Tuesday, October 14, 2014

SL still has ‘serious levels’ of hunger-Index

Tuesday, 14 October 2014 04

Sri Lanka still has ‘serious levels’ of hunger although the number of hungry people has declined with its score on the Global Hunger Index improving to the 39th position in 2014. Sri Lanka stood at the 43rd position on the Index last year.

Meanwhile, in neighboring India, the number of hungry people has declined with its score on the Index improving to the 55th position in 2014 due to progress made in addressing underweight in children.

The country's score is better than Pakistan (rank 57) and Bangladesh (57) but it still trails behind Nepal (44) and Sri Lanka (39).

The GHI report has been jointly prepared by International Food Policy Research Institute and NGOs Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide.

This year marks the end of a "data drought", the report said, adding that India had determined its first new provisional national underweight estimate in eight years.

At 30.7 per cent, it points to real progress compared with the last estimate of 43.5 per cent in 2005-2006, it said.

"Improved fisheries management thanks to robust cooperation with the EU"

European Commission - STATEMENT/14/314 14/10/2014

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European Commission

Statement

Brussels, 14 October 2014

During a press point presenting the results of the EU fight against IUU fishing, Maria Damanaki, European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, stated:

"Ladies and gentlemen,

Today I am pleased to announce the latest news referring to the implementation of our policy to fight illegal fishing : five countries have taken very concrete measures to eradicate illegal fishing in their waters or their fleets. These countries are: Belize, Fiji, Panama, Togo and Vanuatu, representing together more than 50 million € worth of imports each year.

In the end, it was EU pressure that has helped these countries moving to sustainable fisheries.

Following our formal encouragement, Belize made concrete steps to improve its fisheries management in a lasting way. It reformed its legal framework and introduced new rules for inspection and control of vessels. To me, this is hard evidence that the context has changed. So our reaction today is that we can propose to the Council to lift the trade measures introduced in March this year and which prohibit Belize currently from exporting fisheries products to the EU.

If you remember, in 2012 four other countries had gotten a stern warning, i.e. a "yellow card", from the Commission.

Today Fiji, Panama, Togo and Vanuatu get a "green card". I welcome their cooperative attitude in the process, especially because they did not need to be subjected to a trade ban to start moving [like Belize].

Of course we will not stop being vigilant. The EU should, in my view, carry on and even intensify its enforcement action in this field.

And indeed, there is also another side of the coin.

In November 2012, we sent a warning to Sri Lanka. They were not complying with international rules on illegal fishing and their control systems were inadequate.

Two years later, not much has changed. The same problems are still there and are even getting worse. Sri Lanka is now authorizing huge vessels to fish in the Indian Ocean without marine GPS (VMS). This renders control totally impossible.

Sri Lanka is the second biggest exporter of fresh and chilled swordfish and tuna to the EU (74 million € of imports in 2013). In those circumstances we cannot tolerate not to know whether the fish they import into the EU was caught sustainably or not. EU citizens have the right to know what lands on their plate.

So today, the Commission goes to the next level: we are formally identifying Sri Lanka in the fight against illegal fishing. Fisheries products caught by vessels flagged in Sri Lanka will not be able to enter the EU market after three months' time from now. The Council will, by that time, have the possibility to confirm and extend the depth and scope of the trade measures.

Of course it doesn’t end there: the Commission will continue to work closely with Sri Lanka to guide it towards a better system.

Let me conclude: Today's developments make me confident that, even if harsh, our measures are working. Over the years the EU has assisted dozens of countries in making the leap towards more responsible fishing.

My ultimate goal has always been to eradicate illegal fishing, which is detrimental to the stocks and fishermen worldwide. With all those new countries on our side, we have made another little but credible step towards sound ocean management at world level. I am proud of the journey my team and I have made, since I embarked on this boat five years ago.

Thank you."

Contacts :

Helene Banner (+32 2 295 24 07)

Lone Mikkelsen (+32 2 296 05 67)

For the public: Europe Direct by phone 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 or by email

Islamophobia And The Sri Lankan Media

By Hameed Abdul Karim -October 14, 2014

Hameed Abdul Karim

In recent times there have been a string of articles in the Sri Lanka print media ranging from claims that terrorist groups like Al Qaeda are firmly entrenched in Sri Lanka to ISIL cells straining at the leash just to wreak havoc in the country at the drop of the hat. All they need is an order from their ‘caliph’. That’s the impression that has been created in the minds of ‘news’ consumers.

In a TV interview, not long ago, a BBS demagogue said he had seen Al Qaeda cadres training in the east of Sri Lanka with his ‘own eyes’. The military rejected this ‘eye witness account’ out of hand.

So what’s this all about?

The cheap and unsubstantiated anti Islam and anti Muslim propaganda is about fostering a fear psychosis among non-Muslims in Sri Lanka and elsewhere. It certainly seems like there is some agenda somewhere in the higher echelons of world powers to create fear and animosity against Muslims and Islam amongst non-Muslims all over the world and the savagery of terror groups like ISIL help the propagandists in no small measure. Any propagandist or spin doctor will tell you that hate follows fear and that’s when all hell breaks loose.

Two of the foreign spy agencies that are forever claiming Pakistan’s ISI is behind the training of ‘Islamic Terrorists’ in Sri Lanka are India’s RAW and IB. This issue even cropped up when President Mahinda Rajapaksa met with India’s Premier Narendra Modi, who is no stranger to conspiracy theories about Pakistani involvement in terrorism. He is also well known for orchestrating racial violence and is quite adept at rousing communal passions against Indian Muslims in his Hindutva rhetoric. It was he, and not any foreign agency, who orchestrated anti Muslim riots in his Gujarat that left nearly 2000 Muslims dead and thousands homeless. The objective was to hit at the Muslim economy. A copy book event took place in Aluthgama and Beruwala, though mercifully the BBS inspired mobs did not target human life to the extent that Modi did.Read More

SRI LANKA: MILITARY PRESENCE IN NORTHERN PROVINCE – ANALYSIS

By Col. R. Hariharan-OCTOBER 13, 2014

The Northern Provincial Council has asked the Sri Lankan defence forces to vacate from their province. According to the TNA leaders the army occupies nearly 25 per cent of the total land area in the province. But according to the Sri Lankan ministry of defence the total area under the forces in NPC is less than five per cent. Isn’t the army justified in occupying a small portion of land in a former conflict zone? What are your comments?
Sri Lanka Military Presence in Northern Province – Analysis by Thavam

Preparing for elections with carrot and stick

By Jehan Perera-October 13, 2014

During the Uva provincial council election last month President Rajapaksa thanked the visiting Chinese President for having bestowed economic assistance on the country and reduced the price of petrol and electricity. This time there was no Chinese President to share the credit with. But President Mahinda Rajapaksa directed that the price of cooking gas should be reduced. The government is aware that economic considerations loom large in the minds of the majority of the electorate. During his ongoing visit to Jaffna and the Northern Province, the President is making major offerings to the people, of land, jobs and subsidized motor cycles, to mention but a few.

Preparing for Elections With Carrot and Stick by Thavam

Voter Bribery For Upcoming Presidential Election In Jaffna: Suma

October 14, 2014

WhIn an attempt to coax the voters in the North before the upcoming presidential elections, President Rajapaksadistributed some 20,000 families with land claiming they were handed over to the beneficiaries through title deeds when in fact they are only land permits.

Sumanthiran

Reporting on the President’s three-day visit to the North where he re-opened the railway line to Jaffna, local media has published that some 20,000 displaced families have received title deeds of lands. However, sources claim these lands have not awarded by title deeds but through permits under the Land Development Ordinance backed by Ranbima Grants – a scheme of issuing ownership documents under Section 19(4) of the Land Development Ordinance to members of the Farmers’ Class.

TNA MP MA Sumanthiran commenting on the distribution of land to the 20,000 displaced families told Colombo Telegraph that the entire process adopted in handing over these lands is flawed.

He pointed out the Constitution demands that the Provincial Council should recommend to the President to alienate land but that it has not been followed in handing over these lands to the 20,000 beneficiaries. He also pointed out that these families have been selected to receive these lands several years ago and the delaying of the process has made it evident that these actions are mere election bribes.

MP Sumanthiran’s comment is further confirmed through the letter written to the President by Northern Province Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran, explaining the reasons that led to the Board of Ministers and the Chairman of the NPC boycotting the special district meeting presided by the President.

The CM had pointed out the distribution of lands is a dubious process since no permission had been sought and neither had he been made aware of the scheme, despite him being the Provincial Minister in charge of lands.

Video: Both the presidential election & candidate are illegal

The President, despite having two more years to remain in his position, is preparing to call for a sudden presidential election. Not only this presidential election is illegal but also President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s candidature for the election is illegal as well as not ethical said the General Secretary of the JVP Tilvin Silva.

He said this speaking at a media conference held at the head office of eh JVP at Pelawatta yesterday (13th).

Video Both the Presidential Election & Candidate Are Illegal by Thavam

Taking Tamil Sovereignty Through Sri Lankan Presidential Elections

Part I

| by A.R.Arudpragasam

(October 12, 2014, London UK, Sri Lanka Guardian) The presidential elections provide a golden opportunity to put forward a program that could reach all the people of Sri Lanka and the Tamil side has not utilized this opportunity in the past to tell the Sinhalese people their position on the ethnic issue. It gives agolden opportunity to tell the Sinhalese people s to what is the Tamil aspiration and explain them the settlement we seek and how it will lead to a peaceful and prosperous Sri Lanka. It is not necessary that Tamil people should support a Sinhalese candidate just because a Tamil cannot win. It provides the opportunity to demonstrate that Sri Lanka is a nation of divided sovereignty and seek a solution that accommodates this reality.

Taking Tamil Sovereignty Through Sri Lankan Presidential Elections by Thavam

NO 13 plus

By Upatissa Perera- October 14, 2014

Afuture United National Party (UNP) Government will not go beyond the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in finding a solution to the ethnic crisis, UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, announced yesterday (13).
He said the UNP, in the near future, would talk to other political parties, religious leaders and civic organizations in the effort to agree on a common candidate from the UNP.

These observations were made by Wickremesinghe, when he met the Leader of the Janasetha Peramuna, Ven. Battaramulle Seela Rathana Thera at the Opposition Leader's Office yesterday. Speaking to the media, at the conclusion of the talks, he said a future UNP Government would abolish the Executive Presidency and ensure the independence of the Judiciary, Police, Bribery Commission, Elections Commission and the Public Services Commission, in a bid to eradicate fraud, bribery and corruption from society. He said a government under his leadership would focus on developing agriculture, health and education for all people in the country.
Wickremesinghe stated, an effective foreign policy, equal to all nations, would be adopted.
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Citizens Must Be The Vibrant, Independent And Capable Opposition

By Chandra Jayaratne -October 14, 2014

Chandra Jayaratne

The role of an opposition is usually seen only from the perspective of the body of elected representatives, their respective political parties and the collective actions they take in and out of the legislature. The opposition should stand ready to act as the alternate government, if the current set in governance fails to maintain public confidence, resigns or are replaced at a future election.

It is contended that a Government has to remain answerable to the public at all times. The role of the Opposition in a parliamentary system must reflect this premise. However, a delicate balance must be maintained between permitting the elected government to govern and legislate effectively, whilst ensuring that this power is exercised with care, equity and justice and always with respect for the needs and aspirations of all citizens, including minorities. The opposition’s role in assuring good governance through dissenting views and exercise of democratic means holding the government and the executive to account are key features of a democracy. Thus a vibrant, independent and capable opposition is a fundamental building block in an effective governance framework. Read More

A Presidency Under Threat: Corruption And Commissions

By Rajiva Wijesinha -October 14, 2014 |

Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha MP

There has been much exultation in some quarters in Sri Lanka about the conviction of

Jayalalithaa, but I was glad to see that at least some articles also noted the need for stringent measures in Sri Lanka too, to combat corruption. One article however missed the point, in citing as an example of what needed to be dealt with firmly the Ceylinco case.

The failure to deal with that swiftly, and provide compensation to the victims of the scam, is indeed appalling. But that failure has to do with the delays, not necessarily arising from corruption, of our judicial system. Certainly we also need measures to make our courts move and it is sad that those have been forgotten. Though it is featured in the Human Rights Action Plan, as far as I can see no one has bothered about that plan following my resignation as Convenor of the Task Force to implement its recommendations.

But that is a different issue, and what we are talking about in Jayalalithaa’s case is the corruption of politicians. Now this is nothing new, and it also happens all over the world. I remember the scandals in Local Government in Britain when I was a student, more recently we had the horrors of the Bush administration dishing out contracts in Iraq to agencies in which senior officials had interests.

(Lanka-e-News- 13.Oct.2014, 11.45PM) Medamulana MaRa who is keeping the oppressed people cruelly trampled under his iron heels had announced at Polgahawela that he will be contesting the next Presidential elections and he will somehow emerge victorious . However when he was announcing proudly that he will be going for a third term as President , in the telecast of the television channel , only ‘Upasakka ammas’ , as few as about three or four clapped when hearing this, while the President expected it to be received with great applause.

Sadly, this was the poor welcome given by the public on hearing his proud and loud announcement .

Lanka e news inside information division is also in receipt of reports about the plans afoot to install MaRa as President for the third term . Accordingly , in addition to the inauguration of the Presidential office at Gregory’s road , Colombo , another special office has been opened at Temple trees.

Willie’s operations

Dr. Willie Gamage the secretary to the Ministry of State resources and enterprise development under Basil Rajapakse at Gregory’s road , had undertaken the election activity operations . In order to carry out these operations Willie has taken leave for three months from his Ministerial duties , and is scheduled to take over the operations at the elections office. It is planned that all media operation co ordination including social media investigation analyses and Guerilla attacks shall be monitored by Willie at Gregory’s road office. Besides , co ordination of the various groups supporting MaRa at the Presidential elections will also be carried out at this office.

Siripala’s operations

The other office at Temple Trees is planned to be more secretive and confidential in its operations, and that will be under Siripala Amarasinghe , the present chairman of Timber Corporation and a former JVP M.P. who defected shamelessly citing the ground of strengthening Medamulana MaRa . It is worthy of note that Siripala is an ideal crooked match for the Medamulana rogues. Some time ago he was meted out punishment when attempting to rob Coca Cola Company’s salary funds.

During the JVP’s killing spree period , Siripala fled the country after committing robberies and murders. It is to such a criminal these operations have been entrusted . This Temple trees office is made a restricted ‘closed’ area , and can be entered only by Basil Rajapakse and none else- not even the UPFA Ministers to conduct any businesses.

160 computers are installed in that office , and there is an individual to operate each computer . All these recruits are extremely close to the Medamulana regime , and they have been employed after a screening done on them . When the date of Presidential elections is getting closer , more are to be employed to work on roster for 24 hours right round the clock.

A computer is to be utilized in the office for each electoral division . All information and data of the voters of each division is to be fed into the computer . The information of Sinhala Buddhists are to be separately filed , and details of every one of them is to be individually fed into the computer. Siripala is only answerable to Basil , and under the former , the plans are made as to who are those who can be given bribes , and how they can be given . Even the election fraudulent activities are under Siripala. He is the competent authority in regard to those operations. There are also four more office units in the Temple trees.

The first unit is under Minister John Seneviratne and Mahindananda Aluthgamage. This unit will cover all polling booths on district basis Island wide. The second unit has been entrusted to Minister Dallas and Media Ministry secretary Charitha Herath . Both of them will be in charge of the media Institution operations .The third unit concerns the electoral working committee operations. This is under Minister Susil Premajayantha.

Police operations

The fourth unit is under former IGP Chandra Fernando , present Presidential advisor and Medamulana MaRa’s school mate. Chandra Fernando will be in charge of transforming policies into what is lawless. To be of assistance to him , MaRa had ordered three more ex IGP’s be appointed , namely Balasuriya, Jayantha Wickremeratne and Victor Fernando .

Balasuriya who is now in the foreign diplomatic service is to arrive here on leave . Chandra’s plan is to create an IGP group ostensibly to conduct a fair and peaceful election . Through this group , Chandra has planned to carry out ‘police operations’ bypassing the incumbent IGP.

It has been planned to send one of the four retired ex IGPs of the group to personally meet with the law abiding OICs of police stations . This strategy had been mapped out with the participation of Medamulana MaRa , Basil and two retired IGPs , Chandra and Jayantha of the group . Gotabaya had not been present at the discussion. In any case it is Medamulana MaRa’s conviction that at the up coming elections much police support cannot be expected. Since these retired DIGs have had disputes with the police officers when the former were in service , it is MaRa’s view that the present police officers will not heed the DIGs. Yet , he had decided not to abandon the idea of indulging in corruption his favorite occupation.

Meanwhile Medamulana MaRa has also decided to open Presidential election operations offices district wise , and first such office has been opened in Kurunegala . A cutout of the President has been erected at this office from which it can be gauged how early the President had become ready for the election . This is like a mother admitting herself to the maternity ward for delivery long before the child is even conceived.

Medamulana MaRa and Basil have also met lastday , and MaRa had been very much overwrought over JHU’s threat to break away . MaRa had told Basil if that happens , postponement of elections may be necessitated. Basil had replied such a move would not be judicious , and that would only diminish the chances of victory .

Please await more reports on MaRa’s desperation and his dastardly manipulations revolving around the upcoming Presidential elections