Sunday, March 16, 2014

Fourth Land Commission And 13th Amendment

By Austin Fernando -March 16, 2014

Austin Fernando

In his inaugural address at the India- Sri Lanka Consultation on Devolution on March 4th 1995, Prof GL Peiris emphasized the need to bear in mind five factors as basic and indispensable prerequisites for successful devolution.

I remember a Great in Sri Lankan Politics, Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar in attendance with Minister S. Thondaman at this meeting. They have departed, but the five factors, i.e. (1) Sincerity (2) Clarity (3) Cohesion (4) Enforceability and (5) Availability of adequate and viable machinery to enable conflict resolution, remain.

Authoritative statements

Quoting President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga, The Island reported (February 13th 2013) that the government was “still struggling to address land issues four years after the conclusion of the conflict in May 2009”. He added that in the post-war recovery process, the government was addressing the contentious issue in accordance with the recommendations made by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC). He gave an austere ray of hope for pro-devolutionists saying, “The government was mulling the possibility of appointing a Fourth Land Commission (4LC) to settle land issues.”

Recently in Geneva Prof GL Peiris has added, “The Terms of Reference (TORs) of 4LC are under preparation.” Compared with Weeratunga’s statement, “mulling the possibility” has been upgraded to active “preparation”.

From a different angle all this has international reiteration, because the 4LC was on clipboards many moons ago on July 26th 2012 in the National Action Plan (NPA) for implementing the LLRC Recommendations.

LLRC and NLC Read More

Mannar mass graves: Archeological Dept. lying –Survey Dept. proves with evidence

(Lanka-e-News- 16.March.2014, 9.30PM) The archeological department which has shamelessly proved that it has transformed into another Rajapakse regime crony and is headed by a loony by expressing irresponsible eccentric falsehoods regarding the mass graves that have surfaced in Mannar had told yet another stupid lie like a misleading crooked light foreteller rather than as a responsible archeological department performing its tasks duly.

Director of the department , Dr. Senarath Disanayake the infamous light foreteller for the regime , declared that the place where the 84 human skeletal remains were found was being used as a cemetery 60 years ago, that is in 1954. The MaRa media coolies too gave support to this view by giving wide publicity.

Lanka e news gives below the official survey map issued by the Survey department of Sri Lanka (SL) during the period between March and May 1955 in Mannar. What is marked in yellow indicates the area where the present mass graves have been dug out. The Survey department had not mentioned anywhere that in or around that area , there had been a cemetery.

During the period when the survey was done on the land P677 in Thirukatheeswaram village either before or after ,in the land survey official registers relating to the years 1954, 1955 and 1961 which give details it is revealed that there had not been a cemetery. In the latter part of 1980 amidst the war , before the destruction was wrought, on the opposite side of the plot 32 was a tourist bungalow of the road development authority, and during a period on the same plot a co operative shop had also existed , as records indicate.

Based on these facts , the archeological department Director Dr. Senarath Dissanayake has told an absolute lie. Perhaps the archeological doctorate had been conferred on this boorish Director by Martin Rajapakse who was looking after the cow herd of Wanigachinthamani Mohottolage , who robbed Wanigachinthamani Mohottolage’s assets . Martin Rajapakse being the great grandfather of Mahinda Rajapakse, the latter too is possessed of crooked and evil traits by birth naturally, and the same contaminated blood courses through him too, because he is a descendent of that Martin Rajapakse rogue.

If the Director has at least learnt a subject and obtained a doctorate degree , when Britain established a survey department 214 years ago that is on August 1800 in SL, he would not have stunk this much like a skunk by telling this lie about a 60 years history , and would not have got trapped in his lie so shamelessly.

We are indebted to the source that supplied us with the appended map that counters and exposes the falsehoods.

VC Election In Jaffna: An Open Season For Academic Suicide

By A group of concerned academics, Jaffna -March 16, 2014 |

The health of an academic institution calls for norms and restraints to be observed in social behavior, checks to be enforced and a readiness to be accountable when well-founded complaints of impropriety are made. In this spirit, when a Vice Chancellor is to be elected, the university community has a right to know the strengths of the contestants and expects the electors – the Council – to listen to them and to vote for the most qualified candidate in the best interests of the University.

Sadly, what we saw in Jaffna University recently, was leading members of the Council working through a government-aligned political party to abuse the Vice-Chancellor’s office to coerce voters. One of the tactics used was to put forward a mostly unknown dummy candidate who obtained the second highest vote. The result speaks for itself. The level of desperation to forestall any change in the university administration is a pointer to a need for radical overhaul.

The Election

The contestants at the election were the incumbent Vice-Chancellor Prof. Vasanthy Arasaratnam (VC), Prof. Vigneswaran and Dr. Alvapillai, from the University; Dr. S. Gunapalan, Head of Management and Commerce at South Eastern University and Dr. Ratnajeevan Hoole, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michigan State University, who had previously stood for election in 2010. Arasaratnam and Vigneswaran, as candidates, were barred from voting as members of the University Council of 27 persons, leaving 25 council members entitled to cast a vote each for a maximum of three candidates of their choice. Names of the three receiving the highest votes were to be sent to the President, who made his choice from among the three.

Douglas and Rajapaksa

The Council had 14 external members who were appointed by the President and 13 internal members, including the deans and senate representatives – only 11 of the latter were entitled to vote after VC Arasaratnam and Vigneswaran were recused. Since 2007, the appointment of external members to the University Council of Jaffna University became a matter of EPDP patronage. The EPDP is a northern regional party and member of the current government. The EPDP has maintained a tight grip on the external members, who before each monthly council session are required to attend a pre-council meeting, chaired by the EPDP. At one or more pre-council meetings before each election of a Vice-Chancellor, the EPDP has made recommendations on how the external members, who comprise the numerical majority of the Council, should vote. A Vice-Chancellor is unlikely to have a second term if he or she loses EPDP patronage. During the 2010 election the EPDP shifted its patronage to Vasanthy Arasaratnam resulting in her predecessor losing office. Read More

Sri Lanka: Arrest of HRD Jayakumari may strenthen the call for International Investigation

A son holding his disappered fathers photo at the protes
against Arrest of Jauakumari Vavunia on 15th. (Photo SLB source )

Sunday, March 16, 2014

THE TRAGEDY OF VULNERABLE FAMILIES OF DISAPPEARED PERSONS - NPC release

The arrest and detention of Balendran Jayakumari under controversial circumstances raises the question whether those who persevere to openly advocate on behalf of the victims of the war are being targeted for punitive action. The government’s police spokesperson stated that a shooting incident took place in the north and they have identified a house where the suspect has been hiding and that two women are being investigated. Human rights defenders in the area report lots of checkpoints, raids, questioning, fear and surveillance.

Jayakumari is reported to have been detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act for 16 days by a court order and sent to the Boosa detention centre which is at the other southern corner of the country.

During the past five years since the end of the war in 2009, Jayakumari has been one of those in the forefront of families seeking the whereabouts of their missing loved ones. She is a victim herself who lost three of her four children in the war. Two of them were killed in the course of the war. The third, a boy aged 15 at the time he went missing, is alleged by her to have been taken into government custody. Her remaining child, a girl aged 13, has been pictured carrying the photograph of her missing brother, and crying and asking for her brother’s return.

It is reported that due to detention of her mother, Jayakumari’s daughter has been taken into the care of the government’s probation service, as other families are afraid to take her in. It is this type of ongoing human rights tragedy that moves many people to support the call for a credible and independent investigation into what happened in the last phase of the war, and what continues to happen today. This is despite the spotlight being directed on the actions of the Sri Lankan government in Geneva right now.

The new and revised US draft resolution on Sri Lanka which is reportedly being circulated among members of the UN Human Rights Council expresses deep concern over reported intimidation and retaliation against civil society members who engage with UN human rights mechanisms including those who met with the High Commissioner during her visit. As the arrest of Jayakumari can conceivably be seen as an attempt to cause fear and the silencing of those who are seeking knowledge of their loved ones, the government needs to make clear what its position on this matter is. It also highlights the need for the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act and better protective mechanisms for citizens who campaign for human rights and justice.

We note that the army spokesperson has been reported as saying “Jayakumari was taken into custody for harboring an armed criminal wanted in connection with an ongoing investigation. Her young daughter was also taken into protective custody as there was no adult in the neighbourhood willing to give shelter to her.”

In view of the disputed and controversial nature of the facts, we believe the National Human Rights Commission should look into this case and all other cases where persons are detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act as a matter of course until such time as the Act itself is repealed. The National Human Rights Commission should meet international standards and be capable of reporting independently to the UN Human Rights Council. We also believe that in the present circumstances, only such a mechanism can stall the international thrust of an international investigation into Sri Lanka’s human rights record.

The Curious Case Of Jeyakumari

| By Tisaranee Gunasekara

"If they treated us like this for engaging in a demonstration one can imagine the situation in the North. We thought they did something big by finishing the war in our country. Now it looks as if they just killed innocent people" - A Weliweriya resident

(March 16, 2014, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Jeyakumari Balendran Pictured is often carrying a picture. The enlarged and laminated photograph shows a group of adolescents doing physical-exercises. Ms. Jeyakumari's youngest son, a former child-soldier, is reportedly in the photo; the photo is from a government publication showcasing the regime's rehabilitation programme.

The Curious Case of Jeyakumari by nelvely

Hypocrisy And Its Local Practitioners

By Emil van der Poorten -March 16, 2014 |

Emil van der Poorten

If this week’s diatribe drifts beyond the matter of hypocrisy, pure and simple, I make no apology for such a transgression because what we see on a daily basis and which is destroying the fabric of this country is a discourse that begins with hypocrisy at its simplest level and descends into lies and fabrication without missing a beat. As that corny old song had it, in Sri Lanka, it seems “You can’t have one without the other!”

It seems like the self-righteousness of local “Pundits in Defence of the Regime (PiDotR)” has not yet reached its shrill crescendo in playing to the naivete of its audience, advancing the most outlandish accusations against any individual or country even vaguely critical of Sri Lanka. The bedrock of their arguments appears to be the fact that in advancing any principle even vaguely associated with morality or ethics, those doing so, if they have any skeletons in their cupboards, are guilty of that most heinous of sins: hypocrisy. Mind you, this principle is applied very selectively. What the USSR did under Stalin and some of his successors or the huge brutality of Mao Zedong is not brought into this equation since Russia and the modern People’s Republic of China have now become financial fairy godparents to the rulers of our Land Like No Other. The reason for these alliances is very simple: neither Russia nor the PRC apply anything resembling conditions to the manner in which the largesse they dispense is utilized, making it open season for those waiting with open saurian jaws to gobble up whatever is on the gravy train. As long as the strategic needs of the donor nations are met, anything and everything is permissible at the Sri Lankan end. The fact is that there is really no requirement that the “aid” (which has to be paid back, often with commercial interest rates applied to it) being utilized for the purpose for which it is officially allocated. This is, literally, a godsend to the bandits parading as “governments” in the recipient nations. Sri Lanka, leave alone being an exception to that rule, appears to be leading the parade of pirates in that regard!

That the flag-bearers of “western civilization” have a great deal to answer for from the time that Columbus “discovered” a whole continent already populated with millions of aboriginal people speaking a plethora of languages with many of them operating within civilizations significantly more advanced than those that produced their “discoverers” is beyond argument of any kind. However, let’s be upfront about this business: just because the USA or Great Britain or France or Kuomintang China (or the old USSR) were responsible for behaviour that didn’t qualify as purer than the driven snow, did not make their prosecution of that most famous of genocidaires, Adolf Hitler, or Tojo and his government who visited unspeakable cruelty on the people they subjugated during World War II, or Benito Mussolini of Fascist Italy any less appropriate. Incidentally, our local Hallelujah Chorus for the Russo-Chinese axis doesn’t miss a beat in talking about the former’s dedication to preventing the partition of a nation such as Sri Lanka while their defender is blithely chopping off pieces of Georgia as “autonomous regions,” and now simply annexing the Crimean peninsula of the Ukraine. Even India, despite its paternalistic attitude towards Sri Lanka, would hesitate to subject its little neighbor to such annexation! Given the absolute control of the media within Sri Lanka, either through blatantly repressive action or through the self-censorship of the remaining pitiful rump, this kind of 21^st Century hypocrisy by the ”Friends of Rajapakistan” not only goes un-condemned, it goes basically unmentioned! Read More

Potential output of Sri Lanka: It is dangerous to speed the car beyond installed engine capacity

Impatience of politicians to accelerate the engine of growth-Sunday 16th March 2014
Politicians, no matter where they are in the globe, are like youngsters at the wheel of a racing car. They want to kick-start an economy, have a quick pick-up and accelerate it to a speed never ever achieved by their predecessors. Their impatience for a rapid economic growth is not matched by the slow pace in which things are happening around them. The quick-fix methods suggested to accelerate growth push everyone over the limit resulting in a state of panic which then leads to stress.

Potential Output of Sri Lanka It is Dangerous to Speed the Car Beyond Installed Engine Capacity by nelvely

Ruki Fernando And Father Praveen Detained In Kilinochchi

March 16, 2014

Ruki Fernando, who works for Rights Now Collective for Democracy and Father Praveen have been detained at the Kilnochchi police station, apparently on suspicion of a shooting.

At around 10.05 pm tonight, several of his friends and colleagues received a text message from Ruki Fernando,on his mobile number [xxxxxxxxxx] stating that Ruki and Father Praveen have been detained at the Kilnochchi police station.

Ruki Fernando

Later, Ruki informed a colleague via text, that he and father Praveen were being questioned separately.

A lawyer who called the Kilinochchi police station, was informed that no such persons were arrested by the Killinochchi police or being held at the police station. However the police said that two persons had been arrested by a specially appointed unit of the TID and were being held at a separate location in Kilinochchi.

Another lawyer who spoke to the OIC Kilinochchi was informed that Ruki and Praveen were being questioned and a decision regarding their continued detention would be made in the morning. This directly contradicts the version in the para above.

Massive kickbacks in unsolicited projects

Sunday, March 16, 2014
It has long been suggested that the UPFA Government's signature fondness for unsolicited proposals comes from the generous fringe benefits they earn for some of its members. It is also speculated that Sri Lanka pays premium rates for its gleaming new infrastructure because prices are inflated to include massive kickbacks.

Massive Kickbacks in Unsolicited Projects by nelvely

Who Is Scared Of Colombo Telegraph?

By Malinda Seneviratne - The Nation editorial today - March 16, 2014

Malinda Seneviratne

We live in a world where the Bible and Quran are used to justify anything and everything, a world where the teachings of the Buddha are (mis)interpreted to buttress political projects quite antithetical to the teachings of Siddhartha Gauthama and a world where the works of Karl Marx are mined for ‘appropriate’ quotes to support preferred political position. In such a world, selectivity, deliberate downplaying and happy inflation abound. The internet, for all its promise, is made as much of information as misinformation. It can empower and it can also lead astray.

So this is a world of (mis)information overload where effective regulatory laws really don’t exist. It is a world made for slander and lying where those with bucks and guns can mine selectively, conjure up files upon files of fantasies and, let’s face it, vilify with impunity. And there are enough takers too, enough people who revel in garbage production and enough demand to lap up the produce with glee. The discerning would have a good sense of true weight of ‘story’ and by and by figure out which sources are reliable and which are not.

The most important point is that you can’t really shut people from going where they want to go. Those who want pornography will visit such sites. Those who want gossip will find it. It all depends on what people want and how serious they are about getting reliable information. For example, if you want information about the ills of smoking, it won’t be enough to look for anti-smoking websites. What appear as anti-smoking sites in the first several pages of Google, for instance, are operated by various sections of the tobacco industry. Even the ‘opposition’, thus, is regulated. If you have bucks, it can be done. On the other hand, the truth, as they say, is ‘out there’ and it is virtually impossible to block all roads leading to it.

This is why site-blocking is a puerile exercise. Anyone can say ‘any old thing’ slander included. What is blocked can be accessed through proxy servers; works for pornography and works for mischievous or slanderous sites that paint themselves as neutral, political commentators.Read More

President praises Govt.’s foreign policy

The extending highway-Sunday, March 16, 2014

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday defended the Government’s foreign policy, saying some people forgot the era when permission had to be sought to visit parts of the north. “It is their foreign policy which divided the country,” he told a ceremony at Godagama, Matara to mark the opening of the Galle-Matara stretch of the Southern Expressway.

The President arrived at Godagama from Galle in a Land Rover driven by his son and Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa. “Some say it is due to the failings of our foreign policy that we are in this situation. But we need to tell them, it is because of their foreign policy there was an airdrop of dhal, a foreign army came to the country and our armed forces were confined to barracks. The country remained divided due to the ceasefire agreement they had entered into,” the President said.

He said some people were scoffing at the progress of the country and trying to undermine the Government’s development programme and yet others were using foreign influence to stop the development.

Jayantha Dhanapala Is A Liar; Caught Lying Over Silence On Colombo Telegraph Blocking

March 16, 2014

Jayantha Dhanapala, member of the Board of Directors, Dialog Axiata PLC, key co-signatory of the Friday Forum and much sought after resource person for workshops, seminars and conferences on good governance, has studiously dodged queries from Colombo Telegraph regarding his silence on the matter of Colombo Telegraph being blocked by Dialog. [Colombo Telegraph is being blocked by all internet service providers and mobile networks – private and state owned – in Sri Lanka.]

Dhanapala

Dhanapala, one time Under Secretary General, United Nations, was specifically asked to state his position regarding the blocking of Colombo Telegraph given his many media communiques championing the freedom of expression.

Dhanapala, in his communications with Colombo Telegraph uses the word ‘alleged’, implying that he is not certain if indeed Dialog had blocked Colombo Telegraph. However, our investigations reveal that he had told his friends that he could not access Colombo Telegraph. This was 7-10 days prior to our first communication with him. The use of the word is inexplicable since Colombo Telegraph provided him with the technical reportwhich clearly shows that Dialog was indeed blocking Colombo Telegraph. Dhanapala has claimed that he is aregular reader of Colombo Telegraph. As such it would be strange indeed if he, a Director of Dialog, was using another internet service provider to access the site.

He has explained the long delay to respond by claiming that relevant personnel in the senior management of Dialog had been abroad and therefore, presumably, unable to respond. This is strange considering the fact that Dialog is about fast and easy communications services. It is hard to believe that the said personnel did not enjoy roaming facilities or were uncontactable via text or email.

Dhanapala has taken pains to distance himself from the blocking by pointing to the fact that he is an independent, non-executive director of Dialog. He has intimated to Colombo Telegraph that he had been advised that responding to any external communications on company affairs is the sole responsibility of the Executive Management. He has, accordingly, requested Colombo Telegraph to raise issues with the same.

Inhuman Rajapakses’ (dis)respect for human rights demonstrated at Panadura –9 drama artistes injured; 3 serious

(Lanka-e-News- 16.March.2014, 9.30PM) The Rajapakse regime clearly demonstrated to the world what its brutal inhuman understanding is of human rights confirming once again the truth in the massive local and international accusations mounted against its monumental human rights violations. A few days ago when the socialist arts society held a street drama at the Panadura bus terminus most peacefully with a view to enlightening the public , a group of the Rajapakse regime goons and gangs broke into the midst and attacked the artistes (actors ,actresses, musicians and organizers ) who were peacefully performing, most ruthlessly with iron rods.

Nine members of those in the drama group who sustained injuries have been admitted to the Panadura general hospital. Hospital sources say that three of the victims are in a critical condition. It is learnt that among the goons and gangs were bus terminus security personnel and Medamulana synthetic lawyer Namal’s Nil Balakaya hooligan groups.

It is worthy of note even in ancient times during the period of the most brutal Kings , residents got on to the streets and performed dramas and mocked the reign of the Kings . Even those cruel Kings did not take action to attack and break the heads of the artistes.

On the contrary these Rajapakses who are seeking their lunatic power perpetuation by the sheer use of brute and despotic force cannot endure even constructive criticisms. Those who point out the Rajapakses’ faults are either attacked and abducted or killed in cold blood.

The Sinhala Diaspora who go in processions in European countries in support of the SL’s bestial and murderous rulers in order to whitewash the cruelties , barbarities , murders and gross human rights violations committed by the Rajapakses in their own motherland, while the Diaspora is enjoying all the freedom of speech and democratic rights in the foreign countries which freedom and speech the Sri Lankans living here are deprived of , are doing the greatest disservice to their motherland tantamount to worst treason after collecting free air tickets , hotel accommodation and bottles of whisky for their personal enjoyment from these savage criminal rulers in order to unconscionably and shamelessly sacrifice their own souls and the genuine interests of their own motherland at the altar of self seeking aims of cheap sordid gains and personal pleasures.

Thunthana turned to another ‘Rathupaswala’ – Police tear gas agitators

SUNDAY, 16 MARCH 2014

A tense situation prevails in Thunnana area at Hanwella due to tear gas attack and shooting by riot police and the Army deployed in the area. The agitators have blocked the road and are engaged in a protest campaign say reports. Meanwhile, police have arrested several agitators.

The residents commenced a protect ‘fast’ yesterday (15th) claiming the environment is being polluted by a rubber factory in the area causing a water issue. The police carried out a tear gas attack on the agitators yesterday to break up the protest campaign.

The situation became tense as the police carried out tear gas attacks and shooting today morning in an attempt to disperse agitators who continued the protest ‘fast’.

The environmental issue has existed for a long period and despite residents taking various measures to get the attention of authorities for the issue, they have not got any solution.

“Get out you dogs! If you don’t come out we’ll kill you!” – Police bigwigs.

SUNDAY, 16 MARCH 2014

The villagers who carried out an agitation demanding solutions for the issues created due to the pollution of the drinking water by a rubber factory at Thunnane in Hanwella were assaulted by the police and 48 including women, children and devotees who were observing percepts at a nearby temple were arrested. Senior police officers scolded the arrested in obscene language displaying their hatred towards the masses say sources.

A senior police officer threatened villagers saying “Get out you dogs! If you don’t come out we’ll kill you!” Yesterday a senior police officer had told villagers to give up the protest ‘fast’ if they loved their lives.

Police personnel from 25 police stations from around the area were deployed to tear gas and baton charge villagers who engaged in a peaceful agitation. The villagers enraged at police atrocity cut down trees across the road and burnt tyres to obstruct the road. Several villagers were arrested.

Villagers went to a temple nearby for their protection and the police broke into the temple to chase away the agitators. The police also assaulted Bhikkus and devotees observing ‘sil’ in the temple.

Villagers are still waiting at the scene in small groups while police, STF and Army have been deployed.

The chief inspector of Police at Borella Police Prasad Siriwardene, who was part of the police contingent sent to suppress the agitation was seriously injured when a rubber tree fell on him say police.

At the moment a discussion is being held between the police and a team of villagers say reports.

Photographs courtesy 'Lankadeepa'