INTERNAL RELATIONSHIP BUILDING AS RESPONSE TO INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE--JEHAN PERERA

15 September 2014

It has become routine to say that today Sri Lanka is more polarized than ever before. For the past two years there has been anxiety within the Muslim community about anti Muslim propaganda and the possibility of targeted violence against them. Now this has found expression in the newly appointed UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Zeid al-Hussein’s inaugural speech to the UN Human Rights Council. He said, “I am alarmed at threats currently being leveled against the human rights community in Sri Lanka, as well as prospective victims and witnesses. I also deplore recent incitement and violence against the country’s Muslim and Christian minorities.” Although the new Human Rights High Commissioner is reputed to be moderate in his views, he appears to be following in the path that has been set by his predecessor in office Navanethem Pillay.

Internal Relationship Building as Response to International Pressure--jehan Perera by Thavam

MR seeks talks with Modi, as TNA sets January 1 deadline

By Our Political Editor-Sunday, September 14, 2014

No confirmation yet of a New York meeting, while main Tamil party plans Gandhi-style satyagraha for New Year - UNP crisis persists as Deputy Leader-designate Sajith exchanges fire with Mangala

Both for the UPFA Government and some major Opposition parties, it appears to be transition time. What it portends with a presidential election round the corner remains a critical question. In the UPFA, some major issues relate to the foreign policy front. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has sought a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi when they attend the 69th sessions of the UN General Assembly in New York. Initial responses from New Delhi through diplomatic channels were that there were scheduling difficulties.

MR Seeks Talks With Modi, As TNA Sets January 1 Deadline by Thavam

Did Tamils Always Paint Themselves Into A Corner?

By S. Sivathasan -September 15, 2014 

S. Sivathasan

A Harmful Outgrowth

If the answer is yes, for how long have we done so? For as long as eight decades and more, some would say. When did the painting start? With elections to the State Council in 1931 and the Jaffna Boycott. The initiative and organization were by the Youth Congress of Jaffna. The mindset which originated then evolved subsequently and has permeated Tamil consciousness ever since. Deriving greater strength   through surgical intervention to remove this malignant growth is good for future wellbeing. It did not fail to raise its plaintive head even as late as September 2013, at the Provincial Council Elections. We Tamils require a great deal of introspection to identify our repetitive ways and to wrest ourselves from the boycott mindset. Dispassionate analysis of the stands we have taken and the negative results we have obtained will have to go alongside.

Origin

Two strong factors fueled the boycott of the State Council elections. The abolition of communal representation which reduced the strength of Tamil membership in the Council compared to a might have been under the previous system of weighted representation had earned the ire of many a Tamil. In this receptive atmosphere the Youth Movement in Jaffna with an emergent leadership had a credible political complaint. TheDonoughmore Reforms did not go far enough towards independence was their stance. Such a position certainly flowed from the reactions of the Indian National Congress to failed reform missions in their country.

Out of Sync

In India, ten years prior to Donoughmore Commission, was the Montagu Chelmsford Reforms which resulted in the Government of India Act of 1919, granting only partial self- government. To Indians who had agitated vigorously for full freedom it was a far cry from independence, dashing India’s expectations of purna swaraj. The Jaffna Youth Movement picked up its threads rather idealistically from India. How mighty was India’s fight for Independence? Around 1957, Nehru had said “Independence came too early for India. We did not fight for our freedom. We never had a ‘Long March’ as in China”. Did we Tamils fight prior to 1931 to deserve full independence and for the British to grant it with a mere boycott? In two years the un-wisdom of the step was realized and Tamils demanded elections and representation. Was it realistic pursuit of politics to permit this pervasive mindset to continue to date?Read More

மக்களின் காணிகளை இராணுவத்திற்க்கு ஒருபோதும் கொடோம் ; அடித்து கூறுகிறார் முதலமைச்சர் 

15 செப்ரெம்பர் 2014, திங்கள்

எமது மக்களுடைய காணிகளில் இராணுவத்தினர் இருப்பதற்கோ அவற்றை எடுப்பதற்கோ ஒரு போதும் அனுமதிக்க முடியாது. எனவே விரைந்து செயற்பட வேண்டும் என வடக்கு மாகாண முதலமைச்சர் க.வி. விக்கினேஸ்வரன் தேசிய மீனவர் ஒத்துழைப்பு இயக்கம் மற்றும் வடக்கு மாகாண கடற்றொழில் இணையம் ஆகியோரிடம் தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

வடக்கு மாகாண கடற்றொழில் இணையம் மற்றும் தேசிய மீனவர் ஒத்துழைப்பு இயக்கம் ஆகியன இணைந்து இன்று பிற்பகல் 3மணியளவில் வடக்கு மாகாண முதலமைச்சரை அவரது வாசஸ்தலத்தில் சந்தித்து பேச்சுக்களை நடாத்தியதுடன் 7 அம்சக் கோரிக்கைகள் அடங்கிய மகஜர் ஒன்றினையும் அவரிடம் கையளித்திருந்தனர்.

அதன்போதே முதலமைச்சர் மேற்கண்டவாறு தெரிவித்ததாக தேசிய மீனவர் ஒத்துழைப்பு இயக்கத்தின் வடக்கு -கிழக்கு இணைப்பாளர் அன்ரனி ஜேசுதாஸ் மேற்கண்டவாறு தெரிவித்தார்.

அவர் மேலும் தெரிவிக்கையில்,

வட பகுதி மீனவர்கள் எதிர்நோக்கும் பிரச்சினைகள் மற்றும் மீள்குடியேற்றம் என்பனவற்றை மையப்படுத்தி 7 அம்சக் கோரிக்கை அடங்கிய மகஜர் ஒன்றினை முதலமைச்சரிடம் கையளித்து பேச்சுக்களை மேற்கொண்டிருந்தோம்.

குறித்த மகஜரில் யாழ்ப்பாணம், கிளிநொச்சி, முல்லைத்தீவு, மன்னார் கடற்றொழிலாளர்களது பிரச்சினைகளை உள்ளடக்கியதாக அமைவு பெற்றுள்ளதுடன் முக்கிய விடயமாக மீள்குடியேற்றமும் உள்ளடக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

மேலும் கடற்றொழிலாளர்கள் பல்வேறு பிரச்சினைகளுக்கு முகம் கொடுத்து வருகின்றனர். இதனைக் கருத்திற்கொண்டு முதலமைச்சரும் வடக்கு மாகாண மீன்பிடி அமைச்சரும் அவர்களது பொருளாதாரத்தினை அபிவிருத்தியடைவதற்கு நடவடிக்கையினை எடுக்க வேண்டும் என்றும் கோரியுள்ளோம்.

அத்துடன் சில காரணிகளையும் முன்வைத்துள்ளோம்.

01. இந்திய இழுவைப்படகினால் வடபுலத்து மீனவர்களுக்கு ஏற்படும் பாதிப்புகளுக்கு நிரந்தர தீர்வைப் பெற்றுக் கொடுக்கவும்.

02. வட புலத்து மீனவர்களை ஒன்றிணைத்து பொது செயற்பாடுகளில் ஈடுபடுவதற்கு உதவுதல்.

03. சட்ட விரோத மீன்பிடி முறைகளை முழுமையாக தடை செய்ய துரித நடவடிக்கைகளை மேற்கொள்ளல்.

04. தென்னிலங்கை மீனவர்களது வருகையால் வடபுலத்து மீனவர்களுக்கு ஏற்படும் பாதிப்புக்களைக் குறைக்க நடவடிக்கை எடுத்தல்.

05. வலி.வடக்கு மக்களது பிரச்சினையை மிகவும் முக்கிய பிரச்சினையாக கொண்டு அவர்களை சொந்த இடங்களில் குடியமர்த்த நடவடிக்கை எடுத்தல்.

06. மீனவ சமூகம் சார்ந்த பெண் தலைமைத்துவ குடும்பங்கள் முகம் கொடுத்து வரும் பிரச்சினைகளுக்கு தீர்வினைப் பெற்றுக் கொள்ள நடவடிக்கை மேற்கொள்ளல்.

07. வடக்கு மாகாண கடற்றொழிலாளர்களது இணையம் என்ற ரீதியில் மாகாண மட்ட மீனவர்களின் பிரச்சினையை ஆராயும் குழுவில் எமது அமைப்பையும் இணைத்து கொள்ள நடவடிக்கை எடுத்தல்.

போன்ற கோரிக்கைகளை முன்வைத்து சுமார் ஒரு மணித்தியாலம் வரை கலந்துரையாடினோம். எமக்கு சாதகமான பதிலையே முதலமைச்சர் வழங்கியிருந்தார்.

அதற்கமைய மீன்பிடி மற்றும் இந்திய மீனவர்களது அத்துமீறல் தொடர்பிலான பிரச்சினைகளுக்கு மத்திய அரசின் கடற்றொழில் அமைச்சரே பதில் கூறவேண்டும். எனவே அவருடன் கலந்துரையாடல்களை மேற்கொண்டு விரைவில் பதிலளிப்பதாக தெரிவித்தார்.

மேலும் மீனவ குடும்பங்கள் தொடர்பான பிரச்சினைகள்,  பெண் தலைமைத்துவ குடும்பங்கள் தொடர்பிலான பிரச்சிகைள் தொடர்பில் தேசிய மீனவர் ஒத்துழைப்பு இயக்கம் மற்றும் பொது அமைப்புக்களும் ஆராய்ந்து எமக்கு சமர்ப்பித்தால் அதன்படி நாங்கள் நடவடிக்கைகளை எடுப்போம் என்றும் தெரிவித்தார்.

அத்துடன் வலி.வடக்கு மக்களது மீள்குடியேற்றம் தொடர்பில் விரைந்து செயற்பட வேண்டிய கட்டாயத்தில் உள்ளோம். அதற்கான நடவடிக்கைகள் எடுக்கப்பட்டு வருகின்றன .தொடர்ந்தும்  எடுப்போம்.

எமது மக்களுடைய காணிகளை இராணுவம் எடுப்பதற்கோ பயன்படுத்துவதற்கோ ஒரு போதும் இடமளிக்க கூடாது. எனவே அவர்களை சொந்த இடங்களில் மீள்குடியேற்ற நடவடிக்கை எடுப்போம் என்றும் முதலமைச்சர் தெரிவித்தார் என இணைப்பாளர் மேலும் தெரிவித்தார்.

- See more at: http://onlineuthayan.com/News_More.php?id=396183433115267154#sthash.zkcIn1vD.dpuf

Governor Kerr & Governor Chandrasiri

| by Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

( September 15, 2014, Melbourne, Sri Lanka Guardian) My attention was drawn to the issue of Funds Management in Northern Province of Sri Lanka where there is a Governor appointed by the President and a Chief Minister elected by the People of Northern Province. The skills for which this Governor is recognized are military skills. If we set aside the ethnic differences - Major General G. A. Chandrasiri would naturally govern those who use weapons to manage their affairs. The Chief Minister is recognized for his leadership through the Justice system. Hence the Hon Justice C.V. Wigneswaran would naturally lead those driven by higher education and management by using law. The latter is the older heritage of Northern Sri Lanka.

Governor Kerr & Governor Chandrasiri by Thavam

Army builds mythical Sinhala statue in Tamil village
14 September 2014
The Sri Lankan army is in the midst of constructing a statue of a mythical Sinhala giant, who fought against the Tamil Chola King Ellalan in a Tamil village in the Vanni.
Sri Lankan Commander Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake toured the area last week, with the army publicising the building of the statue of the mythical giant, known as “Nandimithra” on its website.
The construction is taking place in a Tamil village known as Kokkachaankulam, an area which has now been renamed to “Nandimithragama”, after the Sinhala mythical figure. Several Sinhala settlers have been brought to the area this year, with the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son amongst those overseeing the settlements.
See our earlier post: Namal Rajapaksa oversees Sinhala settlements in Vavuniya (25 May 2014)

See more of the army’s construction projects in our earlier post: SL Army build archway depicting battles between Sinhala and Tamil king (24 November 2013)

Report: Violations of Minority Religious Rights in Sri Lanka (March – August 2014)

15/09/2014 

Notwithstanding the local and international pressure, violations of the right to freedom of religion and attacks on religious minorities continued unabated in Sri Lanka. In the month ofJune, Sri Lanka witnessed the largest anti-Muslim riots seen in the country after 1914. Led by the Buddhist extremist organization Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), mobs rioted in the Southern costal townsof Aluthgama and Beruwala. The riot was preplanned and was a result of the gradual escalation of anti-Muslim violence unleashed by Buddhist extremist forces in post-war Sri Lanka. Attacksagainst and restrictions imposed on the Christian groups have become a regular occurrence, too. Hindus are not spared either. The involvement of the state, its officials and its security apparatus in these discriminatory practices are quite disturbing.The convergence of political power, extremist Buddhists’ violence and security agencies in pressuring religious minorities and imposing Sinhala Buddhist hegemony have become permanent features of post-war Sri Lanka.

Read the full report as a PDF:SLB Fact Sheet 2 Sep 2014 re attacks on religious minorities

SLB Fact Sheet 2 Sep 2014 Re Attacks on Religious Minorities by Thavam

All Party Parliamentary Group For Tamils Urges UK Govt To Consider Sanctions Against Sri Lanka

September 15, 2014 

The All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils (APPG for Tamils) has requested the UK government to consider all actions including sanctions against Sri Lanka, until the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) agrees to cooperate with the investigation led by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the war crimes allegations.

British Prime Minister David Cameron

The APPG for Tamils in a statement has called upon the UK Government to condemn the GoSL for rejecting the probe led by the OHCHR (OISL) and for refusing to cooperate with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

The group’s Chair Lee Scott and Vice ChairSiobhain McDonagh in the statement have remarked that it is completely unacceptable for the GoSL to declare non-participation in the investigation and its continuation to find ways to regularly prolong and avoid the probe, even after the resolution mandating the investigation was passed in March at the 25th UNHRC sessions.

Meanwhile, they had also welcomed the speech by the new UN Human Rights Chief Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein in which he pledged his commitment to the OISL .

The APPG for Tamils has also called for an urgent moratorium on the deportation of Tamil asylum seekersand the potential witnesses to the OISL, pointing out the probe is being conducted outside of Sri Lanka due to lack of access and has urged the UK Government to ensure the safety of very vulnerable war crimeswitnesses and rape victims who are already in the UK and under threat of deportation.

Moreover, they have also requested the UK Government to take up the matter of Sri Lanka proscribing organisations and individuals abusing the UN Security Council resolution 1373 and to work with others in the international community to ensure the proscription is rescinded.

“Give the GOSL a clear messaging denouncing their defiance against an inquiry for accountability and justice,” the statement further read.

2009 was a genocide says former UK home secretary
15 September 2014
The former British home secretary, David Blunkett described what took place during the final stages of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka in 2009 as a "genocide" and called for it to be "properly investigated", meeting with members of the Tamil community at an Advice Surgery last Saturday.

Mr Blunkett said he "believed genocide had taken place on the island of Sri Lanka and that evidence that human rights violations had occurred during the armed conflict in 2009 must be properly investigated."

He went on to express "disappointment at Sri Lanka’s obstruction of the currently ongoing UN Human Rights Council mandated investigation into alleged human rights abuses in Sri Lanka" and adding his support "to the need for an independent international investigation on abuses that have happened in Sri Lanka."

Mr Blunkett, who is currently the Labour MP for Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough, was the UK home secretary from 2001 to 2004.

The Tamil community representatives, also members of the British Tamils Forum (BTF) said they had met with Mr Blunkett "to garner support for UK Tamil organisations and individuals that have been targeted by Sri Lanka’s efforts to silence dissent through the use of UN Security Council Resolution 1373."

Mr Blunkett meets with the Tamil community

In March, the BTF was proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the Sri Lankan government, along side 14 other diaspora organisations and over 400 Tamil diaspora individuals.

Warning that the ban should not be used "to prevent of stifle free speech and legitimate criticism", a spokesperson for the UK Foreign and Commonwealth (FCO) told the Tamil Guardian at the time: 

"The UK government has good relations with a wide range of NGOs and civil society organisations with an interest in Sri Lanka including the Global Tamil Forum and British Tamils Forum both of whom publicly state that they work through democratic means [and] the UK will continue to engage with organisations focused on achieving a lasting and equitable peace in Sri Lanka through non-violent means,"

Lawyers Collective Condemns Death Threats to Attorneys Namal Rajapakshe and Manjula Pathiraja

 Monday, 15 September 2014

The Lawyers Collective strongly condemns death threats to two of it’s leading members, Attorneys-at-Law, Mr. Namal Rajapakshe and Mr. Manjula Pathiraja. Mr. Rajapaske and Pathiraja have been leading human rights activists and lawyers with long experience in public interest litigation. They appeared in series of sensitive cases challenging arbitrary actions of all organs of the Government, including the Defence Authorities.

Around 6.20pm on 13th September 2014, two unidentified men with full faced covered helmet and jackets, had rushed to the legal office of Mr. Rajapakshe, situated near the Thorana junction, Kelaniya, in the Colombo district. One of them had been armed, and he had taken Mr. Rajapakshe to a corner, and threatened that he and Mr. Manjula Pathiraja would be killed, if they appear in “unnecessary cases”. They particularly mentioned about several cases where Mr. Rajapakshe and Mr. Pathiraja had appeared against a controversial Buddhist monk. The two individuals had then fled on an unidentified motorcycle. Mr. Rajapakshe had made a complaint at the Peliyagoda Police Station bearing number CIB/III - 230/123.

On 4th August 2014, Attorneys Mr. Rajapakshe, Mr. Pathiraja and Mr. Lakshan Dias were intimidated by a group of thugs inside the Maradana Police station, in front of the Head Quarters Inspector. The three of them were making representations on behalf of their clients, on the breaking up of a peaceful private meeting and criminal trespass. Mr Rajapakshe had made a complaint regarding this incident on 5th August 2014. No actions have been taken by the Police in respect of this intimidation.

Mr. Rajapakshe, Mr. Pathiraja and Mr. Dias have frequently appeared for victims of human rights violations across the country, irrespective of ethnic and religious backgrounds, often pro bono. They have made themselves available for emergencies at all times and days. While upholding the highest traditions of the legal profession, all three of them have been well respected and committed human rights defenders who have been taking forthright and courageous positions on issues of democracy, rule of law and human rights in Sri Lanka.

We urge the Inspector General of Police to take immediate steps to ensure the protection of all three of them and to take all possible steps to hold accountable, all those responsible for these threats and intimidation.

President worst than Tangalle chairman – JVP

i

MONDAY, 15 SEPTEMBER 2014

The President who violates election law by participating at propaganda campaigns of UPFA candidates for the Uva PC election is participating in opening ceremonies that are usually carried out by chairmen of pradeshiya sabhas as he has come down to the level lower than the chairman of Tangalle Pradeshiya Sabha says the General Secretary of the JVP Tilvin Silva.

The Information Secretary of the JVP Parliamentarian Vijitha Herath too was present.

Speaking further atthe media briefing held at the head office of the JVP at Pelawatta today (15th) the General Secretary of the JVP said, “At the moment violence unleashed by the government in Uva Province is intensifying. Despite the Commissioner of Elections being made aware at several discussions held with him, there has been no reduction in the continuous violence which is a specific characteristic of this election.

This election creates several records in the electoral history of this country. This is the election where state power was used for the maximum; the largest number of election violations was recorded at this election, the most number of state officials and resources were used in this election. Despite the attempt to distort public opinion by utilizing state power, the UPFA government is confronted with the possibility of not getting a majority to form the provincial council for Uva. The JVP would get considerable power at the election. Most probably the JVP would be the decisive factor in the PC.

Another record this election would create is that it would be the election the President would lose. It is the President who is in UPFA campaign. At this election, in which the President is in the forefront of the campaign, the government would lose votes and seats. As such, it is the President who would be the loser.

The Ministers and MPs of the government boasted that they would win this election. However, the truth is that the government finds it difficult to win Uva. If they could win the election, as they try to make people believe, they need not unleash so much violence. They need not deploy state resources, vehicles, officials or use state media for propaganda and mudslinging if they could win the election easily. Why do they have to give bribes fromf sil cloths to deputy ministerial posts if they could win easily? If the government had worked for the people the people themselves would have worked for the government. However, the President who had not been seen in Uva for 5 years has now got to stay in Uva and carry on the election campaign. Whatever it is, the defeat for UPFA cannot be avoided.

We have complained to the Commissioner of Elections and the IGP regarding incidents of election violence and violations. Now, the President himself is violating election laws. He is spending public money to open projects done with public money. He gets UPFA candidates to participate in the opening ceremonies. The whole district is decorated for the ceremonies; motorcades are held. The police cannot do anything about them. Certain opening ceremonies demean the position of presidency. He is having opening ceremonies that should be carried out by pradeshiya sabha chairmen of local councilors. The President is taking part in opening of the Bandarawela bus stand, 7 light posts at Mahiyanganaya and school laboratories. This is a very regrettable as well as a hilarious situation.

At this election the President will have to come down from his throne. The UPFA has not held any main rallies in Uva Province yet. They held the convention transporting people from everywhere in the country. There were more buses than people. Now election meetings are held by having opening ceremonies in schools forcing children and parents to participate. On the other day the President spent only 10 minutes at a meeting held in a school at Bandarawela. However, the staff of the school and parents had to spend for the whole ceremony. The children had to buy the flag for Rs.20 to wave when the President arrived. The parents who are forced to participate in these ceremonies go back home referring to the mothers of government leaders. The President has come down to the level of chairman of Tangalle Pradeshiya Sabha.  All this indicates the government has no courage to face the election.

The government is attempting to carry out a serious election violation deploying state employees. Officials of the Ministry of Economic development were deployed on the 6th, 7th and the 8th to carry out a survey. The Ministry had told the Commissioner of Elections that it was not carrying out a survey. However, the survey carried out deceitfully had to be abandoned prematurely when people protested. Also, candidates of the UPFA use state vehicles without any shame. ‘SriLankan’ vehicles travel about with the preference number of President’s nephew. He has no shame to use vehicles with ‘Srilankan’ symbol to display his preference number.

According to information we have received a Navy squad has been stationed at Diyatalawa Army Complex to be deployed for UPFA election campaign. Also, Army personnel have been deployed for Maj. Denipitiya’s election campaign. They hold displays with racing bikes as a part of the election campaign. They wear clothes with Denipitiya’s preference number. Also, army vehicles are present with his vehicles carrying out his campaign. The government, without any shame, deploys security personnel in its election campaign. It indeed indicates a defeat for the government.

At the meeting with the Commissioner of Elections the IGP promised to stop acts of violence. Even after this thugs of the government have destroyed several election offices of the JVP. No one has been arrested. In Kovulara area a vehicle of the Port Authority drove over the legs of one of our sympathizers breaking both his legs. The vehicle was one that had been used for government’s election campaign. State vehicles are deployed for ruling party’s election campaign so that pedestrians cannot use the public roads. In all these attempts is a psychological move to stop anti-government voters coming to polling stations.  However, we invite voters not to be intimidated by government moves but to come to the polling stations. This is indeed an election that would defeat the government. Hence, we ask state officials not to yield to government orders.

The government suddenly prepared an Army tataoo in Monaragala. UPFA leaders promised the Commissioner of Elections that it would not be held at Badulla. However, according to information we receive, arrangements are being made to hold it at Badulla on the 16th and 17th. The government is engaged in shameful acts in a bid to win the election. Whatever the government does it will face defeat.

At present ‘leadership training’ is being held for students who have been selected to universities. It is reported that an attempt is being made not to allow students from Uva to go to cast their votes. These youths’ votes are anti-government votes. The government is attempting to prevent these votes being polled. The government has come down to the level of depending on such vile acts. We ask voters not to be scared of the acts carried out by the government but to go to the polling stations. We, of the JVP, without power of thugs, money and state and confronting repression more than the UNP does, is marching forward without any fear. This government could be defeated if all anti-government voters go to the polling station. Martin Luther King of the US once said, “The tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people." Don’t be disheartened, come to the polling station. The people were let down by the government. We could make amends only by our vote.

The UPFA candidates, using the authority of the President, continue to violate election laws. The Commissioner of Elections has said in public that candidates who violate election laws would lose their seats even if they are elected. We are prepared to make available information we have to the Commissioner of Elections. We ask all voters to go to the polling stations on the 20th without any fear. We would do our best to protect the votes that are polled. Many election officials are making an attempt to hold a free and fair election.

The President is preparing to come to power for a third term. The government hopes to use the Uva PC election as a base for this. The people too could take the political decision of ending the dictatorial path of the government from Uva. Also, all should condemn government’s illegal campaign and undemocratic moves. We invite voters of Uva to come to the polling stations on the 20th to defeat government’s attempt of plundering the election. We are prepared to bring victories to the people and the country through the victory the JVP receives at the Uva PC election.”

Japan- Lanka Relations: Shotaro Noda’s Meeting With Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala

| by Laksiri Fernando

( September 15, 2014, Sydney, Sri Lanka Guardian) After I last wrote about “Shotaro Noda’s Visit to Colombo from Japan in 1980” (Sri Lanka Guardian, 8 September 2014) some interesting comments and dialogue ensued. These were important in mapping Japan Sri Lanka relations from a true historical perspective, preferably a student/researcher of history should follow up. Those valuable comments were by Manel Fonseka and Dr. Janaka Goonetilleke. 

Japan- Lanka Relations Shotaro Noda’s Meeting With Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala by Thavam

Ranil’s security detail injured

September 15, 2014

Four police officers were wounded and hospitalised after a vehicle transporting officers assigned as Opposition Leader Ranil Wickramasinghe’s security detail was involved in an accident. 

The Police Media Spokesman’s Office said that the vehicle, a SUV, had veered off the road and fallen into a precipice at around 10.20pm last night (14) in the Springvalley Estate area in Badulla.

The injure police officer have been admitted to the Badulla Hospital, however they are not in critical condition, police said. 

PAFFREL Files Motion In SC Against Basil’s Manipulation

September 15, 2014

Election monitoring body – the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) filed a motion in the Supreme Court today over the distribution of drought relief to families in Moneragala, which Basil Rajapaksamanaged to get sanctioned by the judiciary overriding directives given by the Elections Commissioner to halt the distribution since it could amount to voter bribery.

In the motion filed today, PAFFREL has requested the Courts to consider varying the orders made in the case heard on September 12 that permitted the distribution of drought relief, to be completely stopped and to be resumed once more when the election concludes.

Pointing out the distribution of drought relief in the form of Rs. 2500 per family in the Moneragala district has undermined the integrity and impartiality of the Uva Provincial polls, PAFFREL has requested the SC to also consider distributing drought relief to families in all drought affected districts in the same manner like Moneragala as an alternative to putting a complete stop to the distribution of reliefs.

In the motion PAFFREL has asserted that considering the Uva PC polls are to be held on September 20 and the heavily contested campaigning that is continuing and the initial plans of the Economic Development Ministry to distribute Rs. 2500 per family, singling out Moneragala creates doubt that these reliefs are being used as a political tool by the UPFA since no such relief has been provided to any other drought affected district to which includes Batticaloa, Polonnaruwa and Hambanthota.

PAFFREL has noted that vital material relevant to the distribution of drought relief to Moneragala residents had not been disclosed before the Courts while also stating that the petitioners have failed to make the necessary parties such as the Elections Commissioner and the Disaster Management Ministry Secretary, included in the application.

Against such a backdrop, the election monitoring body has noted that the permission granted by the SC to distribute the drought relief has undermined the powers of the Elections Commissioner who is vested with the authority to give directions to maintain a free and fair election.

While also requesting the Court to instruct the Respondents to outline the criteria adopted in selecting the beneficiaries to distribute the respective reliefs in the district, PAFFREL has requested the SC to direct that in the future elections no such reliefs – whether relating to any disaster or not – be distributed during an election campaign without prior approval obtained from the Elections Commissioner.

Read the full petition here

UNHRC Probe And Moneragala Polls

| by Tisaranee Gunasekara

“Most sovereigns are afraid of enlightened people.”

Baron d’Holbach (Christianity Unveiled)

( September 15, 2014, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) On September 11th, a team of STF officers was deployed in Moneragala to control election violence .

Less than 48 hours later, on September 13th, five JVP campaign offices were attacked . As ever, the perpetrators got away scot-free.

UNHRC Probe and Moneragala Polls by Thavam

Chinese loans will bleed country dry: Harsha de Silva

15/09/2014 

Speaking to ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Sri Lanka, United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian and leading economist Harsha de Silva revealed that the Government was poised to sign loan agreements –amounting to a staggering US$1.258 billion (or Rs.164 billion) at a high interest rate — with China during its President’s visit. Dr. De Silva highlighted the fact that with our external debt already at a high level, the new loan agreements will place Sri Lanka on the fast-track to disaster.

Q Can you give a background about loans and borrowing trends in Sri Lanka?

Chinese Loans Will Bleed Country Dry Harsha de Silva by Thavam