SLAF steps up militarisation of Ve'l'lai-ma'nal coast in Trincomalee

[Tamilnet, Sunday, 20 April 2014, 19:02 GMT]
The occupying Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) in Trincomalee City has seized More than 4,000 acres of coastal land in Vellai-manal, located between Marble Beach and Karumalai-yoottu within the administrative DS division of Trincomalee Town and Gravets. The SL military has completed surveying the public lands and has fenced off the coastal stretch barring the people from accessing the coast, civil sources told TamilNet. After the end of war in the East, the SL military has put up two major camps, one for SLAF and another for Sri Lanka Army (SLA), in the division. The SLAF has also transformed Marble beach into a military-run corporate outfit by launching a tourist resort. 

Colombo is a scheming Sinhala Military Colony in the Lands being appropriated Now, the Civil sources in Trincomalee said.  

Vellai-manal of Muslim villagers have been using for the Lands Cattle herding, and cultivation.  

Eastern Provincial Chief Minister Najeeb Abdul Majeed has earlier gone On Record Plants and Trees that the Sri Lankan Defence Secretary and SL Presidential Sibling Gotabhaya Rajapaksa would Discuss any take over of public Lands for Military purpose with the provincial Council in advance.  

But, the Chief minister of the EPC, belonging to Rajapaksa's ruling UPFA, is avoiding responding to questions from the Tamil-speaking Muslim leaders in Trincomalee on how the lands are being fenced off with a notice that the area belongs to the SLAF.

Growing Negative Perception Shows Need To Restore CredibilityGrowing Negative Perception Shows Need To Restore Credibility

By  Jehan Perera  - April 21, 2014

Jehan Perera

Less than Three Decade Long Internal Five years after the end of the War, the Government has warned that the LTTE is regrouping and plotting to renew Again Its violent campaign for a separate State. This warning has come in the context of a shootout reported in the North that led to the killing of three LTTE members by the military, who according to the government, had shot and injured a policeman in the leg. It is plausible that there are small groups within the local population as well as internationally who may be plotting some violent acts, even if they know that the conditions at the present time do not permit sustained rebellion. Had the slain persons are accused of having connections with the Tamil Diaspora and had prominent Targets in Mind. It will be ironic if Sri Lanka, which achieved what seemed impossible by defeating the LTTE, should lose its prospects for peace so rapidly.    

May have been a coincidence that this IT Violence, which is the First LTTE-related Violence since the end of the War, OCCURRED Soon after the Passage of the UNHRC resolution calling for an International Investigation into the Last Phase of Sri Lanka's War. But this coincidence has been helpful to the government in justifying its security-centered approach to governance. The government has refused to cooperate with the UNHRC investigation. It has also banned 16 Tamil Diaspora organizations and 424 individuals whom it has accused of promoting terrorism. It may be noted that prior to the vote at the UNHRC in Geneva, the Northern Provincial Council, the TNA and Tamil civil society groups issued statements in support of an international investigation, which was diametrically in opposition to the government's own position. But now there is fear now amongst these groups, and the mobilization of civil society protests against the government's approach to accountability and human rights issues has virtually collapsed.  

Reports from the North indicate that the military role has grown and the space for civil society to function has shrunk due to permission for activities that has to be obtained and is either not forthcoming or is deemed to be impossible to obtain. The security forces conducted extensive cordon and search operations and arrested over 60 persons, including civic activists, prior to the final shootout. It is tragic that after defeating the LTTE so totally on the battlefield, the government is edging towards a situation where the military is being called upon to play a greater role in the lives of the people. The situation is so bad that when I wished to visit the North last week and see for myself what the situation on the ground was, I found it difficult to find a partner organization to take me around. They feared they would be compromising themselves in the eyes of the security forces and also those they took me to meet.

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வறணி படைத்தளத்திலிருந்த பாரிய மனித புதைகுழிகளது எச்சங்கள் இரவோடிரவாக அகற்றப்பட்டனவா?

Global Tamil News special correspondent: -

இலங்கை இராணுவத்தின் தென்மராட்சியின் முக்கிய படைத்தளமாகவும், முன்னைய முன்னரங்க நிலையான முகமாலைக்கான விநியோக தளமாகவும் இருந்த வறணி படைத்தளத்திலிருந்த பாரிய மனித புதைகுழிகளது எச்சங்கள் இரவோடிரவாக அகற்றப்பட்டமை தொடர்பான முக்கிய தகவல் ஒன்று குளோபல் தமிழ்ச் செய்திகளிற்கு கிடைத்துள்ளது.

குறிப்பாக 1996ம் ஆண்டு யாழ்.குடாநாடு படையினரால் கைப்பற்றப்பட்ட வேளையில் பருத்தித்துறை – கொடிகாமம் வீதியில் வறணியில் பெருமளவு நிலப்பரப்பினை ஆக்கிரமித்து 522 வது படைத்தளம் அமைக்கப்பட்டிருந்தது. அதற்காக பிரதான வீதியும் துண்டிக்கப்பட்டதுடன் அங்கிருந்த பெருமளவு பொதுமக்களது வீடுகளும் சுவீகரிக்கப்பட்டிருந்தன.

யாழ்.குடாநாடு கைப்பற்றப்பட்டது முதல் தென்மராட்சிப்பகுதியில் இடம்பெற்ற கைதுகள் மற்றும் காணமல் போதல்களது மையமாக இப்படைத்தளமே இருந்தது. குறிப்பாக ஆலயமொன்றில் தங்கியிருந்த எட்டு இளைஞர்கள் காணாமல் போயிருந்தமை தொடர்பிலும் இப்படை தளமே குற்றச்சாட்டுக்களி;ற்கு உள்ளாகியிருந்தது.
இந்நிலையில் சுமார் 18 வருடங்களின் பின்னர் குறித்த படைமுகாம் மூடப்பட்டு காணிகள் மற்றும் வீடுகள் பொதுமக்களிடம் ஒப்படைக்கப்படப போவதாக அறிவிக்கப்பட்டிருந்தது. அத்துடன் அருகாகவுள்ள மிருசுவில் பகுதிக்கு இப்படைத்தளம் நகர்த்தப்பட்டு மிருந்ததுடன் ஏ-9 வீதியோரம் நகர்த்தப்பட்டு அமைக்கப்பட்டிருந்த குறித்த படைத்தளத்தை பாதுகாப்பு அமைச்சின் செயலாளர் கோத்தாபாய ராஜபக்சவே திறந்தும் வைத்திருந்தார்.

எனினும் விடுவிக்கப்படுவதாக அறிவிக்கப்பட்டிருந்த வறணி படைத்தளம் சுமார் இரண்டு மாதங்களின் பின்னதாக நேற்றே முற்றாக விடுவிக்கப்பட்டிருந்தது. கடந்த சில வாரங்களாக இரவு வேளைகளில் கனரக வாகனங்கள் சகிதம் அப்பகுதியில் பாரிய குழிகள் அகழப்பட்டதுடன் அங்கிருந்து அவசர அவசரமாக அடையாளம் தெரியாத பொருட்கள் அகற்றப்பட்டதாக அங்கிருந்து குளோபல் தமிழ்ச் செய்திகளிற்கு கிடைக்கும் தகவல்கள் தெரிவிக்கின்றன. இது அப்பகுதி மக்களிடையே பெரும்பரபரப்பினை  தோற்றுவித்திருந்ததுடன் இரவோடிரவாக எடுத்து செல்லப்பட்டவை தொடர்பில் பலத்த சந்தேககங்கள் மக்களிடையே எழுந்துள்ளன.

குறிப்பாக விடுவிக்கப்பட்ட படைத்தளப்பகுதியில் காணப்படும் சர்ச்சைக்குரிய பகுதிகளை பார்வையிட்ட மனித நேய செயற்பாட்டு அணி ஒன்று அங்கு காணப்படும் பாரிய குழிகள் அகழப்பட்டு வேறிடங்களிலிருந்து மண் எடுத்துவரப்பட்டதை உறுதிப்படுத்தியுமுள்ளது.

ஏற்கனவே வடமராட்சியில் கைவிடப்பட்ட பல்லப்பை படைத்தளத்தில் மனித புதை குழி பற்றி தகவல்கள் வெளியாகியிருந்த நிலையில் இம்முகாமிலும் புதைகுழிகள் அகற்றப்பட்டு இருக்கலாம் என தெரிவிக்கப்படுகிறது.

The President and his apparatchiks: Loving children most, their toys even more?

Photo by AP, courtesy The Hindu

by Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu 

- on 04/21/2014 

The other day, killing time in the airport lounge, I picked up the Sunday Observer. Not something I do on a regular basis, never having been able to reciprocate the attention the state controlled media has paid to me over the years. On the front page was an article – this was the 13 April issue- titled “Lanka tops Child –Friendliness Index in South Asia” by Ranil Wijayapala. Mr Wijayapala’s article was devoted to remarks made by the Child Development and Women’s Affairs Minister Tissa Karaliyadda on this achievement, which according to the minister – no surprise here – is due to government efforts and initiatives. Clearly no one asked Vibooshika for her views or Sharmila who recently miscarried in detention, her views, either. What caught my eye in particular was the stunning revelation by the minister about His Excellency the President. In Wijeyapala’s words:

He (the minister) said children in Sri Lanka are fortunate to have a leader such as President Mahinda Rajapaksa who loves children more than any other world leader. (Emphasis mine)

Now, how does he know? How many other world leaders does he know and know well enough to make this claim? Does he know Kim Jong-un, Supreme Leader of the Democratic Peoples’ Republic of Korea, who despite international reports of children in his country starving, must surely be incensed by the sheer chutzpah of Karaliyadda’s statement! No Pyongyang for him, surely, but no doubt grace and favour in large and steady doses from our most child-loving chief executive! Kim outdoes him, perhaps only just, in the scale and frequency of personal posters, banners and hoardings. When it comes to flattery and compliments, again Kim has the decided advantage, but, as it is fast becoming clear, only just!

Karaliyadda’s statement is not the first by a politician in this country ridiculously, obsequiously flattering his leader – it may though be the first of this kind – so very up close and personal – that has been given front page coverage in a media organ that was taken over by the state to be broad-based in terms of ownership, but continues for decades to be abused as a propaganda organ. Has Karaliyadda no shame? Actually it is difficult to understand the nature of the beast as it were, since he, Karaliyadda, reportedly advocates legislation to allow rapists to marry their victims!

More importantly, as a reflection of governance and political culture in this country, we have regressed into the surreal – fantastically farcical at one level; chillingly frightening at another. Does Mahinda Rajapaksa acknowledge this bilge and buffoonery, nurture, nourish and reward it? How can this man be a minister? How can this regime even contemplate laws that will provide for rapists marrying their victims? What perverted “child development” is that? Is Mahinda Rajapksa listening, does he care? I think not. This is his creation. The dynastic project over which he presides and of which he is the crucial element requires this over- the –top and absurd rhetoric, repressive and pre-historic legislation.

And there is more…

Consider what happened to the UNP MPs who visited Hambantota, home turf of the dynasty. His Lordship the Mayor, an apparatchik of the dynasty was there to meet and greet and beat and even shoot at them (?) along with a chunk of loyal locals. And with a toy gun, he says. Toy guns are standard issue for local government and governance these days? Let us not forget the ongoing Khuram Shaikh case. No, it is not toy guns that are widely used – rather it is more of a case of guns, real guns as toys for the “nasties” of the regime! And the police look on as if their primary function in contemporary Sri Lanka is not the protection of civilians and the rule of law but the encouragement and observation of their destruction.  Let us not forget that vicious vignette of violence at Hotel Nippon and the countless other instances of the police looking on – passive witnesses rather than active watchdogs and guardians of law and order and the rule of law.

The culture of governance spawned by the regime is such that the international profile of the country is being ruined. International investigation into allegations of war crimes and hagiographic personality cult type propaganda around the president and his family, give Kim Jong-un a run for his money. Gun-toting local politicians and thuggish monks visiting violence on their own and others with relative impunity, reports of increased sexual harassment of female foreign tourists, an apparently resurgent LTTE now apparently nipped in the bud, but with spin-offs in cordon and search operations and detentions, cumulatively make for adverse travel advisories, which in turn have obvious economic consequences. Does the regime have a plan to reverse all or any of this? Does it have a purpose beyond its entrenchment in power for posterity? Or, is this the plan? Who is in charge and of what, for what?

I suspect there is a coterie within the regime, which believes that a certain discipline will have to be restored, control asserted and the unseemly, untidy instances of Hambantota and Hotel Nippon, the ludicrous excesses of the likes of Karaliyadda and the advertent or inadvertent penchant for keeping up with the Kims, must all be reined in. For them the regime is on the soundest footing when it is lean and mean, neat and tidy.

For those who believe – God help us. There are signs that the worst is yet to come if like the police, we just watch – as instructed?

President Rajapaksa Has No People’s Mandate Or Moral Right To Contest Again

 | by Laksiri Fernando

( April 21, 2014, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) When President Mahinda Rajapaksa contested for the Presidency in January 2010 for the second time, overwhelming assumption of the people who voted or campaign for him was that it was his last term. That was the constitutional position as well as the tradition of this country, like in many other democratic countries, since 1978 when the presidential system was inaugurated. The two term limitation was ingrained in the Constitution.

President Rajapaksa Has No People’s Mandate or Moral Right to Contest Again by nelvely

The Tamil Tragedy: the haplessness in hoping the forces guilty of supporting Sri Lankan state would somehow provide redress

The Tamil Tragedy: the haplessness in hoping the forces guilty of supporting Sri Lankan state would somehow provide redress

US AMB at the HRC 25:
Will they provide redress?

Cheran Rudhramoorthy-Monday, April 21, 2014 

In the last week of April 2009, an unexpected telephone call from a long-lost friend woke me up in the early hours. For me, those were the days of continuous trauma, relentless protests in the streets of Toronto and constant ‘bombardment’ by horrific images from the war zones in the Vanni region of Sri Lanka. The request from my friend was simple and direct:

The Tamil Tragedy the Haplessness in Hoping the Forces Guilty of Supporting Sri Lankan State Would Somehow... by nelvely

Elections 2015: The Stakes

By Dayan Jayatilleka -April 21, 2014 

Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka

The Sunday newspapers carried credible reports that the Presidential election would be held anytime after November this year, most probably in January 2015 while parliamentary elections would be held before the Sinhala and Tamil New Year 2015.  What this means is that over the coming year, the serious political participant or student of politics should think almost entirely in terms of three subjects:

(i) Sri Lanka’s external relations (the OHCHR probe, relations with the incoming Indian administration),

(ii) The Sri Lankan elections and

(iii) North –South or Tamil-Sinhala relations in the light of (i) & (ii).

The crisis in Sri Lanka’s external relations can be successfully addressed only if there is a change for the better in the political behaviour of the regime, which may depend on a change in regime composition. If there is no change for the better, we may expect a dramatic denouement along the lines of what I would term ‘1987 Plus’.

Simply out, the full and expeditious implementation of the 13^th amendment would enable us to secure the support of the new Indian administration and neutralise one front. We could then secure the support of India to face and blunt the buzz saw of the international inquiry originating on the Western front. The 13^th amendment is the smallest price we have to pay. The window for a settlement based on the implementation of 13 A won’t remain open for much longer. If we do not implement it fully and expeditiously, if the Sinhala hardliners prevent it, the next stop will be externally-driven federalization or worse. If we alienate the incoming Indian administration Sri Lanka will be caught on two fronts. An economic squeeze and legal pressures from the west and a push on Tamil autonomy or more from India will mean a siege that Sri Lanka cannot sustainably resist.                              Read More

Thugs and toys

Editorial-April 20, 2014

The Constitution tells us that only the Executive President enjoys legal immunity in this country. But, in reality, all ruling party politicians are above the law. The police act against them only when they become too embarrassing to their political masters and threaten the interests of the government in power. The powers that be defend them to the hilt when they get into hot water by unleashing violence while doing ‘political work’ for the party.

On Thursday, we saw a group of local level UPFA politicians and their thugs in action in Hambantota, surrounding and attacking as they did some UNP MPs following the latter’s visit to the Hambantota Port. That incident could not have come at a worse time for the government, which is troubled by a damning UNHRC resolution in Geneva and international pressure being brought to bear on it to conduct a probe into allegations of human rights violations. The UNP has already threatened to internationalize the incident unless the perpetrators are brought to book. The main Opposition party cannot be blamed for such action, given the culture of impunity which has stood the UPFA politicians and their private armies in good stead. On the other hand, the SLFP, too, has a history of rushing to the UNHRC over attacks of that nature, hasn’t it?

Hambantota Mayor, Eraj Fernando, who was seen with a pistol at the scene on Thursday, has had the audacity to claim that the gun he brandished in full view of the public, the media and the police was only a toy. The problem with the ‘toy pistols’ in the hands of government politicians is that they kill. Fortunately, on that day, there was no need for the government thugs to fire their ‘toy pistols’ as there was no resistance whatsoever; the UNP MPs under attack had the wisdom to flee without risking their lives.

Simply because the gullible electors fall for their wiles and blindly vote for them UPFA politicians seem to think that the masses are real asses or, to borrow a term from one of our columnists, ‘voter buffaloes’. This is the first time we have seen a grown-up ruling party politician with a ‘toy pistol’ running behind a bus carrying a group of Opposition MPs pursued by a group of thugs. Either he is a liar or the people of Hambantota have elected a fool as their Mayor? People deserve to be judged by the representatives they elect.

What really matters is not whether the weapon in the Mayor’s hand was a toy or not but what he did with it. He was obviously part of a mob that carried out Thursday’s unprovoked attack in spite of his claim that he was there to protect the beleaguered MPs. A person who commits a crime, say a bank heist, with the help of a toy gun cannot get away with his offence by claiming that the weapon he used is not real, can he? Hereafter all armed robbers caught by CCTV cameras in action may trot out the same lame excuse in extenuation of their crimes.

Those at the levers of power and at the helm of the police must be descendants of the bovine King Kekille, who, according to legend, always punished the wrong party in a dispute and let the culprits off the hook. Instead of having the stone throwing goons and the Hambantota Mayor and the police personnel who never so much as lifted a finger to help the UNP MPs under attack dealt with severely, they have reportedly ordered that the alleged lapses on the part of the victims’ security personnel be probed. We believe the guards, if any, of the UNP MPs acted wisely and sensibly without offering resistance and removing the victims to safety.

The least the government could do to prove that the rule of law is not as dead is to ensure that the attackers are brought to justice immediately.

Thuggistan! A ‘rape marriage law’ in

Thuggistan! A ‘rape marriage law’ in 

Sri Lanka!!

Aminal al-Filali: changed the rape law

April 21, 2014 

”But Rajapaksas are never hobbled by facts, not when they have a myth to propagate. And blaming the victims is a favourite Rajapaksa tactic. Tamils are exclusively responsible for all their ills; Muslims and Christians are responsible for the attacks on their communities/mosques/churches. The people of Weliweriya got shot through their own fault. Basically in Rajapaksa Sri Lanka bad things happen only when people are unruly and disobedient.  ”

Thuggistan! a ‘Rape Marriage Law’ in by nelvely

Breaking The Silence Journal: Kingston University

Tamil Guardian 21 April 2014 ; (Pictures: KUTS) Kingston University Tamil Society held the first ‘Breaking the Silence’ event of 2014 earlier this month. Tamil students from the university organised an exhibition at the main campus of the university in south London detailing aspects of the genocide and war crimes that occurred during the armed conflict. Award-winning documentary “No Fire Zone” was also played to students and faculty members at the university. Breaking the Silence is a project to raise awareness about Tamil rights issues, organised by Tamil student societies in universities across London, for over 5 years. Catch up on previous entries form this year’s Breaking The Silence campaign below: Breaking The Silence Journal: Kings College London (07 December 2013)Breaking The Silence Journal: St George's (04 December 2013)Breaking The Silence Journal: City University  (02 December 2013)Breaking The Silence Journal: SOAS  (26 November 2013)Breaking The Silence Journal: UCL (23 November 2013)Breaking The Silence Journal: LSE  (17 November 2013)

WikiLeaks: South African ICT Firm ‘Datatec’ Has Operations In Sri Lanka

April 21, 2014

“South Africa-based ICT group Datatec has acquired a 50.01% stake in India-based ICT distribution business Inflow Technologies. The stake in Inflow provides Datatec with an entry point and initial footprint in India. Inflow has a presence in nine key Indian cities and has operations in Sri Lanka and Singapore” the US Embassy Pretoria (South Africa) informed Washington.

South African President Zuma

The Colombo Telegraph found the related leaked cable from the WikiLeaks database. The cable was written on September 15, 2008 by the US Embassy Pretoria – South Africa.

The Embassy wrote; “Datatec CEO Jens Montanana said: ‘India is a very large and fast growing market offering strong prospects in our sector with a lower cost of entry compared to many other developing markets and potentially higher returns and greater organic investment opportunities.’ He added that investment in Inflow is another step in Datatec’s strategy to increase its exposure to the world’s major emerging markets. (Engineering News, September 11, 2008)”

Read the cable here

Srilankan President Mahinda Rajapakshe: Ban the extreme group of monks called Bodu Bala Sena in…To:

• Petitioning Srilankan President Mahinda Rajapakshe 

Change.orge 

Ban the extreme group of monks called Bodu Bala Sena in who ignites the religious hatred, enmity and violent oppressions against Muslims and other minority religious groups.

To:
Srilankan President Mahinda Rajapakshe, Presidential Secretariat Colombo 01. 

The Director, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
Eleanor Blatchley Coordinator, Human Rights Watch
Secretary, Minority Rights Group International
Emma Eastwood, Minority Rights Group International
Secretary, International Justice Mission UK
Secretary for Minority Affairs, International Crisis Group
Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for the Office of Human Rights 

Ban the extreme group of monks in srilanka called Bodu Bala Sena who religious who ignites the hatred, enmity and violent oppressions against Muslims and other minority religious groups.

Sincerely,
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The request to issue a ban on the extreme monks organization called Bodu Bala Sena and arrest their General Secretary Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero for the violation of the states power to spread their hatred activities and ignition of violence on religious minorities and Bhuddhist Monks freedom of speech.

Although their activities turned into physical harms on Muslim Mosques, Historical Graveyards, Christian churches and Hindu Temples, even on Budhdhist Monk itself, Srilankan authorities and President are still remain silence for more than two years rather taking action of any kind on this process of terrorism and promotion of enmity into the country.

Entire Srilankan citizens including Majority of Buddhist have started to oppose the Bodu Bala Sena after the violent incident took place on press meet organized by Jathika Bala Sena another group of Buddhist monk organization that promotes Peace and co-existence in the country.

The general secretary of JBS Watareka Vijitha Thero was stopped and threatened in front of the state media violently.

Also he was forced for public apology for gathering media to speak against religious oppressions and for being favor to all other religious beliefs specially Muslims rather promoting Srilanka as a Buddhist State.

We hope that this disgrace on Srilankan democratic system and the peaceful co-existence of citizens should be brought to an end by requesting the Srilankan President by public petition.
We, Srilankans hate hatred of any kind.  

BBS And The Doctrine Of Taqiyah

By Rifai Naleemi -April 21, 2014

Dr. Rifai Naleemi

Unfortunately Bodu Bala Sena failed to learn Islamic teachings and it’s principles from the authentic sources of Islam. Bodu Bala Sena chooses to pick up distorted forms of Islamic teaching from sheikh Google and it’s cohorts of on lines teachers: BBS tried to make a fuss of Halal logo in Sri Lanka and yet, people came to know that BBS is dancing to the tunes of some political thugs in Sri Lanka.

Today Singhalese people are cleverer than these idiot monks and political thugs and most of them today interact with Muslim people here in Sri Lanka and Abroad. Today people have access to the true sources of knowledge through information technology and any false and distorted information can be verified through researching into right sources of knowledge. BBS thinks that people would believe them without any verification what they say and what they preach about Islam: falsehood has no place in this world and falsehood bound to perish. False propaganda of BBS is bound to perish soon.
They took some Quranic verses out of context to justify some of their false propaganda and yet they failed on that. Recently they begun to tell people that Quran preach to steals and rob the property of Non- Muslim people: This is mere fabrication and false accusation: Nowhere in Quran tells like this to steal property of any human beings or nowhere it tells to harm any non- Muslim people:

Gnanasara

Jews and Christian people have been living with Muslim since the time of prophetic period until today. Muslims and non- Muslims have been living together for centuries in many Muslim countries non of Jewish or Christian community made such a non- sense accusation as BBS claims in Sri Lanka. Non- Muslims lived under Ottoman Empire and they never made such non- sense complaints and they lived under Muslim Spain and they never made such complaint.

Today look at demography of Non- Muslims living in Muslim countries. A large percentage of non- Muslim live in Muslim countries do Muslims in those countries rob the properties of non- Muslims as BBS claims: what a fabrication is this? Who will believe in these none- sense?

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PM to bring bill against rogue monks 

By Ariyarathna Ganegoda-April 21, 2014 
 
 
Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne said he would table a new Parliamentary Act against men in robes, who engage in anti -Buddhist activities.
 
 
The Prime Minister revealed this when addressing a gathering at a ceremony held at Vidya Saagara Maha Pirivena, Menikhinna, Kandy.
 
 
"Anyone has the liberty to put on a yellow robe. No law will prevent it. Some may have an idea of destroying Buddhism. A situation has come where such people, if found guilty,... ...should be brought to book after removing their saffron robes. We'll have to take action now or the Buddhist monks will lose their respect if that trend continues. I have prepared a Bill to address those concerns," he said.
 
 
Jayaratne said he would consult the Maha Sanga and seek their blessings for the proposed Bill.

Global Rule of Law Index: SL ranked mid-level but has more challenges than rest of group

Monday 21st April 2014

World Justice Project Rule of Law Index
The Washington DC based World Justice Project or WJP – a multidisciplinary private initiative to promote Rule of Law globally – has just released its Index on Global Rule of Law for 2014. The index made up of 9 – but quantified only for 8 – important parameters relating to the Rule of Law has covered 99 countries in both the rich and the poor worlds.says WJP, of governments, donors, businesses and civil society organisations.

'Go and Enjoy Yourselves' What Tribal Elder Said Before Indian Gang Rape Victim Was Tied to a Platform to B... by nelvely

Government’s five year limit under fire

 Monday, 21 April 2014

The Foreign Correspondents Association (FCA) has said it is unaware of any time limits on visas issued to foreign journalists posted to Sri Lanka as stated by the government.

The FCA statement was made in response to a comment by Media Ministry Secretary Charitha Herath that a five year policy was in place for foreign journalists based in Colombo.

Herath had made the comment on twitter when questioned about the government decision not to grant a one year visa extension to the BBC correspondent in Colombo, Charles Haviland.

Haviland has been in Sri Lanka since April 2009 and his visa expired this month and he had sought a one year extension through the External Affairs Ministry.

However, the Ministry had refused to grant him the one year extension and had given him a few days to leave Sri Lanka.

Following pressure by senior foreign journalists based in Colombo the Ministry had granted a three month extension to him.

“The FCA is unaware of any time limits on visas issued to foreign journalists posted to Sri Lanka. However, we have noted remarks by the authorities that the Media Ministry will articulate in the coming week their policy on visas for foreign correspondents, and we look forward to seeing it,” FCA has said in a statement.

FCA has also noted that the existing policy adopted by Sri Lankan authorities on foreign journalists is available on the External Affairs Ministry website, but it does not makes reference to how long a foreign journalist can work in Sri Lanka.

JVP condemns attack on UNP MPs 

 April 20, 2014 
The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) yesterday condemned the attack on a group of United National Party (UNP) parliamentarians, who were on a fact finding tour in Hambantota.
 
 
JVP Propaganda Secretary Vijitha Herath claimed the attack was not carried out by the masses, but by Madamulana thugs.
"Parliamentarians are people's representatives. Therefore, any attack against parliamentarians is an attack against the public. This incident is a clear example of the jungle law prevailing in the country," he said.
 
 
Herath noted that MPs are entitled to visit any State institution and study the progress of development projects which were carried out and Opposition MPs are not an exception to that entitlement.
He claimed that so far the police had not been able to arrest single person over the incident.
 
 
"Sri Lanka is a Commonwealth country and we are bounded to protect values and principles of the Commonwealth. Particularly, the President being the chair of the Commonwealth, we are bounded to protect human rights. However, instead of protecting human rights we are experiencing human right violations," he added.
On 17 April, five UNP MPs, Eran Wickremeratne, Nalin Bandara, Ajith Mannapperuma and Ajith P. Perera and R.Yogarajan, who visited the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) and Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port (MMRP) came under attack. Hambantota Mayor Eraj Fernando had allegedly led the attack against group of MPs at the MMRP.