U.S. Government Support for New Hospital for Poonaryn in Kilinochchi District

August 29, 2014

P. Sathiyalingam, Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine, Northern Provincial Council, and U.S. Embassy Colombo Political Chief Michael Honigstein planting a mango sapling to mark the opening of the hospital.

The Northern Provincial Council Ministry of Health opened the Poonaryn Divisional Hospital on Wednesday, August 27, 2014. The new hospital facility is part of a U.S. government program to support the Northern Provincial Council’s work to expand medical services in the former conflict-affected areas of Sri Lanka’s Northern Province.  Michael Honigstein, U.S. Embassy Political Counselor, attended the opening ceremony at the invitation of the Northern Provincial Council Ministry of Health, along with Dr. P. Sathiyalingan, Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine, Northern Provincial Council, Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development, Douglas Devananda, Minister of Small Industries and Entrepreneur Development, G.A. Chandrasiri, Governor of Northern Province. 

“This new hospital in Poonaryn, as well as all of the hospitals that we’ve supported in the former conflict-affected areas in partnership with the government, are helping the Health Minister and the Northern Provincial Council provide access to quality healthcare for tens of thousands of people living in the surrounding communities,” said Mr. Honigstein at the opening ceremony. “This Divisional Hospital will act as the primary hospital in this area until other medical facilities within the Province can be reconstructed or rehabilitated to help alleviate some of the stress that is already being placed on surrounding medical facilities.”

Construction of the hospital cost $517,000 (approximately 67 Million SLR).  The facility consists of two separate buildings, one building with 24 beds and male and female medical wards, and the other consists of a 12-bed maternity ward with a delivery room and a 12-bed pediatric ward.  The facility will also offer preventative health services and house public health information offices affiliated with the Ministry of Health.

“We are very proud of our close working relationship with the U.S. Embassy and USAID,” said Dr. Sathiyalingam. “These efforts are critical to helping our people in this area improve their standards of living.”

This hospital is one of nine that have received $3.8 million in assistance from the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) through combined efforts with organizations like NGO Medical Teams International, the Sri Lankan Ministry of Health and Northern Province Directors of Health Services, World Health Organization, and a diverse group of engineers and specialists.

'I will file, i will appear' 

September 9, 2014 
Former CJ ready to battle President
BY STANLEY SAMARASINGHE

Former Chief Justice, Sarath N. Silva, told Ceylon Today he would file a Fundamental Rights Petition, in the Supreme Court, to prevent Mahinda Rajapaksa from contesting the Presidential Election a third time.
He further said he would file the petition as a matter of public litigation and he himself, as a citizen of the country, would appear before Court to argue the case.
 

According to the former CJ, President Rajapaksa is not qualified to contest for the Presidential Election for a third time after completing his second term.
Silva added that the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, which specifies that the incumbent President is entitled to contest a third time, was not done in good faith.
Although there is a change in the Constitution 31(2,) it was not done in appropriate way to amend the Constitution of a country, contended the form CJ.
 

In such circumstances, the former CJ said that Mahinda Rajapaksa cannot seek a Supreme Court interpretation, since it is not matter of public interest and the Supreme Court is empowered by the Constitution to hear a citizen's petition filed as matter of public litigation.
He said he will argue this matter based on the fact that the 18th Amendment was not done in good faith.

17th Bakeer Markar Commemoration

Tuesday, 09 September 2014 

Lecture and Book launch

The 17th annual Deshamanya Alhaj M.A. Bakeer Markar commemoration event will be held at the Royal College Skills Centre on the 10th of September from 4pm onwards.

The Bakeer Markar Centre for National Unity (BMCNU) was established in 1997 and aims to promote, encourage, assist and foster activities for the advancement of National Unity, Inter Communal amity, racial and religious harmony and peace amongst people.

The commemoration lecture this year will be delivered by the President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, Mr. Upul Jayasuriya. Mr. Jayasuriya will speak on ‘Rule of Law and the Independence of the Judiciary’.

Also at the event, a book written in Tamil language on the life of late Deshamanya Bakeer Markar titled “Yugha Purusha Bakeer Markar” by Mrs. Fathima Mukthar will be launched. Honourable Basheer Segu Dawud, Minister of Productivity Promotion will deliver a speech on the book.

The Board Members of BMCNU would kindly request your esteemed institution to consider providing media coverage.

Thank you for your continued support.

Summary:

Event: 17th Bakeer Markar Commemoration Lecture and Book launch on Deshamanya M.A. Bakeer Markar

Date: Wednesday, 10th of September 2014

Time: 4.30 pm onwards

Venue: Royal College Skills Centre, Royal College, Colombo 07

Good Bye Comrade Sarath Justin Fernando, Founder –MONLAR - By Lionel Bopage

(Lanka-e-News- 09.Sep.2014, 9.30PM) Comrade Sarath Justin Fernando and I met as students of the Engineering Faculty in Peradeniya campus in the late 1960s. Justin as we came to know him was from a very well-known leftist family from Kegalle. Together we were involved in university students’ issues and activities both independently and through ‘Socialist Society’, which was a student’s association affiliated at the time with the Peking wing of the Communist Party headed by comrade Shanmugathasan.

With the uprising of April 1971, comrade Justin was taken into custody and his family property in Kegalle was set on fire by the security forces and their goons. When we were held in Magazine prison in Borella, we spend some time together in one of the prison wards. He had political differences with the JVP as he had his pro-Maoist ideological views, orientated more towards organising the peasantry of Sri Lanka, which was about 70 percent of its population. He was also devoted to his religious views with his compassionate attitude towards the people who are subjected to suppression and exploitation. It took a long time for me to convince him to join the activities organised by the 1969 Engineering Batch of the Peradeniya campus. I understand he was extremely happy in associating himself with those activities later on.

While in prison our political journeys diverged. Despite this, we have remained friends and used to meet every now and then when I visited Sri Lanka. He had devoted his whole life for achieving socialism by organising the peasantry through the extremely good work done by the movement he founded ‘Movement for National Land and Agricultural Reform’ (MONLAR). I personally know that through this organisation many progressive activities had been supported. The anti-capitalist and anti-neo-liberal policy platform presented by MONLAR under comrade Justin’s leadership had been widely discussed in global alternative gatherings such as World Economic Forum. Though he retired from his work as founder and leader of this movement, I know in heart and soul he was still involved with the progress of this organisation. Currently the organisation and till his untimely death Justin have been involved in agitating against perceived actions of the government to turn the country’s traditional agricultural practices to one more conducive of transnational agri-business.

I met him last in July this year when I was in Sri Lanka to attend my mother’s funeral, at a family and friends gathering organised in Rambukkana by our friend Dr Raja Wijetunga. It was a great and happy occasion where comrade Justin and his wife sang together for a while. Though he was unwell, he discussed his plans for future including publishing his memoirs. He wrote to me wishing me on my last birthday, but it was so sad to hear his passing away a short time afterwards.

I have really appreciated the positions he and his organisation took when the people of Sri Lanka were faced with crucial situations, be it the national question, neo-liberal exploitation, or destruction of natural environment. As a Sri Lankan left intellectual and activist what he did for the progress of the people of Sri Lanka will never be forgotten. The major lesson I take from his life is that there are many schools of socialist thought on addressing the socio-political and economic issues faced by the society and that all these schools need to work together in achieving our goals, rather than fighting and destroying each other and ultimately the socialist camp itself.

On a personal, he is also one of my brother in laws and I farewell comrade Justin both politically and personally. He will be missed both as a friend and a comrade whose life was devoted to making Sri Lanka a more democratic and egalitarian nation.

Military Used For Uva Election Campaigning – Close To 6000 Children Miss School

September 9, 2014 

Close to 6000 school children have been victimized as a result of the government’s plan to carry out theirelection campaigning activities in Uva in the guise of a concert organised by the military.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa vested ( Sep 03) four Mahindodaya Technological Laboratories with the students in Badulla District.

Three leading schools including the Mahanama National School, Mahanama Primary School and Royal College in Moneragala have been closed for its students since September 4 and is due to remain closed until September 11 as they have been used to accomodate military personnel who are participating in a three-day (Sep 8 – 10) event that had been abruptly planned.

Teachers and parents enraged at the disruption of academic activities, blame the poor planning of the authorities in-charge for the present crisis, adding if the school premises were to be used, they could have held the event during the school holidays so that the school activities would not be disturbed.

They point out that holding the event out of the blue – without having to celebrate any particularly event or commemoration – has made it obvious that the event is being used to promote the UPFA election campaigning activities.

However, election law violations and election-related violence however continue to occur in Moneragala despite the area presently sprawling with military and police personnel.

Uva Election: Defender Vehicle Gang Assaulted JVP Supporters; One Abducted

09/09/2014 

[Dozens of JVP election campaign offices have been destroyed by UPFA gangs]
Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) reported thatfFour university students were attacked and one student was abducted by a group that had come in defender vehicles without number plates. All of them were JVP supporters and university students. The incident had occurred at Maduruketiya in Monaragala on 08th around 6.30 AM.

The university students were at the residence of JVP candidate for Uva PC election in Monaragala. Palliyaguruge Wijesiri had come out to a tube well for their morning ablutions when the group in a Defender vehicle had suddenly arrived and assaulted the students with poles, abducted one student and had abandoned him later after assaulting him severely. He has sustained injuries to his hands and neck.

The residence of JVP candidate Wijesiri was attacked in an earlier occasion and was shot at by groups travelling in defender vehicles. All his cutouts and election offices have been burnt and destroyed by the thugs travelling in Defender vehicles.

When the students were attacked by thugs travelling in Defender vehicles police personnel had been present at a check point just 50 meters from the place of the incident. However, they had not taken steps to intercept the vehicles without number plates states CaFFE. There is a heavy police and Army presence in the area as an Army display is to take place there states CaFFE.

CaFFE states a slyly planned operation to intimidate supporters of the opposition parties and sabotage their election campaign is being carried out as hundreds of university students have joined the JVP campaign to have pocket meetings and house to house campaigns

Shashindra Brand Water Bottles For Uva Voters

September 9, 2014

UPFA candidates contesting the upcoming Uva polls have been inventing absurd ways and means to promote their election campaign as the laws around illegal campaign activities are tightened.

One such attempt are water bottles that have been distributed around Badulla and Moneragala districts byShashindra Rajapaksabearing his picture and the UPFA symbol. The catchline on the waterbottle sticker reads ‘lifeblood to quench your thirst’.

Despite the production and distribution of such material being illegal, the UPFA candidates have particularly been violating the laws with the sponsorship of the government. Another such example is the three-day concert that has been abruptly organised in Moneragala by the military, that has resulted in the closure of three leading schools in order to accomodate the participating military personnel.

To have the election or not – Decision today!

TUESDAY, 09 SEPTEMBER 2014 

A decision would be taken whether to continue with the Uva PC election or not at a special discussion to be held at election secretariat today (9th) evening says the Commissioner of Elections Mahinda Deshapriya.

The IGP, DIG (elections), DIGs of Badulla and Monaragala, Head of the STF, Returning Officers of Badulla and Monaragala, Asst. Commissioners of Elections, OICs and representatives of political parties and independent groups contesting the election have been invited for the discussion says Mr. Deshapriya.

Monaragala is furious than Badulla

TUESDAY, 09 SEPTEMBER 2014

The violence in Monaragala District in relation to the Uva PC election is severe when compared with that of Badulla District but it would not deter the election being held in the two districts says the Commissioner of elections Mahinda Deshapriya.

Speaking at a meeting of police officers, election officials, government officials, officials of the Human Rights Commission and the media held at Monaragala District Secretariat the Commissioner of Elections said the police are a batch of licensed fighters and said, “You have to continue the work during the next ten days. Carry out the election law to the letter without any fear. Don’t allow any illegal acts. Those police officers who do their duty would be protected by the Police Commission and the Human Rights Commission. I would vouch for it.”

Police intelligence officer assaulted, weapon stolen

September 9, 2014 

A police officer attached to the intelligence unit of the Sapugaskanda Police Station was assaulted and his weapon stolen while investigating information regarding a house burglary this morning.

Two police intelligence unit officers were dispatched to a residence in Kottunna, Sapugaskanda according to information received alleging a burglary at the location.

The two officers had apprehended two suspects in a road near the house in question while of the officers had proceeded to enter the home. 

However, two individuals inside the house at the time had assaulted the cop and stolen his firearm before escaping from the premises. The police media unit said the incident had taken place between 11.30am – 11.45am today.

The police officer who had suffered injuries from the attack has been admitted to the Ragama Hospital. 

Sapugaskanda Police are conducting further investigations into the incident.   

Sri Lanka can ‘leap-frog’ into the future through Nanotechnology

September 9, 2014 

Open campaign for learning nanotechnology

When the new students arrived in the Bangkok-based international university, Asian Institute of Technology a month ago, a poster displayed practically on every wall on campus had invited students to offer courses on nanotechnology. It had boldly announced: “Nanotechnology will be the future of the scientific world and students would immensely benefit by offering those courses. Such an open campaign for enlisting students in nanotechnology courses has been very common in universities in advanced countries supported by leading private firms. But it is still a rarity in higher educational institutions in Sri Lanka where the subject matter is not yet known even within the faculties of sciences.”

Initiative by SID Sri Lanka Chapter

Sri Lanka Can ‘Leap-frog’ Into the Future Through Nanotechnology by Thavam

If a Grad Rocket Falls During a Cease-Fire…
How do you make peace in Ukraine when none of the people with guns are listening?

BY ALEC LUHN-SEPTEMBER 8, 2014

TSK, Ukraine — Heavy machine-gun fire rang out on Sunday morning from inside Donetsk airport, which is held by Ukrainian government forces and has been the scene of intense fighting over the past four months. Shortly after came a dozen low booms of artillery fire, most likely Grad incendiary rockets.

If a Grad Rocket Falls During a Cease-Fire… by Thavam

U.S. urges China to help with Islamic State in Iraq

By William Wan September 9 at 11:06 AM

BEIJING — President Obama’s national security adviser urged China to help respond to the growing threat of the radical Islamic State in Iraq while meeting this week with top Chinese officials.

Susan E. Rice, here for three days to lay the groundwork for a November visit by Obama, received no commitment that Beijing would join the fight. But a senior U.S. official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, “The Chinese expressed interest.”

China has its own concerns about rising domestic terrorist threats by Islamic extremists, especially in western Xinjiang. American and Chinese aides are still discussing what a Chinese contribution would look like, said the senior official, declining to go into detail.

“We’re trying to build an international coalition, and it’s important China be a part of it,” he said.

Rice also raised concerns about Chinese fighter jets intercepting American surveillance planes.

U.S.-Chinese relations have undergone stresses recently, and Rice had a daunting series of bumps to smooth over. Her meetings included a 45-minute sit-down with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The strains include a recent interview in which Obama characterized China as a passive global “free rider” when it comes to addressing international crises.

“They have been free riders for the last 30 years and it’s worked really well for them,” Obama said in a interview with the New York Times. “And I’ve joked sometimes, when my inbox starts stacking up. I said, ‘Can’t we be a little bit more like China?’ Nobody ever seems to expect them to do anything when this stuff comes up.”

Things only worsened after the U.S. military released images last month of a Chinese military jet buzzing a U.S. surveillance aircraft off the Chinese coast, condemning it as a reckless attempt by China to intimidate without regard to the diplomatic and political fallout a collision could spark. Chinese state media responded by accusing the United States of unwarranted spying.

On the prickly issue of democratic elections in Hong Kong, the U.S. officials were cautious in how they characterized Rice’s discussion. In recent days, China’s legislature ruled that residents could vote in an upcoming election but severely restricted their choice of candidates — a move many Hong Kong residents decried as tantamount to holding sham elections.

“Hong Kong did come up and it was important for us to raise universal suffrage. For us, that means one man, one vote,” the senior U.S. official said.

When pressed, another U.S. official said, “The ability for people of HK to choose their leadership based on the will of voters is fundamentally what we’re looking for. One step is what was announced, and there’s further to go.”

In recent weeks, Chinese officials have bristled at even faint criticism by the State Department of their restrictions on Hong Kong’s elections, telling U.S. officials, through Chinese state media, that it’s a domestic concern.

The Obama administration has portrayed Rice’s visit as a sign that it remains committed to its stated goal of pivoting strategic attention and resources to Asia.

According to U.S. officials, other issues Rice raised in her talks with foreign and defense ministers included China’s maritime disputes with U.S. allies in Asia, retaliatory Chinese restrictions on foreign journalists’ visas, North Korea, human rights, and the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

William Wan is The Post’s China correspondent based in Beijing. He served previously as a religion reporter and diplomatic correspondent.

#Indyref: yes and no campaigns neck and neck in new poll

TUESDAY 09 SEPTEMBER 2014
The pro-union coalition is to set out when new powers will be transferred if Scotland rejects independence. But a new poll shows support for both sides is tied with the result now "too close to call".

The leaders of Labour, the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats in Scotland are coming together on Tuesday morning to announce a set timetable of measures to give more powers to Holyrood.

The move comes as another poll released on Tuesday by TNS shows that support for independence and staying in the UK is tied at 41 per cent among decided voters, with 18 per cent remaining uncertain.

That means backing for yes is up from 38 per cent last month while support for the union is down from 46 per cent. The poll follows a YouGov poll from Sunday which put decided yes voters slightly ahead of decided no voters at 51 per cent for the first time.

Take the quiz! #Indyref: so you think you're a YES/NO voter?

Tom Costley, head of TNS Scotland, said:"This poll reveals a remarkable shift in voting intentions but the signs were evident in our last couple of polls which indicated a narrowing of the no lead, especially amongst those who told us that they were certain to vote.

"It is too close to call and both sides will now be energised to make the most of the last few days of the campaign and try and persuade the undecided voters of the merits of their respective campaigns."

Former prime minister Gordon Brown set out his proposed schedule for new powers to be transferred north at an address on Monday night, saying work on this would start immediately after the referendum. There are just nine days to go before voters head to the polls, and the pro-union Better Together campaign has denied the move is a panic measure to shore up support.

Mr Brown said a "command paper" would be published by the UK government setting out all the proposals for change no later than the end of October. A white paper would be drawn up in November after a period of consultation with draft clauses for legislation expected in January.

He said a no vote would be the "starting gun for action" adding: "On September 19 we will start bringing into law the new, stronger Scottish Parliament, and to secure the change we want we will work with the other parties."

Read more from Political Editor Gary Gibbon: will devolution process turn 'switherers'?

But Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has already dismissed the timetable for more powers from the Westminister parties as a "bribe" that has been made "because the yes side is winning on the ground".

He is campaigning in Edinburgh and will insist that an independent Scotland will continue to be a member of the European Union as he meets supporters from other countries who will declare "we are all European citizens".

Video: Gordon Brown tells Channel 4 News that rising support for independence shows that people want change

Fukushima fallout continues: now cleanup workers claim unpaid wages

Last month Tokyo Electric Power was ordered to pay $500,000 compensation, now workers sue for promised danger money

Workers constructing an ice wall at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, cripped by a tsunami in March 2011. Photograph: Kimimasa Mayama/AFP/Getty Images

Justin McCurry-

Tuesday 9 September 2014 

The legal net has started to tighten around the operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, as victims of the accident, and those responsible for clearing it up, take their grievances to the courts.

Last week, Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco) said it would not contend a court ruling ordering it to pay almost $500,000 in compensation to the family of a woman who killed herself two months after being forced to flee her home near the plant.

That claim, which could pave the way for similar suits, has been followed by a unprecedented attempt by four Fukushima Daiichi workers to sue the utility for unpaid wages.

The two former and two current workers, aged in their 30s to 60s, claim that Tepco and its contractors failed to ensure they were paid mandatory hazard allowances, on top of their regular wages.

In the first legal challenge of its kind against Tepco, the four men, who are not named and wore masks in court for fear of reprisals from their employers, are seeking $600,000 in unpaid wages from Tepco and several of its partner firms.

The men's lawyer said he believed more could follow among the 6,000 workers – most of whom work for contractors – involved in the dangerous 40-year operation to decommission the plant.

"A year ago, the prime minister told the world that Fukushima was under control. But that's not the case," Tsuguo Hirota told Reuters. "Workers are not getting promised hazard pay and skilled workers are leaving. It's becoming a place for amateurs only, and that has to worry anyone who lives near the plant."

The hazardous nature of work to control the flow of radioactive water, and to prepare damaged reactors for the removal of melted nuclear fuel prompted Tepco to announce late last year that it would double daily danger money payments to $200 per worker.

But labourers employed by some of the 800 firms involved in decommissioning Fukushima Daiichi say the extra cash is being withheld by contractors and subcontractors, which claim they need the extra cash to keep their businesses afloat.

"My health could suffer one day … I believe there are many people who can't speak out about this kind of problem," one of the workers told public broadcaster NHK. "I may get fired or may be given no more work. But I hope people will take this as an opportunity to speak up and get paid."

The suits have opened a new front in the legal battle against Tepco, which is expected to pay more than $48bn in compensation to residents affected by the March 2011 disaster, and billions more on decontamination and decommissioning.

Last month, a citizens' judicial panel ruled that three former Tepco executives should face criminal charges over the disaster. Prosecutors must respond to the panel by next month.

MH17 CRASH Dutch experts say NUMEROUS OBJECTS hit plane BREAKING NEWS 2014

Published on Sep 9, 2014

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MH17 CRASH Dutch experts say NUMEROUS OBJECTS hit plane BREAKING NEWS 2014
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MH17 crash: Dutch experts say numerous objects hit plane

Dutch experts say Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 broke up in mid-air after being hit by "numerous objects" that "pierced the plane at high velocity".

A report released by the Dutch Safety Board said there was "no evidence of technical or human error".

A BBC correspondent says this evidence is consistent with the plane being struck by shrapnel from a missile.
The plane was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it crashed in rebel-held territory eastern Ukraine in July.

All 298 people on board, most of them from the Netherlands, died when the plane came down, amid reports it was shot down by pro-Russian rebels.

Dutch aviation investigators relied on information from the black box flight data recorders, air traffic control, satellite images and photos from the scene to compile the preliminary report.

They said the plane "broke up in the air probably as the result of structural damage caused by a large number of high-velocity objects that penetrated the aircraft from outside."

The cockpit voice recorder revealed no signs of any technical faults or an emergency situation, the experts said.
While it is not the final report into the crash, the findings are significant because they are the first official account of what happened, says the BBC's Anna Holligan in the Netherlands.

The report does not attribute blame or liability for the crash but a separate criminal investigation is being conducted by prosecutors in The Hague, she adds.

The Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 crashed between Krasni Luch in Luhansk region and Shakhtarsk in the region of Donetsk on 17 July.

The Dutch Safety Board is leading an international probe to try to piece together evidence on what happened.

MH17 crash: Dutch experts say numerous objects hit plane

Investigators say the cockpit voice recorder "gave no indication that there was anything abnormal" on board