Ambassador Sison's Remarks to the Foreign Correspondents Association

April 3, 2014

Thank you for inviting me to speak tonight. Last year, you also invited me to speak in early April, and I described the long relationship between the United States and the people of Sri Lanka, as well as the broad spectrum of activities and engagements that characterize our relationship. None of that has changed.

Ambassador Sison's Remarks to the Foreign Correspondents Association by nelvely

UNHRC Resolution: To be reviewed with objectivity

• by  Gnana Moonesinghe 
• - On 04/04/2014   

"The hottest Places in Hell Reserved for those who are, in times of Great moral crises, maintain Their neutrality".                                                                   John F. Kennedy  

The D Day in March has passed us by having placed a hand Heavy As EXPECTED. The intensely canvassed for a yes or no to the resolution process has ended with a yes to the resolution with 23 voting for IT,
Objectivity With UNHRC Resolution to Be Reviewed by nelvely

The Post-War Opposition: A Strategic Perspective

By Dayan Jayatilleka -April 4, 2014

Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka

Isn’t it amazing just how many people don’t connect up the dots? Take this chap Gobi for instance. What if he (or a clone) were to pop up from under a bed and pop a cop just before the presidential or parliamentary election? Would it not warrant the imposition of a massive security blanket? Would that not generate the ‘Dec 2005 effect’ of an enforced boycott of the electoral process by the contented citizenry of that region?

Now this is where the lack of foresight of the opposition’s strategists, tacticians and ideologues comes in. Since one can never know when and where Gobi or one of his pals from the LTTE (or the GTF or BTF) will show up, and one cannot control the response of the state to such a fiendish manifestation, it would be singularly stupid to base an electoral strategy on the Northern or Eastern Tamil vote, especially since that was the stupidity committed not once but twice by the Opposition’s planners. The second time was in 2005, when the UNP counted on the Northern vote. The first was in 1999, when the UNP candidate actually got the Northern Tamil vote, courtesy of the Tigers. On both occasions, the UNP candidate—Ranil the Reclusive Recalcitrant—lost.

In 1999 and 2005, Chandrika and Mahinda won, because neither of them made the mistake Ranil did and bothof them aimed at the same goal. Neither CBK nor Mahinda Rajapaksa based their game plan on the Tamil vote in 1999 and 2005, which is what Ranil did. In 1999 he obtained it —and lost; in 2005 he was denied it— and lost. In 1999 and 2005, Chandrika and Mahinda aimed at and obtained a majority of the majority, which is the only viable electoral strategy in the Sri Lankan context.

The Opposition today has forgotten that fundamental fact. It is, incredibly, basing itself on the same minoritarian strategy (and minoritarian candidate) that failed twice. Even the Sarath Fonseka campaign saw a swing of the undecided patriotic Sinhala voter to President Rajapaksa the moment the TNA gave the general the electoral kiss of death, thereby compounding the confusion caused by the ‘white flag’ issue.

If the opposition is serious about giving the President a bit of a hurry up, then its strategists should be looking at someone whose record shows a halfway decent chance of bidding for the majority of the majority.

                                                                    Read More

Sri Lankan docs in US urge President to ban glyphosate 

by Don Asoka Wijewardena  -    April 3, 2014,

A group of Sri Lankan scientists and doctors living in the US has written to President Mahinda Rajapaksa to implement his decision to ban weedicides containing glyphosate.

Praising the President for his bold action to solve the problem of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) which snuffs out 13 lives in Sri Lanka per day, they have urged him not to give in to pressure.

The ban must be maintained until special interest groups prove beyond doubt that such agro-chemicals are not injurious to human health, they have said.

Approximately 5,000 farmers in the North-Central province (NCP) in Sri Lanka dies of CKD. Many cases go undiagnosed.

Sri Lanka scientists have proved that glyphosate in weedicides is the root cause of the CKD.

A group of Sri Lankan scientists met Special Projects Minister SM Chandrasena recently and informed him that glyphosate was responsible for CKD. Thereafter Minister Chandrasena briefed President Rajapaksa, who ordered a ban on glyphosate in Sri Lanka. However, the presidential order has not yet been carried out.

The letter urging the President to ban glyphosate has been signed by Dr. Iresha Goonesinghe (MD, FACP, FACC, MACPE) Consultant Cardiologist, California; Dr. Niranjala Tillkaratne (PhD, Research Pro.Senior Scientist University of California, Los Angeles); Dr. Rasika Wikremasinghe (MD, FACC) Consultant Cardiologist) California; Dr. Chandrika Seneviratne (MD) Consultant Pathologist) California; Dr. Himanshu Wickreamasinghe (MD, FACCP) Consultant Pulmonologists) California; Dr. Lasika Seneviratne (MD) Consultant Haematologist and Oncology) California and Dr. Mohan Kumararatne (MBBS FAAP Consultant Pediatrician) California.

Tamil Eelam Transnational Government To Release A List Of Sri Lanka War Criminals

April 4, 2014 

Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam ( TGTE ) Today announced that they are going to release a list of Sri Lanka Genocide of Tamils ​​for committing War criminals and perpetrators of mass killing and raping Tamil Women.

"The list of Sri Lankan War criminals and perpetrators of Genocide will likely to include the President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa , President's brother and Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa , and others who were senior Security Force Officers Responsible for the mass killing of Tamils ​​and raping Tamil women. "says the TGTE.  

Gota's Banning Gazette Contains List Of 16 Tamil Diaspora Orgs And 424 Individuals

April 4, 2014

16 Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora organizations including the Government domestically designated non existing LTTE and 424 persons under paragraph 4 (2) of the United Nations Regulations No.  1 of 2012. We publish below the "Extraordinary Gazette" notification by the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Sri Lanka's President's brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa;

Read the Gazette    here    for English

Click To Read in Tamil here  

Lesson to our elections chief from India!

 Friday, 04 April 2014 

There is an opportunity for the Sri Lankan voters in general, and for our election commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya and his staff in particular, to learn from our neighbor India on how to strictly enforce election laws at an elction.

With Indian parliamentary polls due to begin on April 07th Monday, the electioneering activities should end by 5.00 pm tomorrow (05). If any individual or party engages in campaign work in breach of this regulation, according to the Indian election laws, that could carry a two year term of imprisonment. This law applies to all media, even for electronic and social media.

However, the frontrunner at the election, Bharatiya Janatha Party, is due to the election begins LAUNCH Its election Manifesto On the Day.
If the BJP launches election Its Manifesto On Election Day, that is a blatant violation of election laws. If they want to do it legally, the launch should take place before 5.00 pm on April 05. All the media is keeping a close watch as to whether the BJP will disregard the election laws, or not. If that happens, the repercussion will be severe, as India is a country that has a very commendable administration of the law.

India's abstention at UNHRC vote on Sri Lanka 'a political decision'

April 4, 2014

India's decision to abstain From voting On the US-sponsored resolution at the UNHRC against alleged War crimes by Sri Lanka was taken at the "political" level for the welfare of the Tamils ​​in that country, the External Affairs Ministry said On Friday.

"Any decision relating to foreign Policy is a political decision, is not IT? And no official will take a decision Off Without taking a political sign," Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh told PTI.

Ms. Finance Minister P. Chidambaram was singh this ad to a Question about Last Week's remarks that the decision could have been taken by officials of abstention in the External Affairs Ministry.

Expressing unhappiness, Mr .. Chidambaram had further said, "Twenty Three countries have had of Supported of Supported even if IT and IT We should also One was a watered down."

From The Foreign Secretary said the resolution was voting abstained As IT On "Extremely intrusive" and that New Delhi has always been against any country-specific resolution in UNHRC.

"Called upon Resolutions The Last Two Sri Lankan Government to Look into the Issue and to Work toward Reconciliation. Extremely intrusive This year was the resolution. It Proposed an International mechanism, an Open ended International mechanism, and such an intrusive mechanism in our Mind Level We do not, "she said.

The Foreign Secretary said the decision to abstain was "our Analysis Based On" of the Issue.

This is that From abstained voting for the resolution On the First Time - 'promoting Reconciliation, Accountability and Human rights in Sri Lanka'.

"It's not just showing Solidarity with the Tamils ​​in Sri Lanka for the Sake of showing Solidarity. We have to be able to get Results On the Ground and We have We Tamils ​​in Sri Lanka that are able to Show to help them to.

"You know the Biggest Housing project is being implemented in the world over there (by
), "she said. (PTI)

Geneva resolution "counter-productive", says Ceylon Chamber

Sunday, March 30, 2014

The resolution against Sri Lanka which was passed in Geneva On Thursday has been condemned As "counter-Productive," by the country's Most Powerful business Chamber.

Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Chairman Suresh Shah, speaking with the Sunday Times On the sidelines of a media briefing held to announce 175 years of doing business in Sri Lanka last Monday (before the resolution was taken up), said it was "counter-productive" to the entire reconciliation process. Highlighting IT to be a "political Issue", he noted that However, looking at IT IT From a business perspective was "not Fair."

On the OTHER hand, he explained IT was in fact "counter-Productive" As the Focus must be On the process of Reconciliation and this resolution was not simply Helping anyone.

The US-backed resolution was tabled at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva Sessions On Thursday and passed. IT is calling for an International independent and credible Investigation into alleged humanitarian and Human rights Law violations in Sri Lanka.
On the same Issue, the Chamber of Construction Industry (CCI), Sri Lanka said external INTERVENTION through UN Resolutions CAN undermine Rather than complement Government's Lock to thrust into a "TIMEFRAME of change for the gloire of All Peoples of Sri Lanka".

Surath Wickramasinghe said Chamber President believes that the Council of the CCI stability issues encompassed Within All Time and space require a Genuine process of Reconciliation. "The key is to affirm the intent to undertake the process and not to derail its overall mission of nation building," he said in a statement.

War crimes allegations:India Calls On UNHRC to help SL conduct domestic probe

by Zacki Jabbar- April 3, 2014, 12:00 PM 

India said yesterday that the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) should, instead of pursuing an international probe into allegations of war crimes against the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE, encourage Colombo to conduct a comprehensive, independent and credible national investigation.

War crimes allegations India Calls On UNHRC to help SL conduct domestic probe by nelvely

10 tanks, instead of Mattala airport, would have made Rajapaksas gods - Chamal

 Friday, 04 April 2014 

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa says the people would have been grateful to the name of Rajapaksa and treated them like gods for the next 100 years had 10 tanks been built in Hambantota, instead of the Mattala airport.

He was responding to inquiries by several senior ministers with regard to the UPFA’s election setback, especially in his Tissamaharama electorate.

“Mattala was built due to the pressure by Namal. Children should be listened to. But, country and people should have been the priority. My advice was not heeded. The Mattala airport has given no proper job to anyone in this area. There is no income source. It is true there is massive development in Hambantota. But, its dividends are not being enjoyed by the people. In this area, Chinese surpass the number of our people. Had they voted, we would have been through. The only outcome was the revival of the JVP. That is a serious matter. In the future, this will adversely affect the presidential election,” he has said.

In the political circles in the recent past, it was a popular saying that ‘Milk for Hambantota – cucumber for the country’. A media hype of a heaven-like Hambantota was made over the port that was dug out of the land by spending massive loans obtained from China; Mattala airport that would otherwise have been the home for wild animals, a conference hall bigger than the BMICH; and the highways system not second to those in Europe.

Anyhow, before Hambantota became a heaven, in 2009, the UPFA won the district at the provincial council election by polling 66.95% of the votes, but after Hambantota became a heaven, it gained only 57.42% of the votes at Saturday’s election. However, minister Dullas Alahapperuma, the media spokesman of MP Namal Rajapaksa who had led the election campaign, had told a pre-election media conference that the UPFA would poll more than 65% of the votes from Hambantota.

WikiLeaks: Canada Banned LTTE, But Did Not Ban Canadian Tiger Front Orgs - US

April 4, 2014

Canada's Conservative-minority government domestically designated the LTTE / Tamil Tigers under Canada's Criminal Code on April 10, 2006. The GOC did not, however, list the many Canadian front organizations for the Tigers, despite the fact that Canada's anti-terrorism act allows the GOC to designate terrorist groups and their front organizations; in the past, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service has stated that eight front organizations support the Tigers in Canada.

LTTE Leader

"On April 10, the GOC domestically listed as terrorists under the Canadian Criminal Code the LTTE / Tamil Tigers (other listed aliases can be found in the announcement by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OFSI), www.osfi-bsif. gc.ca.) ​​The Tigers are the 39th terrorist group to be outlawed under Canada's Criminal Code and the first since May 2005. "the US Embassy Ottawa informed Washington.

The  Colombo Telegraph  Cable Found From the related leaked the  WikiLeaks  Database. The cable is classified as "CONFIDENTIAL" written on April 10, 2006 by the US Embassy Ottawa.

The Embassy said; "The LTTE had previously been listed under Canada's less-stringent United Nations Suppression of Terrorism Regulations (UNSTR)."

"Approximately a quarter of the world's Tamil population lives outside of Sri Lanka. Canada is home to the largest Tamil diaspora, estimated at roughly 200,000 (see reftel B), and Tamils ​​are currently Canada's fastest growing ethnic group. The majority of Tamils ​​live in the Toronto area, giving it the largest Tamil urban population of any city in the world including Sri Lanka itself. Experts have estimated that in the 1990s, over 80 percent of the Tamil Tigers' military budget came from overseas sources, and various reports have estimated that the Canadian Tamil diaspora was a source of between $ 1-10 million annually. A recent report from Human Rights Watch (www.hrw.org) highlighted the role of Canadian Tamils ​​in funding "The Final War". In this report, Human Rights Watch focused on signs it had found of extensive extortion by the Tigers within the Canadian Tamil community, listing examples of Tamil Canadians who were threatened both in Canada and on visits to Sri Lanka. "The Embassy further said.

Placing a comment the Embassy said; "The decision to list the Tigers under the Criminal Code comes as no surprise from a Conservative government that has been urging such a move for years. The Conservatives are not beholden to urban ridings with a large Sri Lankan population, which they did not win in any event and probably have no hope of winning in the future: they therefore have greater freedom of action than the Liberals did. The designation of the Tigers clears up a basic incongruity in Canada, where the Tigers were listed under one set of rules but not another, and brings Canada into alignment with its close allies who have listed the Tigers. It is also another indication of the current government's desire to act decisively, both to distinguish itself from the previous government and to show leadership and resolve, with or without international cover. "

Read the cable below for further details;

Powerful govt. minister to run for president!

Friday, 04 April 2014

A powerful minister in the government has told his colleagues that he would definitely contest at the next presidential election if he is not appointed the prime minister. This minister has also said that the SLFP ministers were getting step-motherly treatment, while the followers of MP Namal Rajapaksa were enjoying all the privileges, and warned that even the senior SLFPers would not receive nominations after the presidential polls.

In such a scenario, it will be a dignified exit from politics if we go down fighting on behalf of the party supporters, instead of being left to be non-entities, he has said. Approving of his approach, the other ministers have prepared a list of 20 powerful SLFP ministers, who could face such a challenge.

For the risk they are taking, they have decided, to seek the common opposition candidate position.

According to reports reaching us, the decision reached at this meeting was intimated by the minister in question to a top UNP activist, who, in turn, had left the country soon after the conclusion of the southern provincial council election to meet a representative of the minister to discuss the future course of action.

Reports also say that among those 20 ministers are those who make regular public remarks to the effect that they are prepared to make any sacrifice on behalf of the Mahinda and Namal Rajapaksa father-son duo.

Israel scraps the release of Palestine prisoners as talks are 'reviewed'

Officials blame Mahmoud Abbas's decision to restart his country's push for membership of 15 international bodies

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said his actions were a response to Israel's failure to release prisoners as promised. Photograph: Abbas Momani / AFP / Getty Images

Peter Beaumont  in Jerusalem

Thursday 3 April 2014 

Israel  scrapped the scheduled release of a Group of prisoners and the Palestinians Called for the entire U.S.-sponsored negotiations to be "Reviewed", in what could be a Fatal Blow to the current Round of Middle East peace talks,

Officials blamed the Palestinians the President, Mahmoud Abbas , and his decision to restart his push for UN membership bodies of 15 for the Move, which was itself a response to the Palestinians delays and wrangling over the prisoners' release.   

The announcement marks the abandonment of the two key confidence-building measures put in place eight months to smooth the path of renewed peace negotiations between the sides in search of a two-state solution.

Last year, the Palestinians agreed to suspend a campaign for unilateral recognition at the UN bodies in exchange for the Israel releasing 104 prisoners who had been jailed before the Oslo Peace Process. The last and most controversial group had been scheduled for freedom last weekend but were never released.

The moves come amid evidence of mounting US impatience with both sides over the breakdown of the talks with US officials criticising the "unhelpful, unilateral actions" and US Secretary of State John Kerry demanding that both sides show leadership.

Kerry called it a "critical moment" for the peace process but vowed to continue his efforts "no matter what." Speaking during a visit to Algeria, he added: "You can facilitate, you can push, you can nudge, but the parties themselves have to make fundamental decisions and compromises. The leaders have to lead and they have to be able to see a moment when it's there. "

The White House spokesman, Jay Carney, said any delay in the release of a fresh round of Palestinian prisoners "creates challenges" but that "dialogue remains open."

The announcement of the cancellation of the prisoner release was made in a statement by the Israeli negotiator and justice minister, Tzipi Livni, which claimed that the Israeli government had been working to finalise the agreement to free the prisoners when Abbas signed letters of accessions to 15 international conventions.

The Palestinian president said his actions were a response to Israel's failure to release prisoners as promised.

Israeli officials said they had formally requested Abbas to rescind the applications to join the 15 international bodies or face punitive measures. Livni said the prisoner release was contingent on the Palestinians refraining from making unilateral moves. She said that "new conditions were established and Israel cannot release the fourth batch of prisoners."

The latest moves come as Palestinian officials have reportedly threatened to seek membership of the International Criminal Court in addition to the other bodies, amid mounting recriminations on both sides.

The cancellation came a day after an acrimonious eight-hour meeting chaired by the US special envoy, Martin Indyk. According to unconfirmed reports from that meeting, Livni and the lead Palestinian negotiator traded threats over the consequences of the breakdown.

Palestinian sources told the Ma'an news agency that the meeting, which broke up at four in the morning, had degenerated into a "fierce political battle" in which Livni threatened to impose "endless sanctions" on the Palestinians, while Saeb Erekat threatened Palestinians would go the International Criminal Court at the Hague to try Israeli leaders as "war criminals".

Kerry's account of the meeting depicted it in less furious terms, saying there had been progress on "some of the questions that have arisen as a result of the events of the last few days. But there is a still a gap and that gap will have to be closed and closed very soon. "

The prisoner issue is an emotional one for Palestinians after decades of conflict with Israel. Palestinians generally view them as heroes, regardless of the reason for their imprisonment. Israelis mostly view them as terrorists.

US calls for end to humanitarian curbs in Myanmar's RakhineUS calls for end to humanitarian curbs in Myanmar's Rakhine

1 OF 3.  A family Stand at the entrance of the Government embarks On Their As a temporary shelter at a National Census Rohingya Refugee Camp in Sittwe, Rakhine State the Capital of April 1, 2014.  

WASHINGTON Thu Apr 3, 2014 

(Reuters) - The United States Called On  Myanmar  Travel On Wednesday to lift restrictions On UN and humanitarian OTHER Staff to allow them to Resume Work in the country's Rakhine State, which has been hit by ethnic and religious Violence.

The State Department expressed deep concern about what it termed "a humanitarian crisis" in the state and said violent mob attacks on UN and non-governmental organization offices had worsened an already troubling situation.

"We Call On Government to rescind the ... Travel Travel restrictions and to facilitate the appropriate authorizations to the United Nations and humanitarian organizations so they OTHER May Resume All services to vulnerable people in Rakhine State, "said IT.  

"We further call on the government to take meaningful steps to provide security for all humanitarian workers and residents of Rakhine State."

Aid agencies were forced to halt operations in Rakhine a week ago when hundreds of ethnic Rakhine Buddhists destroyed staff homes, offices and warehouses as well as boats used to transport supplies. Police fired warning shots to quell the rioters and rescue aid workers.

Humanitarian workers forced to evacuate the area said about

20,000 people in displacement camps around Sittwe would Run out of the Town of drinking Water Within 10 days, while food Stocks Run would Within Two weeks out, imperilling thousands.  

Aid groups have long drawn the ire of some in the ethnic Rakhine Buddhist community who accuse them of favouring the mainly Muslim Rohingya, who make up the vast majority of victims of violence that has displaced more than 140,000 since June 2012.

As the evacuations came Myanmar prepared a Census - the country's First since 1983 - which has sparked controversy includes Because IT Questions On religion and ethnicity.  

The US statement urged the government to take steps to ensure the census was conducted "in a manner consistent with international standards and the government's commitment to national reconciliation and the peaceful resolution of ethnic and religious differences."

Sectarian tensions are especially marked in Rakhine, which is home to a million mostly stateless Rohingya whom the government refers to as Bengali, implying they are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

While "Rohingya" is not listed on the census form, people have the option to check "other" and ask enumerators to fill in their ethnicity. Some Rakhine Buddhists have threatened to boycott the census out of concern that it could lead to official recognition for the Rohingya.

On Tuesday, the UN Population Fund, or UNFPA, which helped organize the census, said it was concerned about the decision not to allow respondents to "self-identify" as Rohingya, calling this "a departure from international census standards, human rights principles and agreed procedures. "

Underwater search for MH370: days left to find black boxUnderwater search for MH370: days left to find black box

Friday  04 APRIL 2014

Crews launch a targeted underwater hunt for the black box belonging to Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 - but have just a few days left before the device's batteries are expected to run out.

Underwater Search for MH370 Days Left to Find Black BoxUnderwater Search for MH370 Days Left to Find Black... by nelvely