PCs won’t have police powers  Govt. has told India

June 19, 2013, 10:06 pm 

By Shamindra Ferdinando

India had been informed of Sri Lanka’s decision not to devolve police powers to provinces at the height of the conflict, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said yesterday.

The Defence Secretary said that both, President Mahinda Rajapaksa and he, had emphasised during deliberations with senior Indian officials that devolution of police powers would be inimical to the national interest as well as political stability. "We made our position clear during talks involving top level delegations from Sri Lanka and India", he told The Island.

The three-member delegation comprised Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga, then Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa and the Defence Secretary. The troika functioned as an informal group on behalf of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to inform and interact with all those who matter, within and outside the country, in general and on events unfolding in Sri Lanka from time to time and visited New Delhi several times during the war.

India was represented by National Security Advisor M. K. Narayanan, Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon and Defence Secretary Vijay Singh.

The Defence Secretary was responding to Indian media reports of Indian Premier Manmohan Singh expressing concern over President Rajapaksa’s decision to amend the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

The Defence Secretary said vesting provinces with police powers would be inimical to the interests of minorities. Recollecting a discussion they had in New Delhi, Rajapaksa said that when Narayanan queried from Singh what he thought of Rajapaksa’s opposition to police powers being devolved to provinces, the Indian Defence Secretary had agreed fully with him.

When it was pointed out that President Rajapaksa had assured India as well as other countries that his government would offer 13th Amendment plus, the Defence Secretary said that what the President had meant was that he would give a better solution acceptable to all communities. It would be nothing but foolish to misinterpret the President’s assurance to propagate the falsehood that the government was ready to implement the 13th Amendment, which was forced on the then President JRJ.  

Responding to allegations that Sri Lanka had gone back on its promise to implement the 13th Amendment after the conclusion of the conflict, the Defence Secretary alleged that it was the government of India that voted for the US-led resolution against Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) after having promised to throw its weight behind Sri Lanka. "India let us down in Geneva, very badly," the Defence Secretary said.

Commenting on the proposed Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to study the national issue and make recommendations, the Defence Secretary said that the tangible actions would have to be taken to ensure the 13th Amendment wouldn’t be the cause for further chaos. If implemented fully as it is it could create a volatile situation not only in the Northern Province but other regions as well, the Defence Secretary said.

Sri Lanka's plan to dilute 13th Amendment dismays PM Manmohan Singh
TNN | Jun 19, 2013

The PM said he was deeply concerned about the welfare and well-being of the Tamil community in Sri Lanka.

NEW DELHI: A six-member delegation of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) from Sri Lanka met PM Manmohan Singh on Tuesday amid reports that political parties in the island nation were moving to seek an annulment of the 13th Amendment.

Singh is said to have conveyed to the TNA delegation that he was dismayed by reports suggesting that the government of Sri Lankaplanned to dilute certain key provisions of the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitutionahead of elections to the Northern Provincial Council.

"It was noted that the proposed changes raised doubts about the commitments made by the Sri Lankan government to India and the international community, including the United Nations, on a political settlement in Sri Lanka that would go beyond the 13th Amendment," foreign ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said.

"The changes would also be incompatible with the recommendation ofthe Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), set up by the government of Sri Lanka, calling for a political settlement based on the devolution of power to the provinces," he added.

The PM said he was deeply concerned about the welfare and well-being of the Tamil community in Sri Lanka.

"He stressed on the expectation that the Sri Lankan Tamil community would lead a life of dignity, as equal citizens, and reiterated that India would make every effort to ensure the achievement of a future for the community marked by equality, justice and self-respect," the MEA said in a statement.

The Tamil delegation was led by R Sampanthan (MP) and consisted of Mavai S Senathirajah (MP), K (Suresh) Premachandran (MP), P Selvarajah (MP), Selvam Adaikkalanathan (MP) and M A Sumanthiran (MP). A TNA delegation had also visited India in October 2012.
Lankan minister says India aiding separatist forces

PTI | Jun 19, 2013
COLOMBO: A key nationalist ally in the Sri Lankan government on Wednesday slammed India for aiding separatist forces in the country and backed President Mahinda Rajapaksa's plan to go ahead with tinkering the 13th amendment. 

"It was no secret that India aided the separatist forces in Sri Lanka," Wimal Weerawansa, theNational Freedom Front (NFF) leader and minister of housing, told reporters. 

The NFF was piqued by the New Delhi's invitation to the main Tamil party, Tamil National Alliance(TNA), to visit India and apprise Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress chairperson Sonia Gandhi of Sri Lanka's plans to dilute the powers in the India-backed 13th amendment (13A) to the Sri Lankan Constitution. 

The 13A and the provincial councils entered Sri Lanka's statutes in 1987 as part of the India-Sri Lanka Peace Accord which envisaged devolution of powers to the island's provinces in an effort to end the Sri Lankan Civil War involving the LTTE and government forces. 

"The TNA has failed to demonstrate even after the LTTE was defeated that they disown their terrorist campaign. 

Both Singh and Gandhi must know that they are meeting the political and parliamentary front of the LTTE," Weerawansa said. 

Weerawansa said that India must recognise that TNA did not represent a larger majority of the Sri Lankan public. 

"They only represent a fraction of the Tamil population," he said. 

Weerawansa, a leading pro-Sinhala majority nationalist politician, said Sri Lanka must go ahead with tinkering the 13A notwithstanding opposition from India. 

Sri Lanka is set to bring in an urgent piece of legislation this month to dilute the 13A mostly to strip the northern provincial council of police and land powers. 

The NFF last night handed over a public petition with a million signatures to Rajapaksa expressing opposition to holding the northern election with unfettered powers. 

Now Attorney General To Prosecute DIG Vass For Abducting And Assaulting Nipuna

June 20, 2013 

Yesterday the Attorney General said that he is considering prosecuting DIG Vass Gunawardana for abducting and assaulting Nipuna Ramanayaka in 2009. Earlier both Attorney General and Police only prosecuted only DIG’s wife, son and a few police officers. 

A team of Colombo Crime Division (CCD) police officers had abducted and assaulted Nipuna Ramanayaka.

Nipuna Ramanayaka

DIG Vass Gunawardena

Recalling the incident he told media in 2009 “I went to the canteen after I finished my exam around 12.30 p.m. There I saw the SSP’s son. He came and knocked on me and pointed me out to some men. But I didn’t take notice.

“Then later when I was going to a friend’s house with a friend of mine, a jeep stopped by us and five people in civvies got down. One of them had a T-56 while the other four carried pistols. They ordered me to get into the jeep and made me lie on the floor of the jeep. One of them kept his leg on my face while the others pointed their guns at me. They told me that if I got up that they would shoot me. One of them called Ravindu and asked him to come to Pittugala.

Now Attorney General to Prosecute DIG Vass for Abducting and Assaulting Nipuna by nelvely

Video: SSU protest at Lipton Circus ►WATCH-THURSDAY, 20 JUNE 2013  Socialist Student Union (SSU) staged a protest over the privatisation of education and student suppression at the Lipton Circus this evening. SSU today commemorate their national students’ heros’ day. Pix by Samantha Perera

Officers Of The Kalutara South Police Beat A Man’s Testicles With A Wooden Mallet

Chaminda Priyantha-June 19, 2013 

“The next day at 9 am the same three police officers took him back to the Crime Branch and told him to sign a document which was already prepared. He signed it due to fear of further ill-treatment but affirms that he had no knowledge of the contents of the document. The officers then took him to a bathroom at the rear of the police compound where was stripped naked. He was then made to lie on a bench facing upwards. Then one of the police officers used a wooden mallet to beat his testicles. Following this his ankles were cuffed and he was tied to the bench with coir rope. One of the police officers then climbed onto the window sill and from there jumped onto Kumara’s chest.

Officers Of The Kalutara South Police Beat A Man’s Testicles With A Wooden Mallet by nelvely

Court orders Arundika to give evidence on Eknaligoda

21 June 2013

The Homagama Magistrate Court ordered MP Arundika Fernando to appear in court on July 16 to give evidence over the disappearance of Journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda. UPFA MP for the Puttalam District, Arundika Fernando stated in parliament that missing journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda was currently living in France. Fernando said that he was introduced to Eknaligoda by another Sri Lanka journalist, during a visit to France. Fernando stated that his childhood friend journalist Manjula Wediwardena had pointed to a man with a shaved head and said he was Eknaligoda. At that moment the individuals hurriedly left avoiding speaking with me, the UPFA MP said in parliament, raising a parliamentary privileges question. Arundika Fernando further said that certain electronic and print media are making various accusations and criticizing him over his statement in parliament on June 5, regarding the whereabouts of missing journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda. He stated that this smear campaign is tarnishing his reputation and is a violation of his parliamentary privileges. The Puttalam District parliamentarian also rejected the comments made by Prageeth Eknaligoda’s wife, Sandhya regarding his statement in Parliament, terming them as “baseless”. Mrs Eknaligoda had denied she was in contact with her husband and that he is living in France.

Death threats to Journalist Dilka over the phone for exposing the charges of Gnanasara thera

During the recent Derana 360  programme the Ven.Gnanasara thera the General Secretary of the Bodu Bal a Sena organisation  participated. The conductor of this programme Dilka Samanmalee exposed that the Gnansara thera had been charged and fined in courts for driving after liquor which was one among the seven charges he was guilty of.

After the programme of exposing these details Dilka had been receiving constant death threats over the phone. In this regard she had complained to the CID.

During this discussion Dilka had questioned the Gnanasara thera that his organisation and he in particular is against liquor and gambling. But she proved that while  showing  some reports from the courts that the thera had admitted his offences in courts and even had paid the court fines.
LCN

Eleven indictments against Gnanasara Thera

By Ishara Ratnakara-2013-06-20 General Secretary of Bodu Bala Sena, Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera today rejected 11 indictments filed by the Attorney General, for carrying out an attack on Calvary Church, Araliya Place, Talahena.

The Thera denied his involvement when the case was taken up for hearing by Colombo High Court Judge, Shiran Gunaratne.

S.A. Athula Seneviratne, W.M. Sudubanda, H. Tamara Beatrice, A.K. Denzel Premakumara Perera, C.S.C. Kandanaarachchi, T.K. Somadasa, E.M. Victor Ratnayake, K.W. Karunanada, E.M.H. Ratnayake, Ven. Attagama Gnanawimala Thera, Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera and Danushka Sanjeewa were named as suspects in the attack against the church.

  

The indictments against the suspects included attacking the church, stealing a mobile phone worth Rs 15,000, stealing a gold chain worth Rs 50,000, assaulting people and being part of an unlawful assembly.

Giving evidence, the pastor of the church said, on 7 July 2008, Gnanasara Thera walked into the church and threatened him to stop the mass. He added, Gnanasara Thera addressed him using abusive words and assaulted him.
Answering the questions of the counsel representing the suspects, Nihal Gunasinghe, the pastor said he did not mention in his complaint that he was assaulted.

He also said, he did not want to drag a Buddhist monk to Court, but only wanted the justice for the injustice caused to him.

The judge put off the case till 7 July and ordered Gnanasara Thera to appear in Court on that day.

Disciplinary action against Mervyn soon?

21 June 2013

by Dasun Edirisinghe

The SLFP would decide on disciplinary action against Minister Mervyn Silva, in view of allegations being levelled against him as regards the killing of Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha member Hasitha Madawala, at the party’s next Central Committee meeting, party general secretary minister Maithripala Sirisena told a media briefing yesterday.

Minister Sirisena was answering a query on why the SLFP had failed to take action against Public Relations and Public Affairs Minister Mervyn Silva, while the party wasted no time in acting against North Western Provincial Council member Ananda Sarath Kumara for forcing a teacher to kneel down.

The SLFP Central Committee decided to sack the UPFA NWPC member on Monday night and the councilor, too, submitted his resignation letter to Wayamba Province Governor Tissa Balalle on Tuesday.

"We received the report of the disciplinary inquiry against Minister Mervyn Silva only last week," Sirisena said, adding that it was not included in the Central Committee agenda.

Minister Sirisena said that it would be discussed at the next CC and a decision taken.

Minister Mervyn Silva resigned as the SLFP Organiser of the Kelaniya in January.

21 June 2013

Audio: Casinos won’t develop Lanka’s economy: Harsha

THURSDAY, 20 JUNE 2013 

Well-known economist and UNP parliamentarian Harsha De Silva said today casinos, which were being set up in Colombo, were not meant to develop country’s economy because of the huge tax concessions given to the owning companies.

“The Finance Ministry has instructed the Board of Investment to ensure that tax and betting levy concessions are granted to casino companies, if they invest more than Rs.350 million. In most countries casinos are set up to increase government revenue. But how are we going to collect any revenue by giving tax concessions to casino companies,” Dr. Silva said.

He told a news conference that the government had sold a 2.5 acre land just opposite Lake House for as little as Rs.3.6 million a perch to a casino company whereas a perch was sold to Krrish and Sunvilla for Rs.10 million.

“The land was sold to the casino company without calling for tenders or without a valuation report from the government assessor. We won’t allow the government to sell this land at a price which is less than what was estimated by the government assessor,” Dr. Silva said.

Dr. Silva said if the government was going to introduce casinos to Sri Lanka, three conditions must be met -- the appointment of a casino regulator,the imposition of a minimum 40% tax on gambling and hold discussions with all stakeholders.

“If the government is going to introduce casinos to Sri Lanka, it must do three things. First a casino regulator must be established just like all other countries having casinos and they have to abide by very strict rules and regulations of the country. Secondly a minimum 40% tax on gambling must be imposed and thirdly the government must have discussions with all stakeholders including civil society groups and religious leaders on the consequence of setting up casinos,” he said.

Dr. Silva rubbished the Government claim that the setting up of casinos was an integrated development project though it was clearly not so.(Ajith Siriwardana- DM Online)Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

Casino recants?

• Govt. backs down over Aussie casino investment under pressure but leaves open loophole with gaming license transfer

• Insists $2 b FDItarget will be met

• Says $640 m dealfor mega integrated project agreement to be inked next week

By Uditha Jayasinghe-June 20, 2013 
Gambling with fate, a top Minister on Wednesday rejected claims that the Government plans to open a casino in Colombo with Australian gaming mogul James Packer, but did not rule out the possibility in the future.
Investment Promotions Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana insisted that the investment proposal under discussion from casino kingpin James Packer was only for a “mixed development” project of US$ 350 million that would include a five star hotel, restaurants and penthouses but not a casino.
However, he admitted that there was room for the investors to transfer an existing gaming license from another owner and operate a casino.
Abeywardana defended the loophole by vehemently pointing out that the Government would not issue new gaming licenses and that if Sri Lanka wished to reach the target of 2.5 million arrivals by 2016 it would need to open itself up to similar investment options.

“If you take countries like Thailand and the Maldives you find that they have been flexible in this regard. Thailand, which is a Buddhist country, allows casinos to attract tourists. Maldives, which is a Muslim state, nonetheless allows alcohol consumption on island resorts. If we want high end tourists to come to Sri Lanka we must understand that such investments are necessary,” he told media.
He also gave examples of Singapore style regulations to protect locals and having a “foreigners only” policy as is already existent in some casinos in Sri Lanka.
The Minister defended the 12-year tax holiday given to the Kerry Packer project, insisting it would give Sri Lanka a boost in attracting more foreign direct investment.  Recalling the US$ 500 million Shangri-la deal Abeywardana went on to say that the Kerry Packer project was given far less concessions and argued that higher taxation was not possible because it was smaller in scale.
In 2012 the Government set a target of US$ 2 billion but only managed to attract US$ 1.2 billion. Nonetheless Abeywardana is upbeat of the island’s chances of meeting the mark in 2013.
He revealed that a US$ 640 million dollar investment would be inked as early as next week with a local company for a hotel in Colombo while in the last three months the Government has approved US$ 280 million worth of projects.

Minister Susil Orders Full-Scale Probe

• Leader Expose On Illegal Gem Mining

By Nirmala Kannangara-Thursday, June 20, 2013

Following last week’s The Sunday Leader expose on illegal gem mining licences issued by the National Gem and Jewellery Authority to ineligible parties with political affiliations, Environment and Renewable Energy Minister Susil Premjayantha has ordered a full scale investigation into the allegations.

Under the headline ‘Gems Galore for the Correctly Connected’, this newspaper exposed as to how several gem mining licences had been issued to several parties that did not have the 2/3 ownership of the gem mining land which is necessary but solely because of their connection to certain politicians.

Thanking The Sunday Leader newspaper for exposing the irregularities that has been taking place in one of the institutions that comes under his purview, Minister Premjayantha said that he had instructed the Ministry Secretary to have a full scale investigation into the allegations.
“I directed the Ministry Secretary to instruct Director General National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA) to hold a full scale inquiry into the allegations levelled and to forward me the report immediately. Since allegations have been leveled against the Manager Legal for granting gem mining licences for ineligible people with political affiliation, I have given instructions to appoint the next senior Legal Officer to oversee Legal Manager’s work till the investigations are concluded,” said the Minister.

The Minister further said that he had instructed the NGJA to appoint a panel of lawyers to check the deeds and documents submitted to obtain gem mining licences in future.

“Once selections are finalized, we will advertise the names of those who will get the mining licenses in the papers and if there are objections, the aggrieved parties can submit their objections within 14 days to which we can look into,” said Minister Premjayantha.

According to Minister Premajayantha, instructions have also been given to see as to how the accused Legal Manager was reinstated with salary arrears and her involvement in the alleged irregularities.

Confirming to The Sunday Leader that he was in receipt of a directive from Environment Ministry Secretary, Director General NGJA Janaka Udaya Kumara said that he had been instructed to take necessary action to prevent irregularities in the gem authority at the very earliest.
“In a letter dated June 11, 2013 addressed to me, Ministry Secretary wanted me to hold investigations to find out the discrepancies that had taken place when issuing gem mining licenses from February 1, and to send the report to the Minister within 14 days. Also, if there had been irregularities when issuing gem mining licences in the recent past, to get it investigated through the legal officers and submit a report to the Minister,” said the Director General.

The Director General has been further instructed to send a report on allegations levelled against the Manager Legal and to hold necessary investigations in this regard and to appoint the next senior legal officer to oversee Manager Legal’s work and to remove her from all responsibilities till investigations are over.

The Director General has been further instructed to inform all Enforcement Officers that they can carry out any raid on illegal gem mining and that they are authorized to take legal action against the lawbreakers”.

Namal’s black money invested in Dubai

Thursday, 20 June 2013 

The President’s eldest son MP Namal Rajapaksa according to his friends is trying to invest monies earned by him through commissions for various projects in Sri Lanka. They are discussing that Namal is looking at buying a hotel in Dubai using these monies.

It is a person called Nandana Lokuvithana residing in Dubai who is coordinating the transaction between Namal and the hotel owners. Nandana Lokuvithana earlier managed to buy the Steel Corporation for a pittance with Namal’s help.

SriLankan signs billion dollar agreement to purchase 10 Airbus aircraft

Thursday, 20 June 2013 

SriLankan Airlines has signed a memorandum of understanding to order six new Airbus A330-300s and four A350-900s.

The memorandum was signed during the Paris Air Show and the deal is to cost the Sri Lankan government US$ 2.6 billion.

In addition to four Airbus A350-900 wide bodies it will order and which will be delivered from 2019 to 2023, the SriLankan is to take three more A350-900s on lease and these aircraft are to be delivered from 2017 to 2019.

SriLankan Airlines will take delivery of its six Airbus A330-300 wide bodies from October 2014 to December 2015.

“The efficiency, reliability and passenger appeal of our in-service A330s form the pillar of SriLankan’s long haul operations,” CEO of SriLankan Airlines, Kapila Chandrasena has said.

“Adding more new A330s to our fleet, combined with the unbeatable economics the A350 XWB will offer, allows us to achieve a strong economical performance.”

Cabinet identifies Shiranthi’s nephew’s project as a strategic development project

Thursday, 20 June 2013 

The Cabinet has granted approval to a heavy industrial zone project in Sampur, Trincomalee that has been mooted by First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa’s nephew, Dilshan Wickremasinghe.

The approval has been given to Sri Lanka Gateway Industries (Pvt) Ltd., which is a company registered in Singapore.

The project has been identified by the government as a strategic development project and has been granted many tax exemptions that are provided to strategic development projects.

The Cabinet in 2011 approved the setting up of a special zone for heavy industry at Sampur in a land extent of 97 sq km.

However the project got delayed due to litigation by the landowners in the zone acquired by the Board of Investment (BOI).

The land has been given on a 99-year lease to Sri Lanka Gateway Industries (Pvt) Ltd.

The project is to be implemented in three phases at an investment of US$ 4 billion.

The first phase will see the construction of a deep-water jetty and a stockpile yard at a cost of US$ 700 million (more than Rs. 88.26 billion).

The second phase will involve the construction of an iron ore and coke production plant at a cost of US$ 1.3 billion and the final phase costing US$ 2 billion will develop a ship-building and repair facility, plant and machinery manufacturing, an automobile assembly plant and smaller support industries.