Spouse of ex-LTTE bigwig to contest for TNA

By Ananth Palakidnar-2013-07-27 

Ananthi Sasitharan, wife of the LTTE's former head of the political wing in the Trincomalee District, Elilan, is one of the candidates along with three former Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarians to contest the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) polls in September.

The TNA is also seriously considering including a Muslim candidate for the Jaffna District, sources said.

Sasitharan is presently a clerical servant at the District Secretariat in Kilinochchi. She has also filed a case at the Vavuniya High Court, over the disappearance of her spouse, Elilan, who is alleged to have gone missing soon after he was taken into custody along with several other key LTTE cadres, who had surrendered to the Security Forces in 2009.

In the meantime, three former TNA Parliamentarians, V. Anandasangaree, D. Sitharthan and M.K. Sivajilingam are also contesting the NPC polls. They will be handing over their nominations along with the TNA's Chief Ministerial candidate, C.V. Vigneswaran, at the Jaffna District Secretariat tomorrow, 29 July.

The Ceylon Labour Party and Janasetha Peramuna filed their nominations in Jaffna on Thursday and Friday respectively. One independent candidate has also paid the deposit at the Jaffna District Secretariat, sources said. Meanwhile, a group of Muslim educationists from Jaffna had met TNA Leader, R. Sampanthan, in Colombo to discuss the NPC polls, last week. Following the discussion, the TNA is considering including a Muslim of Jaffna origin as a TNA candidate, sources revealed.

The TNA's chief ministerial candidate is currently in Jaffna meeting other candidates, who have been selected to contest in the NPC polls from the TNA.

TNA spokesperson and Jaffna District Parliamentarian, Suresh K. Premachandran, told Ceylon Today the nominations in all five electoral districts will be handed over tomorrow.

கூட்டமைப்பின் சார்பில் வடக்கு தேர்தல் களத்தில் பெண் வேட்பாளர்கள் மூவர்!

[ ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை, 28 யூலை 2013, 11:31.09 AM GMT ]

எதிர்வரும் செப்டம்பர் மாதம் நடைபெறவுள்ள வடமாகாண சபை தேர்தலில் தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பின் சார்பில் மூன்று பெண் வேட்பாளர்கள் களமிறக்கப்பட்டுள்ளனர்.

யாழ். மாவட்டத்தை பிரதிநிதித்துவப்படுத்தி விடுதலைப் புலிகள் அமைப்பின் முன்னாள் போராளி எழிலனின் மனைவி ஆனந்தியும், கிளிநொச்சி மாவட்டத்தை பிரதிநிதித்துவப்படுத்தி கிளி.கிராஞ்சி அ.த.க.பாடசாலை ஆசிரியை திருமதி வினுபானந்தகுமாரி கேதுரட்ணமும், முல்லைத்தீவு  மாவட்டத்தை பிரதிநிதித்துவப்படுத்தி முல்லை.மந்துவில் அரசரட்ணம் வித்தியாலய உபஅதிபர் திருமதி மேரிகமலா குணசீலனும் போட்டியிடுகின்றனர்.

இம்மூவரில் இருவர் இன்று தமிழ் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பின் தலைவர் இரா.சம்பந்தன், தமிழரசுக் கட்சியின் பொதுச்செயலாளர் மாவை.சேனாதிராசா ஆகியோர் முன்னிலையில் தமிழரசுக் கட்சியின் யாழ்.மாவட்ட தலைமைச் செயலகத்தில் கையொப்பமிட்டுள்ளனர்.

இதன்போது கூட்டமைப்பில் அங்கம் வகிக்கும் தமிழர் விடுதலைக் கூட்டணியின் செயலாளர் வீ.ஆனந்தசங்கரி, ஈ.பி.ஆர்.எல்.எப் இன் செயலாளர் சுரேஸ் பிறேமச்சந்திரன், புளொட் அமைப்பின் தலைவர் சித்தார்த்தன், ரெலோ அமைப்பின் தலைவர் செல்வம் அடைக்கலநாதன் ஆகியோரும் பிரசன்னமாகியிருந்தனர். 

36 பேரைக் கொண்ட வடமாகாண சபைக்கு இலங்கை தமிழரசுக் கட்சியின் வீட்டுச் சின்னத்தில் 51 பேர் போட்டியிடுகின்றனர். இதில் 48 ஆண்களும், 3 பெண்களும் அடங்கியுள்ளனர்.

Administer justice to GoSL genocidaires on basis of Truth, says Boyle

[TamilNet, Saturday, 27 July 2013, 18:51 GMT]
Commenting on Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's statement that India has “long advocated the creation of an environment in Sri Lanka in which all communities, particularly the Sri Lankan Tamils, are masters of their own destiny within the framework of a united Sri Lanka,” Professor Boyle, an expert in International law, said that this was not an appropriate remedy to deal with genocidaires, adding, "It would be like asking the Jews to engage in a Truth and Reconciliation Process with the Nazis. The very idea is absurd and insulting upon its face alone." India's Prime Minister was responding to Chief Minister Jayalalithaa statement urging the Center to ensure that the process of democratic decentralization, integral to the survival of the Tamils in Sri Lanka, should lead to the Tamils realising their legitimate aspirations. 

Professor Boyle said, "Most experts in the fields of international human rights law and international criminal law believe that a Truth and Reconciliation Process is not the appropriate remedy to deal with genocidaires and their victims. 

"It would be like asking the Jews to engage in a Truth and Reconciliation Process with the Nazis. The very idea is absurd and insulting upon its face alone," Boyle said. 

Prof Boyle added, "Rather, the international community set up the Nuremberg Charter, Judgment and Principles as well as the Genocide Convention to deal with the Nazi extermination of the Jews. 

"That is why I have proposed that the United Nations General Assembly establish The International Criminal Tribunal for Sri Lanka as a “subsidiary organ” under U.N. Charter Article 22 that would be modeled upon the Statute for the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. 

"Justice must be administered to the GOSL genocidaires on the basis of Truth. Therefore, we must have a Truth and Justice Process with respect to the GOSL genocidaires," Boyle said.

Media in Sri Lanka not free

July 26, 2013

Media freedom remained restricted in Sri Lanka in 2012, with journalists subject to myriad forms of legal harassment and physical intimidation, Freedom House,  an independent watchdog organization dedicated to the expansion of freedom around the world said in a report.

The report said that although the government included several items related to media freedom in its July 2012 National Action Plan on national reconciliation—including the passage of freedom of information legislation, enhanced efforts to investigate and prosecute past cases of attacks on journalists, and increased physical access for reporters to the north and east of the country—little progress was made on any of these recommendations by year’s end.

The constitution provides for freedom of expression, but it and other laws and regulations place significant limits on the exercise of this right. The 1979 Prevention of Terrorism Act contains extremely broad restrictions, such as a prohibition on bringing the government into contempt. The decades-old Official Secrets Act bans reporting on classified information, and those convicted of gathering secret information can be sentenced to up to 14 years in prison. 

Although no journalists have ever been charged under the law, it is used as a threat. Journalists are also occasionally threatened with contempt-of-court charges or questioned regarding their sources.

The 1973 Press Council Act, which prohibits disclosure of certain fiscal, defense, and security information, was revived in 2009, having not been enforced in more than a decade. The government nominates all seven council members under the act, and violations of its provisions can draw prison terms and other punitive measures. In July 2012, the government announced its intention to extend the act’s application to electronic and web-based media, and to introduce registration fees of 100,000 rupees ($780), with annual renewal fees of 50,000 rupees for websites. These figures were revised downward in August to 25,000 rupees and 10,000 rupees respectively. In 2006, unofficial prepublication censorship on issues of “national security and defense” was imposed by a new Media Center for National Security (MCNS), which assumed the authority to disseminate all information related to these issues to the media and the public. In March 2012, the MCNS issued a directive extending this provision to news services distributed via mobile-telephone text messaging.

“There is no enforceable right to information in the constitution or separate legislation. In fact, the Establishments Code, the formal administrative code governing civil servants, actively discourages access to information even on public-interest grounds. An attempt by the opposition to introduce a right to information bill in Parliament in 2011 was defeated by the governing majority, in violation of its previous campaign promises, and an additional attempt in May 2012 was also stymied by the speaker of Parliament,” the report said.

The report said that journalists throughout Sri Lanka, particularly those who cover human rights or military issues, face regular intimidation and pressure from government officials at all levels. (Colombo Gazette)

Freelance journalist attacked in Jaffna

[ Saturday, 27 July 2013, 05:12.15 PM GMT +05:30 ]

Group of 5 individuals arrive in the white van have attacked freelance journalist at 5.30 pm in Thirunalweli today.

Journalist name C.Mayuran (26) and his fried C.Sivadas (28) tried to rescue the victim were also severaly injured and rushed to Jaffna Teaching hospital. Area residents informed Kopai police and also suddenly caught all 5 suspects Police arrive the location arrested 5 suspects. According to the police all these suspects have involved in various criminal activities reported in the area.

Sri Lanka: Coercion For Political Realism

By Ayesha Siddiqa -July 29, 2013 

Ayesha Siddiqa

The young Sri Lankan man in the audience did not like it as the former editor of a renowned newspaper The Sunday Leader’s Frederica Jansz spoke about her persecution at the hands of the dictatorial and authoritarian Rajapakse regime. The occasion was a seminar organised by a Sri Lankan professor at the University of Pittsburgh to discuss the issue of militarism and humanitarianism in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The editor had to flee her country within a few days to avoid being killed as she was directly threatened by the defence minister, who is the brother of President Mahinda Rajapakse, and of meeting the same fate as her predecessor,Lasantha Wickrematunge, who was gunned down in 2009. In Jansz’s case, she was directly threatened by the defence minister; the transcript of the conversation was released as she left the country. The Sunday Leader was doing stories about the government’s human rights atrocities vis-a-vis the Tamils, such as the regime’s violation of an agreement made with the international community to allow peaceful surrender of the LTTE political leadership. They were butchered to death as they came out of hiding waving white flags.

Notwithstanding the achievement of having won a war, the government in Colombo must not be allowed to expand a sociopolitical system that had 30 years ago, divided the society into two: Sinhala south and Tamil north. Historically, the Sinhala leadership has not demonstrated tolerance, resulting in repeated mass carnages. As if the killing of 60,000 Sinhala youth in the south of the country during the 1980s for their involvement in socialism was not enough, the Sinhala leadership made policies that started ethnic strife in the island-state. In fact, what essentially was a class conflict was turned into an ethnic problem with Colombo introducing policies such as Sinhala, as the only national language, to replace both Tamil and English.

Read More

Human Rights Back In The Limelight »

Navi Pillay

By Easwaran Rutnam-Sunday, July 28, 2013

Navi Pillay

Sri Lanka’s human rights record is back in the limelight with the High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay confirming the dates for her visit to Sri Lanka next month.
A spokesman at Pillay’s office told The Sunday Leader that she will be in the country for a full week but her schedule is still not known.

Pillay’s Chief Security Advisor Abraham Mathai was in town last week during which time it is believed he made the ground preparations for her visit.

So far an EU delegation and a British parliamentary delegation which visited Sri Lanka and toured the North as well, were not all positive about what they had seen and heard.

Both delegations noted that there still remains a lot to be done, the main point being that accountability was a must. That said it is hard to see Pillay being overly positive on her assessment when she visits Sri Lanka.
The 24th session of the UN Human Rights Council takes place in Geneva from 9 to 27 September.
A panel of independent UN experts have already begun investigating new or existing cases of disappearances in Sri Lanka and several other countries.

The UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances met in New York recently to review under their urgent action procedure, 17 reported cases of enforced disappearances that had occurred in the last six months, as well as more than 400 newly reported or existing cases in more than 25 countries including Sri Lanka.

The cases under review concerned Albania, Algeria, Bahrain, Belarus, the Central African Republic (CAR), Colombia, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), El Salvador, Honduras, Kuwait, Laos, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Yemen.

Meanwhile, separately, a report compiled by a committee chaired by former US Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright criticised the international reaction to Sri Lanka during the final stages of the conflict despite embracing the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) concept.
R2P focuses on preventing and halting genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing.

Released by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, United States Institute of Peace, and Brookings Institution, the report said that tens of thousands of Tamil civilians died at the end of the Sri Lankan civil war with little international outcry or effective UN response.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former presidential special envoy to Sudan Richard Williamson co-chaired the working group which compiled the report.

On Sri Lanka, the report says for over twenty-five years, the conflict in Sri Lanka pitted the army against the separatist insurgency of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). However, levels of violence escalated rapidly as the government pursued a strategy of military victory and advanced into LTTE-held territory between January and May 2009.

During this period, the civilian population suffered significant casualties and were unable to escape the conflict zone due to LTTE threats and the Sri Lankan military’s prohibitions on movement.

The United Nations estimates that up to forty thousand civilians were killed and hundreds of thousands were displaced during the final phase of the conflict, which ended with the defeat of the LTTE and the deaths of its senior leaders.

“Despite the high number of civilian casualties, the international community did little beyond issuing statements of concern. The UN Security Council, High Commission on Human Rights, and UN General Assembly held no formal sessions on Sri Lanka during this period. In Sri Lanka, both the government and the rebels can be faulted for failing to protect civilians. However, the international community also neglected its responsibility to take timely action when it was apparent that violations of humanitarian law were taking place,” the report said.
It goes on to say that the case of Sri Lanka exemplifies a challenge for implementing R2P when sovereign governments confront an internal threat from a group that is designated as a terrorist organization.

“Since the end of the conflict, the government has steadfastly denied that the mass killing of civilians and war crimes took place. While launching its own inquiry into the military’s actions, the government has obstructed international efforts to investigate potential war crimes and crimes against humanity. Critics question the independence and balance of the government commission’s report and argue that accountability requires a more credible investigation. If a recurrence of conflict in Sri Lanka is to be prevented, the international community should help the government respond to the needs of all communities in the country, while undertaking a national reconciliation process that addresses wounds inflicted during nearly three decades of conflict,” the report said.

Meanwhile the British Parliament was informed last week that British Prime Minister David Cameron will press UK’s concerns on Sri Lanka in line with Britain’s own assessment of the situation in Sri Lanka when he visits the country in November.

Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government and Foreign and Commonwealth Office Baroness Sayeeda Warsi told the House of Lords that Cameron and UK Foreign Secretary William Hague will raise their concerns when they attend the Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka in November.

Britain believes the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Sri Lanka will either highlight Sri Lanka’s progress and respect for Commonwealth values, or draw attention to the absence of such progress.

Baroness Warsi said the British Government regularly raises concerns about the lack of progress on post-conflict reconciliation, accountability and the current human rights situation with the Government of Sri Lanka.

“We have ongoing human rights concerns about Sri Lanka, including on freedom of opinion and expression, and judicial independence. Our up to date assessment is available online as a ‘Country Update’ to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Human Rights Report for 2012,” she said in a response to a question raised on Sri Lanka.

She said that Britain has been clear with the Sri Lankan government that they expect to see concrete progress on human rights, reconciliation, free, fair and peaceful Northern Provincial Council elections in September and that media and civil society have access and freedom of movement to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

The government keeps saying it needs “time and space” to address human rights concerns but the international community has made it clear that time is fast running out.

EU and British delegations not impressed with SL

Details

 

Created On Sunday, 28 July 2013 05:42

Category: General

Two foreign parliamentary delegations were in the country during the last two weeks to “see for themselves” the ground situation in Sri Lanka as frequently requested by the Mahinda Rajapaksa government.

An EU delegation and a British parliamentary delegation visited Sri Lanka and toured the North as well.
However, they were not all positive about what they had seen and heard.
Both delegations have noted that there still remains a lot to be done and has emphasized the main point of accountability. They have said that accountability was a must.
Meanwhile, a panel of independent UN experts have already commenced investigating new or existing cases of disappearances in Sri Lanka and several other countries.
The UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances met in New York recently to review under their urgent action procedure, 17 reported cases of enforced disappearances that had occurred in the last six months, as well as more than 400 newly reported or existing cases in more than 25 countries including Sri Lanka.

Raw Pork Was Thrown Into The Mahiyangana Mosque

July 28, 2013 

As crimes continue with impunity, attacks against mosques around the country have become more obscene and portentously fatal. The latest attack occurred in Mahiyangana on 18 July, when a mob of masked individuals attacked the Mahiyangana Masjidul Araba mosque while a group of Muslims prayed in the house of worship.

Events of the attack

The incident took place at 11.30 p.m. as the Muslims of Mahiyangana offered special Ramadan Tharaweeh prayers. The main power source was switched off, disrupting mosque activities as those within the building were plunged into darkness. Furious cries of threats were heard by those within the building, which minutes later were followed by a shower of stones hurled at the mosque.

Mahara mosque - vandalised couple of moths ago | File photo

Many of the windows were broken, but the people within the mosque were able to avoid the stones and remain out of harm’s way.

The onslaught lasted up to 20 minutes before the power was restored and the aggressors made scarce. The police were called in; however the perpetrators are yet to be arrested.

Prior to the full-on attack, the mosque Trustee was assaulted. Chili powder was flung at him and his assailants had threatened him against continuing Friday payers in the mosque, warning that worse was yet to come. Disregarding the threats, the mosque conducted the Friday prayers undeterred. The following day raw pork was thrown into the mosque premises.

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Rochdale MP sparks off diplomatic dispute in Sri Lanka over murder probe remarks

Sri Lankan government is left furious by ‘inappropriate’ remarks by Simon Danczuk about the murder of Rochdale aid worker Khuram Shaikh

• By Chris Jones-JULY 27, 2013

Rochdale's MP has found himself at the centre of an international diplomatic row with Sri Lanka's government.

Simon Danczuk, who is currently in the island nation on Parliamentary business, irked the country's leaders when he told a British newspaper that he planned to confront the president over the alleged cover-up of a murdered Milnrow aid worker.

The country's Ministry of External Affairs issued a terse statement saying it was 'inappropriate' for Mr Danczuk to reveal what issues he planned to raise with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, adding he was prejudging legal proceedings into Khuram Shaikh's death.

Officials in Colombo also kiboshed a planned meeting between Mr Danczuk and President Rajapaksa, which the Observer understand had been pencilled in to take place yesterday (Friday).

Mr Danczuk has now hit back, saying the diplomatic spat is 'a further sign' that leaders are attempting to stall efforts to bring those responsible for the brutal murder of 32-year-old Khuram to justice.

Despite the arrest of eight suspects in connection with the murder and an alleged attack on Khuram's girl friend in Tangalle in December 2011, no one has been charged by local police and no trial is pending.

Because one of the suspects is a key political ally of the president, fears have been raised that the government is attempting to shelve the case, a suggestion Mr Danczuk had said he planned to challenge the president with at the axed meeting.

Mr Danczuk, who is in Sri Lanka as part of a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association delegation, said the row had left the case in limbo.

He said: “I never expected the president to answer questions about his alleged close links to the suspect involved in the killing of my constituent.

“But this is a further sign that the government is struggling to justify a lack of action in the case.

“It is over 18 months since Khuram was killed, no one has been charged and there is no trial date. This is not acceptable.

“Meanwhile Sri Lankan government ministers are clearly prejudicing any trial by making statements trying to play down the terrible assault that Khuram’s partner endured.

“Politicians are unable to answer questions on why the suspects of a terrible murder are on bail and they cannot give answers on why justice is moving so slowly.”

In a statement issued to newspapers in Sri Lanka, the country's External Affairs Ministry said Mr Danzcuk had jumped the gun by revealing what he planned to talk to the president about.

It said: “For any visiting delegate below the level of a head of state or government, a meeting with the president would be a privilege, as it would not be in keeping with accepted diplomatic protocol and is unthinkable in Western countries.

“Hence talking to the media about the issues that he will raise with the head of state even before such a meeting is scheduled is totally inappropriate.

“The British MP talks of 'concerns of a cover-up' with regard to the murder which is a prejudgment of a case that is still pending in courts.

“The government has condemned the murder of Khuram Shaikh and stated its commitment to punish the perpetrators and the process is underway.  In such a context, the statement by Mr Danczuk is pure speculation.”

Despite the row, Mr Danczuk was still set to meet Sri Lankan justice minister Rauff Hakeem as well as a range of other officials as part Commonwealth Parliamentary Association delegation he is currently on.

Oluvil Port sinks millions of rupees

Details

 

Created On Sunday, 28 July 2013 05:36

Category: General

The Oluvil Port Project in the Eastern Province has become yet another white elephant where development projects are concerned. It is now the second largest pool in the country next to the Magampura Rajapaksa Port in Hambantota.

The Oluvil port that has been in the making for many years is to be ‘opened’ next month. 

Interestingly, this project has cost the country’s tax payers a colossal amount of money amounting to Euro 46.1 million and only ships carrying cargo up to 10,000 tons can enter the port.
Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) employees have questioned the feasibility of constructing a port at 46.1 million Euro if ships cannot call at the port.
Trade unionists attached to the ports sector say that the SLPA instead could have installed a jetty off Oluvil shores and got the small ships to unload the cargo.
It is also learnt that although final plans have now been drawn for the opening, a customs office will not be established in the port till the port is declared open.
“If there wouldn’t be a Customs office in the port, that alone is a clear indication that foreign vessels would not come to the country. In that backdrop, this would be a domestic port. There is no need for a domestic port in a country like ours. The government should give an explanation to the people as to why they went ahead with this project knowing that it is a total flop,” Secretary of the All Ceylon General Ports Authority Employees Union, Chandrasiri Mahagamage has said.
However, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Dr Priyath Bandu Wickrema has said that Oluvil would be an international port with all the required facilities provided although it is a small port like the Galle harbour.
“Only vessels that carry cargo up to 10,000 tons can enter the port. We will not handle container ships,” said Dr Wickrema.
Accusing the government of unnecessary wastage of public money for a project that can be called a ‘white elephant’ Mahagamage has said that port employees are eagerly waiting to see how the opening ceremony of the Oluvil port is going to take place.
“We want to see how operational work is going to start once the port is opened. Like the Magampura Port in Hambantota, there would be only a few security guards in the port after the ceremonial opening but no ships other than fishing boats,” Mahagamage charged.
The Oluvil port project was a gift to former minister M. H. M. Ashroff in appreciation of his support to the then President Chandrika Kumaranatunge to form a government in 1994.
In order to extend his support to Kumaranatunge, Ashroff demanded a port in Oluvil and the Ports portfolio to which the President agreed. This was initiated in mid 1990s but the work is still going on without any progress while loan monies are being spent lavishly.
After Ashroff, the present regime had promised to develop the stalled Oluvil project as an international harbour to please the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leaders.
However, some development work was carried out in the port whenever there is an election in the east. Therefore, Oluvil is called an ‘election port’.

Building National Unity á la JVP

By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema - Picture by Saman Kariyawasam

• A stepping stone towards building national unity

 Sunday, July 28, 2013

The continuous debate on the national question and attempts to find solutions to the issue throughout the past three decades has failed to build national unity in the country.

The JVP that has refrained from participating in various attempts by successive governments to find “solutions”, last week released a set of proposals that the party states would address the national question in an effective manner.

JVP Propaganda Secretary Vijitha Herath delivering the welcome address at the event held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute (SLFI) last week said that the party presented a set of proposals to build national unity soon after the end of the war.

However, he said the government failed to implement the proposals resulting in persons like Navi Pillay from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) being given the opportunity to intervene in Sri Lankan affairs.

“The government has now managed to create new problems in the country with the Northern Provincial Council elections that have been called four years after the end of the war. The JVP, since 1987, has been saying that the Provincial Council system would not be the solution to the national question. The government is once again trying to push the country towards a separatist agenda instead of working towards building national unity,” Herath said.     Read More »

The Story Of A Sri Lankan Constant

By Mahesan Niranjan -July 28, 2013 |

Prof Mahesan Niranjan

Have you ever observed Physicists? They are usually searching for constants, and separating them from variable quantities aren’t they? You must have heard of Plank’s constant, gravitational constant, the speed of light and so on. I am no physicist, but I know enough of the subject to be able to say that if you don’t recognize the existence of some constants, you are in danger of solving the wrong problem.

Let me tell you a story about a particular constant to do with Sri Lanka. For this, we first go back to the year 1970. There was a little boy in the village of Karainagar, a lovely little island off the north coast of Sri Lanka. The island used to be called Karaitheevu. Theevu means island in Tamil, but when the Dutch built a causeway, we islanders changed the name to Karainagar, nagarin Tamil meaning town or city, a little recognition that this hard-working, industrious and close-knit community considered itself perfectly entitled to.

The boy’s parents were school teachers, whose jobs were transferable, and the Department of Education had a policy of transferring teachers for a few years to parts of the country that were identified as “difficult areas.” The beautiful up-country town of Bandarawela was classified as one of these, and they were sent there to serve for five years. Once the family settled there, it was thought a good idea for the boy to learn Sinhala. By then it was the official language of the country for several years.

Pushpa acca, an unemployed young lady living two houses away was contracted as tutor

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How A None-Religious Person Can Be A Better Moral Being

By Shyamon Jayasinghe -July 28, 2013

Shyamon Jayasinghe

A man’s ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death.”  ―Albert Einstein.

One of the commonest misconceptions among religious people and common folk is that religion of some sort is necessary for one to be a moral being. A close relative of mine – a formally well -educated guy mind you- knowing I am a non-believer recently asked me if I don’t believe in ‘pav pin,’ which in the Sinhalese language meant bad and good moral behavior. Some religionists tend to pigeon-hole a non-believer as an evil or weird person while some others think he is an anarchist, nihilist or good-for-nothing. On the contrary, one can be a good human being without any religious base whatever. It is possible to argue further that religion can in fact defile moral goals.

Religions have always claimed a monopoly about what they call ‘moral knowledge’ or ethics. The Gospel gives the Ten Commandments that a person must follow if he or she is to even dream of entering into heaven.  Judaism, Christianity and Islam are greatly influenced by the Ten Commandments. Hindus have twenty ethical guidelines called yamas and niyamas, “restraints and observances.” These “do’s” and “don’ts” are found in the 6,000 to 8,000-year-old Vedas, mankind’s oldest body of scripture, and in other holy texts expounding the path of yoga. The Buddha introduced the Noble Eightfold Path while popular Buddhism required the use of the ritual pansil (five precepts) based on that code. In this way, there is no doubt that all religions have embedded in them certain specified moral codes of conduct.      Read More

Batti peace seminar disrupted by mob

Sunday, July 28, 2013

A seminar on national reconciliation organiseed by a non-governmental organisation in Batticaloa was disrupted by a group led by a Buddhist monk in the area on the grounds that an invitation had not been extended to him for the event, Police said.

They said two participants of the seminar titled ‘National Reconciliation through the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission’ were also assaulted by the group.

Police intervened and advised the organisers to call off the seminar. Accordingly the event was called off. The organisers later lodged a complaint at the Batticaloa police.

மட். மங்களராமய விகாராதிபதியின் காட்டுமிராண்டித்தனமான செயற்பாடு இன ஐக்கியத்துக்கு குந்தகம் விளைவிப்பதாகவே உள்ளது!-பா.அரியநேத்திரன் எம்.பி

[ ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை, 28 யூலை 2013, 10:43.38 AM GMT ]

மட்டக்களப்பில் மங்களராமய விகாராதிபதியின் காட்டுமிராண்டித்தனமான செயற்பாடானது சிங்கள மக்கள் மீதும் பேரினவாத அரசின் மீதும் தமிழ் மக்களுக்கு இருக்கும் சிறிய அளவு நம்பிக்கையையும் இல்லாது செய்வதுடன் இன ஐக்கியத்துக்கும் குந்தகம் விளைவிப்பதாக அமைவதாகத் பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர் பா.அரியநேத்திரன் தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

நேற்று மட்டக்களப்பு கல்லடி ரிவேரா விடுதியில் தேசிய சமாதானப் பேரவையின் ஏற்பாட்டில் கற்றறிந்த பாடங்கள் நல்லினக்க ஆணைக்குழுவின் பரிந்துரைகள் தொடர்பில் மட்டக்களப்பு மாவட்டத்தில் காணி தொடர்பாக மக்கள் எதிர்நோக்கும் பிரச்சினைகளும் அவற்றை சட்ட ரீதியாக தீர்ப்பதற்கான வழிமுறைகளும் எனும் தலைப்பில் இடம்பெற்ற செயலமர்விற்கு குழப்பத்தை ஏற்படுத்தியதை அடுத்து இடம்பெற்ற பதட்ட நிலையினை அடுத்து சம்பவ இடத்திற்குச் சென்று நிலைமைகளைக் கேட்டறிந்த பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர் விகாராதிபதியின் மட்டக்களப்பு மக்களுக்கு எதிரான அண்மைக்கால நடவடிக்கைகள் இன்றைய செயற்பாடுகள் தொடர்பாக கருத்துத் தெரிவிக்கையிலேயே இவ்வாறு தெரிவித்தார்.

அவர் தொடர்ந்த கருத்துத் தெரிவிக்கையில்,

மட்டக்களப்பு மங்களராமய விகாராதிபதியின் செயற்பாடானது ஆரோக்கியமாகத் தென்படவில்லை. இவரது காட்டுமிராண்டித்தனமான செயற்பாடானது சிங்கள மக்கள் மீதும் சிங்கள பேரினவாத அரசின் மீதும் தமிழ் மக்களுக்கு உள்ள சிறிய நம்பிக்கையினையும் கூட இல்லாது செய்யும் செயற்பாடாகவே உள்ளது.

எந்த இடத்திலும் ஒன்று கூடுவதற்கும் கருத்துத் தெரிவிப்பதற்கும் ஒவ்வொரு மக்களுக்கும் உரிமையுள்ள நிலையில் இந்த நாட்டின் சமாதானத்துக்காக உழைக்கும் ஒரு தேசிய சமாதானப் பேரவை என்ற சமாதானத்துக்கான அமைப்பு ஒன்று கூட முடியாத நிலையை ஒரு மதத் தலைவராக இருந்து கொண்டு குழப்பி அங்கு ஏற்பாட்டாளர்களையும் பங்கு பற்றுனர்களையும் தாக்கியமையானது கண்டிக்கப்பட வேண்டியதும் தண்டிக்கப்பட வேண்டிய செயலுமாகும்.

அண்மைக் காலமாக இவரது செயற்பாடானது தமிழ் மக்களுக்கு எதிரானதாகவே அமைந்து வருகின்றது. விகாரைக்கு பக்கத்தில் இருந்த வீடுகளை உடைத்தது முதல் தேவையற்ற இடங்களில் புத்த சிலைகளை வைக்க முற்படுவது முதல் சிவில் சமூகத்தின் செயற்பாடுகளில் தலையிடுவது வரை நீண்டு கொண்டு செல்கின்றது.

அவ்வப்போது பொலிஸார் இவருக்கு எதிராக நடவடிக்கை எடுத்திருந்தால் இந்தளவுக்குச் சென்றிருக்காது.

மட்டக்களப்பிலேயே மட்டக்களப்பு மக்களுக்கு ஒன்று கூட முடியாத நிலை ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது என்றால் இந்த நாட்டில் அனைத்து மக்களும் நிம்மதியாகவும் சுதந்திரமாகவும் வாழக் கூடிய நிலையினை தாம் ஏற்படுத்தியுள்ளோம் என இந்த அரசால் எவ்வாறு சொல்ல முடியும்.

காவி உடையினை அணிந்தால் எதனையும் செய்யலாம் என்ற நிலை சிங்கள பேரினவாத பிக்குகள் மத்தியில் காணப்படுகின்றது. இதற்கு தமிழ் முஸ்லிம் மக்களை அடிமையாக்க முடியாது.

பொலிஸாரின் செயற்பாடும் தேரர் இந்தளவு செல்வதற்கு காரணமாக அமைந்துள்ளது.

சாதாரணமாக பிக்கு செய்த செயலை இந்துக் குருவோ இஸ்லாமிய மௌலவியோ செய்திருந்தால் என்ன நடந்திருக்கும். பொலிஸார் சும்மா விட்டிருப்பார்களா?

ஆனால் சமாதானப் பேரவையின் அரசின் சட்ட திட்டங்களையும் விதிமுறைகளையும் தெளிவுபடுத்தும் மூவின மக்களும் கலந்து கொண்ட செயலமர்வில் குழப்பத்தை ஏற்படுத்தி, தமக்கு உதவிக்கு உள்ள காடையர்கள் சகிதம் காட்டு மிராண்டித்தனமாக தாக்கி விடுதியை பூட்டிவைத்த சம்பவ இடத்திற்கு வந்த பொலிஸ் பொறுப்பதிகாரி தேரரைக் கும்பிட்டு பொலிஸ் ஜீப்பில் ஏற்றிக்கொண்டு போய் விடவா எனக் கேட்டால் தேரர் பயப்படுவாரா? மேலும் இவ்வாறான செயல்களை செய்ய முற்படாரா?.

பொலிஸார் சம்பவ இடத்தில் அவரை கும்பிட்டது, வழியனுப்பிய விதம் மேலும் ஒரு படி தேரருக்கு மேலே செல்ல வைத்துள்ளது.

தேரர் இத்துடன் அவரது செயற்பாட்டை நிறுத்தாவிட்டால் அவருக்கு எதிராக தமிழ், முஸ்லிம் மக்கள் எதிர்ப்பு நடவடிக்கையில் இறங்க வேண்டும். அதற்கான காலம் நெருங்கி வருவதாகவும் தெரிவித்த பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர், எமது மாவட்ட மக்களின் வாழ்வுரிமையில் தேரர் தலையிடுவதை அனுமதிக்க முடியாதெனவும் தெரிவித்தார்.