Sri Lanka Temple Tackles Reconciliation Amid Fresh Fears of Fighting

World  |  Agence France-Presse  | Updated: May 04, 2014 

AFP

In this photograph taken on March 7, 2014 the Sri Subramaniam temple is pictured in the southern town of Matara.

Matara:   At a Temple in the Heart of Sri Lanka's Sinhalese South, an attempt is underway at Unusual Reconciliation after decades of ethnic bloodshed, even Fresh As the Government warns of fighting.

Inside the white-washed temple, Hindu priests watch over metres-high statues of an estranged couple brought together to lift an age-old curse many blame for Sri Lanka's conflict that claimed tens of thousands of lives.

Sri Lanka Reconciliation Temple Tackles Amid Fears of Fresh Fighting by Mahendra Thavam

Political settlement or regime change!

Photo by AFP, via SBS

by Kumar David 

- on 05/06/2014

“I fled down labyrinthine ways
And glooms of chasmed fears”
(Not exactly Francis Thompson)

This essay is premised on an ill-omened reading of the Geneva tea-leaves. What be this ominous message I see floating in the cup? For reasons I will lay out in the initial paragraphs I find it hard to refute the conclusion (more than just a suspicion) that the international powers that pushed through the UNHRC resolution in Geneva in March have made a strategic decision to carry through regime change in Colombo, in due course, and when conditions ripen. We are now in the early stages of that process. This is not to say that they will succeed, though unless there is profound conversion in Temple Trees, it is likely they will. Regime change in Kiev (Yanukovich’s ouster) was so badly managed that it woke the Russian Bear, lost Crimea and now (April 2014) imperils the very existence of the Ukraine as an independent state. Tealeaves only signal messages, but there’s many a slip possible before the lip. My assessment, however, is that since the West has India on board, bashful abstention notwithstanding, it will not screw up this one. The only way out for the Rajapakse Regime is to experience profound epiphany, renounce its wicked ways, repent and renew its commitment to 13A and LLRC obligations. But can it?

Political Settlement or Regime Change! by Thavam Ratna

Appointment Of Jayawardena To SC Sends Shockwaves Across Entire Judicial System; UNP

May 6, 2014

As part of its plan to emasculate the country’s judiciary, the Rajapaksa government has deliberately made a mockery of important appointments in the judicial system, says the United National Party.

Priyantha Jayawardena

“The nearest example is the appointment of Priyantha Jayawardenaas a Supreme Court judge above the heads of many eligible candidates, sending shockwaves across the entire judicial system of the country.” the UNP said today.

Issuing a statement the UNP said; “This was not the first time the present government acted in a dubious and non-transparent manner when it came to key appointments in the judiciary. They unabashedly violated long established traditions of the system and made the judicial service a safe haven for political stooges and henchmen. On the other hand, the government usurped the powers of the Constitutional Council set up by the 17^th Amendment, with the implementation of the 18^thAmendment which paved the way for family rule and autocracy.

“When it comes to appointments of the judiciary, factors such as eligibility, professional integrity, seniority and impartiality should be taken into consideration as the main criteria which determine the suitability of candidates. However, when considering the recent appointments in the judiciary including that of Priyantha Jayawardena it is crystal clear that the government pays little or no attention to such crucial factors and would go to any extent to handpick the “people they prefer”.

“Thanks to this arbitrary behavior shown by the government, the smooth functioning of the entire Legal System is now at stake.  As a result, the upward mobility in this system is becoming a privilege enjoyed by those who toe the line of the government. Legal practitioners with professional integrity have lost faith in the system which always gives preference to political allegiances over professional values and standards.

“The appointment of Judges is of pivotal importance not only to the judiciary and the legal fraternity, but also to the entire society as they make a strong impact on the day to day functioning of the society.

“The Constitutional Council, which functioned for a short period after the 17^th Amendment was introduced, formulated a transparent mechanism to be followed pertaining to appointments of apex court judges. However, with the 18^th Amendment to the Constitution, these essential safeguards were done away with. This was clearly demonstrated throughout the illegal impeachment of the 43^rd Chief Justice, in January, last year. The President now wields immense power and authority in the system and is in a position to control the entire judiciary according to his or her own whims and fancies, much to the detriment of the people of Sri Lanka.

“As far as we know, at this point, there are three vacancies in the Supreme Court that need to be filled. One vacancy was created by the retirement of Justice Amaratunga and it has not been filled for the last 08 months. In addition, two more vacancies were also created by the end of March, taking the total up to three.

“It appears that the Executive has ignored the present President of the Court of Appeal Justice Sisira Abrew and the Solicitor General Y W Wijetilake. Two months ago another vacancy that came in the wake of the premature retirement of Justice Prem Ratnayake was filled after a hiatus of 08 months with the eighth Junior person in the hierarchy of the Attorney General’s Department. When making this appointment, President of the Court of Appeal late Justice SriSkandaraja and the Solicitor General were both overlooked. A few weeks later Justice Sriskandarajah passed away with a broken heart.

“Therefore, it is clear that the present government has breached age old traditions of the judicial service and circumvented the ‘hierarchy’ in the system in a bid to appoint political stooges to important positions. This has made a debilitating effect on the professional integrity of judges, ethics and values, plunging the entire system into a serious crisis.”

Praying for Sri Lanka

 06 May 2014

Photographs DailyMirror.lk

Over 4000 Buddhist monks held a special all-night prayer service invoking their blessings on the government and Sri Lanka. 

Gotabaya Rajapaksa prays

Chanting the 'Jaya Pirith', the Buddhist monks prayed to celestial powers "to help the country's forward march, dispelling all challenges and setbacks posed to the nation", theDaily Mirror reported.

Resigned Lakbima Editor Believes Mahinda, Gota, Sajith And Tiran Want Him To Go

May 6, 2014 

The editor of the Lakbima newspaper, Saman Wagaarachchi has resigned today.

Saman

The owner of the newspaper, ruling party MP Tilanga Sumathipala had been under intense pressure from the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa, UNP MP Sajith Premadasa and another newspaper Ceylon Today’s owner – DNA MP Tiran Alles, the editors’ resignation letter implies.

According to the resignation latter seen by the Colombo Telegraph, Wagaarachchi named above persons and says they had visited the house of the newspaper owner Sumathipala and urged Sumathipala to remove Wagaarachchi from the post.

Former Wellampitiya OIC released on bail

May 6, 2014 

The former officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Wellampitiya Police Station, Bandara Munasinghe, who was arrested and remanded for the possession of drugs, has been released on bail by the Colombo High Court. 

He was released on cash bail of Rs 200,000 and a personal bail of Rs 2 million with 4 grantors by Colombo High Court Judge Lalith Jayasuriya, Ada Derana reporter said.

The former Wellampitiya OIC and his wife were arrested by the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) on December 31 last year on drug-related charges. Around 40 grams of the illicit substance was reportedly recovered from their residence.

However, Munasinghe’s wife was released on bail by the Colombo Chief Magistrate on January 21. 

The police officer was suspended by the Police Department pending the verdict on the case.

Four more suspects in the case are still in remand custody. 

The case will be taken up tomorrow (7).

Sri Lankan’s Muslims protest in London aginst Bodu Balasena

 Tuesday, 06 May 2014

 

Sri Lankan’s Muslims Lives in London protesting in front of Sri Lnaka’s. Embassy in U.K on 5th May.

2014 regarding Government should be take immediate action against Bodu Bala Sena organization

Lankan Muslims in London and Political Myopia

by  Riza Raashid 

-  On  05/06/2014 

There was a protest that took place yesterday by a group of Sri Lankan Muslims in Britain outside the Sri Lankan High Commission in London mostly regarding the spate of anti Muslim activities that have been occurring in Sri Lanka. But in this instance what the group responsible for yesterday's protest sought to achieve is unclear, what is pointedly obvious is the blatant incongruence between what they did and what they thought its influence would be. The very premise of having any such protest is not just questionable, but can create a cycle of many political unknowns. There are significant issues that the Muslim Community in Sri Lanka Currently Faces, Their Plight Most depressing and worrying is, As I have highlighted  here . But knee jerk reactions to or exploitation of a genuine plight to gain isolated political mileage is not the prudent way to operate.

Lankan Muslims in London and Political Myopia by Mahendra Thavam

Gota intervenes to secure Gnanasara’s release

 Tuesday, 06 May 2014

Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage yesterday granted bail to General Secretary of the Bodhu Bala Sena (BBS), Ven. Galagodaththe Gnanasara Thero and four other Buddhist monks after Defence Secretary Nandasena Gotabhaya Rajapaksa intervened in the matter. Senior DIG Anura Senanayake who appeared for the police had not objected to granting bail to the monks.

When news about the attempt to arrest Gnanasara Thero and the other BBS monks started to spread, the defence secretary had contacted the Chief Justice.

The Chief Justice had informed the defence secretary that the matter was being carried out according to an understanding between the President and Gnanasara Thero. The defence secretary had denied the statement and had immediately contacted the President.

The defence secretary had explained to the President that since the Buddhists in the country are unaware of the agreement between the government and the BBS, they might get angry with the government for arresting the Buddhist monks.

The President realizing that his brother failed to understand politics, had said, “Do as you please.”
After consulting the President, the Chief Justice had informed the Fort Magistrate to release the Buddhist monks on bail after senior DIG Anura Senanayake presents the report prepared by him to court.
When the case was called, Anura Senanayake filed the report that was handed over to him by the Chief Justice the previous night at the Monash Hotel in Thalawathugoda. The report stated that the actions of the BBS have built displeasure among the international community towards Sri Lanka and that religious harmony has been greatly

According to the Penal Code in Sri Lanka, creating religious disharmony is an offense where the culprits could be arrested without a warrant. Bail cannot be granted for such an offence. The B report filed by the Slave Island Police says the monks had forcibly entered the venue of a news conference organized by persons of a different religion and had disrupted the proceedings. Bail cannot be granted for committing these offenses.

However, the Fort Magistrate is a supporter of the government and had granted bail to the monks. He had said that bail is granted since there were no objections to granting bail.

Sri Lanka court grants bail to Buddhist monks

Monks from nationalist Bodu Bala Sena or Buddhist Force accused of insulting the Quran appear in a Colombo court. BBS leader Galagodaatte Gnanasara said that he and the three other monks were not guilty of any offence [AP] Last updated: 05 May 2014 15:07 Four of Sri Lanka's hardline Buddhist monks appeared in court on Monday accused of insulting the Quran, in the first such case following a spate of religious hate attacks. Police accused the monks, from the nationalist Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), or Buddhist Force, of making disparaging remarks against the Islamic holy book after bursting into a meeting of religious leaders last month. At the meeting, the monks also intimidated a moderate colleague who was promoting religious tolerance on the Buddhist-majority Island, police said. "The four priests along with two laymen were summoned by court today and granted bail in the sum of 100,000 rupees ($770) each," police spokesman Ajith Rohana told AFP news agency on Monday. "The magistrate warned them not to indulge in such activities. We will file formal charges when the case is called again next month," he said. BBS leader Galagodaatte Gnanasara said that he and the three other monks were not guilty of any offence. "We wanted to plead not guilty, but we had no opportunity to speak in court. We are told a hearing will be on June 9," he said. Clampdown Authorities are attempting to crack down on hate crimes following attacks blamed on monk-led mobs last year and early this year on Muslim-owned shops, a mosque and a Christian prayer centre. Muslim leaders have complained to the government that the BBS was leading a hate campaign, a charge the group denies. Last week, Muslim legislators, including government ministers, asked President Mahinda Rajapakse to protect the community from "Buddhist extremist elements" blamed for the attacks. Police established a new unit last week to investigate hate crimes in the wake of the violence, which raised concerns about religious freedoms. Nationalist Buddhist groups, including the BBS, accuse religious minorities of having undue political and economic influence on the island. Seventy percent of Sri Lanka's 20 million people are Sinhalese Buddhists, while Muslims are the second-largest religious group, making up just fewer than 10 percent. The others are Hindus and Christians.

Pavithra’s liquor party amidst Jayapiritha

 Tuesday, 06 May 2014 

Power and Energy Minister Pavithra 

Wanniarachchi has held a grand party at the Monash Hotel in Thalawathugoda on the 4th evening that has ended at around 4 a.m. the following day. Ironically, Pavithra’s liquor party had taken place while 4,000 Buddhist monks were chanting the Jayapiritha at the BMICH to invoke blessings on President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Many government ministers who had attended the pirith ceremony in order to score points with the President had left a few minutes later to attend Pavithra’s party. After consuming food and liquor at the party, the government members and ministers have returned to the pirith ceremony.

After staying a little more at the pirith ceremony, the government members and minister had returned to Pavithra’s party.

Sri Lanka cricketer Thilakaratne Dilshan’s wife, Manjula's birthday party was also held at the Monash Hotel. Government ministers who attended Pavithra’s party had also dropped by at Manjula’s birthday and wished her as well.

Another group of government members had visited a party at Steam Boat in Nawala.

The party at Steamboat was organized by businessman politician, MP Tiran Alles. The cause for the celebration was the 25th wedding anniversary of the managing editor of the Mawbima newspaper Thusara Gunaratne and his wife. Senior officials from the President’s Media Unit had attended the event. The President had wished Thusara and his wife and sent them a bouquet of flowers and a cake.

UNP: FDIs down to USD 1.2 bn

Non beneficial Casino projects cannot plug the problem

By Zacki Jabbar-May 5, 2014

Foreign Direct Investments had dropped to a woefully low USD 1.2 billion which was less than two percent of Sri Lanka’s GDP, the UNP said yesterday.

Financial Analyst and UNP MP Eran Wickremeratne told The Island that the Rajapaksa government had got its wires crossed and was trying to plug the problem of FDI fast drying up by encouraging investments such as in Casino on non-beneficial terms, through the proposed strategic development projects.

Investments that serve only the super rich and made foreigners richer should not be encouraged and be opposed by all responsible political parties, he pointed out. "The government is under severe criticism because Foreign Direct Investment is just USD 1.2 billion. It is looking for the easy way out by giving casinos huge tax concessions through the Strategic Development Projects Act."

Wickremeratne said that the latest theory being bandied about by leading ministers was that the establishment of state-of-the art casinos was essential if the government was to achieve its projected growth rate of seven percent growth for this year. But, it did not make sense when such businesses were offered tax benefits not found in any other part of the world.

In every country, including Singapore, the casino trade is linked to red-light districts where, despite the law, prostitution and drugs flourish. Therefore, those who argue that the casino trade would bring in revenue must also be expecting Sri Lanka to have a red light district like in western capitals with scant regard for Sri Lankan culture, MP Wickremaratne noted.

The MP said that Macau, an island of 29.9 sq. km. in extent was now the world’s capital for gambling. It had 35 casinos, 56 sauna sex centers and 21 night clubs. In addition there are 13,000 gambling addicts. While the gambling and sex industries were booming, the living standards of the local population were deteriorating, the MP said.

Head of the Rupavahini mud-slinging campaign is a rapist

 Tuesday, 06 May 2014 

Director General of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation, Chandrapala Liyanage has set up a welfare association for provincial journalists claiming it was in support of the next Presidential election. About 300 persons had attended the event that was held at SIDA.

The main aim of the association that has been set up targeting the next Presidential election is to publicize the government’s development projects and to sling mud at opposition activists.

The office bearers of this association have been named according to Chandrapala Liyanage’s recommendations. He had named Saliya from Kegalle as the President of the association.

This person named Saliya is wanted by the police in connection to the rape of a woman. Members of the association say that this person was appointed as the President by Chandrapala knowing very well of the accusation against him.

VIDEO: Police constables abducted by robbers; One dead, one injured

May 6, 2014 

A police constable was shot dead and another injured after being abducted by a group that were returning from a robbery at Badagamuwa, Kurunegala, Police said a short while ago.

The two policemen had been on traffic duties were abducted at approximately 2am today, Police said. Police constable 41497 Sampath was shot dead and constable 34098 Wijesuriya has sustained injuries and is receiving treatment at the Kurunugala hospital.

The officers had been abducted and taken to the Badagamuwa forest and shot, police confirmed. Six police teams have been deployed to conduct investigations and apprehend the perpetrators. 

Ready to quit if accusations are proven – Police Spokesman

May 6, 2014  

Police Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana says that he is prepared to resign from the police service if it is proven that he has received any undue benefits apart from the salary, allowances and privileges officially provided by the Police Department for his position. 

The Police Spokesman made these comments in response to a question during the Derana 360° programme last night, over accusations directed at him by various groups including the opposition parties. 

SSP Ajith Rohana further revealed that an easier system will be introduced in the near future for motorists who have violated traffic laws to pay their respective fines. 

He stated that the new method will use mobile phones to pay fines and that it will be introduced before the end of this year or at the beginning of next year.  

The federalisation of Ukraine

Tuesday 06th May 2014

Russia moved in its troops, without any national, formation or regimental markings on their uniforms, mounted on Russian vehicles and bearing state-of-the-art Russian weapons and communication equipment, into the Southern Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea and rapidly annexed the region into the Russian Federation.

• A comparison with Sri Lanka and India

The Federalisation of Ukraine by Thavam Ratna

In Islam, there's more than one way to be an 'atheist'

Saudi Arabia has declared atheists to be as bad as terrorists. But does this mean those without faith cannot live happily in the Muslim world?

‘To the Saudi government, not believing in God and fighting in his name represent the same threat.’ Photograph: Fahad Shadeed/Reuters/Corbis

Nesrine Malik.-Monday 5 May 2014

To the Saudi government, not believing in God, and fighting in his name – although polar opposites – represent the same threat, a challenge to the religious consensus. What is it about atheism that it finds so challenging? And are different types of atheism possible in the Muslim world?

Despite the prominence of the image of a hunted apostate supported by western atheists and villified by Islamic institutions, there are atheists of Muslim heritage who would not necessarily identify with this stereotype. I would make the distinction between individual atheism as a matter of belief, and the position of publicly declaring oneself atheist – or, more potently, "ex-Muslim". The former is a personal position, the latter a political one that seeks to challenge authority.

In my experience, when it comes to atheism in the Muslim world, there is a conspiracy of sorts, akin to the "don't ask don't tell" principle on homosexuality in the US military –if a Muslim has lapsed, and no longer believes in God, there is no censure of that as long as one does not proselytise. Indeed, a 2012 poll by WIN-Gallup International found that up to 5% of Saudis polled identified as atheist, according to Sultan al-Qassemi, a number "comparable to the US and parts of Europe".

• Operation Mum won't stop British Muslims going to Syria
• Barbara Ehrenreich: 'Was that you, God?' 
• Young Atheist's Handbooks sent to secondary schools

However, these atheists are almost anonymous in the public sphere, only "out", at most, to their families and friends. The stress of going through the motions of belief, in societies steeped in religion, cannot be overestimated. Practically speaking, being an atheist in certain parts of the Muslim world, or even in certain Muslim families in the west, involves a lot of dissimulation and tongue biting.

But while having to perform acts of faith when one has none can take a severe mental toll, there are also those who have not prayed, fasted, or stepped inside a mosque in years without being challenged.

This is where the tension between being an atheist and ex-Muslim become clear. Few people define themselves as "ex-Christian" or "ex-Jewish". The "ex-Muslim" tag is an identity, a refuge, a political statement that is not to be confused with simple lack of belief in God.

It is also one that finds common cause with a new tradition of western atheism, one that couches its position more in the public rejection of religion than simple non-belief. The difference is that the former can thrive in a secular society, where communities have become weaker and individuals revel in self-expression. Muslim societies are quietly tolerant of rebellious acts of all kinds, from the sexual to the religious. But because religion, family, society and politics are built around community, to be a declared atheist in the public space is to make a stand against the fabric of society.

Despite the death penalty for apostasy in Islamic law – a sentence only ever likely to be brought into play, where not politically or mischievously motivated, by public declarations of anti-theism – it is still possible to be an atheist without necessarily rejecting a Muslim cultural identity and heritage. The analogy is with those atheists of Christian heritage who still want to get married in church, baptise their babies, and can appreciate the importance or need for religion in others.

To not acknowledge that atheists of Muslim heritage might choose to do the same is to further limit the possibility of a healthy pluralistic Islam, one not just made up of believers and apostates.

The way Muslim authorities, from governments to extended families, grandstand on "apostasy" shows us that what needs to be challenged is this appropriation of religion in order to control. But just as Muslims need to expand tolerance for non-belief into the public sphere by challenging the structures that define this space, westerners energised by the ex-Muslim's fate need to see that there is more than one model of not believing in God.

Starr Forum: Indian Ocean: The Vortex of Destiny

Recorded 5/1/2014 Starr Forum- Indian Ocean: The vortex of destiny

Speaker:
Ranil Wickremesinghe, the former prime minister of Sri Lanka, is currently a Robert E. Wilhelm fellow at the Center for International Studies at MIT. The Sri Lankan politician and current leader of the Opposition in the Sri Lankan parliament was prime minister of Sri Lanka twice, from May 7, 1993 to August 19, 1994 and from December 9, 2001 to April 6, 2004. A member of the United National Party he was appointed party leader in November 1994. During his one month stay at MIT, Wickremesinghe will study how to formulate a constitution sans an executive presidency. He will also work with faculty and students interested in Asian regional issues.

Chairing: Kenneth Oye, holds a joint appointment in Political Science and Engineering Systems and directs the MIT Program on Emerging Technologies (PoET). He is currently a faculty PI in the NSF Synthetic Biology Engineering Research Center and PI on an NSF grant on "Creating a Research Agenda on Ecological Implications of Synthetic Biology."

Cosponsors: MIT Center for International Studies and MIT-India Program

Asthma patients 'dying needlessly'

TUESDAY 06 MAY 2014

Asthma patients are dying needlessly as a result of complacency, a damning new report has found, as experts identify "major avoidable factors" in two thirds of asthma deaths.
Asthma Patients 'Dying Needlessly' by Thavam Ratna