Weliveriya genocide : details of those three dead hereunder -3 more bodies at Apollo to be destroyed-20 missing

(Lanka-e-News-05.Aug.2013,7.30PM) Though the deaths of several are being suppressed in the genocide committed on its own people by the Rajapakses by claiming that they are still in the ICU (intensive care unit), the inside information division of Lanka e news had been able to track down the truth. The following deaths have occurred following the genocide of which the Rajapskes are guilty :

Name Shantha Dinesh
Age ;45 years
Residence : 230/7, Weliveriya
GHT No : 974/ 2013
Death due to gunshot injuries to the head and resultant brain hemorrhage . The shot had struck the left side of the skull above the ear.

Name : Sunanda Perera
Age : 37 years
Address : 1/58, Jayalath housing ,Weliveriya
GHT No. 983/2013
His head had been pierced with a sharp instrument with the result , a nerve below the right ear had been damaged.
Cause of death : Brain hemorrhage following the attack to the head from behind.

D D Siriwardena
Age :Unknown
Address : 75/1, Wilgolla , Pethiyagoda, Gampaha
GHT No. 987/2013
A telecom service employee. He was killed by the Rajapkse murderers when he went out after returning home from work ,to buy a lime for his child who was suffering from a stomach ache .
Cause of death : brain hemorrhage following the skull being broken by the attack with iron rods. A large fracture about 6 1/ 2 inches in size had occurred due to the assault.

Though all these victims have died , the Rajapakse murderers are hiding the truth to give the impression that they are receiving treatment at the ICU. Three more bodies are being hidden at the former Apollo hospital at Narahenpita now run under Gotabaya as chairman in the name of Lanka hospitals . They are victims who have been fetched from Wathupitawala hospital.

These bodies have been transferred to Apollo hospital without filling the court medical report (GHT No.) . Due to this there are no records of these bodies . But now as the situation is hostile to the murderous regime , it has been decided top destroy these bodies. Yesterday night , Gotabaya had given this order, according to reports reaching Lanka e news inside information division.

The Rajapakses had similarly destroyed bodies that had no records during the period of the war. In the final phase of the war , it was revealed after the war was over about 2000 members of the forces died. But 2000 funerals did not take place in the south. No obituary notice , funeral services notice were published via the media. The dead bodies of the enemies and those of the soldiers were similarly annihilated without handing over them to the relatives of the dead. Lanka e news is in possession of evidence that the bodies were decapitated and mutilated, and thrown into the sea.

Gotabaya who is notorious for killings and destroying those bodies without a trace like ghouls who prey on dead bodies has given this order to destroy the dead bodies . Based on unofficial reports , following this Welveriya genocide perpetrated by the regime , 20 of the victims are still missing . It is questioned wdely whether they fell prey to ghouls of Gota or Gota the ghoul? Relatives of those who have gone missing following the Weliveriya genocide are requested to provide details to Lanka e news on phone No. 0044 7400 927 826 or by email to info@lankaenews.com

JVP Proposals For National Unity Are Superficial

By R.M. B Senanayake -August 5, 2013 

R.M.B. Senanayake

The JVP proposals to resolve the national question were published in the Sunday Leader last Sunday, the 28th July 2013.They are suggesting elected Peoples Councils for the Tamil people where they live in a compact community as in the Northern Province. I give them below

’iv. The new approach for the solution to the national question must be taken by establishing rights of the people on the basis of equality and by guaranteeing democratic rights and by providing special attention for the areas where there are special problems.

v. The People’s Councils (Janatha Sabha) as a special administrative structure should be established paying attention to economic development, solving the administrative problems, protecting, safeguarding and promoting cultural identities in backward areas due to unequal capitalist development.

People’s Councils (Janatha Sabha)

• This is not a structure to be established all over the country. These People’s Councils will be established in areas where people with different cultural identities reside and in areas in which intensive national oppression was experienced, and in areas with special requirements.

• A Commission consisting of Intelligentsia, Members of Parliament belong to the parties represented in the Parliament and Administrative officers must be established to determine the areas in which People’s Councils must be established. The General Public will be guaranteed the opportunity to submit their ideas and suggestions before this Commission. The criteria on which People’s Councils must be determined by the Commission itself.                             Read More

Ransom demand by ex-DIG: Investigations continuing

MONDAY, 05 AUGUST 2013 

Former DIG Vaas Gunawardhana was produced in the Mahara Magistrate’s Court today on charges of having threatened and demanded a ransom of Rs.3 million from Sarath Kumara Edirisinghe alias ‘Singappuru Sarath’, who is a secretary of Minister Mervyn Silva.

Sarath Kumara -- the chief suspect in the killing of Hasitha Madawala – in his evidence told Court that Vaas Gunawardhana had asked him for Rs.3 millionto avoid framing charges against him. The former DIG had already obtained an advance ofRs.1.5 million on the promise that the case would be hushed up.

Prosecuting Counsel Ajith Pathirana said the evidence on this matter was insufficient and therefore requested court to allow direct the CID Special Investigation Unit to conduct further investigations collect further evidence.

Inspector Ranjith Munasinghe said the claims of death threats and the demand for ransom cannot be substantiated because the investigations werecontinuing.

Magistrate Dharshika Wimalasiri directed the CID to conduct investigations by obtaining a statement from Vaas Gunawardhana who was remanded till August 19

Priest, nun were assaulted

August 5, 2013

A priest and a nun at a church were assaulted by troops during the violence in Weliweriya last week, lawyers said today quoting statements they had recorded.

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) said that a team of lawyers had visited Weliweriya yesterday and recorded statements from people in the area as well as doctors who had treated the injured.

“The people still live in fear,” an executive member of the BASL told the Colombo Gazette.

The BASL will be recording more statements over the next few days and will then decide on the next course of action.

According to the BASL, if required it will file legal action over the incident either as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) or in support of a victim.

Three people have died so far and many others sustained injuries during the “battle for water” at Weliweriya.

The Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission has also launched an investigation into the incident.

A five member team of the Human Rights Commission has already recorded statements from the police, the public, a church in the area and from others involved in the incident.

The HRC today had meetings with 24 public institutions including the police and army over the incident.

The clash took place between the army and the public during a protest over contaminated water. (Colombo Gazette

Brute force used against scribes

By Ranga Jayasuriya-2013-08-04 On Thursday, before the Army turned its guns on the public, a senior military official, who was commanding the troops there, delivered a stern message to the media crews, which had been covering the protest. "Get out. Don't take photos. You are not wanted here," he said in an intimidating voice. The soldiers, armed to the teeth, stood next to him. Hours later, a contingent of battle hardened troops, who once formed the 'fabled' 58 Division, went berserk in the town, killing one teenager and wounding 30 others. Journalists, who refused to leave, later had to flee for their lives. Soldiers liberally took aim at them. Some soldiers later swapped rifles for clubs and went around thrashing the public. Journalists were clearly singled out, a female provincial correspondent hid on a roof to evade the marauding soldiers. A photojournalist was assaulted and later hospitalized. The military confiscated the microchips. Cameras were smashed in the hullabaloo. Journalists, who were at the scene said the attack on the press was clearly orchestrated. The Army did not want to leave evidence – and soldiers had been ordered to take on the scribes and their cameras. The majority of the media crew at the scene was provincial correspondents, and were far more vulnerable to military intimidation. Newly-appointed Commander of the Army, Lt Gen Daya Ratnayake, has now ordered an inquiry into the military handling of the incident and resultant death and injuries. Media rights groups have condemned the military attack on the scribes and public and called on the government to bring perpetrators of military violence to justice. Media personnel were singled out during the attack, Sri Lanka Working Journalists' Association said, quoting journalists, who had been assaulted by the army. "Prior to the attack, a senior military officer, who was commanding the troops deployed in Weliweriya warned the media personnel to vacate the scene. Journalists were warned against taking photographs and videoing the incident. They were warned with repercussions should they not comply with the military instructions," it said. "The entire episode highlighted the danger of State orchestrated militarization in our society," SLWJA added. "We believe the perpetrators of this attack and many other previous attacks should be brought to justice, in order to bring an end to the prevailing climate of impunity in the country, which fosters further violence against media and the vulnerable sections of the public," it added. The Free Media Movement said the military had used excessive force, which resulted in the death of a 17-year-old student and wounded nearly 30 others. FMM noted the media personnel had been victims of the military, which used brute force against the public and media. FMM noted the public have taken to the streets demanding clean drinking water, and noted the use of violence against protesters is extremely disturbing and gives reasons to suspect the government's democratic credentials.

Victims of genocide forgotten : those who caused it blessed with pirith thread –Mahanayake are you there to bless killers ?

(Lanka-e-News-05.Aug.2013, 3.00PM) It was a most cruel irony that on the very day the new army commander Daya Ratnayake assumed office a group of his army launched a most vicious and brutal attack on their own citizens at Weliveriya recently spilling blood of thousands of innocent people. It was a still worse sinister scenario when the Mahanayake of the Malwatte chapter tied the blessed prith thread on the cursed army commander when the latter visited the Dalada Maligawa while pretending that he knew nothing of the genocide committed by his army. When the killer duo Rajapakse brothers (Mahinda Rajapakse and Gotabaya Rajapakse) sent the group of army murderers under Brigadier Deshapriya Gunawardena to carry out this killing field operation on the innocent people at Weliveriya , this ruthless Army Commander too had concurred in it.

One of the victims of that brutal attack is a young boy Akila Dinesh who died .He went to the road to attend a class when this tragedy struck him .When Mahanayake blessed the killers , this victim had still not been interred while several others who died have still not been revealed. These deaths are being suppressed without being made known. Those who suffered serious injuries are also still in hospital battling between life and death. The number of victims have risen to nearly hundred. 

In spite of this monumental tragedy caused by the forces of this killer Army Commander, the latter traveled to Dalada Maligawa without any compunction and met the Malwatte chapter Mahanayake . The photo shows he being tied a pirith thread and blessed (for his murders ?) by the Mahanayake .

Is it not therefore a shameful act to tie a blessed pirith thread on Daya Ratnayake who gave the brutal order to kill this innocent child and others? Why couldn’t Mahanayake wait at least until that child was interred and pay that bit of last respect to that innocent child before tying that blessed thread on the child’s killer ? Was it because the Mahanayake’s evil eagerness to snobbery pleasing the powerful outrun his sureness of Buddhist precepts? In the circumstances won’t that thread meant for blessing curse the one who tied and the one on whom it was tied ,in Buddhism?

Haven’t you disgraced Ven. Siridhamma Thera of your own chapter who supported and stood by the oppressed people requesting drinking water, and stained the sacred sacrosanct saffron robe by stooping to bless murderers ? Is it not a grave sin you have committed by that, while you profess to follow the Buddhist teachings wearing the saffron robe and staying inside the Maligawa without showing concern for the woes of the oppressed people outside, ignoring the example set by Prince Siddhartha who even relinquished his throne and set out to mingle among the people to realize the sufferings of the people . Isn’t it still worse a curse when you are blessing those who are the cause of the sufferings of the oppressed people?

We only feel sorry for your mental aberration so much so that when so many have died and even not interred, and so many are still in hospital following this ruthless attack by the forces, and when you who are supposed to be a great Buddhist model, you deemed it right to entertain the very killer army leaders who gave these cursed orders of human slaughter , and bless them.

While we are rudely shocked at your degrading attitude , please pardon us for asking a question which perhaps may open your mind too. Are you worshipping the devil in hell, or the devils of Medamulana or the true deity you are expected to , based on pristine pure Buddhist tenets ?

Occupying Sri Lanka Army threatens Tamil protesters in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Monday, 05 August 2013, 12:13 GMT]
The occupying Sri Lanka Army on Sunday threatened the Tamil residents of Maangkaadu and Kurukka'l-madam from participating in the protest march organized by the Tamil National Alliance against desecration of Saiva koayils. Troops of the occupying Sri Lanka Army visited every household and threatened the inmates not participate in protest march. 

If the villagers attended the protest, they would face the same fate as that of the Sinhala residents of Welweriya in the Gampaha district where a student was shot dead by the SL military when the protestors ignored the ‘instructions’ of the ‘security forces’, the Sinhala military has warned the villagers in Batticaloa, residents said. 

“The intimidation and threat carried out by the army against protestors made us to think that desecration of Saiva temples in Tamil villages in the Eastern province had been carried out by the Sri Lankan army and police“, TNA politician Mr. Selvarasa responded while addressing the participants of the protest.   He added that the TNA had held the protest march not against the police and the army but against the persons who carried out the desecration.

Basheer to resign his portfolio if forced to campaign against govt.

M. A. Kaleel, Kalmunai Corr.-August 4, 2013

Minister of productivity promotion and the Chairman of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Basheer Segu Dawood said he wouldn’t campaign for the SLMC in the forthcoming provincial council elections while being a Cabinet Minister in the government.

Dawood said: "I urged the SLMC to contest the forthcoming provincial council elections with the government but the party decided to contest it alone. I respect the decision of the party and I’ll not revolt against it, but as a minister of the government I will not campaign against the UPFA as it is against my conscience. If the SLMC compels me to campaign for them, then I will resign my Cabinet portfolio and do it."

During the last Eastern Provincial Council election Basheer resigned his Deputy Minister portfolio with the concurrence of the SLMC and threw a veiled challenge to Justice Minister Rauf Hakeem to follow suit.Soon after the EPC election, Basheer was given a Cabinet slot without the concurrence of SLMC and it irked the party much. It was speculated that the slot was given as check against Hakeem. Neither Basheer nor the government had informed the SLMC of his appointment.

Woes of Weliweriya water war

By Aanya Wipulasena in Weliweriya-Sunday, August 04, 2013

High-handed army action claims at least six lives; journalists warned not to take pictures and attacked

Weliweriya, a small peaceful town barely an hour’s drive from Colombo, resembled a war-torn area yesterday.

Power of the people that soon turned to power of the police and Army. Pix by Mangala Weerasekera and Indika Handuwala

Traffic moved but heavily armed Army and Police personnel patrolled the streets. There were hardly any people moving around. Shops remained closed. Shattered glass from homes and shops remained strewn on the road. There were even shoes and slippers.
That told the story of a protest by some 6,000 residents on Thursday. They were demanding clean water. This was after complaints that a glove factory was pouring chemical effluents on the ground polluting their only source of water, their wells in the area. Instead, they were forced to face a barrage of bullets. The Army opened fire on them.

Woes of Weliweriya Water War by nelvely

Weliweriya Army Shooting: Rising death toll feared as many remain critical

04 AUGUST 2013

BY KITHSIRI WIJESINGHE

The death toll from Thursday's army shooting is feared to reach at least to seven by Sunday as six more deaths were reported from several government hospitals in the western province. Many other victims who remain in critical condition, are still being kept under tight watch at the intensive care units.

The bloody episode unfolded when the Army, equipped with assault rifles and anti-riot gear, was deployed on Thursday (01) to disperse over 4000 unarmed protesters at Rathupaswala, Weliweriya, 20 kilometres north east of Colombo. The protest was staged against the waste from a rubber glove-making plant that has contaminated the groundwater supply in the area, depriving more than 10,000 families access to drinking water. According to the residents, the families have been demanding for more than a month that government authorities close down the factory but to no avail.

The Sunday Times' reported that two have died upon admission to Wathupitiwala Base Hospital on Thursday while two others succumbed to their injuries while being treated at the General Hospital in Gamapaha. Two more victims including a teenage student who were kept in the Neurosurgical Unit at the National Hospital in Colombo also died during the weekend. The latter two victims with severe head injuries were identified as Ravishan Perera (19), an advance level student at St. Peters College in Udugampola and Nilantha Pushpakumara (27), an apparel factory  worker who died on Sunday afternoon. But the unconfirmed reports say that the final toll can likely be much higher than the official figures.

'Already dead'

Speaking to JDS, an eye witness who wishes to remain anonymous said that the Army arriving in Buffel troop carriers shot indiscriminately at the crowds, forcing them to run for cover.

'Most of us ran towards Weliweriya Helenwatte area, desperately seeking cover as the troops rained bullets on us. Two bullets missed me and hit my father and Ravishan was hit by a third one' he said.

'We were not able to drag Ravishan with us, as we realised that the troops were shooting from all sides, virtually surrounding us. But when finally we managed to carry him to the nearby wood, I saw the bullet had entered his forehead and exited through the back of his skull. We took him to Radavana Rural Hospital, even though I was convinced that he was already dead' he further said.

Scribes assaulted

The army has been also accused of assaulting several journalists who were at the scene causing serious injuries and smashing their camera equipments. At least four media personnel were beaten by the armed soldiers while trying to cover the brutal crackdown of protest.

'I saw soldiers attacking one photo journalist and smashing his camera on the ground' said one journalist speaking under condition of anonymity.

'We were on top of a roof when a group of gun-wielding masked soldiers ordered us to get down. Once we came down, they assaulted us with poles while calling us 'media dogs' he told the JDS via phone.

'The attacks were indiscriminate. First they fired at the street lamps so that no one can see what is happening. Afterwards, everyone, including women, men, children and even pregnant mothers were badly beaten up. When we managed to slip away and hide in a house, the soldiers tried to break the door. We thought that they are going to kill all of us. First they opened fire on the crowd and then fired tear gas preventing anyone from reaching the wounded'.

The photo journalist Shanuka Kulasekara of 'Ada' newspaper, Deepa Adhikari and Upali Ranaweera of 'Lankadeepa' and Sunil Sri Lanka of Lakbima newspaper were among the journalists who were assaulted.

Concealing truth

The local media rights group, the Free Media Movement condemned the attack as 'outrageous and barbaric'.

'Many in the south believed the myth that the military offensives in the north were conducted with utmost care and concern for civilian safety. The present tragedy comes as a price for not only turning a blind eye to what happened in the north and east, but even for forgetting our own massacres in the South in the early seventies and late eighties' said the group's spokesman Sunil Jayasekara.

'The true intention of the attack on journalists was to conceal the truth and prevent them from reporting what happened' he said.

Student laid to rest

Meanwhile the funeral of Akila Dinesh Jayawardane, 17 year old student at Yakkala Chandrajothi Vidyalaya who died after being shot by the army on Thursday, was held today under a heavy military presence. The family was given strict instruction by the authorities about the funeral proceedings and plain-clothed police and military intelligence officers were deployed at the site. Despite the restrictions, thousands attended the funeral to pay their respect to the slain student.

'Around 2000 uniformed troops were deployed in the area in addition to hundreds of plain-clothed officers. Sadly though, all those who spoke at the funeral meeting failed to mention the cause of his death' said a resident who was present at the funeral.

Image: Grief stricken mother of the slain student Akila Dinesh Jayawardane, moans as he lays in his coffin.

'We are shocked about the suppressive behaviour of a few individuals of the forces' - Karu

  

Monday, 05 August 2013 14:49

'We are shocked about the suppressive behaviour of a few individuals of the forces, by which innocent lives were lost and people were assaulted badly. Harassing people who sought refuge in a catholic church and shooting and threatening them in the precincts of the church' said by by Hon. Karu Jayasuriya UNP M.P.Gampaha District on the Media Conference On 5th August 2013.

See full media statement below.

'We Are Shocked About the Suppressive Behaviour of a Few Individuals of the Forces' - Karu by nelvely

Weliweriya crackdown death toll rises to three

Three more in critical condition
One victim was to sit A/L today

August 4, 2013, 10:34 pm 

Ravishan

By Norman Palihawadana and Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon

The death toll from the military crackdown on a protest at Weliweriya on Thursday rose to three yesterday with the demise of two more youth in hospital.

The police and the army opened fire on a demonstration residents of Weliwerya held against the contamination of ground water in the area due effluents from a rubber product factory.

Three other persons are in the Intensive Care Unit of the National Hospital and their condition is very critical, according to sources.

The two who died yesterday were identified as Ravishan Perera (18) and Nilantha Bandara (29). Ravishan was a student of St. Peter’s College, Udugampola, preparing for the GCE A/L examination scheduled to commence today (05).

Nilantha Bandara was a father of one employed in apparel factory in Biyagama.

Over 50 persons who received injuries in the military crackdown at Rathupaswala in Weliweriya are being treated at hospitals in Colombo, Ragama, Gampaha and Wathupitiwala.

Ravishan was among the onlookers. He received a gun shot injury to his head.

He was rushed to Gampaha Base Hospital and later transferred to National Hospital, Colombo.

Ravishan’s uncle, Edwin Perera, told The Island said his nephew had been watching TV when the protesters were marching past their house. Ravishan’s parents were not at home at the time and he had gone to see the protest. His mother arrived at home and contacted Ravishan over his mobile phone. Ravishan said that he was watching the protest march near the Princowatte and promised to return home in a while, but he never came back.

Another 17-year-old student of Chandrajothi Vidyalaya, Yakkala K. A. Akila Dinesh was killed in the shooting incident on Thursday.

Military Personnel who Attacked Media Persons at Weliweriya Referred to Journalists as “Dogs” -SLJTU

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION SRI LANKA

Victim of the military assault

(Text of a statement issued by the Sri Lanka Journalists Trade Union)
Journalists from several media institutions were subjected to a brutal assault while covering a protest by villagers seeking clean drinking water in the Weliweriya area in Gampaha.
The protest by villagers in Rathupaswela demanding clean drinking water was attacked by military personnel supported by the police last evening. A person was killed while many others including media personnel were injured in the attack.
Journalists and camera crew who were covering the protest were prevented from covering the clash between the villagers and the security forces by masked military personnel.

Photojournalist of the Ada newspaper Chanuka Kulasekera was assaulted and his camera equipment was damaged when he was attacked by the military personnel. Kulasekera was admitted to the Gampaha hospital for treatment.

Also, Lankadeepa journalist Ms. Deepa Adhikari who was also covering the protest in Weliweriya was injured when military men had attacked the media.

She was assaulted by a soldier with a pole when she was on a roof trying to escape the onslaught. Despite her injuries, Adhikari was unable to receive any medical attention until around 9.30 p.m. She had to stay from 6 p.m. till around 9.30 p.m. to escape from the military attack.

The camera of the Rivira provincial correspondent was also taken by the military and the photographs were deleted.

The journalists who were attacked last evening claim that they were subjected to such harassment even when they have identified themselves as media personnel covering the event. The military personnel have at the time referred to the media personnel as “dogs in the media.

” The Sri Lanka Journalists’ Trade Union (SLJTU) vehemently condemns this dastardly act of the security forces personnel. Journalists like any other professionals in the country have the right to engage in their profession – a right that has been constitutionally guaranteed to every Sri Lankan.

It is discomforting to note the continuous increase in the attacks on the media and the attempt to suppress the freedom of expression.

We, the SLJTU call upon the government to ensure the safety of media personnel and to grant them the freedom to engage in their professional duties. We also call upon the defence establishment to take the necessary action against the security forces personnel who have acted in violation of the military discipline by attacking the media.

Deraniyagala Where people only know the meaning of fear

By Chamal Weerakkody-Sunday, August 04, 2013

Police Spokesman SP Siriwardane says Police and STF providing adequate security

The tension that has gripped the Basnagala village, 10 kilometres off Deraniyagala town for the past 15 years, is far from over, though 21 people have been taken into custody for the recent killing of the Manager of Noori estate Nihal Perera.

On Thursday, the sister of the main suspect, Anil Champika alias ‘Atha Kota’ , a former UPFA Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman who unleashed terror in the area had returned to the Noori estate to pluck tea leaves by force in a part of the estate–a practice they reportedly indulged in for many years. This was in spite of the presence of the Special Task Force (STF) who have been deployed to give security to the villagers.

Estate staff had informed Deraniyagala Chief inspector Prabath Deshbandua of this new development and the woman was arrested.
But hours later she was released on police bail after a politician in the area had intervened, the Sunday Times learns.
Later in the night the Officer in Charge of the police station received transfer orders and was posted to Padiyathalawa. He served only for 19 days in the station after the entire staff of the Deraniyagala Police station were transferred for failing to inquire into complaints by villagers about atrocities allegedly committed by ‘Atha Kota’ and his henchmen.

Ironically the developments came hours after the family members of the former estate manager and the senior management of the Noori estate met with US Embassy officials. The management and family members had told the US officials that they were satisfied with the ongoing investigations and that a new OIC was in charge,

Nihal Perera

The Noori estate is managed by an American company – Walters Bay, one of the biggest tea suppliers to the US market
Villagers however claim they continue to be threatened by family members of the suspects who are in remand custody.

Meanwhile, B. H. Siripala, a retired employee has come out strongly against “Atha Kota” and his gang, encouraging villagers to lodge their complaints about atrocities committed by the gang before and after the murder of Mr. Perera .

B. H. Siripala

“I was in the town last Wednesday when ‘Atha Kota’s sister-in-law threatened me, saying she would kill me if I continued my campaign,” Mr. Siripala said.

“We fear for our safety. In spite of the presence of the police and the STF villagers are being threatened openly. People have even been assaulted,” he said.

“A woman from the area was beaten up by a group of people during the daytime last Wednesday for refusing to allow her house to be used as a place to produce and sell illicit liquor. It was ‘Atha Kota’s’ sister –in-law who had made the demand, he said.

The sudden transfer of new OIC has also disturbed the villagers, Mr. Siripala said.

Army on the lookout in the village. Pix by Nilan Maligaspe

However, Police Spokesman, SP Buddhika Siriwardena said that the transfer of OIC Prabath Deshbandu was a ‘routine transfer’. He said the OIC was replaced by the Neluwa OIC, Isnpector Gayan Prasanna.

After the murder of Mr. Perera, 21 suspects including ‘Atha Kota’s nephew was produced in the Awissawella Magistrate courts and nine of them were identified as suspects. (See Magisterial inquiry report on this page).Read More

No. of deaths is 7: reveal the truth – Rajapakse aiyya or malli who gave orders to commit genocide ? -Mangala
(Lanka-e-News-04.Aug.2013,11.30PM) It has now come to light that Ravishan Perera who was most brutally killed by the military of the Rajapakses was a bright student of Udugampola St. Peters College , and he was to sit the G C E adv. level exam which is commencing tomorrow(05). He was killed by the Rajapakses’ forces when he was coming home after attending tuition class . 

The Principal of his school ,Father Chaminda Wanigasekera had stated , Ravishan Perera was an outstanding student.. He was not only talented in studies but also in sports , and had always said he would do proud to the school , the Principal recalled with deep sorrow . His demise is therefore unbearable , he added.

Meanwhile Mangala Samaraweera M.P. and former foreign Minister issuing a special communiqué had urged that the truth be revealed , and stated there have been 7 deaths . Is it Rajapakse aiyya (President) or Rajapakse malli (Gotabaya ) who gave orders to make Weliveriya a killing field?

The following is the text of the communiqué :

The government had by an official announcement said , the number of deaths in the recent Weliveriya conflict has risen to three , in which battle the government deploying its army committed genocide . 
A 19 year old youth and a 29 year old youth died due to the injuries sustained in the attack launched by the forces. The 19 year old died this morning (4) . 

Though the official statistics of the government is three. Based on a report in an English weekend newspaper by yesterday night (3) ,the deaths following these ghastly killings is six. Accordingly by today , 7 have died. Independent sources of the area also echo this conclusion.

This means that on the innocent people who wanted a little drinking water this government sprayed bullets , and unleashed ruthless violence. In addition to this egregious cruelty , it is even concealing the number of deaths from the people of SL as well as the world.

In the cirumstances , I urge the Rajapkse regime to reveal truly the number of deaths in this genocide without duping the people and the world any longer.


At the same time I like to ask the government, who gave orders to send the army with its Commandos that are used to fight the terrorists , to resolve a purely civilian issue , shoot at random and with gay abandon using actual bullets and commit genocide by killing the innocent unarmed people? It is the duty of the government to reveal the truth.

I would also like to remind , not only the Rathupaswala people , even the whole world is anxiously waiting to have an answer to the question : 

Who is the chief who gave these orders : was it Rajapakse aiyya (President) or Rajapkse malli (Gotabaya) ? 

Mangala Samaraweera 
Communication division chief – UNP 
2013-August - 04

Unequal in death
Editorial

The shooting of unarmed protesters by a state’s military, as took place in Weliweriya this week, is horrific. The profound perversity of a state turning its military apparatus on the people it purports to protect is universally felt. The Tiananmen Square massacre, Bloody Sunday and even Egypt today, are cases in point. The insurmountable inequity of force and the ensuing bloodshed of the unarmed protesters form a chilling reminder of a state’s simmering potential to abuse its monopoly on violence. The outrage and shock that has reverberated through Sri Lanka’s south following the Weliweriya incident is thus well placed. Yet as with the killings of other dissenting individuals, this tragedy highlights the intractable fallacy of an equal or inclusive ‘Sri Lankan identity’. In Sri Lanka, even death is no equaliser. The killing of a dissenter is defined by ethno-political identity, both that of the individual and their demands.  The difference is inescapable. The government response within twenty-four hours of the military killing one Sinhala protester has been immeasurably more than that to the military’s massacre of tens of thousands of Tamils, in over four years. Far from evidence of a governmental epiphany on human rights, the swift response stems from a desire to appease the outraged Sinhala majority, which drives power on the island. Thus whilst the inherent independence of any government appointed or military probe is no better in this case than to another internal inquiry investigating military actions against Tamils, the desire to appease an enraged Sinhala electorate and press, may still lead to prosecutions and resignations. The incident acts as a tragic reminder to the Sinhala people of the excesses of Rajapaksa’s rule - militarisation now so excessive and extensive that it has come to take its toll on all ethnicities. However, for the Tamils the military’s unrestrained violence and impunity is not confined to the Rajapaksa regime. In word or deed previous governments have proved no better. Since the time of Sri Lanka’s independence, actions by the state’s security forces against non-violent Tamil dissent have never prompted investigation or accountability, including by the opposition, UNP. Indeed, even now the UNP has not openly acknowledged the allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity by the Sri Lankan military in 2009 nor endorsed the call for an international, independent investigation. Most telling of all however, is the discrepancy in response from the Sinhala press, legal voices, general public and the protesters. Within days the shock, anger and rising clamour for justice are palpable. By contrast there is no past or present evidence of a similar response to any killing of Tamils by the military. Desensitisation is no doubt partly at play: the military’s attacks on Tamils have been so consistent, repetitive, and persistent, that it is hardly ‘news’ at all (although, it is notable that large swathes of the Sri Lankan press and public still do not acknowledge that such atrocities have taken place). Many international and Tamil observers are equally afflicted by desensitisation. Indeed even those elected to represent the will of the Tamil people, the TNA, who pursue with immense vigour injustice affecting Sri Lanka and will no doubt pursue the Weliweriya incident equally so, have been only lukewarm at calling for an international investigation into the end of the armed conflict. This numbed apathy in the face of on-going impunity for the killing of Tamils, reveals an appalling complacency towards what is effectively the devaluation of Tamil life. Crucially, the failure to actively acknowledge and reflect the difference in the sheer scale of atrocities between the two ethnicities, undermines any constructive assessment of intent by the crime. As the candid comments of the Weliweriya protesters illustrate however, the overwhelming sentiment is not desensitisation, but incredulous indignation that the military could do this to them - who ask for water, not independence, and who are Sinhalese, not Tamil. Such indignation belies a disturbing reasoning that Tamils, simply by virtue of their ethnic and by extension ethno-political identity, are from the offset considered ‘not completely innocent’ or guilty. Thus, to be a Tamil, makes you an understandable target of the state, and to be a Tamil who calls for the nation’s right to self-determination, makes you a legitimate one. Most disturbingly of all, Tamil armed resistance - the eventual result of decades of oppression and the military’s quashing of non-violent Tamil protest - is accepted as a justification for the Sri Lankan state’s collective punishment and criminalisation of the Tamil nation. Hence the military occupation of the North-East is still accepted as necessary, whilst the militarisation of Weliweriya is abhorred; and the Weliweriya attack prompts immediate calls for accountability, whilst four years on and despite the mounting body of irrefutable evidence, an international inquiry into the end of the war into both sides is still overwhelmingly rejected by the Sinhala nation. Without any tangible action or shift on such fundamental issues of truth, justice and accountability, sympathy or statements of sorry by a few well-meaning Sinhala people are rendered facile. The inequity of Tamil death continues.

BBS Categorically Rejects And Denies “I Sent Troops To Weliweriya” Story By Ceylon Today

August 5, 2013 

“Bodu Bala Sena categorically rejects and denies  the news headline  ”I sent troops  to Weliweriya” published on 5 August 2013 by CeylonToday Newspaper and it’s websites www.ceylontoday.lk  and www.mawbima.lk  owned by Ceylon Newspapers (Pvt) Ltd. (CNL) of No. 101, Rosmead Place, Colombo 7. It clearly gives the impression that  Secretary General of Bodu Bala Sena , Ven Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero  had sent troops to Weliweriya” says Dilanthe Withanage – Chief Executive Officer- Bodu Bala Sena Headquarters.

“Bodu Bala Sena would like to highlight that this news is a result of the conspiracy to tarnish the image of the Sri Lankan Government, Ministry of Defence and the Security Forces locally and internationally. We have the evidence of attempts by “Mawubima” newspaper on earlier occasions to destroy the good image and credibility of Bodu Bala Sena and the New National Movement.” he further said.

A Special Press Conference will be held at 10 am on 6^th August 2013 ( Tuesday) at the Bodu Bala Sena Office, Thunmulla to expose this conspiracy , he added.

The Ceylon Today reported;

I sent troops to Weliweriya

By Ashan Paranahewa                Read More