Nato jets intercept Russian warplanes following 'unusual level of air activity'

Bombers and fighters shadowed during unusual burst of flights over Atlantic, North Sea, Baltic and Black Sea, says alliance

A Norwegian F-16 shadows a Russian air force Tupolev Tu-95 in a photograph released by the Norwegian air force. Photograph: Norwegian air force/EPA

 Thursday 30 October 2014

Nato aircraft have been scrambled to shadow Russian strategic bombers over the Atlantic and Black Sea and fighter planes over the Baltic in what the western alliance called an unusual burst of activity as tensions remain elevated because of the situation in Ukraine.

In all, Nato said, its jets intercepted four groups of Russian aircraft in about 24 hours since Tuesday and some were still on manoeuvres late on Wednesday afternoon.

“These sizeable Russian flights represent an unusual level of air activity over European air space,” the alliance said.

A spokesman stressed there had been no violation of Nato air space, unlike a week earlier when a Russian spy plane briefly crossed Estonia’s border. But so many sorties in one day was unusual compared with recent years.

In the biggest exercise four Tupolev Tu-95 strategic bombers, the 1950s equivalent of the US B-52, flew out over the Norwegian Sea in the early hours of Wednesday, accompanied by four refuelling tanker aircraft.

Norwegian F-16s tracked the formation, which eventually broke up, with six planes heading back toward Russia and two Tu-95s flying on south over the North Sea where they were intercepted by British Typhoons. Portuguese F-16s later tracked them in the Atlantic before they turned for home.

A Norwegian military spokesman said: “We see Russian aircraft near our air space on a regular basis but what was unusual is that it was a large number of aircraft and pushed further south than we normally see.”

In a second incident two Tu-95s accompanied by two fighter jets were being tracked by Turkish aircraft over the Black Sea on Wednesday afternoon, while flights of seven Russian warplanes were monitored on Tuesday and Wednesday over the Baltic Sea.

On Tuesday German and Danish planes were involved in tracking them as well as aircraft from non-Nato states Sweden and Finland. On Wednesday Portuguese F-16s posted in the Baltic intercepted a similar group of fighters and fighter-bombers.

Separately, British jets intercepted a Russian-built Antonov cargo planethat was carrying car parts from Latvia to Birmingham after air traffic controllers became concerned. The plane was diverted to Stansted airport and later cleared to continue its flight.

Nato said it had conducted more than 100 such intercepts of Russian aircraft this year so far, about three times as many as in 2013 before the confrontation with Moscow over separatist revolts in Ukraine soured relations.

President Vladimir Putin has committed to reinvigorating Russia’s armed forces, which had been undermined by the economic troubles that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union. Tension over Ukraine has seen Nato step up its vigilance, especially on its eastern frontiers with Russia.

The spokesman said there was no particular reason for concern over Russian warplanes exercising their right to fly in international air space but that such sorties were shadowed by Nato aircraft as a precaution and to protect civil air traffic.

Material from Reuters was used in this report

Centre gives full list of 627 names to Supreme Court 

Written by Utkarsh Anand | New Delhi | Posted: October 30, 2014 

Complying with the Supreme Court’s order, the government on Wednesday placed before the court the complete list of 627 Indians who have accounts in HSBC Bank, Geneva. 

Stating that almost half these names are under tax probe for allegedly stashing black money abroad, the government said charges have to be filed by March next year.

As directed by the court on Tuesday, the documents containing names of the account holders, correspondence with French authorities and the status report of the probe conducted so far in the black money case were submitted in separate sealed covers by Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi. The court said it would not make the names public at this juncture.

ALSO READ: Government says its hands tied, defers tax treaty signing 

Appearing before a bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu, Rohatgi said almost half the account holders were resident Indians, who could be prosecuted under the Income Tax laws, while the others were NRIs. Some have already admitted that they have accounts and have paid taxes, he said.

The bench, also comprising Justices Ranjana P Desai and Madan B Lokur, said the court would not have asked for the entire list if the government had not opposed its directive to disclose everything.

“All this problem did not start because we wanted the list but because you came out with an unnecessary application asking for modification of our original order of 2011. We had already told you that our only concern is to get the black money back,” said the bench.

“We don’t want to open these papers and embarrass anyone. That has never been our intention. You should not have pressed this application of yours, especially after petitioner-in-person senior advocate Mr Ram Jethmalani made those sarcastic remarks against you when you mentioned the new plea,” it said.

The bench was referring to the government’s application that sought modification of the 2011 order to enable it to release only selective information about account holders under probe.

The court said it had already constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the case. “The SIT knows its job. They are not laymen. They may devise their own procedure if required. We had to ask you to give us the list because you filed this application. They will decide whether Income Tax or CBI or Enforcement Directorate need to probe,” it said.

Rohatgi conceded that that the government’s intent was perhaps “misunderstood” and he would not press his application anymore in the court.

The court directed that the documents be sent to the SIT, to be opened only by Chairman M B Shah and Vice-Chairman Arijit Pasayat, both former judges of the Supreme Court who are part of the SIT.

Asking the SIT to submit a status report by November-end, the bench said the SIT would proceed in accordance with the law and could also evolve its own procedure with regard to the future course of investigation.

Rohatgi said the entire list had already been given to the SIT on June 27, but the court retorted: “We don’t even know if the list that you have given to us is the same list that you have given to the SIT. It now for them to verify everything… it is for the SIT to now make use of these documents.”

The next hearing of the case has been scheduled for December 3.

The Science of Life-Seven Concepts That Help Define Ayurveda

The Science of Life-Seven Concepts That Help Define Ayurveda

by Peggy Breeze - Sep 23, 2013
Ayurveda is a science that is known to be the world’s oldest system of health. It is an oral tradition that has been written down only in the last 5000 years. Its knowledge has been passed down from generation to generation. The word Ayurveda comes from the Sanskrit roots “ayu” and “veda”, which means “life” and “knowledge”.   The name “Ayurveda” reveals its true meaning as the complete knowledge of how to live daily life in harmony with cosmic life. It is a not only a health care system, but a lifestyle approach to living. Ayurveda supports the idea that everyone should live every aspect of life to its fullest. It also expresses a complete conscious connection to nature and its intelligence, so that you can live in a state of enlightenment. Dr. Sunil V. Joshi, MD (Ayu), in his book, Ayurveda and Panchakarma, lists seven basic concepts that help to define Ayurveda as a unique and complete “science of life”:

1. The Unchanging Nature of Ayurvedic Science. Unlike western medicine that new theories often render previous understanding completely obsolete within a short period of time, Ayurveda has stood the test of time as its basic principals have never changed due to the fact that they were derived from universal laws of nature which are eternally true.
2.The Subjective Methods of Understanding. Ayurveda incorporates a more subjective or intuitive approach to gaining knowledge in addition to objective means as it recognizes that much of life cannot be studied objectively because it is non-physical. The example Dr. Joshi offers explains that the unseen intelligence which orchestrates the process of growth and differentiation in a fetus or in the healing of a disease cannot be analyzed or investigated by the senses, even with the aid of technological means.
3.The Five Element Theory. Human life is part of nature. This idea sets it apart from other healing modalities. The Mahabhutas or cosmic elements are the fundamental principles of Ayurveda. These are intelligences that present themselves as the five elements of earth, water, fire, air and ether. All matter consists of combinations of these five elements.
4.The Theory of the Three Doshas. All processes within the human physiology are controlled by a combination of these 5 elements. Vata is the principal that governs all motion or movement and is made up from air and ether elements; Pitta controls all transforming processes and is made of fire and water elements. Kapha is responsible for cohesion, growth and liquefaction. Kapha consists of earth and water elements. Human life can only exist with all three of these processes.
5.Prakruti: Constitution. The most useful tool that Ayurveda has to offer for maintaining an ideal state of health is that of prakruti. Each human being is born with a unique combination of the elements. And it is this combination that is responsible for the physical, mental and emotional differences among people. Ayurveda can help each person create his or her own state of ideal health, by identifying and maintaining an individual prakruti.
6.The Effects of the Seasons. Environment plays a huge role in Ayurveda. Ayurveda considers that a particularly important effect on health comes from seasonal changes and climatic conditions. Each change of season brings with it shifts in wind conditions, temperature and humidity or rainfall. As the elements in the environment change, the balance of the doshas within our bodies will be impacted. If we can recognize and respond to these changes in the environment, we will be able to better maintain homeostasis, an ideal balance of the doshas within our bodies.

7.Panchakarma: The Science of Rejuvenation. The body possesses a natural healing intelligence and is capable of constantly rejuvenating itself. When the elements or dosha become imbalanced, and the digestive capacity is weakened, toxic impurities form. When too many toxins exist, the natural healing capacity of the body gets blocked. Panchakarma is a process in which the body is purified of these toxins and the body “unblocks” its natural ability to rejuvenate.
There are many more concepts in Ayurveda, but these seven create a foundation for understanding the others. I love Ayurveda because it is such common sense.

The Science of Life-Seven Concepts That Help Define Ayurveda – By Peggy Breeze

Two “takeaways” from this concept are:
1.We are nature. The closer we stay to our true nature, the healthier we are. The farther we stray, the greater chance of illness, physical and emotional.
2.Our bodies and minds are constantly telling us when we are straying, first in subtle ways, and if we are not mindful and paying attention, in more obvious ones.
We are constantly bombarded by stimulation from the outside world pulling us further and further away from our own true nature. Living an Ayurvedic lifestyle gives you the tools to shield yourself from this pull and helps you to stay balanced. It helps you stay mindful of who you truly are and reminds you that nature, left to itself, nurtures and rebuilds.

VIDEO: Hundreds feared dead in Haldummulla landslide

October 29, 2014 

Hundreds of people are missing after a landslide smashed into a row of line houses in a mountainous area in Haldummulla in Badulla District, early hours of this morning, and rescue missions are underway with the aid of police, army and the Disaster Management Centre (DMC).

பதுளையை அதிரவைத்த மண்சரிவு:முழுமையான விபரங்கள் - இணைப்பு 06

by P.Usha on Wed, 10/29/2014 

பதுளை மாவட்டதில் அடுத்த 24 மணித்தியாலத்திற்கு மண்சரிவு அபாய எச்சரிக்கை - இணைப்பு 09

VIDEO Hundreds feared dead in Haldummulla landslide.odt by Thavam Ratna

Top line survey results: Democracy in post-war Sri Lanka 2014

 by Centre for Policy -28 October 2014, Colombo, Sri Lanka – According to the latest ‘Democracy in Post War Sri Lanka’ survey conducted by Social Indicator, the survey research unit of the Centre for Policy Alternatives, divisions between people’s opinions when it comes to reconciliation still persist. The state of the economy and cost of living continue to adversely affect the household with people compromising on food quality and medical care. With Presidential elections due early next year, it is interesting to note that 44.3% of Sri Lankans think that the Constitution should limit a President to serving a maximum of two terms.

On the Sri Lankan economy, 31.9% of Sri Lankans believe that the general economic situation in the country has got a little better while almost 27% say that it has got a little worse and 18.5% say that it has got a lot worse. When it comes to the current economic situation of the country, 36.7% of Sri Lankans believe that it is somewhat good while 30.6% say somewhat bad and 19.5% say that it is very bad.

The financial situation of the household seems to have got worse in the last 2 years – almost 30% of Sri Lankans say that it has got a little worse while 25.6% say that it has got a lot worse. 24.2% of Sri Lankans state that they have gone without medicine or medical treatment in the last year, with the Up Country Tamil community (58.2%) being the most affected. Compromising on food quality, 42.7% of Sri Lankans say that they have cut back on the amount or quality of food they have purchased with again the Up Country Tamil community being the most affected (almost 60%).

When it comes to reconciliation, divisions in opinion between the communities persist. 40.8% of Sri Lankans believe that the Government has done a little, but not enough to address the root causes of the conflict, which resulted in thirty years of war. 39.9% from the Tamil community and 33.3% from the Up Country Tamil community believe that the Government has done nothing to address the root causes of the war while 35% from the Sinhalese community said the Government has done a lot to address the root causes.

Around 54% of Sri Lankans say that they approve of the increase in the role of the forces in civilian tasks, with 17% saying that they strongly approve. 41.6% from the Sinhalese community said that they somewhat approve of this role while 30.2% from the Tamil community said that they strongly disapproved.

With Presidential elections due next year, it is worth highlighting that 44.3% of Sri Lankans think that the Constitution should limit a President to serving a maximum of two terms while 27.6% say that there should be no limit. From the four communities, it is mainly the Muslim community (69.7%) who believe that there should be limit of two terms while 59.5% from the Up Country Tamil community, 57.3% from Tamil and 38.4% of Sinhalese say the same.

Commenting on the media in Sri Lanka, 30% of Sri Lankans said that they somewhat agree that the media in Sri Lanka is completely free to criticise the government as they wish. 40.5% of Sri Lankans believe that the media should have a right to publish any views and ideas without Government control while another 34% of Sri Lankans believe that the Government should have the right to prevent the media from publishing things it considers harmful to society.

On the role of religion and ethnicity in politics, 37.9% of Sri Lankans said that the role of Buddhism in Sri Lankan politics is the right amount while 37.8% of Sri Lankans said that the role is too much. The view that the role of Buddhism in Sri Lankan politics is too much is felt by majority of the Tamil (79.3%), Up Country Tamil (91.1%) and Muslim (83.4%) communities while only 23.1% from the Sinhalese community felt the same. Close to 50% of Sinhalese believe that it is the right amount.

‘Democracy in post-war Sri Lanka’ sought to record public perspectives on democracy in Sri Lanka today and the findings are presented under five key sections – Economy and Development, Post War Sri Lanka, The Government, Media and Role of Religion and Ethnicity in Politics. The first wave was conducted in 2011and the second wave in 2013.

Conducted in the 25 districts of the country, the 2014 survey captured the opinion of 1900 Sri Lankans from the four main ethnic groups. The selection of respondents was random across the country except in a few areas in the Northern Province where access was difficult. Fieldwork was conducted from June – July 2014.

Download the full report here or read it online here.

###

Social Indicator (SI) is the survey research unit of the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) and was established in September 1999, filling a longstanding vacuum for a permanent, professional and independent polling facility in Sri Lanka on social and political issues. Driven by the strong belief that polling is an instrument that empowers democracy, SI has been conducting polls on a large range of socio-economic and political issues since its inception.

Please contact Iromi Perera at iromi@cpasocialindicator.org for further information.

வெள்ளத்தில் மிதக்கும் கோணப்புலம் நலன்புரி முகாம் 

28 அக்டோபர் 2014, செவ்வாய்

மழை காலம் ஆரம்பித்துள்ளதால் வலிவடக்கு பிரதேசசபை எல்லைகுற்பட்ட மல்லாகம், கோணப்புலம் நலன்புரி முகாம்  வெள்ளத்தில் மிதக்கின்றது.

                                            

கடந்த 25 வருடங்களிற்கு மேலாக தமது சொந்த நிலங்களை இழந்து குறித்த நலன்புரி முகாம்களில் வசிக்கும் இவர்கள் தமக்கு அனர்த்த நிவாரணங்கள் எதுவும் இதுவரை காலமும் வழங்கப்படவில்லை எனவும் தெரிவிக்கின்றனர்.

மேலும் தமக்கு அடிப்படை வசதிகள் எதுவும் செய்து தரவில்லை எனவும் அமைத்து தரப்பட்ட கிணறுகள் மற்றும் மலசலகூடங்கள் ஒழுங்கான முறையில் இல்லையெனவும்,  தெரிவித்தனர்.

இது தொடர்பில் வலி வடக்கு பிரதேசசபை தவிசாளர் சுகிர்தனிடம் ஒன்லைன் உதயன் வினவிய போது :-

குறித்த நலன்புரி நிலையத்தின் அனர்த்த பாதிப்புகள் தொடர்பில் சம்பந்தபட்ட அதிகாரிகளுடன் தொடர்பு கொண்டு துரித கதியில் நடவடிக்கைகளை மேற்கொள்வதாக தெரிவித்தார்.

Boycott Sri Lanka campaign gains 

momentum in Australia

29-Oct-2014 

Posted 20 Oct 2014

Australian billionaire James Packer, son of late media mogul

Kerry Packer, has agreed to watch ‘No Fire Zone’ the Emmy nominated British documentary that documents the mass slaughter of thousands of innocent Tamil civilians in the final months of the Sri Lankan civil war in 2009, the Tamil Refugee Council (TRC) said in a press release.

TRC has urged Packer to reconsider his plans to build a casino in Colombo

Packer’s Crown Resorts is planning to build a new casino in Sri Lanka.

According to TRC, Packer made the commitment to view the documentary at the Crown Resorts annual general meeting in Perth this week after he was questioned about the plan for a $450 million casino joint venture in Colombo.

He was presented with a copy of it by local refugee activist, Victoria Martin-Iverson. “My heart bleeds for people caught in conflicts,” Packer reportedly remarked.

“It‘s welcome news to hear that Packer is going to view No Fire Zones,” said Trevor Grant, TRC spokesman.

“When he sees it, he cannot fail but allow his heart to bleed for the 70,000 Tamils murdered by the Rajapaksa regime.

“When the British Prime Minister David Cameron viewed No Fire Zone before heading to CHOGM in Colombo last November, he said it was ‘one of the most chilling documentaries I’ve watched. It brings home the brutal end to the civil war and the immense suffering of thousands of innocent civilians. Many of the images are truly shocking’.”

“The sad thing about Sri Lanka is that the war has not stopped for Tamils,” said Grant.

“The Rajapaksa regime continues to torture, rape, murder and disappear Tamils. That’s why they flee the country in such numbers.

“By building a casino in Colombo Packer is helping launder the image of the man, and the government, responsible for these atrocities. “We urge him to reconsider. Hopefully he can see beyond the profit motive and allow his heart to bleed for the Tamils.” – TWL Bureau

ஐ. நா குழு வடக்கு விஜயம்;அபிவிருத்தி குறித்தும் கேட்டறிந்தனர் 

28 அக்டோபர் 2014, செவ்வாய்
ஐ.நா குழு ஒன்று இன்று வடக்கு மாகாணத்திற்கு விஜயம் ஒன்று இன்று மேற்கொண்டு யாழ்ப்பாணம், கிளிநொச்சி, முல்லைத்தீவு மாவட்ட அரச அதிபர்களையும் சந்தித்து அபிவிருத்தி குறித்து கலந்துரையாடிருந்தனர். 

இலங்கைக்கு வந்துள்ள ஐ.நாவின் நிறைவேற்றுப் பணிப்பாளர் போல் அடங்கிய குழுவினர் இன்று காலை யாழ்ப்பாணத்திற்கு விஜயம் மேற்கொண்டதுடன் காலை 11.30 மணியளவில் யாழ். மாவட்ட செயலகத்தில் யாழ். மாவட்ட அரச அதிபர் சுந்தரம் அருமைநாயகம், கிளிநொச்சி அரச அதிபர் ரூபவதி கேதீஸ்வரன் மற்றும் முல்லை மாவட்ட அரச அதிபர் வேதநாயகம் ஆகியோரைச் சந்தித்து கலந்துரையாடினார்.

இதன்போது யுத்தத்திற்குப் பின்னர் வடமாகாணத்தில் மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டு வரும் அபிவிருத்தி குறித்துக் கேட்டறிந்து கொண்டனர். மேலும் புகையிரத சேவை ஆரம்பிப்பு , பாதுகாப்பு , சமூக மேம்பாடு தொடர்பிலும் கேட்டறிந்து கொண்டனர்.

இது குறித்து யாழ். மாவட்ட அரச அதிபர் தெரிவிக்கையில்,

ஐ.நா குழுவினர் மாவட்ட செயலகத்தில் எம்மைச்சந்தித்து யுத்தம் நடைபெற்று பாரிய அழிவுகளை எதிர் கொண்ட மாவட்டங்களாக இருந்தன. எனவே தற்போதுள்ள நிலை எவ்வாறு என கேட்டறிந்தனர். நாம் சமூக மேம்பாடு, அபிவிருத்தியின்  வளர்ச்சிப் போக்கு மக்களது ஒருங்கிணைப்பு தொடர்பிலும் விரிவாக விளக்கமளித்திருந்தோம் என்றார்.

மேலும் குறித்த குழுவினர் அரச அதிபர்களுடனும் குழுப்படம் எடுத்துக் கொண்டமையும் இங்கு குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது. விஜயம் மேற்கொண்ட குழு வடக்கு ஆளுநர் ஜீ.ஏ சந்தரசிறியை சந்தித்திருந்தமையும் இங்கு குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது. 

- See more at: http://onlineuthayan.com/News_More.php?id=143123591629707855#sthash.gHWxxoH1.dpuf

Shirkers and skivers

Editorial-October 28, 2014,

The Size Of The Cabinet And The Allocation Of Departments To Ministries-Yet we have 50-60 of them.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa boasted, in his budget speech, the other day, that his government had increased the number of public employees to 1.3 million. He said the UNP-led UNF government had once tried to reduce the state service to a mere 300,000 workers. But, the question is whether the country has gained in any way from that huge increase in government servants or the productivity of the public sector has improved. If the state service can manage with 300,000 workers it doesn’t make any sense to hire more than four times that number and place an additional burden on the taxpayers.

The public service is full of malingerers, shirkers, bribe takers and skivers. It is characterised by inefficiency, tardiness, corruption and callous disregard for the ordinary people. Still, the state employees have to face disciplinary action if they get caught bunking off work. But, parliamentarians who are also paid salaries and pensions with public funds get away with skiving. They skip parliamentary sessions even during crucial debates. Worse, their leaders try to justify their habitual absence.

The national budget for 2015 is being debated in Parliament at present. But, MPs’ attendance has been so poor that Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa has expressed his concern about their absenteeism. Most of them do not seem to take their fiduciary responsibilities and legislative duties seriously. Even those MPs who have been on a campaign to restore the supremacy of parliament keep away when issues of crucial national importance are taken up in the House.

A few weeks ago the party leaders, troubled by MPs’ poor attendance, in their wisdom, unanimously decided that parliamentary sessions should go on with or without a quorum during the budget debate and agreed not to call for divisions. Their remedy was far worse than the malady, as we argued in these columns. An inevitable consequence of that decision was that the situation took a turn for the worse with the Speaker having to ring the quorum bell more frequently. Thankfully, sanity prevailed at long last; the party leaders reversed their decision. But, the problem persists.

It was claimed by some party leaders on Monday in justification of the absence of so many MPs that some of them had gone to courts. Only six UNP MPs had been summoned by the Colombo Fort Magistrate for alleged trespass of the SLFP trade union premises in Colombo 02. The public is paying through the nose to maintain 225 parliamentarians. The other 219 MPs or at least a majority of them should have been present in the House. Where were they?

Interestingly, not even a court case can prevent an MP from attending Parliament, Speaker Rajapaksa has ruled. On July 05, 2012, he declared in the House that all parliamentarians had a right to attend Parliament regardless of court cases and summons. He gave this ruling following an order issued by the Chilaw High Court for the arrest of UNP MP Palitha Range Bandara for failure to appear before it. The parliamentarian had informed the court through the Parliamentary Secretary General that he was attending Parliament on that day.

Parliament has made many a vital decision with a handful of MPs present in the chamber and what is the use of having so many lawmakers? Now that all nine Provincial Councils are fully functional with 455 members and 45 ministers, the number of parliamentarians should be reduced drastically.

It has been suggested in some quarters that the MPs’ sitting allowance be increased substantially as an antidote to chronic absenteeism. Such a move, in our book, will be as stupid as ‘hurling a piece of Maldive fish (umbalakada) at a thieving cat in flight’ as a popular local saying goes.

Leftist Parties Divided Over Which Candidate To Support At Upcoming Presidential Elections

October 29, 2014

Leftist parties in Sri Lanka have divided over which candidate to support at the upcoming Presidential elections, with the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) passing a motion to support Mahinda Rajapaksa while the Nava Sama Samaja Party (NSSP) has announced that a decision has not yet been made on which candidate they would support.

The motion to support Mahinda Rajapaksa at the upcoming Presidential election had been proposed abruptly without any notice of a resolution during a meeting held to consider some documents submitted to the Central Committee. Although senior members such as Lal Wijenayake, Dr Jayampathy Wickramaratne PC, Prof.  Vijaya Kumar, S Ramanathan, Wimal Rodrigo, Keerthi Kariyawasam  and Chameera Perera protested against the motion, it had been passed with 25 members voting in favour of it.

The protesting members have however informed that the decision is rejected by them and that they will defy it and act independently to support a candidate who will stand for abolition of the executive presidential system.

Meanwhile in a media statement, a group of the Nava Sama Samaja Party (NSSP) politbureau members have announced that they have not made a decision to support UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe or any other common candidate who will be fielded at the upcoming presidential elections.

They have noted that despite NSSP General Secretary Dr. Vickramabahu Karunaratne announcing that they would critically support Ranil Wickremesinghe, no such decision has been made and that it is only his personal view. In their statement, it has also been announced that an agreement has been made with the leftist parties to field a common candidate who would represent leftist ideologies.

Holding Presidential elections while Mahinda Deshapriya is Commissioner is like putting the devil at the wheel- clearly proved at Nelum Pokuna

(Lanka-e-News -29.Oct.2014, 10.30PM) The elections commissioner , Mahinda Deshapriya himself proved that under him as the elections commissioner , the future presidential elections will not be conducted impartially, and this is doubtless as he is a pro Rajapakse stooge . He demonstrated this clearly and cogently to the people of Sri Lanka (SL) at the government administrative officers’ meeting held at Nelum Pokuna on the 26 th.

Mahinda Rajapakse is not only the President now, but a President who had officially announced that he is also the Presidential candidate at the next election. In other words , he is a ‘split personality’ – President as well as Presidential candidate.

On the 26 th , he summoned a meeting of administrative officers at Nelum pokuna as President (one of the two characters) not to proffer advice on state administration , but rather to exploit this meeting to secure an edge at the Presidential elections as a candidate (the other character ), and to campaign for votes for him as a candidate.

It is an unequivocal fact that the Elections commissioner and the superior officers of the department are all part of the State administrative service. Since Mahinda Rajapakse was already a Presidential candidate and named officially so when he was summoning the meeting, the other higher officers of the elections commission who are civilized , have a sense of shame , dignity , respect for work and professional ethics, boycotted the Nelum pokuna conference, because the action of the President was most corrupt and an absolute election offence.

While the other officers of the election department rightly deemed President’s conduct as a most obnoxious and perfidious action ,the elections commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya on the other hand flouted flagrantly every legal norm and true lofty election tradition outrageously and disgracefully despite being the elections commissioner in whom every voter reposes faith, and expects of him to conduct a fair and free election ; he not only attended the conference but even had a secret chat with the President for 45 long minutes. Mahinda Deshapriya , the President , his secretary Lalith Weeratunge , and secretary to the State administrative service , P.B. Abeykoon participated in this hush- hush discussion sharing and gulping strong drinks within a VIP cubicle in Nelum Pokuna. Moreover , nobody was permitted to enter that cubicle during this secretive discussion and drinking bout.

In the circumstances , the elections commissioner by all this had not only grossly betrayed his own officers who were attacked at Matara and Uva province by the Rajapakse political henchmen , but even the entire country . Mahinda Dehapriya’s unseemly official behavior and most despicable partial attitude while prostituting his official position to stoop to the lowliest of levels deserves the worst condemnation , abhorrence and punishment in infernal hell from the standpoint of the people of the whole country . Indeed the entire election office under him is rudely shocked and startled to see their sycophantic superior officer sacrificing his soul this disgracefully at the altar of self gain and self advancement at the expense of a whole nation most unconscionably and unscrupulously.

PAFFREL Urges Election Commissioner to Follow Eelier Precedential Election Time Frames

28/10/2014 
In a letter to the Election Commissioner PAFFREL, Peoples Action for Free and Fair Elections has called him to follow the time frames of previous presidential election, in case of snap election to be held. The letter says that it is the discretion as the Election Commissioner to declare the day of polling and not the politicians.

The full letter follows:

A public discussion on a snap presidential election is currently underway throughout the country though there are two more years for the completion of the prudential term. lt is reported that the Pope has been invited for a visit during the same period when this snap election is slated to be conducted. For Sri Lankans, both these events hold great significance. lt is your discretion as the Election Commissioner to declare the day of polling. Therefore, we would like to bring to your notice the following matters; First, we would like to bring to your notice the steps followed in order for the declaration of polling days at the previous presidential election.

*According to the table, the minimum number of days allotted for the nomination period is 19, and the maximum number 2L.

*For the campaign, the minimum number of days allotted is 33 and the maximum number 41.

*However, the government ministers have been quoted that the election will be conducted either on January 3 or 8. (Relevant newspaper reports attached).
we hope that you are aware of the kind of controversy created in the country after a certain minister prematurely announced the polling day of the last Uva Provincial Council Election. tn a democratic society, elections are scheduled according to a timetable. Yet, the conducting of elections has been at the discretion of the party in power during the past three decades. And, it is an unfortunate situation where democratic principles are at stake. lt has even taken a turn for the worse now with ministers daring to announce polling days. The conducting of constant elections, alone, does not ensure democracy.

It is your duty to ensure the democratic process of conducting elections so that the public confidence in the system remains intact. We are hopeful that you will act responsibly in this case.

Against this backdroP, You are kindly requested to declare the day of polling at the snap election in a manner that ensures the rights of political parties and the public confidence in the system. In this exercise, you are also called upon to act with due consideration for the number of dates allotted for each poll-related activity during the past presidential elections.

Rohana Hettiarachchi
Executive Director
PAFFREL
27.10.2014

The great Game Folio

With Xi making public his determination to expand China’s defence cooperation with Sri Lanka and Colombo backing his Maritime Silk Road initiative, New Delhi can no longer downplay concerns about Beijing’s role in the waters to the south. - See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/the-great-game-folio-33/#sthash.T78e6J7p.dpuf

Written by C Raja Mohan | Posted: October 29, 2014 

China in Lanka

Reports that India has objected to Sri Lanka hosting a Chinese submarine last month are not surprising. In September, a submarine of the Chinese navy docked at the Colombo port just days before President Xi Jinping arrived in Sri Lanka. Last December, there were reports that a Chinese nuclear submarine had surfaced in the waters of Sri Lanka.

The Great Game Folio by Thavam Ratna