CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM MUST TAKE INTERESTS OF SMALL PARTIES INTO ACCOUNT

 17 March 2015

One of the main promises in the government’s election manifesto was to effect far reaching constitutional change to ensure good governance. The government pledged to bring in constitutional amendments within 100 days to make the presidency more accountable to parliament and to the judiciary, and also to change the electoral system. The major political challenge at the present time is to effect both of these changes within the 100 day time frame. 

While the government’s promise to the people to change the constitution in 100 days is important, the changes that are made need to be just by all sections of the population. The existing electoral system which is sought to be changed is based on proportional representation, which leads to each political party receiving seats in parliament that are proportionate to their share of the national vote. In practice this has been favourable to the small parties and enabled them to have a voice and power in parliament. 

However, after more than three decades of experience, the disadvantages of the proportional system used in Sri Lanka have become manifest and there is a consensus about the need to amend the system. What is being envisaged is a mixed system, in which some MPs are elected on the first-past-the-post system of constituency based voting, and others are elected on a proportional system. This mixed system was based on the recommendations of the select committee headed by the former minister Dinesh Gunawardena. However, the interim report was dropped due to the strong protest of the minority parties. It was expected to have a negative impact on the minority communities, minority parties and particularly on women’s political participation.

While the National Peace Council is in agreement about the need to reform the existing electoral system, we caution that the reforms need to be made in agreement with the smaller political parties. This includes the ethnic minority parties, both Tamil and Muslim. We call on the government and major opposition party to ensure that the views of the smaller political parties on the issue of electoral system are taken into consideration in preparing the constitutional amendment. In practice it is necessary to arrive at a compromise which is acceptable to all political parties. We are mindful that the ethnic conflict was aggravated into a three decade long internal war due to the feeling among the Tamil polity that the Tamil representatives were marginalized in the central government and in the national decision making process.

The National Peace Council also notes that electoral reform is not the only way to ensure fair representation for the minorities. We believe the ethnic and religious minority political parties should be represented in the central government as well as in the provincial councils to strengthen the sense of national unity. There have been suggestions for a Second Chamber where the representatives are drawn from the provincial councils. The new constitutional proposals envisage a Council of State above the Cabinet. If this proposal is to take effect we suggest that the ethnic and religious minorities should be included in such Council in discussion with the Tamil and Muslim political parties.

Governing Council
The National Peace Council is an independent and non partisan organization that works towards a negotiated political solution to the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. It has a vision of a peaceful and prosperous Sri Lanka in which the freedom, human rights and democratic rights of all the communities are respected. The policy of the National Peace Council is determined by its Governing Council of 20 members who are drawn from diverse walks of life and belong to all the main ethnic and religious communities in the country.

President’s coordinator declares war on Ranil!

Tuesday, 17 March 2015 

Lawyer Shiral Lakthilake, a coordinator of president Maithripala Sirisena, has publicly declared war on prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Lakthilake is saying that he will render the premier politically helpless by handing over his position to Ven. Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thera under a caretaker government until such time a general election is held without dissolving parliament, if the UNP leaves the government demanding a dissolution of parliament in April-end. He says he has already held a preliminary round of talks with SLFP MPs.

He is also leading efforts to create an opinion among SLFP MPs that a general election should be held only after parliament’s adoption of the new constitutional amendment for the abolition of executive powers of the presidency and for a new electoral system based on the proposal put forward by Sobhitha Thera’s National Movement for a Just Society and Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera’s Pivithuru Hetak on behalf of the common opposition candidate at the presidential election.

If Sobhitha Thera refuses to accept the premiership, Lakthilake and his group are intending to name Rathana Thera to the position. This group also wants to move a no confidence motion against Mr. Wickremesinghe on the basis of the controversial Central Bank bond issue.

Meanwhile, it is reported that CB governor Arjuna Mahendran has temporarily taken leave from his official duties and gone overseas with his family. Perpetual Ltd., owned by his son in law Arjuna Aloysius, too, has been temporarily closed, and its website has become inactive.

The Precarious Government & Parliamentary Election

By S. I. Keethaponcalan -March 17, 2015

Dr S.I. Keethaponcalan

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, like it or not, provided Sri Lanka with what could be termed an autocratic stability, which helped the country in terms of foreign investment. The Chinese and other investors felt safe pumping their resources into the system. However, the change of government in January 2015 had the potential to push the country into a state of instability. This seems to have come true with the current tussle over the issue of dissolution of parliament and the general election. The political system is now operating in a peculiar set of realities and philosophies. A minority government is in place while the party that commands absolute majority in the national legislature operates as the main opposition without making a big fuss about it.

Partly due to this complicated reality, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesingheand his government want parliament dissolved in April so that a fresh election could be held this year. The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), which still commands the majority in parliament, opposes the dissolution and its leaders have indicated that they are ready to form the government if Ranil Wickramesinghe resigns in April.

President Sirisena, who has the constitutional authority to dissolve parliament, seems to be facing a dilemma between his party and the voters who elected him to power. Conflicting Contradictory reports are emerging from Colombo. Some suggest that the president is leaning more towards a late election while others point to the desire to comply with the United National Party (UNP) plea. Therefore, presently it is not clear whether the election will be held this year or after its term expires in 2016. The timing of the election could also have an impact on the outcome. Therefore, this issue leads to uncertainty and perhaps a sense of instability.

The Election                                                     Read More 

Why did Maithri sign agreements with 48 organizations to abolish executive presidency if he can’t ? he is the architect of his own misfortunes- Citizen’s Force declares

(Lanka-e-News -17.March.2015, 8.40PM) Maithripala Sirisena who fielded as a common candidate at the last presidential election signed agreements with  48 organizations including the citizens force and parties in the  run up to the  presidential elections to abolish the executive presidency powers, and not to curtail it. If the present SLFP is now opposing this abolition , why did Maithripala take over the post of president of that party ? Besides , by Maithripala  accepting the party president post after having known from that time that the UPFA was in favor of continuing with the executive presidency,  it is he who is responsible for creating this unnecessary , unwarranted and untoward issue , said Gamini Viyagoda , popular author and convener of Citizens force organization.

Viyangoda made these comments when answering queries raised by Lanka e news in the wake of the opposition mounted by the JHU and SLFP against the abolition of the executive presidency. The Citizens force is a most powerful movement of the majority people that campaigned with dedication and commitment to make the common candidate Maithripala the president of the country. Speaking further , Gamini Viyangoda elaborated as follows :

''On the 8th of January we did not oppose Mahinda Rajapakse as a person , rather we opposed the executive presidency powers vested in him ,by  exploitation of which  the democratic values and Institutions  which we so carefully preserved and protected since 1931 when we secured the right to franchise  for all people , are being destroyed. It is towards this end , we signed agreements with Maithripala to support him. This is because it is the consensus even if Buddha were to become  the executive president  he would not be able to steer clear of evil. This is why from the outset we took the determined stand that this executive power shall be abolished. The 6.2 million people therefore cast their votes  to abolish this evil executive presidency, and not just to curtail it.

5.7 million people voted in favor of SLFP for the continuance of the executive presidency. Nimal Sirpala represents that 5.7 million and not the majority 6.2 million people  who are against it. On the other hand Maithripala Sirisena after winning elections on the majority -6.2 million people for abolition of executive presidency and becoming the president of the country took  over also the leadership of 5.7 million in favor of its continuance . Now this 5.7 million are insisting on curtailing the executive presidency power and not abolishing it. This is the crux of the problem. When Maithripala secured the leadership of the SLFP, he said , it is in order to abolish the executive presidency , he took up the post of president of the SLFP  so that he can  win over the latter  in favor of the abolition.

Hence , if Maithripala is now agreeing with the SLFP that is demanding the curtailment of executive presidency and not its abolition , then why did he took over the post of president of the party? On top of this to further compound the confusion , Maithripala yesterday took  over the post of president  of the UPFA which includes the diametrically deviant group comprised of Vasu, DEW, Weerawansa  and Dinesh . In these circumstances , what is going to happen to the solemn  promises and undertakings given by him to the people  on which Mathripala emerged victorious on  the 8 th ?

Sadly , it is the president who is the architect of his own misfortunes. But that does not mean the hard fought victory of the people, their hopes and aspirations cannot be permitted to  go down the drain thereby. Amending the constitution  by just trimming the executive presidency power a bit here and there while safeguarding the most vicious parts of it will not suffice.

This means  there is no separation –the leader of the State  , commanding chief of the forces and head of the government  is  the president . This means that when all these powers are centralized in the president , he is a dictator , no more no less. When such is the power concentration in the hands of one individual , these evil executive presidency powers will  not be divested.

The president obtains a single consent on the people’s votes and the  parliament obtains the consent on the  votes of all the people in which case  there is the  power of the 225 members of the parliament as well as  the power of the president .When the State leader is the president , and the head of the government becomes  the prime minister representing the 225 members ,  a power balance between these two powers follows. But what is going to be done now is , not such a balance of power , it is a denial of the  power of the 225 member parliament , and bringing that power under the president. Certainly , this cannot be allowed. No matter who the president is , the power of all the people represented in parliament cannot be subjugated to the unilateral power of the president.

The paramount importance of the agreement signed by Maithripala Sirisena , as presidential common candidate with 48 organizations and parties cannot be ignored or dismissed that simply by him or anybody else , although  he might have signed an agreement with the JHU that the controversial powers alone will be eradicated . However with the other parties and the 48 organizations  he signed the agreement to abolish executive presidency. Therefore he cannot escape from this grave responsibility or obviate this necessity . The people should see to it  this does not happen  and the escape route is blocked.''

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by     (2015-03-17 15:15:34)

Whose airspace is it? Fresh row in Sri Lanka over Chinese-funded Port City project

China hits back after aviation authority says air above port project will be Chinese-held

The project, near Colombo port, was inaugurated by Xi Jinping in September. Photo: Reuters

Debasish Roy Chowdhury in Colombo-Tuesday, 17 March, 2015

The controversial Colombo Port City project has run into more trouble, with Sri Lanka's Civil Aviation Authority warning the airspace over the Chinese-held area in the development would be controlled by China, drawing heavy criticism from Beijing.

Sri Lanka's director-general of civil aviation and chief executive H.M.C. Nimalsiri told the South China Morning Post: "Given the media rumours of land ownership in the project, we felt it necessary to alert the government to the legal status of the airspace."

The US$1.4 billion real estate project, inaugurated by President Xi Jinping in September, is financed by state-controlled and Hong Kong-listed China Communications Construction Co (CCCC). Under the deal, CCCC is to reclaim 233 hectares of land off Colombo. Of this, CCCC would get 108 hectares, including 20 hectares on freehold basis and the rest on a 99-year lease.

The authority's stance is likely to provide grist for the opponents of the stalled project who have alleged that granting a Chinese state-owned company land would pose security threats. That argument has gained traction since two Chinese submarines docked in Colombo last year.

The Civil Aviation Authority's internal memo to the government on airspace was reported by Sri Lanka's state-run Daily News yesterday in a report headlined "Flying over Port City a Taboo!"

The Chinese embassy lashed out at the report, saying it was devoid of "basic common sense" and pointed out a Chinese company would hold the land, not the Chinese government.

Nimalsiri said the embassy had clarified the matter with the aviation authorities. "But since the Chinese company is state-owned, it is up to the legal department of the government to evaluate the status of the airspace."

Asked if China would control the airspace, Sri Lanka Ports Authority vice-chairman Captain Asitha Wijesekera told the Post that he had not seen any such agreement. "This is the first time I am hearing about it."

Colombo Port City is among the several Chinese-funded projects that have come under the scrutiny of the new government, which alleges large-scale corruption by the previous government of Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was ousted in the presidential elections in January.

The new government has temporarily suspended the project, asking the Chinese company to show the documents on the basis of which it started work.

Meanwhile in Beijing, the government said it was "deeply concerned" about the halted Port City project. "We hope Sri Lanka can properly handle the issue and protect the legal interests of Chinese investors," Ministry of Commerce spokesman Shen Danyang said yesterday.

The Economics Of The Colombo Port City Project

By DNR Samaranayaka -March 17, 2015

DNR Samaranayaka

Since the formation of the coalition government, there has been an unprecedented interest in the Colombo Port City (CPC) Project, especially after the announcement by Mr Rajitha Senaratne, who is the Cabinet spokesperson of the new government, declaring that the project has received the approval of the cabinet. This announcement was contrary to the pre-election undertaking made by the coalition to cancel the CPC project under a coalition government. However, the announcement made by Mr Senaratne was later rejected by the Prime Minister saying that the government has not completed the review of the environmental assessment of the project. Since then there have been several announcements with the latest announcement contradicting the one before. According to the most recent announcement in early March, the government has instructed the CPC project officials to suspend the project. As the government has been giving mixed signals since its formation in January, it is not clear whether the project is abandoned, stopped temporarily or whether it will be proceeded with a modified agreement between the two parties.

If the Rajapaksa administration had returned to power at the last presidential election, the implementation of the CPC was an absolute certainty. With the change of the government, it would seem that China began to have doubts about the continuation of the project, and this uncertainty became a serious issue of concern to the Chinese government. On February 6, the assistant minister of foreign affairs, Mr Liu Jianchao, arrived in Sri Lanka for talks with the new government about the project. The decision to send a high-ranking representative highlights the level of concern about the CPC’s strategic importance to the Chinese government. Furthermore, the attendance of the Chinese President Mr Xi Jinping at the opening ceremony of the CPC on 17 September 2014 also clearly signals the immense importance of this project to the Chinese.

Project uncertainties                                                               Read More  

Is the CB Governor Mahendren now working on a 500 Million US Dollar Bond issue?

Tuesday, 17 March 2015 

Market is speculating that the controversial Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendren is running round the world from Singapore to USA to pick the lead managers for a U.S. dollar bond issue. Sri Lankan government according to insiders is planning a sovereign bond sale very soon. Sri Lankan Central Bank according to them is planning to go the markets with a 1.5 billion US dollar bond.

A cabinet paper was presented by the government before the controversial rupee bond issue asking for authority to be given the central bank to look for lead managers and there too objections were raised by certain cabinet members on the issue and subsequently referred to parliament and approved. Unfortunately in Sri Lanka very few parliamentarians have the training to understand the complexity of such financial instruments and as a result there is a lot of room for bureaucrats to manipulate the proceedings and the issue there after.

This was a clear case in point with the Greek bond fiasco and many of the controversial US Dollar bond issues floated at very high rates during Nivard Cabral's tenure allegedly raking in illegal gains by the millions to many people connected to him. So far, CB Governor Mahendren has not investigated any of those transactions, nor any of the transactions involving the Employees Provident Fund. Market insiders fear that if the discredited Mahendren does not step aside until the bond issue is properly investigated by a competent team of professionals appointed by the President, the country's financial system will lose its credibility for good and totally baffled as to why Mahendren is desperately clinging on to his position given the public outcry for his immediate removal. Mr Mahedren who claims he has an Oxford education should at least live up to that tradition and fade away for good.

Ranil: CB Governor on leave pending Treasury bond investigation 

By Saman Indrajith-March 17, 2015, 12:00 pm

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe announced in Parliament yesterday that Governor of the Central Bank Arjuna Mahendran had taken leave of absence since last Monday to ensure impartiality and neutrality in the on-going investigation into the controversial Treasury bond issue.

 The PM said that the latter would remain on leave until the investigations were over.

Ranil CB Governor on Leave Pending Treasury Bond Investigation by Thavam Ratna

State Minister Rajiva Wijesinha joins the opposition

 March 17, 2015 

Former State Minister Rajiva Wijesinha on Tuesday (17) defected and sat in the opposition side of the Parliament citing several issues including the 19th amendment and removal of  the Chairperson of the University Grants Commission (UGC).

Former State Minister of higher Education Wijesinha resigned from his ministerial portfolio, last month.

Earlier, Wijesinghe asserted that it is “completely wrong” to bow down to pressure from groups and remove the UGC Chairperson, without even probing the allegations against her.

Wijesinghe defected from the former government to support Maithripala Sirisena at the presidential Election in January.

The Maharaja & The Political Media Mafia

MTV/Sirasa owner Raja Mahendran with Mahinda Rajapaksa

By Granville Perera -March 17, 2015 

The total abuse of our broadcast frequencies and airwaves by the government and private broadcasters is a serious threat to democratic values. It is an infringement of the rights of the people. Broadcast frequencies have been allocated only on political patronage and are continuously abused for political and commercial interests. There is no space for any, truly independent media.

The last government under the dictatorial administration of President Mahinda Rajapaksa abused the state-broadcasting networks that looked more like houses of ill fame than national broadcasting networks. Veteran Radio Ceylon broadcasters of the golden era must have been turning in their graves, when they heard Hudson’s choicest words in the morning shows on national radio, during the last four years of the Rajapaksa regime.

The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation led the abuse followed by the Independent Television Network with character assassination of individuals and organizations that could not be compared to any other, anywhere in the world. It can only happen in the miracle of Asia where the Chairman of a national radio gets on air, everyday and puke the worst filth imaginable on our airwaves. The language and abuse hurled against any opponent of the government by the SLBC Chairman and his yes men were worse than the Mariyakade slang. Yet, nobody took Hudson to task legally and wonder where he is hiding now. Needless to say, the reason for not attempting any legal recourse for defamation was that the public had no faith in the judiciary during the Rajapaksa era. Now, with Yahapalanaya, its time these psychopaths are taken to task.

Of-course, no government since the elevation of Junius Richard Jayewardene (JR) to the Presidency in Sri Lanka, allowed any free speech on National Networks. Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Prime Minister of the 2002 government, who now talks about media freedom and the right to information is accused of deciding the news agenda in his morning meeting with state media heads. Mahinda Rajapaksa and his band of psychopaths perfected it and claimed that the Government had only the government channels to use for their propaganda. While, these are not acceptable by any norm, it is an extension of the total abuse of political power by successive governments that are elected by the people.

What should astound every citizen is the total abuse of the airwaves by private broadcasters to fulfill their political agenda. Not a single private broadcaster in Sri Lanka is clean of this allegation. The biggest abuser could be identified as the Sirasa network that allocates considerable airtime to promote their political stooges and plants. Today, a few of their nominees have managed to enter parliament and provincial councils, and there is absolutely no doubt that they are attempting the political control of a sizable representation, both in and outside parliament so that they could blackmail any government in to submission. The network uses prime time television to promote their nominees and has even dropped their lucrative drama belts to achieve their political goals.

The Sirasa network, during the Rajapaksa dynasty went on a witch-hunt of the current Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe and promoted Sajith Premadasa as a possible successor to lead the United National Party. Towards this, they used up at least 50% of the airtime during news broadcasts to abuse Ranil Wickremesinghe, Mangala Samaraweera and other anti Sajith Premadasa politicians of the UNP. Ranil and his men withstood this hate campaign and succeeded in retaining their control of the opposition and the United National Party. Sirasa’s primary aim was to promote Sajith Premadasa to the helm so that they can influence any future UNP government to their advantage, as they did during the Ranasinghe Premadasa era.

They did a complete turnaround to suddenly promote the opposition when the writing was on the wall that there was considerable opposition to the Rajapaksa rule. It is a known fact that Senarath Kapukotuwa, the former General Secretary of the UNP and a Maharaja confidante brokered the truce. That truce, was made not because they loved Ranil, but they feared the inevitable.

The Sri Lankan television audiences who watch Sirasa TV is inundated with the nuisance of Ven. Seelaratane Thero, a monk who would not garner 5000 votes, Milinda Moragoda, a failed politician, Marikkar, Sajith Premadasa, Sujeewa Senasinghe, the foul mouthed Sri Ranga, Susil Kindelpitiya, Susara Dinal, Buddhika Pathirana and the latest hate monger, Dayan Jayatilleka to name a few. It’s appropriate to contemplate, how they have strategized to plant their men in every political party. Count the number of prime time minutes each of these political plants get to drive the blood pressures of the television audiences in Sri Lanka. Are there no laws to prevent this nuisance? Yes, they could claim that they are using their private money to promote their political nominees, but what needs to be stated is that the broadcast frequencies belong to the people of Sri Lanka.

It is time that the media is made free from the clutches of commercial and political interests. A government fund needs to be created to support all broadcasters so that there would be a level playing field, Media needs to be independent, and there should not be any government, religious, commercial or political patronage to any media institution. Laws need to be enacted to withdraw the license of any network that engages in political lobbying. Any misuse of the airwaves should be a punishable offence in law. A powerful commission or an independent regulatory body is needed to oversee the role and independence of the media in Sri Lanka.

Chandu Epitawala's appointment is just like many other UNP choices

Tuesday, 17 March 2015 

During the last two months Ranil Wickremasinghe’s Government appointed so many corrupt officials with dubious histories to various Government organizations.

Chandu Epitawala is no different.

In 2012 Chandu Epitawala had to resign from SEC because of a corrupt deal which got exposed.

Chandu Epitawala had obtained money from a Japanese Investor who was given a licensee as a Stock Broker ( NWS securities). He had visited Japan on SEC account to conduct his private business discussions. He had a secret deal with the Japanese investor to pay him a monthly fee for the services he was rendering as an insider of SEC.

A file containing all the correspondences between this Japanese Investor and Epitawala was handed over to SEC in August 2012, through a third party by the disgruntled investor. The investor said until them he didn’t want to pursue this as Chandu Epitavala had the protection of former Chairman Tilak Karunaratne was removed from Chairmanship

An independent lawyer Gazali Hussein appointed by SEC to look into this matter recommended commission to do a formal inquiry and take action against Epitawala as the case was quite clear from the correspondances.

However having realized that he was trapped, Epitawala pleaded with then commission and resigned from the post before the investigation was commenced.

The commission unfortunately decided not to pursue the matter any further because they were worried that undue publicity to such an incident would have further affected reputation of SEC which was already damaged due to Tilak Karunaratne’s foolish way of media handling.

So this is the ROGUE Ranil and Tilak want to bring Back to SEC.

Each and every member of the new commission should take personal responsibility for this decision if they approve the appointment of a person who had to leave the organization under those circumstances.

Tilak is a bad omen for the stock market. This time he is going to do a bigger and lasting damage. Who will come to rescue this time, now that all good people are gone ?

Colombo chief magistrate sets fire to the sacrosanct laws with his own petrol

(Lanka-e-News -17.March.2015, 8.40PM)  It is doubtless  that there are so many students around the world  who while learning law have worked as pump attendants at fuel pumping stations  to earn some money. But it is only in Sri Lanka (SL)  there exists a judge who earns  by pumping petrol even after  becoming a judge . This judge who set fire to the hallowed legal traditions  using his own  petrol shed even  after the government of good governance was installed in power is no less a person than the Colombo chief magistrate Gihan Anura Bandara Pilapitiya alias Gihan Pilapitiya. 

Although doing business is absolutely prohibited  for judges , this magistrate has started a petrol shed in his village Kalawana . Under the petroleum corporation fuel station agent account No. 104644 an individual in the name of G.A.B. Pilapitiya is registered, and on the 18 th the fuel pumping shed is to be opened.  This G.A.B. Pilapitiya is none other than chief magistrate  Gihan Pilapitiya.

This magistrate in addition to this crime committed by him with his  full knowledge and intentionally  has spread the story that he sold this fuel station to one Nimal Welikala when it became public that Gihan Pilapitiya is the owner , in order to conceal his illicit activity.  Yet , this fuel station agent is still the judge Gihan Pilapitiya ,and   he is scheduled  to attend the inauguration of this fuel station on the 18th.

Gihan Pilapitiya who was born on 13 th September 1970 at Delwala , a village in Kalawana is a cousin brother of former deputy minister Abeyratne Pilapitiya.

The nation is earnestly awaiting the judicial service commission to take action against  Pilapitiya  pertaining to his corrupt and illegal activities brazenly and unashamedly committed while simultaneously  holding the exalted office of chief magistrate.

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by     (2015-03-17 15:20:39)

Police 'IB' on 'Wele suda' Missing

By Ishara Ratnakara-2015-03-17

Colombo High Court Judge Lalith Jayasuriya has ordered the Mount Lavinia SSP to appear before Court, regarding the disappearance...... of a log book, which contains notes on the case against drug kingpin, Wele Suda.

The Attorney General had filed the case against Wele Suda for possessing 6.7 grams of heroin in 27 May 2000 and for drug dealing. The Attorney General had produced five Court productions and a document containing statements of 22 persons.

Solicitor Rajinda Jayaratne, appearing for the Attorney General, said that the document containing statements of 22 persons must be produced by the Mount Lavinia Police. Meanwhile, the police have written to the High Court, on 10 September, 2014, that there are no such statements in their log books. Jayaratne requested the Court to order the Mount Lavinia SSP to prepare a report on this.

High Court Judge Lalith Jayasuriya ordered the SSP to prepare a report on the disappearance of the document and what action has been taken against those who are responsible for the disappearance of the book. The SSP was also asked to appear before Court on 18 May

Corrupt politicians muddle mega deals with Rajitha

Tuesday, 17 March 2015

Corrupt members of the former regime who indulged in various frauds and cheating of sate properties, importing drugs and ethanol is now trailing behind Rajitha to join Maithri governance to exercise in mega deals.

UPFA members who offended the victory of Maithripala Sirisena in the last election are seeking the help of Rajitha Senarathna in order to get a nomination for the coming general election.

It is reported that Minister Rajitha Senarathna has lapsed the promises he gave to the people during the election is started to engaging in deals with unscrupulous politicians.

The following are few examples of such instances.

During the SLFP central committee meeting Rajitha Senarathna has taken the famous drug Kingpin Nimal Lansa who is a western provincial council minister. It is reported that Basil Rajapaksa has requested
minister Rajitha to include Nimal Lansa in the central executive committee. Since he has applied to contest the coming general election from the Wattala seat Nimal Lansa has requested to select the latter to Wattala from Rajitha Senarathna through Basil Rajapaksa.

Nimal Lansa who is a famous drug dealer and a provincial council minister avoided the investigation and traveled to Germany when there is a complaint against him in process in the Bribery and Corruption.
It is reported that Ranjan Ramanayake who was vociferous about the past corruptions has decided to withdraw all the allegations and exercised a deal with Nimal Lansa.

Mervin Silva, Arundika Fernando, Rohitha Abeygunawardana and Mahindananda Aluthgamage who has multiple corruption charges are also trying to exercise deals with Rajitha Senarathna.

It is reported that business cronies who have taken large loans from banks and defaulted payments and involved in various financial frauds are also creating deals with minister Rajitha trying to start fresh
transactions.

When president and prime minister is telling to stop the Port City project minister Rajitha who vindicate in favour of the project is believed has a fraudulent deal with Basil and with the Port City company

The Last Days of King Bibi

From the Galilee to the Negev and Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Israel waits for today’s election with bated breath. Likud strongholds are swaying, Arabs are uniting, and the campaign is getting ugly. 

BY GREGG CARLSTROM-MARCH 16, 2015

TEL AVIV, Israel – It felt a bit like a festive street fair, except for the giant “death to terrorists” banner looming overhead. Tens of thousands of Israelis gathered in Rabin Square on Sunday night to show their support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing allies. Naftali Bennett, the leader of the Jewish Home party, pulled out a guitar. Someone was handing out glow sticks.
The Last Days of King Bibi by Thavam Ratna

Iran nuclear talks intensify as sides face tough issues

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (L) holds a meeting with Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif (R) over Iran's nuclear program in Lausanne March 17, 2015. Also at the negotiating table are U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz (2nd L) and the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi (2nd R).

BY LESLEY WROUGHTON AND PARISA HAFEZI-Tue Mar 17, 20

(Reuters) - Efforts to reach a political agreement on Iran's nuclear programme by the end of the month intensified on Tuesday as negotiations between the United States and Iran resumed, and Western officials warned that tough issues remained unresolved.

The U.S. and Iranian delegations led by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif began another round of talks in the Swiss city of Lausanne after the Iranians returned overnight from Brussels where they had met European foreign ministers.

Senior European officials were expected in Lausanne later on Tuesday, with foreign ministers possibly joining them at the end of the week if talks advance.

A Western diplomat said "we're still not there yet" on reaching an end-March deadline for a framework agreement between Iran and six major powers -- the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China.

"We’ll see what happens the rest of the week but for now we’re not there," a senior Western diplomat said. "The Americans had the same feeling in Lausanne."

A senior U.S. official, speaking after several hours of talks on Monday, said Iran had "tough" choices to make.

"We are trying to get there but quite frankly we still do not know if we will be able to," the official told reporters on Monday. "Iran still has to make some very tough and necessary choices to address the significant concerns that remain about its nuclear programme."

The U.S. official said the sides would work through the end of the month if needed to secure a deal.

Speaking to reporters in Brussels late on Monday, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said progress had been made but "important points" were unresolved. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said a deal could not be struck "at any price".

STICKING POINTS

With the Iranian new year holiday of Norouz approaching this weekend, officials close to the talks say it will be difficult to complete a political agreement this week. If it is not possible by the weekend, the talks could reconvene in the final days of March.

Zarif said all sides needed to keep talking this week to see what could be achieved.

"On some issues we are closer to a solution and based on this we can say solutions are within reach. At the same time, we are apart on some issues," he told the Iranian news agency IRNA.

The six world powers are trying to reach a political framework agreement with Iran by the end of the month that would curb Tehran’s most sensitive nuclear activities for at least 10 years in exchange for the gradual easing of some sanctions.

The parties have set a June 30 deadline to finalise all the technical details of an accord. Western officials say privately that overcoming disagreements on some of the remaining sticking points would be very difficult.

Sticking points include the level of Iran's enrichment activities and how sanctions would be lifted.

Iran's Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said "unjust" Western sanctions should be lifted, the official IRNA news agency reported on Monday.

He said Iran was ready to increase oil exports by up to 1 million bpd when sanctions are lifted and this would not have an impact on crude oil prices.

U.S. and EU sanctions that came into force in 2012 prohibit the import, purchase and transport of Iranian petroleum products, crippling the major oil exporter's economy.

A senior Iranian official doubted whether a deal would be reached this week as there were gaps on some important issues, although the atmosphere at the talks was good.

European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini told reporters in Brussels the talks had been helpful.

A European diplomatic source, however, said substantial gaps remained and it was not clear they could be resolved in the coming days. "The talks were lengthy and in-depth, but they did not enable us to narrow our differences," the source said after Zarif met his French, German and British counterparts.

The West suspects Tehran of wanting to create an atomic weapons capability. Tehran denies that and says its research is for purely peaceful purposes.

(Additional reporting by Louis Charbonneau in Lausanne, Adrian Croft and Robin Emmott in Brussels and John Irish in Paris and Michael Nienaber in Berlin; Editing by Giles Elgood)