Peace for the World

Peace for the World
First democratic leader of Justice the Godfather of the Sri Lankan Tamil Struggle: Honourable Samuel James Veluppillai Chelvanayakam

Friday, April 10, 2015

How To Lower Blood Pressure In Less Than 5 Minutes With This Ancient Chinese Remedy

high-blood-pressure-treatment-with-chinese-traditional-herbal-drugs-recipe
Organic HealthNatural Remedies are very powerful especially for something like High Blood Pressure, conventional medications are filled with dangerous chemicals and could have horrible side effects. This natural remedy could be the solution to all of your problems.
There are many contributing factors that cause high blood pressure; too much salt, sugar, not enough protein, not enough exercise, etc. It seems like no matter what you do your blood pressure is always high, and you can’t get it to come down. Well, this old folk remedy can help you in five minutes to bring that blood pressure down!
When the muscles become overwhelmed with physical stress, they become tense and the blood vessels contract, which causes high blood pressure. The blood pressure is the measure of the force that the blood is being pumped from the heart to the rest of the body. Hypertension or high blood pressure is dangerous because when the blood pressure increases, the heart works overtime to get the blood to pump through the rest of the body, which puts a lot of pressure on the heart.
chinese-medicine-how-to-lower-increased-blood-pressure-within-5-minutes
Point 1: The line showing from point 1 to point 2 should be gently stroked from top to bottom with the tips of your fingers ten times on each side of the neck.
Point 2: This area is located close to the collarbone. You should massage this area for about one minutes on both sides of the sternum. Pressing hard on the area be sure the pressure does not cause pain. After you do, this your blood pressure should be back to normal and balanced.

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Tamil journalists threatened by police in Jaffna




08 April 2015
Three Tamil journalists were harassed and threatened by police officers in Jaffna on Tuesday, after they reported from the protest against oil pollution outside Nallur temple. 

The Thinakkural’s T Vinojith, T Piratheeban from a Colombo-based radio station and freelance journalist Mayurapriyan were leaving the protest after conducting interviews, when they were stopped behind the temple, by two men wearing jerseys with the Sri Lankan police’s emblem. 

The officers, who were intoxicated, intercepted the reporters on a red motorbike, registration number NP BAL 2172, and asked for their identity documents. The Tamils questioned the police men under which capacity they were stopped, as they were not in full police uniform, at which point one of the officers pulled a knife and started chasing the journalists.

The journalists managed to escape on their motorbikes, but were followed by the knife-wielding officers, until they reached Jaffna Police Station. While waiting to file a complaint, one of the officers entered the station and attempted to assault the journalists. It was only when another officer intervened and removed the intoxicated policeman, the reporters were able to file a report. 

Demonstrators had gathered in Nallur earlier in the day to protest against government inaction to tackle ground water contamination, suspected to be caused by the dumping of waste oil. 

Councillors from the Northern Provincial Council also attended the protests and held discussions with those present.
செய்தியாளர் கைது செய்யப்பட்டு விளக்கமறியலில்
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logonbanner-108 ஏப்ரல் 2015, புதன்
யாழ்ப்பாணத்தில் பணியாற்றும் சுயாதீனச் செய்தியாளர் ந.லோகதயாளன் பருத்தித்துறை நீதிமன்றத்தினால் இன்று பிற்பகல் விளக்கமறியலுக்குள் தள்ளப்பட்டுள்ளார். 
காலை 10 மணிக்கு நெல்லியடிப் பொலிஸாரால் விசாரணைக்கு என அழைக்கப்பட்டிருந்த அவர், பிற்பகல் 2 மணியவில் பருத்தித்துறை நீதிமன்றுக்கு அழைத்துச் செல்லப்பட்டிருந்தார். 
யாழ்ப்பாணத்தில் இருந்து வெளிவரும் உதயன் பத்திரிகையில் பிரசுரிக்கப்பட்ட செய்தி தொடர்பாகவே அவர் விசாரணைக்கு அழைக்கப்பட்டிருந்தார்.
அவரை எதிர்வரும் 17ஆம் திகதி வரை விளக்கமறியலில் வைக்கும்படி நீதிவான் சுப்பிரமணியம் உத்தரவிட்டார். 
பாடசாலை மாணவி ஒருவர் நெல்லியடிப் பொலிஸ் நிலையத்தைச் சேர்ந்த பொலிஸாரால் துஸ்பிரயோகம் செய்யப்பட்டார் என முறையிடப்பட்டதாகக் கூறப்படும் செய்தி ஒன்று தொடர்பில் வாக்குமூலம் பெறுவதற்காகவே அவர் பொலிஸாரால் விசாரணைக்கு அழைக்கப்பட்டிருந்தார். 
பொலிஸார் நீதிமன்றத்தில்  "ஏ' அறிக்கை தாக்கல் செய்திருக்கின்றனர். எனினும் எந்தக் குற்றச்சாட்டின் கீழ் அவர் கைது செய்யப்பட்டார் என்ற விவரம் உடனடியாகத் தெரியவரவில்லை. 

Jaffna journalist released on bail

The Jaffna based freelance journalist who was arrested yesterday for allegedly reporting a ‘false news item’ released today on personal bail by Pointpedro acting magistrate B.Subramanium.
He was charged providing false information for the publication of a news item in a regional newspaper in Jaffna.
However the newspaper has said that the story related to a case of sexual harassment by a policeman attached to Nelliyadi police station is accurate.
He was ordered to appear before the magistrate on May 29 when the case will be taken up.

வடமாகாணத்தை கட்டுப்பாட்டில் வைக்க முயலும் மத்திய அரசு

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Thu, 04/09/2015 
மத்­திய அர­சாங்­க­மா­னது வட­மா­கா­ணத்தை தனது கட்­டுப்­பாட்­டுக்குள் வைத்­தி­ருக்க முஸ்­தீபு செய்­கின்­றது என வட மாகா­ணத்­திற்கு விஜயம் செய்­துள்ள ஐக்­கிய நாடுகள் சபையின்
உதவி செய­லா­ளரும் ,ஐக்­கிய நாடு­களின் அபி­வி­ருத்தி திட்­டத்தின் ஆசிய மற்றும் பசுபிக் பிராந்­தி­யத்தின் நிறை­வேற்­றுப்­ப­ணிப்­பா­ள­ரு­மான ஹோலியாங் சு விடம் வட­மா­கண முதல்வர் சி.வி.விக்­கி­னேஸ்­வரன் தெரி­வித்தார்.
அத்­துடன் வடக்கில் இரா­ணு­வத்தை குறைப்போம் என்று கூறி­ய­வர்கள் தற்­போது இரா­ணுவம் குறைக்­கப்­ப­ட­மாட்­டாது கூறு­வ­துடன் காணமல் போன­வர்கள் தொடர்­பாக பிரச்­சி­னைக்கு இது­வ­ரையில் எந்தப் பதிலும் கிடைக்­க­வில்லை எனவும் சுட்­டிக்­காட்­டி­யுள்ளார்.
இலங்­கைக்கு விஜயம் செய்­துள்ள ஐக்­கிய நாடுகள் சபையின் உதவி செய­லா­ளரும் ,ஐக்­கிய நாடு­களின் அபி­வி­ருத்தி திட்­டத்தின் ஆசிய மற்றும் பசுபிக் பிராந்­தி­யத்தின் நிறை­வேற்­றுப்­ப­ணிப்­பா­ள­ரு­மான ஹோலியாங் சு வட­மா­கா­ணத்­திற்கு நேற்றை தினம் விஜயம் செய்­தி­ருந்தார். இதன்­போது முத­ல­மைச்சர் சி.வி.விக்­கி­னேஸ்­வ­ரனை சந்­தித்து யுத்தின் பின்­ன­ரான வடக்கு நிலை­மைகள் , வட­மா­கா­ண­ச­பையின் செயற்­பா­டுகள் தொடர்­பாக விரி­வாக கலந்­து­ரை­யா­டினார்.
மேற்­படி கலந்­து­ரை­யாடல் தொடர்­பாக ஊடங்­க­ளுக்கு கருத்து தெரி­விக்­கை­யி­லேயே முத­ல­மைச்சர் மேற்­கண்­ட­வாறு தெரி­வித்தார்.
அவர் மேலும் தெரி­விக்­கையில்,
ஐக்­கிய நாடு­களின் அபி­வி­ருத்தி செயற்­பா­டுகள் தொடர்­பாக ஆரா­ய­வே­ஹோ­லியாங் சு யாழ்ப்­பா­ணத்­திற்கு வருகை தந்­ததன் பிர­த­தான நோக்­க­மா­க­வுள்­ளது. கடந்த வரு­டமும் இவர் இங்கு வந்­துள்ளார்.
மேலும் கடந்த ஆட்­சியின் போது தாம் இங்கு பணி­பு­ரிய தடைகள் காணப்­பட்­டன. தற்­போது தடைகள் யாவும் தளர்­வ­டைந்­துள்­ள­துடன் சுதந்­தி­ர­மாக பணி­பு­ரி­யக்­கூ­டிய நிலமை ஏற்­பட்­டுள்­ளதை அவ­ரி­டத்தில் குறிப்­பிட்டேன்.
மத்­திய அர­சாங்­க­மா­னது வட­மா­கா­ணத்தை தனது கட்­டுப்­பாட்­டுக்குள் வைத்­தி­ருக்க நினைக்­கின்­றது. முன்னர் வடக்கில் இரா­ணு­வத்தை குறைப்போம் என்று கூறி­ய­வர்கள் தற்­போது இரா­ணுவம் குறைக்­கப்­ப­ட­மாட்­டாது என தெரி­விக்­கின்­றனர் என்­பதை அவ­ரு­டைய கவ­னத்­திற்கு கொண்டு வந்தேன். அது­மட்­டு­மல்­லாது முக்­கி­ய­மாக காணா­மல்­போனோர் தொடர்­பி­லான பிரச்­சி­னைக்கு தீர்வோ பதிலோ இன்­னமும் கிடைக்­க­வில்லை என்­ப­தையும் அவ­ரி­டத்தில் சுட்­டிக்­காட்­டினேன்.
வட­மா­கா­ணத்­திற்கு பணிபுரிவதற்கு நாம் ஆவல் கொண்டுள்ளோம். ஆனால் தற்போது நிதி கிடைப்பது குறைவாக இருக்கின்றது. இருப்பினும் எமக்கு கிடைக்கும் நிதியை என்றாலும் வடமாகாணத்திற்காக முழுமையாக செலவளிக்க தாம் தயாராக இருப்பதான என்னிடத்தில் ஐ.நா உதவிச்செயலாளர் உறுதியளித்தார் என்றார்.

Ex-Aviation Minister Exploited Over Rs. 3 Million Sri Lankan Airlines Funds


Colombo TelegraphApril 9, 2015
Former Civil Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratne has exploited Sri Lankan Airlines funds worth over Rs. 3 million as fuel reimbursements, vehicle maintenance expenses and food expenses.
Jayaratne
Jayaratne
The BOI inquiry into the financial misappropriations of the national carrier has revealed that former Minister Jayaratne had obtained unauthorized fuel-bill reimbursements during the period of April 2011 – November 2014, by SLA. A monthly payment close to Rs. 75,000 had been made to P Rasaiah as fuel bill reimbursements of Jayarathne, to Lanka Filling Station located in Irattakulam, Madampe amounting to a total of Rs. 2,853,935.04.
During the inquiry it has been revealed that the reimbursement had been sought through letters to SLA without any invoices or vehicle numbers. The letters had been endorsed by officials attached to the Civil Aviation Ministry including Jinadasa Rajapaksa who served as the Media Secretary and Dhammika Attygalle who was an advisor and the Private Secretary DMJ Dissanayake.
The inquiry report notes although the letters contain references to petrol order numbers no such orders had been received by the SLA and no official documents or minutes linking these payments to an official channel of the Ministry exist. Moreover, neither has the Ministry sought any clarifications into whether the payments were in respect of actual fuel reimbursements or whether it was for the Minister or any other individual.
It has come to light, that the fuel reimbursements for December 2014 and January had been received by the SLA on Jan 21 but without an approval from the former CEO Kapila Chandrasena – an obvious indication of his awareness of the illegality of the payment since he was no longer able to cover it up due to regime change. However, it had earlier been approved by the Chairman who had admitted to the BOI inquiry team that the payments were illegal but he approved them since he could not decline the line Minister’s request.
Meanwhile it has also been revealed that a vehicle bearing the registration number WPEA-303 which was the alternative car used by the CEO of the SLC and for the transportation of special guests had been released by the institution for the use of former Minister Jayaratne, upon the verbal directives of former SLA Chairman Nishantha Wickramasighe.
The maintenance cost of this vehicle had been approximately Rs. 273,759.90 and Wickramsinghe has admitted that releasing the vehicle to the former Minister was illegal but had given the same excuse – he didn’t decline the request since it came from the line Minister. The BOI has also noted that no prior approval was obtained for the release of this vehicle from the Ministry of Finance.
BoI also noted that the Minister has obtained 330,000 worth food from Sri Lankan Airlines for his May Day event.
“We also see a series of invoices for outdoor functions which are of a political nature namely the service at Minister’s house etc. which are not connected to the lawful functions of SLA.” the BoI said in the report.

Helping Applewatte slum dwellers to improve their living conditions

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by Latheef Farook-April 9, 2015 
logoApplewatte, meaning Apple garden, is located in the heart of Sri Lanka’s Colombo, proudly described in the recent past as the emerging Miracle of Asia. Though called Applewatta, apple is the only thing one doesn’t see there. Instead all what you see there is one of the worst slums where poverty stricken people live in appalling conditions. It is a shanty of mixed population with the majority being Muslims.
Helping Applewatte Slum Dwellers to Improve Their Living Conditions by Thavam Ratna

“Failure to bring in 19A will be a complete reversal of people’s mandate”: Weliamuna


 April 10, 2015
If the present Parliament fails to bring in the 19th Amendment, President Maithripala Sirisena has a duty to dissolve it immediately and seek a mandate from the people to elect one which can change the Constitution, noted J.C. Weliamuna, leading human rights lawyer and former Director of Transparency International Sri Lanka. 
He pointed out that implementing 19A is everybody’s responsibility but now it is a matter that is in the hands of the 285 Parliamentarians. “Two-thirds of them have to support this, otherwise the President has no option but to dissolve this Parliament,” said Weliamuna, who is also an active member of the People’s Movement for a Just Society. 
He stressed that people in the Government who jumped at the last minute or who supported Mahinda Rajapaksa could not suddenly say they are against it. “Failure to bring in the 19th Amendment will be a complete reversal of the mandate of the people.”
Following are excerpts:

Secret conspiracy against Maithri : impeachment motion to delay dissolution of parliament and make president a puppet


LEN logo(Lanka-e-News-08.April.2015, 1130PM)  In another desperate and despicable move , Weerawansa , Vasu and  Dinesh the political scoundrels rejected wholesale by the masses together with the media barons Kili Maharaja and Tiran Alles who are teamed up with Rajapakses  the country’s discarded political villains  , have with a view to obstruct  the impending dissolution of parliament , are in the process of hatching a conspiracy targeting the incumbent president Maithripala Sirisena by planning  an impeachment  motion against the latter in parliament, according to reports reaching Lanka e news inside information division.
This sordid proposal had been first made by Sirasa  chief Raja Mahendran alias Kili Maharaja  . It was then  presented through  UPFA M.P. Susara Dhinal , a lackey and lickspittle of Kili to Basil Rajapakse  and other Rajapakses who have held discussions on how this can be given effect. It is to be noted that after the speaker accepts an impeachment motion  in parliament , the dissolution of parliament cannot take place. If the speaker’s consent is there for the impeachment  motion 
if one more M.P signs it in addition to  half of the number in parliament , it will suffice. But if the consent of the speaker is not given , one more M.P must sign it in addition to  two thirds of the representatives in parliament in its favor.
Obviously , because the speaker is another Rajapakse , and his consent will be obtained, one more M.P. over half of the number in parliament in favor of the motion will suffice. That is , 113 signatures will be adequate. Several rounds of discussions have  already taken place at Abayarama temple at Narahenpita headed by the Rajapakses in this connection , and to meet the shortage of MPs if any ,for this signature plot , more MPs are to be bought over via cash payment  . To defray these expenses Maharaja and  a group of  businessmen have come forwards'
Lawyer Indratissa PC who has won the confidence of Kili Maharaja as well as the Rajapakses  is preparing the impeachment motion  draft these days . Those who are extending assistance towards this are : Vasudeva Nanayakkara M.P. notorious for his  senile mental decay ; Udaya Gammanpila provincial council member , the political renegade ; and another lawyer who is pro Hela Urumaya and who is holding a post of secretary to the president , but better known as the modern Judas who betrays  even his soul for power ,pelf and position
, and therefore chased away  wherever he was by those  who know his demonic and deadly traits .
UPFA  M.P. Dinesh Gunawardena is preparing the necessary groundwork to inform the speaker of the impeachment  motion after obtaining the signatures in accordance with  the constitution , according to reports.
Under  the present constitution section 38 -2 a ,  a no confidence motion can be brought against the president if there are charges against him of intentionally violating the constitution , treason against state , abuse of powers vested in him  , thereby acting impartially  or engaging in corrupt activities. Based on information reaching Lanka e news inside information division , those in the main giving behind the curtain support to this cut throat drama apart from those directly involved  are : UPFA MPs Bandula Gunawardena, Gamini Lokuge , Kumara Welgama ,Rohitha Abeygunawardena ,Wimal Weerawansa , Ranjith Perera , Uditha Lokubandara , Sri Ranga , while the JHU that is enjoying  a dubious double stance is also adding fuel to the fire from underneath .
What is most irksome and disgraceful in this scenario is : a co ordinating secretary to the incumbent president who is   a lawyer with a putrid antecedence of running with the hare and hunting with the hounds linked to the JHU ,  Tiran and Maharaja is also extending  sordid and strong support to this impeachment  motion against the very president who made him his secretary . This scoundrel has always been a byword for outrageous betrayals and backstreet politics wherever he had been , and most notorious for biting the hand that feeds him. Lanka e news inside information division is in receipt of reports confirming this faceless scoundrel’s nefarious activities. 
Meanwhile , the opposition leader Nimal Siripala De Silva addressing a media briefing today spoke in a manner justifying his  moves made to stymie the 19th amendment  . Speaking like a well fed but ill bred infant  , he said , if the 19 th amendment and the election reforms  cannot be passed at once , the 19 th amendment be  put on hold until the election reforms   bill is passed.  However the actual position is the presidential executive powers do not get abolished completely after the bill is passed , but rather only after the end of the tenure of office of the incumbent president Maithripala Sirisena .That is it will take effect only in relation to the next president after him .While this is crystal clear , Nimal Siripala spoke at the media discussion like an over indulged infant who knows nothing beyond  suckling breast milk ,and  a soother in his mouth which alone provide him the best of enjoyment . 
In the same way , Champika Ranaweera of the JHU convening a media discussion today directly opposed the 19th amendment and mounted  insolent  attacks against the prime minister while himself continuing as a minister of his cabinet. He alleged  that the 19th amendment draft bill is a  brainchild of the UNP  . He brazenly and  blatantly cited false grounds in support of his allegations. 
It is significant to note that Champika who participated in all the discussions when this 19 th amendment draft bill was being prepared  , and who expressed views in support of this doing a U turn suddenly now to make  scathing denunciations against it holding a media briefing ,is something most repugnant and reprehensible  from any angle.  This attitude of his is even more deplorable and disgraceful because at the media briefing he profusely and shamelessly lied that this bill was steered forward without their consent .
It is very evident in the circumstances , the dastardly motives and agendas hidden in the actions and attitudes of these turncoats and self seeking opportunists is :  to obstruct  the present government’s 100 days interim program , postpone  the holding of general elections ,and  thereby make the government unpopular among the masses . Although the impeachment  motion is an intimate and integral part of these traitorous agendas , whether these sordid bids made  in their desperation will be successful is another matter , for getting 113 signatures is likely to founder . 
By a member of the board of LeN 
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by     (2015-04-08 23:01:40)

Dissolution If Constitutional Amendment Not Passed

Colombo Telegraph
By Bandu de Silva -April 9, 2015
Bandu de Silva
Bandu de Silva
The repeated announcement by the government that the Parliament would be dissolved if the proposed 19th amendment to the Constitution would not be passed brings to my mind a situation that prevailed in Australia when the Menzies government failed in its attempt to get the Communist Party Dissolution Bill passed. Though there was all round support for proscribing the Communist Party including even among sections of the Labour Party (ALP), it was the High Court ruling that the Commonwealth government had no Constitutional powers to bring such legislation that put a damper to the projet.
Frustrated by the Court ruling, Menzies went in for what is called the ‘Double Dissolution,” i.e., the dissolution of both the Parliament and the Senate at the same time. The Liberal Party’s success at the polls in April 1951 saw a determined Menzies going in for a referendum seeking power for a Constitutional amendment enabling the commonwealth government to outlaw the Communist Party which the High Court had clearly said, the Commonwealth did not possess.
Ranil MaithriIn Australia, getting a referendum approved was not an easy task either. It had to receive a ‘yes’ vote not only from the entire national electorate, but also a ‘double majority’. That is a majority in at least four States. That meant the Government required the support of the Opposition Labour Party which was in control of some of the States. The ALP was divided on the issue and the Catholics supporting the ALP came out strongly against the referendum on grounds that the government would get excessive power. The issue for the whole country then was that a ‘yes’ vote would give excessive power to the Commonwealth (read Prime Minister). The referendum failed to receive majority approval finally.Read More

A knuckle sandwich


Editorial- 


Tuesday’s defeat of a government resolution under the Local Treasury Bills Ordinance, seeking parliamentary approval to raise additional Rs. 400 bn, has sent the UNP-led administration into a tailspin. The rude shock came as no surprise; the government had taken its passage for granted and been lulled into a false sense of complacency.


The SLFP, still smarting from the defeat at the Jan. 08 presidential election and the resultant loss of power in Parliament, had been waiting to bring the UNP administration down a peg or two. Its victory in Parliament has strengthened the President’s hand at a time not-so-surreptitious moves are being made to undermine his position. The JVP has trained its propaganda cannon on him, blaming him for blocking the implementation of the 19th Amendment. Now, the UNP, with the survival of its minority government threatened, is left with no alternative but to request the President to restrain the SLFP so that it could present the defeated resolution again and secure its passage.


The UNP succeeded in having the SLFP’s no confidence motion against Minister John Amaratunga shelved presumably with the help of President Sirisena. Some UNP seniors even taunted vociferous SLFP MPs and dared them to take up the motion. But, the SLFP heavyweights not agreeable to the current political marriage of convenience between their party and the UNP have proved that there is more than one way to shoe a horse! What we have just witnessed in Parliament may be considered a foretaste of what is to come if the 19th Amendment is presented to Parliament without electoral reforms which the SLFP wants implemented simultaneously.


The outcome of Tuesday’s parliamentary vote is proof that the so-called national government set up the other day purportedly to bring about political stability has not yielded the desired result. Dark clouds of political instability are gathering over Parliament. Our thoughts are flashing back to the final days of the Kumaratunga government in 2001 and the UNP-led UNF administration in 2004. Political uncertainty is sure to have its toll on the economy which is already in the doldrums.


The country is in this predicament because the Rajapaksas never anticipated defeat at the last presidential election and Maithripala Sirisena et al did not expect to win. Intoxicated with power the former did not give serious thought to a course correction and moved at breakneck speed in the wrong direction without caring two hoots about the public interest. The latter, thirsting for power, made promises without worrying about their implementation. Promises, as we keep saying in these columns, are like babies; they are easy to make but hard to deliver.


The government is running around like a headless chicken at present to raise funds to tide it over because it has bitten off more than it can chew. The pay hike for government workers is a massive drain on the public purse. Other relief measures have also become a huge burden on the state coffers. With a general election staring it in the face, the government has had to carry out its pledges. It is naturally desperate for funds. A collective of trade unions is now demanding that the private sector employees also be given a pay hike in keeping with a request the Finance Minister made in his ‘mini budget’ speech in February. The so-called engine of growth will have a bumpy ride if the warring unionists succeed in their endeavour.


Some government bigwigs have warned that if push comes to shove Parliament will be dissolved. Only the President can dissolve Parliament and all they can do is to request him to do so. But, it is highly unlikely that he will be able to grant their request much as he is beholden to them for his election in January. He cannot antagonise the SLFP upon which he is now dependent for his political survival. It will be interesting to see how he is going handle the latest crisis in Parliament.

Will Maithri contract ‘dragon disease’?

Sri Lanka GuardianWill Maithri contract the ‘Dragon’s Disease’? Or will it be injected to him? Those were the questions asked by a ‘film maniac’, from his friend. It is too early to predict answers. The scenario is reminiscent of an interesting moment – Lalith Athulathmudali who quit the UNP, after bringing an impeachment motion against the then President Premadasa, with the Most Venerable Malwatte Mahanayaka Thera. Lalith quit the UNP promising to abolish the executive presidential system.
by Upul Joseph Fernando
( April 8, 2015, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The Hobbit is a popular Hollywood film series. The third in that series was screened very recently. The script in that series is based on the ‘Thorin’ royal dynasty on how Prince Thorin battled to regain the lost Lonely Mountain belonging to the dynasty. Prince Thorin’s father lost the Lonely Mountain kingdom to a ‘dragon’ serving in the army of the devil’s tribe. All small kingdoms around this ‘Dragon’ feared the rule of this ‘Dragon’.
They were aware that if they challenged the ‘Dragon’, that would be their end. However, Prince Thorin decided to take on the ‘Dragon’ to allay fears in the minds of all in his bid to regain control of the lost Lonely Mountain kingdom.He mustered the support of all kingdoms which once opposed his father’s rule to take on the ‘Dragon’. Finally, he emerged victorious by chasing away the ‘Dragon’ from the Lone Mountain kingdom. However, neither he nor his army was able to kill the ‘Dragon’. When the ‘Dragon’ moves to a nearby village and starts destroying it, an angry youth kills the ‘Dragon’. Seeing the death of the ‘Dragon’, Prince Thorin happily enters the Lonely Mountain kingdom.
Dragon’s gems
Prince Thorin finds, the Dragon’s gems and gold coins mine where the ‘Dragon’ hid itself. The Prince is enticed by that location. The magicians who helped him to overthrow the ‘Dragon’ tells the Prince that the spirit of the ‘Dragon’ haunted the gems and gold coins mine and it was likely that anyone could contract the ‘Dragon’s Disease’ as the spirit was greedy for that location. The Prince ignores this advice and begins to excavate the mine. Those who extended support to the Prince propose to the latter to share the gold mine among all, to live in peace. But the Prince who had contracted the ‘Dragon’s Sickness’ due to greed rejects the proposal.
He orders his army to declare war on those leaders of smaller kingdoms who helped him to oust the ‘Dragon’ stating that the gems and gold mine belonged to him. But the army advises Prince Thorin that it is not advisable to declare war on them. The Prince firmly orders the army to declare war on the friendly kingdoms that helped him to oust the ‘Dragon’. Meanwhile, the devil’s army of the ‘Dragon’ which views the battle between Prince Thorin’s army and the smaller kingdoms embarks on a journey to destroy the Prince. It is only then that Prince Thorin realizes that that he had contracted the ‘Dragon’s Sickness’ and it was destroying him. But it’s too late.
There are similarities between Prince Thorin and Maithri. The ‘Dragon’ and the Executive Presidency are quite similar. Like Prince Thorin, Maithri also gathered the opposition to destroy the executive presidency that was to destroy him and the country.
When Maithri was seeking the cooperation of the opposition, Mahinda was on a journey to establish a kingdom through the executive presidency and was dressing up to be a king. The opposition which was suppressed by Mahinda at that time was battling each other to free themselves. While Maithri was inviting the opposition to rally round him to defeat the ‘Dragon’ turned Mahinda’s executive system, some in the opposition lamented about the price they would have to pay if Maithri could not destroy Mahinda’s dragon styled kingdom. Finally, everyone rallied round to destroy the ‘dragon’. Having destroyed the ‘dragon’ they have now put forward a constitutional draft to abolish the powers of the Executive Ppresidency to give more powers to the legislature. Unlike Prince Thorin, Maithri has agreed to that draft. However, some who have contracted the ‘Dragon’s Disease’ in the gold mine who know the taste of the Executive Presidency are pressurizing Maithri not to abolish the system in its entirety.
Dragon’s Disease
They are trying to spread the ‘Dragon’s Disease’ to Maithri. At present, Maithri is enjoying the taste of the ‘dark’ gold mine like Prince Thorin. That is located between the dark gold mine fortress of the SLFP and the friendly army of Ven. Sobhitha, Chandrika, Ranil, JVP, TNA and SLMC which have put up small camps in the centre of lightened valleys.
Will Maithri contract the ‘Dragon’s Disease’? Or will it be injected to him? Those were the questions asked by a ‘film maniac’, from his friend. It is too early to predict answers. The scenario is reminiscent of an interesting moment – Lalith Athulathmudali who quit the UNP, after bringing an impeachment motion against the then President Premadasa, with the Most Venerable Malwatte Mahanayaka Thera. Lalith quit the UNP promising to abolish the executive presidential system. However, he told the Mahanayaka Thera; “If I sit on the Executive President’s chair even for a day, I may not want to abolish it. Therefore, I must abolish it before I sit on that chair”. We do not know whether Maithri is aware of Lalith’s story.

Ranil says crisis is in the majority Opposition, not minority Govt.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe addresses the AMCHAM Luncheon meeting 
yesterday – Pic by Daminda Harsha Perera
 April 9, 2015 
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday threw back the apparent political instability issue to his opponents saying the crisis was with the majority Opposition and not the minority Government.
This witty remark was made by the Premier at the American Chamber of Commerce luncheon, which came hot on the heels of the defeat of Interim Government’s motion, to up the Treasury Bill issuance threshold on Tuesday in Parliament.
“The stability of the Opposition matters. Prior to the tabling of the motion to revise upward the Treasury Bills issuance threshold, Leader of the Opposition indicated he won’t call for a vote. When the Opposition Leader and Government nominees were meeting at the Economic Subcommittee session, a group challenging him (Opposition Leader) asked for a vote,” Wickremesinghe said recounting the background for Tuesday’s fiasco in Parliament.
“The stability of the Opposition is also important in the short term,” the Premier added .
The Government’s motion to increase the T-Bill issuance threshold by Rs. 400 billion or 47% was defeated by a majority of 21 votes while the total number of MPs who exercised their vote or were present at the time was only 83 out of 225.
Political analysts described the loss of the vote as a setback to the interim regime whilst MEP MP Dinesh Gunawardena called for the resignation of the Government.
However, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake on Tuesday said it wasn’t a defeat for the Government but the people who would have benefitted if the motion had been passed.
Nevertheless, during his remarks at the AMCHAM luncheon, the Premier admitted that the current regime was a “minority Government” that needed the support of other parties on matters of national importance. He emphasised this aspect even with regard to the crucial 19th Amendment to the Constitution which the Parliament will begin debating today before putting it to a vote tomorrow.
When asked at the forum whether there was a Plan B in the event that the national unity government failed, the Premier said: “The national unity Government is for there for 100 days and after that we go for elections. The real issue now is the crisis in the Opposition which will also have an impact. I think except for one party the rest have agreed on polls. I am sure with forthcoming Sinhala-Tamil New Year we can carry on till the end of April,” said Wickremesinghe prompting laughter followed by applause from the audience.
On a more serious note the Prime Minister said just as important as the upcoming election were the September sessions of the UN Human Rights Council. He expressed hope that by September issues would be resolved on the strength of a wide range of measures taken by the Interim Government and the overwhelming support of a large number of countries, including several from the West. He said there was more to be done on reconciliation and rehabilitation and overall national unity.
“We said earlier that if you go to antagonise the world or violate human rights there will be serious trouble for the country. If there wasn’t a change of Government we would have more sanctions coming. We already had sanctions on fisheries exports to the EU. Now we are working on lifting it as well as the GSP plus.
The Prime Minister also said that the Government got a mandate to resolve three issues – one was relief to people over the high cost of living, the second was the issue of widespread corruption and the third was greater democratisation through better governance and rule of law for which constitutional and electoral reforms are key.
Wickremesinghe said the measure to offer relief to the people had been implemented and greater purchasing power and higher disposable income would be enjoyed by people soon. On dealing with corruption he said the rule of law must prevail and due investigation and legal action will follow. He added that an unprecedented number of unsolicited proposals were the biggest source of corruption under the previous regime. Delivering on the third mandate will require all parties’ support on constitutional and electoral reforms which are either pending approval or require consensus.

Inclusion Is A Necessity, Not An Option


Colombo TelegraphBy Lasanthi Daskon Attanayake -April 9, 2015 
Lasanthi Daskon Attanayake
Lasanthi Daskon Attanayake
Dr Ajith C S Perera, in his article ‘Access to Justice : Constitutional Protection for All’ succinctly encapsulate the wide range of issues faced by persons living with disabilities in Sri Lanka. His emphasis is ‘access’ of all forms, not just to the built environment but to the entire social, political and legal fabric of the country. This is not the first time Dr Perera wrote about access. He being the only Disability Rights Activist in Sri Lanka to approach mainstream print media in writing critical pieces on the need for recognising the large percentage of persons with disabilities in Sri Lanka continues to campaign hard .
Less than four days after we read Dr Perera’s article, a news item appears in a local newspaper on the discrimination faced by a student with a disability in one of the leading Girls’ Schools in Colombo, which is followed by yet another article in Colombo Telegraph relating to the issues faced by a traveller with a disability.
Ajith C
*Dr. Ajith Perera – Campaigns for the Democratic Right for Inclusion
It is sad that a child with a disability, be it in a leading school or not, has to fight for her rights while the School Principal apparently stated that they cannot make changes ‘just for one student’. What would that Principal expect that ‘one child’ to do, where does she expect the child to go, if she is not accepted by her own school? Do we know how many little girls and boys in this country are shut out of education in this way? Do we know that physical infrastructure, most of the time, is not the only issue they face? Do we know how much we are burdening the families of those children and the society in turn, by not providing them the opportunity to be productive members of society?
This is just one story, one aspect. Disability cuts across all dimensions of society, disability could affect any one of us at any given time. Disability in its various forms, come to us in our old age. Yet, we , as a society, look at disability as the abnormality or the impossibility. Our ‘normal’, ‘perfect’ human selves look at persons with disabilities and feel ‘sorry’ for them, wonder what sins they committed in their past lives to live with a disability in this life, and heave sighs of relief that we are fortunate not to have ‘sinned’.Read More

CPC to stop fuel supplies to Airlines in SL

cpcThursday, 09 April 2015
Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has decided to suspend the supplying of fuel to Srilankan Airlines and Mihin Lanka Airlines after April 15.

The CPC has said the suspension will be in place unless 50% of the amount of Rs. 15 billion due to the Corporation is paid by the airlines.
The CPC has stated that the airlines have already been informed to pay the dues. According to reports, Srilankan Airlines owes Rs. 13.5 billion and Mihin Lanka owes Rs. 1.5 billion to the Corporation.

IGP the Rajapakse lickspittle transfers DIG of CID suddenly to safeguard Karannagoda, Gota and JHU involved in white van murders


LEN logo(Lanka-e-News-08.April.2015, 1130PM) During the investigations conducted by the CID  into the white van killings operated by a group of naval officers who had been arrested , and  when disclosures were being made about the involvements of ex Navy commander Karannagoda and ex defence secretary Gotabaya , the IGP shockingly and shamelessly , has  taken action to sabotage the investigations ,Lanka e news inside information report reveals.
Ravi Seneviratne the DIG in charge of the CID who is conducting the investigation has been suddenly transferred , and IGP Ilangakoon had taken steps to appoint Mahesh Perera who suppressed these crimes during the Rajapakse regime , as the DIG in place of Seneviratne , according to reports reaching Lanka e news inside information division. 
It was  this same  IGP, a Rajapakse lackey who transferred former director CID , Ranaweera who was well experienced and trained in criminal investigation , and replaced him with Nagasmulla who had no knowledge or experience in that sphere . This  action of the IGP , was bitterly opposed by Ravi Seneviratne , it is reported. The IGP ‘s action  to protect the white Van murderers and those who gave those orders, namely Karannagoda and Gotabaya is  because of the pressures exerted by Karannagoda and Gotabaya , as well as the JHU, its learnt.
It is because a temple of the JHU was provided to these white Van murder group as a safe house , the JHU is in fear the cat may be let out of the bag , and is hence  seeking to sabotage the investigation.
It is well to recall that Lanka e news earlier on reported that the statement made by Duminda Silva to the CID was conveyed by Ilangakoon (who is running with the hare and hunting with the hounds) to   Gotabaya via phone. Moreover , it is learnt that it is the IGP who is behind the conspiracy pertaining to   the full face (visor) helmet ban , to plunge  the present government into disrepute .
It cannot be forgotten that it was this same IGP who gave STF support to the Rajapakses when they were engaged in illicit  mining  across the whole country in search of hidden treasure ; and he was the same IGP who moved heaven and earth to suppress the museum sword robbery .
We shall be bringing you a comprehensive report in this connection shortly .
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by     (2015-04-08 22:57:20)