FEMALE JOURNALIST ABDUCTED AND ROBBED

December 15, 2013 

A female journalist of a Tamil newspaper has lodged a complaint with Kotahena Police stating that she was abducted and had her laptop computer, mobile phone and cash stolen by an unknown individual. 

The complaint states that the victim was on her way to office at around 8.30am on Friday (13) on Jampata Street in Kotahena when someone from behind had held a handkerchief soaked with an incapacitating agent to her face, rendering her unconscious.

The victim says that she had regained unconsciousness at around 4.30pm on that same day in Mattakkuliya and discovered that her belongings had been stolen, the Police Spokesman’s Office said.

The 19-year-old journalist had returned home to inform her mother of the occurrence and lodged a complaint with the Kotahena Police Station.

The victim has been admitted to the Colombo National Hospital due to experiencing mild drowsiness and a difficulty to converse. 

Investigations are ongoing. 

Extremism Might Hinder The Process Of Justice In Sri Lanka

By Laksiri Fernando -December 15, 2013 

Dr. Laksiri Fernando

There have been two disturbing developments this month in respect of the accountability issues and the process of justice in Sri Lanka. The first came from the self-made ‘Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam’ (TGTE) on 8 December 2013, during an assembly held in New Jersey, calling for an international inquiry against the Government of Sri Lanka on the alleged ‘genocide and crimes against humanity’ in respect of the Eelam Tamils and not on ‘human rights violations or war crimes.’ The accusation of genocide is farfetched.

Of course the call was made to the UN Security Council and not to a people’s tribunal or any such thing. But within two days, in Bremen, Germany, on 10 December 2013, an outfit called the ‘Permanent Peoples Tribunal on Sri Lanka’ (PPTSL) delivered a verdict declaring that the government of Sri Lanka was found guilty without any reasonable doubt for ‘systematic acts of genocide and crimes against humanity’ in addition to many other human rights violations. It is possible that the two events were coincidental and not connected. But they signify what kind of extremist or ‘ultra-left’ agitations or claims that could derail the genuine claims and pursuits in respect of accountability and investigation of alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka.

PPTSL ‘Verdict’

According to its own website, the PPTSL or its harbinger, International Human Rights Association, Bremen, had been in existence since June 2009. It explained how it started. “It was an emotional meeting. The members of the initiatives from Germany and Ireland consisted mainly of European and exile-Sinhalese activists.” It further explained the ideological genesis of the organization as follows.

“As we had worked strenuously for the peace process in Sri Lanka to yield results, we were all devastated. Having failed dismally to convince the powers that be in Europe to maintain their original position of promoting peace in Sri Lanka, we all felt that we had failed in our responsibility to the Tamil people.”

It is one thing to feel ‘guilty’ or ‘responsible’ for the Tamil people. But it is completely another matter to come to rash conclusions about the ‘failed peace process’ or the position of the ‘powers that be in Europe’ about the situation in Sri Lanka under the activities of the LTTE. It is grossly irresponsible and grotesque if one’s ideological positions are to be put forward as a ‘verdict of a people’s tribunal.’

As far as I am aware, the full text of the so-called people’s tribunal or an explanation of the procedure through which that tribunal has arrived at decisions is not yet published. When it is revealed, the ‘procedure’ may remind us some of the ‘kangaroo courts’ conducted by some of the insurrectionists in 1971 in Sri Lanka. I am just predicting. The procedure or due process is important in a backdrop where we strenuously discuss the ‘due process’ and the ‘kangaroo procedure’ that was followed by the government in impeaching the former and the legitimate Chief Justice in Sri Lanka.

However, the key conclusion that had been arrived at as quoted by Tisaranee Gunasekara in her “From Mutur to Geneva” (CT, 12 December 2013) is “Colombo is guilty of ‘crimes of genocide’ against the Tamils and that ‘both the United States of America and United Kingdom were complicit in the genocide while the involvement of India warranted further investigation.”                                        Read More 

SL can blunt UK’s war crimes resolution by doing the right thing 

- Akashi

 By Zacki Jabbar-December 14, 2013, 7:36 pm

 Japan while declining to reveal what its stand would be on an alleged war crimes resolution against Sri Lanka, that Britain has warned it would present at the next annual session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), said that it would take a position at the right moment.

 Japan’s Representative for Peace-Building, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka, Yasushi Akashi when asked at a press conference in Colombo on Friday what Japan’s response would be to the British threat, replied that they at this stage did not know what the draft resolution would be. Japan was discussing the issue with many governments.

 Japan has urged Sri Lanka, which he described as a friend, to speedily implement its Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission report which would go a long way to avoid any unpleasant situations.

The visiting envoy said "we will act at the right moment and do our best to help Sri Lanka out of any crisis."

 Responding to the Rajapaksa regime’s repeated complaint of being unfairly targeted by the international community, Akashi said: "Pressure is what you make of it. You can either allow pressure to get you down or make it disappear by doing the right thing."

DMK to Centre: Move resolution against Sri Lanka in UNHRC

'Take Steps to Avoid Collapse of TNA Government'

By P K Balachandran - COLOMBO

Published: 15th December 2013 10:01 AM

Last Updated: 15th December 2013 10:02 AM

Dr K Vigneswaran, who was advisor to two Sri Lankan Tamil Chief Ministers, A Varadarajaperumal and S Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan, has urged the Northern Province Chief Minister, C V Wignewaran, and the provincial Governor, Maj Gen G A Chandrasiri, to have a dialogue, instead of going on the path of confrontation which may end in the collapse of the fledgling Tamil National Alliance (TNA) government there.

“When I was with Varadarajaperumal, I was able to get many things done by meeting the then Governor of the North Eastern Province, Gen Nalin Seneviratne. Likewise in the Eastern Province, Chief Minister Pillayan was able to do much because he kept meeting the military Governor, Vice Adm Mohan Wijewickrama,” Dr Vigneswaran told Express.

“The Provincial Councils Act 42 of 1987, which gives flesh and blood to the 13th Amendment (13A) of the Constitution, clearly states that civil servants are under the control of the Governor. However, by having regular meetings with the Governor, a CM can have his way in this regard. In the Eastern province, the CM had even set up departments, simply by engaging the Governor and making use of the silence of the Act on who is authorised to establish departments,” Dr Vigneswaran said.

But the Northern CM and the TNA, egged on by the pro-LTTE Tamil diaspora, were heading towards a confrontation with the Governor and Colombo, he rued.

However, the CM says the Governor had stalled his move to establish “departments” for Transport and Housing on the grounds that the 13A allowed him to establish only “authorities” and not “departments”.

DMK to Centre: Move resolution against Sri Lanka in UNHRC

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Besides urging the Indian government to move a resolution in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) seeking a credible international inquiry into killing of Sri Lankan Tamils, war crimes and human rights violations in the last leg of the civil war, the DMK's general council meeting on Sunday wanted India to facilitate a referendum among the island nation’s Tamils to find a permanent political solution. 

A resolution adopted in the meeting said devolution of powers guaranteed under the 13th Amendment of the Sri Lankan Constitution remained only on paper. 

"The Northern Province headed by C.V. Wigneswaran has been vested only with watered down powers. Land administration and home department, including police continue to be in the hands of the Sri Lankan government. The governor of the province and President Mahinda Rajapaksa can reject or accept any proposals of the provincial government," the resolution pointed out. 

As an interim relief, the DMK said, the Indian government should take steps to provide full political powers to the Tamils. 

Another resolution said as the union government had filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court in favour of the Sethusamudram project, the Centre and Tamil Nadu government should take steps to speed up the case to ensure implementation of the project. 

"The DMK has been insisting on defeating the designs of reactionary forces that is against the project," the resolution added. 

Yet another resolution condemned the Centre and the state government for their failure to control the price of essential commodities.
Photo: DMK president M. Karunanidhi is having a word with party treasurer M.K. Stalin at the party's general council meeting in Chennai on Sunday. Photo: M. Vedhan 

UK And US Should Keep Up The Pressure On Sri Lanka

By Veluppillai Thangavelu -December 15, 2013 |

Veluppillai Thangavelu

Countries normally compete with one another to host international conferences to polish their image and standing.  Olympics is one example. Publicity for such events brings in tourists, investments and trade.

The Commonwealth Conference of Heads of Governments (CHOGM) also serves the same purpose. The CHOGM   held in Colombo last November was preceded by the Commonwealth People’s Forum, the Commonwealth Youth Forum, and the Commonwealth Business Forum. Several hundred delegates attended the Business Forum that attracted global media coverage.  A high profile Business Forum was led by British Prime Minister David Cameron.

Sri Lanka by hosting this biennial conference in Colombo must have calculated that  it will provide an opportunity to improve  the tarnished image of the country, especially  accusations  regarding  wide spread human rights  violations, war crimes, crimes against humanity, lack of media  freedom, subversion of  the judiciary, undermining  of rule of law etc.

Government spent millions of dollars on extensive beautification of the city. More than 50 brand new bullet-proof S400 Mercedes Benz cars were imported for the summit. A large fleet of brand new Nissan Teanas, Toyota Corollas, 100 forty-one-seater luxury buses and 60 Land Rover Defender jeeps were also imported. A few days to the summit, a shiny new 26 kilometre expressway costing   1.8 billion rupees or 14 million US dollars per kilometre, amongst the most expensive in the world, was declared opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Where all the finance did came from?  Like the other mega projects, it was mostly financed by a loan from China whose terms are unknown. No wonder Sri Lanka’s public debt has risen alarmingly to Rs. 3 trillion or nearly 80 per cent of GDP.

Unfortunately for Sri Lanka, the hosting of the CHOGM spending several billions resulted in a near total public relations disaster, its human rights record coming under intense scrutiny by the international media. The   meticulously crafted   efforts to ensure the right image is conveyed have backfired. Normally these biannual meetings are not controversial and ends unnoticed and unsung.

To begin with Prime Minister Stephen Harper kept his word by boycotting the CHOGM and sending only a low profile delegation headed by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for External Affairs Deepak Obhrai. After much agonizing Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh too skipped the conference at the last minute.   He succumbed to the intense pressure from Thamil Nadu government and political parties of all hues to boycott the CHOGM.  The boycott by India took the shine away from the CHOGM and it was a total disappointment and a bitter pill for Sri Lanka to swallow. Added to Sri Lanka’s woes, Mauritius Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam announced that he will be boycott the conference.

In this back ground, only 27 out of   53 Heads of Government attended the meeting. Of the 19 countries in the African continent, only 7 attended.    More than the host country the Commonwealth’s showpiece event was a disaster for the parent organisation.                                      Read More

Barts students agree that Sri Lanka is not willing or capable of performing an independent investigation

Tamil Guardian 15 December 2013

After a successful Breaking The Silence genocide awareness campaign,  Barts Tamil Society held a screening of the Channel 4 Documentary, 'No Fire Zone', followed by a question and answer session with director Callum Macrae. The documentary left a fully packed lecture hall stunned into silence for minutes after the end of the film.

Barts Students Agree That Sri Lanka is Not Willing or Capable of Performing an Independent Investigation by nelvely

US Congressional caucus to draw attention to Tamil plight

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 December 2013, 23:48 GMT]
The Congressional Caucus on Ethnic and Religious Freedom in Sri Lanka, initiated by Congressmen Bill Johnson (R-OH) and Danny Davis (D-IL) aims to bring the attention of the American public to the Tamils in Sri Lanka and their plight, Washington Times reported in its Thursday edition. In a joint press release, Congressmen Johnson and Davis said, “Given the magnitude of horrors Sri Lankans bore witness to, and how the most egregious alleged violators of international law remain unpunished, accountability for the guilty is essential for helping those who have suffered to heal, and the country’s diverse population reconcile.” 

The paper noted that in 2011, the US and UN officials refused to meet delegates from northern Sri Lanka, and said that the turnaround is a welcome surprise, and hoped that the change in stand is a humanitarian rather than a business.

Congressman Danny Davis, Democrat from Illinois

Congressman Bill Johnson, Republican from OHIO

While also noting that Tamils desire for their own homeland, as evidenced by the election results in September where the Tamil National Alliance won 30 out of 38 seats in the North of Sri Lanka, has not diminshed, the paper said that if in 1948, Sri Lanka adopted the principles of equality before the law, there probably would have been no ethnic tensions to this degree in Sri Lanka. "What would the Tamil have to complain about if equality before the law was guaranteed by the constitution?' the paper asked.

Since 1948, the Sri Lankan government had implemented a strategy of disenfranchising Tamils, the article said, adding, this strategy included restricing Tamil access to higher education, business licenses, and settling non Tamils on Tamil land. Although the Tamils cried foul, the world ignored them. Until now, the paper observed.

Today a third of Tamils reside outside Sri Lanka, mostly in Western Europe and North America, but there are many residing in Africa and Asia

On the oligarchy evolving in Sri Lanka, which UN's High Commissioner for Refugees, Navi Pillay, recognized as moving towards authoritarianism, the paper observed that "[t]he Presidents family controls the economy and government of Sri Lanka. President Rajapaksa belongs to a family that controls huge chunks of the Sri Lankan economy, with obvious signs of government favoritism over the years, lucrative contracts and licenses, a clear sign of inequality in the laws.

"Such principles should be wiped out of the minds of Tamils, all Tamils must be treated equally by the law, the Washington Times concluded.

External Links:

WT:

Tamil Tragedy: A Case for equality before the law

Nothing Can Be Achieved Without Moral Authority And Profound Dignity

By Kumar David -December 15, 2013 

Prof Kumar David

Nothing can be achieved without moral authority and profound dignity: How Madiba created a Rainbow Nation

Nkosi, sikelel’ iAfrika

Maluphakamis’upondo lwayo

Yizwa imithandazo yethu

Nkosi sikelela, Thina lusapholwayo*

(The stirring anthem of continental African liberation)

Tributes and eulogies pour in; there is little a humble correspondent in this far corner can add except to speak of what his example can do for us. There is not one lesson but two, one for each side. Madiba was a radical activist, a freedom fighter who said liberation was an ideal he was “prepared, if need be, to die for” (20 April 1964: Rivonia trial speech). Crucially, however, he was a freedom fighter who knew when to bury his gun. At the same time, and equally, this was a man who not only talked reconciliation, but lived it and did it. He had the vision to craft a unified multi-racial Rainbow Nation; he never allowed himself to be defined by his enemies; he brought a divided people together. Lesser leaders have failed.

True, Mandela’s vision is only half fulfilled, poverty, lack of housing and employment, and endemic social privation have not been abolished; the hideous gap between rich and poor grows; yes the long walk to freedom is but half trodden. The half which he trod, however, is cast in stone, it is irreversible. The unity of a democratic, racially plural South Africa, the Rainbow Nation, cannot be reversed. Oh woe Sri Lanka!

Madiba, his high clan name (his father was a chief), is how he is affectionately known in his country; ‘Nelson’ was bestowed by his school teacher Miss Mdingane when he started school at the age of seven in Qunu village where his remains will be interned today. An English name was required in those days; it is even now in Hong Kong, like Monica or Lydia. ‘Nelson’ Rolihlahla Mandela has done more than can be expected of any man in one lifetime; unfortunately, even Madiba is entitled to only one. Yes, the road to make South Africa a prosperous nation still stretches far into the future; others must shine a kindly light, if they can, to lead the rest of the way.

How did he create one-nation?                        Read More

Absurdistan

by Tisaranee Gunasekara

“His Most Extraordinary Majesty liked…the people of the court to multiply their belongings; he liked their accounts to grow and their purses to swell. I don’t remember His Magnanimous Highness’s ever demoting someone…because of corruption. Let him enjoy his corruption as long as he shows his loyalty! Thanks to his unequalled memory and also to constant reports our monarch knew exactly who had how much. But as long as his subjects behaved loyally, he kept this knowledge to himself and never made use of it. But if he sensed even the slightest shadow of disloyalty, he would immediately confiscate everything…. Thanks to that system of accountability, the King of Kings had everyone in his hand, and everyone knew it. ”

Absurdist An by nelvely

Leverage To Ensure More Power Devolution

By Dr Jehan Perera

C. V. Vigneswaren swearing in as the Chief Minister of Northern Provincial Council before President Mahinda Rajapaksa

The focus of the international community is on the issue of accountability in the last phase of the war that ended in 2009. Each six month cycle of meetings of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva brings with it high powered international visitors to Sri Lanka. The 23rd visit of Japan’s special envoy on peace building has been the most high profile one in recent days. But there have been several other less high profile visitors who represent other countries who have been coming to Sri Lanka to make their own observations. They also contribute to the pressure being brought to bear on the Sri Lankan government.

Those who seek change in Sri Lanka tend to welcome this international pressure. The government has become so powerful within the country that it does not need to listen to anyone within the country. It believes it can do what it likes, even with impunity. It is in this context that international pressure is to be welcomed. It has provided leverage for positive change in the past. An example of such a positive outcome would be the promise made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to the prime ministers of India and Japan that the government would hold elections to the Northern Provincial Council.

North Provincial Council

Even though the government had been thinking of scrapping the entire provincial council system a few months ago, it reversed itself and established the Northern Provincial Council instead. The elections to the Northern Provincial Council and its establishment as a political authority has considerable potential to address the problems faced by the people of the North in the way that they wish. It also has the benefit of showing who the representatives of the people of the North are, and what their priorities are. This is to ensure that decisions are made by their elected representatives who are closer to them than the central authorities in Colombo.

The issues that took centre stage at a meeting of the Jaffna Managers Forum that I attended a few days ago gave an indication of the priorities of those who are community leaders in Jaffna. At the centre of their discussion was the need to empower the Northern Provincial Council to give direction to the allocation of resources in the province, and for the benefit of the people. At this time legal power is vested with the central authorities who have not been responsive to the people’s problems or to their demands. In the discussion it was pointed out that there had been a spate of suicides of business persons due to the failure of their business plans and inability to repay the loans they had taken. A number as high as 20 was given for the past few months. The non-utilisation of the local labour force by south-based business enterprises was also noted.

Army-run businesses

Some of the other issues that came up were the re-emergence of army-run businesses, such as small restaurants and shops, along the main roads. It was noted that travelers from the South preferred to stop at them, but that this deprived the local people of a source of income. There was the observation that the ultra modern hospital put up with Japanese government assistance, which had 27 beds in the Intensive Care Unit, only used 16 of them as there was no nursing staff to ensure that all the beds were used. The digging up of limestone in Kankasanthurai, within the high security zone which is accessible only to the military had led to the possibility of sea water coming inland and to the possible loss of land to sea erosion.

Resolving such issues and empowering the provincial council to deal with them requires a liberal attitude on the part of the central government authorities and a willingness on their part to relax their controls. The 13thAmendment provides overriding legal powers to the central government vis-à-vis the provincial councils, not only in the North but in the other eight provinces also. The Governor of each province is vested with superior legal powers by the constitution, even though an appointed official, and not elected as the provincial council members are. If the provincial council system is to work there needs to be a cooperative spirit between the presidentially appointed Governor and the elected Chief Minister and his councilors.

In the context of the present tensions between the Governor and provincial council in the North, the issues of accountability for past human rights violations was not the priority concern of the community leaders or elected provincial representatives in the North. Their concern was what is happening today in terms of the lack of devolution of power to improve the lives of the people and what is standing as obstacles to that improvement. What is required is the leverage to change this situation. It may be that more liberal and conciliatory relationship between the central authorities and provincial council will come about due to promises that the government will make now to the international community in the run up to the next session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Law Is King Or King Is Law?

December 15, 2013 

By Sinha Ratnatunga – This is the Sunday Times Editorial - December 15, 2013 -

Sinha Ratnatunga – Editor Sunday Times

The legal fraternity, or at least most Colombo-based lawyers and judges, enjoyed a convivial evening on Friday at the annual Voet Lights Society dinner as the year draws to a close. Those present could reflect on the good humoured barbs, especially at the expense of the judiciary. They might be left with the thought if a joke can also be a serious thing.

It was also the end of a year that began in turmoil with the unceremonious impeachment of a sitting Chief Justice and the unease that prevailed in the corridors of justice has not entirely abated. The Chief Justice who was present, ducked speaking at the dinner. Discretion was the better part of valour.

There was surely a sense of regret and disillusionment that the public’s esteem for the Law, the Courts, and for Justice had been so eroded and not wholly due to the conduct of the legal profession. That the administration of justice was slipping into an abyss, and is no longer on the elevated pedestal in which the ‘Nadukara Hamuduruwo’ was once held, is clear today. Every effort has been made to turn the judiciary into a “Government Court” — a mere rubber stamp of the Executive.

Recent appointments by the President have made it crystal clear in the minds of judges, lawyers, litigants and the public that absolute loyalty to the ruling party precedes seniority, experience and competence. Bypassing of senior Court of Appeal judges by ‘high-jumpers’ and ‘long-jumpers’ has left a gaping hole on two counts — (a) the demoralising of independent judges to the point of making them ill, and (b) the creation of a huge void in integrity insofar as the law is concerned.

In a court such as the Supreme Court where “the judgments…. shall, in all cases be final and conclusive” and which has jurisdiction to correct “all errors in fact or law committed by any subordinate court”, there was always, hitherto, the underlying truth that the Judiciary was the last bastion of the citizen and that justice would be rendered at the end of the day; that the principle ‘all are equal before the law and accorded equal protection of the law’ shall prevail. Today, such a lofty expectation is a joke, sad to say. From bribery and corruption to murder and intimidation, and from the misuse of state power to the exploitation of state property, everything is done to pervert the course of justice and protect members of the ruling party while the rest could be thrown to ravenous wolves. And yet, more than 90 per cent of cases that come before these appellate courts are of a non-political nature, just disputes between parties. What is the quality of justice that is meted out, one may well ask.

The 17th Amendment to the Constitution and the Constitutional Court that it provided for, gave a hint of credibility that the seemingly irreversible trend of political interference in the appointment of senior judges could be remedied. The 18th Amendment threw all those good intentions of the Legislature to the winds.

Political interference did not happen overnight; it was a trend that crept in progressively over the years. In 1964, the then Chief Justice Hema Basnayake in his farewell speech complained that conventions that governed the relations between the Supreme Court and the Executive scrupulously observed had seen a departure. His successor M.C. Sansoni was equally unhappy about the “changing scene” (The Supreme Court; the first 185 years by A.R.B. Amarasinghe J.). Victor Tennekoon CJ’s running battles with the then Minister of Justice Felix R. Dias Bandaranaike over the seating arrangements at ceremonial sittings are legendary as was Neville Samarakoon CJ’s ‘clash of the Titans’ with President J.R. Jayewardene and R.S. Wanasundera J’s refusal to sign an undated letter of resignation which cost him the Chief Justiceship under the same President.

SELF-ESTEEM OF TAMILS STILL NOT ERODED - RAO

December 15, 2013 

India’s former Foreign Secretary Nirupama Menon Rao says that the end of civil war in Sri Lanka had provided a historic opportunity for reconciliation and that India should ensure that the self-respect of Tamil minority should not be eroded. 

“The Indian concerns based on Indian Ocean is not given sufficient importance in the Sri Lankan policy calculus. The pride and self-esteem of Tamil minorities have still not eroded, while the nation comprises the first wave diaspora of Sinhalese from India also,” she said.

Delivering the 22nd Sree Chithira Tirunal Memorial Lecture-2013 on ‘India in a Tough Neighbourhood’, Nirupama Rao, who was also the High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Ambassador to China and United States, stated that it is very important for India to keep China’s military capability in mind.

“While addressing bilateral issues, it is also very important to keep China’s military capability in mind. India has to be more generous to Nepal and Bangladesh, apart from developing joint maritime initiatives with Sri Lanka. Nepal has abundant water resources enough to tap 1 lakh megawatts of electricity, which is capable to make that country to have the highest per capita income in the region. But for the prevailing mistrust Nepal has for India, we were not able to take up initiatives,’’ she pointed out.

Government appoints Northern DIG without CM’s knowledge

Saturday, 14 December 2013 

 

The government has appointed a deputy inspector general (DIG) of police to the Northern Province without the knowledge of the Northern Province Chief Minister.

The TNA has raised objections to the appointment of DIG Pujitha Jayasundera to the North.

TNA parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran has told parliament that the Constitution notes that a DIG had to be appointed only in consultation with the Chief Minister and that it had not happened in the appointment of the new northern DIG.

“I have nothing against the gentleman appointed to the North. Yet, it is a devolved subject. A DIG has to be appointed with the concurrence of the Chief Minister. Similarly even the provincial chief secretary has to be appointed with the same concurrence. The NPC Chief Minister has asked for the removal of the chief secretary. The letter addressed to the executive has remained unanswered for the past two months,” Sumanthiran has said.

He has also observed that the party would bring a motion calling for the removal of the Governor as well.

The bitter cost of bringing the genie out of the bottle

Do those who vehemently and oftentimes quite hysterically rise to the defence of this Government’s self-aggrandizing post-war policies, pause to ask themselves as to why we are now witnessing extreme intolerance directed at the minorities which was not seen even when the North and East war was at its fiercest?
Perhaps some reasoned and calm introspection in this regard is long overdue.

The playing of a dangerous game

The Bitter Cost of Bringing the Genie Out of the Bottle by nelvely

Politicization Of Public Service

By Austin Fernando -December 15, 2013

Austin Fernando

During my 35 years of public service I have heard the complaint “Oh, there is political interference, and we cannot work!” As a junior I made the same complaint. But right now I do not publicly hear such frustrated grousing or moaning, not because there is no politicization; most likely it is accepted as unchallengeable!

Politicization of administration is a universal social process bringing a political character or flavor to administration. It is high in the developing world, but not absent in the developed world.

Politicization in Sri Lanka

A former Ceylon Civil Service (CCS) officer may find politicization as the least experienced.  Politicization in public service was tolerable during my times, but with occasional conflicts. Now it appears as “a matter of fact” issue / consequence.

The healthy economy and minimal socio-political requirements at Independence minimized vast political demands made from the administrations in Sri Lanka.  Hence the politicians were a distanced lot.  With enhancing economic, social, terrorism, political complexities, politicians’ involvement in administration increased.

There were several main reasons for this status.

In fifties one reason was the foreign reserves reduction after the Korean War boom leading the politicians to economize, rationalize administrative actions.

Secondly, the Marxist interventions boosted demands from the governments – especially after 1956 creating new issues for which politicians’ intervention was required.

Thirdly the politico-social “revolution” (1956) resulted in the “common man representatives” entering the parliament. They lacked comparative knowledge of intricacies of public administration but had loads of novel aspirations to be hurriedly achieved, which required personal interventions. The electorate also looked up to them to intervene.                                            Read More