Forthcoming Presidential Elections; Besieged Muslims made up their minds

Forthcoming Presidential Elections
Besieged Muslims made up their minds
Muslim politicians irrelevant in today’s political scenario
By Latheef Farook-December 13 

With campaign for the forthcoming presidential elections on 8 January 2015 under way in full swing, the island’s Muslims appear to have made up their minds. In doing so they dismissed Muslim political parties and politicians as corrupt, morally bankrupt and unfit to represent the Muslim community.

Forthcoming Presidential Elections; Besieged Muslims Made Up Their Minds by Thavam Ratna

Strange theories of economic development

By Rajiva Wijesinha2014-12-17

One of my Tamil friends was recently at Temple Trees to participate in the exercises the poor President is now engaged in to try to win hearts and minds. But the experience was surreal, for discussion of substance was it seems left to Basil Rajapaksa, whilst the President contented himself with assuring his guests that he had taken precautions to stop further crossovers. Whether this was through carrots or sticks he did not elaborate.

Strange Theories of Economic Development by Thavam Ratna

Maithri Over Mahinda: The Tale Of Two Campaigns

Hudson

By Liyanage Amarakeerthi -December 16, 2014

Dr. Liyanage Amarakeerthi

The Common Candidate Maithripala Sirisena (MS) is not just a person. He is a symbol, as well. Different people have different interpretations of this symbol. The supporters of the Rajapakasa regime are the poorest interpreters of this symbol. According to Hudson Samarasinghe, who has reduced radio medium into a kind of booing at people who does not think the way he does, the Common Candidate is a conspirator supported by the West. This man Samarasinghe, the chairman of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, has been insulting people with unimaginable impunity during his two-hour radio diatribe called “Rata Yana Atha” during the last few years. His kind of journalism, if one wants call it ‘journalism’, is only possible with the support of his tasteless master.  Then there is another man Wimal Weerawansha. Only concept left in Weerawansha’s pool of thought is also “Western conspiracy.’ For him the Common Candidate is a plot designed in the US Embassy of Sri Lanka. As Gunadasa Amarasekara has put it, the Common Candidate is a conspiracy of the West whose handmaid is a group of Buddhist monks led by Rev. Maduluwawe Sobhita and Aturaliye Rathana. The aim of the West is to destroy the nationality of Sinhala people. For these uncritical defenders of the regime Rev. Sobhita and Rathna are evil monks equal to the robe wearers who assassinated former prime minister SWRD Bandaranaike. All these conspiracy theories have now lost their power of persuasion partly because that line of thinking has become so one-dimensional that it captures none of the complexities and nuances.

The response to the Common Candidate by the ideological supporters of the current regime shows one thing important to note: They do not have any fresh ideas and they have fallen into a kind of ideological slumber after the ending of the war in 2009. They have failed to create a mode of thinking suitable for the post-war Sri Lanka. That failure itself is a major cause of creating the Common Candidate – a fact the regime is still to recognize. After ending of the war, the ideologues of the regime fell into an ethical slumber in addition to the intellectual one. That is why they failed to produce an internal critique of the unprecedented corruption and waste of public resources by the regime, specially the ruling family. For that reason, all the stories of corruption narrated by the Common Candidate Movement have become extremely appealing. In fact they are stories of horror that can instantly make people hate the regime.Read More

Our Little Effect To The Common Struggle

| by Vickramabahu Karunaratne

( December 16, 2014, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) There is no doubt, since many parties including the main opposition party, UNP, and civil society organizations have already campaigning for Maithripala, he has now emerged as the main contender to the incumbent president. What is significant is that the parties of old left led by VASU, DEW AND TISSA lost almost all their rank and file who decided to support NSSP position: critical support to Maithree. Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, Sinhala petty bourgeoisie party that supported and led the war campaign against the Tamil uprising has turned around and announced that it will campaign against Mahinda thus indirectly supporting Maithree. 

Our Little Effect to the Common Struggle by Thavam Ratna

Basil disappears : has warned if Tissa appointed health minister , he cannot halt those deserting government

(Lanka-e-News- 16.Dec.2014, 7.30PM) Basil Rajapakse has suddenly disappeared , according to Temple trees informed sources, with the surfacing of all signs of sure defeat at impending elections and the stench emanating from within the Rajapakse ranks.

Might we recall we already revealed in our earlier reports , how the duties of Basil who was playing a lead role in the MaRa government’s election activities were cut down, and those propaganda activities were taken over by Mahinda Rajapakse’s sons. Basil who was already cut up with this treatment was further irritated and annoyed when venally inclined Tissa Attanayake a non entity was appointed as the health minister .

Lanka e news at the same time as discussions were being held regarding the appointment of Tissa Attanayake reported , that the latter was insisting on the health portfolio when a different portfolio was offered , and it was only MaRa and his sons who participated in those discussions.

Finally , MaRa and his sons decided to appoint Tissa as the health minister . Basil who was thoroughly disappointed and disgruntled over this appointment , had told his closest friends that , while he is toiling to hold back the SLFP parliamentarians from crossing over by creeping into their homes under cover of darkness and begging from them , MaRa and sons are paving the way for them to defect.

Truly speaking , the true main reason for the beginning of the split into two within the SLFP was the marginalizing and displacing of the senior SLFPers and SLFP representatives elected by the people who worked with commitment for the party , while giving prominence and places to the UNPers who pole vaulted . This resentment and discontent within the government rank and file turned into a sore that was incurably festering .In those circumstances when those who came from outside were getting down ethanol and heroin , it was the SLFP seniors who were targeted for attack by the public. When these outsiders who crept in were opening a hundred wine stores and dozens of distilleries , it is the SLFP seniors on the other hand who were promoting ‘mathata thitha’ ( anti alcoholics) policy who came in for attack of the public.

While this is the abominable situation prevailing within a disintegrating government , amidst Bandaranaikes the original founders of the party , its party secretary and senior leaders who together upheld the reputation of the party discarding the government to join the opposition , just a nitwit like Tissa Attanayake who came in recently being made the health minister had antagonized Basil who is of the belief that despite having glaring knowledge of this deterioration and disintegration of the government , no attempt is being made to find a cure for this festering sore , which is now stinking more than ever before.

With Maithri leaving the government , Lalith Dissanayake who is an SLFP senior and deputy health minister was appointed as the acting health minister . Yet , without making Lalith the health minister , n SLFP er who rightly deserves the portfolio , bringing in a moron like Tissa Attanayake from nowhere to be appointed as health minister , who had only been a worthless central province development minister for just two years and had not any day carried out duties of a responsible ministry at national level ; and who could not have ever won on people’s votes and therefore appointed as an M.P. from the national list , had created a bitter feeling of unbearable disgust and dismay in Basil.

Basil who could only grin and bear in these most deplorable and despicable circumstances before MaRa had finally told the family of Mahinda Rajapkse , ‘if Tissa is being given the post of health minister , do not tell me again to halt those who are deserting the party.’

Currently , Basil has disappeared from the scene .

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by     (2014-12-16 14:28:42)

State capitalism in crisis!

What of Sri Lanka’s SOEs?-December 16, 2014 

When the economies of the Western world went into crisis mode in 2007 and 2008, in the emerging economies, state capitalism was seen as the solution. Sovereign wealth funds which had gathered resources in the years before invested in state commercial ventures. Also a new hybrid, involving State plus private capital combining together was launched.

State Capitalism in Crisis! by Thavam Ratna

MR Threatened Me Into Remaining Silent On Govt Corruption: Maithripala

Common Opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena says he never raised issues about the rampant corruption within the government because he was threatened by President Rajapaksa to keep mum about issues concerning bribery and corruption in the regime.

Speaking at the launch of the book – the ‘Doom Boom Economy’ authored by JHU frontliner and former Minister Champika Ranawaka yesterday, Sirisena recalled the incident following which he had been threatened by President Rajapaksa to remain silent about the corruption within his government.

“It was in 2011; I had attended a progress review meeting of the Economic Development Ministry monetary projects. . . During the gathering, issues were raised concerning the prevalent public view of the large scale frauds in road construction projects. I spoke up then and stressed on the importance of rectifying such issues,” Sirisena recalled.

Sirisena said he received a phone call from Temple Trees the very next day. He had been summoned to meet the President, who had demanded to know whether he spoke on corruption over the construction of roads.

“I said yes and explained that it was a growing public view. I advised him that it was not a good development and on the need to address it immediately. President Rajapaksa then pointed his finger at me and said that if I am to remain in the government I must remain silent on the corruption within his regime. . . He also asked me ‘තමුසේ වෙන ගමනක්ද යන්න හදන්නේ’ (Are you attempting to undertake a separate journey?),” Sirisena said adding that it was on that day, he decided that he would not raise an issue on corruption until he left the Rajapska regime.

Poor Rajapaksa Thinks Villagers Are All Babies

Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha MP

By Rajiva Wijesinha -December 16, 2014

A Presidency Under Threat; Strange theories of Economic Development

One of my Tamil friends was recently at Temple Trees to participate in the exercises the poor President is now engaged in to try to win hearts and minds. But the experience was surreal, for discussion of substance was it seems left to Basil Rajapaksa, whilst the President contented himself with assuring his guests that he had taken precautions to stop further crossovers. Whether this was through carrots or sticks he did not elaborate.

Basil’s idea of substance of course leaves much to be desired. As the villagers where I spent the last weekend were saying, with regard to the sudden lowering of fuel and gas prices, the President thinks they are all babies. But at least the President, I still firmly believe, loves the people, and his tragedy is that he seems to love more those who do not share his own instincts and affections. But Basil it seems has nothing but contempt for them, for he thinks nothing of their future. As one shrewd Indian commentator put it with regard to the manner in which Kshenuka Senewiratne destroyed the goodwill Dayan Jayatilleka had built up, she ignored those without glamour except to ask them, when a crisis loomed, for their votes.Read More

Mahinda’s Family And Economy Of Sri Lanka

| by A Special Correspondent

( December 16, 2014, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Former Minister Champika Ranawaka argues that Mahinda Rajapaksa ( MR) has already greatly damaged the economy of Sri Lanka than that of Prabakaran’s war for the thirty years. This is the hypothesis of minister who worked with MR until recent time.

Mahinda’s Family and Economy of Sri Lanka by Thavam Ratna

Developing SL pharmaceutical industry: Concentrate on research and producing biomedical scientists

A worthwhile suggestion that has been ignored-December 15, 2014
At the pre-Budget meeting which the Treasury Secretary P.B. Jayasundera had with business leaders, an important proposal to take Sri Lanka to the future was made by Hemas Holdings Chairman Husein Esufally (available at:

http://www.ft.lk/2014/10/15/business-leaders-brainstorm-budget-2015-with-finance-ministry/). He said that local pharmaceutical companies today account for only 10% of the pharmaceutics used in the country. He suggested to the Government that the facilities at the National Science Park in close proximity to the Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology should be used to create an ecosystem conducive for the development of a pharmaceutical industry in the country.

Developing SL Pharmaceutical Industry Concentrate on Research and Producing Biomedical Scientists by Thavam Ratna

Minister Badurdeen assaults MP Ranga

 Tuesday, 16 December 2014 

Minister Rishad Badurdeen is reported to have assaulted government parliamentarian J Sri Ranga at Temple Trees yesterday (December 15).

Ranga is also a media man and works for Shakthi TV's "Minnel" programme.

Minister Badurdeen is said to have questioned Ranga over his comments in the TV programme which led to the attack.

Efforts made by SriLankaMirror to reach out to Minister Badurdeen 

Opposition Is Referring To Our Toy Helicopters: Namal

Refuting the claims made by the Opposition on each of the Rajapaksa ‘princes’ owning a private chopper, the eldest ‘prince’ MP Namal Rajapaksa in a most absurd response has stated that the helicopters in reference are only toys that were gifted to them as kids.

Addressing a UPFA rally yesterday, Namal has said that when he saw news reports of the three helicoptersgifted to him and his two siblings by their father, he had rushed home to check whether the reports were true.

“He had not bought us helicopters. There were only the three toy helicopters that he bought for us as kids during a trip to Kataragama. The Opposition has been referring to these toys. If they are resorting to lying, I wish they would at least lie in a way they wouldn’t get caught,” he had said.

Namal had also commented on the claims made by the Opposition about the horse that had been brought to Sri Lanka for the use of the youngest ‘prince’ Lohitha Rajapaksa, all the way from the Royal Mews of the Buckingham Palace.

“They have said we travel to Nuwaraeliya in these helicopters to see horses. I am not aware of any horses owned by my family. But I do know that there was a horse at Temple Trees when Vimukthi used to live there. That was during the tenure of Chandrika,” he had said.

Kudu Dematagoda Chaminda who murdered Bharatha and not attending court trial at Temple Trees.!

(Lanka-e-News- 16.Dec.2014, 7.30PM) Underworld murderer Sirinayake Pathiranage Chaminda Ravi Jayanath alias Dematagoda Chaminda also known as ‘Moda Chaminda’ and ‘Mola’ who allegedly murdered Bharatha Lakshman, and now avoiding courts in the case against him had been seen hanging around the Temple Trees during the last three days, based on reports reaching Lanka e news from Temple Trees informed sources.

Dematagoda Chaminda is a most close associate and crony of so called defense monitoring government M.P.Duminda Silva alias ‘kudu Dumiya’ and, allegedly it is Dematagoda Chaminda who carried out the shooting in Bharatha murder. The suspect who fled to India was arrested in India . Later he was remanded here. After a while he was enlarged on bail , but never appeared in court for the case whenever it was called up. The police too informed court that they were not aware of his whereabouts . Consequently the case was heard ex parte .

This underworld criminal is not only wanted in connection with Bharatha’s case , but in many others too .Nevertheless he has been able to keep away from courts due to political patronage he enjoyed. Interestingly ,he is illiterate and even cannot write a word in any language.

Various media published numerous reports earlier on of Dematagoda Chaminda’s criminal involvements in the attacks launched on anti government media Institutions, personnel and arson committing by him. Now , during the last three days , this underworld criminal is in and out of Temple Trees while claiming proudly ‘ I am now in boss’ squad.’

This ‘boss’ is no less a person than Mahinda Rajapakse , Chaminda’s ‘goon father .’ At the same time there are reports that underworld hoodlums who are henchmen of these leading underworld leaders are loitering around the common opposition candidate’s residence .

Taliban go on killing spree at Pakistan school, 132 students dead
 Pakistani security forces takes up a positions on a road leading to the Army Public School that is under attack by Taliban gunmen in Peshawar, December 16, 2014. 

Schoolchildren cross a road as they move away from a military run school that is under attack by Taliban gunmen in Peshawar, December 16, 2014. 

BY JIBRAN AHMAD AND MEHREEN ZAHRA-MALIK-PESHAWAR, Pakistan Tue Dec 16, 2014

(Reuters) - At least 132 students and nine staff members were killed on Tuesday after Taliban gunmen broke into a school in the Pakistani city of Peshawar and opened fire, witnesses said, in the bloodiest massacre the country has seen for years.
Taliban Go on Killing Spree at Pakistan School, 132 Students Dead by Thavam Ratna

Around 180 Syrian Soldiers, Jihadists Reported Killed in Battle for Base

Rebel fighters walk around al-Hamidiyeh base, one of two military posts they took control of from forces loyal to Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad in the northwestern province of Idlib, Dec. 15, 2014.

December 16, 2014 7:10 AM

BEIRUT—Around 100 Syrian soldiers and 80 Islamist fighters were killed during a two-day battle in which insurgents captured the Wadi al-Deif military base, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said on Tuesday.

The Britain-based group said Islamist insurgents including al-Qaida’s Syria wing, the Nusra Front, on Monday took the base next to the country’s main north-south highway linking Aleppo with Damascus. Fighters also captured the smaller Hamidiya base, southwest of the Wadi al-Deif, the Observatory said.
The group said that around 120 soldiers were captured in the assault, citing insurgent sources.

Forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad had previously managed to repel numerous attacks on Wadi al-Deif in Idlib province, which has been surrounded by insurgents for two years.

Reuters could not immediately verify the report by the Observatory, which says it tracks the conflict through a network of sources on both sides.

Syrian government officials were not available for comment. Syria’s state news agency SANA said that the army had killed several “terrorists” in Idlib province.

SANA also said on Tuesday that the army had killed more than 60 “terrorists” from the Islamic State militant group in the province of Deir al-Zor, hundreds of kilometers (miles) east of Idlib.

Syria’s war started with a pro-democracy movement that grew into an armed uprising and has inflamed regional confrontations. Some 200,000 people have died in the conflict, according to United Nations estimates. 

Sydney siege 'may have happened', despite checks

Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott reveals the gunman behind the Sydney cafe siege was not on a government watchlist - despite his radical views and charges linked to the murder of his ex-wife.

TUESDAY 16 DECEMBER 2014

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott admitted that even if the lone wolf gunman in the Sydney siege had been monitored around the clock, "it's quite likely, certainly possible, that this incident could have taken place".
Sydney Siege 'May Have Happened', Despite Checks by Thavam Ratna

Sorry, Putin. Russia’s economy is doomed

By Matt O'Brien December 15 at 6:30 PM

A funny thing happened on the way to Vladimir Putin running strategic laps around the West. Russia's economy imploded.

The latest news is that Russia's central bank raised interest rates from 10.5 to 17 percent at an emergency 1 a.m. meeting in an attempt to stop the ruble, which is down 50 percent on the year against the dollar, from falling any further. It's a desperate move to save Russia's currency that comes at the cost of sacrificing Russia's economy.
Sorry, Putin. Russia’s Economy is Doomed by Thavam Ratna