Bribery Commission receives 111 complaints against public representatives

 Wednesday, 04 December 2013

 

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has received 111 complaints this year against parliamentarians, provincial councillors and local government members.

Chairman of the Commission, Jagath Balapatabendi has that nine complaints were against parliamentarians and the rest of the complaints were against provincial councillors and local government members.

The CIABOC has commenced investigations into the complaints and the Chairman has noted that the highest number of persons arrested by the Commission following investigations is government officers, which totals to around 99 percent of the persons arrested.

Labourers hand over inventory of Hula’s room to police!

 Wednesday, 04 December 2013 

 

Following a presidential order to immediately handover to his media unit the building at Kollupitiya where the now defunct Media Centre for National Security had been housed, the entire building was cleared up by labourers today (03).

During the clearing up, the military personnel who had been serving at the MCNS had taken away the documents pertaining to the Army, Navy and the Air Force. Later, the labourers opened the official room of MCNS director general Lakshman Hulugalle and made an inventory and handed over the document to chief inspector Tyronne Silva.

Through that inventory, police and the labourers had comprehended to what extent the DG had been committed to national security. In addition to the routine documents, there were 16 empty packets of Viagra, a woman’s undergarment with white flowers in a maroon coloured background, a bottle of lipsticks, a woman’s brush and spent tissues, which they had found behind a cupboard and had not included in the inventory.

In front of everyone, CI Tyronne Silva put all these into a separate bag and sealed it, saying, “Although these were found in the DG’s room, they could have belonged to someone else. I will send these to him.” In reply, one of the labourers said, “Yes sir, the DG does not wear women’s undergarments. Good that it is sent to the DG to hand it over to the owner.”

Customs seize Rs. 82 million worth of Ethanol

Wednesday, 04 Dec 2013
The Sri Lanka Customs today recovered 74480 Liters of Ethanol from a container yard in Orugodawatha.


The Ethanol which was in 392 barrels were confiscated by the Customs while investigations are underway.


The Ethanol is estimated t be worth Rs. 82 million, while the profit the government had lost from tax evasion due to the barrels being brought illegally is estimated at Rs. 112 million, Customs Officials said.

Good bye my Gurudewa…

pic: facebook.com/dssc.tamil
December 1, 2013, 11:01 pm 

"The light has gone out of our lives, and there is darkness everywhere". This is exactly what I felt when I heard the sad news of our beloved Gurudewa’s passing away just within a few hours of my landing in Sri Lanka. The words I quoted were those of Pundit Nehru, which he uttered spontaneously on hearing of the death of Mahatma Gandhi.

I who had planned to visit Sir, the next morning and spend some time with him was only left with his lifeless but still warm body. I was only able to bid adieu and worship at his lifeless feet and give thanks for making a man out of a little boy. He was a colossus of an influence on my life for which I am eternally thankful. I had hoped to hold his hand and reminisce the golden days of ‘DS’ and to receive even a flicker of response if not a smile. I had hoped to once again recite the memorable little poem "Ooranta meeyanta haranta my hith …." which was the challenge thrown at us DS boys by the late President Premadasa at a prize day many years back which he religiously made me recite whenever we met, and responded with a hearty laugh. However, in this instance I did not expect such an exuberant response but earnestly hoped for one last warm twinkle of a smile. But all my hopes were dashed, yet thankfully had the relief of being with his family sharing this unfathomable grief.

Waves and waves of mourners were pouring into the dead of night after hearing of the demise of Mr. R.I.T. Alles which was spreading like a wild fire not only throughout Sri Lanka but gone viral worldwide. I watched this throng… faces contorted with grief, sympathizing with Mrs Alles, Harsha and Tiran aiyah. Mrs Alles whom I fondly call "the first lady of DS" was the strength behind this great man. She took care of the family affairs with efficiency and military precision, giving our Gurudewa all the time and freedom to found and nurture our Alma Mater from virtually nothing, to a great seat of learning. Today as she received the mourners I could see the strength and the resolve that sustained the family, draining away. After all, her beloved life’s partner of more than fifty years had finally left her. The two sons and their spouses Lydia and Dinali who looked after Sir with such love and devotion were now broken and inconsolable. Watching these scenes unveil, it dawned on me that a most important chapter of my life had come to an end. This undoubtedly is a watershed in my life, where I felt orphaned and robbed of my moral compass.

For once lost for words, I yet again turned to Pundit Nehru "we will not run to him for advice and seek solace from him, and that is a terrible blow". Indeed he was there for us like a giant Banyan (Nuga) tree to seek shelter, advice and solace during turbulent times. I consoled myself with the thought that he will speak to me from heavens above in his inimitable tender voice and direct me in the correct path. Oh how I yearn to hear you call me "putha" just one last time…

As I dwell deeply in to the past, my first encounter with Sir unveiled before me. It is so vivid after all these years that for a moment I once again felt like a five year old boy. This memorable day was way back in 1969 when our Gurudewa returned home after completing a scholarship from The University of Cambridge. Earlier that year I was admitted to DS by the amiable Mr. Karunarathne who deputized for him. I still remember that buzz in school when everyone was excited with the news "Sir is back". I was a little boy in grade 1B of Mrs. Rajasinghe and remember vividly taking a peek outside from my class. I was impatient to have a glimpse of this man who seemed to command so much respect with such awe. I saw a tall man with a chiseled and impressive jaw line, walking ramrod straight with a warm smile. To me he was a Dark Prince. He was suave and moved among the crowd with confidence and ease. He made such an impact on me that day though it never occurred then that he was about to play such a pivotal role in my life. Mr. R.I.T. Alles Sir’ to all his DS sons, became a monumental influence in my life for the next half a century.

When I looked at the gaunt but serene lifeless face of my Gurudewa I was teleported back to our first prize giving where Sir, in his youthful handsome self was hosting the Chief Guest, then Prime Minister Mrs Bandaranaike. These were the first glory days of DS. Our forward march was unstoppable with the dynamic Mr. Alles at the helm. DS was going from strength to strength and becoming a power to reckon with. We were basking in the glory of achievement in every field and suddenly every parent wished their son to be a part of this success story.

We carried on until we were given a deadly blow, when the then minister of education decided to send our Gurudewa packing home. The fledgling school was shaken to its foundation and became a rudderless ship. This was the beginning of the dark era of DS, which lasted for many years. However, Mr. Alles, as the proverbial phoenix managed to come back home to us during President Premadasa’s watch. Once reinstated, Sir started rebuilding and reshaping his beloved DS from many years of neglect and decay. Finally after xx years his stint at DS came to an end when President Premadasa observing his unlimited energy and talent in the field of education, head hunted him to steer national education for the benefit of millions. As my Gurudewa’s love of Sri Lankan youth was unmatched, President Premadasa once again selected him with other intellectuals to form the youth commission to probe into the root causes of the bloody youth uprising of the late 80s.

In a more personal note, it suddenly occurred to me that Sir had shared the most important milestones in my life. Needless to say, Sir was by my side at my graduation. Next to my family, he was the one I had to get blessings and approval from when I decided on my life’s partner. With his blessings and unbridled approval my wife proudly joined the legion of "DS daughters". The day I became a father, Sir was present to bless our little Mahari and since then became Ralph Seeya to our children. I think of his last visit to the UK with much affection. Sir and aunty Rohini spent a few delightful and memorable days in Warrick with my family. While going for a walk with Thusith, a much loved DS son, we got him to climb over a stile which he did gamely and jocularly complained that the "golayas" got the "gura" to jump over fences. Those were restful days for both of them spent in the idyllic British country side away from the usual hustle and bustle that they are accustomed to.

Coming out of my reverie I look at the mourners passing by, I notice that it’s a mixed bag of humanity belonging to all races and religions. They are Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and Burghers with eyes reddened with tears all coming for the love of one great soul who taught us that "irrespective of race and religion we are the children of Mother Lanka". The great visionary he was, foresaw the impending disaster that was to tear this beautiful island home of ours asunder with racial and religious disharmony. He preached the gospel of tolerance and racial amity. He drilled in to our collective psyche that Sri Lanka was indeed a multicultural, multi -racial and multi religious country which equally belonged to us all. Racial discord was never encouraged amongst us. His constant mantra was inter racial harmony. We gradually realized that we were one big family of brothers who revelled and rejoiced in the beauty of diversity. Being an able bi-linguist he addressed us in school in fluent Sinhala and English while Mr. Thamotharampillai or Mr. Ajward did a simultaneous Tamil translation. During his watch we had head prefects from all racial and religious backgrounds purely selected on merit. Therefore we were fortunate to have Sujeewa Alwis, K Sriparam and Mohideen Cader whom we could be proud of and look up to. Sriparam and Hussein Jayah also led the Western Band with much aplomb. To my mind this is Gurudewa’s legacy to us. His dream was for a united Sri Lanka where people of all races and religions flourished in harmony. And to achieve this dream, he appealed to our uncorrupted little minds from our formative years.

If we are to perpetuate his name and legacy one should work towards realizing his dream of a united Sri Lanka. To be a true disciple of Gurudewa Alles is to shed all parochialism from one’s self and extend a hand of friendship and love to those from other races and religions and to treat Sri Lanka as a multi cultural nation. That was his dream and hope to his last breath.

Beloved Gurudewa, may your journey through samsara be short and sweet and may you soon attain the supreme bliss of Nirvana!

DR THUSHARA RODRIGO

thushara.rodrigo@meht.nhs.uk

Corruption on rise in Middle East

Corruption is increasing in some Middle East countries according to a new report

03 DECEMBER 2013

Corruption is getting worse in three Middle Eastern countries that underwent Arab Spring uprisings partly prompted by public desire to end shady dealings, according to an international watchdog group.

Transparency International cited continuing political instability in Yemen, Syria and Libya for the rise in corruption.

On a scale where zero is highly corrupt and 100 very clean, Yemen's rating fell five points to 18, Syria dropped nine points to 17, and Libya was down six points to 15. Iraq, still reeling from the effects of the 2003 invasion, also dropped from 18 to 16.

The group's annual Corruption Perceptions Index ranks more than four-fifths of countries in the Middle East below 50. Countries in the region scored an average 37, below the global average of 43.

"Imagine what it takes for a country to root out corruption - it always takes institutions with people in them who have levels of integrity and a system of independent oversight," said Christoph Wilcke, Transparency's director for Middle East and North Africa. "In conflict situations, all of that goes out of the window right away."

With the overthrow of Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh last year, the lawlessness that followed led to an expansion of corruption in army, police and government agencies.

In Libya, bribery and embezzlement were common under slain dictator Gaddafi's 42-year rule. But the collapse of his government in an uprising supported by a Western bombing campaign has done little to root out corruption.

Last year, for example, Prime Minister Ali Zidan revealed that a monthly stipend for rebels who fought Gaddafi's regime was paid out to 250,000 duplicated names - meaning Libya may have handed out hundreds of millions of dollars extra until the programme was halted.

And in Syria with the ongoing civil war, smuggling, bribe paying and other issues have increased with the breakdown of state order.

Egypt's score remained unchanged at 32, but Mr Wilcke noted that the report was based primarily on surveys from the first half of the year before the turmoil that ensued after the military removed president Mohammed Morsi in July.

The index measures the perception of corruption in the public sector. Mr Wilcke said that there is a general feeling of corruption across the board in the Middle East, including police, judiciary, and government procurement offices.

Sri Lanka's forces accused of massacring aid workers

ACF published photos of the victims
3 December 2013

A French charity has accused Sri Lanka's security forces of killing 17 of its aid workers in 2006, and demanded an international inquiry.

Action Against Hunger (ACF) said it had been awaiting the outcome of Sri Lanka's own inquiries but they had turned into a "farce".

The workers were found shot dead at their office in the town of Muttur.

A Sri Lankan military spokesman rejected ACF's allegations, suggesting the charity had withheld evidence.

ACF said its workers had been lined up, forced to kneel and each shot in the head.

The killings happened as security forces took control of Muttur, while fighting Tamil Tiger rebels.

Other allegations of war crimes overshadowed a Commonwealth summit held in Sri Lanka this month.

Names and photos

Human rights activists have previously accused Sri Lanka's security forces of the killings but ACF said it had held off, awaiting the official version of events.

It then decided to publicly denounce the perpetrators because "relevant domestic mechanisms have been exhausted, witnesses have been silenced and the internal Sri Lankan investigation has become a farce".

According to ACF's report, all of the alleged victims were Tamils. They are listed by name, along with their photographs.

ACF said it had lost contact with its mission in Muttur at around 7am on 4 August 2006, as fighting raged around it.

A few days later, the 17 staff members were found dead.

"Lined up inside the ACF compound, they had been shot dead at close range...," the report says.

"Staying away from direct hostilities, ACF staff were not killed by stray bullets. They were deliberately targeted, despite the fact that they were wearing white ACF T-shirts and were not armed."

Soldiers and police then attempted to block any investigation into the deaths, according to the charity's report.

Army denial

The charity said it was not giving the names of the killers as the report was not meant to replace a judicial inquiry.

Sri Lankan military spokesman Brig Ruwan Wanigasooriya said that withholding alleged evidence instead of releasing it in support of the government's investigation raised suspicion about the group's motives.

"This is another instance of a pattern which has emerged since the end of the conflict where certain organisations level allegations against the government without providing sufficient details to enable an investigation," he said.

The full death toll from the country's civil war, which ended after 26 years in 2009 with a government victory, is unknown.

Some 70,000 people had been killed by the time the conflict entered its furious final months, when the UN believes that tens of thousands may have died.

The Degradation Of The Tamil Cause And The Indo-Lanka Accord

By Rajan Hoole -December 3, 2013 |

Rajan Hoole

The Rise and Fall of the Tamil Militancy and the International Legal Implications of the Government’s Counter-Insurgency – Part 6

Jockeying for Succession 

1984found militarism riding a crest. As a very ambitious national security minister, Athulath mudali’s semantic talents were given a full range of application. For the first time, he was almost hogging the newspaper headlines. The Colombo media evinced nothing but adulation for him. His reasoning was very similar to that behind the PTA and the Emergency Regulations. How much real power he had would be a matter of conjecture. Judging from Gunaratne’s book, Ravi Jayewardene’s group had little enthusiasm for him. In a way he was performing for the Government, the role assigned to the political wing leader Anton Balasingam by the LTTE – viz., to explain the actions of the military wing.

Lalith Athulathmudali’s speech to school-leavers at Sangamitta Girls High School, Galle, in early October 1984 is revealing: “When one is in the thick of a battle, one cannot pause to consider who is responsible for a particular attack. Anyone whose life is threatened and is faced with the prospect of death, has the right to determine how he should act in such circumstances… One politician asked me if innocent people were being killed by the Navy in the surveillance zone. I requested this politician to come aboard one of the naval vessels and try to determine whether a particular boat or vessel detected on the high seas was manned by terrorists or innocent people” (Sun and Island 2.10.84).

It explained also the Army’s practice at that time. Anyone sighted by the Army after a militant attack was a legitimate target. Massacres of Tamil civilians had become the order of the day. April 1984, the month after Athulathmudali was made National Security Minister saw increased confrontations in Jaffna, which left over a hundred Tamil civilians killed in indiscriminate firing by the Army. In mid- August, Valvettithurai was shelled from the sea. In early September 16 civilians were killed in a Police rampage near Point Pedro after 4 policemen were killed in a landmine attack in Thickham. The Hartley College library and science laboratory were burnt. A few days later a Jaffna-bound passenger bus was hijacked by army personnel at Rambewa between Anuradhapura and Vavuniya, taken along the Mannar Road and the passengers were fired at. The 60-year-old driver and 14 passengers were killed. 31 others escaped, some with injuries.

This followed the killing of 8 soldiers in Mullaitivu. During early December 1984, 9 soldiers were injured in a landmine blast in Uyilankulam, and following this, soldiers ran amok killing about 100 civilians between Chemmantivu and Uyilankulam.                                     Read More

To be continued..

*From Rajan Hoole‘s “Sri Lanka: Arrogance of Power  - Myth, Decadence and Murder”. Thanks to Rajan for giving us permission to republish. To read earlier parts click here

UN special rapporteur visiting war displaced in Sri Lanka

[ Tuesday, 03 December 2013, 05:52.27 AM GMT +05:30 ]

The UN special envoy on human rights of internally displaced persons has arrived in Sri Lanka to examine the status of people rendered homeless by the country’s three-decade civil war.

Chaloka Beyani, UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, said he intended to meet all stakeholders during his five-day visit. “I will gather first-hand information from all parties, including displaced persons and affected communities themselves,” he said. “I will also look at the challenges and opportunities for durable solutions for IDPs, while I discuss the progress made with regard to their protection and assistance.” He will visit the former war-torn districts of Jaffna and Mullaithivu in the Tamil-dominated north. Most of the nearly 300,000 people displaced by the war with the LTTE, that ended in 2009, came from the north. Beyani will meet representatives from the government, civil society and the UN. He will also visit various sites of displacement and meet displaced persons and local authorities. He will present preliminary observations through a written statement shortly after the end of his mission while a full report will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in June 2014, PTI reports.

Hijacked justice? Truth and reconciliation in Sri Lanka

NIRAN ANKETELL 3 December 2013

After decades of civil war, Sri Lanka is looking to South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission to provide a model for post-conflict justice. But will this work in Sri Lanka, or will it lead to impunity for war criminals?

As the dust settles on the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Colombo, the press has reported that Sri Lanka may be considering the establishment of a South Africa style Truth and Reconciliation Commission with the assistance of the Commonwealth and South African government.

Hijacked Justice Truth and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka by nelvely

Violent Buddhist monk defies civil administration, steps up Sinhalicisation in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 December 2013, 23:46 GMT]
The Chief Incumbent of Buddhist temple in Batticaloa, Ven. Ampitiye Sumanarathana Thera, who behaved violently at Ma'nmunai South-West (Paddippazhai) Divisional Secretariat, threatening the Tamil Divisional Secretary Ms Vilvaratnam continues the Sinhalicisation project at Batticaloa – Ampaa’rai border village, Kevu’liyaamadu, with the backing of the occupying Sri Lankan military. In the meantime, more Sinhalese were being brought into Kevu'liyaa-madu to occupy Tamil lands, civil sources in Batticaloa said. 

After grabbing lands for the construction of a Buddist vihara at Suvaami-malai village within the Paddippazhai division, the monk has been illegally constructing a Buddhist vihara at the ancient Tamil village. 

The construction of the vihara has been going on for more than 2 years despite the repeated complaints by the people of the village and their representatives. 

When the monk had sent an application to register the Buddhist vihara with the divisional secretariat, the divisional secretary urged the management of the vihara to submit original land deeds for the disputed land where the vihara is situated. 

Then the monk came to the Divisional Secretariat on Wednesday and staged a violent scene inside the office of the Divisional Secretary and threatened her to proceed with the registration. The violent monk caused damage to the computer, telephone, fax machine and the stationary at her desk before leaving the secretariat. 

The Vihara is situated between Thaanthaamalai and Kachchatkodi at Suvami-malai village in Paddippazhai division. 

Suvaami-malai village is about 90 square km in extent and 253 Tamil families of 1057 persons lived there in 1985 when the SL military began attacking the villagers. 

Following the war, Colombo’s Buddhist monk and the occupying SL military started to Sinhalicise the area, setting up housing scheme at grazing land, chasing out the cattle of Tamil farmers. Despite the instruction by the divisional secretariat to vacate the public lands, the occupying settlers continue to stay there with the backing of the SL military.

The United National envoy visits Jaffna hold separate discussions with CM and Governor

[ Tuesday, 03 December 2013, 02:10.57 PM GMT +05:30 ]

The United National envoy on human rights of internally displaced personals, Chaloka Beyani paid special visit to Jaffna today.

During his five days visit to SriLanka envoy schedule to visit various parts of the island and will hold discussions with various officials. UN envoy has hold separate discussions with Northern Governor Maj. G.A.Chandrasiri and Northern Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran. Chaloka directly visited IDP camps in the northern province and questioned people on their problems. UN envoy will submit complete report on his tour to SriLanka at UNHRC session schedule on June, 2014. (2nd lead) UN special rapporteur on human rights of internally displaced persons met Northern Chief Minister UN special rapporteur on human rights of internally displaced persons met Northern Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran this afternoon. During the time of discussions CM clearly stressed out the importance of withdrawing military personals from the Northern Province. CM said it’s necessary to withdraw military personals from north if not Tamil people cannot lead an independent life in their soil. Northern Provincial Council member Anandhi Sasidharan was also present at this meeting. Furthermore CM briefed UN envoy on land garbing in the Valigamam North, Mannar, Killinochchie, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya districts. UN envoy paid special attention on human rights violations, basic problems face by internally displaced persons in the country and also on disappeared personals.

Losing Game In Sri Lanka

By R Hariharan -December 3, 2013

Col. (retd) R.Hariharan

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh cancelled his Sri Lanka visit for the Commonwealth summit that concluded last week due to political pressure from Tamil parties. Is it a serious diplomatic error on the part of the UPA Government? Should regional parties decide India’s foreign policy? How will it impact the India-Sri Lanka ties?

Why did Prime Minister Manmohan Singh choose to stay away from the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) that concluded last week in Colombo? Was it a gesture to save the political fortunes of the Congress in Tamil Nadu after a vigorous campaign against CHOGM was whipped up? Was it an attempt to register India’s solidarity with international protests against Sri Lanka’s alleged war crimes and human rights violations during the Eelam War? Or, was it to show his unhappiness at President Mahinda Rajapaksa not keeping up his promises to implement the 13th Amendment in full and resume the political process with Tamils? There are no answers, only deafening silence.

None of these reasons seem to have figured in the Prime Minister’s letter informing Rajapaksa of his decision to stay away from CHOGM. It would be unfair to hold the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) responsible for the CHOGM mess; the MEA was clear that India should attend the meeting. In fact, External Affairs MinisterSalman Khurshid’s vocal support for attending CHOGM drew protests from fringe elements in Tamil Nadu. So not attending the meeting was clearly a decision of the Prime Minister, regardless of the speculation on how it came about.

However, CHOGM is not the issue. It is perhaps the most inconsequential grouping, a colonial club where Britain can reminisce on how the sun set on the empire without feeling guilty about it. Only 27 heads of governments of 53 member-countries chose to attend the Colombo meeting. This is not unusual; but still it provides an opportunity to build leadership relations through informal meetings and exchange views on critical issues.

Read More

DMK to flag Sri Lanka's alleged war crimes, Katchatheevu island issues in parliament 

By PTI | 3 Dec, 2013, 

NEW DELHI: DMK would demand a resolution for an independent inquiry into the alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka and raise the issue of retrieving Katchatheevu from Sri Lanka in the winter session of Parliament. 

Briefing reporters after an all-party meeting convened ahead of the winter session of Parliament here today, DMK Parliamentary leader T R Baalu said his party would also seek a discussion on the outcome of CHOGM summit held recently in Sri Lanka. 

"A resolution on the floor of Parliament urging the government of India to prevail on the international community to come forward to set up a free, independent and transparent international inquiry into human right violations and war crimes committed by Sri Lankan government would be sought," he said. 

He said the issue pertaining to defence cooperation with India to train Sri Lankan navy, which is allegedly committing atrocities against fishermen from Tamil Nadu would also be raised by DMK in parliament. 

Baalu also said retrieving Katchatheevu island from Sri Lanka and news reports on detained Indian fishermen being handcuffed in Sri Lanka would also be by DMK raised in the winter session.

Govt. using judiciary to deprive people of their rights – Karu 

By Saman Indrajith-December 2, 2013, 9:42 pm

The Independence of the Judiciary was being eroded by the government, which was coercing it into infringing on the fundamental rights of people, UNP MP Karu Jayasuriya told Parliament yesterday.

MP Jayasuriya, participating in the committee stage debate on Budget 2014, said: "Decades of judicial experience and independent judgments have been destroyed. Even the lower courts are under tremendous pressure. Very soon, even to hold a political rally we may have to obtain permission from the government and the judiciary. If they do not comply they will have to sacrifice their professional careers.

Excerpts of MP Jayasuriya’s speech: "The appointment process of Judges to the Superior Courts, the Court of Appeal, the process of appointing the members of important commissions such as the Bribery Commission and Human Rights Commission are all in jeopardy with the repeal of the 17th Amendment and the lack of representation of members from both the government and the opposition.

"The Constitutional Council must consist of representatives appointed by all recognized political parties. However, it only consists of representatives appointed by the ruling party and the President, posing a serious threat to democracy.

"In the Supreme Court, there are two vacancies that were created by the retirement of Justice P. A. Ratnayake and Justice Amaratunga. Those vacancies have existed for nearly 6 months and 3 months respectively. Why has there been a delay in filling these vacancies? There is serious delay in the administering of justice by the courts. In such a backdrop, a legitimate question arises as to why there has been a delay in filling those vacancies. Unless there is an ulterior motive, we cannot see any justification for such and undue delay.

The Court of Appeal, presided by Justice Sri Skandarajah, referred to the Supreme Court, for determination, to examine the applicability of the Judicial decisions on the Parliamentary Committees. The judges of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal are under tremendous pressure to issue decisions to please the rulers.

In the Supreme Court, determination was made by a Bench presided by Justice Amaratunga. Justice Amaratunga suffered a stroke a few months after giving the judgment. Justice Sri Skandarajah, concurring with two other judges, quashed the parliamentary select committee report. Justice Sri Skandarajah is bed-ridden and almost a vegetable. He was overlooked for promotion to the Supreme Court on five occasions. Finally he was prevented, for nearly 5 to 6 months from being promoted. There is no need to promote him anymore.

"Take the Bribery Commission. One person makes the appointments to these bodies and they act on the political dictates of such persons. A number of complaints have been made against government politicians, who have squandered millions and billions not in rupees but in dollars. These persons are roaming around scot free. Not a single one of those complaints have been inquired into. Be assured that we will not only inquire into these crimes against the society but also inquire into the conduct of those who are tasked with the duty of inquiring into these crimes but are acting in a dishonourable and dishonest manner.

"In the recent past, an honest customs officer, who nabbed a racketeer, was framed on a concocted and fabricated charge of bribery.

"There are allegations of corruption against very high people in the bribery commission.

"The courts are most unfavourable in matters, when called upon to hold against the government, because they are under immense pressure. Soon, this country will come to a situation far exceeding that which exists in Colombia, where the Judges have to go home by creeping through the windows after issuing judgments. The rule of law is of little concern. The Chief Justice himself was quoted, at a public function, saying that ‘one should not pay lip service to rule of law’. The civil society is shocked and dismayed.

"Government harassment of their political opponents through the law enforcement authorities is rampant. Police powers have been vested in the armed forces, very much in violation of Section 12 of the Public Securities Ordinance. This is why there was shooting by the armed forces in Rathupaswala, killing 3 people, injuring many others and desecrating a place of worship. The law that applies to government supporters is one and the law that applies to their political opponents is another. It appears that not only the King, but his men and all of their henchmen can do no wrong. It appears that the Presidential immunity applies to all hoodlums. The civil society is shell-shocked.

"When a person, who has no money in a bank account, is prosecuted with the passport being impounded, in a political witch-hunt, others who do not declare their assets at all are enjoying the ‘immunity’, that they do not have, with impunity. If the judiciary conducts itself in a partisan manner, as they do, the day will soon come when the public will have no more respect for the judiciary. Today, people have started talking about this serious erosion of the Judicial System.

"Sri Lanka is now the proud chair of the Commonwealth. We are happy, as Sri Lankans. There were two independent opinions that were sought by the Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Mr. Kamalesh Sharma. These two reports are now in the public domain. They were issued by the Former Chief Justice of South Africa and Sir Geoffrey Bowell, Queens Counsel. These reports go to the extent of stating that the 43rd Chief Justice was never removed from office and that she still remains in office.  Will the Chair of office of the Commonwealth, the President, take immediate steps to restore in office and remove the constraints that have been placed preventing the 43rd Chief Justice from discharging her functions as the Chief Justice of Sri Lanka.

"I made these observations in good faith. As chair of the Commonwealth we have to set standards. We have to be a model nation for others to follow. We want to die in a democratic country."

PPT names panel of judges to hear genocide case against Sri Lanka

First session held in Dublin in January 2010 [Library Photo]

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 December 2013, 23:51 GMT]
The Permanent Peoples Tribunal (PPT) in Rome has announced the names of 11 judges, who would be hearing the long-awaited case on the accusation of genocide against Eezham Tamils to be heard by an independent panel. “Like in the first session, a respected panel of judges consisting of experts in Genocide studies, former UN-officials, experts in international law and renowned peace and human rights activists will hear the evidence that is presented and make a determination,” a press statement signed by Mr Gianni Tognoni, the secretary general of the PPT, stated. The first session held in January 2010, known as the Dublin Tribunal, was the first independent international undertaking that recognised the need to look into the case of genocide in the island of Sri Lanka. The second session is to take place between December 07 -10, 2013 in Bremen, Germany. 

• Press Statement by the Peoples’ Tribunal (PPT)

Since then, the PPT has approved the submission of the Germany-based International Human Rights Association Bremen (IMRV) and the Irish Forum for Peace in Sri Lanka (IFPSL) that substantial new evidence necessitate a second round of investigations to determine whether Genocide has been and is being committed against the Tamil people in Sri Lanka. The plaintiff organisations have also accused India, UK and the USA for orchestrating the genocide on Eezham Tamils. 

• Dublin war-crimes tribunal final report

In the first session held in 2010, the Dublin tribunal found Sri Lankan government "guilty of War-Crimes" and "guilty of Crimes Against Humanity." Eye witnesses included several escapees from the final week of the genocidal onslaught on the "No Fire Zone" in Vanni where thousands of Tamil civilians were slaughtered by the SL military. 

the Rohingya Muslims and publicly criticised Aung San Suu Kyi on this issue.

PPT Names Panel of Judges to Hear Genocide Case Against Sri Lanka by nelvely