Sirisena govt. does not have will to help Tamils, says Wigneswaran

According to him, the land released by the Army, which continues to control “fertile lands,” in the Northern Province was “infertile.”

• T. RAMAKRISHNAN- May 30, 2015
• 
  

Chief Minister of Sri Lanka’s Northern Province, C.V. Wigneswaran, has accused the country’s Central government of not “having the will” to help Tamils or minorities.

Pointing out that this had been the “characteristic” of what had been taking place in the country, Mr. Wigneswaran told an international tele-press conference on Thursday night that “the Central government in Sri Lanka will not do anything towards the minorities or the Tamils unless they are forced to do something.”  

International pressure

The conference was organised by the Oakland Institute, an American policy think-tank, in connection with the release of two reports on a range of issues concerning Tamils. There had to be “international pressure” on the government, he insisted.

According to him, the land released by the Army, which continues to control “fertile lands,” in the Northern Province was “infertile.”

Referring to a star hotel being maintained by the Army in the Province, the Chief Minister recalled that President Maithripala Sirisena had made an offer to him to take over the hotel and run it as a conference hall. State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene had told The Hindu a few days ago that no decision had yet been taken as there were two views within the government on the issue.  

No exodus of soldiers yet

As for the presence of security forces in his province, the Chief Minister said that though there had been a general call urging soldiers to get back to barracks, there was “no exodus of soldiers from the northern province which is perceivable by anyone.”  

‘Wiggie Asks For More’ & Allocation Of Funds To PCs

By R.M.B Senanayake –May 30, 201

R.M.B Senanayake

Allocation of Funds to the Provincial Councils should be on rational objective criteria

I refer to the news item “Wiggy asks for more” referring to the request of the Northern Provincial Council for more funds. It is time to consider a rational basis f allocation of funds to the Provincial Councils of the country. There is danger otherwise that in funding Provincial Councils kissing will go by favor and there may be discrimination against the PCs which have members of the Opposition parties. In the case of the Northern and Eastern Province unless funds are allocated on a rational basis there could be allegations of discrimination on grounds of ethnicity and religion. When the Provincial Councils were established there was also set up a statutory body called the Finance Commission.

The Finance Commission is to consist of the following Members

(a) The Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka;

(b) The Secretary to the Treasury; and

(c) Three other members to represent the three major communities each of whom shall be a person who has distinguished himself, or held high office, in the field of finance, law, administration, business or learning.

The Finance Commission is charged with the task of recommending to the Government the basis of allocation of funds to meet the needs of the Provinces. The 13th Amendment which established the Provincial Councils set up the Finance Commission to carry out the allocation of funds to the Provincial Councils.

The Commission is responsible for the allocation of funds to the Provincial Councils based on such plans and budgets reviewed and evaluated by the Commission. Under the 13th Amendment the Commission recommends to His Excellency the President annually the principals on which funds allocated for the Provincial Councils by the Central Government should be apportioned among the Provinces. The Finance Commission is also expected to monitor the activities of the Provincial Councils to ensure the optimization of the usage of such funds allocated so that planned benefits will accrue to the province and its people”.Read More

20th Amendment: Suggestions of the Muslim Civil Organisations

30/05/2015

We representatives of the Muslim civil organizations, namely the All Ceylon Union of Muslim League Youth Fronts (ACUMLYF), National Shoora Council (NSC), the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka (MCSL), and the Kandy Forum, on behalf of the Muslim Community of Sri Lanka, after studying the draft cabinet paper on the proposed 20th Amendment called the “Electoral Reforms Bill”, wish to submit the following:

At the very inception, we strongly emphasise that we fully support the electoral reforms which inter alia, aims at the elimination of ill practices and corruption that we have experienced for over two decades.

It is imperative that both the government and the national political parties recognize the pluralistic nature of our society and the pattern of population distribution of the minority ethnic communities in Sri Lanka. We very much desire that the Sinhalese population must be duly represented and are equally concerned of adequate and equitable representation in Parliament for the Tamils, Muslims, including Malays and Burghers. Thus giving meaning in reality to the principles of inclusiveness and equality which the President, Prime Minister and the present government are advocating.

We note that the proposed Bill does not address the concerns in relation to adequate and equitable representation of the different ethnic communities scattered all over the country. The fact is that the numerical models and statistical samples being highlighted in this Bill have totally ignored the socio-cultural and ethnic reality on the ground. Thereby exposing vulnerable minority communities like the Tamils, Muslims, Malays, Burghers etc. to under-representation, electoral inequities and even no representation.

We fear the proposed Bill would result in marginalizing the Muslims who lives in the South with the majority Sinhalese people and elsewhere in the country, over one thousand years of period.

Therefore, we suggest the following;

1. In general, based on the Census 2012 and the Voters’ Registry 2014 , the representation of the ethno-religious groups, under any reforms, should approximately be as follows;

2. We are concerned that, if the proposed mixed-system is implemented in a hurry, it would be an undemocratic practice resulting in serious anomalies. It will lead to a reduction in the representation of the numerically less communities, mainly the Muslims by around 50% or more. An in-depth analysis done by us reveals that under the proposed 20th Amendment, the maximum representation for the Muslims would be only 14 or 15 elected members against the total number of 255, as follows:

o FPP (165 seats)                                                                    – 08-09 seats
o Over Hanging (20-22 seats)                                            – Zero possibility
o District PR (25-30 Seats)                                                  – 02 or 03 seats
o The best loser/the highest percentage(10-12 seats)    – Zero possibility
o National PR (20-22 seats)                                                 – 02 seats

Although ‘as the Muslims of Sri Lanka’ we are not willing to be carved out from other communities, but the Bill requires us to suggest a minimum of 09 multi member constituencies for Muslims be demarcated for Colombo (02), Kandy (02), Kalutara (01), Vanni (01), Galle (01), Kegalle (01), and Batticaloa (01) districts.

And also 06 Electorates be demarcated as single member constituency with majority of Muslims namely, Kalmunai, Sammanthurai, and Potuvil in Ampara district, Mutur in Trincomalee district, Puttalam in Puttalam district, and Kalkudhah in Batticaloa district, to get the due representation for the Muslims around 20-25 Members in the Parliament.

3. Due representation should be ensured by allocating one seat from the Provincial PR for the provincial minority ethnic groups that have a population of over 70,000, but have failed to secure even a single representation in the province. This would be fair, just and reasonable for the marginalized provincial minorities, namely the Sinhalese in the North and East; the Tamils and the Muslims in the South.
20A: Suggestion of the Muslim Civil Organisations (ACUMLYF/NSC/MCSL/KF…) – 18th May 2015 pg. 3

4. A special provision should be inserted in the Proposed Bill to urge the main national parties to give top priority to the minority group representative from the District PR List, who failed to secure a single representation in the District though they have the qualifying amount of voters.

5. In appointing the Delimitation Commission following should be considered;
a. It should consist of members representing all communities, including Sinhalese, Tamils, and Muslims in the main panel as well as in the administrative structure (Secretary / Deputy Secretary / Asst. Secretary/other staff).
b. It should act, based on the Census 2012 and Electoral Registers 2015 (to be completed by Nov. 2015), which could enable the IDPs to sort-out their issues in voters registration.

6. In view of the current controversy relating to the Wilpattu National Park, we suggest that protected areas such as the Strict Nature Reserves, Nature Reserves and the National Parks be excluded from demarcating the proposed ‘Electoral Divisions’ while they remain as part of the administrative districts, to minimize the political intervention on irreparable environmental degradation.

7. Minimum 1 or 02 seats should be allocated for the members of the minor ethnic groups who were unable to secure a single representation, at the national level. The Malays who are a distinct ethnic group having a language of their own and had been represented in the Parliament before also be accommodated.
8. The 20th Amendment should include specific criteria and general code of ethics for the candidates to abide by during the election campaign (e.g. ceiling on expenditure for the campaign, accountability, etc.).

British envoy makes first tour to north

James Dauris in discussion with the chief priest of the Nallur Temple 

Saturday, 30 May 2015

British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka James Dauris has made his first official visit to the Northern Province from 27-29 May 2015. 

During his visit, he called on the Chief Minister of the Northern Province C.V Wigneswaran; Security Forces Commander for Jaffna Major General Nandana Udawatta, Acting Security Forces Commander for Mullaitivu Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe, TNA MPs Suresh Premachandra, Siddharthan, All Ceylon Tamil Congress leader Gajen Ponnambalam and Government Agent, Mr. N. Vethanayahan.
Dauris also visited the iconic Nallur temple and met Head of the Nallur Aatheenam and Vice President of All Ceylon Hindu Congress Dr. Aru Thirumurugan in addition to holding a meeting with the Bishop of Jaffna Rt. Rev Thomas Saundaranayagam. 
He also visited newly resettled families in Valalai and Palaly South and the Keppapilavu relocation village, both being co-ordinated by the UNHCR. Additionally Dauris saw first-hand, how the UK-funded de-mining operations run by The HALO Trust in Muhamalai were clearing thousands of landmines so that they could again be used by local communities. 
At the Puthukkudiyiruppu Police Station, inspected operations run by The Asia Foundation for implementing good community policing practices and helping prepare police officers to handle cases involving women and children. He also met the young team at the Sri Lanka Unites Reconciliation Centre in Mulliyawalai, working together to promote ideals of reconciliation and inclusivity.
 The High Commissioner visited the modern British Council centre in Jaffna, where he saw how the UK promotes English language and cultural links and serves Sri Lankans who seek UK qualifications, study and work in English or study in the UK. 
Touring the iconic Jaffna library, Dauris met staff and students while at the MAS Active Pvt Ltd factory in Vaanavil he saw how an operation that has been running for less than two years is now providing stable employment to more than a thousand local people.
 Commenting on his visit, Dauris said; “For me this has been a most useful and interesting visit. I have learned a lot from all kinds of people in very different positions and situations. Understanding the difficulties and opportunities, hopes and worries of people living in the north of Sri Lanka is essential for anyone in my sort of position. I was touched by the optimism and openness of so many people for whom events of past years have been so traumatic and who are, with good reason, looking forward to a brighter future.” 

Return Of Rajapaksas: A Short History Of Nearly Everything

By Veluppillai Thangavelu –May 30, 2015 

Veluppillai Thangavelu

Isaac Newton third law says for every action there is an equal and opposite re-action. What that means is  that for every force there is a reaction force that is equal in size, but opposite in direction. 

Isaac Newton law of motion not only applies to the physical world, it equally applies to the spiritual world. In common parlance, the word karma describes the entire chain of moral cause and effect wherein the sum of a person’s actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences. This principle of spiritual causation is found in most religions. The principle is also found in Western society embedded in maxims like “what comes around, goes around” and in Biblical scriptures such as “A person reaps what he sows.”

People who are in high and responsible positions, if they go against righteousness, righteousness itself will get transformed into a destroyer. Whoever deviates from righteousness, whether they are individual or states, they are responsible for their own actions.

The Rajapaksa family which strode the political stage like a colossus unchallenged and unquestioned before January 09 have been dethroned and reduced to the status of Alibaba and forty  thieves who robbed the treasury at their whims and fancies. No one expected the collapse of Rajapaksa’s empire to fall this soon and in this inglorious fashion. Certainly not Rajapaksa and his astrologer.

Daily we now  hear news stories   about Rajapaksa family’s unbridled corruption, bribery, nepotism, waste of public funds, selective law enforcement and authoritarianism.  Under Mahinda Rajapaksa the white van culture flourished and death squads hunted down and murdered rich businessmen for ransom. Many fled the country to save their lives while others disappeared without a trace.  An air of nauseating fear gripped Thamils and Muslims businessmen in Colombo. Even if the accusations against Rajapaksa only half true, it is still an unprecedented disaster for good governance.Read More

President Assures Justice for Victimized Journalists

30/05/2015

President Maithripala Sirisena said that he has already instructed the relevant authorities to reopen files relating to the abductions and assassinations of journalists during the past few years. “Impartial, methodical and justifiable investigations will be carried out in to the abductions of journalists, since the government strongly believes that the rule of law should be protected. Accordingly, investigations will be carried out promptly and recommenced into all suppressed misconducts,” the President said.

The President made these remarks while handing over a cash grant to Sandiya Ekneligoda, wife of missing journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda at the Sri Lanka Bar Association Auditorium yesterday. The cash grant was offered by the immediate past president of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka Upul Jayasuriya, who received a special award by the Commonwealth Lawyers’ Association for his services to protect the rule of law in the country. President Sirisena added that the government has clearly understood that it is duty bound to establish justice for the victimized journalists.

He noted that the government opened doors for good governance after January 8. “Some say that this is a government of good governance. But, I do not totally agree with that. According to my view, I don’t think that this is total good governance, but, what we did was to open the doors to good governance. This is only a commencement of a long journey towards good governance.This is only paving the way for good governance, the President noted. He further added that the government’s main responsibility is to establish the rule of law.

The government is duty bound to protect the rule of law so as to allow everyone to be treated equally. “Such freedom should be established. Similarly, professionalism in the legal sector means having the freedom to carry out their duty without any outside influence,” he said. The President added that unlike the past, professionals in the legal sector have more freedom to perform their duty.

“They do not receive telephone calls from the Presidential Secretariat or Temple Trees unlike in those days insisting on them to do certain things. Therefore, they have the freedom to carry out their duty impartially and freely,”the President said.

The President noted that the process of rebuilding a country, which was in ruin and lacked democracy, equality, rule of law, human rights, fundamental rights etc is in progress. “Such a destroyed country cannot be rebuilt within a short period. It can not be done overnight,”he added. He further said that the government is engaging in implementing a correct and people friendly political culture

-CDN

MS praises Ven. Sobitha, CBK for regime change 

May 30, 2015, 9:34 am

Ven. Sobitha thera handing over his ten-year plan to develop the country to President Maithripala Sirisena (Pic by Dimuthu Premaratne

By Harischandra Gunaratna

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday said that Ven. Maduluwawe Sobhitha had been instrumental effecting a regime change in the country at the risk of life and limb in the name of democracy.

Speaking at a ceremony to mark the 73rd birthday of Ven. Sobhitha Thera and release of his biography titled, ‘Isiwara manasaka thunkal dekma’ at the BMICH, the President said Ven. Sobhitha had worked tirelessly to achieve the goal of restoring good governance.

President Sirisena also paid a tribute to former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga for having mobilised the pro-people forces to save the country.

Ven. Sobitha said, "I have not given up my campaign and President Sirisena should adopt 20th Amendment to the Constitution and then go for an election; the Opposition should extend its fullest co-operation in this regard. He said the present electoral system was flawed and after introducing the electoral reforms, the party leaders must not give nominations to anti-social elements.

Under the previous regime the judiciary had been controlled by government leaders. Judges had not been allowed to act impartially, but today that era was over, the Thera said, adding that the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption and the police had been compelled to act according to the whims and fancies of the former government. A politician had thrown a party to celebrate his having slept with the 100th woman and it had been attended by some top level politicians, he added.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that Ven. Sobitha had fought his battles not with bullets but with words. He was an intrepid monk and those who attempted to suppress him during the run-up to the Presidential election had failed in their endeavour.

Prof. Sarath Wijesuriya said that one of the worst blunders committed by Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga as President had been to appoint Sarath N. Silva Chief Justice overlooking Justice Mark Fernando, who was the most qualified and suitable candidate for the post. "But I am happy that Ms Kumaratunga made amends by playing a pivotal role in the campaign to ensure the election of President Maithripala Sirisena."

Rs. 500 million to political parties that ’harbor’ and nominate Kili’s corrupt media loud mouthed idiots (OMI’s)

(Lanka-e-News -29.May.2015, 11.00 PM) Under   a most  despicable ,disdainful and disgraceful   project  launched by media chain owner cum  pipeline business magnate R. Raja Mahendran alias Kili Maharaja notorious for underground business and political activities ,a breed of loud mouthed  corrupt political slaves of his are to be fielded as candidates at the next general election , and towards that project Kili  has allocated a sum of Rs. 500 million ! according to reports reaching Lanka e news inside information division.

It has been decided that this sum is distributed among various political parties as absolute unalloyed bribes , apart from what are to be spent on political campaigns .This amount of Rs. 500 million is to be given only  to political parties which are harboring the empty loud mouthed candidates (slaves)  of Kili Maharaja inflated and boosted artificially via the publicity of Sirasa media chain , in order to somehow promote and propel these political scoundrels into parliament as representatives.

These most shameless political stinking coolies artificially cleansed and inflated to look as ‘heroes’ via the television and broadcasting channels of pipeline underground business magnate are to contest under the political parties : UNP, SLFP , UPFA  and Democratic National Front . In addition they are to contest under the JVP, Tamil National Alliance , Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and Kandurata Janatha  Peramuna too.

Based on informed sources from within Capital maharaja organization , the managing director and chairman , R. Raja Mahendran of Sirasa establishment had already made all the arrangements to distribute this sum of Rs. 500 million as kickbacks among the political parties who will ‘harbor’ these artificial flamboyant leapfrogs of Sirasa media  to be adorned  and fielded as candidates at the general elections.

Already S.M.Marikkar of Sirasa establishment who is  with the UNP had put out posters under this  poster campaign and the whole of Colombo is awash with his posters  in view of the upcoming general elections . Even before the parliament is dissolved and nominations have been called , Marikkar has been made a ‘poster pissa’ (poster lunatic) by ‘pipeline pissa’ Kili maharaja alias Raja Mahendran.

Meanwhile , when  the corrupt loud mouthed slaves of Kili maharaja noted for their empty rhetoric , met the mahanayake of the Asgiriya chapter on the 25 th  they made a big media circus   of this  first phase of their election campaign. The group that visited  the mahanayake included Yasarath Kamalsiri   and Kingsley Ratnayake . It was very clear that this  meeting was used as an occasion to boost these two individuals on  a plan to field them as candidates at the  forthcoming elections.Lanka e news published this diabolic  plan about these two individuals well ahead.

At the same time  huge cutouts of another loud open mouthed idiot (OMI) of Kili maharaja of the Sirasa media chain by the name of Chandana Sooriya Bandara have proliferated at Dematagoda, Kirilapone , Kiribathgoda and around Colombo . This OMI was selected as the best executive of the year and introduced to the president based on a plan to field him at the elections as a candidate.
 
All these dubious and devious efforts of Kili Maharaja are not without his hidden evil aims and agendas . They are  to achieve his business (illicit and otherwise) goals even at the expense of country’s interests at large . Through these loud mouthed OMIs of his ,no matter the party under which they contest , it is Kili’s insidious aim to protect his selfish self centered unscrupulous  interests and designs.

As a rule  every businessman wishes to achieve his business goals and improve his business through fair contests , Kili on the contrary who by birth is a racketeer and therefore can never dream of winning in a fair contest is moving heaven and earth to accomplish his fell foul business and sordid political objectives through these slavish OMIs who are equally unscrupulous eager to make a fast buck even stooping  to play the roles of wheeler dealers of Kili Maharaja.

Today itself these Kili Maharaja loud mouthed OMI’s have entrenched themselves in the various political parties , and it is Kili’s burning desire to exploit them to the full. Hence . it is the responsibility of the public in order to safeguard national interests ,to ensure that the ‘slaves’ and OMI’s promoted by Kili Maharaja are defeated once and for all in order that corruption and graft  cases which are rampant in the country  can be stamped out completely.

---------------------------
by     (2015-05-29 18:44:33)

Nimalka Condemns Vasu’s Pakayā Remarks

May 30, 2015

Former Minister and MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara’s partner Dr. Nimalka Fernando, prominent human rights activist and lawyer has today condemned her partner’s verbal outburst at Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in parliament on the 21st of May 2015, where he openly went on to call the premier a ‘Pakayā’.

Dr. Nimalka Fernando

At a press conference held two days ago MP Nanayakkara openly stated that he would not apologize to Prime Minister Wickremesinghe for abusing him using an uncouth word.

The direct translation of the Sinhala term ‘pakayā’ means penis.

When asked for a comment Dr. Nimalka Fernando said “I am not responsible for his political behaviours and decisions. This has been the basis of any relationship we have shared. I was shocked to hear such un-parliamentary language being used. This is very strange behaviour. I will not provide any justification like ice and fire.”

“He is a very senior politician as well as a person people respect. There is the need to apologize to the children who were present in Parliament viewing gallery and also to the Parliament and in doing so demonstrate the strength of his character. This incident also shows why we wanted regime change as this is exactly what the Mahinda regime has done to politics in Sri Lanka” she further said. Read More

Sri Lanka: Journalists, Beware of Politicians Carrying Gifts!

29/05/2015

Fourth Estate And Real Estate, Editorial, The Island.

 

Santa won’t have to carry presents for journalists next December. He can bring a smaller sack when he is on the Sri Lanka leg of his world tour this year. The yahapalana government has already started showering goodies on the media personnel. It has apparently taken a leaf out of its predecessor’s book. Arrangements are also being made to launch a mega housing scheme for journalists, we are told. They are also being given special loans and motorcycles at subsidised prices.

Politicians in power do a Santa to please journalists at the expense of taxpayers when elections are round the corner. A few years ago the then Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe took a swipe at the journalists who had received laptop computers from President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He was under attack and his consternation was understandable. “They are now sitting on Rajapaksa’s lap and attacking my top,” he said. Most of those who got free computers have switched their allegiance to the new government and, today, former President Rajapaksa is getting hit on his balding top! It is said that in politics there are neither permanent friends nor permanent enemies. The same goes for the media as well.

 

Housing and transport are basic human needs and state interventions to make them available at affordable prices need to be appreciated. In fact, governments are duty bound to do so. But, the question is why journalists are being given special treatment. Are they more equal than other citizens? If politicians get their act together and do their damnedest to develop the country most of the problems the public is faced with today due to pecuniary difficulties will cease to be and all Sri Lankans including journalists will benefit. This is what needs to be done.

 

Journalists, no doubt, have their problems which need to be solved. Nothing explains their woes better than this Fleet Street yarn. Puzzled by a complaint from a patient that his bowels hadn’t moved for days a London-based doctor, so goes the story, asked him what he did for a living. On being told that he was a scribe the good doc nodded commiseratively, took out a few quid and gave them to him, saying he had to eat something for his digestive system to work. This is true of most Sri Lankan workers who scrape a living including many journalists.

 

Successive governments have employed the so-called carrot and stick method to control the media. They do not resort to coercion or violence as the first resort. They dispense largesse to media personnel first in a bid to win them over. This practice of pampering the media is fraught with the danger of creating a situation where, as Graham Greene has said, journalists write fiction and novelists the truth.

 

Meanwhile, the Right to Information Act is also being flaunted as a gift for the media. Such constitutional safeguards are certainly welcome and the RIA is a progressive move. Let the government be given the credit for that. However, what journalists need most is the freedom to publish the information they obtain.

 

One may argue that it is no use pontificating on ethics to anyone, be it a journalist or any other person, who is desperately looking for a roof over his or her head or struggling to repay his or her loans. True, survival takes precedence over lofty ideals for most humans. But, let the media personnel be urged to beware of politicians carrying gifts. There is nothing called a free lunch, as they say.
The Island

Govt. toasts raising $ 1 b in a day

• Finance Minister and Central Bank Chief say successful conclusion of $ 650 million 10-year sovereign bond and $ 338 m SL Development Bond issues confirm global investor confidence in new regime

  Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake (right) and Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran at yesterday’s media briefing on the new Government raising nearly $ 1 billion in a day - Pic by Lasantha Kumara

By Charumini de Silva-Saturday, 30 May 2015

The Government yesterday revealed that it had raised nearly $ 1 billion (Rs. 135billion) dollars in a day at competitive rates as an emphatic vote of confidence from the investor community, bolstering its resolve to govern better.
On Thursday, via a 10-year international sovereign bond, the Government raised $ 650 million and on the same day $ 338 million was raised via the local Sri Lanka Development Bonds issuance. Combined fundraising was at a weighted average cost of 5.261% per annum.
“The successful conclusion of the two bond issues is a reflection of the investor confidence placed in the country,” Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake told journalists at a briefing where he was seated alongside Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran. 
Karunanayake said with the infusion of the $ 988 million into the country’s foreign reserves would reach $ 8.3 billion shortly and the aim is to strengthen it further to $ 9 billion, which will be an all -time record.
“We are trying to push further where we would be able to get into the $ 9 billion range and ensure that we give the people what they basically deserve from a good government,” the Finance Minister added.
“We are pushing the interest rates downward further internally and externally. We are trying to reduce the debt servicing ratios as far as possible by way of reducing the tenure rates and interest rates and pass on the benefit to the people,” Karunanayake emphasised.
When asked how challenging it was to launch International Sovereign Bond Issue, Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran said: “It was not difficult at all. The reason we delayed it was because we wanted to develop our local bond market. We wanted to see that Sri Lankans would get the full benefit of the Government’s borrowing program.”

 

Justifying the reason for launching the bond now, he said that they already had appointed four lead managers in December last year. 
 “We thought at this moment in time it would be also a good time to tap the international markets because it is expected that the US Central Bank is going to raise interest rates in the near future. Hence, before the interest rates move further, we thought we will lock in some dollar funding at this point of time because the time was good,” Mahendran said.
He said that they opened the borrowing bond auctions on 27 February 2015 and added that they subsequently raised record amounts of money. 

 “Now just yesterday we raised $ 338 million in one day. Dollars auctioned in Sri Lanka — that is the first time it has ever happened on this magnitude. In the rupee markets we have raised as much as Rs. 100 billion in one week

 

through our auctions,” the CB Chief added.
The Governor also said that by moving to an auction system they have signalled to Sri Lankans and to the rest of the world that Sri Lanka is open for business.  “We have proved that this is not a place for private placements and private backroom deals and that has boosted global investor confidence and immediately benefitted the economy,” Mahendran added.
The 10-year sovereign bond was priced at $ 650 million at a yield of 6.125% per annum.
The Issue represented the eighth US Dollar benchmark offering in the international bond markets by Sri Lanka since 2007.
Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Deutsche Bank, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited and Standard Chartered Bank acted as Joint Lead Managers/Bookrunners on the transaction.
Fitch Ratings, Moody’s Investors Service and Standard and Poor’s have rated the Issue at ‘BB-’, ‘B1’ and ‘B+’ respectively.
The issue was announced during the Asia morning on 28 May 2015 with an initial price guidance of 6.375% per annum. The order books grew steadily, allowing Sri Lanka to price the issue at a yield of 6.125% or a spread of 397.7 bps vs. the 10-year US Treasury.
“The compression in yield of 25 basis points reflects the continued confidence that the international investors have placed in the sovereign bond issuance of Sri Lanka,” Central Bank said.
“The final order books stood at $ 2 billion, an oversubscription ratio of 3.08 times, from 173 accounts,” it added.
Distribution was very well diversified, with Asia taking 23%, Europe 27% and the US at 50%. Global Fund Managers were the largest investors in the transaction, representing 79%, with banks, pension funds/insurance and private banks taking 9%, 7% and 5% respectively.
The Central Bank said that with this transaction, this issue represents the first Sovereign Bond Issue for Sri Lanka in the international capital markets in 2015, after the change in Government.
“This issue also succeeded in achieving a 10-year cost of funds which is inside the current Sri Lanka US dollar secondary levels and at tighter spread vs. the US Treasury compared to the last 10-year Sri Lanka US dollar in 2012. This achievement is all the more impressive, given the recent volatility in US Treasury yields and anticipated Fed rate hike later this year,” the Central Bank added. 

Judge orders GnanasaraThera to be placed in court cell while saying no VIP treatment to any accused in court

(Lanka-e-News -29.May.2015, 11.00 PM)  ‘All are equal before the law, and within courts no individual can claim State immunity or prerogatives and should not expect VIP treatment .Specially the monks must act in a most disciplined manner and  respect court decorum , and cannot act in breach of discipline and decorum, the chief magistrate of Colombo Gihan Pilapitiya  warned in open court lastday.

It is significant to note that the accused Galaboda Athe Gnanassara Thera despite being a monk and a general secretary of a Buddhist movement  was  the architect of his own misfortune – driving himself into the disgraceful ignominious situation thereby insulting even Buddhism he is expected to preach and practice with dignity and honor.

The Thera who was summoned to court on a motion filed by the police . When he was seen entering  court with full freedom he  was ordered to be placed in the court cell , and produced before  court , by the chief magistrate who was  compelled  to deliver the afore noted  sermon to the Thera. Accordingly , the Thera was held inside the court cell for sometime until he was produced before the magistrate when he was made to mount the dock.

The  magistrate while recalling  that the other monks in this same case when produced before court on the earlier occasion  were not made to mount the dock  ,gave special instruction to the contrary in the case of  BBS secretary that he should be made to mount the dock. This  was  something most noteworthy.

The chief magistrate went on to question  the Thera regarding his rowdy behavior participating in a protest with other ‘rogues’ and hoodlums in front of the Bribery and corruption commission defying a court injunction order prohibiting such protests, as well his keeping away from courts after accepting a court summons. 

Gnanassara’s answer was  , after  receiving   the summons ,  on the day he was to be present in court he had to go abroad.

The chief magistrate pointed out , if he had need to travel abroad , he could have informed court ahead , and declared it is because he (the chief magistrate)  did not wish to disparage the Buddhist religion that he did not order the Immigration and emigration department to arrest Gnanassar Thera the accused at the Katunayake airport and produce him  in court . It is a pity Gnanassara Thera  despite being a monk who paraded as a great Buddhist did not show the  amount of concern for his religion which a layman judge showed to Buddhism.

The chief magistrate once again after emphatically recalling  that no cash bail was imposed on the monks at the earlier court session  , by contrast imposed a cash bail of Rs. 5000.00 and a personal bail in a sum of Rs. 1 million on this accused monk , Gnanassara Thera . This was another noteworthy feature in this case .

---------------------------
by     (2015-05-29 18:48:43)

1990 – August 1994: The Chickens Come Home

By Rajan Hoole –May 30, 2015

Dr. Rajan Hoole

Law Enforcement and the Security Services: Politicisation and Demoralisation – 15

The Withdrawal of the IPKF

During 1989, gross misjudgement and crass opportunism were allowed to override sound military judgement. Wanasinghe, who believed that the IPKF should stay, fell behind the President in undermining their role. The professionals in the Army had few illusions about their government’s much vaunted understanding with the LTTE. When President Premadasa publicly called for the withdrawal of the IPKF in July 1989, the three Sri Lankan army commanders in charge of northern divisions met in Vavuniya. They were Major General Balaratnarajah (Jaffna), Brigadier Srilal Weerasooriya (Trincomalee) and Brigadier Chandra Abeyratne (Vavuniya). They then requested Deputy Defence Minister Ranjan Wijeratne for additional troops to maintain order in the areas the IPKF had brought under control. Ranjan Wijeratne refused additional troops and confidently said, ‘everything is fine in Jaffna’!

The Chickens Come Home

By January 1990 the IPKF pullout was well underway. General Balaratnarajah who had finished a year in Jaffna was to leave for the National Defence College in India. In a written report briefing his successor Jaliya Nammuni, he recommended closing all the smaller camps, including Jaffna Fort and Valvettithurai, and concentrating the forces at Palaly. This was not done. In June 1990, the LTTE suddenly commenced hostilities and laid siege around Jaffna Fort. The troops were relieved and evacuated in September with great difficulty and the position was abandoned. The camps at Kokkavil and Mankulam were overrun before the year’s end.

Ranjan Wijeratne

After the wisdom of the country’s leaders, the Army set about trying to bring control in the North-East in the manner in which it had dealt with the JVP in the South. It indulged in a series of massacres. The resulting fear, displacement and resentment helped the LTTE reap a windfall of new recruits and inflict a series of blows on the Army. This was ironical because up to the time of the war, resentment had been building up against the LTTE in the North-East. These liberators had been constructing torture camps and detained all and sundry against whom it had the slightest suspicion of being against them. The Sri Lankan Army had co-operated with them in these unlawful detentions and elimination. Even persons detained in Colombo were transported to the North chained to passenger vehicles. Once the war started in June and the Government through the security forces turned its wrath on the Tamil civilians, the Army was in for a series of costly humiliations. The Army lost control of most of the North. It was the nemesis of immorality, of disregarding the Law as the standard.Read More