What Are The Crimes Relating To Corruption In Sri Lankan Law?

By R.M.B Senanayake -February 3, 2015 

R.M.B Senanayake

There is much talk about the alleged corruption of the previous regime. But what is corruption? There is the UN Convention on Corruption. I think it requires Member States to declare certain financial malpractices as crimes. They include the obstruction of justice ( there are many such allegations against the previous regime) concealment, conversion or transfer of resources allocated already, embezzlement, trading in influence ( a la Wele Suda statement) illicit enrichment, concealment of illegal assets, misuse of public money or property other than as authorized by law. If these are enacted as crimes in law then private citizens should also be allowed to file action against officials accused of corruption in Audit reports, reports of COPE COPA etc. But the law must first prohibit all public officials subject to the present Bribery Law, from the abuse of power, misuse of government resources or their conversion for uses not authorized already,

What are the crimes relating to corruption in our law? Bribery was an offence punishable under the Penal Code as far back as 1883. It was during the British rule that bribery was introduced as a criminal offence into the Statute Book. In 1954 the Bribery Act was enacted to contain bribery in the Public Service. In 1958 the Bribery Commissioner’s Department was established by the Act No.40, under the Ministry of Justice. In1994 the Act no.19 created the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption. Ministers are brought in under the law.

Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe – Minster of Justice

Corruption has been defined under Section 70 of the Bribery Act. Accordingly, a public servant who, with intent to cause wrongful or unlawful loss to the Government, or to confer a wrongful or unlawful benefit, favour or advantage on himself or any person, or with knowledge, that any wrongful or unlawful loss will be caused to any person or to the Government, or that any wrongful or unlawful benefit favour or advantage will be conferred or any person, does any act in contravention of this provision commits the offence of corruption.” All these relate to the solicitation and acceptance of bribes. But modern day corruption indulged in by Ministers is not straight forward bribes which can be proved easily.

The allegations of corruption on the part of the previous President and his Ministers arise from giving contracts to their favorites without calling for tenders, accepting unsolicited offers and awarding contracts at exorbitant or excessive prices padding their commissions into such offers. Are they covered by our Bribery and Corruption Law? I don’t think so for the Financial Regulations that require competitive tenders and selection of the best tender apply only to the public officers who alone are subject to the observance of the Financial Regulations. The contracts are not signed by the Ministers. Nor are their orders minuted in the files. HOW THEN CAN BE HELD RESPONSIBLE?

The responsibility for financial management is vested not with the Ministers or the President as the Minister of Finance but only with the Secretaries and Heads of Departments as the Chief Accounting Officer and Accounting Officer. But in practice the Minister intervenes and decides to do away with tenders, accept unsolicited offers and award tenders to their favorites at excessive prices padded by their own commissions. So who should be held responsible for any irregularity with regard to them? Other countries have enacted laws such as the Canadian Financial Administration Act where in the responsibility for financial management is vested with the Ministers. The World Bank prepared a draft law- the Public Finance Act of 2002 which provided for the same. But it was not passed. Will the new Government pass such an ACT which holds them responsible?

Revolutionary changes effected within three days: now judiciary can stand upright with dignity and honor

(Lanka-e-News- 03.Feb.2015, 8.30PM) Within just three days ,that is on the 28 th , 29 th and 30 th of January 2015 ,most welcome measures were taken to elevate and exalt the judiciary of Sri Lanka and make it stand upright with honor and dignity on its own legs after the untoward incidents that were witnessed in the recent past aimed at degrading and disgracing the independent judiciary on a scale unprecedented in Sri Lanka ‘s history- we are indeed happy to report this salutary news which we missed out.

On the 28 th , President Maithripala Sirisena based on a decision that the appointment of former chief justice (CJ) Mohan Peiris better known as cheat justice was unlawful , took steps to reinstate Shiranee Bandaranaike as the Chief justice (CJ) who was earlier on removed from her CJ post on a faulty impeachment motion. This reinstatement was rendered possible because, previously during the impeachment process , the motion that was tabled in Parliament against her after the impeachment in court was not duly presented to remove the CJ , instead the motion tabled was regarding the need for the appointment of a Parliamentary committee to oust the CJ.

As a result , based on the premise that Shiranee had not been legally removed from her post of CJ , Mohan Peiris (ex CJ) , the cheat justice was replaced by Shiranee Bandaranaike by the President by virtue of the powers vested in him.

However , when the new CJ Shiranee Bandaranaike arrived in court on the 28 th to assume duties , the registrar of courts , a stooge of Mohan Peiris , acting in furtherance of a conspiracy hatched by the latter , in a manner to obstruct the opening of the CJ’s chamber in the SC for her. When the registrar told that she cannot open the CJ’s chamber., the Marshall who is in charge of the SC premises had appeared and stated by virtue of the powers vested in him he can break open the door, if she will not open it. The registrar who got alarmed had opened the SC complex door finally.

Shiranee who resumed her duties on the 28 th , went on retirement formally on the 29 th. The farewell accorded to her was most special because all the judges of the highest echelons attended the ceremony much more than at any other farewell accorded to any other judge at their retirement .

Except justice of the SC Patabendi Upali Abeyratne , nicknamed

‘Pissu poosa’ ( mad cat) who was appointed by the equally demented MaRa , all the judges of the SC , appeal courts , 147 magistrates of the magistrate courts spread Island wide , 28 President’s counsels , and a horde of lawyers attended the function . The crowd was so large that the new hall on the 5 th floor of the SC complex was spilling over.

This hall where the farewell function was held was renovated to be opened by Mahinda Rajapakse the ex President in his name. Though that was the original plan , it was not to be , and with the ousting of Mahinda from power , this hall was opened automatically when the farewell ceremony was held there .

Following a brief farewell speech made by Shiranee in which she expressed her gratitude to the media personnel who came to welcome her , appeared for a group photograph with them . This is the first time a CJ had posed for a group photograph with the media personnel in Sri Lanka ‘s history.

On the 30 th , the President appointed the most senior judge of the SC SriPavan as the chief justice.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and justice Minister Wijedasa Rajapakse attended the event.

Later the PM remarked , on the 8 th the President took oaths before the new CJ , and now CJ Sri Pavan is taking oaths before the President.

The chief Minister of north and former SC judge Vigneswaran issuing a statement praised the appointment of SriPavan as the CJ. Vigneswaran in his statement commented that this appointment is conducive to creating an environment of harmony among all races , and it is an index that the new government is committed to protecting all races and ushering in peace in the country.

Meanwhile to fill the vacancy arising in the supreme court (SC) following Shiranee’s retirement ,appeal court judge Anil Gunaratne was appointed, while the vacancy created owing to this in the appeal court , was filled by justice Lakshman Tikiri Bandara Dehideniya , a former high court judge . After these two justices were sworn in before the CJ, they received their letters from the President. These appointments were made based on their seniority , and they were not brought in from outside .

Such appointments shall be made by the judicial service commission after it is empowered based on the proposed 19 th amendment to he constitution.

What is significant to note here is that the judiciary that was subordinated to most sordid levels by converting it into ‘Kangaroo court system,’ during the last two years by the Rajapakse regime, just within a few days ,from 28 th until 30 th January following the revolutionary changes introduced , it became possible to restore the judiciary to its original lofty standard founded on its hallowed traditions.

This is an outcome of the unrelenting struggle that was carried on during the last several years by the legal community and civilians. All those who participated in this struggle should be thanked profusely for this . Nevertheless , it is very unfortunate a few political turncoats like hypocritical Wimal Weerawansa , Vasudeva Nanayakkara , DEW Gunasekera and Tissa Vitharane some of whom are suffering also from senile mental decay but still stubbornly holding on to the evil habit of changing principles like the chameleon changes colors ,to gain selfish political mileage, and who are by now discarded and disdained by one and all , have however asked for a parliamentary debate tomorrow opposing these most welcome and salutary changes. Their attitude is of course understandable because like everybody else had understood their double tongued nature and multi faced hypocrisy they have themselves understood deep within their bones that they have no place in the sun unless they continue to resort to their clownish pranks which they used all these years to beguile the people and voters, simply and only to please the dejected and rejected MaRa who is presently under the spell of the curse of his shawls which same curse he used to devastate the country and the people before he and his so called dynasty were thrown out lock ,stock and barrel by the people themselves recently via elections.

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by     (2015-02-03 15:01:38)

The real revolution is the revolution of values ( Short Film)

by Peter Joseph

( February 3, 2015, Boston, Sri Lanka Guardian) The real revolution is the revolution of values. Human society appears centuries behind in the way it operates and hence what it values. If we wish to progress and solve the mounting problems at hand and, in effect, reverse…what is an accelerating decline of our civilization in many ways, we need to change the way we think about ourselves and hence the world we inhabit. The Zeitgeist Movement’s central task is to work to bring this value shift to light, unifying the human family with the basic perspective that we all share this small planet and we are all bound by the same natural order laws, as realized by the method of science. This common ground understanding extends much farther than many have understood in the past. The symbiosis of the human species and the synergistic relationship of our place in the physical world confirms that we are not separate entities in any respect and that the new societal awakening must show a working social model that is arrived at from this inherent logic if we expect to survive and prosper in the long term. We can align or we can suffer. It is up to us.

Detail of the film

Music: Bruno Coulais – Le temps des découverte & À l’aventure

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Twitter – twitter.com/TheInspirationJ

Acts Of Betrayal That Broke The Letter & Spirit Of Independence

By Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah –

Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah

The Sinister Acts of Betrayal Against Tamils That Broke The Letter, Spirit And Essence Of Ceylon Independence

The main thrust of this article is to recollect and hone as independence day is here, just some of the many sinister acts of betrayal inflicted on the Tamil people during, in this context, the post independence era; the two salient points for discussion are:

First Salient Point:

The abolition of the safeguard for Tamil people – an essential clause, aimed to protect them, “against the tyranny of the majority” which was written in to the Soulbury constitution, a constitution that the British helped draft to make way for the granting of Ceylon independence, the incorporation of which was the sole reason that the “Tamils acquiesced” to independence from Britain – which has broken the letter and spirit of the very essence of Ceylon independence.

Second Salient Point:

The advent of the 1972 illegal constitution and the “sinister stratagem” by which it was created and the failure on the part of the Federal Party – Illankai Tamil Arasu Katchchi) (ITAK), as the late Tamil legal luminary Mr. Wakeley Paul analyses, to mount a vehement legal challenge and the failure of Mr. C Suntheralingam to carry through his writ of prohibition against the abolition of Section 29 until the end – he surmises made the, “new constitution legal by default!”

4th February Did Not Usher Freedom For Tamils                     Read More

Problems Of Eelam Tamils

By Eelaventhan Manickavasakar -February 2, 2015

Eelaventhan Manickavasakar

The ethnic problems of Eelam Tamils which birthed in 1956 due to the political insane frenzy of S.W.R.D Bandaranaike who legislated the ‘Sinhala only’ act and inaugurated the subsequent turmoils in the Sri Lankan politics. The hidden agenda of Sinhalisation, Buddhisitation and militarisation proceeded unabatingly supported with state sponsored communal riots in 1958,1977,1981,1983 and the genocide in 2009.

With ‘Mahawamsa mindset’ deeply embedded , all party talks, peace agreements and proposals were discarded or breached due to opposition from the Sinhala-Buddhist feelings of opposite parties. There was hardly any political leader who took steps in the interests of all Sri Lankan citizens. All were clutching the chauvinistic sentiments to grab the political crown.

Sadly, this scenario is still continuing and will continue unless and until some external forces interfere to restore proper thinking and sanity to the Sinhalese political leaders.Read More

LLRC is to be fully implemented

By admin-February 3, 2015

The Government is considering the full implementation of the recommendations of the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma said.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa refused to fully implement the recommendations of the LLRC and that resulted in some countries accusing Sri Lanka of failing to address accountability issues on the war.

In a statement issued today at the conclusion of a brief visit to Sri Lanka, Sharma said he had discussed options for practical Commonwealth support for vital domestic processes in Sri Lanka, and welcome the intent to establish a credible domestic investigation mechanism that respects international humanitarian law.

Sharma said that the purpose of his visit to Sri Lanka was primarily to reiterate and renew the Commonwealth’s commitment to work in partnership with Sri Lanka to advance its own national plans.

“We have successfully identified areas where the Commonwealth will provide practical assistance as the country turns a new and transformative page in its history,” he added.

Sharma noted the positive steps taken by the Government since 9 January and the further measures contemplated. These include a commitment to fundamental governance reforms and strengthening the independence of national institutions; the appointment of civilian governors in the Northern Province and Eastern Province amongst other changes in the provincial administrations; and, the appointment of the new Chief Justice.

During his visit Sharma met President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Public Administration Karu Jayasuriya, and Minister of Finance Ravi Karunanayake. He also met Provincial Governors and Chief Ministers.

“My meetings offered the opportunity to explore ways in which we could support priority areas in the Government’s ambitious 100-Day Work Programme. These will build on our ongoing assistance to advance the fundamental values and principles of the Commonwealth as set out in the Commonwealth Charter,” he said.

Sharma said that the Commonwealth will focus its technical assistance in a number of areas, which include:

• Expertise and information on best pan-Commonwealth practice to build a fully independent national human rights commission, electoral commission, judicial services commission, media commission, and an anti-corruption institution;
• Expertise to strengthen Parliament and its oversight committee structure in consultation with the Hon Speaker; and,
• Expertise and advice to strengthen the independence of the judiciary in line with the Commonwealth’s Latimer House Principles on the separation of powers, on which the Commonwealth’s best practice compendium has been submitted.

The Commonwealth also remains ready to extend support by:

• Providing technical assistance to help implement the Right to Information Act;
• Extending the Commonwealth’s programme to strengthen the quality and professionalism of the Public Service;
• Supporting transparency and good governance in public finance management;
• Offering experience from other Commonwealth countries on electoral reform that may usefully inform Sri Lanka’s own consideration in this area;
• Strengthening of the Attorney-General’s Office; and,
• Promoting youth entrepreneurship in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, including through the Commonwealth Alliance of Asian Young Entrepreneurs (CAAYE).

The Commonwealth is also developing:

• A comparative compendium of practice across the Commonwealth concerning the appointment procedures for human rights commissioners and which enhances the independence of national human rights institutions; and,
• A compendium of practice from across the Commonwealth concerning the establishment and independence of Election Management Bodies. These will be shared with Sri Lanka.

Many of these areas will involve the Commonwealth Secretariat working in partnership with other Commonwealth bodies with specialist expertise.

Sharma said his visit was also an opportunity to brief the President on his role as Commonwealth Chair-in-Office. They discussed progress in implementing CHOGM mandates set by leaders when the Commonwealth met in Sri Lanka in November 2013.

“In my meeting with Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, we discussed the mandate of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) to work with member countries in a proactive and positive way in advancing the Commonwealth’s political values. We look forward to the Minister’s participation at CMAG’s next meeting in March in London. The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister will also be chairing the annual Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting in New York in September,” he added.

Sharma said Sri Lanka’s people have strongly validated their country’s democratic credentials and this is a matter of pride as much for the Commonwealth as it is for Sri Lanka. (Colombo Gazette)

Once bitten, twice try

Sit back to setback: Mahinda Rajapaksa ruled Sri Lanka for a decade; he now faces allegations of corruption and attempted coup. AP Photo

By Frances Bulathsinghala/Colombo-Saturday, January 31, 2015 

Though defeated in the presidential poll, Mahinda Rajapaksa can still become the prime minister

His defeat in the presidential election on January 8 seems to have opened a Pandora's box for Mahinda Rajapaksa. The new government, headed by former colleague Maithripala Sirisena, seems determined to bring him down along with his legacy of lavish lifestyle and corrupt administration. Rajapaksa and his family are alleged to have embezzled millions from the state exchequer to buy luxury cars, planes and horses for private use. Mega development projects that bear the Rajapaksa stamp are being reviewed for costs, commissions and frauds. It seems the much-hyped 'Maithree governance' of Sirisena would not be benevolent for Rajapaksa.

But it is too early to write him off. Sri Lanka will hold parliamentary elections in April, almost two years ahead of schedule. Though the political winds favour the current government, the elections have given a window of opportunity to Rajapaksa and his Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). He will take on Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party, who was appointed prime minister in the wake of Sirisena's victory.

Ever since he left the President's House in Colombo on January 9, Rajapaksa has been trying hard to rouse nationalistic sentiments among the Sinhalese. In his public speeches, he has said that he lost the presidential election because Tamils and Muslims voted against him. Amid speculation about the fate of executive presidency (the powers of which Sirisena has promised to reduce or transfer to the prime minister), the fear of separatism and western conspiracies¯two pet themes of Rajapaksa¯has been gathering momentum among the rural Sinhalese. This could pull votes away from the UNP in the parliamentary polls. Also, the investigations into the 10-year corrupt rule of the Rajapaksas, though credible, could also be seen as political vendetta.

If the SLFP wins, the prime minister could be Nimal Siripala de Silva, the current leader of the opposition, or Rajapaksa, if he contests the election and wins. Politically, Rajapaksa's win would not have any effect on Sirisena, who now heads the SLFP. A victory of either the UNP or the SLFP does not upset his status quo, except if he does away with his current executive powers as promised. Rajapaksa then could well be the decision-maker if he becomes the prime minister.

However, Rajapaksa's comeback bid may not be successful, with his party deserting him to cast its lot with Sirisena. Having meekly yielded the chairmanship to Sirisena, the party is no longer in Rajapaksa's hands. A seasoned politician, Sirisena will use this to strengthen his following. As with previous presidents, his rule will see a new set of people in the party and the government. Most of the old guard will be relegated to the sidelines, and Rajapaksa could be one of them. No matter how popular he is, Rajapaksa cannot win elections without the support of the party machinery.

The UNP, on the other hand, is a key ally of Sirisena. At best, it is perceived as a pro-western, pro-Tamil and pro-Christian party. At worst, it is seen as pro-separatist, especially by the rural Sinhalese in south Sri Lanka, who have not stopped shedding tears for Rajapaksa. Sceptics say Wickremesinghe needs an image makeover to win the parliamentary elections. To those who argue that he is not a Sinhala Buddhist mass leader, his supporters cite the 2005 election when a 'lacklustre' Wickremesinghe contested against the 'Sinhala Buddhist icon' Rajapaksa, and the latter won by just 2,00,000 votes. Also, the Sinhala Buddhists, seen as anti-Tamil, could have voted Rajapaksa in for the continuation of the development works and not just for his communal agenda.

If the Sirisena government delivers on its economic and political agenda, especially its 100-day 'programme of action', it could sway the masses. One of the key elements of the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe agenda for the first 100 days is constitutional reform. The excessive powers of the executive presidency are to be pruned, giving more power to the parliament and cabinet ministers. They have promised that the executive, judiciary, police and the election department will be overseen by independent commissions comprising people of proven integrity. And that there will be a drastic reduction in the prices of commodities,  corruption cases will be investigated, and a solution to the ethnic problem will be sought constitutionally. Wickremesinghe said in the parliament that an amendment would be introduced to preserve the unitary status of the country.

Already, fuel prices have been brought down sharply. This could hurt Rajapaksa as it was during his time that prices shot through the roof even as the government was spending recklessly on grandiose infrastructure projects of little use to the masses and borrowing money at high rates from China.

The SLFP has pledged support to the 100-day plan, and it hopes to benefit from it. But if well-implemented, the Wickremesinghe-led UNP could also claim credit for the plan as it was a joint idea of the coalition that backed Sirisena's presidency. Therefore, the UNP may do well in the elections. But there is also a possibility of the UNP and the SLFP coming together. In that case, Rajapaksa loyalists may leave the party and form their own cult-oriented, ultra-nationalistic, Sinhaha Buddhists party, functioning in the fringes of Sri Lanka's political space as all extremist parties do.

COUP SOUP
Based on the complaint of Sri Lankan foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera, the attorney general has given the criminal investigation department the go-ahead to probe an attempted coup by Mahinda Rajapaksa and his supporters, including Supreme Court Chief Justice Mohan Peiris, to avert defeat in the presidential election. Rajapaksa's brother Gotabaya, who was defence secretary, former foreign minister G.L. Peiris and Western Provincial councillor Udaya Gammanpila will also be investigated.

The controversial chief justice is under extreme pressure to resign and make way for the reinstatement of his predecessor, Shirani Bandaranayake, who was sacked by Rajapaksa. Sources said Peiris is resisting in the hope that Rajapaksa will come back after the April parliamentary elections.

Tough challenges

Mahinda Rajapaksa
* Dealing with corruption charges
* Facing investigation into the allegations of attempted 'coup'
* Upcoming parliamentary elections
* Retaining followers, as they might flock to Sirisena, the president

Maithripala Sirisena* Regaining India's lost trust
* Working with Wickremesinghe
* Keeping the public happy; justifying the anti-corruption drive, which they might see as a political vendetta
* Handling Rajapaksa loyalists in his own party, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party

Ranil Wickremesinghe
* Winning back the trust of the Sinhalese population, Rajapaksa's vote bank
* Working together with Sirisena
* Improving diplomatic relations with India and China
* Ensuring corruption-free governance

Opening up? Sri Lanka's new government confronts legacy of war

Sri Lanka's new government has signalled a fresh approach to many sensitive wartime issues

By Amantha Perera

Colombo, 3 February 2015 (IRIN) - Sri Lanka’s new government says it will address outstanding concerns relating to the civil war that ended in May 2009, including allegations of human rights abuses, missing persons and political prisoners. The new administration, which came to power last month, appears to be willing to tackle sensitive issues that were effectively taboo under the previous administration. But activists warn only swift, decisive, action can reverse the legacy of pre-existing draconian measures.

Opening Up Sri Lanka's New Government Confronts Legacy of War by Thavam Ratna

US says Sri Lanka faces difficult challenges ahead

Pledges assistance to rebuild economy, prevent corruption, ensure good governance, human rights

by Zacki Jabbar-February 2, 2015, 9:42 pm 

The United States while congratulating the new Maithirpala Sirisena government on having accomplished much in a short space of time, yesterday cautioned that it faced difficult challenges ahead.

Visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Nisha Biswal, addressing the media in Colombo, following talks with Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera said that Sri Lanka could count on the US to be a partner and friend in the way forward, be it in rebuilding the economy,preventing corruption, advancing good governance, ensuring human rights and democratic participation for all its citizens.

President Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had put forth an ambitious agenda for their first 100 days and much had already been accomplished in a very short time, but there was a lot of hard work ahead and some difficult challenges to be faced, she noted.

"I am excited to be here to see for my self the energy that the world is talking about and about Sri lanka’s democracy for all the right reasons," Biswal exclaimed, while reiterating the congratulatory messages that US President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry had sent to Sri Lankan voters on the historic election and new opportunities that had opened up.

The Assistant Secretary of State observed that since Sri Lanka achieved Independence, the US had not only provided more than USD 2 billion dollars in assistance but also bought more of its products than any country had.

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera said that it was an honour to receive a high level official such as Biswal in the first 100 days of the Srisena administration. "We discussed a range of issues at further strengthening our bilateral relations and want to raise it to a new level of cordiality. I hope to continue this dialogue with Secretary of State John Kerry when I meet him in Washington on February 12," he said.

Déjà Vu: Srisena Issues An Order Calling Out Armed Forces To Exercise Police Powers

February 3, 2015

The new President Maithripala Sirisena has issued an order calling out the armed forces to exercise police powers under the pretext of public security.

Issuing an “Extraordinary” Gazette notification yesterday (February 02) the President said; “By virtue of the powers vested in me by Section 12 of the Public Security Ordinance (Chapter 40), I, Maithripala Sirisena, do by this order call out all the members of the Armed Forces specified in the First Schedule hereto, for the maintenance of public order in the areas specified in the Second Schedule hereto.”

First Schedule

The Sri Lanka Army

The Sri Lanka Navy

The Sri Lanka Air Force

Second Schedule

The Administrative District of Colombo

TheAdministrative Districtof Gampaha

The Administrative District of Kalutara

The Administrative District of Kandy

TheAdministrative District of Matale

TheAdministrative Districtof NuwaraEliya

TheAdministrative District of Galle

The Administrative District of Matara

TheAdministrative Districtof Hambantota

The Administrative District of Jaffna and the territorial waters adjacent to such District

The Administrative Districtof Killinochchi

The Administrative District of Mannar and the territorial waters adjacent to such District

The Administrative District of Vavuniya

The Administrative District of Mullativu and the territorial waters adjacent to such District

The Administrative District of Batticaloa and the territorial waters adjacent to such District

The Administrative District of Ampara and the territorial waters adjacent to such District

The Administrative District of Trincomalee and the territorial waters adjacent to such District

The Administrative Districtof Kurunegala

The Administrative District of Puttalam and the territorial waters adjacent to such District

The Administrative District of Anuradhapura

The Administrative District of Polonnaruwa

The Administrative District of Badulla

The Administrative District of Moneragala

The Administrative District of Ratnapura

The Administrative District of Kegalle.

Critics say this is against the hope that we would return to civilian administration. This means he is of the opinion that circumstances endangering public security have arisen in all 25 districts, and that the police are inadequate to deal with that situation.”

Related posts;

Candidate Nagamuwa Files FR Against Mahinda Rajapaksa For Abusing Powers To Call Out Army At Election Time

Demand for Resignation from the Position of Vice-Chancellor

(Lanka-e-News- 01.Feb.2015, 11.55PM)

22nd January, 2015

Dr. W.K. Hirimuburegama

Vice Chancellor

University of Colombo

Colombo 3.

Dear Dr. Hirimburegama

Demand for Resignation from the Position of Vice-Chancellor 

It is now over 20 months since you were appointed as the Vice Chancellor of University of Colombo in May 2013. We, the members of the Colombo University Federation of Teachers' Associations (CUFTA), having carefully reviewed the status of governance at our university, wish to draw your attention to the following actions and omissions on your part, which seriously call into question your qualifications and your ability to continue in this post any longer.

• Appointment of Acting Deans in the Faculties of Science, Management, Medicine, and Arts, in violation of the Universities Act.
• Manipulation of the elections for the positions of Deans in the Faculties of Science, Medicine, and Management, in violation of your obligation to be neutral.
• Failure to appoint Directors to nearly all the institutes and centres, instead making only acting appointments, thereby undermining the proper functioning of these bodies.
• Appointment of persons of questionable suitability for certain key positions, including Heads of Departments, in an arbitrary manner, often disregarding the recommendations made by the Deans, and without following proper procedure, in violation of established practices of governance.
• Victimisation of members of the academic staff who have actively taken part in union activities; delays in granting promotions and confirmations of probationary lecturers, for reasons other than academic ones.
• Wilful violation of proper procedure in making a promotion to the post of Associate Professor in the Faculty of Medicine.
• Numerous other instances of poor governance, including lengthy closures of faculties, failure to deal with student hostel issues, inability to deal with routine administrative matters in a timely manner, and showing disrespect to senior academics.

The above actions and/or omissions on your part highlight your inability to provide the University of Colombo with good academic leadership and fair and effective management. We need hardly point out that, at the time of your appointment, you appeared to be the least qualified candidate for the position, and failed to garner a plurality of votes in the Council. Since your appointment, you have had ample opportunity to demonstrate, that despite the doubts about your qualifications, you might have become a competent and worthy leader of the academic community. However, you have in fact abysmally failed to do so. Therefore, in the interests of the institution, its students, and the nation, which the university serves, we the members of CUFTA, hereby strongly call upon you to resign with immediate effect, from the position of Vice-Chancellor of the University of Colombo.

Prof. Devaka K. Weerakoon

President/ CUFTA

Dr. Prabath Jayasinghe

Vice President/CUFTA

On behalf of the following members of the Colombo University Federation of Teachers' Associations

Arts Faculty Teachers’ Association (AFTA)

Faculty of Education Teachers’ Association (FETA)

Faculty of Management and Finance Trade Union (FMFTU)

Faculty of Medicine Teachers’ Association (FMTA)

Sri Palee Campus Teachers’ Association (SPCTA)

Teachers’ Association of the Institute of Indigenous Medicine (TAIIM)

University of Colombo Computing Teachers’ Association (UCCTA)

University of Colombo Science Teachers Union (UCSTA)

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by     (2015-02-03 02:44:56)