Monday, June 30, 2014

Gota’s Billions represent only a ‘minute fraction’ of his illicit amassment - exposed in Parliament

(Lanka-e-News-29.June.2014, 11.30PM) The uncouth uneducated Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapakse who fled to America in fear of the war at a time he should have stuck back and fought for his country, and after over a decade returned to the motherland , has now after taking over the Urban development authority (UDA) had drowned that Institution in a deep sea of irredeemable debt amounting to Rs. 22.68 billion..! as revealed in Parliament . This shocking revelation was made by Minister Dinesh Gunawardena in parliament in response to a question raised by UNP M.P. Ravi Karunanayake.

It is the consensus, this is a financial debacle that is unsurprising and to be expected when a demented medically condemned individual like Gotabaya is put at the helm of a most important public Institution. In America he could not get more than a mediocre job when he went there after medically condemning himself while in the Sri Lankan army. But later when his brother became the President he made a bee line to the motherland to bask in the brother’s glory after staying put in America more than a decade without even making a single visit to the motherland let alone spare a thought for Sri Lanka.

Lands of commercial value in the cities including holy sites in all areas of the Island including Colombo, were acquired by the UDA under Gotabaya without paying even five cents to the owners. Now , this monumental financial fiasco involving several billions of rupees of indebtedness is because the UDA under uneducated uncouth Gota dabbled in various projects over which it had no knowledge or skill , it is learnt.

It is the soldiers of the three forces who were deployed by Gota for these projects. These soldiers who worked as carpenters , laborers, planners and masons were not paid any extra allowance. Consequently ,labor expenses were to a great extent saved. In these circumstances , it is a perplexing question ,how could the UDA plunge itself into this colossal debt of many billions ? The answer to this had not been furnished in Parliament by those responsible.

When we inquired into this , one government M.P. remarked , “what has got exposed is just an infinitesimal fraction of Gota’s ‘gehilla’ ( illicit under the counter amassment) “

India And Tamil Nationalist Project: An Existential Conflict

By Krishna Kalaichelvan –June 30, 2014

Krishna Kalaichelvan

“Only the actual participants can correctly recognize, understand, and judge the concrete situation and settle the extreme case of conflict” – Carl Schmitt,The Concept of the Political

As the incoming Modi led BJP government is settling in New Delhi, the media is awash with speculations on its foreign policy trajectory, both in the immediate strategic neighbourhood i.e. South Asia, and in the wider world. But none of them has delved into a major foreign policy challenge that is waiting for the new administration in Delhi – impending UN inquiry into the alleged breach of international law by the Sri Lankan army and the LTTE, during the Eelam War IV. In this essay I intend to gauge the BJP government’s approach to this major foreign policy challenge, by looking at the intellectual and philosophical orientation of the Indian elite, especially how the Indian elite view India’s place in international society.

The question of why this UN investigation is a major foreign policy challenge for the Indian strategic community can be addressed and explored in three broader thematic headings. Firstly, the highly intrusive UN inquiry itself is unprecedented in South Asian context, secondly, the Indian political establishment’s – both the right and the left – ‘postmodern’ worldview, and thirdly, BJP’s project for a “strong, self-reliant and self-confident India; regaining its rightful place in the comity of nations”, will be directly at odds with the UN investigation in Sri Lanka.

The unprecedented nature of the UN inquiry in South Asia

The adoption of the resolution, ‘Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka’ (A/HRC/25/L.4), by the 25th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council, is a watershed moment in post-independent Sri Lankan history, despite many extremist Tamil groups denouncing the resolution as not “robust” enough to investigate the alleged violations.

The following excerpts from the preamble will highlight the wider focus of the resolution and the Mahinda regime cannot brush aside the issues highlighted in the resolution.Read More

The aftermath: Aluthgama two weeks on

by Thyagi Ruwanpathirana

- on 06/30/2014

Two weeks have passed since violence broke out in Aluthgama and Beruwala on the 15th June- a day that will go down in the history books of Sri Lanka as nothing short of a dark, dark day. These are a few photos I managed to take while carefully stepping through the rubble of the affected houses, and a personal account of conversations with affected residents and families of those who lost their lives.

The general sentiments were in absolute spite of Bodu Bala Sena (BBS). Written in the soot that canvassed the remaining walls of the houses burnt, these sentiments are now drawing crowds from one house to the next.

‘Don’t look at Sinhala, Muslim. Enforce the law’, one roughly translated.

‘The terrorist BBS’, ‘Say no to BBS’, others read.

There was plenty written about Galagodaaththe Gnanasara. Let’s just say they weren’t very nice.

‘Is this the compassion in Buddhism?’ others questioned.

‘State weapons have been used’, ‘Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is responsible’, ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa is responsible’, a few pointed out.

“Meygollo thamai apita mehema kaley” (they are the ones that did this to us), one man said glaring down at my pirith nool. Pirith nool is a sacred thread that is tied on the wrists of Buddhists, said to be blessed with powers to ward off evil spirits and of healing. I had contemplated whether to remove it before heading down, but decided to keep it on- people of Aluthgama should know that the BBS doesn’t represent moderate Buddhists. “Api okkoma ehema na” (we are not all like that), a friend said quickly coming to my defence. He didn’t seem too convinced.

“Meka mangkollayak, miss. Jaathivadi mokakvath nemei” (This is robbery, miss. Nothing racial in this), one man said. Still visibly shaking, another nodded in agreement and added that 7 lakhs worth of goods had been stolen from his house.

See all of the 98 photos in the album in full screen here.

The wives of two men who lost their lives during the early hours of the 16thwere in mourning. Mohammed Zahiran and Mohammed Shiraz were protecting the village mosque that was temporarily housing their wives and children, since their homes were no longer safe, said their in-laws. I recognized the oldest daughter of Mohammed Zahiran from a clip I had seen, and noticed that her eyes were still as puffy as they were on the video that was uploaded close to two weeks back. A friend was trying to distract the oldest daughter of Mohammed Shiraz with a smart phone to keep her from re-living the horror, while Shiraz’s brother- in-law gave us his account of the night. But late Shiraz’s youngest daughter kept running back to her mother’s room for comfort while her mother tried hard to hold back tears and wiped the dirt off the little girl’s feet.

“Miss, mehema thamai Yaapaneth thiyenna aththe” (Miss, this must’ve been what Jaffna looked like). I was at a loss for words.

Another said maybe it’s a blessing in disguise. “Mewa dakala danwath meka nawaththuwoth monawa nathath, eka mokakhari” (if they see these and put an end to this, if nothing else, that’s something).

I hoped he was right.

Attempts to damage Pak-Sri Lanka relations

Monday, June 30, 2014, Ramazan 01, 1435 AH

Monday, June 30, 2014 - SRI Lanka’s police have arrested key suspects involved in fuelling religious riots and looting, as minority Muslims expressed fears of more unrest during Ramazan. Police said eight people directly linked to the June 15 anti-Muslim riots were arrested last week and recovered gems and jewellery looted from two shops targeted during the violence. The violence, which erupted in the coastal resort of Alutgama, spilled over into the neighbouring international tourist resorts of Beruwala and Bentota.

Sri Lanka’s media and rights groups have accused the police of failing to prevent extremist Buddhist mobs attacking Muslims, who form 10 per cent of the country’s 20 million population. The announcement of the latest arrests came as the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka, an umbrella group of 48 Muslim organisations, petitioned police chief N. K. Illangakoon expressing fears of more violence against their community .

Tension has recently been high between the two sides, with Muslims calling on the government to protect them from hate attacks by Buddhists, and Buddhists accusing minorities of enjoying too much influence. We have no doubt that these demonstrations are being engineered by the enemies of traditional and historic relations between Sri Lanka and Pakistan and other Muslim countries. This relationship is flourishing and gaining depth, which is detrimental to the interests of enemies of Sri Lanka. Traditionally Buddhists are peace-loving people but their sentiments were earlier aroused in Myannmar as well where they killed Rohingya Muslims and burnt their houses. Certainly this is the work of enemies of Sri Lanka and the President Mahinda Rajapaksa has announced an investigation and said the government will not allow any one to take the law into their own hands. At the same time he urged all parties to act in restraint. We would urge the people of Sri Lanka, who are otherwise peace loving and hospitable, including Muslims and Buddhists to understand the complexities of the situation, sinister designs of the perpetrators and demonstrate maturity and foil all the conspiracies to create divisions among them.

Attacks On Muslim-Owned Property And Mosques Continues

June 30, 2014

The attacks on Muslim-owned property and mosques have not yet been contained although it has been over a week since the deadly clashes that erupted in Aluthgama and Beruwala; the most recent incident occurring in Rathmalana.

The Thayalan Bawa Jumma Masjid located in Rathmalana had been attacked by an unidentified group at about 1.30 last morning. The mosque door had been burnt using rags that were set ablaze. The Mosque trustee’s wife who had noticed the fire in time had raised an alarm. The neighbours had helped them douse the fire soon, avoiding any heavy damages to the structure.

Upon lodging a complaint with the Police, a sniffer dog had been brought to the premises in the hope of tracking the instigators. However, no arrests had been made during the time of writing under suspicion of instigating the attack.

Several politicians including government Minister A. H. M. Fowzie and opposition MP Azath Salley had visited the mosque yesterday to inquire the damages to the premises and had also spoken to the residents in the area concerning the incident.

The 'Talibanist Buddhists' attacking Sri Lanka's Muslims

Bodu Bala Sena espouse hardline Sinhalese Buddhist nationalism and have been accused of inciting religious hatred against Sri Lanka's minorities, including before June's violent assaults on Muslim communities.

By Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai-28 June 2014

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka

Post-war Sri Lanka was rocked by the worst violence it has seen two weeks ago. On June 15, communal clashes set the southern resort towns of Aluthgama, Dharga Town and Beruwala alight. At least three were killed, 88 injured, 64 houses, 39 shops and a mosque completely destroyed while numerous others were damaged, according to data compiled by the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka. Overnight, 2,248 persons were instantly displaced in the worst religious riots in Sri Lanka's recent history.

The 'Talibanist Buddhists' Attacking Sri Lanka's Muslims by Maria Anderson

U.S. cancels Sri Lankan hardline monk's visa, Buddhist group says

COLOMBO Mon Jun 30, 2014

(Reuters) - The United States cancelled the visa given to a Sri Lankan Buddhist monk heading a hardline group accused of involvement in violence against Sri Lanka's minority Muslims, an official of the group said on Monday.

Clashes erupted on June 15 in Aluthgama and Beruwela, two towns with large Muslim populations on the island's southern coast, during a protest march led by the hardline group Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), or "Buddhist Power Force".

Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara, a Buddhist monk and the secretary general of the BBS, had been told of the decision, the official said.

"An official from the U.S. Embassy called Gnanasara thero (monk) on Friday and informed him that the State Department wants to convey him that he cannot use his existing visa to enter the United States," BBS spokesman Dilantha Vithanage told Reuters by telephone.

A U.S. Embassy spokesman in Colombo said the U.S. government would not comment on individual visa cases.

The State Department's decision came after BBS on Friday said Facebook accounts of its group's members, including Gnanasara, had been blocked.

Many residents of the towns, thronged by tourists, said BBS activists had made inflammatory statements against Muslims at a rally before the violence. Much of the coast is dominated by Sri Lanka's majority Buddhist Sinhalese community.

The group denies any connection with the incidents, in which three people died and 75 were injured.

Violence against Muslims in Sri Lanka has risen since 2012, mirroring events in Myanmar, which has seen a surge of attacks by members of the majority Buddhist community on Muslims.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa's coalition government has yet to crack down on the BBS despite calls from his own party.

Many independent analysts say well-coordinated violence against Muslims and Christians appears to have tacit state backing as those involved in previous attacks have yet to be punished. The government denies any collusion.

The separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam attacked Muslim villages in the northeast during the civil war from 1983 to 2009. More than 140 people were killed in a massacre of Muslims in 1990 blamed on the Tigers, which the group denied.

(Reporting by Ranga Sirilal and Shihar Aneez; Editing by Nick Macfie)

Anti-Muslim Violence: “News Blackout Was Imposed” Says Minister Ranawaka

June 30, 2014

Government Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka has acknowledged that an unofficial ‘news blackout’ was imposed by the government on mainstream media with concern to reporting on the anti-Muslim violence that erupted in Southern Sri Lanka.

minister Champika Ranawaka

Ranawaka, who is also the General Secretary ofJathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), has heavily criticized the ‘news blackout’ pointing out the move has boomeranged as it has led to the creation of an extremely negative impression concerning Sri Lanka, worldwide.

In his comment to a weekly English newspaper – The Nation, Ranawaka has pointed out that since news today can be propagated worldwide in a matter of seconds through social media, the censorship on the Aluthgama and Beruwala incidents led to the suppression of the truth as it left scope for rumours to be circulated.

He had also been critical of English language media and citizen journalists on social media, accusing them of ‘fabricating stories’ concerning the ground situation in the areas affected by the violence.

Furthermore he had rejected the fact that the violence in Aluthgama and Beruwala were well-coordinated attacks against the Muslim community, describing such claims as ‘blatant lies’.

Aluthgama Violence: Ministers Hakeem and Bathiudeen wanted the entire country to burn - Minister Ranawaka

Ranawaka

Minister of Technology and Research Patali Champika Ranawaka slams English language media and ‘citizen’ journalists on social media for fabricating stories about the incidents in Aluthgama. Those who are eagerly bashing Sinhala Buddhists as ‘racist terrorists’ are conveniently ignoring the rise of Muslim fundamentalism within the country, Minister of Technology and Research Patali Champika Ranawaka said.

Aluthgama Violence Ministers Hakeem and Bathiudeen Wanted the Entire Country to Burn - Minister Ranawaka by Maria Anderson

Rev. Dr. Walpola Rahula: Trailblazer in Sri Lanka’s university education

June 30, 2014

Contributions made by Rev. Dr. Walpola Sri Rahula to Buddhism, comparative religious studies and higher education in Sri Lanka and abroad are to be commemorated at a ceremony to be held at BMICH on 3 July by Reverend Walpola Sri Rahula Institute of Buddhist Education. Today’s My View is an appraisal of his path-breaking contributions to the management education at Sri Lanka’s universities.

A man both hated and loved

Rev. Dr. Walpola Rahula Trailblazer in Sri Lanka’s University Education by Maria Anderson

Bribery ComMISSION DG transferred

On Sri Lanka peace process and alleged war crimes

By Niranjala Ariyawansha-June 29, 2014

Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, Lakshmi Jayawickrema, has been transferred to the Presidential Secretariat with effect from 24 June. No reason had been given for her transfer.

Inside sources said they were surprised at her transfer as she had performed her duties well and was methodical in her investigations, following the necessary legal procedures, despite various obstacles she had to face from her seniors.

When Ceylon Today asked her the reason for the transfer, she said she cannot say anything at present as she herself is unaware of the reason. At the time of transfer, she was handling high profile complaints against some influential persons in the government.

However, it was an open secret in the Commission, that she had disputes with the Commission Chairman, Jagath Balapatabendi. There is a complaint in the Commission against Chairman Balapatabendi as well. In terms of the Commission Act, only the Director General has powers to prosecute suspects in bribery cases. Even an acting Director General does not have the authority to do so.

In these circumstances, the Commission has become virtually non-functional. However, the Commission can investigate bribery or corruption allegations and arrest suspects if necessary even without a Director General.

Bribery commission acquits president’s relative!

Friday, 27 June 2014

Following the Bribery Commission’s withdrawal of a bribery charge against Yasalal Samarasinghe Dissanayake, a valuer at the Maharagama East branch of the Department of Inland Revenue and a very close relative of president Mahinda Rajapaksa from his mother’s side, the Colombo chief magistrate’s court has acquitted him.

Officials of the commission caught Yasalal red handed, in the act of accepting a Rs. 400,000 bribe from one Rasanga Lanka Pathberiya, a resident of Pore, Athurugiriya, at Wijerama Mawatha in Colombo on 30 October last year.

Remanded upon his arrest, he had got himself admitted to the prison hospital, and before less than two weeks elapsed, was enlarged on two sureties of Rs. 500,000 each by Colombo chief magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya.

According to the due procedure, a person caught in the act of obtaining a bribe amounting to such a sum should remain in remand prison for at least three months before being allowed bail. In breach of all the due procedures, it is surprising that the president’s relative from his mother’s side had received bail in less than two weeks on two sureties.

It is more surprising that in six months’ time, he had been cleared of all the charges and got acquitted. This man will return to the Maharagama East branch of the Inland Revenue Department within the next few days. It is possible that the Bribery Commission of Jagath Balapatabendi will take this Rasanga Lanka Pathberiya of Pore, Athurugiriya to court on a charge of making a false complaint, and punish him.

Scott Morrison goes quiet as fate of two

boatloads kept a secret

No comment on boat arrivals: Immigration Minister Scott Morrison. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

Heath Aston, Ben Doherty-June 30, 2014

Two boatloads of asylum seekers are believed to be aboard Australian vessels off Christmas Island but the government has refused to confirm their existence or comment on whether they will be allowed to set foot in Australia.

Asylum seeker boat not heard from in 24 hours amid silence from government

Australian customs believed to have intercepted vessel carrying Tamils but immigration minister refuses to comment

Scott Morrison arrives at the press conference in Melbourne on Saturday. Photograph: David Crosling/AAP

Oliver Laughland-Sunday 29 June 2014

A boat said to be carrying more than 150 Tamil asylum seekers including young children has not been heard from for nearly 24 hours as speculation mounts that it has been intercepted by Australian customs.

Scott Morrison Goes Quiet as Fate of Two Boatloads Kept a Secret by Maria Anderson

U.S. cancels Sri Lankan hardline monk's visa, Buddhist group says

Rescuers search for trapped workers after a building collapsed near Chennai, India. Photograph: Arun Sankar K/AP

COLOMBO Mon Jun 30, 2014

Police in southern India detained five construction company officials on Sunday as rescuers using gas cutters and shovels searched for dozens of workers believed buried beneath a building that collapsed during monsoon rains. It was one of two weekend building collapses that killed at least 22 people. Nearly 90 contract workers are believed to have been in the basement of the 11-storey structure collecting their wages when it collapsed on Saturday on the outskirts of Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu. Police said of 31 people pulled from the rubble four had died on the spot and seven died later in hospital.

Officials said the exact number of those trapped is unknown. Rescuers could hear voices in the rubble which may take two to three days to clear. Police officer George Fernandes said two directors, two engineers and a supervisor of the construction company, Prime Sristi, were detained for questioning.

Diggers search through rubble in Chennai for survivors

Diggers were brought in to sift through the debris in the search for survivors. Photograph: Arun Sankar K/AP

Balaguru, a builder at the site, said the structure may have collapsed due to lightning. "Usually, once the construction gets over we install the equipment to prevent the building from a thunder strike. It was nearing completion," the Press Trust of India news agency quoted him as saying.

Earlier on Saturday 11 people died and one survivor was taken to hospital after a four-storey, 50-year-old structure toppled in a poor neighbourhood of New Delhi, said the fire service officer Praveer Haldiar.Building collapses are common in India, where high demand for housing and lax regulations have encouraged some builders to cut corners, use substandard materials or add unauthorised extra floors.

Oregon Planned Parenthood Slams High Court's Ruling on Birth Control

Jun-30-2014

After decades of discriminatory coverage by insurance companies, the birth control benefit requires all insurance policies to cover birth control with no out-of-pocket cost to women.

Planned Parenthood organizations in Oregon condemned Monday's ruling by the Supreme Court that some for-profit private corporations, such as the arts and crafts chain Hobby Lobby, can deny coverage of birth control to their employees, for no reason other than the personal religious beliefs of the corporation's owners. Photo Courtesy: Planned Parenthood

(PORTLAND, Ore. ) - Planned Parenthood organizations in Oregon condemned Monday's ruling by the Supreme Court that some for-profit private corporations, such as the arts and crafts chain Hobby Lobby, can deny coverage of birth control to their employees, for no reason other than the personal religious beliefs of the corporation's owners.

Stacy M. Cross, President & CEO of Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette, said: "Today, the Supreme Court ruled against Oregon women and families, giving bosses the right to discriminate against women and deny their employees access to birth control coverage. This is a deeply disappointing and troubling ruling that will prevent some women, especially those working hourly wage jobs and struggling to make ends meet, from getting birth control."

Cynthia Pappas, President & CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon, said: "This ruling does not strike down the Affordable Care Act's birth control benefit. Today, about 360,000 Oregon women are eligible for birth control with no co-pay thanks to this benefit, and the vast majority of them will not be affected by this ruling. But for those who are affected, this ruling will have real consequences."

Laura Terrill Patten, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon, said: "It's unbelievable that in 2014, we're still fighting about whether women should have access to birth control. Some politicians want to get rid of the birth control benefit entirely and take away coverage from millions of women. To the majority of Americans, birth control is not a controversial issue. Birth control is basic health care - and it's only a 'social issue' if you've never had to pay for it.

"We hope most businesses will do the right thing and let women make their own health care decisions. We urge Congress to act and protect women's access to birth control, regardless of the personal views of their employer."

BACKGROUND

After decades of discriminatory coverage by insurance companies, the birth control benefit requires all insurance policies to cover birth control with no out-of-pocket cost to women -- rightly categorizing birth control as part of women's basic preventive care. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, 30 million women nationally are already eligible for this benefit. When the law is fully implemented, 47 million women nationally will have access to no-copay birth control thanks to the Affordable Care Act.

Thanks to the birth control benefit, women already have saved $483 million in the last year alone. Studies also show that women who receive birth control with no co-pay or at a reduced cost are able to avoid more than two million unplanned pregnancies each year, which also reduces the need for abortion. It's not surprising that the public overwhelmingly supports the birth control benefit by a nearly two-to-one margin.

Birth control is tremendously important to women for all kinds of reasons, including the need to control certain medical conditions and to plan our families. Under the birth control benefit, women have access to this important preventive care at no cost.

The wide availability of birth control has been an enormous benefit for countless women and their families -- enabling them to support themselves financially, complete their education, and plan their families and have children when they're ready. Virtually all (99 percent) American women between the ages of 15 and 44 who are sexually active have used birth control at some time.

A 2010 survey found that more than a third of female voters have struggled to afford prescription birth control at some point in their lives, and as a result, used birth control inconsistently. This isn't surprising considering copays for birth control pills typically range between $15 and $50 per month -- up to $600 per year.

Other methods, such as IUDs, can cost several hundred dollars, even with health insurance. For the first time, under the birth control benefit, IUDs are now fully covered by insurance companies without additional out-of-pocket expense. For many women, birth control is used for a host of health care reasons. According to the Guttmacher Institute, 58 percent of birth control pill users cite health benefits as a contributing factor for using the birth control pill, including treating endometriosis, menstrual pain, and menstrual regulation.

Source: Planned Parenthood

Corruption crackdown snares former Chinese general

FIEL - In this March 14, 2012 file photo, Xu Caihou, right, deputy chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission, which controls China’s military, and Chongqing party secretary Bo Xilai attend the closing session of the National People’s Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China. A spreading anti-corruption crackdown launched by President Xi Jinping snared its most senior figure to date on Monday, June 30, 2014 when the former top Chinese general was expelled from the ruling Communist Party to face bribery charges. Gen. Xu, is accused of taking money and property in exchange for promotions and other favors, said a party statement reported by the official Xinhua News Agency. It said his case had been handed over to military prosecutors. (Vincent Thian, File/Associated Press)

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS June 30 at 8:59 AM

BEIJING — A spreading anti-corruption crackdown launched by President Xi Jinping snared its most senior figure yet on Monday when a former top Chinese general was expelled from the ruling Communist Party to face bribery charges.

Corruption Crackdown Snares Former Chinese General by Maria Anderson