It’s no-go for NGOs!

July 8, 2014 

• NGO Secretariat under MoD orders NGOs to stop ‘unauthorised activities’
• Circular lists press conferences, workshops, media releases as ‘beyond NGO mandate’
• ‘Authoritarian to the core’: Paikiasothy MoD has no authority in law to prevent freedom of expression and assembly: Lawyers Collective

By Dharisha Bastians
Sri Lanka’s powerful Defence Ministry has sought to outlaw press conferences and media statements by Non-Governmental Organisations operating in the country, sparking a civil society outcry about an attempt to impinge upon freedoms of speech and assembly.
A circular issued by the National Secretariat for NGOs, which operates under the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development said certain NGOs were “acting beyond their mandate” by holding press conferences and workshops.
“It has been revealed that certain Non-Governmental Organisations conduct press conferences, workshops, trainings for journalists and dissemination of press releases, which is beyond their mandate,” the Circular issued under the hand of Director/Registrar of the NGO Secretariat, D.M.S. Dissanayake noted.
“We reiterate that all Non-Governmental Organisations should prevent (sic) from such unauthorised activities with immediate effect,” the circular ordered.
The circular, which is dated 1 July 2014, has only been issued to NGOs registered under the National Secretariat for NGOs, the Daily FT learns.
Executive Director of the think tank Centre for Policy Alternatives Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu told the Daily FT that the circular was a direct threat and challenge to civil society and to Sri Lanka as a functioning democracy.
“The chilling effect it intends on the freedom of speech and expression and on the freedom of association, confirms that this regime is either unwilling or unable to comprehend the basic requirements of democratic governance and that it is authoritarian to the core,” Dr. Saravanamuttu charged.
Activist attorneys J.C. Weliamuna and Lal Wijeynayake, who convene the Lawyers Collective, slammed the Defence Ministry move, saying it had no legal authority under any statute to control the freedom of speech and association of citizens who act collectively through civil society organisations.
“The Defence authorities have acted beyond their mandate,” the Collective said in a reaction to the circular.
Governments that respect democratic values respect the rights of citizens to engage in such lawful activities, the Collective noted.
“Only authoritarian regimes prevent such democratic engagements,” Weliamuna and Wijeynayake asserted.
They said the communication of the Director of National Secretariat for NGOs is an indication of the limited understanding of the powerful Sri Lankan defence establishment on civil liberties. “The conduct of the MoD in issuing such communication further strengthens the allegation that Sri Lanka has now become an authoritarian state,” the lawyers said.
Condemning the circular, the Sri Lanka Working Journalists’ Association said the decree would further stifle what it called the country’s “persecuted” civil society.
SLWJA said the directive comes after several NGO workshops, most recently one by the local Chapter of Transparency International, were stormed by the Government supporters.
“The latest directive is …a clear attack on the freedom of expression… and highlights Sri Lanka’s slide towards authoritarianism,” the SLWJA said in a statement. The media group has called on the Government to rescind the directive to the NGOs.

Cyril, North CM discuss Tamil issues

 

 

South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa had talks with Northern Province 

Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran on issues faced by Tamils in the North.

The talks were held in Jaffna today when Ramaphosa visited the area as part of the final leg of his Sri Lanka visit.

Earlier today Ramaphosa also had separate discussions with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in Colombo.

Yesterday Ramaphosa and President Mahinda Rajapaksa had talks and dinner at Temple Trees.

A spokesperson at the President’s office said the talks were fruitful but refused to divulge further details on the basis that it was a closed door meeting.

Also yesterday Ramaphosa, who was in Sri Lanka as a special envoy of South African President Jacob Zuma, had discussions with a Government delegation led by External Affairs Minister, Professor G.L Peiris.

Ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva and Rauff Hakeem were also present at the discussion but a formal statement on the talks was also not released. (Colombo Gazette)

 

 

 

 

 

 

July: Indelibly Implanted In The History And Memory Of Eelam Tamils

By Eelaventhan Manickavasakar -

July 8, 2014 

Eelaventhan Manickavasakar

July 1983 witnessed one of the worst ethnic cleansing programme methodically planned and meticulously executed by the then JR government and its hoodlums ably assisted by the security forces and some ministers. The whole country was immersed with flames of fire and hatred towards the helpless and hapless innocent Tamils. The killing of thirteen soldiers on 23rd July 1983 by the LTTE in Jaffna provided the government with an excuse to embark on a killing and looting spree after the burials of the soldiers in Kanatte.

Innocent Tamils seen on roads or travelling in buses were dragged, killed and/or set on fire alive. Tamil business and establishments were looted and burnt.  Tamil homes were identified with the help of voter’s lists, and were looted and burnt. All these inhuman and uncivilised acts sponsored by the JR government went on unhindered for a week. Once the dirty mission was accomplished Jr. justified the mayhem by saying that “this is the natural response of the  Sinhalese against Tamils”. The previous state sponsored riots in 1956, 58, 77 and 81 enthused and acted as incentives for the 1983 progrom.

The Tamils all over the island except those in the North and East became instant refugees with nothing in their possession except their lives. They were then transported to North and East, the homeland of  Tamils to ensure their safety.July also unfolded the most daring and distressing events for the Eelam Tamils. The daring suicide attack by Miller destroyed the army camp located at Nelliadi Central College. The brutal massacre of 53 persons including Kutimani, Thangathurai, Jegan and Dr. Rajasundaram and in the Wlikade prison with the blessing of JR government horrified the world. The subsequent mayhem unleashed by pre-arranged UNP thugs went on for one week with security forces standing and enjoying the lootings and killings.

The writer of this article would like to state that the Tamils took refuge in the Tamil Eelam areas whether be Jaffna, Vavuniya, Mannar, Batticaloa or  Trincomalee. But the 1983 genocide told us in a telling language that we are not safe even in our traditional Tamil homelands. The writer would like to quote late Lamented Vanniyasingam of his warnings following the 1958 racial ritots to us that “a stage may come, that we may not be safe even in our homelands and we may be dumped in the Indian Ocean. He was charged as a prophet of gloom but his prophesy had been proved right, that’s why we, Tamils, are a nation of refugees without a land of our own.

This ethnic cleansing awakened the Tamils to a new phase of self-recognition and defiant methods to face and resist the  Sinhala brutalism. The battered Tamil youths in thousands joined the militant movements to fight the Sinhala security forces militarily. LTTE became the most dominant and aggressive force which for thirty yeaars spread, panic and fear among the Sinhalese and also to the governments which ruled until 2009 May when international complicity spearheaded by India lead to its defeat.

The current Tamil political situation is fluid and volatile. Tamils and their political leaders are searching for solutions and a viable political agenda to salvage the Eelam Tamils who are now being suffocated with the security forces their basic fundamental rights being trampled, their safety being threatened by government stooges and state sponsored thugs.

The  Eelam Tamils and Diaspora should rise to the occasion and stop the sinister schemes of Rajapakses. A united front is the need of the hour and co-ordinated joint action involving the public with mass agitations, demonstrations and civil disobediance campaigns are the legitimate weapons which have to be resorted. Undoubtedly, the international community has realised the hyprocrisy of Sri Lankan governemnt and has put the Sri Lanka in dock to answer many questions which remain unresponded. So far the Tamils worldwide have to exploit this opportunity fast and not to allow this momentum to slip away as an opportunity once lost is lost forever.

*M.K. Eelaventhan - Former Member of Parliament – Sri Lanka  and Member of Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam Representing Canada

On Sri Lanka Bannning NGOs Communicating with Press, Ban Passes Buck

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 8 -- After Sri Lanka's Minister of "Defense and Urban Development" issued an order banning all non-governmental organizations from press conferences, workshops, training for journalists, and dissemination of press releases which is beyond their mandate," Inner City Press on July 7 asked UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq about it.Video here, on Inner City Press' YouTube channel.

On Sri Lanka Bannning NGOs Communicating With Press, Ban Passes Buck by Maria Anderson

UN is to study MOD warning to NGOs

By admin on July 8, 2014

The United Nations (UN) says it will study a warning issued by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) not to go beyond their mandate.

Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for UN Secretary General Ban ki-moon, said that the UN will need to evaluate the warning and then make a statement.

An MOD letter sent to NGOs notes that some of them conduct press conferences, workshops, training for journalists, and dissemination of press releases which is beyond their mandate.

“We reiterate that all Non Governmental Organizations should prevent from such unauthorized activities with immediate effect,” the letter said.

Some NGOs have raised concerns over the letter issued by the Ministry of Defence. (Colombo Gazette)

Sri Lanka Journalists condemn Govt. NGO directive

Tuesday, 08 July 2014 

The Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA)  is disturbed by the Sri Lankan Government’s banning of   Non Governmental Organizations from ‘conducting press conferences , workshops , journalism  training and dissemination of press releases’. The NGO directorate of the government which issued the latest decree today ( 7) comes directly under the purview of the ministry of defence.

The latest directive is ludicrous at its best and dangerous at its worst – It is a clear attack on freedom of expression enshrined in the country’s constitution and highlights Sri Lanka’s slide towards authoritarianism.  Arbitrariness with which it was announced vindicates the government’s contempt towards  the  very fundamental rights of the citizens.

The latest directive came after several NGO workshops, most recently one conducted by the local Chapter of Transparency International were stormed by the government’s supporters.

A free discourse among all stakeholders of society is imperative for a democratic and healthy  society. The government’s latest directive is a sinister move that is   aimed at silencing some of those voices.

 We strongly call upon the government to rescind the blatantly undemocratic and unconstitutional decree  and  urge the decent freedom loving people of this country to condemn   the latest government initiative that would further  stifle country’s persecuted  civil society.

Senior Editor Dilrukshi Quits Tiran Alles Ceylon Today, Complains Of Editorial Censorship

July 8, 2014

Senior journalist Dilrukshi Handunetti who until recently served as senior assistant editor of Tiran Alles’ Ceylon Today newspaper has resigned in protest of the company’s editorial policies and censorship Colombo Telegraph can now reveal.

Dilrukshi

Ms Handunetti who was overlooked recently by the management for the editorship of the newspaper has complained that censorship had become severe at the Ceylon Today in recent times.

During her absence from the country Handunetti’s junior Jayantha Nissanka who was the paper deputy editor was appointed Editor of Ceylon Today after Hana Ibrahim the previous editor was ‘kicked upstairs’ as Editor in Chief and no longer controls the newspaper editorial policy.

Interestingly Ms Handunetti was instrumental in writing a editorial accusing former Ceylon Today Editor in Chief Lalith Alahakone of fabricating stories about his sacking by Alles in a two page article that attempted to destroy the credibility of at least five other reporters who also left the paper in protest of Alahakone’s treatment. Despite Ibrahim announcing to the Ceylon Today editorial that the Alles Management had let Alahakone go four days later her own editorial claimed that the senior editor had in fact not been sacked.

Handunetti was re recruited by Chairman Alles after Lalith Alahakone’s sacking after Ibrahim convinced the politician and businessman that Handunetti had been unable to work for the senior editor since he was discriminating against her.

Together with Ibrahim as Colombo Telegraph has extensively written Handunetti spearheaded the campaign to prevent media activist groups from reacting or condemning Alahakone’s treatment by Alles two years ago a clear case of hindering a chief editor’s editorial independence.

Handunetti was awarded Journalist of the Year at the Editors Guild awards for her reporting in Ceylon Today last year.

Journo Rajpal Wanted Behind Bars, Questioned Over Shady Rriot Death Toll

July 8, 2014

Al-Jazeera correspondent for Sri Lanka, Dinouk Colombage was grilled by the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) yesterday, just weeks after Rajapaksa state-owned newspaper Editor, Rajpal Abeynayake called for his arrest.

Dinouk Colombage

Colombage’s lawyers have stated that the CID has interrogated him concerning the reports he filed to Al-Jazeera and a Twitter update he had posted on the ground situation in Aluthgama and Beruwala following the anti-Muslim clashes.

He had been questioned regarding his news sources and had been extensively grilled over how he got the number of deaths as well as other sensitive details included in his coverage. The interrogation had lasted for three hours and Colombage had even been questioned about his association with Al- Jazeera.

It has also been reported that his lawyers were not permitted to witness the questioning.

Police Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana has stated he was questioned by the CID due to contradictions in the number of deaths that was reported by Colombage and the official numbers released by the government.

This interrogation also occurs following a tweet put up by Media Ministry Secretary Charitha Herath, who condoned the recent ruling on the three Al-Jazeera journalists, which was recorded by Colombo Telegraph before he took it off.

In the aftermath of the anti-Muslim clashes that erupted in Southern Sri Lanka on June 15 and 16, several Muslim politicians have pointed out that the number of deaths has been downplayed; the official government reports claim it is only three/ But Colombage’s repors and tweets stated that it was seven and it has been confirmed by several other politicians including Azath Salley.

National Savings Bank is now disreputable ‘National Sexual Bribery’- 380 recruited on cash and sexual bribes

(Lanka-e-News-08.July.2014, 3.30PM) 380 unsuitable unqualified candidates without holding any examination to test their competence were recruited as clerks to the National savings bank on the 28 th last month . The only qualification that was taken into account was, they are all Rajapakse regime stooges , lackeys, cronies and henchmen who would stoop to do any sordid biddings of the regime .

It is well to recall, in the wake of the 1988-89 insurgency , Dr. G L Peiris, a Minister of the very Rajapakse regime emphatically stated in the recommendations made by the ‘youths restless committee’ of which he was the chairman that , the prime and principal reason for the youth restlessness in the country is the appointment to jobs based on political favoritism. 

Late R. Premadasa thereafter in implementation of that recommendation , introduced a system to recruit candidates to jobs via competitive examinations. Sadly , the Rajapakse regime on the contrary ,threw away that recommendation into the garbage bin , and in its characteristic fashion like how it had deliberately allowed the country to go to the dogs, and unthinking of the damage its selfish power perpetuation centered policies can cause to the country at large , has recently recruited 380 of its stooges to the posts. 

The worst part ? there were no notification in the newspapers or any gazette that there are vacancies in the bank, or calling of applications for suitable candidates . This has been done solely in view of the forthcoming Uva provincial council elections . One of the groups thus recruited comprises henchmen of Uva chief Minister Sashindra Rajapakse. 

One group recruited is that of National savings bank (NSB) working Director , Sasthara Sumane . Another group comprises the henchmen of Nil Balakaya . 
Some of the recruits told Lanka e news inside information division , that each of them paid Rs, 500,000/- as bribe to either Sasthra Sumane or the chiefs of Nil Balakaye to secure the appointments.

Some other youths revealed , in order to secure their NSB appointments , they even had to provide sexual bribes to astrologer Sumane and a Nil Balakaya chief who solicited sexual favors.

It is worthy of note that the present NSB is under MaRa’s finance ministry, and may we be permitted to recall , MaRa during his youthful days in 1970, when he was an M.P. founded this sexual exploitation method and used it to the full too while lodging in sleazy rest houses when giving appointments for jobs.

In 1970, this disgraceful rest house appointment system of MaRa was the cause of disappointment to the SLFP , and fall from its grace. This had a very grave detrimental impact on the party, because no decent person or parent would condone this type of appointment where the candidate had to face the stigmatic experience of sleeping with MaRa in a rest house and provide sexual gratification before an appointment being given.

The present NSB appointments are reminiscent of MaRa’s youthful days of his sexual exploits when he earned a notoriety for his close association with pimps , prostitutes and rest houses in nooks and crannies, let alone the crooks and cronies. 

Employees of National savings bank (NSB) which has hitherto maintained a reputation say , henceforth NSB stands for ‘National Sexual Bribery’ under MaRa.

Illegal deposit takers: Time for a crackdown?

 July 8, 2014 

Recent newspaper reports carried a story on one more financial pyramid scheme, allegedly called ‘Pandora Advertising’ in Tangalle, allegedly modelled on another in Tissamaharama, ‘Luminous Advertising,’ both in the Hambantota District.
A pyramid scheme is one by which an unauthorised deposit taker offers high interest rates to gullible depositors, paying off early depositors, with funds deposited by later depositors and at some point decamps with the money.

Illegal Deposit Takers Time for a Crackdown by Maria Anderson

The Shadow Of Gotabhaya

 by Victor Ivan

( July 8, 2014, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) One named Gotabhaya Rajapaksa happens to enter Sri Lanka politics only after Mahinda Rajapaksa becomes president. Since leaving the military, for nearly one and a half decades, then he lived in the USA. He becomes a publicly known or powerful figure after his advent subsequent his sibling coming to power as president. With that he is appointed as the defence secretary - a post regarded as powerful- and he becomes the coordinator of the security forces in Eelam war IV that followed. He is the one who persuaded the president to agree in appointing General Fonseka, who can be regarded a key leader in the military victory, as the commander of the army, without retiring him. For whatever reason, the president has not been happy about Fonseka’ s appointment as army commander whereas he is the one who placated that disliking and got the president’s consent to give the job to Fonseka.

The Shadow of Gotabhaya by Maria Anderson

UNP MP to resign over police inaction

*Alutgama violence

By Zacki Jabbar-July 7, 2014

Kalutara District UNP MP Palitha Thewarapperuma said yesterday that since the IGP N.K. Illangakoon had failed to resign over police and STF inaction while Muslims in Alutagama and Beruwela were attacked by the Bodu Bala Sena(BBS) recently, resulting in loss of life and property, he would be tendering his resignation from Parliament today to his party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Thewarapperuma who received eye and head injuries while attempting to stop mob attacks on Muslims, told "The Island" that he had been elected on the UNP ticket and accordingly would submit his resignation to his party leader. "It is upto Wickremesinghe to decide on the future course of action."

The MP said that even though it was the BBS-aided by mobs from outside the Beruwela electorate that went on the rampage killing people, looting and burning private property, the MP said he felt guilty that as a representative of the Kalutara electorate, he had been unable to halt the carnage.

Since the IGP had failed to take responsibility for the Police and STF inaction and quit, he had decided to resign instead, MP Thewarapperuma noted. "On June 15, a Mrs. Sahabdeen was dragged out of her house down Military Road, Dharga Town and handed over to the STF, after which her house was set on fire. How could the IGP continue in office when his men behave in such a disgraceful manner? If the IGP had had any self respect he would have resigned before I told him to."

When pointed out that the IGP had claimed investigations into the Alutgama violence were being conducted, MP Thewarapperuma replied that the BBS had since the war was over, been terrorising the Muslims and destroying their mosques and business establishments with impunity, but no action whatsoever had been instituted against that organisation and it would go scot free once again.

Commenting on the BBS attacks which left him injured Thewarapperuma said, "Is this the type of Buddhism they practice? I have never Buddhist priests who are filled with such hatred against their own countrymen. They behave in the most disgraceful manner and use raw filth on even Buddhists."

BBS CEO offers to resign if proved that Gnanasara Thera accepted money

 Tuesday, 08 July 2014 12:14

Bodu Bala Sena CEO Dilanthe Withanage has responded to an article posted in our website, which says BBS general secretary Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera has used his political powers to save owner of Randenigala Distilleries Sarath Wijewickrama from an allegation of involvement in an ethanol racket, and in a show of gratitude he has given  Rs. 30 million to the Thera, and also that he is one of the main funding sources for BBS, and that most of the assets owned by Wijewickrama had been acquired via Gnanasara Thera through dubious dealings.

Withanage says the article is totally false and challenges the website to prove that Gnanasara Thera had been given Rs. 30 million. As much as this article could damage the BBS, it also endangers the website of being branded a gossip website, he goes on to say.

Falsehoods have been fabricated about funding being received from Norway, US and Israel in order to halt our struggle to rescue the country and nation, which is being done amidst financial difficulties, and through personal donations by our contributors, sometimes our officials pawning their gold rings and necklaces. The entire world now knows these have only been lies, and we are not surprised to see that more such falsehoods are being spread, says the BBS CEO.

After this article was posted, we made inquiries from the businessman in question, and found that there was no truth to these allegations, according to him.

At a media briefing recently, Gnanasara Thera said BBS has received information about a group that is extorting money from Muslim businessmen by using the names of the organization and the Thera, and requested that complaints be lodged with police regarding such instances.

I personally say that I will resign from all my positions and even from BBS, if it is proved that Gnanasara Thera had received Rs. 30 million as alleged, Withanage adds.

Editor’s note:

We stand by the 100% accuracy of the article we have posted. Although the Randenigala Distilleries owner did not receive a receipt from Gnanasara Thera for the money, the close connection between the two can be surmised by the between 10 to 15 telephone calls a day they are giving to each other. On most days, these telephone conversations go on till midnight not for the Randenigala Distilleries owner to inquire from Rajakeeya Panditha Ganagodaatte Gnanasara Thera about the deep meanings of Abhidhamma. Such ‘business deals’ are takng place without the BBS CEO knowing anything about them, as he is fast asleep at such times.

For the knowledge of Dilanthe Withanage and our readers, we will mention one thing here. The Randenigala Distilleries owner took the Rs. 05 million first instalment of the money to Gnanasara Thera along with one Roy of the United Traders Association of Nugegoda, the key go-between in their connection.

When money was extorted or commissions changed hands, receipts are not produced before courts to prove that such instances took place. To make the conclusion that the deal actually took place, telephone conversation durations and detailed bills can be called from the relevant telephone companies. We cannot divulge our sources because the law does not permit us to do so. Publication of even a telephone number is a violation of the Data Protection Act.

Such business deals are no surprise for the business firm named the BBS, formed by a group of businessmen in robes, but we know that all these incidents are a secret and unknown to the CEO, or the theoretician, of BBS.

To say it directly, Dilanthe Withanage is an ‘honest fool’ or a ‘cat’s paw.’ He is now under house arrest, because, it is known that the dog that had been reared will attack and bite one day. What has happened to Dilanthe Withanage is that he has grabbed the tiger by the tail, and knowing that he can come out unscathed through BBS only, he cannot leave it either. That is valid not only for him, but also for Kirama Wimalajothi Thera too, and will be applicable even to Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera in a future date. It is a sign of extremism that the master faces more peril as the dog grows up by the day.

This danger will not stop at Dilanthe Withanage, but it will not be very long before it boomerangs on the Rajapaksa regime too,

See the releted article here

Champika’s Daily Mirror Says Dalai Lama Statement On Sri Lanka Anti-Muslim Violence Misleading

July 8, 2014

Sri Lanka’s Daily Mirror newspaper run by a pro-JHU editor Champika Liyanaarachchi has distorted the statement issued by the venerable Dalai Lama the spiritual leader of Tibet and Buddhist icon.

Champika

The Daily Mirror which took a extremist Buddhist position on the riots in Aluthgama and Beruwala in June continues its streak of promoting Buddhist nationalism and racism in the country.

Editor Liyanarachi who is alleged to be on intimate terms with JHU Minister Champika Ranawaka who regularly makes racially charged remarks against Muslims and Christians has published comments by Elle Gunawansaa monk well known to be hardline and racist towards minorities in a reaction to statements from the Dalai Lama urging Buddhists in Sri Lanka and Myanmar to stop violence against Muslims in their countries.

Gunewansa is believed to have been an instrumental figure in the July 1983 riots targeting Tamil people in Sri Lanka.

Under the heading “Dalai Lama statement misleading: PNM” the Daily Mirror newspaper said that while expressing displeasure on the statement issued by Most Ven. Dalai Lama on Sri Lankan Buddhists, Patriotic National Movement (PNM) Chairman Ven. Elle Gunawansa Thera on Monday said Dalai Lama has been misled on how Muslims were being treated in Sri Lanka.

“There is a conspiracy against Sri Lanka. International efforts have also tried their best to tarnish the image of Sri Lanka in the past many decades and are becoming more aggressive. These sinister motives are to discredit and tarnish the image of Sri Lanka and if possible to destroy it,” Gunawansa has said according to the Daily Mirror report.

Shockingly the newspaper has failed to carry the statement of the Dalai Lama in full anywhere in the newspaper although almost all other newspapers in Sri Lanka have printed the Spiritual Leader’s remarks. The Dalai Lama’s statement however appears on the Daily Mirror news website.

Liyanarachchi’s actions to turn the Daily Mirror newspaper which is widely read by minorities in Sri Lanka as the country’s largest daily English paper into a nationalist pro JHU pro Sinhala hardline newspaper remain unaccounted for.

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