In rural villages, little protection for Alaska 

Natives

In the tiny Tlingit community of Kake, a brutal murder highlights how help often comes slowly and public safety is in short

KAKE, Alaska — Her body lay in the back entryway of the church for 11 hours after villagers called the Alaska State Troopers for help. She was a 13-year-old nicknamed “Mack” who wore big red glasses and loved to dance. The native Tlingit girl had been beaten to death.

No one knew who killed Mackenzie Howard that cold February night last year — and people were terrified that the killer was still in their midst. But in the remote community of Kake, only accessible by air or boat, there was no law enforcement officer. That meant no police to protect the community, cordon off the crime scene, preserve the evidence and launch an investigation. The villagers had to wait for state troopers in Juneau, 114 miles away, to get there.

“They have the capability of flying at night now . . . but still nobody came,” said Joel Jackson, a local wood carver who helped gather villagers to guard Mackenzie’s body and the crime scene that night. “And that upset me greatly. When there’s any fishing violation or hunting violation, they’re here in full force — over a dead animal. To have one of our own laying there for [so long] was traumatic for everybody.”

With no police and few courts of their own, most Alaska Native villages instead are forced to rely on Alaska State Troopers. But there is only about one trooper per every million acres. Getting to rural communities can take days and is often delayed by the great distances to cover, the vagaries of the weather and — in the minds of many Alaska Natives — the low priority placed on protecting local tribes.

Rural Alaska has the worst crime statistics in the nation’s Native American communities — and the country. Alaska Native communities experience the highest rates of family violence, suicide and alcohol abuse in the United States: a domestic violence rate 10 times the national average; physical assault of women 12 times the national average; and a suicide rate almost four times the national average. Rape in Alaska occurs at the highest rate in the nation — three times the national average.

These trends, according to Bruce Botelho, a former Alaska attorney general and a member of the Alaska Rural Justice and Law Enforcement Commission, are “exacerbated, in part, because of the enormous geographical size of Alaska, the remoteness of these communities, the skyrocketing costs of transportation, the lack of any economic opportunity and the enormous gaps in the delivery of any form of government service, particularly from the state of Alaska.”

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Drinking three litres of water a day took TEN YEARS off my face: Sarah, 42, was hoping to solve her headaches and poor digestion... just look what else happened

• One in five women drinks less than the recommended daily intake of water
• Every system and function in our body depends on water...
• Especially because the liquid flushes toxins from vital organs
• 
  

By SARAH SMITH- 30 October 2013 | UPDATED: 02:17 GMT, 31 October 2013

You might think I'd have little in common with a camel, but we do share one useful skill: both of us can go for a very long time without water.

Usually I start my day with a cup of tea, then I might have a glass of water with my lunch and one with dinner - that's about a litre of liquid in 24 hours. It feels like plenty, but apparently it's not nearly enough.

After years of suffering headaches and poor digestion I spoke to a neurologist about my regular headaches and a nutritionist about my poor digestion, and both told me I should be drinking up to three litres of liquid a day for my body to function at its best.

Drinking Three Litres of Water a Day Took TEN YEARS Off My Face Sarah, 42, Was Hoping to Solve Her Headache... by Thavam

வடக்கின் தமிழ் ஊடகவியலாளர்களின் பின்னணியில் புலம்பெயர் புலிகள் என அரச சார்பு ஊடகங்கள் சேறடிப்பு-

குளோபல் தமிழ்ச் செய்திகளின் விசேட செய்தியாளர்:-

உலக தமிழ்ச் செய்திகள்01 ஆகஸ்ட் 2014


ஊடக சுதந்திரத்தை வலியுறுத்தி நேற்று யாழ்ப்பாணத்தில் நடத்தப்பட்ட ஆர்ப்பாட்டத்தின் பின்னணியில் வழமை போலவே புலம்பெயர்புலிகளே இருப்பதாக அரசு ஆதரவு ஊடகங்கள் கண்டுபிடித்துள்ளன.

நேற்றிரவு அரச தொலைக்காட்சியும் இன்று அரச பெரும்பான்மை மொழி நாளிதழான றிவிரவும் நேற்றைய ஆர்ப்பாட்டத்திற்கு புலம் பெயர் புலிகளது பின்னணியே  காரணமெனவும் அத்துடன் யாழ்.ஊடக மையத்தின் செயற்பாட்டாளர்களது பெயர்விபரங்களையும் குறிப்பிட்டு செய்திகளை வெளியிட்டுள்ளது.

அத்துடன் அத்தகையவர்களது பெயர்கள் திரட்டப்பட்டு பாதுகாப்பு அமைச்சிடம் விரைவில் கையளிக்கப்படவுள்ளதாகவும் தெரிவித்துள்ளது.

இதனிடையே “தமிழ் ஊடகங்களையும், ஊடகவியலாளர்களையும் அரசாங்கம் தொடர்ந்து அவதானித்துக் கொண்டு வருகிறது. அவர்களினால் நாட்டின் தேசிய பாதுகாப்பிற்கு அச்சுறுத்தல் ஏற்பட்டுள்ளதாக நாங்கள் உணர்கிறோம். இந்த விடயத்தில் அவர்களை நாங்கள் எச்சரிக்கிறோம்” என  தகவல், ஊடகத்துறை அமைச்சர் ஹெகலிய ரம்புக்வெல. நேற்று நடந்த பத்திரிகையாளர் சந்திப்பின் போது எச்சரித்துள்ளார்.

அண்மையில் யாழ்ப்பாணத்திலிருந்து கொழும்பிற்கு ஊடக செயலமர்விற்கு சென்ற 16 ஊடகவியலாளர்களின் வாகனத்திற்குள் இராணுவம் கஞ்சாப்பொதியை போட்ட விடயம் தொடர்பில் ஊடகவியலாளர்கள் கேள்வியெழுப்பிய போதே இதனை தெரிவித்தார்.  தமிழ் ஊடகவியலாளர்கள் குறித்து பேசும்போது, அமைச்சர் கடும் கோபமடைந்து ஆவேசப்பட்டு பேசினார். அவர்கள் நாட்டிற்கு அச்சுறுத்தலாக உள்ளனர் என்றும் பரபரப்பு குற்றம் சுமத்தினார்.

சர்வதேச அரசசார்பற்ற நிறுவனங்கள் தேசத்துரோக போக்கில் செயற்படுகின்றன. அதற்கு இந்த ஊடகவியலாளர்களும் துணைபோகின்றார்கள். இவர்களினால் இலங்கையின் ஒருமைப்பாட்டிற்கு அச்சுறுத்தல் ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது என்றார். தேசிய பாதுகாப்பிற்கு எதிராக தமிழ் உடகவியலாளர்கள் செயற்படுகின்றார்கள் என்ற சந்தேகம் எமக்கு ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது என்றும் கூறியுள்ளார்.

Daily Mirror Threatens Its Journalists Into Boycotting Protests

August 2, 2014

It has been reported that Sri Lanka’s most circulated English daily – the Daily Mirror has threatened its Jaffna corespondents into boycotting a protest organized in Jaffna against the harassment of seven journalists earlier this week by the military.

Ranjith Wijewardene (Chairman of Wijeya Newspapers) with other members of the Newspaper Society Sri Lanka

A news item published in weekly Sinhala newspaper Ravaya, has reported that two journalists from Jaffna who contribute to Daily Mirror had refused to attend the protest that was organized on July 31 to express objection to the harassment faced by seven journalists as they had been informed by Human Resources Department personnel of DM  to participate at the risk of losing their jobs.

The article that had also quoted Jaffna Press Club Advisor R. Dayabaran who had stated the two journalists who were threatened of being sacked if they participated in the protest on Thursday were among the seven journalists who were harassed by the military last Saturday night.

The vehicle in which the group of journalists were traveling had been stopped and searched at the Omanthai checkpoint on Saturday night while they were en-route to Colombo after which, they were detained under charges of possessing marijuana and interrogated for over six hours. The journalists have directly accused the military of planting the marijuana in the vehicle in order to sabotage their participation in the workshop. However, no investigation has been carried out by the Police over the accusations by journalists and had even refused to accept the complaint.

Activist Committee for media freedom challenge Govt.’s ‘bad boys’ to sabotage media workshop if they can

(Lanka-e-News, 02.Aug.2014, 11.30AM) The activists of the committee for media freedom while summoning a media conference against the threats and intimidation posed by the government day after day deploying its murderers , mobsters and marauding squads, announced that they are going to conduct a media workshop on a not too distant date on behalf of the media personnel of the south and the north, and they challenged the government’s ‘bad boys’ to come and sabotage it , if they can.

The media conference was held 30th july at the auditorium of Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) which was described by the government’s henchmen as a “Tiger brothel,” and , who also threatened to devastate the media workshop if it is conducted.

The media freedom activists at the conference issuing a warning said , the task of another round of communicating to the foreign diplomatic commissions of the fate that has befallen the free media under this government shall be undertaken.

‘During the run up to the forthcoming elections , the media suppression will further aggravate , but no matter the threats and intimidations, our organization is ready to face any challenges ,’ Saman Wagaarachchi , the former editor of Lakbima , and convener of the activist committee for media freedom emphasized.

Based on the threats and intimidations faced by the media personnel and Institutions , it is clear the independence of the judiciary and the legal foundation of the country have been destroyed , and all these singly and cumulatively bear testimony that the laws are not being enforced or implemented duly, the President of the Sri Lanka working journalists association , Lasantha Ruhunage asserted.

Chandana Sirimalwatte , President of the mass media organization for Democracy ; Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema, President of Professional mass media conference committee ; Ameen of Muslim media association; Freddy Gamage , the President of web media journalists ; Dharmasiri Lankapeli ,media profession workers association ; and a representative of Tamil journalists association also aired their views at the conference.

Sri Lanka Muslims at the cross roads – 10

By Izeth Hussain-August 1, 2014

I argued in my last article that the world is becoming a unit, and that what happens inside a country today carries with it an external dimension to a far greater extent than it did in 1983. I argued further that the Sri Lankan Muslims have no alternative to using that external dimension to safeguard their lives and legitimate interests. 

Sri Lanka Muslims at the Cross Roads – 10 by Thavam

The Opposition At The Crossroads

By Dayan Jayatilleka -August 2, 2014

Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka

Here’s the scenario for one year from now:  one, possibly two more members of the ruling family will almost certainly be in Cabinet while a bloodless Night of the Long Knives would have seen off the SLFP barons suspected of allegiance to the deposed queen. I ain’t got no dog in this fight, but I would like the political situation to have far greater balance and wouldn’t like the System to be even more top-heavy than it is. Simply put, I wouldn’t like Sri Lanka to function ridiculously like a medieval kingdom in the 21^st century. Now if you think appearing as a kingdom or transitioning from a republic to a kingdom is a good thing provided roads get built and real estate gets gentrified, then you won’t have a problem. If however, you think it’s a bad thing, as the Opposition and dissident civil society seem to, then you really should stop playing silly buggers, as the Opposition seems to be doing currently.

The regime’s performance at the parliamentary election will depend, above all else, on its performance at the preceding presidential election– which is why the margin of victory/defeat is crucial and why the opposition is being strategically suicidal.  Nobody outside of Colombo and Kandy, and not many in those two towns, give a damn about the executive presidency and its abolition. What they do care about is that they are finding it difficult to make ends meet. They care that the peace dividend hasn’t reached them in the sense of material improvement in their lives. This discontent can be (graphically) linked by an intelligent opposition, to the phenomena of family rule and the chokepoints of resource allocation, as the UNP did in 1977.

In focusing on the abolition of the executive presidency, the Opposition is moving in entirely the wrong direction: away from palpable mass concerns to those whims of a faction of the urban political class; from the socio-economic– the physical quality of life– to the purely political; from the concrete to the abstract.

Elections aren’t won by candidates who promise to abolish institutions. They are won by a positive appeal. They are won by candidates who credibly promise a better tomorrow and level a credible critique about the present. Hence the success of the Clinton (actually James Carville) campaign strategy: “It’s the Economy, Stupid”.  Hence the triumph of Obama’s rallying cry, “Yes, We Can”.  Hence the victory of Ranasinghe Premadasa in 1988.                                                         Read More

Tuk-Tuk Drivers Are The Political 

Pulse Of Sri Lanka

| by Rajasingham Jayadevan

( August 2, 2014, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) Dr Dayan Jayatillake, in one of his articles, referred to his father Mervyn De Silva’s comment: “the road to Temple Trees runs through the paddy fields” of Sri Lanka. In the days when politics was not overburdened by skulduggery and heavy handedness, Mervyn De Silva’s comment was very appropriate. It is a fact, even now, that the village vote plays an important part in who runs the country. Whatever constrains faced by the present day paddy field voters in their decision making, rapidly changing socio-economic circumstances are helping them to make objective assessments in a fairly broader manner.

Mahinda Rajapaskse’s regime has numbed the media by sheer force of violence, threats and intimidation. Sinhala language media is heavily constrained compared to the English media to control the opinion of the paddy fields to exclusively propagate the authorial government.

My recent two week visit to Sri Lanka gave me the opportunity to gauge the situation in a broader sense. In my ride through Colombo in the three wheelers (tuk-tuks) and speaking to people I bumped into, they gave me a fair understanding of the mindset of the people. Tuk-tuk drivers are the village people who come from the paddy fields of Sri Lanka to earn a living in Colombo to better their lives.

To understand the thinking of the village people, one need not walk through the villages these days. I found the tuk-tuk drivers who are fathers and sons from the villages were more eloquent in their observations, analysis and political articulations. They are the best opinion makers that the constrained media does not duly reflect.

With my mediocre Sinhala fluency, I always have good engagements with the tuk-tuk drivers whenever I visit Sri Lanka. This time, when I asked them in Sinhala ‘Rata Desapalana Kohamatha?’ (how is governance in the country?) the responses were overwhelming. Until I reached the destinations, I was given heavy political sermons with my intermittent murmurs to confirm my interest. Of the dozen of tuk-tuk trips I undertook, except for one, all the others expressed nail biting political comments. One exceptional tuk-tuk driver was a Muslim who showed disinterest possibly due to fear or disregard.

The overwhelming responses from the tuk-tuk drivers were highly critical of Mahinda Rajapakse government. Almost all of them were bludgeoning the government for the unbearable cost of living conditions and serious financial corruption in the government. When I asked them about major road works undertaken by the government, most of them questioned: ‘Para Kaala api jeevitha venda puluvangthe’ (Can we eat the road and live?).

These views are a serious yardstick to measure the discontent that the ever weakening democracy does not reflect through independent opinion polls or media reporting. These tuk-tuk drivers are the pulse of the nation who stretches beyond the paddy fields to reflect the mood of the people.

The opinion they expressed overwhelmingly in support of the President Mahinda Rajapakse before and after the 2009 final war when I visited Sri Lanka was the true reflection of the way people in the paddy fields voted for Mahinda in the past. They were saying: ‘we must give a chance to Mahinda to finish off the Tigers once and for all’ and that: ‘he did a good job to finish off the terrorists’. After over five years down the line, it is not the Tigers anymore and it is the belly aching hunger and suffering that is dictating the people. Mahinda Rajapakse cannot expect a blank cheque from the village people any more however the constrained media portrays him as the saviour of the nation.

One tuk-tuk driver even went to the extent of pointing a four or five story modern office building in the heart of Colombo of the Bodu Bala Sena-the extremist monk brigade that is causing havoc for the Muslim minorities. The driver’s pointed question was: ‘from where the hell have they got the money to manage a office like this within a short time’ and in deep frustration he further said: ‘BBS is part of the game of the government to cover up the cost of living crisis facing the people’.

In their cost of living comments, most of them were cursing the government further for the high energy costs.

I had luncheon with a Sinhala family in the outskirts of Colombo. Our olden days memories to the present political situation were talked about. Of the many present to welcome us, only one was reflecting unmitigating loyalty to Mahinda Rajapakse. She was so grateful to Mahinda Rajapakse for eliminating the LTTE and bringing peace to the country once and for all. All the others were grudging critics of the government over the cost of living and undemocratic heavy handed governance that they felt are throttling the very fabric of governance. With the limited media exposure of facts in the Sinhala media, none of them understood the international pressure on Sri Lanka.

The disquiet is a worrying trend and it has started to rock the multi-horse cart rule of Mahinda Rajapakse. The rockers in the multi-horse wagon are only reflecting the cries of the tuk-tuk drivers- the real voices of the paddy fields.

No one is served better than the regime that breaksdown the justice system in SL - UNP

 Saturday, 02 August 2014 14:

 'To expect this Government to uphold the rule of law or mete out justice against heinous crimes is futile, since no one is served better than the regime itself by the breakdown of the justice system in this country' said by the UNP in the press statement released on today (02).

The full press statement issued by UNP as follows

A key witness in the trial against a former ruling party Provincial Council Member who forced a teacher to kneel down in her school, was found dead in an abandoned well in the Nawagattegama area.

The court case made headlines in the media as it was the first time a school teacher was physically punished by a politician for discharging his/her duties. The deceased, according to media reports, had apparently given valuable evidence in the case against Ananda Sarath Kumara, who is a former UPFA member of the North-Western Provincial Council.

The circumstances which led to the death of the witness in the case against the UPFA politician remain obscure. However, it is clear that the incident is too coincidental to be a coincidence. As the Police Media Spokesman has converted himself into a stooge of the powers that be, the country cannot expect a true and fair statement from him over this tragic death. Chances are high that this incident too might be swept under the carpet of “mysterious deaths” – which has been a trademark of law enforcement in this country ever since the Rajapaksa Government took office. Reports have also come to light about the suspected drug dealer who has been shot dead by unidentified gunmen in the heart of Borella. Masked armed groups and "unidentified" gunmen appear to be rampaging in the heart of the capital, but this is not a situation the regime appears to be concerned about.

If the life of a witness in a trial against a ruling party politician is in jeopardy, that alone is suggestive of the present state of affairs in the country. In every aspect of social life, the breakdown of the rule of law is palpable. The Government has permitted this impunity to reign, acting only when forced to do so because of international pressure. The restoration of public confidence int he law and order machinery is just not a priority for the rulers. In an unprecedentedly corrupt and violent regime, the law and justice have become tools in the hands of uneducated and uncivilized politicians of the ruling party. There is no separation today between the Government and the Police Department that functions as a mere appendage of the ruling coalition.

 It is in this abysmal backdrop that the Ministry of Defence, which is the overseer of national security and many other aspects of life in Sri Lanka, found itself in an embarrassing position over a defamatory article that was published on its official website last week. The official  website of the Defence Ministry (www.defence.lk) published an article by a writer by the name of Shenali Waduge, along with a caricature deeply offensive to the Prime Minister of India and the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. The Sri Lankan Government was badly embarrassed after the Indian Government took the issue up at the highest levels, demanding an unconditional apology.  Within 24 hours, the Ministry of Defence had to tender an apology to the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Jayalalitha Jayaram over the article and the picture that was published. In a ridiculous twist the Defence Ministry in its "unqualified apology" claimed that the article had been published on its website without authorisation.

This is the level of irresponsibility which is now ruling the roost at the country’s defence establishment. On the other hand, this is the same unprofessional behavior that plunged Sri Lanka into trouble when it came to war crimes allegations and accountability issues. This blunder made by the Ministry of Defence underscores the recklessness and devil-may-care attitude of the present regime when it comes to affairs of state. In its damage control over the unfortunate caricature, the Defence Ministry is bending over backwards to express regret and apologise, yet its website has long since become a haven of content of the most racist and partisan type, often implicating without proof or substantiation attacks on diplomats and foreign governments.

It is also a reflection of the culture of fear inspired by the Defence Ministry of Sri Lanka, that has become the centre of all power in the incumbent regime, that the local English press had completely omitted publication of the "unqualified apology", despite the diplomatic row the entire incident caused. Terror and impunity are what the Rajapaksa regime thrives on. To expect this Government to uphold the rule of law or mete out justice against heinous crimes is futile, since no one is served better than the regime itself by the breakdown of the justice system in this country.

The Underworld In Piliyandala

By Rajan Hoole -August 2, 2014

Rajan Hoole

Political Murders, the Commissions and the Unfinished Task – 9

The witness Susantha Dias Dahanayake who was in CID custody about the end of the year 1990 and early ’91 told the Commission that Tarzan Weerasinghe (TW), the main accomplice to the murder, was also then in CID custody. This was denied by SSP Chandra Jayawardene. The Commission found Dahanayake a credible witness because his testimony about TW was supported by three other detainees. The Commission was on good grounds for disregarding the CID on this matter, because their story about the disappearance of the assassin Lionel Ranasinghe from CID custody in September 1989 was shown to lack any substance by police investigators for the Commission.

Lokuge

Apart from this Dahanayake testified to TW having told him that Deputy Minister Gamini Lokuge’s weapon – a T 56 used by his security detail – was the murder weapon. On hearing about this, Lokuge applied to appear before the Commission. On the appointed day, Dahanayake was present and so was Lokuge. But then, the lawyer for the latter told the Commission that his client neither wished to cross examine Dahanayake nor make a statement.

The Commission accepted that Lokuge’s weapon had been used in the assassination, but also that there was nothing to implicate Lokuge of complicity. Is the inference justified? Is it not something out-on-a-limb with no connecting links? It is after all hearsay evidence whose alleged source is not among the living. Moreover, it is possible that Lokuge did not want matters pertaining to his dealings, unconnected with the assassination, being given a public exposure as lawyers are bound to do, and he was within his rights in opting out.

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UNHCR fails to take action on refugees in SL: Govt

Saturday, 02 August 2014 

While accusing the UNHCR of failing to take necessary action to manage the asylum seeker/refugee population stationed in Sri Lanka, the government today said that these asylum seekers are being encouraged to return, in the vital security interests of Sri Lanka.

“State responsibility on its international obligations are nuanced and balanced in the context of domestic compulsions. A State cannot be expected to carry a burden of this nature for an indefinite period of time. Therefore, these asylum seekers are being encouraged to return, in the vital security interests of Sri Lanka and the region,” the external affairs ministry said in a statement.

The full statement:
The Ministry of External Affairs has received a number of inquiries on the return of individual asylum seekers, mainly of Pakistan origin.

Sri Lanka’s territory has been used by those seeking asylum for over a decade. However, the asylum seeker/refugee population in Sri Lanka witnessed a dramatic 700 per cent increase during the period 2013-14 and as at 30 June 2014, there are 1562 asylum seekers and 308 refugees. Investigations have revealed that the sudden increase in the number of asylum seekers in Sri Lanka was as a result of people falling victim to commercially driven human trafficking networks which abuse the liberal visa policy in place in the country exacerbated by a sharp increase in the numbers resettled in third countries in 2012. Regrettably, the process of resettlement slowed down considerably in 2013/14. It is therefore questionable whether they have a legitimate claim to seek asylum.

The influx of asylum seekers and their tendency not to have an established place of residence has resulted in serious law & order, security, as well as health related issues for the authorities. In fact, in April 2014, ten cases of malaria were detected among these asylum seekers. This detection was made at a time when Sri Lanka, having achieved zero indigenous cases of malaria for the past several years,was under consideration for obtaining WHO certification.

The Government of Sri Lanka, in keeping with its obligations under customary international law, has been engaging consistently with UNHCR to address and manage the asylum seeker population, particularly its increase. In March 2013, when these numbers began to increase, the Sri Lankan Government authorities requested the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Sri Lanka to assist by taking certain measures, which include:

-the establishment of a safe house/welfare centre for those identified as refugees until they are accepted for resettlement in a third country;

-the regularization of the process of return of asylum seekers whose claims have been rejected. At present, once rejected, UNHCR bears no responsibility for the welfare or return of rejected asylum-seekers;

-expediting the process of resettlement to ensure its completion within a short period of time; and

-ensuring that asylum seekers are provided with adequate facilities and monetary assistance to live in Sri Lanka until their claims are processed or resettlement is found.

However, UNHCR has not addressed these requirements. Neither has UNHCR managed to expedite the twin processes of (i) status determination of asylum seekers; and (ii) resettlement of those identified as refugees in third countries. Refugee receiving countries have also been slow in processing resettlement applications. In fact, only at the very recent discussions, has UNHCR indicated the need for additional financial and human resources to expedite the processing of their claims. Having examined the UNHCR’s proposed Action Plan for this purpose, it is evident that the timeline on the final resolution remains unchanged from the current practice. It may be noted that in some cases,resettlement applications have been pending for over 5 years.

State responsibility on its international obligations are nuanced and balanced in the context of domestic compulsions. A State cannot be expected to carry a burden of this nature for an indefinite period of time. Therefore, these asylum seekers are being encouraged to return, in the vital security interests of Sri Lanka and the region.

Body of a witness of the teacher kneeling down case recovered from a well-Video

The Police said the body of a witness of the teacher kneeling down incident at Isuru Maha Vidyalaya in Nawagaththegama was found from an abandoned well today.

The Nawagaththegama Police said the victim was identified as Abeyrathna Mudiyanselage Punnyasoma Bandara.

He certified as the fourth witness for the Plaintiff.

It is not confirmed yet whether it was a murder or suicide.

Former North Western Provincial Councillor Ananda Sarath Kumara was charged for forcing a teacher of Nawagaththegama Isuru Maha Vidyalaya to kneel down on July 14th of 2013.

Later the Puttalam Magistrate sentenced Ananda Sarath Kumara to, two years rigorous imprisonment and suspended it for seven years on the 12th of last May.

The court also fined Sarath Kumara of 50 thousand rupees and ordered him to pay victim Susila Hearth a compensation of three hundred thousand rupees.

Police tighten screw on PC Saman




By Jeevana Pahan Thilina

-August 2, 2014 

The controversy surrounding the Southern Expressway incident involving Deputy Minister of Co-operatives and Internal Trade, Hemal Gunasekera and Police Constable Suminda Saman, aggravated with the latter being summoned to the Mirihana Police on 6 August.

The Police have informed Suminda that numerous complaints had been made during his tenure as a Police Officer. Earlier PC Suminda Saman, who had stopped Deputy Minister Hemal Gunasekera on the Southern Expressway for speeding, had been reprimanded and assaulted.
 
He had made a complaint to the Police in that regard.
PC Saman was being implicated in an illicit liquor case heard in 2009. The case which had been concluded in 2009, is being dug up after allegations of bribery and corruption had arisen.

Activist Committee for media freedom challenge Govt.’s ‘bad boys’ to sabotage media workshop if they can

(Lanka-e-News, 02.Aug.2014, 11.30AM) Namal Rajapakse who visited Sirimavo Bandaranaike Balika Vidyalaya , and sought to entice the students to dance was treated to a well deserved hoot from the girls of that school, compelling Namal to dismount the stage and leave as a sadder but a wiser man , for he was taught by the students indirectly to spend his time on more important matters rather than visit schools , specially girls’ schools and try to dance the jig with them .

Namal had visited Sirimavo Bandaranaike Balika during school hours 31st July noon where a saukyadana event was being held . He had after arriving , campaigned to promote the Rajapakse Carlton sports club.

Namal who knows only to sing self praising hollow bailas like the other politicos of his papa’s regime, had need to have in his company Iraj ,a singer to support his dancing act; and Iraj had sung a song within the school premises. Iraj ‘s song lyrics however were not in accord with civilized school activities or its students . The song with words ‘umma, umma’ (the sound made by kiss ) was sung , and the school girls were lured by Namal to come on stage to dance with him. While a few girls had come on stage due to pressure and with reluctance to dance with Namal , the other girls and many teachers watching this unseemly conduct in a school where students are following classes seriously , have resented this bitterly.

In the face of mounting opposition from students who called this as uncivilized and most unbecoming in a school while it is in progress , Namal along with his singer have left the scene. 

The most irksome and reprehensible part of this scenario was the Principal of the school , another pro MaRa JaRa playing the key role to extend unstinting support to Namal’s boorish and brutish behavior. The teachers and students who justifiably opposed this Namal’s stupid outrageous conduct are however now harboring fears that they may fall victim to the Rajapakses’ venom and vengeance for which the latter are most notorious.

Incidentally , Namal Rajapakse and his group prior to creeping into Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya had visited D.S. Senanayake College this morning , and performed a concert to promote Carlton sports club campaign. 

Crises in UPFA multiply

SATURDAY, 02 AUGUST 2014

The measures followed by the internal committee appointed to pacify the internal conflicts that have developed in Rajapaksa regime have totally failed say reports.

As a result all political parties that represent UPFA government and individuals who have had confrontations with others are to be called to Temple Trees in order to find solutions for their issues say reports. An effort is to be taken immediately to find solutions for the issues as the situation that exists would have an effect on the forthcoming presidential election. Meanwhile, partners in the Alliance have already started leaving the Alliance.

A similar effort was made last year when budgets of local government bodies ruled by the UPFA were being defeated continuously by getting members of those local government bodies for discussions to Temple Trees. However, the budgets of many of the local government bodies were defeated for the second time as well.

According to political sources a majority in the government who oppose the Rajapaksa family rule are preparing to take alternative measures at future elections.

Video: Ministers mixing up bedrooms

FRIDAY, 01 AUGUST 2014 

The clashes that have occurred between various sections of the ruling UPFA escalates daily. Among them the conflict between Ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva and Dilan Perera from Badulla District in Uva Province that is preparing for provincial elections has developed into a mini battle of words.

Minister Siripala speaking against Minister Perera says politicians should not get positions in sports associations while Mr. Perera says Minister Siripala has mixed up the ministry and the bed room.

Speaking regarding the Uva PC election Minister Siripala says after the election the ‘Tarzans’ who worked would remain but those ‘Tarzans’ who did not work would be cast aside.

Tiran wanted statement from astrologer to say News Web article incorrect!

 Saturday, 02 August 2014 

Owner of ‘Mawbima’ Tiran Alles is demanding renowned astrologer P.D. Perera of Nattandiya to issue a public statement to say that contents of the article we published on July 21 (Tiran’s astrology lessons to P.D. Perera!) are false, internal sources at the newspaper say.

He has pleaded to the astrologer, “Those in News Web are an ungrateful lot. They do not remember any of the favours I had done for them. Mr. Perera, make a statement to our newspaper that the news is false. Then, I can take that statement to London and file action against them. Please do me that favour.”

P.D. Perera’s response was, “What the News Web carried was complete truth. How can I say it is false? Even if I am sacked, I cannot make such false statements.”

Then, Tiran has ordered the ‘Mawbima’ management not to allow the astrologer to enter the newspaper office.

‘Mawbima’ managing editor Thushara Gunaratne, who is miles ahead of Tiran in craftiness, used his brains and told Tiran to take a printout of the News Web article and see the defence secretary immediately and tell him that this was how they were supporting him. According to the sources, Tiran has done exactly what Thushara has advised him to do.

Meanwhile, P.D. Perera is looking into the possibility of filing a case against Tiran for having belittled him.

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Astrologer P.D. Perera gets astrology advice from Tiran!