Two Melburnian school colleagues fighting in Israeli army are injured in Gaza

Sam Gosling and his father Anthony.

August 4, 2014

Two former students of a Jewish school in Melbourne have been wounded while fighting for the Israeli army in Gaza.

Sam Gosling and Daniel Wein, both 22, are recovering from recent injuries sustained during the conflict between Israel and Hamas that has lasted almost four weeks.

The combat soldiers are former students of Leibler Yavneh College in Elsternwick, and are believed to have been a year level apart. Both are reportedly expected to recover.

Mr Gosling, who left Caulfield for Israel last year, was hit by shrapnel from a missile in late July.

A close friend, Toby Azoulay, said it was extremely distressing to see a photo surface on social media showing Mr Gosling in a hospital bed. "It was very upsetting ... very confronting," he said.

Mr Gosling's family moved to Melbourne from New Zealand in 2008.

He was involved in the Zionist youth movement, Bnei Akiva, where he became a leader for younger students at weekly meetings.

"He moved mid-last year to join the army," Bnei Akiva Melbourne president Romy Spicer said.

"But it really hits home when you see a photo of your friend who has been injured. It throws you about."

Earlier in July, Mr Wein, who grew up in Melbourne but moved to Israel before graduating from Yavneh College, was reportedly shot in the thigh.

Ms Spicer said that out of the 365 students and leaders in Melbourne's Bnei Akiva program, as many as 10 had joined the Israeli army in the past two years.

"What drives them is a love and passion for Zionism," she said.

There are about 2500 foreign citizens from more than 60 countries enlisted in the Israeli Defence Forces. The US provides the greatest contingent, but there are also large numbers of Russian, Ukrainian and French soldiers.

Sixty-four Israeli army soldiers and three Israeli citizens have died in the conflict. The Palestinian death toll has reached 1822.

Mr Azoulay, whose 20-year-old brother also left Melbourne to fight in Gaza, said soldiers in the army were often under heavy fire and went days without being able to contact family.

"I didn't speak to my brother once for five or six days ... it is nerve-wracking," he said.

"We don't want there to be a war, but unfortunately the circumstances force it."

The Israeli embassy in Canberra refused to comment on the number of Australians fighting for the IDF, but it is believed there are in excess of 100 enlisted.

The Department of Foreign Affairs does not keep figures on how many Australian citizens have gone to Israel to fight for its army.

Natural Treatments for Diabetes

Diabetes is a serious illness in which the blood sugar/glucose level is high in the blood vessel or in the urine. There are two types of diabetes. The main causes of diabetes are obesity, Stress, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking and lack of exercise. Here are some natural treatments for diabetes.

Natural Treatment to cure Diabetes

1. Take 2 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and mix it in a little amount of salt. Then these ingredients mix in a glass of water and drink it before eating meal.

2. Take 3 teaspoon of cinnamon and mix it in a glass water, then boil for 15 minutes in low flame. Afterward filter the mixture and drink it  daily to cure diabetes.

3. Take1 tablespoon of turmeric, 1 tablespoon of ground bay leaf and add it in 1 tablespoon of aloe vera gel. Take it two times in a day before lunch and dinner.

4. Prepare a solution by mixing of 1 teaspoon turmeric powder and 1 teaspoon of gooseberry powder in honey. Take this solution with empty stomach in the  morning.

5. Make a mixture of an equal amount of turmeric juice and gooseberry juice. Add it in 1 teaspoon of honey. It is an effective treatment of  diabetes.

6. Garlic is an excellent home remedy for healing the diabetes. It is the richest in allicin, which helps for controlling the glucose level in  urine.

7. Take 5-10 curry leave and chew these leaves with an empty stomach. It is very beneficial to control  diabetes.

UNRESOLVED ETHNIC DIVIDE CAN ONCE AGAIN STALL DEVELOPMENT--JEHAN PERERA

04 August 2014

Addressing the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, President Mahinda Rajapaksa explained to the country’s business leaders what his government had achieved in the past nine years. His government had eliminated the LTTE and created an environment in which business led development was possible. In addition, the government had invested massively in infrastructure. Government leaders frequently report on the rapid strides that the country is taking to achieve its development goals. They are able to show concrete evidence in the form of visible assets that include new expressways and many greatly improved roads, the newly opened Independence Square shopping arcade, and the new metropolis of Hambantota.
Unresolved Ethnic Divide Can Once Again Stall Development--jehan Perera by Thavam

Vavuniya journalist receives death threat

[A vigil for journalists killed in Sri Lanka ;FMM photo]

04/08/2014

Death threats were issued via telephone to a journalist in Vavuniya, Navarathinam Kapilanath, on Saturday night warning he would killed, reported Global Tamil News, as well as fellow journalists based in Jaffna.

“You do not know us. Do you not wish to live after complaining about us to the police,” the anonymous caller told Kapilanath after he said he would file a complaint with the police.

Navarathinam Kapilanath

The phone calls were made from two different phone numbers said Kapilanath, who is also the deputy leader of the Vanni Journalists’ Club.

A complaint has been filed at Vavuniya police station.

Mean while that on Saturday Bishop of Mannar, Rayappu Joseph said that murder and abduction of journalists and attacks on press offices in Sri Lanka is state sponsored.

“Many journalists are being murdered, are disappearing, and their offices are being attacked, it is an terrible situation that continues to persist for a long time,” the Bishop said.

“Government sponsored mob are carrying out such ill activities fearing that truth will come out,” he added.

The Bishop was speaking at the ceremonial event of Puthiyavan’s 150th magazine publication, Saturday, reports Global Tamil News.

On Friday, Sri Lanka’s media minister said Tamil journalists were a threat to national security, adding that the government was “carefully monitoring” them. See more here.
Tamil Gaurdian

Mob disrupts meeting for families of disappeared
04 August 2014

Updated 15.34 A second meeting for families of the disappeared was forcefully cancelled over concerns of safety, after mobs led by Buddhist monks disrupted a similar meeting held earlier today. Condemning the incidents of mob intimidation, the Deputy Chief of the US Mission consoled Tamil families and said that he would raise the issue with the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, tweeted an independent journalist, @DushiYanthini. "You have seen first hand what has happened today. The world has seen it as well," Mike Honigstein further added. Updated 14:57   Picture: @Mari_deSilva A mob led by Buddhist monks has disrupted a meeting in Colombo, attended by diplomats and families of disappeared from the Northeast of the island. According to activists and journalists on Twitter, the mob charged into the meeting and shouted abuse at the Tamil relatives of the disappeared, with some taking photographs of those at the meeting, which was then cancelled. Diplomats from the US, UK and the EU, including the Acting Deputy Chief of the US mission, Mike Honigstein, witnessed the incident. “You are selling our motherland for dollars. You are supported by the USA to give evidence at [the] war crimes panel,” the protestors shouted, according to journalist Dushi Yanthini. The monks also said that they disrupted the meeting as those in attendance were the families of fallen LTTE cadres, tweeted Azzam Ameen, a journalist with the BBC Sinhala service.   DushiYanthini @DushiYanthini Follow "You are living lavishly with US dollars!"~violent protesters shouted in Sinhala at Centre for Society&Religion. #LKA 7:44 AM - 4 Aug 2014 The Tamils were “terrified” and some were in tears, the journalist said. Police are reported to have summoned 5 members of the NGO’s organising committee, and despite the organisers' refusals, they were taken to a police station, Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka tweeted. The meeting, which was organised by the Centre for Society and Religion, a Catholic NGO, was not open to the public.   Marisa @Mari_deSilva Follow Families of #disappeared, including children from the #North terrified by #ProGovt mob abusive shouting at #CSR 7:08 AM - 4 Aug 2014   Marisa @Mari_deSilva Follow #ProGovt goons take pictures and footage of families of #disappeared, organizers & participants of gathering at #CSR 7:40 AM - 4 Aug 2014

Main eye witness killed in case where government PC member was sentenced: he was twice warned by PC member to give false evidence if he had any love for his life

(Lanka-e-News- 03.Aug.2014, 11.30PM) The body of the main eye witness in the case relating to the most controversial criminal incident some time ago involving a Government provincial council (PC) member who forced a teacher of Navodha national school , , Navagathegama , Anamaduwa , Puttalam to fall at his feet and kneel down before him , had been found today inside a well.

The death of 53 years old Punyasoma Bandara the chief witness who saw the incident , and gave evidence incriminating the PC member Ananda Sarath Kumara is suspected to be a homicide although the police and political bigwigs have already dressed the scene to look that he died by falling into the well following intoxication, according to information reaching Lanka e news inside information division.

According to the laws of the country , no matter what statement the complainant makes , the court decides on the guilt of the accused and holds him/her liable based on evidence given in court. It was Puniyasoma who was the prime witness in this case who saw with his own eyes how the teacher was made to fall at the feet and kneel down before the accused , the PC member. There were also other eye witnesses to this incident , but they did not give evidence in court due to threats posed to them.

It is reported that the PC member and his private secretary had threatened Punyasoma on two occasions prior to his giving evidence in court. He was warned by them , ‘if you love your life , distort the facts and give evidence without telling what you really saw. Remember you are not living in Colombo 07 , and you are a resident of Navagathegama village.’

The SSP in charge of the region too had phoned Punyasoma and instructed him to say in court that he did not witness the incident. Oblivious of all these threats and intimidation , Punyasoma conducted himself bravely and truthfully: he told the police as well as the court twice that he saw Ananda Sarath Kumara the government PC member carrying a club and forcing the teacher to kneel down.

After the culprit Ananda Sarath Kumara was found guilty , and sentenced , Punyasoma had on three occasions told his neighbors that there is a group trying to kill him. However , when he went to the police to lodge a complaint several times , his complaint was not accepted by the police.

Wife and two sons of murdered Punyasoma are living in Italy , while his daughter is living separately in another province after marriage. Punyasoma has therefore been residing in a house of his ,alone in front of the school. 

The body of Punyasoma was found 31st at about 4.00p.m in a well about 50 meters away from his house that has gone dry following the drought. His body was seen by people with the face downwards , and his wife’s younger brother Chandrasena Bandara had identified the body who had also revealed that Punyasoma was missing for 3 to 4 days.

When the body was taken out , the rear side of the neck bore a mark of attack, while below the region of the lungs was swollen somewhat . An empty arrack bottle and a cigarette were also said to be found near the well. 

It is learnt that , already , SSP W.S.Sandungahawatte and ASP Adhikari have together concocted a story in this connection. That is , Punyasoma fell into the well under the influence of liquor. The medical and police reports are being made to support this story, and evidence too are being ‘created’ to conform to this conclusion. On the contrary , the residents and his relatives vehemently assert that Punyasoma was never an individual who drank and fell on the streets in his inebriated condition.

The grave fear psychosis gripping the relatives of Punyasoma and residents of the area can be gauged by the fact that none of them had come forward to express they harbor suspicions though they really do , that this death is a homicide. 

In this suspected cold blooded murder , surprisingly the police had recorded the statement of Chandrasena , the brother in law of the deceased in the minor offence register. Chandrasena’s statement has been recorded on page 231 paragraph 2. 

Chandrasena who was concerned about the safety of his children in the lawless climate of the Rajapakse regime had told the police, ‘my brother was murdered , but I have two children to safeguard , hence you write whatever you wish , I shall look the other way and sign it.’ 

Sri Lanka - Commission For Omissions

| by S. V. Kirubaharan

“…………We have a right to tell this to the world. Tears of innocent grieving mothers compel us to tell their story of pain and sorrow to the world. We will do it today, tomorrow and always. Remember that.“– (Mahinda Rajapaksa said in the Parliament in January 1991. Hansard report 25.01.1991)

( August 4, 2014, Paris, Sri Lanka Guardian) Mahinda Rajapaksa, who went to Geneva to attend the 31st Session of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances – WGEID, in September 1990, was forced to appoint a Presidential Commission Investigating Cases of Missing Persons on 14 August 2013. This was initially mandated to inquire into and report on alleged abductions or disappearances during the period June 10, 1990, to May 19, 2009.

Sri Lanka - Commission for Omissions by Thavam

Local and foreign HR Committees no beauty contests Jayantha Dhanapala 

By Niranjala Ariyawansha-August 3, 2014

Sri Lanka would not have faced a crisis situation if the LLRC recommendations on the ethnic issue were implemented at the right time. Then, the issue of an international inquiry on war crimes and human rights violations would not have arisen. The delay only paved the way for the UNHRC to build pressure on the government. The LTTE has been crushed. It is time to build confidence with the Tamil people. All Tamils are not the LTTE.

Local and Foreign HR Committees No Beauty Contests Jayantha Dhanapala by Thavam

Inflation Administratively Deflated?

By Muttukrishna Sarvananthan -August 4, 2014

Dr. Muttukrishna Saravananthan

The annual average rate of price change (annual average rate of inflation) in terms of the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI based on 2006-2007 = 100) has been in single digits for over five years now. In 2008 the annual average rate of inflation (based on CCPI 2002=100) was 22.6%, the second highest in the post-independence period after 26.1% in 1980 (based on CCPI 1952=100). Since 2008 inflation has dramatically declined to single digit (see table) because of the revision of the methodology including the change in the base year.

The base year and the measure of the CCPI have been revised and updated in November 2007 (base year 2002=100) and in June 2011 (base year 2006-2007=100). The revision of CCPI in 2007, which was long overdue, included (i) expansion of the geographical coverage of markets where prices are regularly collected, (ii) changes in the weights assigned to different categories of consumption goods based on changing consumption patterns as reflected in the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES), and (iii) dropping alcohol and tobacco from the basket of goods taken into account in the compilation of CCPI on moral grounds, purportedly.

While the expansion of the geographical coverage of the markets is objective because of wider representation of prices, dropping of alcohol and tobacco from the basket of goods is subjective because historically in Sri Lanka as well as almost all other countries of the world relatively higher proportion of the income of the lower income groups is spent on alcohol and tobacco. Therefore, the non-inclusion of alcohol and tobacco in the basket of goods underestimates the Consumer Price Index and thereby the rate of inflation.

Moreover, although the update of the base year was long overdue, in the base year 2002 the inflation was relatively low at 9.6% and in the base year 2006-2007 the inflation was relatively high at 10.0% and 15.8% respectively. Therefore, the annual average rate of inflation measured currently is in terms of a higher base (2006-2007) which partly (only partly) explains the relatively lower rates of inflation since 2009.

Furthermore, anecdotal evidence suggests that the ordinary citizens, including this author, feel the declining rate of inflation in 2013 and 2014 to be unbelievable and unrealistic. Therefore, we checked the national product data presented in the Annual Report of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka in order to investigate the plausible cause/s of the discrepancy between the official statistics on the cost of living and the real-life cost of living.

The national output/product is computed by income method, expenditure method, and value added method. Basic economic theory underpinned by real-life experiences suggests that a rise in prices (or inflation) should reduce private consumption expenditure and a drop in prices (or inflation) should increase private consumption expenditure. That is, there is an inverse relationship between inflation and private consumption expenditure. Public consumption expenditure could, of course, increase or decrease irrespective of the rate of inflation.      Read More 

‘Ehelepola Kumarihamy’ has a shot with president!

 Monday, 04 August 2014

Monday, 04 August 2014 

A special screening of ‘Ehelepola Kumarihamy’ for the president took place recently at Temple Trees with the director, producer, cast and artiste friends of the president in attendance.

After watching the film that lasted nearly 2 ½ hours, the president threw a liquor party at a separate hall at Temple Trees in violation of his ‘Mathata Thitha’ policy in Mahinda Chinthanaya. Delighted by the liquor party, the film’s director Sugath Samarakoon and producer Gayan Ranadheera have become talkative, and director Samarakoon complained to the president that he was facing numerous issues with regard to the screening of ‘Ehelepola Kumarihamy.’

He said that on a recommendation by media minister Keheliya Rambukwella, he had made 60 copies of the film, but that Film Corporation chairman Asoka Serasinghe has given approval for 35 copies only, although the Corporation has approved 55 copies of ‘Ranja’, produced by Sunil T. Fernando to promote UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake.

In a kick after several glasses of wine, the president immediately telephoned Serasinghe, severely reprimanded him for having assisted in promoting Ranjan Ramanayake while disregarding friends of the government, told him to meet him on the following morning, bringing along his resignation letter with him, and disconnected the line in anger.

“Serasinghe says approval was given to you for 35 copies only. Also that you held the Muhurath Festival after the Film Corporation took that decision. Do you have any document to prove that the Corporation took the 35 copies decision before that?” asked the president.

Producer Ranadheera’s reply was that they do not have any document to prove that, but that this was a giant creation that cost millions of rupees.

Angered further by that reply, the president said, “Is this a giant one? I don’t see anything of the sort.” Taking leave of them for a few minutes, the president returned and said, “I say, see what you have done. With the way I had scolded him, don’t know whether that man had got a heart attack. Now, you prepare some fake documents and bring them to me.”

Seeing that the ‘Ehelepola Kumarihamy’ team was perplexed by his suggestion, the president started relating a different story in order to mollify them.

“Now see. That Somey has a new fancy. During Chandrika’s time, he was not taken note of at all. Until his younger brother was made the Navy commander, he and his wife came after me singing my praises, visited our home until his films were screened. Now, he is saying that the government will be made to change if the 35 copies policy is not changed. I will show them how to change the government.”

But, none of those present said a word, thinking among themselves that if the president now thinks in that manner about Somaratne Dissanayake and Renuka Balasuriya after they had denuded themselves to promote the government, what their fate would be.

Following the president’s order, Film Corporation chairman Serasinghe had gone to Temple Trees early next morning and pointed out to the president that work on ‘Ehelepola Kumarihamy’ began after the Corporation implemented the 35 copies policy.  However, on a special request by the president, he agreed to approve 45 copies for the film. The most hilarious instance of this incident came when the president had inquired from Serasinghe as to why he had come to meet him. While leaving Temple Trees, Serasinghe has told an official there that he has not seen a sensitive person like the president although he raises his voice after having a few glasses of wine.

Lanka's Jaya article blowback? Sri Lanka's Under-15 cricket team deported from Chennai

IndiaToday.in  New Delhi, August 4, 2014

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/jayalalithaa-derogatory-article-issue-sri-lanka-under-15-cricket-team-asked-to-leave-chennai/1/375446.htmlAs the protest against the derogatory article on a Sri Lankan website against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa picked up pace, the authorities deported an Under-15 cricket team from Chennai for security reasons.
The cricket team arrived in Chennai to play the JM Haroon cricket tournament. However, in the wake of intensifying protests against the article, the police urged them to leave citing security reasons. They left for Colombo Monday morning.
The Under-15 private tournament is scheduled to be held from August 4-7.
The incident comes close on the heels of a derogatory article against Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on a Sri Lankan official website which also had a graphic image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The article has now been removed from the website titled "How Meaningful Are Jayalalithaa's Love Letters to Narendra Modi".
The article triggered widespread public and political outrage in the state prompting Sri Lanka to remove it and issue an unqualified apology to the two leaders.
Incidentally, in 2012, Jayalalithaa had, in line with her strident stance against Sri Lanka, ordered the sending home of a soccer team from that country which arrived here to play a friendly match.
The action came against the backdrop of her opposition to India training Sri Lankan military personnel not only in the state but also anywhere else in the country, saying the Lankan forces had committed war crimes against Tamils in the island nation.
An official in the Nehru stadium of the state government was suspended for giving oral approval for the match.
Meanwhile, the Tamil film fraternity protested against the article outside the office of  Sri Lankan deputy high commissioner.

India, China And Sri Lanka: The Uneasy Triangle

| by Col. R. Hariharan

( August 4, 2014, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) China’s President Xi Jinping has accepted a long-standing invitation from President Mahinda Rajapaksa to visit Sri Lanka sometime this year. The first-ever visit by a Chinese President to Sri Lanka will no doubt be hailed alas a crowning achievement for President Rajapaksa’s foreign policy which had been under siege for some time now.

India, China and Sri Lanka the Uneasy Triangle by Thavam

Mihin Lanka: Profit Any Time Soon?

By Aaqib Hussain -

Aaqib Hussain

The airline has been plagued by financial losses, debt, waste, corruption and other irregularities since its inception in 2007. Is this a profitable venture? I feel not, as it is the taxpayer’s money put to use for yet another prestige project.Mihin is another “White Elephant” which served no purpose since the country already had a national airline and it was also in a severe financial mess.

Mihin Lanka (MJ) was incorporated in October 2006 and began international flights in April the following year with a fleet of two wet leased Airbus A320-200 aircraft from the Bulgarian company BH Air. It was set to operate as a low cost model; a subsidiary of the national carrier Sri Lankan Airlines.

The aim of Mihin Lanka was to give an opportunity to foreign job seekers and pilgrims to fly to their destinations at a much lower cost, initially flying to scheduled destinations in South India and the Middle East, connecting its main base of operations Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport with Dubai, Trichy, Trivandrum followed by Singapore and Bangkok following the arrival of their third aircraft which was a wet-leased Airbus A321-100 from the Turkish operator Best Air.

In December 2007 Mihin was forced to ground the A320-200 serving India as the airline had not settled its lease payments. Sri Lankan also withdrew its ground handling facilities for non-payment forcing Mihin to manually push back its aircraft before takeoff.                             Read More 

“We The People”: Reflections On Governance And Civic Engagement In Sri Lanka

By Deepika Udagama -August 4, 2014

It would not be an exaggeration to say that I was deeply humbled by the invitation to deliver the 17th Deshamanya Professor Nandadasa Kodagoda Memorial Oration. At the outset, let me thank the members of the Nandadasa Kodagoda Memorial Trust for the honor of the invitation. Let me express my appreciation to the Trust for deciding to celebrate the life of Prof. Kodagoda in this fitting manner—that of offering an immensely valuable platform to engage in public conversations.

A few decades ago, when I was a law student and then a young academic at the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo, Professor Nandadasa Kodagoda was a huge star in the academic firmament of Sri Lanka. When I think of him, the image that comes to mind is that of a man with a larger than life personality, with a booming and authoritative voice, brilliantly accomplished not only in his chosen field of academic specialization, but also in a myriad other fields. He was the Dean of the venerable Faculty of Medicine of the University of Colombo and later the university’s Vice-Chancellor – dizzying heights for an academic.                                   Read More