VIDEO: HARSHA TELLS LAKSHMAN YAPA TO STOP ‘HIDING’ AND COME DEBATE

November 1, 2013

The United National Party (UNP) today alleged that the government is not attempting to pass a bill in Parliament to legalize casinos but to provides tax breaks for James Packer’s “illegal casino”.

A false conception has been created in the country that the government is attempting to pass a casino bill in Parliament. The government is currently attempting no such thing, UNP MP Dr. Harsha de Silva said. 

He stated that the casino bill was passed in Parliament on November 10, 2010. 

He also said that government Ministers and MPs including the Minister and Deputy Minister of Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs, Minister Patali Champaka Ranawaka, Ellawala Medhananda Thero and Athuraliye Rathana Thero did not vote against the bill. 

For the first time in the history of Sri Lanka a bill for legalizing casinos was presented to Parliament, he said. 

Harsha stated that many inaccurate interpretations are now being made regarding casinos in the country and that the government is attempting to say that a bill was brought in 1988 to legalize casinos. 

“I would like to say, with complete responsibility, that no such thing ever happened. A UNP government has never legalized casinos,” he told reporters in Colombo.   

The MP and economist stated that the only time legislations were prepared to legalize casinos was in 2010, under the Mahinda Rajapaksa government and it is called the ‘Casino Business Regulation Act No. 17 of 2010’. 

He stated that the police are raiding illegal cockfights in villages and arresting large number of people while nothing is being done about the large scale casinos operating in the city without licenses. “Not one of these casinos have a license, why are they not closing them down?”

He also said that Australian gaming tycoon James Packer, addressing the annual conference of his Crown Casino in Australia, had said that the Parliament of Sri Lanka will approve tax benefits for him.  

There is a big difference between the parliament may give him tax breaks versus the parliament will give him tax breaks, Harsha pointed out. 

“That means the Sri Lanka Parliament is not being controlled by the Mahinda Rajapaksa government but by the Casino King in Australia, James Packer.” 

“By inviting people like that to the country they are attempting to create another government within the existing government,” he charged, adding, that in the end the country will be controlled by that government.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has told the Buddhist clergy and the people that he will not give licenses for casinos. We expect him to keep his word, he said. 

However, government ministers such as Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena and Keheliya Rambukwella are now saying that that casinos already exist in the country and that they have licenses and that two such existing casinos will be shut down and shifted to these multistoried casinos, he said. 

Alleging that these statements are false, Harsha asked Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena to “not be afraid” and take part in an open debate with him for the entire country to see. 

The government is not attempting to table a casino bill in parliament and pass it, it is attempting to pass a bill providing tax breaks for an illegal casino, he said.

He asked the government to present the bill to parliament before the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting so that the entire country will be able to see who will vote in favor of the bill. 

He also claimed that the true intention behind the government holding CHOGM is to attract Packer’s casino to the country.

Govt. Spends 15 Million For CHOGM Website Just A Rehash Of Perth 2011: Harsha

November 1, 2013 |

The CHOGM 2013 website that the Government claims costed Rs. 15 million is nothing more than a rehashed version of the website created by the same Australian software firm that designed the website for the Commonwealth meeting in Perth, the Opposition charged yesterday.

Dr. Harsha de Silva

UNP MP Harsha De SIlva said the CHOGM 2013 website was designed by Australian firm Centium Software at a whopping and unprecedented cost.

“All they have done is to change the Perth pictures to Sri Lankan pictures and changed the photographs of the business leaders and officials – and it’s the same thing,” de Silva told reporters earlier today.

It was surreal that the Government had spent this kind of money on a website De Silva said, adding that the proposed Media Centre for the summit had also cost Rs. 800 million.

“The Government is in debt to hotels in Colombo after the infamous IIFA. It spent Rs. 8 billion for its failed bid to host the Commonwealth Games in 2018 in Hambantota,” he charged.

He recalled that senior Government officials who were part of that delegation had danced in a chain at St. Kitts, having a rolicking time at the public’s expense.

“We wonder how much the cost of this show will be,” De Silva said, adding that the Government is yet to reveal anything about expenditure for the Summit in Parliament.

Animal Sacrifice, Leather Products, Liquor And Casinos

By Hameed Abdul Karim -November 1, 2013 

Hameed Abdul Karim

What instantly came to my mind when I read Shenali Waduge’s article on animal sacrifice was a scene from an old movie where we had the fascist Adolf Hitler furiously slamming his desk with his fist, his face  as hideous contorted as you can imagine, saying ‘It is NOT right’. Those words happened to be the title of Waduge’s latest anti Islam tirade in the Daily News (Thursday 17 October, 2013). Not surprisingly the article was timed to coincide with the Muslim festival of Eid ul Adha when Muslims sacrifice cattle or goats to commemorate the selfless act of obedience of the Prophet Abraham (peace be on him) who was asked by God almighty to sacrifice his son Ishmael as a sign of his obedience to Him. When Abraham was about to carry out the command, God almighty, in His mercy, placed a sheep in Ishmael’s place and thus Ishmael was spared and the practice of animal sacrifice to remember the messenger Abraham’s (pboh) obedience began on that day and continues to this day. This practice shall continue till the end of time, God willing….or in sha-Allah, as we Muslims say.  The flesh of the animal sacrificed or slaughtered is distributed among the poor and kith and kin, but mostly among the poor.

Now I know animal sacrifice and slaughter is disliked by some among us and I have no problems with that. I can live with it. Problems crop up when people want to enforce their wish and will on others who toe a different line. This is unbridled fascism and in a multicultural society like Sri Lanka the authorities must ensure that nobody encroaches on each other’s faith and beliefs.

I disagree with Ms. Shenali Waduge, as will all sensible people from all communities in Sri Lanka, when she makes a spurious and xenophobic claim that ‘the so called One Sri Lanka will remain a pipe dream if we suppress the fundamental values of the original indigenous culture….’ She has forgotten that Muslims are also a part of the indigenous culture. We had been here for centuries as history records as I, along other writers, had pointed out in our previous discussions on the halaal issue. There is no point in going over those matters again. Is it Ms. Waduge’s wish that we take a giant leap backwards and go back centuries where we can find that nobody other that the indigenous people the Vedhas lived? If I remember right it was the   Buddha who said ‘nothing is permanent’.                                           Read More

Attempt by chief trustee to sell Mahabodhi India property!

 Friday, 01 November 2013 

The Mahabodhi Society of India has fallen to such low depths in its administration that as the 150th birth anniversary of its founder, Anagarika Dharmapala, is being marked, the Buddhist institution’s chief trustee has attempted to sell its property to settle a court dispute involving him, sources at the institution say.

An Indian court had ordered chief trustee of the Society, Revatha Thera, to pay Indian Rs. 60 million after finding him guilty in a financial fraud. The Thera has told the court to acquire the money by selling the property owned by Mahabodhi Society, saying that he cannot pay the sum personally. However, he cannot act at his will since the property is being administered by a board of trustees.

Revatha Thera was severely condemned some time ago by both the Buddhist clergy and the laity after he had kissed and embraced a female follower.

Ministry up in arms!

Friday, 01 Nov 2013
Members of the Bodu Bala Sena walking towards the heavily- guarded Ministry of Buddha Sasana, to hand over a petition protesting the lack of enthusiasm and to take action against those who engage in harming and degrading Buddhism. Pix by Sanka Vidanagama

 Sri Lankan government told to improve country's image before the international community

Thu, Oct 31, 2013, 10:55 am SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Oct 31, Colombo: Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) says the government should look at improving the country's image before the international community.

UNP spokesperson, parliamentarian Gayantha Karunathilaka said the government was paying much emphasis to the hosting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo next month but the real necessity was for the government to work towards building confidence among members of the international community and to improve the country's image in the international arena.

Addressing a media briefing at the party headquarters on Wednesday, Karunathilaka said that it is the government's failures that have resulted in the Canadian Prime Minister announcing he would not participate in the summit.

According to Karunathilaka, the government is also using the CHOGM summit to ignore the real issues faced by the country.

He accused the government of spending public money to stage mega events like Deyata Kirula and Asian Film Festival and to bloat the image of the politicians.

POLICE ARREST GANG INVOLVED IN 12 ARMED ROBBERIES

November 1, 2013

Four suspects have been arrested over 12 recent large scale armed robberies including the theft of Rs 7.5 million from a garment factory owner in Ja Ela and Rs 35 million in foreign currency and gold in Pettah.

The suspects, Weerasinghe Suneetha, Susil Silva, Prasanna Sanjeewa Kumara and Sanjeewa Mandanayake, were arrested by a team of officers from the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID).

The armed robberies carried out by the gang of robbers include the robbery of Rs 7.5 million from the owner of Polytex Garment in Ja Ela on May 28.

The businessman was returning to the factory with the cash from a private bank when the armed men had stopped him near the factory and stolen the money after threatening him.

They were also involved in robbing foreign currency and gold worth Rs 35 million from a jewelry store in Sea Street, Pettah on August 06. The suspects had used two T56 rifles and a pistol to carry out the robbery, police said.

The suspects are being detained and further interrogated, police said.  

45,000 health workers on strike

By Aisha Nazim-Friday, 01 Nov 2013

Over 45,000 employees in the health sector are on a 24-hour token strike today, claiming that numerous demands pertaining to salary anomalies, increments and allowances have not been addressed by the Ministry of Health, the Health Services Trade Union Alliance (HSTUA) said. 

President of the HSTUA, Saman Ratnapriya, maintained that the unionists were compelled to launch the strike as they are left with no other alternative. Despite the Health Ministry agreeing with the unionists’ demands and accepting that they indeed do have problems, which ought to be resolved, something tangible is yet to be done to resolve the issues.
The unionists met with the Health Ministry authorities on 14 and 28 October, to no avail, Rathnapriya noted.He also said the demands ranged from inadequacies and discrepancies of salary increments to various allowances like communication allowances, transport allowances and overtime payments.

“On 14 October, the Ministry Secretary asked us for a two-week time period to resolve our issues. On 28 October, the Health Minister asked us for an additional two weeks. We refused this request because they can’t keep asking for extensions like that and also because the Secretary has done absolutely nothing over the two-week time period he had asked for,” Rathnapriya said.

Don’t take verbal orders from politicos

Supreme Court tells public servants: 

by S. Venkat Narayan
Our Special Correspondent-October 31, 2013, 12:00 pm

NEW DELHI, October 31: In a path-breaking verdict expected to liberate civil servants in democracies, the Indian Supreme Court said on Thursday civil servants should not act on verbal orders given by political bosses.

A welcome judgment

Editorial-October 31, 2013

In what may be described as a bold move to deliver a troubled bureaucracy from the clutches of unscrupulous politicians, the Indian Supreme Court (SC) has asked public officers not to carry out verbal orders given by their political bosses. Our special correspondent in New Delhi says, in his report, quoting analysts that ‘the apex court of the world's largest democracy is seeking to put an end to frequent transfers of upright civil servants by wily politicians’. Three hearty cheers!

Supreme Court tells Don’t take verbal orders from politicos by nelvely

Fate of Tamil propagandist - new evidence from Sri Lanka

New footage obtained by Channel 4 news shows Tamil journalist Isaipriya alive and held by the Sri Lankan Army, contrary to earlier government reports.

JONATHAN MILLER Foreign Affairs Correspondent-THURSDAY 31 OCTOBER 2013

New video showing the fate of a Tamil propagandist & TV presenter is a stark reminder of Sri Lankan government cruelty. Until now they insisted Is Aipriya died in combat. Warning: distressing images.

Credible Sri Lankan War Crimes Investigation on the Horizon

Karunyan  Arulanantham

10/30/2013 

At the United Nations General Assembly's (UNGA) 68th session in late September, a major stipulation was laid out by UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, Navi Pillay, in reference to the shocking slaughtering of tens of thousands of Sri Lankan Tamil civilians in the spring of 2009.

Given strong evidence that Tamil civilians were killed primarily by government forces -- many in schools, hospitals and government-declared safe zones -- the High Commissioner called upon Sri Lanka to "use the time between now (September 2013) and March 2014 to engage in a credible national process with tangible results, including the successful prosecution of individual perpetrators, in the absence of which [the High Commissioner] believes the international community will have a duty to establish its own inquiry."

Such a strong statement that includes a concrete deadline has been sorely needed, because Sri Lanka has already received more than enough time to address the war crimes allegations through its own internal processes. In May 2009, soon after the fighting ceased, the Government of Sri Lanka and the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, issued a joint statement underlining the importance of an accountability process. But after a full year, the government had failed to keep this commitment. In the face of this inaction, the Secretary-General appointed a Panel of Experts to examine Sri Lanka's compliance. The Panelconcluded the following year there was "credible evidence" that the Government of Sri Lanka (as well as its opponent during the armed conflict, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, or LTTE) had committed breaches of international humanitarian and human rights laws "some of which would amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity."

Now, more than two years after the Panel's report, the High Commissioner visited Sri Lanka for a week this past August and found, unsurprisingly, that nothing had changed. The Sri Lankan government has held no one accountable for the mass atrocities committed over four years ago. This, of course, only stands to reason since the current regime -- headed by President Mahinda Rajapaka and his brothers -- is among the accused for committing the 2009 atrocities.

Would anyone credibly ask Syrian President Assad to investigate his own army's use of chemical weapons? Of course not.

As the last four years have shown, repeated pronouncements by U.S. and numerous other officials recommending that Sri Lanka take proper action have done nothing to bring even the slightest measure of justice for the horrific crimes of 2009. Furthermore, the government continues to harass and kill journalists, allow Christian and Muslim religious communities to be attacked with impunity, confiscate land owned by Tamils, and maintain a massive military presence in Tamil areas, particularly in Sri Lanka's Northern Province. That, in turn, gives rise to sexual assaults, disappearances, and other crimes.

The High Commissioner's latest statement offers, at long last, much more than another request for action that is sure to fall on deaf ears. If the Sri Lankan government fails to act within the next six months, she says, the international community must do what the Sri Lankan government has not and establish an international accountability mechanism for the atrocities that occurred over four years ago.

Such a step would not only help to slow, or even reverse, Sri Lanka's descent into authoritarianism, but more importantly, it would vindicate the basic human rights principles that the international community purports to hold in the highest regard. The Secretary General's Panel of Experts observed that "the conduct of war represented a grave assault on the entire regime of international law designed to protect individual dignity during both war and peace." The international community cannot credibly condemn the mass killings in Syria, the Congo, and elsewhere while it continues to turn a blind eye to Sri Lanka's own atrocities of 2009. The High Commissioner's statement, and in particular, her fixed timeline, represent an important step in the right direction. Now the international community must prepare to follow through and show the world that its commitment to accountability for massive human rights violations is more than empty rhetoric.

Sara Refuse To Participate In De Facto CJ Appointment FR Case Because Bench Fixed By Respondent Mohan Pieris

October 31, 2013 

The Centre for Policy Alternatives and Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, who had petitioned the Supreme Court by a fundamental rights case FR No. 23/2013 directly challenging Mohan Pieris‘ de facto appointment and operating as Chief Justice, refused to participate in the case when it was taken up today (30.10.2013) in the afternoon.

Dr Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu - Co-Convenor CMEV

This was in protest at Pieris (6th respondent in the case) appointing a special bench of 5 judges, without all judges being required to hear the case. The counsel who appeared for CPA had withdrawn from appearing any more in the case, after the 5 selected judges (S. Marsoof, Chandra Ekanayake, Sathya Hettige, Shanthi Eva Wanasundera and Rohini Marasinghe) backed away from taking a stand that only if all judges are allowed to try the case without Pieris making any selection of judges.

When the case was taken up, counsel Viran Corea appearing with Luwie Ganeshathasan instructed by Namal Rajapakse informed to the court that they are appearing today only to inform court that the CPA and Dr. Saravanamuttu will not be party to such proceedings, where bench fixing is done against natural justice. Court was informed of this position in the motion filed by the petitioners on 18.09.2013.

Colombo Telegraph is able to reveal today that the motion informed court of the following facts and the reasons for the petitioners losing faith in the controversial process:

WHEREAS a five-member bench of Your Lordships’ Court that was constituted by the 6th Respondent was disinclined to have steps taken to secure determination of this application by a full bench;

AND WHEREAS Learned Counsel for the Petitioners withdrew from making submissions in respect of the subject matter of this application after seeking leave of Your Lordships’ Court for same, on the basis that it is inconsistent with the Principles of Natural Justice and improper for the 6th Respondent in this case who has a personal interest in this case to nominate certain Hon Members of Your Lordships’ Court to hear this case leaving out others, which fact was intimated to Your Lordships’ Court in Open Court on the last date;

AND WHEREAS consequently, in the totality of the aforesaid circumstances, the Petitioners are placed in a position where they do not wish to participate in the further disposal of this matter, which pertains inter alia to vital issues affecting integrity of judicial process;

I respectfully MOVE to inform Your Lordships’ Court that the Petitioners do not with great respect, wish to participate in the further disposal of this application in the given premises.

A copy of this Motion has been sent by registered post to the Attorney General and the Attorney-at-Law appearing on behalf of the 3rd and 5th Respondents and the registered post article receipts are attached hereto in proof of same.

On this 18th day of September 2013

Attorney at Law for the Petitioners

In this situation with the petitioners and their counsels refusing to participate, Attorney General Palitha Fernando and a team of lawyers from AG’s Department asked the judges to dismiss the case. He urged that the Supreme Court doesn’t have the power to try the case and to dismiss it without looking into the merits of the case.

The judges said they will make their order later without a date being given (called as ‘order reserved’).

Senior lawyers and law academics contacted by Colombo Telegraph who asked not to be named, said that any order dismissing the case by a bench handpicked by the 6th respondent in the case would be illegal according to basic legal principles.

US, South Korean ambassadors meet Wigneswaran in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 October 2013, 23:50 GMT]
The US Ambassador in Colombo, Michele Sison, visited Jaffna Wednesday to greet the newly elected Northern Provincial Council (NPC) Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran in the presence of media at a photo session at the Chief Minister's residence. The US Ambassador told the journalists in Jaffna that the NPC election was a ‘big milestone’ for the people of the Northern province. The provincial administration under unitary and genocidal Sri Lanka, set up in Jaffna by Indo-US ‘strategic partnership,’ focuses on every inroad it could make without conceding any of the fundamental aspirations of Eezham Tamils, commented political observers in Jaffna, adding that the picture is becoming increasingly clear that the Tamil struggle has to be now waged directly against Washington and New Delhi. 



“This is my first call on Honourable Chief Minister in Jaffna, of course we have met many times in Colombo, Sir. We have discussed the many challenges that the Chief Minister and his ministers are now facing in bringing solutions to many requirements and needs. [...] We discussed livelihood and we discussed land issues, she said. 

“I briefed the Chief Minister on a number of projects we are undertaking here in the North, Sir. A 12 million dollar USAID project focused on livelihood, poultry, dairy, vegetable gardening and assessed some 5,000 families over the next two years, particularly women-headed households, Sir.”

“I briefed the Chief Minister on our expansion of our English-language training programs as well as assistance at Jaffna University through our Fulbright program.

“I look forward to many more meetings up here, Sir. I do believe that we can partner with you and your provincial council to support your endeavours up here Sir.

“Of course, we agree with you that a united democratic Sri Lanka in which all citizens can live in dignity and in prosperity is the goal of all of us as international partners of Sri Lanka, with your support Sir,” Ms Michele said thanking Mr Wigneswaran in the presence of the media. 

When the journalists asked on whether they discussed about the houses being demolished by the SL military in Valikaamam North, the US Ambassador wanted Mr Wigneswaran to respond to media. 

The Chief Minister said he had explained certain issues to the US Ambassador. “But, this is a political matter which has to be taken up with Sri Lankan Government [implying it was an internal affair]. We can't achieve anything by talking about this to foreign officials. But, I have explained that such things are taking place,” he said. “She can't express any opinion on this matter,” he said adding that he had contacted Mr Sampanthan the day before yesterday and asked to take up the matter with the Sri Lankan President. 

The genocidal war that was waged against the nation of Eezham Tamils by 30+ Establishments led by the USA, and the ongoing structural genocide, are not internal affairs. The USA, now hiding behind Wigneswaran to respond to the question of structural genocide, never cared the responses of hundreds of thousands Tamils when the war designed by it ended in genocide, commented Tamil activists for alternative politics in Jaffna. 

When a reporter asked Mr Wigneswaran whether he has received any invitation to take part in the CHOGM, Mr Wignesweran responded: “No such invitation had come so far. Only papers have written about this. Perhaps we may receive invitations. Let us see. We will think about it when it comes.” 

Mr Wigneswaran described the visit by the US Ambassador as a positive signal for ‘people-to-people’ relationship between the people of Northern Province and the people of the USA. 

The South Korean Ambassador Jongmoon Choi also visited Jaffna on Wednesday and promised assistance in the fields of vocational training and livelihood projects. Mr Jongmoon Choi said that the CM had asked about Korea providing employment opportunities for the youth in North in South Korea and said he had promised to arrange Korean language instructors to be present in Jaffna to provide Korean language training to the youth so that they can seek job opportunities in the Republic of Korea.

“Unlikely to go to CHOGM”: Wigneswaran

October 30, 2013  

• No official invitation to address CHOGM despite media reports, says Chief Minister
• By Dharisha Bastians in Jaffna
  Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran is unlikely to make an appearance at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting that will get underway in Colombo next month, but his party will steer clear of calling for an Indian boycott of the summit.
  Speaking to the Daily FT at his office in Jaffna, the Chief Minister said despite media reports, there was no official invitation yet from the Government for him to attend or speak at the summit.
  “I do not think I will be going,” Wigneswaran cautiously noted, adding that he would be guided by the TNA decision on his attendance at the summit.
  “I will ask the TNA to advise me on whether or not to attend CHOGM. I will go along with the party’s decision,” the Chief Minister said. TNA Leader R. Sampanthan on a recent visit to Chennai had made it clear that while the Tamil alliance was grateful for the solidarity from Tamil Nadu but stopped short of calling for a boycott of the summit in Colombo by the Indian Prime Minister, Wigneswaran added.
  “Who are we to ask him not to come?” he said. TNA General Secretary Marvai Senathirajah announced last Saturday (26) that the party would boycott the summit and its Chief Minister would not be in attendance. However, when the dates for the next Northern Provincial Council session were being finalised last Friday afternoon after the inaugural sitting, the date was reportedly set for 11 November because the Chief Minister may be at the summit from 15-17 November, Council sources said.  TNA Constituent allies are vehemently opposed to the TNA participating in CHOGM but Senathirajah claimed the party would meet foreign delegations on the sidelines of the event.

TNA to submit HR report to British PM

Wigneswaran Invites Indian PM To Jaffna; Manmohan Likely At CHOGM

October 31, 2013 

As controversy over the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh‘s attendance at the CHOGM in Colombo continues Northern Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran invited the Indian head of government to visit Jaffna after the TNA’s victory in the provincial polls.

In a letter to Dr. Singh dated Monday (28) Chief Minister Wigneswaran thanked the Prime Minister and India for “persuading the Sri Lankan government” to hold the Northern Province elections under the 13th Amendment, The Hindu newspaper reported.

Manmohan Singh

The Chief Minister told the Indian Prime Minister that he had won the elections in the province by a “sizeable majority.”

“Basically, Mr. Wigneswaran would like Dr. Singh to engage both in Colombo and Jaffna. This also shows that Sri Lanka’s Tamil community wants India to remain engaged on issues important to them such as national reconciliation, political devolution of power and resettlement of the displaced,” The Hindu said quoting official sources.

Meanwhile another Indian newspaper reported this morning (31) that following a meeting of the Congress Party high officials last night a decision had been reached that the Indian PM would travel to Sri Lanka for the summit.

“In taking a bold decision to go to Colombo despite political sentiments in Tamil Nadu, the PM has prioritized the need to ensure India does not lose vital clout with the Sri Lankan government allow other powers like China to gain stronger leverage,” the Times of India newspaper reported from New Delhi.

The newspaper said that while not travelling to Sri Lanka will be read as a severe snub to the island nation and can harm India’s goodwill severely, the government is also leaning on the reported support of Chief minister C V Wigneswaran for the PM attending the CHOGM.

PM may travel to Colombo, DMK warns of 'consequences'

All India | Edited by Deepshikha Ghosh | Updated: November 01, 2013

New Delhi:  The Prime Minister is likely to attend a Commonwealth summit in Colombo this month, ignoring a collective demand from parties in Tamil Nadu to boycott the event to protest against Sri Lanka's alleged war crimes against ethnic Tamils.

Sources in the Prime Minister's Office say that the Foreign Affairs Ministry believes that the PM should attend the conclave which brings together all leaders of Commonwealth nations.  

M Karunanidhi, the chief of the DMK, a regional party which quit the PM's coalition in March, warned today that if Dr Manmohan Singh attends the conclave, "his party has to face the consequences."

The Tamil Nadu state assembly had adopted a resolution urging that the PM skip the event.  He said recently, "Will consider the sentiments of the Tamil people."
 
Union Shipping Minister G K Vasan, who belongs to the Congress, met with the PM today and urged him to miss the Colombo session.

The DMK and the Congress partnered in Tamil Nadu to fight the last two national elections together. Mr Karunanidhi pulled out of the union government after India refused to accuse Sri Lanka of genocide in the final months of its civil war in 2009. Parties in Tamil Nadu say the island's Tamil population was subjected to atrocities by the defence forces that won a decades-long civil war against the rebel Tamil Tigers.

Cameron to meet Tamil Diaspora in UK ahead of CHOGM

 Thursday, 31 October 2013 

British Prime Minister David Cameron is to meet members of the Tamil Diaspora in the UK to discuss the situation in Sri Lanka and Tamil concerns ahead of the Commonwealth Head of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo next month.

The meeting is to take place at No. 10, Downing Street on November 7th.

Cameron has confirmed participation at the CHOGM summit in Colombo, but has said he would use the opportunity to raise concerns the international community has on Sri Lanka.

Foreign Secretary William Hague, Minister of State Hugo Swire and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office Alistair Burt will also participate at the meeting on the 7th.

The Tamil Diaspora will be represented by the Global Tamil Forum (GTF), British Tamil Forum (BTF), Tamils Against Genocide (TAG), British Tamil Conservatives (BTC), Tamils for Labour and Tamil Co-ordinating committee(TCC).

During Cameron’s visit to the North, he will also donate 10,000 Sterling Pounds towards the Jaffna library as a goodwill gesture.

GR welcomes Cameron’s planned Jaffna visit

By Shamindra Ferdinando-October 30, 2013, 9:58 pm 

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday said those campaigning for an international war crimes tribunal against Sri Lanka would try to exploit British Premier David Cameron’s forthcoming visit to the Jaffna peninsula next month.

The UK premier’s visit would be a platform for the human rights groups as well as the LTTE rump to reiterate unsubstantiated allegations against the army during the last few weeks of a 30-year war, the Defence Secretary told The Island.

Premier Cameron is due here to lead the UK delegation for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). Head of the Commonwealth, the Queen will be represented by Prince Charles.

Asked whether he felt uneasy about international media attention being drawn to Jaffna, a smiling Rajapaksa said that the British Premier as well as any other Commonwealth leader, interested in visiting the Jaffna peninsula or any other part of the Vanni region, could do so. Recollecting attempts at the end of war to depict the peninsula as an open prison camp, the Defence Secretary said that nothing could be as beneficial to Sri Lanka as Premier Cameron’s visit.

The Defence Secretary said: "Since the conclusion of the conflict in May 2009, many  international figures had visited the Jaffna peninsula and the Vanni. United Nations Human Rights Commissioner, Navanethem Pillay recently flew to Jaffna, stayed there overnight and then drove along the A9 to Iranamdu airfield for a special flight to China bay. We believe such international visits could help us counter lies propagated by the LTTE rump and a section of the media. Western leaders can see the actual ground situation for themselves in the Northern Province. "

Delegations visiting Jaffna will utilise the Palaly airfield geared to handle both military and commercial flights.

Noting that the UK had sent back over 1,000 Sri Lankans since the conclusion of the conflict, the Defence Secretary said that the British delegation and the accompanying media would be able to examine whether there were any push factors for people to seek political asylum abroad.

The Defence Secretary urged the foreign media to inquire into the rehabilitation of ex-LTTE combatants. Emphasising that Sri Lanka’s success in reintegrating into society those who had once fought for a terrorist organisation was unique, the Defence Secretary said that the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) could furnish them with data relating to the ongoing project as the UN agency, too, was involved in the process.

The former Commanding Officer of the First battalion of the Gajaba Regiment (IGR) said that the use of children as cannon fodder by the LTTE had continued until last few weeks of the conflict. The Defence Secretary recollected the LTTE going ahead with the forcible recruitment of children even after signing an agreement with the UN to do away with the despicable practice way back in May 1998. "Child soldiers remained an issue until the eradication of the LTTE in May 2009. Since then, there hasn’t been a single case of child recruitment. Those who had remained mum when children were thrown into battle and civilians used as human shields are now pushing Commonwealth nations to boycott the Colombo summit," the Defence Secretary said.

He said that those visiting the Northern Province would be surprised to note the progress made in de-mining since the end of the war. Appreciating the support extended by foreign governments and NGOs, the Defence Secretary said the de-mining project spearheaded by the Sri Lankan military was rapidly coming to an end.

The Defence Secretary expressed satisfaction that the government had been able to pave the way for the setting up of the first Northern Provincial Council ahead of the Commonwealth summit. "I hope the British delegation will appreciate the efforts made by Sri Lanka to restore normalcy in the Jaffna peninsula. In accordance with the post-war security strategy, the strength of the army deployed in the peninsula is down to 15,000. At the height of the conflict, the army maintained 45,000 personnel there," he said.