Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Ousted CJ debarred from going abroad

... clad in black she enters deck on her ow

By Chitra Weerarathne-September 16, 2013

The former Chief Justice appeared before court dressed in a black saree. More than one hundred lawyers said they would appear for her.

Defence Counsel Nalin Ladduwahetty asked court whether she would leave the country over a matter of Rs. 1,000, being the amount she would have to pay even if she were found guilty of the charges as she had no money in the accounts at issue. (SI)

For the first time ever in the history of Sri Lanka, a former chief justice entered the dock in the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court yesterday. When the case number was called out by the Mudaliyar, Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake, on her own, entered the dock. She faces three charges, filed by the Permanent Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya yesterday, re-fixed, for Feb. 19, 2014, the trial in respect of three charges against the impeached Chief Justice, Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake.

Senior State Counsel Dilan Ratnayake told the Court that the CIABOC relied on computer evidence and needed to notify the defendant, 45 days in advance. Hence, the charge sheet submitted by the commission was not read out in Court.

The state counsel appeared with Subashini Siriwardene, Deputy Director legal of the Bribery Commission.

President’s Counsel Nalin Ladduwahetty appeared for the suspect, Dr. Bandaranayake. He reserved the right to object to the charges. He said that a travel ban had been imposed on his client. If she needed to go overseas, she would seek permission from the Court.

Upul Jayasuriya, the President of the Bar Association, said that the ExCo of Bar Council had decided to support the suspect.

Nalin Ladduwahetty submitted to Court a very long list of names of lawyers, who had decided to appear for Dr. Bandaranayake, who is facing the allegation of non-declaration of her assets in three accounts in the National Development Bank, in the year, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

UN Petrie Report On SL Raised At UNGA New York

September 17, 2013

Sri Lanka came up at the UN General Assembly in New York last week when the UN’s damning report on the institutional failure to use its resources and protect civilians in the island during the last phase of the war also known as the Petrie report was discussed.

Ban Ki-Moon

Ambassador of Switzerland to the UN in New York Paul Seger, in his comments at the discussion, said that Switzerland hopes the follow-up process to the Internal Review Panel-Report on UN action in Sri Lanka will result in a more targeted mobilization of the resources of the UN system in complex situations.

UN General Secretary Ban Ki Moon also attended the interactive dialogue on the responsibility to protect (R2P).

The following are video footage of the statements at the R2P session:

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

The Ambassador of Switzerland

former SriLankan ambassador to UN work hard to deceive international countries: C.V.Kirubahakaran

[ Tuesday, 17 September 2013, 04:28.18 AM GMT +05:30 ]

Director of the France Human Rights organisation C.V.Kirubahakaran said former SriLankan ambassador to UN currently believe that she owns her position and work hard to deceive international countries

UK maintains travel advice

September 16, 2013

The British Foreign Office has maintained a travel advice on Sri Lanka in its updated information warning British tourists of organised and armed gangs operating in Sri Lanka who have been responsible for targeted kidnappings and violence.

The travel advice section which has been updated on September 12 has included information on the Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka in November.

However a May 30 update has been retained in the travel advice despite earlier objections from the External Affairs Ministry in Sri Lanka.

The External Affairs Ministry (EAM) had in July sought a clarification from the British High Commission in Colombo regarding the travel advice it had issued in May on Sri Lanka.

The External Affairs Ministry said it sought information from the British High Commission on the reasons behind issuing such a strong notice to British citizens visiting Sri Lanka.

While warning of targeted kidnappings and violence, the travel advice also says women should take particular care when travelling alone or in small groups, and carry a personal alarm.

The September 12 update says there may be high levels of travel disruption around that time the Commonwealth summit takes place in Sri Lanka, like frequent road closures, high security at airports and difficulties in booking hotel rooms. (Colombo Gazette)

“And They Also Come For The Christians” – With Apologies To Martin Niemöller (1892-1984)

By Asoka N.I. Ekanayaka -September 17, 2013 |

Professor A.N.I. Ekanayaka

Amidst the widespread condemnation of recent attacks on Muslims by hostile Buddhist militants in Sri Lanka, it is fair to say that Christians in Sri Lanka though saddened and outraged by these incidents are probably not surprised. That is because they have in many ways been getting a bigger beating and over a much longer period of time, than their recently beleaguered Muslim counterparts. Considering incident reports many in the public domain during 11 years from 2002 -2013 there seem to have been at least 250 hostile incidents against Christian churches, Christian pastors and Christian worshippers in Sri Lanka – and still counting. They constitute a depressing tale of beatings, insults, verbal abuse, stoning, stabbings, destruction of property, desecration, arson, mob violence, death threats, attempted murder, disruption of worship, obstruction of funerals, defiling people and places with human excreta, as well as framing up victims with fake charges. In one of the most recent incidents it would appear that at Meegoda in the Colombo district a Christian prayer meeting was disrupted by a mob led by some monks who forcibly entered the premises destroying musical instruments and damaging furniture and glass windows. Evidently the pastor was assaulted by a monk who hit him over the head with a guitar until it broke and the pastor fell unconscious to the floor.The recent attack on people who were taking refuge inside a church in the Weliweriya massacre ( an act of desecration strongly condemned by Cardinal Malcolm Ranjit himself ) also deserves mention here, since it points to the seeming disregard of the government itself towards the sensibilities of Christians. We may speculate that if provocations even fractionally as serious as these had been directed against the Muslim community in the nature of things there might have been grievous repercussions.

By comparison the persistent harassment of Christians has proceeded with relative impunity, amidst frequent police inaction if not seeming partiality towards the culprits, overall government apathy , the sanguine indifference of a predominantly Buddhist public and the complacency of a predominantly Buddhist media for whom this is not a priority. Moreover being a longsuffering placid non violent community, Christians in Sri Lanka have been restrained in the face of these humiliations rather than attract public attention by raising a hue and cry.

A Post-mortem on Navi Pillay’s visit

Tuesday, 17 Sep 2013

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) warned about the adverse impacts of Navi Pillay's visit very much before her arrival. We challenged her credibility exposing her controversial past, citing authentic sources. A diplomat told me that if we had made our exposures about her past before her appointment as the High Commissioner for Human Rights, she would have most probably lost this prestigious post. Our criticism was not limited to Navi Pillay. It was directed at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) as well.

The UNHRC is an instrument used by the West to tame or punish weaker nations. The common belief is that it is fully funded by the United Nations as it is the human rights arm of the world organization. However, contrary to the common belief, almost two third of its budget is provided by Western nations. Interestingly, the USA and Norway, two nations which lead anti-Sri Lanka campaign, are the two leading donors to the UNHRC. Navi Pillay, the head of the UNHRC, is under obligation to please the West for her survival. In this backdrop, Sri Lanka must be insane to expect justice and fair play from the UNHRC.

Sri Lanka should have exposed the partisan conduct of Pillay and the notorious history of the UNHRC and refused to co-operate with either. Instead, Sri Lanka adopted a policy of running with the hare and hunting with the hounds, creating confusion among the nations which stood by Sri Lanka in its hour of need. Sri Lanka criticized the UNHRC and thereafter undertook to implement different recommendations made by the rights body. Similarly, Sri Lanka invited Madam Pillay to visit Sri Lanka after attacking her biased conduct, instead of challenging the credibility of the UNHRC and taking a non-co-operative stand as Israel did in the past.

The 24th Session of the UNHRC is presently underway in Geneva. Pillay is expected to make a speech about Sri Lanka during the latter part of the session. There is no doubt that she would attempt her best to taint a negative image of Sri Lanka in her speech. In the past, she made an attacking speech on Sri Lanka based on the Darusman Report. However, the acceptance of her speech was very low, as the Darusman Report itself was based on hearsays.

Pillay can speak with authority

Unlike previous sessions, Pillay can speak about Sri Lanka with authority since she recently visited the country, in what has been described as her longest official tour. She visited the North and East including the battlefields. She talked to the President, ministers, leader of opposition, political party leaders and top bureaucrats. She exchanged views with media, members of non government organizations and the general public. Hence, she has now credentials to make an acceptable speech about Sri Lanka. As such the danger posed by her to Sri Lanka's image is very much higher than Channel 4.

Sri Lanka enjoyed the support of the majority of the international community soon after the end of the war. It began to slide with the adverse publicity given by international media, accusing the government of committing war crimes at the tail end of the war. The Tamil separatists began to lobby politicians and bureaucrats of western capitals with sympathetic stories about these alleged war crimes. The Darusman Report added fuel to this anti-Sri Lanka campaign. Nevertheless, Sri Lanka was able to survive in the international fora without much difficulty. However, Pillay's speech at the 24th session would cause irreparable damage to Sri Lanka's image, because of the suicidal invitation extended her to visit Sri Lanka.

Strategic blunders committed by Sri Lanka in international relations in the recent past clearly reflect its ignorance about the present trends in the global field and the influence wielded by Tamil separatists. Hence, it is worth exploring why Sri Lanka is in the limelight of Human Rights bodies.
Shifting of battle fields

A common belief in Sri Lanka is that we defeated Tamil separatism on 19 May 2009. However, it is not true. Instead, two fundamental changes took place in Tamil separatism. Firstly, the battlefield was shifted from Vanni to Geneva. Secondly, the military war turned to a diplomatic war. Tamil separatism continues in a different mode at a higher speed.

In fact the Tiger was not in the North of Sri Lanka. It was all over the world. Its head was in Nordic countries. The front legs were in Canada and Germany and the hind legs were in South Africa and Australia. Depending on the body spread all over the world, the Tigers used to wag its tail in the North. That was Tamil separatist terrorism for us. In this light, what we did in 2009 was merely cutting off the tail of the Tiger.

The Tiger without the tail is more dangerous now. It is angry and vows revenge. It wins the sympathy of the Western world. As a result, powerful nations such as the USA and international organizations such as the UNHRC have come forward to battle with us on behalf of the Tiger.

The LTTE militarily captured the Vanni region in 1990. We used the military might to capture it back in 2009. Nobody questioned this, as we have a right to grab back whatever was forcibly taken from us. If we had handed over the region to the LTTE legally and diplomatically, we never would have taken it back. Hence, the diplomatic war is more dangerous than the military war. Presently, the Tamil separatists have declared a diplomatic war against Sri Lanka with the support of Western superpowers.

They attacked us with modern weapons such as resolutions at international events and adverse publicity in the world media. International isolation and economic embargo are more dangerous and effective weapons than nuclear bombs. Hence, if we reluctantly agree to constitutionally grant autonomy in the North and East, as envisaged by the separatists, we will never be able to get the provinces back.

In this backdrop, the diplomatic war is more dangerous and difficult than the military war. Hence, we should be more prepared in this war than in the previous war. We needed brave and strong soldiers for the military war. What we need in the diplomatic war are diplomats with knowledge and lobbying skills. They should be armed not with guns and bombs but with knowledge in different subjects such as history, politics and law. As we captured the enemy camps in the military war, we have to win the support of international organizations, influential nations, human rights NGOs and the world media.

Diplomatic war

Ministry of Defence was the nerve centre of the military war. Similarly, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is now the nerve centre of the diplomatic war. Hence, the entire nation should rally around the MEA in the name of the motherland, ironing out the petty differences. In this context, human rights are the most important subject. Unfortunately, it has become nobody's child since it has not been gazetted with any particular ministry. The government appoints a special human rights envoy on the eve of UNHRC sessions. He is not prepared at all, as the appointment is sudden. He makes a lot of commitments at the session and ends his role. There is no secretariat to follow up the commitments until the next session. In light of the above, we have become a laughing stock before the international community. Dealing with human rights in an ad-hoc manner is suicidal for the nation. On the contrary, this subject should permanently vested with the MEA. It can then engage in these issues on a fulltime basis with the support of its network spread throughout the world.

A Secretariat for Human Rights should be established under the MEA with the chairmanship of the Minister of External Affairs and the participation of the Secretary to the President and Secretaries of Defence, Treasury, External Affairs, Police, Justice and Media. Academics, professionals, veteran diplomats and members of the business community should also be members of the governing council. It should meet weekly and review its operations in the diplomatic war. The President should meet the council at least once a month to review the progress.

Unless we adopt a professional approach to tackle the present international crisis, we may lose in the diplomatic war what we gained in the military war.

Unless Sinhalese Extremists Are Brought To Book All Talks Of Peace Will Remain Dreams

By Latheef Farook – September 18, 2013

Latheef Farook

Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s statement on what he described as the “emergence of Muslim extremism” has shocked and dismayed the island’s besieged and helpless Muslim community.

Addressing a defense seminar at Galadari Hotel on Tuesday 3 September Mr.Gotabaya Rajapaksa stated that the country was faced with an uphill task of tackling Sinhala hardliners as well as Muslim extremists. He added that “it has been observed that there are some foreign groups that wish to encourage Sri Lankan Muslims to identify themselves more with the global Muslim community, thereby reducing their integration with the rest of the population. It is a known fact that Muslim fundamentalism is spreading all over the world and in this region”.

Sinhala extremists playing havoc in the country with official patronage is common knowledge. However the question is who are these Muslim extremists? According to Muslims of all walks of life extremism is nonexistent among them and such allegations only serve to encourage Sinhalese extremist elements to continue their mayhem pitting Sinhalese against Muslims.

Defense secretary’s statement comes at a time when Sinhalese extremists spearhead an extremely dangerous campaign demonizing Islam and Muslims, attack mosques, religious schools, Muslim shrines, Muslim owned business establishments, forces Muslim students to worship Sinhalese teachers in predominantly Sinhalese schools and many such crimes causing fear and insecurity among Muslims.

The island’s Muslim community, as once pointed out by former Chief Justice Sarath N Silva, has been the most peaceful of all the three communities. However they suffered a great deal due to racism of the two major communities. Muslims did not come yesterday on visit visas to Sri Lanka .They have been integral part of the island’s society ever since they settled down as peaceful traders more than 1000 years ago.

Date: September 16, 2013
Document id: ALRC-COS-24-08-2013
HRC section: Item 3, General Debate
Speaker: Mr. Danilo Reyes

An Oral Statement to the 24th Session of the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organization in general consultative status

Thank you Mr. President,

The ALRC, Odhikar and its partners agrees with the opinion of Mr. Alfred de Zayas, the UN Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order. He notes that human rights defenders today face exceptional challenges, particularly in countries where they are subject to threats of State repression.

We recall the statement made by Navi Pillay, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, on the conclusion of her visit to Sri Lanka. She observed that the government is "showing signs of heading in an increasingly authoritarian direction." This is not limited to Sri Lanka, but is also evident in countries like India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

In these countries, the principles of protecting the rights of individuals are gradually being abandoned by the manner in which the legal systems operate. For example, the arbitrary arrest and detention of Mr. Adilur Rahman Khan, Secretary of Odhikar on 10 August, 2013, by the Government of Bangladesh, illustrates this reality.

Inadequate criminal justice mechanisms are enormous obstacles to prevent violations of rights. To have a complaint registered against a police officer or other State agents is exceptionally difficult. The pervasive impunity denies the possibility of making complaints and having independent investigations.

The justice institutions are subjugated by orders of political and religious fundamentalist groups. The structural design of these institutions has undermined judicial independence making independent investigations, prosecution and adjudication of cases no long longer a normal practice. The Governments are unwilling to ensure a credible justice institution. Not to have a policy on criminal justice reforms has become a policy of the States.

To expect an effective remedy for violation of rights is not possible. The widespread and systematic practice of torture, forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, are evidence of this. It explains why the authoritarian tendency has become an inevitable pattern in the region.

We fully support Ms. Pillay for introducing problems of authoritarianism in the human rights discourse. We urge the Council to discuss reforms of the criminal justice institutions as a priority.

Thank you.

Webcast video: Chapter 25, http://webtv.un.org/meetings-events/human-rights-council/regular-sessions/watch/item3-general-debate-contd-12th-meeting-24th-regular-session-of-human-rights-council/2674792533001

# # #

About the ALRC: The Asian Legal Resource Centre is an independent regional non-governmental organisation holding general consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. It is the sister organisation of the Asian Human Rights Commission. The Hong Kong-based group seeks to strengthen and encourage positive action on legal and human rights issues at the local and national levels throughout Asia.

Read this online from AHRC

24th Session of the UN Human Rights Council - AHRC

Read this online from ALRC

24th Session of the UN Human Rights Council - ALRC

“An Australian Son” Of Sri Lankan Descent?

By Laksiri Fernando -September 17, 2013

Dr. Laksiri Fernando

I first came to know about this story from a new friend, Sisira Weragoda, found through Colombo Telegraph. Then of course I read it. This is a fascinating story particularly for the Sri Lankans who grapple these days quite emotionally with the questions of identity. It is a true story written by the main protagonist, Gordon Matthews, but it could easily be read as a novel without unflinching interest. At the beginning it may be little tedious, but then until the end it is a fascinating story of 229 pages.

A baby boy was adopted in 1952, named Gordon Matthew, by a well to do Melbourne family and what they knew for sure was that the young mother came from Sydney to deliver the baby and she was white. There were four different adopted children altogether in this benevolent family thereafter. Those days unlike today the only option for an unmarried woman with pregnancy was to arrange adoption if not going through the risky business of abortion. There were agencies in adoption service or business. Single mother proposition was unimaginable. This was also the period of white Australia policy.

Question of Colour

It was not clear at the beginning, but the baby Gordon was turning darker. Pop Brodrick, his mother’s father, was the first to pick it. He used to call the baby my ‘little Abo.’ “On another occasion, Mum had visited her family at their Melbourne bayside home. ‘Give my love to my little Abo,’ Pop had pronounced as my mother prepared to leave. Mum had reacted angrily.”

Mum was a gracious woman. She never really noticed. She wouldn’t have cared about colour anyway. In relation to Dad, Gordon had no idea whatsoever what he thought about his colour or racial background. Years later, Auntie Phil had asked “what do you think Gordon’s racial background is?”

“Pacific islander,” Dad had casually replied.

Gordon was conscious. During summer holidays at the beach he would be in stark contrast to his siblings. His brother and sisters turned pink while he turned dark absorbing the sun naturally. He used to examine himself in a mirror or study the family photos. This would not be the case in everyone. Some are more conscious than the others. It was not an issue among the little kids in the primary. Even if someone called him ‘Abo,’ it was like another nickname.

Things came to a crunch when the family went to England for a year. It was directly asked. He was attending secondary grammar. “One day one of my classmates mentioned that he had seen a television program about Australian Aboriginals the previous evening. ‘Are you Aboriginal, Gordon,’ he enquired out of the blue. ‘I was thinking about if after the program. They say the only coloured people in Australia are aboriginals and you’re not completely white are you? Where do your Mum and Dad come from? What nationality are they?”

Aboriginal Identity Read More

PILLAY’S REQUEST TO REMOVE D.S. SENANAYAKE STATUE WAS GOVT. LIE - UNP

September 17, 2013

The UNP today (September 17) claimed that the government had lied about UN Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay’s request to remove the statue of D.S. Senanayake from the Independence Square in Colombo.

UNP denied the media reports of this request while stating that a Spokesperson for Pillay had confirmed that no such request had been made.

UNP General Secretary MP Tissa Attanayake stated at a press conference today that the UNP os handling the statue of Sri Lanka’s first Prime Minister placed at the Independence Square and requested the government not to poke its fingers into the matter.

Recent media reports suggested that Navi Pillay had made the request to President Mahinda Rajapaksa at a meeting during her visit to Sri Lanka.

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe had subsequently written a letter to the UN Commissioner for Human Rights in order to clarify the report.

Attanayake also stated that the government was running a dictatorship while hiding behind the label of democracy and added that Sri Lanka has fallen into the list of most corrupt nations in the world. He also pointed out that the largest consignment of drugs in South Asia was found in Sri Lanka and claimed that the country had become a hub for drugs during the Rajapaksa government’s rule.

WikiLeaks: EPDP Medical Doctor Performs Forced Abortions

September 18, 2013 |

“Father Bernard also told us of an EPDP medical doctor named Dr. Sinnathambi, who performs forced abortions, often under the guise of a regular check-up, on Tamil women suspected of being aligned with the LTTE.” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.

The Colombo Telegraph found the related leaked cable from the WikiLeaks database. The cable is classified as “SECRET” and discuses Sri Lanka’s paramilitary operations. The cable was written by the Ambassador Robert O. Blake on May 18, 2007.

We publish below the relevant part of the cable;

File photo

VZCZCXRO9322
OO RUEHBI RUEHLMC
DE RUEHLM #0728/01 1380922
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 180922Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6072
INFO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 0407
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0115
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 7096
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 5189
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 3756
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0973
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 3828
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 1087
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 2907
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 7682
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 5363
RUEHON/AMCONSUL TORONTO PRIORITY 0209
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2046
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 06 COLOMBO 000728      Read More

Northern Province polls a new chapter for Sri Lanka

MEERA SRINIVASAN-JAFFNA, September 17, 2013

Come Saturday, over seven lakh people in Sri Lanka’s Tamil-majority north will finally get to vote in a long awaited election.

Still recovering from the aftermath of a three decade-long conflict that ended in 2009, the region is to hold the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) elections on September 21.

This is the first time since 1988 that provincial council elections are being held in Northern Sri Lanka.

Campaigning has largely been muted — public meetings are allowed, but door-to-door campaign by candidates is banned by the election commission here — and the town has remained fairly quiet.

However, for people of the Northern Province, who hope the council can make a difference in their lives, this election is crucial.

Considering how much there is to be done in this part of the country, the provincial council deserves a chance, says T. Sonia, (26) a sociology graduate from Achchuveli, about half an hour’s drive from Jaffna town. “We lost everything during the 30-year war. Now, when we try and return to leading normal lives, many are facing huge challenges, such as finding means of livelihood,” she says.

Along with the Northern Province Sri Lanka’s Central and North Western provinces will also go to poll on September 21.

The spotlight, however, is on the north as it is witnessing its first ever provincial council election. The councils with specified powers were created as a result of the 13th Amendment, an outcome of the Indo-Lanka Accord, 1987.

In the four years since the war ended, people have encountered a range of issues such as heavy militarisation; high surveillance by the military intelligence; an absence of employment opportunities; and complaints related to disappearances. People have voiced their concerns at every available opportunity on these issues, for instance during the recent visit of United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay.

Often in denial, the Sri Lankan government has instead stressed its investment in infrastructure — visible in the form of newly-laid roads, pavements, transport connectivity, functional schools and hospitals.

The main contest is between the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) — which has fielded retired Supreme Court Judge C. V. Wigneswaran as its chief ministerial candidate — and the Sri Lankan government, represented by its two key candidates S. Thavarajah of the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP); and Angajan Ramanathan, of the Sri Lankan Freedom Party (SLFP).

Though EPDP and SLFP have pegged their campaign on development undertaken,many locals don’t consider it inclusive.

Self-determination

The TNA, widely expected to win, speaks of Tamils’ right to self-determination in its manifesto — which drew strong criticism from some who sensed a call for separatism.

However, TNA parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran, according to local reports, has clarified that the manifesto speaks of right to self-determination only through a federal structure within a united Sri Lanka. Further, Mr. Wigneswaran’s reported glorification of LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran as Maveeranat an election meeting in Valvettithurai, evoked much shock and criticism not only in the Sinhala south but also among many Tamils critical of the LTTE.

Government media pounced on the reported remarks of Mr. Wigneswaran and the English media played it up.

Saturday’s polls would also mark the beginning of a new challenge, according to a senior TNA politician who did not wish to be named. Citing the powers vested with the governor of the province, who is appointed by the President, he says should the TNA win, it would be a real challenge to run the Council. Reflecting on what he believes is an ironic situation, he says: “Well, we may have an opportunity to demonstrate what a provincial council can do. But I am afraid it will be more of an opportunity to demonstrate what a provincial council can’t do in given the current context.”

Sinhala Hardliners Attempt To Stall Northern Provincial Election; Want TNA Prosecuted

September 17, 2013

Relying on the 6th Amendment to the Constitution, 5 Petitions have been filed before the Supreme Court seeking to declare the TNA is acting unconstitutionally.

Gotabaya - Secretary to the Ministry of Defence

These cases were filed by Gunadasa Amarasekera of the Patriotic National Movement, Ven. Bengamuwe Nalaka, Swarnahansa Foundation, Buddha Maha Sanvidanaya and an organisation called the Jaffna Buddhist Association. Applications have been filed under Article 157A (4) alleging that the objectives of the TNA under its new manifesto was to separate the country. They also seek to prevent the election scheduled for September 21.

It is reliably learnt that hard line nationalist lawyers together with certain lawyers aligned with Gotabaya Rajapaksa are to appear for the Petitioners.

Sources told Colombo Telegraph that 4 of the 5 cases were filed today and with unusual speed, the Supreme Court has fixed the cases for support tomorrow (18th September) before the De facto Chief Justice Mohan Pieris, Justice Sripavan and Justice Marasinghe. The Respondent TNA has not been served with papers. Meanwhile, state media has increased the attacks on the TNA suggesting that they should be banned under the 6th Amendment. Previously, during Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva‘s period, extremist nationalist elements managed to prevent the P-Toms agreement from being implemented soon after the tsunami and it was later revealed that it was Sarath Silva who had instigated that litigation.

De Facto CJ Mohan Pieris is also known to be acting hand in glove with the Government and with some extremist elements openly.

ADIC anti-tobacco campaign

TUESDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER 2013

While a legal battle had ensued over the pictorial health warning on cigarette packets, Alcohol and Drug Information Centre (ADIC) staged an agitation campaign today outside the Fort Railway Station demanding the publication of the anti-tobacco gazette notification. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

MHM Ashraff: Demise of Pioneering Muslim Congress Leader has Created Political Vacuum.

by D.B.S.Jeyaraj-17 September 2013, 3:21 am

Thirteenth Death Anniversary of Legendary Muslim Congress Leader

M.H.M. Ashraff

THE tragedy of September 16 2000 involving an MI-17 helicopter of the Sri Lanka Air Force above the Urakanda mountain range in the Aranayaka area in Kegalle district of Sabaragamuwa province resulted in the death of a dynamic political leader of the island – Cabinet Minister M.H.M. Ashraff.
Along with him were killed 14 others including crew members, security personnel, personal staff and political supporters.There is no denying that the demise of Ashraff, the founding president of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), the island’s largest Muslim party, has created a political vacuum.

MHM Ashraff Demise of Pioneering Muslim Congress Leader Has Created Political Vacuum. by nelvely

WikiLeaks: EPDP’s Targeted Killing Method With Govt Military – Jaffna Government Agent Reveals Secrets

September 17, 2013

“The EPDP, originally called the Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF), began as a rival to the LTTE. One wing of the EPRLF founded the EPDP as a formal political party when its leader, Douglas Devananda, was elected to Parliament in 1994 and aligned with the government. Devananda continues to hold the single parliamentary seat his party won in the 2004 election. As part of the ruling coalition, he serves as Minister of Social Services and Social Welfare. Although registered as a formal political party, the EPDP remains a feared paramilitary group, wielding non-official power over parts of the Jaffna peninsula and especially the offshore islands with the tacit approval of the Sri Lanka Army.” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.

Jaffna Government Agent K. Ganesh with Minister Douglas Devananda and Security Forces Commander Jaffna Major General G.A. Chandrasiri ( the present governor in North )

Under the subheading “Extra-Judicial Killings with the Military’s Support” the ambassador wrote; “Working in concert with SLA soldiers stationed in the Jaffna peninsula, the EPDP is able to conduct extortion, abductions, extra-judicial killings and other criminal acts without fear of consequences, according to numerous sources. On April 20, Catholic priest Father Bernard (strictly protect) told us about EPDP’s involvement in extra-judicial killings in Jaffna. Independently, on April 24, Jaffna Government Agent Ganesh (strictly protect) confirmed much of Father Bernard’s account. He explained that when the EPDP intends to kill a target, they first provide notice to the military. The number of soldiers patrolling the streets of Jaffna (40,000 total on the peninsula) is such that there are literally soldiers stationed at every street corner. At an agreed time, all of the soldiers in the designated area take a five to ten minute “break” at once (although the normal practice is to take breaks in shifts). At that point, armed and masked gunmen, often riding on motorcycles, race down the street and assassinate the intended victim. Shortly after the killing, the soldiers’ break over, they return to their posts to deal with the aftermath. While police investigations are common, they almost never lead to arrests.”

Read the relevant part of the cable below;