Sunday, March 1, 2015

Keep 1000 Acres, Give Us Back Remaining 5500 – Vigneshwaran

c-v-vigneswaran-takes-oath-before-president-rajapaksa-1

28/02/2015

Hon’ Governor, Hon’ Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, Hon’ Minister D.M.Swaminathan, Hon’ Deputy Minister Mrs.Vijekala Maheswaran, Hon’ Ministers of the Provincial Council, officers of the Northern Provincial Council, other officers, my dear brothers and sisters,

The change in Government is showing favourably in the number of visits by VIPs from Colombo last few days. We welcome all of them. Earlier the point of contact of the Ministers from the Central Government was a Minister who ran his Establishment from a Theater close by a theatre building to which rent was not paid for a considerable number of years or never paid. Now fortunately our Ministers are reaching out to us and to our officers. We are thankful to them for showing tremendous understanding with regard to our plight. There are a number of matters Hon Gamini Jayawickrama Perera and his officers would be speaking to us today. Let us take cognisance of them and bring about better understanding with the South. Quicker and cheaper marketing of our produce is one area the Hon’ Minister is very much interested in. He has suggested the use of the Railway in this regard.

There is a specialty in Hon’ Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera. He has been a Chief Minister of Wayamba Provincial Council soon after the Indo – Sri Lanka Agreement and the 13th Amendment. Thus he is one of the pioneers in working out the 13th Amendment. He was then my neighbor at the Summit Flats in Keppitipola Mawatha, Colombo. It is nice to renew our friendship after such a long time. The Hon’ Minister is very enthusiastic about greater co-operation between North and South. His special area of interest is the creation of a vibrant co-operative movement. Lots of rights have been plucked from us since the time Hon’ Minister was Chief Minister. We lost some during the Presidency of Mr.Premadasa, some due to Supreme Court decisions and so much under the Divineguma. The 13th Amendment today is a much emaciated document.

We have in Hon’ Minister D.M.Swaminathan a pragmatic and practical Minister. He had been a Governor of the Western Province for some time. He too is familiar with the working of the Provincial Council. He has come over to put into effect the promise he gave us when we went and met him in Colombo a few weeks ago. At least the process of handing over of land unwanted by the Army to its lawful owners is now starting. Areas have been identified and earmarked. Within three weeks let us hope that our suffering and deprived dear brothers and sisters would be able to go back to their own lands. Though we are very happy that an area of 1000 acres is being handed over, it must be recorded here that we have asked for at least 5500 acres to be returned. Around 6500 acres of land have been arbitrarily taken over by the Army in the Valikamam North area only since the end of the war in 2009 and not returned. These are mostly fertile agricultural lands to which the owners have proper deeds. I pointed out to the Hon’ Minister the other day in Colombo that a maximum of 1000 acres is all what the Army needs to protect Palali Air Port and K.K.S Port. Anything more is excess land arbitrarily retained.

The balance 5500 acres can be returned to their lawful owners. The Army must not be allowed to be parasitic on us. They are cultivating our fertile lands for their benefit; they are using our good water and depriving us of our water in an area where water is precious. They are polluting our areas with their waste; they are a source of irritation and fear in our midst. Recent public pronouncements that even a single Army Camp would not be withdrawn even if it was for the consumption of the Southern Electorate could have been avoided. It had the effect of our response by passing a Resolution on Genocide. Please remember we feel very strongly against the continued stay of the Armed Forces in our areas. Until they are removed except in areas of strategic importance we would feel threatened.

Yet we are happy that this Government is taking positive steps to improve the quality of life of our people. We are equally aware of the fact that a proper resolution of our problems could not be achieved merely by giving back what we are already entitled to. Because the previous Government deprived us of our legitimate rights, the handing back of what is legitimately ours might seem a great boon to us. In a practical way these handings over however limited in scope they may be, are no doubt helpful to us. The change of the Governor and the Chief Secretary are no doubt in the right direction. But they were legitimately already our rights. Deprived rights. Politically deprived rights!

May I also point out to this august assembly of Ministers and officials that there is a 67 year old ethnic problem still hanging fire. We have not solved that yet. When we were voted to power it was on the basis that we would strive to bring about a settlement within a united Sri Lanka, that we would ensure the recognition of our individualism in the North and East and that we would strive for maximum devolution by the Central Government.

This settlement is essential so that none would put us back into the Sea of turmoil and despair again. While expecting a permanent solution to our innumerable problems, we do welcome the concern of the Central Government and its Ministers in the welfare of our people. As we go on you would recognize our concerns and needs. Please do not indulge subtlety in exercises which the earlier Government engaged in openly. If our concerns and fears are understood this Country could rise up to its pristine glory.

[Dialogue with Representatives of Co-operatives’ Movement and Farmer Organizations at Jaffna Public Library Auditorium
28th February 2015 at 9.30 am Chief Minister’s Speech ]

Press Release: International Media Mission, Sri Lanka

01/03/2015

Continued surveillance or journalists and media organizations in the north of Sri Lanka must cease, says the international media mission to Sri Lanka.

Surveillance, monitoring and following of journalists are incompatible with a free media and the principles of open government that should underpin the 100 day reform process.

The international media mission represents the International Federation of Journalists, the International Press Institute and International Freedom of Expression Exchange. Its members are Christopher Warren from Australia, Scott Griffen from Austria and Siddharth Varadarajan from India. The Mission is here on the invitation of the Free Media Movement, which is also facilitating the visit.

All journalists acknowledged there have been no cases of over violence since the January 8 elections and that there has been an apparent reduction in threats. However, there remain significant challenges to press freedom including:

· Self-censorship due to uncertainty about the political future of the country;

· Restrictions on access to information; and

· Continued surveillance and monitoring of journalists.

Despite the welcome commitment to Right to Information legislation, there appears to have been tightening of bureaucratic processes that make access to information more difficult and can lead to significant misunderstandings.

There remain significant concerns about the failure to address the impunity surrounding attacks on journalists. Since 2000, 12 media workers have been killed in the North and four are missing, presumed dead.

However, no person has been held responsible for any of these deaths. As part of the reform process, it is essential that full and open investigations are held into all these cases.

Newspaper organizations also need to do more to recognize the role they can play in providing a safe and secure working environment.

All media organizations should commit to working together to provide necessary training to entrench professional journalism and the values of free media in the North.

Whose democracy is it anyway?

by The Social Architects

- on 03/01/2015

While domestic and international observers have been praising the peaceful transfer of power in early January, Sri Lanka’s civil conflict continues and Tamil rights remain in question.

TSA has obtained a series of highly credible reports about people who disappeared during the final days of combat from September 2008 – May 2009. This year, the Government of Sri Lanka failed to publish a progress report on its January 2014 National Plan of Action for the Implementation of the LLRC Recommendations. Shockingly, the new administration has failed to acknowledge the recommendations of the LLRC in any capacity.

Whose Democracy is It Anyway by Thavam Ratna

If They Don’t Take Me Seriously, Why Do They Come to Me? – Bishop Rayappu Joseph

[President Sirisena meets Bishop Rayappu Joseph]-01/03/2015

The most outspoken Bishop in Sri Lanka, Dr Rayappu Joseph of Mannar says a purely domestic inquiry will not be perceived by Tamils as impartial, at least at this stage. Also, what should be done now as first step is to cooperate with the UN investigation and discuss next steps after that report is published.
If They Don’t Take Me Seriously, Why Do They Come to Me – Bishop Rayappu Joseph by Thavam Ratna

Public Funds Wasted On Presidential Advisers

By Nirmala Kannangara-Sunday, March 01, 2015

When thousands of peasants struggle to find a proper meal to their children due to the high cost of living, millions of rupees of public money had allegedly been ‘wasted’ monthly by the former regime on 38 Presidential Advisers.

The Sunday Leader learns that out of the 38 Presidential Advisers, 20 were not assigned for any specific task although each were paid a salary of Rs.75, 000 and an allowance of one third of their salary.

Presidential Secretariat records also shows that each adviser was given a mobile phone, a laptop and a fully maintained vehicle as well as 200 liters of fuel which was increased based on their outstation travel. A certain percentage of their mobile phone and residential phone bills were also paid by the Presidential Secretariat.

Highly reliable sources from the Presidential Secretariat who wished to remain anonymous said that President J. R. Jayewardene did not have Presidential Advisers but his successor President Ranasinghe Premadasa appointed reputed Civil Servant Bradman Weerakoon as his adviser.

“During former President Chandrika Kumaratunge’s tenure, there were a few advisers appointed by her but President Mahinda Rajapaksa appointed a record number of advisers. President Maithripala Sirisena has only five Presidential Advisers,” sources said.

According to the records, the Presidential Secretariat had paid Rs. 2.85 million for the 38 advisers every month as the monthly salary and an additional Rs. 9.5 lakhs per month as allowances. The government has spent Rs.3.8 million a month altogether as salaries for these 38 advisers.

Meanwhile it has been revealed that the Ven. Walpola Piyananda Thera of the Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Vihara in Los Angeles and Chief Sanghanayake of America was one of the advisers to the former President. This monk is living in the USA but came to Sri Lanka only to help the former regime in its election campaign.

“This Buddhist monk lives in Los Angeles, in USA and was paid the adviser’s salary. We are yet to know as to what sort of advice the former President obtained from him,” sources claimed.

Meanwhile, records further revealed that the Post and Telecommunications Minister in President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s cabinet in 2009, Mahinda Wijesekera, was a Presidential Adviser from 2010 to 2015.

Wijesekera suffered serious injuries from a suicide bomb attack at Akuressa in March 2009 has been bed ridden.

“When people were removed from the posts they were holding during the previous regime, including some who were holding tops posts at state electronic media institutions, they were appointed as Presidential Advisers simply to be in the good books with them. This has brought down the status of the post of a Presidential Adviser. Earlier only reputed and highly qualified officials were appointed to these important positions in order to obtain their advice for the President. But by appointing friends and relatives without considering the educational background, the prestige of the Presidential Adviser post has deteriorated,” sources said.

When contacted former Additional Secretary (Administration) to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, B. S. Gunaratna who is still holding office under new President Maithipala Sirisena, said he was not aware as to why 20 Presidential Advisers were not assigned any duty but were merely appointed for the name sake.

“It is President Rajapaksa who appointed his advisers and I do not know whether they were assigned any work or not. Why don’t you ask this from President Mahinda Rajapaksa,” Gunaratne said.

When asked who prepared the letters of appointment of these advisers and why he claims that he is not aware of the subjects assigned to each of them, as he was the Additional Secretary in charge of Presidential Secretariat administration work, Gunaratne said that although it was he who prepared the letters of appointment, he was not aware on their assigned subjects.

“Yes it is I who prepared the letters but how do I know to what the subjects they were assigned. In their letters of appointment, no such details were given. I don’t know what the perks these advisers received as they too were not mentioned in the letter of appointment,” Gunaratne added.

According to the Presidential Secretariat records, Asoka Milinda Moragoda was a Senior Advisor to President Rajapaksa and Dhammika Amarasinghe was the Advisor on State Affairs. Sunimal Fernando was the Advisor on Social Infrastructure and Dr Daya Upai Hewapathirana on Finance Management.

The Presidential Adviser on Legal Affairs was D. S. Wijesinghe PC and Dr Rani Jayamaha was the Adviser on Banking Affairs. Rohana Weerasinghe on Aesthetic and Cultural Affairs, Chandra Fernando on Infrastructure Development in the North and the East, Ravindra Randeniya on Cinema, Ven. Matale Amarawansa Thera on Buddhist Affairs, Ven. Bandagiriye Somavansa Thera on Early Childhood Development and Primary Education, Sivanesathurai Santhirakanthan on Tamil Community in the Eastern Province, Anura Solomon on Conflict Resolution, Air Chief Marshal (Rtd) W. D. R. M. J. Gunathilake and Admiral (Rtd) Jayanath Colombage both on Aviation, Justice P. A. Ratnayake and A. H. M. Azwar on Parliamentary Affairs and Media.

Prof. P. W. Epasinghe, S. B. Divaratne, Mahinda Wijesekera, Pandith W. D. Amaradeva, Ven. Walpola Piyananda Thera, Ven. Bodagama Chandima Thera, Rohan Abeygunasekera, Maj. Gen. (Rtd) M. D. Fernando, Vasantha Obeysekera, Ven. Bengamuwe Nalaka Thera, Dr S. K. R. Weerasinghe, Mrs. S. Chandrasekeran, H. G. S. Jayasekera, Former Navy Commander Admiral D. W. A. S. Dissanayake, G. L. W. Samarasinghe, Dr S. S. L. Perera, Sunil G. Wijesinghe, Rosmand Senaratne, Asoka Serasinghe and Newton Gunaratne were the other Presidential Advisers that specific subjects were not assigned, according to the Presidential Secretariat records.

Meanwhile, when questioned from the Presidential Secretariat whether these advisers reported to work and had their own offices at the Secretariat, sources said that neither are there records of their attendance nor did they have separate offices.

“Other than for functions where the former President attended, these advisers did not come to the Secretariat but ‘may’ have worked from home. People were astonished at the number of advisers President Rajapaksa had,” sources claimed.

Former Secretary to President Ranasinghe Premadasa, K. H. J. Wijedasa, when contacted by The Sunday Leader, said that under the Constitution, the President can appoint any number of advisers or Coordinating Secretaries and decide on their salaries.

“That is the privilege of a President. He had around 88 Coordinating Secretaries to work for him,” Wijeydasa said.

All attempts to contact former Chief of Staff to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Gamini Senarath on his residential landline for a comment were not successful as there was no response.

The police, witness protection and ‘Yahapalanaya’

Sunday, March 01, 2015

A most discomfiting sight witnessed in Sri Lanka post the January 2015 ‘yahapalanaya’ elections was this week’s less than coherent public haranguing of the country’s Inspector General of Police (IGP) and his officers by the new Government’s Public Security Minister John Amaratunga.

Lack of political will manifested
The general theme appeared to be that government politicians are lily white while the apparent inability to catch the big time criminals of the Rajapaksa regime lie fairly and squarely at the feet of law enforcement officers.

Indeed, it appears as if this is becoming the convenient refrain of the Government. On Friday, Cabinet spokesperson and a frontline Minister Rajitha Senaratne expressed dissatisfaction at the failure of state agencies including the Department of the Attorney General, the Department of the Police together with the Bribery and Corruption Commission to speedily act against major corruptors.

This is however a story that only the credulous will believe. First the Government must itself show political will to put its institutional house in order. In the close to two months that have passed, the conduct of the President and the Prime Minister has been, by and large, in conformity with the minimum of good governance. But actions of their ‘Maithri’ Ministers have not been so encouraging. From the appointments of heads of corporations to matters as mundane as retaining lawyers as counsel for state institutions, old and bad practices of political favouritism over merit have prevailed.

Astoundingly naïve stand to take
Where the police is concerned, this has long been the favorite whipping boy of politicians who perform the incredibly acrobatic feat of undermining the police command structure and then standing piously apart, washing their hands of any guilt while blaming the police for bad law enforcement. Minister Senaratne was part of the same Mahinda Rajapaksa Presidency which ferociously deprived the Department of the Police of even its remaining independence, forcing the IGP to a vulnerable position as his subordinates took control at the whim and fancy of powerful politicians and their lackeys.

Does this Government expect the disgraceful undermining of the law enforcement command hierarchy for well over ten years to miraculously disappear overnight just because they preach of ‘yahapalanaya’? That is an astoundingly naïve stand to take. This is, of course, the most positive interpretation that we can give of these ministerial antics. The darker and more dangerous side involves direct allegations leveled, for example, by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) against the Government itself, alleging dubious backroom deals aimed at saving corruptors.

All this is not to say that the police are lily white either. Over the years, this column has been unrelentingly critical of failures by the Department of the Police to carry out their due and proper statutory function. This position has not changed. Each day, we have evidence to that effect, most recently being when two senior police officers, including a Senior Superintendant of Police were arrested in connection with the 2012 murder of a hotel owner in Biyagama. But complex dilemmas of restoring the independence of Sri Lanka’s law enforcement function cannot be resolved by publicly hanging the IGP out to dry. In fact, it is of public note that this particular IGP has been commendably striving to maintain basic law enforcement functions and enforce discipline within his Department even during the darkness of the Rajapaksa days. Moreover, it is peculiarly ironic that this moralising comes from those who have less than perfect ministerial records themselves.

The need for proper witness protection
Moreover, even good laws cannot automatically change a seriously subverted institutional culture. For example, Sri Lanka’s Convention Against Torture Act of 1994, which was one of the best anti-torture laws in the world, miserably failed to live up to expectations due to lack of political will to investigate, prosecute and punish torturers. This month, Parliament enacted the 2015 Act on Assistance and Protection to Victims of Crime and Witnesses. Its positive aspects relate to the expanded definition of a “witness”, the extension of protection to witnesses testifying before quasi-judicial and non-criminal proceedings and the provision of protection before, during and after testimony is given.

Yet the enacted law (which still remains to be disseminated properly) appears not to have taken note of the imperative need for the establishment of an independent Protection Division based outside the Police Department with dedicated and specially trained law enforcement officers. There is well established international precedent for this.

The commonsensical point is that state agents are often blamed for violations. Consequently entrusting the protection of victims and witnesses to the very persons wearing the same uniform is unrealistic.

Solid institutional reform must replace rhetoric
Generally assessing this Government’s performance, there is an impression of its collusion with racketeers of the previous regime and their powerful political backers. If this perception is to be corrected, merely blaming state agencies will not suffice. Even though the space of 100 days that the Maithri Government set for itself remains a classic case of unabashed electioneering overreach, there are basic issues that the Government can address.

It has not strengthened the Bribery and Corruption Commission which it should have done by immediately resorting to the parliamentary method stipulated for the removal of Commissioners including the Chairman who stands accused of bribery himself. Merely changing the Director General will not do, as was observed in these column spaces earlier.

The argument that constitutional impeachment of the Bribery Commissioners would have been too long and too unwieldy is sheer nonsense. Indeed, in the first blush of its spectacular election victory, this method would have been the most impeccable response to the crisis of the (purported) Chief Justice as well as the Bribery Commissioners. Rather than that, what we see now is a stalemate with politicians blaming state agencies in distasteful public displays.

As Minister Senaratne’s latest outpourings seem to indicate, this Government may go beyond the 100 days to fulfill its promises even though this has been contradicted by others on his own side. If so and at least now, solid institutional and policy change must replace political rhetoric and dramatic media performances.

முஸ்லிம் சமூகம் வெட்கித் தலைகுனிய வேண்டிய தருணம்

(பழுலுல்லாஹ் பர்ஹான்)

Mar 01, 2015

நீதி, நியாயம், விட்டுக்கொடுப்பு என்ற பதங்களின் ஒத்த கருத்துக்கள் தங்களது அகராதியில் அநீதி, அநியாயம், காட்டிக்கொடுத்தல் என்பனவாகவே இருக்கின்றன என்பதை இந்நாட்டில் முஸ்லிம் பெயர்தாங்கிகளின் கூட்டமொன்று இன்னுமொருமுறை உரக்கச் சொல்லியிருக்கிறது.

முப்பது வருட யுத்தத்தினால் ஏற்பட்டுப் போயிருக்கிற வடுக்களை இந்நாட்டின் இருபெரும் சிறுபான்மைச் சமூகங்களுமே எவ்வாறு ஆற்றிக்கொள்வது, எவ்வாறு விட்டுக்கொடுப்புக்களைச் செய்வது என்று யோசிக்கத் தொடங்கி, முன்னெடுப்புக்களை ஆரம்பிக்கிற மனோநிலை ஏற்பட்டிருக்கிற இவ்வேளையில், இரு சமூகமும் இரண்டறக் கலந்து தமது கல்வி, வியாபார, கலாசார விடயங்களில் புரிந்துணர்வோடு செயற்பட ஆரம்பித்திருக்கின்ற இவ்வேளையில் இவ்விரு சமூகங்களையுமே இரு துருவங்களாக நிரந்தரமாகவே பிரித்து வைக்கின்ற ஒரு பெரும் கைங்கரியம் முஸ்லிம் பெயர்தாங்கிகளால் அரங்கேற்றப்பட்டிருக்கிறது.

கிழக்கு மாகாண சபையின் அண்மைய ஆட்சிமாற்றமும் அதனை நோக்கிய முஸ்லிம் காங்கிரஸ் தலைவரினதும் அதனது உறுப்பினர்களினதும் செயற்பாடுகளும்;, அரசியல் இலாபங்களுக்காகவும், தமது சொந்த ஆடம்பர வாழ்வுக்காகவும் தாம் யாரையும் ஏமாற்றுவோம், கொள்கை கோட்பாடுகள், இஸ்லாத்தின் வழிகாட்டல்கள், ஆகக்குறைந்தது மனிதாபிமானம் போன்ற எந்த ஒன்றைப் பற்றியும் கவலைப்படமாட்டோம் என்பதை இன்னுமொருமுறை உலகிற்குச் சொல்லியிருக்கின்றன.பதவிகளையும் அந்தஸ்த்துக்களையும், பொருளாதாரத்தையும் ஈட்டிக் கொள்வதற்காக, முஸ்லிம் அரசியல் என்ற போர்வையில் இந்த நாட்டில் முஸ்லிம் பெயர்தாங்கி அரசியல்வாதிகள் செய்கின்ற அநாகரிகச் செயற்பாடுகள் எல்லை மீறியே செல்கின்றன. தேர்தல் காலங்களில் பெரும்பான்மைக் கட்சிகளை ஆதரிப்பதற்காக செய்யப்படுகின்ற பாரிய தொகைப் பணங்களுக்கும் பதவிகளுக்குமான பேரம்பேசல்களில் தொடங்கி மற்றைய சிறுபான்மைச் சமூகங்களின் உரிமைகளில் கைவைப்பதிலிருந்து இந்நாட்டின் பொது நன்மைகளைச் சிதைப்பது வரை எந்த மனிதாபிமானமுமின்றி நடந்துகொள்கின்ற இவர்களது நடவடிக்கைகள் இந்நாட்டில் முஸ்லிம் சமூக இருப்பை இன்னும் பிரச்சினைகளுக்குள்ளாக்கும்.

பொதுபலசேன போன்ற தீவிரவாத அமைப்புக்கள் மத்தியில் முஸ்லிம் சமூகத்தைப் பற்றிய பிழையான புரிதல்களை உருவாக்குவதில் முஸ்லிம் அரசியல்வாதிகளது செயற்பாடுகள் கூடுதல் பங்காற்றியிருக்கின்றன. இவ்வாறான பௌத்த தீவிரவாத இயக்கங்களது செயற்பாடுகள் அண்மைய அரசியல் மாற்றங்கள் காரணமாக ஒரு வகையில் மட்டுப்படுத்தப்பட்டாலும் நிரந்தரமாக அவர்களது மனங்களில் முஸ்லிம் சமூகத்தைப் பற்றிய பிழையான பதிவுகள் களையப்பட்டு, புரிந்துணர்வு ஏற்பட்டு எமது பிரச்சினைகள் தீர்க்கப்படுவது என்பது இந்நிலையில் சாத்தியமற்றது. முஸ்லிம் அரசியல்வாதிகளே எமது சமூகம் அனுபவிக்கின்ற வேதனைகளுக்கு பொறுப்புக் கூறவேண்டும். இந்த விடயத்தில் படைத்தவனைப் பயப்படவேண்டிய தேவை அவர்களுக்கு இருக்கிறது என்பதை ஒருமுறை அவர்கள் ஞாபகப்படுத்திக் கொள்ள வேண்டும்.

இறுதிநேரம் வரை ஒரு வேட்பாளரை அல்லது ஒரு கட்சியை ஆதரிப்பது, அவ்வாறு ஆதரிப்பதன் மூலம் தமது பதவிகளையும் பொருளாதாரத்தையும் தமது ஆடம்பர வாழ்வையும் நிச்சயப்படுத்திக் கொள்வது, அந்த வேட்பாளர் அல்லது அந்தக் கட்சி தோற்றுப் போகும் என்ற நிலை வருகின்றபோது இன்னுமொரு கட்சியோடு பேரம் பேசுவது, ஒரு குறைந்தபட்ச வெட்கம் கூட இல்லாது அடுத்த கட்சியை ஆதரிப்பது, அந்த கட்சியினுடைய பாரிய பிழைகளையும் அநியாயங்களையும் நாக்கூசாமல் நியாயப்படுத்துவது, அங்கும் தமது பொருளாதாரத்தைத் தக்கவைத்துக் கொள்வதில் குறியாயிருப்பது என்று வியாபித்துச் செல்கின்ற முஸ்லிம் அரசியல்வாதிகளது இந்நடவடிக்கைகள் முஸ்லிமைப்பற்றிய, இஸ்லாத்தைப் பற்றிய தவறான புரிதல்களை ஏனைய சகோதர இன சமூகங்கள் மத்தியில் வேரூன்ற வைக்கின்றன.

முஸ்லிம் என்பவன் எப்போதுமே சுயநலவாதி, பணத்திற்காகவும் பதவிக்காகவும் சோரம் போகக்கூடியவன், ஏனைய சமூகங்களையோ, மனிதர்களையோ பற்றி எந்த அக்கறையும் கொள்ளாதவன் என்ற மனப்பதிவு ஏனையோர் மத்தியில் நிலவுவதற்குக் காரணம் பெருமளவில் எமது அரசியல்வாதிகளே. இந்நிலை சர்வதேச சமூகத்தின் மத்தியிலும்கூட இலங்கை முஸ்லிம்களைப் பற்றிய மோசமான மனப்பதிவை ஏற்படுத்தியுள்ளது.

கிழக்கு மாகாண சபை ஆட்சிமாற்றத்தில் முஸ்லிம் காங்கிரஸ் செய்திருக்கின்ற காய் நகர்த்தல்கள் இலங்கை சமூகத்தின் முன் முஸ்லிம்களை தலைகுனிய வைத்திருக்கின்றன. முஸ்லிம் காங்கிரஸ் கொடுத்த வாக்குறுதியை நம்பி தமிழ்த் தேசிய கூட்டமைப்பு உறுப்பினர்கள்அவர்களது சமூகத்தின் மத்தியில் மாகாண சபையில் நாம் கல்வியமைச்சைப் பெறுவோம், கல்விக்காகப் பாடுபடுவோம் என்று பிரச்சாரம் செய்யத் தொடங்கியிருந்தனர்.

ஜனநாயக அடிப்படையில் கூட்டமைப்பிற்கே கிழக்கு மாகாண முதலமைச்சரைப் பெற்றுக் கொள்ளக்கூடிய நியாயங்கள் இருந்தும், அந்த யதார்த்தங்கள் ஒருபுறமிருக்க, நிலைமைகளோடு ஒத்துப் போவோம் என்று விட்டுக் கொடுக்கின்ற மனோநிலையில் அவர்கள் செயற்படத் தொடங்கியவேளை, மீண்டும் அவர்களை ஏமாற்றி அந்தப்பதவிகளை தகுதியற்றோருக்கு வழங்கியிருப்பது முஸ்லிம் காங்கிரஸ் செய்திருக்கின்ற மிகப்பெரும் துரோகமாகும். இது தமிழர்களுக்கெதிரான துரோகம், ஏமாற்று என்பதை விட முஸ்லிம் சமூகத்திற்கெதிராக செய்யப்பட்ட துரோகமாகவே கருதப்பட வேண்டும்.

இவ்வாறான செயற்பாடுகள் இம்மாகாணத்தில் இரு பெரும் சிறுபான்மைச் சமூகங்கள் மத்தியிலும் நிரந்தரமான மனக்கசப்புக்களையும் பிரிவினைகளையும் வளாப்பதற்கே வழிவகுக்கும். இந்நிலை எமதும் எமது எதிர்கால சந்ததியினதும் வாழ்வை மிகப்பாரதூரமாகப் பாதிக்கும். மனங்களை வென்று சமாதான வாழ்வை உருவாக்க முஸ்லிம்கள் இதய சுத்தியோடு முயற்சி செய்யாத வரை இலங்கையின் கிழக்கு மாகாணத்தில் மட்டுமல்ல முழு உலகிலுமே நாம் ஒரு கீழ்சாதிச் சமூகமாகவே கணிக்கப்படுவோம் என்பதை கசப்பாயினும் நாம் ஏற்றுக் கொள்ளத்தான் வேண்டியிருக்கிறது.

முஸ்லிம்கள் இந்த சூழ்நிலைகளை விளங்கிக் கொள்ள வேண்டும். இஸ்லாமிய மார்க்க கட்டுப்பாடுகளை விதிக்கின்ற, உரத்துச் சொல்லுகிற அமைப்புக்கள் அரசியல்வாதிகளிலும் ஆதிக்கம் செலுத்த வேண்டும். இந்நாட்டின் நன்மையை மாத்திரம் கருத்திற்கொண்டு பெரும்பான்மை சமூக அரசியல்வாதிகளை வழிநடாத்த பங்களிப்புக்கள் செய்த சோபித தேரர் போன்றவர்களைப் போன்று முஸ்லிம் சமயப் பெரியவர்களும் இந்த நாட்டின் நன்மைக்காகவும், முஸ்லிம் சமூகத்திற்காகவும் முஸ்லிம் அரசியல்வாதிகளில் தாக்கம் செலுத்தி வழிகாட்ட இதய சுத்தியோடு, சுயநலன்களுக்கப்பால் செயற்பட முன்வர வேண்டும். அன்றேல் முஸ்லிம் சமூகத்தின் இருப்பு இந்நாட்டில் கேள்விக்குறியே!

Unnecessary Interventions By A SLMC Politician Into Eastern Province Education Sector

March 1, 2015

A SLMC provincial politician has been making unnecessary interventions into the education sector of the Eastern province that has prompted a group of residents from Akkaraipattu to write to the Education Ministry Secretary concerning his influences and harassments.

SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem

In their letter they have pointed out that although the intimidations and interruptions of zonal education officials existed during the previous regime, the situation has taken a turn for the worse since the regime change.

They have particularly noted SLMC Provincial Council member Thavam and his henchmen who have engaged in unethical operations, intimidations and of their illegal involvements and influences that have resulted in a blow to the people’s hope of good governance.

The complainants have stated that this politician and his henchmen are heavily interfering with the work of the Akkaraipattu zonal education office and are intimidating the officers to implement the whims and fancies of Thavam.

They claim this politician has demanded a list of teachers who are due to be transferred, has omitted names from the list according to his wishes, cancelled all transfers of female teachers who were his batch-mates, compelled the office to transfer teachers who support his political opponents, threatened zonal education offices including the Director and has pressurized the Director into inviting him for office events and meetings.

We publish below the letter in full;

Mr. N.A.A.Pushpakumara.
Secretary,
Ministry of Education,
Orr’s Hills,
Trincomalee.

Dear Sir,
May Peace and Blessing of Almighty Allah, be on you.

First and foremost we are sorry for taking your valuable time. And also being anonymous.

We write to inform you about the local politicians who interrupt and intimidate the zonal education officials.

In the previous regime there was also some political influences which heavily disturbed us and we were able to put our pressure to eliminate the influences to a satisfactory level. But we see, dealing with the current situation seems detrimental.

Initially we thought of writing to Dailymirror and Virakesari, but some of our colleagues did not like the idea and said to write authorities which we found to be more appropriate and effective.

We, a group of educated people from Akkaraipattu, does not involve in active politics. As you know, unfortunately, the current political culture of our beloved country is still in the sickening state. However the recent change in the regime has given us the hope of ‘Good Governance’. It is a newborn baby and now it is in its infancy. Like other ‘Country Loving Citizens’ we also adore to support towards good governance and to see it grows healthier and stronger.

In this context, the local politicians’ (Notably and specifically Mr Thavam, SLMC PC Member and his henchmen) unethical behaviours, intimidation and illegal involvements and influences have put the people’s long waited hope of good governance into a hopeless one.

However we are, indeed, not bother about the way the politicians do their politics in Akkaraipattu and also we are certainly not interested in their involvement in any government institutions but the EDUCATION SECTOR.

Mr Tavam, the SLMC PC member and his hooligans, involve heavily in the Zonal Education Office in Akkaraipattu and intimidating the officers to bring them into Mr Thavam’s wishes, which has put the day to day work of the office in a chaotic situation. The amount of pressure, of Mr Thavam and the hooligans, is very high and it has put the zonal education authorities to unwillingly take unfair decisions in some of their official matters.

Accordingly the recent infamous ‘Teachers Transfer’ of Akkaraipattu Zone, specially the Muslim ladies teachers’ transfer has been made an ugly issue by Mr Thavam and his henchmen.

Through such intimidation;

-He demands the list of teachers who are to be transferred.
-He cuts and chops the names as he wishes.
-He has also ordered the Zonal office to cancel all the transfers of the ‘Ladies Teachers’ who were his batch-mates.
-He has compelled the office to transfer the teachers who are the supporters of his political opponent.
-We hear recently he has sent a warning SMS to the ZDE about his position if he doesn’t dance according to his tune.
-He also pressurising the ZDE office to invite him as a chief guest in their events and meetings.

The reason for the recent intimidation of Mr Thavam is that:
1) SLMC leader is a powerful minister 2) Eastern Provincial Director of Education, Mr Nizam’s brother is a general secretary of SLMC and a minister.
3) We don’t know Mr Nizam’s position on this political influence. However the pressure of his brother and the leader of SLMC might have put him into an awkward position and cornered him to obey the wishes of the SLMC.

We do know that the Muslim Teachers’ transfer has become a nightmare to your administration. We apologise on behalf of the Muslim community for this nature.

However with the same breath we would strongly support your stern action and position in transferring the Muslim teachers as you planned; whether they are males or females.

We will be with you and we strongly believe under this good governance no politician dare to poke their nose into your administration.

Therefore Sir, Please do the needful.

The above points are the key ones we have mentioned here. The same undesirable situation may prevails in other part of the eastern province but this certainly need a permanent fix.

Let us all educate ‘Good Governance’ for which we start it from Education.

If you ask the ZDE or other authorities, about the above said facts we are sure that they will hesitate to reveal everything as the government authorities have been put in a situation that they fear to open their mouth fearing consequences.

We have copied this mail to the Governor with the simple intention of making the governor knows the issue.

We think it is worth to note that Akkaraipattu students have excelled nationally in education and cultural events. And also have proved to be one of the outstanding schools and students in the region.

We fear the political influences would definitely deteriorate all the future achievements and endeavours of the students.

Thank you
God bless you all

The Learnered Society of Akkaraipattu

Crisis in Army again over appointments!

Sunday, 01 March 2015

The appointments made, through the Presidential Secretariat without the knowledge of the prime minister, to the Army by Gen. Sarath Fonseka a few days before new commander Lt. Gen. Krishantha de Silva assumed duties are likely to become invalid, say Army sources.

Brig. Duminda Keppetiwalana, who had been appointed by Gen. Fonseka as the director (operations) has been posted back as director of the infantry regiment. Brig. Jayantha Gunaratne is back at that post.

Maj. Gen. Mahesh Ratnayake has been appointed as the war secretary and Maj. Gen. Channa Gunatilake as the commanding officer of the volunteer corps. The appointment of the former came despite there being many who are senior to him.

Commenting on this, a top Army official loyal to Gen. Fonseka said, “General Fonseka made the appointments in the Army on merit basis, not on seniority basis. Hadn’t talent been recognized, we would still be fighting the war.”

Disagreeing, an independent top-ranking officer said, “The General is investigating corruption in the Army, but he is having former Col. Kapila Ratnayake near him. Why was it that Col. Ratnayake and a beautiful female corporal had to go home suddenly? The real situation is not a secret for those in the Army. Fonseka knows how Col. Ratnayake swindled money that had come from overseas to fund his campaign. The Gen. keeps silent about the corrupt who are around him while trying to clean up the Army. Isn't this ridiculous?”

Sri Lanka's tourism industry leads to 'systematic human rights abuses'

01 March 2015
Sri Lanka's large scale developments in the tourism industry are leading to systematic human rights abuses, says a report released by the Society for Threatened Peoples Switzerland (STP), calling on European travel agencies to be vigilant on human rights issues.

“The report shows that systematic human rights abuses have been taking place as a result of tourism development in the country,” said the STP and the Sri Lankan Campaign in a joint press release. “Fishermen have seen their access to the sea blocked, land grabbing has taken place and the local population are insufficiently, if at all, informed about planned tourism projects.”

The report, Dark Clouds over the Sunshine Paradise – Tourism and Human Rights in Sri Lanka, also details the extensive involvement of Sri Lanka's military in the island's tourism industry. “The military is increasingly focusing its budget on tourism with the army, navy and air force opening hotels all over the country and increasingly offering tourist activities,” said the report.

“The military are deeply entrenched within the tourism industry,” said Fred Carver, Campaign Director of the Sri Lanka Campaign.

"While tourism can be a tool for positive change the tourist industry in Sri Lanka is established in such a way that the benefits fall into the hands of a very few people with links to the ruling elite, and the local population - particularly in Tamil areas - are at best completely bypassed by the industry and at worst victims of rights violations as a consequence of the industry," added Mr Carver.

British, Swiss and German travel agencies were criticised by the organisations, which called for the businesses to be more vigilant and “regularly monitor and ensure the exercise of due diligence concerning human rights.”

“The Sri Lankan government is trying to promote the image of a country that has returned to normality,” said STP's report. “Despite the troubling human rights situation, at least 49 German and 21 Swiss travel agencies and their British subsidiaries offer hotels in the three tourist regions,” added the statement.

“It is the corporate (social) responsibility and due diligence of travel agencies to systematically request these from their local partners and to verify their observance on a regular basis.”

See the full report here.

pdf_e_langversion-TOURISM & HUMAN RIGHTS IN SRI LANKA.pdf by Thavam Ratna

Smother emergent proto-fascism!

The father-in-law acute distemper syndrome

The Saviour and the Four Zealots of Reincarnation

by Kumar David-February 28, 2015,

The Nugegoda meeting of 18 February, organised by Reincarnate Mahinda Zombies (RMZ) Wimal, Vasu, Gammanpila and Dinesh, which attracted about 10,000 people, may be Colombo’s baptismal Nuremburg Rally. It could lead to the birth of proto-fascism if Rajapaksa’s prime ministerial bid falters. The bid could stall if he is charged with bribery or attempting a coup, if wiser counsel prevails in the SLFP and his aspirations are blocked, or if his "faction" is defeated at the elections. Then, or earlier, fascist style street mobilisation could be attempted. MR’s charge that the new government intends to "undo all that he had achieved" – that is alleging a plot to divide the country – signals the revanchist scaremongering underlying the campaign. Chief Minister Wigneswaran and the NPC, to the delight of the RMZ, have done their bit to pour buckets of fuel on the fire; but more on that later.

Smother Emergent Proto-fascism! by Thavam Ratna

Major General Janka Ratnayake going behind politicians to get his seniority back

01 March 2015

As the Army chief of staff appointment is going to be vacant soon with the retirement of Maj Gen Prasad samarasingha some senior officers have already begun campaigning for the post by going behind powerful politicians.

One such character is Maj Gen Janaka Rathnayake who has a very poor track record in the Army. Janaka Rathnayake who was known as a coward amongst ranks and files always reported sick and refused to command troops in operational areas through fear of his life.

The following carrier record available at Army headquarters will prove this point beyond any doubt. Commanding Officer Amour Regiment-01year 9months, 213 Brigade Commader-02months, 514Brigade Commander-03months, 515Brigade Commander-01month, Armoured Brigade Commander(His own Regiment)-02 months,211brigade(defensive Brigade in peace area)-01 year.

Because of this refusals and frequent sick reporting he was never considered to be a Division or Security Force Commander or for any other important appointments in the Army which resulted in lost of seniority and placing his seniority immediately behind his junior batch Intake OTA 1.He through his brother Chula Bandara who was a close friend of former president brought pressure on then Secretary Def. Gotabaya and Army Commander Gen Jagath Jayasooriya for the Maj Gen promotion. Later he was promoted on someone else's vacancy and was appointed as the Director General sports which was newly created to accommodate him.

Will, he succeed in his new attempt of going behind politicians to get his seniority back and become the next Chief of Staff of The Sri Lanka Army is any body's guess.