Nimalka Fernando to speak in US on peace and justice

The Women PeaceMakers of 2014. From left: Robi Damelin, Nimalka Fernando, Ashima Kaul and Margaret Arach Orech — (source- ut-sandiego)

November 12, 2014

They hail from India (Kashmir), Israel, Sri Lanka and Uganda. They have stood up to war criminals, rebel extremists, government and military officials.

All in the name of ending violence. All in the name of peace.

Now in its 12th year, the Women PeaceMakers Program selects women from global conflict zones who work, either as professionals or activists, to end violence and injustice.

Nimalka Fernando, of Sri Lanka, is a human-rights activist and lawyer who has been exiled for her advocacy.

Ashima Kaul, of Kashmir, a member of a displaced Hindu minority group, founded a network that counters ethnic and religious violence.

Robi Damelin, of Israel, has promoted reconciliation between Israel and Palestinians since her son was killed by a Palestinian sniper in 2002.

The four participants in USD’s Women PeaceMakers Program will tell their stories Thursday in a special reception and discussion hosted by the San Diego Women’s Foundation and USD’s Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice.

The women have been in San Diego since last month, living at the USD institute, where they’ve shared their experiences, networked and took respite from the often-turbulent world waiting for them back home.

Commonwealth fabricates genocidal history

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 11 November 2014, 19:40 GMT]
The country information page of The Commonwealth 2014, appearing in thecommonwealth.org, says, “The Great Dynasty (Mahavamsa) of the Sinhalese was established in 543 BC by King Vijaya, who came with his followers (the Sinhala, or ‘Lion Race’) from Bengal and settled in the north. Traces of the vast irrigation system they established still exist. About 300 years later, a royal prince from India named Mahinda, son of Asoka, introduced Buddhism. Tamil settlements began in the 10th century AD, and gave rise to a Tamil kingdom in Jaffna. There was a long struggle between Sinhalese and Tamil kings for the control of the north of the island. By the end of the 13th century, the Sinhalese were forced to migrate to the south.” Genocidal Sri Lanka is the current chair of the Commonwealth and former New Delhi diplomat Kamalesh Sharma is its Secretary General. 

The page begins saying, “Sri Lanka appears to have been inhabited from as early as 125,000 BC. Balangoda Man was the ancestor of the present-day Veddhas, a racial minority now inhabiting remote forests.”

The story beginning with prehistory, totally blacks out the protohistory that followed with nothing other than the megalithic culture shared only between South India and the island. But it harps on ‘Mahavamsa’ and the myth of ‘Sinhala’ race that arose a thousand years after the claimed date. 

Bengal is an ostensible imagination of today. A vast majority of the irrigation, cultivation and water resources terms in Sinhala, including the cultivation caste name, Goyi/ Goviyaa, are Dravidian. 

The page even blacks out its own Mahavamsa story of Pandyan connections with the so-called Vijaya or Tamil kings ruling Anuradhapura in the pre-Christian centuries, but the total intention of the fabrication is to say ‘Sinhalese first settled the north of the island, Tamils came only after 10th century AD and pushed the Sinhalese to the south,’ historically justifying the genocidal regain of land from the ‘intruders’.

Since the page begins with such a ‘history’ one could guess what would have followed in it in narrating the contemporary history and the war that culminated into genocide and continuing into structural genocide of Eezham Tamils. However, anyone could see the twist on contemporary affairs but not everyone would understand the theoretical foundations of the genocide set by the fabrication of past history that denies parallel nationhood and territory for Eezham Tamils in the island. 

The page is a good example for how the Eezham Tamils and their posterity (if it wants to remain as Eezham Tamils) would be looked at and treated under a single State in the island.

The page is also a significant example for what is envisaged by the Commonwealth of British colonial legacy that had committed genocide and annihilation of nations in various parts of the world. 

The Commonwealth website sites PresInform, “The Official Website of the Data and Information Unit of the Presidential Secretariat, Sri Lanka,” for ‘more information’ of its history page.

Much authentic research has been done and publications have come on the issue and its historiography over the past several decades. But State will not change and it will become more and more parochial when the intention is genocide. 

What is seriously dangerous is the international gang-up of such States in the name of ‘Commonwealth’ even in snatching away the commonwealth of perception in humanity.

The Commonwealth Secretariat could have at least consulted Romila Thapar's student Prof Sudharshan Seneviratne, who now represents the genocidal State and regime in New Delhi.

SC Process Shows The Pathetic Situation Sri Lankan Citizens Are Placed: BASL

November 12, 2014 

President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, Upul Jayasuriya today expressed grave concern over the Supreme Court’s process to determine President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s eligibility to contest for a third term.

Upul Jayasuriya -BASL President

Speaking to Colombo Telegraph, Upul Jayasuriya said; “This ‘opinion’ expressed by the SC goes to prove all what I have said about the pressure exerted by the Executive on the Judiciary. The manner in which this opinion was expressed conveyed beyond doubt the pathetic situation in which the citizens of Sri Lanka are placed.”

The BASL president said; “This is the first time ever in the history of the Constitution of Sri Lanka wherein the proceedings concerning an ‘opinion’ has been held in Camera (private hearing opposed to a public hearing as always done) though it is provided for in the constitution. Judges in the past have always taken the more transparent path of an open court proceeding where in parties are afforded the opportunity of making submissions. That opportunity has been deprived in the current instance. There was no need to do it. There was no election for the Presidency pronounced.

“There was provision in the Constitution for the SC to seek more time. More over President asked the Supreme Court about the applicability of the provision on ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa’. This issue that was applicable on Mahinda Rajapaksa is a matter of private concern. It was the duty of the SC to have maintained its glory, the serenity and the credibility and refrained from expressing its opinion.

“An opinion is not binding. However there will be no public officer who will have the courage to ignore this opinion.

“President Rajapaksa asked for a mandate from the people in 2010 on the basis that he would not contest again on the basis of the constitutional provision as it existed then. He is therefore Ineligible to violate that mandate with out the will of the people obtained at a referendum. When 18th amendment was assented by the Parliament they could not have done it with out a mandate from the people if the 18th Amendment was to be applicable to the a Incumbent President. Such mandate was not obtained at a referendum on the 18th amendment. Therefore it is a fallacy to say the least that the President can contest for a third time apart from the cardinal principle that no law could be applicable retrospectively.

“Finally I would conclude by saying that the Judiciary has succumbed to the pressure applied by the Executive President.

“There is another alarming matter. On Last Friday at 3 pm the deadline was imposed to file written submissions. One day later on Sunday morning “Sunday Observer” reported that 33 out of 35 counsels has filed written submissions supporting the view that the President can contest for the 3rd time along with justifying the calling of a Presidential Election after 4 years.

“Question also arises as to how this government controlled Newspaper was privy to this information. This information was only known to the judges or the Registrar of the Supreme Court !”

Related posts;

Rajapaksa Wins Third Term Battle

Mohan Pieris And Nihal Jayamanne Draft MR Questions For SC Opinion

No “In Camera” Need An Oral Hearing: Full Text Of The Bar Letter To De Facto CJ

Mahinda Was Lying In Wait, I Was Waiting For The Opportune Moment: Ex-CJ Sarath Silva

Eligibility For A Third Term: From The Horse’s Mouth

President’s Reference To The Supreme Court

The Supreme Court Cannot Become A Party To A Political Trick: AHRC

Mahinda Rajapaksa Cannot Succeed President Rajapaksa

Imagining That Third-Term

Rajapaksa & His Deception

| by A Special Correspondent

( November 12, 2014, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) No doubt today is a black day for each and every Sri Lanka who love justice and rule of law to prevail. Today ( November 10) is a black day  for the legal system of Sri-Lanka. Today we see how 20 million people are cheated by one man with support of 10 so called judges who betrayed the nation of 20 million. No doubt that some of them may have been threatened or have been bribed by MR ( Mahinda Rajapaksa) and co. It is not a difficult for MR to do such a dirty job. The man who robbed the tsunami money and the man who bribed Prabakaran to defeat Ranil and the man who bribed many UNP MPs to crossover would not hesitate to do this dirty politics and deceive our legal system. Sri Lanka has had a rich and decent political culture with well-established democratic traditions and norms. Today all these democratic traditions and rule of laws are buried under the carpet by this crafty one man: if this is not a dictatorship what would be a dictatorship? This is a clear cut dictatorship and deception.

What is the difference between this and a political coup?

It is a sad and dark day for all human right groups, students of politics, lawyers, academic, religious leadership and political parties. MR managed to fool all of them today with his tricks and deception. This is nothing but a political dishonesty and deception.

Political history of this nation has been rewritten in Sri Lanka by black ink that was choked with craftiness and deception in a broad day light. It is a sad day for all of us! This beautiful country is descending into a chaotic political unrest soon because of this inappropriate action of this power greedy man.

What we expect next. I’m sure he will win his third term by any means. He will punish all his enemies once he elected as he did in the last time. He is not a man of decency and honesty rather he is a power hungry man who wants rule until he dies or until he replaces his sons. Everyone knows this election is “do or die” election for him and for his family in Sri Lanka. That is why he wants to rush this election before his popularity goes down. He has got more than two years for the presidential election and yet why is rushing it now. He knows well that day by day people dislike him and people cannot afford to live in Sri Lanka because of price hiking and economic hardship. His mega projects are utter failures. People know that. The country will need to pay back interest to china for many decades and economic consequence of all these mega projects are well known to academics of this country. yet they cannot open their mouths.

What are long term consequences of MR’s crafty political tactics? People will lose their hope in democracy. The international community will put more procures on Sri Lanka in many impending issues. The political unrest would soon prevail in Sri Lanka. People will start feeling economic hardship and international investment will go down. People will be scared of investing in Sri-Lanka as soon as Sri-Lanka descends into a political unrest. We know well since the independence Sri Lanka has had many political unrests and coup attempts.

I wonder this crafty action might lead our country into dark days of unrest once again.

Young people may go back to violence with this unlawful and crafty manipulation of rule of law in the country. JVP insurgency may come back and even some sort of coup will be ignited any time. All opposition parties will demonstrate against this. I anticipate that the country will descend into days of demonstrations and violence as what happens in some Arab countries or in some other third world countries. How long MR could play around with his dirty politics. I think MR is suffering from some hysteria and psychological fear in his mind that he would be send to jail or something would happen to him he leaves politics now. That is why unlike all previous presidents he is determined to stay in power until he dies or replaces one of his sons.

This is an understandable fear given condition he is in right now. He has earned lots of enemies today. Many want to take revenge from him and he knows well that all his corruption changes will come out soon he leaves his job. So it is his “do or dies “situation. He will do whatever he could to save his life. It is similar to someone who is caught up in danger or life threatening situations. His survival instinct is alerted now to save his life. MR is in this precarious situation. He does not want to end up in jail and it would mean his entire family faces hard time ahead. He will buy any one with money and power to save his life. I can understand that in this context it is not a strange what all 10 judges did. They did this under duress. They cannot make up their mind independently in Sri Lanka in a issue like this. They will put their life in danger if they go against MR and co. They know that well. So you cannot blame them for this decision. All truth will come out once MR is dead or dislodged from his seat of power. Time will tell us that.

SC determination on MR’s third term only an advisory opinion, not a court ruling - Sarath Silva

 

Wednesday, 12 November 2014 

Former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva says the Supreme Court determination on President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s eligibility to contest for a third term in office is not an actual court ruling but an advisory opinion.

Silva told Lanka Herald that instead of referring to judges, the Leader of the House should have made a direct statement regarding the President’s move to contest for a third term.

Leader of the House, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva informed parliament that the Supreme Court has handed over a unanimous decision stating that there were no legal impediments to prevent President Rajapaksa from contesting for a third term.

Silva said, “Why do we take a long time to issue a judgement? Why are we battling with legal arguments by forming facts and presenting evidence? That is how a normal Court decision is given. But according to the way things are happening now, judges will be able to give away their decision by solving the case within a day. So it is clear what is going on by making the law a cheap device.

In 1802 The Supreme Court was situated at the same spot where the Temple Trees mansion is now situated. Those days there was a torture chamber used by the British to punish the locals near that place. And since the judges objected to stay there the Supreme Court had to be shifted to a new building at Hulftsdorp. Now after 200 years, President Rajapaksa has been able to bring the Court back to his house.”

Answering the query on the next steps he would take with regard to the legal argument presented by him under the title “Mahinda can’t contest for a third time,” the former chief justice said, he knew from the beginning that President Rajapaksa is not going to act according to a fair decision.

“That is why we took it before the general public before it happens. We asked him why he wants to retain his power by manipulating the law when he has the opportunity to stay in power for two more years if he wishes under the correct law. The power of the judiciary means the power of the people laid down by the Constitution. Hence it is the general public who should take the decision now. We would continue to raise the awareness of the public regarding the matter.”

- Dhammika Priyadarshana

It’s a dirty game, we do not accept the ‘opinion'

WEDNESDAY, 12 NOVEMBER 2014

“The President is playing a ‘dirty game’. He used the judiciary to get the viewpoint he wanted. As such, we do not accept the opinion given by the judiciary. We would continue the struggle that says ‘Mahinda cannot’ until the last moment,” said the General Secretary of the JVP Tilvin Silva at a media conference held at the head office of the JVP at Pelawatta today (12th). Attorney-at-Law Sunil Watagala was also present.

It’s a Dirty Game, We Do Not Accept the ‘Opinion' by Thavam Ratna

Warning From Sarath Fonseka

By S. Sivathasan -November 12, 2014

S. Sivathasan

Leader of the Democratic Party, former Army Commander Sarath Fonsekawas common candidate in the Presidential election 2010. On 10 November 2014, he issued a warning “I can tell with my past experience as the common candidate … that the prospective candidate should be very careful when taking a decision in this regard”. The warning was directed to aspirants seeking the highest office in the land. What made him say that?

For the harmless thought of coming forward as a consensual common candidate, he was made to languish in jail. For daring to contest and putting up a formidable fight against the incumbent President, he had to suffer the indignity of incarceration. Whether the warning is real, unreal or dire, one can judge according to one’s level of political awareness. When a previous happening gets repeated will it evolve into a tradition? Time will tell.

Some traditions which may seem humble and dignified today evolved from violent beginnings. One such is the manner in which a newly elected Speaker is escorted to his chair in the lower House of Parliament. Both violent antecedents as well as acceptable manners that followed grew up in the House of Commons in UK. A Speaker then as now was not selected for his oratorical prowess. He was an MP chosen then, by the House to SPEAK for them to the King.

The term Speaker was first used in year 1377. In those times King of England was very powerful. For the purpose of levying taxes, he would call Parliament seeking its concurrence. Parliament decisions were conveyed to the King by the Speaker. If they were not to the liking of the king, or were not what the King wanted to hear, then the Speaker ran the risk of incurring his wrath.

Some of the early Speakers getting beheaded was not uncommon. In the period1394 and 1535, as many as 9 heads rolled. Of them 7 were beheaded, 1 was murdered and 1 was killed in battle. From this time dates the tradition of token reluctance of an MP becoming Speaker. Till mid-sixteenth century election as speaker meant a possible death warrant.  He was then dragged to the chair by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the opposition. The warning of Sarath Fonseka implies likely arrest warrant in Sri Lanka for failing to win the Presidential contest.

After the treatment meted out to Sarath Fonseka in 2010, fear stalks prospective Presidential candidates. If there is another arrest, reluctant candidates may have to be dragged for their nomination thereafter. It will take decades for the unsavoury to be forgotten, the salutary to be remembered and for a tradition to be in place. For the good of the nation, those in authority have to be very circumspect in every decision they take and every act they commit.

You may watch a one minute video of a reluctant Speaker being escorted to the chair. Click here to watch.

Third Term For Mahinda Rajapaksa

| by Vishvamitra 

“Political language… is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.” - George Orwell

( November 12, 2014, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) No politician in the world would ever relinquish power on his or her own volition, unless there is something drastically imposed upon him or her by an outside force or an irreversible debilitating condition has set in health-wise.

Third Term for Mahinda Rajapaksa by Thavam Ratna

Security concerns over Chinese submarines visit to Colombo                              

By Col. R. Hariharan- Dated 10-Nov-2014

India expressed “serious concern to India’s national security” to Sri Lanka Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa when he met the Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval at New Delhi on October 20, 2014 over the docking of a Chinese submarine “Great Wall No.329” in Colombo harbour along with the support ship “Changxing Island” from September 7 to 14, 2014.[i] The wrong identification of the diesel-electric Song class submarine as a nuclear-propelled submarine (SSN) sensationalised the first reports on the incident adding to public concern in India.
Security Concerns Over Chinese Submarines Visit to Colombo by Thavam Ratna

Great Betrayal Of The Peoples’ Executive Power And Judicial Power

By Nagananda Kodituwakku -November 11, 2014 |

Nagananda Kodituwakku

Both the Executive President Mr Mahinda Rajapaksa and Mr Mohan Pierisappointed to the office of the Chief Justice have taken oath as required by article 32 and 107 and Fourth Schedule of the Constitution, to perform the duties and discharge the functions of their respective Offices and to uphold and defend the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to the best of their ability.

The whole nation is fully aware that Mr Mohan Pieris was appointed to the Office of the Chief Justice by the President Rajapaksa, when there was no vacancy existed in the office and by forcibly denying the incumbent Chief Justice, Dr Shirani Bandaranayake of her right to perform the duties of office of the Chief Justice. In short Mr Mohan Pieris should have been fully aware that accepting the office of the Chief Justice when there was no vacancy was clearly a violation of the law and in the given circumstances any oath or affirmation taken to uphold the office of the Chief Justice would become void from the beginning and thereby any decision made by him or by any bench appointed by him would have no legal effect at all. They are bound to be declared invalid once the Rule of Law is restored in this country and hence the billions of taxpayer’s money spent on the Supreme Court during his period would go waste.Read More

Necessity To Neutralize The Islamic Terrorism And Sri Lanka’s U-Turn

By Ayathuray Rajasingam -November 12, 2014 

Ayathuray Rajasingam

Today the Islamic Terrorist Organizations are a threat and challenges the stabilization of democracies. The fund spent by the terrorist organization are mainly from the proceeds of the sale of narcotics. The ultimate goal of Islamic terrorists is to establish Sharia Law and throw a challenge to democracy all over the world. Nevertheless peace could not be found in Afghanistan, Saudi, Somalia and Yemen where 100 % of the population are Muslims. Radical Muslims intimidate and spew hatred and satisfy their blood lust by killing less radical Muslims for various reasons.

The deplorable condition in Islamic countries saw a large number of law-abiding Muslims seeking refuge in Western countries, where they had adapted themselves to Western democratic ideologies having recognized the principles of equality, while retaining their cultural practices. They co-existed with other communities peacefully. However, the recent development of the establishment of ‘no-go-zones’, colonized by Muslims in Europe and other countries that practises pluralism sends the message that some undesirable elements promoting violence have crept in, which saw the September 11 attack on the Twin Tower, bombings at the London Subway, Mumbai, chopping of an innocent soldier in UK, derailing activities in democratic countries and recently the deaths of Canadian soldier Nathan Cirillio and Warrant Officer Patricia Vincent had again sent a message that savage ideology stimulates terrorism. As the war with the terrorists is a battle between the visible and invisible, one ponders whether these ‘no-go-zones’ are a breeding ground for the operation of these Islamic terrorists.Read More

‘B’ report to be filed against Champika!

 Wednesday, 12 November 2014 

A ‘B’ report is to be filed in the Colombo Fort magistrate’s court against science and technology minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, who is demanding a constitutional amendment and threatening to join the opposition if his demand is not met, say internal sources of the CID.

The basis for this report is the financial irregularities that had taken place, as exposed by incumbent power minister Pavitradevi Wanniarachchi recently, in the purchase of coal. The CID is intending to obtain court permission to record a statement from minister Ranawaka.

At the request of the presidential secretariat, CID director SSP L.R. Ranaweera has entrusted this investigation to Sergeant U.R.S. Silva. He was stationed in Beliatta, where he was born, until mid-2006, when he has come to be attached to the CID. He is known to be an investigator of anti-government politicians, including former Army chief Sarath Fonseka, and notorious in the CID as a henchman of the Rajapaksas.

Axing of Ven. Raththane Thera begins most un -ceremonially !

(Lanka-e-News- 12.Nov.2014, 3.30PM) 10 th 

night suddenly and strangely , disabled soldiers of the civil defense force undergoing rehabilitation for the last two years at the temple of JHU M.P. Ven. Raththane Thera were removed from there in a flash .

This group of soldiers less than a thousand in number were being rehabilitated mentally , in the backdrop of a religious atmosphere within the temple by participating in religious activities during the last two years.

Sources say ,these disabled soldiers had been taken away by the civil security force chiefs of the defense Ministry as a retaliation , after the group led by Ven.Raththane Thera demanded a constitutional amendment to establish good governance , and in view of the rally organized under the theme ‘Pivithuru hetak’ in this connection to be held today.

---------------------------
by     (2014-11-12 10:43:16)

Rathana Thero’s email and Facebook hacked

November 12, 2014

Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) Parliamentarian Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero says that his personal email account and Facebook account have been blocked.

Rathana Thero told Ada Derana that he believes this neither a technical fault nor was done by respective companies but some individuals had hacked into his accounts.

Meanwhile, a rally organized by the National Council for a Clean Tomorrow to urge the government to abolish executive presidency is supposed to launch in Colombo, this afternoon, Thero added.

‘I was ‘Anura Aiya’ at Vidusara, but ‘Anura Sir’ now!’

 

Wednesday, 12 November 2014 

Secretary to the ministry of commerce and industries, and acting chairman of ITN Anura Siriwardena, has reprimanded a colleague who had worked with him in ‘Vidusara’ newspaper around 20 years ago, for having called him ‘Anura Aiya,’ the journalist has mentioned to several of his colleagues.

The incident occurred when the journalist had gone to Siriwardena’s office to seek a certain favour. As was his old habit, he has called Siriwardena ‘Anura Aiya’, but was sternly told, “Don’t call me ‘Aiya’. If overheard, those in this office too, will start calling me ‘Aiya.’ The other thing is, it is not like during the Vidusara times. Now, I am a person who holds a responsible position in Sri Lanka. Therefore, call me officially. Old friendships are not valid any longer.” After Siriwardena uttered these remarks, the journalist abandoned his idea of seeking the favour and left the office.

In the same evening, the pained journalist related the incident to his colleagues over a round of drinks. Pacifying him, one friend explained as to why Siriwardena is behaving in that manner.

One day, at a meeting attended by MP Namal Rajapaksa, when a matter arose with regard to the president, Siriwardena has said proudly in order to show his close links with the president, “OK. OK, I’ll ask Mahinda Aiya and come back later. Hearing this Namal has asked, “Who is Mahinda Aiya, Mr. Siriwardena? Is it Mahinda Illeperuma?” Siriwardena’s reply was, “No. No. Mr. MP. It is not Mahinda Illeperuma. I was saying that I will ask your father.” Then Namal has said, “Mr. Siriwardena, isn’t it improper to refer to the country’s president at important meetings as ‘Aiya’?” This rendered Siriwardena speechless.

Taking Namal’s advice to heart, Siriwardena has begun telling others not to call him ‘Aiya’ too, the journalist friend explained to everybody present.