June 9, 2013 

Malinda Seneviratne

The self-immolation of Ven Bowatte Indraratnana Thero raised many questions.  Whatever the late Thero’s intentions may have been, it is unlikely that ‘media ethics’ or lack thereof was something that prompted the horrifying act.  That, however, is what we are left with.

The action or rather inaction of those who may have been able to prevent the tragedy, especially the journalist who was ‘in the know’ has spurred much debate on what really constitutes ‘responsibility’ for people in the media industry.

At panel discussion on the subject organized by the Sri Lanka Press Institute, a young journalist Tharaka Basnayake, had asked the following question: ‘How does citizen journalism fits into codes of ethics since almost all the mainstream media outlets encourage citizens to capture whatever they desire and with regard to Indrarathana Thero’s self-immolation, most of the ordinary citizens were busy capturing the action with their mobile phones (against their conscience)?’

The question is simple: ‘Is the journalist’s duty to capture spectacle or whatever is newsworthy as per the dictates of professionalism or react humanely to a situation where choice of action/inaction can make a different between life and death?’  Put another way, ‘Can there ever be guidelines to inform a professional when to drop professional garb and when to put on larger humane clothing?’

It is something we can talk about forever.

The Government has found it fit, under these circumstances, to come up with ‘ethical guidelines’ for journalists.  The Government has been fittingly lampooned in the press for the presumptuousness of the exercise, given the fact that politicians and state media personal have hardly covered themselves in glory on account of ethical behavior.

The humor, however, should not stop with the Government or the State Media or even journalists in general.  ‘Ethics’ is a rare commodity, so rare that rather than rarity resulting in high value it has reverted to the other extreme in valuation: nothing.   Ethics is talked about.  It is scripted into professional oaths.  It is tossed into advertising copy.  It is almost as though the word would make palatable any excrement as such is dished out by the corporate world or by professional entities.  All it takes is to say, ‘we are ethical’.  But are we?

This is the age of the spectacle.  This is the era of instant gratification. By omission or commission this world has either embraced or resolved to submit to Mr. Spectacle.  All that glitters may not be gold, but glitter fetches a better price than ethics in the market, let us acknowledge.  Even crap that is glitter-clothed or worse, glitter-labeled, let us add!

Is he who demands honor, himself honorable?  Is she who demands ethical behavior herself ethical in her behavior?  Who are the saints here?  The truth is that ‘ethics’ cannot be legislated.  They cannot be advertised.  In short there’s no market for ethics.  That’s the brutal fact that is being ignored in the debate.

Today’s market is full of goods and services deliberately marked with planned obsolescence; things are made to break (sooner rather than later) with adequate caveats in the small print regarding warranties to insure the vendor.  And what’s good for refrigerators, laptops, mobile phones and iPods is good for the media too.  It works.  Stories are re-invented.  A women jumps into a well with a baby and the media shares the savory details in a way that prompts another depressed individual to execute a copy-cat jump that will continue to keep the media in business.  One story is crafted in a way that a follow-up story will result.  So what’s new?  What’s ‘unethical’ about it?  It’s just business as usual in the 21^st Century, isn’t it?

The question can be asked, ‘isn’t this how it always was?’  Yes, there were always neethi (laws) and there were always reethi (customs).  The difference is that in times gone by, the latter prevailed over the former.  The latter drew from an ethical template.

The incident resulted in an interrogation of the media on the subject of ethics, interestingly by those who really don’t have the right to talk about ethics.  There cannot be ethics in isolation.  There cannot be ethics for some but not for others.  But laws, we know, are selective and prejudiced in favor of the powerful, i.e. those who have money or power or both.

Still, that fact alone is not enough to settle for ‘business as usual’.  Self-regulation begins with self, it goes without saying.  We, the media, as a tribe, are but one part of society and can claim rightful share to its glories and resolve to own up to its shame.  We could play safe and say ‘let’s see you go first!’ but that’s cop-out option.

We cannot get anyone to pay for even a tiny advertisement pleading ‘Let’s be ethical’.  We can but be ethical, as per our sense of right and wrong, regardless of professional dictates (which too, let us not forget, are for the most part ‘owned’ by corporate prerogatives).

*Malinda Seneviratne is the Chief Editor of ‘The Nation’ and his articles can be found at www.malindawords.blogspot.com

India, US should put pressure on Sri Lanka on Tamils issue: Congress MP

Sunday, Jun 9, 2013, 9:09 IST | Place: NEW YORK | Agency: PTI

The decades long civil war in Sri Lanka ended in May 2009, with the killing of top LTTE leaders including its chief V Prabhakaran.

Claiming that three million Tamils are living in a "pathetic" condition in post-civil war in Sri Lanka, an Indian Parliamentarian from Tamil Nadu has urged the top US officials to work with India in solving the issue.
Manickam Tagore, an MP from Virudunagar constituency in Tamil Nadu, was part of a seven-member parliamentary delegation that visited the US to undergo leadership training programme at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston organised by Forums for Parliamentarians and FICCI.
Tagore said that though it's almost four years after the war was over, the Sri Lankan government was "dragging its feet" on the issue of devolution of powers and Tamils are treated as "second class citizens" in their own country.
"The urgency shown in completing the war was not shown in helping Tamils to re-settle in their rightful place," he said.
"I did impress on US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns and Congressman Edward Royce that the US and India should join hands in making the Sri Lankan administration to commit on a time-bound program to help displaced Tamils who are reduced to voiceless and hapless citizens," he said.
"Rajapakse government has not made attempts to meet the legitimate and genuine demands and three million Tamils are in a pathetic state without security and uncertainty looming large over their heads. Both the leaders as well as Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake agreed that there is a need for India and the US to work on this with top-most priority," he said.
The decades long civil war in Sri Lanka ended in May 2009, with the killing of top LTTE leaders including its chief V Prabhakaran. The UN Human Rights Council has passed highly critical resolution asking Sri Lanka to conduct "independent and credible investigation" into alleged war crimes during the country's civil war.
Tagore said the US leaders had concurred with his view that the Sri Lankan government should invite independent international observers to oversee the ensuing elections to Northern Provincial Council.
The Congress MP claimed that the Rajapakse's government rests on the military and Sinhala groups, who are opposed to any, even minor concessions, to the Tamils.
"Devolution of powers was the 13th amendment in Rajiv Gandhi-Jayawardane accord singed in 1987 and successive Sri Lankan governments gave scant respect to it and did not bother to implement the major clause," he said.
Earlier, addressing the executive committee members of the Tamil Nadu chapter of Indian National Overseas Congress, he said unfortunately a "smear campaign" had been unleashed in the media and in the Internet that the Congress Party was against the Sri Lankan Tamils.
He asked the non-resident Tamils to blunt the unfair criticism in Twitter and social media revealing the truth.

Mainstream mum

Sunday, 09 June 2013 

When in August 2009, I was the first to report and publish photos, via the web, on severe flooding that affected thousands in Menik Farm, I also flagged what was, at the time, a Sinhala and English mainstream media blackout of this news. The severe flooding occurred one Friday evening, at a time when Menik Farm was one of the largest concentrations of interned IDPs in the world. Conditions were horrific. The flooding made it even worse. A week after the disaster I wrote,

… All SMS news services, that never fail to deliver cricket scores minutes after events on the pitch, were silent for over 3 days after the devastating floods in Menik Farm. Only Tamil media featured news of the flooding the day after the floods. The plight of IDPs was, shamefully, a non-issue for Sinhala newspapers last Sunday, with no front-page coverage whatsoever. This was despite a number of reports which suggested that toilet pits were overflowing, floors of tents were soggy and wet, IDPs had no change from wet clothes, a lack of dry firewood for cooking, that roofs of some tents blown away are increasing concerns over health and sanitation conditions with the impending monsoon. Erased by a supine traditional media, many in the South do not know the real ground conditions faced by IDPs. Worse, in a damning display of indifference, the South does not care enough to find out and demand this information.

On 31 March 2012, around 5.30pm, Menik Farm was hit by a cyclone. There was no bad weather warning issued by the Meteorological Department. A BBC Sandeshaya news report filed to the web around 11pm noted that around 2,000 inhabitants were affected by the cyclone, with around 200 shelters completely destroyed. A UN OCHA situation update on 3rd April flagged that the cyclone had injured over 20 people, damaged 942 shelters, 76 latrine units and affected 896 families. At a conservative estimate of four per family, that’s around 3,500 at the minimum affected by this disaster. The Disaster Management Centre actually put the number around 4,400.

If only for two simple reasons – the emphasis on reconciliation by government since 2009, which must surely embrace the suffering of those in the North and East as equal to and newsworthy as those in the South, and the rapid adoption of social media by major media institutions – you would imagine the cyclone’s aftermath was prominently featured and discussed in Sri Lanka’s mainstream news agenda soon after it was reported by the BBC.

It wasn’t.

Conversations with mainstream media journalists last week over Twitter revealed not just a callous dismissal of the disaster by journalists responsible for social media feeds, but that they were, ironically, unaware of even their own newspaper’s reporting of the scale of the disaster. No SMS about the disaster was sent out by news services that, for example, never miss an opportunity to spam customers with cricket scores. If mainstream media bias against Tamil suffering and the lack of empathy, interest and marginalisation of disasters when the victims are largely non-Sinhalese is, when bluntly pointed out, hotly contested and denied, the answer is a simple one. When storms hit Sri Lanka’s southern coast in late November 2011, dozens of fishermen were killed, thousands were displaced and rendered homeless. There was a total breakdown of early warning. The Meteorological Department said after the disaster that it would get Doppler Weather Radar by March 2012 to better warn against atmospheric disturbances. There was a flurry of media coverage on the disaster.

Yet, given the cyclone last week, no one has asked why the Meteorological Department still can’t forecast any better than it could last year, or whether its Doppler Radar is somehow ethno-centric in operation and scope. Media consumers in the South haven’t been shown how the cyclone affected those on the ground, some of the most destitute in this country. Short, single news stories are all, at best, the cyclone has generated. There is, quite simply, no interest in a disaster that affects thousands out of sight, and out of mind. This is not how it must be. To recall a blog post I penned last week, though nobody has an exclusive handle on the truth, when disasters in the South are clearly more important to most mainstream media than disasters in the North of Sri Lanka, can we really see old media embracing new online platforms as progress? And linked to this, three years after our war ended, can we honestly say we know more about and empathise with the plight of Tamils in the North – our fellow citizens?

Courtesy - anjanah blog

Ensure A Fair And Free Election To The NPC Under The Present Constitution – Friday Forum

June 9, 2013 |

The Friday Forum considers effective devolution essential to building trust and ethnic harmony, securing future peace and promoting good governance. The government has more than once publicly committed itself to implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. It is thus with deep concern that we view current attempts to dilute the already limited provisions for devolution embodied in the 13th Amendment.

The proposed amendment will make it much easier for the Centre to override Provincial Councils. At present, if the Centre wishes to pass a law on a matter in the Provincial Council List, the Bill must be referred to all Provincial Councils for them to express their views. If all Provincial Councils agree, the Bill may be passed by a simple majority. If one or more Councils do not agree, a two-thirds majority is needed to make the law applicable to the Councils that did not agree, but if passed only by a simple majority, the law will apply only in the provinces that agreed. This is a safeguard against interference by the Centre and many Provincial Councils outside the North and East too have disagreed with such Bills and asserted their independence. According to the proposed amendment, such a Bill will apply in all the provinces if a majority of the Provincial Councils agrees. This would make it possible for the Centre to easily impose legislation on Provincial Councils controlled by the Opposition. The Northern and Eastern Provincial Councils are likely to suffer the most.

The provisions relating to the merger of provinces are also to be deleted. Presently, a merger can only be initiated by the President. Provincial Councils have no say in the matter at all. Further, the people of the East must give their consent at a referendum if the Northern and Eastern provinces are to be merged. We do not see the need to amend these provisions.

The proposed amendment also runs counter to the content and spirit of the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission to which the Government has repeatedly expressed its commitment. The government has adopted an LLRC Action Plan which we are told is already being implemented.

Coming just prior to the long-delayed elections to the Northern Provincial Council, now due to be held in September,  constitutional amendments of this nature,  as would any further attempt to dilute the devolution provisions of the Constitution, constitute a clear breach of trust with our fellow citizens in the North. Our country has just emerged from years of suffering endured during the armed conflict,  and devolution of power under the 13^th amendment is an important element in the path to peace and reconciliation.

Constitutional amendments including urgent bills based on political expediency are undemocratic and undermine the rule of law. After losing four valuable years that could have been used to find a political settlement, democratisation and reconciliation, this move to dilute provisions on devolution will further undermine post-war democratisation in the North.

The Friday Forum urges all political parties and groups to oppose any move to dilute the 13^thAmendment, and to make every effort to ensure that a fair and free election to the Northern Provincial Council takes place under the present constitutional scheme.

Jayantha Dhanapala    and Professor Savitri Goonesekere

on behalf of the Friday Forum- the Group of Concerned Citizens

Mr. Jayantha Dhanapala, Professor Savitri Goonesekere, Ms. Suriya Wickremasinghe, Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne, Rt. Reverend Duleep de Chickera, Mr. Tissa Jayatilaka,  Mr. Ahilan Kadirgamar, Dr. Deepika Udagama, Professor Arjuna Aluwihare, Ms. Sithie Tiruchelvam,    Rev. Dr. Jayasiri Peiris, Ms. Anne Abayasekara     Ms. Manouri Muttetuwegama, Mr. J.C. Weliamuna,   Mr. Javid Yusuf, Dr. A. C. Visvalingam, Mr. Lanka Nesiah,  Professor. Camena Gunaratne,  Ms, Damaris Wickramasekera, Dr. Selvy Thiruchandran, Dr. Devanesan Nesiah, Ms. Shanthi Dias, Mr. Danesh Casie Chetty, Mr.Prashan de Visser, Mr. D. Wijayanandana, Mr. Mahen Dayananda, Professor. Ranjini Obeyesekere, Mr. Chandra Jayaratne.

President should stand by his assurances

By Ananth Palakidnar-2013-06-08

Veteran politician and Leader of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), Veerasingham Anandasangaree is a moderate who has not only consistently shunned extremism in Northern and the Southern politics, but also closely associated with Tamil and Sinhalese leaders for as long as he has been in politics. In an interview with Ceylon Today, Anandasangaree expresses his candid views on the 13th Amendment, the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) polls and the current state of Tamil politics.

Following are excerpts:

Q:

What are your views on the 13A?

A: The 13 A is a commitment between India and Sri Lanka to bring all stakeholders in the Sri Lankan crisis together and create a conducive climate to address the political aspirations of the people in the North and East. It was only a basis for a durable solution and was not considered a permanent solution. With the 13 A, the call for a separate State was given up and the process was introduced for greater devolution, with the merger of the Northern and Eastern Provinces. Despite claims by certain politicians in the South, the 13 A was not aimed at separating the country. It only gives guidelines for devolution of powers.

Q:

The government has put forward a Cabinet paper aimed at bringing changes to the amendment. What do you think about that?

A: I personally feel this is unwanted. Instead of making changes and meddling with the amendment, we should explore ways and means of how best to enhance the aspects in the amendment. Soon after the end of war, President Mahinda Rajapaksa assured the leaders of the international community, including India, he would go for a solution based on the 13 A. The President should stand by what he assured and harness the good efforts made in the direction of finding a solution.

We should remember that in 1947, when the Soulbury Constitution was introduced, the Tamils in the State Council voted for it. If one member had voted against it, the integrity of the country would have been in peril at that time. The then Prime Minister, D.S. Senanayake, thanking the Tamils said the Sinhalese will never let down the Tamils. I would like to remind the Southern politicians, who are opposed to devolving powers to extend their support to fulfil the political aspirations of the minorities, instead of spoiling every effort taken to settle the ethnic question.

Q:

Could you explain the efforts made to bring about the 13 A with the signing of the Indo-Lanka Accord in 1987?

A: The TULF was at the forefront and the late A. Amirthalingam and M. Sivasithamparam were constantly in touch with the Indian and Lankan leaders. Along with senior TULF leaders I had taken part in a series of talks with the Lankan leader, and Indian and Lankan officials. However, it is unfortunate that the good efforts of the Indo-Lanka Accord and the devolution of power under 13 A didn't deliver the anticipated outcome to the North and East crisis.

Q:

Do you think changes to the 13 A would have an adverse impact on Indo-Lanka relations?

A: The Indo-Lanka Accord and the 13th Amendment were introduced to resolve the issues of the Tamils, and India had to pay a heavy price for getting involved in the Lankan crisis. India is our immediate neighbour and a regional superpower. Lankan refugees are still in India. The international community also interacts closely with India with regard to the Lankan issue. Since the end of the war, India has been frequently emphasizing on the need to expedite the political solution. Lankan leaders have also assured the Indian leadership they would find a solution based on the 13 A and 13 Plus. So, the 13 A is an undertaking by the Sri Lankan Government, respecting the accord between the two countries. Therefore, it is obvious that India would be annoyed by the interpretations and comments made with regard to the amendment by politicians, who were nowhere when the Indo-Lanka Accord was signed.

Q:

What are your views on the North and East merger, land and police powers to the Provinces?

A: We had the North and East merger. As majority of Tamil speaking people live in the North and East, devolution of powers could be carried out in a constructive manner to the provinces. As the call for a separate State is no more, there is no need to worry about the merger and powers could be devolved in a manner that satisfied the political aspirations of the Tamil speaking people in the two provinces.

When talking about the land issue, we must understand that every ethnic group in the world, want its traditional homeland. The North and East historically being the traditional homeland of the Tamil speaking people in the island, they will agitate for the rights of their lands and habitats in the North and East. It is a pity the lands of the internally displaced in the North have been acquired by the Security Forces, and the people have been kept away from their original lands.

As far as police powers are concerned, we should understand that police are basically a civil force. There were instances where several incidents occurred in the North and East in the past with the police being instigated by politicians in the South to create violence under the guise of maintaining law and order. Political leaders in the North and East, though represented in Parliament, didn't have any say over controlling the police. Since the end of the war, several youth from the North and East have been recruited to the police force. Political leaders from the North and East, in Parliament as well as in local bodies, must have a say over the police force, as it is a civil force that maintain law and order.

Q:

What is your view on the promised NPC polls?

A: It is the need of the hour. The NPC elections were postponed with lame excuses. There were elections in the past when the war was in progress. If the Eastern Provincial Council polls could be conducted following the end of war, how come the one in the North could not be conducted? The last democratic parliamentary election was held in 1977. Thereafter, everything has been dictatorial with Parliament losing its prominence. Even the LTTE played a key role in the polls in the North. The NPC Polls should be conducted with more emphasis on civil administration and not with the help of the Security Forces or the stooges of the government.

Q:

Do you think the Tamil political parties, especially the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), are in the right form to face the NPC polls?

A: Since the Illankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) takes the lead role in the TNA, using its house symbol, the other parties have been made voiceless. The ITAK has been revived fraudulently by the present leaders and using the house symbol is merely a betrayal of other four constituent parties in the Alliance.

Code Of Ethics For Media By A Concerned Citizen

By a concerned citizen -June 9, 2013

Code Of Ethics For Media

Leader employees helpless

Sunday, 09 June 2013

A statement by the head of the Leader Company, Asanga Seneviratne that the employees of The Sunday Leader and Irudina newspapers were not employees of his Leader Holdings Limited and that he could not be held responsible for the payment of EPF and ETF to the employees has left the Leader employees in a helpless situation.

Asanga Seneviratne has said the employees were part of Lal Wickrematunge’s Leader Publications Pvt Limited. He has told the Editor of the Irudina newspaper, Mohan Lal Piyadasa during a discussion that he had not taken any employee from Leader Publications to Leader Holdings when the ownership was transferred.

Editor in Chief of The Sunday Leader, Sakunthala Perera had also been present during the discussion as Asanga’s representative. Piyadasa had continuously questioned the current situation of the company. Angered by Piyadasa’s questions Sakunthala Perera had asked if he had any way of proving that he is the editor of the Irudina newspaper.

She had said that there were no documents in Piyadasa’s personal file in the company that to prove that he is the editor of the Irudina newspaper. An angry Piyadasa had then walked out of the meeting saying he could prove who the Irudina editor is before a court of law.

When details of this discussion were known by the Leader employees it was revealed that none of the employees have received their employment contracts under the new management and there was uncertainty over the payment of EPF and ETF.

Following this clash, the new management has decided to remove the staff of the Irudina newspaper and replace them including the editor with a team of journalists from the Lakbima newspaper headed by Lakbima Editor, Jatila Wellabada.

Employees of The Sunday Leader and Irudina newspapers are also faced with another issue. Several well known racketeer businessmen have openly claimed ownership to the newspaper company. Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal’s racketeer friend, Anura Fernando, Nimal Perera and Dhammika Perera have said that they had invested money in Leader Holdings

Arundhika who said Ekneliyagoda is in France is a blatant liar -friend Manjula :I never told that
(Lanka-e-News -08.June.2013, 7.00PM) Arundhika Fernando M.P. while raising a question of privilege, once again told in Parliament yesterday (07) , his statement in Parliament that Lanka e news journalist Prageeth Ekneliyagoda (who was abducted by the MaRa government and thereafter disappeared ) is in France was based on information supplied to him by the media personnel Manjula Wediwardena .

During the debate in Parliament on the 5th on the Press council Bill, Arundhika complained to Speaker in Parliament , his statement that Ekneliyagoda is in France , and he met him was exploited by the electronic , print media and websites to criticize him which is a breach of Parliamentary privilege .

The MP told for the second time in Parliament that he got to know this when he went to France where he met a school friend Manjula Wediwardena the media personnel , and that the latter revealed this information to him while pointing to a short individual with a shaved head who his friend identified as Ekneliyagoda . At that moment , the supposed Ekneliyagoda avoided him and left the place , Arundhika added.

Manjula Wediwardena is a media personnel who fled the country on security grounds , and has acquired political refugee status in France, and a poet .Lanka e news inquired from Manjula Wediwardena as regards the statement made by Arundhika.

Manjula Wediwardena said as follows :

Arundhika Fernando who claims that he is his School friend had never met him in France, and what Arundhika said is an absolute lie. Manjula went on to say , ‘Arundhika came to Paris a year ago , and through a phone of my friend he contacted me , and wished to meet me. As I was about 100 miles away from Paris , I told Arundhika that I cannot meet him. In any case during that phone discussion nothing about Ekneliyagoda was discussed . Besides , I have met Ekneliyagoda once or twice in Sri Lanka , but thereafter I have not met him anywhere or any day. When Ekneliyagoda ‘s disappearance was reported , I was in France.’ 

Manjula pinpointed that Arundhika is a most unconscionable accomplished liar and opportunist from his school days ,and therefore concocting false stories is a matter of routine for him He was notorious for betraying his other friends too by his profuse lying, he added.

Manjula also stated , Arundhika being an M.P. of the government that has appointed another practitioner of all the cardinal sins as the chief justice , nothing worthy or truthful can be expected of him. Naturally, if anybody is to give credence to Arundhika who had made lying his favorite hobby , he or she is a fool . People must be wary not to fall into the traps of these born liars and self seeking opportunists , he emphasized.

“I’m Prageeth. I was sent France by Arundhika” – the French Prageeth says

Sunday, 09 June 2013

A person from France who telephoned a member of our editorial has said, “I’m Prageeth. I’m now in France. I’m from Wennapuwa and I was sent to France by MP Arundhika. Four others were sent along with me. Each person had to pay Rs. 650,000. Since I’m not big made, I was asked to grow a beard and seek asylum as Prageeth Ekanligoda. I did what MP Arnudhika asked me to do, but my asylum application is still pending. When I told this to MP Arundhika, I was told ‘I will play game and you will be fine’.”

The person also said, “MP Arundhika has been involved in sending people overseas. After the President assigned him to monitor the Customs he has now stopped sending people overseas since he can earn money through work at the Customs. He has known me from the time was the head of the SLFP union in the airport. I was a porter at the airport at the time. I can now get my asylum application with the MP’s help.”

MP Arundhika Fernando told parliament during the debate on the amendments to the Press Council Act that missing journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda was living in France. We now request our readers to compare this persons; comment with that made by Arundhika to parliament and decide the truth.

Journo denies meeting MP

By Ranga Jayasuriya

2013-06-09

Exiled Sri Lankan journalist, Manjula Wediwardene, has denied meeting ruling party politician Arundika Fernando, who earlier caused a sensation when he said in Parliament that he met missing cartoonist, Prageeth Ekneligoda, at the residence of Manjula Wediwardene in France.

“I never met him (Arundika) in France, nor did he ever visit me at my house,” Wediwardene told in a telephone interview with Ceylon Today.

He said Arundika Fernando, MP, who he acknowledged was his classmate, was ‘lying through his teeth.’

He said he had no idea of the purported meeting that MP Fernando claimed to have taken place at his residence.

Wediwardene also said he suspected that MP Fernando had been under pressure from ‘a powerful person in the ruling party’to fabricate the story.

Meanwhile, Arundika Fernando, MP, who stands by his story, said a Sri Lankan national, who accompanied him to Wediwardene’s residence was ready to substantiate his version of the story.

He says he would go before any court, either local or international, should he be summoned over his revelations of Ekneligoda’s whereabouts.

Posted by Thavam

Is the dream of miracle to be fulfilled through casino – AiPM

SUNDAY, 09 JUNE 2013 

Is casino and gambling the economic development strategy of the leader who fancies developing a ‘miracle’ and has made it his dream asks the co-convener of Anti-imperialist People’s Movement (AiPM) Ven. Dhambara Amila Thera.

Speaking at a media conference held by the AiPM in Colombo today (9th) Ven. Amila Thera said, “Even when we had little information we recognized the danger and apprised the media regarding the casino project. Today we have enough evidence regarding this scheme. A few months ago Casino king James packer came to Sri Lanka, met stalwarts of the political authority and had discussions to set up a casino center. We didn’t have information regarding whom he met or what he discussed. However, a letter sent by the Director General of the Ministry of Finance and Planning to the Chairman, Board of Investments reveals everything.  The letter clearly states permission is given to the casino center ‘under the strategic development projects’. The casino center is also given concessions, privileges and unlimited tax reliefs.

There is no mention of any policy for giving a very valuable land in Colombo to James Packer. There is no indication how the land belonging to Government Supplies Department has been released to the casino king. Also, Rs.100 million tax to be levied for gambling businesses will not be relevant to this project.

Are these concessions, reliefs and privileges given to the casino and gambling project justifiable? Do they conform to ‘Mahinda Chinthanaya and is this what people who voted for Mahinda Rajapaksa asked for? Is it the policy of ‘Bala Sena’ that claims it represents Buddhists that makes 74% of the population? What would these ‘Balasenas’ and ‘Balakayas’ do regarding these acts of Mahinda Rajapaksa? Will they encircle the casino center or will they encircle the Ministry of Finance or the cabinet? These organizations put up by the government and Rajapaksa and company should be asked what they would do regarding this project.

Sambodhi Viharaya is next to the place where the casino center is to be constructed. Getting a casino gambling den built near a temple is an unethical act. Gambling would involve, liquor and prostitution as well. There won’t be any meritorious acts in such places. These are places that gratify racketeers with black money. Do they suit the white dress adorned by Mahinda Rajapaksa or the title he was given by Siam Chapter? Does ‘Balasena’ have to encircle business places or these unethical dens?

You know that Malaysia, Hong Kong, Korea broke down economically. Imperialism was behind it. Imperialist countries carry out their conspiracies to break down countries in these gambling dens. These casino centers are like another government in a country. In such casino dens imperialists make plans to buy Parliamentarians, assassin true patriots, change leaders. They are like small Parliaments and even the opposition is manipulated according to whims and fancies of these racketeers.

This is a vice that brings tragedy to a country and also becomes the politics of that country. As the Ant-imperialist People’s Movement we would never tolerate such schemes. Allowing decisions on politics, society and economics in the country to be taken in casino centers is dangerous. All decisions regarding the country should be taken by the Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim people in this country. It is the sovereignty of the people. We would never allow this power to be plundered or to be presented to James Packer. For, it would be a threat to national security as well as sovereignty. Hence, people should question regarding this path taken by Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government towards vice. Buddhist Bhikkus as well as Christian, Catholic, Hindu and Muslim religious leaders should rally against this path for immorality. As legitimate citizens of this country we have the right to defeat such schemes.

Former JVP Parliamentarian Lakshman Nipunarachchi and Ayurvedic Specialist Doctor Nanda Wijeratna also participated.