25000 acres of acquired land missing

 Monday, 11 August 2014 

There are no substantial information on over 25,000 acres of land acquired by the government under Land Reform Act No. 1 of 1972 and its amendments, said  a higher official attached to Ministry of Land and Land Development.

According to 'Divaina' news paper, he has further stated that there are heavy suspicions rising weather they were acquired by the politicians or distributed among their acquaintances.

The governments which came into power since 1972 failing to follow a proper method has led to the particular situation, he has said.

According to Land Reform Commission reports, 153,442 hectares of land were provided to Janatha Estates Development Board (JEDB), however according to JEDB reports it has been only provided with 140,761.03 hectares of land.

In addition, though the Land Reform Commission reports claim that Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation was provided with 117,753 hectares of land, according to  Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation reports only 94,571.45 hectares of land have been granted for their use.

U.N. chief says access not a must for Sri Lanka war crimes probe

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay speaks during a news conference for a report on ''the right to privacy in the digital age'' at the United Nations in Geneva, July 16, 2014.

BY NITA BHALLA-Mon Aug 11, 2014 

NEW DELHI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - The United Nations can conduct an effective investigation into reports of war crimes in Sri Lanka without visiting the country, said U.N. Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay, reacting to a government decision to deny investigators entry.

Sri Lankan government forces have been accused of widespread human rights violations in the final stages of a 26-year civil war against ethnic Tamil separatists which ended in May 2009.

The United Nations estimated in a 2011 report that about 40,000 Tamil civilians were killed in the final weeks of the war, mostly by the army. Sri Lanka has rejected the allegation.

In March, the U.N. Human Rights Council (UNHRC) voted to investigate reports of abuses during the war, during which 100,000 people were killed, saying the Sri Lankan government had failed to investigate properly.

The vote angered the government, which says it will not cooperate or grant visas to U.N. investigators.

"There is a wealth of information outside of Sri Lanka which can be tapped into," Pillay told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in an email response to questions.

"The credibility of the report will depend on it reflecting proper standards of corroboration of evidence, whether the team is allowed into the country or not."

Pillay cited Syria and North Korea as examples where, despite no access, investigations were carried out.

"Hardly anyone, apart from the Syrian and Democratic People's Republic of Korea governments, are questioning the credibility of these two inquiries, so I don't see why it should be any different in the case of Sri Lanka," she said.

The Sri Lanka investigation, which began on July 1, has increased tension between the government and the United Nations. Some non-government groups have accused authorities of trying to discourage war survivors from giving evidence.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa's government says an external investigation is unnecessary and Sri Lanka can conduct its own. Last month, Rajapaksa appointed three foreign experts to a commission investigating disappearances during the war.

MISINFORMATION, PERSONAL ATTACKS

Pillay - a South African of Tamil descent who has been accused of bias in favor of Tamils by the Sri Lankan media and government - said false information was being spread to discredit the inquiry.

"Regrettably, there has been some serious misinformation and distortion," she said.

Media reports that investigators were denied visas by India and Thailand were false, said Pillay, adding that no one had applied for a visa for Sri Lanka or any other country.

The investigation's coordinator and members of the advisory board had been "subjected to personal attacks in some Sri Lankan media that were both distorted and inaccurate", she said.

The 12-member team is based in Geneva but will travel to other countries when necessary. They will collect information, including testimonies, and verify allegations of atrocities. The findings will be presented to the UNHRC in March.

Pillay said the investigation was essential to establishing who was responsible for violations and to hold them to account.

"It is important to understand that this investigation was set up for the benefit of all Sri Lankans, as an avenue to achieve lasting peace and reconciliation," she said.

"It is in this context that the Human Rights Council-mandated investigation should be viewed, rather than being seen as a confrontation."

(Editng by Robert Birsel)

Discrimination: The situation of Sri Lanka Tamils today

By R. Sampanthan MP –11/08/2014 

Mr. Presiding Member, we are debating a Bill that deals with Prescription, a Bill that is being brought to bring about certain changes in the existing laws pertaining to prescription in regard to the category of persons defined in the new Bill as “disadvan taged persons”. That is, persons who have been unable to pursue their rights shall be entitled to avail themselves of the benefits conferred by this Act until 12 months after the coming into operation of this Act.
Discrimination the Situation of Sri Lanka Tamils Today by Thavam

TID Further Victimized Assaulted Tamil Student

August 11, 2014 |

Sabaragamuwa university students claim attempts are underway by the Terrorist Investigation Department (TID) to intimidate their colleague – Shanthikumar Sudharshan who was assaulted and cut early last week by an unidentified group, into admitting the cut injuries are self-inflicted.

SB – Minister Higher Education

The University Students group claim they have received information to believe victimized Sudharshan, a resident of Kilinochchi who was arrested by the TID on Saturday morning while he was receiving treatment at the Rathnapura hospital, has been heavily intimidated into confessing the cut injuries are self inflicted.

Meanwhile, the TID had visited the University premises yesterday along with Sudharshan and have claimed to have uncovered several leads, which several Police and CID teams had not been able to discover during the days they searched the area to which allegedly includes a piece of a blade.

“The medical reports have concluded the cuts had been inflicted from a paper cutter. But the TID is now attempting to prove Sudharshan cut himself with a blade,” the students complain.

The TID has been remaining in the university premises and have interrogated three other students so far to which includes two of Sudharshan’s roommates and a third year student of Tamil ethnicity.

TNA Conduit for evidence

 Monday, 11 August 2014 

Those who wish to testify before the UN Human Rights Council sanctioned war crimes investigation panel on Sri Lanka, can submit their evidence through the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Parliamentarian, M.A. Sumanthiran informed the people in Jaffna residents, recently.

He has said the UNHRC-led international probe on alleged human rights violations that took place during the final phase of the war has begun and if there were any important evidence that should be submitted, it could be passed through the TNA Parliamentarians to the UNHCR committee.

"Vital evidence relating to war crimes, human rights violations against women, torture and disappearances can be given to TNA parliamentarians and arrangements have been made to convey them to the investigating panel," he told Ceylon Today.

He added this was considered an important international probe, therefore evidence was most vital though there was no assurance of security to those submitting evidence.

He said the UNHRC was well aware of the uncertain situation prevailing in the country, and that TNA leader R. Sampanthan delivered speeches in Parliament during the war regarding causalities and damage. "Such information will be taken from the Hansard and will be submitted to the war crimes panel," he said.

In June, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, appointed three advisors and twelve staff to the UN war crime inquiry on Sri Lanka. Last month, India refused to grant visa to the investigators of the UN war crime panel . The Sri Lankan Government has been persistent in its opposition to the UNHRC inquiry and refused to cooperate with any foreign investigation.

Lanka slams US for issuing 'alarmist' travel advisory

 

Monday, August 11, 2014, 

Colombo: Sri Lanka today slammed the US for creating "false and alarmist" view of its internal situation and dismissed Washington's perception about increasing anti-western sentiment in the country. 

Reacting to a travel advisory issued by the US on August 8, the External Affairs Ministry said, "There have been no instances of violent protests targeting the US Embassy, its diplomats, officials or citizens, though claimed by the US State Department's Security Message that such incidents could occur." 

It dismissed the US' perception that there is increasing anti-western sentiment in Sri Lanka. The US had issued travel warning after an opposition party staged a protest outside its embassy in Colombo over Israeli actions in Gaza. 

In the statement, the US had said, "Since early 2014 there has been an increase in protests in Sri Lanka including those that have turned violent. Anti-western demonstrations against the US and the UN and the recent escalation in Gaza are also on the rise. 

"In addition there is increased pressure on non-governmental organisations, journalists and others affiliated with US projects and civil society meetings have been disrupted." 

Rejecting the US' contention about anti-western incidents in the country as miseleading, the Foreign Ministry said, "The law enforcement authorities in Sri Lanka have taken necessary action consistently to ensure the safety and security of diplomats, their families, premises and property in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, and continue this practice diligently." It said a significant number of US citizens live in Sri Lanka and also visit the island every year and there have not been any reports of their safety and security being challenged. 

The US in the recent weeks has been critical of the disruption of civil society activities funded and supported by it in Sri Lanka.

Colombo has repeatedly confronted Western nations over rights issues, especially over allegations that its forces killed at least 40,000 Tamil civilians in the final months of the war between the military and the LTTE fighting for a Tamil homeland. 

PTI

Bishop Rayappu rejects Presidential Commission on Missing Persons

11/08/2014  

Making a submission to the Presidential Commission on Missing Persons, Mannar Bishop Rayappu Joseph said that he has decided not to make representations before your commission as he has grown to be weary of domestic mechanisms in resolving serious injustices that Tamil people.

The Bishop’s submission follows:

The Chairman and Commissioners, Presidential Commission on Missing Persons.
Dear Commissioners.
Submission Regarding My position with regard to appearing before the above Commission in Mannar

I am thankful for your very kind visit to me and for your personal invitation to testify before the commission during it’s sittings to be held in Mannar between the 8th and 11th of August 2014.

I am writing to inform you that having considered the following I have decided not to make representations before your commission. I have over the years grown to be weary of domestic mechanisms in resolving serious injustices that Tamil people have faced over the period of the war, prior to it and after it’s conclusion. Over the years many commissions such as yours have been set up and there is absolutely no shred of evidence that they have tackled impunity. Most, if not all of these commissions have provided only to be eye washers for the then Governments in power. As Ms. Navaneetham Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights noted in her report to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2014, the problem in Sri Lanka is one of lack of political will to end impunity. Despite knowing this acutely for many years now, I personally appeared before the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission and gave evidence. The Government has not acted seriously on any of the issues on which the Tamil people including myself gave evidence. Given this experience I find it impossible to draw myself to appear before your commission. May I add this that the Commission’s name itself – “Commission on Missing Persons”- appears to me to indicate a denial on the part of those who created this commission that the issue is one relating to enforced disappearances and not merely about ‘missing persons’.

I am aware that many Tamils, throughout the North and East who have lost their kith and kin have come before your commission and narrated their grievances. The only reason why they come before the commission is not because they believe that your commission will help locate their loved ones, but because they have nothing to lose in doing so. Hence they go and air their grievances wherever they can, whilst well knowing that no consequences are likely to follow. This is the terrible plight of the Tamil people in this country. I have also been informed that the Commision in its various sittings in the North and East, unfortunately, has been more interested in knowing about their economic well-being, rather than engaging in a serious effort at locating the disappeared. There are also credible reports that the Government has launched a programme to encourage families of the disappeared to obtain death certificates, which has been happening parallel to your commission’s sittings throughout the North and East. I am also concerned that the recent expansion of your mandate and the appointment of international experts to oversee the work of the commission without any clear terms of reference has been deliberately done to undermine the work of the UN OHCHR’s inquiry into Sri Lanka which commenced recently. Without serious commitment to truth and justice there can never be Reconciliation and Peace will ever remain a mirage.

Please permit me to present to you my last submission with my covering letter sent to His Excellency the President on his own invitation sent through His Eminence Malcom Cardinal Ranjit, Archbishop of Colombo. This was made on the 21st, August, 2012. It explains 14 grievances with my expectations spelt out in the form of suggestions.

Consequent to this, two meetings were held with me regarding this matter by the Hon Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr G.L Pieris and the President’s Secretary Mr Lalith Weeratunga in the presence of the Cardinal Archbishop of Colombo. At both these meetings they failed even to have a look at even one of the grievances raised by me in spite of my repeated insistence. A third meeting was promised by them to be held along with those state-personnel with experience and expertise with regard to the grievances proposed and this meeting never saw the light of day as that was the end of this exercise and now two years have passed allowing us only to gasp in the air.

For the above reasons I regret that I am not in a position to appear before your commission with any hope of a retrieve. The following is the said submission:

[Image@ Bishop Rayappu Joseph making his submission; photo:Asian Mirror]

Secretary General of SAARC calls on President Rajapaksa 
August 11, 2014 
The Secretary General of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) Arjun B. Thapa called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the President's House in Kandy this morning.
 
 
President Rajapaksa informed the Secretary General that Sri Lanka is looking forward to participating in the 18th SAARC Summit, which will be held in Kathmandu in November of this year.
 
 
The Secretary General, who is currently in Sri Lanka on his first official visit since assuming duties, apprised the President on the current state of affairs of the regional organisation with special reference to the preparations being made for the Summit in November.
 
President Rajapaksa proposed two specific initiatives for consideration by SAARC member countries.
The President stressed the importance of SAARC organising a youth forum to bring together young people in the region in order to address issues that impact youth in this part of the world. President Rajapaksa also proposed a programme to develop a circuit that would promote connectivity with regard to religious and cultural places of interest in the SAARC region.
 
 
The discussion between the President and the Secretary General also focused on the renewed interest among members in further strengthening SAARC within the region while also establishing itself as a contributor to the economic prosperity not only in South Asia but also in the international arena.
 
 
Deputy Minister of External Affairs Neomal Perera, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Additional Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs Mrs. Chitranganee Wagiswara were also present for the discussion.

Common Candidate Debate: Invoking Common People’s Power Against An Evil System

By Athulasiri Kumara Samarakoon -August 11, 2014 

Athula Samarakoon

Local Buddhists believe that when the king, the ruler, is not righteous (dharmika), the three fears (thun biya) – epidemics, starvation and evil spirits – can take place in the country. Therefore, a Dharmika king is considered a blessing for the state in Buddhism. However, the irony is that the local Buddhists, with this great knowledge in them, largely have kept electingadharmika (unrighteous) kings (omnipotent executive presidents); or perhaps, the kings (executive presidents) who promised to be righteous have ended up being more Adharmika. So the Lankan society and its people exist with fears of diverse nature for long under different kings and queens (executive presidents) elected under the Constitution of 1978.

There is little hope that a single party or an individual can save the people from the fears they are engulfed with under the existing undemocratic conditions. More than the individual who would assume the kingship or the Presidency it is the institution that we need to reform immediately. Therefore, our basic problem today is how to go back to democracy from existing authoritarian conditions emanating from the system without changing the system itself. Will it be possible through a process of constitutional amendments including the abolishing of the executive presidential system? Certainly the civil society seems to think positively of it. According to prominent exponents of this argument, normalcy in governance can be brought back to the political process provided the authoritarian political system is transformed by constitutional means. Who would do it, if major parties have failed to do it so far? Here comes an eminent local follower of the Buddha, Rev. Sobhitha, at a time of this great ‘thun-biya’ affecting the nation.

Rev. Sobhitha: Potential Force?                                             Read More 

Is Sri Lanka sinking in to an abyss of racism and apartheid?

by  Riza Yehiya 

-  On  08/11/2014 

The two months since Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) Attack Took Place in Aluthgama Scores of Muslim anti inspired causing damage, Destruction and death to The livelihood, Properties and Life of The Muslim Community,  is Emerging evidence  is That Attack The spontaneous But Not A well orchestrated plan to attack Muslims and to incite more violence. It is very clear from this that some sections of the political powers that be wanted to create a new enemy as a strategy to deflect the concerns of the citizens about the failing socio-economic and political life in the country. Also  is evidence Emerging  Project A precursor to prepare voters for this Wicked is That The On The forthcoming 2015 elections and Promises A new note with A new Message.
Is Sinking in Sri Lanka to An Abyss of Racism and Apartheid by Thavam

Major Religious Superiors condemes mob intrusion of CSR

11/08/2014  

The Conference of (Catholic) Major Religious Superiors (CMRS) of Sri Lanka strongly condemns the illegal intrusion of the Centre for Society & Religion (CSR), in Colombo, on 4th August 2014, and disruption of a meeting of families of disappeared persons. CSR is an institution run by Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI), a Catholic religious congregation that is also part of the CMRS. The CSR is situated in the premises of a Catholic Church in Colombo.

We appreciate the efforts of the organizers to invite families of disappeared persons from North to Colombo. We are challenged and inspired by the love, courage and perseverance of families of disappeared persons, particularly women. They have braved much pain, intimidation, threats and numerous other hardships, but still do not give up their search for truth and justice. We are humbled by their willingness to share their experiences and struggles with us. That is why members of the Justice, Peace & Integrity Commission of the CMRS (CMRS-JPIC) also joined the meeting on 4th August, along with other invited religious clergy, lawyers, civil society representatives and diplomats.

We also commend CSR for opening its doors to such initiatives, when many other venues are closing their doors, fearing the kind of incidents that happened on 4th August at CSR. We recognize that this is a continuation of CSR’s history of having welcomed and supported Sinhalese – Buddhist families of disappeared persons, and people of all ethnic and religious who have been subjected to injustices for more than 4 decades.

The mob that included Buddhist Monks was clearly trespassing private property of the Catholic Church, and CSR. They invaded a private meeting. These are all criminal acts. We are saddened that the large Police contingent that arrived asked the meeting to be shut down, participants to be sent home and organizers to come to the Police station, instead of dealing firmly with the invading mob. What was even more alarming was the refusal of the Police to provide protection to the meeting, the venue and in particular, participants.

Like the Police, the Ministry of External Affairs had also tried to shift the blame onto organizers and participants, implying that they are also to be blamed for “tensions,” instead of condemning the mob that illegally invaded a Church premises, a church run institution and a legitimate private meeting. We appreciate the efforts of the diplomatic community to listen to Sri Lankan families of disappeared and stand in solidarity with them, and regret that the Ministry of External Affairs has painted this in a negative light.

All present at the meeting witnessed for themselves how the mob’s actions had terrorized the families of disappeared, including children. They also saw and heard the abusive language used by the mob, the false accusations and threats made against organizers and participants. Members of the mob took photographs and videos in the presence of the Police, further scaring families of disappeared persons and children.

We are also alarmed to have learnt that threats, intimidations, surveillance and false accusations against families of disappeared, organizers and other participants who came to listen to them, had begun even before the meeting and continues afterwards. Church run institutions who were to host families of disappeared persons have been visited and employees questioned by Police before and after the incident at CSR. Several family members of disappeared had got intimidatory phone calls before they came to Colombo.

We earnestly appeal to the law enforcement authorities that the rights of every citizen of this country to hold peaceful meetings and the freedom of speech be respected and honoured, irrespective of creed or ethnicity.

The Conference of Major Religious Superiors of Sri Lanka; Condemns Illegal Intrusion of Centre for Society & Religion
10th August 2014

VIDEO: UNP fact finding mission obstructed yet again

August 11, 2014
A tense situation arose at the Railway Department in Maradana, today morning, when the members of a pro-government trade union obstructed a group of UNP parliamentarians who were engaged in a ‘fact finding mission’.

The MPs were greeted by boos and hooting from workers when they attempted to enter the premises for a discussion with the General Manager of Railways. Some 200 persons protested chanting slogans and carrying banners demanding the MPs to leave the premises immediately.

The trade union workers then surrounded a Deputy General Manager’s office, while the MPs and the Deputy General Manager were holding the discussion, Ada Derana reporter said. However, despite the protests, the MPs managed to visit the Railway Control Unit in Maradana, a short while ago, he added.

MPs including Ajith P. Perera, Eran Wickramaratne, Ajith Mannapperuma, and Dr. Harsha de Silva engaged in the fact-finding mission to disclose the shortcomings and imperfection of the Department of Railways, according to the UNP.

The UNP MPs had faced a similar situation upon visiting the Mattala Airport, Hambantota Port and Sapugaskanda refinery on fact finding missions, in previous occasions, while they were cordially welcomed at the Norochcholai power plant.

Going back in time in Sri Lanka

Reuters

11/08/2014

A Tamil ethnic woman cycles past the main wall of Nallur kovil in Jaffna, about 400 kilometres north of Colombo

Two Sri Lankan cities at the heart of a 25-year civil war are creeping back onto a tourist trail from which they were blocked until peace came to this South Asian country five years ago.

Going Back in Time in Sri Lanka by Thavam

Drawing two pensions:Ex-SPC secretary arrested

Monday, 11 August 2014 

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is probing former Secretary of the Southern Provincial Council Amaradasa Perera for allegedly receiving over Rs. 5 million by drawing two pensions for many years.

Investigations have revealed that the pensioner had obtained pensions from two Divisional Secretariat areas.

Police spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana said that it was among several other investigations into major pension frauds over the past couple of years. Asked by The Island whether the pensioner had been taken into custody, SSP Rohana said that the police were looking for him.

Responding to another query, the police spokesman said that the CID had been called in to inquire fraudulent activities in the delivery of pensions following a complaint received by the Warakapola police some time back.

The police official revealed that ongoing investigations had revealed a spate of frauds causing losses amounting to nearly Rs. 20 million.

Investigators have so far taken in eight persons into custody.

The police called for public support to identify those engaged in pension frauds. SSP Rohana said that there was provision in the law to keep suspects in remand custody until the hearing of their respective cases. The official said that a special CID unit was engaged in investigations to arrest the situation.

A Welcome Step In The Right Direction

By Rajiva Wijesinha -August 11, 2014 |

Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha MP

It is an honour, Mr Chairman, to have been asked to speak on the Prescription (Special Provisions) Bill, which I am very happy to support.  It a necessary measure, and should have been introduced some years back. Ineed I recall six years ago, when I headed the Peace Secretariat, having a meeting with the Chair of the Law Commission about the need to introduce legislation of this sort, and being impressed because they too had already thought about this.

I had been unexpectedly drawn into public life from the rural pleasures of Sabaragamuwa University, but I thought it necessary to interpret my mandate widely, in the interests of peace and reconciliation. It seemed sensible then to also plan for the future. Though much was uncertain at the time, we had to hope that we could overcome terrorism, as indeed we successfully did a year or so later. But we also needed to eradicate the root causes of terrorism, which required, as the Secretary of Defence eloquently put it in those days, at a function at the Central Bank late in 2008, a political solution, which was not his area of concern.

Planning for the future then was of the essence, and I was pleased to find that the Law Commission had already thought of the problems the existing provisions regarding Prescription might cause. After all, it was manifestly unfair that those who had left their lands because of terrorism should have to lose these because others had occupied them for the period required to claim ownership. I recall being told that draft legislation was ready at the time, so it is sad that this lay forgotten for so long.Read More

Be Alert!

• The mandate of the External Resources Department

 August 12, 2014 

Fast on the heels of the National Secretariat for NGOs issuing a circular purporting to limit the activities to their legitimate mandate, which has been discussed in this column earlier, the Director General of the Department of External Resources has placed a notice in the newspapers - under the alarmist caption 'Be Alert ...' and subtitled 'Notice to all Government officials, civil society organisations and general public'.
Be Alert! by Thavam