If Only We’d Just Spent More Blood and Treasure in Yemen

Five lessons from misadventures in the Middle East that 
Washington just can’t seem to learn.

BY STEPHEN M. WALT-JANUARY 23, 2015

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. The U.S. government decides that some ill-governed authoritarian country in the Arab and/or Islamic world is a potential source of serious trouble. It sends some troops and/or sophisticated weaponry to eliminate the problem, and backs some local leaders in the hope of establishing a better government. But instead of eliminating the bad guys Washington was worried about and producing a new and improved regime, the U.S. intervention merely fuels anti-American hostility and reinforces a simmering internal conflict. The people we back turn out to be corrupt, ineffective, or both, and are either incapable of gaining power or unable to hold on to it. After spending tens of millions of dollars and blowing a bunch of stuff up, we’re back where we started (or worse).
If Only We’d Just Spent More Blood and Treasure in Yemen by Thavam Ratna

The strange afterlife of banned TSA items

By Andrea Sachs January 22

To the traveler forced to surrender his cricket bat at an airport security checkpoint: I have located your valuable sports gear. I found it inside a state government office building in Pennsylvania, languishing on a shelf between a gardening trowel and a pipe wrench.
The Strange Afterlife of Banned TSA Items by Thavam Ratna

Coal production drops in China for 1st time in 14 years

Miners shovel coal at a mine in China’s Hebei province. Pic: AP.

By AP News Jan 24, 2015

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese state media report that the country has recorded its first drop in coal production since 2000, as it pulls back on its use of the fossil fuel and switches to cleaner energy sources.

According to the national coal association, China produced 3.5 billion tons of coal in the first 11 months of 2014, 2.1 percent less than the same period in 2013.

The report, quoted by the official Xinhua News Agency, said the profits of major Chinese coal companies dropped 44 percent in that same period to 110.5 billion yuan, or $18 billion, amid low global coal prices.

In November, China pledged to stop the growth in its carbon emissions by 2030. Chinese leaders are also under pressure to fight air pollution affecting much of the country.

Natural Remedy for Allergies, Flu, Asthma, and Other Illnesses

June 25, 2012 By Amy 

I have terrible allergies and asthma which always leads to me getting sick. I actually went to the allergist recently to find out what I was allergic to and they told me if there was a prize for being the most allergic I would win. Sad right? You may remember a post I did a little while back about a natural allergy relief drink. Well this one is very similar but has another added benefit, elderberries. My friend Jordan from LilyWhite. designs told me about elderberries. A lady from her church told her about how her daughter had bronchitis and doctors kept giving her prescriptions and  they weren’t working so she tried this concoction and it went away.

Benefits of Elderberries
Helps prevent the flu
Full of antioxidants
Helps treat the flu, bronchitis, colds, viral, and bacterial infections. (Use as a cold/flu medicine)
Can help treat asthma and allergies

Elderberry Syrup
Ingredients:
1/2 cup dried elderberries
3 cups water
1 cup local or raw honey (I chose local to get the allergy relief benefits)
2/3 cup Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar

Directions:
Fill a pot with water and dried elderberries. Bring to a boil and let boil for 30 minutes. Take off heat and mash elderberries up well (I used a potato masher). Strain out the liquid into a separate bowl using cheese cloth, coffee filter, or something similar. Once strained add honey to the elderberry liquid and stir well. Then add ACV. Place in a jar and put in the fridge for up to 6 months.

To use:  Adults 1 Tbs a day
Children: 1 tsp a day.
You can take this straight or mix it with some water.

If your using it as a flu/cold medicine you can take same dose but every hour instead of just once a day.

This did not cost me very much to make, maybe $7 dollars for a lot and it makes me feel better that I am not taking a bunch of chemicals. I know exactly what is in it! I would love to hear of any other herbal treatments you take when you are sick!

This post contains affiliate links to help support my blogging.

Coal production drops in China for 1st time in 14 years

January 22 at 8:11pm 

When feeling tired and low on energy, many people’s first reaction is to reach for a cup of coffee. Energy drinks are the other popular ‘solution’. One of the most famous energy drinks, Red Bull, created a name for itself as a beverage that ‘gives you wings’. Sponsoring many extreme sport events, Red Bull’s marketing motto states that they support daring people and innovative ideas. They don’t mention the potential health dangers of their signature drink.

The popular Red Bull has now been associated with cardiovascular problems, including stroke and heart attack. It has been banned in Norway, Denmark and Uruguay, and France stopped selling it between 1996 and 2008.

Red Bull thickens the blood and provides the body with an unnatural level of stimulation. Scott Willoughby, lead researcher from the Cardiovascular Research Center at the Royal Adelaide Hospital in Australia, reports that one hour after drinking just one can of Red Bull, blood consistency of the research participants became abnormal and resembled that of a heart patient. Willoughby warns that when combined with stress or high blood pressure, Red Bull can cause damage to blood vessels and creates the risk of blood clotting. This is especially dangerous for people who have a predisposition to cardiovascular disease.

Red Bull’s primary ingredients are caffeine and sugar. The latter is in the form of glucuronolactone, sucrose and glucose. It also contains aspartame, the artificial sweetener that has been linked to neurotoxic, metabolic, allergenic, fetal, and carcinogenic effects. The Red Bull’s original manufacturer in Austria even warns their costumers not to drink more than two cans a day.

As with other caffeinated beverages, Red Bull gives you a quick high. But this is short-lived and it turns into a low, so you soon feel you need another energy boost. And another can (or cup). You enter a vicious cycle and many people get addicted to Red Bull and other energy drinks.

On top of the adverse effects connected with high caffeine content, Red Bull contains different chemicals that have not been properly researched yet. Many people also combine it with alcohol, which adds to the potential dangers. It means mixing a stimulant with a depressant. This can overload the body and lead to serious health problems. According to an article published in 2001 in the journal Medicine, Science, and Law, when combined with ephedra, which is also a stimulant, Red Bull can cause acute psychosis.

It is especially worrying that Red Bull and other energy drinks are marketed towards young people and students, creating a whole generation of people that is unable to reach normal energy levels the natural way.

So what is the alternative to drinking excessive amounts of caffeinated beverages?

Many experts advise that by doing the following things you can successfully boost your energy levels:

• Improve your diet.
• Increase your intake of omega-3 fatty acids.
• Cut down on sugars.
• Reduce your stress levels.
• Get enough good quality sleep.
• Exercise regularly.

Resources:
http://energydrink-us.redbull.com/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11693229?ordinalpos=3&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/08/15/us-australia-redbull-idUSSYD5846120080815
http://www.healthyandnaturalworld.com/

பெப்ரவரி 4இல் ஒரு தொகுதி தமிழ் இளைஞர்கள் விடுதலை செய்யப்படுவர்: விஜயகலா

[ வெள்ளிக்கிழமை, 23 சனவரி 2015, 07:29.19 AM GMT ]

மகளிர் விவகார பிரதியமைச்சர் திருமதி விஜயகலா மகேஸ்வரன் இன்று செத்சிரிபாயவின் புதிய கட்டிடத்தில் உள்ள மகளிர் விகார அமைச்சில் தனது கடமைகளைப் பொறுப்பேற்றுக் கொண்டார்.

அதன்பின்னர் ஊடகங்களுக்குக் கருத்துத் தெரிவித்த அவர்,

இந்த அமைச்சின் ஊடாக வட கிழக்கு உற்பட ஏனைய பிரதேசங்களிலும் துன்பப்பட்ட தமிழ் பேசும் பெண்கள் சம்பந்தமான பிரச்சினைகளுக்கு சேவையாற்றுவேன்.

இந்த பிரதியமைச்சுப் பொறுப்பை எனக்கு வழங்கிய ஜனாதிபதி மைத்திரிபால சிறிசேனா மற்றும் ஐ.தே.கட்சியின் தலைவரும் பிரதமருமான ரணில் விக்கிரமசிங்கவுக்கு எனது நன்றி.

வடக்கில் வாழ்ந்த மக்கள் பாரிய இன்னல்களை எதிர்நோக்கியுள்ளனர். அவர்களது வாழ்க்கைத் தரத்தை உயர்த்த வேண்டும். அதற்காக கூடுதலான நிதி மற்றும் ஏனைய அமைச்சர்களின் உதவியையும் பெற்றுக்கொள்வேன்.

கடந்த யுத்த காலத்தில் பல ஆயிரக்கணக்கான தமிழ் இளைஞர்கள் எவ்வித விசாரணையுமின்றி சிறையில் வாடுகின்றனர். இவர்களது தாய், தந்தையர்கள், மனைவி மற்றும் பிள்ளைகள் மிகவும் துன்பநிலையில் வாழ்ந்து கொண்டிருக்கின்றனர்.

இவர்களை உரிய விசாரணைகளை மேற்கொண்டு விடுதலை செய்யப்படல் வேண்டும்.

எதிர்வரும் பெப்ரவரி 4 ஆம் திகதி சுதந்திர தினத்தில் ஒரு தொகுதி தமிழ் இளைஞர்கள் விடுதலை பெறுவார்கள். அதற்காக ஜனாதிபதி பிரதமர், சம்பந்தப்பட்ட அமைச்சர்கள் நடவடிக்கை எடுத்து வருகின்றனர் என்றார்.

சிறையில் பொங்கல்...
15-01-2015 03:30 PM
தமிழர் முன்னேற்றக் கழகத்தின் ஏற்பாட்டில், கொழும்பு வெலிகடை சிறைச்சாலை மற்றும் கொழும்பு புதிய மெகசின் விளக்கமறியல் சிறைச்சாலையிலுள்ள தமிழ் கைதிகளின் தைபொங்கல் நிகழ்வு இன்று வியாழக்கிழமை (15) இடம்பெற்றது. இதில், தமிழர் முன்னேற்றக் கழகத்தின் பிரதம அமைப்பாளர் வி.ஜனகனினால், கைதிகளுக்கு புத்தாடைகள் வழங்கப்பட்டன. இந்நிகழ்வில் சிறைச்சாலைகள் ஆணையாளர் நாயகம் சந்திரானந்த பல்லேகம, சிறைச்சாலைகள் ஆணையாளர் மற்றும் சிறைச்சாலைகளின் பொறுப்பதிகாரிகள், குற்றத்தடுப்பு பிரிவின் தலைவர் சிரேஷ்ட பொலிஸ் அத்தியட்சகர் கணேசநாதன் உட்பட பலர் கலந்துகொண்டனர். (படங்கள்: வருண வன்னியாராச்சி) 

Expropriation Of The Expropriator In The North East

By S. Sivathasan -January 23, 2015

S. Sivathasan

The Immovable is Moving

The caption has no Marxian connotation whatsoever. The words do convey that the expropriation of land which went on mercilessly for decades on end in the North East is now halted. More crucially the process is put on reverse mode, not with a promise but with a Presidential directive to the Service Commanders. In the years of upheaval, the state was the biggest expropriator of people’s lands. The largest swathes were by the military together with housing assets. It is supposed that they will now be relinquished with rectitude. As for speed, it has necessarily to bespeak military discipline.

After governance collapsed in the North of the country, land was the most notable among possessions to be ‘misappropriated’. Naturally one would affirm. Quite correctly, ancient Tamils identified three insatiable desires. ‘Love of land, Love of women, Love of gold’. This perennial truth has prevailed over the millennia. What kept these desires in check? The rigours of law and the dispensation of justice. They got frayed in the North East under the assault of war. This process was continuous between 1981 and 2014. Laws got aborted and justice was miscarried. Now the time is for their resuscitation.

Responding to the initiative of the TNA, the President and the Prime Minister have advised the armed forces to take immediate action on land issues. To be more clear, land taken over in the North East and not having a direct bearing on the military needs of the Forces should be returned to the rightful owners. Time phasing of implementation can make for precision both to the Forces as well as the losers of land. It can go backwards from the date of the decision in January 2015 to 19 May 2009, the end of the war. Invasive military takeover characterized this period and this action demands immediate attention.

HSZ Property

To be done alongside is release of lands in HSZs. They also include parcels forcibly acquired under High Security Zones (HSZ). Conclusion of the war, elimination of the warring group, non-recurrence of violence and resumption of normalcy have knocked the bottom off the need for continued military ownership or occupation. HSZ meant to the owners displacement, non-residence and denial of access to their own property.

Thousands of homes so abandoned for decades are in abject ruin. The writer has seen them in his official inspections. The owners have to be given back their land. This is the very first step. Compensation and loan facilities constitute a programme by itself for rebuilding and resettlement. Movement back to Jaffna and the North can then follow.

The above can take their course since there is no security threat. HSZs can be de-frozen. Personnel to look after security have a strength of 375,000 (3 Armed Forces around 255,000. Police around 82,000. Citizen Volunteer Force 38,000)

This handing back will proclaim the results of the Litmus Test to all Tamils, all Sri Lankans and to the ever watchful world. Let it be the immediate precursor for the process of assuaging misgivings which got entrenched over the decades. Let it also declare in bold relief, the steadfastness of the new regime for transfigured governance.

Culture of Credibility

A credible 100 Day work programme, an honest account of initiatives taken, correct reportage on progress recorded and a true list of priorities for the next two weeks; all add up to creating a culture of credibility towards the new regime. Sustaining the tempo till the elections in April will certainly swing the people to the side of the government. Added strength mustered thereby is the guarantee of strong governance.

It is evident that the new regime has set its thoughts in delivering. Lord Acton the eminent British historian once said “The worst moment for a government is when it begins to reform”. The country is fully alive to the positive changes. For a society suppressed for long, expectations unleashed are high. For the minorities they are higher still. In the next three months, achievements to touch their imagination and publicity by a media left completely to itself, can win the trust of all. Fostering a culture of credibility is the Mantra.

Sri Lanka to reopen investigation into 2009 murder of Lasantha Wickrematunge

23/01/2015

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliates the Free Media Movement (FMM) and the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA) in welcoming the Sri Lankan government’s decision to reopen investigations into the murder of editor Lasantha Wickrematunge in 2009.

Wickrematunge, the founder and editor of The Sunday Leader, was assassinated in January 8, 2009, by four assailants who stopped him on his way to his office and opened fire at him. Wickrematunge was a vocal critic of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government and at the time of his murder was involved in a legal fight with Rajapaksa’s brother, the then-defense secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

According to reports, the new Sri Lankan government’s decision to reopen the investigation came after a former cabinet minister publicly accused Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the brother of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, of ordering the assassination of Wickrematunge. In the presidential election on January 8, 2014, Mahinda Rajapaksa was defeated by Maithripala Sirisena ending the former’s decade-long rule.

Wickrematunge was the recipient posthumously of the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize in 2009 and was declared a World Press Freedom Hero by the International Press Institute in 2010.

Jane Worthington, the IFJ Asia Pacific acting director, said: “The murder of Lasantha Wickrematunge was intended to send a strong message and there is no doubt it had a chilling effect on Sri Lanka’s media. Lasantha was a man highly regarded for his bravery and defence of press freedom in the face of threats and attacks that were ultimately the precursor to his death. The significance of the reopening of this investigation cannot be underplayed.”

In his final editorial, published after his assassination, Wickrematunge wrote: “When finally I am killed, it will be the government that kills me.” He also wrote that his hoped his murder would not be interpreted as a “defeat of press freedom but as an inspiration”.

In the years since the end of Sri Lanka’s long-running civil war and estimated more than 80 journalists have fled the country.

The IFJ says the decision by the new Sri Lankan government to reopen the investigation into the murder of Lasantha sends a promising message about a new future for press freedom and democracy in Sri Lanka, which is part of the new government’s 100 day work program.”

Welcoming the decision, the SLWJA has called upon the new government to investigate all other attacks on media including the disappearance of Prageeth Ekneligoda, abduction and assault of Poddala Jayantha and Keith Noyer, and attacks on Uthayan, Sirasa and Sunday Leader newspapers.

Prior to the election, the Free Media Movement, Sri Lanka, met with Sirisena and put forward a media reform proposal. Part of the reforms include ending impunity on crimes against journalists, and this step by the President looks like positive progress for Sri Lanka’s media reform.

FMM said that they welcomed the decision to reopen the case of Lasantha Wickrematunge.

The IFJ added the new government of Sri Lanka has an opportunity to ensure democratic governance by ensuring complete media freedom, and reopening Lasantha Wickrematunge murder investigation is an important part.

The IFJ added: “We urge the Sri Lankan government deploy all state resources to ensure justice in this high-profile and emblematic case of impunity. Justice for the murder of Wickrematunge will go a long way in addressing the country’s dire impunity record.”

According to Committee to Protect Journalists’ Impunity Index 2014, Sri Lanka is ranked fourth in the world for failing to address impunity in the nine murders of journalists in last 10 years – Wickrematunge’s being one of them. The high level of threat against journalists and impunity have also forced a number of journalists to go on exile.

For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +61 2 9333 0950 

To New Media Minister & Secretary: Priority Check List For Media

*PM Ranil is talking to journalist – Promising RIT? 

By Ranga Kalansooriya -January 22, 2015

Dr Ranga Kalansooriya

Dear Gayantha and Parane,

You accepted the media as a ministerial portfolio 

from Keheliya Rambukwella – Charitha Herath duo after a challenging period for us in the field of journalism. All four of you are not strangers to the media but the expectations from you two are high as ever. These hopes go well beyond laptops, bank loans, foreign trips and duty free cars.

These high expectations are quite natural whenever there is a change of regime but in all previous instances they were subdued by piece-meal tinkering such as laptops, bank loans etc. The to-do list within the media sector is heavy with many priorities but I do not think you can address them all within the 100-day program.

To be fair by them, mainly of Charitha, he managed to build some rapport with the media when he was the coordinating secretary to the then media minister Anura Yapa. After the 2005 polls, Charitha was the bridge between the media activists and the government and he was our first contact whenever there was an incident of concerns. When the then government attempted to reactivate the Press Council in 2006-2007, Charitha and Anura Yapa, to my mind, managed to shelve that move amidst pressure from within the government hierarchy. Also there were constant dialogue between media stakeholders and the ministry even though serious attacks were carried out against media and its practitioners where this duo became helpless. Some of those who are now talking of media freedom were behind these incidents.Read More

வெள்ளை வான் கடத்தல் தொடர்பில் வித்தியிடம் விசாரணை?


23-01-2015 02:56 PM
கடந்த காலங்களில், ஊடகவியலாளர்கள் மற்றும் முக்கிய புள்ளிகளை வெள்ளை வான்களில் கடத்திச் சென்று கொலை செய்த சம்பவங்கள் தொடர்பில், வெள்ளை வானில் கடத்தப்பட்டு நீதிமன்றினூடாக விடுதலை செய்யப்பட்ட மூத்த ஊடகவியலாளர் என்.வித்தியாதரனிடமிருந்து விசாரணைகள் ஆரம்பிக்கப்படவுள்ளதாக, நம்பகரமாக வட்டாரங்களிலிருந்து செய்தி வெளியாகியுள்ளது.

இது தொடர்பாக மூத்த ஊடகவியலாளர் என்.வித்தியாதரனிடம் தொடர்புகொண்டு கேட்டபோது,

“தலைநகரிலிருந்து முக்கிய அமைச்சரொருவர் இவ்விடயம் தொடர்பில் என்னிடம் வினவினார். 2009ஆம் ஆண்டு பெப்ரவரியில் வெள்ளை வானில் வந்தவர்களால் நான் கடத்தப்பட்டேன். அதன் பின்னர், இந்த கடத்தல் தொடர்பில் மேலிடத்துக்கு அழுத்தம் அதிகரித்ததால் குற்றப் புலனாய்வுப் பிரிவினரிடம் ஒப்படைக்கப்பட்டேன். வெள்ளை வானில் கடத்தப்பட்டு உயிருடன் மீண்டவன் என்ற அடிப்படையில் அக்கடத்தல்கள் தொடர்பாக என்னிடம் விவரங்களை பெறவேண்டும் எனவும் அதற்கு ஒத்துழைக்குமாறும் என்னை அந்த அமைச்சர் கேட்டுக்கொண்டார். என் தரப்பு அனுபவங்களை அவர்களுக்கு வழங்க தயாராக இருப்பதாக நான் அவருக்கு தெரிவித்தேன்” என்று கூறினார்.

வெள்ளை வான் கடத்தல்களில் பின்னணியில் யார் யாரெல்லாம் செயற்பட்டார்கள் என்பது தொடர்பில் விசாரணைகள் ஆரம்பிக்கப்படவுள்ளன. அதன் முதற்கட்டமாகவே வித்தியாதரனிடம் வாக்குமூலம் பெறப்படவுள்ளது. 2009ஆம் ஆண்டு லசந்தவின் கொலைக்கு பின்னர், வெளிநாட்டு ஊடகமொன்றுக்கு வித்தியாதரன் பேட்டி ஒன்றினை வழங்கியிருந்தார். அதில் தனக்கும் அச்சுறுத்தல் இருப்பதாகவும், கடத்தல்களின் பின்னணி தொடர்பில் ஆராயப்படவேண்டும் என்பதோடு, வீட்டிலிருந்து வருகின்ற நாங்கள் உயிருடன் மீண்டும் வீட்டுக்கு திரும்புவோமா என்பது தெரியாது எனவும் குறிப்பிட்டிருந்தார்.

அந்த பேட்டியின் பின்னர், முன்னாள் பாதுகாப்புச் செயலாளர் கோட்டாபய ராஜபக்ஷவை குறித்த வெளிநாட்டு ஊடகவியலாளர் பேட்டி எடுப்பதற்காகச் சென்றிருந்தார். அந்த ஊடகவியலாளர் கோட்டாபாயவின் அலுவலக வாசலுக்கு செல்லும்போதுதான் வித்தியாதரன் கடத்தப்பட்டார். இதுதொடர்பில் வெளிநாட்டு ஊடகவியலாளர், கோட்டாவிடம் கேட்டபோது பகிரங்கமாகவே வித்தியாதரனை விடுதலைப் புலிகளுடன் சம்பந்தப்படுத்தி திட்டித்தீர்த்தார். அவர் ஒரு தீவிரவாதி எனவும் குறிப்பிட்டார். இந்நிலையில், வித்தியாதரன் கடத்தப்பட்டதன் பின்னர் குறித்த விவகாரம் தொடர்பில் ஜனாதிபதிக்கு அழுத்தம் கொடுக்கப்பட்டதால், பல மணி நேரத்தின் பின்னர், வித்தியாதரன் கைது செய்யப்பட்டதாக கூறப்பட்டு, குற்றத்தடுப்பு பொலிஸாரிடம் கையளிக்கப்பட்டார். அப்போது, குற்றத்தடுப்புப் பிரிவுக்குப் பொறுப்பாக சிரேஷ்ட பொலிஸ் அத்தியட்சகர் அனுர சேனநாயக்க செயற்பட்டார். இப்பொழுது இவர் டி.ஐ.ஜி. தரத்தில் இருக்கின்றார். இவரும் இப்பொழுது பல சிக்கல்களில் மாட்டியிருப்பவர் என்பது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது.

வித்தியாதரனின் வாக்குமூலத்தின் பின்னர், பல உண்மைகள் வெளிவரும் என நம்பப்படுகிறது.

Sri Lanka Premier Wickremesinghe: ‘Huge Challenge’ Ahead

New Government Questions Previous Deals With Chinese Lenders, Pledges Revisions to Constitution

President Maithripala Sirisena's new government will scrutinize Chinese-funded infrastructure projects under former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The WSJ's Gordon Fairclough speaks to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on plans to drive the economy forward.

By GORDON FAIRCLOUGH-Jan. 23, 2015 3:02 a.m. ET

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka—Two weeks after an electoral upset that ousted Sri Lanka’s long-reigning strongman, the country’s new leaders are racing to investigate allegations of corruption under the previous regime and are rushing to enact legal and constitutional changes they say are aimed at reestablishing rule of law.

Sri Lanka Premier Wickremesinghe ‘Huge Challenge’ Ahead by Thavam Ratna

Chief Justice questioned over alleged ‘coup’ plot

January 23, 2015The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has questioned Chief Justice Mohan Peiris in connection with the complaint regarding a coup attempt, which was allegedly hatched at Temple Trees on election night (January 8).

The CID has questioned and recorded a statement from Chief Justice Mohan Peiris today, Minister of Public Order, Disaster Management Christian Affairs, John Amaratunga said. 

The Chief Justice is among several individuals named in a complaint filed with the CID over the coup controversy.

The CID has also questioned former External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris and Western Provincial Council member Udaya Gammanpila regarding the complaint.

On January 15, Sri Lanka’s new foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera lodged a complaint with the CID requesting an investigation into the alleged last-minute coup attempt by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa after he lost the presidential elections.

Samaraweera said he had reliable information that Rajapaksa met with then Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Foreign Minister Gamini Peiris, Chief Justice Mohan Peiris and provincial politician Udaya Gammanpila when results showed he was losing the election,

The following day the CID today sought the Attorney General’s advice regarding the complaint while AG Yuwanjana Wanasundara Wijethilake had instructed them to proceed with an investigation as per usual.

However, Rajapaksa has denied the allegation in a series of tweets, saying he accepted the outcome long before the final official results were released and has always accepted the people’s verdict during his decades-long political career.

Spokespersons for both the Police and the Army have said they were unaware of any such requests by the former president.

While Sane Men Replace A Creepy Lot At The Top: Ranil Emerges As Today’s NM

By Shyamon Jayasinghe -January 23, 2015

Shyamon Jayasinghe

Sri Lankans had a hell of a time over ten years of Mahinda Rajapaka’s rule. To be sure, there had been the good outcomes; but, like money, the bad outdid the good and Mahinda Rajapaksa is where he is now.

Mahinda Rajapaksa (MR) had just one huge bite of luck, namely to have the 27 year-old war with the LTTE won during his rule. Credit is certainly owed to him for his part. However, the credit that he got was flawed because it discredited in the process the considerable skill, energy, and dedication of our main soldier General Sarath Fonseka (SF) and the great team he had coordinated.Unlike in other situations, the conduct of war essentially requires two kinds of leadership working in tandem -a political leadership and a ground leadership. The two work in almost parallel universes due to ground realities. Mahinda gave political leadership. However, he was quick to suppress the ground leadership and grab the entire cake of success. He put down the General, having earlier made a slip-of-the tongue mistake of naming General SF, ’the greatest army commander in the world.’ His government first gave the General a kick upstairs with an empty post. SF was smart enough to perceive that and he soon turned to the untraversed world of politics in an attempt to oust MR. Amidst much controversy MR clinched victory comfortably.

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